Anime-watching-updates, stuff...GeneShaft

I haven't been too active, but in all fair-ness, I've been...well, should be more busy (awhile I waste my time >_>'').

Anyway, I had opportunity to watch Gene Shaft. It's a 13 episode series based in the future where mankind almost destroys itself in the 21st century.

 I say that in a awkward, trailed off way, to make room for thought.
......Something seems ironic, and speechless. Can we do that? yeah, probably....
Basically they recreate the population with gene-changed humans, where people are born with modified DNA, and some human emotions are taken away to ensure everyone cooperates. There seems to be lots of anger issues however in individuals, so I think they had some miscalculations......

For the most part, they can't feel "Love" anymore, not comprehend why you would need it....everyone has replicas possible from the gene bank. So if anyone dies, well, you can replace them.

There is a character named Mario.
I know it sounds funny..."Hey, like Super Mario Bros"....but he actually is quite a likable character. His personality affects the ship crew, especially when he takes over the bridge while the captain is not fit for duty due to some bothersome flashbacks.

This here is the captain. I like his grin...usually he's not too emotional on the outside Xp

It was rather interesting, but I disliked how the ending was so...abrupt. Did not really quite see how things turned out between some people, it was hinted, thrown in, or had some basic idea of, but didn't really conclude that "so and so are now exclusively together", or "so and so is now feeling happier about their life".

The opening theme was pretty cool, and was actually the basic theme music for the entire series. In other words, it wasn't just a song picked out to market the show-you will hear a lot of this guitar stuff.


Oh yeah...we also didn't get to see Mika reunite with her dog! she promised to come back....what's with that? we barely got to see what happened after she saved *insert character name spoiler*, and didn't even show being back onto the ship yet. I want to see the dog!
Did you know her dog can type? it also can talk apparently.

Another thing I did enjoy was that the mecha designs (within the series), through data, and programming, were not perfect. Not near it. There may be "perfect" examples of human being dna in this series, but despite all that, even their Shaft (the robot piloted between two people), was not even close to perfection. There were tons of bugs, and many times during life-threatening moments, the program would crash. This often led to floating helplessly in space for a few moments while rebooting the system.

                                                 This is obviously not a life-threatening moment.

The way they controlled the Shaft, too was interesting. All sorts of cables make the control pieces look a bit more interactive for some reason, and how the seat slides...it reminds me of those rides where you sit in that seat, and the seats are all inside this "space ship" that bumps around, as if you are hitting space debris XD....it was amusing.

I also re-started the last 3 episodes of, and than finished, Last Exile.
I was again displeased with the ending. It seemed rather unclear what all really happened in the last scene, apparently 9 years later.
I didn't quite notice it at the time, but I read other's say how being 9 years later, the kid protagonists sure haven't aged..........but the one other guy did, also while growing facial hair and having a child with the girl he had a crush on.
I guess those kids got the gift of immortality, haha! flying vanships in strange places in the sky can do that.

I have Ghost in the Shell: Sac 2nd Gig to watch too....I picked that up.
Le Chevalier D'eon is something I've watched in the last few months, too. I grabbed it for Boxing day, and got to finishing in sometime in February.

What I'd really like to know, though, is when an online version of Fafner: Heaven and Earth is up. (I'd probably grab a dubbed version on dvd, but it's highly unlikely anyone will pick it up-because the original series wasn't saved from discontiuation-they'd even have to hire the same voice actors as ADV did...preferably) It hit the Japanese theatres in December last year, but, I haven't seen any news of dvd releases :/.....

Well, that wasn't quite exciting....but at least it's an update.
I think Geneshaft is re-watchable. 13 episodes isn't too long, and I rather enjoyed it.
There are of course flaws, too...and it's an older series, but who cares...
I don't know about you, but I watch anime to watch it-not to criticize it. I'll criticize it if I want, but that's not really my intention when watching most anime...or most of anything.

You will know when I do intent to criticize...because from the moment it starts, I start sharing my sarcastic side and making fun of just about anything. Hope your show isn't one of them...

Anime Marketing

Oh, and Happy New Years!
There are several topics I wanted to cover the past month, but did not get at doing that. I hope I will catch up! Most of it is related to my samurai anime craze, and just how in-depth I got into the characters--it is worth a read if you enjoyed Hakuouki, actually...I'll have to rewatch an episode to get me into the mood---the depressed mood of emotional relating and empathy.

Anyways!

So there is this thing called "marketing". I tend to find that, while I'm a nobody and have no experience in the matter, I do enjoy some of the marketing theory or whatever it may be called...

My concern within this area of anime merchandising is in DVD reprice sales!


For example: company decides "hey, let's mark down this title-it's a great idea, and people will buy it more, I mean, it's older now anyway"

Yeah, that IS a good idea.....


However, they still keep the products created before the mark down price at the full price, often being nearly 50% more than the new price.
 So basically, they have these shiny new dvds with shiny attractive prices now showing up.....but, since the older stock that is not repriced to match the needs of this idea are still on shelves (and not selling!), some stores will probably not re-order, OR, the newer dvds will sell, but the older stock will absolutely go nowhere.
This is self-defeating, a waste of resources, energy, and most of all--it just is not efficient. Seriously? NO ONE is going to buy the old price!

My other related concern is when we get anime in part 1 and part 2. They both sell individually for the same price that they now sell together as a complete set.
Yet, even after this new release, the old dvds are still their old, unselling price. Instead of just marking them down to a seller point, like 50% off to get rid of the old lingering product that refuses to be sold, they keep them?
What's the point in this? You guys are just losing money, and misusing what resources you already have for fast income and faster customers.

When something shinier comes out that sells well to the whole audience (rich and poor alike) the old product is no longer of service....that is, unless it's marked down so well that people WILL choose it, thinking they are saving even MORE this way, even if it's just $10.
I think they need to visit a market and read those "buy for $3, or buy 2 for $5". It sound as if these vendors and crafters rip themselves off, doesn't it?
Well, because this deal they offer to buy more sounds more appealing, and as if they were to rip themselves off---people WILL buy....rather, MORE people will buy---and it proves that these sellers are willing to lean to a slightly risky appearance to sell well--like confidence that their product works.


So in comes to me that these anime companies are wasting a lot, and causing everyone more stress by being stubborn about letting their dusty old expensive versions of their new loved items go to waste when they could very well make themselves more money, as well as gaining more reputation "This company will sell this item you are now staring at for half this price once they release a better deal to buy them together--unlike so and so company".

So, why wouldn't you?
I'm not going to buy that now-overpriced version of what I just bought for half! why would I?
My personal account on this is when I picked up Le Chevalier 'D Eon in it's new S.A.V.E edition for $31. The original dusty packaging was sitting in quantities of 3 for $50 or so......and no, there is no way I'd buy that.

Note to self: update products to more efficiently sell, attract more buyers, and get the "This company really knows how to grab me now, it's like I can actually afford them when they say "Sale price" instead of using it as a gimmik--they are real".



And this is my look on marketing. Hope you enjoyed my rant, for what it's worth. It's bizarre how much this bothers me....except that, I want to spend what I should be spending if that sale price is what it says it is---I want to pay what they say I should be paying.


-Little Shadow Fox

Have a good January!

And happy Chinese New Year in advance