tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75725082024-03-14T07:59:43.538-04:00The 2nd DimensionAnime and manga ... news, views, and reviewsBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.comBlogger483125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-47254914880531504042013-02-02T07:00:00.000-05:002013-02-02T07:43:26.530-05:00Viewing Journal: Kaiji (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 500px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWXWD5-QQ4t5XjATJm32AjHDpaMqN7stqS-OAjqyHIzFH0jf4iVmF0gmnrqieBRa2jkj7IFmEwmLpoMQ5IQ1KBa62yqE1iOBUnJFIlOV0lWdYXQrUTTpTLoeZsFTsot_qU99Rn/s400/ViewingJournal-Kaiji.jpg" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=8550">Series Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.animesuki.com/search.php?query=kaiji">Bittorrent Download</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWWDEnsn6l4">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall = A<br />
Story = A<br />
Video = B<br />
Audio = B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<blockquote>
Itou Kaiji is a bum who steals car emblems and slashes tires on what seems to be a regular basis. This routine changes one day when he is paid a visit by a man in a trench-coat. Once the two get talking, it seems that the visitor (Calling himself Endou) is a debt collector. The reason for his visit is an unpaid loan which kaiji had previously co-signed for a work-mate (Furuhata Takeshi). The original loan was 30000 yen and once Takeshi had disappeared, the loan then fell on Kaiji. Kaiji is then told of a way to clear the interest compounded debt (which stood at 3,850,000 yen), which involved getting on a boat with others in his position. Once on the boat the debtors would then have to gamble with loaned money, which would end with a few winning, and others getting into deeper debt and having to work to pay of their debts. After some coercing kaiji accepts a position on the boat, in order to clear himself and make a bit of money as well... (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=8550">ANN</a>)</blockquote>
When I first heard about <i>Kaiji</i>, I figured I'd give it a try because I'd always been curious about gambling anime. I enjoy shows that involve strategy and I figured that a series about gaming would include plenty of it. <i>Kaiji</i> does certainly include much of scheming amongst the players, but there is a lot about it that I did not expect in both style and content, with over-the-top intensity, tears flowing like waterfalls, and possibly the greatest narrator of all time.<br />
<br />
Ito Kaiji is both the luckiest and unluckiest person in the world. He cosigned a loan with a co-worker Takeshi Furuhata as a favor; but unbeknownst to him, the loan was made through the Yakuza; so when Furuhata disappears, the loan sharks turn to Kaiji to collect. As a lazy bum who can barely support himself, Kaiji can't pay up. But instead of beating him senseless or forcing him into slave labor, they offer him a chance to take part in a clandestine gambling operation that pays huge rewards and could wipe out his debt, but could also put him so deep in the hole that he may never be able to crawl out. Kaiji accepts, but it's only when he gets to the gambling boat that he learns the first game on which he'll be staking his life: Rock, Paper, Scissors.<br />
<br />
As you can probably tell, this is not your run-of-the-mill World Championship Poker type of gambling. Each of the six types of games played throughout the show's two seasons is deceptively simplistic and familiar. But each has unique twist and involve a surprising amount of strategy.<br />
<br />
As expected, the level of strategic thinking involved in the games is what really started to draw me into the show. The rules force the characters to weigh their options with their goals and come up with creative solutions to their problems, including building alliances with other players to gain the upper hand. It's the anticipation and unveiling of the players' techniques and waiting to see if it actually works that give the show much of it's dramatic impact. But Kaiji fails as much as (or maybe more than) he succeeds especially because his foes don't necessarily have the same moral code or level of loyalty that Kaiji strives to maintain.<br />
<br />
All of these factors: the stakes he is playing for, the questionable alliances he makes with others amid competing stategies, and the unpredictable nature if the games themselves, all swirl together to make some of the most dramatically intense moments I've experienced in anime. The level of risk Kaiji takes on becomes greater and more immediate to the point where he eventually is in danger of being maimed or outright killed if he fails.<br />
<br />
And if there is ever any doubt as to the perilous nature of Kaiji's situation; the excitable narrator chimes in to overpower you with an impassioned speech describing exactly how much Kaiji is freaking out of the situation, and backing it up with fiery visual analogies. What drives the point home is not just what he says but how he says it. He doesn't scream, but he pushes his voice to the limits so you can just imaging him getting red-faced and sweaty and delivers his epic descriptions. His awesomeness is as much what makes this show great as anything, as he blasts away any remote sense subtlety in the drama.<br />
<br />
The strangest thing is that beyond all of this craziness, the themes that the show explores make it surprisingly relevant: that being the control that money has over our lives. I'm not really purposely analyze symbolism in a story, but as I watched I kept thinking that the key player in this story was the almighty dollar. Those that had it had supreme power over those that did not. And each game seems to explore the different effects that
money has on people including greed, obsession, sacrifice, and the
seemingly impossibility of succeeding over the rich. A huge part of what drives Kaiji and makes him successful is his persistent will to survive. Since money is inseparably tied to survival, he will do anything to get it, even sacrifice his physical well being. <br />
<br />
Now, as much as I loved this show, it did have one small annoyance: a little thing called...the entire second season. It was mercilessly drawn out, <i>DBZ</i>-style (not that I've ever watched <i>DBZ</i>, but I've heard the jokes). I usually take notes after watching an episode, and for the first season I would write up a good paragraph for each, but in the second season I could get away with writing maybe a sentence or two. That's because there would usually be only one plot development per episode that moved the story forward and the rest of the time characters were just freaking out about the situation. That second season could have probably been cut to half the number of episodes and still had plenty of time to tell the full story. It was almost physically painful that, in a show where you are constantly anticipating what is going to happen next, you have to wait so long for any real developments. But, still, I watched through it all and think it was well worth it.<br />
<br />
The other issue that the show had — again mostly in the second season — was its reliance on deux ex machine to resolve situation, where the author would add something not previously foreshadowed or something based purely on luck that would get Kaiji out of a situation. I was able to reason that Kaiji gets as much bad luck as he does good luck, so it's just as well that in games based on chance, he would get a break now and then. But regardless, that didn't bother me much and by the end I thought that everything came to a very satisfying conclusion.<br />
<br />
Overall, it is both a mental torture and pleasure to watch this show. The moments of tension and anticipation are painful but the payoffs, just like in Kaiji's gambling are exceptional. Highly recommended.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-46423563998030402342012-09-13T13:36:00.001-04:002016-10-20T23:41:37.593-04:00Viewing Journal: Redline<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 500px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvzlE5dVZvLArfJoM9VBrUhRbV8_mh22WUC-VEp7qVqNatUYLuMsgQMn3oSLmmuFS-mYtXHTBkYvj95UGE7En6zegSKq0WS4Ng4VMotjsaKwWipnAum3TYC5rAiH7c8agbJiI/s400/ViewingJournal-Redline.jpg" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6456">Movie Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dmovies-tv&field-keywords=Redline+koike&rh=n%3A2625373011%2Ck%3ARedline+koike&ajr=0">DVD Info</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtUcHxNfzo0&feature=fvwrel">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall= A+<br />
Story = A+<br />
Video = A+<br />
Audio = A</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<blockquote>
Every 5 years the race called Redline is held at a surprise location revealed shortly before the race begins. This time around it's being held on Roboworld, much to the dismay of Roboworld's militant government which has no intention of allowing the race to proceed. The race has no rules, whoever crosses the Redline first, wins. Sweet JP is a rare breed of racer who prefers retro style and raw power over high tech gadgets and weaponry. Troubled by their involvement with the mob, Sweet JP and his team just want a clean shot at winning the race. Sonoshee McLaren is a skilled and highly competitive rising star in the racing circuit. She beat JP in the last qualifier and caught his eye. Up against lethal hostility from Roboworld's government and their fellow racers, JP and Sonoshee are pushed to their limits in the race for the Redline. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6456">ANN</a>)</blockquote>
<i>Redline</i> has a lot to live up to in terms of expectations. Clips and trailers teasing its stunning animation have cropped up on Youtube sportatically over the past 5+ years. When it was finally released in the US, some reviews called it this generation's <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rjhttp://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=375CNE8Hp5MCHZ1L2MhuaYi6IYbz91QZA"><i>Akira</i></a> or <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=465"><i>Ghost in the Shell</i></a> in terms of sparking people's fascination with Japanese animation and its vast potential. It was called a throwback to the golden era of anime in the 80's both both because it is completely hand-drawn cell animation and unrestrained narrative. And that all certainly got me psyched, but is it really even possible to meet that extreme level of expectation? Apparently it is — and then some.<br />
<br />
The story of <i>Redline</i> is like a sci-fi action version of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082136/"><i>Cannonball Run</i></a> in that it's about a no-holds-barred race that the authorities are trying to shut down. This is certainly NOT the type of movie intended to stimulate esoteric introspection or to explore psychological and social themes and philosophies in the way <i>Akira</i> or <i>Ghost in the Shell</i> are. This is a movie that is meant to get your adrenaline pumping and pull you into the thrill of the race. It's awesome and insane for its own sake, not necessarily because it advances some complex plot. Everything from it's fast pace to it's wild visuals to the intensity of the characters to the anything-goes storyline are all meant to get you to stand up and shout, "HELL YES!" <br />
<br />
First and foremost it's the visuals that bring people in to see this movie. And although the art style, designs
and animation are unique and dynamic, it's not so much how it is
animated as what is animated. It's not just that things look
good, it's the level of detail included in the artwork, and the variety in the character designs, and the way that it shows the technology in action, and how it uses visual techniques to let you feel what the intense speeds that the racers are experiencing. Like near
the beginning when the main character Sweet JP puts a nitro in his car to give it a
super boost, you see the nitro work it's way through the car then to the engine and
explode in the engine and how that makes the the car blast forward. And when it does, the way that it shows the car and the character warp and stretch makes you feel the incredible speed. So much thought was
given to every cell in this animation that it demands multiple viewings
in order to absorb it all. <br />
<br />
But awesome animation alone will only get you so far before you start craving substance to back it up; and <i>Redline</i> — beyond what I had any right to expect — delivers with absorbing characterization, a cool tone, and all-out insanity. The variety of character designs are supported by just as much variety in their cool, psychotic or zany personalities. You have the kind of masculine personalities reminscent of <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=13"><i>Cowboy Bebop</i></a> where characters are brash or outright violent towards each other but still have a unstated respect or friendship. Then you also have the hilariously paradoxical misfits like the crying soldier who is trying to kill his former comrades because of some past slight but apparently just wants their attention. Plus, each character has a history, whether it's implied or directly shown via flashbacks, hinting that there is much more to this world than this standalone story. It's that subtle depth mixed with characters' outrageous attitudes, interactions, and relationships that give the movie the incredible energy that the visuals alone could never have accomplished.<br />
<br />
If I have one real criticism about this movie, it's the ending. Not that the ending is bad, it's just that there is no time spent on resolution. It's like you reach the hight of the climax and then it cuts off right at that point. There's no cooling off period, no "afterward"; there isn't even the extra scene after the credits. Still though, the climax of the movie really is a true high point and well worth it.<br />
<br />
This movie was years in the making, and you can really see that all of that time went to use developing not just the animation but the overall story and characters and world in which it takes place. It's an all-out blast to experience and the kind of thing to pass around to friends because — anime or no anime — this is just too good to keep to yourself. <br />
<br />
<strong>Related Reviews:</strong>
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2012/06/viewing-journal-trava-fist-planet.html">Trava Fist Planet</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-25890191904860573352012-08-07T08:40:00.001-04:002012-09-18T06:44:48.635-04:00Viewing Journal: Bleach (episodes 190-214)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 500px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOZXvPPrHDE7X-92gj6xST_MWuKcnmvWWjN8k0kgIb_fq-qZ2o6uHFNKMHVS8gnaHDPTzEMP7r03rb74Xusu9WF-0GX3SvLKRkJHTs6P9VdhkLuFb13f1sKo-Gonp_jizTECc/s400/s_933.jpg" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4240">Series Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/video/2497">Watch It Now</a><br />
<a href="http://www.animenation.com/anime-dvd-b-bleach.html">DVD Info</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR9wr8N-NL0">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall= B-<br />
Story = B-<br />
Video = B-<br />
Audio = C</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<blockquote>
Ichigo returns as— blah blah blah Who cares?</blockquote>
So this was the make or break season of <i>Bleach</i> for me. After close to 200 episodes, the series had gotten so long with so many ups and downs that I decided that I was either going to dedicate myself to watching the series to the end or I was going to give up on it entirely. So the gauntlet is dropped, and the verdict has been made.<br />
<br />
And after watching the first few episodes of the "season" (of which the demarmarkation is nothing more than the change in opening animation — and even then, for this season there were two different openings) that verdict was to give up on the series. I remember back when I was watching episode 50 and the current episode in Japan was episode 170 or so, I was thinking, "Man I can't wait until I get caught up because surely awesome things are awaiting me." I thought how much more developed the overarching plot must be and how many mysteries must have finally been answered.<br />
<br />
Now that I am well past that point, the plot has certainly come quite a distance and some quetions have been answered — most notable of which is <a href="http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/Nelliel_Tu_Odelschwanck">Nell's</a> past and that of her companions. The problem is that even when they do explain stuff, so much new stuff arises to explain the old stuff, that it feels like it's damn near impossible to ever get any closure to the series; like the series has gotten so convoluted that it will take another 200 episodes just to sort it all out.<br />
<br />
Plus, there are still those acursed drawn-out fights that are made even more annoying when there are multiple occurring at the same time. So even when Kenpachi and the other soul reapers appear in Wako Mundo, the initial coolness is deflated by the frustrating tedium of skipping from one battle to another without any of them seeming to advance; and even when they do advance they never come to a completely satisfactory conclusion. I mean, I love fights as much as the next guy but things get mind-numbingly redundant after the fiftieth time you hear "Why can't you accept it? You can't defeat me!" or the sound of someone gasping as they claim that their enemies' fighting techniques are "impossible" or (my wife's personal favorite) Ichigo calling his opponent a "bastard!"<br />
<br />
And while we're talking about annoying people; I have to say that Orihime' complete worthlessness as healer is really getting on my nerves. There is one point where Ichigo is fighting and Orihime can't help him because she is captured by an Arrancar (not that she makes any attempt to escape). But even when the Arrancar is gone, she STILL doesn't try to heal Ichigo. She just keeps repeating "Oh, Ichigo! Ichigo!" over and over in annoyingly melodramagic fashion so I'm thinking, "If you're so fucking concerned then heal the guy, you worthless bitch!" This is the ire that <i>Bleach</i> has drawn from me.<br />
<br />
So at about episode 205 I had decided to completely abandon the series, but still figured I would finish up the "season" for the sake of writing this review.<br />
<br />
Then the flashback happened.<br />
<br />
Well, it wasn't so much a flashback as an arbitrary shift backward in time to when the soul reaper squads were in their formative years. And God help me but there was actual character and plot development not to mention improved animation. Now instead of constant battles, there is a constitant concentration on story as if the writers had been stalling this entire time to put together a complex set of events to explain the motivations behind everything that had happened thus far. It was actually good — even fascinating.<br />
<br />
In this new storyline things take a dramatic shift with characters in entirely different roles. It was great because it brought so much of their personalities into a new light and upturned many presumptions I had about many of them. We also learn a lot of background info potentially explaining Ichigo's hollow mask, as well as many of the characters' origins. It's annoyingly good to the point where it seriously made me reconcider my vow to abandon the series.<br />
<br />
But at the same time, many of my previous complaints were still present. For instance, there are too many characters and back stories for the show's own good. It still seems like we'll never get any closer to resolving the overarching plot because it gets dragged out with the addition of more characters, backstories, and characters within backstories.<br />
<br />
Of course, nothing good lasts forever. The last two episodes in this collection are ridiculous filler. Essentially it's a blatent parody on super hero teams like <i><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4">Gatchaman</a></i> / <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Planets">Battle of the Planets</a></i>. I guess the fact that it is so silly gives it some entertainment value, but the goofy tone is jarring after the serious storytelling of the previous episodes. It's those stupid filler episodes that pop in like a sniper shot to the head at the most unexpected moments that really put me off to this series.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, it's "one bitten twice shy" for me. I've gotten my hopes up way to often, only to be teased into oblivion. And so my final conclusion was to stop watching after this season.<br />
<br />
And with that decision comes my final farwell. There's certainly something to be said for <i>Bleach</i> because it's the longest anime I've ever watched, beating out <i><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=73">Ruroni Kenshin</a></i> by double. I mentioned how back at episode 50, I had such high hopes for the series; and even now that attitude has remained, especially since the series <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=73">ended</a> back in March with episode 366. But even it if does to get better, there are so many other shows out there that I could be watching, that dedicating so much time to a single one just doesn't seem worth it.<br />
<br />
<b>Related Reviews</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2007/02/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-1-26.html">Bleach (season 1)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2007/10/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-26-51.html">Bleach (season 2)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/08/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-52-74.html">Bleach (season 3)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/02/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-75-97.html">Bleach (season 4)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/08/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-98-120.html">Bleach (season 5)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/12/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-121-143.html">Bleach (season 6)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2010/09/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-144-168.html">Bleach (season 7)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2011/07/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-169-189.html">Bleach (season 8)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/07/ready-viewing-journal-bleach-memories.html">Bleach: Memories of Nobody</a></li>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2010/07/viewing-journal-bleach-diamonddust.html">Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion</a></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: .9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-443430398488283832012-07-12T06:55:00.000-04:002012-07-16T07:01:04.746-04:00Viewing Journal: Eden of the East (TV, Movie 1 & Movie 2)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 500px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgqRH1NdxqCbUD9lubAVhBEygZyZ_Yxn4N8lFUFRby92TM5y4uR4elLDrXorodGsVekjTXK1YI1YHMritSVgkGRk8fjM-wfP4uIF_QoRvkmSiVPorOjWXDgxRAYrLj7j5FmoC/s400/ViewingJournal-EdenoftheEast.jpg" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10474">Series Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10620">Movie 1 Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10919">Movie 2 Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.animenation.com/anime-dvd-e-eden-of-the-east.html">DVD Info</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hiWvHuIGhQ">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall= B<br />
Story = B<br />
Video = A+<br />
Audio = A</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<blockquote>
On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later... Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory. and he is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he's holding with the other hand. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10474">ANN</a>)</blockquote>
I started watching <i>Eden of the East</i> because it was directed by <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=910"><i>Stand Alone Complex</i></a> and <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6634"><i>Moribito</i></a> director <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=91">Kenji Kamiyama</a>, and was the first of his works not based on an existing manga or novel. He usually works with animation studio <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=337">Production IG</a>, and the result is some of the most stunning visuals in TV anime. But what really grabs me is his intricately plotted stories, and his strong, multi-dimentional, and intelligent characters. Overall he puts an incredible level of detail into all three parts of his anime: visuals, characters, and story. And for the most part, that is all present in <i>Eden of the East</i>, but even so there was something missing that kept me from being able to fully enjoy this story.<br />
<br />
This review is for all of <i>Eden of the East</i>, including the <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10474">11-episode TV series</a> and the two movies, <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10620"><i>King of Eden</i></a> and <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10919"><i>Paradise Lost</i></a>. The story revolves around several people called Seleção who have access to specialized cell phones. They can use the cell phones to call a woman named Juiz who is kind of like a catch-all concierge — she can, one way or another, grant any request in the hopes that it will ultimately lead to that person becoming savior of Japan, whatever that means. The main character is Akira Takizawa — a man who has lost most of his memory who gets involved with a group of people who are involved in the development of a kind of social networking site called Eden of the East. Suffice to say that a hell of a lot of stuff happens across the series and movies with lots of twists and turns. But all of those plot twists are part of a very well thought-out storyline, with lots of details that are integrated into the story so well that it never seems like there is a lot of exposition. This is an anime that you need to pay attention to, and have a solid memory for in order to fully appreciate all the work that has gone into it.<br />
<br />
One of the things the most stands out in the show is the number of very specific references to the real-world. It specifically names locations like the White House in Washington DC and specific areas or streets in Japan. And then there are the numbers specific movie references from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/"><i>Taxi Driver</i></a> to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033563/"><i>Dumbo</i></a>. There are so many real-world elements weaved into the story that the over all effect is that it feels like a very solid setting within our world. <br />
<br />
The visuals here are also mind-blowing in their level of detail. It reminded me a lot of <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=775"><i>Voices of a Distant Star</i></a> director <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=3487">Makoto Shinkai</a> in that you can tell that the settings are drawn directly from real places in both Japan and the US. I have been disappointed with Production IG as of late, but this series shows what they can achieve when they are in top form. And there isn't a lot of difference between the TV series and movies in terms of quality, mostly just in terms of scale.<br />
<br />
So the theme here is detail detail detail; but as impressive as all that is, and as much as I genuinely enjoyed much of this series, ultimately I was disappointed with it. The first thing that was that I couldn't figure out the point of the story. And by that I mean that I didn't have a firm grasp on the motivation of the characters, or the purpose of certain events. As I mentioned, I was really hooked on the level of detail, but after a while that fascination waned because I just couldn't see what the purpose of everything going on. I'm not sure if I was a weakness in the storytelling or if I just wasn't paying close enough attention, but by the end of the second movie, I got pretty bored and was just happy to have it be over.<br />
<br />
The other thing was that there were no strong characters to latch onto. In <i>Stand Alone Complex</i> and <i>Moribito</i> there were strong and intelligent protagonists; but I just couldn't see that here. The main character was supposed to be this weird guy with a mysterious past, but as I mentioned before, I didn't understand why he did the things he did at all; plus he always had this grin on his face and it seemed like he was supposed to have that Vash the Stampede "I'm acting oblivious but but I'm actually really powerful" grin, but I never got what the power was or what made him any more special than anyone else in the series. After a while I grew really annoyed with him and Saki, the main girl character, who seemed to like him for no reason. Actually, the other characters were more interesting, but got less screen time.<br />
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All in all, this was a show that I can recommend for the visuals and the level of details, but I think it becomes weaker as it goes; so that the two movies, as visually incredible as they all are, completely fall flat by the end. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-91620779950329207112012-07-06T07:15:00.000-04:002012-07-06T07:17:25.045-04:00Viewing Journal: Riki-Oh - The Story of Ricky<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 500px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLG34eP8KNsrBO9nh0c7GpGpvnMcY_Oi1bT4oyMyENwUUnadWIb-fKQnkZu7vwpv0NcJtyv9YaZ5glVy8sIs0YIEREk0yOglYKNQV3qNZDIdXD7fwlt-1aeuMo4v2BBWPjze5/s400/ViewingJournal-RikiOh.jpg" width="181" /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102293/">Movie Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Riki-Oh-Story-Ricky-Siu-Wong-Fan/dp/B00004TJM8">DVD Info</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgTkFroCf9Q">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall= A+<br />
Story = D<br />
Video = D<br />
Audio =D</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<blockquote>
Sentenced to 10 years for killing a mob boss who caused his girlfriend to commit suicide, Ricky Ho is transferred to a corporate-owned prison, where he must use his martial arts skills to battle a corrupt warden and a group of prisoners known as "The Gang of Four." (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4193">ANN</a>)</blockquote>
I first heard about the <i>Riki-Oh</i> movie via an <a href="http://www.awopodcast.com/2009/12/anime-world-order-show-84-four-year.html">episode of AWO</a> in which they discussed the original manga. They talked about how over-the-top the violence in the movie was, specifically mentioning certain scenes that sounded so crazy that I just had to check it out. But that desire remained unfulfilled until someone at work (the same one who had lent me the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2012/06/viewing-journal-devilman-live-action.html">live action <i>Devilman</i> movie</a>) offered to lone it to me. By the time I returned it, I had an new found appreciation for movies that are are so horrible in content and quality that they come full circle to become mind-blowingly awesome.<br />
<br />
Admittedly, when I started watching the movie and saw some of those initial bloody scenes, I was not impressed. Part of that that was because I had already heard about them from other people, so it killed the surprise factor. But I also think that — as nuts as those scenes were — I'd seen crazier stuff in manga and anime. So sure Riki punches a guy through the stomach; so what? <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=2427">Battle Angel Alita</a> probably did that like twenty times.<br />
<br />
But oh how naive I was because things only got more and more crazy from there. I think the real turning point was a the fight scene where Riki gets his arm cut and then proceeds to do a certain trick to stop the bleeding, after which his enemy tries to strangle him in glorious fashion. That was when it was clear this was indeed something that I had never seen before. I'm sure if I saw those scenes in the original manga it would have been amazing enough, but seeing them done in live action without so much as a trace of irony made it completely mind blowing. And the end of the movie with the final fight scene that had so many WTF moments you can't not react to it, convinced me that this was a cinematic classic.<br />
<br />
And on the subject of comparing the manga and movie, I've always thought that the main difference between anime/manga and live action was the suspension of disbelief factor. Since anime and manga are already artistically stylized, there's already a layer of unreality to it that allows you to get away with showing fantastic stuff like giant robot fighting one another or super powered school girls beating each other up. But since live action is by it's nature showing showing real actors in real settings, the audience is more likely to compare it to reality. As a result the audience is more likely to dismiss things that are not consistent with how they see the world. It's what I would call a low suspension-of-disbelief threshold; and I'd always considered that a weakness of the live-action medium… until <i>Riki-Oh</i>.<br />
<br />
In <i>Riki-Oh</i>, everything is so over-the-top and in-your-face with the unreality of it that the "badness" actually makes it incredible. I'm not just talking about the horrible effects, but the actual story itself. So when Riki trips a guy in the bathroom and he gets impaled on spikes on the floor, it's not just that it's obviously a dummy that fell on the spikes; it's the inexplicability of those spike being on bathroom floor at all. There's no reason for them to be there other than because the director wanted to show a guy's head getting impaled. It's the unapologetic way that the director does what he wants while still keeping a strait face, so you're never sure if the ridiculousness is intentional or not, that makes the movie so much fucking fun. So you'll have a scene where the villian tries to kill Riki by having a ceiling slowly descend on him, but instead of escaping through the gaping hold in the wall, he breaks through the steel bars imprisoning him. That's cinematic gold, people!<br />
<br />
I'm really trying to (probably unsuccessfully) avoid going into too many specifics because it's best to go into this movie without too many expectations. In fact, if you do see this and like it I'd suggest springing it on a group of unsuspecting friends. After a hour and a half of bodily explosions, I guarantee that you will be better and closer friends for it.
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-56271572440429833092012-06-27T06:19:00.000-04:002012-07-05T06:39:39.312-04:00Viewing Journal: Trava Fist Planet (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 500px;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PZaMywhSwrkznBhfzz03sfumq1W14Lem3nVpIffY-k1bH9NbA34964m64JlxIyxGIzFpsDK9DNqMttvHuHPffph3-Ce_QSGOe0D3qzTloIK11eCDFt9QZl0dkOCShjFKvdyV/s400/ViewingJournal-TravaFistPlanet.jpg" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4019">Series Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nyaa.eu/?page=search&cats=0_0&filter=0&term=trava">Bittorrent Download</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqWqb3FGN-c">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall= B<br />
Story = B<br />
Video = A-<br />
Audio = B-</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<blockquote>
Ace pilot Trava and his personal mechanic buddy Shinkai, on their way to mark an out-of-the-way planet, pick up Mikuru, a girl with no memory. The three are about to discover that the planet is more than it seems. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4019">ANN</a>)</blockquote>
<i>Trava Fist Planet</i> is a short series made up of four 10 to 15 minute episodes about two "markers" — people who go to new planets and mark them for later exploration. They are trying to earn money to enter the "Fist Planet," a fighting/racing event whose grand prize ranges in the billions. While on their way to their next mark, they stumble upon a woman who has lost her memory, taking her with them to survey the strange and dangerous planet. <br />
<br />
The only reason I watched this series was because it's the prequel to <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6456"><i>Redline</i></a>, the long-in-the-making movie that looks mind-blowingly awesome but which I still have yet to watch. <i>Trava Fist Planet</i> is not nearly as action-oriented as <i>Redline</i> promises to be, but it is still has plenty of entertainment value due to its clever writing, off-kilter characters and setting, and awesome animation.<br />
<br />
What this series lacks in action, it makes up for in snappy dialogue. The two main characters who are made up of the dog-eared Trava and the "lobster man" Shinkai are constantly bantering back and forth in a way that reminds me of Jet and Spike in <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=13"><i>Cowboy Bebop</i></a>. The confident Trava is always jibing Shinkai who in turn is hopelessly trying to defend himself. It's the quick, constantly unexpected wit that gives this show tons of personality and a fun, casual tone even when things are at their craziest. The only issue is that at times it can get quiet and a bit boring to the point where I really just wished that something — anything — would happen. But for the most part it is very cool.<br />
<br />
Of course, I'm not saying that there is no action in this show or that it is not visually stunning. The designs are done by the same guy who did <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2021"><i>Dead Leaves</i></a> and the best episode in the <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1710"><i>Animatrix</i></a>, <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1714"><i>World Record</i></a>. The character designs have that <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6"><i>Aeon Flux</i></a> elongated-limbs look, and I'm not sure how to describe everything else other than to say that it is extremely unique and awesome. As the story progresses there are some action scenes that get really crazy, especially in the finale and the animation never disappoints throughout. The only major issue I had was with the last fight scene, which ended before we see any real action. Whether that was due to budgetary constraints or was an intentional storytelling device, I'm not sure. But for the most part the animation is phenomenal. <br />
<br />
As for the story itself, I would simply describe it as strange but entertaining. The characters are spontaneous, and the planet that the story takes place on is incredibly strange, but even so, all of the concepts in the story are explained well enough that I always understood what was going on. <br />
<br />
So overall I'll say that this a very strange show with fun dialogue, unique designs, and a decent amount of crazy action that is well worth watching. Now on to <i>Redline</i>!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-2118308585766264492012-06-22T05:46:00.000-04:002012-06-22T05:47:49.927-04:00Viewing Journal: Devilman (live action movie)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8cfE-HRuyZibFDvBxgfyTTD08KS8yBg8Tb3512R4oYLaEH14JisSKLDmQ0fBL9Qb4DNjLB4r2vpM3sXkKBZZxo7bv67bqnxIH1vaXEUev_N5QdWJHaW2oo00V9D1Ps6knSzk/s400/ViewingJournal-DevilmanLive.jpg" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3274">Movie Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Devilman-Devil-Man/dp/B0011NVC66/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340190026&sr=8-1">DVD Info</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IQ_QQXt1VU">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall= C+<br />
Story = C<br />
Video = B-<br />
Audio = C</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<blockquote>
Akira Fudo is a kind-hearted, shy teenager until one night his best friend Ryo Asuka reveals to him a terrible truth: demons are awakening in our world and mankind is in peril. Assuming the mantle of Devilman, a demon with the heart of a human, Akira fights demons as well as the rising chaos of a panicked human populace. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3274">ANN</a>)</blockquote>
I've been discussing anime and Asian action flicks with someone at work recently and we got to talking about <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=3140">Go Nagai</a> — the legendary creator of such fine offerings as <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=564"><i>Cutie Honey</i></a>, <i><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1007">MazinKaizer</a></i>, <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=768"><i>Violence Jack</i></a>, and <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=19"><i>Getter Robo</i></a>. In the course of the conversation, he mentioned that the live action <i>Devilman</i> was pretty good and he offered to let me borrow it; and since I've been wanting to check out stuff by Go Nagai for a while, I eagerly accepted. But after watching it I can only say that this movie is "okay". There were a few elements about it that I liked and that surprised me, but in general the story was awkward and uneven.<br />
<br />
The main issue that I had was that the transitions between plot points was so abrupt. For instance, in the beginning we have the two main characters — the teenage Akira and Ryo, two friends who are both kind of sullen but who are driven to protect each other. There's some good character development in those first few scenes; but then out of nowhere Ryo brings up the fact that his father is in Antarctica with a group of scientists who were digging for a new source of energy when they unintentionally unleashing demons into the world. And with that revelation, we abruptly go from being a somewhat realistic story about a couple kids brooding, to having all of these grotesque demons, two of whom possess Ryo and Akira, transforming them into devils who start fighting each other. Then just as abruptly they go back to being human kids who talking about their fate, wherein Akira decides to use his new demon powers to protect humanity. The fact that there is little to no build up or foreshadowing or any real logical explanation prior to these plot twists makes it seem that the story is being made up as it goes along, despite being based on a pre-existing material.<br />
<br />
I think a major reason for these jumps in the story is because it is trying to sum up the event in the manga/anime. I have never seen the <i>Devilman</i> anime or read the <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=2454">manga</a>, but it seemed like there was a lot more to the story than what was being presented in this movie. For instance, I could tell that there was probably more about to the relationship between the devil who possessed Akira — Amon — and the devil who possessed his friend Ryo. And then there's the angelic devil lady who only shows up briefly and hints that she may have been romantically involved with Amon at some point. Unfortunately we don't get that background info or see those relationships develop much more than one or two slight hints, and we never see that devil lady at all after her introductory scene. So I can imagine this movie as being an excellent supplement if you've seen the other versions because you could see the characters, setting, and fights in live action while filling in any plot holes with your knowledge of the anime or manga. But for someone like me, it can be frustrating or downright annoying.<br />
<br />
What I actually did like about the movie, which I didn't expect, was its epic scope. It eventually develops into a story involving the entire world, with nation fighting nation and people on the streets killing each other because no one knows who is really a demon and who isn't. It's that decent into chaos and the exploration the darker side of human nature and the breakdown of the social order that I really liked and which I thought really gave the movie substance. The story just keeps on getting bigger and bigger and more insane until the very end when there is an epic fight between the two main characters.<br />
<br />
And those action scenes, where devils fight one another, were very cool indeed. I especially liked the parts where you would see one devil strike another and the visual would suddenly shift to a sketchy drawing of the fight and just as abruptly shift back to the real fight. It was a really cool effect and a nice homage to the original manga. <br />
<br />
So overall, it was an entertaining story but probably better suited for someone who is already a <i>Devilman</i> fan. I do really want to check out other Go Nagai stuff, but this movie doesn't make me want to start with <i>Devilman</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Related Reviews:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2007/06/viewing-journal-cutie-honey-live-action.html">Cutie Honey (live action movie)</a><br /> </li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-86742157709765122912012-06-15T07:06:00.000-04:002012-06-20T07:11:15.749-04:00Viewing Journal: Macross - Do You Remember Love?<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top" width="500"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1abBnJXXvy-4x_wmdAFZgR7u_c899YMwuEdckjH8DWIgFy_ntWRdtwzHW6-p6j96IR2L1Daz51evJEWGO6GzZmyodycfHO9CDiUhjKu_HCQQAPkkJTNDCC15RGnFTVfFdJpok/s400/ViewingJournal-MacrossDYRL2.jpg" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=366">Movie Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.animesuki.com/series.php/418.html">Bittorrent Download</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u62-J4UlSNw">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall= B<br />
Story = B<br />
Video = B+<br />
Audio = B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<br />
Made in 1984, <i>Macross: Do You Remember Love</i> is a summary of the events that occured in the <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=355"><i>Super Diemension Fortress Macross</i> TV series</a> — itself known as the show that was re-cut to make the first part of US TV series <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=71"><i>Robotech</i></a>. In this movie version the earth is at war with an alien race known as the Zentradi. The interstellar transforming battle spaceship/robot/city/fortress known as the Macross is on its way back to earth when it crosses paths with a Zentradi fleet. A battle ensues during which one of the Macross' fighter pilots gets lost within the Macross' dark trappings with a pop idol singer Minme. This eventually prompts an unapproved romantic flight among the rings of Saturn, a capture by aliens, a love triangle and various other dramatic and exciting action scenes, in what is probably one of the best series-summary movies I've seen.<br />
<br />
Since this is a summary, you do not need to have seen original TV show to watch this movie, but it probably would help. While it does a good job of including all of the elements needed to understand it's self-containted plot, it still feels very much like you are dropped in to the middle of the story. Things happen so suddenly and fast at the beginning, that it can be a little confusing. There's the giant spaceship/city Macross which is trying to return to earth, and you can tell that there is a war going on between Earth and the alien race known as the Zentrans. But why exactly the Macross left earth, where the ship originated, or the details behind how the war between earth and the Zentrans started is skipped entirely. Personally, I have only seen a handful of episodes of Macross and Robotech, but I know enough about the backstory to be able to fill in those blanks. However, those who have no previous exposure to the story can still enjoy this movie as long as they can accept that many questions they have about the backstory may not be answered.<br />
<br />
I actually ended up watching this movie twice; and to be honest, the first time I was not crazy about it. Part of the reason for that was because I was confused on exactly where it fit in the Macross continuity. I originally thought it was supposed to be a sequel to it, and it wasn't until later that I realized that is was supposed to be a condensed re-telling of the series. But even beyond that, the story and the characters were just so over-the-top cheesy. I mean, this is a show where giant powerful aliens can be rendered incapacitated after simply seeing a man and woman kiss, and where pop music literally saves the human race. How am I supposed to take that seriously? Then there's the love triangle between Hikaru, Minme, and Misa which seemed totally cliche. I had a hard time empathizing with any of the characters since may of them seemed like stereotypical anime personalities just with amped up melodrama.<br />
<br />
The second time I watched it, my opinion was entirely different. Part of that change in attitude was because I understood that this was a re-telling and not a sequel. But the main reason for my shift in opinion was that I knew what to expect, so I was not as distracted by the cheesiness and melodrama and could focus on the details. And that's what really makes this movie so beloved by fans: the details in everything from the characters to the story to the setting and animation. The story itself is complex and has plenty of surprises; and somehow even the over-the-top ridiculousness of the premise lent the movie a certain amount of awesomeness because it is never apologetic about it and if you pay attention to the backstory of the aliens, their reactions to humanity are consistent and understandable (if not reasonable). And even the development and resolution of the love triangle is much more complex than I first thought. The scene where Misa and Hikaru are stranded, and are shown playing house in order to pass the time is especially well done and does a great job of showing their relationship develop. It's that kind of subtle detail that, when you are paying attention to it, really plays off with emotional impact. And despite the condensed story, it never seems rushed or feels like things are being glossed over. Each scene has meaning and contributes to moving the story forward at a comfortable pace.<br />
<br />
Then of course there's the detail in the animation. I'm sure a lot of audiences will be turned off by the hand-drawn animation of the 80's, but personally I love that style of animation just because it allows for more creative freedom and spontaneity in the artwork. <br />
<br />
So in the end, I did really enjoy this movie. I think that if you can get past some of cheesiness, those who are willing to look will appreciate the detail and craft of the story and animation.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-76786956994806819322012-06-13T06:30:00.001-04:002018-10-06T23:15:54.353-04:00Viewing Journal: Fullmetal Alchemist - Sacred Star of Milos<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-TcsSIjNphpKeVWSmRy-N0Poe1VeuzKKPJvM-mXGlqFMeYm_cJ17DQW1-zGhcVFav6gBrHfuZapQyTGPRkH-2vT8NRm68D5KUqxvPoc8NP3vJfV8NyBZ6bpcwEJOyY__kYfq/s400/ViewingJournal-FMASacredStarMilos.jpg" width="181"><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=12180">Movie Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fullmetal-Alchemist-Brotherhood-Sacred-Blu-ray/dp/B0071LEJTO">DVD Info</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4o3utRx6hs">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall= B+<br />
Story = B+<br />
Video = A<br />
Audio = B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<blockquote>
After a mysterious prisoner with only a few weeks left on his sentence breaks out of prison in Central City, the Elric brothers attempt to track him down. The search leads them to Table City in the southwestern country of Creta, where Alphonse rescues a young alchemist named Julia from the very man they are trying to capture. In the thick of the fight, they literally tumble into Julia's home turf, the slums of Milos Valley, and are embroiled in the grassroots rebellion of her people. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=12180">ANN</a>)</blockquote>
<i>Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos</i> is a stand-alone story in the <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2960">FMA</a> universe. It does not build on or effect anything related to the plot of either series (of which there are two alternate versions), but even so it has much of the quality that you come to expect from the FMA franchise. It has the cool alchemic battles and genuine drama; plus, everything from the action to the setting to the story has a grand, epic scale worthy of a theatrical feature. The main characters, Ed and Al, display all the qualities that made us love them in the series: their skills with alchemy, their drive to follow their goals without compromising their principles, and their tendency to inspire those around them. Thankfully, however, this movie is surprisingly lacking in the running gags that were omnipresent in both FMA TV series. So no jokes about Ed being short or about people confusing the armor-clad Al as being the famous "Fullmetal Alchemist."<br />
<br />
The one thing that this movie does not have that the series—especially the second series <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10216"><i>FMA: Brotherhood</i></a>—does have is the strong supporting cast; as almost everyone in this movie other than Ed or Al is original to this story. Sure, the movie has passionate characters with strong backstories and motivations that supply a powerful emotional impact; but they are not as well-rounded or quirky as the characters of the TV series. Many of the series' supporting characters could carry the show even when the main characters were not around. They have paradoxical aspects to their personalities—the bad-ass woman who boldly leads an army of men, the gentile strongman, the child who is pure evil…the list goes on. But in this movie the characters' personalities are relatively strait-forward, even if some of their superficial aspects (i.e., the bat-people) are not; and it's mostly their reaction to Ed and Al that allows the best parts of their personalities to shine.<br />
<br />
So, all that being said, there are two lingering questions about this movie: how will fans of the series like it; and how will those unfamiliar with the series like it. (And I'll follow that up by saying that you could come into this movie after watching either FMA TV series because there is nothing in this movie that is exclusive to either series.)<br />
<br />
For the first question, it depends on what you are expecting. If you want to see of your favorite character and your favorite character is someone other than Ed or Al then you will be gravely disappointed. Sure Mustang, Hawkeye, and Winrey occasionally show their faces, but they do nothing of consequence. Even when Mustang joins in the final battle, he does next to nothing to show his powers. Then there's Armstrong who comes on scene to do nothing more than deliver a message to Mustang. It's fairly obvious that the only reason those characters exist in this movie is to give fans something to fawn over. But personally, I would prefer that they not be in there at all instead of wedging them awkwardly in throw-away roles. <br />
<br />
For those who have never seen any FMA before, I think they might enjoy the movie quite a bit. The movie does assume you have some prior knowledge from the series regarding alchemy and it's concepts and principles; but I still think that it is simple enough that a non-fan could figure out anything that is not overtly explained. And I also think that it may give those audiences enough of a taste of the series to motivate them to go out and investigate it further.<br />
<br />
So overall, I think this is a great movie that is fun and has enough of a taste of the FMA universe to please fans and non-fans alike.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-52014795799899405172012-05-09T13:38:00.001-04:002012-06-20T07:07:25.480-04:00Viewing Journal: Trigun - Bandlands Rumble<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><img align="left" height="250" hspace="4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8czU6_r9ya0ncYPQ98MWw4oOKcceeSykxpzg2oCn1xXX6pK01NFN1XZSg1HwTm8Ex03xmwI9PAGrhL0EXd2Ar-dx-pNzJaiBtgcV_fiS6z76wOPcl7rpb0_8MhhkE6y59RS5G/s400/ViewingJournal-TrigunMovie.jpg" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9499">Movie Overview</a><br />
<a href="http://www.deepdiscount.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/search.results?Ntk=primary&Ntt=trigun+badlands&N=0">DVD/Bluray Info</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L7XfNCS2pQ">Trailer</a><br />
<br />
<b>Rating:</b><br />
Overall = A+<br />
Story = A<br />
Video = A+<br />
Audio = A+</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Journal</b><br />
<blockquote>
20 years after meddling into the bank heist of a notorious robber named Gasback, Vash the Stampede is heading towards Macca City. Rumors say that the legendary thief might appear there causing an enormous influx of bounty hunters in the area who want to collect the $$300,000,000 prize for his head. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9499">ANN</a>)</blockquote>
Remember the old <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=88"><i>Trigun</i> TV series</a>? Well, now Vash the Stampede is back and better than ever with large-scale action, great comedic timing, and a dash of drama in this feature-length awesome-fest of gun-blazing greatness. In terms of it's relationship to the series, I'd compare it to the <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=353"><i>Cowboy Bebop</i> movie</a>: just another self-contained adventure of the main characters, but probably better than any of the episodic adventures from the actual original series. The plot is easy to follow and is simple enough to give the characters breathing room to display all of their quirks while still allowing the story and action to keep steaming forward. <br />
<br />
It's been years since I saw a <i>Trigun</i> episode, and this movie brings back all the nostalgic joy of the original. It's pure entertainment that simply makes me happy when watching it. Pretty much everything is bigger and more awesome, wisely taking the things that were great about the TV series—including the traits of the characters—and enhancing them. So you have Vash's uncanny ability to use his gun to avoid violence while maintaining a cheery facade, you have Wolfwood's coolness, and you have the insurance girls' frustration with Vash and hilarious dedication to their job. The effect that Vash has on the other characters, the contrast between his reactions and the situations, the paradox of his being notorious for causing destruction while being goofy and unnaturally skillful, all combined to make for a fantastic ride. It's also awesome to see the interplay between Wolfwood and Vash again, even if there's not as much casual banter between the two as I would have liked. The new characters—Gasback and Amelia—are not as multidimensional of either Vash or Wolfwood, and are not as interesting by themselves as they are when reacting to Vash, but that was the same for the extraneous characters in the original series. Even so, they have plenty to offer in terms of bringing the story to life and kick ass in their own way. <br />
<br />
The animation is fluid with incredible art that includes unique character designs—even among the background characters—and the seamless inclusion of computer graphics that allows the animators to do some pretty sweet large-scale action scenes. Plus there is still the fantastically blistering guitar music as the soundtrack which nicely adds that hard edge to each scene. <br />
<br />
I'm not sure if I would say this is good for someone who has not seen the TV series because there is not much explanation given for some concepts, the setting, or the characters. It's more satisfying as a re-visit for those who are already familiar with the story. It's got humor, action, relatable and cool characters, drama and all out fun-as-hell pure joy entertainment. Fans of the original series, and even those who watched it but were not originally fans need to watch this and love it.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-59177546848874073822011-10-14T06:45:00.002-04:002011-10-15T06:30:56.655-04:00Viewing Journal: Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSTMGJo2D9FTSofJ8DPU9KoHk1h878xSn0xpZ7QrhTl8idJf5xIKxj1DOr03t8BRssCF_gZb8cR4A_xz4UVK1pjC21UgFzU-L4nzOFK2ytfF7GNMLPIasJvYDyW0KZF2B9XIr/s400/ViewingJournal-PantyAndStocking.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=11605">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/19866.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZbGlVqKXTM">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= B+<br />Story = B<br />Video = A-<br />Audio = B+<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>A company of ghosts has moved into Daten City, taking advantage of human greed. Two angels, Panty and Stocking, are sent from heaven to exterminate them—but in reality they got kicked out for bad behavior. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=11605">ANN</a>)</blockquote><p>When I first heard that <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=54">Studio GAINAX</a> was creating a new anime called <span style="font-style: italic;">Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt</span> I conjured up all kinds of preconceived notions about what it would be like and as a result I immediately dismissed it. However, after hearing and reading some reviews, I thought I'd give it a chance. As it turns out, it is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> the kind of show I thought it would be, but <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> exactly the kind of show that I probably should have thought it would be. It's perverted as expected, but it is approached with such a self-aware, ironic, unrestrained and unabashed style that it exudes energy, unpredictability and fun, even if not as much hilarity as I would have liked.<br /><br />What there is of a plot involves two earth-bound angels named Panty and Stocking. Panty is obsessed with sex and Stocking is obsessed with sweets and each will indiscriminately partake in their obsession anywhere, anytime. Because of their torrid ways, they were kicked out of heaven and sent to Daten City. There they live in a church with their clerical overseer Garterbelt who doles out heaven's orders to fight "Ghosts"—vengeful incarnations of objects or concepts ranging from feces to obesity to high school cheerleaders—that show up around town so the two can hopefully earn their way back into Paradise. The real gimmick of the show, however, is <span style="font-style: italic;">how</span> they fight the ghosts: Each removes their namesake apparel which then transforms—<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEpy0znKHWs">in true magical-girl style</a>—into their weapon of choice: Panty getting a revolver and Stocking getting a katana.<br /><br />Of course, this is not so much a plot as it is a framework that allows the animators to let their unrestrained libido's run wild by putting the characters in any number of disparate situations, many of which have nothing to do with fighting ghosts. Overall the effect is something like a mix between the shock value of <span style="font-style: italic;">South Park</span> and the fast-paced random energy of <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=277"><span style="font-style: italic;">FLCL</span></a>, but without the thematic value or social commentary of either. The show doesn't have the wit or comedic timing to make it laugh-out-loud funny, it's more about getting caught up in the fast-paced random insanity and wanting to see what crazy situation Panty and Stocking are going to get themselves into next and how they are going to get out of it. And while Panty and Stocking themselves have their characteristic wanton desires, the fact that they are so unapologetic and bad-ass transforms that perversion into energy, making for crass humor that is fun and surprising.<br /><br />Still, without an underlying meaning or direction, that kind of crude, arbitrary storytelling can get tedious and mind-numbingly boring after a while because it seems so pointlessness. Thankfully, things pick up around episode 6 when the main antagonists Scanty and Kneesocks show up. They are essentially the devil versions of Panty and Stocking—complete with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CH1wYb_Vbk">their own transformation sequence</a>—and are the first to legitimately challenge the angels, allowing the show to create a bit more of a continuity. It's the first time in the series where the comedy is based more on character interaction and conflict instead of parody or crass humor, bringing a renewed energy to the characters and narrative.<br /><br />The thing that makes this crass and perverted humor successful is that it is done to such an extreme as to be self-mocking; except, of course, when it's not. The fact is that the show is at times uncomfortable to watch because at one level it's like, "Ha ha . Isn't it so silly that panty is having sex with an entire football team;" but on another level you can tell that the creators are actually getting off on it. The moaning lasts a little too long and sounds a little too genuine, and the aforementioned transformation sequences lingers a little too long in certain places to be considered entirely ironic. Instead it seems like in the midst of all the wackiness, it's attempting to be genuinely titillating. So while you are laughing at the stupidity of the perversion, it suddenly turns the tables so that the audience is actually laughing at itself—or at least at the creators. That could be genius if it was intentional, but I not sure that it is, which is why I say that, while it doesn't ruin the show, it does make those scenes awkward to watch.<br /><br />Another weird thing is that this show is filled with references to American pop culture. In fact, it seems so tailored to American audience—including all the on-screen text being in English—that if a company dubbed the show into English there would be very little other than the frantic tone that would indicate that it originated in Japan. Even the animation is mostly done in a very two-dimensional, heavy lined, <a href="http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/ppg/index.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Power-puff Girls</span></a> type of art; the notable exceptions being the aforementioned transformation sequences and the live-action shots of model ghosts being blown up. But it's the specific references that are omnipresent throughout the series that make it either specifically designed with a US audience in mind, or simply a homage to to the US entertainment industry from an different country's perspective. And while it's fun—if a little strange—to find so many references to things like <span style="font-style: italic;">Sex in the City</span>, the<span style="font-style: italic;"> Transformers</span> movie, and Las Vegas when they are integrated into the story well; there are times when the entertainment value and even the general comprehensibility of an episode is entirely reliant on knowing what the reference is. For instance, there is one episode that is one long music video with references to Lady Gaga, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T.A.T.u.">tATu</a> (who?) and other singers but since I'm not up on my music videos I didn't get much if any of the references. The worst example is an episode called "Chuck to the Future" which was little more than a direct black-and-white re-enactment of an obscure movie using Panty and Stocking's much-abused dog Chuck. Of course, since I had no idea WHAT movie it was referencing (though I later learned it was <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074486/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Eraserhead</span></a>), I had absolutely no idea what the point of episode was. Although, I think that even if you did know about that movie it still wouldn't be all that great because there didn't seem to be any parody in it, just a strait-up re-enactment. Point is, those kinds of things took away from the enjoyment because they relied so heavily on having a detailed pop-culture knowledge, which I don't have.<br /><br />The animation style is probably one of the the best things about the show and the biggest contributor to its tone because if it had a different art style it would be a very different show. The fact that it uses that flat art style with heavy line work means that at the times when it does imply Panty's rampant sex, it's hard to take it too seriously because the art is so unrealistic. And, like I mentioned earlier, the art does switch styles from flat to detailed during the "transformation" sequences to live action when the "ghosts" blow up. On one hand the switch-up seems arbitrary, but on the other hand there is a certain method to the madness. For instance, the scenes that are detailed are done so partly in parody and partly because, as I mentioned earlier, they are at least partly meant to be genuinely erotic. Doing those same sequences in the show's usual flat style would make it seem more ridiculous. There's probably equally valid reason for the live scenes, but if so I'm not sure what it is.<br /><br />Overall, while I wouldn't call this show laugh-out-loud funny, it is a lot of fun. It's the kind of unrestrained outrageous humor that Americans are used to seeing in their more adult-oriented animation, but with an energy and randomness that is distinctly Japanese. I'd recommend it for both anime fans and even some non-anime fans.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:.9em;color:#999;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span></p>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-9836970948243651602011-08-06T15:30:00.014-04:002011-08-06T16:35:04.072-04:00Viewing Journal: GaoGaiGar (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCAkfO7Kjf4mFpzwEJPBWyesCgmZm9X5xKT6e_FUPUr1ywFgwQvVwOumUBY1M8ErPn9-IyILD8ya6tihW84-zfmjxKd8DtM8j6DJnnfCj8SOJ5llKY_m9NvvSdMzIz4NflM_g/s400/ViewingJournal-GaoGaiGar.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1170">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/anime-dvd-g-gao-gai-gar.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTw1lN-f9Co">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= B+<br />Story = B+<br />Video = B<br />Audio = B<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>In the year 2005, a race of alien monsters called Zonders emerge from underground and launch a series of attacks on the city of Tokyo. The only defense against these creatures is the secret agency known as the Gutsy Geoid Guard (or 3G) and their ultimate weapon, the awesome giant robot GaoGaiGar. GaoGaiGar's pilot, Guy Shishio, is a former astronaut who was nearly killed two years before when the Zonders first crashed to earth. Guy's life was spared when a mysterious robot lion called Galeon pulled him from the burning shuttle and brought him to Earth. Guy's father, Leo, then used Galeon's technology to rebuild his shattered son as a cyborg, in the hopes that he could stop the aliens when they appear. Now, with Galeon as its core, GaoGaiGar fights to protect Earth. He is aided by a team of transforming robots and by a young boy named Mamoru, who has the power to purify the Zonders' cores, and seems to be connected to the mysterious Galeon. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1170">ANN</a>)</blockquote><p>After a string of shows that are confounding and weighty, it's a breath of fresh air to finally watch something with no pretensions about what it is: a strait-up action giant robot entertainment-fest. <span style="font-style: italic;">GaoGaiGar</span> is an anime that unapologetically does its damnedest to imbue its audience with renewed faith that humanity can accomplish anything so long as it believes hard enough and shouts loud enough. And such faith is an appropriate theme for the show, because that is exactly what it takes to make it through the series: Faith that things, as mundane and redundant as they are in the beginning will get incredibly awesome eventually.<br /><br />Giving a plot summary of <span style="font-style: italic;">GaoGaiGar</span> would be redundant since calling it a "giant robot" show pretty much gives you all the information you need to know. It follows the same conventions of most giant robot anime in that there are aliens attacking the earth and only the giant robot—using the same technology as the aliens themselves, piloted by the son of the robot's developer, and under the control of a covert government agency—can stop it. In this case the giant robot is alternately Galeon, GaoGai, and GaoGaiGar depending on how it transforms and what other vehicles it combines with. The pilot is the cybernetic Gai (pronounced "guy") and the agency that controls it is GGG (pronounced "Three G") or Gutsy Geoid Guard.<br /><br />This is the first anime I watched purely on recommendation from the <a href="http://www.awopodcast.com/">Anime World Order podcast</a>, and much of the information they provide is helpful in understanding why the show is the way it is. I'd recommend listening to the <a href="http://www.awopodcast.com/2006/01/anime-world-order-show-3-mecha-anime.html">podcast episode</a> to get the full story, but there are a couple of things worth mentioning here. First is that <span style="font-style: italic;">GaoGaiGar</span> is part of a faction of giant robot anime called the "Super Robot" genre. In "Super Robot" anime, the robots capabilities defy the bounds of logic and reality, needing only a minimum of explanation—usually involving the strength of the pilot's will—to give the robot the power and abilities to defeat its foe as well often giving the robot a distinct personality or outright sentience. This is in contrast to "Real Robot" shows, which treat the robots simply as tools, limiting their abilities to those that have a logical, technical explanation. The second thing relates to the series' tone and story development. According to AWO (I haven't been able to find my this info through my own research) <span style="font-style: italic;">GaoGaiGar</span> started out as a run-of-the-mill kid's show, but half-way through its run the producers discovered that it the majority of its audience was made up of nostalgic adults, not kids. In response, the creators changed the series' direction, breaking away from the limitations imposed by kids' entertainment. As a result the two halves are very distinct, with the first consisting of a formulaic monster-of-the-week format, and the second following a single continuity with more intense drama and action.<br /><br />The first episode, despite its cookie-cutter premise (or maybe because of it), did get me initially excited about the series if for no other reason than because it sparked that sense of nostalgia. It's like when you go back and watch a show like <a href="http://www.voltron.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Voltron</span></a> as an adult, and you realize it's not as good as you remember it being when you watched it as a kid. Watching that first episode of <span style="font-style: italic;">GaoGaiGar</span> brought back the feeling I had when watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Voltron</span> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Transformers_%28TV_series%29"><span style="font-style: italic;">Transformers</span></a> as a kid—that feeling of larger-than-life epic action involving good versus evil. But of course, then you get to the follow-up episodes and that excitement quickly fades into boredom.<br /><br />The worst thing about the first half of the series isn't so much the all-too-familiar giant robot formula or the predictable characters or story lines; the worst thing is the mind-numbing redundancy. It's not just that each episode follows the exact same plot outline as that first episode only changing the characters and situations slightly; it's that the way that GaoGaiGar defeats the bad guy is the exact same in every episode. It uses the exact same transformation, the exact same final move, and the exact same "purification" even going so far as to recycle the exact same animation. Certainly, the show does do it's damnedest to push the excitement leading up the the final battle with a lot of declarations that we must believe in the hero, but since it's all so repetitive it ends up feeling like someone is monotonously screaming in your face for twenty-plus minutes. And because you know exactly what is going to happen at the end each episode, the climax is less exciting than the story that proceeds it, making every episode a let-down.<br /><br />What keeps hope for the series alive are the hints that there will be cooler things to come. For instance, there are a lot of insinuations that the robots are just biding their time until they can remove the safeties and unleash their true power; and as cliche as that may be, it totally works for me. The show starts throwing out these clues around episode thirteen, which is about the time it starts to switch things up and introduce more robots and more powerful weapons, and episode 16 is the first one in which GaoGaiGar does not use its usual final move to take out the enemy. There is also more information about the characters' backgrounds and more development of the overarching plot with hints of a larger story to come; but even so, the plot for the individual episodes are still the same. In fact, the repetitiveness was so annoying that as I watched I questioned whether it was worth the tediousness of those early episodes to get to the later ones. As it turns out, it is.<br /><br />Much like how the robots keep their capabilities in check until they can release their full power, the second half of <span style="font-style: italic;">GaoGaiGar</span> feels like the creative juices of it creators have finally been set free to unleash their true intentions. It's like a transition from lollipops to hard whiskey as the characters are exposed to increasingly intense battles with a real suffering and death and greater opportunities for heroic glory. All of the anticipation and hints of something bigger from the first half of the series are paid off as the redundancy is replaced with episodes that build upon one another and drama and action that are dialed up to eleven.<br /><br />It's that over-the-top awesomeness that makes this show so fun to watch. It seems to me that shows with this level of ridiculousness take one of two routes: either they call out their own goofiness with self-effacing comedy, or they say "screw it" and push the unbelievability even further. Shows like <span style="font-style: italic;">GaoGaiGar</span> that take the second route are more engrossing, epic, and strait-out fun to watch because it allows the tension of the series to build up to such an awesome degree that you just don't care about inconsequential things like logic or continuity or exposition. The giant robot fights, the shouting of every line, and even the mundane actions like sliding a key card—they are all done with such zeal and sensationalism that you have to either completely accept it and get lost in the heights of awesomeness that it inspires, or completely reject it and walk away.<br /><br />Even though these theatrics exist in both the first and second half, they come off very differently in each set of episodes. It's cheesy and insanely melodramatic in the first half where victory is a certainty, but it takes on greater weight and significance in the second half where failure is a real possibility. There are still a lot of declarations that we must believe in the hero, but because there is a real chance that the hero can be defeated, it has much greater weight and significance.<br /><br />And despite the level of danger, the heroes always push themselves harder to pull out some kind of victory. It's that unrelenting positive attitude in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds that makes this show so refreshing. In each episode in the second half I was constantly thinking "Holy sh** how the hell are they get out of this? There's no fricking way!" And that's when the GGG would come up with some ludicrous plan and be like "Well, we've got less than 1% chance of surviving but f*** it. Let's do it anyway and believe that our hero can win and oh wait we have another extra powerful robot that just happened to arrive. BONUS!" They may all have special powers but its not the strength of their bodies that bring them victory, it's the strength of their will—the DESIRE to win mixed with the drive and mental fortitude to put that desire into action. Sure there's occasional wavering in their optimism, and that's fine as long as sooner or later they step up. It's the conviction that "you can achieve anything if you work hard enough" on the macro level that makes it fun to watch and—dare I say it—inspiring!<br /><br />Both the animation and music were good, but there are a couple of things to warn you about the animation. The first is that whenever there is a discussion amongst the series' antagonists—the Machine Kings—there is a headache-inducing strobe effect. If there is any series that needs that "watch in a bright room and a safe distance away from the TV" warning, it's this one. The other thing is that it constantly uses recycled animation. Some people may love it, others may hate it; but it's there is pretty much every episode. As for the music, the one thing of particular note is the opening theme lyrics which actually talk about the title robot itself. It seems like most animated series these days use some cut of a song from a popular band where there lyrics are only thematically related to the plot, if at all. Having the opening song actually talk about the story, as much as anything else, really elicits that sense of nostalgia for the cartoons of my youth.<br /><br />The unfortunate thing about this series is that few people will have the patience to watch 26-or-so episodes before they start to be entertained, which is understandable. But if you are like me and have a passion for over-the-top excitement, you will find it worth your while. And if you do watch and love it like I did, then spread the word; because no one is going to stumble on this series by accident and make it through. They will need someone there to tell them to stand strong, to fight hard, and to believe because in the end you will be rewarded with the highest level of mind-blowing giant robot action imaginable.<br /></p><span style="font-size:.9em;color:#999;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-35660096609209718772011-07-18T06:45:00.005-04:002011-07-18T22:38:46.540-04:00Viewing Journal: Bleach (episodes 168-189)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQ2n1HjEIs0-hTV6Tuzn1i-IK5T2W2lOrEnST_rXKQdk7TkRT3DPmE5qfP-JNfNjC7ZPP9QncqeI7oEdacnD5ityZplLnPKG2iRUf5rPOTtswqTsvtdWT2Ba85rBkzMCvZCUa/s400/ViewingJournal-Bleach168-189.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4240">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/video/2497/">Watch It Now</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/anime-dvd-b-bleach.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELDrImH6wEY">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= D-<br />Story = D-<br />Video = C<br />Audio = C<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><strong>Journal</strong><br /><blockquote>The main story arc is put on pause as Ichigo and crew are back in Karakura town fighting hollows and generally following life as normal. Then Ichigo runs into a noble girl for whom he reluctantly agrees to become a bodyguard. Meanwhile, Captain Aizen's replacement appears in the Soul Society; but with his wanten and seemingly incompetent ways, will he be able to earn the respect of his Soul Reaper squad?</blockquote>God help me but I have the hardest time staying awake for <span style="font-style:italic;">Bleach</span> these days. And it's no wonder given that this latest batch of episodes is another extended filler arc. This one doesn't even try to fit in with the rest of the series because it totally ignores anything that is happening in the regular storyline and goes back to before Ichigo left the Soul Society.<br /><br />There are two storylines in this arc that eventually converge. The first has to do with a new Captain named Amagai who arrives to take the place of Aizen who, if you've been following along, ran off to the world of the Hollows and became the main villain of the show many, many episodes ago. The other part of the story has to do with a noble girl named Rurichiyo who is on the run from some bad guys and ends up running into Ichigo. Ichigo, through a combination of convoluted conversation and sheer force plot necessity, then agrees to become her body guard.<br /><br />The new characters seemed at least somewhat interesting at first until you realize that they are little more than stereotypical anime cliches. The new captain is one of those anime character types who looks like a lazy moron but actually turns out to be pretty powerful—like a somewhat duller version of that one captain with the pink robe and the hat, Kyoraku. He brings along with him the smooth-talking, arrogant, and slightly gayish-seeming (or maybe that's just the pink glasses) Kibune, who acts as the third seed in the squad. The girl noble Rurichiyo is the annoying brat, and her bodyguards (other than Ichigo) Kenryuu and Enryuu are mostly worthless as protectors and even more worthless as the comic relief they are meant to be.<br /><br />This filler is at least better than the Bount story arc because it had the familiar characters and setting. And even though it's not phenomenal story and puts the main continuity on hold, it at least fits in with the concepts introduced in rest of the show.<br /><br />But it suffers from the same things that plague all filler story arcs: that it hesitates to develop either the setting or the main characters too much for fear that it will contradict something that happens later in the regular series story. Power levels don't increase, and characters aren't challenged. Say what you will about the Shonen Power Creep (ie, characters gradually getting more and more powerful), but it certainly makes you anticipate future events in a story. I still maintain that what needs to happen is that the story should focus even more on the new characters and their development and increase in power levels, but for some reason that development never happens. I mean, as cliche as the Shonen power creep may be, it should would be nice to see more of it in this show.<br /><br />I could go into the art and music, but what's the point? For one it's pretty much the same, but for another I just don't notice it anymore.<br /><br />I know that I keep threatening to stop watching this show, but it's one of those things where I like the idea of watching at least one anime consistently. It's the only long-running anime that I watch. And even if it's a literal snoozer, I can't help but enjoy the comfort that comes with watching at least one thing consistently. Who knows? Maybe it'll improve one day. Of course, optimistic hope can only take this show so far...<br /><br /><strong>Related Reviews</strong><br /><ul><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2007/02/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-1-26.html">Bleach (season 1)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2007/10/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-26-51.html">Bleach (season 2)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/08/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-52-74.html">Bleach (season 3)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/02/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-75-97.html">Bleach (season 4)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/08/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-98-120.html">Bleach (season 5)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/12/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-121-143.html">Bleach (season 6)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2010/09/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-144-168.html">Bleach (season 7)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/07/ready-viewing-journal-bleach-memories.html">Bleach: Memories of Nobody</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2010/07/viewing-journal-bleach-diamonddust.html">Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion</a></li></ul><span style="font-size:.9em;color:#999;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-54194558444612829882011-07-08T06:21:00.004-04:002011-07-18T06:48:08.046-04:00Viewing Journal: Xam'd - Lost Memories (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCHvu-a0VFXMRIfxCNS0V3k0ckSIt937D5_Vz2bJ0CFjwyxP0jCarN4PFV1Nf7_urgHgbAF9ZyvhRg6U_hNTKJQsLju9U7BpCRb_Mf8_5BpejcxsJk65qdjrK32QbWVoWd4JX/s400/ViewingJournal-Xamd.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181"><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9747">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/video/10372/">Watch It Now</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/dvd-anime-dvd--t---z--xam-d.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F71kD0T_YAw">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= C<br />Story = C<br />Video = A-<br />Audio = B</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><strong>Journal</strong><br /><blockquote>Enter Sentan, a lush, tranquil island encased in war between the military and those with Hiruko, known as X'amd. On one of these warlike days, Akiyuki Takehara heads off to school and gets caught in a raid by the creatures. Through a series of events he is transformed into a X'amd, and with the help of a Tessikan woman Nakiami along with his highschool friend Haru, Akiyuki is forced to learn to live with the Hiruko or faces the danger of losing his self-control and turn to stone. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9747">ANN</a>)</blockquote>And now I present the third and final (for now) anime in a string of frustratingly vague series that avoid revealing much background information about the story. In <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2011/06/viewing-journal-skull-man-complete.html"><font style="font-style: italic;">Skull Man</font></a> and <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2011/06/viewing-journal-ghost-hound-complete.html"><font style="font-style: italic;">Ghost Hound</font></a> it was done in an attempt to create a cryptic mood. However, in the series <font style="font-style: italic;">X'amd: Lost Memories</font> I'm not sure why it's done. I'm not even sure if the lack of information is intentional, if it's bad writing, or if I just didn't pick up on whatever clues that were given. Point is that there is little to no basic explanation about the setting or its people that would help the audience understand the motivation of the characters or the significance of events. But the worst part is that there were so many unique and fascinating ideas and visuals that it seemed like it could be awesome if only I had that key information that would allow me to understand what the hell was going on.<br /><br />The story begins on Sentan Island, a once-peaceful place that is suddenly caught up in a war taking place between the Northern Government and the Southern Continent Free Zone. Enter Akiyuki Takehara, a high schooler trying to keep a balanced life between his estranged parents. While a battle rages elsewhere on the island Akiyuki and his friends board the bus to school. He innocently helps a strange white-haired kid onto the bus, who then proceeds to blow it up and, as a result, implants Akiyuki's arm with a blue marble-like object called a Hiruko. The Hiruko turns him into a large white creature called a X'amd and, confused, Akiyuki ends up running off and nearly (for some reason) turning to stone before a girl from a postal air ship who is familiar with the X'amd comes to his rescue. She brings Akiuki's Xam'd form under control and brings him onto the postal ship, where she decides he will stay so that she can teach him about the Hiruko and how to control the Xam'd.<br /><br />And if that all wasn't strange and confusing enough, much of the rest of the story—that's the remaining 25 episodes—I had even less of an idea what or why things were happening. I do know that there are about 3 countries that are all attacking one another. One of those countries drops these large monsters called humanforms that wreak havoc until either the military or a Xam'd stop it. There is a military guy and a scientist who do scientific experiments on other characters, but I'm not sure why. There is a tribe of people with markings on their face and a religious cult of white-haired kids and a lot of talk about some huge event that is necessary for the world to continue. Otherwise I am clueless.<br /><br />Much of the confusion is due the scarcity of information about <span style="font-style: italic;">X'amd</span>'s setting. It takes place on an alternate Earth much in the same way that shows like <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2294"><span style="font-style: italic;">Last Exile</span></a>, <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2960"><span style="font-style: italic;">Fullmetal Alchemist</span></a>, or <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=495"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wings of Honneamise</span></a> do. So things like the buildings and characters' wardrobes are recognizable as existing in present-day Earth; but other things like the warring countries, political structures, geography, religion, history, and technology are original to the the fictional world of the story. Most successful shows of this type will find some way to convey enough information about how the world operates to give the audience the necessary context to understand what is going on in the plot. This usually comes either through outright narration, or through an ignorant character that acts as a conduit for asking the questions the audience wants to know. In the case of <span style="font-style: italic;">Xam'd</span>, there is no such means for gaining background information.<br /><br />One of the consequences of not having this information is that it is hard to tell what the characters do and do not know. For instance, as I watched the battle in the first episode I couldn't tell if characters were surprised that they were being attacked by huge monsters, or they were just a surprised that they were being attack in general and the monsters were as familiar to them as tanks would be in our world. It was the same thing with the X'amd, the Hiruko, the war, the religion, and pretty much all the concepts that were introduced. Since it took place in a fictional world, I didn't know what the characters knew and what they didn't; and the characters' reaction were usually ambiguous on the issue. As a result, it was hard to gauge characters' personalities or their reaction to events; making it hard to know what was supposed to be a surprise. For instance, a character would explain something to Akiuki and the information would be a surprise to me, but Akiyuki wouldn't have a strong reaction. So I couldn't tell if Akiyuki already knew the information, if he was repressing his surprise, or if he just didn't care. I constantly felt like an idiot because characters would discuss things like I should know what they were talking about, so I kept thinking that I MUST have missed some vital piece of info from earlier episodes even though I was fairly sure that info was never given. <br /><br />Not only did I not not understand what the characters were thinking, but I couldn't even understand their purpose relative to the plot. All of the characters had different goals, but I couldn't tell what any of those goals were. I couldn't tell what the relationship between characters were, and couldn't tell how it tied together with the plot. For instance, the delivery ship that Akiyuki was on—I couldn't tell the real purpose of the ship (since it was obviously NOT about making deliveries) or the motivation of the captain. It was so frustrating!<br /><br />But the MOST frustrating thing about the show as that I so desperately WANTED to understand it all; partly because of the cool visual design and the uniqueness of the setting but mostly because of the characters. There is a lot of heart-felt emotion between characters, with interpersonal conflicts and drama that I could pick up on at a gut-level. And even though I didn't understand why the characters had certain reactions, their personalities seemed so down to earth and genuine that I was still drawn to them. The animtion studio, <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=198">STUDIO BONES</a> seems very adept at this kind of thing—showing effective drama purely through characters' voices and facial expressions which are both subtle and intense. But, again, since I didn't know the characters' goals or motivations or the source of their angst, I could never empathize with them.<br /><br />I did not understand the ending any more than the rest of the series; but it is still incredible. It's like a climax to the lack of understanding that is so epic in it's confusion that I could only experience it on an emotional level. So, even though I would not call it a a satisfying ending; it does make for a crazy ride.<br /><br />So overall, I'm not sure how to rate this show. In terms of the visual design and the presentation of the character's emotions it's great. But it is very hard to get immersed and lost in the story because there is always that disconnect preventing a full understanding of the characters or events. I supposed if you are the kind of person who can live without needing that level of understanding and can just watch for the visuals and the concepts then go for it. Otherwise it may end up being more frustrating than enjoyable.<br /><br /><font color="#999" size=".9em">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</font>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-55141406248838702002011-06-20T07:10:00.002-04:002011-06-20T23:22:47.815-04:00Viewing Journal: Ghost Hound (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-9vRehZl-qSGgzde9J048785RYAmYHG4EdyfywwaEXKRQl4IHPySzuX_GodtWvwk2eM81pUpkinsI_WZx8NPCLI6fLY7m5NlpeyLisQImEI-Bwj_9VOHHdubrltAhgbpwOML/s400/ViewingJournal-GhostHound.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7817">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/sfgh300.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO3rXYgcOtY">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= D<br />Story = D<br />Video = C<br />Audio = B</td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>Production IG's 20th Anniversary Project, Ghost Hound is set in the modest town of Suiten, located in a desolate region in the island of Kyūshū. The story follows the experiences of three boys who have had traumatic experiences in childhood from which they have learned to transfer their souls to a parallel world known as the "Unseen World". The Unseen World is however undergoing a change, with its ghosts starting to appear in the real world, altering it in unpredictable ways. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7817">ANN</a>)</blockquote>And here we have the second show in a trifecta of mediocrity from otherwise phenomenal animation studios. It began with my previous <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2011/06/viewing-journal-skull-man-complete.html">review of Studio BONE's <span style="font-style: italic;">Skull Man</span></a>, and now continues with this review of <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=337">Production IG</a> and <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=2993">Masamune Shiro</a>'s collaborative failure <span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost Hound</span>.<br /><br />Masamune Shirow is the original creator of well-known titles such as <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=2414"><span style="font-style: italic;">Appleseed</span></a>, <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=2413"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dominion Tank Police</span></a>, and of course <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=1590"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost in the Shell</span></a>. He is great at two things: creating highly detailed and intricate art/porn and creating even more highly intricate and detailed story concepts. When applied with relative moderation—as in the case with the original <span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost in the Shell</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Dominion Tank Police</span>—his work can be intellectually challenging and/or amusing as well as visually attractive. But when his full power is unleashed unhindered—as in the case with <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=1589"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface</span></a> and <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=4038"><span style="font-style: italic;">Orion</span></a>—the work is so caught up in its own internal logic, lingo and barrage of footnotes that whatever plot may exist gets lost amidst the jungle of information, exposition, and analysis. In other words, Shirow is a great idea man, but does not have the skill or restraint to lay them out in a well-structured plot with empathetic characters. That's where the animation studio Production IG steps in. Coming off of the success of the phenomenal <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=910"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex</span></a>, they bring Shirow back to create a brand new concept for a brand new series. The result is <span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost Hound</span>.<br /><br />To varying degrees, I've enjoyed the work of both Shirow and Production IG, so I was excited to see if their combined powers would create the same kind of magic they made with <span style="font-style: italic;">Stand Alone Complex</span>. And when <span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost Hound</span> started out, it did spark my curiosity. I could see Shirow's ingenuity in the story's basic concept. And more importantly, Production IG was able to subtly weave those ideas into a story that focuses on the characters and their attempt to unravel the meaning behind a series of odd events. In my previous review of <span style="font-style: italic;">Skull Man</span>, I talked about how it attempted to be subtly cerebral and mysterious, but failed to do so effectively. In the case of <span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost Hound</span>, however, it pulls that off with greater success. The difference is that in <span style="font-style: italic;">Skull Man</span> the quiet interludes seemed like dead space, whereas in <span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost Hound</span> those moments include either strange, seemingly random visuals or odd camera angles of a scene that add a sense of eeriness. As a result, the mood of the show is kind of like listening to someone rattle off vague but fascinating information in a monotonous tone of voice—flat but interesting. It's that combination of interesting concepts, weird events, and subtle visual oddities that kept me curious as to how everything related and how the story would unfold.<br /><br />However, the effectiveness of the tone and plot development waver—and ultimately crash—throughout the 22 episodes. The first few episodes start out quiet and confusing and then get more interesting as the concepts of the spirit world and out-of-body experiences are introduced. Then the show gets bland because the characters do little more than wander around in spirit form talking either to each other or to themselves, and repeating the same information over and over. At that point it's hard to tell where the story is going since there are no significant revelations and there is no build up or tension, making it tedious to get through. Then around episode 14 it gets slightly more intense and dramatic as characters' backgrounds are explored and the plot's direction becomes clearer. But by the end everything that made the show worthwhile falls apart. Random things happen out of nowhere in order to force the plot toward a conclusion, and it ultimately ends in a nice neat little package where the sky is clear and everyone is completely happy. That may not be so horrible if it wasn't for the fact that it is completely contradictory to the tone of the rest of the series. It is a rushed, jarring, downright crappy ending after an arduously slow but occasionally promising beginning and middle. I was completely annoyed with the show for stringing me along only to let me down like it did, making it a horribly disappointing series.<br /><br />The animation itself is nothing special. Production IG is capable of creating beautifully detailed and creative visuals, but that was not the case in this show. Everything from the character designs to the spirit-creatures to the setting is simply average.<br /><br />The music is one of the high points of the show, though I wouldn't rush out and buy the soundtrack. It adds a good deal to the subtle, eerie tone. The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VTpsfru0ak">opening music</a> is pretty awesome. It's fun and fast but still has a smooth weirdness to the pace of the singing, and smooth jazzy beats.<br /><br />Despite the music though, the show is a disappointment on many levels. I was hoping that it would be like <span style="font-style: italic;">Stand Alone Complex</span> where Production IG would take Shirow's ideas and explore their different moral and practical implications while weaving them into a over-arching plot; but the potential of the team-up never pans out. That along with the lack of planning, pacing, and consistency in the story leads to it's ultimate downfall. I can only hope that Shirow and IG's follow up collaborations—<a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=8941"><span style="font-style: italic;">Real Drive</span></a> and <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=12105"><span style="font-style: italic;">Appleseed XIII</span></a>—pan out better. Here's to hopeless optimism...<br /><br /><span style=" ;font-size:.9em;color:#999;" >[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-19768042807762054672011-06-08T06:50:00.012-04:002011-06-08T07:17:50.973-04:00Viewing Journal: The Skull Man (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2l9jbh3xf9ycYVqsYZk_Aq1zdn8Xc_G7Fc7xLKiWqS2QZAhcVOCvUiGbTCtGyEs0U9CCYreN84psDza3UdjD8hh7CcCNFAA_wA02pKlGSnTuYZs_OaWN8EMJojy0uPcvxnf7/s400/ViewingJournal-Skullman.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7467">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/video/10921/">Watch It Now</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/sfskm100.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/video/6316/">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= D<br />Story = D<br />Video = B<br />Audio = C<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>Set in an alternate history of Japan, freelance photographer Minagami Hayato returns to his hometown of Ootomo to investigate rumors of a man wearing a skull mask committing murders there. Once in the city, he discovers connections between the victims and a local pharmaceutical company, a new religious sect, and strange half human, half animal creatures. Along with a young photographer, he decides to find out who the Skull Man really is. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7467">ANN</a>)</blockquote>I really have to stop this habit of waiting months after watching an anime to finally write the review; because once again I have a back log of nine, count them NINE anime and manga to review. Of course, waiting months to write a review doesn't do much for the accuracy and legitimacy of my reaction but so be it. Here's my long awaited review of Studio's BONE's attempt at dark, cerebral storytelling known as <span style="font-style: italic;">The Skull Man</span>.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">Skull Man</span> anime is based on an a 1970's one-shot manga and its 1998 sequel. The original story—from what I've <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skull_Man">read on Wikipedia</a>—is dark, grim, gritty, and violent. The protagonist of the first manga was one of the medium's first anti-heroes, as he is willing to take innocent lives in pursuit of his revenge. And that's really what this anime adaptation needed to be: a grim story about a man's obsessive drive for vengeance.<br /><br />But unfortunately that is not the route the anime took; instead it attempts to be the <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=166"><span style="font-style: italic;">Serial Experiments Lain</span></a> or maybe even <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=465"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ghost in the Shell</span> (movie)</a> type of quiet, cerebral, moody storytelling; resulting in an show that is neither character nor plot-driven, but mood-driven with characters talking in unnaturally flat—but nevertheless melodramatic—tones. That's not to say that the story isn't dark at times because a lot of people do die, but the tone is so inconsistent and the narrative is so slow and underwhelming which makes for a series that is downright boring.<br /><br />The first episode starts with a girl running from some monster, but then runs into the title character. It seems like a strong, eerie start to the series, but the rest of the episode and most of those that follow are entirely too conventional in terms of the plot, characters, and visuals. The two main characters—the journalist Hayato Mikogami and the tag-along photographer Kiriko Mamiya—are investigating the a series of murders, and Hayato suspects the culprit to be the legendary "Skull Man"; but other than Hayato's insistence that the Skull Man is important, there is never any real reason to find him particularly noteworthy or compelling. Other than being a potential murderer, nothing is revealed about him until much later in the series. As a result I never understood what was driving him or any of the other characters, making it hard to empathize with or care about what happened to them.<br /><br />The biggest problem with this mood-driven show is that said mood is neither consistent nor well-executed. The moments of silence and stillness that are intended to be time for either the audience or the characters to quietly reflect on the situation, seem instead to be more like dead space intended to kill time. The violence that is present—especially the fights with the monsters—are too strait-forward to add either tension or excitement. And if that weren't bad enough, there are some horrible anime cliches thrown in that really cheapen the show and completely throw off the dark cerebral tone. For instance, I knew that it had reached a low-point when I saw the "Oops, you accidentally saw me naked and so I'll yell at you and kick you out of the room" scene.<br /><br />The animation was fine, but I think that <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=198">Studio BONES</a> was a poor choice to produce this show. It's not that I don't like BONES—their stuff is usually consistently high-quality and the fact that they were involved with this show was the main reason I wanted to watch it. But it's that very consistency that worked against them here. Their animation style and character designs seem to have similar qualities from series to series, and that style did not fit with this show. The show needed a studio that was a bit more experimental and edgy. The ideal studio, I think, would have been <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=392">Madhouse</a>; but obviously they can't do everything.<br /><br />I'll conclude by saying that I was very apathetic about this show. I simply didn't care about what was happening from the beginning to the end. It could have been cool, but that potential is confounded by a number of stylistic and directorial missteps making for a show that is simply not worth the time.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: .9em; color:#999;">[ For a full list of reviews see the <a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/04/viewingreading-journal-archives.html">Viewing Journal Archive</a> ]</span>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-71784325648610079892011-04-15T21:44:00.007-04:002011-07-10T16:53:26.684-04:00Reading Journal: Pluto (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WUsmPr-lJ6ob7SpUwtQyE_IyvbJL7SShe-KuocXsXHjlMOxeWxRp_gXTLog3t8CQbl2aykGmOkiWOgBsfvGN-Kk3i_3kgQ2eaA9f0rKw-L2e50SPkwL98Hwz8tBFouHrecpd/s400/ReadingJournal-Pluto.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=3871">Manga Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/books-domestic-books-pluto.html">Book Info</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= B+<br />Story = B+<br />Art = A</td></tr></tbody></table><strong>Journal</strong><br /><blockquote><span>Based off of a story arc from Osamu Tezuka's Tesuwan Atomu, Pluto follows the Europol detective Gesicht as he tries to uncover the mystery behind a string of robot and human deaths. The case becomes much more puzzling when evidence leans toward the murders being the work of a robot, which is something that hasn't happened for 8 years.</span> (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=3871">ANN</a>)</blockquote>I think most Americans—anime fan or not—have heard of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro_Boy"><span style="font-style: italic;">Astro Boy</span></a>. Even if you have never read the manga, seen any of the various anime series, or watched the new CG movie; you at least know that it involves a boy robot with rockets on his feet, who flies around fighting bad guys. What most of the general public is <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> aware of, but which many if not most anime fans <span style="font-weight: bold;">do</span> know, is that <span style="font-style: italic;">Astro Boy</span> was originally titled <span style="font-style: italic;">Tetsuwan Atomu</span> and was created by the "god of manga" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Tezuka">Osamu Tezuka</a>—a man whose omnipresent influence in the manga and anime industry can not be overstated. Beyond that, even most US anime fans know few specifics of Astro's story. So given that, can <span style="font-style: italic;">Pluto</span>—a remake of an <span style="font-style: italic;">Astro Boy</span> story—be worthwhile for an American audience? The answer is that, while you do need to know some basic details about the back story to get the full effect, this manga can still be both relevant and entertaining for all audiences and the reasons have little to do with its connection to Tezuka's original series.<br /><br /><div>The story of <span style="font-style: italic;">Pluto</span> unravels as a murder mystery set in a future sci-fi world where humans and sentient robots live side-by-side. There are a string of deaths of both humans and robots, and it is up to Europol Instector Gesicht to find the culprit. As he uncovers answers, he realizes that the murderer may be robot, the first such one in eight years.<br /><br />One thing you might note is that this is not "The Origin of Astro Boy." In fact, Atom (Astro's original Japanese name and how he is referred to in this manga) doesn't even show up until the end of the first volume. Since this is just another arc in Atom's life, it is about as far removed from explaining his beginning as any random issue of a <span style="font-style: italic;">Superman</span> comic would be to explaining his origin. And while I don't think this is an impediment to understanding the story's plot, it does effect the dramatic impact some scenes may have because without knowing the backstory you would not be able to pick up on the subtle implications of some of the characters' relationships—mainly those between Astro, his creator Dr. Tenma and his care-taker Dr. Ochanomizu. This can be easily remedied, however, by doing some <a href="http://www.comicsalliance.com/2009/10/29/the-real-astro-boy-story-depressing-as-hell/">quick internet research</a> on Atom's origin ahead of time.<br /><br />Personally, I've never read the original <span style="font-style: italic;">Astro Boy</span> or seen any of the anime; but based on what I've <a href="http://www.awopodcast.com/2007/10/anime-world-order-show-60-osamu-tezuka.html">heard</a>, while Tezuka's original stories had mature themes (at least compared to most American cartoons), his delivery of the material was very child-friendly, sometimes to an awkward degree. In particular, Tezuka would often wedge humor into the middle of a serious scene to break the dramatic tension. <span style="font-style: italic;">Pluto</span> rectifies this by bringing consistency to the story; so the characters, setting, and overall plot are as mature and hard-hitting as those themes demand.<br /><br />The most blunt of all the themes is the one relating to the affects of war. To say that "39th Middle East War in Persia" in <span style="font-style: italic;">Pluto</span> is a reference to the US War in Iraq would be an understatement. It would be more accurate to call it a overt allegory. The Persian War started after the <span style="font-weight: bold;">United States of Thracia</span> lead an investigation into the Persian Kingdom's possession of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Robots of Mass Destruction</span> but find no evidence that any existing there. Sound familiar? It was almost humorous how obvious the reference was, but it was also the strongest indication that this was no longer a children's story. What children's story would have such a strong and current anti-war message like that? In fact, when I first read that part, I was so taken aback by just how blunt the reference was that it distracted me the the point where it was hard to get back into the story.<br /><br />What ended up bringing me back, however, was the characters' reaction to war; specifically the robots that were charged with fighting it. There are seven "Most Powerful Robots," six of which fought in the War in Persia and one of which opted out on humanitarian grounds. Each of the robots that fought had to kill not people, but other robots. So when they have flashbacks, they remember a battlefield covered with robotic limbs and mangled transistors instead of blood and guts; but to the robot the memory is just as horrible as if the field was covered with human remains. At first, I had a hard time empathizing because, seriously, they just machine parts; but now it seems more like a representation of how some people view foreign violence. For instance, when I read a newspaper article about a war in some foreign country where hundreds of people have died, I don't have nearly as strong of a reaction as when I read about hundreds of Americans dying. It's the ones I can relate to that I sympathize with. It would be the same for the sentient robots in the story. I may not get their reaction because, obviously, I'm not a robot. But for them it is a horrible memory because the victims are one of their own.<br /><br />One scene in particular really brings this point home. Inspector Gesicht has to relay the news of a robot's death to it's robotic wife. But, unlike Giescht himself, the wife is not human in appearance. She is very much obviously a robot, with a metallic face and unchanging grin. So when Geitch delivers the message to her, she reacts with a mix of subtle sadness and acceptance; but still has that grin because she has no way of changing her expression to reflect her emotions. The contrast is almost funny, but it's hard to laugh after seeing Gesicht who—being a robot—obviously understood the wife's feelings and empathized with her. It's those kind of complex reactions that really make this an incredible and absolutely relevant story.<br /><br />One other thing that seemed contradictory about the robots was how the humans in the story reacted to them. When the first volume opens, there is a news report talking about the death of Mont Blanc, a robot much beloved around the world; but later on the characters will talks about how humans hate and discriminate against robots. Now I don't think this is an inconsistency in the story so much as it is a reflection of a complex reality. In reality, there is discrimination is not always so extreme and not always consistent. For instance, there are celebrities in the world who are minorities and still popular, but that doesn't mean discrimination doesn't exist. That's how people are presented in <span style="font-style: italic;">Pluto</span>. One of the best arcs involves a retired composer who hates all robots including his new robot butler, but by the end his feelings are more complex. It's the gradual development of the characters and the reasons for that development that pulled me into the story.<br /><br />Of course, there is action and an epic and engaging plot in this manga in addition to the themes and character development; but the book does a great job of keeping things shrouded in mystery both in the plot and the action. The fight scenes rarely occur in the open, and are only shown fully when necessary for character or plot development. That "less is more" philosophy does a lot to make the scale of the battles—even those that are unseen—seem all the more grand because your imagination has to take over and anticipate when everything is going to be revealed. It also allows the story to focus more on the effects and implications of the action than on the actions itself, ensuring that it is never gratuitous.<br /><br />The artwork is just as fascinating as the rest of the story because the sci-fi elements and character designs seem so realistic. In most sci-fi movies/manga/etc, the settings are one of two extremes: either it's a pristine future with minimalist designs for the buildings and mechanics, or it's a dystopian wasteland. The setting in <span style="font-style: italic;">Pluto</span> skews toward the former, but the details in the art make the setting more believable while avoiding the glitz and flashiness that usually make such settings look silly. As a result the futuristic buildings feel somehow, for the lack of a better word, normal; and it's another example of how the book combines the fantastic with the realistic. The character designs are also more believable than the stereotypical "big eyes, etc." look. Here the body types come in all shapes and sizes and the character's expressions are varied and subtle while expressing all kinds of emotions effectively.<br /><br />The one thing that did disappoint slightly with the manga was the ending, because at that point it did start to seem like a child's superhero comic. The scope was epic and the fate of the world hung in the balance, but it seemed so rushed and forced that it lost the character-driven narrative that had allowed me to build a personal connection with the story. That downhill fall could have started when the villain robot was revealed. After so much anticipation, the final design of the robot was unimpressive and seemed too corny to be intimidating. The story seemed like it needed a few more chapters to tell the ending effectively, because there did not seem to be enough time to build proper emotional tension and resolution.<br /><br />Do not let that one criticism dissuade you from reading this, because there is so much more to love about this series. I would definitely recommend this to anyone whether you are a fan of <span style="font-style: italic;">Astro Boy</span> or not. The plot and characters are engaging and the themes are unambiguously mature, relevant, and current. Read it and encourage others to read it, and maybe more people will realize just how far the medium of manga has come.</div><br />Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-39454772991453860462010-12-16T07:00:00.006-05:002011-07-18T06:51:36.763-04:00Viewing Journal: Bleach (episodes 144 - 167)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoZuWXSh5F-tqKp8JUiXgZhNrVaGJsr1E0_R5VfC4K4pWLvKqBrdHdftcwz_9ouYGnmbPjsWSpNhlLbyhTTvw33Lf5fczERM_LAiZztaFPH00DOOanEI5Mp8cNd58-CD9qEr8/s400/ViewingJournal-Bleach144-168.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=4240">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/video/2497/">Watch It Now</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/dvd-anime-dvd------b--bleach.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.kewego.com/video/iLyROoaftqFr.html">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= D<br />Story = D<br />Video = C-<br />Audio = C-<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>Ichigo enters Hueco Munco -- the realm of the Hollows -- to save his friend Otohime. Along the way he meets up with Hollows and Arrancars; some end up being friends, but most are among his most powerful enemies yet.<br /></blockquote>So this latest season of <span style="font-style: italic;">Bleach</span> ended on Adult Swim nearly a year ago so I figured I'd better write a review before my sparse memory of it fades into total oblivion. And thinking back on it, there is not a lot that is memorable anyway. That's disturbing because this season doesn't have any filler episodes so there is no excuse for why it turned out so dull.<br /><br />One of the reasons why this season is disappointing is because we finally get to see Hueco Mundo, but it turns out that this World of the Hollows is a pretty uninteresting place. I remember back in season one, Rukia would talk about the Soul Society and I thought it was this mysterious heavenly realm of the afterlife where spirits are at peace. Then I actually saw it and found out that it is not quite so mysterious, but is still cool for entirely different reasons. I had a similar initial reaction to Hueco Mundo, but instead of heaven I imagined it as a chaotic hell where evil reigned supreme. And I guess that is sort of the case, but instead of the rampant hysteria I imagined, it turns out to be a gray arid desert where Hallows roam about. Ichigo spends a good amount of time in the initial episodes just trying to find how to get to Aizen's seemingly unreachable fortress. And -- much like when Ichigo first arrived in the Soul Society -- when he does finally reach the fortress in Hueco Mundo, he has to fight a bunch of enemies as he strives to save his friend (this time it's Orihime instead of Rukia). But back in that Soul Society story arc, the concept of soul reapers and their fighting abilities was still a fresh concept and Ichigo was still learning to use his powers. But in Hueco Mundo the main cast's powers are mostly at their peak and the fights seem redundant and monotonous with no purpose other than to delay plot progression; so the action scenes are more frustrating than exciting.<br /><br />And in that same vein, the new characters in this season are horribly cliche and trite. Usually this is not a problem if there is some unexpected depth or complexity added to the cliche, but at this point in the series I don't see it. First you have the friendly hollows Pesche, Dondochakka, and the arrancar Nelliel who all are nothing more than comic relief. The fact that they end up traveling with Ichigo et al. is a plot point that is forced into the story, since Ichigo gives in way too quickly to Nell's demand to follow them. Meanwhile, the new enemies are like the red-shirted pawns that are only introduced for the main characters to fight before being tossed aside. Their back stories are neither compelling nor do they help move the plot forward. Plus -- other than Chad (if I remember correctly) -- they don't challenge the regular characters enough to unleash new powers. In the end, they only add to the frustration by delaying the main plot line while adding nothing new or interesting to the story.<br /><br />To be honest, there are points in the story that are somewhat intense and dramatic -- I can think of maybe two episodes in the entire series -- but even so, in the end it doesn't move the story forward much. For instance, I thought that the fight between Ichigo and Ulquiorra was pretty intense, but in the end it didn't result in new developments. Ichigo is no closer to saving Orihime. He is no closer to uncovering or foiling Aizen's evil plot. The number of enemies he and his compadres need to fight seem endless, and each individual fight drags on. So in the end, it's hard for me to even remember where the show is going -- and I'm not sure I even care anymore.<br /><br />So, yeah, I'm not crazy about this season of <span style="font-style: italic;">Bleach</span>. It's getting harder and harder to get motivated to watch new episodes when even the regular episodes are this bad. And the next season seems to be pure filler, so you can imagine how much of a chore those are to get through. If the extensive backlog of unwatched episodes on my DVR is any indication, it may not be long before I give up on the series altogether.<br /><br /><strong>Related Reviews</strong><br /><ul><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2007/02/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-1-26.html">Bleach (season 1)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2007/10/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-26-51.html">Bleach (season 2)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/08/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-52-74.html">Bleach (season 3)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/02/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-75-97.html">Bleach (season 4)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/08/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-98-120.html">Bleach (season 5)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/12/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-121-143.html">Bleach (season 6)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/07/ready-viewing-journal-bleach-memories.html">Bleach: Memories of Nobody</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2010/07/viewing-journal-bleach-diamonddust.html">Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion</a><br /></li></ul>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-33464211681872749632010-12-03T07:10:00.002-05:002010-12-03T07:18:48.337-05:00Viewing Journal: Durarara!! (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBs0YWyxamCVbSKiIp3ZIRYYLCvdh0jtzad6Otcui-MK1RZCX_xrICTKotG-1KjGYEajjfNdVaHs_6OQmGyH_oEYvKZjavYGhCdW-1Sxi-iOAGgH7w8K5GFkNsKqy7hejObBN/s400/ViewingJournal-Durarara.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10947">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.crunchyroll.com/durarara">Watch It Now</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-07-03/aniplex-of-america-adds-durarara-anime">Expected DVD release January 2011</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM8kb9f3xDc">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= B+<br />Story = B+<br />Video = B<br />Audio = A-</td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>Ryuugamine Mikado is a boy who longs for the exciting life of the big city. At the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi, he transfers to a school in Ikebukuro. Masaomi has warned him about people he doesn't want to cross in the city: a champion fighter, an informant, and a mysterious gang called "Dollars." Nervous from Masaomi's stories, Mikado witnesses an urban legend on his first day in the city, the Headless Rider astride a black motorcycle. From then on, the existence of supernatural cases and a gang called the Yellow Turbans will rise to the surface, and Ikebukuro will pushed to the breaking point. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10947">ANN</a>)</blockquote>There are some anime series that you know from the first episode that they have bitten off more than they can chew. They will introduce so many characters and concepts that by the end they are either frantically attempting to tie up multiple plot threads or they end the story abruptly without resolving anything. Then there are other shows that can skillfully bring such a complex story to a logical and satisfactory conclusion. <span style="font-style: italic;">Durarara!!</span> is none of those. In this series, plot is a minor concern compared to the joy of just watching the characters do what they do, making for a fun ride where the destination doesn't matter.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Durarara!!</span> adapts the first three volumes of an eight-volume (so far) light novel series. It tells the story of an adventure-seeking teenager named Mikado Ryugamine who, at the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi, has transferred to a high school in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. On his first day there, Masaomi shows him around, introducing him to some people around town and warning him who to stay away from. And at the end of his tour Mikado even crosses paths with the town's urban legend, the headless motorcycle rider dressed in black.<br /><br />Probably the most impressive thing about <span style="font-style: italic;">Durarara!!</span> is that it successfully introduces so many characters without feeling underdeveloped or disjointed. A lot of anime series that have an extensive cast will start by introducing different characters individually so you can get an idea of what their basic conflict is but it usually takes a number of episodes to develop them to the point where you care what is going to happen. <span style="font-style: italic;">Durarara!!</span>, however, does something unique with its first episode. As Masaomi shows Mikado around town, seemingly random stuff happens -- like a pop machine flying up in the air -- without any further explanation. Then the following episodes will go back and show what was happening in those seemingly random moments, while at the same time showing even more events or characters in the background that are explained in other episodes. And as the show progresses the characters gradually become more directly involved with one another. So it is feels like the story is continuous instead of having a bunch of separate stories that eventually converge. The result is that it is entertaining from start to finish and each episode leaves you excited for more.<br /><br />Of course, it's not just the narrative style, but the eclectic cast of surprisingly strong characters that makes this show so fun to watch. The city has everyone from an irritable, super strong butler, to street gangs, to seemingly average school kids who turnout to be not-so-average, to otaku who are gleefully part of a dangerous gang, to the headless biker Celty, and tons more. What makes them so intriguing is that they each one is multidimensional. You see their surface personality, then there is a side that is hidden but which you know is there because of how their personality contrasts with their situation. For instance, there's the prize fighter who is calmly passing out fliers in front of the sushi shop. You know he can kick ass at the drop of a hat just by looking at him, but for the most part he is always calm. So you wonder where he came from and how he ended up in the sushi shop. It's cool to see each characters' true nature gradually rise to the surface, and builds excitement for what is going to happen to them next.<br /><br />The funny thing is that when I started watching the first episode -- not having any idea of what the anime was about -- it seemed like the story was going to be mostly realistic with maybe a subtle hint of the supernatural. But by the end of the second episode it becomes apparent that the supernatural element is pretty blunt to the point of being comedic or downright awkward; although I'm not sure whether the awkwardness is intentional or not. Specifically I'm referring to Celty the headless Dullahan/Faerie/Mortorcyclist/Underworld delivery girl. When she first shows up in the first episode, before you learn she is in fact headless, she seems like a total bad ass, beating up criminals and slicing them with her ghostly scythe. Then at the end of that episode she removes her helmet to reveal that she does in fact have no head, and a black smoke emanates from her neck-stump. At that point I'm thinking, "Hm. That was weird. Maybe it's just an illusion or there's some logical explanation for why she <span style="font-style: italic;">appears</span> to not have a head." But, no. We learn that she is in fact something called a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dullahan">Dullahan</a> from Scotland -- a headless faerie that visits those who are about to die. Someone stole her head and now she's come to Japan to look for it. Then we learn that she is shacking up with this scientist guy and a good portion of Celty's screen time involves her and the scientist hanging out in the apartment. So you have the scientist and the stump-neck girl casually sitting on the couch chatting in regular street clothes like it's a situation comedy. It even tries to make her appear all sexy including a scene with her in a bikini. And sure she has a nice body, but she has NO HEAD! It's really really weird -- like she's a walking, headless mannequin -- and I was never able to get used to the oddness of it. And the head thing aside, she is also never quite as bad-ass as she was in that first episode. She ends up being more emotional and concerned than tough. She does end up fitting in well with the rest of the cast as the story progresses; but still, she never quite meets the expectations established in that first episode.<br /><br />Even if Celty doesn't kick quite as much butt as anticipated, there are plenty of other strong characters to fill in the void. The most obvious is Shizuo Heiwajima, the gangly, super-strong butler with a temper that flares up at a hat drop. But I was most surprised by the main character Mikado Ryūgamine. When he first shows up, he seemed to be the person that the audience was supposed to relate to as he learned about the goings-on around town -- a shy, weak character who is maybe a little too naive for the big city. And that may be true to an extent, but it isn't long before we find out that he whole-heartedly embraces and revels in the action of Ikebukuro as he has an insatiable craving for new experiences. He is one of the most interesting characters because the more you learn about him, the more he defies expectations, while maintaining a consistent personality. It's another example of how the characters' contrasting personality traits and narrative style rise above the plot as the main draw of this show.<br /><br />The only major disappointment is that we don't get to learn more about each character. While there is an impressive amount of development and revelations about their backgrounds, there are simply too many characters to go in depth about all of them or to come to a conclusion about all of the story lines they are involved in. So we never we never learn the full story behind Celty's missing head or Simon Brezhnev's past in the Russia. Even more surprising is that mid-way through the series more characters are introduced only to be dropped after one or two episodes. I assume that these characters have more face time in the original novels, and I can only hope that those books are either adapted into a second anime season or translated into English so we can learn more about the rest of the cast. But even if not, the anime is still well worth watching in its own right.<br /><br />As for the art and animation, the character and setting designs are slick and the animation is decent, but there are a couple of visual details that contribute significantly to story itself. There are scenes scattered throughout the series involving internet chat sessions. They are simply avatars and pop-up dialogue bubbles, but somehow the simplicity and the way it shows the computer screen at odd angles makes those scenes visually engaging as well; plus they are a great way to show how the characters know each other online before they ever meet face-to-face. The other -- somewhat more subtle -- visual detail is the way in which color is used to bring focus the things happening in the background. For instance, you will have two people talking as they walk through the crowd. The crowd will be all gray and then you will suddenly see a person or two walk by who will be in color. It may last for just a second but it is enough to catch your attention. Then in the next episode it will explain what those background characters were doing. It's a cool and creative way to keep the viewer on their toes and show how the characters' lives all intersect; and this technique becomes even more significant later on in the series.<br /><br />The music also gives the show a unique feel. It is an impressive blend of moodiness and quirkiness and seems somehow retro, though I have no idea what it would be a throwback to if anything. The opening song for the first half of the series is awesome, with a quick beat that -- along with the dynamic animation and smooth transitions -- really gets got me energized and excited for each episode.<br /><br />So yeah, awesome show. The progressive development of the characters, and the casual, effortless narrative transitions makes it seem more like you are hanging out with the characters instead of just following events in a story. I'd recommend this both for those who want something a little different as well as those who enjoy the comfort of anime cliches, because this show does definitely use tried-and-true character types but adds unique twists that gives it a spark of originality. So definitely check it out; and then keep your hopes up for season two...Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-78608299316898462472010-09-25T07:15:00.003-04:002010-11-23T07:09:51.668-05:00Viewing Journal: Fullmetal Alchemist - Brotherhood (complete)<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pCm2wAOwCnllk4XcIiornBnGzyWAkkbcf9ugNldNoyOGE3lvmS0FMDnhuSUw3R3Oi-El798gGVqKZGMtd6It8BcKOTkEuQbiBG_q9CDPBoMvGDOBoHJ075mw7e2rPJxURo1G/s400/ViewingJournal-FMABrotherhood.jpg" width="181" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10216">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www4.funimation.com/video/?page=show&b=280">Watch It Now</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/fn08262.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY_Zpx9sQFc">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= A+<br />Story = A+<br />Video = A-<br />Audio = A-<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>Two brothers lose their mother to an incurable disease. With the power of "alchemy", they use taboo knowledge to resurrect her. The process fails, and as a toll for using this type of alchemy, the older brother, Edward Elric loses his left leg while the younger brother, Alphonse Elric loses his entire body. To save his brother, Edward sacrifices his right arm and is able to affix his brother's soul to a suit of armor. With the help of a family friend, Edward receives metal limbs - "automail" - to replace his lost ones. With that, Edward vows to search for the Philosopher's Stone to return the brothers to their original bodies, even if it means becoming a "State Alchemist", one who uses his/her alchemy for the military. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10216">ANN</a>)</blockquote><p>When I first heard that there was going to be a new <i>Fullmetal Alchemist</i> series I was extremely excited despite not knowing if it would be a sequel, a re-telling, or what. I liked the first series and expected this new one to be epic and awesome and one of the best anime of the year, if not of all time. And when I heard that Funimation would release each episode online only a week after it aired in Japan, I got even more pumped for its premiere. Needless to say that, with such high expectations, when I did finally watch the first episode I was thoroughly let down. I thought the story was silly, the animation wasn't as good as the original series, and overall it seemed trite and underwhelming. So for a while I didn't bother watching any additional episodes. Eventually I decided I would give the show another chance; and I'm glad I did because, as it turned out, my expectations were completely satisfied.</p><p>Now before I start the review, I want to go over how the episodes in this new series line up with the first series. Even if you have not seen the 2003/04 series, I think it's good to know because -- as I'll go into more detail about later -- the quality varies between the old and new material. </p><p>So episode one is a totally original story that does not show up in either the manga or the first anime series. Then episodes 2 through 1<i>3</i> are mostly comprised of material that was in the first anime, with some minor differences between the two (although it's been a while since I saw the first series so I'm fuzzy on exactly what parts were different). Then<i> episode 14</i> is mostly new material, and all the episodes after that are completely new material -- with episode 27 being a recap episode. Altogether, the series has 64 episodes. Note that when I say "new material" I mean relative to the first anime. The "new material" actually sticks very closely to the story in the manga so it's not "original" material. Another interesting thing is that the manga was not complete when <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/company.php?id=198">Studio BONES</a> was animating the last part of the series. <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=17621">Hiromu Arakawa</a>, the author of the manga, gave the animators her script for the manga's ending before it was published, and the animators based their storyboards off of that. So the last chapter of the manga and the last episodes of the anime were released at the same time. How cool is that?!</p><p>I mentioned that it's important to know how the episodes in this series match up with the first series because the biggest detriment to <i>Brotherhood</i>'s success is the existence of that first <i>FMA</i> anime. The problem is that the story in the first thirteen episodes had already been told in the first series; so the writers have to get through that material as quickly as possible so people familiar with the story won't tune out, while keeping it comprehensible enough for viewers who are seeing it for the first time. In fact, a good amount of the criticism lobbed at <i>Brotherhood</i> is due to the fact that those episodes are basically a recap of the first series. </p><p>The problem is that, since it skims over the story so quickly for those 13 episodes, there is very little time to develop the characters and story for new audiences. It makes me wish that the first series didn't exist because maybe then maybe the animators would have given more time to building that first part of the series and the characters would have had more of a chance to grow on the audience giving the events that happen later more of an impact. The best example of this is with the death of a certain character (I won't say who, but if you are familiar with the story you know who I mean). That person's death ends up being a significant part of what motivates Col. Mustang to do some of the things he does. In this series, that certain character doesn't get nearly enough time to develop before dying, so Col. Mustang's reaction seems disproportionate. It's really a dilemma because the show is trying to find a happy medium for both old and new audiences, and as a result may disappoint both.</p><p>Of course, that raises the question, "If I have already seen the first series, do I even need to bother to watch those first 13 episodes." I'm not sure because I don't remember the first series all that much and don't remember if there were any significant differences. I guess the easy answer is to just watch them to at least get a refresher. </p><p>The one thing I will say though is that you can skip the first episode altogether whether you have seen the first series or not. That first episode really has no impact on the rest of the story and the events that take place are referenced maybe two times in passing during the rest of the show. I think that first episode was written for people who have already seen that first series because it throws you into the story without explaining the show's general premise and doesn't do anything in way of introducing characters . Plus the story in that episode is pretty lame and I would not want newcomers basing their impression of the whole series on that one episode. So, yeah, you can skip that first one and no harm will be done.</p><p>So if it's not obvious by now, I really like this series; but what exactly is it that makes it so good? That's hard to narrow down; but basically it has lot of great elements that all mesh together to make it compelling, exciting, and just plain fun to watch.</p><p>First of all, the story is based on an interesting concept: alchemy. The thing about alchemy that sets <i>Brotherhood</i> apart from other shows that have a similar idea is that alchemy looks a lot like magic, but it is actually -- according to the show -- based on science. So you have these characters doing these cool things like throwing fire or pulling spears out of the ground or made a concrete fist form out of a wall to punch the enemy and it all has a slight air of legitimacy because, hey, it's based on sound scientific principles. The other thing that distinguishes alchemy from magic is that it has limits. With magic you can pretty much do anything and your explanation is "it's magic". But much of what makes alchemy interesting is that, because it is based on certain principles, it has certain limitations; namely that nothing can be created without first giving something else up. So you can't do something like bring the dead back to life, at least not without drastic consequences. And this is what gives the show a large amount of it's drama because the characters WANT to do certain things, believing that alchemy and science are the answer; and when they can't do it or when they learn of the repercussions, they go through severe emotional stress. </p><p>The other thing about alchemy that makes it such an original piece of the story is conflict between the science of alchemy and religion. First, you have Ed, who is an athiest and believes that science can answer everything. Then there is the character Scar who is part of a religious race (a pretty blantant reference to Muslims) who -- against his religious principles -- uses the science of Alchemy to enact revenge for the eradication of his people. But getting back to Ed, what makes it really fascinating is that, despite not believing in God, he must achnowledge the existence of the soul. I like when shows develope the concept of the science of the soul (<i><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=49">Evangelion</a></i> was the other one) because it gives the show an epic feel. I said before that the science gives the fantastic events an element of legitimacy, and the same is true for the metaphysical elements. There is somewhere beyond the world where souls go, and that is exactly why Ed was able to save his brother Al in the beginning of the story. So this melding of science and religion give the show drama but also give it a larger-than-life feel and a supernatural mystery to it. It all comes together really well.</p><p>Of course, a good concept won't do you much good without following through with a good story. First of all, the mixture of action, drama, and humor balance each other out, without the sudden and awkward shifts in tone that were in the first series. But the one thing that this show has over the first series -- and most other anime for that matter -- is that it never deviates from its story. Other than than the first episode and one re-cap episode, there is no filler. Each episode builds upon the last through all 64 episodes in an epic storyline that ends in a satisfactory and well planned out conclusion. All the plot threads wrap up so nothing is left hanging. And throughout the entire story there are plot twists and revelations that keep the series unpredictable and full of dramatic surprises. Characters plot and strategize against each other, so you never quite know if the advantage someone has one minute will hold up the next minute. And the story moves at a very steady pace, without feeling either too rushed or too slow. A big way to see this is in the fact that the story doesn't just start killing off its characters in the last few episodes. Characters actually start getting knocked off relatively early in the series, and for a few of them you never know if they are truly dead. </p><p>And it really is the characters which catapult this show to the top of my fav list. Just about every character is worth watching and adds a new dimension to the story. What makes them worth watching is the fact that each one is complex and multi-layered to the point where even the bad guys have some respectable characteristics. For some characters, it's that they are one way on the outside, but another way at heart. The best example would be Major Armstrong from Fort Briggs who seems like a cold-hearted tough-as-nails military leader, but is also intensely devoted to protecting her men. But the characters tend to play their cards close to their chest and never fully reveal their intentions until the last minute meaning that the characters are all full of surprises. The homunculi in particular may not be hiding much in terms of personality -- except for maybe Wrath and Pride (and Pride is the best homunculus in my opinion) -- but are hiding some of their physical abilities and powers.</p><p>In addition to the multi-layered personalities is the fact that characters can change and mature over time. Ed and Al are the best example of this, and Al in particular. One big criticism of the first series was that Al never seemed much more than a motivation for his brother Ed. Al never seemed to do a lot on his own. He was always in awe of his brother but never became very independent. In this series, however, Al spends a good amount of time on his own, and as a result we not only get to see Al have a significant impact on the story, but we also see him mature and become strong and independent in his own right.</p><p>Even more than the characters themselves, it's their relationships that really give this show its dramatic kick. The characters' devotion to one another and their drive to follow through with that devotion makes for some of the most memorable scenes in the show. A lot of anime tries to pull off this same "value of friendship" theme, but FMA takes it greater, unexpected lengths giving it a hit-you-in-the-gut kind of impact and makes for some of seriously spine tingling and tear jerking moments. It pulls this off by staying true the the dramatic moments and maintaining the emotional intensity, but keeping a certain amount of the drama unspoken, subtle, and implicit. So the drama is intense, without being melodramatic. And when a scene is getting overly melodramatic, that's when the characters will recognize it with some sort of comedic reaction. So the comedy doesn't break the genuine drama, but does so with the melodrama.</p><p>So, the story and characters are great, but what about the animation? The funny thing about this show is that, in the beginning, the animation is okay, but I don't think it's as good as the first series. However, once you get past episode 14, the animation takes a giant leap. Maybe that's because up until then the animators were just trying to rush through it, or maybe it's because some of the scenes in those episodes demand great animation. The dynamics of the character movements and the shifting camera angles during the fight scenes really add to the excitement because it helps to maintain the pacing and flow of the action. But more than the fight scenes, I think the animation helps with dramatic scenes as well. That's because truly great animation will be able to capture the subtle shifts in facial expression and body posture that contain implicit emotions. And there are a few scenes that come to mind in FMA where this kind of dramatic animation really packs a punch. Whatever the case, the artwork and movement in the "new" episodes are solid, detailed, and fluid.</p><p>And much like the animation enhances the action and drama in each scene, the same is true for the music. The show does recycle the same score throughout the show, but that doesn't do anything to dull its impact. It really adds to the flow of the series and does a great job of pulling you into the moment. It all really comes together nicely.</p><p>I know that I've done nothing but praise this show, and I'm sure that there are plenty of flaws or things about it that won't be attractive to all audiences; but personally every episode -- especially after the first 14 -- were so satisfying and affecting that it's hard for me to look back and pick out those flaws. I think part of that is due to the fact that I was so let down by the first episode that my expectations went from extremely high to extremely low for all the later episodes. That combined with the fact that I had no idea what to expect in terms of the story made this show constantly surprising and defying my expectations. So given that, this glowing review may end up ruining the show for some people (assuming anyone reads it) since it will heighten their expectations. And I think that when people assume great things about something, they are more easily able to pick out the bad things -- even if they are not trying. But even so I'm just calling it like I see it. This is really the first show since I started watching anime where I was constantly anticipating and excited for new episodes week-to-week. And although the ending was completely satisfying, I was a little disappointed that I'd wouldn't have it to look forward to each week. And that's about the best review I can give: that it affected me enough for me to miss it when it was gone. Hopefully other people will have the same reaction, despite my rose-colored review.</p><p><b>Notes</b></p><p>A few final things to note that I think some people might be interested in. For one, there is going to be a movie version of <i>Brotherhood</i>. I assume (hope) that it is going to be a re-telling of the series but I'm not sure.</p><p>The other thing is that -- even though I've seen the entire show subtitled through <a href="http://www4.funimation.com/video/?page=show&b=280">Funimation's website</a>, I'm also watching the dub on Adult Swim. And I noticed that Adult Swim does edit the show somewhat for time reasons I assume more than for content. In the original version of the later episodes (maybe like 16 and up?) there is an extra scene added between the end credits and the next-week-preview. But that extra scene is removed entirely from the Adult Swim version. That's disappointing because, while you can figure out what happened eventually, the scene did actually add something to the story. But anyway, just thought you'd like to know.</p><p>Cheers.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;">Related Reviews</p><ul><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/06/viewing-journal-fullmetal-alchemist.html">Fullmetal Alchemist (first anime)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/08/viewing-journal-fullmetal-alchemist.html">Fullmetal Alchemist: Conquerer of Shambala</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2010/01/viewing-journal-fullmetal-alchemist.html">Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium OAV</a><br /></li></ul>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-30291696794605000152010-08-28T07:25:00.000-04:002010-08-28T07:31:58.524-04:00Viewing Journal: Genshiken 2 (complete)<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3sgAO8WvbvNZy2ghoMeCNgpYhjduO8SM6XtDMpo3UbpILX4Xj5Tuq3hnEvUz0yqPNguDaC-lply9sVCMdLfw9_MaoYB9UGiknNhYtT-1lE_Jxhjx73OiO48zHuuLzBE7IpBp/s400/ViewingJournal-Genshiken2.jpg" width="181" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7985">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/dvd-anime-dvd--e---g--genshiken.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8re5gWJ4Lg">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= B-<br />Story = B-<br />Video = B<br />Audio = C+<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>The members of Genshiken are accepted as participants in the upcoming ComiFes, and Sasahara must adjust to his new role as club president. Meanwhile, Ogiue continues to struggle to fit in to her new surroundings. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7985">ANN</a>)</blockquote><p>And the seventh and final title in my list of anime/manga/books that I watched/read months ago but am only getting to review now — the <span style="font-style: italic;">Genshiken 2</span> OAV series. Actually, I watched this one relatively recently, being that I finished it in May 2010 or there about. Even so, it's been a while and I still have to wring my brain for details so I'll lump this in with the rest of my backlog reviews. Not that that designation matters to you, but...whatever. On with the review...<br /></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Genshiken</span> is a title that especially close to my heart because I've watched the first series and read all of the manga, and at the end of both I felt a tinge of regret that they were over. So when I heard that they were creating more animation, I was really excited to get a chance to visit with the <span style="font-style: italic;">Genshiken</span> crew again. Unfortunately, this new series fails to capture much of the magic that made the first series so great.</p><p>Now, just as a bit of warning, most of this review is going to draw comparisons between this series and the first one as well as the original manga. And even though I'd say that it's fair to compare this sequel series to the first — since if you are watching this then you most likely watched the original — I think some people would say that it's not as fair to compare it to the original manga. After all, many if not most people may have not read the manga and wouldn't understand the comparison; and even for those who have read the manga, you could argue that the anime should have the freedom to develop its own voice without having to strictly follow the source material. Despite that, I'm going to draw the comparisons anyway. For one thing, personally, I am often interested in how closely an anime follows its original manga, even if I have not read said manga; so I'm guessing that others may be equally curious. In the case of <span style="font-style: italic;">Genshiken</span> in particular, the first anime series followed the manga very closely, so I think it's fair to inform audiences if the second series was the same way.</p><p>So before I get into the review proper, I want to take a step back and talk a little bit about what made the original anime and manga so great. <span style="font-style: italic;">Genshiken</span> is about a college anime/manga club consisting of members who hang out and chat about their favorite TV show or comic. It's a fun comedy because even if you are not an anime fan, you can laugh at the character interactions and how the different personalities bounce off of one another in a casual, <span style="font-style: italic;">Seinfeld</span>-like dynamic. Even if you can't relate to their love of their specific hobby, you can relate to the way that the friends hanging out and talking about goofy stuff. The key to the show's success is that the talk about anime is used as a way to build the characters' personality and their relationships. So when Madarame is at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comiket">Comiket</a> standing in the rain in quiet pain from some accidental injuries, but refusing to seek medical attention for fear of missing out on the start of the event, it's not just funny, it's showing his personality through his fanatical devotion. The constant debates between the club and the non-otaku Saki are not just there as an excuse to discuss anime, it's there to develop the relationship between those characters through that conflict. The talk about anime is a narrative and comedic tool as much as it is a lesson in anime esoterica. In short, it's funny, it's relatable, and you don't need to be an anime fan to enjoy it any more than you'd need to be, say, a race car fan to enjoy <span style="font-style: italic;">Initial D</span> (assuming you like <span style="font-style: italic;">Initial D</span>).<br /></p><p>And that brings us to <span style="font-style: italic;">Genshiken 2</span>...</p><p>On the positive side, we do get to see more of the old gang from the first series — Sasahara, Madarame, Kousaka, Saki, and the rest — along with the new members. Of the new characters, the most significant is Ogiue, who hates all otaku even though she is an one herself. She loves <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaoi">yaoi</a> and loves to draw boy-love <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C5%8Djinshi">doujinshi</a> (ie, fan comic). In fact, one of the most entertaining and somewhat disturbing episodes in this new series involves her fantasizing about making a doujinshi about two of the boys in the club. The other new characters are okay and have their occasional moments to shine, but Ogiue is really the driving force behind this new series. There is also an episode or two about Ohno's friends from America coming to visit, which is pretty funny too. These new characters definitely bring something new to the show that makes it fun to watch and funny in its own way.</p><p>But there is still something missing here that made the original series and manga so much better and — for me personally — cathartic to watch; and I think it has to do with how they treat the subject of anime/manga fandom in relation to the characters. In this sequel, the focus is more on the anime and manga itself and showing how silly if not downright depraved the medium and fandom are. Instead of using anime fandom to define and develop the characters and their relationships, it's using the characters to define anime fandom. There's less interaction between the characters where they debate the positive and negative aspects of the medium. Gone are the arguments with between Saki and Madarame over what makes an otaku an otaku, which made the show more accessible to non-fans. In fact, Saki and Kousaka are noticeably absent in this series. Kousaka's bright — if oblivious — attitude and Saki's struggle to change-him-or-adapt added a lot of comedic energy to the first series. Here, their relationship seems more hopeless than comedic.</p><p>In fact, all of the relationships in the show suffer from that same sense of pessimism. In the first series and manga, the characters romantic relationships are like a glimmer of proof that there is hope for these characters after all — they can find happiness and love if they can find someone with a common passion to bond over. In this series, the relationships are either underplayed or come off as downright grim. Saki seems hopeless in her relationship with Kousaka, and Takana and Ohno's relationship is hardly mentioned. And the hesitant relationship between Ogiue and Sasahara, which was such a huge — if subtle — driving force in the manga, is barely noticeable here. And a big chunk of the manga which focused almost exclusively on developing their relationship was totally left out of this anime.<br /></p><p>In essence, although the show is a comedy, it's comedy relies less on character-driven, situational comedy than on a sort of awkward if not totally dry humor that relies more on emphasizing otaku depravity. As a result, a lot of the fun and energy is sucked out of this sequel and the characters seem more pitiful than lovable. In the first series and manga, you laugh at because you recognize yourself in the characters. In this series, you cringe because you recognize yourself in the characters. In the first series, I wished I could hang out with the characters due to a common bond which made that series so cathartic. In this series, I want to distance myself from them as much as possible. </p><p>Also, in the first series, the characters were embarrassed about their hobby, but for the most part they emphasized pride in their passion. Madarame was constantly coming up with his own logic for why he was into anime and manga and Kousaka had no shame for playing porn video games. This made for ironic, but light-hearted, self-deprecating humor . But here there is more focus on shamefulness than on pride. Part of that is that Kousaka and his cheery attitude are almost completely missing. You could say that Ogiue and her hatred for otaku are to blame for that sense of pessimism, but that same personality is there in the manga. But in the manga you can always see beneath the surface that her hatred is just a farce and, like Sasahara in the first series, she comes to accept her love for it more and more. In this anime, that side of her isn't as apparent or is gone altogether.</p><p>As for the animation quality, I don't think it's necessarily any better or worse than the original series, but it is different. It's a bit more realistic and detailed. For me, that somehow contributed to the fact that it's not quite as energetic as the original series.</p><p>In the end, I hesitate to say that this is a bad show, it's just that it's not nearly as enjoyable or effective as the original. I enjoyed another look at the <span style="font-style: italic;">Genshiken</span> gang, but I didn't get that same connection that hit me with the original anime and the manga. It was funny at times, but was also kind of a downer. What I was really hoping for was to have an animated version of the second half of the manga, much how the original anime adapted the manga so closely. At the series conclusion, I didn't feel nearly the sense of loss that I felt at the end of the first anime or manga. Fans will probably watch this series regardless of how it compares to the other iterations of the story, especially if they never read the manga; but I'd say to those people to not expect to feel the same kind of connection to the characters that you may be used to.<br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold;">Related Reviews</p><ul><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2006/03/viewing-journal-genshiken-complete.html">Genshiken (first series)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/02/reading-journal-genshiken-complete.html">Genshiken (manga)</a><br /></li></ul>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-19792619962050581812010-08-10T06:40:00.005-04:002010-12-07T05:58:56.129-05:00Viewing Journal: Michiko to Hatchin (complete)<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNAAJXCRRf56htGd08c9UCYOA5Fj-ZqfaW9wjxuaKCxAWSXCRE01-QucJLQAJM27CtoNscyg2XTvKgzo3NMoLUWDmwr2pukqGl0VgV0g1_0ddkmT4rVplxqIRa8ly-qM1xHf1/s400/ViewingJournal-MichikoToHatchin.jpg" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" width="181" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9602">Series Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animesuki.com/series.php/1243.html">Bittorrent Download</a><br />(not yet licensed in US)<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4CTEwZ1baM">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= C<br />Story = C-<br />Video = B+<br />Audio = B-<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>Hatchin is a girl raised by strict foster parents who has long given up her dreams of freedom. Michiko is a sexy criminal who escapes from a supposedly inescapable prison. When she suddenly enters Hana's life, these two very different women set off on a journey across a lawless land in search of a missing man from both their pasts. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=9602">ANN</a>)</blockquote><p>And here is number six in my list of anime reviews for shows that I completed months ago but am only writing about now. This time it's <span style="font-style: italic;">Michiko to Hatchin</span>. (Or is it <span style="font-style: italic;">Michiko e Hatchin</span>?) I have seen a lot of reviewers say that this is similiar to <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=13"><span style="font-style: italic;">Cowboy Bebop</span></a>, so I'm going to spend the majority of this review comparing the two. I don't usually like reviewing shows by comparing it to another show, but since a lot of people seem to insist that the two are so alike and are confused why this anime isn't more popular or license for US release, I think it might be worthwhile. Basically, I think the <span style="font-style: italic;">Bebop</span> comparison doesn't go any further than the art style and any comparisons related to the story, themes, or mood don't last much past the first few episodes.<br /></p><p>The beginning of the series is actually very promising. Hana -- aka Hatchin -- is a girl who was adopted by a well-respected religious family. But the family only took her in to collect the government grants, and they take pleasure in treating her as a slave and abusing her at every opportunity. Michiko -- a woman who recently escaped prison -- crashes into the family's home and kidnaps Hana. As it turns out, Michiko is Hana's mother and they both end up on a journey to find Hatchin's father, Hiroshi. But they have to stay on the move in order to avoid the police, especially the afro-sporting lady-cop Atsuko who seems to be connected to Michiko's past. This plot is mostly a set-up for Michiko and Hatchin to roam around, meet people, and get into trouble. Most episodes are stand-alone stories that don't have anything to do with finding Hiroshi.</p><p>In terms of its similarity to <span style="font-style: italic;">Bebop</span>, the first thing you'll notice in the initial episodes is the visuals, especially the character designs and the overall "coolness" of the style. I'm not saying that these things are exactly like <span style="font-style: italic;">Cowboy Bebop</span> or that they need to be associated with that show to be considered good. But I think that when people see the show's style -- myself included -- it will spark that memory of <span style="font-style: italic;">Bebop</span>'s characters and tone and the hope that this show will provide the same kind of experience.<br /></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Mitchiko to Hatchin</span> is not as eclectic as <span style="font-style: italic;">Bebop</span>; but it's characters, setting, and overall visuals do have their own unique, stylish, and exotic idiosyncrasy to them. The story takes place in a fictional Brazil-like setting. The areas that the main characters travel to range from the slums to backwater areas to the big city. All of the character designs are unique and interesting. Mitchiko is especially fun to watch, since she wears something different every episode and it's always extremely stylish. (That's especially amazing considering that she has little to no luggage during her travels.) The characters are not extremely muscular, but they are tough and threatening none-the-less. Their intimidation is mainly implied through their personality or their callousness toward violence.<br /></p><p>But if there is one thing that separates this show from <span style="font-style: italic;">Cowboy Bebop</span> it is its harsh violence. <span style="font-style: italic;">Bebop</span> could be moody at times, but it's gun play and general action scenes were mostly fun and exhilarating. <span style="font-style: italic;">Michiko to Hatchin</span> takes its violence more seriously. It isn't especially physically graphic, but the characters are so hardened to the violence as a way-of-life, and are so matter-of-fact about its execution that the overall tone makes these scenes more sobering and surprising.<br /></p><p>So I really did enjoy the first five or six episodes, although at the time I was not sure why. It was strange because I would watch an episode and be thinking how cool it was throughout the entire thing; but then once I turned it off and thought back, I would realize that nothing really happened. It was like it was trying to create a tone instead of develop a story or characters. And the more I watched, the more shallow and pretentious it seemed to be. Each episode ended much the same as it began, with no real lessons learned and no advancement to the story. And with no substance, much of it seemed pointless.</p><p>And, like the plot itself, the characters seem to have less and less substance the further you get into the story. In particular, one character whom I was confused about is the woman cop who is constantly chasing after Mitchiko: Atsuko. They appear to be childhood friends, but exactly what their relationship was beyond that I was never sure. There were times when Atsuko would catch Hatchin, or nearly catch her only to intentionally let her go. It seemed like there was supposed to be some internal struggle that Atsuko was going through relating to whether or not she really did want to arrest Mitchiko, but I was never sure what the source of that struggle was. Was it just their friendship versus her duty as a cop that she was conflicted over? Did she have some kind of romantic feelings for Mitchiko? Was there something from their past that was caused this inner turmoil? I still don't know, and I don't even think there were any subtle clues to pick up on. And it's impossible to empathize with someone when you don't understand the source of their emotional stress. Plus, since you know that she is going to let Mitchiko go every time, there's no tension over whether she is going to get caught. So in the end it just seemed like Atsuko's only purpose was to motivate Mitchiko to keep moving, while preventing the possibility that she would actually get caught, and using an obscure personal drama as the excuse.<br /></p><p>The show's ending -- while not satisfying or climactic -- did help to clarify the theme. In the end, the show is about reality versus perception and how people can twist their memories to in to a kind of idealistic nostalgia, even if it doesn't reflect what actually happened. Michiko perceives things idealistically and Hatchin is more realistic. And as a result Hatchin is more subject to abuse and the harsh realities of the world, while Michiko ignores that and is more interested in chasing after a dream and believes that if they can just find Hatchin's father, then they can all live as one perfect family. Once I realized that, it redeemed the show a little bit in my eyes because it means that both Michiko and Hatchin were more complex than I had been giving them credit for. But even so, I don't think that knowing that makes the show much more entertaining.<br /></p>So anyway, I think this is an interesting show, but I don't think it would have as much overall appeal in the US as a lot of people think it would. Despite it's attractive visuals, it lacks story and character development. The first few episodes may grab viewers' attention, but once you get further into it, it becomes apparent that the storyline is thin, the character development is shallow, and overall it becomes boring. I would recommend maybe checking out the first few episodes and see what you think, but after that I'm guessing that a lot of people would lose interest and move on to other things.Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-80910236659627217592010-07-26T06:20:00.003-04:002010-07-28T06:26:48.316-04:00Reading Journal: Twelve Kingdoms - The Vast Spread of the Seas<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjye0fPMBSpHn-wyyfJT9j966yXsNHEuim1F0ln4wlrc9ttjY7W_XqDvtQ45p81zkNLiA8-sYB39oQVKmWMcy6hJHIRgIlJR8EZ1a5ZV1dvqN8HFRpL-Plh3wcoie5AsBkzAG/s400/ReadingJournal-12KindomsBook3.jpg" width="181" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vast-Spread-Seas-Twelve-Kingdoms/dp/1598169483/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279766988&sr=8-2">Book Overview</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= B+<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote><p>When only an eggfruit, the kirin of the En Kingdom, Rokuta, was transported to Japan for his own protection. But he was abandoned soon after birth by his surrogate parents, left to fend for himself in the mountains. It just so happened that at the same time, a young boy in the En Kingdom named Koya was also abandoned by his own parents, after which he was raised by demon beasts. Their similar circumstances aren't the only thing to bind these two boys, though. Twenty years after their abandonment, their destinies intersect, with potentially disastrous consequences for the En Kingdom. (Source: <a href="http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/DV-zcf7CM9F3h3GCtR/browse/item/83679/4/0/0">RightStuf</a>)</p></blockquote><p>Aaaaaand here we have number five in my list of stuff that I finished months ago but am only getting around to reviewing now. This time it's the third volume in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Twelve Kingdoms</span> saga: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Vast Spread of Seas</span>. This one I finished around January; and although I can't remember a lot of details, I do remember that it is a fantastic entry in the book series.</p><p>While the first two volumes were introductions to the world of the Twelve Kingdoms, this volume is less interested in introducing new terms and concepts than it is in fleshing out a fully-realized, well-paced story. The first two volumes mostly focused on characters arriving at the Twelve Kingdoms and needing to adapt by learning the complexities that govern the world. And while the third volume also has characters from Earth (or "Horai") entering the new world and vice versa; the story really picks up when those characters are well-adapted to the world. As a result, it can focus more on the conflicts between people and and development of the characters.<br /></p><p>Of course, even though the book is not introducing a lot of new concepts and the focus is more on the story; it is still maintains a certain level of World development that was part of what made the first two books so great. But it's more like this book develops previously-introduced concepts by revealing new aspects to them. We learn new things about he demons, as they adopt and raise an abandoned boy. We learn about the kirin and things like how to bind their powers. Those kinds of things give the setting depth and keep the story it fresh.</p><p>As with the other books, the characters here are complex, as are their interactions with one another. However, where the first two books were more about the main characters' internal struggles or their struggles simply trying to stay alive in the world; this one is more directly about conflicts between groups of people with different ideas about how the world should be run. But even more than that, there are interpersonal conflicts between individual people within and between those groups. As a result, this story is not quite as intensely personal as the first novel, and not as peaceful as the second. Instead, it strikes a good balance and maintains a well paced and well thought-out story.</p><p>If there was one conventional character in this book, it would be the King of En. He is the kind of character that seems laid back and irresponsible, but that ends up being just a misinterpretation of his keen leadership abilities, mental prowess, and concern for his people. But just because I've seen that type of thing before, doesn't make him any less compelling of a character. Unlike other characters of that type I've seen in anime and manga, he isn't masking his true motivations with an goofy facade. That goofiness is more of a result of his general attitude toward life, and is actually consistent with his motivations. And that consistency and honesty make him a stronger and more original character.</p><p>The one thing about having read this so long ago is that I forget some of the deeper themes and ideas interwoven into the story. For this book probably more than any of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Twelve Kingdoms</span> book so far, I thought that certain parts of the story were supposed to symbolize different things. But now I can't remember what all of that symbolism was! There has always been the themes of working for people or working with nature, but I remember thinking of specific things that scenes were supposed to represent. So I guess my point is that this book has deep meanings, but I don't know what they are, so I guess you'll just have to trust me.<br /></p><p>So anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say that all three of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Twelve Kingdoms</span> book have been great so far, but also each of them has been very, very different; with each having a different tone but each also building more upon the world it takes place in. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next four book have to offer.</p><p style="font-weight: bold;">Related Reviews</p><ul><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/02/reading-journal-twelve-kingdoms-volume.html">The Twelve Kingdoms - Volume 1: Sea of Shadow</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/01/reading-journal-twelve-kingdoms-volume.html">The Twelve Kingdoms - Volume 2: Sea of Wind</a></li></ul>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-83663859522517903072010-07-21T22:30:00.001-04:002010-07-28T06:27:38.397-04:00Viewing Journal: Bleach - The DiamondDust Rebellion<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWbj4D8jLf4F3fitmNmBeZ2APnkNcnj8ZzyUDZ0qk-yUSGI74cTfM_gEFmmdVYCP4ZEqryUym3hAvf9DSpcUgdzqJg2y1inlPDEUS1R0YAFzOk8Ij3MwpBrekIRq63cdZkWZR/s400/ViewingJournal-BleachDiamonDustRebellion.jpg" width="181" align="left" height="250" hspace="4" /><a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=8369">Movie Overview</a><br /><a href="http://www.animenation.com/782009239741.html">DVD Info</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljlBrS6TPNc">Trailer</a><br /><br /><strong>Rating:</strong><br />Overall= B-<br />Story = B-<br />Video = B<br />Audio = C+<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Journal</strong></p><blockquote>A valuable artifact known as "King's Seal" is stolen by a mysterious group of people during transport in Soul Society. Hitsugaya Toushiro, the 10th division captain of Gotei 13, who is assigned to transport the seal fights the leader of the group and shortly after goes missing. After the incident, Seireitei declares Hitsugaya a traitor and orders the capture and execution of Hitsugaya. Kurosaki Ichigo refuses to believe this, and along with Matsumoto Rangiku, Kuchiki Rukia and Abarai Renji swear to uncover the real mastermind of the stolen seal, find Hitsugaya and clear his name. Meanwhile, a rogue Hitsugaya searches for the perpetrators and uncovers a dark secret regarding a long dead shinigami. (Source: <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=8369">ANN</a>)</blockquote><p>And now number four in my series of reviews of stuff that I viewed months ago but am only getting to review now. This time it's the second <span style="font-style: italic;">Bleach</span> movie: <span style="font-style: italic;">The DiamondDust Rebellion</span>. This one I actually had to go back and fast-forward through because I couldn't remember much of what it was about. I suppose that in itself doesn't bode well since it means it wasn't impactful enough to be memorable; but even so, as far as Bleach content created exclusively for anime (ie, not adapted from the manga) goes, it's not bad.</p><p>Having watched around 150 episodes of the TV series, I've been exposed to countless filler episodes (ie, episodes that deviate from the story of the original manga), and contrary to popular belief, a handful of those fillers are actually pretty good. The ones that are good tend to focus on analyzing and developing a specific character. In that same way, this movie is an improvement over the first movie because it narrowly focuses on developing and expanding the background of a single character: Hitsugaya Toushiro. Focusing on an existing character instead of creating a new complicated plot line involving multiple new characters helps the the story to feel more seamlessly integrated into the series instead of being tacked on. And as a result, I didn't find myself getting distracted by trying to figure out whether or not the new material would have any impact on the original story.</p><p>I have to admit that out of all the soul reapers, Hitsugaya is probably one of my least favorite. He seems to not have much of a personality, and his Zanpakto's ice techniques seem generic and cliche. But after watching this movie -- which focuses on Hitsugaya -- I'm starting to understand what his character is all about. Basically, he is supposed to be similar to Ichigo. For one, they both want to avoid getting other people involved in their problems; and two, their harsh personalities mask their deeper issues. And as a result of seeing that relationship, I'm starting to see Hitsugaya in a whole new light. And that is why I think these character-focused stories work so well. They provide the opportunity to flesh out the character by showing deeper and more detailed aspects of their personality, and a result makes them more empathetic and understandable.</p><p>The animation for this movie was -- as, by definition, you would expect from a movie -- theatrical quality. I art was detailed and clean, and the animation was fluid. I also liked that the art was a darker and/or monochromatic than the TV show usually is, with more scenes at night or on cloudy days or in the fog or whatever. I really enjoyed it and appreciated how it set a moodier atmosphere.</p><p>So overall, I would recommend this movie to <span style="font-style: italic;">Bleach</span> fans, and especially Hitsugaya fans. As original anime goes, this one holds its own as a strong and enjoyable story.</p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Related Reviews:</span><br /><ul><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2007/02/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-1-26.html">Bleach (season 1)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2007/10/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-26-51.html">Bleach (season 2)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/08/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-52-74.html">Bleach (season 3)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/02/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-75-97.html">Bleach (season 4)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/08/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-98-120.html">Bleach (season 5)</a></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2009/12/viewing-journal-bleach-episodes-121-143.html">Bleach (season 6)</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://2-d.blogspot.com/2008/07/ready-viewing-journal-bleach-memories.html">Bleach: Memories of Nobody</a></li></ul>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7572508.post-69378715133394426272010-07-18T16:16:00.013-04:002010-07-19T21:44:15.649-04:00Awesome Clips: Hellsing OAV 7 - Seras rages<p>*SPOILER ALERT*</p><p>From <a href="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=5114">Hellsing OAV (aka. Hellsing Ultimate)</a> episode 7. Who needs Alucard? As far as I'm concerned, this makes Seras the new star of the show... if for no other reason than her demonstration of the all-time best method for stopping someone from punching you in the face...<br /></p><p><object width="410" height="275"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7HV2H87rUTk&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7HV2H87rUTk&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="410" height="275"></embed></object></p>Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12976389774348262401noreply@blogger.com0