Report Argyll's Profile

[*]I watch and enjoy all types of anime.
[*]I don't follow manga.
[*]I have seen anime not only from Japan, but also China, Europe, and "elsewhere". WallE and Up are my favorite "non-anime" movies.
I don't follow all available anime ritualistically though. I drop the "uninteresting" ones quickly.
[*]I enjoy the anime-exclusive symbols and fettish from 90s, earlier and now.


Anime is no doubt to me a viable, multi-dimensional, and successful yet unique medium of art and story-telling.

----

I usually introduce my friends into anime with the following recipe.

1. A movie. Usually The Girl Who Leapt Through Time or 5 Centimeters per Second
2. A series with many popular elements and one that suits the personality of the recommendee. e.g. Code Geass
3. Followed by what I consider as powerful and classic. e.g. Steins;Gate

----

A note about rating.


In principle, I follow the native descriptions that come with the scores. e.g. 7 - good. 8 - very good. Naturally, numerous anime are crowded between 7 and 8.
The exception is score 10. It means personal favorite, or what I consider as the paramount quality among current anime. 10 means 11/10.

The following factors are important to me in rating, with an order of precedence.

1. Concept - 15%
   
2. Directing - 30%
   
3. Art - 30%
   
4. Plot, Story & Theme - 20%
   
5. Dialogue - 5%
   
6. Music & Voice-acting - 5%
   Importance order is one thing. Weighing for scores is another though. Hence the %s.
   And the percentage do not add up, on purpose. Don't worry. I know math rather well...

- Concept

• 世界観 or "worldview" <-- " " for its connotation in anime and stories
  
• 人設 or character concept

Sometimes, an interesting setting is all it takes for an anime to be enjoyable and anticipated.
A prime example is
e.g. Sword Art Online
where the overall story can be said to be lacking or stereotyped, the series competes to be among the most memorable anime because the social aspects of MMORPG and the world where a game is equivalent to real life had rarely been explored.
Character concept is often not considered a part of the "worldview". But an interesting blend of personalities bring about the same effect as an interesting physical setting.

- Directing & Animation <-- utmost importance

• Dramatic pacing
  
• Action directing for action shots
  
• Motion and static portray
  ie. The arrangement of characters, background elements, etc and their movements.
  
• Music directing
  
• Comedic directing

The arrangements of (moving) characters and scenery elements (natural or artificial); the timing of dialogues and events; the abstraction of action series; the compatibility between music and visual; and last but not least, the insertion of humor, the balance between seriousness and comedy. These are highly non-trivial and, in fact, the backbone of an anime!! Try making a motion story skit yourself and see if I am right. They are the most important aspects of anime.

Note: Dramatic pacing is a vague word. But it is best examplified by
e.g. Steins;Gate. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

- Artistic Concept & Abstraction

• Symbolism
  
• Character/costume designs <-- unimportant for me
  
• Scenery portray

By art, I mean the alien forestry and wildlife in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind; the violent beauty in Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen; the arrangements of shapes and colors in Magical Girl Madoka (just as an ordinarily excellent example). It does not have to be original and surreal though - realistic is fine. Detail is everyting.

- Plot, Story, Theme, & Philosophy

This includes how the characters interact with each other and social/natural environment.
This category is also how detective type anime win their scores from me .<-- not much

- Dialogue

Anime series are entertainment with language after all. Catchy, (pseudo-) philosophical, and (unrealistically) 熱血 or vicious dialogues are must.

Note: Being philosophical and sophisticated-sounding do not auto-gain scores from me. If you don't find 熱血 or naïveté in anime, where would you? Art carries hope, even if it has to be embarrassing.

- Music & Voice-acting

Music shapes the mood of a scene; while voice-acting is detrimental in shaping a character. Superb music and/or voice are necessary in score 10.
But these two important aspects of anime just don't stand out usually -- they are only most noticeable when done wrong. Nonetheless there are instances where music and voice-acting raises the quality of the anime to a whole different level.
e.g. MS Gundam Seed[/i]
That's where this category comes in for rating.

-----

If you feel like a sea battle in Total War: Napoleon, let me know. Message me here or add Steam account by the name Argyll.