Do you think that Gasaraki is too serious for an Anime???

[Wolfpac]

I find the series good for what it is, but the problem is, it's just too serious for an Anime. Now I know anime's don't follow the same laws, but it seems to lack a lot of comedy in it. There are only a few times I can remember comedy bits to it. And they appear in episode 6. One time is when thy are trying to get a Hummer so the girls look seductive and this

Rin: Just how many Teenage Japanese Boys in SSDF uniforms do you think are in Belgistan???
Sunao: Uh, actually, I've been mistaken for one a few times.

And that one might just be because of the English Dub. Now as serious as it is, it's not a physiological thing like Lain or Boogipop, when if would cheapen the series. I just think that it needs a little light-hardiness to it.

[Schizm]

Where does it say that an anime has to be funny?

[Wolfpac]

I never said that it had to be but just a little but of comedy can make a series a bit more enjoyable. Like Cowboy Bebop or Evangelion are serious Anime's, but the comedy aspect makes them better. And a little comedy can break the ice, and that's what I think was needed.

[Schizm]

Not all serious anime needs to have comedy. I think Gasaraki is a great series because of its lack of comedy. The plot in Gasaraki does not lend itself to humor and if it were added, it would not have the same impact.

[Wolfpac]

I agree that it's a great series, but it too serious in my opinion. If you look at a lot of posts in this forum, a lot of people say that it was boring and that it was too slow, well with a bit of comedy to it, I don't think that they would have said that. I still like the series, but it's hard to watch in one sitting because without any comedy, you do get bored after a while.

[Schizm]

I didn't find it boring. It seems those who prefer comedy found it boring. They should stick with what they like in that case. If you added comedy to Gasaraki, it would become just another generic mecha comedy like Nadesico, Full Metal Panic and countless others. I cannot think of any other truely serious mecha series....

[Wolfpac]

I'm not saying that it needs to be something as full on as Nadesico when it goes way too overboard, but a little bit of comedy can be soothing. All you need is a little joke here and there and then move on. It's a great Military Drama. But even TV drama's have Comedy. Watch something like Law and Order, Blue Healers or even Band of Brother (A Military Drama) and they use comedy in them, but it doesn't cheaped the show, and I think Gasaraki should have done the same.

[Schizm]

And I think they did just fine without it. So, where does that leave us?

Too little comedy, and it would seem weak. Too much and it would detract from the seriousness of the series. If you found it boring, go and watch something else...

I don't think this thread is going to go much further :rolleyes:

[Robotech Master]

I disagree completly. I don't think it needed comedy. If they wanted comedy to be in it, they would have put it there in the first place.

Gasaraki is great as it is. It's a very dark, serious tale and comedy simply isn't necessary for it. Not everything has to have comedy, even in Anime. I for one am glad that Gasaraki pretty much goes through its 25 episodes without having to actually make room for and needlessly add a large amount of comedy or fan service.

Comedy is good, but I don't need it everywhere I look. I have Martian Succesor Nadesico, Tenchi, Captain Tylor, Excel Saga. If I want comedy I go to them. But now I know that if I'm looking for something serious, Gasaraki is one of them.

[Wolfpac]

Originally posted by Schizm
I don't think this thread is going to go much further :rolleyes: I have to agree with you on this one. I think it need a little bit more comedy, you think it's perfect as it is. I know Gasaraki is Dark, but I think just a little bit of humour could have taken away the strict seriousness from it. And I mean just a little. Just one joke every couple of episodes would have been good. It's such a good series, but 26 episodes of total seriousness is a little too much.

[3line]

Originally posted by Wolfpac
I have to agree with you on this one. I think it need a little bit more comedy, you think it's perfect as it is. I know Gasaraki is Dark, but I think just a little bit of humour could have taken away the strict seriousness from it. And I mean just a little. Just one joke every couple of episodes would have been good. It's such a good series, but 26 episodes of total seriousness is a little too much.

If your aversion to seriousness is that strong, then I strongly suggest that you never see a movie like "Come and See," which is essentially 2.5 hours of WWII brutality. I don't think a movie like that, which has a scene in which a boy returns to find his family and village hacked to pieces and strewn around in mangled heaps, needs a comedy element.

Hell, I'd liked to have Gasaraki to be more serious. Maybe then they might have gotten the tactics right.

[Ilex201]

Originally posted by 3line
If your aversion to seriousness is that strong, then I strongly suggest that you never see a movie like "Come and See," which is essentially 2.5 hours of WWII brutality. I don't think a movie like that, which has a scene in which a boy returns to find his family and village hacked to pieces and strewn around in mangled heaps, needs a comedy element.


And your point is?
This has hardly anything to do with Gasaraki, hasn't it?

BTW, "Come and See" is an excellent movie, but I would classify it as an anti-war movie. Gasaraki is more a political thriller with a mystical background. And I may stress the word "political " here. :D And never forget, the most powerful weapon is.........economics!
I like Gasaraki as it is, but a little bit more comedy wouldn't have been bad either.

[Hiigaran]

The basic principle of it is this. Gasaraki is a socio-economic-political drama. I challenge you to try, Wolfpac....try and find a place where you could fit some real genuine comedy in there without ruining the mood of the entire series.

Was there any part of SE:L that was comedic? Do you complain about it being too serious also?

[Wolfpac]

Originally posted by Wolfpac
It's not a physiological thing like Lain or Boogipop, when if would cheapen the series.Now Lain is a totally Serious Drama. The whole aim of the series is to Mind-F**k you. Comedy doesn't belong in Lain. But as good as Gasaraki is, it is nothing like Lain. It could afford to have some comedy in it, or have a Smart-ass type character. When the whole group gets back from Belgistan and they are sitting in that room for hours on end, all you would need is a witty character to complain how boring it is or something. Remember I'm not saying that I want it to be a Stupid Comedy, I just think that a little bit of light humour could have made the series better.

[Spike 558]

I see Gasaraki playing in the same field as Patlabor. Now THAT was a serious mecha anime. Both movies (which I still enjoy today) contain philosophical elements on the relience man has technology and whether a nation in peace is a good thing.

That had some comedy in it but the comedy was somewhat mild.... However, Ota would have to rank as one of the most memorable creations in the history of anime. ;)

I remember Patlabor being quite popular in it's day but now, it seems all but forgotten.
Just as Gasaraki is a largely overlooked anime.

I guess youth of today expect mecha to be blowing the crap out of each other - Not some philosophy on the worlds we live in.

[3line]

Originally posted by Ilex201
And your point is?
This has hardly anything to do with Gasaraki, hasn't it?


Oh but it does. How come I never hear any bitching about great movies being "too serious?" Sheesh. I thought Anime fans were over the hump of "cartoons have to be funny" inanity.

[Ilex201]

Define "Great Movies".
It's all in the eye of the beholder.
And my point was simply that there's no sense in comparing Gasaraki with Come and See.

[Glace]

I believe everyone is entitled to their honest opinion, but I think Gasaraki is fine just like it is. I don't think it needed comedy at all, it stood well on its own as a serious political drama. I actually believe we need more anime like Gasaraki and Boogiepop Phantom for people looking for a more serious approach to anime.

[Schizm]

Everyone, but Wolfpac, is entitled to their own opinion. His are just silly, and were taken away from him at an early age.

[death]

If you want comedy... Well theres plenty of things like dragon ball etc ....

But i dont think Gasiraki needs it...

Infact if it had much more it would detract form the series.

[Squall Leonhart]

Hell watch Stalingrad, or Das Boot, if you find comedy in there, you are one sick-f***. The story isnt meant to be funny, its meant to show a dark and harsh reality that damn near parallels with today, funny doesnt enter into the equation. Yea it may have been alright to have a jackass or hot headed pilot in there, but in a war they are normaly the first to die anyway. second off, the series is already made, why the hell are you complaining about it? if you dont like it watch somthing elese, but unless you have a nifty timemachine, i dont see the point in saying what should or shouldnt have been added

[death]

Ah but if he had a time machine it would create a paradox...

Heh.. He would probably come up with an argument on how comedy ruined the show anyway

[Kizzim]

Gasaraki is the pennacle of what i beleive anime can move towards. Just because its 'cartoon like' people beleive that the situations and feeling should be light-hearted, because kids, and people still with the kid type mentality are the only ones watching it. Hentai first broke this by taking sexual situations that real perverts want to see but arent realistic to exist or happen in rl. Far as i know there arent any living tenticles that want to have sex with little girls (and before you start arguing about tenticles were first used to simulate penises because it used to be illegal to show male to female penitration on tv, that has long passed and there is STILL tenticle sex out there)

Now, finally anime is starting to have serious themes, just look at gasaraki, blue gender, and perfect blue. Perfectly good anime which has no comedy, no fanservice, no tenticles raping little girls. Speaking as a fan who LOVES this kind of anime. I sure hope the market in japan will start to love this kind of anime also. I beleive anime is a easy situation to low cost storylines that have big ideas. I mean how much would it cost to make a real life gasaraki series? People just need to get past the idea that cartoons/anime arent ment to be taken seriously, when they are. alot of them have serious ideas.

[Wolfpac]

Geez, all I want is a little comedy in the show, not a petition to start war on a small country. I know that we can't have a scene where Miharu and Yushiro are talking about their past when all of the sudden the military show up and they start a chorus line. All I want is a joke here and there. Let's face it, no matter your thoughts on this anime, it's still a long drawn out series. And all I'm saying is that a little bit of humor might help break the seriousness to it. I don't think Gasaraki could handle panty shots or fan service, by just a simple sly remark would do. And that's what I think is missing.

[Kizzim]

Maybe the writer simply wanted to show that this anime was a serious anime, and to be considered serious, therefor he left out alot of humor. Or maybe the writer just isnt funny? :)

[John Faulkner]

Now, finally anime is starting to have serious themes, just look at gasaraki, blue gender, and perfect blue. Perfectly good anime which has no comedy, no fanservice, no tenticles raping little girls. Speaking as a fan who LOVES this kind of anime. I sure hope the market in japan will start to love this kind of anime also. I beleive anime is a easy situation to low cost storylines that have big ideas. I mean how much would it cost to make a real life gasaraki series? People just need to get past the idea that cartoons/anime arent ment to be taken seriously, when they are. alot of them have serious ideas.
"Now" (which is >3 yrs ago) that you mention it, I've often wondered why there aren't more anime which are more "dry". Sure, you have your Evangelions and your Escaflownes which deal with serious issues, but they deal with these topics in a surreal fantasy setting. How about more anime that actually stick to the laws of real life physics (like "The Wings of Honneamise", although that was a bit dull, IMO)? I mean, you can still have spectacular battles, made-up locations and people who dye their hair purple, but less reliance on gimmicks like a dork who sprouts wings in times of spiritual despair, or a girl who can magically transform into a koala bear. I think this approach will open the way for a much better representation of serious themes.

As for Gasaraki, I've probably watched about a third of its dubbed episodes in a random order when it came on Sci-Fi channel years ago, and it looked OK. A bit too many monotone speeches for my liking, but it has potential. I need to watch it properly to get a final feel of it.