======== Newsgroups: rec.arts.anime.info Subject: [APG]: Anime Pocket Guide (01/17) (Ratings) From: Alan Takahashi Date: 11 May 1997 21:36:58 -0400 Anime Pocket Guide by: Alan Takahashi Last Updated: March 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================== = Description of the Rating system = ====================================== Last revised: 13-Mar-97 The "Rating:" field appears in all of the Guide entries and is my version of a "5 star" system. The rating is entirely subjective in nature, so don't go looking for any bold insights...there aren't any. In general, the ratings are aimed at the novice; i.e. someone new to anime, or more experienced viewers who simply haven't seen that particular piece before. Since this is largely my opinion, it might help if I explain my own biases... HISTORY: Though I started out watching such works as "Astroboy", "Kimba", "8th Man", "Marine Boy", "Speed Racer" and the like, this doesn't count since I had no idea that this was anime... I completely missed out on "Star Blazers"... My first real exposure came with "Robotech". At the time, I thought it was an interesting soap opera, but nothing special. That was also the year that I attended Baycon '86 and wandered into the anime room. The "Macross Movie" was what drew me in, but what REALLY caught my attention was something I'd never heard of before. It was called "Nausicaa" or something like that... :-) Thanks to Hayao Miyazaki, I've been hooked ever since. CURRENT PHILOSOPHY: That showing of "Nausicaa" did more to shape what I like about anime than anything else. I like stories with good characters and/or interesting plotlines. I am not impressed by anime (or other shows for that matter) that emphasize mindless action or equally mindless and unchanging characters. Giant robot and combat shows fall pretty low on my list, in general. Individual contributors are generally asked to rate their submissions, so their own criteria is probably different from mine. Be warned when making comparisons... CURRENT FAVORITES: OK...let's get to the concrete stuff. Here is a listing of my current favorites, which should be an accurate barometer of how I rate things. Note that I consider the storytelling methods to be different in the various release styles, which is why I list things the way I do: FILM (Theatrical releases): 1) Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind 2) Wings of Honneamise 3) Laputa: Castle in the Sky 4) Patlabor the Movie 2 5) Kiki's Delivery Service OAV (Original Animation Videos): 1) Vampire Princess Miyu 2) Minky Momo: Bridge of your Dreams 3) Aa! Megami-sama 4) Slayers 5) Macross Plus TV (Television series): 1) Patlabor on TV 2) Maison Ikkoku 3) Evangelion 4) Detective Conan 5) Nurse Angel Ririka SOS (TIE) Fushigi Yuugi (TIE) [Hah...fooled you! You expected "Sailor Moon" here, didn't you? :-)] HOW THE RATINGS WORK: The ratings will look like your typical restaurant review. Each entry will be given a grade to a maximum of 5 points. If you like, think of it as a power gauge in your typical mecha like so: ............._................................................. |N 1 2 3 4 5. ......................../|\.................................... . ||||| . .-------------------------------------------------------------. In this case, the rating would look like this: Rating: [1 2 ] WHAT THE RATINGS MEAN: This is a 5 point rating system. Well, it's actually a 6 point system since, like any good software engineer, I tend to number things starting at zero. :-) A brief explanation of the high and low points (not to mention the middle) follows: [1 2 3 4 5] - (EXCELLENT) Whatever you do, don't miss out on this anime. If you have any interest in anime, GO SEE THIS ONE! (Old scale: "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED") [1 2 3 4 ] - (VERY GOOD) Very enjoyable except for a few parts. I would have no problem recommending this piece to newbies. (Old scale: "RECOMMENDED") [1 2 3 ] - (GOOD) Has many elements that I liked, but didn't think it was good enough to rate higher. Enjoyable, but not exceptional. (Old scale: "RECOMMENDED") [1 2 ] - (AVERAGE) Kind of good, but relies a little too heavily on anime cliches. Tends to be repetitive. (Old scale: "RECOMMENDED") [1 ] - (BELOW AVERAGE) Pointless, but still had some good parts. (Old scale: "RECOMMENDED") [ ] - (POOR) Ugh. This one committed the cardinal sin...it was BORING. Poor sequels tend to go here as well if they're significantly worse than their originals. There's only one entry in the Guide that's actually offended me...guess which one it is... (Old scale: "NOT RECOMMENDED") ----- _ __ ____ ___ _____ ____ __ Alan Takahashi / \ / / / _ \ / _ \ /_ _/ /__ / / Santa Clara, California / / \/ / / /_/ / / _/ / / / /__/ / /__ E-mail: takahash@nortel.ca /_/ \__/ \____/ /_/|_| /_/ /____ /____/ ----------------------- N O R T H E R N T E L E C O M "When you need to knock on wood is when you realize the world's composed of aluminum and vinyl." -- Flugg's Law