Challenge for Fun II: Inappropriate Descriptions

[robkelk]

Saw this one on Usenet (no Google thread yet) and thought folks might want to play...
(Edit: There's finally a Google thread.)
David Damerell wrote:

---

Recently, in discussion here (uk.media.animation.anime - RK) and at Anime Night, it's been pointed out that yes, Yokohama Shopping Log technically is "post-apocalypse gun-toting lesbian bikers". So, the question is this - what's the best description you can come up with for any anime/manga which is completely accurate but wildly misleading?
I'll kick off with;
Bubblegum Crisis: "Secret Adventures of a Tokyo Lingerie Saleswoman"

---

I don't see any reason to confine the challenge to anime here, though. If we did, we couldn't use the classic inappropriate description of The Wizard of Oz: "A young girl leaves her farm and kills a woman, then sets out to kill again." (But I'll be collecting the inappropriate anime descriptions for the April Fool's edition of the Anime Primer... )
Other inappropriate descriptions in the thread, so far:
from David Damerell (again):
Death Note: A young man takes up writing in an effort to change people's lives and make the world a better place. His father is never convinced of the value of his work and finds it hard to believe his son can be a writer. He seeks to keep out of the public eye; one of his fans, herself writing similar works, becomes his girlfriend when she finds him; one of his closest followers identifies him but dies tragically shortly afterwards; but most people never learn his name.

from Adam Jones:
Shadow Star/Narutaru: Young children fight using cute pet monsters.
Grave of the Fireflies: Two orphans learn valuable life lessons.
Red Garden: Super-powered schoolgirls fight zombies.
Utena: Sword-wielding high-school students plot a global revolution.

from Robert Sneddon:
Hikaru no Go: An unquiet ghost forces a young boy into a lifelong duel to the death against an implacable foe, a contest he fears he can never win.
Gunslinger Girl: A touching story of young girls brought together in a caring community to help them forget their troubled pasts and learn new skills.
Aria: in an increasingly bitter war for domination of a city's transport infrastructure, the gloves come off.
-Rob Kelk
"Actually, my goal is to write neat stories. The money just makes it possible for me to write them faster and then buy neat toys."
Ryk E. Spoor, 7 November 2007
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Jinx999]

Twelve Kingdoms. A young woman flees her school, abandoning her overly controlling parents and ends up joining a group plotting violent revolution.
Angelic Layer. A girl takes part in a strange fighting competition, run by a mysterious and creepy old man in search of her mother who disappeared years ago.
Black Lagoon. A typical Japanese everyman character leaves his home and, in the tropical seas, gets a romantic new life with a Tsundere Chinese girl, a cool Russian Onechan type, a meido and a Loli (with with twin brother).

[Bluemage]

Evangelion: Young boy protects earth by overcoming giant, alien beings, while his father has multiple affairs.
(That one practically writes itself- the opening theme is almost an example!)
Code Geass: High school student, believed by the authorities to hold a certain job, tries it for real. He likes it- people start listening to him.
Cowboy Bebop: Four deadbeats travel, searching for their big break.
Full Metal Panic: Important scientist gets new bodyguard- argues with him constantly.

---

My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.

I've been writing a bit.

[Epsilon]

Harry Potter series: Overly serious older wizard finds his ambitions continuously foiled by prank playing children.
Ghost In The Shell: Computer specialists discuss IT problems and solutions.
Final Fantasy VII: Local law enforcement tries to stop ecoterrorist group responsible for hundreds of deaths.
-------------------
Epsilon

[CattyNebulart]

I love the gunslinger girl one.
Rocket Girls : A young girl goes of to search for her father and finds more than she expected, including her half-sister.
Night-Wizard: A modern day adaptation of Daddy-Long-Legs.
Noir: A story about a lesbian love triangle.
E: "Did they... did they just endorse the combination of the JSDF and US Army by showing them as two lesbian lolicons moving in together and holding hands and talking about how 'intimate' they were?"
B: "Have you forgotten so soon? They're phasing out Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

[Bob Schroeck]

Ranma 1/2 (Manga): Boy meets girl under strained circumstances, but their relationship develops and evolves; ends with a wedding.

-- Bob
---------
I intend to be a freak for the rest of my life, and I shall baffle you with cabbages and rhinoceroses in the kitchen and incessant quotations from Now We Are Six through the mouthpiece of Lord Snooty's giant poisoned electric head. So theeeeeere....

[WengFook]

Star Wars: A farm boy meets an old man in a desert. Together they set out on a journey to the stars.
Star Wars: Attack of the clones: A forbidden romance. A mysterious mastermind criminal with fingers in every pie and a group of assorted negotiators who race against time to figure out the truth before it is too late.
House M.D.: A man in special circumstances finds himself helping people to live better lives.

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha: A story about a young girl who meets a ferret and discovers power and responsibilities along the way.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's: A touching story about a paraplegic girl who meets four special people and the hard lifestyles and choices they need to make.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS: Two young girls and their friends face trials and hardship as they grow up and step into a bigger world.

If anyone has better ideas, please go ahead, I'm sure there are better descriptors out there _______________________________
"Walls are meant to be broken." - Makes sense figuratively and literally.
"Asuka is angry with me, All's Right with the world." -Shinji Ikari, Once More With Feeling.
_________________________________
Take Your Candle, Go Light Your World.

[Kokuten]

Cowboy Bebop: This fun-filled foodie revolves around Spike and Jet's search for a quality meal.
Trigun: In this Post-Diaspora universe, follow young, feckless Vash as he searches for his origin - and a decent doughnut shop!
Pokemon: The SPCA has given this show an F Minus rating for it's treatment of animals.
CSI:Vegas: Episode 207 - wherein Brass is troubled by the flagrant procedural violations by his department's CSI division.
Undocumented Features: Core: Critics are undecided whether psychotropic chemicals or massive alcohol abuse energized this plot-free space opera blow-em-up.Wire Geek - Burning the weak and trampling the dead since 1979Wire Geek - Burning the weak and trampling the dead since 1979

[ECSNorway]

Star Trek V. Man finds God. Is not impressed.
Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest Dashing Captain Norrington pursues pirate, beautiful girl, treasure.--
"I give you the beautiful... the talented... the tirelessly atomic-powered...
R!
DOROTHY!
WAYNERIGHT!
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.

[Morganite]

---

Angelic Layer. A girl takes part in a strange fighting competition, run by a mysterious and creepy old man in search of her mother who disappeared years ago.

---

Shouldn't the comma be after "man" instead of where it is? Otherwise it doesn't sound right.
The Nanoha ones give an impression a bit too close to what actually happens I think. '.'
Excel Saga: A young woman has many adventures while trying to help the man she loves.
-Morgan."Mikuru-chan molested me! I'm... so happy!"
-Haruhi, "The Ecchi of Haruhi Suzumiya"
---(Not really)

[robkelk]

More from the Usenet thread:
from David Damerell:
Aria: Three girls form a friendship in spite of their allegiance to rival Italian-style organisations.

from Justin Palmer:
Akira: Some angry young people get into a spot of bother with the authorities.
Ideon: Cosmic refugees quest for asylum seeker status.
-Rob Kelk
"Actually, my goal is to write neat stories. The money just makes it possible for me to write them faster and then buy neat toys."
Ryk E. Spoor, 7 November 2007
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Jinx999]

Quote:Angelic Layer. A girl takes part in a strange fighting competition, run by a mysterious and creepy old man in search of her mother who disappeared years ago.

Shouldn't the comma be after "man" instead of where it is? Otherwise it doesn't sound right.
You're right. The internet has ate my grammar.

[Morganite]

Kashimashi: An unexpected kiss changes the life of a quiet boy forever.
-Morgan.
"Evidence without context can be put into context later."

[ECSNorway]

Doctor Who: Young women are lured into small shack by strange man, not seen again for years (if ever).--
"I give you the beautiful... the talented... the tirelessly atomic-powered...
R!
DOROTHY!
WAYNERIGHT!
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.

[gamlain]

Nanoha Et all...hum.

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha: A young girl's wisdom helps her make friends while trying to find valuable antiques.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's: Nanoha and friends try to track down an important book for a disabled friend at school.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers: Now a teacher, Nanoha tries to juggle work, a child and her relationship, while helping troubled students in a new city plagued by gangs.

[Morganite]

I'm not sure the one for A's works. After all, Hayate already *had* the book...
Gave me an idea though.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's: Four friends work together to complete an unfinished book for a girl they like.
Oh, and some different ones!
GrimGrimoire: A young girl goes to a school for magicians, where she attacks teachers, steals rare magical items, and practices deception on friend and foe alike.
Ar tonelico: A mysterious woman with a troubled past struggles to escape imprisonment.
-Morgan.
"Evidence without context can be put into context later."

[robkelk]

Another one from Usenet - David Damerell again:
Super Mario Bros (game): A plumber with a dodgy moustache turns up - supposedly to help a pretty girl, but he never does any actual plumbing.
Edit: Make that two more - here's another from Justin Palmer:
CardCaptor Sakura: a young schoolgirl is stalked by another girl at her school in a tale of possession.
-Rob Kelk
"Actually, my goal is to write neat stories. The money just makes it possible for me to write them faster and then buy neat toys."
Ryk E. Spoor, 7 November 2007
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[robkelk]

Recapping what's gone before, but only the anime-related suggestions...
THE MISLEADING PRIMER
or, "WHAT ANIME SHOULD I MIS-DESCRIBE NOW?

The idea behind this list, as described by David Damerell, is to accurately but misleadingly describe an anime. The entry has to describe most or all of the series in question; no fair taking an isolated incident out of context.

Descriptions:
Akira: Some angry young people get into a spot of bother with the authorities.
Angelic Layer: While looking for her mother who disappeared years ago, a girl takes part in a strange fighting competition run by a mysterious and creepy old man.
Aria: Three girls form a friendship in spite of their allegiance to rival Italian-style organisations.

Black Lagoon: A typical Japanese everyman character leaves his home and, in the tropical seas, gets a romantic new life with a Tsundere Chinese girl, a cool Russian Onechan type, a meido and a Loli (with twin brother).
Bubblegum Crisis: Secret Adventures of a Tokyo Lingerie Saleswoman

CardCaptor Sakura: A young schoolgirl is stalked by another girl at her school in a tale of possession.
Code Geass: High school student, believed by the authorities to hold a certain job, tries it for real. He likes it - people start listening to him.
Cowboy Bebop: Four deadbeats travel, searching for their big break.

Death Note: A young man takes up writing in an effort to change people's lives and make the world a better place. His father is never convinced of the value of his work and finds it hard to believe his son can be a writer.

Excel Saga: A young woman has many adventures while trying to help the man she loves.

Full Metal Panic: Important scientist gets new bodyguard; argues with him constantly.

Ghost In The Shell: Computer specialists discuss IT problems and solutions.
Grave of the Fireflies: Two orphans learn valuable life lessons.
GrimGrimoire: A young girl goes to a school for magicians, where she attacks teachers, steals rare magical items, and practices deception on friend and foe alike.
Gunslinger Girl: A touching story of young girls brought together in a caring community to help them forget their troubled pasts and learn new skills.

Hikaru no Go: An unquiet ghost forces a young boy into a lifelong duel to the death against an implacable foe, a contest he fears he can never win.

Ideon: Cosmic refugees quest for asylum seeker status.

Kashimashi: An unexpected kiss changes the life of a quiet boy forever.

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha: A young girl's wisdom helps her make friends while trying to find valuable antiques.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's: Four friends work together to complete an unfinished book for a girl they like.
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers: Now a teacher, Nanoha tries to juggle work, a child and her relationship, while helping troubled students in a new city plagued by gangs.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Young boy protects earth by overcoming giant alien beings, while his father has multiple affairs.
Night-Wizard: A modern day adaptation of Daddy-Long-Legs.
Noir: A story about a lesbian love triangle.

Ranma 1/2 (manga): Boy meets girl under strained circumstances, but their relationship develops and evolves; ends with a wedding.
Red Garden: Super-powered schoolgirls fight zombies.
Rocket Girls: A young girl goes of to search for her father and finds more than she expected, including her half-sister.

Shadow Star/Narutaru: Young children fight using cute pet monsters.

Trigun: In this Post-Diaspora universe, young, feckless Vash searches for his origin - and a decent doughnut shop!
Twelve Kingdoms: A young woman flees her school, abandoning her overly controlling parents and ends up joining a group plotting violent revolution.

Utena: Sword-wielding high-school students plot a global revolution.

Yokohama Shopping Log: Post-apocalypse gun-toting lesbian bikers

Contributors:
David Damerell
Adam Jones
Justin Palmer
Aaron "Epsilon" Peori
Bob Schroeck
Robert Sneddon
Bluemage
CattyNebulart
gamlain
Jinx999
Kokuten
Morganni
-Rob Kelk
"Actually, my goal is to write neat stories. The money just makes it possible for me to write them faster and then buy neat toys."
Ryk E. Spoor, 7 November 2007
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[gamlain]

One that leapt to mind while rereading -
Outlaw Star: A young ship captain sets out to find a mythical current. Plagued by a inconsistent, unreliable crew, can he discover a route that lies on no maps and the theoretical riches that lie beyond?

[Morganite]

If you're doing just anime, then you probably shouldn't include GrimGrimoire, because that's also a game...
Of course, I wouldn't complain if you just included games as well, because I'm most proud of the Ar tonelico one. '.'
-Morgan."Mikuru-chan molested me! I'm... so happy!"
-Haruhi, "The Ecchi of Haruhi Suzumiya"
---(Not really)

[WengFook]

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Young boy protects earth by overcoming giant alien beings, while his father has multiple affairs.

Shouldn't that be: Young boy deals with angst, religious and abandonment issues while facing the attentions of two girls in his high school, while his father has multiple affairs.
Also, one new suggestion
Fate Stay Night: Adventures of a servant named Saber and her master Shiro who has a Hero complex._______________________________
"Walls are meant to be broken." - Makes sense figuratively and literally.
"Asuka is angry with me, All's Right with the world." -Shinji Ikari, Once More With Feeling.
_________________________________
Take Your Candle, Go Light Your World.

[kestrel404]

Full Metal Alchemist: The heartwarming tale of two brothers on a quest to reunite themselves with their lost parents.
Dragonball Z: A deceased father watches over his son as he grows into a man, learns important lessons about new friends, and protects his family from the deadly and powerful Mr. Satan.
Inu Yasha: A modern day girl and her pet dog are stuck in feudal japan and must find a way to live without modern convenience during a barbaric age.
And here's a couple that aren't anime:
Star Trek: The journeys of the forward scout vessel of a powerful space-empire, captained by one of the most reckless womanizers in space. They continually leave death and chaos in their wake as they make their way accross the galaxy.
The Pretender: A mentally unstable orphan named Jarod, brought up by a caring organization called The Centre, escapes into the world and immediately begins committing fraud and identity theft. Only the daring exploits of three people can stop him: his psychologist, a weak-willed nerd and a powerful busnesswoman with a dark secret in her past.
"Not this again!" Minerva said. "Albus, it was You-Know-Who, not you, who marked Harry as his equal. There is no possible way that the prophecy could be talking about you!" - Harry Potter and the Method of Rationality, Chapter 84

[Valles]

Fate: Stay/Night: King Arthur heads an all-star cast in this harem fantasy piece with a plot straight out of porn.

===============================================
"Nyan-nyan nyan-nyan nihaou nyan!"
===========

===============================================
"V, did you do something foolish?"
"Yes, and it was glorious."

[Bob Schroeck]

Tenchi Muyo: Teenaged boy faces an alien invasion alone.

-- Bob
---------
I intend to be a freak for the rest of my life, and I shall baffle you with cabbages and rhinoceroses in the kitchen and incessant quotations from Now We Are Six through the mouthpiece of Lord Snooty's giant poisoned electric head. So theeeeeere....

[ECSNorway]

Neon Genesis Evangelion - Three scientist/mothers try to protect their children from the horror of giant monster attacks.--
"I give you the beautiful... the talented... the tirelessly atomic-powered...
R!
DOROTHY!
WAYNERIGHT!
--
Sucrose Octanitrate.
Proof positive that with sufficient motivation, you can make anything explode.