Anime-Universe.com

2006-07-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Samurai 7

I came across this trailer, and I just had to add it to my list of must-see anime. It's a sci-fi retelling of the classic "7 Samurai"!

Demon City Shinjuku

2006-01-19T17:03:00.000-08:00

Demon City Shinjuku	3/5 Stars
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri Studio: Cpm/Us Manga Corps Released: January 1, 1993 Length: 82 minutes

Demon City Shinjuku is the story of a boy, Kyoya Izayoi, who must finish thetask his father began 15 years earlier, and destroy the evil sorcerer Rebi Rah before he unleashes the forces of hell on earth. With the help of his sensei, Master Rai, keeper of the mystical art of nempo, the President's daughter Sayaka and a street kid named Chibi, he must enter Shinjuku, which has been controlled by demons since his father's failure.

Directed by the renowned Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Demon City is a tamer version of his more violent, bloody, and edgy works, such as Wicked City and Ninja Scroll. Don't let that fool you however. Demon City is a great anime, and fun to watch, despite it's fairly typical demonic horror action plot and characters.

The characters are pretty typical, Kyoya is a boy who's been thrust into a situation he wasn't prepared but finds his inner strength. Sayaka is a naive young woman, mainly there are a love interest for Kyoya, and to be rescued by him. Her actions range from the naive to the incredibly stupid, such as going into the demon city alone. Chibi is a typical kid raised on the mean streets character, who' still a good kid at heart. Rebi Rah is a stereotypical, though well done villain, and is perfect for the film. Probably the most interesting character is Mephisto. Mephisto remains enigmatic throughout the film, and you're left wondering if he's a man, demon, or something else. He seems to be amazingly powerful, but his devil-may-care attitude places him in the odd situation of watching with idle curiosity as the fate of the world is decided. The anime is worth watching for him alone, in my opinion.

The art and animation are excellent for a film from the early nineties. The cityhas a horrific and haunted look to it, especially during one scene in a park haunted by those killed when the demon took over the city. Character designs are sharp and clean, and fit in well with the tone of the film. The demons and monsters are also very nice, and characteristic of Kawajiri's work. While by no means the best film in the genre, it's not the worst either. It's relative tameness compared to other demonic action pieces makes it perfect for anyone who's curious about the genre, but afraid they might not have the stomach for it. It's also great to show to friends who think anime is cutesy Pokemon and Sailor Moon type stuff.

Demon City Shinjuku (DVD)

Shonen Jump

2006-01-19T16:56:00.000-08:00

Shonen Jump	4/5 Stars
Monthly Magazine Publisher: Viz Communications Inc

With Shonen Jump, the most popular manga titles suddenly become much more affordable. Based on the hugely popular Japanese manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump, the US edition serializes the most popular titles from the Japanese edition in a huge, 250+ page monthly format. Rather than shelling out $15 or more per volume, Shonen Jump allows you to follow several series at once at the much more affordable price of $4.95 per issue or $33.95 for a subscription.

The format is similar to other manga periodicals in Japan, with episodes of several series in each episode. The first issue, January 2003, includes, Dragon Ball Z, YuYu Hakusho, Yu-Gi-Oh, One Piece, and Sand Land. If the US version follows the example of Weekly Shonen Jump, it's likely to include one or two issue "short stories" as well. In addition to the manga, there are interviews, reviews, and articles that help round out each issue.

Shonen Jump can only run titles that have appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump, so most of the titles are "boy" manga. Most titles are action/comedy, but there are enough differences between the series to appeal to many people. Shonen Jump makes every attempt to stay true to the original format of the manga, including running the panels right to left instead of the usual left to right, as well as reversing the front and back of each issue. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a trend, and other manga publications will soon begin release US versions, expanding into all genres of manga. As it is, Shonen Jump is a wonderful way to enjoy manga without emptying your wallet, as well as allowing anime fans to see how their favorite series started.

Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind

2006-01-19T16:55:00.000-08:00

Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind (Kaze no Tani no Naushika)	5/5 Stars
Author: Hayao Miyazaki Serialized in Animage (Tokuma Shoten), 1982+

I don't read much manga, but being a fan of Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä jumped out at me. Valley of the Winds is set in the far future, in an Earth massively altered by war and ecological devastation. It has been thousands of years since the Seven Days of Fire and the immortal "God Warriors" (giant living combat robots) brought an end to the great technological civilization that once covered the earth. Humanity survived the devastation, but their future has been put in jeopardy by the creation of the "Sea of Corruption" a vast planet spanning forest of mutant fungus and insects. Spores and chemicals released by the fungal blooms make life near these impossible for non-insect life, only in places protected from the spread of the spores can life go on as before.

One such place is the Valley of the Winds, a small kingdom that is tributary to the larger Kingdom of Torumelka. Torumelka is at war with the Dorok Empire, a sinister nation which is ruled by an insane psychic and a sinister priesthood. As a subject nation, the Valley of the Winds is forced to send its few warriors and aircraft to aid in the war against the Dorok. Nausicaä, the princess of the Valley, goes along with the troops.

Far from being a simple war story, Nausicaä is show things on the way that make her question which side, if any, is right. The Dorok are using a secret weapon that gives them control over the Sea of Corruption, but their use of it threatens to spread the Sea across the few remaining clean lands and wipe out humanity. Along the way, Nausicaä discovers more about herself and her special link to the Sea and its creatures, and the possible role they play in the planet's future.

Like Hayao Miyazaki's other great work, Princess Mononoke, Valley of the Winds has a strong ecological and moral message. It question's humanity's responsibility to eachother and to the planet, and what the ultimate consequence of failing to live up to those responsibilities is. The artwork is well done, and has the characters have the same look as in many other Hayao Miyazaki works, especially Princess Mononoke. If you like that movie or any other works by him, you'll enjoy Valley of the Winds very much.

There are anime versions of the movie available, but I recommend staying away from them until you've read the anime, as there are many differences between the two. A horrible butchered English-language version was released in the US in the mid-80's under the title "Warriors of the Wind". About 20 minutes was cut from the Japanese version, and the dialog and plot was edited to take out any moral or ecological theme. So, be warned.

Animerica

2006-01-19T16:52:00.000-08:00

	5/5 Star
Monthly Magazine Publisher: Viz Communications Inc

Animerica is a great monthly magazine dedicated to anime & manga. As the longest running anime magazine in the US, it's had time to mature as a publication, and offers the best and most balanced content of all the anime and manga magazines in the US.

Each month it offers in depth articles on anime movies and series, as well as reviews of individual volumes. It also has articles on games, collectable toys, what's new in Japan, and more. It covers a nice variety of anime and manga sub genres from action hits like Dragonball Z to titles like Please Save my Earth. Fans of pretty much any type of anime (except hentai) will be able to find at least one article of interest in every issue. The side features, such as release dates, are invaluable, and items such as convention photos, fan art, and letters are great fun too. This magazine is a definite must for anyone who wants to find out more about anime, beyond what they might find on Cartoon Network or in their local video store. I first learned of some of my favorite works in the pages of Animerica, and continue to read it to see what's new.

The cover price is $4.95, fairly common for magazines without a great deal of high-priced advertising. Finding it can be difficult in some places, as Barnes & Noble is the only mainstream bookstore to carry it -- though any comic or gaming store with manga should also have it in stock. Luckily, subscriptions can be bought online, as well as back issues.

Animerica

FAQ

2005-11-11T17:10:00.001-08:00

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Anime?
What is the difference between Anime and Manga?
Hey! You gave my favorite series a bad rating, what gives?
What do you base your ratings on?
Where can I buy anime?
Anime costs too much, I'd have to sell crack to afford everything I want!
Which is better, Subtitled or Dubbed?
What's a Fansub?

What is Anime?
Anime is a term used to describe Asian animation covering a wide variety of genres. Sometimes it's called by the older term "Japanamation", though not all anime is from Japan. China and Korea are also sources of animation similar to that of Japan, and can be considered anime as well. In the US it is usually Japanese animation that is associated with the term anime. For years, anime was lumped with "cartoons", and only recently has become its own genre in the West. This is an improvement, but is still incorrect and can lead to misperceptions about anime. Like live action movies, stage, opera, and any other medium of performance, anime should be divided into separate genres, to distinguish titles. As any fan knows, there are vastly different types of anime, from children's titles like Pokemon, comedies like Tenchi, sci-fi like Evangelion, fantasy like Lodos War, horror like Vampire Hunter D, and even pornographic titles. Just because you've seen Pokemon and thought it was stupid doesn't mean you won't be moved by Princess Mononoke or thrilled by Akira.
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What is the difference between Anime and Manga?
Manga are Japanese graphic novels, illustrated in the same distinct style that is found in Anime. These novels are often serialized, often for years with dozens of titles. Anime is the animated form of Manga, often shorted and more action-oriented. There's a great deal of crossover, with series available as both Anime and Manga. This is especially true from a Western perspective, since much of the manga that gets translated is first released in the West as it's animated cousin.
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Hey! You gave my favorite series a bad rating, what gives?
All of my reviews and ratings are really just my opinion, and should be viewed as such. I try to be objective, but entertainment is a highly subjective subject, so what I like and dislike probably isn't shared by anyone. My personal taste in anime leans toward drama and action with an emphasis on character and plot over the visual art. The movies and series I review tend to reflect that, you'll notice that there are very few children's, hentai, and "fighting" type titles. My opinions of anime comedies tend to be mixed, and it's there where I strive to be the most objective.
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What do you base your ratings on?
As I've said before, it can be difficult to remain objective. Nonetheless, I try to be as fair as possible when reviewing and rating anime and manga. Basically, there's one star for each of five areas: character, writing, animation/art, theme, and enjoyability Because my impression of a piece is a combination of all these factors, I resist breaking a title down by them, but instead rate the whole on a 1-5 scale. It's very difficult to get a full five points this way, but it's also very hard for a title to get a rating of one.
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Where can I buy anime?
Anime has become increasingly popular, which is good for anyone who wants to buy it. Just a few years ago, all but the most popular titles were impossible to find outside of specialty retailers like comic book stores. Now, almost every video, music, and game retailer caries at least a few titles, though the prices can be high. The best place to find anime is on the internet, either at second hand sites such as Half.com or Ebay, or retail sites like Amazon.com, Buy.com, and DVDPlanet.com.
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Anime costs too much, I'd have to sell crack to afford everything I want!
With the huge number of anime titles out there, building a decent anime collection, or even just a few series can be hugely expensive. With most other genres, renting or watching on television is a viable option, unfortunately most video stores have a microscopic anime section, and most televised anime is heavily edited. Luckily, a little bit of smart shopping can save a bundle. First, get a DVD player. Not only are DVDs often better quality, but most companies pack more episodes per disc than they do on VHS tapes. Plus, most DVDs contain both dubbed and subtitled versions, so you won't have to worry about buying the best one. I usually check a DVD rental site, like Netflix.com first. While there can be an agonizingly long wait for titles to ship, the pricing is decent, and it's a great way to preview a series before you commit to buying it. Next, once I decide I want to own a title, I'll check on Half.com or Ebay to see if I can get a used title for cheap. You'll get the best deals on older titles, but even newer ones are often below retail. Second, shop around. While sites such as Amazon.com, Buy.com, and DVDPlanet.com on average have comparable prices, individual titles can differ greatly from site to site. I usually avoid retail outlets, as their prices are too high, and selection too low. Keep an eye out for deals like coupons, sales, and free shipping, and you're sure to save a bundle.
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Which is better, Subtitled or Dubbed?
Thousands have died attempting to settle the age old question of which is better. OK, that might be an exaggeration, but there have been a lot of heated arguments over the subject. Purists claim that English voice-overs are terrible, the stories are mutilated it the process, and the end product is far inferior to the original. Proponents of dubbing often accuse subtitled anime of being to hard to watch, saying they want to enjoy anime and have fun, and don't want to read an entire movie or series. In truth, it's really a matter of taste and individual anime. Some anime is much better without the voice-overs, especially anime translated in the 80's. Now that budgets for translating and dubbing anime have increased with it's popularity, the quality is much better. Unless you can speak Japanese fluently, you're probably going to enjoy the English language version better. Fortunately with the advent of bilingual DVDs, you don't have to make the choice at the video store, take a look at both versions and decide which you like better.
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What's a Fansub?
A Fansub is a piece of anime that has been translated and subtitled by fans. Usually, this is done by a club that has access to the equipment for subtitling as well as at least one member who is fluent in Japanese and English. Fansubs can be a great way to watch a title before it's been released in the US, some series are available even while their still on Japanese TV. On the downside, many of these titles are second or third generation copies, so don't expect the quality to be Top notch. Fansubbers getting around the moral issue of video piracy by only subbing titles that have no US distributor, and charging only the price of the tapes they copy onto. It's a legal grayarea, but it's unlikely that any Japanese companies will sue them. Once the title has a US distributor, reputable fansubbers will cease distributing copies of the title, even if the release date is a year away. Of course, not everyone is as ethical as the folks actually making the sub, so some distributors of fansubs may have the titles available long after the official, licensed US copy is released. Fansubs shouldn't be considered as a substitute for commercial anime, but rather as a way for fans of a particular series or artist/director to indulge themselves until the official version is released.
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Manga & Magazines

2005-11-11T17:10:00.000-08:00

Animerica
Animerica is a great monthly magazine dedicated to anime & manga. As the longest running anime magazine in the US, it's had time to mature as a publication, and offers the best and most balanced content of all the anime and manga magazines in the US.

Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind
I don't read much manga, but being a fan of Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä jumped out at me. Valley of the Winds is set in the far future, in an Earth massively altered by war and ecological devastation. It has been thousands of years since the Seven Days of Fire and the immortal "God Warriors" (giant living combat robots) brought an end to the great technological civilization that once covered the earth. Humanity survived the devastation, but their future...

Shonen Jump
With Shonen Jump, the most popular manga titles suddenly become much more affordable. Based on the hugely popular Japanese manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump, the US edition serializes the most popular titles from the Japanese edition in a huge, 250+ page monthly format. Rather than shelling out $15 or more per volume, Shonen Jump allows you to follow several series at once at the much more affordable price of $4.95 per issue or $33.95 for a subscription.

Anime Movies

2005-11-11T17:09:00.001-08:00

Demon City Shinjuku
Demon City Shinjuku is the story of a boy, Kyoya Izayoi, who must finish the task his father began 15 years earlier, and destroy the evil sorcerer Rebi Rah before he unleashes the forces of hell on earth.

Escaflowne
It's important from the start to watch the movie for its own sake, not just because of the series. Rather than a sequel or prequel, Escaflowne the Movie is a darker, more angst-ridden retelling of the story. Rather than trying to cram the entire thirteen hours of story from the series into an hour and half, Kazuki Akane has taken the essence of the story and reshaped it into something new.

Gall Force: Eternal Story
Though a good friend of mine rates this as the worst anime movie ever made, it's not quite that bad. Chances are you'll like and enjoy some part of the movie, since it's basically a conglomeration of ideas found in many other popular SciFi movies and stories. Set against the backdrop of a vast interstellar war...

Grave of the Fireflies
Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most beautifully done and tragic films I have ever seen, anime or otherwise. One of the great antiwar films, Grave of the Fireflies far surpasses other antiwar anime, both in story and in visual style. The film as a poetic feel to it in parts, and the ending brought tears to my eyes.

Green Legend Ran
Green Legend Ran presents a stark vision of Earth's future. Plants and animals are gone, the oceans have evaporated. Earth is a barren desert, with only a few remote settlements have water, with the exception of the mysterious "Greens". The Greens are the home of the Rodoists, bizarre cultists who worship Rodo, the alien who turned Earth into a wasteland as punishment for Mankind's mistreatment of the Earth's environment.

Jin-roh: The Wolf Brigade
I had been looking forward to Jin-Roh for some time. The detailed and realistic animation, combined with the alternate-history setting (one of my favorite genres) had my mouth watering. Unfortunately, Jin-roh was unable to deliver on it's promise. The interesting setting, and and topnotch realistic animation could not save the movie, which was bogged down by an overly obtuse and slow paced story.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death + Rebirth
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most popular and well know anime series ever. It's combination of action, comedy, and human drama caused it to almost single handily revive the giant robot genre of anime. It's ending, however, left many fans unsatisfied, confused, and even angry. Death & Rebirth is the first part of GAINAX's attempt to retell the ending in a form more pleasing to fans.

Vampire Hunter D
Vampire Hunter D is classic anime, and a horror story as well. Set 10,000 years in the future after a great war has destroyed the world's civilizations, Vampire Hunter D combines a very original setting with a gripping tale. The world is full of all manner of strange creatures from unusual mutants out of Science Fiction to classic Horror/Fantasy creatures such as vampires.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is breathtaking. It lives up to the promise hinted at in the first Vampire Hunter D movie, and gives the viewer beautiful animation, heart-pounding action, and a multi-layered and engrossing story. Bloodlust stands head and shoulders above it's predecessor, and further develops both the characters and world of Vampire Hunter D.

Wings of Honneamise
An amazing story of mankind's first leap into space, on a beautifully imagined fictional world. One of studio GAINAX's (of Evangelion fame) early works, Honneamise beautifully depicts the struggle of a world entering the modern age, and the narrow line it walks between salvation and destruction.

Anime Series

2005-11-11T17:09:00.000-08:00

Anime Series Reviews

Armored Trooper VOTOMS
If you love anime for the stunning animation, beautiful art, and the most sophisticated mecha around, then you probably won't like VOTOMS. The series was made in the early days of anime, and it shows. Don't let the dated art and giant punch-card computers fool you though, VOTOMS is a thoroughly satisfying sci-fi action series.

Blue Submarine No.6
In the near future, the polar icecaps have melted, the coastal lands have flooded, and billions have died. Mutant man/animals have risen up against humanity, which is fighting just to stay alive. This is all the work of one man, Professor Zorndyke...

Cowboy Bebop
Set in what appears to be the closing part of the 21st century, Cowboy Bebop is the story of Spike and Jet, two bounty hunters and the odd collection of people they pick up during their adventures. Far from your average quirky bounty hunter and eccentric crew story, Cowboy Bebop is a new and original take on an old theme.

Excel Saga
In it's 26 episodes Excel Saga parodies just about every possible genre of anime and Japanese popular media. You've got space battles, animal drama, horror, survival tales, and post-apocalyptic fighting all interwoven with inside jokes about dozens of different movies and series.

Gasaraki
On the surface, Gasaraki is a sharp, cutting edge mecha series. It has top notch animation, exquisitely detailed mecha and some great action and conspiracies. Dig a little beneath the surface, however, and you'll realize that everything in this series has been done before, and often better.

Genocyber
Genocyber is the bizarre, hard to follow, and gory story of a girl-turned-cybernetic-genocydal-godlike-monster, spanning 4 centuries and 4 episodes. The series was created in what appears to be 3 separate installments, leading to a choppy story. The first episode is somewhat more violent clone of Akira...

Hellsing
Hellsing is a stylish, classy, and action-packed vampire thriller. Don't be tempted to pass up the series because of it's short length, or over worked subject. Even though the subject has been covered many times both in anime and live action movies, Hellsing presents an new and refreshing look at the subject.

Now and Then, Here and There
Now and Then, Here and There is in a word awesome. Loosly based on the real life civil wars that seem to be a constant fixture of parts of Africa, NTHT follows the tale of two teenagers from Earth who are caught in the middle of an alien war.

Outlaw Star
At first glance, Outlaw Star might seem your run of the mill space adventure. However, it's much more than that. Sure, it's got great space battles, gunfights, bounty hunters, and pirates. But it's also got some great comedy an extremely likable crew of characters.

Please Save My Earth
Based on a shojo (girl's) manga, Please Save My Earth is a well crafted and entertaining story of 7 friends who discover that they all shared a past life together.

Record of the Lodoss War
Record of the Lodoss War is a pretty standard D&D spinoff, so if you like D&D inspired fantasy, you'll like this. Just don't expect anything too original. Lodoss War is a 13 episode OAV series that covers the adventures of an aspiring knight, Parn, and his companions as they attempt to stop the Emperor of Marmo and his armies from acquiring the Scepter of Domination.

Trigun
When I started the first episode of Trigun, I thought "What have I gotten myself into?" By the third I was hooked, and it just got better from there. Trigun can only be described as schizophrenic. Slapstick happy-go-luck humor one second, dark, end of the world depression the next. It's hard to decide if Vash is the silliest man alive, a living disaster, or the savior of all humanity. Eventually, you'll just settle on all three.

NGE: Death + Rebirth

2005-01-19T10:47:00.000-08:00

NGE: Death + Rebirth	4/5 Stars
Director: Hideaki Anno Studio (US): Manga

Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most popular and well know anime series ever. It's combination of action, comedy, and human drama caused it to almost single handily revive the giant robot genre of anime. It's ending, however, left many fans unsatisfied, confused, and even angry. Death & Rebirth is the first part of GAINAX's attempt to retell the ending in a form more pleasing to fans. Unfortunately, the movie cannot really stand on it's own and must be seen with the second NGE movie, End of Evangelion to be fully appreciated.

Episodes 25 and 26 of the original series delved into the psyche of Shinji as the Third Impact took place. That ending has often been compared to 2001: A Space Odyssey in it's weirdness. Death and Rebirth takes another look at the ending, this time showing the viewer what's going on in the world outside of Shinji's head. The movie itself it broken into two parts. Death, the first part, is a recap of the series, with highlight of the major events, focusing on the main characters of the series. It also provides new footage and explanation, including a look at the 2nd impact and Adam. This part of the movie is worth watching for the explanations and extra footage, but if you're not a die hard fan of the series it might not be worth buying.

The second part of the series, Rebirth, gives us lots of great new animation. We finally get to see what happens after the last Angel is defeated, and the Third Impact is about to begin. Unfortunately, everything that's in Rebirth is included in the first part of the next movie, End of Evangelion. If you can't wait to see EoE, or are determined to know everything about Evangelion possible, then get Death & Rebirth. If not, try renting it or watching a friend's copy. Death & Rebirth is also much more "mature" than the series, not just from the lack of humor, but also from the large number of violent human deaths and the sexual themes.

Luckily for those of us who simply must own a copy, Manga (the US distributor), has made a superb DVD. Almost all of the original voice actors from the ADV Films release of the series are back, so no jarring shocks for us there. The video transfer and sound are superb, and due to the higher movie budget, the new animation is great. The DVD itself is worth wile, with a wonderful reference section that has definitions and explanations of various terms from the series and movies. It really makes understanding the series a whole lot easier. Death & Rebirth is definitely worth watching if you're a fan of the series, or to refresh your memory without watching 13 hours of anime. Just keep in mind that it's an appetizer for the main course, End of Evangelion.

Neon Genesis Evangelion - Death & Rebirth (DVD)

Excel Saga

2004-12-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

Excel Saga	4/5 Stars
Director: Shinichi Watanabe Studio: A.D. Vision

A-C-RO-SS! A-C-RO-SS! A-C-RO-SS!
So begins Excel Saga, the series that was made just for anime fans. It begins with the hyperactive heroine, Excel, on her last day of school, happily shouting out the name of the super secret organization that's recruited her to help take over the city. That's right, just the city, not the country or the world. Across's leader Ilpallazo doesn't want to start too big. Within a few seconds Excel is dead, and has to be revived and the anime started over from there.

In it's 26 episodes Excel Saga parodies just about every possible genre of anime and Japanese popular media. You've got space battles, animal drama, horror, survival tales, and post-apocalyptic fighting all interwoven with inside jokes about dozens of different movies and series. The series focuses around Excel, one of the three members of Across, along with her junior Hyatt, and the leader of Across, Ilpallazo. Arrayed against them is the Safety Assurance Agency, comprised of a Excel and Hyatt's neighbors. Throughout most of the series they don't even realize they're fighting each other but they manage to foil each other's plans anyway. Accompanying the main story is an amusing side story following Pedro, a foreign worker killed in the first episode, as he tries to regain his wife from Gomez and That Man while being involved in a relationship with the Great Will of the Macrocosm. Also in every episode is Nabeshin, the Afro-wearing super agent who serves as an alter ego for the series' director.

It's almost impossible to put into words how funny Excel Saga is. There are other parody anime's out there, such as Dragon Half, but none with both the breadth and the staying power of Excel Saga. The characters may all be parodies of anime stereotypes, but they're funny and likable parodies. Ilpallazo., for example, seems to be the typical evil organization leader, with his oversized shoulder armor, cape, little round sunglasses, yellow cat-like eyes, etc. Not every leader sits on his throne all day, trying to learn guitar, playing girlfriend games, and talking on his cell phone though. The other characters are each just as funny or better.

The discs themselves are gems. The first disc (and the last too) contains five episodes, and each following disc has four. On the disc are all the nice extras you'd expect plus a wonderful feature that pops up explanations about the in jokes and references to Japanese culture. This feature is great, but you have to be sure to turn it on from the "extras" menu. The menus themselves are a little sparse, especially the one of the first disc (with two letter abbreviations for the options), but they change from disc to disc. Sound and video quality are very good, but not spectacular. Having watched the Japanese version first, I prefer the subtitled version, but the English dubs aren't bad. With the pop-up explanation feature it's almost impossible to read both that and the subtitles, so you're probably best sticking to the English dubbed version. All fans of anime, and especially fans of comedic anime, should see Excel Saga - you'll love it.

Excel Saga (Vol. 1) (DVD)

Hellsing

2004-10-12T18:29:00.000-07:00

Hellsing	4.5/5 Stars
Studio: Pioneer Entertainment Creator: Hirano Kouta 13 Episodes

Hellsing is a stylish, classy, and action-packed vampire thriller. Don't be tempted to pass up the series because of it's short length, or over worked subject. Even though the subject has been covered many times both in anime and live action movies, Hellsing presents an new and refreshing look at the subject.

Similar in many ways to Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing follows the story of Alucard (called Arucard in the subtitles for some reason), a vampire who working for the Hellsing Organization, a special group loyal to the Queen of England who's duty it is to protect the country from "FREAKS" such as vampires and zombies. Alucard's reasons for working for Hellsing are not clear until episode 10, and much of his background remain mysterious. Unlike other vampires who fight vampires, Alucard is not interested in saving humans or redeeming himself. He clearly sees himself and other true vampires as above humans and feels nothing about killing humans, as long as Hellsing's leader Lady Integra (Integral in some translations) lets him.

The other main character of the series is Ceras Victoria (or Victoria Ceras? It's Ceras Victoria in the Japanese version, which they keep in then English translation rather than reversing like usual). Victoria is the sole "survivor" of a police assault on a village that had been turned into zombies by a vampire. In the final confrontation, Alucard is forced to mortally wound her to kill the vampire, but offers her a chance to become like him. She accepts, and becomes Hellsing's second vampire agent, despite the reservations of Integra and the rest of its human members. Victoria is one of the more interesting characters in the series. She has a great deal of trouble coming to grips with her new nature, not believing her own super strength and enhanced senses. She tries to resist her vampiric nature and refuses to drink the blood that is given to her. Victoria and Alucard almost opposites of each other, he causally drinks blood from IV bags like it was a capri-sun, delights in killing, and has distain for humanity. He constant tries to get her to accept her new self and join him as a full vampire.

The plot involves a great conspiracy, where artificial vampires are being created by mysterious microchips implanted in them. Alucard feels great disdain for these human created vampires and delights in killing them. Naturally, much more about the plot is revealed toward the end of the series, and two major enemies for Alucard are introduced, Incognito and Alexander Andersson. Incognito is a sadomasochistic vampire working for the shadowy figures behind the vampire-chips. He is at his best in the last few episodes, and his fight with Alucard is the climax of the series. Alexander Andersson is a Paladin for the Vatican's Iscariot Division, a group of holy warriors who fill much the same function as Hellsing, but for the Roman Catholic nations of the world. Andersson hates Hellsing, for its Protestantism, and Alucard for what he is. It might seem that a mere human like Andersson is no match for Alucard at first, but he has a few tricks op his sleeves.

The art and animation of Hellsing is wonderful, the equal of other recent animated series. It's good for Hellsing that this is the case, or it might suffer in comparison to Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. The characters are all well designed, and they hold up both in action and in quieter scenes. The series devotes a great deal of attention to guns, almost as much as Trigun. The two pistols Alucard uses in the series are very similar to Vash's, as is Alucard's red trench coat. The music and sound is also excellent, with great opening and closing themes. The voice acting, however, might be one of the weak spots of the series. Most of the characters have British accents, which took me a couple episodes to get used to. If that sort of thing bothers you, you might want to try the subtitled version. Luckily, the Japanese voice acting is great, with rich, deep voices for Alucard, Walter, and other characters that need it. The only flaw might be that Integra's voice is more masculine in the Japanese version, making it difficult to tell if she is a man or woman at first. There are also some differences between the translation on the dubbed and subtitled versions, but they don't detract from the series itself.

Hellsing is definitely worth checking out, especially if you like horror, suspense, or thriller anime. The series is also much less bloody than it could have been, as most of the zombies turn to dust when killed, rather than leaving gory undead-bits all over. The series should still be considered mature, however, as it is quite violent.

Hellsing - (Vol. 1) (DVD)

2004-08-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

Cowboy Bebop	4.5/5 Stars
Director: Shinichirô Watanabe Studio: Pioneer Video 26 Episodes on 6 DVDs

Set in what appears to be the closing part of the 21st century, Cowboy Bebop is the story of Spike and Jet, two bounty hunters and the odd collection of people they pick up during their adventures. Far from your average quirky bounty hunter and eccentric crew story, Cowboy Bebop is a new and original take on an old theme.

The series gets its name from two things, the cowboy-like nature of the bounty hunters (and the hilarious weekly television show they watch to get the latest bounties) and the ship that Spike and Jet travel in, the Bebop. Rather than a linear plot, where the characters are aiming for some goal, Cowboy Bebop is character-driven, with self-contained episodes. While there is a background story which focuses on Spike's past in the Martian Mafia, the series presents each episode as its own story, only loosely connected to the others. This allows for a wide ranger of styles in the plot of each episode, from slapstick comedy and parody to more dark and serious episodes. While this may seem disconcerting if you haven't seen the series, the lack of a over-ridding plot allows it to pass almost unnoticed.

The setting of the series is well developed. Set about 70 years after an experiment into faster than light travel destroyed half the moon and left a ring of debris to fall on the Earth for centuries to come, mankind has spread across the solar system. Forced to leave Earth, they carried all their assorted cultural baggage with them as the colonized the solar system. Each planet has a distinctive feel, from the mafia-controled crater cities of mars to casinos orbiting Jupiter. Also noteworthy about the plot is the technology. Jumpgates and advanced space craft are the most futurist of the technologies in the series, almost everything else feels timeless, as if it could have come from any time in the past few decades on into the future. Guns still use bullets, there's a version of the internet floating around, even television is still there. This allows the series to feel much more accessible to the viewers, an will add to the appeal of Cowboy Bebop to those who aren't usually fans of Sci-Fi.

The characters real stand out in Cowboy Bebop. Each of them, Spike, Jet, Faye, and Edward (who's actually a little girl), have their own haunted background. Spike is haunted by his ex-lover, Julia, who he left behind when he fled Mars, and is hunted by his old partner, Vicious, a blood & power-thirsty maniac. Faye claims to be a gypsy, though in truth she can't remember her past. And Edward is a genius computer hacker picked up during a stop on Earth. Despite the name, Edward is actually a little girl, and one of the more hilarious characters.

The art and animation are well done, and well suited for each episode. When the story calls for humor, the settings are bright and cheerful, when it calls for melancholy, the settings are pure "Dark Knight". The English voice actors are outstanding for anime, and the range of accents in the series is excellent, without the feeling that it's all just the same guy trying to disguise his voice.

The music diserves a special note. With a name like Cowboy Bebop, you'd expect the series to have a good sound track, and it does. The opening song is particularly good, with an upbeat, jazzy feel. Each episode has its own musical theme as well, if you listed you'll notice how well it fits in with the episode's overall theme and story. All of the songs were composed by Yoko Kanno, of Macross Plus fame.

The only downside was the rushed felling of the ending. While there had been a subtle ongoing storyline, everything comes to a head in the final two episodes. I had been enjoying the series and was a little disappointed to see it end so suddenly. The ending was very good, and didn't leave me disappointed in itself, I just would have liked to see the series continue for another 26 episodes.

Cowboy Bebop - Session 1 (DVD)

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust

2004-05-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust	5/5 Stars
Director: Yoshiaki Kawajiri Studio: Urban Vision Enterta Theatrical Release Date: September 28, 2001 DVD Release Date: February 12, 2002 Run Time: 106 minutes

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is breathtaking. It lives up to the promise hinted at in the first Vampire Hunter D movie, and gives the viewer beautiful animation, heart-pounding action, and a multi-layered and engrossing story. Bloodlust stands head and shoulders above it's predecessor, and further develops both the characters and world of Vampire Hunter D.

The basic story follows D as he once again must rescue a young woman from the clutches of a powerful vampire, Meier Link. This time, however, the story is more complex. The girl's father is wealthy man and has hired a competing team of hunters, the Markus Brothers, to track down and rescue his daughter. The four Markus brothers and their team mate Leila are more than a match for D, with technology that makes them the equal of any vampire. The heated rivalry between the Markus Brothers at times helps and at times hinders their quest to rescue Charlotte from Meier, as he races to reach the safety of the powerful vampiress Carmilla. There's the usual mix of fighting you'd expected as D and the Markus Brothers must fight off the Barbaroy mutants that protect Meier. There's a few hidden under currents, as Leila and D reluctantly help each other, despite her hatred and mistrust of D's vampire half. And there's more than meet's the eye between Charlotte and Meier, who might not have taken her against her will after all...

Bloodlust describes even more of the world introduced in Vampire Hunter D, with the same strange mix of technology, mutants, and magic. Many details of D's past remain mysterious, such as where he got his talking left hand, but more is revealed about his past and why he hunts vampires. His father is called the Vampire King in Bloodlust, as was hinted in the first movie, though this always seems to come as a surprise to the vampire's he's fighting. In one touching scene between Leila and D, D chides her for wasting her life hunting vampires, saying, "Atl east you get a life." D's hatred of himself is revealed as the cause of his quest during a conversation with the Left Hand, and during an illusion sent by Carmilla where D must confront his mother. The movie's ending is very touching, as D must always be forced to watch as others love and he cannot.

Bloodlust is somewhat less violent than the first movie and certainly less gory feeling. This, combined with the superb art, animation, and story should make it appeal to a wide audience. The music also is astounding. It's not your usual anime fare of J-pop, but rather an orchestral masterpiece. The voice acting is also very good, with the Hand played by Mike McShane (from the British version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?). John Rafter Lee turns in a fantastic performance as Meier, adding a great deal of nobility to the character. John Di Maggio (Bender from Futurama) voices several different characters but minor characters. The DVD version is excellent, with a great deal of extras and very nice packaging. The extras include a behind the scenes "making of" mini-documentry, four trailers (including the Japanese and Korean trailers), as well as numerous other little goodies. For the money, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a great buy and should appeal to mature anime fans of all stripes.

Vampire Hunter D - Bloodlust (DVD)

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

2003-09-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade	3.5/5 Stars
Director: Hiroyuki Okiura Studio: Pioneer Entertainmen Theatrical Release Date: January 1, 1998 DVD Release Date: March 5, 2002 Run Time: 142 minutes Production Company: Pioneer/Bandai

I had been looking forward to Jin-Roh for some time. The detailed and realistic animation, combined with the alternate-history setting (one of my favorite genres) had my mouth watering. Unfortunately, Jin-roh was unable to deliver on it's promise. The interesting setting, and and topnotch realistic animation could not save the movie, which was bogged down by an overly obtuse and slow paced story.

The background takes place in what appears to be an alternate version of the 1960s, where Japan was occupied by Germany after W.W.II. Needless to say, Japan's recovery was not as smooth as it was under the American aegis. The altered history is mainly there to allow for two things: violent antigovernment terrorists, and the stormtrooper looking Capitol Police. A lot of attention was put into designing the armor worn by the capitol police, and the few combat scenes involving is are spectacular. Unfortunately, there are only really maybe four combat scenes in the movie, and one doesn't have the armor in it.

The main character in Jin-Roh is a relatively green member of the Capitol Police, Kazuki Fuse (pronounced FU-SAY). As part of a Capitol Police squad ambushing a terrorist cell during a riot, Fuse corners a young bomb-runner, referred to as "Red Riding Hoods". When ordered to shoot her, Fuse hesitates, and can't bring himself to do it. During his hesitation, she detonates the bomb she's carrying. Fuse's armor protects him, but the explosion kills the girl and disrupts power over much of the city. In the ensuing scandal, Fuse is sent back to training, but his reoccurring flashbacks and nightmares leave him incapable of performing his duties. Haunted by the dead girl, he visits her grave, where he meets her older sister, who bares an uncanny resemblance to the dead girl. A strange, low-key romance blossoms between the two, which takes up much of middle part of the movie. There are many allusions to the original version of the Little Red Ridding Hood tale, "Rotkappchen", a more brutal and darker tale. Unfortunately, the Rotkappchen metaphor comes across as forced and overdone in much of the tale, which is a shame since it's so central to the theme and characters. There are more subtle ways to use it than to have characters continuously comparing themselves to wolves or saying that stories with beasts and humans never turn out well. In the end, neither Fuse, the girl, or the Capitol Police turn out to be what they seem, with tragic results.

The art, animation, and sound are magnificent. The animation is excellent, with realism the main focus rather than the stylization found in most other anime. The soundtrack is very good, each piece seems to fit the mood perfectly. The sound effects, too, are perfect. Each gun has a distinctive sound, and the erie footsteps of the armored Capitol Police is perfect. My dissatisfaction with the movie stems entirely from the plot. I found it plodding and slow paced. The dialog was often cliched, though well delivered by the voiceacters. The repetitive hammering in of the Rotkappchen theme was completely unnecessary, and insulting to any viewer of moderate intelligence. Additionally, the plot twists and character changes at the end were almost completely unexplained, with little build up in the rest of the movie. One minute X seems to be happening, the next, for no reason Y is taking place. Jin-Roh is a classic example of bad writing ruining an otherwise perfect work. Still, Jin-Roh is worth seeing for the animation if nothing else, and it's far from the worst anime out there. If you don't mind slow paced and convoluted story, then Jin-Roh should be an enjoyable way to pass the time.

Jin-Roh The Wolf Brigade - Special Edition (DVD)
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Jin-roh - The Wolf Brigade (Soundtrack)

Grave of the Fireflies

2003-07-30T10:40:00.000-07:00

Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka)	5/5 Stars
Author: Nosaka Akiyuki Director: Isao Takahata Studio: Studio Ghibli Release: 1988 Run Time: 88 minutes

Grave of the Fireflies is one of the most beautifully done and tragic films I have ever seen, anime or otherwise. One of the great antiwar films, Grave of the Fireflies far surpasses other antiwar anime, both in story and in visual style. The film as a poetic feel to it in parts, and the ending brought tears to my eyes.

Grave of the Fireflies is the story of Seita and his young sister, Setsuko, victims of WWII. Orphaned by a US firebombing raid that destroys their home and kills their mother, they go to stay with distant relatives in the countryside. Although their father is a Naval Officer, they can't contact him and don't even know if he is alive or dead. While things seem to be looking up for them, their new guardians soon turn against them, accusing Seita of being lazy, and selling their mothers clothes for food. This sequence may seem a little rushed, but it does a good job of showing the hardships faced by civilians in a war, even if they are well off and have a nice home. Seita, however, doesn't fully understand the difficulties being faced by everyone, and rebels against his guardians' harshness. As the relationship becomes more and more strained, Seita decides that he and his sister would be better on their own.

Settling in an old bomb shelter near a lake, Seita and Setsuko at first act as if they are on a grand adventure, away at a summer camp with no adults to tell them what to do. However, their fun doesn't last, and the turning point of the film is when Setsuko has a funeral for fireflies the two had caught the night before. Asking why something so innocent and pretty have die so soon, Setsuko poses the central question of the film, and we begin to see the hardships of war.

The ending is one of the saddest and most moving scenes I've seen, and captures the spirit of brother-sister love perfectly. While the film may be too depressing for some, it is a masterwork of anime. The animation and art are stylistically subdued, but perfectly done, and the voice acting is very good in the dub. I highly recommend this film to anyone who enjoys moving stories and tragedies. Even non-anime fans will enjoy this film.

On another note, Grave of the Fireflies is a product of Hayao Miyazaki's animation workshop, Studio Ghibli. It was released in Japan as a double feature with My Neighbor Totoro, neither of which were expected to do well. Roger Ebert has an excellent review of the film as well, and it's one of the few anime pieces he hasn't disliked. http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/grea tmovies/ebert19.html

Grave of the Fireflies (DVD)

Vampire Hunter D

2003-07-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

Vampire Hunter D	3.5/5 Stars
Director: Toyoo Ashida Released: 1985 Run Time: 80 minutes

Vampire Hunter D is classic anime, and a horror story as well. Set 10,000 years in the future after a great war has destroyed the world's civilizations, Vampire Hunter D combines a very original setting with a gripping tale. The world is full of all manner of strange creatures from unusual mutants out of Science Fiction to classic Horror/Fantasy creatures such as vampires.

Vampire Hunter D is the story of a young girl, Doris Lang, who has become the target of the unwanted attentions of the vampire Count Magnus Lee. The village is terrified and unwilling to help her for fear of the Count's wrath. Luckily for her, a vampire hunter who goes by the name of D is in the area, and agrees to help her. Unbeknownst to the others, D is actually a powerful dhampire, or human-vampire hybrid. It is D's mission to rid the world of the evil represented by the vampires and their allies. D's task will not be an easy one for the Count has lived 10,000 years without being killed and has an army of monstrous creatures and mutants to protect him.

Watching Vampire Hunter D makes me wish it had be produced as an OAV rather than a movie. While I'm used to complex plots in anime that are never fully resolved, the potential of the movie and the characters demands a longer and more in-depth treatment than a movie can provide. D's character in particular was left with much to be desired. While it's understandable that he's a man of many mysteries, some things, such as why he has an intelligent talking hand, demand explanation. The art and animation are on the high end of 80's anime, but will still appear dated when compared to modern anime. This will prove particularly frustrating to anyone who has seen some of the concept art for the series, which is breathtaking.

Despite the shortcomings, Vampire Hunter D is consider one of the classic anime movies, and should be seen by anyone who's a fan of dark fantasy/horror. Some of the fight scenes are quite bloody, so if that's not your cup of tea you might want to skip this one. The movie has recently been re-released by Urban Visions, who are in the process of preparing a sequel for release. From what I've seen of the sequel, it looks to be even better than the original.

Vampire Hunter D (DVD) • Vampire Hunter D (VHS) • Vampire Hunter D Art Book by Amano Yoshitaka

Trigun

2003-05-12T18:49:00.000-07:00

Trigun	5/5 Stars
Publisher - Pioneer Running Time - 650 minutes 26 episodes on 8 DVDs

When I started the first episode of Trigun, I thought "What have I gotten myself into?" By the third I was hooked, and it just got better from there. Trigun can only be described as schizophrenic. Slapstick happy-go-luck humor one second, dark, end of the world depression the next. It's hard to decide if Vash is the silliest man alive, a living disaster, or the savior of all humanity. Eventually, you'll just settle on all three.

Set in a strange Old-West/Post Apocalyptic world with technology best described as steam-punk, the setting for Trigun is very interesting and perfect for the many odd characters that are in the series. There is much about the world and the backstory that is left unexplored until the middle of the series, and it's not until the end that everything is made clear. There are six major characters, though one of them doesn't make an actual appearance until the end. There's Vash the Stampede, the man with 60 BILLION double-dollars on his head, seemingly responsible for the destruction of at least one major city with over a million inhabitants. In reality, he's a friendly, seemingly carefree loser who runs around trying to stop anyone from getting killed, all while gorging on donuts and hitting on any pretty ladies that happen to be nearby. However, he does seem to posses almost superhuman reflexes and fighting ability. Millie Thompson and Meryl Strife are insurance agents who have been sent to find Vash and persuade him to stop causing so much destruction. The only problem is that Meryl, who's in charge, refuses to believe that an idiot like Vash could be the real man behind all the destruction. They provide a lot of comic relief, which seems a bit needed with an over the top character like Vash. However, when the more serious episodes come along, they provide a much needed counterpoint to Vash's internal anguish. The fourth main character is Nicholas D. Wolfwood, a wandering preacher with a mysterious past. He carries a giant white cross with him, which he says is "full of mercy". He is almost Vash's equal in gunfighting, despite claiming to be nothing more than a simple priest. The final two characters, Knives and Legato Bluesummers are the true villains of the series. They are two of the best villains I've seen in an anime series, but to say anymore about them would be to spoil the whole story.

The first half of the series follows the adventures of Vash and company as they attempt to do good and right wrongs. In the first few episodes, Vash comes off as a dolt, but later episodes begin to reveal a deeper side to his character. The story begins in earnest with "Diablo", which along with "Rem Saverem" and the entire last disk must not be missed if you want the series to make sense.

The music is good, especially the opening and closing pieces. Animation and art are topnotch with truly excellent character and mecha designs. Each disc includes a character art slideshow, and some discs come with a chromium card insert. There are three episodes per disc, except for the first and last, which have four. There's a nice boxed set available, which will give you a slight discount over purchasing each disc separately.

The series should have a broad appeal, as it caters to action fans, drama fans, and comedy fans. While some may find the rapid switch from comedy to drama to action to comedy disorienting, it's what makes the series unique. Despite the impression you might get from the first disc, there is a deeper theme to the series, as Vash must come to grips with what he and Knives are, and he must discover if redemption is truly possible. I highly recommend the series to anyone who likes anime.

Trigun - The Complete Boxed Set (DVD)

Now and Then, Here and There

2003-04-12T15:41:00.000-07:00

Now and Then, Here and There	5/5 Stars
Director: Akitaroh Daichi Studio (US): Central Park Media 13 Episodes on 3 DVDs

Now and Then, Here and There is in a word awesome. Loosely based on the real life civil wars that seem to be a constant fixture of parts of Africa, NTHT follows the tale of two teenagers from Earth who are caught in the middle of an alien war. The series covers some very moving and "mature" themes, but does so in a way that leaves you feeling good about the world at the end. There are few other series that can accomplish what NTHT does, most notably Grave of the Fireflies or Barefoot Gen, both of which also deal with children and war.

NTHT begins innocently enough, following a young Japanese teenage named Shuzo (Shu in most of the series) through a kendo lesson. On the way home, he sees a girl sitting on top of a smoke stack and climbs up to see what she's doing. The girl turns out to be called Lala Ru, a mysterious and not-quite-human girl that Shu seems to be intent on starting a conversation with despite her almost total silence. Things start taking a turn for the weird when time suddenly freezes and a uniformed woman leading soldiers equipped with strange armored suits and vehicles that resemble snakes. Shu attempts to stop them from taking Lala RU back to with them, and in the process gets pulled back to their home world. Shu finds himself in a giant mobile fortress called Hellywood (not sure if there's a pun there) on the run from soldiers like the ones who captured Lala RU Despite his best efforts, Shu is captured by a child-soldier named Nabuca and brought for interrogation. It is here that we meet the leader of the soldiers, the insane King Hamdo who alternately switches between childlike simpleness and blind rage. During his interrogation, Shu is beaten and tortured because its believed he has a magic pendant of Lala Ru's that Hamdo needs to create water to power Hellywood.

After his torture, Shu is thrown into a prison cell where he meets Sara, a young American girl who was mistaken for Lala RU by the soldiers in a previous foray to our world. Shu assures her that everything will be all right, but things soon get worse as Shu is conscripted in to the corps of Children that make up the recruits for Hamdo's armies. Sara fares even worse as she is to be used to breed more soldiers for Hamdo's army. Shu is placed in Nabuca's corp., and soon learns the horrors of the planet he's on when they are forced to kidnap more women children for the army then destroy the village the children came from. Shu attempts to free the children, but is shot by Nabuca, and brought to Hellywood for a court martial. Sara meanwhile, kills a would-be rapist and escapes in his uniform into the desert. Shu eventually escapes and flees across the desert with Lala RU, but Hamdo isn't done with them yet.

There is a great deal of suffering in the world that Hamdo seeks to conquer, but hope as well. Shu is almost insanely optimistic, even in the face of Sara's nearly suicidal depression and Lala Ru's jaded cynicism brought about by thousands of years of watching humans fight and die. The end is upbeat, and despite all of the suffering there is hope, and Shu, Sara, and Lala RU help to create a better world.

The background world is only somewhat fleshed out, only the area immediately surrounding Hellywood and the town of Zaribarz are seen in detail. The source of Hamdo's technology is not revealed though it seems likely that like the dictators in Africa he acquired it from some where else given the state of the planet's industry in general. It's also not clear whether this really is another world or just another time. At one point Hamdo asks Lala RU if she enjoyed the world she visited (our Earth), but at other points he refers to his world as "Earth". This is not detrimental to the series, in fact it helps empathize with Shu and Sara who are lost in the world with no idea what's going on.

The art and animation are excellent, and there are subtle details that help to flesh out the world. The differences between Hamdo's quarters and the barracks of his troops are quite jarring as are the differences between them and the villages he oppresses. The sound is great, with a very good musical score, above average for a series. The dubbing is also excellent, and the voices nicely fit the characters. This series is excellent, and while I don't recommend it for children, it's a must see for everyone else.

Now and Then, Here and There - Discord and Doom vol.1 (DVD)

2003-01-28T19:25:00.000-08:00

Gasaraki	3/5 Stars
Studio: A.D. Vision Director: Ryôsuke Takahashi DVD Release Date: August 20, 2002 Run Time: 650 minutes

On the surface, Gasaraki is a sharp, cutting edge mecha series. It has top notch animation, exquisitly detailed mecha and some great action and conspiracies. Dig a little beneath the surface, however, and you'll realize that everything in this series has been done before, and ofen better.

The series follows Yushiro Gowa, the youngest son of the powerful Gowa family. The Gowas have been working with the Japanese government to develop "Tactical Armor" or TAs. TAs are the worlds first mecha, large robot combat vehicles that can take out any conventional armor with their state of the art weapons and enhanced mobility. Things are not what they seem, how ever, as the Gowa seem to be conducting an experiment in contacting aliens. They're not alone in their quest either, as an enigmatic group know as Symbol have also developed TAs called "Fakes", and have a girl they're using to contact the same aliens. As the plot thickins, it appears that Yushiro may not be who he thinks he is but rather a reincarnated pilot of a god-sent giant robot from feudal Japan. It would appear these medieval death machines, the Kugai, are what both the TAs and the Fakes are based on and were sent by the Gasaraki who both Gowa and Symbol are trying to bring to Earth, despite the horrible destruction caused by it in the past.

Gasaraki is full of numerous plot twists, occult references, and exciting fights. What it lacks is a human element to tie everything together. None of the characters are developed strongly enough to make us care about one side or another, for much of the series Yushiro is wandering, trying to find his past. The various conspiracies are muddled, and it's never clear what their true purpose is, since the people behind them don't seem real. Most of what happens in Gasaraki has been done before; Gudam and VOTOMs both have a near superhuman mecha pilot, Evangelion has a much better conspiracy, and even Escaflowne has done a better job with medieval mecha.

While the art, sound, and animation are excellent, it's not enough to keep the viewer satisfied. Even fans of action who couldn't care less about plot will be disappointed, as several episodes are mainly people wandering around on giving monolouges on warrior philosophy (ala Gundam Wing). There are only about two or three really good battles in the whole series, which is disappointing. Gasaraki tries to be a deep, meaningful series that makes you think, but it just doesn't work. It would have been better off as a pure action series.

Gasaraki - Perfect Collection (DVD)

Green Legend Ran

2002-07-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

Green Legend Ran	4/5 Stars
Director: Satoshi Saga Running Time: 120min. or 150min. (depending on version) Released: 1992

Green Legend Ran presents a stark vision of Earth's future. Plants and animals are gone, the oceans have evaporated. Earth is a barren desert, with only a few remote settlements have water, with the exception of the mysterious "Greens". The Greens are the home of the Rodoists, bizarre cultists who worship Rodo, the alien who turned Earth into a wasteland as punishment for Mankind's mistreatment of the Earth's environment.

Thrown into this world is Ran, a young boy from a small town who wants more in life. Orphaned at an early aged when his mother was killed by a mysterious man with a scar on his chest, Ran want's nothing more than to join Hazzard, a terrorist group trying to overthrow the Rodoists. While trying to join Hazzard, Ran meets a young girl named Iria, who the Rodoists are searching for. Iria is the "silver haired maiden" (her hair may look blue to *you*, but trust me, it's silver) who the Rodoist bishops want to fulfill a prophecy, and will do anything to obtain her.

When Iria is captured by the Rodoists, Ran joins up with Hazzard in hopes of rescuing her. After joining, he becomes part of Hazzard's plan to rid the world of Rodo once and for all, and bring the waters back.

On the surface, Green Legend Ran may seem like a simple adventure with environmentalist overtones, but it runs much deeper than that. There are many twists to the plot, and all of the characters are well developed. The Rodoists in particular are well written, and they are one of the oddest groups I've seen in anime yet. The movie ultimately asks us to consider the question of how we treat our planet and eachother. Rather than just condemning humanity for ravishing the planet, Green Legend Ran questions the motives and goals of those who would protected it, personified by the Rodoists and their god.

Green Legend Ran is an excellent anime, with well written characters, humor, action, and deep enough plot to make you think about it afterwards. The animation and art is good, with some very inventive character designs. On the downside, the dubbing quality isn't topnotch. Also be careful which version you watch, the VHS is an edited 120min version that aired on the SciFi Channel. The full 150 minute version is available as a three VHS set, or a single DVD. The DVD is a good quality transfer, but lacks a menu or any extras that are now standard on most DVDs.

Green Legend Ran (DVD)

Genocyber

2002-06-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

Genocyber: The Collection	2.5/5 Stars
Director: Koichi Ohata Studio: C. Moon Relased in US by U.S. Manga Corps 5 Episodes on 1 DVD

Genocyber is the bizarre, hard to follow, and gory story of a girl-turned-cybernetic-genocydal-godlike-monster, spanning 4 centuries and 4 episodes. The series was created in what appears to be 3 separate installments, leading to a choppy story. The first episode is somewhat more violent clone of Akira that makes even less sense. Evil corporations, strange experiments on psychic kids, and a super-powered little girl that turns in to a berserk monster, "Genocyber". The plot is pretty predictable, ending with massive destruction and death.

Episodes two and three take place several months later, on board a massive futuristic aircraft carrier. The little girl is back, as is the evil corporation, the Kyuryu Group. The Kyuryu group has been conducting further experiments, creating the perfect soldier who can control any machine. A battle breaks out between Genocyber and the soldier, resulting in the soldier melding with the entire ship and its crew. The two episodes end with massive destruction and death.

Episodes four and five are the most interesting, and the longest. Set 400 years in the future, they depict and earth where war between the Kyuryu Group and Genocyber have destroyed civilization. The Kyuryu Group has been reduced to an orbital battle station waiting for Genocyber's next move, while Genocyber itself has gone into a sor tof hibernation. The last bastion of civilization is "Arc Grande", a city that's beautiful on the outside, but decadent and corrupt within. The art and design of these two episodes are by far the best, with very interesting buildings and vehicles. Some new and likable characters are introduced, developed, and the quickly killed as the final battle between Genocyber and the Kyuryu group results in destruction and death.

In short, Genocyber is one of the most confusing and violent series I've seen. The confusion results from the almost total lack of cohesion in the story, the inability not to kill a character, and odd changes in the behavior of those that aren't killed. It's violence is on par with series such as M.D. Geist, where gore and sheer grossness are emphasized. Genocyber is not without it's pluses, the animation is very well done, apart from some poor attempts at computer graphics in the first episode. Mecha design is also well done. I disliked the dubbing, a problem I've had with other titles released by Central Park Media companies. I definitely recommend watching the subtitled version, the Japanese voice overs are better, and the series doesn't feel so much like a B horror movie.

Escaflowne

2002-04-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

Escaflowne	4/5 Stars
Director: Kazuki Akane Studio: Pioneer Video Length: 96 minutes

It's important from the start to watch the movie for its own sake, not just because of the series. Rather than a sequel or prequel, Escaflowne the Movie is a darker, more angst-ridden retelling of the story. Rather than trying to cram the entire thirteen hours of story from the series into an hour and half, Kazuki Akane has taken the essence of the story and reshaped it into something new.

The story follows a much more depressed Hitome who is beckoned to Gaia by visions of Folken. Summoned by Folken, Hitome appears in Gaia inside the Escaflowne, as Vaughn steals it from a Black Dragon Clan airship. Vaughn and his allies, who include most of the main characters from the series in much reduced and modified roles recognize her as the Wing Goddess, the one who holds the fate of Gaia in her hands. Folken, upset than Hitome has appeared to Vaughn rather than him, sends Delandau and his men to capture her so than she may bring about the end of the world.

The mood and theme of the movie are very dark. In the beginning, Hitome is depressed and suicidal, she's ditching class, dropped out of the track team, and even written a suicide note. Her feelings are mirrored by Vaughn's suicidal urge for vengeance and Folken's desire to see the world die. Hitome must make a choice between living and dying, one that will shape Escaflowne's actions and form the difference between Vaughn's salvation and the world's end.

The movie doesn't focus on giant robot battles the way the series does, there's only one large battle and unfortunately much of it is too darkly colored to make out. On the plus side, there are some great sword fights involving Vaughn, which make up for the lack of Escaflowne action.

The art and animation is excellent, though it has a more natural, rounded style rather than the over-stylized pointy look of the series. The music is also excellent, with a score by Yoko Kanno. All in all, the movie is definitely worth seeing, and can easily stand on it's own. If you're a fan of the series, watch with an open mind, and don't get upset with the new look and feel of the characters.

Armored Trooper VOTOMS

2002-02-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

Armored Trooper VOTOMS	3/5 Stars
Director: Ryosuke Takahashi Publisher: Central Park Media (US) 52 Episodes in 4 stages Released: 1983

If you love anime for the stunning animation, beautiful art, and the most sophisticated mecha around, then you probably won't like VOTOMS. The series was made in the early days of anime, and it shows. Don't let the dated art and giant punch-card computers fool you though, VOTOMS is a thoroughly satisfying sci-fi action series.

The story takes place in a distant galaxy, shortly after the end of a century long war between the two superpowers, the Gilgamesh and the Balarant. In the closing days of the war, renegades working for a mysterious "Secret Society" stage a raid on a military research facility, kidnaping a mysterious woman in a suspended animation tank. With them is a Gilgamesh special forces trooper named Chirico Cuvie, who's unaware of what's going on. Not wanting to leave any witnesses, the Society tries to kill Chirico and leaves him for dead. He's soon picked up by a Gilgamesh battleship and interrogated as a member of the Society. Chirico soon escapes and makes his way to war-torn Uoodo City.

The first few discs are the hardest to get through, mainly because the art is so unappealing. Chirico's complete lack of emotion and machine-like fighting ability offer an odd contrast to the overdone emotions of his companions, but they are one of the main reasons the series grows on you. Chirico's inner torment that drives the series can be a little hard to get from the subtitles, but stick with the series and you will be rewarded. The other three parts of the series follow Chirico and the friends he makes as he attempts to reconcile his past as part of the "Red Shoulders", the most ruthless unit in the Gilgamesh army. He also attempts to find love with Fyana, the prototype "Perfect Soldier" he saw in the suspended animation tank at the beginning of the series. Standing in his way are bandits, revolutionaries, the Balarant and Gilgamesh armies, the Secret Society, and quite possibly God.

The art and animation are crude by today's standards, but good at the time it was first released. A lot of shots are used more than once, especially in combat, but there's so much action and combat that it's not a big problem. The most annoying thing is possibly the character designs, with their odd cloths and hair. But this too, can be forgiven. There are on going plots with in plots from the very start, some of which are not revealed to the last stage, "God Planet Quent". The end was touching, and I felt it to be totally appropriate to the series.

The series is only available in Japanese with English subtitles, and has been recently released in a 16 DVD set, with all 52 episodes. The disks were nicely done, with bonus material on every disc revealing more about the enormous VOTOMS universe that has been created over the years, as well as episode guides and cover art from the orginal VHS release. There is an enormous amount of VOTOMS material out there, including several games, an RPG, and tons of manga. The series is worth seeing if you are a serious anime fan, or have been a fan since the 80s and can forgive the dated animation. Still, paying almost $400 for the entire series might be a little hard to justify and I recommend renting it from a place like Netflix.com.

Record of the Lodoss War

2002-02-12T20:48:00.000-08:00

Record of the Lodoss War	3/5 Stars
13 - 30 min episodes Released: 1990

Record of the Lodoss War is a pretty standard D&D spinoff, so if you like D&D inspired fantasy, you'll like this. Just don't expect anything too original. Lodoss War is a 13 episode OAV series that covers the adventures of an aspiring knight, Parn, and his companions as they attempt to stop the Emperor of Marmo and his armies from acquiring the Scepter of Domination. With the Scepter, the Emperor will be able to control the Goddess of Destruction. This, of course, is bad news, and all of the assembled forces of good are out to stop them. This being a D&D style fantasy, under-trained Parn and friends are right in the center of all the action. During their adventure they'll face mauradering armies of beast-men, dark elves, and be forced to raid the lairs of ancient dragons in an attempt to get teh scepter before Marmo does. Luckily, the villains aren't united, and the only real threat they face is Ashram, the Black Knight. Ashram is a spectacular villain, and the most likable character in the series. On the plus side, the art work is superb, and the character designs are excellent. I enjoyed the movie, despite it's formulaic plot. The character of Ashram in particular stood out, which is probably why he's in both of the sequels. The soundtrack is also very good, especially during the opening sequence. Unfortunately it seems as if the studio was given too small of a budget for the scope of the series. While the art is great, the animation is sub par, particularly with the Dragons, which are a central piece of the story. Many shots are reused, and it shows. If you're a fan of D&D, or just want to see a classic fantasy anime, then Record of the Lodoss War is for you. The series has been immensely popular in both Japan and the US, with two spin-off series, and a Sega Dreamcast Game. The series is itself a spin-off of a popular series of Japanese novels based on D&D. I'm not aware of any plans to translate the novels or release them in the US.

Record of Lodoss War - The Complete Series (DVD)

Blue Submarine No. 6

2002-01-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

Blue Submarine No. 6	3.5/5 Stars
Based on manga by: Satoru Ozawa Director: Toshiyuki Inoue, Takeshi Honda 4 episodes in 4 volumes

In the near future, the polar icecaps have melted, the coastal lands have flooded, and billions have died. Mutant man/animals have risen up against humanity, which is fighting just to stay alive. This is all the work of one man, Professor Zorndyke, a genius gone mad who for unknown reasons has caused so much devastation. In the middle of all of this is the submarine "Blue Submarine No. 6", of the Pacific Blue Fleet, and her crew. They and what's left of the navies of the world are on a last effort to defeat Zorndyke and his aquatic armies.

Blue Submarine No. 6 stands out among OAVs in several ways. The fist, and most obvious difference between Blue Sub 6 and other anime is the extensive use of 3D computer animation. While this is done in other anime, a very large portion, including every vehicle combat scene, is done in CG. At times it can be a little disorienting switching between flat, 2D animation and 3D graphics, but it doesn't take long to get used to it. Zorndyke's mutant armies stand out as well, ranging from mutant animals, to combat whales, to new races of mer folk. Zorndyke himself has a pretty strong Dr. Moreau complex, complete with tropical village of beast-people. Zorndyke's character is is creepy, with a calm even voice that makes him sound completely insane. He also looks a little like Bill Gates, which is even creepier.

Blue Sub 6 has plenty of action, great visuals and sound, with a complex story. On the downside, the story may be a little too complex for an OAV, it would have done better with 6 rather than 4 episodes. Some of the character motivations are left unclear, and the story seems a little too compressed. Also, expect to shell out a lot of money for this OAV, each episode is released as a separate DVD. There is also an edited movie version available, that was shown on Cartoon Network. It might be your best bet, as far as affordability goes.

Blue Submarine No. 6 - Blues (Vol. 1) (DVD)

Please Save My Earth

2001-11-30T11:32:00.000-08:00

Please Save My Earth	4/5 Stars
VIZ Video Released 2000 6 Episode OVA on 1 DVD

Based on a shojo (girl's) manga, Please Save My Earth is a well crafted and entertaining story of 7 friends who discover that they all shared a past life together. Interestingly, we discover that in that past life, they were all alien scientists who were stranded on the moon after a war destroyed their civilization. Slowly, each of them succumbed to a virus, dying and being reborn on Earth. Each of them start having dreams of this around the time they enter Junior High School, though for two of the characters it happens earlier and later.

Because it's based on a shojo series, Please Save My Earth is character driven, with a lot of emphasis on relationships. What makes this interesting is that these characters have carried their feelings for each other over from past lives, even though in some cases they've changed sex or are widely apart in age. This leads to some of the central complications and plot of the story, and lies behind most of the conflict. Don't think that this is a love story though. The chief villain of the story, a 7 year old boy named Rin, is also the most sympathetic character, forcing you to both love and hate him at times. Most of the aliens have psychic powers brought over from their past life, and one of the human characters is a powerful psychic as well, leading to some pretty exciting battles, especially near the end of the series.

The down side of the series is the end. The first four episodes flow well, with characters being well developed, but never to the point that it bores the audience, there's enough action thrown in to keep action fans happy, and the mysteries behind Rin's motives and actions will keep pretty much everyone else happy. The problem starts in the last two episodes. A lengthy fight takes up most of episode 5, which could have been better used to start tying up the series. Episode 6 is a wide departure from the rest of the series, delving into Rin's first childhood, and then ending with a strange collage of images, similar in some ways to the end of Evangelion or 2001. This leaves most of the plot lines unfinished, including several major ones which are central to the story. It's a bit annoying to see such a great series end so badly. The pacing was perfect for a 6 episode OVA, if only they had stuck with it until the end.

In the end, Please Save My Earth is worth watching, with some great characters, beautiful art and animation. The musical score is great, and includes a song by Yoko Kanno, of Macross fame. The characters are well developed, especially Rin. It would be nice to see this as a full 26 episode series, but if you like the story there's a manga series that's worth checking out. The plotlines dropped in the anime are complete in the anime, and the characters are developed much more, particularly the past lives on the moon.

Please Save My Earth (DVD)

Wings of Honneamise

2001-07-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

Wings of Honneamise (Oneamise no Tsubasa)	5/5 Stars
Producers: Ken Iyadomi, Keiji Kusanao, Yutaka Maseba, Taro Yoshida Director/Screenplay: Hiroyuki Yamaga Animation Director: Hideaki Anno, Yuji Moriyama, Fumio Iida, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Animation by GAINAX Theatrical Release Date: May 1995 Run Time: 124 minutes

Royal Space Force: Wings of Honneamise is an amazing story of mankind's first leap into space, on a beautifully imagined fictional world. One of studio GAINAX's (of Evangelion fame) early works, Honneamise beautifully depicts the struggle of a world entering the modern age, and the narrow line it walks between salvation and destruction.

The two main characters are Shirotsugu Ladhatt and Riqunni. Shirotsugu had always dreamed about being a pilot, but his lackluster abilities and poor attitude about work landed him in the Royal Space Force. In an amusing turn on real life space programs, the Royal Space Force is a joke populated by flight school washouts. More of a PR campaign for the government, not even the leadership of the Space Force expects humanity to ever reach orbit. Shirotsugu has resigned himself to being something of a joke to the rest of the military, and spends most of his time goofing off. This changes after a chance meeting with Riqunni. Riqunni is a young missionary, trying to bring an uncaring world back to the religion of the past. Shirotsugu is intrigued by her passion for her religion, and her perseverance despite being ignored and dismissed by the rest of the world. Interested more in her and her determination than her religion, Shirotsugu begins to spend more time with here, developing an odd platonic relationship that's more than friendship. He becomes determined to do something with his life, and begins to turn the Royal Space Force into something more than a joke, and makes the the dream of space flight more than just a dream, despite the misfits in the Force, the machinations of politicians and generals, and a steady march toward war by the two opposing superpowers.

The art and animation of Honneamise is spectacular. Crisp and clean, it possesses a realism that adds to the believability of the world. The design of the world is excellent, the attention to detail works to make a world that is both alien and familiar, and utterly believable. A great deal of effort was put into creating the world, from buildings to fashion, to funeral customs. Even the opposing superpower has had effort made to give it a personality, despite it's largely background role. The soundtrack is also excellent, and fits in well with the rest of the film.

There are few downsides to the movie. The pacing is slow in parts, but it works well with the film. If you prefer your anime to rush at you like a madman, then you might find this film tedious. My main gripe with the film is the ending. I found it disappointing and abrupt. It's very similar to the endings of 2001: A Space Oddessy and Neon Genesis Evangelion, but less satisfying. As unnecessary as the ending is, it doesn't detract from the movie much at all.

Hands down, Wings of Honneamise is one of the best anime films out there. It's well developed characters, plot, and detailed world place it head and shoulders above most other animated works. It has a broad appeal and can be enjoyed by those who don't usually watch anime or science fiction of any sort.

Royal Space Force - Wings of Honneamise (DVD)

Outlaw Star

2001-07-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

Outlaw Star	4.5/5 Stars
Director: Wendee Lee & Hongoo Mitsuru Writer: Katsuhiko Chiba Distributor: Bandai 26 episodes in 3 volumes

At first glance, Outlaw Star might seem your run of the mill space adventure. However, it's much more than that. Sure, it's got great space battles, gunfights, bounty hunters, and pirates. But it's also got some great comedy an extremely likable crew of characters.

Outlaw Star is the story of a young outlaw, Gene Starwind, on a journey to find his place in the universe. Accompanying him is Jim Hawkings, a young boy who's something of an electronics wizard and Gene's business partner. Along the way they add to their group an android named Melfina, a catlike alien warrior named Aisha, and an assassin named Suzuka. Together, they are trying to find the "Galactic Leyline" while avoiding pirates and making a little money on the side.

It's hard to find any one thing that stands out in Outlaw Star. The action sequences are superb, and many of them feature starships equipped with grappler arms, allowing some very unique hand to hand combat in space. The background setting for the series is also very interesting. It has a distinct Asian feel to it, from the architecture to the planet names. Besides the high technology of any science fiction setting, there is also magic present in the form of "Tao Masters" many of whom work for the pirates. Magic is treated as fairly ordinary, even though few people possess it. A special technology has sprung up specifically to counter Tao magic, embodied in Gene's "caster pistol".

The animation and art are excellent, and the English voice cast does superb work, though some of the extras are a bit forced. The series will seem to meander a bit in the first half, but it works well with Gene's character who is struggling to find his place. The only downside is that this isn't the deepest series, so don't go looking for any great themes. Outlaw Star is definitely the story of Gene Starwind, while the other characters are well done and enjoyable, don't expect to see any great changes to them during the series. It would have been nice to have seen a bit more of Melfina's character, as she plays a central role in the development of Gene.

The series has been aired on the Cartoon Network, but was edit for content and time. The DVD version is definitely worth getting, it includes the original opening cut by CN, as well as edit scenes. The nice thing about Outlaw star is that it was released in three two disc volumes, of 9 episodes each. The cost is very reasonable as well, $35-$40, especially considering 9 episodes of another series could easily run you $80. Hopefully this trend will catch on.

Outlaw Star (Collection 1) (DVD)

Gall Force: Eternal Story

2001-01-07T22:08:00.000-08:00

Gall Force: Eternal Story	2.5/5 Stars
Original Story: Hideki Kakinuma Director: Katsuhiko Akiyama Running Time: 86 min. Released: 1986

Though a good friend of mine rates this as the worst anime movie ever made, it's not quite that bad. Chances are you'll like and enjoy some part of the movie, since it's basically a conglomeration of ideas found in many other popular SciFi movies and stories. Set against the backdrop of a vast interstellar war between the Solenoids (who are all women) and the Paranoids (I know, terrible name) Gall Force is the story of the crew of a small Solenoid vessel the Star Leaf, which is cut off from the main fleet during a battle. After narrowly escaping the battle, the crew of the Star Leaf decides to continue with their orders and rendezvous at planet Chaos to defend it. Along the way they become part of a Paranoid experiment, and are betrayed by their own military. The story has a lot of plot twists to it, most of which are obvious well before hand. The end is predictable, and sets up for the numerous sequels to this movie. I found the dialog and plot to be sub-par and cheesy, though the animation is good for anime from the Eighties. I especially enjoyed some of the mecha designs which are above average for the period. Whether or not you like this movie, many consider it a classic, and it did have a big impact on anime as a whole, leading to more ambitious Sci-Fi plots in later years.

Gall Force: Eternal Story (dvd)