I can see the station. The train is just a mile away from stopping, but we still have two passengers to talk about before we say goodbye to this marathon of reviews. Today’s review is a flawed but interesting OVA: one that contains some great concepts/ideas, but one that equally has some flaws to it as well. Let’s sit right down with the Romeo & Juliet-like Windaria, and see what it’s all about.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“Two pairs of young lovers become embroiled in a war between two rival kingdoms, the primitive but resplendent Isa and the militaristic but undisciplined Paro. Izu and his young wife, Marin , are simple farmers who live in the unassuming village of Saki, which lies directly between Isa and Paro. While Saki does not have the beauty of Isa nor the war machines of Paro, they do possess a magnificent tree known as Windaria, to which the villagers give their prayers in return for good memories. When the war erupts, Izu decides to join Paro's army, enthralled by the fantastic motorbike given to him as a bribe. Before he departs, they each take a vow: He will definitely return to her, and until he does, she will wait for him. The other two lovers are Jill, the prince of Paro, and Ahanas, Princess of Isa. They initially want nothing to do with the rapidly escalating conflict, but after Jill's father, Paro's king, dies by his son's hand in an altercation over the war, Jill has little choice but to realize his father's final wish: the taking of Isa. The only problem is that he had promised his beloved, Ahanas, that he would not become involved. Windaria is a war parable set in a fantasy land of unicorns and ghost ships.”
If Shakespear was Japanese, and wrote a story for an anime, this would probably be it. In fact, there are a lot of parallels between this and Romeo & Juliet: the tragic lovers, the anger & violence between the families (In this case, countries), the drama, etc. It does get a little weak towards the end, and certain things aren’t resolved, but for the most part I liked the story.
Setting
Windaria has quite the unique setting, as each of the two lands feel quite different from one another. Paro is setup right in the mountains, and is very rugged yet structured. Itha, on the other hand, is right on the coast, and has an air of wisdom & clarity surrounding it. We cannot forget the farming village of Saki, a territory that is right in the middle of Paro & Itha, and one that shares no desire to be in the war for either side. The village looks & feels very simplistic, yet there’s an aura of magic around it, much like the one from Taro the Dragon Boy.
Characters
Sadly, the characters aren’t all that impressive in Windaria, but they aren’t necessarily weak either. All of the characters in the movie can be related to a character from Romeo & Juliet in some way. This isn’t necessarily bad, as I have a lot of respect for Romeo & Juliet. Sadly, none of them seem to step out of the boundaries they were put in, and actually play it very safe. If you like Shakespear, you won’t find this to be so much of a problem, but if you don’t like him, you’ll have a problem with this.
Animation
Despite being released back in 1986, Windaria’s animation has managed to hold up remarkably well. There’s a smoothness to everything, and it creates some rather fluid movement. The action scene play out splendidly, and you never really get confused as to what’s going on. The characters all look great, with each of them having an individual look that separates them from one another. The various locales and backgrounds also look nice, and that’s really all I got left to say about it.
Voice Acting
I’m going to assume that this does have an English dub, because this was released in the United States (On VHS & DVD). The version that I downloaded has subtitles, but I’m going to assume that it has a dub, at least on the DVD edition. If that is the case, then I might update this at a later date.
Episodes & Episode Length
Windaria is a long movie, clocking in at about 100 minutes. I suggest that you watch this in the afternoon or evening, as while it’s not suitable for young kids, it’s definitely okay for teenagers & older people (There’s plenty of bloodshed, and a hint of sexy).
Availability & Pricing
Windaria is another one of those titles that was released in the states, but has since become obscure, and a rare find. I was able to locate a couple copies of the original VHS release, as well as the 2004 DVD release from ADV Films, over on Amazon. The VHS release, despite being few in quantity, go from about 4 to 5 & ½ dollars new, and 1 to $2.25 dollars used. The DVD copy is a little easier to find, but more expensive: the new copies (There are two at the time of this typing) start at 50 dollars, while the used copies start at almost 2 dollars. While I would say buy this, I would not rule out downloading it, since it’s so hard to find.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
Windaria plays out like a Shakespearean epic. Boy & girl are in love, strife comes between them, and love keeps them together in death. Coupled with some great action & animation, and you have a fantastic movie. Tragically, some of it’s shortcomings weigh it down, but if you’re a little merciful towards them, they shouldn’t massively annoy you.
Windaria gets a 7 out of 10.
See you this Friday, when the train is pulling into the station, and we’re looking at our last review. Until then, stay Otaku!
***
If you’d like to watch the movie, click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XVY5tm_qqI
Monday, September 30, 2013
Friday, September 27, 2013
Wicked City Review
Today marks number 3. We’ve got only two reviews left in this marathon, and this train of reviews is finally pulling into the station. The review I have for today is a bit of a schlock title, but one that has a bit of a cult following, even to this day. It’s cheesy, it’s stupid, but there’s a bit of a dark charm to it. With that said, let’s look at the underground title known as Wicked City, and see if it’s as bad as everyone says it is.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“There is Earth, our familiar world, and then there is the Black World, a parallel dimension that very few people are aware of. For centuries, a pact between the two worlds has been observed to maintain peace, and terms must be negotiated and renewed soon to continue relative harmony.
This time around, there is a militant faction that will stop at nothing to prevent the signing of a new treaty for inter-dimensional peace. Two agents of the elite organization known as the Black Guards — defenders of the balance between the two worlds — are charged with insuring the success of the treaty.”
The story of Wicked City is something of a double-sided coin. On the one hand, the story his rather original. Granted it has some cliches, but the concept behind it has some promise, and is actually kinda entertaining. Unfortunately, there are also a couple weak points within the story, especially the ending, which is kind of a cop out (I won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say that it isn’t as satisfying as you’d expect).
Setting
Once again, this is another anime film that takes place in a nameless Japanese City (I’m just gonna assume it’s Tokyo. I’m pulling straws people!). On top of that, considering that this movie talks about the demonic world, you’re only given fleeting images, mainly in the form of the demonic inhabitants that come over to the human world. Having said that, this is one of the seediest places I’ve ever seen: It just oozes sleaze, as there seems to be a lot of bars, strip clubs, and other dens of sin just about everywhere. The city also manages to invoke the images & feeling of neo-noir quite well, but at times it uses it’s noir powers (Yes, I said noir powers) a little too much, and comes off as the bad side of cheesy.
Characters
The characters in Wicked City are....lackluster, to put it politely.
It’s very clear that the characters in this game are good or evil. There’s nobody that’s on the fence, nor is there any character that seems to have a moral dilemma that can more the story either a lot, or a little (Even when someone has something akin to a moral dilemma, it doesn’t feel like something that can contribute to the story). If there’s any one thing that does make the characters at least watchable, it’s that they ooze so much cheeze because of how monotone & basic they are.
Animation
Right off the bat, you can tell that Wicked City is a title from Yoshiaki Kawajiri, creator of equally famous titles like Ninja Scroll & Demon City Shinjuku. You can tell that this is one of his titles by how dark everything looks & feels, not to mention his usage of bleaker coloring to create his world of noir & horror. I have a problem with this: I consider this to be Mr. Kawajiri’s calling card. His series always have a darker visage to them, and they drip atmosphere. I don’t have a problem with this, as a director/editor should put his own spin on things. In Wicked City though, I think he tries too hard. The whole thing looks too dark, there’s even more of a lack of color than other titles, and all of the characters & monsters seem to be a little stiff in their movement. There’s action to be had, but it seems so much slower in Wicked City than in most of the rest of his work.
Voice Acting
Boring! The voice acting in Wicked City is flat out boring!
Not much effort is put into the character’s voices. Every voice actor seems to be putting in the absolute minimum into their assigned roles, and when the tone of a character’s voice does change, it’s only because (This is just my guess) the script tells them to change it. Even just a little bit of effort would lower my anger in this department, but they didn’t, and thus I’m a little peeved!
Episodes & Episode Length
82 minutes is how long Wicked City runs. If the previous two shows I’ve reviewed were good afternoon killers, then this one is something to kill part of a night with, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
Availability & Pricing
Wicked City is one of those titles that because of it’s status as a cult classic, you expect it to have been re-released in recent years, but you’re wrong. This movie is difficult to find, but not impossible to find. There are a couple of the DVD releases on Amazon, and a couple more of the original VHS release. New copies of the DVD start at 27 dollars & used copies start at close to 11 dollars, while new VHS copies begin at 13 dollars, and used copies begin at the incredibly cheap 16 cents. If you’re feeling adventurous, then go for the VHS edition. If you want to play it more safely, then buy a DVD copy.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
If you’ve never watched Wicked City before, or if you’ve never heard of it before, then here are three points to look at. For starters, this is one of the bloodiest titles I’ve come across. People die rather horribly, often in brutal & visceral ways (One guy gets stabbed in the head through the eye with a cross, then gets evaporated with a lightning bolt). If you don’t like blood, walk away.
On top of the violence, Wicked City is also filled to the brim with sex. The women in the show look sleek, sexy, and.......actually aren’t treated with that much respect. Hell, just about all of the women in this movie are evil in some well. On top of that, many of them feel like objects in some way (Even the main heroine is treated like dirt sometimes). If you don’t like sexism, walk away!
This last point is more of a funny observation than anything else. Despite all of the sexual content in Wicked City, it’s technically not classified as a Hentai. You’ve got fellatio, penetration, tentacles (Which ties in with the fellatio & penetration), and other stuff, but it’s not considered a pornographic film. Weird, isn’t it?
General Impression & Rating
Much like Venus Wars from this past Wednesday, Wicked City had a lot of potential in my opinion. However, with Venus Wars I felt that it tapped into a little of it’s potential, while this movie just revels in the gore, sex, and sexism that seems to pervade most of the scenes. I like blood, carnage, and sexy things as much as the next guy (And some women), but when sexism comes into play, I’m immediately turned off. I might act like a typical guy sometimes, but when I come across something (Or someone) that acts like women are inferior. Yet.....I can see why some would consider this to be a cult classic, so I won’t crap on the fans of this movie for liking it.
Wicked City gets a 4 to 5 out of 10.
See you all next Monday, when we’ll be checking out the final two. Until then, stay Otaku!
***
There was also a UK dub of the movie. Click the link below if you want to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0gB5-VmnKo
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“There is Earth, our familiar world, and then there is the Black World, a parallel dimension that very few people are aware of. For centuries, a pact between the two worlds has been observed to maintain peace, and terms must be negotiated and renewed soon to continue relative harmony.
This time around, there is a militant faction that will stop at nothing to prevent the signing of a new treaty for inter-dimensional peace. Two agents of the elite organization known as the Black Guards — defenders of the balance between the two worlds — are charged with insuring the success of the treaty.”
The story of Wicked City is something of a double-sided coin. On the one hand, the story his rather original. Granted it has some cliches, but the concept behind it has some promise, and is actually kinda entertaining. Unfortunately, there are also a couple weak points within the story, especially the ending, which is kind of a cop out (I won’t spoil it for you, but let’s just say that it isn’t as satisfying as you’d expect).
Setting
Once again, this is another anime film that takes place in a nameless Japanese City (I’m just gonna assume it’s Tokyo. I’m pulling straws people!). On top of that, considering that this movie talks about the demonic world, you’re only given fleeting images, mainly in the form of the demonic inhabitants that come over to the human world. Having said that, this is one of the seediest places I’ve ever seen: It just oozes sleaze, as there seems to be a lot of bars, strip clubs, and other dens of sin just about everywhere. The city also manages to invoke the images & feeling of neo-noir quite well, but at times it uses it’s noir powers (Yes, I said noir powers) a little too much, and comes off as the bad side of cheesy.
Characters
The characters in Wicked City are....lackluster, to put it politely.
It’s very clear that the characters in this game are good or evil. There’s nobody that’s on the fence, nor is there any character that seems to have a moral dilemma that can more the story either a lot, or a little (Even when someone has something akin to a moral dilemma, it doesn’t feel like something that can contribute to the story). If there’s any one thing that does make the characters at least watchable, it’s that they ooze so much cheeze because of how monotone & basic they are.
Animation
Right off the bat, you can tell that Wicked City is a title from Yoshiaki Kawajiri, creator of equally famous titles like Ninja Scroll & Demon City Shinjuku. You can tell that this is one of his titles by how dark everything looks & feels, not to mention his usage of bleaker coloring to create his world of noir & horror. I have a problem with this: I consider this to be Mr. Kawajiri’s calling card. His series always have a darker visage to them, and they drip atmosphere. I don’t have a problem with this, as a director/editor should put his own spin on things. In Wicked City though, I think he tries too hard. The whole thing looks too dark, there’s even more of a lack of color than other titles, and all of the characters & monsters seem to be a little stiff in their movement. There’s action to be had, but it seems so much slower in Wicked City than in most of the rest of his work.
Voice Acting
Boring! The voice acting in Wicked City is flat out boring!
Not much effort is put into the character’s voices. Every voice actor seems to be putting in the absolute minimum into their assigned roles, and when the tone of a character’s voice does change, it’s only because (This is just my guess) the script tells them to change it. Even just a little bit of effort would lower my anger in this department, but they didn’t, and thus I’m a little peeved!
Episodes & Episode Length
82 minutes is how long Wicked City runs. If the previous two shows I’ve reviewed were good afternoon killers, then this one is something to kill part of a night with, but I’ll get to that in a minute.
Availability & Pricing
Wicked City is one of those titles that because of it’s status as a cult classic, you expect it to have been re-released in recent years, but you’re wrong. This movie is difficult to find, but not impossible to find. There are a couple of the DVD releases on Amazon, and a couple more of the original VHS release. New copies of the DVD start at 27 dollars & used copies start at close to 11 dollars, while new VHS copies begin at 13 dollars, and used copies begin at the incredibly cheap 16 cents. If you’re feeling adventurous, then go for the VHS edition. If you want to play it more safely, then buy a DVD copy.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
If you’ve never watched Wicked City before, or if you’ve never heard of it before, then here are three points to look at. For starters, this is one of the bloodiest titles I’ve come across. People die rather horribly, often in brutal & visceral ways (One guy gets stabbed in the head through the eye with a cross, then gets evaporated with a lightning bolt). If you don’t like blood, walk away.
On top of the violence, Wicked City is also filled to the brim with sex. The women in the show look sleek, sexy, and.......actually aren’t treated with that much respect. Hell, just about all of the women in this movie are evil in some well. On top of that, many of them feel like objects in some way (Even the main heroine is treated like dirt sometimes). If you don’t like sexism, walk away!
This last point is more of a funny observation than anything else. Despite all of the sexual content in Wicked City, it’s technically not classified as a Hentai. You’ve got fellatio, penetration, tentacles (Which ties in with the fellatio & penetration), and other stuff, but it’s not considered a pornographic film. Weird, isn’t it?
General Impression & Rating
Much like Venus Wars from this past Wednesday, Wicked City had a lot of potential in my opinion. However, with Venus Wars I felt that it tapped into a little of it’s potential, while this movie just revels in the gore, sex, and sexism that seems to pervade most of the scenes. I like blood, carnage, and sexy things as much as the next guy (And some women), but when sexism comes into play, I’m immediately turned off. I might act like a typical guy sometimes, but when I come across something (Or someone) that acts like women are inferior. Yet.....I can see why some would consider this to be a cult classic, so I won’t crap on the fans of this movie for liking it.
Wicked City gets a 4 to 5 out of 10.
See you all next Monday, when we’ll be checking out the final two. Until then, stay Otaku!
***
There was also a UK dub of the movie. Click the link below if you want to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0gB5-VmnKo
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Venus Wars Review
Number 5 was this past Monday, and number 4 is today. The old gears are starting to movie around again, and the new gears are slowing down. Pretty soon things are going to shift back into their original position, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t have a little more fun before hand. So without further delay, here’s a look at another sci-fi cult classic, Venus Wars.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“In the 21st century, mankind lives on two worlds. Following the collision of an ice asteroid, massive terraforming has made Venus a planet now capable of supporting life. Colonists from Earth tamed the hostile world and have thrived for four generations. But they also brought the darker side of humanity. Venus is about to become hostile again.
Hiro Seno, a hotshot motorcycle jockey, witnesses the first strike against his country Aphrodia, by the rival nation of Ishtar. Huge battle tanks and war planes quickly lay waste to the city. The Aphrodian army is quick to mobilize and retaliate... and despite his opposition to warfare, Hiro finds himself fighting for his life on the front lines.”
While a fun story, Venus Wars feels very much like a standard sci-fi story. You’ve got many of the standard science fiction trappings (Positive & negative), you have the predictability of the story (You kinda know what’s gonna happen to people, and you kinda know what’s gonna happen by the end), and all in all is actually kinda weak. In hindsight, this setup is still fun, but don’t expect anything deep or philosophical.
Setting
I’ll say one thing about the story of this movie, and it’s that they weren’t wrong about the changes to the planet Venus. Unlike a bunch of science fiction anime, the way they depict Venus is a combination of Utopian & Dystopian aspects. The terraforming done to the planet has created a brand new world to live on, and on the surface, it does look like a nice place to live. Once the invading armies come in, the anger & fury that was bubbling underneath it all comes to the surface, and the once glorious city becomes ruined by acts of war. The duality of it all works, and creates a unique environment.
Characters
Sadly, the characters of Venus Wars aren’t really interesting. They’re really there just to move the story along, and not much else. The only character that has something to her is Susan, and it’s only because of how bubbly she is. It’s a shame, cause all of the character seem interesting. At least on the surface, that is.
Animation
Thanks to the remastering, Venus Wars looks fantastic! You can still tell that this movie was a product of it’s time (This came out in 1989), but because of the improvements to the visuals (And to a lesser extent, the voice acting), things look a little more modern. Don’t get me wrong, Venus Wars is a child of the late 80s, but because of the remastering, things look smoother, and the various characters & vehicles have more fluidity to them than before.
Voice Acting
Although the version I downloaded only has subs, this was released with an English dub. At a later time, I’ll update this section if I ever watch the movie in English.
Episodes & Episode Length
Once again, Venus Wars sits among the numerous OVAs of my marathon that are afternoon killers. Running at an hour and four minutes, this movie is fast-paced, but not so fast-paced that you loose track of things.
Availability & Pricing
Venus Wars is a partially tricky title to locate. I say partially, because this was re-released back in 2012. Unfortunately, I never saw it in stores, and Amazon only has 6 new copies available at this time (Prices start at about 18 dollars). Your best bet would be to go for the older versions, as while there isn’t as many of them in terms of being new, there are plenty of used copies. As I’m typing this, the beginning price of the used copies is a little over 5 dollars, which is much more easier on the wallet than 18 dollars.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
Venus Wars isn’t a bad movie , but it’s not what I’d call a great movie. If anything, I’d call it an above-average movie with a lot of potential. I’m not kidding with that last part: there really was a lot that could have been done with this move, but ultimately fails. While I liked the movie, I don’t think I’ll be watching it over & over.
Venus Wars gets a 6.5 out of 10.
See you all this Friday, when we be enjoying some blood & sex! Until then, stay Otaku!
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“In the 21st century, mankind lives on two worlds. Following the collision of an ice asteroid, massive terraforming has made Venus a planet now capable of supporting life. Colonists from Earth tamed the hostile world and have thrived for four generations. But they also brought the darker side of humanity. Venus is about to become hostile again.
Hiro Seno, a hotshot motorcycle jockey, witnesses the first strike against his country Aphrodia, by the rival nation of Ishtar. Huge battle tanks and war planes quickly lay waste to the city. The Aphrodian army is quick to mobilize and retaliate... and despite his opposition to warfare, Hiro finds himself fighting for his life on the front lines.”
While a fun story, Venus Wars feels very much like a standard sci-fi story. You’ve got many of the standard science fiction trappings (Positive & negative), you have the predictability of the story (You kinda know what’s gonna happen to people, and you kinda know what’s gonna happen by the end), and all in all is actually kinda weak. In hindsight, this setup is still fun, but don’t expect anything deep or philosophical.
Setting
I’ll say one thing about the story of this movie, and it’s that they weren’t wrong about the changes to the planet Venus. Unlike a bunch of science fiction anime, the way they depict Venus is a combination of Utopian & Dystopian aspects. The terraforming done to the planet has created a brand new world to live on, and on the surface, it does look like a nice place to live. Once the invading armies come in, the anger & fury that was bubbling underneath it all comes to the surface, and the once glorious city becomes ruined by acts of war. The duality of it all works, and creates a unique environment.
Characters
Sadly, the characters of Venus Wars aren’t really interesting. They’re really there just to move the story along, and not much else. The only character that has something to her is Susan, and it’s only because of how bubbly she is. It’s a shame, cause all of the character seem interesting. At least on the surface, that is.
Animation
Thanks to the remastering, Venus Wars looks fantastic! You can still tell that this movie was a product of it’s time (This came out in 1989), but because of the improvements to the visuals (And to a lesser extent, the voice acting), things look a little more modern. Don’t get me wrong, Venus Wars is a child of the late 80s, but because of the remastering, things look smoother, and the various characters & vehicles have more fluidity to them than before.
Voice Acting
Although the version I downloaded only has subs, this was released with an English dub. At a later time, I’ll update this section if I ever watch the movie in English.
Episodes & Episode Length
Once again, Venus Wars sits among the numerous OVAs of my marathon that are afternoon killers. Running at an hour and four minutes, this movie is fast-paced, but not so fast-paced that you loose track of things.
Availability & Pricing
Venus Wars is a partially tricky title to locate. I say partially, because this was re-released back in 2012. Unfortunately, I never saw it in stores, and Amazon only has 6 new copies available at this time (Prices start at about 18 dollars). Your best bet would be to go for the older versions, as while there isn’t as many of them in terms of being new, there are plenty of used copies. As I’m typing this, the beginning price of the used copies is a little over 5 dollars, which is much more easier on the wallet than 18 dollars.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
Venus Wars isn’t a bad movie , but it’s not what I’d call a great movie. If anything, I’d call it an above-average movie with a lot of potential. I’m not kidding with that last part: there really was a lot that could have been done with this move, but ultimately fails. While I liked the movie, I don’t think I’ll be watching it over & over.
Venus Wars gets a 6.5 out of 10.
See you all this Friday, when we be enjoying some blood & sex! Until then, stay Otaku!
Monday, September 23, 2013
Urban Square (Kouhaku no Tsuigeki) Review
Well guys, this is it! The final 5 reviews of this massive marathon. This last stretch will go by relatively fast: I’ll get the first 3 reviews up this week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), and this last 2 will go up next week (Monday for the first review, and either Friday or Saturday for the second review). I’ve had a lot of fun doing this marathon, but now’s about time the go back to my (somewhat) normal routine around here. With that said, let’s look at the number 5 review, an obscure OVA simply known.......as Urban Square.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“Screenwriter Ryu Matsumoto witnesses a murder in Kobe. But his testimonial is ignored by the police because the victim's body has vanished without a trace. Eager to prove that he is not crazy and worried that he may have attracted the attention of the murderers, Ryu hires the private detective Mochizuki to protect him and to continue the investigation.”
Normally I’d talk about the story, but a reviewer on the anidb webpage (Singan) has a much better description. A description that is something better than anything I would have put down:
“Essentially, it's a classic detective story where the main character witnesses a murder and gets into trouble with the mafia; eventually, he ends up acting as an action hero, defeating the criminals and saving the girl he likes. Not only this story is rather typical in general, but it also contains quite a lot of cliches and glaring logical contradictions: the great example of the latter is the protagonist's love interest who says she hasn't driven a car since she was 14... and then rides it like a veteran street racer.
However, if you look at the story from a different angle, all those drawbacks were initially supposed to be there. You see, the main character is a scriptwriter who factually ends up being a protagonist of his screenplays, and that makes the OVA a witty parody on detective stories which may be shortly described as "B-movie coming to real life". Of course, the show never openly admits its parody nature yet it gives some very obvious hints when the protagonist comments on those events taking place as reminding him of bad detective movies.
So, the story is fine if you keep in mind it's actual purpose and don't take it too seriously.”
A good description if you ask me! If I had any comment, I’d say that this almost feels like Mad Bull 34, in that it goes for the gritty cop story. However, where as that show seems to portray all of the negative aspects of cop shows, Urban Square goes for a mix of positive, negative, and cliched.
Setting
Urban Square takes place with a random Japanese city (For the sake of argument, let’s assume it’s Tokyo). Normally I’d complain, because a lot of anime does this, but I’m not going to this time around. It has all of the typical trappings of a urban environment, yet it doesn’t seem to go overboard, and there’s a heavy feeling of film-noir just about everywhere. Granted the noir feeling is rather cheesy, but it’s not like the Mad Bull 34 style of noir.
Characters
Once again, I refer to Singan’s review on this matter:
“All characters are cliche to a different extent, so don't expect much depth or development here. However, it doesn't become a serious problem because they were supposed to be like that anyway (it's a parody, remember?) and thus they are still decent for this kind of show despite lacking memorable personalities.”
He/She isn’t exactly wrong in this department. The character have no real depth to them, but at the same time they were designed this way on purpose, so it’s no big deal.
Animation
Like a lot of OVA/shows I’ve come across, Urban Square is a product of the 80s (11/28/1986, to be specific). The design of the characters is very reminiscent of characters from the style of 80s anime, the fluidity of motion during action scenes is quite slick, and some usage of dark blue tones to add a subtle noir feeling to the movie. It’s actually managed to age quite well, apart from some small flukes once in a while (You’ll only see these moments if you’re actively paying attention).
Voice Acting
Because this was never released in the United States (As far as I know), this OVA has no dub.
Episodes & Episode Length
Urban Square is a solid movie. It’s hour-long running time contains all the action & drama, and it has a surprisingly good pace because of it. Hell, the running time makes the OVA feel like an episode of a cop show, which just adds to the value of this video.
Availability & Pricing
Because this was never released in the west (As far as I know), I don’t know about this OVAs current availability & pricing. If you want to watch the movie, click on the link below (Download it if you have the youtube downloader or other video-downloading program):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYGO1_kXgPU
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
I should quickly mention the soundtrack in this movie. Performed by a band known as Chickenshack, there isn’t any singing or a main theme, the jazz soundtrack has piano, sax, drums, funky guitar and slap bass. It really fits with the movie, and is nice to listen to.
General Impression & Rating
Urban Square is a fun flick. Granted it has it’s problems, but it’s flaws are small when you compared them to what makes it a fun movie. Grab a couple friends, load this movie up, and prepare for the torrent of cheese to flood your eyes.
Urban Square gets a 8 out of 10.
See you all this Wednesday. Until then, stay Otaku!
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“Screenwriter Ryu Matsumoto witnesses a murder in Kobe. But his testimonial is ignored by the police because the victim's body has vanished without a trace. Eager to prove that he is not crazy and worried that he may have attracted the attention of the murderers, Ryu hires the private detective Mochizuki to protect him and to continue the investigation.”
Normally I’d talk about the story, but a reviewer on the anidb webpage (Singan) has a much better description. A description that is something better than anything I would have put down:
“Essentially, it's a classic detective story where the main character witnesses a murder and gets into trouble with the mafia; eventually, he ends up acting as an action hero, defeating the criminals and saving the girl he likes. Not only this story is rather typical in general, but it also contains quite a lot of cliches and glaring logical contradictions: the great example of the latter is the protagonist's love interest who says she hasn't driven a car since she was 14... and then rides it like a veteran street racer.
However, if you look at the story from a different angle, all those drawbacks were initially supposed to be there. You see, the main character is a scriptwriter who factually ends up being a protagonist of his screenplays, and that makes the OVA a witty parody on detective stories which may be shortly described as "B-movie coming to real life". Of course, the show never openly admits its parody nature yet it gives some very obvious hints when the protagonist comments on those events taking place as reminding him of bad detective movies.
So, the story is fine if you keep in mind it's actual purpose and don't take it too seriously.”
A good description if you ask me! If I had any comment, I’d say that this almost feels like Mad Bull 34, in that it goes for the gritty cop story. However, where as that show seems to portray all of the negative aspects of cop shows, Urban Square goes for a mix of positive, negative, and cliched.
Setting
Urban Square takes place with a random Japanese city (For the sake of argument, let’s assume it’s Tokyo). Normally I’d complain, because a lot of anime does this, but I’m not going to this time around. It has all of the typical trappings of a urban environment, yet it doesn’t seem to go overboard, and there’s a heavy feeling of film-noir just about everywhere. Granted the noir feeling is rather cheesy, but it’s not like the Mad Bull 34 style of noir.
Characters
Once again, I refer to Singan’s review on this matter:
“All characters are cliche to a different extent, so don't expect much depth or development here. However, it doesn't become a serious problem because they were supposed to be like that anyway (it's a parody, remember?) and thus they are still decent for this kind of show despite lacking memorable personalities.”
He/She isn’t exactly wrong in this department. The character have no real depth to them, but at the same time they were designed this way on purpose, so it’s no big deal.
Animation
Like a lot of OVA/shows I’ve come across, Urban Square is a product of the 80s (11/28/1986, to be specific). The design of the characters is very reminiscent of characters from the style of 80s anime, the fluidity of motion during action scenes is quite slick, and some usage of dark blue tones to add a subtle noir feeling to the movie. It’s actually managed to age quite well, apart from some small flukes once in a while (You’ll only see these moments if you’re actively paying attention).
Voice Acting
Because this was never released in the United States (As far as I know), this OVA has no dub.
Episodes & Episode Length
Urban Square is a solid movie. It’s hour-long running time contains all the action & drama, and it has a surprisingly good pace because of it. Hell, the running time makes the OVA feel like an episode of a cop show, which just adds to the value of this video.
Availability & Pricing
Because this was never released in the west (As far as I know), I don’t know about this OVAs current availability & pricing. If you want to watch the movie, click on the link below (Download it if you have the youtube downloader or other video-downloading program):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYGO1_kXgPU
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
I should quickly mention the soundtrack in this movie. Performed by a band known as Chickenshack, there isn’t any singing or a main theme, the jazz soundtrack has piano, sax, drums, funky guitar and slap bass. It really fits with the movie, and is nice to listen to.
General Impression & Rating
Urban Square is a fun flick. Granted it has it’s problems, but it’s flaws are small when you compared them to what makes it a fun movie. Grab a couple friends, load this movie up, and prepare for the torrent of cheese to flood your eyes.
Urban Square gets a 8 out of 10.
See you all this Wednesday. Until then, stay Otaku!
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Ultimate Teacher Review
Hi there! Well, 34 reviews down, and 6 more to go. Today’s marks number 6, and is the last full-blown comedy I’ve got, as the rest are more serious shows/OVAs. This one’s quite obscure, and buried in the sands of the vast anime desert. It’s funny, fucked-up, and all kinds of “Huh!?”. Well, I’ve dug up this piece of anime obscurity from it’s dusty tomb, and now for you, here’s my review of Ultimate Teacher.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“In 1988, a terrible accident in a bioresearch lab allows one of its test subjects to escape. Fast-forward 3 years later at the worst school in all of Kanto where facilities are falling apart and teachers, mainly consisting of paroled convicts, have their very own graveyard. A mysterious man named Ganpachi Chabane appears from the shadows and promises to bring new hope to the school system with a vigorous disciplinarian approach. The school gang-leader Shiratori Hinako, a beautiful yet staggeringly strong girl, will represent the students in a fight against the ultimate teacher in which everything goes.”
Okay, for starters, this looks like a somewhat serious story. Genetic experimentation, evil teachers, and oppressed students sounds like things you’d find in a cyberpunk-style anime. However, this is in fact a slapstick comedy. The entire backstory forms the basis of the humor throughout the movie, and is not meant to be taken seriously. In fact, Ultimate Teacher seems more structured as a group of sketches, rather than a solid movie. In other genres this doesn’t necessarily work, but given that this is a comedy, Ultimate Teacher is able to get away with it.
Setting
Ultimate Teacher takes place in a high school, which is a pretty standard setting for many anime. What separates this one from the rest is that is incredibly run down (As fellow anime reviewer Bennett the Sage once said: “Looks like a run-down meat factory in Cleveland”), populated by some tough looking students, and is so hazardous there’s a graveyard for all of the deceased teachers (There’s a Detroit joke in there somewhere, but I can seem to find it.). There are other places that Ultimate Teacher goes to, but the bulk of the OVA takes place at the school.
Characters
Ultimate Teacher has three big weaknesses, and it’s characters are the first weakness. Despite being populated with a mass of characters, the spotlight is only pointed to three of the characters: Ganpachi, Hinako, and one of Hinako’s friends/allies (The specific one escapes me at the moment). In reality, Ganpachi & Hinako take up a giant chuck of the scenes, whether together or apart from each other.
Animation
Because of the fact that this hasn’t been re-released on DVD, and thus being remastered in the process, the animation quality of Ultimate Teacher isn’t the best. You cam make out details in the movie, but more often than not it’s not the best looking OVA. Ironically enough, the one point of the animation that isn’t horrible looking (I’m stretching that last part a bit) is the characters. All of the characters, whether primary and/or secondary, have their own look and feel, and despite the quality of everything else, look slightly decent.
Voice Acting
This is Ultimate Teacher’s second biggest weakness. The movie was released in the United States (And the United Kingdom, but I’ll get to that in a second) back in 1988, and voice acting during that time wasn’t necessarily the best quality. With the U.S. dub, all of the voice actors are reading the lines in a completely serious manner. While this does add to some of the OVA’s humor, at the same time it sounds rather boring.
Like I hinted above, Ultimate Teacher also made it’s way over the pond, and into the hands of British Otaku, thus getting a different dub. This version has nowhere near as much of a monotone touch to the voice work, as the characters have a bit more depth to them as far as voices are concerned. With the change in voices, the movie itself takes on a slightly more serious tone, but it still keeps the core wackiness that makes the OVA great.
Episodes & Episode Length
Like this past Wednesday, Ultimate Teacher is a one-shot movie that you can watch during part of an afternoon. Clocking in at close to an hour (55 minutes & 45 seconds, to be specific), this is a rather quick movie. Unlike some of the other fast-paced movies, the nature of this OVA makes this much more acceptable than the rest, but at the same time you’ll feel a bit of whiplash.
Availability & Pricing
This is the final weakness of Ultimate Teacher. Unlike some of the old OVAs that have been reprinted in recent years, Ultimate Teacher isn’t one of those re-releases. As I’m typing this up, there are only two of the original VHS copies over on Amazon, and they’re both used. Pricing for the two of them is okay: the first is about 34 dollars, while the second copy is almost 40 dollars. In this circumstance, I suggest you find a video file or torrent file, and download it.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
Perhaps the strangest aspect of Ultimate Teacher is it’s usage of racial stereotypes. I can’t list all of them, as there were a bunch, but I did see Chinese cyclists, an Arab riding a camel, and a African-American track-runner jogging with a speak. Luckily, the only time you see these stereotypes is right at the beginning, a moment halfway through the movie, and a few scenes towards the end. While I’m not the most political correct individual out there, these moments were a little head-scratching, and slightly offended me (But not much).
General Impression & Rating
To a certain extent I understand why Ultimate Teacher hasn’t be re-released on DVD. The animation isn’t the best, the voice acting (At least for the U.S. edition) is just meh, and it’s characters are rather weak. What ultimately won me over was it’s oddball humor: it’s so batshit crazy, so mind-warping, and so insane, it’s hard to hate. If you can overcome it’s weakness, and it’s lack of availability, you have a comedy gem here.
Ultimate Teacher gets a 7.5 to 8 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
***
Click on the links below to watch the US & UK dubs:
(US Dub)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF5NHl0ydT0
(UK Dub)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSDj5vgQ4OA
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“In 1988, a terrible accident in a bioresearch lab allows one of its test subjects to escape. Fast-forward 3 years later at the worst school in all of Kanto where facilities are falling apart and teachers, mainly consisting of paroled convicts, have their very own graveyard. A mysterious man named Ganpachi Chabane appears from the shadows and promises to bring new hope to the school system with a vigorous disciplinarian approach. The school gang-leader Shiratori Hinako, a beautiful yet staggeringly strong girl, will represent the students in a fight against the ultimate teacher in which everything goes.”
Okay, for starters, this looks like a somewhat serious story. Genetic experimentation, evil teachers, and oppressed students sounds like things you’d find in a cyberpunk-style anime. However, this is in fact a slapstick comedy. The entire backstory forms the basis of the humor throughout the movie, and is not meant to be taken seriously. In fact, Ultimate Teacher seems more structured as a group of sketches, rather than a solid movie. In other genres this doesn’t necessarily work, but given that this is a comedy, Ultimate Teacher is able to get away with it.
Setting
Ultimate Teacher takes place in a high school, which is a pretty standard setting for many anime. What separates this one from the rest is that is incredibly run down (As fellow anime reviewer Bennett the Sage once said: “Looks like a run-down meat factory in Cleveland”), populated by some tough looking students, and is so hazardous there’s a graveyard for all of the deceased teachers (There’s a Detroit joke in there somewhere, but I can seem to find it.). There are other places that Ultimate Teacher goes to, but the bulk of the OVA takes place at the school.
Characters
Ultimate Teacher has three big weaknesses, and it’s characters are the first weakness. Despite being populated with a mass of characters, the spotlight is only pointed to three of the characters: Ganpachi, Hinako, and one of Hinako’s friends/allies (The specific one escapes me at the moment). In reality, Ganpachi & Hinako take up a giant chuck of the scenes, whether together or apart from each other.
Animation
Because of the fact that this hasn’t been re-released on DVD, and thus being remastered in the process, the animation quality of Ultimate Teacher isn’t the best. You cam make out details in the movie, but more often than not it’s not the best looking OVA. Ironically enough, the one point of the animation that isn’t horrible looking (I’m stretching that last part a bit) is the characters. All of the characters, whether primary and/or secondary, have their own look and feel, and despite the quality of everything else, look slightly decent.
Voice Acting
This is Ultimate Teacher’s second biggest weakness. The movie was released in the United States (And the United Kingdom, but I’ll get to that in a second) back in 1988, and voice acting during that time wasn’t necessarily the best quality. With the U.S. dub, all of the voice actors are reading the lines in a completely serious manner. While this does add to some of the OVA’s humor, at the same time it sounds rather boring.
Like I hinted above, Ultimate Teacher also made it’s way over the pond, and into the hands of British Otaku, thus getting a different dub. This version has nowhere near as much of a monotone touch to the voice work, as the characters have a bit more depth to them as far as voices are concerned. With the change in voices, the movie itself takes on a slightly more serious tone, but it still keeps the core wackiness that makes the OVA great.
Episodes & Episode Length
Like this past Wednesday, Ultimate Teacher is a one-shot movie that you can watch during part of an afternoon. Clocking in at close to an hour (55 minutes & 45 seconds, to be specific), this is a rather quick movie. Unlike some of the other fast-paced movies, the nature of this OVA makes this much more acceptable than the rest, but at the same time you’ll feel a bit of whiplash.
Availability & Pricing
This is the final weakness of Ultimate Teacher. Unlike some of the old OVAs that have been reprinted in recent years, Ultimate Teacher isn’t one of those re-releases. As I’m typing this up, there are only two of the original VHS copies over on Amazon, and they’re both used. Pricing for the two of them is okay: the first is about 34 dollars, while the second copy is almost 40 dollars. In this circumstance, I suggest you find a video file or torrent file, and download it.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
Perhaps the strangest aspect of Ultimate Teacher is it’s usage of racial stereotypes. I can’t list all of them, as there were a bunch, but I did see Chinese cyclists, an Arab riding a camel, and a African-American track-runner jogging with a speak. Luckily, the only time you see these stereotypes is right at the beginning, a moment halfway through the movie, and a few scenes towards the end. While I’m not the most political correct individual out there, these moments were a little head-scratching, and slightly offended me (But not much).
General Impression & Rating
To a certain extent I understand why Ultimate Teacher hasn’t be re-released on DVD. The animation isn’t the best, the voice acting (At least for the U.S. edition) is just meh, and it’s characters are rather weak. What ultimately won me over was it’s oddball humor: it’s so batshit crazy, so mind-warping, and so insane, it’s hard to hate. If you can overcome it’s weakness, and it’s lack of availability, you have a comedy gem here.
Ultimate Teacher gets a 7.5 to 8 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
***
Click on the links below to watch the US & UK dubs:
(US Dub)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF5NHl0ydT0
(UK Dub)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSDj5vgQ4OA
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
The Adventures of Prince Achmed Review
Hello guys! Today’s review is one of the more unique titles available to the U.S. market. It’s definitely animation, but it’s not Japanese. It’s based off of oriental techniques, but was made by a westerner. It’s archaic, yet is somehow well preserved, and still manages to look beautiful. With that out of the way, let’s look at the 1926 animated feature, The Adventures of Prince Achmed.
Story/Setup
Taken from the imdb webpage:
“A handsome prince rides a flying horse to faraway lands and embarks on magical adventures, which include befriending a witch, meeting Aladdin, battling demons and falling in love with a princess.”
Although this is highly summed up, this movie is based off of 1001 Arabian Nights. To be more specific, the movie is based off of The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou (Who was from Andrew Lang’s “The Blue Fairy Book”). It’s actually kinda hard to explain the story, since it’s really the animation that tells the viewer what’s happening.
Setting
Like it states in the section above, this movie takes place within the universe of the 1001 Arabian Nights stories. Due to the way this was animated (More on this in a bit), everything has a simplistic look to it. The way it feels, however, is completely different. Because of the way this was animated, it feels as if you’re taking a trip through time, right to the thick of the Arabian Nights stories themselves.
Characters
Like the story, it’s kinda hard to talk about the story. In this circumstance, the characters (At least in the edition that I downloaded) don’t speak at all. Everything about them is conveyed entirely through their actions, and that is the only way you can judge them.
Animation
Here’s where this movie gets interesting. The animation of this movie was based off Wayang, a form of shadow puppet theater in Java. Puppets are made from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks, and they’re placed behind a piece of white cloth. From there, a light bulb or oil lamp provides the illumination & shadow, and the play is acted out (Typically, the story is a romantic tale, especially adaptations of the classic Indian epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana).
The animation style of Wayang, and the style used in this movie, are practically the same. The only difference is that Wayang is live action, and this was animated frame by frame.
Voice Acting
The version I have has absolutely no dub. It only has German lines within the movie itself, as it’s displayed like in a old-time black/white movie. The version that’s actively available (more on this in a sec) has a Japanese dub, and is subbed in English. Strange world, isn’t it?
Episodes & Episode Length
The Adventures of Prince Achmed is a nice way to kill time. Running in at just over an hour (1 hour & 7 minutes, to be specific), this movie is really entertaining for those who are interested in older animation techniques, or for those who want a intriguing story. Hell, even kids might get a kick out of this, as there’s enough action & movement to keep their eyes glued to the screen.
Availability & Pricing
The Adventures of Prince Achmed is (somewhat) readily available in the United States. Over on Amazon, there are plenty DVD of the film, and the pricing is great as well. New copies start at a little over 15 dollars, while the used copies (At the time of this writing, there are only 3) begin at a little over 22 dollars. I think the way to go should be obvious.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
The only sounds you hear in this movie are the orchestral pieces that accompany each scene. I’m usually not a fan of orchestra/classical music, but I’ll be damned if I wasn’t impressed. It still manages to sound fresh, and it rings like crystal glass.
General Impression & Rating
The Adventures of Prince Achmed is truly a remarkable piece of animation. There’s never been anything nowadays that has managed to capture myth, fantasy, and wonder quite like this has (Although I’d argue that some of Studio Ghibli’s films have come close). It’s reputation as a high quality animated movie is well deserved, and should be see by every fan of animation at least once!
The Adventures of Prince Achmed gets a 8 out of 10.
See you all this Friday, when we’ll look at yet another goofy OVA. Until then, stay Otaku!
***
For more information on Lotte Reiniger & Wayang (As well as a link to the movie), click on the links below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotte_Reiniger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mulqoZ2LXeM
Also, today marks the 1-year anniversary of the release of Borderlands 2. To celebrate, here’s the opening cutscene. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZR1WSYCMX8
Story/Setup
Taken from the imdb webpage:
“A handsome prince rides a flying horse to faraway lands and embarks on magical adventures, which include befriending a witch, meeting Aladdin, battling demons and falling in love with a princess.”
Although this is highly summed up, this movie is based off of 1001 Arabian Nights. To be more specific, the movie is based off of The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou (Who was from Andrew Lang’s “The Blue Fairy Book”). It’s actually kinda hard to explain the story, since it’s really the animation that tells the viewer what’s happening.
Setting
Like it states in the section above, this movie takes place within the universe of the 1001 Arabian Nights stories. Due to the way this was animated (More on this in a bit), everything has a simplistic look to it. The way it feels, however, is completely different. Because of the way this was animated, it feels as if you’re taking a trip through time, right to the thick of the Arabian Nights stories themselves.
Characters
Like the story, it’s kinda hard to talk about the story. In this circumstance, the characters (At least in the edition that I downloaded) don’t speak at all. Everything about them is conveyed entirely through their actions, and that is the only way you can judge them.
Animation
Here’s where this movie gets interesting. The animation of this movie was based off Wayang, a form of shadow puppet theater in Java. Puppets are made from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks, and they’re placed behind a piece of white cloth. From there, a light bulb or oil lamp provides the illumination & shadow, and the play is acted out (Typically, the story is a romantic tale, especially adaptations of the classic Indian epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana).
The animation style of Wayang, and the style used in this movie, are practically the same. The only difference is that Wayang is live action, and this was animated frame by frame.
Voice Acting
The version I have has absolutely no dub. It only has German lines within the movie itself, as it’s displayed like in a old-time black/white movie. The version that’s actively available (more on this in a sec) has a Japanese dub, and is subbed in English. Strange world, isn’t it?
Episodes & Episode Length
The Adventures of Prince Achmed is a nice way to kill time. Running in at just over an hour (1 hour & 7 minutes, to be specific), this movie is really entertaining for those who are interested in older animation techniques, or for those who want a intriguing story. Hell, even kids might get a kick out of this, as there’s enough action & movement to keep their eyes glued to the screen.
Availability & Pricing
The Adventures of Prince Achmed is (somewhat) readily available in the United States. Over on Amazon, there are plenty DVD of the film, and the pricing is great as well. New copies start at a little over 15 dollars, while the used copies (At the time of this writing, there are only 3) begin at a little over 22 dollars. I think the way to go should be obvious.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
The only sounds you hear in this movie are the orchestral pieces that accompany each scene. I’m usually not a fan of orchestra/classical music, but I’ll be damned if I wasn’t impressed. It still manages to sound fresh, and it rings like crystal glass.
General Impression & Rating
The Adventures of Prince Achmed is truly a remarkable piece of animation. There’s never been anything nowadays that has managed to capture myth, fantasy, and wonder quite like this has (Although I’d argue that some of Studio Ghibli’s films have come close). It’s reputation as a high quality animated movie is well deserved, and should be see by every fan of animation at least once!
The Adventures of Prince Achmed gets a 8 out of 10.
See you all this Friday, when we’ll look at yet another goofy OVA. Until then, stay Otaku!
***
For more information on Lotte Reiniger & Wayang (As well as a link to the movie), click on the links below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotte_Reiniger
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mulqoZ2LXeM
Also, today marks the 1-year anniversary of the release of Borderlands 2. To celebrate, here’s the opening cutscene. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZR1WSYCMX8
Monday, September 16, 2013
Tenchi Muyo Mihoshi Special Review
Hello fellow viewers! Were right in the middle of September, with only a scant few series/OVAs left to look at. Today’s review is a return to one of my favorite anime franchises, and to a somewhat obscure movie within that franchise. So sit back, relax, prepare to laugh, and read my review on the Tenchi Muyo Mihoshi Special.
Story/Setup
Taking a more simplistic approach, the movie is about one of the cases that Mihoshi has done during her service to the Galaxy Police. Since this is Mihoshi we’re talking about, she forgets certain portions, and outright doesn’t know something when one of the others asks her. Not only that, she includes all of the other girls, along with Tenchi, into the story as people Mihoshi knows/knew during this case.
Compared to some of the other stories in the Tenchi series, this is one of the more simplistic ones. If you’re a hardcore fan who likes the more complex stories in this franchise, then you’ll be disappointed. For me, I kinda liked this side-story. It takes a break from some of the serious stuff, and is a goofy/fluff kind of story. There’s plenty of laughs to be had, and overall is just a fun time.
Setting
This movie takes place within a corner of the Tenchi world. I say corner, because the only familiar area in this movie is when the viewer is taken back to the Tenchi residency, but these are only seconds (Maybe a minute or two in the beginning) out of this short movie, but I’ll talk about this in a bit. The rest of the movie takes place within outer space like a lot of the Tenchi franchise does, but in this movie there’s nothing recognizable, nor is it really memorable (Although the final area in Mihoshi’s story does seem like it’s the place where the most effort was put into).
Characters
Apart from Tenchi’s Father & Grandfather, the entire cast is in this OVA. If you like/hate the characters from the other shows, then you like/hate them here. I should quickly point out that this OVA marks the first time that you see Kiyone, a character that’s later introduced in Tenchi Universe. Kiyone does have some presence in this OVA, but she’s not in the spotlight as much as you think she is.
Animation
The animation with the Tenchi Muyo Mihoshi Special seems to lie within the original OVA’s look & feel. There are moments where the movie has the slight jagged quality of Tenchi Universe, but overall this movie has the smooth finish that the OVA had.
Voice Acting
The voice acting in this movie has the same cast within Tenchi Universe, minus a character or two (As far as them being in the movie). The quality is also roughly as good as within the main show. I say roughly, because there are certain moments where things sound a bit rougher than normal (At least from releases of the time). Apart from that, you pretty much have the same voices within this movie.
Episodes & Episode Length
This special is one of the quickest watches I’ve done during this marathon (And to a lesser extent, my collection of anime reviews on my blog as a whole). Running at just 27 minutes, this movie comes & goes in the blink of an eye, almost to the point where you might miss something.
Availability & Pricing
Unlike the rest of the Tenchi content that was re-released last year, this special hasn’t had a second release (Along with Magical Girl Pretty Sammy, but that’s for another time). The only copy that is still existent is the old Pioneer/Geneon DVD release, but that edition is quite rare. As I was typing this review up, there are currently only 10 copies left over on Amazon (2 new & 8 used). The new copies are incredibly expensive, as they start at a ridiculous 120 dollars. The used copies start at a more merciful, but still painful, 79 dollars. There are also VHS releases of the Magical Girl Pretty Sammy portion of the DVD out there, but these are even more difficult to locate (But can still be found on Amazon).
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
For the most part, younger anime viewers can watch this OVA without much trouble.....except for one scene. Towards the end (Around the 18 minute mark), Ryoko has captured Tenchi so he can be her plaything. She’s got him tied up to the bed, and pounces on him. There isn’t anything more risque, apart from her trying to get a kiss from him. This is perhaps the only moment where younger viewers might feel a little uncomfortable.
General Impression & Rating
If you want to kill about a half-hour of your time, then give this OVA a watch. There really isn’t much to it, but because it’s part of the Tenchi franchise, there’s definitely some fun to be had. If you are a fan of the Tenchi series/franchise, then search this odd little movie out.
Tenchi Muyo Mihoshi Special gets a 6.5 to 7 out of 10.
See you all this Wednesday, when we’ll look at what I consider to be the strangest title of this marathon. Until then, stay Otaku!
***
If you’d like to watch the Mihoshi Special, and form your own opinion on it, then click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opWr7flwRGo
Story/Setup
Taking a more simplistic approach, the movie is about one of the cases that Mihoshi has done during her service to the Galaxy Police. Since this is Mihoshi we’re talking about, she forgets certain portions, and outright doesn’t know something when one of the others asks her. Not only that, she includes all of the other girls, along with Tenchi, into the story as people Mihoshi knows/knew during this case.
Compared to some of the other stories in the Tenchi series, this is one of the more simplistic ones. If you’re a hardcore fan who likes the more complex stories in this franchise, then you’ll be disappointed. For me, I kinda liked this side-story. It takes a break from some of the serious stuff, and is a goofy/fluff kind of story. There’s plenty of laughs to be had, and overall is just a fun time.
Setting
This movie takes place within a corner of the Tenchi world. I say corner, because the only familiar area in this movie is when the viewer is taken back to the Tenchi residency, but these are only seconds (Maybe a minute or two in the beginning) out of this short movie, but I’ll talk about this in a bit. The rest of the movie takes place within outer space like a lot of the Tenchi franchise does, but in this movie there’s nothing recognizable, nor is it really memorable (Although the final area in Mihoshi’s story does seem like it’s the place where the most effort was put into).
Characters
Apart from Tenchi’s Father & Grandfather, the entire cast is in this OVA. If you like/hate the characters from the other shows, then you like/hate them here. I should quickly point out that this OVA marks the first time that you see Kiyone, a character that’s later introduced in Tenchi Universe. Kiyone does have some presence in this OVA, but she’s not in the spotlight as much as you think she is.
Animation
The animation with the Tenchi Muyo Mihoshi Special seems to lie within the original OVA’s look & feel. There are moments where the movie has the slight jagged quality of Tenchi Universe, but overall this movie has the smooth finish that the OVA had.
Voice Acting
The voice acting in this movie has the same cast within Tenchi Universe, minus a character or two (As far as them being in the movie). The quality is also roughly as good as within the main show. I say roughly, because there are certain moments where things sound a bit rougher than normal (At least from releases of the time). Apart from that, you pretty much have the same voices within this movie.
Episodes & Episode Length
This special is one of the quickest watches I’ve done during this marathon (And to a lesser extent, my collection of anime reviews on my blog as a whole). Running at just 27 minutes, this movie comes & goes in the blink of an eye, almost to the point where you might miss something.
Availability & Pricing
Unlike the rest of the Tenchi content that was re-released last year, this special hasn’t had a second release (Along with Magical Girl Pretty Sammy, but that’s for another time). The only copy that is still existent is the old Pioneer/Geneon DVD release, but that edition is quite rare. As I was typing this review up, there are currently only 10 copies left over on Amazon (2 new & 8 used). The new copies are incredibly expensive, as they start at a ridiculous 120 dollars. The used copies start at a more merciful, but still painful, 79 dollars. There are also VHS releases of the Magical Girl Pretty Sammy portion of the DVD out there, but these are even more difficult to locate (But can still be found on Amazon).
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
For the most part, younger anime viewers can watch this OVA without much trouble.....except for one scene. Towards the end (Around the 18 minute mark), Ryoko has captured Tenchi so he can be her plaything. She’s got him tied up to the bed, and pounces on him. There isn’t anything more risque, apart from her trying to get a kiss from him. This is perhaps the only moment where younger viewers might feel a little uncomfortable.
General Impression & Rating
If you want to kill about a half-hour of your time, then give this OVA a watch. There really isn’t much to it, but because it’s part of the Tenchi franchise, there’s definitely some fun to be had. If you are a fan of the Tenchi series/franchise, then search this odd little movie out.
Tenchi Muyo Mihoshi Special gets a 6.5 to 7 out of 10.
See you all this Wednesday, when we’ll look at what I consider to be the strangest title of this marathon. Until then, stay Otaku!
***
If you’d like to watch the Mihoshi Special, and form your own opinion on it, then click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opWr7flwRGo
Friday, September 13, 2013
Taro the Dragon Boy Review
Hello there!
Well, today marks number 9 of the reviews I got left. My number 9 is also a special review, much like my review for La Blue Girl a couple months back. Whereas that review was very adult, today’s is very much child-friendly, and wonderful in so many ways. With that said, let examine the enchanting Taro the Dragon Boy, and see if it’s the children’s classic that everybody says it is.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb webpage:
“Lazy and selfish Taro loves to eat and sleep, and wrestle with the animals. With no direction in his life, a wizard appears that gives him a special potion. With this potion, he gains the strength of a hundred men. But the catch is he can only use it when he is helping others. Taro learns that his long lost mother was turned into a dragon, and he is suddenly given a purpose in life: Track down his mother and free her from the spell, all the while trying to help the peasants of his village.”
That’s all there is. This isn’t a deep story, yet somehow it’s very deep, and full of emotions both positive & negative. There’s also a lot of things to learn in this story, especially for kids (But teenagers & adults might get something out of this also). Overall, it’s simple but nice.
Setting
Taro the Dragon Boy takes place within the ancient countryside of Japan. Everything here is very primal: ancient magic & curses exist, nature is still at the forefront so to speak, animals can speak with people, and demons (Oni) lurk in the mountains. The houses of the farmers look worn down, and light & hope seem to be in short supply. Despite all the pessimism, there’s a sense of wonder & awe, thanks in most part to all of the fantastical elements in the world that this movie takes place in. Both light & dark come together to create a unique setting that’ll have adults impressed, and kids smiling.
Characters
If there’s any one fault I have with this movie, it’s the characters. It’s actually two things, and they are as follows:
1) Small Cast: Despite being a simple but epic story, there’s not that many characters. You only have a small core of primary characters, and a group of secondary characters that isn’t much larger than the primary ones.
2) Not Complex: Again with the story, none of the characters aren’t all that complex in terms of thought. Most of the characters (primary & secondary) really just help out Taro, who seems to be the only character (In my opinion) that moves things along. There are moments where the other characters to get sometime in the spotlight, but it’s really only to help Taro out in someway.
Despite these problems, none of the characters aren’t likable. Quite the opposite in fact: just about all of the characters have some kind of charm. From the Red Oni’s personality combo of terror & cowardice, to the ethereal innocence of Aya, just about everyone has something to them that draws the viewer into the movie.
Animation
To put it simply, this movie has some of the most stunning animation I’ve ever seen! Despite coming out in the late 70s (1979, to be specific), Taro the Dragon Boy is gorgeous. There’s the backgrounds, which look simplistic yet realistic, almost as if they were from a painting. You’ve got the characters, who range from average (in a good way) to lovely. Finally, this movie knows when to be slower paced, and fast during the action scenes, as well as keeping an aura of mystery & magic around it. Overall, this is one of the movie’s best qualities!
Voice Acting
Despite being a rather old title, Taro the Dragon Boy’s voice acting has managed to hold up remarkably well. The voice actor that I recognized almost immediately was Billie Lou Watt, whom some of you many recognize as the voice actor of Kimba from Kimba the White Lion. She voices Taro, and successfully brings out that character’s strong, stubborn, and later tender personality. One of the other characters (The Black Oni) also had a voice actor that I recognized from Kimba the White Lion, but I don’t know his name at the moment, yet he did a good job as well. The various other voice actors also seemed to sound great also, and overall their voices still manage to sound great now.
Episodes & Episode Length
Taro the Dragon Boy is a well-sized movie, but not like some of my more recent reviews. This OVA is an hour & 15 minutes long, making it just right for younger viewers who don’t like long movies. Given how kid friendly this OVA is, this is good for either watching in the afternoon, or right when they need to sleep (As a substitute for a nighttime story).
Availability & Pricing
Although it was released back in 2002 on tape, there aren’t enough copies of them for me to suggest to you to pick one up. Instead, I suggest that you pick up the 2006 DVD edition from Amazon. As I was writing this, there are 15 new copies available for purchase, along with 4 used copies. The new copies start at almost 11 dollars, while the used copies start at a little over 9 dollars. Since there’s barely any used DVDs, go straight for the new ones.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
For the most part, Taro the Dragon Boy is a whole movie that’s perfect for kids, but there’s two scenes that are kinda.....weird for a kids movie. In the opening credits, you see Taro dancing & playing with the animals of the forest. At one point Taro does a cartwheel, and his pants (?) fall down, showing his penis! This would be okay for maybe a second, but it’s up on the screen for perhaps 5 seconds! Creepy?
The second scene is right towards the end. After Taro confronts the dragon (SPOILERS: it is revealed that the dragon is Taro’s mother), the dragon’s body falls apart, revealing Taro’s mother in her human form. This is all well and good, but his mom is completely naked, and you even get a shot of her in the front, breasts & nipples & all. It’s not very detailed, but you get the general idea.
General Impression & Rating
Taro the Dragon Boy is one of those films that’s just perfect for kids. Made in a time when kids movies weren’t dumb down just for the sake of sales, it has a story that’s deep but not complex, a magical setting, and it has a cast that’s pretty damn likable. If you want to introduce your kids to the world of anime, or you want to bring your inner child out to play, then buy & watch this movie!
Taro the Dragon Boy gets a 8.5 to 9 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
Well, today marks number 9 of the reviews I got left. My number 9 is also a special review, much like my review for La Blue Girl a couple months back. Whereas that review was very adult, today’s is very much child-friendly, and wonderful in so many ways. With that said, let examine the enchanting Taro the Dragon Boy, and see if it’s the children’s classic that everybody says it is.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb webpage:
“Lazy and selfish Taro loves to eat and sleep, and wrestle with the animals. With no direction in his life, a wizard appears that gives him a special potion. With this potion, he gains the strength of a hundred men. But the catch is he can only use it when he is helping others. Taro learns that his long lost mother was turned into a dragon, and he is suddenly given a purpose in life: Track down his mother and free her from the spell, all the while trying to help the peasants of his village.”
That’s all there is. This isn’t a deep story, yet somehow it’s very deep, and full of emotions both positive & negative. There’s also a lot of things to learn in this story, especially for kids (But teenagers & adults might get something out of this also). Overall, it’s simple but nice.
Setting
Taro the Dragon Boy takes place within the ancient countryside of Japan. Everything here is very primal: ancient magic & curses exist, nature is still at the forefront so to speak, animals can speak with people, and demons (Oni) lurk in the mountains. The houses of the farmers look worn down, and light & hope seem to be in short supply. Despite all the pessimism, there’s a sense of wonder & awe, thanks in most part to all of the fantastical elements in the world that this movie takes place in. Both light & dark come together to create a unique setting that’ll have adults impressed, and kids smiling.
Characters
If there’s any one fault I have with this movie, it’s the characters. It’s actually two things, and they are as follows:
1) Small Cast: Despite being a simple but epic story, there’s not that many characters. You only have a small core of primary characters, and a group of secondary characters that isn’t much larger than the primary ones.
2) Not Complex: Again with the story, none of the characters aren’t all that complex in terms of thought. Most of the characters (primary & secondary) really just help out Taro, who seems to be the only character (In my opinion) that moves things along. There are moments where the other characters to get sometime in the spotlight, but it’s really only to help Taro out in someway.
Despite these problems, none of the characters aren’t likable. Quite the opposite in fact: just about all of the characters have some kind of charm. From the Red Oni’s personality combo of terror & cowardice, to the ethereal innocence of Aya, just about everyone has something to them that draws the viewer into the movie.
Animation
To put it simply, this movie has some of the most stunning animation I’ve ever seen! Despite coming out in the late 70s (1979, to be specific), Taro the Dragon Boy is gorgeous. There’s the backgrounds, which look simplistic yet realistic, almost as if they were from a painting. You’ve got the characters, who range from average (in a good way) to lovely. Finally, this movie knows when to be slower paced, and fast during the action scenes, as well as keeping an aura of mystery & magic around it. Overall, this is one of the movie’s best qualities!
Voice Acting
Despite being a rather old title, Taro the Dragon Boy’s voice acting has managed to hold up remarkably well. The voice actor that I recognized almost immediately was Billie Lou Watt, whom some of you many recognize as the voice actor of Kimba from Kimba the White Lion. She voices Taro, and successfully brings out that character’s strong, stubborn, and later tender personality. One of the other characters (The Black Oni) also had a voice actor that I recognized from Kimba the White Lion, but I don’t know his name at the moment, yet he did a good job as well. The various other voice actors also seemed to sound great also, and overall their voices still manage to sound great now.
Episodes & Episode Length
Taro the Dragon Boy is a well-sized movie, but not like some of my more recent reviews. This OVA is an hour & 15 minutes long, making it just right for younger viewers who don’t like long movies. Given how kid friendly this OVA is, this is good for either watching in the afternoon, or right when they need to sleep (As a substitute for a nighttime story).
Availability & Pricing
Although it was released back in 2002 on tape, there aren’t enough copies of them for me to suggest to you to pick one up. Instead, I suggest that you pick up the 2006 DVD edition from Amazon. As I was writing this, there are 15 new copies available for purchase, along with 4 used copies. The new copies start at almost 11 dollars, while the used copies start at a little over 9 dollars. Since there’s barely any used DVDs, go straight for the new ones.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
For the most part, Taro the Dragon Boy is a whole movie that’s perfect for kids, but there’s two scenes that are kinda.....weird for a kids movie. In the opening credits, you see Taro dancing & playing with the animals of the forest. At one point Taro does a cartwheel, and his pants (?) fall down, showing his penis! This would be okay for maybe a second, but it’s up on the screen for perhaps 5 seconds! Creepy?
The second scene is right towards the end. After Taro confronts the dragon (SPOILERS: it is revealed that the dragon is Taro’s mother), the dragon’s body falls apart, revealing Taro’s mother in her human form. This is all well and good, but his mom is completely naked, and you even get a shot of her in the front, breasts & nipples & all. It’s not very detailed, but you get the general idea.
General Impression & Rating
Taro the Dragon Boy is one of those films that’s just perfect for kids. Made in a time when kids movies weren’t dumb down just for the sake of sales, it has a story that’s deep but not complex, a magical setting, and it has a cast that’s pretty damn likable. If you want to introduce your kids to the world of anime, or you want to bring your inner child out to play, then buy & watch this movie!
Taro the Dragon Boy gets a 8.5 to 9 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Sukeban Deka Review
Hi!
Well, it’s not much farther to the end. I don’t have many reviews left, and once today’s is put up, there’s only 9 left. I’m really gonna miss this marathon of reviews, as it’s been a lot of fun doing all of these. Even the ones that I don’t like, still provide some kind of entertainment for me, and perhaps for you. So, let’s jump right into Sukeban Deka, and see how this gritty Shojo holds up to today’s standards.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“Having spent time at a juvenile corrections facility, teenage delinquent Saki Asamiya is given a chance to redeem herself and delay her mother's possible death sentence by working as an undercover cop. Armed with nothing but a special yo-yo, Saki's assignment is to return to her high school and investigate on the corruption and mysterious deaths among the students. But in order to find the answers to the condition of her school, she must confront the wealthy and powerful Mizuchi sisters, who moved in and have taken control after her previous expulsion.”
Before I go into the story for this, I should note that the OVA is based off of the manga of the same name. The comic was quite a famous series, being printed in Japan from the mid 70s (January 1976) to early 80s (December 1982), yet never getting printed in the west. The manga was (From my understand, at least) filled with drama, action, girl power, and some emotional & funny moments. As for the OVA, it’s essentially a shortened version of the manga. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but because the source material was filled with so much depth (Again, I’ve never read this, as this is only known from research), it feels weakened here. Despite that, there’s definitely some meat on this OVA’s bones, and there’s some entertaining value to it all.
Setting
For the most part, Sukeban Deka takes place within the school that Saki is sent to. There are other places the OVA goes to, but those moments are quite as important to the story as the school is. On the surface, it looks like any other school in Japan: you’ve got the students, teachers, various classrooms, etc. Underneath the surface, however, is an entirely different story. Thanks to the Mizuchi sisters, there’s a palpable aura of fear all over the place. They have such an iron grip over the school and those within, you’d suspect that the place would start to crumble if even one person managed to wriggle out of their grasp.
Characters
Sukeban Deka has a good, if somewhat predictable, cast of characters. I say somewhat predictable, because you can guess to a certain extent what some of them are going to do in the story, and what’s going to happen to them by the end. Having said that, it’s still fun to root for the good guys, and for seeing the bad guys getting their asses kicked. I definitely have a love (Not that kind of love!) for the main girl Saki: she’s a natural fighter, never backs down & has a stubborn side to her, yet there’s times where she can activate, so to speak, a cute side to her. There’s plenty of other characters to watch, but you know that Saki is the one to keep an eye on.
Animation
There’s a very distinct look & feel to Sukeban Deka. In particular are the character’s design: they all seem to bear a resemblance to the original 70s manga. On top of that, the eyes of many of the characters have their own feel to them. Reimi Mizuchi (One of the villains), for example, has eyes that go from villainous to serpentine when the moment expects them to. There’s plenty of other characters sadly that don’t look as good or distinct as some of the other are, and some of the backgrounds aren’t quite so detailed, but overall this is a nice looking OVA.
Voice Acting
The voice acting in this sounds like a typical ADV Films title. This isn’t necessarily bad, as a good majority of their shows have some good voice acting behind them, and Sukeban Deka is no exception. Many of the actors that worked with ADV Films at the time put their voices into this, and overall it sounds just nice. Yes there are a couple voices actors that are more over the top than the rest, but that actually adds to the fun of the OVA. The voice actor that I immediately recognized was Amanda Wynn Lee, who voices Saki. She really brings out that character’s tough, serious, and fun sides, not to mention how sensitive she can be.
Episodes & Episode Length
Sukeban Deka is a hefty OVA. Almost as long as Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion, to be exact. Whereas that movie was almost 2 hours long, these episodes (There are two of them) are about 50 minutes each, making this viewing experience almost an hour and 40 minutes. Although there’s nothing massively adult (There’s at least 1 scene of a girl bathing in the nude), there’s some violent moments that might disturb lesser viewers. Keep this one to the dark folks!
Availability & Pricing
This is another one of those ADV Films titles that has becomes obscured by time, and is difficult to locate these days. Over on Amazon, there’s the original VHS releases (There were 2 tapes, with 1 episode on each tape) and there’s the DVD release (With both episodes on it). Although there are more of the individual tapes (Ep1 tapes start at just 2 dollars new, and just under 2 dollars used. Ep2 tapes begin at a little over 3 dollars in price, while used ones are a little over a dollar and a half), the DVD edition will probably be of better quality. As for price, new DVDs being at 25 dollars (This is more fair than say Miyuki-Chan in Wonderlands, as the episodes are longer, and there’s probably more content on the DVD in general), while used copies begin at almost 4 and a half dollars.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
Sukeban Deka is one of those OVAs that while it was fun, it’s not necessarily something that I’d watch over & over. There’s enough faults within that you’ll notice them, and if you’re a serious fan of anime or not, you’ll have problems with them. For me, while this OVA’s problems irked me, they didn’t bother me enough to the point that I didn’t have fun. Again, I’d watch this show once in a while, but not all the time.
Sukeban Deka gets a 7 out of 10.
See you all this Friday, when we’ll look at one of the most enchanting children’s anime ever made. Until then, stay Otaku!
Well, it’s not much farther to the end. I don’t have many reviews left, and once today’s is put up, there’s only 9 left. I’m really gonna miss this marathon of reviews, as it’s been a lot of fun doing all of these. Even the ones that I don’t like, still provide some kind of entertainment for me, and perhaps for you. So, let’s jump right into Sukeban Deka, and see how this gritty Shojo holds up to today’s standards.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb page:
“Having spent time at a juvenile corrections facility, teenage delinquent Saki Asamiya is given a chance to redeem herself and delay her mother's possible death sentence by working as an undercover cop. Armed with nothing but a special yo-yo, Saki's assignment is to return to her high school and investigate on the corruption and mysterious deaths among the students. But in order to find the answers to the condition of her school, she must confront the wealthy and powerful Mizuchi sisters, who moved in and have taken control after her previous expulsion.”
Before I go into the story for this, I should note that the OVA is based off of the manga of the same name. The comic was quite a famous series, being printed in Japan from the mid 70s (January 1976) to early 80s (December 1982), yet never getting printed in the west. The manga was (From my understand, at least) filled with drama, action, girl power, and some emotional & funny moments. As for the OVA, it’s essentially a shortened version of the manga. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but because the source material was filled with so much depth (Again, I’ve never read this, as this is only known from research), it feels weakened here. Despite that, there’s definitely some meat on this OVA’s bones, and there’s some entertaining value to it all.
Setting
For the most part, Sukeban Deka takes place within the school that Saki is sent to. There are other places the OVA goes to, but those moments are quite as important to the story as the school is. On the surface, it looks like any other school in Japan: you’ve got the students, teachers, various classrooms, etc. Underneath the surface, however, is an entirely different story. Thanks to the Mizuchi sisters, there’s a palpable aura of fear all over the place. They have such an iron grip over the school and those within, you’d suspect that the place would start to crumble if even one person managed to wriggle out of their grasp.
Characters
Sukeban Deka has a good, if somewhat predictable, cast of characters. I say somewhat predictable, because you can guess to a certain extent what some of them are going to do in the story, and what’s going to happen to them by the end. Having said that, it’s still fun to root for the good guys, and for seeing the bad guys getting their asses kicked. I definitely have a love (Not that kind of love!) for the main girl Saki: she’s a natural fighter, never backs down & has a stubborn side to her, yet there’s times where she can activate, so to speak, a cute side to her. There’s plenty of other characters to watch, but you know that Saki is the one to keep an eye on.
Animation
There’s a very distinct look & feel to Sukeban Deka. In particular are the character’s design: they all seem to bear a resemblance to the original 70s manga. On top of that, the eyes of many of the characters have their own feel to them. Reimi Mizuchi (One of the villains), for example, has eyes that go from villainous to serpentine when the moment expects them to. There’s plenty of other characters sadly that don’t look as good or distinct as some of the other are, and some of the backgrounds aren’t quite so detailed, but overall this is a nice looking OVA.
Voice Acting
The voice acting in this sounds like a typical ADV Films title. This isn’t necessarily bad, as a good majority of their shows have some good voice acting behind them, and Sukeban Deka is no exception. Many of the actors that worked with ADV Films at the time put their voices into this, and overall it sounds just nice. Yes there are a couple voices actors that are more over the top than the rest, but that actually adds to the fun of the OVA. The voice actor that I immediately recognized was Amanda Wynn Lee, who voices Saki. She really brings out that character’s tough, serious, and fun sides, not to mention how sensitive she can be.
Episodes & Episode Length
Sukeban Deka is a hefty OVA. Almost as long as Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion, to be exact. Whereas that movie was almost 2 hours long, these episodes (There are two of them) are about 50 minutes each, making this viewing experience almost an hour and 40 minutes. Although there’s nothing massively adult (There’s at least 1 scene of a girl bathing in the nude), there’s some violent moments that might disturb lesser viewers. Keep this one to the dark folks!
Availability & Pricing
This is another one of those ADV Films titles that has becomes obscured by time, and is difficult to locate these days. Over on Amazon, there’s the original VHS releases (There were 2 tapes, with 1 episode on each tape) and there’s the DVD release (With both episodes on it). Although there are more of the individual tapes (Ep1 tapes start at just 2 dollars new, and just under 2 dollars used. Ep2 tapes begin at a little over 3 dollars in price, while used ones are a little over a dollar and a half), the DVD edition will probably be of better quality. As for price, new DVDs being at 25 dollars (This is more fair than say Miyuki-Chan in Wonderlands, as the episodes are longer, and there’s probably more content on the DVD in general), while used copies begin at almost 4 and a half dollars.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
Sukeban Deka is one of those OVAs that while it was fun, it’s not necessarily something that I’d watch over & over. There’s enough faults within that you’ll notice them, and if you’re a serious fan of anime or not, you’ll have problems with them. For me, while this OVA’s problems irked me, they didn’t bother me enough to the point that I didn’t have fun. Again, I’d watch this show once in a while, but not all the time.
Sukeban Deka gets a 7 out of 10.
See you all this Friday, when we’ll look at one of the most enchanting children’s anime ever made. Until then, stay Otaku!
Monday, September 9, 2013
Project A-Ko Review
Hi there! Last Friday’s movie was a bit of a downer. It was good, but it left me a little depressed. Luckily, today’s review is a goofy, silly, happy, and slightly sexy flick. So, without further words, let’s look at the oddball title, and old-school Otaku favorite, Project A-Ko.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb/wikipedia webpage:
“The plot revolves around Magami Eiko (A-ko), a red-haired teenage girl who just happens to be stronger and faster than anyone else alive. However, A-ko considers herself to be perfectly normal, and worries mostly about getting to school on time. Her best friend is Kotobuki Shiiko (C-ko), a bubbly, carefree, optimistic blonde. The two girls transfer to Graviton High School and catch the attention of Daitokuji Biko (B-ko), a brilliant but spoiled-rotten (and possibly psychotic) classmate with a knack for building mecha in no time flat.
B-ko develops an unexpected crush on the innocent C-ko and is determined to get A-ko out of the picture at any cost. Her determination goes from being merely obsessive to homicidal when she realizes that she and A-ko were rivals back in kindergarten. B-ko creates a series of killer mecha to defeat A-ko before the morning bell rings. All of them are destroyed effortlessly by A-ko. In a final attempt at victory, B-ko makes the fight more personal by donning her infamous "Akagiyama-23" battlesuit and challenging A-ko to a duel, devastating the school and much of Graviton City in the process.
Meanwhile, Earth is being threatened by a massive spaceship piloted by a race of female aliens from the Lepton Kingdom of Alpha-Cygni, who have come to Earth to retrieve their long-lost princess. Oddly enough, the princess turns out to be none other than C-ko; she is kidnapped by an alien operative known as "D" in the middle of A-ko and B-ko's fight and taken aboard the spaceship.
A-ko and B-ko agree to put aside their differences long enough to rescue C-ko, and using the flight capabilities of the Akagiyama-23, they storm the ship.”
Despite looking like a deep story, Project A-Ko is really just a highly goofy comedy. There’s slapstick, puns, references to other anime titles, silly characters, and oddball humor. It’s a story that gives you a background so you can understand what’s going on, but it’s not meant to be taken seriously in the slightest.
Setting
Graviton City is a dual-sided coin. On the one hand, much of the film takes place within a 80s style city. You find all of the typical things within this city, including the school where the girls go to. On the other hand, because of the alien tech that was recovered before the movie starts, there’s more of a technological influence, as the military’s gear is much more advanced than normal, and some of the places within the city are more modern than normal (For the time, at least). There’s even a remnant of the alien ship in the city, in the form of a spire sticking out in the middle.
Characters
Project A-Ko has without a doubt, one of the greatest & wackiest cast of characters I’ve ever seen in a movie. Although the cast is small (There’s really only 9 primary characters in the movie, and a tossable grabbag of secondary characters), they bring a lot of personality to the table. There’s A-Ko, a girl that tries to lead a normal life, but has a fiery temper, and is incredibly speedy & strong (Due to the fact that her parents are Superman & Wonder Woman......I’ll let that sink in). B-Ko is pretty & popular, but she’s highly arrogant, and tries to defeat A-Ko at every turn so she can have C-Ko to herself. Meanwhile, C-Ko is hyper, adorable, annoying, and very attached to A-Ko.
We also have B-Ko’s groupies/henchwomen (Ume, Ine, Asa and Mari), Captain Napolipolita, and the spy known as D. These characters don’t have as much screentime as the ones above, but they’re still weird, and they still bring something to the character table.
Animation
Project A-Ko’s animation has managed to age surprisingly well. All of the characters look great, and considering that the cast is almost all girls/women (You might see a guy from time to time, but this rarely happens), they all range from cute to lovely. When things are slow-paced, they are slow-paced, but when things become faster, they move at a fast & fluid pace (Especially during the action scenes). There are a couple character models that lean heavily towards the hideous side of things, mostly sticking towards the girls that look like men (For anyone who’s never seen this, I won’t spoil it for you). As for the various backgrounds and locales, they’ve also aged well, but certain moments seems a little grainy or darker than the rest.
Voice Acting
The voice acting in Project A-Ko, for the most part, is serviceable. For the most part at least, all of the characters have good voices behind them. In particular is A-Ko’s voice actor Teryl Rothery, whom you might remember for her role as Dr. Janet Fraiser on Stargate SG1. She really brings out the character’s cute yet tough aspect quite well. Some of the other voice actors have some pedigree as well: Venus Terzo (B-Ko) voiced Ranma’s female form in Ranma ½, Cathy Weseluck (C-Ko) currently voices Spike the Dragon in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and Scott McNeil is best known for his role as Piccolo in Dragonball Z. The voice actors within this movie do a great job with the role they’re given, although there are side characters with voices that don’t have as much effort put into them, but they’re ignorable for the most part.
Episodes & Episode Length
Project A-Ko is another long OVA movie, but nowhere near as long as last Friday’s review. This one comes in at an hour and 23 minutes, which is nowhere near as tedious as a near 2 hour movie. If this was going to be as dirty as it was originally intended, then I would say that you should watch this at night, but I’ll talk about this more in a little bit. Suffice it to say, this is a nicely-sized movie.
Availability & Pricing
Although the older edition from the U.S. Manga Corps is tricky but not impossible to locate (You can still find them over on Amazon), it was re-released as recently as May of 2011. I haven’t found it in stores, but it’s readily available on Amazon, and the pricing is great as well. New copies start out at 11 dollars in price, while the used copies being at the still reasonable 10 dollars & 20 cents. There’s also the older VHS release, and while they’re cheaper, there’s less of them.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
Project A-Ko is pure liquid fun. This movie is so out there, so funny, and so full of character, it’s hard to not like. There is a small problem from time to time, but with the content in the film, the positives heavily outway the problems. If you need a laugh, then pick this up, and prepare to smile.
Project A-Ko gets a 8 to 9 out of 10.
See you all this Wednesday, when we’ll look a dark yet intriguing title. Until then, stay Otaku!
* If you’d like to watch the whole series, then click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb6xu0lGxn_HXh1GZl2dDBrvx6TVC365n
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb/wikipedia webpage:
“The plot revolves around Magami Eiko (A-ko), a red-haired teenage girl who just happens to be stronger and faster than anyone else alive. However, A-ko considers herself to be perfectly normal, and worries mostly about getting to school on time. Her best friend is Kotobuki Shiiko (C-ko), a bubbly, carefree, optimistic blonde. The two girls transfer to Graviton High School and catch the attention of Daitokuji Biko (B-ko), a brilliant but spoiled-rotten (and possibly psychotic) classmate with a knack for building mecha in no time flat.
B-ko develops an unexpected crush on the innocent C-ko and is determined to get A-ko out of the picture at any cost. Her determination goes from being merely obsessive to homicidal when she realizes that she and A-ko were rivals back in kindergarten. B-ko creates a series of killer mecha to defeat A-ko before the morning bell rings. All of them are destroyed effortlessly by A-ko. In a final attempt at victory, B-ko makes the fight more personal by donning her infamous "Akagiyama-23" battlesuit and challenging A-ko to a duel, devastating the school and much of Graviton City in the process.
Meanwhile, Earth is being threatened by a massive spaceship piloted by a race of female aliens from the Lepton Kingdom of Alpha-Cygni, who have come to Earth to retrieve their long-lost princess. Oddly enough, the princess turns out to be none other than C-ko; she is kidnapped by an alien operative known as "D" in the middle of A-ko and B-ko's fight and taken aboard the spaceship.
A-ko and B-ko agree to put aside their differences long enough to rescue C-ko, and using the flight capabilities of the Akagiyama-23, they storm the ship.”
Despite looking like a deep story, Project A-Ko is really just a highly goofy comedy. There’s slapstick, puns, references to other anime titles, silly characters, and oddball humor. It’s a story that gives you a background so you can understand what’s going on, but it’s not meant to be taken seriously in the slightest.
Setting
Graviton City is a dual-sided coin. On the one hand, much of the film takes place within a 80s style city. You find all of the typical things within this city, including the school where the girls go to. On the other hand, because of the alien tech that was recovered before the movie starts, there’s more of a technological influence, as the military’s gear is much more advanced than normal, and some of the places within the city are more modern than normal (For the time, at least). There’s even a remnant of the alien ship in the city, in the form of a spire sticking out in the middle.
Characters
Project A-Ko has without a doubt, one of the greatest & wackiest cast of characters I’ve ever seen in a movie. Although the cast is small (There’s really only 9 primary characters in the movie, and a tossable grabbag of secondary characters), they bring a lot of personality to the table. There’s A-Ko, a girl that tries to lead a normal life, but has a fiery temper, and is incredibly speedy & strong (Due to the fact that her parents are Superman & Wonder Woman......I’ll let that sink in). B-Ko is pretty & popular, but she’s highly arrogant, and tries to defeat A-Ko at every turn so she can have C-Ko to herself. Meanwhile, C-Ko is hyper, adorable, annoying, and very attached to A-Ko.
We also have B-Ko’s groupies/henchwomen (Ume, Ine, Asa and Mari), Captain Napolipolita, and the spy known as D. These characters don’t have as much screentime as the ones above, but they’re still weird, and they still bring something to the character table.
Animation
Project A-Ko’s animation has managed to age surprisingly well. All of the characters look great, and considering that the cast is almost all girls/women (You might see a guy from time to time, but this rarely happens), they all range from cute to lovely. When things are slow-paced, they are slow-paced, but when things become faster, they move at a fast & fluid pace (Especially during the action scenes). There are a couple character models that lean heavily towards the hideous side of things, mostly sticking towards the girls that look like men (For anyone who’s never seen this, I won’t spoil it for you). As for the various backgrounds and locales, they’ve also aged well, but certain moments seems a little grainy or darker than the rest.
Voice Acting
The voice acting in Project A-Ko, for the most part, is serviceable. For the most part at least, all of the characters have good voices behind them. In particular is A-Ko’s voice actor Teryl Rothery, whom you might remember for her role as Dr. Janet Fraiser on Stargate SG1. She really brings out the character’s cute yet tough aspect quite well. Some of the other voice actors have some pedigree as well: Venus Terzo (B-Ko) voiced Ranma’s female form in Ranma ½, Cathy Weseluck (C-Ko) currently voices Spike the Dragon in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and Scott McNeil is best known for his role as Piccolo in Dragonball Z. The voice actors within this movie do a great job with the role they’re given, although there are side characters with voices that don’t have as much effort put into them, but they’re ignorable for the most part.
Episodes & Episode Length
Project A-Ko is another long OVA movie, but nowhere near as long as last Friday’s review. This one comes in at an hour and 23 minutes, which is nowhere near as tedious as a near 2 hour movie. If this was going to be as dirty as it was originally intended, then I would say that you should watch this at night, but I’ll talk about this more in a little bit. Suffice it to say, this is a nicely-sized movie.
Availability & Pricing
Although the older edition from the U.S. Manga Corps is tricky but not impossible to locate (You can still find them over on Amazon), it was re-released as recently as May of 2011. I haven’t found it in stores, but it’s readily available on Amazon, and the pricing is great as well. New copies start out at 11 dollars in price, while the used copies being at the still reasonable 10 dollars & 20 cents. There’s also the older VHS release, and while they’re cheaper, there’s less of them.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
Project A-Ko is pure liquid fun. This movie is so out there, so funny, and so full of character, it’s hard to not like. There is a small problem from time to time, but with the content in the film, the positives heavily outway the problems. If you need a laugh, then pick this up, and prepare to smile.
Project A-Ko gets a 8 to 9 out of 10.
See you all this Wednesday, when we’ll look a dark yet intriguing title. Until then, stay Otaku!
* If you’d like to watch the whole series, then click on the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb6xu0lGxn_HXh1GZl2dDBrvx6TVC365n
Friday, September 6, 2013
Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion Review
Hi guys. Including today’s post, we’ve got 12 reviews left before this mighty beast is slain. That last phrase is quite fitting for today’s post, as it delves into the mythical past of Greece, where gods & monsters roamed the land, and heroes accomplished great deeds, earning them a spot in legend. So, slip into a comfy chair, feel all smart & fancy, and take a look at my review for Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb webpage:
“In Thrace, Arion is taken from his mother Demeter by the god Hades. In the Underworld, Arion is trained to be a warrior. His training is driven by revenge: Arion was told that his mother's blindness was caused by Zeus and Zeus' death will remove the curse. Finally, Arion and Geedo (a huge ape-like creature who had become Arion's friend and companion) left the Underworld to find Zeus. Seneca, a small thief, makes off with Arion's sword and this leads Arion to his first encounter with the forces of Zeus, commanded by his daughter Athena. Arion is captured but is later set free by Lesfeena, Athena's mute serving girl. As Arion rejoins Geedo and Seneca (and worries about Lesfeena), the forces of Zeus and Poseidon face each other in battle. In the background sits the scheming Hades, and the calm Apollon who seems to have plans of his own.”
If Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland was a interesting twist on classic literature, then Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion is a interesting twist on Greek mythology. This movie is sorta like Dante’s Inferno the Game: it takes a iconic mythology/story, then changes it around into it’s own world, but keeping enough of the original elements around to have something familiar to relate to.
Setting
Like I said in the section above, Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion is based off of Greek mythology. Whereas Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland went for a more fantastical portrayal of Wonderland, this movie tries to portray it’s world in the style of mythical Greece. For the most part, they succeed: there’s grand palaces, the underworld, the heavens above, villages, etc. There’s a very ancient quality to many of the locales, and it works, but if there’s any weakness to this movie, it’s that sometimes things stray away from the Greco theme. This doesn’t happen often, but certain locales/shots seem to be a little more western than Grecian, and they’ll possibly take you out of the movie, but just for a second or two.
Characters
Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion has a impressive cast of characters. You’ve got humanity, monsters, and gods all over the place. The gods are placed above everybody else: there’s a heavy aura of arrogance surrounding them, and they’ve got the power & influence to back that arrogance up. Most of the monsters are either cannon fodder, or slaves for the gods. The only monster that seeps to be up higher on the superiority ladder is Geedo: he seems to be smarter, clever, and more human that most of the other critters that get killed off. Humanity (Which includes Arion. Getting into his story would take up more space than needed, but suffice it to say he plays a big part in the story) seems to get the brunt of it all, getting slain & devoured by monsters, and getting manipulated by the gods. In short, you’ll boo the bad guys, and cheer/weep for the good guys.
Animation
I’ll say that this is another OVA that’s a product of it’s time. Coming out back in 1986, this is a full-fledged cheese fest of animation quality. Having said that, this isn’t a ugly movie. In fact, it’s one of the slickest anime I’ve seen to date. The various characters & monsters move around quite smoothly, and the whole look of the movie is a combination of the mytical, surreal, and the fantastic.
Voice Acting
Since this was never released in the west, there is no dub.
Episodes & Episode Length
This is quite possibly the longest OVA movie I’ve watched to date on this blog. Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion clocks in at almost two hours long, making it a hefty movie to watch. Because of the time length, you might be squirming in your chair, especially if you don’t like long movies. If on the other hand you like longer films (And I have a feeling that most of you do), then you’ll get a kick out of this.
Availability & Pricing
Since this was never released in the west, I have no idea how available it is right now. If you’re interested in this movie, then here’s a link to download it:
http://www.garoo9.com/elevator_kart/?p=833
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
It’s an honest tragedy that Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion never came out to the United States and the west beyond, because I thought it would do a decent job. You’ve got a twist on a classic theme, an interesting & intriguing story, an impressive cast of characters, and a host of other things. Granted, this has a long running time, there’s no dub, and the Grecian theme sometimes slips up, but overall this is a solid movie. If you like a twist on a classic mythology, then I highly suggest this.
Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion gets a 7.5 to 7.8 out of 10.
See you all next Monday, when we’ll look at one of the wackiest movies ever made. Until then, stay Otaku!
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb webpage:
“In Thrace, Arion is taken from his mother Demeter by the god Hades. In the Underworld, Arion is trained to be a warrior. His training is driven by revenge: Arion was told that his mother's blindness was caused by Zeus and Zeus' death will remove the curse. Finally, Arion and Geedo (a huge ape-like creature who had become Arion's friend and companion) left the Underworld to find Zeus. Seneca, a small thief, makes off with Arion's sword and this leads Arion to his first encounter with the forces of Zeus, commanded by his daughter Athena. Arion is captured but is later set free by Lesfeena, Athena's mute serving girl. As Arion rejoins Geedo and Seneca (and worries about Lesfeena), the forces of Zeus and Poseidon face each other in battle. In the background sits the scheming Hades, and the calm Apollon who seems to have plans of his own.”
If Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland was a interesting twist on classic literature, then Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion is a interesting twist on Greek mythology. This movie is sorta like Dante’s Inferno the Game: it takes a iconic mythology/story, then changes it around into it’s own world, but keeping enough of the original elements around to have something familiar to relate to.
Setting
Like I said in the section above, Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion is based off of Greek mythology. Whereas Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland went for a more fantastical portrayal of Wonderland, this movie tries to portray it’s world in the style of mythical Greece. For the most part, they succeed: there’s grand palaces, the underworld, the heavens above, villages, etc. There’s a very ancient quality to many of the locales, and it works, but if there’s any weakness to this movie, it’s that sometimes things stray away from the Greco theme. This doesn’t happen often, but certain locales/shots seem to be a little more western than Grecian, and they’ll possibly take you out of the movie, but just for a second or two.
Characters
Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion has a impressive cast of characters. You’ve got humanity, monsters, and gods all over the place. The gods are placed above everybody else: there’s a heavy aura of arrogance surrounding them, and they’ve got the power & influence to back that arrogance up. Most of the monsters are either cannon fodder, or slaves for the gods. The only monster that seeps to be up higher on the superiority ladder is Geedo: he seems to be smarter, clever, and more human that most of the other critters that get killed off. Humanity (Which includes Arion. Getting into his story would take up more space than needed, but suffice it to say he plays a big part in the story) seems to get the brunt of it all, getting slain & devoured by monsters, and getting manipulated by the gods. In short, you’ll boo the bad guys, and cheer/weep for the good guys.
Animation
I’ll say that this is another OVA that’s a product of it’s time. Coming out back in 1986, this is a full-fledged cheese fest of animation quality. Having said that, this isn’t a ugly movie. In fact, it’s one of the slickest anime I’ve seen to date. The various characters & monsters move around quite smoothly, and the whole look of the movie is a combination of the mytical, surreal, and the fantastic.
Voice Acting
Since this was never released in the west, there is no dub.
Episodes & Episode Length
This is quite possibly the longest OVA movie I’ve watched to date on this blog. Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion clocks in at almost two hours long, making it a hefty movie to watch. Because of the time length, you might be squirming in your chair, especially if you don’t like long movies. If on the other hand you like longer films (And I have a feeling that most of you do), then you’ll get a kick out of this.
Availability & Pricing
Since this was never released in the west, I have no idea how available it is right now. If you’re interested in this movie, then here’s a link to download it:
http://www.garoo9.com/elevator_kart/?p=833
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
It’s an honest tragedy that Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion never came out to the United States and the west beyond, because I thought it would do a decent job. You’ve got a twist on a classic theme, an interesting & intriguing story, an impressive cast of characters, and a host of other things. Granted, this has a long running time, there’s no dub, and the Grecian theme sometimes slips up, but overall this is a solid movie. If you like a twist on a classic mythology, then I highly suggest this.
Neo Heroic Fantasia Arion gets a 7.5 to 7.8 out of 10.
See you all next Monday, when we’ll look at one of the wackiest movies ever made. Until then, stay Otaku!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland Review
Hi there! This past Monday I reviewed Mezzo Forte, a gorgeous action-packed OVA, complete with some of the most visceral sex scenes ever. Today’s review is a bit more lighthearted. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still sexy, but this one’s considerably funnier, and is a little.......gay (In an awesome way!). So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this review of CLAMP’s homage to Lewis Carroll’s classic, Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland.
Story/Setup
The story of Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland is essentially a take on the classic Alice in Wonderland. Mind-mannered schoolgirl Miyuki tries to go about her normal day, but is instantly drawn into a fantastical world, filled with odd imagery, and some of the most gorgeous women ever drawn. These women all want Miyuki, and she does the best she can to avoid being caught up in their advances, all along traveling from one fantastic locale to another.
I’ll quickly point out that this OVA is based off of the first two parts of the Manga. The source comic actually has 7 stories, with the first two being the only references to Alice In Wonderland (The last story is a direct crossover to X the Movie. Go figure?). This is actually a rather clever take on the original story. There are still familiar elements from Alice in Wonderland, but there’s been plenty of changes that make it look & feel like it’s something original.
Setting
Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland, as you can tell, takes place with Wonderland, only this one is anime-styled. For starters, the white rabbit is now a playboy bunny, and the door leading to wonderland now has a cute girl as the guard. Beyond the door, she enters Wonderland proper. Miyuki travels to some familiar sights: the Eat Me/Drink Me table, the forest, and the Queen’s kingdom are just a couple example of the places she travels to. When she travels to Mirrorland in the 2nd episode, Miyuki enters a surreal world, filled with talking flowers, wind, and a giant chess board. It’s fun to see both of these places, and as childish as this might sound, and they look fun to go to (Especially if they’re still filled with women).
Characters
Although there isn’t much characterization in this OVA, I’m not gonna bitch much, especially when you consider the content. Essentially, the cast is the same as that within the original Alice In Wonderland (For the most part), only they’re all girls, and seem to have a lesbian crush on Miyuki (Who’s pretty much the standard Japanese schoolgirl). Not only that, they have some thematic changes as well. Tweedle-Dee & Tweedle-Dum have become Chinese martial artists, the Cheshire Cat as become a blonde & sexy catgirl, and the Queen of Hearts was twisted into a sexy S&M dominatrix. These are just a couple of iconic literature characters that have become sexy versions of their former selves, and it’s something of a pleasant/hot change.
Animation
Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland is a typical CLAMP title. The environments look unique, the colors are used in a vivid manner, and overall it just looks fantastic! If I had only one complaint, it would be that it looks a little rougher than some of their earlier work. While X the Movie seemed smoother and the characters moved around at a faster pace, in this things have a slight jaggedness to it, and the characters move a little slower. Other than that, Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland is a great looking show!
Voice Acting
Although Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland was released in the United States, there was no dub. If there is a dub, then I’ll update this review with a little blurb on it.
Episodes & Episode Length
This is a rather curious OVA. Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland is composed of two episodes, the first one running at close to 13 minutes, and the second one running at about 16 minutes. All in all, this becomes almost a half-hour viewing, which is fine for a small OVA. The biggest problem with the OVA’s length however, is that the show goes by at a rapid pace, almost to the point where it doesn’t feel like it’s a half-hour long.
Availability & Pricing
Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland is a release from ADV Films, and is one out of a massive majority of their library that hasn’t seen a 2nd release from another company. Having said that, there are a couple VHS & DVD copies over on amazon still. This is definitely a circumstance where buying the DVD is smarter than buying the VHS edition: There are only 14 VHS copies available, 3 new (Starting at 9 dollars) & 11 used (Prices starts at $3.49). Although the DVD editions are more expensive, there are 22 available at this moment in time. The new copies start at 35 dollars (Given how much content there is, 35 dollars is somewhat outrageous), while the used copies start at a more humble $4.65 dollars.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland is a pleasant surprise. It does have a couple problems, but they don’t necessarily put down how much fun this was to watch. It’s cute, sexy, and quite odd. If you have about a half-hour to kill, I suggest you give this interesting OVA a try!
Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland gets a 7.5 out of 10.
See you this Friday, when we’ll look at a interesting tale. Until then, stay Otaku!
Story/Setup
The story of Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland is essentially a take on the classic Alice in Wonderland. Mind-mannered schoolgirl Miyuki tries to go about her normal day, but is instantly drawn into a fantastical world, filled with odd imagery, and some of the most gorgeous women ever drawn. These women all want Miyuki, and she does the best she can to avoid being caught up in their advances, all along traveling from one fantastic locale to another.
I’ll quickly point out that this OVA is based off of the first two parts of the Manga. The source comic actually has 7 stories, with the first two being the only references to Alice In Wonderland (The last story is a direct crossover to X the Movie. Go figure?). This is actually a rather clever take on the original story. There are still familiar elements from Alice in Wonderland, but there’s been plenty of changes that make it look & feel like it’s something original.
Setting
Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland, as you can tell, takes place with Wonderland, only this one is anime-styled. For starters, the white rabbit is now a playboy bunny, and the door leading to wonderland now has a cute girl as the guard. Beyond the door, she enters Wonderland proper. Miyuki travels to some familiar sights: the Eat Me/Drink Me table, the forest, and the Queen’s kingdom are just a couple example of the places she travels to. When she travels to Mirrorland in the 2nd episode, Miyuki enters a surreal world, filled with talking flowers, wind, and a giant chess board. It’s fun to see both of these places, and as childish as this might sound, and they look fun to go to (Especially if they’re still filled with women).
Characters
Although there isn’t much characterization in this OVA, I’m not gonna bitch much, especially when you consider the content. Essentially, the cast is the same as that within the original Alice In Wonderland (For the most part), only they’re all girls, and seem to have a lesbian crush on Miyuki (Who’s pretty much the standard Japanese schoolgirl). Not only that, they have some thematic changes as well. Tweedle-Dee & Tweedle-Dum have become Chinese martial artists, the Cheshire Cat as become a blonde & sexy catgirl, and the Queen of Hearts was twisted into a sexy S&M dominatrix. These are just a couple of iconic literature characters that have become sexy versions of their former selves, and it’s something of a pleasant/hot change.
Animation
Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland is a typical CLAMP title. The environments look unique, the colors are used in a vivid manner, and overall it just looks fantastic! If I had only one complaint, it would be that it looks a little rougher than some of their earlier work. While X the Movie seemed smoother and the characters moved around at a faster pace, in this things have a slight jaggedness to it, and the characters move a little slower. Other than that, Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland is a great looking show!
Voice Acting
Although Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland was released in the United States, there was no dub. If there is a dub, then I’ll update this review with a little blurb on it.
Episodes & Episode Length
This is a rather curious OVA. Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland is composed of two episodes, the first one running at close to 13 minutes, and the second one running at about 16 minutes. All in all, this becomes almost a half-hour viewing, which is fine for a small OVA. The biggest problem with the OVA’s length however, is that the show goes by at a rapid pace, almost to the point where it doesn’t feel like it’s a half-hour long.
Availability & Pricing
Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland is a release from ADV Films, and is one out of a massive majority of their library that hasn’t seen a 2nd release from another company. Having said that, there are a couple VHS & DVD copies over on amazon still. This is definitely a circumstance where buying the DVD is smarter than buying the VHS edition: There are only 14 VHS copies available, 3 new (Starting at 9 dollars) & 11 used (Prices starts at $3.49). Although the DVD editions are more expensive, there are 22 available at this moment in time. The new copies start at 35 dollars (Given how much content there is, 35 dollars is somewhat outrageous), while the used copies start at a more humble $4.65 dollars.
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
General Impression & Rating
Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland is a pleasant surprise. It does have a couple problems, but they don’t necessarily put down how much fun this was to watch. It’s cute, sexy, and quite odd. If you have about a half-hour to kill, I suggest you give this interesting OVA a try!
Miyuki-Chan In Wonderland gets a 7.5 out of 10.
See you this Friday, when we’ll look at a interesting tale. Until then, stay Otaku!
Monday, September 2, 2013
Mezzo Forte Review
Hi everyone! This month marks the final period of my reviews. September will be the quickest of these past months, as I’ll be putting up 3 reviews a week, and I have 14 shows left (Including today’s). I’m starting off this speed with a favorite of old-school otaku: a hard-hitting OVA miniseries, complete with an adult edge. So lets turn down the lights, slip into something loose fitting, and take a look at the sexy & action packed Mezzo Forte.
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb webpage:
“For Mikura, danger is routine and killing is just like breathing. Sleek and sexy, she was born with a gun in each hand and a smile on her face. She specializes in taking risks, but things get a little too hot when her company takes a kidnapping job. The target is a wealthy baseball team owner named Momokichi, but he turns out to be a powerful underworld boss. Mikura and her team are beset by countless heavily armed bodyguards and Momokichi's vicious daughter, Momomi. She's used to getting her way, and with world class marksmanship skills, she may be the perfect match for Mikura.”
Unlike the previous movie Kite (Which I should have reviewed first......if I found it!), Mezzo Forte has a more organized story. It’s not the deepest story that Kite tries to be (Emphasis on the word tries), and once the fighting starts things go apeshit, it’s much more cohesive than Kite, and things flow at a smooth pace.
Setting
Mezzo Forte’s setting is something of a two-sided coin. For starters, you aren’t given the name of the city that the OVA takes place in (If they did say it’s name, then I didn’t notice). Secondly, there’s times where certain locales are darker that they should be, but this doesn’t happen much. On a more positive note, the setting looks fantastic & believable, and despite being another OVA that takes place in the city, this one has flavor to it.
Characters
Despite all of it’s positives, Mezzo Forte’s one weakness is it’s characters. It’s not that they’re not likable, cause they are (Even the psychotic bad guys have some sort of appeal to them). It’s the fact that you really don’t learn anything about the characters’s background. You’re given a couple teasers about some of the good guys, but that’s really all you’re ever given.
Animation
Mezzo Forte is one of the most beautiful and fluid OVAs I’ve ever watched! The characters look really good, and more around realistically. They each have their own individual looks & appearance (Although Mikura and the female villain have similar looking faces), separating them from one another and allowing you to be able to see who’s who. Even during the action scenes, you can still tell individuals apart. The various backgrounds look nice as well, but sometimes the darker/sensual locales seem just a tad too stylized for my taste.
Voice Acting
Mezzo Forte’s voice acting is on the razor’s edge of quality, leaning heavily towards good. Most of the voice actors bring something to the table, and thus most of the characters have good voices. There are only a scant few of the characters that have okay voices (Nobody seems to have a bad voice), but they’re mainly quick side characters, and perhaps one or two of the villains (In this circumstance, it’s bad in the fact that you notice that’s something’s up, but it’s not ear-splitting).
Episodes & Episode Length
Mezzo Forte is composed of two OVAs, each of which run at a half-hour. Depending on if you have the censored or uncut edition, watch this during the day or the night (More on this later).
Availability & Pricing
Mezzo Forte is one of the more confusing titles I’ve downloaded. Although there are plenty of copies over on amazon, the version I reviewed here was the uncut edition. This version is almost impossible to locate on the website: as I was typing this there are only 5 copies available for purchase, with 3 new & 2 used. Each of these copies are ungodly expensive: the new copies start at a whopping 118 dollars, while the used copies start at the less whopping but still expensive 99 dollars. There’s a couple more censored copies, but knowing some of you guys, that’s not what you want. So to help you out, here’s a link where you can download the uncut edition. Enjoy!
http://www.garoo9.com/elevator_kart/?p=2978
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
I should quickly point out the reason why the uncut version is superior to the censored version. Within both episodes are two sex scenes, each of them involving the lead female. For starters, these scenes don’t have the original voice actor doing them (They have a porn star voice those scenes). Secondly, these are pretty hot & heavy scenes! In the first ep, the sex scene goes between conceptual & rape (The conceptual aspect stays within the first half of the scene for the most part). In the 2nd ep, the sex scene is pure rape (Mikura is in tears throughout a majority of the scene), and you can tell that the lead is in pain. If you are adverse to hentai & rape, then there are copies of Mezzo Forte (and Kite) that don’t have these sex scenes within them. It still has all the action & violence, but it is more cleaner so to speak.
General Impression & Rating
Mezzo Forte is some damn good fun! Even if you have a version that doesn’t contain the sex scenes (A tragic shame, honestly), the action scenes, characters, and the violence make for a great time. If you can somehow locate a copy of this OVA, put it in your DVD player, and get ready for a good time!
Mezzo Forte gets a 8.5 out of 10.
See you this Wednesday, when we’ll look at what happens when you mix lesbians & Alice in Wonderland. Until then, stay Otaku!
Story/Setup
Taken from the anidb webpage:
“For Mikura, danger is routine and killing is just like breathing. Sleek and sexy, she was born with a gun in each hand and a smile on her face. She specializes in taking risks, but things get a little too hot when her company takes a kidnapping job. The target is a wealthy baseball team owner named Momokichi, but he turns out to be a powerful underworld boss. Mikura and her team are beset by countless heavily armed bodyguards and Momokichi's vicious daughter, Momomi. She's used to getting her way, and with world class marksmanship skills, she may be the perfect match for Mikura.”
Unlike the previous movie Kite (Which I should have reviewed first......if I found it!), Mezzo Forte has a more organized story. It’s not the deepest story that Kite tries to be (Emphasis on the word tries), and once the fighting starts things go apeshit, it’s much more cohesive than Kite, and things flow at a smooth pace.
Setting
Mezzo Forte’s setting is something of a two-sided coin. For starters, you aren’t given the name of the city that the OVA takes place in (If they did say it’s name, then I didn’t notice). Secondly, there’s times where certain locales are darker that they should be, but this doesn’t happen much. On a more positive note, the setting looks fantastic & believable, and despite being another OVA that takes place in the city, this one has flavor to it.
Characters
Despite all of it’s positives, Mezzo Forte’s one weakness is it’s characters. It’s not that they’re not likable, cause they are (Even the psychotic bad guys have some sort of appeal to them). It’s the fact that you really don’t learn anything about the characters’s background. You’re given a couple teasers about some of the good guys, but that’s really all you’re ever given.
Animation
Mezzo Forte is one of the most beautiful and fluid OVAs I’ve ever watched! The characters look really good, and more around realistically. They each have their own individual looks & appearance (Although Mikura and the female villain have similar looking faces), separating them from one another and allowing you to be able to see who’s who. Even during the action scenes, you can still tell individuals apart. The various backgrounds look nice as well, but sometimes the darker/sensual locales seem just a tad too stylized for my taste.
Voice Acting
Mezzo Forte’s voice acting is on the razor’s edge of quality, leaning heavily towards good. Most of the voice actors bring something to the table, and thus most of the characters have good voices. There are only a scant few of the characters that have okay voices (Nobody seems to have a bad voice), but they’re mainly quick side characters, and perhaps one or two of the villains (In this circumstance, it’s bad in the fact that you notice that’s something’s up, but it’s not ear-splitting).
Episodes & Episode Length
Mezzo Forte is composed of two OVAs, each of which run at a half-hour. Depending on if you have the censored or uncut edition, watch this during the day or the night (More on this later).
Availability & Pricing
Mezzo Forte is one of the more confusing titles I’ve downloaded. Although there are plenty of copies over on amazon, the version I reviewed here was the uncut edition. This version is almost impossible to locate on the website: as I was typing this there are only 5 copies available for purchase, with 3 new & 2 used. Each of these copies are ungodly expensive: the new copies start at a whopping 118 dollars, while the used copies start at the less whopping but still expensive 99 dollars. There’s a couple more censored copies, but knowing some of you guys, that’s not what you want. So to help you out, here’s a link where you can download the uncut edition. Enjoy!
http://www.garoo9.com/elevator_kart/?p=2978
Extras/Other
Since I downloaded this, I don’t know what the extras are.
I should quickly point out the reason why the uncut version is superior to the censored version. Within both episodes are two sex scenes, each of them involving the lead female. For starters, these scenes don’t have the original voice actor doing them (They have a porn star voice those scenes). Secondly, these are pretty hot & heavy scenes! In the first ep, the sex scene goes between conceptual & rape (The conceptual aspect stays within the first half of the scene for the most part). In the 2nd ep, the sex scene is pure rape (Mikura is in tears throughout a majority of the scene), and you can tell that the lead is in pain. If you are adverse to hentai & rape, then there are copies of Mezzo Forte (and Kite) that don’t have these sex scenes within them. It still has all the action & violence, but it is more cleaner so to speak.
General Impression & Rating
Mezzo Forte is some damn good fun! Even if you have a version that doesn’t contain the sex scenes (A tragic shame, honestly), the action scenes, characters, and the violence make for a great time. If you can somehow locate a copy of this OVA, put it in your DVD player, and get ready for a good time!
Mezzo Forte gets a 8.5 out of 10.
See you this Wednesday, when we’ll look at what happens when you mix lesbians & Alice in Wonderland. Until then, stay Otaku!
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