Because surprisingly, adaptations don’t always suck!
Let me first say that I didn’t even find the first episode of the show that good. In the words of Emperor J, it seemed fairly pedestrian. But it’s nowhere near as abysmal as some have claimed it to be, before it’s even really begun (inb4 Shangri-la). The two articles I’ve read of those who have already played the VN (ignored Kaioshin’s because no matter what DO NOT WANT SPOILERS) are so harsh I’m wondering if it’s just some old-fashioned trolling.
The thing is, adaptations aren’t always going to be the exact same thing you get with a VN. The studio has to make concessions to fit things into the 20 minutes of air time they have each episode (as well as to fit the pacing of the overall series) so some things may be glossed over for the sake of getting it all done. Admittedly, a lot of characters are thrown in and introduced in a short time, but not so many that it UTTERLY DESTROYS the pacing of the episode.
Other elements of the show are well handled, and anyone watching is given a general outline of the plot and the setting fairly well. We all know that it’s going to end up being some sort of murder mystery because there’s a mountain of gold, a Cluedo mansion and jealous rich people involved, that there will be elements of fantasy and magic due to witch’s curse, and that the little loli is screwed in the head because of emo facial contortions and disappearing umbrella woman. There’s a good amount of content there without it becoming too boring.
The directing is heavy- handed at times (NAME WITH WATERCOLOUR STILL), but otherwise I didn’t have much of a problem with it. The contrast between horror and light-heartedness was one of the thing swhich made Higurashi great, and I wonder how (or if) this type of element fits into the show.
OHNO, UNECESSARY FANSERVICE IN A DEEN ANIME, HAVEN’T HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.
In any case, it wasn’t too bad of a first episode and I hope to see an improvement in the coming weeks. At the very least I’ll give it a chance despite others PURGING IT WITH THE FIRES OF ADAPATIONFAGGOTRY.
Having not read the novel, and having disliked (and dropped) Higurashi for a variety of reasons, I’m enjoying Umineko right now. So there.
Having not read the novel, and having loved Higurashi for a variety of reasons, I enjoyed the first ep of Umineko too. So that should cover the gamut of experiences right?
All in all, yeah it felt a bit rushed and there was an OVERLOAD of characters, but there wasn’t anything that turned me off. Besides, if Higurashi’s any proof, I assumed Umineko would start pretty nonchalant before getting intense too.
Having not watched or read Higurashi, I thought the first ep of Umineko was okay. As long as there will be corpses in the next couple of episodes then I’m satisfied.
Having watched Higurashi, I anticipate this anime just as much as I anticipate Zan SZS this season.
Why would anyone judge a mystery by its first episode? The little girl’s OOOUUUUUOOOOUUUUUOOOOOOUUUUUUOUUUOUUUUUO was annoying, but plotwise there’s absolutely no reason to complain.
Having not read the VN and having watched Higurashi, I too thought the first episode was okay and anticipate awesomeness to come.
“Uuuh” made my pants tight…Pro tip: the first episode of Higurashi SUCKED TOO! That’s the whole point. It’s so supposed to be misleading so when we do get to the guts of the mystery, the sudden change in atmosphere is a big surprise.
I think this is Umineko’s problem. It has a tough act to follow, and there weren’t so many adaptionfags around when Higurashi first came out. So now there’s a whole new generation of Ryukishi07 followers to complain about loyalty to the visual novel. Well, as long as it doesn’t get as bad as Type Moon faggotry. I can’t believe that such a massive pack of mouth breathing retards could like good things.
As a VN reader as well, I think it’s a little bit rush but acceptable. It’s a hard job already to compress 7 visual novel chapter (about 3-4 hours reading) into single anime episode (20 minutes).
For those who wish for corpse, the witch is generous and will gift with what you want. Kihihihihihi
PS. I’m one of those Type-Moon faggotary too… since most Type-Moon adaptation really off the mark (except Kara no Kyoukai)
@Kiri
Lol, you tell ‘em.
@RP
Not even the UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU~?
@TJ
Because we all want to see somebody die. We’re such nice people.
@simplybill
Stop anticipating and go watch it!
@Baka-Raptor
Pure adaptationfaggotry, and nothing more.
@53RG10
.
You pedo
@Sorrow-kun
The first episode of Higurashi was great, in my opinion. Just enough foreshadowing with undercurrents of EVIL to keep it interesting.
And Tsukihime wasn’t that good as well, and I haven’t played that VN either. It was just so boring.
@Veldrill
THANK YOU, BEATRICE-SAMA!
@omisyth
I wouldn’t care so much what Type Moon fags had to say about Tsukihime if they were at least consistent. They bitch and moan until they’re red in the face about Tsukihime, yet they go strangely quiet whenever you bring up the Fate/Stay Night anime. Fate/Stay Night was one of the most disappointing piles of mediocrity I’ve seen. It promised so much, but delivered little more than poorly rendered giant CG dragons (and a laughable story). You get the feeling with F/SN that, just because it was a little more loyal, they’re happier to forgive it for being a pile of crap. They should either criticize both series for being crap or shut the hell up. None of this “judgement based on loyal adaptation” bullshit.
Wow, I actually thought F/SN was okay. Nothing spectacular but decent.
Wait, I just got what you’re saying. Perhaps they thought that the Fate/Stay night anime was good. Just because they’re fans of the VN maker, doesn’t mean they have to blindly hate/love anything that they produce. There’s no reason for them not to say Tsukihime bad, F/SN good.
How about a rant in defense of Maria? Too much hatred directed towards her.
Screw the loli. And not in the way that you’re thinking
.
I liked, not loved Higurashi, so I kind of anticipated watching Umineko. I thought that the first episode failed (mildly) because they tried to make it feel like the VN, and I don’t understand why when VNs are adapted to anime they fail to understand (or care) that VNs and anime are two entirely different forms of storytelling.
They needed to adjust the VN’s pacing by either introducing less characters in the first episode or using flashbacks to show us each characters’ motivation and relationship/need/greed to the father’s money as the anime progresses.
I really didn’t mind Maria’s character, she’s typical for her type. see link http://animewriter.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/the-spirit-kami-cycle.jpg
But, Battler bothered me, could I have a young male lead that doesn’t go all stupid over a large set of tits, please!
@Chris K.: Well they had no real choice there, I think just about everything that was expressed about characters backgrounds was in that episode, except some parts about what the parents individual jobs were.
They did not really go that much into details with their respective motives and relationships in those chapters…plainly it’s still a mystery and it’s part of the ‘fun’ to get information bit by bit, so there are also times your just plain wrong with your ideas.
And in defense of Battler’s ‘breast-mania’, it was a bit much in the anime, because they didn’t involve his thoughts, that he never planned on actually touching any of them, but was just teasing both Jessica and Shannon so they would become a bit less formal.
I agree that the episode surely felt a bit rushed, but there is no other way to introduce those characters, because the VN too offers an ‘in medias res’ beginning.
You are confronted with nearly every character in the first few minutes…it just takes time to get to know them.
If they had taken that time, we would still not even be on Rokkenjima I think.