Distributed by Viz Media
Running time: 87 minutes

Bleach fans gathered in New York City on Wednesday night and again on Thursday (June 11th and 12th, 2008) for a screening of Bleach: Memories of Nobody. Producer Ken Hagino and character designer Masashi Kudo attended and introduced the sold out show. (This reporter was 15 minutes late and missed it.) Cosplay was encouraged, as TV Tokyo cameras were on hand to record fans’ reactions after the film. However, the Wednesday night crowd was less rambunctious than it could have been in the 80 degree heat. Very few attendees wore costumes beyond the free armbands given away to the first 100 guests.

The arm bands were really cool, but the movie was a little disappointing. Preceding the film was a long behind-the-scenes video of the Viz offices in San Francisco with a little too much Johnny Yong Bosch prancing and not enough footage of the Japanese talent. The video also featured Bleach creator Tite Kubo drawing a sketch of Ichigo in a long continuous shot before giving a short announcement about his upcoming appearance at San Diego Comic Con.

Film adaptations of existing long running anime series can be a bit of a let down. They never further the continuity of the TV show. Exceptions include the shockingly good Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer and a Doraemon film about Aztecs which I have only seen dubbed in Cantonese (Nobita and the Legend of the Sun King). That aside, compared to Naruto The Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, Bleach: Memories of Nobody is like Masterpiece Theater. I really hated Clash in the Land of Snow, because the Naruto characters seemed to be inserted into an entirely unrelated film about non-Naruto ninjas - a film with it’s own color palette, characters, ninja tribes, and ninja magic power rules.

Memories of Nobody creates a pocket dimension to contain the insanely complex plot, coins a half-dozen new terms to help explain the plot, and introduces a Mary Sue-like soul reaper to guide us through. But it does successfully incorporate characters from the TV series, as well as familiar music cues. Bleach has a huge cast, and nearly all of the soul reapers get at least one speaking part in the movie, plus you get to see nearly everyone’s bankai. In short the film fulfills the minimum requirements of what one would hope to see in a Bleach movie.

The animation is very nice during the fight scenes, but falters a little during the less important conversational scenes. I noticed both Korean and Chinese names in the end credits, as well as Japanese names. I assume the more off-model scenes were done overseas.

The highlight of the film in terms of money-saving animation techniques is a long explanation of the plot by Urahara (Mr. Hat-and-Clogs) involving a flip-chart held by the muscular and silent Tsukabishi. The chart/analog-PowerPoint presentation got a great reaction from the audience. It’s a talented director who can both please the crowd and save money at the same time! It so happens Noriyuki Abe is a seasoned director of long running shows like Flame of Recca, Yu Yu Hakusho, Tokyo Mew Mew, Banner of the Stars, and GTO.

Unfortunately, the film suffers from a nauseating number of flashbacks to earlier in the film. The film is only 87 minutes long, and scenes from the first 15 minutes are used over and over again. Consider; there are only 87 minutes to establish Senna (the Mary Sue character), and have Ichigo grow to care about her enough to fight for her. Unfortunately 87 minutes is not enough time to make the audience care about Senna.

I’ve only seen Bleach through episode 40 or so, and I really feel like Rukia is a continually short-changed. In the TV show she’s put in prison for several seasons, and she is largely absent from the film. One audience member complained openly about the horrible skirt Rukia wears in the finally scenes of the film. Although it’s rude to talk in the theater, I agreed - that was a horrible skirt. I suspect that Rukia is every American fan’s favorite character, but not Kubo-sensei’s favorite.

Chances are good that your favorite character is in this movie and they do their bankai move. If your favorite character happens to be Toshiro Hitsugaya, and you’re not a film connoisseur, you might really enjoy this movie.

Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody will be available on DVD in October of 2008.

Anime Review: Death Note, Vol. 3

Distributed by VIZ Media
100 minutes (4 episodes)

For those of you just joining us, here’s the recap: Light Yagami, a Japanese teenager troubled by the grief and suffering in the world, finds, completely by chance, a mysterious notebook. Dubbed the Death Note, Light soon learns that the book has the power to kill anybody whose name is written within. It isn’t long before Light starts using the book to mete out divine justice in the hopes of creating a utopia, and it isn’t much longer after that when people start to realize that there’s someone behind the deaths. Dubbed “Kira” by the general populace, Light continues his mad crusade in secret, confident that he is doing the right thing.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, really; it’s the best I can do to compress the premise of the story into a few simple sentences. But there’s far more to this story than just a smart, somewhat immature kid finding a magical killing book. In fact, if you haven’t been watching since the beginning, you probably will be completely lost. Actually, let me rephrase that: you WILL be completely lost, period. Death Note is not the sort of show that you can just jump into, which is a bad thing in this day and age of waning attention spans and increasingly one-shot storytelling. However, in Death Note’s defense, it probably would not have worked any other way.

Death Note has been a series defined by thoughtful interaction and well-written, if not sometimes corny, dialog. Action is rare, making way for drama and mystery, as Light Yagami and his pursuer L seek to stop one another, without even knowing who the other truly is. One would think that having the two meet face-to-face would ruin some of the suspense, but that is not the case at all. The excellent “cold war” between the two characters only intensifies as Light finds himself in an unlikely position; a member of the task force created for the sole purpose of stopping Kira. Plans within plans aplenty as the uncertain but crafty L attempts to force Light to reveal his hand. Death Note also stands as a great example of a story where the antagonists are actually the heroes of the story while the protagonist is the villain.

Speaking of the protagonist, Brad Swaile is one hell of a voice actor. He manages to encapsulate everything about Light, this clearly disturbed and disturbing character, from the veil of faux sincerity he puts up in front of his father, L, and other investigators, to his very chilling megalomaniacal cackle whenever he renews his murderous resolve. VIZ Media’s voice actors are pretty good overall, but Brad’s interpretation of Light stands out. And while we’re on the topic of presentation, that’s something Death Note does very well, from a delightfully mythical introduction filled with religious imagery and engaging music, to the general ambiance of the environments, to the facial expressions of the main players, Light and L. I wouldn’t call the animation the best quality stuff I’ve seen on television, but it is very well done nonetheless.

Death Note still has some hurdles to overcome, though. With the character L, it is as if the writers created a character that is “too smart” for them. I won’t go into specifics, but some careful listening and application of critical thinking will make apparent the holes in L’s supposedly superhuman logic, holes that simply, given L’s character, should not be there. Another questionable element is the introduction of another character with a Death Note. This “second Kira” may have been inevitable given the underlying supernatural element present in the show, but it feels like an attempt to inject depth into a plot that should, by all rights, have enough depth of its own merits. And why is it that we see very little of Kira’s impact outside of Japan, anyway? Governments the world over are sending agents to Japan to stop Kira… yet there are no glimpses into how the world outside of Japan has changed due to Light’s influence. It’s a puzzling omission, one that I would have preferred to see included over a “second Kira.”

Death Note remains an enticing series, though I truly hope it doesn’t become weighed down by its own complexity. That would be a real shame. However, it remains a solid show. I just hope it stays that way for its remainder.

Volume three of Death Note is available now.

Below you’ll find a complete index of anime, book, manga, and movie titles reviewed this year at PopCultureShock. (Titles are alphabetized by category.) For help sorting the wheat from the chaff, check out our end-of-the-year features celebrating the best anime, books, and manga of 2007.

If you discover any broken links, or are directed to the wrong page, please drop us a line so that we can fix it. Thanks!

Anime and Movie Reviews

Afro-Samurai: Director’s Cut (Gonzo)
Aachi and Ssispak (Studio 2.0)
Bleach, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Bleach, Vols. 2-6 (Viz)
Death Note (Viz Pictures)
Death Note: The Last Note (Viz Pictures)
Dynamite Warrior (Magnolia Pictures)
Gamera the Brave (Kadokawa Daiei Pictures)
Hula Girls (Viz Pictures)
Kamikaze Girls (Viz Pictures)
Linda, Linda, Linda (Viz Pictures)
MÄR (Märchen Awakens Romance): Gateway to MÄR, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Mushi-Shi, Vol. 1 (FUNimation)
Mushi-Shi, Vols. 2-3 (FUNimation)
Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (Viz)
Naruto OVA: The Lost Story (Viz)
Paprika (Sony Pictures)
Ping Pong (Viz Pictures)
Samurai 7, Vol. 1 (FUNimation)
Taste of Tea (Viz Pictures)

Book Reviews

Aranzi Machine Gun, Vol. 1 (Vertical, Inc.)
The Art of Naruto: Uzumaki (Viz)
The Art of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: Watercolor Impressions (Viz)
Boogiepop and Others (Seven Seas)
Brave Story (Viz)
The Cute Book (Vertical, Inc.)
Cute Dolls (Vertical, Inc.)
Don’t Worry Mama (DMP)
Dragon Sword and Wind Child (Viz)
Full Metal Panic: Fighting Boy Meets Girl (Tokyopop)
Fun Dolls (Vertical, Inc.)
J-Horror: The Definitive Guide to The Ring, The Grudge, and Beyond (Vertical, Inc.)
Japan-Ai: A Tall Girl’s Adventures in Japan (Go! Comi)
Japanese School Girl Inferno (Chronicle Books)
Kamikaze Girls (Viz)
The Man Who Doesn’t Take Off His Clothes (Seven Seas)
Manga: The Complete Guide (Del Rey)
Only the Ring Finger Knows, Vol. 1 (DMP)
Parasite Eve (Vertical, Inc.)
Twelve Kingdoms (Tokyopop)

Manga, Manwha and OGM Reviews

A - B

Alice on Deadlines, Vol. 1 (Yen Press)
Alive: The Final Evolution, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Andromeda Stories, Vol. 1 (Vertical, Inc.)
Apollo’s Song (Vertical, Inc.)
Apothecarius Argentum, Vol. 1 (CMX)
Aqua, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Asian Beat, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Baku (Tokyopop)
Black God, Vol. 1 (Yen Press)
Blue Spring (Viz)
Boys of Summer, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Brave Story, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Bride of the Water God, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)

C - D

Canon, Vol. 1 (CMX)
Cherry Juice, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Chunchu: The Genocide Fiend, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
Chunchu: The Genocide Fiend, Vol. 2 (Dark Horse)
Claymore, Vol. 2 (Viz)
Club 9, Vols. 1-3 (Dark Horse)
Crimson Hero, Vol. 6 (Viz)
Do Whatever You Want, Vol. 1 (NETCOMICS)
Dorothy of Oz, Vol. 1 (UDON Entertainment)
Dragon Eye, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Dragon Voice, Vols. 1-9 (Tokyopop)
Dramacon, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)

E - F

Eden: It’s An Endless World, Vols. 1-7 (Dark Horse)
Emma, Vol. 5 (CMX)
Empowered, Vols. 1-2 (Dark Horse)
E’S, Vol. 1 (Broccoli Books)
E’S, Vol. 2 (Broccoli Books)
Fall in Love Like a Comic, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Flock of Angels, Vol. 1 (Aurora)
Flower of Life, Vol. 1 (DMP)
Flower of Life, Vol. 2 (DMP)
Forest of Gray City, Vol. 1 (ICE Kunion)
Fumi Yoshinaga’s Truly, Kindly (BLU Manga)

G - H

Gakuen Alice, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Genju no Seiza, Vol. 3 (Tokyopop)
Gin Tama, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Godchild, Vol. 7 (Viz)
Golgo 13, Vols. 1-6 (Viz)
Gon, Vol. 1 (CMX)
Gothic Sports, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
The Guin Saga: The Seven Magi, Vol. 1 (Vertical, Inc.)
Gunsmith Cats: Revised Edition, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
Gyakushu!, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Gyo, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Hanami: International Love Story, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
Hanami: International Love Story, Vol. 2 (Dark Horse)
Hellsing, Vol. 8 (Dark Horse)
Her Majesty’s Dog, Vol. 7 (Go! Comi)
Heroes Are Extinct!!, Vol. 1 (DMP)
Heroes Are Extinct!!, Vol. 2 (DMP)
High School Girls, Vol. 7 (DrMaster)
Hikkatsu!, Vol. 1 (Go! Comi)
Hollow Fields, Vol. 1 (Seven Seas)
Hoshin Engi, Vol. 1 (Viz)

I - J

I Hate You More Than Anyone, Vol. 1 (CMX)
I, Otaku: Struggle in Akihabara, Vol. 1 (Seven Seas)
I Shall Never Return, Vol. 1 (Aurora/Deux)
In the Starlight, Vol. 1 (NETCOMICS)
Inubaka: Crazy for Dogs, Vol. 3 (Viz)
I.N.V.U., Vol. 4 (Tokyopop)
Jim Henson’s Legends of the Dark Crystal: The Garthim Wars, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Jim Henson’s Return to Labyrinth, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
Junko Mizuno: Pure Trance (Last Gasp)

K - L

Kanna, Vol. 1 (Go! Comi)
Kare Kano, Vols. 8-21 (Tokyopop)
Kat & Mouse, Vol. 3 (Tokyopop)
Kaze Hikaru, Vol. 5 (Viz)
Kekkaishi, Vols. 1-9 (Viz)
Kekkaishi, Vol. 10 (Viz)
Key Princess Story: Eternal Alice Rondo, Vol. 1 (DrMaster)
The Key to the Kingdom, Vol. 2 (CMX)
King of Thorn, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
Kurogane, Vol. 3 (Del Rey)
Kurohime, Vol. 1 (Viz)
The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
La Corda d’Oro, Vols. 1-4 (Viz)
La Corda d’Oro, Vol. 5 (Viz)
Le Chevalier d’Eon, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Line (ADV Manga)
Love*Com, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Love*Com, Vol. 2 (Viz)

M - N

Mail, Vols. 1-3 (Dark Horse)
Manga Shakespeare: Hamlet (Self-Made Hero)
Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (Self-Made Hero)
Me & My Brothers, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
ME2, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Millenium Snow, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Million Tears, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Mitsukazu Mihara: The Embalmer, Vols. 1-4 (Tokyopop)
The Moon and Sandals, Vols. 1-2 (DMP)
MPD Psycho, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
MPD Psycho, Vol. 3 (Dark Horse)
Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Murder Princess, Vol. 1 (Broccoli Books)
Mushishi, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Mushishi, Vol. 2 (Del Rey)
MW (Vertical, Inc.)
My Heavenly Hockey Club, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Nana, Vol. 7 (Viz)
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, Vol. 9 (Viz)
Narration of Love at 17, Vol. 4 (NETCOMICS)
Nightmares for Sale, Vol. 1 (Aurora)
Nosatsu Junkie, Vols. 1-2 (Tokyopop)

O - P

Ohikkoshi (Dark Horse)
Only the Ring Finger Knows (DMP)
O-Parts Hunter, Vol. 7 (Viz)
Operation Liberate Men, Vol. 1 (NETCOMICS)
The Palette of 12 Secret Colors, Vol. 1 (CMX)
Parasyte, Vols. 1-2 (Del Rey)
Peach Girl: Sae’s Story, Vols. 1-3 (Tokyopop)
Picnic (DMP)
Pine Kiss, Vol. 5 (NETCOMICS)
Platina, Vol. 1 (CPM)
Phantom, Vols. 1-3 (Tokyopop)
Pop Japan Travel: Essential Otaku Guide (DMP)
Portus (Viz)
Presents, Vol. 1 (CMX)
Pretty Face, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Princess Princess, Vols. 1-2 (DMP)
Princess Resurrection, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Psycho Busters, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Pumpkin Scissors, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Puri Puri, Vol. 1 (DrMaster)

Q - R - S

Reborn, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Reptilia (IDW Publishing)
Rising Stars of Manga, Vol. 7 (Tokyopop)
R.O.D., Vols. 1-4 (Viz)
Run, Bong-Gu, Run! (NBM/ComicsLit)
S.A., Vol. 1 (Viz)
Samurai Commando: Mission 1549, Vol. 1 (CMX)
Satsuma Gishiden, Vol. 2 (Dark Horse)
Shakugan no Shana, Vol. 2 (Viz)
Shaman Warrior, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
Shiki Tsukai, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Smuggler (Tokyopop)
Sorcerers & Secretaries, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning, Vol. 1 (Yen Press)
Spring Fever (Aurora/Deux)
Street Fighter Alpha, Vols. 1-2 (UDON Entertainment)
Street Fighter: Sakura Ganbaru!, Vol. 1 (UDON Entertainment)
Suppli, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)

T - U - V - W

Tactics, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Tail of the Moon, Vol. 7 (Viz)
Tanpenshu, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
10, 20 and 30, Vol. 1 (NETCOMICS)
Tekkon Kinkreet (Viz)
Times of Botchan, Vols. 1-3 (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
To Terra, Vol. 3 (Vertical, Inc.)
Togari, Vol. 3 (Viz)
Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms (Last Gasp)
Train + Train, Vol. 1 (Go! Comi)
Translucent, Vol. 2 (Dark Horse)
Trinity Blood, Vol. 2 (Tokyopop)
Undertown, Vol. 1 (Tokyopop)
Uzumaki, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Vagabond, Vols. 1-6 (Viz)
Vampire Knight, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Vampire Knight, Vol. 2 (Viz)
Venus in Love, Vol. 1 (CMX)
Vision of the Other Side, Vol. 1 (Drama Queen)
Walkin’ Butterfly, Vol. 1 (Aurora Publishing)
Wild Ones, Vol. 1 (Viz)
With the Light, Vol. 1 (Yen Press)

X - Y - Z

XS Hybrid, Vol. 1 (Dark Horse)
xxxHolic, Vol. 10 (Del Rey)
The Yagyu Ninja Scrolls: Revenge of the Hori Clan, Vol. 1 (Del Rey)
Yakitate!! Japan, Vol. 4 (Viz)
Yakitate!! Japan, Vol. 5 (Viz)
Yoki Koto Kiku (Broccoli Books)
Yubisaki Milk Tea, Vols. 1-2 (Tokyopop)
Yukiko’s Spinach (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)
Yume Kira Dream Shoppe (Viz)
Yurara, Vol. 1 (Viz)
Yurara, Vol. 3 (Viz)
Zombie-Loan, Vol. 1 (Yen Press)

Here are a few more great anime and manga that didn’t make the initial cut for our “best of manga, worst of manga” master list.

Anime

ONGOING RELEASES

• Hikaru no Go (Viz): This is one of my favorite anime series of all time.

• Death Note (Viz): I’ve only seen a few episodes, but the anime seems like a great adaption. It’s even available on iTunes!
• Welcome to the NHK: This was one of my favorite shows of 2007. It’s surprisingly suspenseful for a show about a guy who’s stuck in his apartment most of the time…

TOO EMBARRASSING TO ADMIT I LIKE

• Peach Girl (FUNimation): I really loved the Peach Girl anime. I’m so ashamed! I’m a sucker for the love triangle! Sae is so evil!

• Baki the Grappler (FUNimation): Definitely not for everyone, you’ll know if it’s for you based on your reaction to this: Baki’s dad is so tough he fought a polar bear shirtless in a snowstorm.
• Girls High (Media Blasters): This sub-only release that will only appeal to fans of the manga. I love this manga (titled High School Girls)! The anime is pretty good, I swear!

CLASSIC RE-RELEASES

• Gunbuster (Bandai Visual USA, $64.99): Everyone should own Gunbuster.

• Golden Boy (Media Blasters, $19.95): Golden Boy is a unforgettable, hysterically funny classic which you should own.
• Dragon Half - Puni Pui Poemy (ADV, $19.98) Two of the craziest comedy OVAs ever in one cheap set?! This is a great!!
• Ranma 1/2 (Viz, $49.98): The first season of Ranma is the best one, and a classic! It’s now more affordable than ever.
• Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (Bandai Entertainment, $19.98) Look, don’t show Jin-Roh at a party or anything, but you should really watch it. So should I…

I HAVEN’T ACTUALLY WATCHED IT… YET

• Black Lagoon (Geneon): I’ve heard so many good things about this!

• Mushi-Shi (FUNimation): Mushi-Shi is supposed to be really great, accessible, and the episodes are stand-alone… I’ve seen part of the first one.
• Cat’s Eye (imagineAsia TV) This super-cheap, sub-only release of a much older show is really remarkable. I just haven’t seen it…
• I Shall Never Return (Media Blasters, $19.95): I just read the manga of this yaoi series! It was amazing! I’ve got to watch this!
• Zipang (Geneon): A modern warship is sent back in time to change the course of WWII, y’know, or not. I haven’t seen it.

Manga

TOP SERIES I HAVEN’T ACTUALLY READ
I know I need to read these series - they are all either critically important or historically classic. They’ll appear on other people’s end-of-year lists, but for one reason or another, I haven’t gotten around to actually reading these books yet.

1. Phoenix (Viz)
2. Buddha (Vertical, Inc.)
3. Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms (Last Gasp)
4. Andromeda Stories (Vertical, Inc.)
5. To Terra (Vertical, Inc.)
6. Dr. Slump (Viz)
7. Emma (CMX)
8. Mushishi (Del Rey)
9. Drifting Classroom (Viz)
10. Hikaru no Go (Viz)

I read the first few volumes of Hikaru no Go, but fell behind. It’s one of my favorite anime series.

NOTABLE SERIES ENDING

• Iron Wok Jan (DrMaster, 27 vols.) The penultimate volume of Iron Wok Jan really knocked my socks off. I haven’t read 27 yet.

• Love Roma (Del Rey, 5 vols.) I haven’t read volume 5 yet, but I loved 1-4…
• Genshiken (Del Rey, 9 vols.) Genshiken came to an immensely satisfying conclusion.
• Kare Kano (Tokyopop, 21 vols.) I may have said the end of Kare Kano was like a knife to the face, but at least now I know how it ends.

Carlos Alexandre and Erin F., our two anime experts-in-residence, offer their takes on the best (and worst) anime of 2007.

Best Anime of 2007: Carlos’ Picks

MUSHI-SHI, Vols. 1-3 (FUNimation)
Breaking the mold of season-long/series-long continual plot lines, each episode of Mushi-Shi is a story in and of itself, having very little to do with other episodes other than sharing a common supporting character and theme. And each is meticulously crafted and highly entertaining.

What makes Mushi-Shi great is the clever way in which it casts a fantastical veil over very real and very believable familial strife. Every episode deals with family, whether blood or adopted, loving or spiteful. The creatures called mushi that fascinate and haunt the world of Mushi-Shi are representative of the fear of the unknown that families face, and how it can prompt great love or great sadness. You never know whether or not there’s a happy ending in store for any particular episode.

Mushi-Shi stands tall above the rest of the pickings this year, with vibrant visuals and sound, enticing storytelling, and expert voice work. The first four volumes of Mushi-Shi are out now, with the rest due in 2008.

Click here to read Carlos’ review of volume one; click here to read his review of volumes two and three.

DEATH NOTE, Vols. 1-2 (Viz)
I’ll be reviewing the first two volumes of Death Note soon, but even only four episodes in, it shows great promise, enough to warrant mention in a best of 2007 article. The idea of giving a thoughtful, intellectual youth a means to kill anybody he knows while remaining anonymous could have easily been mishandled, but wasn’t; Light, the show’s protagonist who obtains this power, is convincingly megalomaniacal, yet his actions and mindset are believable. That the scripting is ridiculously well-written and the English voice work very high quality only adds to the allure.

Best Anime of 2007: Erin’s Picks

GREAT TV BOX SERIES
Genshiken (Media Blasters, $39.95): Genshiken is amazing! This set is much cheaper than how I bought it… Genshiken is the story of a college anime club, and it works as a useful introduction to doujinshi and the world of Japanese fandom.

Kodocha, Vols. 1-6 (FUNimation, $79.98): Kodocha is hilarious, sweet, hyper, and suitable for kids 12 and up. The first six volumes are the best! Kodocha is a frenetic comedy about a child actor settling the war of the sexes at school and cheering up her depressed would-be boyfriend.

Haré+Guu (FUNimation, $99.98): You could be the hero of your anime club by screening Hare+Guu. Guaranteed! It’s just your typical jungle comedy story about a girl with a hyperdimensional stomach…

Paradise Kiss (Geneon, $59.98): I loved the ParaKiss anime more than the manga, with it’s angsty high-school senior year fashionistas and punks… Yukari is commandeered by some freaks at the local fashion trade school to model a dress in their school show.

Fighting Spirit (Geneon, $79.98): This is a great show, even if you don’t like boxing, or sports. It’s much more affordable nowadays… Ippo is a nice guy helping out with his family fishing business before he decided to turn into a pro boxer.

SUITABLE FOR MOST AUDIENCES
Princess Tutu (ADV, $49.98): Princess Tutu is a hard sell based on the title, but it’s a word-of-mouth hit. Trust me, you’ll want to see this. It might be a little too dark in the end for very young children. Ahiru is a ducked turned human who is trying to restore a prince’s heart. Will the creepy narrator pulling the strings ruin her story?

Kamichu! Complete Collection (Geneon, $79.98): Kamichu has nothing objectionable in it - it’s just good, sweet, and well animated. Previously it was too expensive to collect, but now you can watch it with your younger cousins. Junior high student Yurie suddenly discovers that she’s a Shinto goddess. She can see the tiny animistic gods in everyday life, and she gets involved in everyday adventures with her new powers.

BEST FILMS
The Wings of Honneamise (Bandai Visual USA, $79.99): ANN cleverly quipped in their gift guide: “The only thing larger than my beard is my laserdisc collection!” But seriously, everyone needs to see/own this movie.

Paprika (Columbia Pictures, $26.96): I love Satoshi Kon and Paprika is my new favorite film of his. (Click here for Erin’s review.)

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Solid State Society (Manga Entertainment, $24.98): Solid State Society was solid entertainment, even if you haven’t seen all of the TV series, it’s still great.

Tekkon Kinkreet (Sony Pictures, $26.95): I reviewed this for issue two of Otaku USA, before I’d read the manga. Now that I’ve read the manga, I respect the movie a lot more. It’s fun, and Studio 4C is really starting to be awesome. Soon you’ll have to own all their movies…

To read more of Erin’s anime picks, click here.

Worst Anime of 2007: Carlos’ Pick

THE THIRD: THE GIRL WITH THE BLUE EYE, Vol. 1 (Right Stuf)
I honestly wish I could’ve picked Gackt: The Greatest Filmograpy for the honor of being named 2007’s worst, but, sadly, it isn’t anime. Honestly, I struggled to think of an anime I saw in 2007 that was bad enough to be named the year’s worst, but I couldn’t. See, most of the time, when I watch anime on my own, I avoid particularly cringe-worthy series; once I see the telltale signs of a dud, I stop watching. And the ones I’ve had to review that were released this year have not been so bad as to name worst of the year (not even the Naruto ones, imagine that!)

And then I remembered the first volume of The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye. It’s the story of a little girl samurai who looks very much like Street Fighter character Sakura Kasugano, and her adventures in an alternate future with giant insects. Or something like that. Think of the manga Junk Force, but somehow even more contrived and less entertaining. Definitely the worst of 2007. Though, to be fair, it’s entirely possible that future volumes improved.

Worst Anime of 2007: Erin’s Pick

NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW (Viz)
Amazingly disappointing, you can just skip this non-continuity story that works hard to artificially force Naruto and his friends into a movie totally unrelated to Konoha. I really love Naruto, but this movie stinks.

Mushi-Shi, Vols. 2-3

Distributed by FUNimation

Mushi, beings said to be life’s purest form, continue to haunt the beautiful forest-world of Mushi-Shi in the latest two volumes of this impossibly pretty anime series. And that, my friends, is a very good thing indeed.

The mandate has not changed at all since volume one. Ginko the vagrant Mushi Master continues his travels, helping everyday folks out with Mushi-related problems. As before, he seeks to impart knowledge, to ensure that human beings understand and coexist with the Mushi. And, again, his journey uncovers profound joy and deep sorrow, as he delves into the lives of the families affected by the Mushi. Misplaced loyalty, unconditional love, ghosts of the past; in the people he meets and attempts to help–and not always successfully–Ginko sees the best and worst sides of humanity.

Mushi-Shi is a series of individual short stories, each the focus of one episode. There is no overarching storyline, no build-up to some huge revelation, none of that. As with volume one, the order of most of the episodes in volumes two and three doesn’t really matter; so disconnected is each episode from the last that it’s difficult to tell just how much time passes between each story, or even if we’re seeing events in chronological order at all.

One episode does break the norm somewhat by presenting a flashback to Ginko’s more youthful days, and what precipitated his vagabond lifestyle. Interestingly, this is the only episode of the series thus far to actually feature Ginko as the protagonist, instead of simply a major character alongside someone else’s main. Though almost every episode is well-crafted, the flashback episode is especially enjoyable.

Mushi-Shi is an ironic anime. Through both Ginko and the Mushi, the show’s titular elements, we are shown the real subject of the series: families. It’s a clever method of storytelling: ultimately, the Mushi represents the unknown that we frail humans are so very afraid of, and Ginko’s wisdom is not always enough to fend off that fear or even prove it unfounded. The Mushi and the man who studies them are almost red herrings, a test to see if you, the viewer, can see what is really being told here. Every story is about family in some way, and, as most of you know, families are often the cause of much of life’s happiness and strife. It’s brilliant.

The only blemish in this otherwise masterfully written, animated, and scored cartoon is the occasional dip in animation quality present in some of the recent episodes. It is a very slight dip, but noticeable to the observant eye. But it is not enough to really matter. As I said in my review of volume one, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if more money went into a single episode of Mushi-Shi than into the majority of most other series you can think of. A slight decline in quality here and there does little to damage what is easily one of the most visually enticing animated series I have seen in the last five years.

Mushi-Shi is, and will likely remain, a very impressive series. Take some time out of your busy days to dedicate to this remarkable and genuinely emotional show. Unless you don’t give a lick about real storytelling, you shan’t regret it, I guarantee.

Bleach, Vols. 2-6

Distributed by VIZ Media

Volume six of Bleach is now available on DVD, and the ongoing saga of Ichigo the substitute Soul Reaper continues. Quite a bit has happened since the first disc: Ichigo confronts his own inner demons, both figuratively and literally, more than once; Rukia grows to love the human world, and fears what forces may be after her for giving her powers to Ichigo; Chad and Orihime discover within themselves the means to fight Hollows; and Ichigo gains a new friend and rival in Uryu Ishida, the last of the Quincy tribe that uses spiritual power to combat supernatural threats.

Recent developments find our heroes on a journey in another world. We learn that Rukia has been declared a criminal by the Soul Society, and that Soul Reapers have been sent to apprehend her. Ichigo and Uryu attempt to intervene, but are taken down by the more experienced Soul Reapers and left for dead. They survive and, along with Chad and Orihime, resolve to grow stronger and invade the Soul Society to rescue their friend.

But there’s a problem: Ichigo seems to have lost the Soul Reaper powers that Rukia granted, and his own abnormally high reserves of spirit energy appear to have diminished. He learns from the spiritual merchant Hat n’ Clogs that Ichigo possessed the powers of a Soul Reaper all along, which is probably why, when he took over Rukia’s, it fit him like the proverbial glove. Putting his life on the line, testing the limits of his body and mind, Ichigo undergoes Hat n’ Clogs brutal training to unlock that power and become a Soul Reaper once again.

He succeeds. No longer a substitute, no longer working with borrowed power, he becomes a fully-fledged Soul Reaper in his own right. Soon after, accompanied by Uryu, Orihime, and Chad, Ichigo crosses into the Soul Society. What awaits him are new allies, massively powerful foes, and Rukia…

Those of you who read my review of volume one know that I was expecting to be disappointed by Bleach, only to end up being pleasantly surprised. And many of the same things I said about the first volume still apply today. Bleach’s premise is still rather hokey, but its likable characters work well within that premise without being shackled to it. Its visuals remain very stylish and sleek, the English voice work is superb (an amusing aside: Uryu is both voiced by the same guy who did Digimon’s Ken and happens to look like an adult version of that character, which tickles me to no end), and it succeeds in entertaining me (no easy task, rest assured).

Initially in this follow-up review, I wanted to give Bleach a slightly higher score. Specifically, I wanted to up my score from an A minus to a straight A. But then I thought about the show a little more. It isn’t perfect, not by a long shot, despite being far better than other similar, long-ongoing, combat-centric anime series like Naruto or the classic Dragon Ball Z.

Volumes five and six of Bleach exhibit some of the failings those other shows carry with them; a tendency to drag on uninteresting situations to the point of annoyance, while failing to get to the heart of the story or explore more enticing character interactions in a timely matter. An example is when protagonist Ichigo learns from Orihime that she and Chad now command spiritual powers; the conversation with Orihime happens off-screen, instead of showing it and giving us some insight into the platonic relationship these two important characters are developing. Similarly, take Ichigo’s never-ending battle with the Soul Society’s chatty gatekeeper; what should have been wrapped up in about two minutes instead ate up most of that episode.

It’s a damn shame that Bleach seems to want to gloss over the fact that these four comrades (Ichigo and his party), who barely know each other but share the desire to save their common friend Rukia, are developing a very dynamic relationship. In addition, it’s very clear that Ichigo has complex feelings towards Rukia, but he barely shows it, even in his private moments. Yes, Ichigo is a touch anti-social and the kind of person who rarely wears his emotions on his sleeve, but he’s grown enough to know full well that he just might have feelings for this girl. It’s a damn shame we never see him expressing it in more than just vague hints. Prior volumes, before Rukia’s capture, do a decent job of exploring what he thinks of her. Now that Ichigo has some time away from her for the first time since the first episode, I be seeing more into his feelings and confusion regarding Rukia.

Thankfully, at least Rukia is given time to develop in her isolation. Some praise both for the storytelling and visuals; her expression, tired and defeated, speaks volumes of how far she has fallen, and how much she misses Ichigo without needing to say anything. When she learns that he has entered the Soul Society to save her, her widening eyes and newfound, though cautious, optimism speaks volumes more than any words possibly could. It’s visually poetic, mentally captivating, and all-in-all just plain moving.

Considering Bleach’s pros and cons further, I think an A minus remains the appropriate score. There’s enough wrong with the show to deny raising its score higher than that, but plenty of good to rule out lowering it.

I expect good things from Bleach in the future. And while I’m aware that I’m about, oh, I don’t know, some one hundred or so episodes behind where Bleach currently is in Japan, I’m hoping that as more and more gets translated, Bleach fixes up some of its more glaring downfalls, while maintaining and improving upon its strengths. Until then, I remain hopeful that I’ll continue to enjoy the show… and that it won’t fall victim to its flaws.

PCS would like to thank Viz for providing a review copy of volume six. The first six Bleach DVDs are available now.

With apologies to Harper’s, it’s time for another quasi-statistical look at this quarter’s reviews. Links to all 55 reviews (yes, 55!) follow the numerical analysis.

REVIEWS BY THE NUMBERS
Total number of series reviewed: 55
Number of one-shots/anthologies reviewed: 8
Number of OEL/OGM reviewed: 7
Number of manwha reviewed: 7
Number of yaoi titles reviewed: 2
Number of first volumes reviewed: 30
Titles receiving highest grade: Tekkon Kinkreet, To Terra
Title receiving lowest grade: Pop Japan Travel: Essential Otaku Guide
Average grade received: B
Percentage of titles receiving a grade of A- or better: 25%
Percentage of titles receiving a grade of B-, B, or B+: 51%
Percentage of titles receiving a grade of C-, C, or C+: 20%
Percentage of titles receiving a grade of D+ or worse: 4%
Longest running series reviewed: Golgo 13
Highest volume reviewed: Kekkaishi, Vol. 10
Number of series set in feudal Japan: 2
Number of series set in Victorian England: 1
Number of series set in wish-granting emporiums: 1

REVIEWS BY PUBLISHER
Number of titles by Aurora Publishing: 1
BLU Manga: 1
CMX: 3
Dark Horse: 5
Del Rey: 4
DMP: 3
Drama Queen: 1
DRMaster: 1
Go! Comi: 2
NBM/Comics Lit: 1
NETCOMICS: 2
Seven Seas: 1
Tokyopop: 11
UDON Entertainment: 1
Vertical, Inc.: 3
Viz: 16

AURORA PUBLISHING
Walkin’ Butterfly, Vol. 1 (reviewed 9/2/07)

BLU MANGA
Fumi Yoshinaga’s Truly, Kindly (reviewed 8/19/07)

CMX
Emma, Vol. 5 (reviewed 9/16/07)
I Hate You More Than Anyone, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/29/07)
Samurai Commando: Mission 1549, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/16/07)

DARK HORSE
Chunchu: The Genocide Fiend, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/6/07)
Gunsmith Cats: Revised Edition, Vol. 1 (reviewed 9/19/07)
Hanami: International Love Story, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/8/07)
Hellsing, Vol. 8 (reviewed 7/16/07)
XS Hybrid, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/8/07)

DEL REY
Alive: The Final Evolution, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/20/07)
Le Chevalier d’Eon, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/1/07)
Mushishi, Vol. 2 (reviewed 7/29/07)
Shiki Tsukai, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/26/07)

DMP
Heroes Are Extinct!!, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/19/07)
Only the Ring Finger Knows (reviewed 8/26/07)
Pop Japan Travel: Essential Otaku Guide (reviewed 8/12/07)

DRAMA QUEEN
Vision of the Other Side, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/26/07)

DRMASTER
Puri Puri, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/26/07)

GO! COMI
Her Majesty’s Dog, Vol. 7 (reviewed 9/16/07)
Kanna, Vol. 1 (reviewed 9/9/07)

NBM/COMICS LIT
Run, Bong-Gu, Run! (reviewed 7/8/07)

NETCOMICS
Narration of Love at 17, Vol. 4 (reviewed 9/9/07)
Pine Kiss, Vol. 5 (reviewed 8/19/07)

SEVEN SEAS
Hollow Fields, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/12/07)

TOKYOPOP
Boys of Summer, Vol. 1 (reviewed 9/7/07)
Gothic Sports, Vol. 2 (reviewed 9/23/07)
I.N.V.U., Vol. 4 (reviewed 9/23/07)
Kat & Mouse, Vol. 3 (reviewed 9/30/07)
Me & My Brothers, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/23/07)
ME2, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/5/07)
Million Tears, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/5/07)
Mitsukazu Mihara: The Embalmer, Vols. 1-4 (reviewed 9/18/07)
Peach Girl: Sae’s Story, Vols. 1-3 (reviewed 9/7/07)
Rising Stars of Manga, Vol. 7 (reviewed 8/7/07)
Undertown, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/12/07)

UDON ENTERTAINMENT
Street Fighter Alpha, Vols. 1-2 (reviewed 9/14/07)

VERTICAL, INC.
Andromeda Stories, Vol. 1 (reviewed 9/30/07)
The Cute Book (reviewed 9/9/07)
To Terra, Vol. 3 (reviewed 7/16/07)

VIZ
Claymore, Vol. 2 (reviewed 8/26/07)
Crimson Hero, Vol. 6 (reviewed 7/23/07)
Fall in Love Like a Comic, Vol. 1 (reviewed 9/20/07)
Golgo 13, Vols. 1-6 (reviewed 9/5/07)
Kekkaishi, Vol. 10 (reviewed 7/29/07)
Kurohime, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/20/07)
La Corda d’Oro, Vols. 1-4 (reviewed 8/23/07)
Love*Com, Vol. 2 (reviewed 8/26/07)
Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation, Vol. 1 (reviewed 9/30/07)
Naoki Urasawa’s Monster, Vol. 9 (reviewed 7/8/07)
Portus (reviewed 9/26/07)
Pretty Face, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/23/07)
Tail of the Moon, Vol. 7 (reviewed 9/30/07)
Tekkon Kinkreet (reviewed 9/13/07)
Yume Kira Dream Shoppe (reviewed 8/26/07)

OTHER REVIEWS
Anime: Afro-Samurai: Director’s Cut (reviewed 7/8/07)
Anime: Bleach, Vol. 1 (reviewed 7/30/07)
Anime: MÄR (Märchen Awakens Romance): Gateway to MÄR, Vol. 1 (reviewed 6/22/07)
Anime: Mushi-Shi, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/20/07)
Anime: Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (reviewed 9/11/07)
Anime: Naruto OVA: The Lost Story (reviewed 7/16/07)
Anime: Samurai 7, Vol. 1 (reviewed 9/4/07)

Book: Brave Story (reviewed 9/9/07)
Book: Japanese School Girl Inferno (reviewed 8/7/07)
Book: Kamikaze Girls (reviewed 8/7/07)
Book: Only the Ring Finger Knows, Vol. 1 (reviewed 8/26/07)

Comics for Manga Lovers: The Red Star (reviewed 8/15/07)
Comics for Manga Lovers: Dr. Strange and Superman (reviewed 9/24/07)

Movie: Aachi and Ssispak (reviewed 8/19/07)
Movie: Hula Girls (reviewed 8/28/07)
Movie: Kamikaze Girls (reviewed 8/7/07)
Movie: Linda, Linda, Linda (reviewed 7/10/07)
Movie: Ping Pong (reviewed 8/28/07)
Movie: Taste of Tea (reviewed 7/10/07)

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Distributed by VIZ Media
95 minutes

As I mentioned in my review of Naruto: The Lost Story, Naruto just isn’t my thing. I feel that too many potentially good things about that franchise are weighed down by its negatives: unfunny humor, repetitive character interactions, and the tendency for the story arcs and fight scenes to overstay their welcomes.

That, combined with the rather lackluster OVA that was The Lost Story, had me feeling just a little hesitant about putting Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow into my DVD player. But after a fairly well-paced hour and a half where I wasn’t bored out of my mind, I must say that this Naruto movie is actually not half bad.

Synopsis
The story begins with our three young ninja heroes, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, watching “The Adventures of Princess Gale,” a movie starring actress Yukie Fujikaze. Not seeming to care that it’s, at best, a B-movie with some rather good special effects, Naruto enjoys it. The character of Princess Gale appeals to Naruto, as both press forward with courageous conviction.

Imagine their surprise when they see Yukie, the leading lady herself, fleeing from unknown pursuers just outside the theater. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura give chase, attempting to route Yukie’s would-be captors and lead the actress to safety. But, as Naruto learns the hard way, Yukie is not nearly as brave and resolved as the woman she plays on the big screen; she and Princess Gale couldn’t be any more different.

What follows, a few misunderstandings later, is a journey to the Land of Snow, a place of perpetual winter. The next Princess Gale movie is to be shot against the backdrops of this cold landscape. But when the fake princess turns out to be more real than expected, Naruto and company find themselves mixed up in a plot of betrayal and revenge, and Yukie must face the destiny she has been running from her entire life.

Storytelling/Characters
It’s funny how interesting a Naruto story can be when it sheds the trappings of its most typical downfalls. This movie doesn’t concern itself with the ongoing and convoluted narratives in the main Naruto-verse, instead telling a story outside of those plotlines that still manages to be relevant to the growth of our orange-clad, spiky-haired hero.

Naruto’s interactions with the self-pitying and distant Yukie are definitely the high points of the movie. It’s interesting to see Naruto’s mind change about actors and acting in general while watching Yukie switch between her normal and Princess Gale personas. It isn’t unlike seeing your favorite movie star being a total ass in public, shattering whatever image of that star you pictured in your mind. But Naruto himself is pushed to his limits, and pressured by Yukie’s assurances that giving up is the only recourse in life. His boundless optimism and stubborn ideals are more heartfelt in this film because of now they contrast with Yukie’s views. Yet, it doesn’t feel as if Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow is Yukie’s story “featuring Naruto.” It is very much Naruto’s story, too; in fact, he’s the main player.

Things aren’t perfect, though. Naruto’s compatriots don’t play a very big role outside of the fight scenes, save for a few Kakashi moments where he recalls his past in the Land of Snow. While Naruto’s interactions with Yukie are welcome, he doesn’t interact with his friends nearly as much, limiting them to simply being Naruto’s companions and nothing more. The villains are your typical power-hungry bad guy types, lacking the necessary charisma to be truly menacing. A few silly lines and situations rearing their ugly heads, along with the film’s need to push its fight scenes, gets in the way of what could have easily been a stronger showing.

Animation/Visuals
While the visuals aren’t anything that will blow you away, they are definitely better than TV-quality. The various ninja powers are flashy and sexy, in some cases using CG to good effect. The world itself is well drawn and comes to life, especially the barrens of the Land of Snow and the dank prisons of the villains’ fortress.

Voices/Music
The dub is more or less the same quality you’ll find in the Naruto TV show and The Lost Story. It’s an okay dub, with English voice actors portraying the abundantly melodramatic characters appropriately enough. Maile Flanagan’s Naruto is well played, which is important given Naruto’s position at center-stage for most of the movie.

The music is easily forgettable; it’s non-intrusive but uninspiring. The tribal drum themes–typical Naruto fare–are curiously absent from most of the movie, popping up only near the very end. Considering said drums are a staple of Naruto, it’s somewhat surprising and a little disappointing; they would’ve spiced up the soundtrack.

Overall
While the movie’s ultimate outcome will surprise absolutely nobody, and while things still move towards a series of inevitable showdowns between Naruto’s group and the villain’s forces, Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow carries a bit more polish than your average Naruto story arc.

I don’t see this film converting anybody who isn’t already a fan. I know that I’m still not going to actively seek out all things Naruto because of it. But it does set the bar a bit higher, and I think I’ll be somewhat less hesitant to review the next Naruto movie. That said, if the next movie isn’t at least as good as this one, I’ll be disappointed.

Naruto the Movie is available now on DVD.

Samurai 7, Vol. 1

Distributed by FUNimation
105 minutes (4 episodes)

I hate writing an unfavorable review for a FUNimation title, because FUNimation is, in my humble opinion, the hands-down best importer of anime this continent has ever had. Top quality English voice acting, impressive packaging, and release schedules that don’t keep audiences waiting for too long are just some of the reasons FUNimation is the best.

So, when you read this review of Samurai 7, don’t take this as a slight towards FUNimation. Rather, read this as my distaste for the re-envisioning of some old thing about seven samurais that Gonzo has created.

Synopsis
Welcome to the sermon of mechas and samurai.

In the beginning, there were mechas. Big mechas. Shiny mechas. The mechas were piloted by those who pilot mechas. And it was good.

The people who pilot the mechas and fly in the big ships of steel fought other people, clashed mecha with mecha, and they fought, and they died, or they won. And it was good.

Then the war ended and the bad people in the mechas that won the war took control, and the evils of capitalism engulfed the land. And it was good.

The samurai, some so mighty that they could cleave the mechas in two with a sword and a big jump and still not look sweaty after doing it felt disenfranchised, and hid in the shadows, or did mercenary work. And it was good.

A small village is overrun yearly by bandits who pilot the mechas and steal the village’s rice, and now the villagers have had enough. They send a young water priestess into the dangerous city, accompanied by some nobody who’s supposed to protect her, who despite himself bringing up the dangers of the city also takes the priestess’s little sister with them for some reason. And it was good.

The trio search for samurai, and the offering they make is only that of rice. And so this is the tale of the people who gathered samurai for a mission with only rice as payment. And it was good.

… No, no. It was NOT good.

Storytelling/Characters
Samurai 7 is the sort of show that takes a rather long time to get started. The first disc feels like a prologue. A very long, tedious, cornball prologue, with plot manipulation galore. Whenever the plot needs something to happen, it happens, no matter how unrealistic it is for that something to happen in the context of whatever it is Kirara or her slowly growing entourage of samurai are doing at the time. Take, for instance, Kirara’s little sister, Komachi. The villager who is the first to suggest making a stand, Rikichi, talks endlessly of how Kirara shouldn’t go to the city, because she’s a woman and it’s dangerous. Yet, when she resolves to go, Rikichi has no problem bringing along little Komachi. Idiocy, or would thinking realistically have been a snag in the producer’s desire to have a little girl as part of the crew? Unfortunately, it’s both.

I would say that the plot is simply a means to an end, a way to get all the unimportant details of the how and why over with and out of sight, but if that were true I would have seen samurai defending the village already. Samurai 7 is frustrating to watch, because instead of getting to the fighting, which, from the few snippets of action I’ve seen in this first volume, is the series’ strong point, it plods along slowly, trying very hard to make you fall in love with characters that are just not interesting. Except the robot samurai. He’s cool.

Working with a contrived plot is bad enough. Add a dash of unconvincing characters and a sprinkle of ridiculousness, and you’re left with a heaping helping of fluff. That Samurai 7 takes four hundred years to get started (it might be longer; for all I know the second volume is more of the same) doesn’t help matters. First impressions are important. Starting by jumping ahead into the more action-oriented part of the show, and then showing abridged flashbacks to bring the audience up to speed, would have been the superior approach.

Animation/Visuals
While Samurai 7 fails in the storytelling department, it shines when it comes to looks. The whole world has a darkish overtone present in every setting, from the simple village to the metal metropolis where the majority of the story so far takes place. Of particular note is the robot samurai, Kikuchiyo, who is animated beautifully; all of his movements are decidedly and convincingly mechanical.

The character design in general is quite good. If only the characters were as interesting as the outfits they don.

Voices/Music
Samurai 7’s dub is perfect; each character’s English portrayal is dead on. Kambei, the leader of the samurai, sounds very much like the wise and clever man that he is. Back to the robot: Kikuchiyo’s voice gets all messed up whenever he is damaged, going from high to low to normal repeatedly. Though a relatively easy effect to achieve with the right software, it just shows the kind of care and attention FUNimation puts into the English language versions of the anime they license.

Overall
But alas, for obvious reasons, it is beyond FUNimation’s power to take bad source material and somehow make it good. Actually, that’s not entirely fair; Samurai 7 might just be really good later down the line. But no story should require its target audience to be bored for hours before giving up the good stuff.

If samurai and robots are what you seek in an anime, look up Afro Samurai, also by Gonzo and FUNimation. It knows how to pace itself, playing to its strengths while minimizing its weaknesses. Samurai 7 does the exact opposite, and that’s a shame.