You gotta believe us, folks. Speed Grapher is not the sort of thing we started this podcast to cover. I’m kind of amazed we got to something this bad this early! In this episode of KeyFramesForgotten “planet” Jane-Michelle and Julian discuss a long-forgotten mid-aughts action anime with a dark aesthetic and a serious chip on its shoulder.
On the more technical side of things, we’re still working out a better audio setup. But on the plus side, we’re now available, uh, well, lots of places! Anchor’s one-click linker has put us on Spotify, among other Podcast-Having Areas. Plus, the traditional mirror on Youtube is still up as well. Listen wherever you please below. Major NSFW warning and general content warnings for sexual violence and child abuse all up and down this episode.
KeyFramesForgotten is a podcast about anime you haven’t thought about in a while. Join anime nerds Jane-Michelle and Julian as they discuss anime from the recent or not-so-recent past that the general public has forgotten about. We discuss the merits of these anime, why the public has left them behind, and whether we think they’re worth a second look.
You can follow Jane on Twitter here and Julian on Twitter here.
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@iniksbane
The monster design was pretty cool, admittedly. I think the character design is a strength overall and arguably one we didn’t give the series credit for during the episode. (Although I think either I or Julian did point out Suitengu’s extremely good coat.)
EDIT: Gotta also mention the speaker guy they had in the final third of the show. Probably my favorite of the Euphorian designs there?
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Nope you’re fine.
So I watched this show around the time it came out, and you’re right, it was pretty universally panned. So you’re not alone with your opinions.
I don’t really remember Saiga much as a character at all. Or rather, I remember him being a fairly generic main hero, but I didn’t dislike him.
The primary appeal to me was the monster design. I really just liked them. I mean I would say they were imaginative, but I can’t necessarily prove that.
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@iniksbane
In the abstract I can definitely understand that opinion but, I don’t know, something about the show just did not let me give it that leeway. I have given that leeway to other things (which is why I kept bringing up Black Lagoon), including a lot of stuff that’s a lot less ambitious than Speed Grapher. Even recently on this very blog, there was High-Rise Invasion which is coming from a broadly similar place.
I think there’s a couple reasons I feel the way I do about it but not about other, similar anime. Some of which are in my own opinion more valid than others.
The production values are notably worse than on most of the anime I’d compare it to. This isn’t something that only we noticed, most reviews from the time period brought it up too.
The themes and honestly even just the literal plot being so….confused and drawn out did not set me up to be charitable toward Speed Grapher. I think if it had been maybe half the length and gotten to the point more quickly I’d be a lot more charitable toward it. This is the same problem I recently had with the otherwise very dissimilar Blast of Tempest. I think being two cours long kinda kills the cheese value for anime like this, at least it does for me.
I really just don’t like Saiga as a character. I don’t think the commentary on the nature of news photography is interesting (this is obviously a point on which people will vary) and he doesn’t offer a whole lot beyond that.
If the series had been shorter and focused more on the characters I actually found interesting (particularly Suitengu and friends) I would probably like it at least a bit better.
For what it’s worth even though Julian also doesn’t like the series I think she agrees with you more than I do. Hence her comment about drinking it and binge-watching it with friends toward the end of the episode lol.
Thank you very much for the comment, by the way. I did solicit dissenting opinions so I’m glad to hear some 🙂 Hopefully I didn’t come across as aggro or condescending or anything, I try to be open toward all viewpoints.
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So I have to say that I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum. I love Speed Grapher. I wouldn’t say that it’s particularly great, but it’s great in that trashy, pulpy way that I love. It’s schlocky and I think it’s really meant to be watched that way.
That and the eventual ending for the main character is really good because news photographers really are looking for disaster.
That’s just my opinion though.
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