Knights of sidonia

[Irenesharda]

Originally Posted by Obelisk ze Tormentor

You meant the CGI characters, right? I think the environment and setting also play a big role in the distractive nature of the cel-shaded characters. Unlike Aoki Hagane (Arpeggio) who mostly have its characters in well-lit rooms or in open environments with the abundance of sunlight or other stong lighting, Sidonia’s environments (in this episode at least) are mostly dark, dim, dingy and dreary. It also helps that many characters use similar clothing that help blend one individual with the others. As someone who’s not fond of cel-shaded characters, I’d say both Arpeggio’s and Sidonia’s first episodes are equally bad in terms of how their characters look. But Arpeggio did improve as soon as episode 2. Let’s hope Sidonia does the same (if not better) cause I like the story so far.

I think it was a myriad of different things. In Arpeggio, I thought the story was stilted and haphazard and I didn't care for the girl ships that were all fawning over the MC. So there was nothing to distract me from the awful 3D animation and stilted movement and bad frame rate. It constantly bothered me and I ended up dropping the show. (Kept the OP though, that was awesome. )

As for here, the story sucked me in so well, and the battles look really good that I didn't mind that bad animation and frame rate. The MC while not fully realized yet, is on a good start. The he/she friend of his (3rd gender are hard to write about in our language ) is a nice supporting character even though he/she has a giant death flag already.

Silver-haired dude is normal rival material, and the leaders are the right amount of shifty. However, the story itself is the best part. It seems like Attack on Titan in Space.

Also the OP is probably the best I've heard this season, with Mushishi as a close second.

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by Irenesharda

the girl ships that were all fawning over the MC.

Now that's quite a stretch/generalization isn’t it?

Spoiler for Aoki Hagane OT:

How far into the show when you dropped it? The only Mental Model who’s fawning over the MC (Gunzo) is just one: Takao. Iona was too busy discovering the very basic human feelings so it’s too early for her to develop a crush, let alone love (she just doesnt want to be left alone by Gunzo as he is her reason to exist, literally). Kongou considers Gunzou her greatest enemy, and the rest of the Mental Models don’t really care about him (three of which even want to get rid of him ). So, how come this situation can be interpreted as “the girl ships that were all fawning over the MC”? Please don’t confuse “harem-vibe” with actual “harem-element”. When it comes down to it, the great Last Exile series is a lot more harem than Arpeggio – Ars Nova coz there actually a number of girls who like the MC in that series. It may be subtle, but it’s still a harem element.

[Anime Online]

I find myself rather taken by this show.

When I first started watching Arpeggio, the 3D animation felt stiff and awkward. It took some getting used to but I have gotten used to it midway through the show. Every new thing has people resistant to change, but it should find more acceptance once the producers get better at it.

The pink-haired girls (the Honokas) are clones, aren't they? When they all sat together in the lecture hall, one can't help but wonder just how many of them were produced.

I also can't help but think the ice mining group is royally screwed, since the Gauna can only be defeated by one of the Kabizashi and I doubt anyone carried one with them.

[kresslia]

Obligatory comment on the CGI: I don't actually think it's terrible, I'm realistic with my expectations of their budget. It's a bit distracting, of course, because I'm not used to anime looking like this. There are certainly a few awkward moments, it will just take some getting used to.

None of the characters grabbed me, and I was ready to proclaim myself undecided on this show. Then the final minute happened. So this is that kind of a show. I'm in.

[Top Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Anime Online

I find myself rather taken by this show.
I also can't help but think the ice mining group is royally screwed, since the Gauna can only be defeated by one of the Kabizashi and I doubt anyone carried one with them.

You may be right. Or perhaps our hero will really earn some props by killing this one with whatever he finds at hand.

[Decel]

Originally Posted by Top Sergeant

You may be right. Or perhaps our hero will really earn some props by killing this one with whatever he finds at hand.

If you noticed at the end of the preview, there was some long cannon thingy popping out of the base. I bet it's to shoot that lance thingy.

[Fevvers]

Whilst the CGI for me was distracting, I liked how dingy and bleak the world looked. Nihei's works are always oppressively vast and ominous; thought that was actually the hardest part to translate from manga to the screen. Story-wise, the first episode was executed well, much better than how I remembered the first chapter of the manga was, to be honest.

I think CGI has a loooooong way to go really, but I'm in if only since this is the most accessible of Nihei's works and the only one that had an inkling of a chance to get an adaptation (the Blame OVA doesn't count dammit).

[Top Sergeant]

Originally Posted by Fevvers

Whilst the CGI for me was distracting, I liked how dingy and bleak the world looked. Nihei's works are always oppressively vast and ominous; thought that was actually the hardest part to translate from manga to the screen. Story-wise, the first episode was executed well, much better than how I remembered the first chapter of the manga was, to be honest.

I think CGI has a loooooong way to go really, but I'm in if only since this is the most accessible of Nihei's works and the only one that had an inkling of a chance to get an adaptation (the Blame OVA doesn't count dammit).

I've been thinking about the CGI and how the people looked. The type of lighting something is viewed in can greatly change how it appears, even adding or removing depth as well as clarity. I know that at night viewing things under IR searchlight / headlight is different from NVG's is different from magnesium flares. Even photographers have found adjusting the visible light for taking photos can have a discernible effect, and I have found I prefer normal daylight, rather than fluorescent light, for painting miniatures to get a better result. So, maybe the appearance of the people aboard the Sidonia is, at least in part, a product of us viewing them in whatever type of artificial light is used aboard the vessel.

Just a thought.

[SeijiSensei]

Somebody, whether the mangaka or the production staff, clearly liked Ergo Proxy a lot. I laughed when Mole Man got that shiner; it was nearly the same shade of blue as the eye shadow Re'l wears. The character design for the masked commander lady reminded me a lot of Kristeva as well. Her unmasking and embrace seemed to come out of nowhere, though. I'm guessing she knows more about our hero than he does. Maybe they have a history? I presume he is the fabled "Ace" mentioned early in the episode, or maybe it was his grandfather?

The mech designs have a lot in common with the ones in Xenogears/Xenosaga, particularly the one in the opening simulation sequence with the long spear. I think Jin pilots a similar model in Xenosaga III, but it's been a while since I played the game, and I never cared much for the mech battles in any of those games.

As for the story, I'm taking the wait-and-see approach. I'm especially curious about whether the Gauna will have any rationale for existence other than being big bad meanies from the sky. The lyrics to the OP with their emphasis on obliteration don't give me much hope on that score.

I also hope there some plausible explanations for the hermaphroditism and the photosynthesis business. Otherwise it sounds like rather meaningless fan service to me, though the former probably appeals to futunari fans. I presume we won't see the physical manifestations that result from the choice of partner.

All that said, this is the only show I've watched so far this season that I have even a vague desire to continue.

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Somebody, whether the mangaka or the production staff, clearly liked Ergo Proxy a lot. I laughed when Mole Man got that shiner; it was nearly the same shade of blue as the eye shadow Re'l wears. The character design for the masked commander lady reminded me a lot of Kristeva as well. Her unmasking and embrace seemed to come out of nowhere, though. I'm guessing she knows more about our hero than he does. Maybe they have a history? I presume he is the fabled "Ace" mentioned early in the episode, or maybe it was his grandfather?

Probably the grandfather. From the sound of it, they haven't needed an ace in a good long while, so unless he's a lot older than he looks...

Maybe Mask Lady is his aunt? Or great aunt?

[bakaouji]

Really liked how the flashback of one of the pilots neatly segued into the present crisis she found herself in. The effective storytelling, which fleshed out the character's pertinent history and her motivation to become one of the guardian pilots in a little over four minutes, really made me care about her and made her death that much more impacting when the Gauna mercilessly devoured her.

The show's got some teeth especially on the battlefield and off it as well as far as I'm concerned.

Tanikaze becomes an instant celebrity of sorts when his latest exploit, which involved him going one-on-one with the much feared Gauna and living to talk about it, becomes public knowledge as he attracts admiration from elite pilots who acknowledge his skills and scorn from his peers who consider him a walking jinx. Its fast paced and a lot is covered in twenty minutes but never for a moment did I feel that it was rushed to the point I could barely keep up with the story.

The show makes sure we're aware of the trauma that Tanikaze underwent when he faced-off the Gauna as he randomly faints with exhaustion and malnutrition at the drop of a hat and even is haunted even in dreams by his first confrontation with the unknown. For the time being it seems that all he wants to do is fight the Gauna since he knows little else and because he takes pride in being counted on by the captain herself who, for some reason, has absolute belief in his skills.

It's obvious that the captain and the council are privy to information about the secret of the Gauna that the rest are unaware of. I suspect as usual that the Gauna might be the accidental creation of mankind's twisted ambitions.

[Flower]

This really is a good sci fi series, I think, and ep 2 wasa further reaffirmation of that for me. Definitely a keeper for me.

The transformation of the gauna was quite unnerving, though. Man. Really felt sorry for the one involved.

[rpgkiller999]

Feels like another 'alien trying to understand human by merging with them' anime. Time to call Gundam 00 Quanta to do some talking!

[Sheba]

Episode 2 made the series a keeper for me. And also affirm that CGI is the right choice to display Tsutomu Nihei's streamlined character design and bleak and oppressive universe, without resorting to the budget saving tricks that would come if it was traditional animation.

[maplehurry]

Originally Posted by rpgkiller999

Feels like another 'alien trying to understand human by merging with them' anime. Time to call Gundam 00 Quanta to do some talking!

^yea, reminds me of eureka 7.

[Eraser]

That mass driver cannon shot was glorious.

[AvianWing]

Photosynthesis must means something else in the world of Sidonia. One meal a week? How does anyone have more metabolism than a sunflower?

[Anh_Minh]

This is turning rather harem-ish. Maybe if Yamano had balanced her tsun with some dere, she'd still be alive.

[cupumanager]

They apparently not cutting scenes from the manga, only rearranging the scenes for better storytelling. I never liked the incredibly cliched Female Photosynthesis Room scene, since Ichiro's explanation is adequate to hint the significance. Looking back to the first episode, I thought they wouldn't animate this.

>Having your Girl partner eaten by a Gauna? don't worry, She'll return to you, much more eager than before...

>Hah, Poor Kunato...I really feel sorry for him...

>So, Izana do have a Grandmother, who told the story of Previous Pilot of Tsugumori, The Hero of Fourth Gauna War...100 years ago...

Notice, how that Nurse can order Ochiai as if he's her subordinate...

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

I'm especially curious about whether the Gauna will have any rationale for existence other than being big bad meanies from the sky. The lyrics to the OP with their emphasis on obliteration don't give me much hope on that score.

I fear it wouldn't be revealed, since this is just 1-cour...

Originally Posted by Eraser

That mass driver cannon shot was glorious.

Did you see the size of its Projectile? It must have caliber of measured as far to hundred of metres. Notice that the projectile actually need some time to hit the target, considering how fast a Mass Accelerator can launch the projectile. That is some long way...

[Solace]

The urge to spoil all of these speculations is strong. Ah well, you guys will see for yourselves soon enough.

I'm still not a big fan of the changes, and the CGI is still bleh, but the second episode was still pretty good.