Saikano

[eva-boy7985]

Hey does anyone know much about this show or has anyone actually some/all of it? I am intrigued about the story and love story involved, but I also noted that it's 16/17+; normally this doesn't bother me a ton if it's more drama/action/plot oriented, but since romance is rather central in this, I would like a more defined idea about the content involved. Please let me know!

[GrubbTheFragger]

It got a 16/17+ recommended age weird i thought it only got a 13+

[Rev. Doc]

I just recently got the box set and I'm about half way through it. The DVD packaging says in one place, "Not Rated. Parental Guidance Suggested," and right next to it, "Rated for Older Teen."

I am sure most of the older rating goes for the violence and intense emotional situations the characters find themselves in. Again, I have not watched the end of the series as I am interspercing it with another title. To be truthful, I've gotten a little tired of the angst of the on again/ off again relationship between the two characters. The last time I felt this was with Marmalade Boy. However, with that title I could endure it because it was a longer series. This is only 13 episodes so it's more compact in it's occurance. I also find Chise's situation somewhat confusing at this point, not fully understanding (by episode 7) why she was placed in the program (hopefully some questions will be answered by the end). My understanding is that the series has a strong emotional impact which should begin in the second volume of the set. Until such time my verdict is still out on the series. Thus far it's OK, but I was anticipating a little more.

I've also just purchased the Saikano OAV that is supposed to give a little information to Chise's background and will watch it when I'm finished up with the series.

It took me awhile to finally get this series because of the hefty price. Even at Best Buy it was running at $70.00. I finally got it from RightStuf when VIZ had a 40% off sale plus my Got Anime 10% discount. You might find it on Ebay at a lesser price also but tread lightly around the bootlegs.

[Tenshi no Ai]

Ok so bad content? I remember seeing it a while ago because I heard it was comparibly sad to Graveyard of the Fireflies.

Ok there's violence in it, naturally, being a way anime, but also some sex scenes too^^ I think the thign that bugged me the most about it (either than the fact that there were sex scenes) was because Chise was involved with 2 guys, one being an olderish middle aged guy :/ That one was an off-screenish thing, but with Chise and her actual b/f (can't remember the name at the moment^^) there was a bit of movement going on in it :/

Can't remember anything else too clearly, except those were a couple of things that stuck in my mind after watching it. Maybe someone else can elaborate on a bit who's seen it more recently.

[lj1958]

The "questionable content" gets a little more explicit towards the end of the series. Between the two main characters at that point, it's not all offscreen. It's been a while since I've watched it, but I remember thinking that my kids were not going to see it (now 13 and 16 1/2). From what I remember, close to "Matrix Reloaded" level of content and that's the only one my 16 1/2 year old hasn't seen of the series). Saikano is also rather depressing, IMO.

[Nate]

There's the content issues, yeah, but what got me more was just the overall tone of the series. Literally, every episode is reduced to "Okay, so which character is going to die in this episode?" And you thought Evangelion's ending was depressing? It's got nothing on this series.

[SPOILER=End of Saikano]Everyone dies. EVERYONE. The entire planet is obliterated. Nothing survives. Know why? Because that dude wouldn't stop loving Chise. So the moral of the story as far as Saikano is concerned is "True love will destroy everything." Pretty grim moral, huh?[/SPOILER]
Also, none of the characters have noses. That isn't really a problem, just kind of disturbing.

On the plus side, however, the music is awesome.

[Tenshi no Ai]

[SPOILER=End of Saikano]Everyone dies. EVERYONE. The entire planet is obliterated. Nothing survives. Know why? Because that dude wouldn't stop loving Chise. So the moral of the story as far as Saikano is concerned is "True love will destroy everything." Pretty grim moral, huh?[/SPOILER]

Also, none of the characters have noses. That isn't really a problem, just kind of disturbing.

Eh? They have noses... :/ Now Escaflowne noses, THAT was definately a disturbing thing...

With the ending too though, I thought it was blah :/ Nothing exactly bad content-wise but it reminds me of stuff like the Eva ending except it was more

[spoiler] "I have to kill everyone, but I'll let you survive... you won't really be "alive: though but more or less "exist" only with me... yeah I know the world is covered in darkness which somehow I had the power to cause, but I'm still here too^^ Although I'm not really here, I'm existing as a shiny light instead of beign in a body, but hey, looks aren't everythign and you love me this much, right?^^" [/spoiler]

...that's at least how I remember it :/

[eva-boy7985]

Based by and large on what everyone's said, I'll probably not look into it, mainly due to the content allegedly getting rather suggestible later in the show, and also while I don't mind things being depressing in their nature (I own the entire NGE platinum series), that isn't necessarily something I want to put myself through regarding something that's touted as a love story or something like that. Thanks for all the input everyone!

[Shuji]

There's the content issues, yeah, but what got me more was just the overall tone of the series. Literally, every episode is reduced to "Okay, so which character is going to die in this episode?" And you thought Evangelion's ending was depressing? It's got nothing on this series.

[SPOILER=End of Saikano]Everyone dies. EVERYONE. The entire planet is obliterated. Nothing survives. Know why? Because that dude wouldn't stop loving Chise. So the moral of the story as far as Saikano is concerned is "True love will destroy everything." Pretty grim moral, huh?[/SPOILER]
Also, none of the characters have noses. That isn't really a problem, just kind of disturbing.

On the plus side, however, the music is awesome.

I personally thought that it had some good moral values in there aside from all the crazyness. Its about unwavering love through any situation, as depressing as it is (and yes it is very depressing) I still think it has meaning.

[Bobtheduck]

High school student Shuuji has just started dating a shy girl named Chise and is ecstatic to finally have a girlfriend. But their relationship takes an unusual turn one day when they're visiting Sapporo and the city comes under assault by a host of foreign planes. As Shuuji and Chise runs for cover to avoid falling bombs, the attacking planes are suddenly shot down by a mysterious weapon … that turns out to be Shuuji's girlfriend!
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Gotta love the suggestion system on Netflix... They'll recommend any anime randomly to anyone who watches anime, because there are people that will watch any anime... I think they should add something new to the rating system... An emotional rating... Sad, energetic, funny, scary, that sort of thing... Well, actually this looked interesting to me, the first few eps I watched, but if the end is honestly worse than end of eva, I dont' want to go through that again...

[Shuji]

Gotta love the suggestion system on Netflix... They'll recommend any anime randomly to anyone who watches anime, because there are people that will watch any anime... I think they should add something new to the rating system... An emotional rating... Sad, energetic, funny, scary, that sort of thing... Well, actually this looked interesting to me, the first few eps I watched, but if the end is honestly worse than end of eva, I dont' want to go through that again...

Its not, the end does not make your brain hurt, it will on the other hand make your heart ache. Its a bit strange of an ending Ill give you that, but in no way is it a confusing festival of dialogue as Eva was. I'd greatly recommend seeing it. Just realize if you are emotional at all this WILL make you cry. Just be prepared for that.

[lj1958]

Depends on if you're referring to Eva episode 26...or the End of Eva movie.

[Shuji]

Depends on if you're referring to Eva episode 26...or the End of Eva movie.

end of the TV series.

[Bobtheduck]

I'm referring to the end of eva movie... end of eva made my everything hurt... My stomach, my brain, my heart, my kidneys, my sense of self respect, my aether...

I would not be able to handle another anime like EoE... I somehow doubt this is, though... Basically, you're saying that it's just really sad... EoE isn't just really sad, it's also really disturbing on like 20 levels...

[Shuji]

no, its not on the same level, i didnt find the end disturbing in the least, just made me feel very very sad, but it sort of has a bittersweet ending to it...sorta. Just see for yourself, but, just so you know, this isnt everyones cup of tea to be sure.

[Kumagoro]

Saikano is awesome! Hearing spoilers about the depressing ending was actually what drew me in, since I love a good tearjerker. The character designs are really ugly, but if you get past that the story is just breathtaking. There's some sex in the manga, though. It’s not gratuitous, but it's moderately graphic.

EDIT: By "sex in the manga", I meant that the sex is onscreen, since there is sex in the anime, too. Just thught I'd clear that up.

[FadedOne]

wow. very varied opinions on here.

[rocklobster]

Could one of you review this one for me? I just saw the first two episodes and the whole thing's been removed from Youtube! GRRR!

[Tenshi no Ai]

There's some sex in the manga, though. It’s not gratuitous, but it's moderately graphic.

I wonder if that's why it's the ONLY manga in the comic shop that's wrapped in plasitic... I see no other reason for it to be (unless it comes with extras like Newtype that can fall out).

[Kumagoro]

I wonder if that's why it's the ONLY manga in the comic shop that's wrapped in plasitic... I see no other reason for it to be (unless it comes with extras like Newtype that can fall out).

I'm pretty sure that's the only reason. (It's rated "M", too.)

[AnubisWerewolf]

Wow......I think i'll pass on this one.....didn't know they had sex scenes in it......yuck. Always ruins an anime series for me.