2004-10-01, 04:53 | Link #201 | |
/Ultimate Magic Attack!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Time Warp/Future
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2004-10-01, 15:47 | Link #202 | |
Combating Spoiler Scum
Join Date: Nov 2003
Age: 40
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So if I throw my previous comment out the window, I can say that this was a damn good anime- not quite a favorite, but certainly well-executed. (And I love the ending theme.) If I take that stance, though, I think I must argue that the episodes almost work best by themselves. In fact, some of my favorite episodes (8 and 9) had the least amount of attachment to the main plot. WELL worth the watch, nuff said.
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2004-10-01, 16:58 | Link #203 | |
ore wa kanpeki da
Join Date: Nov 2003
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2004-11-03, 09:29 | Link #204 |
watashi wa chiisaikeredo
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Heh heh heh ... happy otaku here ... my beautiful PA R1 DVD has arrived and I'm cackling like a loon along with the OP.
The first thing I checked out was the interview with Satoshi Kon (conducted by psychologist Dr Tamaki Saito). Spoiler:
At the end of the day, though some would say the message was simple, it was undeniably beautifully executed, and even if I'd known the "true" message beforehand, Paranoia Agent would still remain one of the greatest anime trips I've ever taken. |
2006-01-21, 00:03 | Link #208 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Hah, about time this thread got revived, methinks...
I'm relatively new to anime The power of broadband interweb has brought marvellous gems such as Samurai Champloo, Eva and Paranoia Agent into my home, and for that I'm eternally grateful. I've been searching for ages for people to discuss this show with, and now I discover that all discussions ended well over a year ago! Ah, well. Reading through the backlog reaffirmed a lot of my ideas about the show. I watched the whole series over a relatively short time frame, so it was interesting to note how people following the series hypothesised about its ending. What grabbed me about PA was how such a richly detailed and varied set of character studies could hold such a fine overall narrative together so well. The adjectives I'm using are poor, but you all know what I mean! From the moment the opening titles rolled, you knew you'd got into something a little out of the ordinary. Ditto the end titles and the delightfully cryptic end titles (to which I say, Maniwa breaks the circle, but doesn't he also form the question mark?) and Dream Confessions (the sage was without doubt my favourite character, he's responsible for making "sate" my favourite Japanese word, "temae" is now a close second if anyone can confirm this, does it actually translate as "now"?) The evolution of Shounen Bat as an urban legend was thoroughly mesmerizing. I was in turns intrigued, shocked, baffled, afraid, delighted and appalled. Even when I thought I knew what Shounen Bat represented, I couldn't begin to concieve how it all would end. Things like the suicide trio already being dead totally slipped past me (though I was creeped out by the moment with the camera girls, I couldn't piece together an explanation at the time). Maniwa's seemingly inexplicable descent into madness also confused me. Yet despite not fully comprehending all the details, I felt that they weren't so important as the work in its entirety - a parable on the perils of escapism in modern society. Unflinching, hypnotic, with a dark sense of humour and an eye for irony. Paranoia Agent is one of my all time favourite shows. A latter day Twin Peaks, not just for otaku. I can't wait to hear the english dub! Sate |
2008-09-16, 22:40 | Link #213 |
Snobby Gentleman
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Monterrey, México
Age: 43
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To me Paranoia Agent was the very first anime series which challenged my perception about the current state of society.
If you take it seriously, it forces you think through what's really going on with the people and the society. Should we just take the pressure, the rush, the insults, and the sh** of everyday in order to conform with what the general populace dictates is normal and in the norm? Or should we just throw everything to the drain and run away from whatever causes us anguish, pain, and/or pressure? Shounen Bat was the fear and insecurities of the people who haunted back at them quite literally. What I loved most, above everything else, was a particular scene in the anime's OP which made quite an impact on me. Detective Akari standing at the top of the Tokyo Tower with the mushroom cloud on the background, exploding in the middle of a city during a sunny day. And, definitely, the OP song is one of the best pieces of music I've ever heard. To me represents a very cheerful song about the end of the world. Hey, if the world's going to end one of these days better smile, relax at home, or do something you have desired through your lifetime, and, finally, laugh like crazy. Instead of the other scenario, fighting frightened for your life and going nuts in anguish. Do as Sagi and the rest of the cast does in the OP, laugh like there's no tomorrow. |
2010-07-24, 21:28 | Link #214 |
On a mission
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I remember watching this on Adult Swim and was impressed on how it handled societal issues. It was pretty dark and crazy too.
Anyhow, I managed to finish it and liked it though the ending was really wtf. It's interesting how hard it is to live with guilt sometimes. It's so much easier to place the blame on someone or something. But at the same time, we beat each ourselves too much over guilt as well and try to hide from it. As for the war reference, well, I've never seen an anime approach that issue so boldly. Yea, that's definitely an issue that's tough to handle. Lies and delusions; people would rather just put the problem away. We'd rather just bury our past sins. Humans have always been creating lil sluggers throughout history-- something or someone we can unite in placing them blame on. If everyone can believe a lie, than it becomes truth. But it sometimes seeps up and drowns us all. It's a vicious cycle that will probably continue on for a very long time. But hey, someone's gotta try and fight against it, even if everyone thinks he/she is crazy. So props to Paranoia Agent for willing to be the crazy one to deliver the message.
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2010-08-30, 18:14 | Link #215 |
Thinker
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New York
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Something odd happened when I wanted to watch this series. The day I was set to start it was the day Satoshi Kon died. I don't know whether to take that as a sign or just a coincidence. Either way, it freaked me out enough to put off watching it.
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