Divergence Eve & Misaki - booby to buy?

[Njr Scrawl]

It must be spring at last, for my viewing is mostly bishoujo shows!

With Maburaho & a few others under my belt, & Hanayuko Maid Team coming, the 6 Divergence Eve (orig & Misaki) volumes have stirred my interest.

I've read the reviews & they have warm praise. Should I buy or rent?
Is there much re-watchability in the stories? People who are buying Misaki Chronicles must have liked the original series enough! How does it compare with Stellvia?

[Herufaiya]

[ QUOTE ]
Wrath of the Njr said:
It must be spring at last, for my viewing is mostly bishoujo shows!

With Maburaho & a few others under my belt, & Hanayuko Maid Team coming, the 6 Divergence Eve (orig & Misaki) volumes have stirred my interest.

I've read the reviews & they have warm praise. Should I buy or rent?
Is there much re-watchability in the stories? People who are buying Misaki Chronicles must have liked the original series enough! How does it compare with Stellvia?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well I can't say much(read: anything) to the effect of Stellvia, but as the DEve series sit in the hub of my mind as they wait for a possible spot on my top-10, I must say that I highly recommend this series. The characters are rich and unique, the content is dark and very serious(except when the show takes the occasional break to make fun of itself[read: the last episode]), the animation is beautiful, the hard-CG used is largely appropriate, the score is haunting, and, my biggest draw for the series, how damn complex it is. This show spurned me forth to write page after page breaking down the implications and storyline as a whole, partly because it was so interesting, and partly because each episode completely flipped the world of the show on top of itself, it's so fascinating to the see such solid and creative use of complex physics and spacial based theory, I was in heaven, and while I do have a few issues with how certain parts of this show were handled, in the end it's becoming a very real matter of love. Plus, the acting is great, the seiyuu for LeBlanc(whose name has just escaped me), is awesome...
I realize I'm billing this as less of a bishoujo title than it may appear, but the show has plenty of silly moments in service, most of the one's in DEve1 are early on but in Misaki they're spread out equitably. I know a good number of people hate this show, but I just wanted to throw in my lot with it...though, if you feel like you're interested in the show but have a bit of patience, I'd anticipate a ThinPak for at least the first series by year's end...this is also a recommended option if you feel unsure about the series...
But I'll let everyone else say their peace, my interest in the show has hit a few fanatical points as of recent, and I'll need to give it a few months to simmer down for a rewatch and see if my vision was at all rose-colored...

[rubyeye]

With a series like Divergence Eve, you kind of have to find something about it you personally enjoy more than the overall value of the show itself. Either the dark/hardcore Sci-Fi element, the techno music, or even the (disproportionately drawn) girls. Compared to other low-quality sci-fi shows like Geneshaft, Avenger, Burst Angel, Divergence Eve is probably the most surprising in the genre. I would cautiously recommend renting before buying, unless you really enjoy shows of this nature, it's a good purchase.

Stellvia is the opposite extreme - good natured, coming of age (cute) children in space, with wierd-ass hairdos. I liked it, but when I'm in the mood for cuteness, I'll watch Sugar: The Tiny Snow Fairy instead.

[JackProton]

How does it compare with Stellvia? It doesn't, really. That's the wrong question -- these two shows have very little in common outside of both taking place in space. One is a school show with some science fiction but much more shoujo elements and the other is a dark science fiction tale about a young ex-porn star (yes, yes, OK - she's just drawn like one) in the space forces who gets mixed up in a secret fight against some very nasty creatures.

To be honest, I didn't want to like Divergence Eve -- the exaggerated character designs violate the laws of physics and aesthetics and wear differently colored uniforms just so we can keep them straight, the CGI in the first one was pretty cheap, the makers made weird choices in order to maximize "fan service" (for example, why would pilots practicing in a simulator be required to practice in their underwear) and the main character is just too ditzy to have ever gotten as far as she did. But, the plot just sucked me in despite all these drawbacks, keeping me from canceling the next DVD, then the next one and... you get the picture. Unfortunately, the ending of DE was a bit rushed and more than a little derivative (of <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>EVA</span>) but still was much better than expected before getting sucked into the plot.

Misaki Chronicles seems to pick up where the first show ended but is playing with its cards close to the vest by offering tantilizing mystery after mystery. I don't know whether the show can resolve these mysteries in a satisfactory way yet but I find myself getting sucked in once again.

My advice is that if you can get past the character designs and clunky CGI and really enjoy dark science ficiton, then give the series a try.

[fujishig]

[ QUOTE ]
Herufaiya said:


Well I can't say much(read: anything) to the effect of Stellvia, but as the DEve series sit in the hub of my mind as they wait for a possible spot on my top-10, I must say that I can not recommend this series.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wait... did you mistype or something? Because it sounded like you really liked the series and were recommending it...

[Fencedude]

[ QUOTE ]
Wrath of the Njr said:
It must be spring at last, for my viewing is mostly bishoujo shows!

With Maburaho &amp; a few others under my belt, &amp; Hanayuko Maid Team coming, the 6 Divergence Eve (orig &amp; Misaki) volumes have stirred my interest.

I've read the reviews &amp; they have warm praise. Should I buy or rent?
Is there much re-watchability in the stories? People who are buying Misaki Chronicles must have liked the original series enough! How does it compare with Stellvia?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you are looking at it the wrong way.

Yes, technically its a Bishoujo show, but I wouldn't EVER put it in the same category as Hanaukyo and Maburaho, its a completely different animal.

It also is absolutely nothing like Stellvia.

Basically, do you like hard, gritty Sci-fi stories? Because once you get past the boobs, thats what this is.

[Gishra]

Personally I think it's a great series. I find the storyline really engrossing in Divergence Eve, and things just get better in Misaki Chronicles. If you can look past the gigantic boobs then you'll find something that's definitely worthwhile. Make no mistake about it though: despite appearances, this is a mostly serious hard sci-fi show that can get somewhat dark and bloody at times.

Oh yeah, and be warned about the first episode of Divergence Eve: in the continuity it's actually episode #12. I'm not sure if I'd go as far as recommending that you skip straight to episode 2, but whatever you do I highly recommend watching/re-watching it after episode 11* so things flow smoothly.

*Little edit here. Since it would fit in as episode #12 in the timeline, it should be watched after the real episode #12, not #11.

[Njr Scrawl]

So ep #12 is a flash ahead, or #2 - #11 are all flashback?

AFA gritty girly sci-fi, I liked Geneshaft but it seemed like a slice from a bigger whole. The Logans Run aspect was disturbing, &amp; main villain infuriating, but otherwise it was a good experience. Crest/Banner of the Stars was much better.

I'll try volume #1 of DE. That will decide me on the character designs enough to want buy more or not. Burn Up/W/Excess/Scramble is no problem - but comic looking characters in a serious story might not work.

[Fencedude]

[ QUOTE ]
Wrath of the Njr said:
So ep #12 is a flash ahead, or #2 - #11 are all flashback?



[/ QUOTE ]

Err...is there really a fundamental difference either way?

Thats a matter of perspective more than anything else.

[pianocello]

I do recommend this show. It has a very gritty feel to it with a great plot and character development. Be warned however that the last episode of Misaki Chronicles is going to have a lot of people very divided. It felt to me like a mixture of the ending of Gunbuster and Mahoromatic.

[Herufaiya]

[ QUOTE ]
Fujishig said:
[ QUOTE ]
Herufaiya said:


Well I can't say much(read: anything) to the effect of Stellvia, but as the DEve series sit in the hub of my mind as they wait for a possible spot on my top-10, I must say that I can not recommend this series.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wait... did you mistype or something? Because it sounded like you really liked the series and were recommending it...

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I'm an idiot, I confess, I've been trying to keep it hidden for a long time, but I suppose someone had to find out eventually...(thanks for pointing that out)
*hidez-weepz*
On-topic: Wrath of the Njr, iff the character designs bother you too much, think of it as an artistic choice, it certainly makes life easier...I mean, you take such a serious story based in the Hard Sci-Fi genre and then you give it unreasonably endowed female characters, it's genius, it's what you'd least expect...so is ep26, but I won't get into that...seriously, though, the show is all art to its core, don't let that whole "one thing" theory keep you from appreciating such an awesome show.

[Njr Scrawl]

Depends if there is jiggle /images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'll see how vol.1 strikes me anyway. I think boob shape is more important than size for seriousness. I prefer "twin puppies under a blanket" to "dead heat in a zeppelin race", if you know what I mean.
Plastic Little is no problem, Burn Up W was borderline, but both were comedy action.

[Nuriko]

I haven't seen Misaki Chronicles yet (only Divergence Eve), but the character designs are misleading. Like you've said, big boobs in a commedy works alot easier than a serious sci-fi show. I think the biggest question why people either hate it or like it is if whether you can bypass the character designs and focus on the serious sci-fi story. Hell, the ED theme totally does not fit the atmosphere but it sounds so cute, lol. This is one of those that you will have to see for yourself. I like what I saw and will get the Chronicles once the 3rd volume is out.

[Speedy Boris]

I reviewed two volumes of Misaki Chronicles, if you feel like reading them:
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=7461 (Vol. 1)
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=9188 (Vol. 2)

Eagerly anticipating Volume 3.

[Nuriko]

[ QUOTE ]
Speedy Boris said:
I reviewed two volumes of Misaki Chronicles, if you feel like reading them:
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=7461 (Vol. 1)
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=9188 (Vol. 2)

Eagerly anticipating Volume 3.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, I appreciate it, but I'm someone who never reads review. I only like to read a generalization, whether to get it or not. For example, I only read the last paragraph of Chris' reviews and through any buzz in R1 forum or the Recommendation forum. Sure, its a hit or miss, but I rather watch anime not knowing anything about it aside from the genre, which age group it applies to, character designs, etc basically anything that won't spoil the series for me.

However, once I'm done and if I am confused, I'd like to go back to the review and read it fully, lol I'm weird.

[JackProton]

[ QUOTE ]
Herufaiya said:
On-topic: Wrath of the Njr, iff the character designs bother you too much, think of it as an artistic choice, it certainly makes life easier...I mean, you take such a serious story based in the Hard Sci-Fi genre and then you give it unreasonably endowed female characters, it's genius, it's what you'd least expect...

[/ QUOTE ]
This "artistic choice" could be based in science. For example:

(1) Environmental Biology - Advanced future bovine growth hormones produced for greater worldwide milk production have created this problem.

(2) Biophysics - Women like these simply tend to join the space force in great numbers due to the relief low-gravity working environments offer them.

(3) Astrophysics - It could be a byproduct of travelling through a parallel inflationary universe.

(4) Psychology - The show creaters have never, ever seen real breasts.

[Teiresias]

***snicker...***

[Njr Scrawl]

[ QUOTE ]
(1) Environmental Biology - Advanced future bovine growth hormones produced for greater worldwide milk production have created this problem.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or for self-feeding in space /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[JackProton]

[ QUOTE ]
Wrath of the Njr said:
[ QUOTE ]
(1) Environmental Biology - Advanced future bovine growth hormones produced for greater worldwide milk production have created this problem.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or for self-feeding in space /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Where, I ask you, is Naru Narusegawa when you really need her...
&lt;SMACK!&gt;................ *twinkle*

[pianocello]

[ QUOTE ]
Nuriko said:
[ QUOTE ]
Speedy Boris said:
I reviewed two volumes of Misaki Chronicles, if you feel like reading them:
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=7461 (Vol. 1)
http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=9188 (Vol. 2)

Eagerly anticipating Volume 3.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, I appreciate it, but I'm someone who never reads review. I only like to read a generalization, whether to get it or not. For example, I only read the last paragraph of Chris' reviews and through any buzz in R1 forum or the Recommendation forum. Sure, its a hit or miss, but I rather watch anime not knowing anything about it aside from the genre, which age group it applies to, character designs, etc basically anything that won't spoil the series for me.

However, once I'm done and if I am confused, I'd like to go back to the review and read it fully, lol I'm weird.

[/ QUOTE ]

Considering that your taste is very similar to mine. I think you might like it. I like it though I wouldn't put it in the list of my favorites of the year.

[Njr Scrawl]

Apparently the thincase release is coming in June, so I'll get it then, &amp; decide whether to wait for a Misaki set or get the separate volumes.

If only Saint Seiya &amp; Aura Battler Dunbine would get budget set thincase releases...

The best way of getting people hooked on anything is low prices for high content....

[Herufaiya]

[ QUOTE ]
Wrath of the Njr said:
Apparently the thincase release is coming in June, so I'll get it then, &amp; decide whether to wait for a Misaki set or get the separate volumes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Woah, woah, back peddle there a bit, when/where was this announced? Post/article link!
/me is deperate
*20 seconds of searching later*
A...SOU!
http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/7uLOoX9fCpt68H6=Np/browse/item/69750/4/0/0
Rightstuf...ga daisuki desu.