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At Laz's suggestion in the forums, I checked out E's Otherwise on Anime Network On Demand. I missed the first episode, and I wish I hadn't because I'm sure I missed some good background... but I was able to pick up pretty easily from the second episode.
The world of E's Otherwise is one controlled by 12 megacorporations and filled with mutant human psychics. The psychics are feared and hated by most humans, but ASHURUM corp has taken many in and trained them as special force known as AESES. Kai is a psychic who is was delegated to the ASHURUM corp for training.... and it seems his future with the corp is uncertain.
It is an interesting Anime, one that feels familiar. The character models are attractive, but I swear I have seen them before. I scanned the credits for some of the project leads, and though I recognized a few names, I could not quite put my finger on where.
The story so far is a compete shade of gray. It is not clear yet who the good guys are, or who the bad guys are, or if they are all just self-serving ideologues ... but the foreshadowing shows our lead protagonist, Kai, either doubting his role in AESES or changing sides sometime in the future.
The dub didn't grab me right away, but they have some really good English cast members such as Chris Patton and Hillary Haag (I loved them both in Full Metal Panic), so I'm sure its just a matter of finding the roles. The sound seemed to run hot and cold on my TV as well, it may be a side effect of On Demand... not sure yet.
I find I have been spoiled by watching DVDs for so long... I hate waiting for the next episode. Any idea what the turnaround time is on On Demand?
The world of E's Otherwise is one controlled by 12 megacorporations and filled with mutant human psychics. The psychics are feared and hated by most humans, but ASHURUM corp has taken many in and trained them as special force known as AESES. Kai is a psychic who is was delegated to the ASHURUM corp for training.... and it seems his future with the corp is uncertain.
It is an interesting Anime, one that feels familiar. The character models are attractive, but I swear I have seen them before. I scanned the credits for some of the project leads, and though I recognized a few names, I could not quite put my finger on where.
The story so far is a compete shade of gray. It is not clear yet who the good guys are, or who the bad guys are, or if they are all just self-serving ideologues ... but the foreshadowing shows our lead protagonist, Kai, either doubting his role in AESES or changing sides sometime in the future.
The dub didn't grab me right away, but they have some really good English cast members such as Chris Patton and Hillary Haag (I loved them both in Full Metal Panic), so I'm sure its just a matter of finding the roles. The sound seemed to run hot and cold on my TV as well, it may be a side effect of On Demand... not sure yet.
I find I have been spoiled by watching DVDs for so long... I hate waiting for the next episode. Any idea what the turnaround time is on On Demand?
Studio Summary
From the director of Ah! My Goddess!
Kei Kusanagi isn't your typical 15 year old high school student. He's actually an 18 year old with a rare disorder that puts him into what he calls, a "standstill". When he was younger, this disorder left him in a deep coma which stunted his growth for the next three years!
Mizuho Kazami isn't your typical teacher either. She's actually an alien sent by the Galaxy Federation to observe the Earth! As the sole human being with knowledge of Ms. Kazumi's secret, Kei must marry the alien?! Homework, dating, and a gorgeous wife going to school has never been quite this fun!
Contains all 13 episodes!
DVD Features: textless opening and ending, music clip, design gallery, and previews.
Age Rating: 16+
Spoken Languages: English, Japanese, English subtitles.
Purchase Please Teacher from our online store!
From the director of Ah! My Goddess!
Kei Kusanagi isn't your typical 15 year old high school student. He's actually an 18 year old with a rare disorder that puts him into what he calls, a "standstill". When he was younger, this disorder left him in a deep coma which stunted his growth for the next three years! Mizuho Kazami isn't your typical teacher either. She's actually an alien sent by the Galaxy Federation to observe the Earth! As the sole human being with knowledge of Ms. Kazumi's secret, Kei must marry the alien?! Homework, dating, and a gorgeous wife going to school has never been quite this fun!
Contains all 13 episodes!
DVD Features: textless opening and ending, music clip, design gallery, and previews.
Age Rating: 16+
Spoken Languages: English, Japanese, English subtitles.
Purchase Please Teacher from our online store!
There is a rarely recognized, but commonly used plot device in many anime romantic comedies. Nothing like the Curly Shuffle, it is the kind of move you'd expect from guys back in junior high - a trick they would use to get close to a girl they liked. In anime, it always seems to happen innocently and accidentally. However, there is nothing innocent or accidental about the plot device itself, it is pure fan service through and through. (Fan service is an anime industry term for scenes made to excite or titillate the viewer.)
I call it the Shonen Stumble.
Most anime (and manga) romantic comedy is considered Shoujo (translation: for girls), but there many crossover titles that target a largely male audience (or Shonen: for boys). Over the years, I have seen this plot device employed in these crossover titles again and again. You need to know where to look, but as soon as you recognizance the convention, you will see it early ... and often.
Here is how the Shonen Stumble works. Usually, a guy (or gal) is helping the current (or future) object of his affection do something. Move in, clean, pack - it really does not matter what it is. During the process, one of the characters will stumble or trip - it is inevitable, it will happen, and when it does the two characters will crash into each other and land in a heap on the floor. More often than not, that heap puts the two of them in very compromising and embarrassing positions. What happens afterward is always unique to the series, but the results are generally very funny.
The funniest thing about the Shonen Stumble is it never gets old. Now I may just be a bit little twisted, in fact I know I am, but the move still cracks me up every time I see it in a new show. I guess you can call it a running gag for the genre, but it is employed so well by directors you just have to love it almost every time it happens. The Shonen Stumble generally occurs in the first or second episodes of a show to start the ball rolling between two characters - and it may come up over and over again as a running gag. Fan service is often involved, a flash of skin here or a panty there, just enough to make at least one the main characters uncomfortable.
Still not quite sure what the Shonen Stumble is or why it is funny? Here are some examples I snipped from some of my favorite anime romantic comedies.
I call it the Shonen Stumble.
Most anime (and manga) romantic comedy is considered Shoujo (translation: for girls), but there many crossover titles that target a largely male audience (or Shonen: for boys). Over the years, I have seen this plot device employed in these crossover titles again and again. You need to know where to look, but as soon as you recognizance the convention, you will see it early ... and often. Here is how the Shonen Stumble works. Usually, a guy (or gal) is helping the current (or future) object of his affection do something. Move in, clean, pack - it really does not matter what it is. During the process, one of the characters will stumble or trip - it is inevitable, it will happen, and when it does the two characters will crash into each other and land in a heap on the floor. More often than not, that heap puts the two of them in very compromising and embarrassing positions. What happens afterward is always unique to the series, but the results are generally very funny.
The funniest thing about the Shonen Stumble is it never gets old. Now I may just be a bit little twisted, in fact I know I am, but the move still cracks me up every time I see it in a new show. I guess you can call it a running gag for the genre, but it is employed so well by directors you just have to love it almost every time it happens. The Shonen Stumble generally occurs in the first or second episodes of a show to start the ball rolling between two characters - and it may come up over and over again as a running gag. Fan service is often involved, a flash of skin here or a panty there, just enough to make at least one the main characters uncomfortable.
Still not quite sure what the Shonen Stumble is or why it is funny? Here are some examples I snipped from some of my favorite anime romantic comedies.
Studio Summary - Set 01 Contains DVDs 1-3
In 1999, a giant alien spacecraft crash lands on South Ataria island. Humanity proceeds to attempt to rebuild this marvel, but political conflicts centered around the Macross result in a global war. After 10 years, the Unification Wars are finally over, the new Earth United Nations Government is in power, and work on the Macross is complete.
On the day of the launching ceremony, its main cannon fires on its own, destroying an alien spacecraft. This fateful day marks the beginning of the war between the humans on the Macross and the Zentradi, a race of humanoid aliens of giant proportions.
In 1999, a giant alien spacecraft crash lands on South Ataria island. Humanity proceeds to attempt to rebuild this marvel, but political conflicts centered around the Macross result in a global war. After 10 years, the Unification Wars are finally over, the new Earth United Nations Government is in power, and work on the Macross is complete.On the day of the launching ceremony, its main cannon fires on its own, destroying an alien spacecraft. This fateful day marks the beginning of the war between the humans on the Macross and the Zentradi, a race of humanoid aliens of giant proportions.
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