Real Drive (RD Sennou Chosashitsu )

[SuperKnuckles]

I somehow don't see Shirow Masamune of all people trying to make fat/stumpy characters. I think that goes more towards the character designer of the show.

I actually think it's sort of cute but it's a bit weird how their necks and all are GIGANTIC.

As for the show itself, it's like Ghost in the Shell: Underwater. It sort of reminds me of some SeaQuest episodes where they delve into entire memories and worlds through underwater visual interface. Just real strange.

[DragoonKain3]

In all honesty, I love the female character designs. Like, absolutely love it, since I personally prefer females with a bit more meat in their bones than your typical anime girl. Aoi is just perfect IMO lol, personally need more characters like her.

That said, I really can't get into story at all. People have been comparing this show to others, but I personally was found sleeping through my friends' GitS marathon, and SeaQuest I found only amusing because of the stupid dolphin lol. This show, while the premise is certainly interesting, the way they present it certainly isn't to me. Big lack of romance also doesn't help to hold my attention.

Maybe one day when it's finished (and when I'm bored XD), I'll try and marathon it to see if I can finish it that way. But as of now, I consider this dropped, which is such a shame since Aoi is so friggin cute.

[Ashlotte]

I don't mind the rather "Healthy" character designs for humans, but it seems kinda odd to use them for robots like Holon...Is it she needs more "Space" for internal hardware?

Ah geez still its a mildly entertaining show...The BGM is kinda irritating at times, but thats just a minor gripe in the end mostly..

[Kaoru Chujo]

I'm not sure why I enjoyed this episode, but I did.

Spoiler for episode 5:

It was a trivial story, with only a tiny bit of character development for Minamo, Holon, and Souta. Haru is away for tests. Souta is frustrated that the android Holon is a better fighter than he is. Minamo sees special sunglasses she likes, but they cost over a thousand dollars. She somehow is given a pair. Then we see a fighting android who goes out of control after a job attacking toughs and attacks everyone he sees. He has a pair of glasses just like Minamo's, but they break during a fight. He sees Minamo and goes for her glasses. Sh escapes him just long enough to rush into the restaurant where Souta and Holon are sitting. They are no match for the fighting android, either, but delay him just long enough to tell Minamo to toss him her glasses, which she does. But he doesn't stop beating on Souta until Holon is able to turn off the lights, blocking the fighting android's vision and enabling Souta to defeat him. Then back at home, Haru returns and gives Minamo a pair of the glasses. The end.

I think it's the animation and character designs, and the personalities of the characters, that attract me. Kawasumi Ayako is making a real android for me. Takahashi Hiroki's Souta is a nice combination of tough, not quite mature, physically attractive, and kind. And Minamo is both an unsophisticated schoolgirl and a strong woman. The chunky character design gives her a certain strength. But I also think she and Holon are quite beautiful. In the Tang-Heian style, lol.

[dahak]

Originally Posted by Sinestra

whats up the big breasted naked women in episode 3? She seems to poking around for some info after her nookie session.

IIRC she's the UN Secretary General.

[mikesince83]

I feel like this series has some exceptionally creative and original aspects, but is presenting them in a rather bland and predictable fashion. This last episode (four) was the worst so far, suffering from a borderline formulaic plot. One can only hope it won't become a trend for the remaining episodes. I love the animation and while adjusting to the big boned body style was a slight challenge, it's nice to see a deviation from the hyper unrealistic female physique that dominates the animation industry (my current sig is a prime example the aforementioned standard).

I second Kimichi's thoughts on the BGM as well. At times the classical music works very well, at others it just sounds strange (around 17:32 for example). It could also be a placement issue. At 16:08 there's a decent upbeat track playing while Souta is escaping, but for some reason it ends leaving an awkward silence as he is chased by some gun toting thugs. I'll wait a bit longer before making a final decision on this issue however as I'm still not sure how I feel.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by ichobi

Usual for the main artist doing this show. Remember Gigantic Formula?....

I know I'm kind of late with this, but I wondered who you were referring to at the time and have now tried to look this up and can't find anyone on the visual side of this show who worked on Gigantic Formula -- not the art director or the character designer, and I see no animation director credited. Who were you referring to? Or did I misunderstand?

[SuperKnuckles]

Originally Posted by DragoonKain3

In all honesty, I love the female character designs. Like, absolutely love it, since I personally prefer females with a bit more meat in their bones than your typical anime girl. Aoi is just perfect IMO lol, personally need more characters like her.

That said, I really can't get into story at all. People have been comparing this show to others, but I personally was found sleeping through my friends' GitS marathon, and SeaQuest I found only amusing because of the stupid dolphin lol. This show, while the premise is certainly interesting, the way they present it certainly isn't to me. Big lack of romance also doesn't help to hold my attention.

Maybe one day when it's finished (and when I'm bored XD), I'll try and marathon it to see if I can finish it that way. But as of now, I consider this dropped, which is such a shame since Aoi is so friggin cute.

GiTS and SeaQuest and coincidentally this show, Real Drive is definitely an acquired taste. I actually thought Ghost in the Shell was almost unnecessarily into the techno/psychobabble too much and Real Drive sometimes comes close. And the weird human/machine interface of SeaQuest was pretty off the charts weird as well. Definitely not for everyone, I'd admit.

[ichobi]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

I know I'm kind of late with this, but I wondered who you were referring to at the time and have now tried to look this up and can't find anyone on the visual side of this show who worked on Gigantic Formula -- not the art director or the character designer, and I see no animation director credited. Who were you referring to? Or did I misunderstand?

I have no precise names on this. But looking from the two series character design I can be certain that it's the same artist. May be people around here could point you to the right names. I could be wrong.

[Goofus Maximus]

The girls aren't huge, they're just... rubenesque, huggable handfuls... Only the one teenaged sidekick qualifies as being actually chubby.

Actually, this anime get's the proportions a great deal closer to reality than is usual. I was getting tired of the weirdly proportioned girls sporting artillery rounds under their tank-tops anyway (Sekirei anyone?)

[ichobi]

Or you can call them "Chunky"
That's cute.

[rainrix]

Originally Posted by ichobi

Or you can call them "Chunky"
That's cute.

Maybe this anime aimed at american market.

[vorpal83]

I never thought Shirow would turn into friggin Fernando Botero in his old age...

[Echoes]

Episode 5.

This episode was a huge step up from the previous ones, the potential I knew was there all along is really starting to show now. I'm really starting to like the characters, and the animation is great. Consider me hooked!

Persoanlly, I think Minamo is just the right size, and she's awfully cute as well.

[orion]

Originally Posted by rainrix

Maybe this anime aimed at american market.

The American market has similar taste in designs as the Japanese market. It's prob going to get the same reception as it's getting here design wise.

[MrProphet]

I'm surprised this issue is getting so much mileage still. Elephants and anthills come to mind.

Most people seem to be quite fine with this kind of character design...



...and yet Tetsuro Ueyama's work on RD gets so many bewildered comments.

This is a particular illustrator's style. He isn't trying to TELL your something. There are no subliminal messages here. If Shinya Hasegawa or Nobuteru Yuki are allowed to draw pointy noses and match-like legs, well, what exactly is the problem with Real Drive's character design? It's a stylistic choice, nothing else.

Rather than this non-issue, the things that bothers me a lot more is that Real Drive is boring. The dogs episode (#8 was it?) has frankly just killed me. I know they're still building up the atmospheric tension and sketching out the world and technology, but this is an awfully strange way to go about it.

[SuperKnuckles]

You say boring, I'd say it is unique.

I thought the dog episode was absolutely wonderful and so was the love letter episode.

Unlike something that only works with crimes and terrorism like in Ghost in the Shell, this series has a more whimsical, day-to-day troubles in regard to the cyberbrain. And I actually prefer this show over GiTS as of now. And the show seems to get better each week personally.

[Kaguya]

I have cried in episode 6 Love Letter. I think that it is the best work in this season.

Nevertheless, why is RD unpopular?

Is it because it has many difficult terms?
Is it because the story of each episode is completed?
Is it because it does not have a pain?

It will be appreciated when all are completed. I'm happy that this series has 26 episodes.

[Chase]

Originally Posted by Kaguya

I have cried in episode 6 Love Letter. I think that it is the best work in this season.

Nevertheless, why is RD unpopular?

Is it because it has many difficult terms?
Is it because the story of each episode is completed?
Is it because it does not have a pain?

It will be appreciated when all are completed. I'm happy that this series has 26 episodes.

I figured it wouldnt appeal to alot(tho i expected more than this). I certainly watch it tho and like it thus far, i know it will pick up more too story wise.

[WanderingKnight]

It doesn't have a "Masamune feeling" to it... It's been enjoyable nonetheless, even though I'm a bit annoyed at Aoi's character.