How Japan’s ‘BBC’ is rewriting its role in the Second World War

[MadImmortalMan]

It looks like they dropped Antarctica on top of China and they both sunk.

[jimmy olsen]

Actually I think the relative downfall of anime in the West (and the reason we don't see so much of the stuff getting a proper release here) is that it's no longer considered for kids and the market for adult/young adult animation is very small.

This is another thing that puzzles me.  Why do people need "a proper release" in the broadband and fiber optics internet age?  Most of the anime that I've seen have never been "properly released" in HK/China.  I see lots of fan subtitle groups doing English subtitles for anime shows.  There are so many competiting Chinese subtitle groups that do the translation for free, that I generally can see an anime episode fully subtitled about 4-12 hours after it has been aired in Japan. 

I can understand if some people insist in seeing a show dubbed in English or whatever language they prefer.  I myself never went back to dubbed shows ever since I heard the original Japanese voice performance.

That are a lot of free fansub groups in America that do the same.

[garbon]

One genuine problem with Strike Witches is that many of the heroines are underage (which is normal for an anime).  The youngest one is 12 if I remember correctly.  The majority of them also showed their nipples.  So it can easily be construed as child pornography.  But really, the context is important.  There are practically no male characters, and all the nudity is shown in the context of playful female friendship. 

I'm confused. You spoke earlier about fanservice but then are now saying it is just playful female friendship - so there's no issue with animating characters who are supposed to be young?

I don't get the confusion, probably because I am used to it.  Fanservice is a very wide term that covers not just nudity, but showing scenes and shots of females (even males) wearing skimpy clothing or in...compromised positions for no plot related reason.  The context can be anything, including playful female friendship.  Strike Witches goes a bit further than most non-hentai anime shows by actually showing half-naked girls.  Even so, the context is not obnoxious.  Whether it is ok to animate young characters depends on individual taste obviously.   

The disconnect is that you say it is okay as in context it is not sexual even though those watching it enjoy it as the nudity appeals sexually.

That is of course, then ignoring the bit that Sheilbh is scratching at and just taking "playful female friendship" on its face.

[Neil]

I'm sure I'd hate it.  Shows without male characters are difficult for me to get into.

[garbon]

I'm sure I'd hate it.  Shows without male characters are difficult for me to get into.

You seem to hate a lot of things. You should work on that.

[Sheilbh]

Lately I've started struggling with shows without Timothy Olyphant

[Neil]

I'm sure I'd hate it.  Shows without male characters are difficult for me to get into.

You seem to hate a lot of things. You should work on that.

I really don't hate very many things at all.

[Capetan Mihali]

Lately I've started struggling with shows without Timothy Olyphant

I miss Deadwood.

[Josquius]

Sorry Grumbler. I give you a reply or two out of common decency applying to all but I don't like the arguing for arguings sake game.

That's okay.  You had stopped making actual arguments several exchanges ago, anyway; as you say, you were just arguing for arguments' sake. 

We can just agree to agree that I am correct. 

The day that is true it'll be snow in Cairo.
You need an opinion before you can even begin to be right.

[Monoriu]

The disconnect is that you say it is okay as in context it is not sexual even though those watching it enjoy it as the nudity appeals sexually.

That is of course, then ignoring the bit that Sheilbh is scratching at and just taking "playful female friendship" on its face.

Ok I see that you guys are thinking of the yuri subtext (yuri is Japanese euphemism for lesbian relationships).  Yuri...takes place in a surprisingly large number of anime adaptations.  I don't know why but anime fans seem to see yuri subtext everywhere, they like it, and the anime production companies take advantage of that by inserting such subtext everywhere. 

Being an all-female show, Strike Witches does have quite a bit of yuri in it. 

[Eddie Teach]

Lately I've started struggling with shows without Timothy Olyphant

I miss Deadwood.

He's better in Justified.

[Tonitrus]

Sorry Grumbler. I give you a reply or two out of common decency applying to all but I don't like the arguing for arguings sake game.

That's okay.  You had stopped making actual arguments several exchanges ago, anyway; as you say, you were just arguing for arguments' sake. 

We can just agree to agree that I am correct. 

The day that is true it'll be snow in Cairo.
You need an opinion before you can even begin to be right.

It snowed in Cairo earlier this winter. 

[garbon]

Sorry Grumbler. I give you a reply or two out of common decency applying to all but I don't like the arguing for arguings sake game.

That's okay.  You had stopped making actual arguments several exchanges ago, anyway; as you say, you were just arguing for arguments' sake. 

We can just agree to agree that I am correct. 

The day that is true it'll be snow in Cairo.
You need an opinion before you can even begin to be right.

It snowed in Cairo earlier this winter. 

But was "it" being snow?

[CountDeMoney]

and all the nudity is shown in the context of playful female friendship.

Yeah; over here, we call that F/F.

[Monoriu]

and all the nudity is shown in the context of playful female friendship.

Yeah; over here, we call that F/F.

Yuri is very odd in anime, I think.  It is everywhere, but also no where.  Anime watchers, both male and female, enjoy the yuri subtext and potential pairings.  So people see yuri subtext whenever there are two female characters involved.  99% of the yuri relationships depicted in anime are non-sexual in nature.  They are usually a bit subtle about it so that there is always deniability - they can always say it is just very close friendship instead of yuri.  The yuri in Strike Witches is quite typical in anime - the nudity is played for laughs and humour, and the mutual care and fire-forged friends aspects are emphasised in the personal relationships.