Kiri ☂ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
taotrooper) wrote2007-09-16 11:37 am
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.
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.
no subject
See I feel the complete opposite here. I've been so let down by pretty much every single TV show I ever watched that I don't miss TV at all. With anime I am not always blown away and sometimes a show does end even disappointingly. But I would rather be disappointed in something that is 26/52 episodes than be disappointed in something that lasts for 7 or 8 seasons.
This is also why I am stopping watching super long anime series. Even if people say they are great. I will only start them if I know they have an end in sight.
Of course I do think I need to read more books, I've just been unlucky lately and I haven't found a book that really makes me want to keep reading.
no subject
So while, due to seeing so much of it, I'm growing really weary of every cliche in anime to the point where I can only watch a select few titles (not that I don't love watching good anime because of course I do), I haven't been "jaded" to tv shows so I guess that's where I'm different. I'm well aware they often have the same cliches and the same crappy endings, but it's still new to me.
A lot of the tv shows I've been watching are shorter though. Heroes is the only live action multi-season I've been watching.
I also need to read more books. I feel like I've read fewer books since my reading time has been spent mostly on manga. Manga is love but I need to read more books. I used to read SO many.