Weapon Guns - RWBY Season 1

I watch a lot of Roosterteeth's stuff. Roosterteeth if you don't know make videos and podcasts for the internet and are famous for Red vs. Blue (machinima series). I was super jazzed when they announced they would be doing what is basically an anime which was to be done by the guy (Monty Oum) who was hired to but action animations in Red vs Blue. It was obviously going to be pretty funny (Roosterteeth specialise in comedy) with a focus on action. Overall the first series turned out to be fairly well written, there were plot twists, characters became more and more developed, the music and visuals were pretty good. There was nothing of any real stand-out quality except the weapons of the main characters. Anime is known for outrageous fight scenes (where characters yell out techniques and junk) but when I come to think of it there is no real focus on diverse and hugely inventive weapons (just the way in which they are used is wicked, for example Zoro from One Piece uses quite ordinary katanas in a really unique way). So I thought it would be cool to do a post about the cooler weapons within RWBY. 

Official poster: http://montyoum.deviantart.com/art/RWBY-336841243

What makes the weapons shown in RWBY so hype is that they are transformable. They do some wierd Transformer folding changing thing where they can change between numerous forms. Usually the weapons have three forms: one small form where it is easy to carry them; one where is it is better to use as a ranged weapons or rather as a gun of some form; and one form where they are best to use a melee weapons for close quarters fighting. It is sort of unclear how these weapons work on a technical level other than to say they could be powered by either or both of the character's Aura (their inner power thing) and Dust (this sort of magical power well dust that is found and valued throughout the world). Now before i go over the cooler weapons I should preface this by saying that I don't want to either understate the character's fighting skills or diminish the chereographers' innovation in writing this post but I think the weapons are really why this series is cool. I also think in an interview floating around on the internet that the creator Monty Oum even said that one fight (the one in the yellow or 4th trailer) felt it had something missing before turning the antagonist's baseball bat into a bazooka. In fact one of the older professors of Beacon (Peter Port his name is) seems to have his own combination weapon, further entrenching the importance of these weapons in this universe. 

Cool fanart: http://i3ushidokuroi.deviantart.com/art/RWBY-408158646

So yeah the weapons, for the most part anyway, drive the coolness of the combat sequences (there is only one exceptiong with Lei Ren when Pyrrha is explaining Aura). This is mainly because the weapons are transformable and a hybrid of both a melee weapon and a gun of some sort. A lot of the fight scenes have the characters quickly moving about and dodging using the force from firing their weapons to push them towards or away from their enemy. This force is also used to improve the strength with which the character can hit in a melee attack. Ruby is definitely the main example of this philosophy. Also these weapons seem to be the way in which the characters use magic through Dust. In other words characters could have potentially been allowed to use Dust outside of their weapons but the weapons seem to have such importance in the series that they have to be explained in some way. This is mainly seen with Weiss' and maybe Penny's fights. In fact when the characters fight as a team their roles and combinations are decided based on what they can do with their weapons. So when JNPR fights the big scorpion thing only Nora can finish it due to the nature of her weapon.

Crescent Rose. This is the scythe come sniper rifle of the main character, Ruby. She often uses the projectile power of her weapon to enhance her speed and the power of her melee attacks. Fanart: http://xuoust2o.deviantart.com/art/RWBY-Ruby-392577564

Myrtenaster. This is the sword thing of Weiss. Although this weapon doesn't transform it shows how the weapons are used to perform magic like summoning fire or ice, through Dust, rather than through the fighter themselves. Fanart: http://isaiahjordan.deviantart.com/art/RWBY-Weiss-Schnee-377170691

Gambol Shroud. Blake's weapon of some form or another. These take many forms including pistols, a katana and a kunai and chain (or rather ribbon). The lack of firepower seems to restrict its use to push Blake around in a fight but is definitely one of the more versatile weapons in the series. Fanart: http://baka-kiiro.deviantart.com/art/RWBY-Blake-393580853

Ember Celica. The shotgun gauntlets that Yang uses. Definitely very cool and again demonstrative of how the projectile nature of the weapons are used in close quarters combat. They don't transform hugely but can do so in order to block enemy attacks. Fanart: http://kelsealou.deviantart.com/art/Yang-RWBY-400506873

StormFlower. The SMGs with blades on them that are wielded by Lie Ren. These seem to be really the least exciting weapons, mainly because of its seemingly lack of transformablity and use to push him around for improved melee attacks. Fanart: http://dantherrien101.deviantart.com/art/Lie-Ren-of-RWBY-416188432

Milo. The sword/spear rifle thing that can also be used as a javelin by Pyrrha. This is my favourite weapons probably. I don't know if that's just because I like Pyrrha the best because she and her weapon has such a Greek theme to them, but whatever. It also seems to have a bit more versatility than other weapons to me. Fanart: http://fishnspice.deviantart.com/art/Pyrrha-s-Weapon-Animation-GIF-394666074

Magnhild. The sledge hammer that is combined with a gernade-launcher, all used by Nora. I know many people love Nora and her weapon. Again she uses her weapon mainly as a melee weapon and in its hammer form can pull the trigger to both push her around and to strengthen her melee hits. Fanart: http://grumpythesheep.deviantart.com/art/Rwby-Ep-8-Oh-Nora-415169084

Gunchaku (fan name). This is one of the more versatile weapon that can be change from a pair of nunchaks that are really pistols. It can also be combined into one of those long poles (like Donatello from TMNT uses). It is used by Sun Wukong in one really awesome fight sequence. Fanart: http://nightmarezenuki.deviantart.com/art/RWBY-Vale-Arena-Sun-Wukong-sprite-416014085

Puppeteer (fan name). The very confusing weapon used by Penny. At first this weapon could be seen to be control by extra powers beyond the weapon itself, but then it is revealed that all the "levitating" swords are really connected to a backpack thing by wires (extremely strong wires) than explicably control the swords. Again these create the magic, not the character alone. Fanart: http://linda916.deviantart.com/art/RWBY-Penny-412677704

So yeah I suggest you go to watch the series on: http://roosterteeth.com/archive/?sid=rwby&v=more/

The best episodes (in terms of fighting) is definitely the four trailers (red, white, black and yellow) and episodes 1, 7, 8 and 16. 

An Attack on the Trend - Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)

So late last year the western anime world has been abuzz watching the new anime series Attack On Titan. I myself finished rewatching it a few days ago and thought why it is so good and I like it so much. It is because it bucks the trend from normal or at least popular long running trends of Shounen nowadays (animes like One Piece, Bleach, Naruto, Fairy Tale, etc). Admittedly shows like Berserk have many of these characteristics but right now it feels so fresh. Yes the weaponry is wicked but there are better things to like. Anyway here we go (remember just based on the anime not manga). 

Even just from the posters I saw of the anime I was intrigued.

First unlike many shounen nowadays Attack on Titan is much darker. It has many more horror and terrifying elements in it. There is a lot more death generally (and quite brutal death at that), than just having an enemy knocked out. I can't imagine how it feels to be eaten alive. Some may just say it is more gorey but there are definitely elements within the anime that make it seem darker. For a start the animation and visuals themselves are done with a darker or less bright colour palet than most other animes.  Characters are more often scared to the point of being frozen and singular bravity is not rewarded as often. Also there is very little comedy in the series generally, maybe a little here and there such as in the training camp. 

This fanart really typifies the horror of the anime: http://chalii.deviantart.com/art/Attack-On-Titan-371314013

Further than this there was no comedically ignorant or useless character at which the other characters get angry at. There are no real pervy characters either. This was one of the more refreshing thing, because I feel I am more annoyed about them than the other characters. Although in saying this there are still are variety of characters that would find their way into other shounen: the brave to the point of being brash protagonist (Eren); the smarter strategist who is a bit cowardly (Armin); and, among other archetypes, the mysterious somewhat inhuman total badass (Levi). However one piece of the core group of characters seems somewhat out of place in other shounen. This is Misaka. Her strength and skills is not comical like elsewhere. In fact Attack on Titan even seems to slam the archetypes. As said before singular bravity and determination is not all that is important and we get the feeling if Eren, with his "shoot first ask questions later" mentality (a mentality a lot of shounen lead protagonists have) was to truly lead a group into battle he would get them killed quite quickly. 

A very cool painting of Misaka. http://jxbp.deviantart.com/art/Mikasa-Ackerman-Attack-On-Titan-396926767

The main reason Attack on Titan is darker, grittier or more of a horror than other popular shounen is due to the enemy. Now this enemy and the aim of the heroes seem hugely different to other anime. Yes they are fighting their enemy to somewhat save the world (a common trope) but the enemy is not some evil human or rival, but then again it is not something that is totally novel or alien. The titans are not a new creation but something influenced quite obviously by our own images. The creator has said the titans were inspired by drunk mindless people. These mindless, aimless, base giant human that just destroy and eat humans for the sake of eating humans are not only terrorifying due to their aims and power but also the way they are presented. Some of them are just like enlarged humans but the slightly disfigured ones with bare muscles showing an ever persistant grin are just plain creepy. 

Definitely the creppiest titan, the infamous Smiling Titan.

As I said the aims of the heroes is to, yes, ultimately save the world unlike other shounen, which just have saving the world as an excuse to have an awesome fight sequence, Attack on Titan really gives you the sense these people are fighting for survival. And this again comes down to the power and motivation of the enemy. They are not fighting some evil genius or some rival they are fighting the titans as a species. It is war, not just a brawl. This draws into another difference that makes Attack on Titan great and this is the anime's lack of emphasis on the individual, especially in relation to combat. We see in the many fights and even just from the training Eren and crew go through that (unless you are Levi or Misaka and truly exceptional) that taking down a titan is not easy task and individual battle is discouraged. No character is given a special set of clothing. They are all in relatively similar uniforms, unlike many other animes which connect characters with the smallest of physical similarities.

The main cast of characters the 104th Trainee Squad. Some of these die quite brutality but you can just see how uniform they are compred to other shounen. 

The type of battle than is used in Attack on Titan creates a sense of tension not really found in other animes which give you a feeling of how will they succeed not if they will succeed. As said there is more death, second chances are not really a thing here. Many characters are given some screen time and personality and then killed. There is no extended combat where one combatant is knocked down then gets up and so on and so on. This idea that no one is safe is great and keeps tension high all the time. Also the victories in Attack on Titan never truly feel like victories. The characters never truly seem to be overpowered compared to their enemies because when the humans' aim is often just to save as many people as possible. This too creates that tension in combat. Of course this is all after the protagonist was left as dead for three episodes. Ultimately he did return but just the way he was left as dead for such an extended period really helped to give everyone a sense of mortality that brings tension to the series. 

Death keeps the anime tense.

Another difference for me at least was the storytelling in this series, which I assume will break into a few more seasons. This first season or first arc or whatever, with the Female Titan didn't really feel like an arc. It actually felt like a piece of a larger puzzle. A lot of questions were left unanswered. What is in Eren's basement? What happened to the Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan? Why exactly was a human working with the Titans? Nothing has been answered because although the Female Titan was stopped she presumably can not be questioned inside her crystal shield thing. So yes although in one way it feels like an end to a specfic mission it does not feel like the reset button has been hit. With a lot of shounen animes arcs could be put in any order because after an enemy is defeated it is like things return to normal until the next enemy arises. The story goes on and if you missed an arc the overall story and the characters would not be diminished. With Attack on Titan (and maybe this is just because it is its first season) it feels like there is deeper underlying plot that is still unravelling which I don't get with other animes like One Piece or Fairy Tail. Maybe this is also because there is such intrigue into the world which is just revealed little by little, such as when they go outside the city walls, that other animes don't have the luxury of doing. 

What happened to the other special titans? Are they also Titan-Shifters? http://goruditai.deviantart.com/art/Attack-on-Titan-384008116

All this being said Attack on Titan trips over some of the same hurdles, namely what many would call "filler", inner or outer monlogues that delayed fights. All this does stop some of the tension it creates but really this is fine. Likewise it tried for a huge twist in revealing who the Female Titan was but this could have been easily guessed long before it was revealed. In the end I am happy such an anime is as popular as it is. I want more darker shounen, like this, like Rainbow, like Death Note. The repetitiveness of popular shounen like One Piece and crew are just not compelling for the 600+ episodes these series can go on for. So I hope Attack on Titan does continue but what I don't want it to become is some sort of mecha anime where Eren must just fight different Titan Shifters and the overall plot is not advanced. I hope it does have a definitive end after say three or four more seasons and also that other darker anime get made and become popular. 

Thanks for reading, links for the anime:

http://anidb.net/a9541

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=14950

http://www.anime-planet.com/anime/attack-on-titan

Daft Punk On The Music Industry - Interstella5555: The 5tory of The 5ecret 5tar 5ystem

I am a pretty big Daft Punk fan so I was watching when, last Sunday, Daft Punk picked up numerous Grammys for their song Get Lucky and album Random Access Memories. This album was supposed to invigorate and bring life back to the dance genre, which had become stale according to them. Due to the modern emphasis put on the mechanics of how a sound is made with a computer rather than the soul that is put into a track, they decided to use live instrumentation with session performers. Anyway before this album (which even has a first track named Give Life Back to Music) had talked about the music industry. I mean their decision to use helmets when they perform shows how people make music for the fame alone, something they choose to reject. However, their anime movie Interstella 5555 is also seemingly a comment on the music industry and quite interesting now. For example, we can see how the band (in the film) become tired and worn out by the fame of their music when they have to sign endless merchandise. 

A pretty cool piece of fanart that puts the Crescendolls in the place of Gorillaz, another band (really one guy) that seems to hide behind persona rather than taking fame from the music. http://angelwingkitty.deviantart.com/art/Interstella-Gorillaz-70997121

If you don't know what Interstellar 5555 is, it is basically an extended music video to Daft Punk's Discovery album. They commissioned the director/animator Leiji Matsumoto (who made all the great animes they loved from their childhood) to animate a movie for their music. The result is a great collobration. Without any actual dialogue it tells a pretty simple yet touching love. Basically an alien band of musicians are kidnapped during a concert and taken back to Earth. Here they are transformed to look like humans, by a machine that changes their memories, and their hit songs are put into Earth's billboards. During their kidnap an astronaut of the blue alien race is notified and he is able to follow the human spaceship to save the band and the bassist who he has a massive crush on (or is maybe in a relationship with). After discovering that the band has become very popular on Earth, the pilot is able to fly into one of their concerts and free all but the bassist of the group, who is swept away quickly. During the getaway however the pilot is injured. After a fashion show where the last controlled member of the band picks up a card that Earl dropped, she is taken to a music award show where the band wins a golden record. The drummer is then able to free and rescue the bassist. She joins the pilot, who then reveals their real identidies and dies as they thank him. They bury him and see off his spirit. On the drive back they see a sign to Darkwood Manor, which was also on the card the bassist picked up, and they go to check it out. They explore the castle and learn about Darkwood's history and plans. Basically with 5555 golden records Darkwood would get some huge power and the Crescendolls had just got him the last one he needed. They then get caught by guards and taken to the place where Darkwood will fulfill his plans. However, after a struggle Darkwood is pushed to his death and the band escapes. The band then sneaks into the record company and steal all their memory disks and stuff. But in his escape, the keyboardist is shocked by a guard and turns blue again. Despite this the truth about eveything is discovered by the humans and the band are helped back to their planet. The band get home after they are attacked by Darkwood's spirit but rescued by the pilot's spirit. 

Nice fanart: http://danielitolikable.deviantart.com/art/Interstella-156776693

So yeah it has a pretty good story focussed somewhat around the love between the female bassist and the astronaut. It has a pretty good animation, seemingly aged but many would say retro as this is Daft Punk's vision of their childhood. The soundtrack is awesome (I love the Discovery album). However, what I found most interesting is how the movie talks about the music industry told through how the band transforms. Obviously the evil kidnapper that has been a music manager for however long is the personfiication of what is wrong with the popular music industry. He takes what seems to be an underground yet beloved band from obscurity and puts them into the limelight. But when he does this he puts them through a machine, seemingly the popular music corporate machine. It transforms their looks to be more mainstream. It is interesting how the guitarist looks like a typical "rocker" and the singer/keyboardist looks like someone from a Jazz or Disco background. The looks seem archetypal rather than individualised. Their music is then distrubuted everywhere and they seemingly become popular because of their management rather than the merits of the music (which admittedly does win the award necessary for the storyline). Often Earl de Darkwood, their manager, will force the band, especially the girl, to do things they would rather not do. 

Close up of the pilot. http://decadia.deviantart.com/art/Interstella-5555-151509688

Also after they go through the machine they are brainwashed and often have glazed looks on their face, especially during their perfromance. I mean this could just be part of storyline but I would say it is more a comment on how popular music is rather stale and unadventurous in both terms of music and lyrics. I mean many people may say it with a musical snobbery but yeah it does seem to be true. Also they never smile. Does the mainstream music industry take the fun out of making music? However, this may also just be part of the storyline itself. They had to be brainwashed so that the evil doer can get his golden record. I suppose the same could be said with their looks and how their music is distributed. Anyway I also wonder about the last part of the film, with the kid and the dolls. Does this talk about the merchanising of the music industry? Does it show how big bands (and their management) are willing to cash in on any popularity they have? Maybe or maybe it is just a random way to end. 

Pretty cool fanart: http://mad-y.deviantart.com/art/Interstella-5555-117693926

So maybe this potential commentary of the popular music industry is just part of the story itself and should not be seen as seperate. However, why is this story placed in the music industry? Daft's songs is really just about love. Why could some other type of love story with key plot points (like the pilot's death because that really fit in which the simple lyrics of Something About Us)? Interestingly one half of Daft Punk has been quoted as saying "The only secret to being in control is to have it in the start... Retaining control is still hard but obtaining control is virtually impossible." In other words Daft Punk has some experiences about how the corporate music machine works. I think that Interstellar 5555 could in fact be their comment on the music industry. Although it could be said this was rather early in their career to do this they had still been making music for almost a decade when the film came out, I think this message is particularly relvelant though. So on reflection maybe the specfics of what I drew out of the film are not so important but the general ideas that the mainstream music industry (as personified by Earl de Darkwood) is potentially abusive and manipulative to musicians. 

All the main characters of the anime with the Daft Punk characters. http://charactermodel.tumblr.com/post/18002572793/interstella-5555-daft-punk

So I hope you enjoyed this analysis of Interstellar 5555. Links for the anime:

http://myanimelist.net/anime/731/Interstella5555:_The_5tory_of_The_5ecret_5tar_5ystem

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2391

http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=1153