I just finished watching the last Someday’s Dreamers DVD. For those wondering, it’s a very nice, slow going show. It’s both relaxing and dramatic at the same time. My only regret is that it’s only twelve episodes long. This is one show that definitely needs to be longer. There’s a lot of unexplained that goes, um, unexplained. But, all in all, It’s just a great show.
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精神 の 神
I just watched the concluding episode of Haibane Renmei, an allegorical tale that presents an interesting vision of the afterlife. It’s a beautiful story, but far different from action or comedy anime. Some reviews complained about a lack of resolution, but I think the central characters’ story of redemption is handled quite nicely. Thanks Nandemonai, for recommending the title in the anime with strong endings discussion. If you’d like to read some good analysis of the ideas behind Haibane, see the Theories and Ideas section of the Within the Wall fan site.
[This message has been edited by perigee (edited 03-05-2004).]
Cool I just got the somedays dreamer box now to open up the bad boy check out if it’s any good.
Looks like a decent weekend probably watch this and kiddy grade
I saw the first volume of the English translation of Fruits Basket, by Tokyopop.
I looked at the first pages, and the translation seems to be the same as the French one. Nice.
Currently I’m very interested in Tokyo Underground, which I saw at my manga shop last Wednesday and today (bootleg, though).
I think I’m going to look for some fansubs of it since it’ll take a while to get over here.
quote:
Originally posted by perigee:
I just watched the concluding episode of Haibane Renmei, an allegorical tale that presents an interesting vision of the afterlife. It's a beautiful story, but far different from action or comedy anime. Some reviews complained about a lack of resolution, but I think the central characters' story of redemption is handled quite nicely. Thanks [b]Nandemonai, for recommending the title in the anime with strong endings discussion. If you'd like to read some good analysis of the ideas behind Haibane, see the Theories and Ideas section of the Within the Wall fan site.[This message has been edited by perigee (edited 03-05-2004).][/b]
I shall have to check out that URL when I get more time. As for Haibane Renmei, I will say this. The show was created with only the first two episodes planned out - the creator made the show up as he went along. Normally, it would be a herculean feat for a show that was made up as the production staff went along to be even watchable - much less good. That Haibane Renmei is one of the best anime of the past few seasons - and arguably ever - makes it very very special.
Sorry to switch topics again, but I just noticed something interesting. I think Deep Discount DVD and Digital Eyes are the same company, or are at least really, really closely related because I noticed a lot of similarities with their ordering process, such as identical email confirmations, receipts, and the same return address. Interesting, ne?
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精神 の 神
Wouldn’t suprise me, as Digital Eyes was bought out a while ago. Forgot who bought them but they consolidated a few online stores together. I’ve really cut down on my DE purchases since they got sold mainly because they delievry times has been so spotty.
This is also off topic, but how many DVD’s is the Happy Lesson anime? Having been recently reminded that Someday’s Dreamers is only 12 episodes, 3 DVD’s long I have started to wonder about Happy Lesson anime. I know so far there are 5 episodes per disc and the 3rd I think only has 4 episodes. Does that mean only 14 shows total and 3 DVD’s total?
Geez if that is true there really aren’t any ‘full-length’ 26 episode shows left are there? I thought a few of the more popular might have lasted that long at least but it seems that they are just lasting more then or at least around the ‘half-way’ mark of 13.
[This message has been edited by SCDawg (edited 03-09-2004).]
Hmm, I thought Happy Lesson was only 13 episodes long. (Maybe the artbook I ordered will tell me…) But I think the set is 3 DVDs either way.
shrug I’m guessing that’s just sort of how things are evolving. Unless you’re absolutely positive of a “hit”, it sort of makes sense to commit to only to a 13 episode series and if it goes well, then follow up with another set of 13.
Well according to the timings I have seen for each disc first one being 125 minutes, which I know is 5 episodes long, the second being the same length and the third being 100 minutes long I concluded that the Happy Lesson series was 14 episodes long. So maybe it is only 13 with an OVA or something as the fourth on that disc.
Basically I am just making an assumption here that there are four based on the length. I thought that would be an odd length which is why I asked about the total number of episdoes. Maybe I am wrong, but so far I guess based on what you have said and what I am concluding, it is 14 episodes long, too bad, it is actually a very good series.
Still don’t fully get the whole 13 episodes only unless you know it will be a hit. If they are wrong and it is a hit they loose money unless they make more episodes, if they are right and it is not they lose money anyway for the shows they have made, so just make a few more when you have the people there instead of having to pay even more to get them back if it is a hit. Ah well, this has been discussed before I remember.
Though I will say that just a few times I would like some of these shows to be risked with 26 episodes rather then have them suddenly see it as being a hit, then have scramble and make more shows. Even more so since I thought perhaps they might risk a few more episodes seeing the following and pressure which I know is mostly what lead to more shows of Big O or was that just pressure from this side of the ocean?
[This message has been edited by SCDawg (edited 03-09-2004).]
You have to remember that the length of an anime series is tied to the length of a TV season in Japan. If it’s like the US, 13 weeks is a financial quarter. I think that’s how time slots are filled, anyway. If the series is a hit, the network renews it for another 13 episodes. If not, they can get a replacement series or do reruns.
Production costs are the biggest expense. The studios deal with the networks and get part of the development money up front. The number of DVDs for a home video release doesn’t factor into it. In a slow economy, studios offer short contracts with the option of picking the series up if there’s a demand. I think studios assume all the risk for OVAs for a series that really takes off.
Which apparently Happy Lesson was popular enough to warrant a sequel happy lesson advance.
So Happy Lesson Advance is an actual sequel that is airing or did air in Japan already and might be coming over here? I heard about a CD by that name but was not sure if that was just their way of packing some of the songs not previously released onto a different CD or if that was a new show.
See I do understand quarters and television seasons and paying up front, but I also understand contracts. If you sign someone up for one season only, and it suddenly becomes a hit, that person as a voice actor going back to the studio after they have a hit can do so with an wide grin saying, “you want me, increase what you paid me last time”. The studio would be hard pressed not to give at least some increase since they want consistancy with the voice, they don’t want a massively different voice people would complain and yes true fans would probably know the difference in a voice most people would not notice if not pointed out.
Oh yes I am cynical on these matters in thinking someone would demand an increase, but I have seen a lot of what people will do in these cases if they think they hold the upper hand, which a voice actor just might if they are called back to resume a role. They know they are wanted and they know they can take advantage of that desire for their services in such a way to get more money and not harm future hirings.
[This message has been edited by SCDawg (edited 03-09-2004).]
That’s why a lot of contracts are often built with “options” for more than one season. (Or for movie sequels for that matter.) So that in case it is a hit, you have them locked at a specified price. But as perigee-san mentions, it’s production costs, which is more than just the voice actors. More often than not, production falls behind schedule for various reasons. And you end up driving up costs trying to meet a schedule you’re no longer capable of. For shorter term projects, the hit isn’t as big.
Plus, it sort of works both ways. What happens when you tie people up for a full 26 episode season when the show’s terrible? You’re more or less committed to getting them out. And just maybe, you end up tying up some of your best people putting out a terrible show when you’d rather be switching them to a more lucrative or productive project.
Yeah I’d be really suprised if the voice actors/ress weren’t tied down in their contracts. Course that doesn’t mean they always return, there’s a couple of series where they changed voice actors.
Yeah I believe happy lesson advance is a continuation of the origional happy lesson, I haven’t seen the origional happy lesson so I can’t say for sure.
So anyone else catching witch hunter robin on CN? It’s pretty good. Kinda like the 90’s twlight zone if people even remember that series.
quote:
Originally posted by wanfu2k1:
Yeah I believe happy lesson advance is a continuation of the origional happy lesson, I haven't seen the origional happy lesson so I can't say for sure.
So you have seen the second version? It is still airing then or might be on DVD soon?
I have seen one or two of Witch Hunter Robin shows and it is slightly on the 'strange' side, interesting, but not sure without seeing more if it is actually something worth seeing the first few shows of someday. Many of the reviews I have heard though rank it highly.
quote:
Originally posted by ekylo:
Plus, it sort of works both ways. What happens when you tie people up for a full 26 episode season when the show's terrible? You're more or less committed to getting them out. And just maybe, you end up tying up some of your best people putting out a terrible show when you'd rather be switching them to a more lucrative or productive project.
Yeah but I still say you have to take a risk, perhaps many continual risks to eventually make money. No one makes money holding it in their pocket thinking "Well this might flop". then the next one "Well this might not be a hit". then the next one "Well it might be but we are not sure". Yes you have to make wise choices but you also have to take risks now and then or you start to become scared to take a risk when you say "well it was a hit manga and people have been demanding a anime for a while now, but it might flop", and in short never again make a 26 episode series.
You do take risks but you don’t go out and do a high level risk because you can. You weight the various risks and decide on a comfortable level of risk you are willing to take against the potential gains. Even a 13 episode series is a risk. (After all, that’s why OVA’s are usually only a couple of episodes.) And right now, it seems like for most people, the 13 episode season is the most comfortable risk they are willing to take.
And it’s only a trend. Trends change. For instance, right now, the economy in Japan isn’t exactly the strongest it’s ever been. In times like that, people aren’t as willing to take the same risks as they do in a strong economy.
quote:
Originally posted by SCDawg:
So you have seen the second version? It is still airing then or might be on DVD soon?I have seen one or two of Witch Hunter Robin shows and it is slightly on the 'strange' side, interesting, but not sure without seeing more if it is actually something worth seeing the first few shows of someday. Many of the reviews I have heard though rank it highly.
I'm pretty sure HL advance has already finished it run on TV. Not sure when we will see in R1 since the origional happy lesson isn't even out in R1 yet.
Yeah Witch hunter Robin just had a huge plot twist. I can't wait to see what happens next. The first 10 or so episodes is really episodic so it's easy to skip one ep and not really miss anything. But it looks like now it's getting deeper into the plot and each ep is building on each other now.