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I still feel like it's a waste to have left what was said in the comments section, maybe we can pick up where we left off or something. Though, if no one minds if I put it here...
kikohunter said: I feel like Parasyte's adaption had too many downs compared to ups, sometimes it just feels lifeless without any ambition or effort put into it. The sound director is absolutely terrible, also, although I don't particularly hate dubstep, I don't think it belongs in a soundtrack due to how much place the sound takes over what's happening on the screen. Overall, it's quite average as a whole.
Gotanon said: The adaptation is less heavy-handed and substantially less awkwardly scripted. The most evident and positive change is in Shinichi's appearance along with the slightly altered characterization. He isn't that 80s "obnoxious twat with a heart of gold" that looked unreasonably fit in contrast to his character — He's pathetic, slimmer, and wears glasses. I'm not up to date with the latest episodes but I'm fairly certain his transition from pathetic to badass should look and feel a lot more natural. The modernization of the setting is a nice touch, though I think they might have gone a little too far (I'm not really saying dubstep is inherently obnoxious, but its obnoxious). Regardless, I hope they do something different with it's anime counterpart -- The environmental message at the end made me want to have a lobotomy.
Kuiper said: Parasyte is definitely one of the shows that I need to praise specifically for its animation. Migi's playful morphing shenanigans are really stand-out (especially outside of the fights), but even subtle things like the way the human characters flinch and and react to things is quite well-done. This isn't just a case of the show having a big budget (although the show certainly does benefit from Madhouse production values); you can tell that someone in the animation department had a lot of fun working on this show.
Stellio said: No, stop. I've read on other mal forums too, about this sound complaint... How far along are you guys? They've played the dubstep thing once in episode one or two, and at most two more times after that, and I'm caught up to the latest episode. So please, no. On another note, I haven't read the manga, but on its own the anime definitely stands out as the best show I'm viewing this season - it is more than just another Hollywood action seller (e.g. Attack on Titties) or another poorly scripted apocalyptic pseudo-psychological slaughter (e.g. Deadman wonderland). The director and co. put substantial work into their writing and production, and it shows.
kikohunter said: Why are you all praising Parasytes' writing so much? Is it blind hype or just not being able to recognize that it is nothing more than average/mediocre writing? Let's take a deeper look into Parasyte, first of all, Shinichi certainly did change during the story but other than that he is ridiculously shallow and lacks proper development. The only thing we know about him is that he wants to kill parasytes and save people. Of course, the plot itself doesn't really allow for much due to him losing emotions from being saved by Migi, but that is not really an excuse for his lack of character development. Do I even have to abord on the other characters? The human girls in the story are completely devoid of personality or development and serve as a plot device more than anything.
Next, I'd like to write on the actual plot, you've certainly at least realized that some of the actions taken by the chracters in certain situations did not make sense. For example, Kana's death, although we could argue about her being blinded by her emotions, it doesm't excuse the fact that she was completely illogical in the way she acted leading to her death. Even then, Kana's character and her death itself had not purpose in the story. Another example would be during the fight with Miki/Gotou, where he gets heavily hit by a truck and two guys rush to his help without even realizing that he's a monster and stand there, it doesn't make sense. This is all a result from POOR writing, if you cannot write your characters in a realistic manner, the story will suffer from it and Parasyte is exactly this.
Lastly, most of the episodes are poorly directed, the scene transitions are extremely wacky at times and the manner the manga has been adapted at times are very questionable. This is what I meant by lifeless, it makes it look like the director just wanted to be done with the project as soon as possible. I can't see any actual effort or enjoyment in the production of this anime. As mentioned by me before, the sound director is terrible, the placement of certain tracks during episodes are sometimes so out of place, they do not fit what's happening on the screen at all. But it isn't only the his fault, I'd also put a part of blame on the composer. His soundtrack is too one dimensional and doesn't allow for a good choice during specific sitations.
This is why I think Parasyte is mediore. Is it worth a watch? Maybe, depending on what you want. Personally, I don't think I'd be able to endure this for 24 episodes in a row. The plot itself is quite static at times and would probably kill me from boredom.
Lindle said: "Why are you all praising Parasytes' writing so much?"
You are literally the first person in this conversation to specifically mention the writing.
Stellio said: Lol I'm not sure what others said that's incited the comment but I only said "they put substantial work into the writing"... Not sure how that really qualifies as much praising but aight
Shinichi's lackluster development and Kana's poor characterization, I agree, were nothing but background noise. But that's the point, that those were never really the emphasis that sold the show.
There was this really powerful moment in the show (which I'll be vague about for sack of spoilers) wherein one of the parasites sacrifices herself due to her awe of the inexplicable intimacy a mother feels for her child. The show considers it altruism, a characteristic only humans show, and the said parasite is implied to have searched for the reasons of human altruism, of human sacrifice. It is most tragic that she dies without finding it out; for it was impossible.
And throughout the story, this self-quest can be likened to Shinichi, Migi, and most other characters' journey: that is, to find out their purpose in being or wanting to survive. Personally I find it to be a quasi-existentialist take for a creature like Migi to consistently deny a deeper purpose to his kind's existence besides to survive, yet he continues to strive, baring the despair in living in his human host, and embraces all that's to come. If one views Shinichi as the human counterpart of Migi, then it makes more sense: Shinichi, the more humane self of the two, as well as Migi, the Freudianesque mind, have to accept the burden of being able to make difference in the world and move on. A lot of shounen shows attempt this, but parasites is one of the few that's actually done a decent job of fleshing it out and not wallow in histrionic bombast or tearjerkers.
My point is though, that the show's emphatically woven dynamic between Shinichi and Migi and their conflict are really what shines. Not their standalone characterizations.
With its main backdrop in a modern setting, Parasite's world-building only gets all the more disturbing as it flashes us familiar images of an everyday environment (not the school setting, but the choice of giving people like yakuza and police roles). I've also found it subtly humorous that the parasites became local governors because... Lol it's the creator's way of saying his local authorities are doing such shitty jobs that they might as well be killing civilians.
I was really underwhelmed that there was no thematic elements used to explain the Parasytes, and instead they were simply an allegory for human survival. The entire Gotou segment of the series felt like the writing committed suicide. It was a cop out as bad as War of the Worlds. Show could have been way more than a bloody shounen, really disappointed though I was mostly entertained.
Also the soundtrack is stupid and disjointed, why is dubstep suddenly excellent if you put it in anime? I have a lot more complaints about this anime than I have good things to say.
I thought having the parasites representing human animosity (or desires of the id) was fine: that it didn't need to expand to anything else beyond that.
It also isn't just a bloody shounen??? I feel like a lot of people missed the environmentalist messages mainly because of the poor handling of it (I'm currently reading the manga to see if it might've been the omitting of more meaningful dialogues or monologues -- that tends to occur when you're adapting shows and want to make it more attracting to the younger audience).
Then again, when it comes to the writing itself it is a little questionable too, like Gotou being killed by some pollution waste was just too heavy handed and I was a little wtf'd by it for a moment.
It is a good show though, I certainly found it at times intelligent yet willing to stick to being an action/adventure series for the most part.
