2013-04-03, 15:56 | Link #61 |
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2012
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This is turning into a bit of show for hipsters to celebrate but I still think its important because its a solidly produced indie project that shows what good animators can do with a limited 500K budget. I find it kind of had the spirit of 70s anime mixed with the visual style of Gurren Lagann and a Magical Fantasy theme. The story is pretty simplistic follow your dreams inspirational fare fun stuff with some quirky characters but sadly is limited in scope by its length to a fairpy brisk and predictable course of events with little room for character development. Definitely would recommend it mostly for its animation showcase and unorthodox visual style only.
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2013-04-04, 11:47 | Link #62 |
Mixtape
Join Date: Feb 2006
Age: 35
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LWA had foreshadowing, character development, a consistently developed theme, a competently told story driven by the actions of the characters (and by their flaws and strengths rather than by contrivances) and clever visual jokes that didn't oversell themselves. The storytelling was just plain good. The idea that something safe can't be good is something I've always been against; I mean, K-ON is a much safer show than PsychoPass (not like PP is particularly daring, either way) yet it features much superior storytelling and execution.
LWA is clearly different from pretty much every other YAP short, tho. It's definitely "profitable" in spirit and the character designs are definitely meant to be cute and attractive for most audiences. |
2013-04-04, 23:45 | Link #65 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Quote:
And really, I do value the creators' restraint from trying to explain everything. It lets the characters and story develop naturally through action, and it leaves a much stronger impression as a result. The actual writing in the work is very good.
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2013-04-06, 03:27 | Link #73 | |
Senior Member
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LWA was a pretty fun watch. Too bad it was so short .. I don't usually like OVA's because I feel one episode just can't do anything justice but it didn't feel like it on this one. Same goes for Death Billiard .. what was just brilliant. The grandpa was badass .
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2013-04-06, 09:37 | Link #76 |
Mmmm....
Join Date: Sep 2006
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I liked Death Billiards.
Spoiler for Not the billiards I was thinking of.:
To me this show felt like an episode of The Twilight Zone, only missing Rod Serling's introduction. So far this year's Anime Mirai has given me two shows I've enjoyed, but for competely different reasons. Good stuff. |
2013-04-06, 12:22 | Link #77 |
<em style="color:#808080;">Disabled By Request</em>
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Watched both Little Witch Academia and Death Billiards. Both were excellent and I loved them both so screw deciding which one was better .
It is no brainer that Death Billiards was the more "intellectual" (if you want to call it that) choice as it explores psychological interactions in humans when they are faced with situations that determine the very life and death of them. It gave some food for thought and I personally loved the ending, as it was intentionally left ambiguous without feeling like a copout. It definitely had a darker tone and the visuals reflected it, though I don't think it was necessarily "better" than LWA as it was a stylistic choice. On the other hand, LWA was just loads of fun, something that is very underrated amongst "critics". It was optimistic, colorful and full of energy and it reminded me of the fun Disney cartoons of old when I was a kid. Though the art style was more cartoony than DB, it isn't necessarily inferior as the animation was very fluid and there was substantially more fight scenes. I'm not sure what some people mean by LWA containing "cute girls doing cute things" as this is absolutely nothing like your typical slice of life anime show aimed at hardcore latenight "otaku" audiences. In fact I would liken it more to Disney, Ghibli or heck even Harry Potter - something that a general audience can get into. I would say that LWA is definitely the more "accessible" OVA that would be able to appeal to a larger audience. My only complaint is that well... it was only 25minutes each . But hey, more short works like this please! Last edited by Pocari_Sweat; 2013-04-06 at 12:39. |
2013-04-06, 12:36 | Link #78 |
Me, An Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
Age: 33
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To be honest, I never felt comfortable with Death Billiards. It just felt way too judgemental (Yes, I know that was the whole point, but still). It wasn't bad though, and I definitely appreciate the level of thought gone into it.
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2013-04-06, 17:52 | Link #79 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
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LWA is one of the best things I've watched in a while. It highlights everything good that anime can do and really showcases that imagination is still alive in the fantasy genre. I especially liked the mini paint brushes = mini brooms thing for the floating devices.
There's so much history and world building oozing from all the background details and offhand remarks that I really want to see an entire series built upon this concept. It really puts to shame the 'fantasy' type anime that have been coming out recently that is fantasy in name only, just slapping on some standard fantasy tropes/aesthetics on your standard rom-com plot. |
2013-04-06, 21:08 | Link #80 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I really enjoyed Death Billiards and yes it does have this Twilight Zone vibe too it (there is even a Twilight Zone ep it kind of reminded me of: A Game of Pool)
The one thing that annoyed me was that the young guy's reactions were a bit over the top but then I guess if I was in his situation I probably would be more scared like he was too so I am not sure if I can judge him. The ending was great though. At first the no answers annoyed me but thinking about it more I think it was better to be left open because it does leave room for interesting discussion. Although I am left with no opinion on what I think so I am not sure how much I can add to it. Spoiler:
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