Finished episode 4 of Monster

[timepiececlock]

I haven't been this excited about an anime series in the early episodes since Princess Tutu, and before that FMA. I *want* episode 5, now. Immediately. I need it.

I think I've found my new crush.

Comments

[bronwenstx.livejournal.com]

Heh. @__@ I'm surprised you instantly got hooked! But that's great, we need more Monster fans - so under appreciated.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Why are you surprised?

I admit the pace is a bit slow (for the first episode, mostly), but it makes up for it with the high tension level.

[bronwenstx.livejournal.com]

When I showed it to my friends and anime-fan alike, it took them at least 10 episodes to get somewhat interested - and even then...anyways, like I said, it is under-appreciated that I'm just surprised. ^^ Then again it might be just that I don't know a lot of people who like plenty of intellectual-type anime considering they don't have the patience for it.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I love intellectual anime. But I need balance-- I want it to be smart _and_ interesting. I can't take smart and boring. Monster has been interesting enough from the get-go that it's not a problem, and the slow pace of episode 1 was made up for by Dr. Tenma, who I immediately liked as a character. After things Started To Happen in episode 2 the interest/tension level carried it on its own.

Some anime, however, is so slow I just fall asleep through it. I had that problem with Air, which I stopped watching around episode 6.

My favorite anime series balance intelligence with excitement-- FMA, Princess Tutu, Fruits Basket, and FLCL are good examples of this, and Monster is so far as well.

What's interesting is how Monster compares to GitS: Stand Alone Complex. I watched the first three episodes of GitS and I was bored stiff. I've watched episodes since then and still been, for the most part, bored. On the surface Monster and GitS are very similar in look and pacing and style, though GitS is more techy, the pacing of each episode and how stuff is revealed is similar. GitS is an intellectual anime too. However, as I said, GitS bored me. And I think I know why: I don't care about the characters. I have no interest in them or their fates whatsoever. For Monster, however, I already care about the protagonist a lot, so I'm emotionally invested, and that makes all the difference.