Japanese anime rateings

Dark Lilly · Post by **Dark Lilly** » Mar 18, 2005 8:01pm

Recently stumbled into an interesting anime site called the Japanese Works Database (Anime, Game, Comics, Novel, Movie)

http://www.accessup.org/anime/e_anime_best.html

The first thing I noticed is that the Japanese are far more critical judges of anime than the rest of us. For instance, Inuyasha ranked “Best of the Best” outside of Japan, was given a “Good” in its country of origin. The same held true for Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Here is a sampling of some of the rankings:

Sailor Moon
Japan – Good
English – Very good

Fushigi Yuugi
Japan – Very Good
English – Best of The Best

Kenshin’s Rurouni/Samurai X
Japan – Good
English – Best!

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
Japan – Good
English – Impressively good

Vision of Escaflowne
Japan – Very good
Englush – Best of the Best

I only noticed Cowboy Bebop receiving a “Best of the Best” in Japan and out of country.

Berserk and Trigun were seen as “Impressively good” in Japan and out of country.

3x3 Eyes was the only one I noticed being reversed. The Japanese saw it as “Impressively good” whereas out of country viewers saw it as “Very good.”

Anyway, I thought some of the hard core Otaku’s might find it interesting.

Duuz · Post by **Duuz** » Mar 19, 2005 3:05pm

I find it useless.

I don't care what some one tells me is the best or great, if I don't like it it's trash. What the masses tells me is irrelivant.

Dark Lilly · Post by **Dark Lilly** » Mar 19, 2005 4:06pm

Oh, I agree. My taste frequently runs contrary to the masses. I just found it interesting that the Japanese frequently weren't as impressed with a series as "we" seem to be.

Dark Lilly · Post by **Dark Lilly** » Mar 19, 2005 4:11pm

Hey, Duuz ... you seen Kaze no Yojimbo? If so, what did you think?

Duuz · Post by **Duuz** » Mar 20, 2005 9:02am

No, I haven't gotten around to it. I get so busy that I pick anime that appeals to me personally. That seems harder to do lately. While I do have titles that would appeal to the masses like Gundam, I frequently have to tell people I was a fan before Gundam even aired on CN.

I think it's far more impressive to the USA because of it's not animation that we are used to. Granted US animators use more f.p.s. than Japan, but it's the story being told and the visuals used that impresses us more. It's a grass is always greener on the other side arguement.

Then there's the number and age of the people that taken part in this rateing system to consider. If they're young in my opinion their point of veiw is skewered. To them everything that has come out in the last 5 years is great. Go back 15 or 20 years and it looks crappy to them. Back 20 some years ago that was the best they had at the time, it's ignorant to dismiss it as bad it's just dated. The younger viewers need to realize that the world did not begin at their date of birth.

Just more of my 2 cents, which probably sound like a gave 25 cents.

Dark Lilly · Post by **Dark Lilly** » Mar 20, 2005 10:14am

>No, I haven't gotten around to it. I get so busy that I pick anime that appeals to me personally.
++Well, I suggest it because it is in no way a kid show or "mainstream."

>.....it's the story being told and the visuals used that impresses us more....
++Well, that's why I'm hooked on it. Kind of a "late bloomer" though.

>Then there's the number and age of the people that taken part in this rateing system to consider. If they're young in my opinion their point of veiw is skewered. To them everything that has come out in the last 5 years is great. Go back 15 or 20 years and it looks crappy to them. Back 20 some years ago that was the best they had at the time, it's ignorant to dismiss it as bad it's just dated. The younger viewers need to realize that the world did not begin at their date of birth.
++LOL!!!! Can't get into Battel of the Planets but I love old Harlock and Gundam. Again, it's about the story. Knew about anime for a long, long ...long time but only recently had the time to really dig in to it.

>Just more of my 2 cents, which probably sound like a gave 25 cents.
++And I appreciate it. Just the kind of discussion I was trying to stimulate. Thanks Duuz.

Duuz · Post by **Duuz** » Mar 20, 2005 6:16pm

Well thank you for openning the door for such topics, and you're welcome.

It's topics like this that are a change from the usual who is your favor character topics that pop up in other message boards. Or some people create the typical what series do you hate and why?

This one does show either the Japanese are far more critical of their own anime than us, or the audience that voted in that ranking stats just have that point of view. It can not be seriously taken as the norm. Actually I don't think anything can be considered the norm. It's like trying to find an anime to be called the best, but there will always be a disenting voice. There can never be a best as the genres anime covers is to great now.

Kyle Bloodheart · Post by **Kyle Bloodheart** » Mar 20, 2005 8:58pm

I think a reason for why the rankings vary is, in Japan, an anime is made and viewed by varing age groups, while in the US, many animes are changed for/directed towards specific age groups, and not viewed by people outside those age groups.

By receiving opinions from many age groups, changes the rankings greatly. While receiving opinions mostly from the age group that an anime is directed towards, will get the same answer everytime.

Dark Lilly · Post by **Dark Lilly** » Mar 20, 2005 10:32pm

>There can never be a best as the genres anime covers is to great now.
++Isn't that the truth! But I do so love it when I stumble into a show that is classic or sets a new benchmark of excellence. I wade through a lot of "not bad,” and "pretty darn good" in my on going quest for the ones that are "Oh, wow!" Think my last real "Oh, wow!" was Last Exile. ....and Saiyuki .... but I think that was largely due to the English script and voice acting by the ADV cast. I know purists shudder at thought of dubs but when it works, it is great.

>By receiving opinions from many age groups, changes the rankings greatly. While receiving opinions mostly from the age group that an anime is directed towards, will get the same answer every time.
++I agree and am glad you took the time to think about it. I have been trying for quite a while to get a few deeper threads going .... but with little success. One reason is that the majority of people on this list are only familiar with what is available on TV and few have the resources to rent of buy other anime. Others simply aren’t interested in anything they have to think about.

Duuz · Post by **Duuz** » Mar 20, 2005 11:03pm

You are right Kyle, the difference in age groups make all the difference. It shouldn't be ignored, funny just the other day I meet two new anime fans. They were older than me, but they got into anime from buying their kids Pokemon.

Now even though they are older they are pretty much a... well I really don't know if I'd classify them as newbies or late bloomers. All I know is I've clearly been at this longer than them. I've made mistakes and have seen and bought some truely bad anime, well not completely bad, I haven't bought "M.D. Giest" at least.

I think I can say as a good example take Gundam. Most of the long time fans of it will prefer the earlier versions or UC Gundam. Most of the late bloomers and newbies will prefer Gundam Wing or Gundam Seed. Plus the fact that most remember or saw Wing and Seed on TV the most.

And some day I must finish some of the series I have before I try new ones. Last Exile wasn't really a "Wow" series for me, but it did make my list just like Outlaw Star did. Have they released a boxed set of Last Exile yet? Just like the Outlaw Star? I really like it when they do that. Collected Brain Powered the same way. These are the series I define as bumps between my collecting what are my prime series to get.

Dark Lilly · Post by **Dark Lilly** » Mar 20, 2005 11:43pm

It was thanks to unemployment that I discovered anime on Adult Swim. Viva Cowboy Bebop. Mentioned it to a SciFi/SCA friend and he hooked me up with a con friend of his who was very into anime. She had been looking for a worthy home for her collection of fan subbed VHS after she switched everything to DVD. An hour’s drive and lunch got me almost 300 tapes. Some great, some drek. Needless to say, I got hooked. No, I swallowed the hook.

Still renting most of my stuff. Eventually, I will buy the ones I really like but right now, the discovery process is a lot of fun.

I'm with you on the older Gundam, Duuz. And gods save me from G Gundam! Couldn't stomach more than one disc before I mailed it back.

>Last Exile wasn't really a "Wow" series for me, but it did make my list just like Outlaw Star did.
++I think I took to it because of my connection to aviation. Even though it was fantasy, it captured much of the spirit of early flight. Still in rental mode so I haven't checked to see if it is a box set yet. That would definitely be the way to go.

I like Outlaw Star but it's not a "list topper" for me.

>Collected Brain Powered the same way.
++Read a bit about Brain Powered but didn't bother to put it in my rental queue. Worthwhile? Had MD Giest on the list until a read a review ... or should I say peuiew.

>These are the series I define as bumps between my collecting what are my prime series to get.
++Bumps. I like that. Say, how about a list of your "prime series?"

Duuz · Post by **Duuz** » Mar 21, 2005 8:46am

My must finish series are Gundam of course, but I'm not in a hurry to get G Gundam of Gundam Superior Defender, those two are just silly. And Urusei Yatsura, which there are only 3 boxed sets left to go.

After those 2 I really wish Legend of Galactic Heros woud get picked up and translated, but it's one of the old school series. So I'll probably want to finish Aura Battlers Dunbine, AT Votoms and get Five Star Stories.

There are other old school mecha series I'd wish some one would license, Dougram, Heavy Metal L Giam to name a few. But old school anime doesn't sell well to fans of stuff like Inu-Yasha or such.

And I find this strange, why aren't the fans of Inu-Yasha looking into older titles of Rumiko Takahashi? I can say 15 years ago Rumiko's work was a big thing, every one knew who Lum was. Now it's hard to find anyone that knows the name.

Kyle Bloodheart · Post by **Kyle Bloodheart** » Mar 21, 2005 10:10am

People are lazy. They don't want to look up anything. People also believe that earlier creations are worse than current creations. But, most people are just ill-informed. They don't think any further than, I like this.

Following your point, another example is Slayers. 10 years ago Slayers was well known, and very popular. Now almost no one even knows it.

As for old school not selling. People want NEW and BETTER. Those people see the animation style of the old school animes as old, dated, POOR QUALITY. Everyone wants the best possible animation, realistic animation, animation that is possibly enhanced using computers. And people just don't tell others about old school animes, because the old school time seems to have passed.

I like old school anime, and feel that the old school animes are classics. But few other people feel that way.

Sorry if I sound like the devil's advocate, but I found this either helps continue a discussion, or just plain kills it. I prefer for the discussion to continue.

Dark Lilly · Post by **Dark Lilly** » Mar 21, 2005 8:03pm

>People are lazy.
++No kidding! I don't know how many times I have answered questions by directing people to listings on this very site.

Not much of a Slayers Fan but then perhaps I didn't give it a chance. Might have liked it more had I been in to Dungeons and Dragons and the like.

I feel the same way about old school anime as I do classic movies. They aren't all great but some are spectacular. It is all in the writing .... and in the case of anime, the drawing. I don't care much for most of the CG. They still can't blend it with the hand drawing well enough to suit me. Last Exile did a pretty good job of it though.

You know, I didn't like Gladiator nearly as well as I did Spartacus from the '60's. The CG just looks fake to me.

I recently saw Arcadia of my Youth and loved it. Can't wait to dig into more Harlock stuff. Although newer, Cosmo Warrior Zero is pretty good branch off the Harlock tree.

I have noticed that there is some really good science fiction in older anime. .....but I do wonder how they get a flag to wave in a vacuum .....?

Let's keep yakking here or even start an "Old School" thread and go in to detail there. Listing and discussing the names of great foundation anime and posting information links.

Kyle Bloodheart · Post by **Kyle Bloodheart** » Mar 21, 2005 9:36pm

I have recently saw the remake of Appleseed. They did an excellent job of blending hand drawn cels, and computer graphics.

I think the flags have tiny motors in them to move the flags, as if the flag was caught in a wind.

People no longer want anything that is older than a couple years, usually less than 5 years old. What people don't understand is, without the old school, there wouldn't be any of the "new school." But in a few years, old school will be forgotten, "new school" will become old school, and there will be a new "new school."

Dark Lilly · Post by **Dark Lilly** » Mar 21, 2005 11:53pm

>I think the flags have tiny motors in them to move the flags, as if the flag was caught in a wind.

++LOL Toooooo funny. Great answer.

>I have recently saw the remake of Appleseed. They did an excellent job of blending hand drawn cels, and computer graphics.
++That's cool. It'll get better with time.

Maybe we should try to come up with the curriculum for an Anime Appreciation course. You know, like Music Appreciation or Art Appreciation where there are certain "classics" you must be familiar with in order to get a "passing grade."

Japanese anime rateings