Viewing Journal: Fullmetal Alchemist - Brotherhood (complete)

Series Overview Watch It Now DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= A+ Story = A+ Video = A- Audio = A-

Journal

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: ANN)

When I first heard that there was going to be a new Fullmetal Alchemist 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.

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.

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 13 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 episode 14 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 Studio BONES was animating the last part of the series. Hiromu Arakawa, 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?!

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 Brotherhood's success is the existence of that first FMA 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 Brotherhood is due to the fact that those episodes are basically a recap of the first series.

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.

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.

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.

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.

First of all, the story is based on an interesting concept: alchemy. The thing about alchemy that sets Brotherhood 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.

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 (Evangelion 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Notes

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 Brotherhood. I assume (hope) that it is going to be a re-telling of the series but I'm not sure.

The other thing is that -- even though I've seen the entire show subtitled through Funimation's website, 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.

Cheers.

Related Reviews

• Fullmetal Alchemist (first anime)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Conquerer of Shambala
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium OAV
  

Viewing Journal: Genshiken 2 (complete)

Series Overview DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= B- Story = B- Video = B Audio = C+

Journal

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: ANN)

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 Genshiken 2 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...

Genshiken 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 Genshiken crew again. Unfortunately, this new series fails to capture much of the magic that made the first series so great.

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 Genshiken 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.

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. Genshiken 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, Seinfeld-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 Comiket 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 Initial D (assuming you like Initial D).

And that brings us to Genshiken 2...

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 yaoi and loves to draw boy-love doujinshi (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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Genshiken 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.

Related Reviews

• Genshiken (first series)
• Genshiken (manga)
  

Viewing Journal: Michiko to Hatchin (complete)

Series Overview Bittorrent Download (not yet licensed in US) Trailer Rating: Overall= C Story = C- Video = B+ Audio = B-

Journal

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: ANN)

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 Michiko to Hatchin. (Or is it Michiko e Hatchin?) I have seen a lot of reviewers say that this is similiar to Cowboy Bebop, 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 Bebop 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.

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.

In terms of its similarity to Bebop, 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 Cowboy Bebop 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 Bebop's characters and tone and the hope that this show will provide the same kind of experience.

Mitchiko to Hatchin is not as eclectic as Bebop; 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.

But if there is one thing that separates this show from Cowboy Bebop it is its harsh violence. Bebop could be moody at times, but it's gun play and general action scenes were mostly fun and exhilarating. Michiko to Hatchin 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Reading Journal: Twelve Kingdoms - The Vast Spread of the Seas

Book Overview Rating: Overall= B+

Journal

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: RightStuf)

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 Twelve Kingdoms saga: The Vast Spread of Seas. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Twelve Kingdoms 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.

So anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say that all three of the Twelve Kingdoms 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.

Related Reviews

• The Twelve Kingdoms - Volume 1: Sea of Shadow
• The Twelve Kingdoms - Volume 2: Sea of Wind

Viewing Journal: Bleach - The DiamondDust Rebellion

Movie Overview DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= B- Story = B- Video = B Audio = C+

Journal

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: ANN)

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 Bleach movie: The DiamondDust Rebellion. 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.

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.

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.

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.

So overall, I would recommend this movie to Bleach fans, and especially Hitsugaya fans. As original anime goes, this one holds its own as a strong and enjoyable story.

Related Reviews:

• Bleach (season 1)
• Bleach (season 2)
• Bleach (season 3)
• Bleach (season 4)
• Bleach (season 5)
• Bleach (season 6)
  
• Bleach: Memories of Nobody

Awesome Clips: Hellsing OAV 7 - Seras rages

*SPOILER ALERT*

From Hellsing OAV (aka. Hellsing Ultimate) 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...

Viewing Journal: Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit (complete)

Series Overview DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= A Story = A Video = A Audio = B

Journal

Balsa the spearwoman is a wandering warrior, who takes on the task of saving lives, in atonement for a past sin. On her journey, she happens to save a prince, and is tasked with becoming his bodyguard. And he is going to need one, for his own father, the emperor, wants him dead. (Source: ANN)

And now third in my series of anime that I watched months ago is the famously under-appreciated Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit. I watched this one on Adult Swim back when it had broadcast, then canceled, then restarted the series, and finally finishing it back in December 2009.

I say that this show is “famously under-appreciated” because most reviews that I have seen has praised it, but has also said that nobody is watching it. Even Adult Swim canceled its run half-way through presumably due to poor ratings. And I think it’s worthwhile trying to understand why people don’t watch it when it is so good.

I think one of the main reasons people love it in terms of both its art and its story is the same reason that people don’t watch it: its level of detail. This show has an intricate story, deep characters, and lush art; but the time it spends showing these things to the audience means that there is less action and slower pacing.

In terms of the characters, that means that they will analyze and discuss their choices before taking action. That means there are conversation about politics and culture and religion, as well as analyzing the motivations of other characters. I am guessing that a lot of viewers would have no patience for this and would prefer characters to use action to solve their problems. But for others, myself included, the detail helps to maintain the pace because you can understand the setting and the characters’ motivations better and are not constantly distracted by thinking “why did they do that?” or “why didn’t they just do this instead of that?” You get a deeper understanding of the characters and their actions, and as a result makes the story more engrossing.

Another criticism that I’ve heard about Moribito -- and other Kamiyama-directed shows -- is that the characters are dry and don’t show enough emotion. And maybe you could provide an argument supporting the latter, but I seriously contend the former. Instead of “dry” I would say that they are “restrained.” Meaning that there is emotion, but since these characters are so mentally strong, they either choose not to show it or don't show it because of the situation or because of the culture that they live in. And this makes the times when they do show that emotion all that much more earnest, believable, and significant.

The mental resilience of the characters may also put off some viewers. By that I mean that many anime shows include at least one character who is unsure of him or herself or has some vulnerability that they have to learn to overcome. The characters in Morbito have vulnerabilities as well, but it takes time for the audience to discover them. And in the meantime, all the main characters seem strong-minded and reasonable, which may make them harder to sympathize with.

Also, the emotion of the characters is more subtle than you find in much anime where characters have intensely exaggerated reactions and emotions whether they be romantic or violent. Balsa is a prime example of this subtle approach. Her main motivation appears to be to save the eight lives to make up for something that happened in her past, and the last of those lives is the prince Chagum. But she insists on not just protecting his life, but also keeping him mentally and emotionally safe. And in doing so she acts both as a gentle mother and a stern strong father-figure. When she fights, it is for a specific purpose relating to protecting someone, and not out of anger. And almost all characters in this show offer the same level of complexity and subtlety making them more interesting to watch.

One thing that may put some people off is the fact that there are not really any good guys or bad guys. There are just people with different goals and a series of different understandings of the facts that cause the conflicts in the story. But there is no real dichotomy of good and evil since all the characters are trying to act for what they think is the best for everyone. And while this makes for fantastic characterization, it makes it hard for those who want to know who exactly to root for and who to root against.

The setting of the story is also complex and believable. This is a fantasy story, but it feels more real than the usual fantasy. The closest thing I could compare it to would be Twelve Kingdoms, with that level of detail and that level to which the fantasy elements are intertwined with the world and its culture. The characters in Moribito are not surprised to when they see something magical happen – at least the magic itself is not surprising, even if the significance or impact of the magic is. In fact the word “magic” is not really an accurate term and I don’t think it’s really ever used in the show. The characters simply accept that the world is the way it is. Like we see a tree and don’t question why it’s there; the characters in Moribito accept things like spirits existing in an alternate world because it is a factual part of their history and ingrained in their culture.

On the flip-side, the setting also may put off some viewers. Moribito is a fantasy, but one that is very eastern in appearance and takes place in it’s own self-contained world without any plot-connections to our own world. So the concepts and elements are not as familiar to western audiences, and as a result, there is little to relate to.

For those who love the show – or at least for myself – the unfamiliarity of the setting and the strength of the characters are part of what makes the show so great. As the story progresses and we learn more details about the world, it becomes more engrossing. The fact that the setting is something new and that we learn new things about it as the story progresses is stimulating.

And for me the strength of the characters is more refreshing than it is off-putting. I can enjoy characters who gain confidence throughout a story, but it is also enjoyable to see strong, competent characters react to one another; and then as the story progresses, discover their vulnerabilities. It makes any changes that they go through that much more impressive.

Of course the visuals in this story are downright incredible. This was animated by Production IG, the studio behind Ghost in the Shell. And keeping in line with the story, the visuals are also detailed and realistic. But you won’t see speed lines or exaggerated action in the animation either. The character movements are very grounded in reality, but still beautiful to watch. But the animation is always in service of the story. When there was a fight scene, there was always a purpose behind it in terms of the character motivations. When there was an action scene I was more focused on why the characters were fighting more than I was getting caught up in the action of the fight itself. That’s not to say that the animation was not stellar, it’s just that – like a good soundtrack – the animation enhanced the story instead of defining it.

At any rate, I’ll wrap of this review (seeing as how this is probably the longest and most convoluted one I’ve ever written) by adding my voice to the others who have said that this show is vastly under-appreciated and deserves more recognition. It’s a smart story with strong characters and beautiful animation. And I would say that it’s probably one of the best shows I’ve seen.

Awesome Clips: Hellsing OAV 6 ending credits

Purely for the sake of awesomeness, I submit to you the ending credits of the Hellsing OAV (aka Hellsing Ultimate) episode 6. There are not really any spoilers here, so if you have not seen the whole show or previous episodes, no need to worry. The song here is Magnolia by Suilen.

Viewing Journal: L Change the World

Movie Overview DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= D Story = D Video = C Audio = C

Journal

After writing his own name in the Death Note in order to beat Light Yagami, L now has only 28 days before he dies of a heart attack. But L can't call it quits yet. Sent by F, L receives a mathematical genius child, whom witnessed his home village destroyed by terrorists armed with a deadly virus. Now, L must battle K and her group of terrorists, as they attempt to develop an antidote to save themselves before they release the deadly virus on the world. With the help of Maki, a girl who's father killed himself stopping the terrorists, and Sugura, a FBI agent looking for the Death Note, L must not only fight the terrorists, but also against the clock, ticking down on his life. (Source: ANN)

And now for second title in my list of stuff that I watched months ago but am only getting around to reviewing now: L Change the World. This is the follow-up to the two previous Death Note live-action movies and does not correspond to anything in the manga or anime. It tells the story of master detective L who, at the end of the second movie, wrote his own name in the Death Note (which, in case you've never been exposed to Death Note before, is a notebook in which anyone who's name is written will die) in order to defeat Light Yagami. As a result he only has 28 days to live; but when L finds out about a terrorist plot to use a deadly virus to eradicate humanity, he has to dedicate those final days to saving the world.

Putting aside the connection the movie has with the Death Note franchise; even as a standalone film, this movie is trite and cliche and doesn't take advantage of its potential. Eco-terrorists intend to spread a deadly virus throughout the world -- while saving the antidote for themselves -- and the only one who can stop them is L. It sounds more like a bad James Bond film than anything from Death Note. The movie's title "L Change the World" seems to imply that L causes humanity to go through some epic transformation as his last act in the world; but nothing of the sort happens. And it could have been an epic, especially given that L had all of the genius children at the Whammy House at his disposal. But, even though some of the Whammy House children are involved, their genius isn't used to any great extent. And the whole movie is to be counting down to L's death, so it would have been great if he would have been fighting up until the minute he died, and maybe his death would somehow be the thing that defeated the villains. But instead he defeats the villains with a good couple of days to spare, which totally deflates the tension. So by the conclusion, I found myself anxious to just get to L's death already.

Even though this is a Death Note movie, it has none of the qualities that made the original story so great. I love the manga, anime, and even the first two movies' story because there are two (or sometimes more) strong, intelligent characters who would be constantly trying to out-think one another in order to get the upper hand. There is a lot of strategy involved that leads to exciting and surprising plot twists. But in this movie, even though the main villain is a genius from Whammy House, she does not do anything strategy-wise to indicate that she is any smarter than the average villain.

In fact, neither does L; and that is what really makes this movie sink. L doesn't show any of his genius world-renown detective skills here. The movie is just him chasing after people and using his physical resources to solve the crime, not his intelligence. Instead, the story tries to make up for this lack of personality by pushing his love of sweets and his hunched over posture as his sole personality traits.

Overall, it is pretty blatantly obvious that this is purely an attempt to milk a little more money out of the Death Note name, and a very lazy attempt at that. The writers did little more than take the L character, strip him of everything that made him a engaging and intelligent character, amp up his superficial traits, and then drop him in a cliche destroy-the-world plot. So don't be duped into watching this because you want to be a Death Note completist, since there is little here other than the main character's name that makes this a Death Note story, and nothing that makes it worth watching for anyone who is not familiar with the original story.

Okay, so I lied...

So I said that I wouldn't watch any new anime until I finished my backlog of reviews; but with the series coming to an end, I couldn't help but watch the penultimate episodes 62 and 63 of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood on Funimation's website. And holy crap am I glad I did. Friggin' episodes actually made me cry -- like actual tears. And not just a few either.

So I guess FMA: Brotherhood has officially replaced Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex as my favorite anime of all time. Any show that can actually elicit bodily fluid (from the eyes) can't be called any less.

Review to come after I finish that frigging backlog...

[Edit] FYI.. There's a movie coming too.

Viewing Journal: Freedom (complete)

OAV Overview DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= B+ Story = B+ Video = A+ Audio = B+

Journal

In the year 2041, mankind created their first space colony on the moon. But after a freak cataclysm devastated human civilization on Earth, the republic of the moon built a domed megalopolis known as Eden. Now in the year 2267, a boy called Takeru spends his time engaging in hover-craft races against rival street gangs, unaware that he is about to embark in the journey of unearthing Eden's origin. (Source: ANN)

So it's been like seven months since I last reviewed anything. That's not to say that I haven't been watching anime in that time, it's just that I have either had trouble trying to figure out how to review things or simply put it off -- but NO MORE! I have a backlog of six or seven shows/movies/manga/books that I want to write about, so I have vowed that I will not watch anything new until I have completed this batch of reviews. Of course, it has been a while since I actually watching these shows, so I'll have to rely on the few notes I took and my unreliable memory. As a result, the next few viewing journal entries may either be brief or vague or downright inaccurate. But at least I'll have them done, right? Anyway, here we go...

The first series on my list -- which I saw I think back in December 2009 or January 2010 -- is Freedom. This is a 6-episode OVA about a teenager named Takeru who lives a restricted life in a enclosed metropolis on the moon...that is until he finds a photo of a girl which was supposedly sent from the long-thought-uninhabitable Earth. Takeru becomes madly infatuated with this girl and dedicates himself to traveling to Earth to meet her. Of course, first he has to find a means of getting to Earth, not to mention getting past the Moon's governing council which is intent on hiding the truth about Earth from the citizenry.

I've always liked stories about teenagers challenging societies and the governments that run them. When I was younger, I liked the idea that a kid can have a huge impact on the world and do things that adults can't. These days it has more to do with a fondness for that youthful optimism where nothing is impossible. Takeru embodies that optimism coupled with tenacity and naive passion, and these qualities make him ignore both pragmatic and paranoid opposition and push him to follow his new-found dream. Overall, his passion is really what makes this anime for me.

Other than that, the sci-fi setting is also impressive. It isn't that the technology is believable so much as it is detailed and expansive. Things like the mechanical details of the motor bikes, and practical considerations like the fact that the government imposes a curfew in order to conserve energy -- all make the storyline seem more real and engrossing.

Of course, the biggest selling point for this show is the animation. It is computer animated, but more like cell-shade animation or something similar. It is still 2-D but you can tell from the fluidity of the characters and the way that they move that it is not hand-drawn. And even though the characters' movements occasionally appear unnaturally stiff, 98% of the time they move naturally and have dynamic facial expressions -- unlike most other computer-animated shows I've seen. I think part of that is due to the Katsushiro Otomo's (Akira) character designs. He does not use the traditional huge-eyed anime characters. His art style is simple, clean, and realistic in terms of character proportions. Plus, unlike a lot of other anime, his character designs don't shift in their art style for comedic or dramatic effect and their facial expressions are not as exaggerated. So since his designs are so solid and consistent, they animate well with computers -- which, by their nature, are not as spontaneous or abstract as hand-drawn animation.

The music is also pretty good. Though honestly I can't remember much of anything other than the opening song, which was done by the same singer who did "Beautiful World" from the Evangelion 1.0 movie -- Utada Hikaru.

Of course, this isn't all sunshine and roses, as there are a few things that bothered me about this show. For instance, although Takeru was a great character and I enjoyed watching youthful passion, none of the other characters were as strong and were mostly uninteresting and passionless cliches. For example, Takeru's friend Bizmarck was the whiny one in the cast and was always telling Takeru that his plans wouldn't work. I can understand his role as an antagonist to the story, but the fact that he seemed to have no personality other than to complain really grated on my nerves after a while.

Also, the story often does a great job of creating a sense of realism by bringing up practical concerns, but then throws those concerns out the window the minute they got in the way of the the story's progression. For instance, when Takeru and Bizmarch finally get to Earth, they need to find this girl that Takeru loves. And at first the story seems to recognize the fact that searching an entire planet for one person is a near impossible task for two kids on a motor bike. But almost as soon as as the characters recognize this fact, they are given a series conveniences that allow them to find her. I'm not sure if you would call that deux ex machina, but regardless it seems like a cheap way for the writers to solve a narrative snag.

Another thing that bothered me about the story which was the fact that the moon's council had told its people that the earth was uninhabitable due to a nuclear fallout from years earlier (or something -- I can't remember exactly). But of course, Takeru discovers that the Earth is alive and well once he sees it in the moon's sky. Now putting aside the fact that no one bothered to look at the earth in the sky before this; the story never tells what actually did happen to the Earth? Was there a nuclear war or not? If so, was the earth ever not inhabitable? If so, how did people survive there? Those seemed like major plot points that could have helped make the story more believable, but were never properly explained.

Of course, you can't talk about this show without mentioning the blaring Ramen Cup Noodle logos blatantly splattered in every episode. The show I think was actually created as an advertisement for Cup Noodle, so it's understandable. But the logo is so blatant and out-of-place that it seems like more like a running-gag than an advertisement. But really you only see it once or twice briefly in each episode, so it doesn't interfere with the story too much.

So anyway, that's Freedom. It's worth watching if you can pick it up cheap on Amazon or eBay. I remember when it first came out there was a huge stink about the fact that each DVD cost like $50 for one episode-per-disc. But now I think you can get the whole collection for less than that. So if you have the time, I think this one is worth watching.

Anime World Order Podcast

So I was searching around for a anime podcast to help keep me awake on my drives to and from work when I found this Anime World Order podcast.

The show is made up of three hosts -- Daryl, Gerald, and Clarissa -- who review anime, talk about news, and generally discuss all things anime and manga. All three seem to have in-depth knowledge about the subject and have some intelligent discussions while still keeping back-and-forth dialogue between them fun and often irreverent. Daryl -- who does the editing for the show -- does a good job of keeping dialogue at a steady pace and avoiding the awkward pauses that I have heard in the few other podcasts I've listened to.

In particular, I'm currently going through their "Decade in Review" series of casts. It's fun and nostalgic to listen to them review the shows from 2000 onward.

Anyway, give it a listen. You can download it on iTunes, or you can listen through their website.

Akira Bicycle

This was apparently done as a t-shirt design for a Nike charity event. "Teams across the globe take part in a le mans 24hr style race to promote the charity Red." [Source] I just think it's cool. In the unlikely event that you don't get the reference, see here.

Viewing Journal: Fullmetal Alchemist - Premium Collection

OAV Overview DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= C+ Story = C+ Video = B- Audio = C

Journal

If you have not seen the original Fullmetal Alchemist TV series and movie, then this "Premium OAV Collection" will be worthless to you. Even if you have seen the series and movie, this is still not required viewing. This is a collection of four very short videos that are outside the regular series' continuity.

The first story is a live-action video that has Al in his suit-of-armor form, appearing around the city, and ending at Studio Bones (which animated the original series). There is nothing more to this than an Al statue being filmed in different settings with a voice-over.

The next part shows a very young Ed, Al, and Winry running around the city trying to get to a particular place. Out of all of these shorts, this one seems like it might actually be connected to the end of the movie. The ending is strange in a "I know this means something, but I don't know what" kind of way. I'll just leave it at that.

The third part shows all the characters in super-deformed form as they have just finished filming the movie. They are all hanging out drinking and goofing around. It's fun and pointless and I'm sure a lot of fans will get a kick out of.

The last part is part of a Fullmetal Alchemist "interactive experience" attraction that was available in Japan around the time the film was wrapping up. It treats you -- the audience -- as a character in the story, so the characters are constantly talking to the camera as if it were a person. According to the plot, you are a new alchemist recruit and after an expository intro, you go into battle against the homunculi and save everyone. It's the only short with any kind of action, but again is not necessarily in perfect continuity with the regular series.

So is this video worth picking up? It is a fun bit of extra animation, but it probably would not be worth the $15 to anyone other than the total FMA completist. It would have been more worthwhile if it had been included as an extra on the original series' DVDs than a standalone video.

Viewing Journal: Pumpkin Scissors (complete)

Series Overview DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= D+ Story = D Video = C Audio = C

Journal

After a long war with the Republic of Frost, the Empire abruptly signs a cease-fire, ending the war. Three years later, the Empire is in ruins with starvation and plague. Former soldiers have become bandits. Former Anti-Tank Trooper, Randel Orlando, unexpectedly runs into and joins the Pumpkin Scissors platoon, an Imperial Army relief effort led by Alice L. Malvin to restore order to the war-torn Empire. (Source: ANN)

The first few episodes of Pumpkin Scissors seem promising. It takes place in the aftermath of a war where a small band of soldiers is trying to protect the commoners from the corruption and abuse of the upper class. The group includes a gentle-giant with a mysterious origin who turns into a ruthless killer whenever he lights is blue lantern. There is a driven noble woman who goes against her family's wishes in order to work for the common people. There are all kinds of ironic characters, relatable themes, and intriguing mysteries that should have made for a compelling series. But it ends up either not cashing in on this potential, or cashing in too much, or waiting to cash in until just before the series ends.

Let's start with the "Anti-Tank Trooper" Randel Orlando. In the beginning, this is the character that makes you sit back and say, "This is going to be such an awesome show." He's huge with a scarred face and lives under a bridge with the other homeless people. He's kind with a quiet, gentle demeanor; but when he lights up the lantern that hangs on his hip, his eyes go blank, he pulls out his gun and nothing -- not even a tank -- can stop him from taking out his target. Power, compassion, and mystery all come together with this guy. So what happened?

First of all, the show never delves into Orlando's past. We learn that there is this scientist lady who apparently made him the way he is. We also learn the reason behind why he was created -- that being to wield the large anti-tank gun that can only be affective against a tank at close range; thus the person using the gun had to have no fear of death. But we never learn the specific past of Orlando himself. Where did he originally come from? Why was he specifically chosen to be an Anti-Tank Trooper? What kind of brain washing had to take place to make that possible? And of course, I couldn't help but think that there was a greater conspiracy behind it all. For instance, why would Orlando be sent to the Pumpkin Scissors unit in the first place? There had to be a story behind that, but we never learn what it is.

The other thing about Orlando is that he lights his craziness-lantern way too much. In every single episode for most of the series, that is how the Pumpkin Scissors unit gets out of a jam. That tank coming after you? Light the lantern. Guys coming at you with guns? Light the lantern. Kitten stuck in a tree? Light the lantern. After a while it lost it's meaning and intensity because it became predictable and seemed like overkill for most of the situations.

The other character that has a lot of potential is Alice. She is just the opposite of Orlando. She is outgoing and aggressive, but lives with her well-to-do noble family. And just like Orlando, she has her own set of mysteries that never pan out. These mysteries mostly have to do with her fiance.. what's-his-name. He is all suave and easy-going, but he is obviously just using her for some scheme of his own, but we never lean what that is.

I think that overall the reason this show is such a disappointment is because I was expecting all this character development and unraveling conspiracies over a long story. But about three quarters or of the show involve stand alone episodes that do not contribute to any grander story arc. So you never get the feeling of the story progressing or the scope of the story growing. And when we do finally get a string of episodes that show potential for a larger story, the series suddenly ends and we wind up with all kinds of loose strings.

The animation does not even make the show worth watching. The first few episodes have some quality animation, but after that it ranges from average to poor.

So I can not recommend this show at all. It has a lot of poential but nothing develops to any satisfactory degree.

Viewing Journal: Bleach (episodes 121-143)

Series Overview TV Broadcast Info DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall = B Story = B Video = B- Audio = C+

Journal

As quickly as the battle between the Soul Reapers and Arrancars began, it comes to an end. Having learned that Aizen and the Arrancars are planning initiate a large-scale attack on the world of the living, the Soul Society orders the Soul Reapers to begin preparing for the battle. In the meantime, Ichigo meets up with the Vizards in order to learn to control his Hollow-side, and Chad and Uryu go through their own training. To the Soul Reapers' surprise the Arrancars attack early and again leave unexpectedly, but not before convincing Orihime to come with them back to the world of the Hollows...

I've been following this series for a while now; so I thought this might be a good time to look back and see if the show is still as good as it was when it began. When I started watching Bleach, I loved it for its character development; balance of action, comedy, and drama; and the way that the characters would analyze each others' fighting styles. So how does this season compare to the first?

To start, in these episodes we do learn more about the different characters. Specifically we learn that the Soul Reapers have some kind of limit on their power when they are in the world of the living, which they then are able to remove provided they get the proper permissions. Then we have the bald Ikkaku Madarame, who reveals that he really isn't allowed to use his bankai because it's too powerful (or something like that). There isn't quite the exploration of characters' backgrounds as there has been in previous episodes, but at least there's some degree of character development.

As for the battles, they can be intense as each character reveals new fighting techniques and increases their levels of power, but there isn't as much analysis of technique and strategy as there was in earlier episodes. This is disappointing because as much as I like to see intense fighting, seeing the mental side of the battle makes them more engrossing.

Although there is still action, comedy, and drama in this show; it isn't as balanced as it was when the show started. Now an entire episode might be dedicated to either action, comedy, or drama, but you don't see all of them all together as much. I was even getting worrie because for a good while there was a lot of action but not a lot of drama. But then the whole part about Orihime getting kidnapped came up and totally got me excited about the show again.

For the filler episodes there was some good and some bad episodes. The first filler arc dealing with the brother trying to save his sister from the Arrancar was dull. But then there is a series of stand-alone episodes that ended up being the best filler yet. They are more character-focused and if you don't like the story in one, you don't have to deal with it for more that one episode. The final filler story about the rebel Arrancars surprised me because I originally through it was part of the regular storyline. The character designs and quality of the story had me convinced and it wasn't until I looked it up online that I realized it was filler.

On a final note, I'll say that Ichigo's dad does show up as his Soul Reaper self near the end of this collection of episodes. I know I said in my last review that I was wondering what ever happened to him, so I thought I'd mention that.

So overall this is a nice mix of episode of varying quality, and includes both filler and regular episodes. Even though it isn't as good as the first season, the last few episodes re-ignited my excitement for the series. Hopefully the next set of episodes can justify that excitement.

Related Posts:

• Bleach (season 1)
• Bleach (season 2)
• Bleach (season 3)
• Bleach (season 4)
• Bleach (season 5)
  
• Bleach: Memories of Nobody

Viewing Journal: Sky Crawlers

Movie Overview DVD Info Trailer Rating: Overall= B- Story = B- Video = A- Audio = B+

Journal

The story unfolds in another 'possible' modern age. The main characters are youngsters called "Kildren", who are destined to live eternally in their adolescence. The Kildren are conscious that every day could be the last, because they fight a "war as entertainment" organized and operated by adults. But as they embrace the reality they are faced with, they live their day-to-day lives to the full. (Source: ANN)

It's hard for appreciate a Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Avalon) film the first time through. His movies are filled with weighty silence and philosophical characters and deep themes; and usually it's hard for me to understand what it's all about, especially when all I want and expect is something entertaining. Sky Crawlers is no exception to the rule. Sure, it's more accessible that some of Oshii's recent work, but that's mainly because it has some visually dynamic, intense, and innovative aerial battle sequences and the relatively smooth and detailed character animation. But when it comes to the rest of the story there is still that deep, moody character interaction. Usually it takes me a couple of viewings to fully appreciate it and pick up on the subtleties and story details I might have missed the first time around (although I'm not sure I'll get that chance).

But putting aside the thematic depth or dark mood of the movie, I think the story suffered a bit due to its lack of explanation for some key plot elements. For example, the movie the pilots talk about this unbeatable enemy pilot called "Teacher," but no further explanation of "Teacher" is provided. And then, near the end of the movie we are told that the pilots are eternally young and are created purely for the purpose of taking part in battle. But I can't help but think that there might have been greater opportunity for dramatic impact if I had known that closer to the beginning of the movie.

So in the end, this is probably among the more accessible movies that Oshii has made, and it is certainly praiseworthy for its mood-building and action sequences. But the story itself, while full of meaning (I think), suffered from either misplaced or a complete lack of plot explanation -- although, maybe that was the point.

Dead Fantasy 3

Compared to the first two this one is still a well choreographed, but far less epic girl-on-girl battle sequence. And the credits take up like a quarter of the entire movie! Still fun to watch though.

[HQ Version]

Naoki Urasawa interview

Here's a great interview with the creator of Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto -- Naoki Urasawa. He talks about his major inspirations (Osamu Tezuka and Bob Dylan). He also goes through a time when he had to stop doing 20th Century Boys due to an injury from drawing too much! I don't usually spend the time to go through lengthy interview videos like this, but I thought this one was worth it. (Although I would have been interested to hear more about his work on Pluto.)

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