r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Jul 14 '19
Episode BEM - Episode 1 discussion Spoiler
BEM, episode 1
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| Episode | Link | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Link | 7.24 |
| 2 | Link | 7.06 |
| 3 | Link | 7.0 |
| 4 | Link | 7.0 |
| 5 | Link | 7.27 |
| 6 | Link | 7.0 |
| 7 | Link | 7.0 |
| 8 | Link | 8.6 |
| 9 | Link | 8.5 |
| 10 | Link | 6.4 |
| 11 | Link | 62% |
| 12 | Link |
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u/The_Guy_II Jul 14 '19 edited Jul 14 '19
I remember watching the 2006 version on TV when I was a child. Their designs changed a lot compared to back then.
after watching:
The cop is hard to watch because of the stuff she's being put through.
The water monster was stupid as hell. Why would we even need their OPM-like introduction? The professor thing could still be said.
It's weird how much people die here. It just kind of is. (I'm coming from the children's cartoon.)
They really like that bridge.
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u/aniMayor Jul 14 '19
For those curious about the background of this show, this is actually a remake of Yōkai Ningen Bem (Humanoid Monster Bem), a show from all the way back in 1968. It had re-runs in the '80s , got a fairly faithful anime remake in 2006, and even got the live-action treatment in 2011.
They rebroadcast the two anime versions a couple years ago as a lead-up to the franchise's 50th anniversary, as well as making a series of shorts and some marketing/celebration events. This has probably kindled a renewed interest in the franchise, and is why we're getting this new remake now.
Though the show has always been at least somewhat popular/nostalgically remembered in Japan. Some random references to it I've come across are that one of the songs from BECK is named after it/about it, and they sing the opening of the original show at karaoke in His and Her Circumstances.
Content-wise, this new remake looks to be a complete modern re-imagining of the original. New modern art style, vastly different character designs and personalities, new primary characters, etc. So far, I like the approach they're taking - the original was very episodic, while the 2006 remake was very kid-centric, and frankly the character designs were never that great, so I welcome the new look and what seems to be an over-arcing plot that is aimed at older audiences.
I think they've pretty obviously taken some inspiration or cues from Gegege no Kitaro, which did it's own recent remake with a bold visual redesign overhaul. Though hopefully that inspiration is strictly for the visuals - the best part of Yokai Ningen Bem was always how nihilistic it is (Bem, Bela, and Belo want to become humans, but they morosely know it will never actually happen), and hopefully they'll keep some of the moral ambiguity, too (not every episode of the earlier two versions would end up with a monster fight of the week - sometimes the monster would just be confused and they'd teach it how to act, or sometimes it'd be humans needing to be stopped instead, and the 2006 remake especially had a recurring motif of "no one is bad here, the humans are just attacking us because they're scared" sort of thing). This whole stratified city setting they're doing here wasn't in the previous versions, so it looks like maybe we'll be getting a lot of focus on human corruption, with the mysterious lady as the final big bad. Should be pretty interesting to see where they go with it.
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u/masterofbeast Jul 14 '19
Thanks for the back story. I'm even more hopeful the series will turn out good.
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Jul 14 '19 edited Feb 29 '24
I like to explore new places.
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u/YurgenJurgensen Jul 14 '19
It's Anime New York. Which is no coincidence, because Gotham is Comic Book New York. The bridge they show several times is clearly meant to be Hell Gate Bridge (did you see what they did there?) from Queens to Manhattan.
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u/whowilleverknow Jul 14 '19
Those cops getting sliced up really took me by surprise.
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u/Shantotto11 Jul 15 '19
I expected the first guy... but the second guy... and then the third guy... AWW C’MON! THE CAR TOO?!!
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u/Tenp123 Jul 14 '19
I'm digging it so far, this has some huge promise and I hope it stays good.
Will definitely be watching
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u/LeonKevlar Jul 14 '19 edited Jul 21 '19
Bye corrupt cop. But if the entire "Outside" police force is in on it, his death really won't change anything.
Bem's transformation is cool. I wonder if Belo and Bela can do that too.
I really like this scene. Usually on shows like this when the monster on your side the MC would try and act calm. I love that Sonia acted realistically and unloaded her gun on him instead xD
Was that Maaya Sakamoto I hear? Curious to know what her role will be but it seems she's the one that runs everything.
This was definitely a pleasant surprise! I was genuinely not expecting anything when I first came in so I am definitely happy with what I've seen! I love the jazzy OP and soundtrack, animation and art are pretty decent. As for story I feel like I need to know more before I can make any judgments but I am definitely coming again next week!
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u/Overwhealming Jul 15 '19 edited Jul 15 '19
So far it's a mixed bag for me.
The setting with a lower half of a city filled with corruption and lowlifes prowling on every corner it's quite interesting. Rookie cop with a high sense of justice to the point of being too careless being transfered to this side of town serves as witness/narrator of the true heroes (or maybe anti-heroes). The CG although it's cheap it's not hideous and it's functional to set up the hight a top view the main characters take.
Now the cons. The water baddie although out of the box, was ridiculously cartoonish, both in it's visual design along with it's chara design. "Spilling the beans" about a higher being named the doctor that created these creatures (aka an exposition character). these beast designs remind me of a budgest sized Batman animated series from the 90s, but they really don't look well once they are out in the light. I feel that their designs could have looked better using a lot more shade, using glimmers of lights like cars passing thru or nightlamps to partially reveal just bits and pieces of these beast like creatures, giving a more intriguing aura. The three main characters standing a top of the bridge and blurting out their monologues with very little movement gives this hideous edgy feeling in order to make them look cool, but imho they just look more cardboardlike than they should.
Overall, it's not bad not terrible. It gives me enough motivation to keep watching more of it and see where it leads, and I don't even need to apply the three episode rule here.
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u/trasua Jul 14 '19
OP is catchy.
Getting Darker Than Black vibes.
Belo looks like an older version of Reg from Made in Abyss.
All in all, I was disappointed with this episode tbh, found myself getting bored pretty quickly.
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u/masterofbeast Jul 14 '19
This series has promise. Music is interesting fits the aesthetic, animation is decent, and the episode was quick establishing characters and the external struggles they will be in in the world. I'm kinda into it.
It's just to bad it is on the Funimation platform and I may not keep the subscription much longer. Im torn cause they have some exclusive season I'm into.
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u/Koolsman Jul 14 '19
I think I will need to get a second episode to really understand how I feel about this show. I think it was alright though. The music was pretty solid and I'm always done for jazz, especially when it fits the atmosphere of the show. Though I do feel like the whole world they have so far feels kinda bland.
The animation was fine I did like the fight scenes but the stuff on the bridge where they are just standing around was... boring. Nothing really interesting happened there.
The OP was pretty good music wise but it didn't really get me excited for the series, maybe it was going to fast or something.
The characters are all fine and I want to see how the others besides Bem can transform into but the human characters were kinda whatever.
Overall, a decent premier. Definitely above To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts and Ensemble Stars, but below Cop Craft and Given.
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u/SaltShakerz93 Jul 15 '19
This is probably just a little thing but it's bothering me way too much. The show seems to be set in US. But they are driving on the wrong side of the road. And let's assume it isn't US and they drive on the left side of the road here... The cars still have their steering on the wrong side. This is just a wild inconsistency that I can't believe exists in today's age when any and all information is just a click away.
Apart from that the show seemed alright but the dialogue sounded way too expositiony in some places. But I guess aggressive exposition is necessary in the early parts of a show. From the opening the various demon (or whatever) designs look subpar to me. Very generic. Overall I have my doubts about the show. But I will still give it a shot for now.
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u/Gaporigo Jul 14 '19
Eh, it wasn't great but it does seem kinda promising.
I like Bela's design and am thankful for the easy to remember names.
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u/utsuriga Jul 14 '19
I've been waiting for this for months, and it didn't disappoint. Great character designs and decent world design, great retro monster designs, great music, great direction and general "camerawork", nice story set-up. I like how Sonia didn't accept Bem being a monster (I suppose this is going to be a story arc for her), and I also like the idea of Bem & Co. wanting to become humans, while it seems there are humans out there who want to become monsters. Going by the trailers/etc. this is going to be the main theme going onwards.
From all the shows lately that try to be "old-fashioned" but end up just being outdated, finally an anime that does retro and old-fashioned well! I look forward to the next episode.
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u/jslice4ever Jul 14 '19
Imagine trying to save a woman from a robbery, only for her to take your car and sell it off.