Texhnolyze for the First Time (*NO spoilers, please!*)

[Serial Experiments Nobue]

I decided to start up this thread inspired by two things. First, oddly enough, was my recent avatar change, which by way of a comment in the Avatars thread in Off-topic, prompted a near miss on being spoiled for later in the series. That got me thinking to doing another first timer's thread, with most of the credit for that idea going to disarm for his CCS thread. So, Randall Flagg and the unknowing disarm, thanks for inspiring this thread! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

So here's the basic idea... I am now watching Texhnolyze for the first time. I have just completed episode 5, and here I'll post after every episode or two my thoughts on it so far. My viewing schedule averages about 5 episodes a week, since I watch an episode almost daily.

My impressions so far:

As I should expect with an Ueda/ABe project, things got started right away and with little explanation. It's taken me until about the 4th episode to get a grasp on what's going on. Ichise is an outcast of some kind, Ran is still very mysterious (I like that in a character) and I don't know yet where her future-telling ability will come into play. "I've seen it" (regarding Ichise) is all I have to go on. She's also just led Ichise out of the sewer by dropping those flowers. I still don't know who Yoshii really is, other than he's obviously not from Lukuss, and he seems to want to set the people free from their seemingly self imposed oppression. So far, it's got sort of a Lain meets Haibane Renmei environment going on, what with people trying to get to the unknown outside world, but not being able to for whatever reason. This is in contrast to Haibane Renmei where people didn't know what was 'out there', but for the most part had no desire to leave.

I am enjoying the show a lot so far, it's very very dark and moody, and there are tons of questions not yet answered, and I'm looking forward to finding out more.

So, feel free respond however you like to this blog-like thread, just remember... no spoilers please! There's nothing that I dislike more than knowing what's going to happen ahead of time. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] If you think it's even remotely spoilerish, don't post it! Or if you absolutely can't help yourself, for the love of Rakka spoiler-tag it! I beg you! [img]/images/graemlins/sweat000.gif[/img]

I have seen through Rogue 5. I'll probably post more thoughts after watching Rogue 6 or 7, depending what happens next.

If anyone else is watching for the first time and wants to play along too, be my guest! Just no spoilers past what I've seen. [img]/images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif[/img]

[bctaris]

Don't get too hung up on Abe's involvement (only the character designer here), or even Ueda. This one is writer Chiaki Konaka's baby. And it's easier to conceptualize as something between two of Konaka's most cerebral series: Serial Experiments Lain and The Big O. I feel this is the grandest thing (and arguably most digestible of his dramatic work) that Konaka has ever conceived.

Another crew member to pay attention to in retrospect is Hidetoshi Kaneko, the art director. The design of the show, and especially what awaits in the final few episodes is remarkable.

Good viewing. This is one of my favorites.

[cyclograph]

I'm firmly of the opinion that both Ueda & ABe have unresolved personal issues with grief and loss. It seems to permeate projects they are involved with in it's own subtle (or not, in this case) and intensely melancholic way... even NieA_7, IMO. Not that I mind, it's beautifully interwoven and complimentary with the stories created, but definitely present.
In Texh it's just brandished with a really big stick! [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[christianlf]

[ QUOTE ]
bctaris said:
Don't get too hung up on Abe's involvement (only the character designer here), or even Ueda. This one is writer Chiaki Konaka's baby.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's inaccurate. Ueda was the one who created Texhnolyze. He got Konaka on board. He talks about it in the interview on one of the discs. He was clearly the driving force behind the project.

[bctaris]

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Christian said:
[ QUOTE ]
bctaris said:
Don't get too hung up on Abe's involvement (only the character designer here), or even Ueda. This one is writer Chiaki Konaka's baby.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's inaccurate. Ueda was the one who created Texhnolyze. He got Konaka on board. He talks about it in the interview on one of the discs. He was clearly the driving force behind the project.

[/ QUOTE ]

True, but while Ueda laid done the concept, (and producers are by definition the driving force behind these sorts of things) Konaka, as with Lain, basically constructed it into what we know it as. His specific credit as a scenarist (creating the general outline for the work) speaks to that. But they were at least complimentary to each other. I also mention it as Konaka's "baby" in that it is infused with many of his trademark flourishes and subtle, multi-layered twists.

Ueda got Konaka on board and made him the chief writer and story editor for a reason--he knew what sort of a concept it was and needed Konaka's specific talent for pulling it off.

(Either way, as my original post was responding to, Abe had nothing to do with it story-wise, as some continue to think with any show he's involved in, except Haibane Renmei and to a lesser extent NieA_7--owing I think to the way Geneon first promoted him in North America when Lain and NieA_7 came out as a way to boost the audience of either property, and eventual future titles.)

[Serial Experiments Nobue]

[ QUOTE ]
bctaris said:
Don't get too hung up on Abe's involvement (only the character designer here), or even Ueda.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I realize he was 'merely' the character designer, but he's still my favorite character designer, and that was my main incentive in getting this series. Being dark and brooding and dystopian was a plus. And if I discover another new director and writer because of it, even better.

As I alluded to in my initial post, this style of series is one of my favorites... lots of imagery, a complex narrative (as I see it so far), and the sci-fi angle.

And back to ABe, while I know that this is not "his" show (that honor would be most accurately applied to Haibane Renmei), I have enjoyed everything he's contributed to so far, so I saw no reason not to add Texhnolyze to the collection. So far it has not disappointed.

I'll be watching episode 6 today after work, so I'll possibly have more feedback tonight.

[indigo0086]

*hovers over chair with hand raised high in the air*

The answer is "this anime kicks ass".

The ending was a total bummer and I disagree wit Abe's involvement being trivial at best. His characters look and mood have always stood out more than just in the art. I have all the art pencilboards and looking at them just looks like they inspire deeper story. It's his inspiration that stands out, not just the drawing.

[bctaris]

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Serial Experiments NieA said:
And back to ABe, while I know that this is not "his" show (that honor would be most accurately applied to Haibane Renmei), I have enjoyed everything he's contributed to so far, so I saw no reason not to add Texhnolyze to the collection. So far it has not disappointed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Certainly. His designs are very iconic and big draws, and Geneon I'm sure knows it, the same way they use Range Murata as a draw for his shows, like Last Exile. I was drawn to the series by four factors: Abe, Ueda, Konaka...and for the third Abe-associated series in a row, the New Generation Pictures English dub. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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indigo0086 said:
...I disagree wit Abe's involvement being trivial at best. His characters look and mood have always stood out more than just in the art. I have all the art pencilboards and looking at them just looks like they inspire deeper story. It's his inspiration that stands out, not just the drawing.

[/ QUOTE ]

I won't disagree. The designs inspiring character development is a good point.

[christianlf]

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bctaris said:
[ QUOTE ]
Christian said:
[ QUOTE ]
bctaris said:
Don't get too hung up on Abe's involvement (only the character designer here), or even Ueda. This one is writer Chiaki Konaka's baby.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's inaccurate. Ueda was the one who created Texhnolyze. He got Konaka on board. He talks about it in the interview on one of the discs. He was clearly the driving force behind the project.

[/ QUOTE ]

True, but while Ueda laid done the concept, (and producers are by definition the driving force behind these sorts of things)

[/ QUOTE ]

Sometimes. Some producers, such as Ueda, like to be heavily involved in creative aspects while others may just be money people.

[ QUOTE ]
Konaka, as with Lain, basically constructed it into what we know it as. His specific credit as a scenarist (creating the general outline for the work) speaks to that. But they were at least complimentary to each other. I also mention it as Konaka's "baby" in that it is infused with many of his trademark flourishes and subtle, multi-layered twists.

[/ QUOTE ]

You'll get no argument from me that Konaka was a very important part of making Texhnolyze what it was, but I disagree with your downplaying Ueda's creative role. Without Konaka, Texhnolyze would have been a very different show. Without Ueda, Texhnolyze wouldn't exist.

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(Either way, as my original post was responding to, Abe had nothing to do with it story-wise, as some continue to think with any show he's involved in, except Haibane Renmei and to a lesser extent NieA_7--owing I think to the way Geneon first promoted him in North America when Lain and NieA_7 came out as a way to boost the audience of either property, and eventual future titles.)

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Oh, I know. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] You and I used to spread the word quite a bit when Texhnolyze was first hitting R1-land.

[JackProton]

[ QUOTE ]
Cyclograph said:
I'm firmly of the opinion that both Ueda & ABe have unresolved personal issues with grief and loss. It seems to permeate projects they are involved with in it's own subtle (or not, in this case) and intensely melancholic way... even NieA_7, IMO. Not that I mind, it's beautifully interwoven and complimentary with the stories created, but definitely present.
In Texh it's just brandished with a really big stick! [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I would disagree with the idea that these are "unresolved personal issues" rather than attempts to tackle very serious issues concerning the human condition. Grief and loss are really only part of the equation. More importantly, I see something of a Buddhist philosophical framework at work which imparts a positive and hopeful message that grief and loss can be overcome once change is accepted as a constant.

Texnolyze, however, does appear quite different to me. Perhaps because it seems to be more of an allegory in nature. Certain symbols like flowers and foxes make some sense but... limbs? I admit I haven't been able to completely parse it yet.