Seems ADV has finally started talking. (via) They're announcing new release dates, which means they've got at least something straightened out. Unfortunately for me, the last DVD of Magikano isn't on the list.

Unfortunately for nearly all of us, Gurren Lagann also isn't on the list. But at least there's progress. And they're saying that more announcements will be coming soo.

Also, more from ADV here.

UPDATE: A response to Doyen's comment, below the fold

Reader recommendations regarding things I "might like" have been no better than a flipped coin at making predictions. In fact, they've been a lot worse than a flipped coin.

So to summarize: there were 53 titles on this list, every one of which was recommended by one of my readers. Of those I eventually bought 27, about half (marked with asterisks). Of those 27, I was glad that I bought 11, and really felt ripped off by about 11. Of the ones I didn't buy, I now know enough to know that I wouldn't like nearly all of them. So my readers overall batted about .200 on their recommendations.

For all practical purposes, those heart-felt pieces of advice were no better than a dice roll would have been at selecting things which I eventually was glad I watched. And that's been my experience ever since: as a practical matter, audience recommendations for titles I "might want to consider" have been utterly useless, far more likely to be wrong than right at predicting audience (me) satisfaction.

Part of the problem is that too often, "I bet you would like this" either means "I liked it" or "I heard from other people who liked it". Too often it doesn't mean "I've looked at your viewing history of things you have and have not liked, and this is very much like the kinds of things you yourself have liked in the past."

On the other hand, the Kawasumi rule... maybe I'll have to give one DVD a try. But based on what I've seen regarding it (much more than just the ANN summary) everything indicates that I'd hate it, even if Kawasumi Ayako stars in it.

What I'm getting from what I know about this series is that it is like Noir. It's claustrophobic. The central characters are on the run. They're being chased by large forces, and don't even fully know who all is chasing them or what resources they have. They're outnumbered, outgunned, and constantly in peril. Watching it will be an exercise in tension.

I don't like that feeling.

The most recent case where my readers talked me into buying something I said I didn't want, it turned out to be Yumeria, which I just panned.

If you feel the overwhelming urge to offer me unsolicited advice on things I "might want to consider", please read this, and then this, and then hopefully the urge will have passed.

Posted by: Steven Den Beste in General Anime at 10:40 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
Post contains 486 words, total size 3 kb.

1

Best exchange on ANN:

 ADV Quote: My staff and I have been in touch with most of our retail partners, who have been remarkably patient and understanding.

Indeed. Apology accepted, Captain Needa...

Bob (aka Robert)
The Anime Corner Store

Posted by: ubu at February 28, 2008 06:31 AM (dhRpo)

2 'Bout time. I've been waiting for the last volume of Kurau Phantom Memory for a while now.

Posted by: Evil Otto at February 28, 2008 12:42 PM (08dnm)

3 I just looked that up. Sounds intriguing, but I'm not a big one for horror titles. (However, Kawasumi Ayako in the lead role, sigh...)

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at February 28, 2008 01:27 PM (+rSRq)

4 Don't worry about it, it's not horror. In fact, it's pretty far from it... more like "The Fugitive" with superpowers, if that makes any sense.

And it probably doesn't.

In any case, one of my favorites. Hopefully it'll have a good ending.

Posted by: EvilOtto at February 28, 2008 02:38 PM (08dnm)

5 As EvilOtto says Kurau is not horror it's a sci-fi action drama.  If you read the show summary on ANN what it says is true but that's just the opening, the story jumps about 10 years after that.  Kurau is a "recovery agent", using her special powers to make a living.  I think you might enjoy it Steven give the first disc a try.

Posted by: Doyen at February 28, 2008 10:16 PM (99V/z)

6 Hey, some of your readers told you NOT to get it. In particular, I mentioned how it almost drove one of my co-workers to suicide, in despair that someone somewhere might have enjoyed the show. ;p

Posted by: Avatar_exADV at February 29, 2008 02:18 AM (LMDdY)

7 I said:

I'm not recommending it. It's just not the worst thing ever.

Which is pretty well summarises your review.

What we need is an anti-recommendation system.  If you hated Yumeria, you will probably also loathe...

Posted by: Pixy Misa at February 29, 2008 03:43 AM (PiXy!)

8

I tend not to give recommendations in the sense of "Hey, you should buy this."  Opinions, such as "Well, I liked it," I figure are fair game, though. 

I'd never want anyone to buy something on my say-so, unless it was one of my paintings in which case, yes, they're all great.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 29, 2008 11:35 AM (kLWtB)

9 On the other hand, the Kawasumi rule... maybe I'll have to give one DVD a try.

Save yourself money... watch the first episode on YouTube. That way, if you don't like it you're not out anything except the time invested.

As for recommendations, I go with the "I liked it, you may not" strategy. Taste in anime is like taste in anything else; it's personal.

Posted by: EvilOtto at March 01, 2008 09:10 AM (08dnm)

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