On trends

[taotrooper]

You know, I've been thinking recently about my latest trends when it comes to picking stuff to watch or read. Okay, so I still like balanced shounen (I've already mentioned what I consider 'balanced') and unusual shoujo and fantasy of almost every subgenre. But I'm starting to see this direction on my escapism.

Basically, I check stuff I find refreshingly different yet fitting my tastes, be it in art or plot (add gameplay if it's a videogame). Granted, it's more visible in my list of recently bought games than in multimedia fandoms. Still, if I glance at the season anime I follow or at least tasted, most of it is quirky. I mean, what am I watching now? Lovely Complex (this one is normal but it's comedy), old episodes of Gintama (unpredictable, peculiar sense of humor), Denno Coil (cool/cute plot, Ghiblie-esque art), Mononoke (fucking creepy, very artistic). And before that, what animes have I downloaded? Mushishi (so zen and nice to look at), Princess Tutu (great plot twists and character growth), Twelve Kingdoms (awesome plot and characters), to name a few. In Western TV shows, I'm settling for two or three plot-driven series (Avatar and Heroes, for instance; the former being quirky enough for an American cartoon), but the rest is all British sitcoms.

Summing the above. You see, I think I'm becoming picky. I have watched and read the more popular animes, but even if they're promising they can't drag me, especially if they start slow. Even worse, I'm doing the opposite of fanbrats out there: if the art looks average or even fanservice fodder much (too many bishounen, or too many schoolgirls), I may be reluctant to check it unless it's strongly recced by people I trust. Mind you, I literally avoided Azumanga Daioh and Suzumiya Haruhi for ages, thinking it'd be boring and moe, only to find them awesome. But I don't adore original stuff just for the sake of it, either. There's Romeo x Juliet to proof that...

However, the greatest trend in me I've witnessed is a predilection for a couple of specific genres. I seem to be dwelling in this love for comedy (because I want to laugh like an idiot) or supernatural (defining supernatural as a way to gather series with either biologically impossible critters, or focused on mythology or legends, or just your usual magic shit). And it's not only on visuals: I'm also loving books with either or both. I was wondering if I should blame it on CLAMP, because both things are inherent on their CardHOLiC universe, and that's my main fandom after all. Except I liked Slayers before that. And I liked good Disney movies way before that. So in short no, this time it's not their fault. I just always loved that shit but it's becoming painfully obvious by now.

Comments

[vehemence.livejournal.com]

Dude what a coincidence. Lately I've found myself being very picky about new anime, to that point that I'm rewatching old favorites while there are fresh episodes just sitting on my computer xD And I've also been sticking to comedy, and not supernatural but something close, the whole psychological/psych. thriller genre, and I've also randomly gotten obsessed with Chinese martial arts movies. I need stuff that gets my blood pumping atm, apparently 8D

And I still rewatch a Disney movie like every other day xD

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

Funny enough, more than rewatching anime, I've picked up on 'classic' oldies I never got to access back in the day, just to see if I like them. Which reminds me I haven't even finished Escaflowne after all. Still, I want to marathon Slayers because I never got to watch every episode and movie.

I like thrillers and murder mysteries a lot, but strangely these days I'm liking more the kind of terror involving monsters or ghosts than serial killers and the like. They're still great to check out, though.

I only like Asian martial arts movies when they're all pretty with epoch outfits and faux flying, Crouching Tiger style. I think I'm shallow XP

[vehemence.livejournal.com]

I only like Asian martial arts movies when they're all pretty with epoch outfits and faux flying, Crouching Tiger style. I think I'm shallow XP

Saaaame XD But I mean, the best of those movies are the ones like that, which are really well made and have lots of deeper meanings, etc. I can't watch a movie with just fight fight fight, it needs to have a point so MAYBE I am not entirely shallow xD

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

But I think *I* am shallow because I never completely understood CT,HD's plot XPPPP Maybe I'm thick for drama or the shinies and jumps just distracted me from the whole point. Then again, I only watched it once.

It reminds me I haven't watched House of the Flying Daggers yet. Probably I'm just scared I'll miss the plot again with the acrobatics and the swords.

[vehemence.livejournal.com]

dlfjgdfjg YOU NEED to watch House of Flying Daggers! It's actually nothing like CTHD, apart from the gorgeous fighting scenes. CTHD was philosophical, but HOFD is like a love-tragedy sort of thing. It kind of reminds me of the story of Romeo and Juliet. Anyways I cried buckets ;__;

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

Then I'll wait for my comedy whore phase to fade in a bit before watching it, then XD

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

[thread hijack]

Seconding the House of Flying Daggers rec! It's not one of my favourite movies but it's pretty good, and it's visually gorgeous. The only downside is that the second time I watched it and wasn't anxious to see what happened next, I LOL'ed every time people yelled XIAO MEEEEI seriously. *is a dork*

Hero is really good too, probably my favourite Chinese movie.

[/thread hijack]