One Outs #01 — Spitball

October 7th, 2008

 

Well, I’m out.

New Season Disclaimer:

I’ll make a post for almost all new series (barring sequels) with a wrap-up and bullet point opinion of each once the premier week is over. Remember that these are just my kneejerk reactions to the first 20 minutes of shows, many of which in genres that I don’t even particularly like, but I do believe in giving every new series at least an episode to interest me.

Impressions:

Madhouse seems absolutely desperate to recapture Akagi’s success, but they don’t quite see to realize that you can’t just lay the same animation and direction over two thematically different things and get the same result. Sure, talking about a life or death battle of wits makes a little bit of sense when discussing mah jong against gangsters who will kill you if you lose, but it makes a lot less sense when you’re discussing whether or not you think the pitcher is going to throw a fast ball or a splitter. "It’s a forkball! It’ll be a ball! –GASP– It was really a straight throw!" …Not exactly my idea of compelling drama. I’m pretty sure they mean split-finger fastball anyway.

Like Akagi and its inbred cousin Kaiji, the production values are minimal, and amazingly enough, the OP/ED manages to be the angstiest thing I have ever seen in my life. It would be overly angsty for a show about writing sad poems in the dark while cutting yourself, let alone baseball. That it’s mostly in broken English certainly doesn’t help matters. "This is for my life, open his heart and find mine" indeed. If you’ve already watched Akagi, then you’ve seen this and seen it done far better. If you haven’t, then watch that instead. A bunch of people in a park betting pocket change on amateur pitching does not evoke quite the same drama as a bunch of mafios threatening to cut off your hands. God help us if this actually brings in the Yakuza or anybody important at all to this nonsense too.

Preview:

BAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

Posted in Anime | 11 Comments »

11 Shouts From the Peanut Gallery

  • Hinano says:

    Not that I was planning to watch this but…ew. :(

  • Avisch says:

    Yeah I wasn’t planning on this either…..I’ll wait for Kaiji’s second season.

  • (TSC)Bender says:

    After checking this out, I can safely say i’ll be eagerly awaiting Kaiji’s second season as well.

  • Angel says:

    Holy shit, this looks really good!

  • Is that big round thing that looks like Jabba the Hut the only woman in the show?

  • Aroduc says:

    SDB, yep! Which is already as many as Kaiji.

  • SOSAnimeBoy says:

    ZOMG

    http://blog.seiha.org/images/oneouts1/oneouts1_73.jpg

    Reminds me of Hiruma from ES21. ROFL

  • Shippoyasha says:

    Might just be retarded enough for me to buy into it. heh

  • Bommb says:

    It’s actually not that bad. I like it. Although it maybe exaggerated a bit, but still enjoyable! :)

  • rax says:

    go watch episode 3. the story takes a turn there when he gets recruited and plays professional ball. its awesome!

  • Lei says:

    Pretty much what I thought when I saw episode 1.
    I have managed to watch up to episode 5 though sofar. Starting with ep.3 things take a turn away from gambling and more on sports (if you like baseball anime, you will enjoy this one too). Pity the main character still reminds too much of Akagi, just half as cool and spruting cheesy lines.