It's Always the Better Shows

[jedimaster91]

Actually, this reminds me of something that's somewhat related to the actual topic - when only parts of series are on DVD or Netflix. "No Reservations" only has ~75 episodes on Netflix. Only the first three "seasons" of "FMA: Brotherhood" are on Netflix, and those are the only ones in a box set on DVD. You have to buy 4 and 5 separately, and they're really expensive. A little consistency is all I'm asking for.

I'd like to see more content warnings on the cover somewhere. Ok, this anime's rated TVMA. Ok, why? Boobies? Violence? Bad words? Geneon's pretty good about it, but Funimation is not. And since Funimation seems to be the larger, more prolific distributor, I gloss over a lot of shows because I don't know what's in them. Violence I'm ok with. Boobies, not so much, lol.

One great show that got cancelled (by NBC for the stupid XFL) after 4 seasons is The Pretender. I LOVE this show. TNT picked up the syndication for awhile and we did get two movies out of it, but the story still isn't done. It's unlikely we'll get a third movie to tie everything up because the creators are broke. Please just put out a book or something!

I wish they'd carried out Batman Beyond longer, too. I know the creators decided to do Justice League instead, and it's another great show I was sad to see end. But, dangit, I loved Terry as Batman.

Another show that many fans are speculating is on its way out is Young Justice. It's a Greg Weisman show, and he always seems to get shafted on these things. Which is a real shame, because YJ is a very well-written, character driven, nuanced show. A large part of the problem is Cartoon Network. For some reason, they would only air 3 or 4 new episodes in a row. And then it would be 2 or 3 months before the next new block would air. That makes the story somewhat disjointed and hard to follow, so ratings took a hit.

Their latest stunt was after a 6 month hiatus and after only 2 new episodes, they not only yanked YJ, but the entire DC Nation block! Without any word to viewers or the creators. In the middle of a complex and involved story arc. Supposedly, the block is scheduled to return in January with a new Batman show. Current theory is they pulled the block so they could run it with the premier of the new show. As much as I love the Bat, part of me hopes the new show crashes and burns. Cuz I'm vindictive like that.

[AdminAssistant]

I'd like to see more content warnings on the cover somewhere. Ok, this anime's rated TVMA. Ok, why? Boobies? Violence? Bad words? Geneon's pretty good about it, but Funimation is not. And since Funimation seems to be the larger, more prolific distributor, I gloss over a lot of shows because I don't know what's in them. Violence I'm ok with. Boobies, not so much, lol.

Exactly. For example, there's no warning on "Elfen Lied" and if you aren't forewarned, as I was, the first 5 minutes will send you scrambling for the remote and/or your sanity. Luckily, you can usually predict a boobie anime by the opening credits. If it's a very pop-y, Jpop song with lots of cats and Kawaii-ness, I usually say no, thank you.

I'm so glad that "Sword Art Online" has been licensed by Aniplex instead of Funimation. Yeah, the DVD's will cost an arm and two legs when they come out, but the quality of the subs/dubs will be worth it. If you haven't watched any of it, it is SO GOOD. No boobies or ridiculous panty shots, but some violence. (Basically, it's a virtual reality MMO that the players get trapped in by the game's creator. If they die in the game, they die for real.)

[Andara Bledin]

We're so immature and hung up in the US when it comes to boobs. Not to say that they way they're treated in anime is any more mature, but it's certainly a lot less neurotic.

Also, there are some great series that have j-pop themes and little to no sexual themes. But since the shows are often aimed at viewers likely to be near puberty, boobs are often a notable focal point in their lives.

That said, I, too, would appreciate being able to know what a show was without having to look it up online. Then again, I wouldn't avoid a show entirely just because I couldn't be bothered to look it up first, either.

Speaking of: I keep seeing Elfen Lied and it's like in the kids sections at various shops. >_<

^-.-^

[jedimaster91]

Speaking of: I keep seeing Elfen Lied and it's like in the kids sections at various shops. >_<

*facepalm* It shouldn't surprise me, but that is all kinds of wrong and I don't really know how to respond. -_-

[Andara Bledin]

Some day, the rest of the public is going to have to realize that Animated =/= Childrens. >_<

^-.-^

[AdminAssistant]

You'd think, what with the popularity of Family Guy and South Park, they would have made that realization already.

[fireheart17]

Some day, the rest of the public is going to have to realize that Animated =/= Childrens. >_<

^-.-^

Oh believe me, I can't wait until someone picks up a copy of a hentai thinking that it's for a child.

You'd think, what with the popularity of Family Guy and South Park, they would have made that realization already.

Not necessarily. Some parents will let their kids watch South Park. At age 8. A number of parents also let their kids see the South Park film when it came out (in our house, it was banned until I was around 15)

[Duelist925]

Some day, the rest of the public is going to have to realize that Animated =/= Childrens. >_<

^-.-^

That attitude is exactly how I got my dad to rent "The Adventures of Kotetsu" for me as a young teen.

A show with tons of nudity, questionable breast physics, and a lot of violence.

I loved it, of course, but if he'd known what it was, I'd more likely have been watching another disney movie that night. =P

[mikoyan29]

You'd think, what with the popularity of Family Guy and South Park, they would have made that realization already.

It goes back longer than that. Tex Avery wasn't exactly for kids. Bugs Bunny could be watched by kids but it wasn't until I was an adult that I really appreciated it. There were also movies like Wizards and some of the other cartoons of the 70's (Fritz the Cat and Heavy Metal).

[Gravekeeper]

Urotsukidoji. The local video store let my friend rent the boxed set of Urotsukidoji when we were kids. Because hey, cartoon.

We were scarred for months. >.>

[Ginger Tea]

When Island world rebranded as manga entertainment in the UK after releasing Akira they had a spot about this new craze called Manga and Anime hitting the shores, most people were used to cartoons being U rated so their brains broke at the first few scenes of Urotsukidoji.

I got a tripple pack of shitty henti (made shittier by the BBFC's cuts) at our local forbidden planet, I think it was the darkness trilogy, but tbh it was mostly forgetable
I asked "is this going to be what I think it is?"
"Yes."
"I'm gonna get it to see how shit it really is"

The bbfc cut out the bits of the giant woman draining the tentacle monster dry in some sex acts (forget if it was bj's or penetration cut) but the end credits showed the cut scene in quater frame in a best of montage.

The Jpop story they didnt even bother to redub the music track, that told me right off that there was a cut here there and everywhere.

Methinks something like bible black would be heavily cut in the UK, I've seen scenes pop up from time to time on porntubes, yeah don't think I would be watching the whole episode if i were to get the box set.

[Nekojin]

A depressingly high percentage of translated hentai is the domination/degradation/rape segment. There's far too few that are fun to watch. Space Ship Agga Ruter is one of the best, and tragically was cut short when the animators got a bid to do something better (and non-hentai).

Edit: And god forbid they decide to dub it. Here's a hint, guys: Porn actresses typically don't make good VAs.

[fireheart17]

Re the anime ratings dilemma, Australia's classification system addresses this somewhat.

Our ratings system goes as follows:

G-General Audience.
PG-Parental Guidance if you're under 15.
M-Mature Audiences, unrestricted (meaning that you can be 10 and watch Harry Potter :P)
MA-Mature Audiences, restricted to over 15.
R-Restricted, 18 and older only.
X-Porn.

In addition to those ratings though, next to the rating symbol, they will then say what it contains to give it that rating, although it's still vague-ish. For example, my Chobits boxset is rated M. Next to it, it will state "Sexual References, Low Level Violence".

The really stupid kicker however, is that unless it's in one case, each DVD in a series or boxset is evaluated individually. Haruhi Suzumiya and Negima are examples of this: Vol. 1 of Haruhi Suzumiya is rated M/MA (don't have the boxset here to look) while the other discs are generally PG/M. I suspect that the reason behind the first one is the thousand and one sexual references floating around. Negima on the other hand, has 4 discs G-Rated and the remaining 2 as PG/M rated. The reasoning? Because the 2 PG/M discs contain more violence and sexual references than the other 4.

here's the chobits example: http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/suppo...bnSearch=Go%21


In terms of what they consider to be low/medium/high level, here's a very rough guide: (other things mentioned include "drug use/references", "Medical procedures" and so on)

Low level violence: comical in nature or maybe the occasional slap.
Medium/Moderate level violence: it's there, may be somewhat comical, but is generally intended to hurt someone (i.e. Full Metal Panic Fumoffu)
High level violence: blood, guts, gore, everywhere. (think of "Hostel" or "Saw" for examples)

Low level sexual references: Sexual jokes, maybe the odd emphasis on breasts, groin etc. usually a woman in a bikini or swimsuit (for example, The Simpsons episode involving Homer selling the sex tonic would merit a low level sexual reference)
Medium level sexual references: Panty shots, cleavage, male rear nudity, female rear nudity (possibly) (think of Negima?)
High level sexual references: full frontal nudity (male and female) this includes both waist-up and waist-down.

Drug references: basically, any mention of marijuana or drugs in general will result in this warning.
Drug use: as it says on the can. (Episode where Homer Simpson smokes Marijuana is an example)

Low level language: the occasional curse or insult at someone.
Medium level language: more frequent instances of insults and cursing, may include one or two instances of "Shit" or "Crap"
High level language: use of "fuck" in the right context or the use of fuck repeatedly (so Hell's Kitchen US is one example)

[Gravekeeper]

My Chobits boxed set is rated 16 and up.

Also, you will now forget I just admitted I own the boxed set of Chobits.

[Nekojin]

Tangent: Chobits had a great deal of potential that never really materialized. Good setup, lackluster follow-through.