City of Amnesia

has anyone but me noticed that Big O is one of the few animes that takes place in america? Most animes take place in
1 Japan
2 Britian
3 china
and 4 thailand......
but never america! thats why it was never a big hit in Japan and other forgien nations, it just didn't appeal to their sense of action and fun like it does for us. Now i know there are tons of fans in europe and asia, i'm just saying it has a bigger appeal to us because it's closer to home is all.

It looks like Batman.
A lot of people see something that's obviously anime-ish and go "ew anime that stuff is stupid" where Big O doesn't quite look like anime. Maybe that's why it didn't do so great in Japan, too. That and because it was very American, film noir styled, as opposed to hyper bright and shiny.

I think Toonami's marketing of it had to have helped.

Saying something is Batman and James Bond with giant robots is bound to get people's attention.

Agree totally. I'm having a devil of a time convincing my friends to watch Big O, since I know they'd like it, but understandably they lump all anime into the pre-teen-romance-soap-opera-with-robots-piloted-by-annoying-children cliche. Which simply does not describe Big O.

Well, there is a progressing story (not just robots trashing the Paradigm City) and some emotion, but it's very downplayed compared to the bulk of the anime out there. My friends had the same reaction to Big O when I described it to them.

Personal favorites for me are:
-The American perspective on cars. Granted other areas of the world have cars, but to most countries they're just
  transportation. In America, it's part of your attitude, your lifestyle...

-The science fiction (the abbreviation "sci fi" is overused and annoying) elements are very low-key:
      Androids have R. initials before human names, not series numbers...
      The Griffon, Roger's briefcase, and Norman's cycle have high tech gadgets, but retro styling...
      Except for the domes, structures have a retro style...
      Paradigm Corporation uses "inclines" (a type of cable car) for moving people, rather than elevators or escalators...
  It almost reminds me of...and this will make people cringe...Star Trek... Granted Dune and Star Wars included histories
  and traditions, but Star Trek included Earth history and traditions.

- People only yell when they're angry, and they don't get angry at the drop of a hat. In fact, there are few sudden mood
  swings, Dorothy's request for Roger the Negotiator to negotiate her adoption of Pierot nonwithstanding (and given the
  circumstances, her reaction was appropriate)...

- Some witty humor, not just slapstick stuff...

SciFi is not Science Fiction.

Science Fiction is a story lain out following the rules of the universe, with one or two plot-devices.

SciFi has perfect artificial gravity, inertial dampeners, and clones grown in a day.

that's one of the reasons why Big O is so good, because it much different than your normal "Dime a dozen anime", think any harem or any of the shows about boy A being in love with Girl B, and wasting 25 episodes on a dull and cliche' plot.

Hey, I like those harem animes with their shameless and gratuitous fanservice, thank you.
War.

Replace "harem" with "epic war" and add "explosions" along with fanservice, then I agree with you.

Wasn't Speed Racer (sorry, Mifune Go!) set in America? Aren't almost all anime characters Western, presumably American? Especially the blonde ones?

Blond hair and blue eyes are the stock westerner look in anime, Americans, Germans, and well basically anyone not Japanese is portrayed as having blond hair and blue eyes.

...hence you liking of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann... No problem with that. I think it's cool, too...


Mike you'll find harems, explosions, AND fan service in Gurren Lagann... However, while I've seen grand battles, nothing "epic" yet... I'll keep you posted though...


Well, the Racer family was from America, but as far as where the series was based...it changed every episode or two (if it was a two-parter). Speed entered races held in many different countries and regions around the world, which sometimes necessitated modifications to the Mach 5 (not often, though, because of it's already high-tech design). Now if you mean "based" as in from what perspective was the world viewed, then "yes" it was certainly told from an American perspective.

It was brought up in one of the posts about it's appeal to Americans is that it is set here. I do have a question on this......

I have heard many say that it is set in NY, however I did notice something.  In Season One - Act 7, Roger is walking along a dock.  A sign comes up that says Pier 29 and Bay Tours.  A moment later, two restaurants are shown, Alioto's and Tarantino's.  Both of these are in Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, a short distance from Pier 29 (Actually they are on Pier 39 - Have eaten at both. Great food, although not as good as Scoma's).  Where is there any suggestion of New York?  I am just now starting to watch them again, and am just on season 1, but have seen nothing.  Can anyone enlighten me?  Just don't tell me any "spoilers" as I don't remember most of the second season.  I would like to see it "fresh".

There is a scene in which a high aerial view or a map is shown (someone psoted the stills once, but it evidently just lasts a second and one could easily miss it) and that definitely shows New York. However, given the writer's method of working (much more on that very soon) we cannot limit paradigm city to any single real palce.

Thanks for the reply, Anebo.  I haven't seen that yet.  It is just that I grew up there (NY/NJ) and haven't seen any references to it.  If you have any more, let me know.

Hate to disagree with you there Anebo, but Paradigm City (about 98% of it) is Manhattan Island.
*quoting myself from a long forgotten thread*


Check this thread (and more specifically this and the following posts) for comparisons of Paradigm-City and NYC.
http://www.paradigm-city.com/forums/thread.php?postid=345934#post345934

Picture courtesy of Zopwx2.
(http://members.cox.net/zopwx/comparison.JPG)

Do a search at Paradigm-city.com/forums/ for "Manhattan" in the 'Smith Mansion' section (Big O discussion) and you will find many a topic covering this issue :)

I never mind being disagreed with or even proven wrong (so long as the arguments are convincing), but I believe I was the one who said Paradigm City was built over New York (I don't mean originally, but earlier in this thread).

The whole Batman/ James Bond promo had me thinking this anime is very different when I first saw it on Toonami.  After first viewing it was kind of disappointing with the shortest until I got hook watching Acts 12-13 which are my favorites.  The show grew on me ever since.  To quote the promo "Good guys still black"  .  Now and forever.

Just cuz they're blond doesn't mean they aren't japanese. they bleach their hair like crazy, so they mostly portray what they can never be. I am surprised that they don't have more anime's set in ameika, considering they, like, LOVE us sooooo bad!

I'm going to agree with most of the people here.  There are a lot of anime conventions that either bother me or bore me, cultural things I can't begin to understand.  Big O feels much more American--not to mention that it draws heavily from Western mythology, philosophy, religion, and literature.  It also does a great job of balancing its more esoteric themes with realistic ideas grounded in the world we know, or at least consistent with its established world.

I think it's the same reason Cowboy Bebop is so accessible to so many people (even given its more eastern flavor), whether they are fans of anime or not.  I can't stand Naruto, Gundam Wing, etc...but animes that do not overdo fluffy emotionalism do appeal to me.  Big O, for its sardonic wit and noir-style exposition, thankfully avoids falling into the trap to which so many other animes are susceptible. 

Further to the Paradigm City vs. Manhattan debate, here's a great photoshop image of "NYC ninety years from now, if warming trends continue and seas rise to match ancient levels with the same temperature" (link (http://www.xtcian.com/arch/002432.php)).

It's really starting to look like Paradigm City (just add domes).

(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/96/manhattanfloodedblpm4.jpg)

Wow, it looks like damn near the whole thing is under 10-20 feet of water.
That's gonna suck.

GOBAL WARMING IS A FRACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sorry but its true. the earth has had multiple cold and warmings in the past. just look at the REAL CHARTS, most scientists do not believe it will happen, charts show that by 2035 glaicers will only have melted an inch more and the cold period will happen 5years latter.

the media just wants u to believe it, but none of it is real. And the whole dont burn fossils i agree with only because it polutes the air. when the cold period starts again the ozone will close up more and people will want the fuels to keep warm. and until they perfect self energizing power cells well freeze our asses of during the cold period, which by the way, would make floridia go below -20f, or (i think) -40c. Antartica would be at absolute zero(-250c).

Believe it or not, every i just told u is true. only 1/1000 scientists believe in gobal warming.

(http://www.terminally-incoherent.com/img/facepalm.jpeg)

antartica is only -95c right now.

I don't think shadowdorothy meant the scientific definition of "absolute zero", but more like the "Gen X" definition as in
"Dude, I'm freezing! It's like absolute zero outside..." The same way people describe Halo as "absolute carnage"...  ;D Although -250 degrees C may be slightly warmer than -273.18 degrees C, it's still undeniably cold!  :o

Tony: Just add domes? (http://www.waltlockley.com/manhattandome/manhattandome.htm)  8)

P.S. Burt, that Paradigm City line sketch at the top of this page is epic...

I hope so, because nothing will ever be that cold, ever.

Also... yeah, I was trying to avoid doing this, there's no point unless its face to face, arguing on the internet, etc, but really if someone makes a claim like this and doesn't source themselves, I can't believe it, really.

(http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2126/poster3473smbo8.jpg)

dude just type "real gobal warming facts" in google and you'll get a times article about wats really going on. if they haven't taken it down after the "tree hugger" protest.

Only in America is climate change a "political" issue! But let's not get too far off topic...

Spike, I think the biggest sign people have of it as well is the architectural stylings of Paradigm City, a setting not unlike that of Gotham City, or an old-style New York city, with spires, spines and brick on even some of the tallest buildings.
War.

There are also a number of direct references to streets that exist in Manhattan. I believe even the river is named accurately.

JFK Airport, Grand Central Station, etc.

Oh yeah... forgot those. Damn, I need to rewatch Big O, I guess.

There is a high aerial view of Paradigm City posted in Wikipedia as part of the "Big O" article. Is that the one you are thinking of?

TV

Hudson River in Act 5 34th Street, 7th Ave , Brooklyn Bridge in Act 3, Coney Island in Act 17, Midtown tunnel, East River/Upper East Side Dome mention in act 15.

There was also a pretty flagrant, 10-second-or-so shot of the Empire State Buildings in the dream sequence in episode 14.

What it the Empire State, or the Flatiron building? I distinctly remember the Flatiron building in a long downward pan during Roger's "dream sequence".

It was pointy and antenna-clad, so it was definitely the King Of All Buildings. I think it was when Roger was in the car or something. There probably is a Flatiron shot, too, as that's another super-famous New York building.

:o

Either your recollection is great, or you've got too much time on your hands. Either way, thanks for posting that list. I think it really shows the staff put a lot of thought into Paradigm City.

That overhead view of Paradigm City is in episode 22, "Hydra". I watched it last night and paused the DVD for a close look. It is definitely New York from above, with the lower end of Manhattan underwater (the city hall & Wall Street area). The domes, in particular Alex's, are clustered together and appear to be sitting more or less where Central Park would be located. There appears to be no bridges connecting to the boroughs from the southern half of the island. I will try to cobble together a map showing everything.

But...as others have said, in the final analysis it's just a fantasy.

I wonder why they modeled paradigm after new york....

the creators wanted something different. least i think so.
most animes feature little kids to high school students for main characters. but Big O features adults as mains.

I think Americans should take a page out of that book.
I really am sick of extraordinary little boys...

Gundam 08th MS Team. Watch it. The hero is 24 years old, and isn't a super awesome pilot by any means (but he still kicks some ass).
Probably the best Gundam show ever.

Agreed!! i enjoy anime with adult mains. so much better story lines than with your regular run of the mill anime.

On the weekend I lent out Season 1 to a friend of mine. He's seen a lot of anime, so this should be fresh material for him. I suggested to him that the English voices are terrible and he laughed and said he usually watches anime in Japanese with English subtitles since that's a common problem.

TV

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v617/BigMoney/berniemacbitch.jpg)

Seriously, why do people keep saying this. The English voices are great, the Japanese ones are monotonous and without character.

It doesn't matter what anyone's opinion of the actual content of Money's post is, if they think this image isn't jawesome, they're wrong.

...because the English voice actor who did Roger makes him sound like a geeky 20-year-old kid just out of college. The Japanese voice sounds like the voice of an experienced, confident man who is regularly involved in complex negotations between powerful parties. As for monotony, I just don't see that...or rather I don't hear that.

In the end, it's personal opinion. But I'm still right! <smile>

TV

Blum isn't the only VA, though (although I... really can't see him as being a bad VA. Hear him, rather, but perhaps I've got kid goggles still about cartoons -- I probably always will, actually), there's also Michael McConnohie, and with him the best cartoon laugh since Hamill's Joker.

And I'm partial to Alex too, even with his "my big, my dome" speech.

The only problem that I have with Stephen Blum is that he was in every cartoon, commercial, and game that came out in a 2-year period.

Still is, kinda.

I caught him a few times on Battlefront II, that was weird.

He was in Empire at War, too...i think on both sides. Weirditude.

Blum seems to be popping up in Seven Eleven commercials again, as well.

In my opinion, he did a stellar job as Roger Smith, but he is a bit overused, even if it's just one-line supporting characters.