Mar 4, 2009 4:45 PM
Scoring Pt. II
Ok, kiddies, time for the second half of my scoring...I'll get right to it then:
6- Likable (Now We're Getting Somewhere)
These are all shows that I had overall good feelings towards, but it was either mediocre (Sword of the Stranger) or immensely disappointing once it started to show its flaws (Code Geass R2). In a couple of cases, they are shows that I hated at the onset, got entertaining towards the middle, and then went back to being mediocre (Great Teacher Onizuka, Yakitate!!Japan).
7- Good (I'm Not Embarrassed By You)
This is the point where I solidly like a show, and also the point where the flaws don't outweigh the feelings I had for the piece as a whole. Sometimes they are shows that I just can't give an 8 because they might have done literally one too many things wrong (Kaiba, Saiunkoku 2nd); a comedy that pressed all the right buttons, and while it had me laughing, I can only let that count for so much (Excel Saga, Special A); a show that hooked me from the beginning, and throughout the course of the series strayed very far from what I liked unnecessarily (X'amd, Kure-nai); or was very solid, but not very notable on any single account (Shigofumi, Master Keaton).
8-Great (Good Job, Kid!)
These are shows I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. Sometimes they execute one thing so brilliantly that it elevates some of the more mediocre elements (Dennou Coil, Karas), a show that blindsided me with a mature story and themes (Now and Then, Here and There; Allison and Lillia); was exceptional in its genre, yet still a little too cliche to warrant a 9 (Itazura na Kiss, DMC); or was a really great show that either fell apart at the end (Death Note) or had trouble in the beginning (Aria the Animation).
9-Excellent (I'm So Proud of You!)
These are shows that did everything right but maybe had a couple of flaws the kept me from giving it a 10 (Planetes); was very well executed, but missing something I can't put my finger on (Paradise Kiss); something that despite having a rough star, really engaged me on every level (Gurren-Lagann) or was a downright masterpiece until the end (Mononoke).
10-Masterpiece (Crying at Graduation)
These are those productions that only come around once in a blue moon.
In the case of Aria the Origination, the growth of the characters up to that point, and the story made me root for every single character (which is damn near impossible for me) and had me crying like a little bitch. Everything about that show was perfect in presentation.
For Legend of the Galactic Heroes, it was everything that I wanted in a show. The finest ensemble of characters that will probably ever be known, with writing so wonderful that it kept me engaged for 110 episodes. Sure it slowed a little at the end, but what show won't after 110 episodes? This is a moving piece of literature.
Monster was the first show that changed how I looked at anime. After I finished this show, I dropped every other show I had seen before it by at least one point. For me, this show was perfect. I don't think it did anything wrong. To keep a viewer engaged and guessing for 74 episodes is a feat. For a thriller, you succeed if you make the viewer feel like they should have seen the twist coming, and every twist was obvious, not some random deus ex machina.
Nodame Cantabile captures the essence of a music department with its cast, setting, and atmosphere. It made me truly appreciate the power of a solo pianist and much of the music that I spent studying for the first time. For me, it is the benchmark in romantic comedies because, while it has its fair share of gags, most of the humor is a product of the relationship between the characters, which is how I prefer my comedy.
Honey and Clover had the most solid cast of characters I've seen. Everyone's personality is so distinct that you fall in love with them all immediately or grow to care for them by the end. The art style has a quaint quirkiness that I really responded to with the wind whipped face and lanky design...not to mention the appreciation I have for giving characters a wardrobe for their daily lives, rather than them wearing the same clothes every episode. Like Nodame, it captures the spirit of living in an academic, yet creative environment. It also skillfully handles pacing between comedy, drama, and romance in a realistic, often heartbreaking way.
Millennium Actress is narrative brilliance. I think that it is Satoshi Kon's masterpiece. The unorthodox (and very risky) method of storytelling Kon uses to unravel the lifestory of Fujiwara Chiyoko is the perfect match for his hectic, semi-stream of consciousness style. But moreover, because the premise is so simple I was never left alienated by what was happening on screen like I had been in all of his other works. I felt apart of the experience.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is just as notable for it's visual flair and use of a simple oft explored plot. I think what this movie manages to do is create a wonderful sense of normalcy in Makoto's life that we as the viewer want much like her to constantly escape, only to regret those thoughts by the end. The production was hilarious, poignant, and uplifting in all of the right ways.
6- Likable (Now We're Getting Somewhere)
These are all shows that I had overall good feelings towards, but it was either mediocre (Sword of the Stranger) or immensely disappointing once it started to show its flaws (Code Geass R2). In a couple of cases, they are shows that I hated at the onset, got entertaining towards the middle, and then went back to being mediocre (Great Teacher Onizuka, Yakitate!!Japan).
7- Good (I'm Not Embarrassed By You)
This is the point where I solidly like a show, and also the point where the flaws don't outweigh the feelings I had for the piece as a whole. Sometimes they are shows that I just can't give an 8 because they might have done literally one too many things wrong (Kaiba, Saiunkoku 2nd); a comedy that pressed all the right buttons, and while it had me laughing, I can only let that count for so much (Excel Saga, Special A); a show that hooked me from the beginning, and throughout the course of the series strayed very far from what I liked unnecessarily (X'amd, Kure-nai); or was very solid, but not very notable on any single account (Shigofumi, Master Keaton).
8-Great (Good Job, Kid!)
These are shows I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. Sometimes they execute one thing so brilliantly that it elevates some of the more mediocre elements (Dennou Coil, Karas), a show that blindsided me with a mature story and themes (Now and Then, Here and There; Allison and Lillia); was exceptional in its genre, yet still a little too cliche to warrant a 9 (Itazura na Kiss, DMC); or was a really great show that either fell apart at the end (Death Note) or had trouble in the beginning (Aria the Animation).
9-Excellent (I'm So Proud of You!)
These are shows that did everything right but maybe had a couple of flaws the kept me from giving it a 10 (Planetes); was very well executed, but missing something I can't put my finger on (Paradise Kiss); something that despite having a rough star, really engaged me on every level (Gurren-Lagann) or was a downright masterpiece until the end (Mononoke).
10-Masterpiece (Crying at Graduation)
These are those productions that only come around once in a blue moon.
In the case of Aria the Origination, the growth of the characters up to that point, and the story made me root for every single character (which is damn near impossible for me) and had me crying like a little bitch. Everything about that show was perfect in presentation.
For Legend of the Galactic Heroes, it was everything that I wanted in a show. The finest ensemble of characters that will probably ever be known, with writing so wonderful that it kept me engaged for 110 episodes. Sure it slowed a little at the end, but what show won't after 110 episodes? This is a moving piece of literature.
Monster was the first show that changed how I looked at anime. After I finished this show, I dropped every other show I had seen before it by at least one point. For me, this show was perfect. I don't think it did anything wrong. To keep a viewer engaged and guessing for 74 episodes is a feat. For a thriller, you succeed if you make the viewer feel like they should have seen the twist coming, and every twist was obvious, not some random deus ex machina.
Nodame Cantabile captures the essence of a music department with its cast, setting, and atmosphere. It made me truly appreciate the power of a solo pianist and much of the music that I spent studying for the first time. For me, it is the benchmark in romantic comedies because, while it has its fair share of gags, most of the humor is a product of the relationship between the characters, which is how I prefer my comedy.
Honey and Clover had the most solid cast of characters I've seen. Everyone's personality is so distinct that you fall in love with them all immediately or grow to care for them by the end. The art style has a quaint quirkiness that I really responded to with the wind whipped face and lanky design...not to mention the appreciation I have for giving characters a wardrobe for their daily lives, rather than them wearing the same clothes every episode. Like Nodame, it captures the spirit of living in an academic, yet creative environment. It also skillfully handles pacing between comedy, drama, and romance in a realistic, often heartbreaking way.
Millennium Actress is narrative brilliance. I think that it is Satoshi Kon's masterpiece. The unorthodox (and very risky) method of storytelling Kon uses to unravel the lifestory of Fujiwara Chiyoko is the perfect match for his hectic, semi-stream of consciousness style. But moreover, because the premise is so simple I was never left alienated by what was happening on screen like I had been in all of his other works. I felt apart of the experience.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is just as notable for it's visual flair and use of a simple oft explored plot. I think what this movie manages to do is create a wonderful sense of normalcy in Makoto's life that we as the viewer want much like her to constantly escape, only to regret those thoughts by the end. The production was hilarious, poignant, and uplifting in all of the right ways.
Posted by
noteDhero
| Mar 4, 2009 4:45 PM |
1 comments
 |
UserZero | Mar 4, 2009 8:47 PM
It's nice to see someone else on this site utilizing the full spread of scores. I took a random sampling of anime lists a while back and found the "true" average score for most users is actually a 7.7 (I posted the full results here).On a side note, I sure wish I had the dedication to list everything I watch. The shear length of your anime list is an inspiration. |