When I want to check out an anime I'll watch the first episode to give me an
idea of what it is like. Sometimes, however, my wonderful sampling technique has
failed me due to misleading first episodes.
The two best examples I can think of are GunGrave and Madlax.
The first episode of GunGrave made it seem like Hellsing meets Trigun. I'm not a
big fan of either show (I actually hate Trigun with a passion) so I dropped
GunGrave thinking it was going to be lousy. Months later and I finally decide to
give it another go. Needless to say I was surprised to find that the majority of
the show is about two men climbing the mafia social ladder.
The first episode of Madlax made it seem like one of those girls-with-guns shows
where the invincible heroin goes around knocking off a million and one bad guys
every episode. I decided to check out the second episode just to be on the safe
side and was rewarded with a show about a mysterious collection of
books.
My question is... Has anyone else has run into any misleading
first episodes?
Hm... I've experienced a crapload of these. But none is coming to mind right
now.
Though I did hear a misleading
sypnosis... for Elfen Lied ...
Sources said it was a show "like Chobits," with romance comedy, and
action. (they used the word action, so I pictured some romance comedy action)
Seeing some screenshots with cute characters with pink hair, I did not hesitate
to get my hands on this new series. Within 5 minutes into the first episode, I
was hovering in a corner with a blanket over my head, my eyes squeezed shut
(Come on, it was 1am and I was home babysitting my nieces (who were also
watching, and they're notr allowed to watch anime anymore, something more or
less related to this incident)) Then I was like hey, maybe it's just the first
5 minutes... but was I wrong... I knew it
was suspicious that guys were all hyped
about some romance comedy
...
But it was a great anime nonetheless. It now remains in my top 3 list, and I
think will hold its spot for a while to come So happy
ending.
Heh. Well, I can see where the "like Chobits" comment (as misleading
as it may be) comes from. Though, the whole "cute amnesiac girl" thing
hardly originates from Chobits.
I think people give the show way too much credit (its easy to win over fanboys
with whopping great amounts of blood and a slew of anime cliches)... but thats
something for another topic.
So long as you mention the excessive violence, you shouldn't be misled too much.
man I think that one of the most misleading animes is Air the frst 5 eps are
really funny and you think that you watching a comedy and then all of sudden the
main girl starts to slowly die and then it gets all sad and serious and all the
comedy is gone nothing but sadness and drama. Man that pissed me off I really
don't like anime the gets toooo over dramaic like that.
Narutaru was very misleading. Especially because of the happy crayonish drawings
and happy theme song! No way was I expecting weapons of mass destruction and
angst.
rahxephon. not so much misleading as it is confusing. the first episode makes NO
sense. when i saw it, i thought i had started in the middle of the series at
first.
Mezzo TV's first episode had great drawings and smooth action scenes, which made
me want to watch the next one. Turns out that is the only episode like that;
all the other ones have crappy action animation which really made me mad. Even
the last episode had bad action, which was the worst thing about the series. I
thought they would at least make a decent ending, but I was sadly mistaken.
Quote by FallingAwakeNarutaru was
very misleading. Especially because of the happy crayonish
drawings and happy theme song! No way was I expecting weapons of mass
destruction and angst.
Heh. I forgot about Narutaru... I dunno how many times I've heard someone say
the first episode reminded them of Pokemon.
How about Evangelion? The first episode tricked me into thinking it was going to
be a good show. Then, of course, I got to the second half of the
series.
But more seriously, Divergence Eve made an awful decision with their first
episode. A "future cliffhanger" kind of thing like that should be like
5 minutes long, not an entire episode. Whatev.
Totally agree with Gungrave. Another recent title that had me suprised later on
was Suzuka. First episode was very fan service heavy and combined with subpar
animation, I almost dumped it. Boy was I wrong. This has turned out to be one of
the best shows of the year and one of the few realistic takes on a romance/drama
in a world full of harem shows.
Quote by CccripTotally agree with
Gungrave. Another recent title that had me suprised
later on was Suzuka. First episode was very fan service heavy and
combined with subpar animation, I almost dumped it. Boy was I wrong.
This has turned out to be one of the best shows of the year and one of
the few realistic takes on a romance/drama in a world full of harem
shows.
It still has subpar animation.
I'd hardly call it a realistic take on romance (it's a shounen take on romance),
but the first episode did make it seem
like a harem/ecchi show.
When I want to check out an anime I'll watch the first episode to give me an idea of what it is like. Sometimes, however, my wonderful sampling technique has failed me due to misleading first episodes.
The two best examples I can think of are GunGrave and Madlax.
The first episode of GunGrave made it seem like Hellsing meets Trigun. I'm not a big fan of either show (I actually hate Trigun with a passion) so I dropped GunGrave thinking it was going to be lousy. Months later and I finally decide to give it another go. Needless to say I was surprised to find that the majority of the show is about two men climbing the mafia social ladder.
The first episode of Madlax made it seem like one of those girls-with-guns shows where the invincible heroin goes around knocking off a million and one bad guys every episode. I decided to check out the second episode just to be on the safe side and was rewarded with a show about a mysterious collection of books.
My question is...
Has anyone else has run into any misleading first episodes?
Hm... I've experienced a crapload of these. But none is coming to mind right now.
Though I did hear a misleading sypnosis... for Elfen Lied
...
Sources said it was a show "like Chobits," with romance comedy, and
action. (they used the word action, so I pictured some romance comedy action)
Seeing some screenshots with cute characters with pink hair, I did not hesitate
to get my hands on this new series. Within 5 minutes into the first episode, I
was hovering in a corner with a blanket over my head, my eyes squeezed shut
(Come on, it was 1am and I was home babysitting my nieces (who were also
watching, and they're notr allowed to watch anime anymore, something more or
less related to this incident)) Then I was like hey, maybe it's just the first
5 minutes... but was I wrong... 
I knew it
was suspicious that guys were all hyped
about some romance comedy 
...
But it was a great anime nonetheless. It now remains in my top 3 list, and I think will hold its spot for a while to come
So happy
ending.
Heh. Well, I can see where the "like Chobits" comment (as misleading as it may be) comes from. Though, the whole "cute amnesiac girl" thing hardly originates from Chobits.
I think people give the show way too much credit (its easy to win over fanboys with whopping great amounts of blood and a slew of anime cliches)... but thats something for another topic.
So long as you mention the excessive violence, you shouldn't be misled too much.
I completely agree with Gungrave. When I first watched it I thought it was just another killing monsters anime.
nah i never experienced it. i actually do research on the anime and look for other peoples comment.
man I think that one of the most misleading animes is Air the frst 5 eps are really funny and you think that you watching a comedy and then all of sudden the main girl starts to slowly die and then it gets all sad and serious and all the comedy is gone nothing but sadness and drama. Man that pissed me off I really don't like anime the gets toooo over dramaic like that.
For me it was Vandread, Gungrave, and Blue Seed.
Full moon was kinda misleading
Narutaru was very misleading. Especially because of the happy crayonish drawings and happy theme song! No way was I expecting weapons of mass destruction and angst.
rahxephon. not so much misleading as it is confusing. the first episode makes NO sense. when i saw it, i thought i had started in the middle of the series at first.
Mezzo TV's first episode had great drawings and smooth action scenes, which made me want to watch the next one. Turns out that is the only episode like that; all the other ones have crappy action animation which really made me mad. Even the last episode had bad action, which was the worst thing about the series. I thought they would at least make a decent ending, but I was sadly mistaken.
The first episode of Cardcators made by Nelvana was the worst. They skiped the whole beginning and added Syroan when he came. Damn you Nelvana!
Heh. I forgot about Narutaru... I dunno how many times I've heard someone say the first episode reminded them of Pokemon.
How about Evangelion? The first episode tricked me into thinking it was going to be a good show. Then, of course, I got to the second half of the series.
But more seriously, Divergence Eve made an awful decision with their first episode. A "future cliffhanger" kind of thing like that should be like 5 minutes long, not an entire episode. Whatev.
Totally agree with Gungrave. Another recent title that had me suprised later on was Suzuka. First episode was very fan service heavy and combined with subpar animation, I almost dumped it. Boy was I wrong. This has turned out to be one of the best shows of the year and one of the few realistic takes on a romance/drama in a world full of harem shows.
It still has subpar animation.
I'd hardly call it a realistic take on romance (it's a shounen take on romance), but the first episode did make it seem like a harem/ecchi show.