(CR) Thunderbolt Fantasy

[DragoonKain3]

Here I came expecting 'Thunderbird' quality of the puppetry... well, you can't blame me since that was the first thing I thought of when I saw the title. All I can say is... man, no way they can make this an anime series unless they blow everything first episode. XD

[ukulelembo]

Originally Posted by Grifis

I couldn't help thinking how gorgeous it would be in anime format.

Charm of something extraordinary would be gone, and you would get just another generic fighting anime. Trust me, you don't really want that.

[Grifis]

Originally Posted by ukulelembo

Charm of something extraordinary would be gone, and you would get just another generic fighting anime. Trust me, you don't really want that.

I'm not a big doll/puppets fan (to the point where I don't buy dolls for the kids. Sorry girls. )

I do understand the reaction would be different. Because it's puppets everyone would prop their chin and say oh yes what a work of art. But when it's anime people will be like geez, just another pretty boys fighting show.

That is not to say I don't appreciate this puppet format. I think it's great with all the little intricate details involved and the nice choreography. But my personal dislike for the moving dolls/dolls is kind of getting in the way.

[watisit]

Bad guy kills the stronger of the two and then leaves the weaker one to his henchman even though he is completely fine. Dumbass.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by watisit

Bad guy kills the stronger of the two and then leaves the weaker one to his henchman even though he is completely fine. Dumbass.

He just wants to take the hilt of the magic weapon back to his lair for safekeeping.

[IceHism]

Damn. Those two guys voiced by toriumi and suwabe? Reminds me of dies irae lol.
Like the first episode. Very wuxia. Can't wait for next week.

The names are fine for me but I can't get over the fact that what they say is different from what I'm reading. That's the most annoying part

[Maxulous]

I think this suffers the opposite issue(s) that I have with Berserk 2016 and Arslan 2016. I appreciate the visuals, but the writing seems threadbare.

I was also amused by the over-sized blood droplets.

[Maxulous]

Hotshot Hiroyuki Sawano pimping anime since 2011.

[B214]

A wuxia puppet show, interesting.

[jeroz]

Originally Posted by Maxulous

I think this suffers the opposite issue(s) that I have with Berserk 2016 and Arslan 2016. I appreciate the visuals, but the writing seems threadbare.

Urobuchi stated that since this is the first time many of the new audiences will experience this art medium, he wants to keep the story as standard as possible. Therefore obvious goal, obvious factions, a protagonist that we can get behind, and a guy that fucks over him.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by jeroz

Urobuchi stated that since this is the first time many of the new audiences will experience this art medium, he wants to keep the story as standard as possible. Therefore obvious goal, obvious factions, a protagonist that we can get behind, and a guy that fucks over him.

It's like with the James Cameron Avatar film; when you try to introduce something new, you keep everything else familiar.

[Maxulous]

It was very, uhh, anime.

[Faux Mecha]

i wonder this will be popular enough to be imported to the west?, i mean they did succeed with X-Bomber or 'Star Fleet' as it was known in the dubbed version despite the fact both were different types of puppet shows, Thunderbolt is based off a centuries old traditional Wuxia puppet play while X-Bomber is akin to Thunderbirds with Go Nagai's super robot antics, also T.M.Revolution is pure love.

[dragon1412]

TBH this one remind me of old wuxia movie - i mean the really old one like the 1st edition of Journey to the west or legend of condor heroes trilogy. The movement and special effects seem.... old

[HandofFate]

Originally Posted by Grifis

I have problem getting the names. While I appreciate the intricate details on the puppets and the awesome fights, I couldn't figure out what was going on in the fights because things moved so fast. It was different and kind of badass but hot damn, I couldn't help thinking how gorgeous it would be in anime format.

how? if it was anime it would probably look worse. give the amount of really bad animated ones out there. Even the best ones like ufotable don't have the amount of movement/action like the 1st episode is showing

[B214]

Originally Posted by dragon1412

TBH this one remind me of old wuxia movie - i mean the really old one like the 1st edition of Journey to the west or legend of condor heroes trilogy. The movement and special effects seem.... old

Because it is wuxia based.

[dragon1412]

Originally Posted by B214

Because it is wuxia based.

i knew that, was i was talking about is how the doll movement is made, as well as the special effects, especially the movement, they remind me a lot of old wuxia movie qing gong effect, which is like they are hanging on the air instead of moving.

[Harry Dresden]

BEST. PREMIERE. OF. THE. SEASON

Hoo boy, have not enjoyed a wuxia drama in quite a while. Last wuxia-esque things I watched were a year or so ago("Strange Hero Yi Zhi Mei" which was entertaining and "Swordsman" which was disappointing).

I know Urobutcher dabbled in it before, but it is still surreal to see him working on this.

Still the show was brilliant and pretty much had a lot of what makes up a wuxia - flamboyant costumes, cheap CGI effects, chivalrous heroes, tragic misunderstandings, lots of flying and lots of death. It actually meshes so well together with top-notch directing that in lots of scenes you literally forget they are dolls.

I hope this continues being this good as so far this and 91 Days are literally saving the season.

Also possibly best OP of the season

[orion]

Originally Posted by watisit

Bad guy kills the stronger of the two and then leaves the weaker one to his henchman even though he is completely fine. Dumbass.

The weaker one was a female. He prob thought that his henchman could handle it. He was right. The henchman ran into a stronger swordsman and a wizard and got his butt kicked.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by dragon1412

i knew that, was i was talking about is how the doll movement is made, as well as the special effects, especially the movement, they remind me a lot of old wuxia movie qing gong effect, which is like they are hanging on the air instead of moving.

Oh, you mean those black and white TV wuxia dramas(that's very nostalgic). Well, it's something between those and the ones in color TV that where there were martial art directors. And you know, there are actually flying swords in some wuxia genres.

I think there's some limitation on the movement of the dolls that they need to do it this way. You may notice that the movement that they actually wield their weapons are mostly big movements, even for the girl. So if they want to vary the reach of their fight they need to have flying swords or long range attacks etc.