Of Swords and Parasols

*looks completely innocent*

What SAMURAI 7 Samurai are You? Your Result: KYUZO Swift. Silent. Deadly. As a bodyguard and master swordsman, you have never been able to let go of what it truly means to be samurai, even though you work for a merchant pig like Ayamoro. So sure, you'll fight for Kanna - only because after that, you can kill Kambei. If you both survive...
NASAMI
KATAYAMA GOROBEI
HAYASHIDA HEIHACHI
KIKUCHIYO
SHIMADA KAMBEI
SHICHIROJI
OKAMOTO KATSUSHIRO
What SAMURAI 7 Samurai are You? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

That was one of the best animes I've seen this year.  I can't quite say it was THE best, as I've seen a few excellent ones this year, but a top contender.

Normal sized(and one oversized) men with swords chopping giant(but for once, cool) mecha into ityy bitty pieces is my kind of mecha.

 Observe:

Exhibit A:



Exhibit B:



As you can see, neither is overly thrilled with the idea.  (Though really, I feel Vash would be trading up...Kyuzo doesn't seem to think wiping out planets is a fun passtime...course, he's probably be just as into the idea of fighting Vash to the death as he would Kambei...)

It's like Vash forgot the hair gel.  And how to smile. 

ETA:  I just realized that, aside fromt he recent GitS movie, this is my first anime since I watched Gungrave, which was back in...what...June?  Maybe July?  That's a LONG break for me...

Random bits:

1. It is about guys with swords. Accompanied by good plot and characterization.
2. There is mecha. I'm not a big fan of mecha in general, but this mecha exists so that guys with swords can chop it into little bits. I find this to be good mecha.
3. Also on mecha, I usually think it's kinda ugly. This mecha is actually pretty cool looking.
4. It has awesome music.
5. And awesome fight scenes.
6. And it takes a classic samurai tale and dumps it into a scifi setting and makes it work. I find this the most pertinent part.

( and now the show in pictures ) 


( 2 MVs of the series ) 

If anyone can point me to some good screencaps. I shall be a very greateful meganbmoore.

 Watching Samurai Seven, I can't help but notice that this:



and this:



seem to look an awfully lot alike(not as much in these pics, but they were the best I could find.)

Mutual obsession with this:



is likely contributing to that, though.

And maybe I just have too much Otogi Zoshi on the brain.

 ETA;  Really, I'm pretty sure there's nothing to it, but as neither guy really interests me a lot at this point(Katsushiro's OK, it's just that, right now at least, all the other samurai are more interesting) throwing out weird thoughts makes me a bit more interested when they're around.  Plus, for whatever reason, it is making me think of Otogi Zoshi, even though being samurai anime is about all they have in common.  Well, that and being good.  Vastly different shows, though.

I'm 4 eps into the anime(which is actually as much as I watched before I started just waiting until all of an anime was available to properly watch it) and am in love with the opening and ending themes. Here's a vid that has both, and a couple other bits of music for the show.