Day 24 - Favorite anime hero or heroine

[sara_tanaquil]

Now see, this question is just impossible. Seriously, I'm supposed to be able to pick just one? So, rather than agonize over which hero/heroine of which favorite series we've already discussed to death deserves this honor, I will seize this opportunity to squee about my NEW favorite hero. As of, like, five days ago.

Day 24 - Favorite anime hero or heroine



I tried to read a chapter or two of the manga once a long time ago, and somehow didn't get into it. Who was it who said I should make sure to keep watching up through episode 40 or so if it didn't grab me right away? You guys, it took three episodes. Max. To get from "OK, the art is kind of weird, but the characters are cute, and this Zoro guy seems pretty cool" to "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE ARE ONLY 500 EPISODES, GIVE ME THE NEXT ONE I'M IN WITHDRAWAL RIGHT NOW."

I am currently at episode 39 (in the middle of the Arlong story arc). That number should probably have increased by another ten or so by tomorrow.

The Usopp establishing story was <3, and the Zoro backstory was !;_;, and the Sanji backstory was !!!!!T_T, and the Nami backstory is $*&%#T_T;_;T_T!!!!. Exactly which one of those was the one I was supposed to get addicted by? Because seriously, I can't tell, they were/are all freaking kickass.

Anyway, I love all the characters, and it's entirely possible I might end up with another favorite, but right now I just adore Luffy. I don't even want to slash him with anyone. He's adorable. So happy and bouncy one minute, and totally deadpan when everyone else is freaking out the next, and then there are those rare moments when someone messes with his nakama and he gets PISSED. His Japanese voice actor is made of perfect (they all are, really, but especially his).

This show even makes me love the shounen formula again. I don't think I've watched a true shounen fight show since Rurouni Kenshin. "Don't tell me... it's the XXXXX technique! NO ONE CAN SURVIVE THAT!" I had forgotten its totally absurd charm.

If you are the approximately one other person on my flist who hasn't discovered this series yet, it's streaming on Funimation/Hulu. For a limited time, all the episodes are available -- it's not really clear to me how many will be available once the celebration of episode #500 is over, but whatever. Run, don't walk, etc.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to watch another couple of episodes before bed. I'm sure I can fit in at least one after breakfast, and another over lunch hour.

[And I have no doubt at all that I have much yet to learn, but please, I am entirely One Piece spoiler free at the moment! So, NO SPOILERS past episode 40! Remember that span tags don't work in the comments.]

Comments

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I'm supposed to be able to pick just one?

NO KIDDING!

The fact that most of my favorite characters are members of the supporting cast (e.g. Hiei, Chichiri, Heiji, Touya) rather than the actual hero or heroine does narrow the field somewhat, but still...

For now, I will go with Tsuzuki from Yami no Matsuei. (I would name Hajime [...again...] except that technically the dragons are considered "villains" rather than heroes.)

[perseid.livejournal.com]

OMG YOU'RE INTO ONE PIECE NOW! I AM SO HAPPY! I love this series so, so much! I am somewhat envious of you because you have 510+ episodes to look forward to whereas I'm dying every week waiting for the next chapter/episode to come out!

...I hope you fall just even more in love with it with every new episode!

[collarnojutsu.livejournal.com]

I am a little dismayed to realize that I... I.. don't think I really remember much about the Zoro (and maybe Usopp?) backstory(ies). I mean I have flashes of images in the recesses of my mind, but I couldn't really tell you any but the fuzziest of details. Understandable, as it was really quite a long time ago, but it makes me sad. Not sad enough to go dig thru boxes to pull out old magazines so I can re-read the manga.. because I know the time I spend on that is precious time away from consuming new stuff. Wahh. (This might be a plea for someone to recap for me, or it might not - it just struck me as I was reading that OMG, how is it that I do not remember.)

Also, to quote hulu's page:
To celebrate the 500th episode of One Piece, episodes #1 – 202 and #391 – 500 will be available until June 8. Unfortunately, I glazed over this when I was reading about the 500 ep celebration a few weeks back, and there is this thing called life, so I will not be able to catch up in the span of 2 days. :/

(ps: no answer for the question at this time.)

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't have an answer for this one, either. Maybe Usagi from Sailormoon, because that's one of the few shows where the main character is my favorite? Or else Kino from Kino's Journey, because Kino is a badass.

(You know, I really don't like motorcycles in real life, but apparently in anime I love badass girls who ride bikes.)

Also: hurray for One Piece! Man, you have so much good stuff coming up; enjoy the ride!

[manga-crow.livejournal.com]

For me it's more "well, aside from Luffy, how could I choose" ;)

Seriously though, it's so awesome that you're getting into the show; like Collar, episode 37 is "the" defining moment of One Piece for me, the point it tipped over from "a really entertaining show" to "my favorite show, evar".

The sequence that starts when Nami comes back to the village to try to stop them from getting themselves killed, right through to when Luffy screams "HOW DARE YOU MAKE MY NAVIGATOR CRY" is one of the most cathartic things I've ever seen in any show, and I still tear up a little at Nami's "Luffy, help me."

(Ok, the trip down the stairs death is a little weak - to the point that I have spent a lot of time wondering if that's really what happened, especially after T****** shows up. Sadly, I haven't come up with a workable alternate theory yet =/)

No spoilers from me, though, I promise - but please share your thoughts every once in a while - I love hearing what other people think about the show =)

[gnine.livejournal.com]

ONE PIECE!!!!!!11 ^____________________^ HOMG, that series is SO MUCH LOVE! And awesomeness and just fantastic and amazing and um...yeah, I kinda love it. A LOT! And it can make me cry like NOTHING else, and half the time in a happy uplifting sobbing way. All their backstories! And Arlong Park! Yeah, I was liking the show before that but that's when I KNEW it was love. Soo soo sooo fantastic! Oh you have sooooo much ahead of you! (Chapter 627 of the manga came out this week...and Oda says he thinks a bit ago was maybe half way through the story...so...um...yeah, we have a ways to go, w0000t!)