Same Xparrot time, same Xparrot channel (sorry?)

[xparrot]

A few random Gintama thoughts:

--Seiyuu games! So the amazing Sugita Tomokazu (who, judging by his performance as Gintoki, has about twenty different voices I swear) was Subaru in the X/1999 TV anime. And Subaru's twin sister Hokuto was played by Yukino Satsuki, who plays Otae in Gintama. Bwhahah.

ETA: And Kamui in X was Suzumura Kenichi, Gintama's Okita Sougo. He also was in Juuni Kokuki as Rakushun. Yeah, that one took me a bit to realize - talk about your characterization 180s...!

ETA2: Elizabeth's speaking voice (at least in ep 58) is listed in the credits as being played by "sono hen ni ita ossan" ["the old guy over there"]!?!?)

--Speaking of seiyuu, and how Gintama makes them work for their salary (because voices are cheaper than animation, doncha know) there's the oden stall ep with the voices but no faces, and it's going along as expected and then there's supposed Gintoki/Otae which made me hiss - only then it's going way too far for Gintama (handholding? come on, now!) and then it turns out to be TOTAL STRANGERS and Gori-san actually has a gorilla face and Gintoki is standing there behind them looking confused, BWAHAHAHAHAH SHOW YOU ARE SO SPECIAL. Sorachi loooooooves screwing with his fans. And I love him for it. Does that make me an M?




--The Otsuu Fanclub arc. Okay, I love Tosshii but did we seriously need SEVEN EPISODES to bid him farewell?! SEVEN!? That's one of the longest arcs the show's ever had.

OTOH, YGO parody for the win!! With the little lifepoint boxes and everything. XDXDXDXDXD

Also poor, POOR Shinpachi. Whose teammates don't even realize he's missing because there happens to be a pair of glasses there that AREN'T EVEN HIS GLASSES and Gintoki keeps talking to the glasses even after Shinpachi himself is there and oh, Shin-chan, you need better friends, you really do. (I kind of love Shinpachi, Kondou, and Hasegawa at least 50% out of pity. Shinpachi and Kondou I love for 50% other reasons; Hasegawa...no, it's just the pity. Sorry, Hasegawa-san.)

Also, I gotta confess, I think this arc mostly killed any last GinHiji potential for me, what with Gintoki neither noticing whether it was Hijikata or Tosshii, or showing any sign of caring whatsoever. (OTOH Shinpachi was always aware...) So, yeah, if I need a ship you can find me on the HMS* HijiOki. (Though really it's all about paddling the smooth gen waters in the Yorozuya rowboat...)

*Her Manga Slash-ship, naturally :P




--Proving that the Gintama anime-makers love screwing with their fans as much as Sorachi-sensei himself does - the 2nd JumpFest OVA:

Shiroyasha Koutan (The Birth of the White Demon)

Or you can download a better copy here. To keep rewatching like I have. Especially the first part, which really must have blown their animation budget because it's gorgeous. So intense! Such action! And then...the screaming in hysterical laughter. Especially over "We Are!" kicking in at the end. And "Dondake!" which is so-familiar-but-not-quite to any DBZ fan ("Sparking!") And the widescreen cut-down. And Kondou's entirely predictable choice in outfits. And Elizabeth. And just about everything else past the 4:26 mark.

...My laughter does not stop me from WANTING THIS MOVIE LIKE BURNING DAMN IT. WHY SO CRUEL, ANIMATORS? WHY SO CRUEL?

Comments

[greyias.livejournal.com]

Oh dear lord, I laughed so hard the dog got concerned about me. Gintama is so incredibly special it defies words. (Dondake!) I hadn't seen this, but it's reminded me how much I've missed my daily dose of laughter. (But I don't want to catch up... then I'll have run out... and I'll have to wait for the premiere and subbers, ahhh...) Oh, that movie looks bad ass, but of course, I have a mad love affair with "Donten", so that probably helped it along a little as well.

I got through the first episode of the Otsuu Fanclub Arc, and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make it through the rest. Should I power on through?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

...I love that preview oh so very much. Because the beginning is SOOOO badass (and happens to be inspiring for the part of the fic I'm at now...) and then the rest is so funny that I just squeal through the whole thing.

(D00d, how can you not love "Donten"? That's one of the few anime openings that I never once fastforwarded through, I watched it every time. So awesome!)(DOES did 3 other Gintama songs - "Shura" you've heard already (it's the Benizakura ED); there's also 2 from the Benizakura movie which you can hear here. I especially love the second, "Bokutachi no Kisetsu", but "Bakuchi Dancer" is also fantastic.)

The Fanclub arc. Oh man. I...I don't know what to tell you. It is DUUUUUMB. (And the single ep I've seen after it is EVEN DUMBER.) But it's Gintama, so, <3333? And I've heard tell there's awesome yet to come...

(ahhh I can't stop myself, but I'm limiting myself to only 3 eps a day at most, to make them last...and they haven't officially announced that the series will be coming back, even though they've implied it's going to happen, soooo... ;_;)

[greyias.livejournal.com]

Eeee! Fic! Inspiration is a very good thing! (How far are you into it now?)

That's one of the few anime openings that I never once fastforwarded through, I watched it every time. So awesome!

...I would sometimes rewind the opening so I could hear it again, especially when I did a count and realized it would be switching soon. Heh. I have both "Shura" and "Donten" on my iPhone and hardly ever hit the next button. During the summer I was on a big Gintama music kick, and have a big playlist of the songs I was able to find. I'm still trying to find two of the ending songs, the one they played during the silly summer vacation arc, and the one before it where everyone was adorable and tiny!

...it's possible I enjoy this series a bit too much.

Of course, since I was listening to so much anime music, I had to go scrounge around to find my DBZ music archive as well. ("SPARKING!" Hee.)

here's also 2 from the Benizakura movie

Ooh! New songs! I never sought out the Benizakura movie because I thought it was the exact same as the episode arc. Is that right, or was it just repackaged for the theatre?

The Fanclub arc. Oh man. I...I don't know what to tell you. It is DUUUUUMB.

Man. That's what I was afraid of. Is it at least the kind of dumb that was that "hard boiled detective" mini-arc? (I took a several month long break after seeing the preview for that one, because I was so afraid it was going to turn me off the series.) I did get a few chuckles out of that arc... although I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as most of the stuff after it.

and they haven't officially announced that the series will be coming back, even though they've implied it's going to happen, soooo... ;_;

Ahhhhh, they have to! They have to! Nothing makes me laugh until I cry like this show. Of course, this show can also make me cry until I laugh, which I kind of hate it for, but at the same time adore it.

Is it also bad that I love it for lying? I remember early on there was this ridiculous preview for an episode dedicated to Kagura and Okita fighting in a ring ala Mexican Wrestling or something, and I was like "oh god, noooo", but watched the episode anyway with dread, and it they went "Oh, just kidding! Here, have an extremely dramatic child slavery arc instead!" And I was like "... ... ... *smish*!" True story.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

(How far are you into it now?)

...eheheh. would you believe 25K words? Of which the first 15K or so are straight comedy with a dash of action, but now I'm getting to the stuff which...isn't. Poor Gin-chan. I think it's more than half done and I'm almost to the emotional climax, but...will see? (I want to do NaNo this year so I've only got a week+ to finish it!! ^^;)

Heee, I've been meaning to hunt down some of the Gintama OSTs! I've only got the DOES songs (and the "Mr. Raindrop" one 'cuz I loved it) but there's been others I've enjoyed, if not as much. And there's a few pieces of BGM I want as well.

(hee to the DBZ music as well. I haven't listened to it for years but I watched enough of the series to have instantly recognized the preview music when it played in the Hijikata parody ep...)

...it's possible I enjoy this series a bit too much.

NOT POSSIBLE!!

(...though if it is possible, I think I might be a good test case... ^^;)

I never sought out the Benizakura movie because I thought it was the exact same as the episode arc. Is that right, or was it just repackaged for the theatre?

Mostly it was the same, but it was all reanimated and there are extra bits (Shinsengumi cameos and such). I haven't seen it, though, 'cuz it's not out on DVD yet (comes out in Dec. - the movie came out in April but Japan does wacky release schedules, so...)

Is it at least the kind of dumb that was that "hard boiled detective" mini-arc?

Hmm, yeah, I think I might've liked the Fanclub arc better than that one, actually. There are some crazy LOL bits. (well, the detective mini-arc did have the inexplicable bit where they were on the treadmill running from the spiked wall and the family on the futon came down and I giggled so hard I couldn't breathe. But otherwise it wasn't a favorite?) And maybe even a bit of stuff that could count as char development (...umm, a very little. And hidden under thick creamy layers of crack.) And it does have Shinsengumi vs Yorozuya, so...(Yamazaki's in it! ^^)

(...now I want to go and make a post of all the Gintama scenes which have made me laugh so hard I almost cried. Many of them inappropriate. If only I could remember all of them...! The the bit with the Shinsengumi-mascot centaur costume might still be #1. There's at least a few scenes where just thinking about them makes me start giggling.)

Is it also bad that I love it for lying?

Oh man, the series PLAYS with our hearts and minds and shiny silver fangirl souls, and I adore it for it! <333

(and yow, that's the first ep I think that the series shows its tragic teeth. It's got a few bittersweet moments before that, but that ep - man taking care of a gaggle of adorable orphans! and then he's brutally murdered in front of them! ummm wasn't this supposed to be a comedy?!!?)

[greyias.livejournal.com]

Ooh! 25k! I will definitely be standing by for that one!

And oh... NaNo... I'm still waffling like crazy on whether or not I'm going to do it. (And then whether or not I'm going to do epic SGA darkfic or epic original crack fic.)

And there's a few pieces of BGM I want as well.

Hmm, I believe I've seen that, actually. (There was some included in the first Gintama soundtrack, right?) If you'd like, I can nose around my history and find a link for it? It only had up to I believe Ending 9, but it had a few instrumental versions of some of the opening and ending songs as well. "Kasanaru Kage" is the song I always seem to put on when I want to get myself into a good mood.

I think I might be a good test case... ^^;

Hehehe, you and me both. I can easily go through ten episodes a day if I'm not careful. (3-4 seems like a fair balance though. Unless it's an arc, because you can't just stop in the middle of an arc.)

Mostly it was the same, but it was all reanimated and there are extra bits

Extra bits! O_O I apparently will have to watch it as well when it comes out!

and the family on the futon came down and I giggled so hard I couldn't breathe

Oh god! I almost forgot about that part! XD I was in the middle of a room with other people while watching that part and had to bite down on my hand so I wouldn't disturb everyone else with my insane giggling.

Yamazaki's in it! ^^

Oh, you know how to twist my arm but good. I can't miss out on Yamazaki XD

The the bit with the Shinsengumi-mascot centaur costume might still be #1.

Heeeeeee! I love that that's become a recurring gag of sorts (like Okita and Kondou assuming assasin positions and names whenever there's an episode with Matsudaira's daughter. Prince Mayo!)

I think my #1 might be from the Video Game Competition, with Gin shouting "ELDERRRRRRRR!" while he's using the poor dead NPC's severed arm as a sword. I think I laughed so hard I not only scared the dog, I nearly hurt myself smacking my head against my headboard. "ELDERRRRRR!" has become an in-joke between me and the buddy I pimp it to.

ummm wasn't this supposed to be a comedy?!!?

I know! That was the episode I believe that made me sit up and go "Holy crap!" I almost resented it a little for returning to the cracky humor in the next episode, because it stomped on my heart so bad... but I kind of wanted it to do it again. Apparently I'm an M too?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

NaNo... I'm still waffling like crazy on whether or not I'm going to do it

DOOOOOO IIIIIIIT! (misery loves company. And I haven't been reading SGA for a while but if you wrote some I might make an exception. Provided it wasn't *too* dark ^^;)

Hmm, okay, now I want to look for the Gintama OSTs. They've gotta be available somewhere! Most of the BGMs I want are from later in the show, though (there were a couple nice pieces in Yoshiwara...)

I can't miss out on Yamazaki XD

Hee, yeah, I totally love him by now, too. (I should have included him in the "love him 50% because I feel so sorry for him list...) He's the only char who does any actual work! In, like, the entire show ^^;;; And he spends the Fanclub arc quietly WTFing in his way (plus he gets a new involuntary hairstyle ^^;;;)

OMG the video game competition! Those eps are solid gold - the dating sim with the swordfish! Hijikata with 1 HP, takes a step and stubs his toe and dies! and of course equipping all the NPCs. (I've never played any Dragon Quest so didn't find it quite as funny as my bro, who has, but still!!) SO SPECIAL.

I also admit to loving the penpal arc, especially when they're all helping to write Shinpachi's letters, and Hijikata writes this awesome dramatic followup and then...forgets to erase Kondou's contribution: "When I think about your sister I get turned on." Which killed me. Because my sense of humor is apparently very dumb.

I almost resented it a little for returning to the cracky humor in the next episode, because it stomped on my heart so bad... but I kind of wanted it to do it again

Ahhhh that's the thing about the series...I know I wouldn't enjoy the drama as much if it didn't have the crack comedy, too, but hot damn I love the drama. ...Though sometimes it's painfully tragic. The Yakuza eps, which start out so funny and then they turn into heartbreaking drama - the guy's betraying his adopted father, but then, no he isn't, he's trying to protect him from grief, and then they're only reunited in death and he's smiling and man. So sad. But then you want the show to do it again...

I also love how the series manages to have chars who are cracktastic enough that they can do both insane comedy and high drama and not seem OOC either way. Gintoki especially I love because he can be a great protagonist in either circumstance, and yet he always seems like himself - the freeloading slacker loser becomes the badass shounen hero when necessary, but it's not a split personality, just a shift in priorities.

...of course then there's all the times that Gintoki says he's going to stand up and be awesome and then the show stays comedic and the next scene he's running for his life from the flower-selling monster and telling Kagura and Shinpachi that he'll remember them fondly. XDXDXDXDXD

[greyias.livejournal.com]

Provided it wasn't *too* dark ^^;)

Haha, well dark for me I should say. I still haven't decided yet on which one I should do yet, both projects are tugging at me pretty fierce. (It doesn't help that watching Gintama seems to inspire thoughts and plots for the o-fic project). But then again, the SGA story's been in my head for two years now. Decisions~!

He's the only char who does any actual work! In, like, the entire show ^^;;;

It's funny because it's so very true. 

And he spends the Fanclub arc quietly WTFing in his way (plus he gets a new involuntary hairstyle ^^;;;)

Hahaha! I totally just watched the fan club arc, and yes XD Poor Yamazaki! That haircut... oh, that was hilarious yet terrible. Poor guy. I can't help but feel that despite all of that, the arc was kinder on him than Katsura Appreciation Month was.

Hijikata with 1 HP, takes a step and stubs his toe and dies! 

Coffin-surfing!

(I've never played any Dragon Quest so didn't find it quite as funny as my bro, who has, but still!!) SO SPECIAL.

I played a few of them, and MANY a RPG, so I was dying. 

I also admit to loving the penpal arc... "When I think about your sister I get turned on."

Hahaha, oh god, yes! All of the letters, and Okita brainwashing the sister, and poor, poor Tae after Gintoki gave her the "talk" and she couldn't look Shinpachi in the eye for the rest of the arc XD 

that's the thing about the series...I know I wouldn't enjoy the drama as much if it didn't have the crack comedy, too, but hot damn I love the drama. 

It's kind of funny, but it's true. Somehow the tragic balances out the humor nicely. I think if it were either pure comedy or pure drama, I don't think the high points of each would resonate quite so much. Even when it makes me cry over puppies. TWICE. I've noticed that the ones that start out with an added amount of hilarity at the beginning (Toshi the Otaku, the Garbage Urban Legend) seem to always manage to make me cry at the end.

but it's not a split personality, just a shift in priorities.

I think that's a great way to describe it. I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing that switch get flipped though. Somehow, it still takes me by surprise about, oh, half the time.

next scene he's running for his life from the flower-selling monster and telling Kagura and Shinpachi that he'll remember them fondly. XDXDXDXDXD

He doesn't have to outrun the bear, just them XDXDXD

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

(It doesn't help that watching Gintama seems to inspire thoughts and plots for the o-fic project).

Hee, yes - there's been some series I've watched that for some reason inspire original fic ideas rather than fanfic. The last novel I started is deliberately shounen-manga-based...
(Gintama doesn't seem to work like that for me, though...I'm up to 30K words, oh god, no one is going to read this monster~! ^^;;;;)

Poor Yamazaki! That haircut... oh, that was hilarious yet terrible. Poor guy. I can't help but feel that despite all of that, the arc was kinder on him than Katsura Appreciation Month was.

Jackie's Nose...!!!

"hilarious yet terrible" is pretty much a 3-word summary of the entire series! (just add "heartbreaking" at the beginning and you're pretty much covered ^^)

I played a few of them, and MANY a RPG, so I was dying.

I've played enough RPGs in my day to get the broader themes if not the specifics (and Sorachi-sensei clearly loves 'em - we're on yet another parody RPG arc now!! this one has some marvelous old-skool graphics, too...and Gintoki giving dramatic epic speeches about why 8-bit was awesome. No really. I love this show.)

Okita brainwashing the sister,

That is way high on the big list of Things in Gintama That Are Highly Inappropriate That I Couldn't Stop Laughing At.

Even when it makes me cry over puppies. TWICE.

I haven't really cried over the show (I tend not to cry easily unless my mood is really wacky. Or I'm watching One Piece, but that's because Odacchi has magic powers) but embarrassingly I think the time I came closest was the Kagura vs insomnia ep, with the radio story about the dog. Which THEN went cracktastic horror and hysterical but until then...homg saaaaad. (That's something the series does, too, it has these short stories - told by Katsura more often than not - which are really just extended jokes, but to set up the punch-lines, the stories themselves actually manage effective drama in 3 minutes or less. Which is something of a gift...)

(speaking of short stories, oh man, the Garbage Urban Legend. HEEE.)

I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing that switch get flipped though. Somehow, it still takes me by surprise about, oh, half the time.

This is totally why Gintoki is my favorite, because you never know exactly when he's going to go serious, but you know he can, and when he does, oh man...

(well, okay, and I love having a shounen hero with absolutely zero motivation who whines even more than I do XP)

He doesn't have to outrun the bear, just them XDXDXD

Totally one of Gin-san's mottos in life!! XDDD

[greyias.livejournal.com]

The last novel I started is deliberately shounen-manga-based...

Yes, I think that's the best description of this one. I wish I could get inspired to write some actual Gintama fic, but I think the humor intimidates me some (I am cracky, but not that cracky), and I still can't figure out who my favorite character is. I kind of adore them all.

Although Yamazaki does have a very special, partially-pity-based place in my heart.

'm up to 30K words, oh god, no one is going to read this monster~! ^^;;;;)

Hahaha, that's so not true.

we're on yet another parody RPG arc now!! this one has some marvelous old-skool graphics, too...and Gintoki giving dramatic epic speeches about why 8-bit was awesome.

XDDD I just finished that arc last night. (Once you pop, you can't stop?) Have you noticed the inserts during the ending credits yet?

big list of Things in Gintama That Are Highly Inappropriate That I Couldn't Stop Laughing At

That's an epically long list XD Another top contender is Kondou getting "stuck" in the bathroom contraption, and everyone silently walking out on him.

Which THEN went cracktastic horror and hysterical but until then...homg saaaaad

The only thing that saves me is the sudden veer into crack XD I don't know what it is about this show, but it manages to turn on the waterworks like nothing else. I think it's because it's so emotionally manipulative (which isn't a bad thing, it just totally has my number XD) I'm lucky I watch it alone, or I'd be horribly, horribly embarrassed a lot.

The mini-stories impress me, just because they can pack so much into such a short period of time.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Icon! XDXDXD

and I still can't figure out who my favorite character is. I kind of adore them all.

Hee, yes, that is totally a problem with this series! I love Gintoki mostest but just about everyone else comes in as a close second. Which is kind of amazing considering how just about all of them are either complete idiots or psychofreaks or both...yet lovable all the same.

Finished the Virus arc myself last night, heee - but I hadn't watched the credits through, missed the inserts! Beautiful! (even if I was sorely disappointed not to get an 8-bit Gintoki sprite...)

Another top contender is Kondou getting "stuck" in the bathroom contraption, and everyone silently walking out on him.

Oh gawd I LOLed just reading this in your comment ^^;;; Yeeeeeah the amount of really, really funny WRONG in this show is also impressive...

[naye]

I love reading your Gintama squee! ♥ I wish I could've cataloged my own better, too... But, yeah, all it takes is for you to talk about these things for me to go awwww or giggle, depending on the context. Sometimes both at once, because Gintama is special that way.

The oden episode I really, really loved, for some reason. It cracked me up so wildly! XD

Oh, oh, oh, and you know what you need to do, Neechan? For me? You know that list of fandoms-as-boyfriends that you do sometimes... ADD GINTAMA TO IT. I NEED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF BOYFRIEND GINTAMA IS. I DO. (Mostly because we went out for a good six months and I'm still madly fond of him and - uhhh, yeah, what does that say about me? XD)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

One of the reasons I'm writing up this squee is because I always enjoy reading yours, and going back and reading my own, so - making a point to have it to read later! ...also because I'm about bursting with squee, so it's good to bleed some off before explosion XD

The oden episode was spectacular - I thought it was really clever and nifty (and a smart way to save on animation costs) but the going romantic at the end really threw me off - except that then it was just AWESOME and perfect and reminded me that yes, I can trust the show. Well, only so far. But that far!

Actually Gintama would be a girlfriend, all the anime were. A really crazy girlfriend who you're fairly convinced is on several illegal drugs. Which might explain the moodswings. Also why she hides whenever she hears police sirens. And she's got a really, really crass sense of humor, and likes to punk you like nobody's business. But then she can be almost shockingly considerate when you're down, and she has this way of understanding your feelings, of understanding you - she doesn't tell you often that she loves you, but you feel it every time she looks at you, and you can't help but return it.

...even if she did draw a cock on your forehead while you were napping, that one time. And it wasn't a rooster, either. At least now you know to check your face in the rearview mirror before you go out shopping...

(also your icon = <33333333333333 x infinity. I have a paid account now, must make icons!!)

[naye]

OH.

What you say about Gintama the crazy girlfriend - YESSSSSSSSS!!! BWAHAHAHAHAAH, OMG, YES. That's. That's exactly what it's like!!! ♥♥♥

Hides whenever she hears police sirens drew a cock on your forehead BWAHAHA OH GOD THIS SHOW. Why do we love it so?!

she doesn't tell you often that she loves you, but you feel it every time she looks at you

Oh. Yeah. That's why. Awwwwwwwwwwwwww x a million. ♥

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

The best shounen especially give you this feeling like they're made just for you, tailored to hit the best spots in the best ways. And Gintama totally delivers. When it's not being cracktastic (well, okay, sometimes even when it is being cracktastic <3)

[shayera.livejournal.com]

I think you just broke my brain by connecting Okita to Rakushun. XDD

Oh Gintama... I didn't think about that the oden story must have been money-saving for the anime! It was certainly weird in the manga. XD (no voices, so you had to guess who the characters were, until it became absolutely obvious, and then... strangers. XDD)

Japanese nitpick: "Sono hen ni ita ossan"　(その辺にいたおっさん) means "That guy from over there". "hen" in this case means "general area", not "weird". ...unless they actually used the kanji for "weird" (変), in which case it's a pun!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

The Rakushun connection is terrifying and/or awesome!

Hee, yeah, the oden story they would've done anyway (as far as I know they didn't skip adapting any manga chapters) but it was money-saving as well, since it just had the oden-seller moving around a bit for most of it. Was lots of fun, though, and so ridiculous!

(ahh, and thanks for the Japanese correction! the "hen ni" was in hiragana so didn't offer any hints to its actual meaning, and my dictionary only had the one definition...)

[nijibug.livejournal.com]

THIS HADN'T WATCHED YET

*watches raptly*

That ending was too beautiful for words XDD

Oh man, I want this to be a movie so bad ;______;
(But, being Gintama, I want Shiroyasha Koutan to be interspersed with present-day Yorozuya shenanigans ♥ )

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Wahahahah is it not amazing? Such a massive gorgeous punking! Must love it so ^__^

(But, being Gintama, I want Shiroyasha Koutan to be interspersed with present-day Yorozuya shenanigans ♥ )

waah, yes!! (really so want any story with Gintoki's past intersecting with his present...and I think it'd have to go that way, really, because just the war is way too grim for Gintama; would need the leavening of family & friends stupid comedy/cuteness!)