Bizarre fights like Hisoka vs Kastro

Jul 14, 2014 2:55 PM

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Jan 2014

314

Hello people,

I just watched episode 32 of this anime, and found the fight in it to be one of the most cleverly bizarre fights I've seen in anime, if not the most.
What I liked was how it perfectly combined:
1- Trickery and wits, how Hisoka used the hand trick and the cards, throwing the arm upward, and using it later on
2- Craziness, Like playing around with the arm, shoving his hand into his arm to pick tbat card, punching the motherfucker WITH the arm
3- Psychology, how Hisoka broke Kastro mentally, at first you'd think Kastro had the upper hand, but he never did. God, how well that was executed.
4- Mystery, not knowing what the fuck happened until after the fight, so much so that it required an entire episode devoted to the breakdown of the fight.

And finally, how well all these were applied together. Using bizarreness in such a way that felt... Ummm real.

why did I make this thread?

I want to ask if anyone knows of any fight that feels similar to this, from any series... not necessary to be a shonen either.
Please share it here, thank you in advance.

ArchadianJul 14, 2014 3:00 PM

Jul 14, 2014 4:03 PM

ValeBreck

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Aug 2011

245

As even the name says, JoJo's Bizzarre Adventure is the series you are looking for.

Anime List - YouTube

Jul 14, 2014 7:50 PM

Dangerr

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Oct 2008

622

As the others have said, if you want elaborate, crazy-ass fights, then look no further than Jojo's.

The first few parts are (relatively) straightforward, but from part 4 onwards it gradually escalates in inventiveness and how just how gloriously batshit the encounters become. Hunter x Hunter and FMA will always probably be my favorite shonens, but JJBA is truly the king of battle shonen.

Jul 14, 2014 7:55 PM

StefanHere

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Jul 2013

788

JoJo for sure

haven't seen anything of the same level as that fight but there are many many excellent fights particularly episodes 8-26(?) of the 2012 series

Jul 15, 2014 1:13 AM

vedatsvet

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Oct 2013

1301

Yea this is my favorite fight of HxH, heavily based on retaining your calm and psychologically break down your opponent... As others said JoJo might be something you'll like but the first 9 episodes of 2012 might turn you off so stick with it...

"Laugh, and the world laughs with you; Weep, and you weep alone". Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Jul 15, 2014 3:32 AM

Archadian

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Jan 2014

314

Thanks but JoJo feels more like over-the-top, I'd like something to feel real while being crazy so I could see it as 'crazy'. Besides I don't recall much being bizarre from JoJo, not part 3 anyway. It's not meant for me I suppose.

Got any other recs?

Jul 15, 2014 6:26 AM

TripleSRank

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Nov 2011

9206

Keep in mind that most of what makes HxH seem original is its deconstruction of battle shounen tropes. Other battle shounen (usually) still use the tropes straight.

You're going to have a hard time finding what you're looking for.

Jul 15, 2014 6:30 AM

tsudecimo

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Dec 2012

24356

TripleSRank said:
Keep in mind that most of what makes HxH seem original is its deconstruction of battle shounen tropes. Other battle shounen (usually) still use the tropes straight.

Examples?

Jul 15, 2014 6:39 AM

StefanHere

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Jul 2013

788

here we go

Jul 15, 2014 7:40 AM

#10

Archadian

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Jan 2014

314

TripleSRank said:
Keep in mind that most of what makes HxH seem original is its deconstruction of battle shounen tropes. Other battle shounen (usually) still use the tropes straight.

You're going to have a hard time finding what you're looking for.

Yea I noticed this as well, it goes off its own instead of using the " tropes"
But there's gotta be something similar.

Does this show itself have any more of fights like this?

Jul 15, 2014 7:43 AM

#11

TripleSRank

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Nov 2011

9206

tsudecimo said:

TripleSRank said:
Keep in mind that most of what makes HxH seem original is its deconstruction of battle shounen tropes. Other battle shounen (usually) still use the tropes straight.

Examples?

@Others: Major spoilers. Don't open this unless you're caught up in the anime.

The idiot hero is deconstructed in conjunction with other tropes. In the physical sense (see determinator), this was played straight at first, as Gon would "win" against his opponents through sheer willpower (Hanzo, Canary). Later on, this has led to situations which have led to mortal peril: While the status quo was maintained after his recklessness on Greed Island, his initial attacking of Pitou would have killed him had Killua not stopped him. The second round nearly has killed him, and as far as we (er, anime viewers) know, it will have long-lasting side affects on his nen. The latter case was also a deconstruction of 11th Hour Superpower.

In the moral sense, Gon has made himself into a hypocrite. While he has angrily questioned others' willingness to harm innocents (Phantom Troupe, Bomber group), he himself threatened Kogumi's life without regard. He's also turned on his own friend, Killua, in his hate. This is a deconstruction of Protagonist-Centered Morality.

Next, strength (aka My Kung-Fu Is Stronger Than Yours). Most battle shounen focus on strength (be it physical or power-based) and sometimes tactics. As this thread points out, Hunter x Hunter tends to be more intelligent about its fighting, with this specific instance showcasing an excellent use of strategy and psychological battle. Morel's fights tend to showcase this as well. Experience is another factor taken more seriously than in many other works. At that, the idea of fighting fair, even with the "good guys" is tossed out the window, with the Little Rose being the most prominent example thus far.

Other subversions (not technically deconstructions, but still closely related) of typical tropes have lead to the following: quickness of goal achievement (becoming a hunter, getting Killua back, returning Hisoka's tag); the number of defeats Gon has suffered; the lack of constant focus on Gon (Yorknew, parts of Chimera Ant); a grey vs grey tale rather than an out-and-out black vs white tale; and the seriousness of death (once you're dead, you're dead- the humans who became Chimera Ants are a unique case, but death overall isn't cheap).

Given the topic, though, I'm not sure that this is an appropriate place to discuss this. Perhaps we should create a new thread or take it to our profiles?

OT:

Archadian said:
Yea I noticed this as well, it goes off its own instead of using the " tropes"
But there's gotta be something similar.

Does this show itself have any more of fights like this?

Yes, the fighting in general is much more intelligent than in most other battle shounen. While this was a particularly good example, you still have stuff to look forward to.

There may be other series similar to this show in this regard. I simply don't know of any. There are others with much more experience in anime than myself who could likely direct you better.

TripleSRankJul 15, 2014 7:48 AM

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Bizarre fights like Hisoka vs Kastro

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