Jun 25, 2022 9:47 AM
Previous Profile
"Our lives are only just beginning. What lies ahead will take just a bit longer."
Friend requests are welcome, but only after chatting with me a little bit first, whether it's by commenting, forum discussions or private messages.
Thanks for dropping by!
Thanks for dropping by!
Welcome To My Profile
A Brief Introduction To Myself And My Anime Experience
About Me
Hi, I'm a college student living in Kolkata, India who uses anime as a temporary refuge from the stress of assignments and exams. I go by elnino (or Nino - one of my nicknames) on most online forums or games, but you can call me Sam or Sammy if you like, which is a shortened form of my real name (which isn't Samuel by the way).
I enjoy this medium because of the wildly creative and fascinating stories that I may not find elsewhere. I usually look for substance in what I'm watching, and therefore abhor most of the ecchi\harem\generic shows (like a lot of romcoms and isekai) out there. I like watching seinen shows, psychological stuff, thrillers, maybe a bit of shonen or anything that is unique or experimental.
My Rating Criteria
I feel rating objectively is a myth, so I won't pretend to be all-knowing or have good taste, I just like what I like. My ratings are purely based on my limited understanding and experience, it doesn't need to be taken seriously (in other words, don't get tilted if you disagree with them - you're free to like whatever you like however you like).
There's really no fixed criteria for judging anime, so my score isn't a weighted average of specific components (like animation, music, plot, characters, etc.) that I see a lot of other users employ, since I believe that each and every anime deserves to be judged on its own merits and strengths. I also believe in giving the anime the benefit of doubt (as apparent from my high average score) - so a music or sports anime can get away with having a slightly repetitive or weak plot if everything else is well done and a crime thriller can be excused for average animation if its story is gripping enough. But with that being said, doing well across all fronts is certainly appreciated.
Another criterion a lot of people swear by is plot, so they seek the most solid and logically sound stories. While I appreciate and usually love anime with amazing plots and consistent stories, I may get bored by something that doesn't entertain me or make me invested in it in the slightest. Conversely, I may dismiss plot-holes or inconsistent storytelling if an anime was extremely enjoyable or made a massive impact on me - what I usually remember after finishing an anime is the overall experience alongwith the emotions it left me with, not how many plot-holes it had. After all, perfection is overrated.
So here are my ratings and what they broadly mean -
- Wish I hadn't invested any time on it in the first place, an abomination
- Abysmal, absolutely terrible, regret watching it
- Poor, has very little going for it
- Mostly bad, has just a few redeeming features
- Average but with a largely negative undertone
- Just about ok, decent, usually somewhat disappointing
- Good, enjoyable experience, had fun watching it
- Really good, solid experience, loved it
- Absolutely amazing, a cut above the rest, the very best that I've watched
- The best of the best - 9s that I found to be a bit more special, almost perfect (where the flaws do not seem to hinder my enjoyment or can be dismissed), they have redefined the way I look at the medium
I usually write down my final thoughts or short reviews in the 'tags' on my list, so feel free to check them out if you're curious.
Each anime format has its own comparative rating scale, i.e., shows get to be compared with other shows, movies with other movies, etc. and they cannot be cross-compared based on numeric values (similar or otherwise) I've happened to assign.
I've added 'priority' to the entries to compare the ones sharing the same rating, like -
10 > high 9 > medium 9 > low 9 > high 8...
I adopted this system to represent how anime of the same rating stack up against one another in my eyes.
My First Anime and My Gateway Anime
I have a very faint memory of watching this version of Astro Boy on TV when I was a toddler, so technically it probably is my first ever anime. I don't remember much from it though, except a robot kid being made by a scientist to replace his dead son and then being taken care of by an old bald scientist.
When I was around 14, my cousin pestered me to watch Naruto, and after much convincing, I gave it a try. I watched the show intermittently (to avoid getting addicted) over the course of around three years. I had a great time watching it, although there were a few parts that I didn't enjoy. I'm glad that this show was my gateway to this amazing medium.
My Anime Favourites
My Top 25 Shows (so far)
Needs to be updated, check this out instead - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/1611
My Top 25 Movies (so far)
Needs to be updated, check this out instead - https://myanimelist.net/stacks/2662
My Favourite Anime (so far)
A touching tale of a shogi prodigy learning to overcome his crippling depression and forming bonds with people around him as he slowly learns to live - it was inspiring to witness the transformation of the protagonist as he gradually replaced the sadness, pain and isolation in his heart with something better and more worthwhile. This anime played me like a violin.
Very well-structured and intelligently written, this show's takes on societal issues, complex ideas like idealism, truth and justice and also the way it highlighted personal struggles in a futuristic setting (which eerily seemed to mirror the world we live in) were absolutely brilliant. I don't think there has been a show that both intellectually stimulated me and emotionally resonated with me to this degree.
Evangelion is possibly the most influential and contentious anime franchise of all time, a cultural phenomenon that swept through Japan as well as the west when it first came out and which still remains relevant. It was inspiring to watch the characters (and by extension, the creator) grapple with reality, break down completely and get back on their feet against a very raw, powerful and relentless depiction of depression and trauma. Possibly the most impactful media I've come across in my lifetime and something I'll always treasure.
Considered to be one of the best of all time for very good reason, very few could match the level of visual storytelling that was used masterfully throughout this series. A wide range of ideas were explored in an episodic format, and the show exuded style and personality throughout its run while having a subtle existentialist undertone beneath the lively escapades and zippy banter. Sometimes funny and charismatic, sometimes wistful and sad, consistently excellent and an all time great.
A riveting story of people who walk in darkness and in light, and of those who are stranded in between. Its incredibly dark, mature and yet amazingly humane portrayal of a range of sensitive topics was a genuine surprise. Its greatest strength was an ensemble of well-crafted characters who were the very heart of the show.
One of the most amazing stories I've had the good fortune to witness, I have never been so heavily invested in the fates of a few fictional characters. This show subverted expectations at every turn like I've seen no other - I'm sure it breaks every rule in the "how to make an anime" guidebook. It managed to deliver a story that hit me on a personal note unlike any other, and is definitely one of the best that this medium can offer.
A true gem of a show, the titular character's journey of self-exploration and growth was simply beautiful. It featured quite a few stories that could melt heart of stones and shone light on ideas like choosing the right words to convey our feelings to a loved one, something we do not think about in a world where communication is taken for granted. Never have I seen any media using simplicity as an evocative tool to elicit such strong emotional responses, and I definitely think this deserves to be called a modern masterpiece.
The KnK series of movies consisted of some of the most unique and thoughtful titles that I had come across, and was a fantastic series overall that I really love. The last movie, in particular, was my favourite and the icing on the cake. It broke conventional storytelling procedure and instead became a kaleidoscope of multiple ideas and emotions, perfectly encapsulating the highs of this cerebral series.
A heartfelt love letter to the art of filmmaking by the most talented director in the world of anime; the brilliance of this movie silenced me into a feeling of sheer awe. The main character's relentless pursuit for her love throughout the ages, against the backdrop of centuries of filmmaking history, couldn't have been portrayed any more beautifully. This is quite possibly the best cinematic experience I've ever had.
Fate/Zero is what I imagined anime to be like before I got into it, so I'm glad that a show like this exists. Interesting ideas, a large cast of well-developed characters, magnificent animation and a beautiful soundtrack - it had it all. I've lost count of the number of times I got goosebumps while watching the show.
My Favourite Songs/Music Tracks in Anime
My Top 10 Openings
My Top 10 Endings
My Top 20 Insert Songs and Special EDs
The Ballad of Puppets: In A New World, Gods Will Descend - Nishida Kazue Shachu (Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence)
My Top 10 Instrumental Tracks
Miscellanous Stuff
My Favourite Stuff (in 3x3 format)
Anime
Manga
Waifus
Bands
Books
Western Animated Movies
DC Animated Movies
Random Art
I used to draw fairly well as a kid. Unfortunately, as time wore on, I got less and less time to doodle, so my skills have dulled over the years. This is the one of the very few sketches I have had time to make in the past few years and is somewhat presentable, so I decided to add it to my profile just for kicks.
Forum Sets and Profile Pictures
Profile Pics
Forum Sets
HASHIRE SORI YO KAZE NO YOU NI TSUKIMIHARA WO PADORU PADORU
๐๐ธ๐ญ’๐ผ ๐๐ธ๐ฝ ๐๐ฝ ๐๐ธ๐ถ๐ฎ, ๐๐ฎ’๐ผ ๐๐ท ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฌ๐ช๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ท ๐๐ฝ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ช๐ผ
Completion Milestones
50th title - Your Lie in April
100th title - Demon Slayer Movie: Infinity Train
150th title - Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro
Posted by
elnino02
| Jun 25, 2022 9:47 AM |
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