sorted list of fav CLAMP works

[akk]

I meant to do this over a year ago & I probably shouldn't do this while I am partially depressed, partially angry, and partially pissed - for a whole lot of small reasons that are all minor for themselves, but amount to a truckload of everyday life [insert expletive for "feces" here]. However, after the last three days I'm pretty much convinced that if I don't make these lists now, I'll never make them anyway. So...


List of favorite CLAMP manga (sorted from good to bad; for clarity: no double-votes):

1. Tokyo Babylon (♥♥♥)
2. Clover
3. Combination (started as a CLAMP manga)
4. X
5. Legend of Chun Hyang
6. Wish
7. Man of Many Faces
8. Clamp Campus Detectives
9. Derayd
10. Gohou Drug (I ♥ the story & non-♥ the artwork)
11. Shirahime-Syo
12. Cardcaptor Sakura
13. Chobits
14. Justice Guards Duklyon
15. Magic Knight Rayearth
16. RG Veda
17. Suki
18. The One I Love
19. xxxHolic (I just can't get past the art)
20. Miyuki-chan in Wonderland
21. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (can't get past art & story)

I never got a hold of "Angelic Layer", so I have no opinion on that one.
1-5 is a close group; ditto 6-9.

List of favorite CLAMP TV (sorted from good to bad; for clarity: no double-votes):

1. X/1999 (series, including OAV-0)
2. Tokyo Babylon OVA
3. Tokyo Babylon 1999
4. Card Captor Sakura (all)
5. Clamp Campus Detectives
6. X Movie
7. Magic Knight Rayearth
8. xxxHolic (all) (I just don't like the art)
9. Tsubasa Chronicle (all) (don't get me started)

I never got a hold of "Angelic Layer", so I have no opinion on that one.

Comments

[primera.insanejournal.com]

I've also always been of the opinion that Tokyo Babylon and Clover are CLAMP's best work. The mood, the story, the art. *sigh* I miss that kind of CLAMP work. That 4-7 volume range is a good serialization length for them, I wish they would go back to that. At least Tsubasa is finally almost over. :| X TV was certainly nicely animated but something about it always felt off to me. They changed too much stuff around for my tastes. Surprising, since Madhouse did it and Madhouse is usually really faithful in their adaptions. I did really like the seiyuu they selected for Seishiro though.

[primera.insanejournal.com]

Also I hope everyday life gets less crappy for you! When I'm in a bad mood.. this video always makes me feel kind of better, or it gives me a headache, but sometimes it makes me feel better :D... So I'll just leave this here.

[primera.insanejournal.com]

B|.. if it doesn't appear here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHiiWQ1CBGQ

sorry for ze.. indian dance music spam ♥

[akk.insanejournal.com]

No time to watch. But thank you for the kind wishes. :)

[rose_erato.insanejournal.com]

I certainly hope things start getting better for you! Tokyo Babylon is also my number one favorite CLAMP manga. In my honest opinion I think it's CLAMP masterpiece. While I enjoyed some of their other work I just don't think it comes even close the greatness of TB. If only they would make a full length tv series of it then everything would be perfect.

[akk.insanejournal.com]

Thank you for your kind wishes.

I so agree with you. I'd love to see a full-fledged TB anime (that and a Combination one, though I'd probably need a bucket next to the couch to catch the drool). :)

[kijin_san.insanejournal.com]

I agree with high rating of Clover.
The story is good and Ran is an eye candy bonus.
It's a shame not many people know about Clover.

[akk.insanejournal.com]

Actually, I consider Gingetsu the eye candy, but I agree with the shame that it's not that known a work. I guess, it's because it clearly geared towards a grown audience. There's nothing fluff & easy to cater for the tender hearts out there.

[kijin_san.insanejournal.com]

Gingetsu, Ran - each to their own.
Lots of people asked if there is going to be anime after the clip, but when you think about it the story is too short even for 12 episodes. If it had its own anime, Clover would probably be quite known.
Tender hearts are going to grow someday and it is better if they learn watching/reading something beautiful even if the ideas are potentially heartbreaking.

[akk.insanejournal.com]

The story has so many subtle tones and side-tracks, it could well fill 12 episodes or more if done well. But given the minimalistic art in which it is drawn, it would be a risk to bring that style to the screen - and using a more common style would kill "the Clover"-feeling for me.
But I'd love to see a TB (& a Combination) anime drawn in the style of X anime series. :)

[kijin_san.insanejournal.com]

With TB I don't think it will happen because the characters would have to be redesigned to suit present trends. Even X's style of drawing is unfortunately considered obsolete by now. Well, there were 2 seconds of redesigned TB done for Clamp in Wonderland 2, but I cannot see it really. Which doesn't mean I wouldn't like to see it.

"But given the minimalistic art in which it is drawn, it would be a risk to bring that style to the screen - and using a more common style would kill "the Clover"-feeling for me." It would. Action orientated style would be out of question, as well as lots of comic relief and changing of details. It's all in pieces, frames - it gives you fun to put it all together. Hard to be done on screen.

[akk.insanejournal.com]

...redesigned to suit present trends. Even X's style of drawing is unfortunately considered obsolete by now.

It's sad that drawing styles are considered like fashion styles that can get "out of style", "obsolete", etc. For me, they are more like an art form chosen to fit the plot to be told.
Sadly, it's the same with cinema movies as well - once the XFs were up to par with their ideas, most directors just abandoned witty dialogue and tongue-in-cheek plot in favor of effects and daring camera angles. As if they don't have to care about the content of their stories any longer, as long as they can string breathtaking pictures together.

[kijin_san.insanejournal.com]

Yes, yes and yes :)

... that's why low budget films are sometimes such hits (and then you can bet that their sequels are going to suck)