I have just finished re-watching Last Exile and, I’ve been wondering what it was like for fans of the show in 2003. Did they look at the future of Gonzo with high expectations? Were they impressed with what the studio had put out so far? If so, I feel so sorry for those poor bastards. I’m not really going to sit around bashing Gonzo, because there isn’t much that needs to be said other than “These guys were behind Dragonaut” (Though I guess the fact that they made a music video for an emo band’s most emo song is pretty sad too).
So I’ve got a bit of a prejudice against these guys, and I really don’t see how I can be faulted for it. Which is why Tower of Druaga was an incredibly pleasant surprise. The fake first episode was so much better than expected that I nearly shat myself, and the series was basically like watching an RPG, which made the gamer inside of me want to play through it all myself, and no, I don’t mean the ancient game from which the series takes its name, though I guess that wouldn’t be a bad idea.
The series really struck a good balance with me. Other than how rushed this first season seemed, I had no major complaints. I mean, after Dragonaut, the very fact that I enjoyed a Gonzo series was a bit of a surprise, but I didn’t enjoy this series due to low expectations alone. The comedy was great, the girls were cute, and the action wasn’t half bad. Best of all, the good guys win with weapons instead of magical love-beams, and the 3D animation was minimal. I’m pretty sure there weren’t any giant phalli either. Thanks, Gonzo!
More than anything, shows like this make me wish Japan would make more full-fledged comedies. I guess Gyagu Manga Biyori 3 counts, but nobody subbed it. Which reminds me: In 3 weeks it will be the 1-year anniversary of Ayu’s last Gyagu Manga 2 release, and they’ve still got it listed as “In Progress”.
What a bunch of assholes.
*ahem* Anyways, if DVD specials and random filler episodes have taught me one thing, it’s that no matter how shitty the show or boring the characters, they can still be used to make good comedy. It’s almost depressing when Shanatan and Sky Girls Dynamite Fishing are better watches than the shows they were derived from, but it’s the undeniable truth. The difference with Druaga is that the series manages to keep that light-hearted comedy running before and after its hilarious filler. So here’s to Druaga for not sucking, and I hope the next season wont be ruined by taking things too seriously. Good job guys.
Now if only they hadn’t released Blasswhateveritscalled at the same time. Kinda kills any restored faith I had in them.
Ah darn it. and I was thinking of watching Gag Manga Biyori. *sigh* I guess I”ll just see the first season.
I think Gankutsuou was the only Gonzo show that amazed me. Everything else was “*facepalm* It’s Gonzo….” or “Failed potential”
I found that Blassreiter became surprisingly watchable after around 3-4 eps and now qualifies in my mind as a “worth watching” show.
Some other Gonzo series that I believe are worth the time invested in them are Seto no Hanayome, NHK & Gankutsuou.
Its a shame almost everything else produced by them is so terrible
Special A was decent…
>tj
I guess, but “decent” shoujo to me is still crap.
Gonzo is made of win – Blue Submarine no. 6, Kaleido Star, Last Exile, Samurai 7, Gankutsuou, NHK, and a hole bunch of other shit I’ve heard nothing but good about from reliable sources up through last year (seto no hanayome and romeo x juliet both got high praise from people I agree with most of the time) anyone lambasting them is overreacting. Sunrise and Gainax have about th same shit to awesome ratio.
also, they more or less make up for the LP video with a Dream Theter video, though the song is a sappy-ass balad totally uncharacteristic of the band’s style
I would also say check out Gankutsuou if you haven’t already. Even just for the stylistic aspects, though the retelling of the Count of Monte Cristo is interesting. :P
And man, is it wrong to like that LP video? If so, than throw me in jail. The over the top emo-hate is lol sometimes. :3
Gonzo is fine. But of course Beefs is gay and doesn’t care about stuff besides the anime in front of him, which is admittedly a very pragmatic perspective even when it makes a poor foundation to draw sweeping statements.
>21db
Yeah, Gonzo used to make a lot of good stuff. My point is that they’ve fallen from grace. Also, lol RxJ
>BigN
I’ve seen Gankutsuou and I loved it.
>Omo
Gonzo is not fine, and I really don’t see how anyone can say otherwise. They were behind some of my favorite series a few years back, but the quality of their work seems to be quickly deteriorating. I realize I’m making these claims without having seen many of their recent works, but I imagine sitting down and watching shit like Afro Samurai and Rosario + Vampire wouldn’t help anything.
Afro Samurai is fucking brilliant, I don’t give a fuck what anyone says.