Mahou Senki Lyrical Nanoha Force Manga Discussion

[Kaijo]

For a series mixing comedy with deadly serious moments, I highly suggest Gintama. Over 200 episodes now, but most of them are golden, and it's been one of the highest rated in Japan for 4 years or so.

...and that's all I got until we get an actual translated release, or more info on the next chapter. D:

[00-Raiser]

Gintama is only serious 5% of the time. Even when there's any kind of storyline it's mostly done in a wacky manner. The Benizakura arc is about the only one that was played completely serious.

[Kaijo]

Originally Posted by 00-Raiser

Gintama is only serious 5% of the time. Even when there's any kind of storyline it's mostly done in a wacky manner. The Benizakura arc is about the only one that was played completely serious.

You need to watch further. They have about one serious arc in every 50 ep season. They still have comedic moments in the serious arc, but there are good serious moments. Anyway, just bringing it up as a good example of how you can mix serious and comedy in a good way.

[00-Raiser]

Still, the serious stuff only happens every so often. It's pure comedy the rest of the time.

A better example is Steins;Gate. When it gets serious mid series there's still plenty of comedy but that's because most of the characters don't know it got serious and the one guy who knows acts silly so he doesn't get crushed by despair.

[Justin_Brett]

I actually don't like Nadesico all that much (love the movie, though yes I'm serious), but Gai's death had the same effect as Mami's: "Look at this light hearted show, isn't it... HOLY SHIT THEY KILLED SOME ONE WHO LOOKED LIKE A MAJOR CHARACTER IN THE 3RD EPISODE! SHIT JUST GOT SERIOUS!" It also greatly impacted Akito, so I don't see how it was less important than Mami's.

But shit didn't really get serious, though. Gai's the only one of the crew who dies in the whole series, and he wasn't the only wacky character on-board. It certainly affected Akito (and in a better way than basically torturing him for no reason), but everybody else forgets the guy existed. With Madoka it affected more.

Force is much better because it has the two blocked off. We have a block of light hearted and relatively light hearted stuff, then a block of really serious stuff, then another block of light hearted stuff. Prevents serious mood whiplash that way.

I'd prefer more internal consistency rather than simply segregating the two. The characters are dealing with dangerous murderers here.

[00-Raiser]

And when they do deal with them, they are serious. When they have some down time, though, they don't spend it brooding over what to do and actually enjoy themselves.

[Justin_Brett]

Yeah, because it cut to two months later after only a few comments about the last battle. Nanoha, for example, probably had something to think about nearly getting decapitated, but they didn't decide to show it.

[00-Raiser]

They did show exactly after the battle, though, and Nanoha was more concerned about Vita's injuries. She's hardly a person that would spend any time thinking about what might have happened to her anyways.

[Keroko]

Besides, Nanoha's used to getting nearly killed. Heck, she already survived serious or even near-fatal injuries before. A blow that didn't even land doesn't even come close.

[Zero Hurricane]

Because Nanoha is really "hard bastard" (strong and resilient), just like Soap in Modern Warfare Trilogy.

Sooner or later, I do not want "Blood Brothers" incident happen in Nanoha

[Tiresias]

Originally Posted by Keroko

Knowing someone is from the opposite side does not make one immune for psychological warfare. Just look at Fate.

Ah, but Fate only started to join the other side when Precia specifically stated her hate for Fate. Fate surrendered because she lost, not because she felt compelled to defect.

And let's not forget that if they send Touma to the Hucks, he is only one man. They are a mob. Opinions of the majority tends to drown the minority. His voice will be like a single sand on a desert.

It's hard enough for infiltrators to do anything when nobody knows that he's working of the enemy. When every Huckebein knows his affiliation with TSAB few would even honestly listen to his opinion. At best, they will pay lip service and pretend to listen.

Don't forget Vita's warhammer which drilled a hole in a Divider the size of a goddamn battleship. Despite Vita's defeat at the hands of Curren, the weapon itself was highly successful.

Against a battleship. It's useless for anti-personnel duty, which is a bid bad considering that the Esquad is actually a fancy troop carrier, and its offensive means are the troops it carries.

The same goes for Fate's new blades, which held their own against Eclipse fighters just fine.

For the few minutes it was shown, which isn't saying much. There's no proof on how well it will last on a prolonged battle.

Nanoha is a show that thrives on emotions trumping logic. It worked for Nanoha, it'll work for Thoma.

Depending on you definition of "work". The *ahem* Power of Love/Friendship/[insert gushy word here] calmed Reinforce Eins, but not the corrupted defense program.

Originally Posted by 00-Raiser

Eh, give it a few years and people will realise that it's just Bokurano with magic girls instead of robots.

It's odd that you say it like it's a bad thing, considering Nanoha is "just Gundam with magic girls instead of robots"

[Zero Hurricane]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

Ah, but Fate only started to join the other side when Precia specifically stated her hate for Fate. Fate surrendered because she lost, not because she felt compelled to defect.

And let's not forget that if they send Touma to the Hucks, he is only one man. They are a mob. Opinions of the majority tends to drown the minority. His voice will be like a single sand on a desert.

It's hard enough for infiltrators to do anything when nobody knows that he's working of the enemy. When every Huckebein knows his affiliation with TSAB few would even honestly listen to his opinion. At best, they will pay lip service and pretend to listen.

Sometimes it's very difficult to attack the enemy from inside, when we pretend to be one of them. Sometimes we are forced to do what they do, who really don't want we do. But for the sake of safety, we are forced to do so.

Yeah, something like that. Thoma had to do what they want, what he really did not want. If ever infiltration task commenced.

Originally Posted by Tiresias

Depending on you definition of "work". The *ahem* Power of Love/Friendship/[insert gushy word here] calmed Reinforce Eins, but not the corrupted defense program.

If this applies to Rein Eins, there is little possibility precisely the same thing applies to Huckebein.

[WarpObscura]

^What, they want to join the light but the Eclipse forces them to keep fighting and they have to be put down like Rein?

[00-Raiser]

Originally Posted by Tiresias

It's odd that you say it like it's a bad thing, considering Nanoha is "just Gundam with magic girls instead of robots"

I said it like that because what I hear most people say makes Madoka great is that it's so 'original.' So when they realise that it's not the enthusiasm should theorhetically cool down.

No one's ever claimed that Nanoha is original. Does that mean it's not enjoyable to watch? Hell no.

[Key Board]

Originally Posted by 00-Raiser

I said it like that because what I hear most people say makes Madoka great is that it's so 'original.' So when they realise that it's not the enthusiasm should theorhetically cool down.

No one's ever claimed that Nanoha is original. Does that mean it's not enjoyable to watch? Hell no.

Madoka was well executed, and came out at the right time. Sorry if this offends anyone, but the tsunami disaster did make Madoka's impact stronger.

Becomes of said factors, it managed to break into the mainstream conscious (not just otaku). Nanoha hasn't been able to do this yet. (but I don't think it wants to)

That's why Madoka has won several awards, and is the first magical girl show to do so in decades. You have even people like Hideaki Anno and Lone Wolf and Club's Koike praising the show. Madoka is guaranteed to stay in the conscious mind for a while.

If you check my quote, you should know that I am someone that favors execution over originality, and it's true that it didn't come up with all its concepts by itself.

But when people say Madoka is original, usually they are referring to the unique combination of Shinbo camera angles and Gekidan Inu Curry art style

That is indeed rather unique, and I'm guessing that eventually it will influence other shows to copy its style. The first one that comes to mind is C3. (but I think they overdone it and it comes off as copying for the sake of copying)

Conclusion, Madoka deserves the attention it is getting

[Justin_Brett]

I haven't seen any Madoka fans talk about the camera angles or anything like that. Camera angles aren't something I see discussed in general when it comes to anime. Mostly just 'it's dark and serious, therefore good!'

[Key Board]

probably not directly, but said camera angles and art direction create the mood, and thus the audience perception of it

example: Kyubei and Sayaka's contract scene. It's viewed from an angle that Kyubei casts a sinister shadow.

Shaft is a studio that is willing to be more artsy, for the better or worse. Sometimes they go overboard like they did in a few episodes of Bakemonogatari and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.

They they always make a visual impact

[Justin_Brett]

Yeah, that's pretty common with villains.

[Key Board]

Originally Posted by Justin_Brett

Yeah, that's pretty common with villains.

If Ikuhara (Penguindrum/Utena) is behind your show, maybe.

Otherwise, I can't think of many shows that are willing to take the symbolism artyness to another level

[Rising Dragon]

Can we not go down this route? We have a Madoka forum. If you're going to talk about Madoka here, do it in some relation to Nanoha... not some explanation as to why Madoka is supposedly superior without some comparison to the actual point of the thread.