A long time user and addict here :) I've been watching anime since you had to pay five extra bucks to get the subtitled version on video cassette and laserdisc was considered the pinnacle of formats for anime distribution. The first few series I watched were Ranma, Tenchi Muyo and Slayers back in the early 90s. Although they weren't bad by any means, thankfully much more exciting stuff has come out since then.
I try to keep an open mind with my viewing habits, and will watch just about any genre, from lighthearted romantic comedies to dramatic psychological thrillers. I do generally avoid dull-witted shounen action and generic mecha anime though.
I reaaaally love Satoshi Kon's work. Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Paprika, and Paranoia Agent are all amazing in their own right. His films have such psychological complexity and take the viewer into and out-of a dreamlike state, questioning what is real and what isn't. It's a technique that when illustrated makes perfect use of animation as the artistic tool to speak to the viewer, props to Studio Madhouse of course. You get the feeling that the stories had to be animated because it wouldn't be possible to represent them any other way.
I generally try to attend a few of the anime conventions in Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia area. Otakon in Baltimore has been my refuge for a number of years and I've started attending Katsucon and Anime USA more recently as well.
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All Comments (7) Comments
Of course, the character drama works out just fine, but I couldn't quite get into the last story arc and how the crisis was resolved a little too easily. Still, I enjoyed the ride and was perfectly happy with the rest of the ending.
I don't know if you've looked at the sequel series, Galaxy Railways II, but it's not nearly as good in my opinion. It felt...unnecessary and less inspired, to say the least. What 14 or so episodes I watched, anyways. You might disagree.
Finally, I've heard the "A Letter from the Abandoned Planet" OVA is pretty good, though I haven't seen it yet.