MetaVerse: Spring ’15 – 01
Soma’s cooking, Bell’s pickup chances, Isla’s retrieval skills and Yuuichiro’s escape on this week’s MetaVerse
——————————
Hello everybody indeed, welcome to the first MetaVerse episode of the Spring 15 anime season! I’m sorta combining what I’ve done with mini-talks in the past with the standard MV concept with intent to bring the podcast out weekly. Me and one other co-host (this week, OC joined me) will talk news, views on selected anime episodes, and do an extra discussion segment that could be about anything anime-related. The image above highlights the shows we discuss, including balancing food porn with porn in Soma and more on Dungeon, Plastic Memories and Seraph of the End.
——————————
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:52 — 38.6MB)
Intro (“Kibou no Uta” by Ultra Tower from Shokugeki no Soma)
01:30 – News
Anime Episode Discussions
- 06:33 – Shokugeki no Soma 01
- 10:47 – Is It Wrong to Try and Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? 01
- 15:30 – Plastic Memories 01
- 21:30 – Seraph of the End 01
25:10 – Topic: What we value in anime and the subject of faithfulness to source content
Outro (“Spice” by Tokyo Karankoron from Shokugeki no Soma)
Only using this because it’s been such a long time since I’ve gotten to use my own Metanorn header xD. And it’s an awesome banner. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the show and our discussion and that the format is one you can dig. Hint for next week’s guest: gotta good feeling F/SN UBW is gonna be discussed. 🙂
About Meta Cast
The team behind Metanorn's Podcast, MetaVerse. Our aniblogging experience gives us the expertise to dish out detailed opinions on which series to watch and ones to drop. And remember, we take fangirling seriously!
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Fuck. What is this show by rock!! trying to do to me.
Hello Kittified CG Kemonomimi.
This shows the summary of what is happening to me. Waga Kemonomimi Paradise!
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
I’ve only seen the first 10mins and generally think Show By Rock has the best CGI I’ve ever seen in any anime! Almost as good quality as a Video game cutscene <3
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Because it is adapted from a game? Sanrio meets iM@s. Couldn’t help laughing every 5 minutes at the cheesy potshots it takes out of the industry and stereotypical cliches.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Right it is from a game so that helps them get away with the whole full CGI thing.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
ShingancrimsonZ
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
*tap*tap* Spammy is hogging all the kemonomimi!
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
Shokugeki doesn’t actually as much content as it seems, it makes me a bit fearful about how are they going to put that out there, so far…they’re making good on their word
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
My thought is that J.C. Staff isn’t gonna do a continually running show, and that if they wanted to do a 24 ep season, they got plenty enough to adapt now. If they want to do more, then J.C. will let more chapters come out for a year or two before continuing the series.
POWUH: 600-699 with 691 comments
that is a great idea…i’m even more pumped to see how are they going to do this
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Some comments:
1)Souma’s artist, Saeki Shun, used to draw eromanga under the penname ‘tosh’. Famous works include Menkui! and Harem Time.
2)Dungeon’s character designs are by Suzuhito Yasuda. So if anyone here still needs Durarara!-related fixes…
3)Seraph’s author,Kagami Takaya*,will be directly working with the animation team on this adaptation. He’ll personally supervise all episode scripts, and even draft story episodes for parts the source manga hasn’t caught up to yet.
*Author of Legend of the Legendary Heroes and A Dark Rabbit has 7 Lives.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
1) I am familiar with Tosh’s work daaaayum xD
2) Aaand Gundam Build Fighters <3
3) NICEEEEEEE it is great to have the original creator involved in the project.
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
Very interesting about Seraph. It’s not too often to hear of a original creator as involved in the anime as Takaya appears to be based off your comment.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Sounds like we don’t have to worry about a horrible anime original ending if the creator is this involved. Whew…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The news obliterated the very thought of an anime original ending. Particularly for this show I find promising.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
The second half of Tokyo Ghoul was taken personally by the reins of its manga author.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Between Souma and Nigella Lawson, who do you think will induce foodgasms more?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Souma is the clear winner. As an aside, did anyone see one of the fansubs? They clearly point out and spell “umami” in the typesetting, but subtitle the clearly spoken word in the dialog as “savory”. Uh, make up your mind guys…
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Gordon Ramsey.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
It would be great if the lady character at the end had to chastise a bunch of donkey’s trying to cook…
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Soumaaaaaaaa
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
But is it TRULY wrong to pick up girls (or boys) in a dungeon? Or should we be expanding our horizons like young Bell here?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Picking up girls is side quest, not so much main quest.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
See the reply on the series’ own thread. There lies the answer.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Hahaha!! No need to worry! I’ve already seen the first episodes of all shows highlights by the pictures so it’s all good. I feel like I’ve called out on a crime for the last show. 😀
Seraph of the End began in 2012 so it’s fairly recent compared to other mangas. The site where I go to read has a total of 31 chapters though I purposely stopped at chapter 20. It says 12 episodes on MAL as Jrow said but don’t be deceived because the series is a planned split cour from the beginning with the other half already set for Fall. Search “Owari no Seraph” again and you’ll see “Owari no Seraph S2” beneath the original. The concern of whether or not there would be enough material to adapt is completely out the window as its creator is directly involved and supervising; furthering the anime’s story before it even reaches the manga. I could say more but don’t want to as I’m saving my other thoughts for the First Impression.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I’ve heard it was announced that it will have an anime original end, do you know if that’s true?
I don’t mind that the original manga is so short, as long as the anime goes somewhere good. The best example is the original FMA, which I call the best filler anime ever made. The entire thing was originally done because they didn’t have enough manga to adapt in the beginning, but it was extremely well done and is in my anime Hall of Fame.
As for Owari no Seraph, I really liked both Yuu and Mikaela, so I’m interested in seeing their
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
And suddenly they do a A/Z ending. Mass riots erupt. From what I’ve seen so far, it looks promising but I’ll wait another couple of eps first.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Hahaha, I’m already assured!
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
You are so confident it’ll end like A/Z already? 😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Pfft! As if!
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
If he does an A/Z ending, there will be more than riots. I will send my own brand of fantastical virus to their studio and see how they like it.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’d take a front row seat to see that but I don’t think anyone is that reckless.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Those are famous last words. Please don’t use them.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I don’t know how to answer that. As I said, the author is in control here. He’s going to surpass his own material with the anime. Covering future parts of the story before it even gets serialized in the manga.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Well, the story is cool so far (though I do have an issue with the logistics of this so called virus) and having an anime that surpasses the manga but done by the original creator could be interesting.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
What do you mean by the logistics of the viurus?
An author helming the adaptation of his own work is something that should more frequently. For Tokyo Ghoul, because the manga was left to the studio to do with as they please, people say the first half was a rushed mess. But the second half, Tokyo Ghoul √A, was an alternate and original concept story from the author himself.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
I expect a lot of explaining on how this “virus” works, because if they leave it as is, it is nigh impossible for a virus to do what they portrayed that it can in that first episode. I could go more into it, but I’ll save that for the first impressions.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I was just about to suggest saving that topic for the First Impression. I haven’t gotten to the subject in the manga but I have my suspicions.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
To quote Gundam: “I HAVE CONTROL!”
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Unfortunately, I outgrew Gundam a long time ago.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
For shame, one can never outgrow Gundam. 😀
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
In my case, it’s possible since I haven’t watched anything Gundam related since I was a kid and Toonami was in its prime.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
LOL Seraph of the END soooo predictable with those kids “Yeah were gonna escape” HOOO-KAYYYY nice try guys! The moment the girl+little kids were introduced I was like WELP they are dead.
Also what kind of vampire dies from a headshot? What a weak ass vampire, but I KNOWWWWWW he isn’t really dead and what of the blonde kid? I have a feeling he will survive and become a vampire for the sake of DRAAAMAaaa.
Seraph = new Valvrave for me <3
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yeesh… I don’t really like that comparison. To me, it doesn’t fit.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Only time will tell.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
You will like it! MUHAHAHAHAH
It’s just a joke anyway pay me no mind <3
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
And the difference is Valvrave was an original work that went all over the place imaginable. Seraph is working towards something structured.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Well, I do have to admit that Valvrave’s premiere ep was slightly more enjoyable than Seraph’s, but that’s just because it had mecha and L-elf. And anything with L-elf trumps anything. 😉
But we’ll see what Seraph’s got.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Oh, we pretty much know who that will be. Here’s my hint: Death Perception.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
And so as I pray…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
And you must do so day and night…
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
no.
stop.
quoting.
that.
every.
time.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Unlimited Precure Works.
Wait. That actually is real.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
lol
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
DanMachi is an original LN with a manga adaptation. FI is forthcoming.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
With UroButcher I think studio’s or producers are wary of what has to be a high paycheck he demands to make a full cour. So they pay him for “brain droppings”, and they get that. Still his name does get attached, and at the end of it, no one is willing to give quarter to “Story by” or “Based on his sleepy talk murmuring he allowed us to record” instead of the real position of Screenplay or Script. At this point I wonder if he’s just waiting for all these ideas to expire and gloat at how badly everyone pulled his ideas off. Then, it’s a triumphant return?
Make great script
Earn lots of money
Suggest ideas
????????
Profit even more…
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
His opus magna: Madoka and F/Z. I’m impressed how he pulled off a backstory to a known outcome.
Which of these shows this season incorporates his brain droppings?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Gunslinger Stratos? He’s listed as Planning. Which means someone gave him five bucks and he turned away for a brief moment so someone rip out a few pages of his journal.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
I can only hope he is in planning with plans to cause shit to happen at the end.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
After watching the first episode, I don’t know if I care…
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Yeah, there’s no way I’m making it to the end of that show.
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
Actually, from what I’ve heard and seen, it wasn’t even that he contributed to the actual show, but that he did the “original concept” of the first video game that the show is based on. He’s pretty far removed. 😛
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Then there’s little point announcing his name at all.
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
I feel the same. I never even knew his name was associated with it until now. Obviously he earned a credit by doing work, but from a fan perspective it doesn’t really fit into a Butcher Gen collection the way other series do.
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Well they are banking on his name to draw people into watching IMO just like A.Z yeah he wrote 3 episodes, but that was just to hook people into sticking around and I feel that is the only reason to mention his name anymore…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It was the same for Gargantia and look how that turned out. Psycho-Pass 2 suffered a decline for that as well.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
No season 2 for anyone! Seriously, Urobutcher writes tragic ends and it should be.
Saya no Uta comes to mind.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I’ve seen that but have yet to generate an opinion of what I saw.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
I find it hard to blame Gen Urobuchi for ‘quitting’ projects, because I’m pretty sure it’s more that they don’t want to pay for him to be the director, or the writer, for the whole series. So they say “Make us up a good concept and we’ll take it from there.” Personally, I’ve always thought his direction suffers a little from his ego, especially towards the end of series, but it’s true that the stories he’s completed are better than the ones he hasn’t been able to (most of those I don’t even finish).
Regarding source content vs. anime ‘original’ content: If the writing is crap, it doesn’t matter where it comes from. There are plenty of stories, not just in anime, that have bad endings (*coff* anything by Neil Stephenson *coff*). Some brilliant writers just can’t write endings. Some average writers can pull off great endings. I think we get this kind of discussion in anime more than other things because of the uncertainty of continuation: the source material continues, but the show’s going to end, and it’s not likely there will be more of the show to continue the story. But you don’t want to nail it shut, just in case there *is* the opportunity for more of the show. So a lot of times they need to play games with it: make something that feels like an ending but isn’t finality, and that’s a really thin line to walk.
Add to that the expectation by many that there be an actual ending (a philosophy that I do not subscribe to), and you have this pressure that probably shouldn’t exist, but does. And the fandom of a story is a whole ‘nother confounding factor. They’re the ones most likely to buy your things and make your 6-hour commercial profitable. So you don’t want to tick them off. And a lot of people get married to the source, even if it’s crap. So that puts production and creative staff in a bind: “Do we animate this crappy ending, because that’s what people expect? Do we go out on our own, which we think is a better ending, but risk ticking the potential customers off?” And sometimes you do your best to adapt a crappy ending, and actually do a good job with crummy material, and who gets blamed for it? The anime staff, not the original writer of the crappy ending.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
As far as all the planning goes, if they still see an overwhelming amount of yen signs for their trouble, it will be business as usual. If a somewhat broken clock ticks money twice a day…
Oh goodness, Neil Stephenson. It’s like getting a sweet “going over” only to be hit with a hammer at the end.
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
Good points.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Ahhh, he must be an expensive guy to hire…I don’t blame Gen for just charging a high price just for a smidgen of work though. I just selfishly want him to direct an entire anime instead of letting it go to hell in a basket. I actually like the way he ends things, if only he’d stick around that long!
It’s a shame animation companies feel so much pressure to bend to the whims of fans. I guess this is a business at the end of the day and the goal is to make money first, then make a good anime second. And fans like seeing what they’re familiar with. It’s alright if the source material is strong but when it’s weak, that’s the time you’d wish for some ad-libbing in the anime version :/
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
This is also a classic situation of a small but highly vocal group (narrow interest) vs a much much larger but mostly silent group (broad interest). Those who are already invested in the story have more stake in getting it the way they want, so they will complain more, they will exert more pressure. The rest of the people who are watching don’t really care what the ending does, they’re just hoping for a good one, but even if it’s not a good one, they’re not really losing anything. So diffuse costs versus concentrated benefits.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
He’s probably charging a smaller rate for first draft work…..good if you can get it…
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Shokugeki no Soma: SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD! I love the animation, music, characters and world building since this is just a series based on cooking, but it does it so well <3
Is It Wrong to Try and Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon: Another fantastic job by JC Staff! I love the character designs and world around the characters.
Plastic MemoriesL Yeah I have very similar issues like Jrow and OC on the whole "sad moment of the week" yeah I can tell that will be the trend of that series sadly and yes it really is tough to feel for the robots because we don't get a lot of time with them to establish a story around them, but I have my fingers crossed that they change things things up just like Death Parade they didn't have to go full death of the week.
Seraph of the End: LOLOLOL Those kids were so dead after they introduced them and I have a feeling the blonde just like OC said isn't really dead because he looks just like a main character! YES SO TRUE, but for now I will treat it as Valvrave xDD
What we value in anime: I tend to look at studio's like Sunrise, BONES, JC Staff and Shaft I tend to watch whatever they make, next I look for characters if they are fun and interesting I will watch and finally the story! If it's interesting ill watch more.
faithfulness to source content: AGREED With OC! Fans of the original material should NOT bitch and cry about the anime adaptation switching things up because the studio didn't have to squeeze in everything "important" especially the SAO fans OH MY GOD do they ever get mad when things get skipped...
OOOH URABUTCHER WHY YOU FAIL SO HARD.
12/10 - Great podcast
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Show by ROCK!!
POWUH: 1000-1099 and Pirate King with 1048 comments
I think I went from Butcher fan to not-so-much Urabutcher by the end of the episode, haha
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Is anyone covering the First Impression for Seraph of the End?
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
*whispers Irene*
Or maybe you’re in the metateam and you’re supposed to do it? 😛
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
A little disappointed for Hiiragi Shinoa in Owari no Seraph, her voice doesn’t match what I had in mind, and I didn’t think her hair color was purple…
A little disappointing as she’s my favorite female character in the show.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I saw stills of her in color as I was reading the manga so I already knew purple hair was coming. To be completely honest, I don’t see the slightest problem with it. Neither with her voice as I think it’s a good fit for a trolling kuudere. How many female characters do we see with that choice of hair color?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
http://myanimelist.net/character/83017/Shinoa_Hiiragi
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Ahh, the difference in expectations. I think she’s the best character so far (way better than the main character dipstick), and I always like Saori Hayami.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
As a manga reader, I can tell you’re going to eat those words soon enough.