(no subject)

[timepiececlock]

I'm reading the Bleach manga right now. I've only gotten through chapter 1 so far (well that and the two first episodes of the anime).

I want the Bleach fans on my flist to know that so far I am reading this for YOU, and not for me, because at the moment I think it's a bad YYH (which I didn't even like anyway, either)imitation with delusions of Ranma 1/2, wrapped up in your run of the mill boring ass shounen cliches.

But you all seem so damn enamored, so I'll try, try, try, try try, try, try try try, try, try again.


EDIT: Bored, bored, bored... sometimes I feel seriously spoiled by things like FMA and Naruto. But dude, even InuYasha was more original than this, and as much as I love IY that's not the pinnacle of anime/manga splendor. Then again, like I said before this has delusions of Ranma. Too bad; I've already seen the wacky family members randomly battling each other and the whacked out, eccentric father engaging in daily fights with the son to make him stronger. Rumiko Takahashi did it first, and did it better.

And the whole thing with Ichigo instantly breaking the seal-- okay, that's standard magic-boy supernatural hero stuff. I can take that. But did the shinigami girl's reaction have to be so typical? The scene was pulled word for word out of a hundred other anime. That was a major lost opportunity for this anime to catch my interest. If the Shinigami girl had simply given his newly freed person a casual once-over glance, and a muttered "Interesting..." that would have been at least a little different. If she had followed up with "Well if you can do that, get your ass over here and help, but don't do anything until I say so," then I would have been mildly intrigued.

And him standing in front of the monster and having no fear, his FIRST time seeing a monster, especially one that has already hurt/possibly killed his family? Gimme a break. I'm so over that shonen cliche. I don't ask for reality in terms of events, but I ask for reality in terms of characterization. I think about this, then I compare it to Edward Elric in the butcher shop, running for his life and terrified that he's going to die, because as brave as he is he knows he's totally powerless. Or Edward giving himself up to Scar in a desperate attempt to save Al in episode 15. Or Uzumaki Naruto, frozen in place by just looking at Zazuba. Or Sasuke in the second part of the chunnin exam, willing to give up the scroll rather than get killed. I'm even thinking of a couple of different scenes from Fushigi Yuugi.

I know unexplainable unrealistic absence of fear the first time the new, untested or untrained hero faces an evil monster is a typical shonen anime cliche, but that sort of thing never sat well with me. And now that I've seen shonen and action/adventure anime that DOESN'T do that, I'm finding it even less interesting.

Comments

[octopedingenue]

I wasn't very impressed with the first volume of "Bleach", which I picked up last fall purely because Ichigo looked like Kyou from "Fruits Basket" on the cover. The art style didn't move me, and I couldn't keep any of the characters straight except for Ichigo, Rukia, and Orihime (who is darling). But I liked those three well enough to keep reading, though I still wasn't hugely interested... I didn't start to genuinely like the series as a whole until volume 3, which had some very sweet dramatic touches that again reminded me of Kyou. And I liked the comedy in volume 4.

I'm still not in love with the series, and I can understand why you're not, but I do like it. I promised hecatehatesthat that I'd read the rest of the scanlations if she'd write fic for me, and riddering promised me that there is a character like Andrew from "Buffy"!

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I'm feeling like he's kinda like Kyou, except that I feel nothing for him yet I instantly loved Kyou and found him sympathetic. For example: both first chapters have the main character getting in a fight: but Ichigo won his first fight, whereas the first thing Kyou did was get pummled by Yuki.

It's nice to know that someone else didn't fall in love with it right off either. I'm through chapter 7 right now and still not very interested. But I will try up to volume 3, since someone else mentioned that one as well.

Ohoho!

[riddering.livejournal.com]

I told you there was a character like Andrew but after reading through the series I have discovered someone else you will love. Imagine taking all the personality, fierceness, lovable amorality, and strength of Greed. Then take the super-powerful aspect of Sesshomaru and also give that character a Rin who is sassy and strong and just a little scary and devoted to said character. If you do that, you have Kenpachi from Bleach.

Re: Ohoho!

[octopedingenue]

...Yes, but is he HOT? ;P

Re: Ohoho!

[riddering.livejournal.com]

*shakes head* You make the baby Alphonse cry.

Re: Ohoho!

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

As punishment for making baby Alphonse cry, you are hereby ordered to download Samurai Champloo #19 immediately and yousendit to me. If you choose not to accept this mission, baby Alphonse will not only cry, he will commit fratricide.