View Full Version : A few things about Inuyasha are just bothering me.
This started as a review of tonight's first episode of Inuyasha, but it sort of mutated into a gripe about the series in general, so I decided to post it as a new thread instead of under the review thread.
Biggest gripe: No more internal monologues, ever. Seriously. They've been abusing them like crazy on this show, and they're stupid to begin with. We shouldn't need to hear every single thought in a character's head. If it's that hard for characters to express what's on their minds using natural means, the show has a problem. This gets especially annoying when most of the time, internal monologues are just reiterating things we've heard five times.
Which leads me to my next gripe: how many times do we need do we need to hear important plot points repeated by the characters? Do the writers really think viewers have no capacity for information retention? How many more times do we need to revisit the flashback of Kikyo shooting Inuyasha with an arrow? The near-constant flow of exposition really detracts from my enjoyment of the show.
Another problem is the background music selected for each scene. Many times it just seems inappropriate. Battle scenes, major plot twists, and cliffhangers need stronger, more dramatic music if they're going to have any music at all. Most of the time it just feels too generic or watered-down.
Well, that's all. Just felt like getting that off my chest.
Killtacular
12-21-2002, 11:44 PM
The problems you described have nothing to do with Viz, and it can't be stopped by Sunrise.
The fact is, Inuyasha does not air reruns in Japan. EVER. EVER. EVER.
Every single week(or bi-week), a new episode.
So new viewers have to get caught up somehow. So, Sunrise has recap sequences every few episodes to get people up to speed with the most recent episodes.
I guess the internal monologues are just common in most Rumiko Takahashi's works, although I think Arxane here is the expert in Rumiko Takahashi's stuffs.
So I'll wait on Arxane to fill on that one.
About the background music, I guess the creators of Inu Yasha just aren't gifted with the abilities of the creators of Bebop.
That said, most of us are actually taking for granted the excellence of Bebop's soundtrack. It's quite rare I think for an anime series..skip that...for any series, animated or live action, Japanese or American, to have such excellent quality soundtrack like Bebop.
Originally posted by Matt Wilson
The problems you described have nothing to do with Viz, and it can't be stopped by Sunrise.
The fact is, Inuyasha does not air reruns in Japan. EVER. EVER. EVER.
Every single week(or bi-week), a new episode.
So new viewers have to get caught up somehow. So, Sunrise has recap sequences every few episodes to get people up to speed with the most recent episodes.
Recaps can be handled better than they're handling them. They don't need to take us through the entire backstory everytime the show hits another major plot point.
Killtacular
12-21-2002, 11:50 PM
They do in Japan.
aesir
12-21-2002, 11:51 PM
Every show has its downsides but as for the monolouges, I think they fit in fairly well in most of the sequences.
Originally posted by Matt Wilson
They do in Japan.
That doesn't mean it's a good idea. Recaps should be restricted to the beginning of an episode, before anything else. Having characters launch into a full reevaluation of the backstory right in the middle of a scene is just dumb.
Charred Knight
12-22-2002, 12:01 AM
Originally posted by cbf
This started as a review of tonight's first episode of Inuyasha, but it sort of mutated into a gripe about the series in general, so I decided to post it as a new thread instead of under the review thread.
Biggest gripe: No more internal monologues, ever. Seriously. They've been abusing them like crazy on this show, and they're stupid to begin with. We shouldn't need to hear every single thought in a character's head. If it's that hard for characters to express what's on their minds using natural means, the show has a problem. This gets especially annoying when most of the time, internal monologues are just reiterating things we've heard five times.
Which leads me to my next gripe: how many times do we need do we need to hear important plot points repeated by the characters? Do the writers really think viewers have no capacity for information retention? How many more times do we need to revisit the flashback of Kikyo shooting Inuyasha with an arrow? The near-constant flow of exposition really detracts from my enjoyment of the show.
Another problem is the background music selected for each scene. Many times it just seems inappropriate. Battle scenes, major plot twists, and cliffhangers need stronger, more dramatic music if they're going to have any music at all. Most of the time it just feels too generic or watered-down.
Well, that's all. Just felt like getting that off my chest.
The inter-monolauge stuff is something Takashi developed for this series, because the 4 main characters have absolutely no ability to communicate their feelings. If you don't like it now, then you won't like it when all 4 characters start doing it constantly.
The flashbacks are the fault of Masashi Ikeda, the incredibly incompetent director of the first 40 episodes of Inu-Yasha. Ikeda loves recaps, GW's have 2 whole episodes for recaps. After reading his interview in Animerica it is my opinion he is the stupidest director of all times. In fact the only good thing about Ikeda is that it teaches us that even the retarded can be succesful, his the real life Forrest Gump. Don't worry Sunrise remembers how incompetent he is by replacing him with another director after episode 40.
So only about 30 more episodes of flashbacks.
Originally posted by Charred Knight
The inter-monolauge stuff is something Takashi developed for this series, because the 4 main characters have absolutely no ability to communicate their feelings. If you don't like it now, then you won't like it when all 4 characters start doing it constantly.
That's a shame. I've seen plenty of shows that deal with main characters who are incapable of expressing their feelings directly. They used it to their advantage, allowing it to add to the show, rather than using internal monologues. Cowboy Bebop's Spike Spiegel and Neon Genesis Evangelion's Shinji Ikari are prime examples of this. Could you even imagine either of those shows with their main characters resorting to contant use of internal monologue? Admittedly, those shows are more serious overall, but Inuyasha has its serious moments as well, and I'd rather ponder what may be going through the characters' heads, rather than always hearing it out loud.
The flashbacks are the fault of Masashi Ikeda, the incredibly incompetent director of the first 40 episodes of Inu-Yasha. Ikeda loves recaps, GW's have 2 whole episodes for recaps. After reading his interview in Animerica it is my opinion he is the stupidest director of all times. In fact the only good thing about Ikeda is that it teaches us that even the retarded can be succesful, his the real life Forrest Gump. Don't worry Sunrise remembers how incompetent he is by replacing him with another director after episode 40.
Wow, no kidding? Huh. Well, I'm glad to know my gripe about them isn't totally unwarranted, at least.
KingKoopa
12-22-2002, 12:42 AM
Kagome seems to be the only one with all the inner-monolouges. I don't remember many from Inuyasha or anyone else.
Originally posted by KingKoopa
Kagome seems to be the only one with all the inner-monolouges. I don't remember many from Inuyasha or anyone else.
Kagome's the worst offender, no question. It's like there's an unwritten rule that, if she's on-screen, she HAS to be saying something, and if she's got no one else to say it to, she'll say it to herself.
DarthNuriko
12-22-2002, 12:59 AM
Originally posted by cbf
Another problem is the background music selected for each scene. Many times it just seems inappropriate. Battle scenes, major plot twists, and cliffhangers need stronger, more dramatic music if they're going to have any music at all. Most of the time it just feels too generic or watered-down.
I personally like the music. :p
As for the little recaps, yeah it does happen a lot more.
And on today's Bebop you get the plus side of no internal monologues. It makes us more sympathethic with the situation of the character and it certainly makes it more realistic.
I guess Kagome just becomes the narrator of Inu Yasha just for the sake of recapping and making sure the audiences know exactly what she is thinking.
Artemis
12-22-2002, 02:13 AM
I noticed there is alot of recapping done throughout this series, but hey, it helps new people who are just now coming in so it's not all bad.
Behonkiss
12-22-2002, 11:08 AM
Wait, so the Japanese never get reruns? Does that apply to all anime shown there?
Ouch. Well, it's a good way to sell DVDs...
I think it's just something they do with Inu-Yasha, and possibly a few other series, not sure.
VinceA
12-22-2002, 11:25 AM
Reruns are rare (if not non-existant) on normal Japanese TV. Hence the reason so many shows have full recap episodes half way through their runs.
jeffrey 228
12-22-2002, 12:25 PM
Well reruns are aome what good in 1 way because you sometimes miss the episode and you may need to recap your self just in case.
Charred Knight
12-22-2002, 02:22 PM
Originally posted by Behonkiss
Wait, so the Japanese never get reruns? Does that apply to all anime shown there?
Ouch. Well, it's a good way to sell DVDs...
They will sometimes get re-runs after the series has ended.
For example, during its initial run MSG got such horrible ratings that it was cancelled after 39 episodes, the series was supposed to run 52 episodes. Tomino pleaded to be given a month to finish up so it ended at 43 episodes.
The gundam franchise looked finished before it even began, but the re-runs got such good ratings that Tomino made the Gundam trilogy making the series into three seperate movies.
Since Inu-yasha is still going on in Japan their hasn't been any re-runs yet.
This isn't a problem since Inu-yasha is based off of the manga so the fans of inu-yasha can just get the manga to catch up.
This is the same in America, due to Ranma 1/2's popularity, Viz picked up the Inu-yasha manga very early. I believe the american release started only a year after the Japanese release.
Viz is right now up to Volume 12 which sould take them up to about episode 30.
Master Moron
12-22-2002, 02:51 PM
the way I look at the recaps is that at first they showed very little of the Inu-yasha getting shot sequence. It seems to me that they're gradually adding more to the sequence. So I'm HOPING eventually that they'll show the whole sequence of events involving Inu-yasha being shot so I'll understand it completely.
Naraku
12-22-2002, 06:18 PM
Yes, the recaps and internal monologues are really bad in this show. It just shows an incompetent director. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen an anime with THIS many recaps and internal monologues, so the no reruns excuse really hold no water at all.
Masamune2052
12-22-2002, 06:33 PM
Feh, why is everyone crying about this!?!?! If you don't like it just don't watch it, it's that simple!
Gruntling
12-22-2002, 07:27 PM
I think Inu Yasha is just fine. The internal monologues and plot recaps don't really bother me. Although, yes, I agree some of times its unnecessary to have them.
Naraku
12-22-2002, 07:39 PM
Originally posted by Masamune2052
Feh, why is everyone crying about this!?!?! If you don't like it just don't watch it, it's that simple!
That's a pretty stupid statement. Obviously we like the show but dislike ONE SPECIFIC ASPECT of it. Are we not allowed to complain about this? Should we all just act like cattle and go along in life taking everything as it comes to us without complaining about things we don't like. This would be a pretty horrible world if that were to happen.
But maybe you have short memory and like the constant repitition of the internal monologues. That's your perogative, but don't tell us to stop watching the show just because we don't care for one aspect of it. That's pretty damn ignorant.
Masamune2052
12-22-2002, 08:02 PM
No, what's stupid is complaining about something that you couldn't change if you wanted to. The internal monologues will be there this Saturday and then every week after that because they are part of the show. The answer to 'Why are there internal monologues?' has been stated way too many times. In case no one's been reading, in Japan they normally air anime episodes once a week and reruns are almost non-existent. As a result you have to do something for the poor people that may have missed last weeks episode, hence episode recaps and monologues. This thread has degraded to a bunch of people bickering at each other about what they wish they could change about Inu Yasha. Sometimes you just have to accept that the facts are the facts and opinions won't change them. Feh, bunch of humans..... :rolleyes:
Naraku
12-22-2002, 08:10 PM
Originally posted by Masamune2052
No, what's stupid is complaining about something that you couldn't change if you wanted to. The internal monologues will be there this Saturday and then every week after that because they are part of the show. The answer to 'Why are there internal monologues?' has been stated way too many times. In case no one's been reading, in Japan they normally air anime episodes once a week and reruns are almost non-existent. As a result you have to do something for the poor people that may have missed last weeks episode, hence episode recaps and monologues. This thread has degraded to a bunch of people bickering at each other about what they wish they could change about Inu Yasha. Sometimes you just have to accept that the facts are the facts and opinions won't change them. Feh, bunch of humans.....
You obviously haven't watched much anime because there has NEVER been an anime that has used as many internal monologues as Inu Yasha. Cowboy Bebop, Rurouni Kenshin, One Piece, Fushigi Yugi, Any Gundam, Yu Yu hakusho, Outlaw Star, You're Under Arrest, Initial D, need I go on? Inu Yasha is simply a poorly made show to use this many internal monologues and we will damn well complain about it if we please.
A bunch of humans? You really are a deluded little fan, aren't you? Probably one of those people who doesn't leave their room and lives in a fantasy world, right? Well I'm sorry that we're "Just a bunch of humans" and you can't be bothered with us right now. Go play with your Sailor Moon dolls and further delude yourself into thinking Inu Yasha is the be all, end all of anime.
Originally posted by Naraku
Probably one of those people who doesn't leave their room and lives in a fantasy world, right?
Hey, that's what I do!
Masamune2052
12-22-2002, 08:17 PM
I'm only going to stress two more points:
Originally posted by Masamune2052
Sometimes you just have to accept that the facts are the facts and opinions won't change them.
Originally posted by Naraku
A bunch of humans? You really are a deluded little fan, aren't you?
Yes I am and it's also called having fun. :rolleyes: :p
Originally posted by Naraku
Go play with your Sailor Moon dolls
Hey now, this is the Adult Swim forum. Sailor Moon dolls are over at the Toonami forum. Here it's all about the Trigun cat. :D
How do I close this thread? I didn't want to start a flame war, I just wanted to voice my opinion about something that probably doesn't matter that much anyway.
Masamune2052
12-22-2002, 09:30 PM
Only Mods have that power, but it will be closed soon. It's gotten way off topic.
EscaflownePilot
12-23-2002, 10:20 AM
No, what's stupid is complaining about something that you couldn't change if you wanted to. The internal monologues will be there this Saturday and then every week after that because they are part of the show.
Does it really matter whether we can change it or not? Visit any given "talkback" thread of a show like, say, G.I. Joe, and I'm sure you'll find numerous complaints. It's quite obvious that these things can't be changed, unless you think every person who worked on G.I. Joe can magically reassemble and revise every single episode of the show. But that's not the point; the point is to share our likes and dislikes of shows with each other, say our opinions, and enjoy those opinions of other viewers, as well. Isn't that why you joined this board in the first place?
I myself find the internal recaps annoying. I realize they are necessary, and I myself like recaps of shows to help ease me into unfamiliar shows, but I'd much rather they seperate the recap and limit it to a minute or two before the title of each episode, just like Cowboy Bebop or Escaflowne do. This doesn't mean that I expect this to change simply because I say so, nor does it mean I hate InuYasha; I absoluetely love the show.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.10 Copyright © 2012 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.