Author Topic: Kaiji (and other Fukumoto) - No Moe Heroes (Read 9223 times)

Quad City QBs · « **on:** April 13, 2011, 05:58:27 AM »

Meet Kaiji.

Kaiji's just an ordinary guy, not so different from you. He's got money troubles. He's got emotional troubles. He's a man of simple pleasures--he likes yakitori, sandboxes and a good hoedown.

And he's about to bring you into his world of big gambles, bigger noses, and man's horrifying inhumanity to man. Leave your blushing moe floozies at the door.

Madhouse's Kaiji Hakairoku-hen is an adaptation of part II of Nobuyuki Fukumoto's long-running gambling manga, and sequel to Madhouse's earlier adaptation from 2007. Like Fukumoto's other work, Kaiji features a distinctive artstyle that recalls the simpler times of the '70s, and combines it with introspective, sophisticated narration and a bleak setting where magic, miracles, and the power of friendship hold no sway--you can only rely on wits, guile and grit to keep your head above water for another day.

Some of Fukumoto's other offerings include:

Akagi - Also adapted by Madhouse in 2005. A story about a dude who really likes this guy named Ron, I think?
Buraiden Gai - A taut thriller about injecting naked men with love.
Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa - A charming slice-of-life about a man and his figurines.
Ten - Fukumoto's breakout manga, about tan yaoi.
Gambling Emperor Zero - A touching and educational manga about learning math.

Enjoy the thread, and remember--Trust no one. Don't go halfway. And never, ever, reveal your plan ex ante.

Pesco · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2011, 01:32:32 PM »

New Kaiji has just started, right? Definitely gonna be on top of this one as it goes.

Prody · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2011, 05:53:08 PM »

A video called Kaiji vs Beer has been on the Nico daily rankings since the first episode aired, which is a scene from episode 1. Cool if you like scrolling comments!

Pesco · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2011, 06:27:31 PM »

Poor Kaiji. Still a schmuck as ever.

Stuffman · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2011, 06:47:24 PM »

What's with this thread title? Kaiji is twice as moe as your average manufactured moeslut. Just look at his face in MauMau's post!

Pesco · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2011, 06:53:05 PM »

You know. The ED of Kaiji is so fucking moe I could die.

Stuffman · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2011, 08:06:50 PM »

Just watched the first two episodes! First of all, the OP feels like a standard anime OP, which is hilarious because for a show like Kaiji it almost feels like a parody :V

The first episode really hit home with me, I definitely know the feeling of being so poor that you have to agonize over buying a snack. But they're so tasty ;_;

The end of the second awakened that sense of excitement I got from the original series, that SHIT JUST GOT REAL feeling. Felt good to see another ~zawa~ after so long!

Kaiji as a series is just plain awesome. The narrator and the dramatizations make even the smallest actions epic, the atmosphere is incredibly tense at all times. What's really great is knowing that there's never going to be any kind of deus ex machina or something like that, Kaiji MUST plan and find a solution to every situation he gets into.

Kaiji as a character is IMO one of the best characters in anime from a literary standpoint. He can swing between being a derp and being brilliant at any time, but even his most brilliant plans can fall flat. He wants to be ruthless enough to just take what he needs to win, but no matter how hard he tries he can't abandon his humanity. I just love the way he represents a typical downtrodden lower-class guy.

Quad City QBs · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2011, 04:58:22 AM »

Quote from: Stuffman on April 13, 2011, 08:06:50 PM

Kaiji as a character is IMO one of the best characters in anime from a literary standpoint. He can swing between being a derp and being brilliant at any time, but even his most brilliant plans can fall flat. He wants to be ruthless enough to just take what he needs to win, but no matter how hard he tries he can't abandon his humanity. I just love the way he represents a typical downtrodden lower-class guy.

Fukumoto is really, really good at writing desperation and the struggle to hold on to some semblance of human dignity in the face of the almighty ~~dollar~~ yen! And speaking of which, guess who cameos in the OP--

(hint: it's avowed figurine lover and master tactician kurosawa)

Tengukami · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2011, 02:20:23 PM »

Just watched the first episode and yes, this is really fantastic stuff. I suspect people living on their own already will be able to relate best to this series, but the timeless conflict of Short Term Gains v. Long Term Gains should ring true with everyone. It's funny, well-written, and the pacing moves at a nice clip. And the narrator cracks me up.

trancehime · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2011, 02:39:24 PM »

Hotdamn, I was excited for this.

Kaiji is excellent stuff. I am a sucker for Fukumoto's stuff in general, fell in love with it when I first read/saw Akagi! Need to hype this to more people, it is good stuff~

Reddyne · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2011, 03:16:48 PM »

I love how this series as a whole is obsessed with taking the smallest of things and turning it into something grand. Kaiji betting pennies and rolling dice seems so dramatic that the fate of nations hangs in the balance.

FinnKaenbyou · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2011, 03:30:58 PM »

I was not aware that the second series had started airing until I saw this thread.

I am now caught up and HOLY SHIT this is probably the one series I'm going to follow religiously this season.

Fightest · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2011, 06:15:16 PM »

Ahem.

ZAWA ZAWA

Pesco · « **Reply #13 on:** April 15, 2011, 06:34:15 PM »

Quote from: Fightest on April 15, 2011, 06:15:16 PM

Ahem.

ZAWA ZAWA

Real men go 'zawa zawa' while lolis go 'honk honk' :V

trancehime · « **Reply #14 on:** April 16, 2011, 01:17:04 AM »

Quote from: Fightest on April 15, 2011, 06:15:16 PM

Ahem.

ZAWA ZAWA

Did you know that Akagi's seiyuu plays Mahjong professionally?

Arcengal · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2011, 10:48:31 AM »

I'm guessing people have managed to make subs of this already? I was a massive fan of the first series, been looking forward to this season, particularly after reading about the manga on Wiki.

Tengukami · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2011, 11:44:03 AM »

Yeah, the first two eps of Season 2 are subbed, and I reckon the eps to come will also be subbed.

JT · « **Reply #17 on:** April 20, 2011, 03:13:54 AM »

Quote from: Rain Lindwurm on April 15, 2011, 02:20:23 PM

I suspect people living on their own already will be able to relate best to this series, but the timeless conflict of Short Term Gains v. Long Term Gains should ring true with everyone.

Yeah, one of my favorite things about Kaiji is that all of the games/plot events are like little parables or have some kind of philosophical implication to them. It adds a layer of depth to it that you don't really see in a lot of anime or manga. Like, Fukumoto isn't just telling a fantasy story or drawing titties, he actually has something to say. I think that's really cool.

Menorah Jams, Pham · « **Reply #18 on:** April 20, 2011, 07:06:35 PM »

The best thing about Kaiji is that he's about as human as characters can get.

Actually, that's the second best thing. The #1 best thing is his jacket. THAT GODDAMN AWESOME CLASSIC BOMBER JACKET. It's like the male version of Ryougi Shiki's jacket.

I am always on the verge of asking a friend with an embroidery machine to make a copy of the blood chit patch for my other flight jacket. But then I realize I don't wear that jacket ever. D:

I missed an event at a con where they were playing Restricted Rock Paper Scissors. It would OWN if they did it again this year.

Also, relevant: http://www.nekomagic.com/?p=22386

Arcengal · « **Reply #19 on:** April 20, 2011, 11:14:23 PM »

Quote from: Mohn Jadden Powers on April 20, 2011, 07:06:35 PM

I missed an event at a con where they were playing Restricted Rock Paper Scissors. It would OWN if they did it again this year.

I assume losers don't get sent into slave labour and winners don't get 5 million yen per star though. That makes it a little bit different than the show. Kinda like a human derby 5 feet off the ground.

Edit: just started watching Season 2 and oh my god it's amazing

Author Topic: Kaiji (and other Fukumoto) - No Moe Heroes (Read 9223 times)

JT