Contemporary Pop Culture Q.?

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:57 pm

I was just wondering, though I've never been too much of a fan myself, recently I started watching cartoons while I practice my drumming, What's your favorite anime/cartoons?

rsrider · Post by **rsrider** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:13 am

wow, where to start......................
anime: Trigun, samurai champloo, death note, cowboy beebop, desert punk, chobits, fullmetal alchemist: brotherhood, kino's journey, soul eater, anything from studio gibli, .....that's a start, which is mostly the old school stuff that shouldn't be overlooked.....Inuyasha is cool, and so is Naruto, YES Naruto Shippuuden, I said it (there is a lot of filler, but when it gets back to the main story, it is impressive), One Piece, Bleach, on and on

Animation: ARCHER!!! OMG that is the best.............The Tick, anything from DC or Marvel studios that are features, those movies are pretty good. I don't really watch that many american series, but Batman Beyond seems good. Clone Wars is good, high quality animation, but repetitive violence and mindless storylines, just like the movies!!

JohnnyScoots · Post by **JohnnyScoots** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:15 am

Squidbillies and Spy vs. Spy

bigbropgo · Post by **bigbropgo** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:31 am

i watch mindless, plotless crap.....everyday. cartoon network plays plenty. i have started to watch adventure time. pretty wacky stuff. anything adultswim.

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:14 am

I'll start with still in production: Bleach. LOVE me some Bleach.

Non-anime: My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic. Yes, for real.

Non-current...what have I seen and enjoyed? Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex/2nd gig, Samurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Blood+, Wolf's Rain, Big O, Moonphase, Eureka Seven, the first FMA, Witch Hunter Robin, Inuyasha, Trinity Blood, one of the Saiyuki's, Evangelion...and then I stop remembering titles. One about how everyone has artificial parts that are powered by an obelisk somewhere, one about a newly-credentialed teacher who's a yakuza heiress...

Non-anime non-current...I really liked Teen Titans. Yes, for real.

bigbropgo · Post by **bigbropgo** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:43 am

dunno why but i watch teen titans also.

rkcoker · Post by **rkcoker** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:39 am

Showing my age

but I've never understood the attraction of anime or any Japanese cartoons. Mine is classic 40's and 50's
Warner Bros. and sometimes MGM (Tom & Jerry).

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 4:51 am

Coincidence, I'm watching Fritz The Cat at this very moment.

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:02 am

I like Shin Chan & Ranma 1/2.

Lotrat · Post by **Lotrat** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:34 am

Spliced is awesome. Watch it right now. The Gordon episode is the best.

brianwheelies · Post by **brianwheelies** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:39 am

Avatar: The Last Air Bender.

The original Looney Tunes are amazing now as an adult!

Tam Tam · Post by **Tam Tam** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 5:50 am

luv Cowboy bebop, Starblazers.....and my gf got me watching Avatar....

someday, the 21 club will actually form!!! (when life leaves me alone and gives me a lil bit o free time)

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:07 am

ravenlore wrote:I'll start with still in production: Bleach. LOVE me some Bleach.
<snip>

Non-anime non-current...I really liked Teen Titans. Yes, for real.

+1 on Bleach!
Titans was good. Young Justice is pretty damn good too!
Same for Batman: Brave & the Bold, Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and Spectacular Spider-Man.

I watch a lot of cartoons (animation, whatever).

Non-anime: Foster's Home for Imaginary friends was often brilliant. Also a big fan of Samurai Jack. Sym-Bionic Titan was great, canceled too soon and not yet on DVD, dammit).

Love Adventure Time with Finn & Jake (surreal/comedic kids' fantasy) and Regular Show (slacker humor)!

Archer is great, as was its predecessor, Frisky Dingo.

My anime love goes wayyyyy back to Speed Racer, Astro Boy (the first anime!), Gatchaman/Battle of the Planets, Yamato/Star Blazers, Robotech/Macross. I started watching Star Blazers again on Netflix streaming and am surprised at how well it holds up.

Anime is as diverse as "live action." What we get in the US is often the sci-fi/giant robot/supernatural ninja martial arts epic stuff, but there's much more that's straight comedy, romance, suspense/drama, historical fiction, sports stories, etc. On my "anime for people who don't like anime" list: Naoki Urasawa's Monster (serial killer/suspense; I read the book but haven't watched all the anime), Eden of the East (recommended if you like Lost, conspiracy stories and so on), Samurai Seven (great sic-fi retelling of Kurasawa's Seven Samurai; maybe a gateway anime to more typical stuff).

Of the more genre-y anime, I still really like long epics like the aforementioned Bleach, Naruto, Dragonball Z (but not the other Dragonballs).

And I still like giant robots. Currently watching Gad Guard. Main character rides a Fuji Rabbit!

I could go on and on…

slusher5 · Post by **slusher5** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:07 am

MORAL OREL... claymation at its finest

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:07 am

Cowboy Bebop will always be one of my most favourite series ever, animated or not. The scripts and art direction were a serious departure when they debuted on American TV via Adult Swim around 2001 and when I was in college that was some groundbreaking stuff for me! Spike was one of the main reasons I bought a Jericho 9mm "Baby Eagle" since it was his personal sidearm (which even he admitted he couldn't hit anything with).

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:19 pm

I liked Cowboy Bebop, too, though I don't think I ever saw the whole series and movie. It's very similar in a lot of ways (characters, their personalities, various "capers") to Lupin III, only in space. It's also similar to Serenity, which I know has a ton of fans.

I left out Fullmetal Alchemist, a series so good they made it twice! Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is the whole story al over again, only staying closer to the manga. Many episodes are virtually identical as far as story goes. Some of the episodes are heart-wrenching, way more emotional than other fantasy/magic/action series—or anything else on TV for that matter.

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:28 pm

ericalm wrote:I liked Cowboy Bebop, too, though I don't think I ever saw the whole series and movie. It's very similar in a lot of ways (characters, their personalities, various "capers") to Lupin III, only in space. It's also similar to Serenity, which I know has a ton of fans.

I left out Fullmetal Alchemist, a series so good they made it twice! Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is the whole story al over again, only staying closer to the manga. Many episodes are virtually identical as far as story goes. Some of the episodes are heart-wrenching, way more emotional than other fantasy/magic/action series—or anything else on TV for that matter.

Like the Chimera episode. That'll rip your heart right out and stomp on it.

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 8:33 pm

What's all this stuff about Japanese enemas?

scootavaran · Post by **scootavaran** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:47 pm

Shin chan, Futurama, Intial D.

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:03 pm

Basically anything involving Brendon Small and/or H.Jon Benjamin… Archer, Home Movies, Dr. Katz, Metalcopalypse, Lucy, Daughter of the Devil, Bob's Burgers…

Also, just saw an awesome goofy french animated movie on Netflix streaming… "Town Called Panic." Great music. I guess there's a series of short episodes for TV.

Bb.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:36 am

illnoise wrote:Basically anything involving Brendon Small and/or H.Jon Benjamin… Archer, Home Movies, Dr. Katz, Metalcopalypse, Lucy, Daughter of the Devil, Bob's Burgers…

Home Movies another one of my faves. I have a lot of faves.

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:38 am

I saw one called "Outlaw Star" a few days ago. I thought it was alright.

Witch · Post by **Witch** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 4:41 am

I've just never been able to get into Anime for some reason. I respect it... just can't stand it, personally.

What I do love is the classic cartoons (Looney Tunes, Rocky & Bullwinkle, etc.) and stop-motion. Absolutely obsessed with Nightmare Before Christmas (which really isn't a cartoon, but definately animation). And I'm pretty darn attached to Robot Chicken, in more ways than one.

Uncle Groucho · Post by **Uncle Groucho** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:47 pm

My avatar should be a dead giveaway: Ah! My Goddess. My wife is the anime fan in the house and she got me hooked on it. Bebop is a given too. Grew up watching loads of Starblazers, Robotech, etc.

Non-anime: Venture Bros, Foster's, Futurama, and deep down, I still like the Simpsons...

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:15 am

Uncle Groucho wrote:My avatar should be a dead giveaway: Ah! My Goddess. My wife is the anime fan in the house and she got me hooked on it. Bebop is a given too. Grew up watching loads of Starblazers, Robotech, etc.

Non-anime: Venture Bros, Foster's, Futurama, and deep down, I still like the Simpsons...

Another Robotech fan!!! That and Gundam Wing. How can you not feel a bit like a mobile suit pilot in traffic when you're geared up on the bike

Fullmetal Alchemist was another one I can't believe I left out. Excellent writing that makes you think it's some kids pokemon-like story on the surface, but kicks you in the face the first episode in with stuff they wouldn't even touch on HBO sometimes.

And, as you see from my profile pic, I have a love for arthouse Anime (Last Exile for those of you who missed it). Pretty much, anything Shinichirō Watanabe has his hands in I'll go see or download

Early · Post by **Early** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:19 am

If ya like anime you should watch FLCL. The animation is great, it's a little twisted, and there's lots of cool scooter action!

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:29 am

Early wrote:If ya like anime you should watch FLCL. The animation is great, it's a little twisted, and there's lots of cool scooter action!

FLCL was unique due to the many animators and directors that had a hand in it. It really showcased some amazing talent that normally wouldn't work together. It was really an arthouse vehicle for the genre. Still load it up from time to time. It's one of those that takes about a half dozen viewings to totally get the work.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:34 am

Early wrote:If ya like anime you should watch FLCL. The animation is great, it's a little twisted, and there's lots of cool scooter action!

I've seen it a dozen times maybe but I still watch it a couple times a year. I think it's one of the most brilliant and weird coming of age stories ever created. I could write a master's thesis on FLCL and examinations of pubescent sexuality in anime and manga. Right after I finish my lengthy treatise on Astroboy and post-war Japan…

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 1:43 pm

Early wrote:If ya like anime you should watch FLCL. The animation is great, it's a little twisted, and there's lots of cool scooter action!

I NEVER get sick of FLCL. There was a yellow scooter with a P! sticker parked at like 33rd and Lyndale S in Minneapolis for a long time. It made me smile every time i saw it.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:46 pm

I can name SO MANY anime. And domestic tv shows, too.

Just depends on what kind you like, really. Action? Comedy? Romance-centric? Drama? Oh no we have to save the world? Fight ALL the time? Giant robots? Slice of life? =D

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:57 pm

Heh - when the first 'independent' UHF TV station started up here back in the '60s, we had a steady diet of made-in-Japan content (Speed Racer, Astro Boy, UltraMan, Johnny Socko, Tobor, etc.) because it was dirt-cheap to license. That was the limit of my exposure. Cool stuff as a kid, but I left that stuff behind with my DC comics a long time ago. That's just me. I'm not a fan of modern 'adult'-centric cartoons/animation, such as the Fox stuff, either, though I'll share a laugh with my kids if we break out some old Chuck Jones.

Now, referring to the OP, let me practice my tin-whistle and/or fretless bass chops while watching Planet Earth or Over Ireland with the TV sound turned down, and that's another story!

still shifting · Post by **still shifting** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:03 pm

Surely I can not be the only Wallace and Gromit fan here? Claymation Rocks! R

rsrider · Post by **rsrider** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:08 pm

Yes, I too enjoy the FoolieCoolie.....

BTW: after scouring the net for those stickers, I ended up having to make them myself. There is almost no merch for FLCL, except coffee mugs, and my small Haruko Haruhara action figure (with Vespa!).

charlie55 · Post by **charlie55** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:23 pm

Witch wrote:I've just never been able to get into Anime for some reason. I respect it... just can't stand it, personally.

What I do love is the classic cartoons (Looney Tunes, Rocky & Bullwinkle, etc.) and stop-motion. Absolutely obsessed with Nightmare Before Christmas (which really isn't a cartoon, but definately animation). And I'm pretty darn attached to Robot Chicken, in more ways than one.

Ditto.

I go for even older stuff (anything from the Fleischer studios). Most especially, I love the musical backgrounds - like Cab Calloway performing "Minnie the Moocher" in one of the Betty Boop toons.

Dated, I know, but everything's contemporary at some point in time.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:10 pm

Several generations of urchins got their first exposure to orchestral music from watching Looney Toons. Going back as an adult after some classical training and watching again, especially the dialog-free Toons like Road Runner, only emphasized how evocative the musical scores were.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:17 pm

rkcoker wrote:Showing my age but I've never understood the attraction of anime or any Japanese cartoons. Mine is classic 40's and 50's
Warner Bros. and sometimes MGM (Tom & Jerry).

Same here, don't forget 'Woody Woodpecker' too.
Does anybody remember 'Gigantor'? That was one I remember as a child as well.

Drum Pro · Post by **Drum Pro** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:24 pm

Space Ghost coast to coast.

theflash784 · Post by **theflash784** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:55 pm

I love the old classics too- Looney Tunes, Mighty Mouse, Felix the Cat, Woody Woodpecker and good ole Johnny Quest with his PF Flyers that will make you run faster and jump higher and the secret decoder ring! I've enjoyed watching the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show with my granddaughter. She's four and loves Tom and Jerry.

Witch · Post by **Witch** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:02 pm

charlie55 wrote:
Witch wrote:I've just never been able to get into Anime for some reason. I respect it... just can't stand it, personally.

What I do love is the classic cartoons (Looney Tunes, Rocky & Bullwinkle, etc.) and stop-motion. Absolutely obsessed with Nightmare Before Christmas (which really isn't a cartoon, but definately animation). And I'm pretty darn attached to Robot Chicken, in more ways than one.
I go for even older stuff (anything from the Fleischer studios). Most especially, I love the musical backgrounds - like Cab Calloway performing "Minnie the Moocher" in one of the Betty Boop toons.

That one was the main inspiration for Oogie Boogie. And we've come full circle now.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:42 pm

Ironically, my fave has a scooter in it. Nobody has mentioned Rocko's Modern Life, one of my all-time faves. Rocko's Modern Life features a scooter-riding Tortoise, so I've actually managed to make this thread scooter related. Sort of.

P.S. Samuari Jack was pretty awesome, too.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:13 pm

PeteH wrote:I'm not a fan of modern 'adult'-centric cartoons/animation, such as the Fox stuff, either, though I'll share a laugh with my kids if we break out some old Chuck Jones.

The former owner of my house was a longtime partner of Chuck Jones and wrote "What's Opera Doc?" among many other famous WB toons:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Maltese

We found this out when his granddaughter, who grew up in the house, came to our door one afternoon. Pretty cool!

The area where I live is close to Disney and Warner Bros. studios. When house hunting 8-9 years ago, there were many houses owned by retired Disney animators or those who'd been laid off on the market. It was sad but also amazing to see these little homes decorated with original animation cels and concept art. Many had garages turned into art studios.

KABarash wrote:
rkcoker wrote:Showing my age but I've never understood the attraction of anime or any Japanese cartoons. Mine is classic 40's and 50's
Warner Bros. and sometimes MGM (Tom & Jerry).
Same here, don't forget 'Woody Woodpecker' too.
Does anybody remember 'Gigantor'? That was one I remember as a child as well.

Tetsujin 28!

black sunshine · Post by **black sunshine** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:24 pm

my favorite American cartoon of all time has to be Ghostbusters (not that wack-ass Filmation version with the gorilla). hands down.

others: Thundercats (old AND new), The Tick, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Rugrats, Bionic Six, Avatar, Teen Titans

anime? where do i start, lol . . . I have a Naruto tattoo (konoha symbol) and Bleach tattoo (replacement shinigami badge and unintentional "13" in the style of the Arrancar), about to get a Soul Eater one.

other faves: Samurai Champloo, Cowboy Bebop, Seirei no Moribito, Panty and Stocking . . . crap i gotta leave work but i'll post more later!

bigbropgo · Post by **bigbropgo** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:13 pm

i'm trying to get into the new thundercats. love the animation style. and as far as a reboot, its slow to laydown the story. but i do like it.

the last airbender has a new series set 100 years in the future. the next avatar in the cycle is a waterbender and a girl. the release date keeps getting pushed back. i'll have to look up the latest update.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:15 pm

charlie55 wrote:I go for even older stuff (anything from the Fleischer studios).

The Fleischer Superman cartoons are gorgeous. Sadly, every reproduction I've seen of this is in dire need of restoration. The episodes are public domain now, but WB/DC owns the rights to the masters and any other use of the name and characters. So you see a lot of cheap DVDs/VHS versions at dollar stores and the like. WB has released several versions, some from the 35mm masters, but they're pretty dirty. The animators often painted on black for the backgrounds (which was done again 40 years later for Batman: TAS) and now it all looks muddled.

still shifting · Post by **still shifting** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:16 pm

Elmer Fudd..."I have come to Kill the Raaabbiitt!" That is Opera! R

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:24 pm

black sunshine wrote:my favorite American cartoon of all time has to be Ghostbusters (not that wack-ass Filmation version with the gorilla). hands down.

others: Thundercats (old AND new), The Tick, G.I. Joe, Transformers, Rugrats, Bionic Six, Avatar, Teen Titans

anime? where do i start, lol . . . I have a Naruto tattoo (konoha symbol) and Bleach tattoo (replacement shinigami badge and unintentional "13" in the style of the Arrancar), about to get a Soul Eater one.

I was actually a bit too old for the original runs of GI Joe and Transformers. Somehow, in my late teens I could justify Robotech and Akira but not Hasbro. And Real Ghostbusters was awesome, Slimer and all.

I think the new Hub versions of Transformers and GI Joe are way better than they have to be. GI Joe: Renegades is a great homage to the A-Team tv series. It's probably actually better than A-Team was.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 12:54 am

Another overlooked Anime drama is "Witch Hunter Robin". The star, an Japanese-Italian girl who is hired by the Vatican division who hunts down actual Witches, because she's a Catholic who is also a "Witch" genetically. It's very slow paced at first but has a very J.J. Abrams feel to it. What makes it cool is that she has her Vespa PX150 shipped from Rome to Japan that she uses for the rest of the series as her daily driver while one of her partners, Souske, gives her a ribbing all the time (he rides a Seca II or MZ... can't remember the exact bike. Definitely a naked sport midsize)

ravenlore · Post by **ravenlore** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:22 am

neotrotsky wrote:Another overlooked Anime drama is "Witch Hunter Robin". The star, an Japanese-Italian girl who is hired by the Vatican division who hunts down actual Witches, because she's a Catholic who is also a "Witch" genetically. It's very slow paced at first but has a very J.J. Abrams feel to it. What makes it cool is that she has her Vespa PX150 shipped from Rome to Japan that she uses for the rest of the series as her daily driver while one of her partners, Souske, gives her a ribbing all the time (he rides a Seca II or MZ... can't remember the exact bike. Definitely a naked sport midsize)

LOVED Witch Hunter Robin.

rsrider · Post by **rsrider** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:27 am

Well, I was waiting.........but srsly, HELLSING!!!!!

Oh yeah, and my old/sold Triumph Daytona 650
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9034251@N06/1173971494/" title="u12 by d6fiddy, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1024/1173 ... a7d20e.jpg" width="477" height="500" alt="u12"></a>

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Fri Jan 20, 2012 1:49 am

still shifting wrote:Elmer Fudd..."I have come to Kill the Raaabbiitt!" That is Opera! R

"Waaabbiitt"

Ericalm: Maltese? Outstanding.

Modern Buddy

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