taotrooper: It's a polar bear dancing the hula; your argument is invalid (Yuuko / ♥)
Kiri ☂ ([personal profile] taotrooper) wrote2007-09-16 11:37 am
Entry tags:

On trends

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.
ext_387179: A sea turtle swimming (Touya / Freedom fighter)

[identity profile] rainmage.livejournal.com 2007-09-16 02:21 pm (UTC)(link)
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.
ext_55124: (Default)

[identity profile] vehemence.livejournal.com 2007-09-16 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
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 ;__;
ext_387179: A sea turtle swimming (Alphonse Elric / Mafia? / me)

[identity profile] rainmage.livejournal.com 2007-09-16 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Then I'll wait for my comedy whore phase to fade in a bit before watching it, then XD

[identity profile] laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com 2007-09-16 03:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[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]