Anime of the Month (May 2008) - Now and Then, Here and There

[JShaggy]

This month's selection, which was determined by a flip of a coin, is Now and Then, Here and There from Central Park Media. The entire series is out right now. Here's a brief synopsis of Volume 1.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/releases.php?id=4929

Shu leads an ordinary life. At least he did until the day he meet LaLa-Rue, a girl with mystical colored eyes. Attracted by her silent mystery, Shu tries to coax the girl to talk with him, but just when he thinks he might be getting her to open up, they're both attacked by men riding monstrous machines!

In the ensuing battle, Shu finds himself sucked into a time warp that drags him 5 billion years into the future - to a world that is more like a battlefield than a place to live. Over the course of the millennias the sun has expanded and the cooling waters that Shu so loved have vanished. Now in this desolate land, the human race must fight to survive under the cruel leadership of a few. And one of those leaders, General Hammud of Hellywood, thinks he knows Lala-Rou's secret: the link to a new water source. And he'll do anything he has to to have it.
You may now discuss the series, keeping in mind that any and all potential spoilers should be placed in spoiler tags like this:
This is a spoiler.
Also, don't forget to rate the series when you're finished.

[kenjisalk]

This show was extremely depressing. It was incredibly brutal and honest, in a way that horrified me at times, earning my respect in the long run.

The ending was the antithesis of the Escaflowne ending for me, in a good way I guess (I was actually happy for the main character to return to his home world, after all the stuff he'd been put through)

I wish I could find the box set anywhere, seeing as it's unique enough for me to want in the collection for diversity's sake.

[Rud]

This is one of those shows that tricked me, i thought it would be a nice little adventure story, but it turned out to be prety dark and dealt with alot moral questions and such.

Also, i liked the brutality, and it actualy ended well (rarely happens).

[Taekmkm]

Just...yeah, it makes Eva happy in comparison.
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Amateur Xxx Tube (http://www.****tube.com/)

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

It's an underrated show. It's pretty grim, yes, although I wouldn't so much call it thought-provoking as it is entertainingly moody. Most of the "messages" are pretty much common sense in this show. Pretty hard to find nowadays, what with CPM ummm...kind of out of business and all.

I believe this show was supposed to be a thinly veiled reflection of child soldiers in such places as Congo.

[Kitschensyngk]

Right up there with Blue Gender as the most brutal anime I've ever seen. King Hamdo is a perfect example of one of anime's biggest bastards, what with his children's crusades, lust for power and fits of insane, violent rage.

Hooray for Hellywood.

[Dudley]

This is one of my favorite anime series of all time.
I don't try to watch it much. It's very depressing.

[Juu-kuchi]

I enjoyed this show immensely. It was so wonderful despite how dark it got. Also preferred the English dub immensely over the Japanese version. I was so entranced with it that at times before I went to school back in the day I tried to smuggle in at least one episode before I left.