Dusk

Thursday's my last day until Spring Break begins, which means I'm free to play Smash with you.

ooh really?? that's awesome. I'm still stuck trying to S rank some of the ones before it. D: Nice going!

Agh, travel time. Unless you can drive (and even then, rush hour traffic can be hell) it's a nightmare getting to places sometimes, especially if you live in an area where there aren't many trains. I can't imagine doing a three hour class though...three back-to-back, yes, but not one whole class like that. Sounds like a test of endurance more than anything else. xD

Well, all three of them are rather mainstream so I'm not surprised, aha. I was badgered into watching Madoka, and I wasn't impressed. The plot was predictable and shallow, the characters lacked depth, and it was poorly paced even for a 12-episode anime. Rebellion was an interesting but unnecessary continuation. Great soundtrack, though. I wouldn't classify it as a magical girl show personally, although I'm pretty sure I'm nearly alone in that. There is always room for diversity in a genre, but to me calling Madoka a magical girl show is like calling Kill la Kill a magical girl show (which some people do) solely because the central protagonist is female and has a transformation sequence. It's stretching the definition more than a little, because it completely misses the point of the genre, which is not to inflict as much pointlessly contrived suffering on the protagonists as possible.

Film critics weren't overly happy about The Wind Rises, but that was more due to the political content of it; it was quite controversial when it was first released in Japan, if I recall. I'll keep that in mind when I watch it, though...no matter how boring I may or may not find it, I find it inconceivable that it could possibly be any worse than Porco Rosso...now, there was a film that made me want to scream. I have zero knowledge of aviation in general though, so it could prove interesting~

So it's our hearing that is distorted, rather than the recording? I guess that makes sense, although attaching personal value to something you rarely ever hear - at least unclouded - still feels strange. Guess that's why most people don't like it. xD

I think regional dialect is a lot more random now than it used to, and confined more to individuals rather than wider areas; globalization and cultural exchange will do that. You have to look harder to find people with the stereotypical accent for their region, and it has to be pretty strong to notice at all, because you're used to hearing a wide variety of different accents. I think these days the stereotypical accent is more of an identifier for the media than it is an absolute definition; it's a put-on thing so people know that someone is meant to be from a specific place. It has little bearing on how people actually sound...which is a relief, because the stereotypical English accent makes me cringe and giggle in equal measure. xD
I suppose you could call it uncultured, although only in the sense that you don't have the specific, now stereotypical culture of the older generations. We grew up with diversity, so we're just not as sensitive to these things...unless we stop to think about it anyway, which we do less and less as we develop an identity outside of our parent's beliefs. I'd say it's a good thing in modern day society though - on balance, cultural values are more harmful than they are beneficial, as they provide a wonderful excuse for racism and bigotry. Better to develop your own attitudes and values untarnished by past ideas! At least, I think it is...but I'm a colossal cynic with a very dim view on human history. xD

I'm just curious, but how did you become a supporter?

Yeah, I know what you mean...it takes something very special now to freak me out. I don't even pay much attention to stuff like incest in anime anymore; I'm just so used to it. xD

...eep. Did you have early morning classes? The earliest I ever had at College/University was 9am, but I hear that in the Americas classes can start at something like 7am...when the majority of teenagers don't get up much before 10am. It never made much sense to me. Neither did classes longer than a couple of hours, when it becomes steadily harder to concentrate as time goes by. Guess it's all down to what you're used to~

More memorable media tends to be better, although that can work in reverse...I can remember Code Geass, Madoka Magica and the second half of Death Note quite vividly, and those were all awful! But yeah, it generally is harder to remember something unless it's exceptional in some fashion...or you find yourself watching it repeatedly for whatever reason. Part of the reason why I enjoyed Arrietty was the dub cast though, and I think the dub for the US version was different...not sure if that'd impact viewing significantly or not.

D'aww! I've not seen Grave of the Fireflies yet...I've not gotten around to buying it. Mother and I barely watch stuff together anymore; our music tastes intersect here and there, but our taste in film is just too different. It's nice to share this kind of thing, though - the internet is packed with people who enjoy anime, but outside of it finding people who enjoy it is next to impossible...especially when your tastes are obscure. It's either nothing at all or mainstream, which is just as bad, aha~

It does indeed! I've got a ton of the things saved up for assorted occasions...most of them of Yzma. Tumblr is a gold mine for these things.
I think it just sounds really odd to have your own voice played back to you; I don't think most people really note how they sound. It's like how people can't detect their own accents...not sure why. Because you get so used to hearing it that hearing it from a different perspective is strange, maybe? I'd definitely sing in mine...if I had the courage to post one. I expect it'd shock a lot of people if I did, though...plus I have a drawling semi-posh southern English accent, which really DOES sound awful, aha. But you didn't sound too bad to me...your voice is actually quite soothing, in fact. Not at all what I'd expect from a Texan accent! Although admittedly, you're only the second person I've met from Texas, and the first one was a guy, so I've not got much beyond the painful stereotype to go on!
*does as ordered and inserts something suitable*
"I am in despair! My voice has left me in despair!" /obscure reference

'Tis goodly; I enjoy reading long VMs! I just hope you don't mind excessively long/rambling/boring (delete as appropriate) responses. xD;

Well, I dunno...excluding the stuff that's played for laughs, what's the craziest/weirdest thing you've ever seen in anime? I can think of a couple of things I've seen that top it, but I have no idea how you'd judge it, so. I can't really specify without spoilers! xD;

Nah, I know plenty of people who stay up to whatever time strikes their fancy; I think it's actually more unusual to find someone like me with a fixed sleep schedule these days, aha. It just amazes me people can do it without any lasting consequences. But then, I guess most people didn't have someone waking them up at four in the morning throughout their childhood. xD

I wouldn't say that's illogical at all; if you enjoyed it, what does it matter if it had a few objectively negative aspects to it? I'm just one of those people who likes things to be well-structured most of the time; I feel the experience gets soured somewhat if there isn't a proper ending...it leaves me with questions I know won't get answered.
Really? I quite enjoyed Arrietty...which shocked me, because historically I have always hated anything with Borrowers in it! I shall keep this in mind when I watch it...and look into the score beforehand, aha. I tend to judge a lot of media entirely on its soundtrack before I see it. Although since OST is rarely considered important, in those instances when it's amazing, the rest of the product usually is as well. Hasn't steered me wrong so far~
Agh, my mother is like that - she refuses to watch anything animated, because she thinks that they're all going to have high-pitched voices like Pokemon/Digimon did, and I know if I could get her to watch one episode of Ghost in the Shell, or Psycho-Pass, then she'd probably enjoy it. Guess it isn't for everyone, although it'd be nice if a proper reason was provided as to why, or if they'd at least try to approach it objectively before outright dismissing it...

Yeah, the art style is pretty striking; it's got "Gurren Lagann" written all over it, aha. It stays at a pretty consistent high quality throughout as well, which is unusual for a show longer than 12 episodes these days. Hopefully it'll keep your entertained; just beware...things get a little crazy/weird/disturbing down the road. xD

Privacy is always nice to have, yeah. Especially when people have a tendency to look over your shoulder. I have the house to myself for the entire morning and half of the afternoon most days, so fortunately I've never had to go out of my way to get any, and bedrooms in this house are sacrosanct...unless washing needs to be put away or bedsheets changed. I just find myself constantly re-amazed that people can get by on so little sleep, or have such irregular sleeping patterns! If I tried napping during the day I'd throw my body clock into chaos and probably destroy my conscious mind for about a week at least; if I miss sleep that's tough luck, I have to be up and about at 6am. Adaptable I am not, aha. Which is annoying sometimes, because timezones mean I rarely get to speak to people outside of the weekends~

Going to the movies is generally a sociable activity, but it's always nice to have the cinema entirely to yourself, or close enough to it. I like early morning showings on weekdays; most people are working or planning on seeing shows later in the day, so I can sit wherever I please and not have to deal with any background noise. Guess I'm less sociable. xD
I've got that on DVD...really need to watch it somewhen. Studio Ghibli films are usually pretty good, although the lack of a conclusive ending in most of them is vexing...they just kinda trail off. Every good story needs a good ending! Or a good sequel.

It's one of those films that is always on TV, but you never get to watch it all...like The Parent Trap, or any film with Danny DeVito and Arnie in it. I found the whole idea of it interesting because my second degree was focused on white-collar crime/fraud, so I gravitate towards stuff like that by default. It's as fun to watch at it is to read about, at least for me~

It's more difficult to articulate your thoughts vocally than in writing, no? You don't have as much time to think about what you're going to say, and long awkward silences can't be explained away by a temporary distraction pulling you away from the keyboard, aha.
Oho, so your interest was piqued? How are you finding it thus far? I kinda want to watch it again, but I have a horrendous backlog of shows to plough through before I go re-watching favourites.
If you're in Texas, that makes the time you sent me this...around three in the morning. Holycrap. Do you not sleep? xD

Well, it'd help if they released some decent films! Guardians of the Galaxy was the last film I went to see as well, and I expect all I'll see this year is Age of Ultron...well, maybe I'll see the new Fantastic Four movie, and whatever is on in the morning on my birthday. There are lots of high-profile, constantly advertised films being released, but none of them look like they'd be worth seeing...at least this year. Next year looks a bit better. xD

/casually listening to your voice post
Catch Me If You Can was a great film! :3

btw thanks for the shout out ~ :3

idk if you like Lissa though o:

well aren't you sweet

I agree B)

And thanks :D

Thanks a lot! Glad to be part of it, and it's all thanks to Senusret :D

Yeah, it's a fairly easy thing to ignore in most shows; it has to be pretty damn obnoxious to get in the way of viewing, I think. Besides, sometimes it can add to the humour in the show...Nisekoi was packed with it, but it was still hilarious. You can take KlK very seriously if you want to, as it does cover some interesting grounds...it's just the interpretation. Some see it as derogatory, others as empowering. Some just don't care. xD

Indeed! Nonon has a few other classical pieces up her sleeves in the fight as well...plus there are a few bits and pieces used in the show outside of that. The OST is pretty good, yeah; it has a nice orchestral flair to it with the odd German (I think) vocals here and there. The Japanese voice acting is pretty good as well...Nonon's voice suits her down to the ground, and Ryuko shares her voice with my favourite lead Cure. xD
It'd be worth your time I think, but it's up to you! On the plus side the hype has died down now, so you'd be more or less free to watch it without bias/people screaming in your ear if you didn't like it after all~

thank you! you send the cutest animated avatars i swear. i want to steal them

tell me about it. I used to play every 1-2 hours but since I'm stuck on some stages I've just stopped playing as much, nowadays I check once or twice a day if that. pah. :(

Extremely; there are hundreds of the things floating about. Although not as many as I'd like of the catbus, the main reason I enjoyed that movie. xD
Most of it comes from either Tumblr or safebooru. You could try danbooru too if you were of a mind to, although it's not as clean as safebooru. A lot of what doesn't pass safebooru's filters isn't hugely inappropriate though, so it's always worth a look.
Oh gawd, yes. Half the time it's characters with cute Pokemon though, not characters AS cute Pokemon. xD
If you liked Gurren Lagann, there is a very high probability you'll enjoy Kill la Kill - it has the same over-the-top drama to it, with a plot that is both quite deep yet utterly ridiculous. But it depends on how sensitive you are - a lot of people dislike KlK for its fanservice, amongst other things. Clothing - or lack thereof - is a very prominent theme. I'm a simple person; I just think it's a damn good show, but it's something to keep in mind: over-analyzing it might not yield favourable results. As an acid test - if this makes you smile, chances are you'll enjoy it. xD

ew really? I'm dreading later levels. If this is how hard it is to S rank stages in the 70-80 range then I can't imagine later levels. Sucks for a completionist like me who also refuses to spend.. ;_;

It's up again if you wanna check it out. :3

http://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=345468