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Case Closed Season 4

Rob Liddell — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:16:31 +0000

FUNimation’s Case Closed: Season Four features 26 half-hour episodes of the wildly popular Japanese anime series “Detective Conan”. The main character is Conan Edogawa, a child with extraordinary intellect and keen observational skills.

Due to circumstance, Conan becomes involved as an observer and investigator in a series of mysteries, each typically lasting one or two episodes. Though the crimes may be fiendishly clever, in the end, Conan always discovers the perpetrator, and herein lies the beauty of the series.

As with any good mystery novel, clues revealing the culprits are provided to the viewer. To keep the answers from being too obvious, the audience isn’t privy to all of Conan’s insights, but we can basically sleuth the crime along with him. When he’s discovered the truth, Conan reveals it to us, and the genius way that he pieced it together. The result is a very satisfying series of puzzles with rational solutions, which makes at least one additional viewing of each story worthwhile.

A newcomer to Case Closed can easily jump into the Fourth Season DVD. Certain aspects of the supporting characters, and some of Conan’s amazing technological gadgets, may be a bit confusing when first encountered, but you?ll catch on.

What’s tricky is the series’ running hook. Conan’s really a teenage detective named Jimmy Kudo. Poisoned by some bad guys, he?s magically regressed to the age of an 8 year old body. To protect the people around him, Conan keeps his true identity a secret, and obviously hi-jinks ensue.

Visually, this series has a deceptively simple look. The clean appearance not only makes it easy to watch, but highlights important visual clues for you audience sleuths.

Though gore and mayhem are downplayed, Case Closed features murders ? and a lot of them. The violence is not extremely graphic, but there are plenty of images of corpses and the disturbing results of violent death throughout this series. It?s probably unsuitable for small children.

For lovers of mystery stories and puzzles, this is a great series. We?re looking forward to FUNimation’s release of Season 5, currently scheduled for May 2009, and hopefully they’ll eventually make it through all 500+ episodes that have aired in Japan.

Guyver: The Bio-Boosted Armor Review

Jason Yorrick — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:11:22 +0000

Guyver: The Bio-Boosted Armor is a 26 episode anime series by OLM based on the first ten volumes of the popular Japanese manga of the eighties. The story follows young Sho Fukamachi in his fight against the malevolent Chronos Corporation after being accidentally merged with the mysterious Guyver Bio weapon.

In many ways, Guyver: The Bio-Boosted armor is a remake of the first Guyver Anime series from the early nineties. There are some nearly frame-for-frame matches, and it has the same Sci-Fi/Horror leanings of its predecessor. What this version does beyond its predecessor is flesh out the rather complex story of the Guyvers and their battles with the demonic Zoanoids.

Fans of the original anime series will learn the complexities that were absent from earlier anime, giving this outing the feeling of something cinematic. Having the span of 26 episodes to tell the story also allows some down time with the characters, as well as the obligatory anime recap episode two-thirds of the way through. The voice acting in the English version is better than the original, but not by much, and the translation is clunky at times.

The animation is good, but not spectacular, and takes the usual dip in quality in some episodes. One thing that the new version does not improve on is in the handling of the more climactic moments in the story. The original Guyver anime had great moments that used melodrama to capture the horror that Sho and his faithful friend Tetsuro felt when thrust into terrifying situations. The Enzyme battle, for example, as well as the last dual Guyver battle in episode Six of the original series is classic, but doesn’t quite get the same epic treatment here. That’s not to say that the battles aren’t well done, but they lack the kick and direction of its 80′s predecessor.

Overall, fans of the anime and of the manga should be satisfied with this Guyver redux. You’ll enjoy the Anime to Manga comparison in the special features, as well as the production gallery and the clean open and closing title sequences. If you’re a real Guyver fan, this series is definitely worth a look.

Sword of The Stranger Review

Shola Akinnuso — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 06:24:15 +0000

Licensor: Bandai Entertainment
Studio: BONES

We’ll be the first to admit it: Anime has been in a slump for the last 10 years. Sure, there have been a few gems, but if you’ve been in the game for as long as we have, you’ll be able to see the trends, and it is disturbing.

There was once a time when adults were the main protagonists. There were stories of surprising depth, and while the super-powered kids and teen angst was always there, it wasn’t nearly as prevalent as it is today.

Some might call modern anime “acknowledging the NEW audience”, while PopCultureShock argues that it simply isolates the older, more DEVOTED crowd. Sure, blonde ninjas in orange jumpsuits are great for a change of pace, but when they become the standard? That’s when it’s time for some serious reassessment.

Consider Sword of the Stranger a renaissance of maturity. A reminder that because classics like Dagger of Kamui, Samurai X, or even Spriggan are older, that the audience who loved that stuff hasn’t been forgotten.

Sword of The Stranger is an action knockout.

BONES, the animation studio behind Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo have pretty much put the stamp on anime swordplay, and The Sword of the Stranger captures their trademark attention to fluid choreography with aplomb.

The real treat is the surprisingly simple but effective story. To be fair, it’s retread stuff: Nameless awesome samurai meets mysterious mouthy kid. Bad guys want kid, samurai defends kid, and a reluctant friendship races toward some bloody conclusion.

Summarily, that’s probably the extent of it, but the characterization, steady pacing, and sincere attention to fleshing out the large supporting cast truly makes the journey one of the most memorable Samurai fiction of the last decade.

The fight scenes are the show-stoppers, and the reason why casual fans could argue that animated choreography can give live-action wire work a run for the money. Action takes place with frenetic camera and matter-of-fact violence, and first time director Masahiro Ando guides us through the mayhem like he’s been at it for years.

Sword of the stranger is a standalone film with no accompanying manga or long-running television series, which is rare. There are themes of cultural clash between feuding Chinese and Japanese factions, and despite some social musings, The Sword of The Stranger never sacrifices depth in its brisk pacing.

Even if the pseudo-political trappings aren’t your thing, there’s more than enough visual mastery in the beautifully choreographed action scenes to make The Sword of The Stranger worth the purchase when the movie goes to retail this year.

DVD Review: Adventures in Voice Acting, Vol. 1

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:44:39 +0000

Adventures in Voice Acting is a DVD composed of five episodes, each covering a specific topic. From there, each episode is then split into even smaller parts dealing with more specific nuts and bolts of voice acting. Unlike many documentaries that are peppered with snippits of interviews, this is made up entirely of interviews–not just one or two, but dozens of interviews with various voice actors, producers, casting directors and more.

Never fear, though, it’s not simply light and fun interviews with voice actors, nor simply suggestions of what to do. No, the voice actors interviewed discuss the process itself, touching upon some of the technical and not-so-technical aspects of the job. Discussion ranges from the experience of being in the booth–having to glance from the script to the screen to the time stamp at the top of the screen, for example, or using green apples to remove ambient mouth noises–to the differences between doing anime dubs and original animation voice tracks. It’s really a fascinating DVD, even if you’re not thinking of trying to get into the business. Hearing actors share their stories of abject rejection, difficult personal lives, familial estrangement, and even what sounded suspiciously like a confession of suicidal thoughts, makes for some interesting viewing material.

The DVD also manages the trick of being discouraging and encouraging at the same time. Through the various tales of rejection and financial hardships it manages to demystify and perhaps even dash the various dreams of voice acting as glamourous and fun. The fact that several of the people had to maintain second jobs for years, in some cases decades, before being able to support themselves seems sure to scare away some who dreams of being a big name anime voice actor. Still, throughout this, the interviewees never quite cease to encourage the viewers to pursue their dreams, maintaining that persistence will pay off eventually. (It might just take ten or twenty years.) It certainly feels like a grounding experience for aspiring future voice actors, that’s for sure.

In addition to the five main episodes there are several bonus features which include vocal exercises and warm up-routines, to deleted scenes that discuss the voice actors’ own history with anime, and a lengthy text section with even more advice, hints and tips from the various people interviewed on the DVD.

If you’re interested in the business or thinking of entering it, this seems like a fantastic DVD to have. Even if you’re just curious as to what goes into making dubs, it’s probably worth a look.

Volume one of Adventures in Voice Acting is available now through the Bang Zoom! Entertainment website.

Manga Recon @ the Movies: Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody

Erin F. — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:59:08 +0000

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

Carlos Alexandre — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:21:14 +0000

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.

2007 Manga Recon Review Index

Katherine Dacey — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:16:13 +0000

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

More of Erin’s Favorite Anime and Manga of 2007

Erin F. — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:33:49 +0000

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.

Our Favorite Anime of 2007

Carlos Alexandre — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:59:30 +0000

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.

Anime Review: Mushi-Shi, Vols. 2-3

Carlos Alexandre — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:24:49 +0000

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.

Anime Review: Bleach, Vols. 2-6

Carlos Alexandre — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:50:30 +0000

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.

Manga Recon Report Card, 7/07 – 9/07

Katherine Dacey — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:26:46 +0000

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)

Anime Review: Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Carlos Alexandre — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:03:32 +0000

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.

Anime Review: Samurai 7, Vol. 1

Carlos Alexandre — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:38:58 +0000

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.

Anime Review: Mushi-Shi, Vol. 1

Carlos Alexandre — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:36:36 +0000

Mushi-Shi, Vol. 1

Distributed by FUNimation
125 minutes (5 episodes)

I had a conversation with a close friend of mine not too long ago about ongoing television series’ approaches to storytelling and characterization. He and I both agreed that an ongoing storyline with continually developing characters is far more enjoyable than a mere collection of one-shots. True, ongoing stories can be confusing to get into for the viewer that jumps in when a series has been running for some time, but in this era of TV box sets, that’s hardly a problem anymore.

However, I couldn’t help but feel that there is merit, in an appropriately designed series, to making each episode its own “island” of sorts. Shortly after that conversation, I heard of Mushi-Shi. Purchasing the first volume and its nice-looking collector’s box, and resisting the urge to read the included information booklet for fear of spoilers, a (different) friend and I dive in. Five episodes later, we’re hooked; Mushi-Shi is on a whole other level.

Synopsis
In an apparently pre-modern world of lush green exists the Mushi, strange creatures that can take many forms and exhibit many different abilities, from subtle to fantastic. They can be very primitive, driven by simple desires to survive. They can be intelligent, capable of assuming humanoid form and pursuing complex goals. Mushi are life in its purest form, life that exists at a baser level than any other.

But Mushi are sometimes problematic and can cause trouble for ordinary folks. That’s where Ginko comes in. A wandering Mushi Master, also called a Mushi-Shi, Ginko resolves Mushi-related matters, spreading understanding, pruning out-of-control Mushi populations, and even coaxing Mushi that have possessed human hosts out into the open. His travels are filled with tales of enlightenment, suffering, and heartbreak.

Storytelling/Characters
Back to the whole ongoing story arc vs. episodic one-shot topic: Mushi-Shi is most definitely the latter, taken to the extreme. So unrelated is each episode to the rest that almost everything about the story changes on a per episode basis. The order of the first four episodes in volume one is virtually irrelevant, and episode five’s brief recap of prior events is the only thing keeping it from being just as interchangeable.

Every individual episode tells its own story, introducing its own characters, taking place in its own settings, and presenting new and interesting conflicts. Other than Ginko, rare is the recurring character, and rarer still is overlap in the messages each story conveys. Though the conflicts are typically either character vs. nature or the character vs. self, there is more than enough variance to keep things fresh. Hitting “next” on your DVD remote presents you with a whole new chronicle that is entertaining on its own and entices you to keep watching.

This approach creates something of an irony about Ginko. Though he’s the main character… he really isn’t. Make no mistake, he’s no witness, and thus far he plays an important role in every episode. But the stories are not about him; they are about the people he meets. His actions and attitudes are a catalyst for plot advancement and character development in others, but Ginko remains static, his past and his motives shrouded in mystery. And that’s just fine with me; the anthology of his travels makes for a very compelling collection of masterfully crafted short stories.

Mushi-Shi is all about one-shots. If that really isn’t your thing, you may not enjoy it. But before dismissing it, be assured that each and every one of these one-shots is extremely high quality in every way.

Animation/Visuals
It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that more money goes into a single episode of Mushi-Shi than into twenty-six episodes of any other anime you care to mention. Which is not to say that money buys success… but it sure does help.

Mushi-Shi is jaw-droppingly beautiful. Despite all the greenery you’ll see, you’ll never tire of the lush forests, nor how the people move through them. The overall world is based on a yester-century Japan, with traditional Japanese-style sliding door houses and one hell of a lot of kimonos, and the whole shebang is drawn and animated with amazing fluidity. The Mushi themselves are imaginatively brought to life, whether they are snail-like parasites, living swamps, or human-like cloaked figures.

Though every character is given much love in the animation department, Ginko is especially well visualized, from his ghostly white hair to his decidedly foreign attire. Despite being a static non-protagonist protagonist, his design just oozes the essence of character.

Voices/Music
FUNimation’s English voice work is top-notch as always. (To be honest, I’m getting sick of typing that. Not that I’d rather see FUNimation’s standards slip, mind you.) Travis Willingham, who gave us a superb interpretation of Fullmetal Alchemist‘s Roy Mustang, plays a perfect Ginko, cool and calm, but serious when lives are threatened.

The music is mystifying and pretty, a perfect match for Mushi-Shi‘s semi-supernatural themes. Lots of bells and other vibrant percussive instruments litter the soundtrack, with a good amount of controlled strings and piano rounding things out. The tunes are mellow and moody, complex and yet very simple. It’s easily “I’m going to buy the soundtrack” material. A lovely English-language (in both the dub and the sub) opening theme kicks off each episode.

Overall
I think I still prefer overarching plots and long-term storytelling. But a mere ONE episode of Mushi-Shi contains more heartfelt, well-paced narrative work than a good number of entire TV series, animated or otherwise. Don’t miss Mushi-Shi, or you’re doing yourself a great disservice. It gets nothing less than my strongest recommendation and the highest possible rating I can give it.

Volume one of Mushi-Shi is available now, as are the first two volumes of the manga that inspired it. Click here for a review of the manga.

Anime Review: Bleach, Vol. 1

Carlos Alexandre — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:27:59 +0000

Bleach, Vol. 1

Distributed by VIZ Media
100 minutes (4 episodes)

Welcome, dear reader, to my review of Bleach. I usually start my reviews with some little snippet that relates to what I’m about to review, sometimes equating aspects of it to real life situations or stating how I feel about the franchise in question. With the rest of this review already written, however, I find myself at a loss with how to tie into the show’s synopsis. Do I just leave this preamble out and get down to business? Do I make a Ghostbusters reference, since Bleach is about souls and all that funky stuff? Hell, I even contemplated talking about real bleach and how it weakens fabric over time, hoping to humorously tie it into some analogy relevant to Bleach (the show).

But I’ve got nothing. So… hey. This is Bleach. The show. I like it.

Synopsis
Life isn’t dull for Ichigo Kurosaki, a tough-as-nails fifteen year old high school student whom trouble often finds. Whether it’s being bullied (rather unsuccessfully) about his bright orange hair or entangled in a supernatural plot involving purifying lost souls, Ichigo doesn’t often suffer from boredom.

Let’s elaborate on the “supernatural plot” that our scrapper hero is dealing with. You see, Ichigo possesses a special power, one not normally reserved for normal human beings: he can see ghosts. Specifically, he can see and communicate with the souls of the dearly departed who, for one reason or another, still linger about our mortal coil. And that’s all fine and dandy. But then Ichigo witnesses a girl using a sword to defeat a giant soul-eating creature known as a Hollow.

The girl, Rukia Kuchiki, is a Soul Reaper, a slayer of Hollows and helper of wayward souls. Later, she sneaks into Ichigo’s bedroom, only to discover that unlike any other human being, he can see her quite clearly. After arguing with Ichigo and bringing himup to speed, a Hollow attacks, and Rukia is injured during the fight.

She tries to give a little of her power to Ichigo, so that he can temporarily take up the mantle of Soul Reaper and defeat the creature. She underestimates his power, however, and Rukia unwillingly ends up giving Ichigo almost all of her power, transforming him into an incredibly formidable Soul Reaper, one who almost effortlessly dispatches the Hollow and saves his family.

Left nearly powerless, Rukia commissions Ichigo to do what she will not be able to do again for some time: hunt Hollows and help the souls of the dead pass on.

Storytelling/Characters
Bleach‘s story is more than just a little kooky, and with terms like Soul Reaper, Hollow, and Soul Society thrown about, I got the impression that this is another one of those “normal kid gets swept up in a bizarre alternate world” cartoons that is all the rage these days. And that’s what Bleach is, through and through; it carries with it an expectable level of corniness.

What sets it apart, other than a liberal helping of slick visual polish, is a cast of characters so well crafted, animated, and voice acted, that any negative impact the contrived story could have had is pretty much negated. Make no mistake, though; Bleach‘s characters aren’t carrying the story on their backs. Rather, they work well within the constraints of their fictional world, meshing with the story but still standing taller than its limits.

I had a difficult time finding reasons to hate these characters, and in the end I found none. Ichigo’s “tough guy with a heart of gold” persona has been done a million times before, but he still manages to win over the viewer with moments of both inspired insight and surprising insecurity. Rukia, less of a foil to Ichigo and more like the other side of the same coin, convinces you through her actions and words that she rightfully deserves the respect she commands. Chad, a towering boy with seemingly superhuman durability, does not leave you doubting that he is a quiet and protective pacifist. Every character is convincing, and all are the sort you want to root for.

Animation/Visuals
Colorful visuals and carefully constructed settings are the backdrop in Bleach, with scenes ranging from bright daytime to murky nighttime to surreal otherworldly dimensions. This is one pretty show, no doubt about it. The animation in Bleach isn’t the smoothest you’ll see in television-level cartoons, but it is some of the most stylish, with very few reused sequences. Gritty combat scenes and everyday-life moments alike are presented elegantly and beautifully.

Voices/Music
Bleach‘s dub is top-notch, each voice actor portraying his or her character perfectly. Johnny Yong Bosch once again proves his versatility, giving us an Ichigo that, despite sounding like other characters Bosch voices, encompasses every aspect of Ichigo’s roughness and idealism. Michelle Ruff’s Rukia is appropriately stern and arrogant all at once. Orihime’s bubbliness is presented convincingly by Stephanie Sheh. I could keep on listing each voice actor and how well they perform, but I think you get the picture.

The intro and ending themes are very catchy and extremely well done. The intro is especially noteworthy, with a decidedly urban feel that matches well with the animation. The background music within the episodes themselves, however, is forgettable. It isn’t bad, but it just doesn’t stick.

Overall
I heard good and bad things about Bleach and I wholly expected it to be the sort of show that someone like me tends not to enjoy. Though it isn’t perfect, and occasionally throws out a situation or line that makes me shake my head, it has won me over, and chances are good that it will win you over too. Bleach is highly recommended.

Anime Review: Naruto OVA: The Lost Story

Carlos Alexandre — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:44:37 +0000

Naruto OVA: The Lost Story

Distributed by VIZ Media
40 minutes

Ah, Naruto. The series about ninjas with powers that, depending on who you ask, is either the best thing since sliced bread or the worst scourge on the face of the Earth. Me, I simply don’t care about it. I’ve seen a few episodes, both in its original Japanese incarnation and in its dubbed form, and it just isn’t my thing.

Despite that, I didn’t walk into this Naruto OAV, The Lost Story as it’s called, under the pretense that it was going to be lackluster. OAVs can often present fresh and interesting takes on established characters and can be products that stand taller than the series that spawned them. Unfortunately, The Lost Story merely plays out like a slightly longer episode of the series, with all the clichés associated with such an OAV present and accounted for.

Synopsis
The story begins with Naruto, his companions and teammates Sasuke and Sakura, and mentor Kakashi escorting the timid leader of The Hidden Waterfall Village, Shibuki, back home. Called away to an important meeting, Kakashi entrusts the remainder of the mission, which has devolved to cleaning soda cans out of a lake, to his students. But we all know that this escort mission isn’t really that simple, right? Of course it isn’t. Before long, word of an attack on the Hidden Waterfall Village reaches our heroes, and a reluctant Shibuki is forced to accept Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura’s help.

The man behind the attack, Suien, was once a resident of the hidden village. Betraying his fellows, he seeks the village’s treasure, a treasure protected by the village’s leader: the Hero’s Water, a fluid that, when drank, increases the imbiber’s chakra tenfold or higher, but shortens the user’s lifespan dramatically.

And so Naruto and his friends do what they can to keep the village and its treasure safe. Will they succeed, and will Shibuki learn the meaning of courage and obligation?

Storytelling/Characters
The storytelling here is a front, merely a vehicle to palm off some supposedly meaningful lessons about real heroism and to provide some background noise for the big “boss” battle that is pretty much bound to happen. I was expecting and hoping for more. Admittedly, though, with only forty minutes to work with, as opposed to the almost infinite time the ongoing anime series can give a storyline arc, it’s difficult to imagine that much more could have been done.

Character development is all but absent, relegated to a few moments of Shibuki struggling with himself as to what is worth doing to protect his people. Naruto spouts off his usual one-dimensional “what it means to be a hero” speeches, Sasuke remains calm and composed even when the odds are against him, and Sakura does her usual flip-flopping between being embarrassed about Naruto one moment and then concerned for his safety the next, along with the whole “Sasuke is so cool” inner monolog that got old the first time we hear her think it.

Oh, right, almost forgot: Naruto accidentally stepping in dog excrement is supposed to be funny, as is every time he stumbles and falls, or says something over-the-top. The Lost Story‘s attempts at humor don’t particularly impress.

You’ve seen this story a million times over. You won’t be surprised when Naruto is beat down, only to rise up in the end and defeat the bad guys. You won’t be surprised when Shibuki finds his backbone. You won’t be surprised by anything here. It’s just a by-the-books action series OAV that does little but provide another collectible for Naruto fans.

Art/Visuals
The visual department presents nothing spectacular. It’s typical TV-quality stuff. The fight scenes are animated passably, but that’s it. Reused animations are kept to a minimum, which is a good thing.

Voices/Music
Naruto‘s background music has this nifty tribal drum thing going on, and that’s prevalent throughout The Lost Story. It fits the series well, but isn’t otherwise outstanding.

The dub is okay. As in “could be better, but c’mon, this is freaking Naruto.” To elaborate: the story and dialog isn’t any less cornball in Japanese than it is in English (and, yes, I made the switch and took a good listen). The English voice work is tolerable and about as good as it’s going to get considering the subject matter. Maile Flanagan’s childlike Naruto voice has an annoying throat scratch when angry or yelling, but otherwise fits our hothead protagonist just fine. The only voice I would say absolutely does not fit is Kakashi’s; Dave Wittenberg just doesn’t capture the ninja master’s true essence.

An amusing aside: Crispin Freeman, one of the most well known dub voice actors in licensed anime, plays some random villager who has all of two unimportant lines. It’s a little surprising to hear.

Overall
I’m certain Naruto fans will love The Lost Story, just as I’m certain a more scrutinizing anime watcher will be too off-put by its failings. A good jumping point into the series this is not, and stands as an OAV more suited to Naruto fans than to anyone else.

Anime Review: Afro Samurai: The Director’s Cut

Carlos Alexandre — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:58:09 +0000

Afro-Samurai: The Director’s Cut

Distributed by FUNimation
125 minutes (5 episodes)

Samuel L. Jackson plays a quiet, brooding, and murderously formidable ronin with an afro, engaging in ridiculously well-animated samurai combat with a variety of cutthroats, assassins, ninjas, robots, and warriors with an assortment of melee weaponry and really big guns. That is, no doubt, a high level scientific formula for good TV, and more than likely has already convinced many of you to give it a try. Spike TV and FUNimation thought so too, and aired all of Afro Samurai‘s six episodes for their violence hungry audience of eighteen-to-thirty-five-year-old males. Afro Samurai is hardly a benchmark for deep, thought-provoking television, but that isn’t what it wants to be. For what it sets out to do, however, Afro Samurai does well enough.

Synopsis
Copy first paragraph of review, paste it here, and done.

Not enough? Okay, okay. Here’s the deal: in a world resembling both feudal and futuristic Japan, complete with traditional Japanese buildings, kimonos, cell phones, and RPGs (the weapon, not the game genre), there exist two sacred headbands, the number one and the number two. The owner of the number one headband, known as “number one,” is considered the most powerful person alive, and can only be challenged in combat by “number two.” The number two headband is constantly sought out by warriors the world over who want a shot at the number one title. You following me so far?

Afro, the hero of our story, is the son of the former number one. His father killed before his very eyes by Justice, a strangely benevolent zombie cowboy (you read that right) who was number two at the time, a young Afro claims the title of number two for himself, and embarks on a quest for revenge. Afro treks towards his fate, slowly but surely making his way to Justice, now number one, cutting through anyone foolish enough to stand in the way.

Storytelling/Characters
There isn’t much to say here. Afro starts as and finishes as the same character: quiet, brooding, and murderously formidable. He’d be downright boring if it weren’t for the fact that, in a fight, he’s like Kenshin on crack, dancing and slashing across the fields of battle with violent gracefulness.

Afro’s constant companion, Ninja Ninja, is much more colorful but just as static. Spouting out whimsically observant lines, which are often outcries focused on the hopelessness of whatever given situation the two find themselves in, Ninja Ninja is Afro’s foil, a necessary component to keep the exponentially more boring Afro from having too much time in the spotlight. And, yes, given the big revelation in the second half of the series, I’m aware of the irony of what I just said.

The overall plot is simply a means to an end, a method to ensure that Afro gets his fights, and that the audience gets to witness those fights. A few curveballs are thrown and a few attempts at thought-provoking dialog are stammered out, but that’s about as dynamic as this story gets. And, ultimately, that’s okay: we’re not watching Afro Samurai to challenge our perceptions of reality or human nature.

PCSTV caught up with Afro Samurai creator Takashi “Bob” Okazaki and Director of Animation, Fuminori Kizaki. Check out our interview with the minds behind the hit mini-series that mixed high octane anime action with Samuel L. Jackson bad assery during Okazaki-san’s first trip to America.

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Animation/Visuals
Visually, Afro Samurai is simply stunning. The stylish past-meets-future world is quite vivid, a cool idea given visual form very meticulously and strikingly. Bright digital lights on small weather-worn gadgets, the rustic tavern in the first town Afro comes across, the ludicrously huge crossbow/grenade launcher used by one of Afro’s challengers, the menacing metal frame of Afro Droid (you heard me); every visual facet of Afro Samurai‘s time-confused setting is downright gorgeous.

The animation is equally detailed and just as pretty, and not just in the over-the-top fight scenes. The way Afro’s and Ninja Ninja’s hair moves to the wind is mesmerizing, as is just about any menial little action performed by any of the characters. And yes, of course, the fight scenes get two very big thumbs up, throwing brain-melting slashes, clashes, laser beams, and explosions all over the place, but never getting so muddled to the point that you can’t keep up.

Voices/Music
Samuel Jackson’s voice talents are pretty much wasted on the one-line-of-dialog-every-episode protagonist Afro. The low, menacing grumble he gives Afro is suitable, no doubt, but you can almost feel Jackson holding back. Fortunately for him, Ninja Ninja (whom Samuel L. Jackson also voices) has far more flair, and Jackson steals the show every time he gets the opportunity to cut loose with any of Ninja Ninja’s deliciously hilarious comments. The rest of the voice work is good and well done overall, but not very spectacular or memorable with the possible exception of Yuri Lowenthal, an experienced dub voice actor who voices Jinno. Yuri performs the role of the tortured man perfectly, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was listening to any of Yuri’s other voiced characters.

The RZA’s specially scored music is the perfect accompaniment to Afro Samurai‘s blistering fighting sequences. I don’t regularly listen to or follow the RZA, but the man knows how to fit music to action and write a catchy intro theme.

Overall
Afro Samurai has all the makings of a de-facto quintessential action mini-series. Though it dabbles very slightly and very briefly in the realm of interpretation, it doesn’t pretend to be more than what it is; a tale of violence set upon a backdrop of sensual visuals and cool-ass music. If you’re a fan of animated fight scenes, drop the cash and pick this bad boy up.

If you’ve seen it on TV, the Director’s Cut adds very little. But if you must see the extra few minutes of cut footage and desire a very high quality box that houses very low quality plastic disc holders, go for it.

I feel I can’t end this review until I compare Afro Samurai to another show that hinges on spectacular fight scenes, namely Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. And here goes: Afro Samurai does it all better. And its dialog is waaaaaaaaaaay more tolerable than Advent Children‘s any day of the week, in ANY language.

Anime Review: MÄR (Märchen Awakens Romance) Volume 1: Gateway to MÄR

Carlos Alexandre — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:54:37 +0000

MÄR (Märchen Awakens Romance) Volume 1: Gateway to MÄR

Distributed by VIZ Media
92 minutes (4 episodes)

At some point in time in your life, you retreated to a daydream of some fantastic world you’d rather be in. You did; don’t deny it. While there, you were a hero, revered by all, especially by that special someone you always had your eye on. But then, something snaps you back to reality. Damn. Eventually, you came to realize just how amazing reality itself is, and left that fantasy behind to make your mark in the world. Or you succumbed to delusions and ended up in an asylum or something. Whatever. You get my point.

Synopsis
For Ginta, Japanese eighth grader who has had the same vividly real dream of the same fantasy world over a hundred times, that world seems too true to pass off as mere fantasy or delusion.

Of course, being so openly honest about his feelings regarding this alien place opens Ginta to a world of ridicule at school and home. Full of energy and youthful vigor, but somehow out of shape, Ginta has a hard time fighting back for more than a few seconds. His grades suck, he’s not that bright, his eyes are bad, and his youthful mother totally harps on him about his overly vivid imagination, so really the fantasy world is a place he’d love to run away too. But it isn’t all bad for Ginta. His close friend and secret crush Koyuki believes in him, always pressing him for tales of his make-believe adventures.

Make-believe soon becomes reality as Ginta is psychically contacted by a mysterious voice. Soon after, a ghostly messenger shows Ginta an ominous gateway. The messenger offers Ginta the chance to enter the fantasy world, which, as it turns out, is quite real. Leaving his classmates, his mother, and Koyuki behind, Ginta boldly ventures into the world of MÄR. Amazed beyond his wildest dreams, his eyesight suddenly twenty-twenty, and mysteriously endowed with superhuman strength, speed, and stamina to match his unbound energy, Ginta ventures forth, learning about the world, its people, and its ÄRMs, tools and weapons that expand from ordinary-looking rings and bracelets.

Soon, Ginta finds an ÄRM unlike any other: one with a face that can talk and fancies himself a gentleman. The ÄRM’s name is Babbo, and it seems as if he’s sought by many for sinister purposes.

Storytelling/Characters
MÄR‘s strengths lie in its characters and story. It’s a fun and carefree little tale filled with people you can’t help but root for. The plot starts simply enough, establishing Ginta’s origins and personality while starting him off on his journey. The tone is definitely lighthearted, seeking to amuse and entertain. A darker undertone lies beneath, though. Just why does Ginta find Babbo so familiar, and how did Ginta’s mother–a fairytale author, curiously enough–seemingly sense his son’s departure from Earth?

The humor is done well. Moments like Ginta “geeking out” over seeing a fairy, fantasizing about chasing it the same way Homer Simpson chased a fluffy-tailed dog, are charmingly funny without leaving the impression that MÄR is trying too hard to get a laugh.

Ginta is a solid and believable character, a nerd with strong morals that just doesn’t fit into normal society but is right at home in and constantly awed by MÄR’s surreal surroundings. As the story progresses, Ginta, slowly but surely, starts to see the merit of the world he left behind, starting some character growth that will hopefully be done justice in future volumes.

Ginta’s companions are just as likeable. Babbo’s slightly annoyed, older brother-ish disposition is both entertaining on its own and an enjoyable contrast to Ginta’s brash youthfulness. Jack, a farmer boy who soon joins Ginta’s quest, brings a combination of ruggedness and stubbornness to the table, both traits meshing well with Ginta and Babbo.

An interesting trait about several characters is that they are named after and based off of actual fairytale personas. Jack hopes to grow an extremely tall beanstalk and climb into the clouds one day. Other fairytale references include Dorothy the witch and Belle the fairy.

One complaint: inconsistency regarding Ginta’s physical traits. In one episode, the super-strong Ginta gets clobbered and sat on by a giant iron golem, but lifts the thing off with little effort. In another episode, a normal man stuns Ginta for a long time with a simple punch to the stomach, but later Ginta returns the favor, sending the thug flying at least a couple of football fields’ distance away, making one wonder how Ginta got stunned in the first place. Also, it’s a little unusual that, while on Earth, Ginta has boundless energy, but gets tired after running for a few seconds. That said, Ginta’s unusual frailty while on Earth may end up being one of MÄR‘s mysteries, answered in a later episode. We’ll have to wait and see.

Art/Visuals
The animation quality is average, neither horribly bad nor very good. The character designs and outfits are quite nice, though, from the Dorothy’s elaborate black witch’s dress and accessories to Jack’s functionally simple farmer’s garb. Babbo, the talking kendama weapon, is always fun to watch, whether he’s fighting with Ginta, trying to exert his self-described gentlemanly nature, or simply merrily bouncing along a road.

Voices/Music
MÄR is dubbed well, with character voices matching their personalities. Spike Spencer’s interpretation of Ginta is especially good; he nails the unique mix of geekiness and heroism right on the head. The music is typical background fare, neither intrusive nor special. Some themes, including the intro and ending bits, have a strong electric guitar component that sounds very nice.

Overall
MÄR, so far, is a fun ride, a cool little story that charms and entertains, but that also hints at an element of seriousness and gravity that will hopefully continue developing Ginta’s character. This first volume ends on a cliffhanger, and I eagerly anticipate the second one.

Manga Recon at the Movies: Paprika

Erin F. — Sat, 26 May 2007 20:29:26 +0000

Paprika opened in New York City May 25th, and is scheduled to open in Los Angeles on June 1st. I have seen it twice, once at the New York Film Festival last fall and once in Queens on May 17th at a pre-screening sponsored by the ever-mysterious Sloan Foundation. Those in-the-know across the country have seen Paprika in a series of preview screenings as the film toured the country, hitting the usual route of arthouse theaters and college campuses, generating blog buzz and press like a katamari ball.

As a responsible anime fan, you should already know about Paprika. In fact, as person calling yourself a fan, you should be familiar with all of Kon’s works. Your standard anime fan at a convention should be able to rattle off Satoshi Kon’s films in order of their personal favorites. Here’s my list:

Erin’s Satoshi Kon Favorites
1. Paprika (2006)
2. Paranoia Agent (2004, TV Series)
3. “Magnetic Rose” short film from Memories (1996)
4. Millennium Actress (2001)
5. Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
6. Perfect Blue (1997)

I encourage readers to leave their list of Satoshi Kon favorites in the comments!

A lot of people will take contention to my high placement of Millennium Actress, but I really liked the film. The scene that took place in the wake of the U.S. air raid brings tears to my eyes in every time I see it. I liked the soundtrack enough that I tracked it down and bought it.

Perfect Blue has a really uncomfortable attempted-rape scene, so I’ve only seen it once. In the pre-2002 days of anime fandom, people would recommend Perfect Blue as an example of “good anime”, failing to mention that it is a very mature psychological thriller. It was an unsettling surprise to watch Perfect Blue uninformed. I can’t imagine watching it more than once.

Memories is good enough to own and “Magnetic Rose” is the strongest of the three short films on the DVD. Tokyo Godfathers is Kon’s most light-hearted work, with a PG-13 rating. I thought Tokyo Godfathers might be good film to watch with my parents around Christmas (it’s Christmas in the movie), but it didn’t hold their attention.

Paranoia Agent aired on Cartoon Network as part of their Adult Swim block. It’s one of my favorite anime series of all time, on a level of quality similar to Ghost in the Shell; Stand Alone Complex. Paranoia Agent is only 13 episodes. I bought a Maromi plushie. The only excuse for not watching Paranoia Agent is one’s age, in which case you should buy it anyway and watch it when you turn 18.

Paprika is similar to Paranoia Agent, but it is a more light-hearted and shorter. Paprika has the well-handled transitions of Millennium Actress, the suspense of Perfect Blue, and the humor of Tokyo Godfathers, all rolled into one solid film. Paprika‘s character designs are typical of Kon’s work, and many of his other films get a visual nod.

Paprika takes place in the near future, where dream research scientist have recently developed a device called the DC Mini, which allows psychologist to record the dreams of their patients. Just before the device is made public, the prototype unit is stolen. The scientists on the development team must recover the device before it is used for ill intent.

Protagonist Atsuko Chiba is a stern and straight-laced psychologist by day, but by night she dives into patients’ dreams using the DC Mini as her alter-ego, a red-headed, free-spirited action hero named Paprika. One of Chiba’s patients is Detective Konakawa, who helps investigate the case of the stolen DC Mini. Konakawa is having stress dreams about his unsolved homicide case.

The film opens on one of Konakawa’s dreams, then transitions quickly as his dream changes settings from a circus to a Tarzan movie to a suspense film on a train. Paprila hurdles forwards through a world of dreams and reality, the subconscious, and even a strange internet site, moving smoothly from one setting to the next in unmistakable Kon-like-transitions.

Fans of Genshiken and Akiba-kei, will appreciate Tokita Kosaku, one of the scientist characters and the inventor of the DC Mini. Tokita is a severely obese otaku, who, despite being a genius, has the mind of a child. Tokita’s obesity is handled with gentle humor, and for an otaku he is a sympathetic character. Tokita’s assistant, and fellow otaku Himuro is a suspect in the theft. Himuro is obsessed with dolls, and a search of his apartment early in the film reveals a room filled with otaku artifacts.

Although Paprika starts off as a suspense movie and a psychological thriller with sci-fi elements, it is filled with humor and a nostalgic love of cinema. In one scene, Konakawa is dressed as Satoshi Kon himself, and gives a visual example of the “180 degree rule”.

At the center of the film is a bustling parade, filled with dolls, frogs, walking refrigerators, living pay phones, and Buddhist and Christian iconography, all dancing and moving in a cacophonous and superbly-animated march between dreams. The parade is filled with the flotsam and jetsam of everyday life, true to real-life dreams. Kon has mentioned in interviews that the parade is symbolically related to the Shintoist belief in animism – that everything has a spirit including objects like toasters and vending machines.

The only similar scenario I have read in comics is the Sandman book The Doll’s House:

“Rose Walker is a vortex.”

Here is the official Paprika site and trailer. As a responsible anime fan, you need to see this movie.

PopCultureShock :: Comics : Games : Movies : Lifestyle » Anime Reviews

Case Closed Season 4

See also:

Guyver: The Bio-Boosted Armor Review

See also:

Sword of The Stranger Review

See also:

DVD Review: Adventures in Voice Acting, Vol. 1

See also:

Manga Recon @ the Movies: Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody

See also:

Anime Review: Death Note, Vol. 3

See also:

2007 Manga Recon Review Index

Anime and Movie Reviews

Book Reviews

Manga, Manwha and OGM Reviews

A – B

C – D

E – F

G – H

I – J

K – L

M – N

O – P

Q – R – S

T – U – V – W

X – Y – Z

See also:

More of Erin’s Favorite Anime and Manga of 2007

Anime

Manga

See also:

Our Favorite Anime of 2007

Best Anime of 2007: Carlos’ Picks

Best Anime of 2007: Erin’s Picks

Worst Anime of 2007: Carlos’ Pick

Worst Anime of 2007: Erin’s Pick

See also:

Anime Review: Mushi-Shi, Vols. 2-3

Mushi-Shi, Vols. 2-3

See also:

Anime Review: Bleach, Vols. 2-6

Bleach, Vols. 2-6

See also:

Manga Recon Report Card, 7/07 – 9/07

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Anime Review: Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow

See also:

Anime Review: Samurai 7, Vol. 1

Samurai 7, Vol. 1

See also:

Anime Review: Mushi-Shi, Vol. 1

Mushi-Shi, Vol. 1

See also:

Anime Review: Bleach, Vol. 1

Bleach, Vol. 1

See also:

Anime Review: Naruto OVA: The Lost Story

Naruto OVA: The Lost Story

See also:

Anime Review: Afro Samurai: The Director’s Cut

Afro-Samurai: The Director’s Cut

See also:

Anime Review: MÄR (Märchen Awakens Romance) Volume 1: Gateway to MÄR

MÄR (Märchen Awakens Romance) Volume 1: Gateway to MÄR

See also:

Manga Recon at the Movies: Paprika

See also: