Anime Reviews

[cj iwakura]

I'm all for female protagonists(re: Final Fantasy VI, Parasite Eve, Deception II-IV), so it sounds like something I'd be interested in.

Then again, I'll watch anything that seems like it might be unique these days.

[Revolver Ocelot]

goddessatma said:

Now now revolverocelot, I have to disagree on one point. I think the Claymores are dead sexy. Clare, Galatea, Flora. Gorgeous. ;D

I don't think they're sexy. Sexy isn't so much a look as it is a set of mannerisms. An unattractive woman can be sexy if she presents herself properly. Likewise, a woman who is very attractive may not be sexy. The Claymores are indeed beautiful, but I don't feel that they're very sexy, and that's what I like about them. I have undying respect for Teresa and I thought she was beautiful. I think she was amazing, but I wouldn't have boned her. I think she's beyond that level. It's the difference between saying "You're beautiful" and "I want to fuck you."

[Atma]

That's mostly what I was getting at too, but I was going for a silly tone in my post. Teresa has my respect forever and so do all the others but the only one I would consider dating would be Clare, because I have this urge to protect people I think need it and Clare is the kind I would like to nurture.

Also, if being a Claymore was a real career option, I would have been first in line yesterday. I would love to be one.

[Revolver Ocelot]

Mobile Suit Gundam MS igLoo: Apocalypse 0079

Studio: Sunrise

Director: Takashi Imanishi
Writer: Asahide Ookuma & Hiroshi Ohnogi
Producer: Koichi Inoue, Satoshi Kubo & Takashi Imanishi
Composer: Megumi Oohashi
Designer: Shinji Aramaki (characters), Hajime Katoki, Kenki Fujioka, Kimitoshi Yamane & Yutaka Izubuchi (mecha)

Released: April 26th, 2006
Genre: Drama, Mecha, Sci-Fi
Format: OVA
Runtime: 3 episodes, 25 minutes each (75 minutes)
US License: Bandai (Honneamise)


The Dane Cook action figure is fully posable, I see.

As an avid Gundam[/i] fan since my first exposure to the series via fansubbed VHS tapes of War in the Pocket[/i] some 11 or 12 years ago, I feel obliged to experience every bit of this universe. Like some obsessed Star Wars fanboy who puts up with some of the incredibly boring bits of the “Expanded Universe”, I strive for a sense of completion. On more than one occasion, this has led me to much suffering, as you may have read in my review of MS igLoo: The Hidden One Year War[/i].


Monique: "Ooooo! Tom Brady just got SACKED!"

To my dismay, Bandai released another OVA to follow up the first three dull, sappy, ugly, and insultingly formulaic episodes of MS igLoo[/i]. Of course, I still tried to be optimistic. I was not counting off this series just yet. Perhaps it could rectify the mistakes of the first OVA. Perhaps it would find its focus on some actual, continuing plot instead of the episodic tales of ‘tude-injected one-shot pilots. Perhaps it could find some sort of relevance in the overall timeline of the Universal Century. Perhaps, just maybe, it would not suck. Then again, perhaps not.


Captain: "PLAXICOOOOOO!!!!"

Apocalypse 0079[/i] is much the same deal that The Hidden One Year War[/i] was. 3 more predictable, sappy, irrelevant episodes that have absolutely no merit in regards to the Gundam[/i] saga as a whole. The formula remains unchanged. The 603rd team is asked to test an experimental new machine, a new pilot is introduced to do so, something goes wrong during the test and the pilot dies. The only episode that breaks from this formula that has been consistent for 5 episodes is the last, where Oliver May himself pilots the final overly elaborate, experimental mobile armor.


Kuspen: "Brady got sacked how many times?"

This time, the show tries a bit harder, though that only makes things even sadder. There are a few attempts at characterization, though these attempts are pretty hollow and typical. They usually go something along the lines of “Someone I know has died. This suddenly makes me a much deeper person.” This method of character development works in the rest of the Gundam[/i] shows where characters that have been around for dozens of episodes and have become an integral part of the show are lost. But here, where the characters die in the very episodes they are introduced in, it is very hard to feel anything for them or those who must go on after their demise.


Erwin: "TYREEEEEEEEE!!!"

This OVA also tries to be more relevant to the Gundam[/i] timeline by straying away from isolated incidents and putting the action in famous Gundam[/i] set-pieces such as Jaburo and Solomon. But by still not having any interaction with the other Gundam[/i] shows set during the One Year War, it still feels off on its lonesome. That is not to say MS igLoo[/i] fails because it is not important. After all, War in the Pocket[/i] was even more isolated than this and it was an excellent OVA. But the isolated incidents of MS igLoo[/i] are not interesting enough to be worth telling.


"Stick a quarter in your ass, 'cuz you just played yourself!"

In the two years between these two OVAs, not even the visuals have changed. MS igLoo[/i] still looks like a very low-budget CG project that can hardly compare to most video games of its day. The motion capture is still awkward and fake, the lip synching is still non-existent and the movement of ships and mobile suits is still way too fast and cartoony. I certainly hope Bandai does not think that this is the future of animation. Complimenting the visuals, the background music is still mostly forgettable with the exception of a few remixes of themes from Mobile Suit Gundam[/i].


"Clive Barker invites you to hop on board this MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN!"

Apocalypse 0079[/i] is just more of the same shit. Shit that was no good to begin with, hence requiring no revisiting. With the end of this OVA taking place during the climax of the Battle of A Baoa Qu, I can at least rest assured that they will not make any more of these. Unless, of course, they want to continue the misadventures of the 603rd team into the Stardust[/i]/Zeta[/i] era. In that case, god help us.


Captain: "MAAAANNIIIINNNGGGGG!!"

- Shalashashka

Story: F
Animation: D
Design: D
Music: C
Direction: D
Overall: F
Sub or Dub: Neither

[Revolver Ocelot]

cjiwakura said:

I'm all for female protagonists(re: Final Fantasy VI, Parasite Eve, Deception II-IV), so it sounds like something I'd be interested in.

Then again, I'll watch anything that seems like it might be unique these days.

You know, unique isn't necessarily synonymous with good. You want unique? Watch Baccano!. You want good? Watch Gurren Lagann. Personally, I prefer to be entertained rather than enlightened.

[necromaniac]

Why do you torture yourself with shit like Apocalypse 0079?
Even as an armature Gundamist, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole...
Well, perhaps thanks are rather in order; revolverocelot, suffers for our anime needs
Your doing a great job btw!

[YourAverageJoe]

revolverocelot said:

cjiwakura said:

I'm all for female protagonists(re: Final Fantasy VI, Parasite Eve, Deception II-IV), so it sounds like something I'd be interested in.

Then again, I'll watch anything that seems like it might be unique these days.

You know, unique isn't necessarily synonymous with good. You want unique? Watch Baccano!. You want good? Watch Gurren Lagann. Personally, I prefer to be entertained rather than enlightened.

I like Baccano! I like its style.

[Revolver Ocelot]

necromaniac said:

Why do you torture yourself with shit like Apocalypse 0079?
Even as an armature Gundamist, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole...
Well, perhaps thanks are rather in order; revolverocelot, suffers for our anime needs
Your doing a great job btw!

Thanks. I'm anime Jesus. Dying a little bit each day at the hands of bad anime so you don't have to.

I like Baccano! I like its style.

I'd like Baccano! if it weren't so fucking muddled. There's just too many characters to keep track of and as a result, none of them get any development. That's not even entirely the cast's fault. Hell, Goro Taniguchi and the writers of Infinite Ryvius managed to develop a 100+ character cast pretty well in 26 episodes.

[hashin]

I tried Claymore, but dropped it. I'm currently watching Darker than black, waiting to see if it gets more interesting.

[necromaniac]

I just finished the first episode of Fate-Stay night, being somewhat interested in it after watching Lunar Legend Tsukihime and playing a bit of Metly Blood, and it failed to grab me.
I'll give it the standard four episode chance before deciding whether or not to go on.

[Revolver Ocelot]

necromaniac said:

I just finished the first episode of Fate-Stay night, being somewhat interested in it after watching Lunar Legend Tsukihime and playing a bit of Metly Blood, and it failed to grab me.
I'll give it the standard four episode chance before deciding whether or not to go on.

Fate/Stay night is really juvenile, but as it goes on it gets kinda fun in an s-CRY-ed kinda way.

[Warchief Onyx]

I thought Baccano was pretty damn entertaining myself.

[Revolver Ocelot]

Heroic Age

Studio: Xebec

Director: Toshimasa Suzuki
Writer: Tow Ubukata
Producer: Gou Nakanishi & Takatoshi Chino
Composer: Naoki Sato
Design: Hisashi Hirai (characters), Naohiro Washio, Ken Ootsuka & Yoshiki Kuga (mecha)

Released: April 1st, 2007
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Mecha, Sci-Fi
Format: Continuing TV series
Runtime: 26 episodes, 25 minutes each (650 minutes)
US License: None yet



Three years after the Xebec team which created Fafner of the Azure[/i] completed that wonderful show, the same group of people has created another epic sci-fi series with a much greater scope. Tow Ubukata once again pens the story, Hirai and Washio once again bring to life the characters, machines and creatures therein with much vibrancy, and Toshimasa Suzuki, who did some storyboarding for Fafner[/i], makes one of the most impressive directorial debuts I have ever seen. Even in a year where we had Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann[/i] and the amazing conclusion to Code Geass[/i], Heroic Age[/i] stands proudly as one of the best moments of 2007.



Based heavily in Greek mythology, Heroic Age[/i] tells the story of the four tribes who inhabit the universe. The Bronze Tribe is a race of industrious, highly intelligent insect-like creatures. The members of the Silver Tribe are the lords of the outer universe, a divine race of immortals who feel no emotion. The Hero Tribe, the greatest of all the tribes, was a race of incredibly powerful giants called the Nodos. These three tribes were watched over by the creators of the universe, the Golden Tribe, for eons. The Golden Tribe gave to the other tribes “contracts” to abide by. But the contracts between the tribes were vague and contradictory, and this lead to war. The Hero Tribe wrought such destruction that all but five Nodos were killed, and four of those remaining were sealed inside members of the Silver Tribe.



But the last and most powerful Nodos of the Hero Tribe, Bellcross, was placed inside a member of a new tribe, the Iron Tribe, or rather, the human race. The Golden Tribe bestows the power of Bellcross onto a single human infant named Age, whose ship crash lands on a remote planet. Raised by the automated security system of the ship, Age grows up to be a young man, his only friend being a giant squid living in the lake near the ship. This isolation is broken one day, however, when Dhianeila Yunos, princess of the Iron Tribe, blessed with the powers of divine perception, visits Age’s planet. She asks Age to help the Iron Tribe, who is on the verge of being wiped out by a campaign of eradication by the combined forces of the Bronze and Silver tribes. Bound by the contract laid out by the Golden Tribe, Age joins Dhianeila and the crew of the space ship Argonaut.



The story of Heroic Age[/i] is executed extremely well in spite of its traditional structure. Although its dramatis personae suffer from an overall lack of character depth, there is a lot of detail to the characters and quirky nuances that make them interesting. Particularly fascinating is how all the characters of the different tribes deal with and react to the labors contained within the Golden Tribe’s contracts. Another interesting aspect is how there is no absolute evil in the show. All the tribes are merely carrying out the orders given by the contracts, and we, the viewers, are meant to sympathize with all of them at certain points.



One of the highlights of the show is the amazing battles. They are on a scale unseen in just about any work of fiction. Battles that span entire solar systems where whole planets are destroyed in the crossfire will be a treat to any fan of sci-fi. Aside from standard mecha and ship combat, there are the epic confrontations between Age and the four members of the Silver Tribe who have the powers of the other Nodos survivors. When the Iron Tribe is threatened, Age unleashes the power of Bellcross and transforms into a giant beast capable of tearing through asteroids and other large stellar objects like they were made of papier-mâché. When one or several of the other Nodos join in, things get very intense.



If you thought Fafner[/i] looked good, wait until you see Heroic Age[/i]. This is far and away one of the most beautiful TV animes ever produced. The animation is gorgeous and smooth and the special effects and lighting elements are pure eye-candy. Hisashi Hirai returns once again to design the characters, and this is his best work yet. He no longer seems to be recycling designs from Gundam SEED[/i]. Even more impressive, Naohiro Washio comes back to design the mecha and the Nodos. The mecha look great even though they are not a much advertised feature of the show. The Nodos take center stage, however. Each one is unique, with an individual set of abilities. Washio did a great job making them look intimidating while at the same time, they are clearly vulnerable in a way mecha are not.



One person not returning from Fafner[/i] is Tsuneyoshi Saito, who composed an excellent soundtrack for the show. But fret not, as Naoki Sato, who composed the amazing soundtracks for X[/i] and Eureka Seven[/i] steps in and offers a wonderful, thematic, and sweeping orchestral soundtrack befitting of Heroic Age[/i]’s grand scale. Pop duo angelus, who presented the opening and ending themes for Fafner[/i], return to do the amazing opening song for Heroic Age, “gravitation”, which feels like a sequel to Fafner’s “Shangri-La”.



While not groundbreaking, Heroic Age[/i] is a highly entertaining, poignant, and beautiful romp across the galaxy. It provides plenty of action, epic battles and nice character relationships abound. Though I prefer the more personal and close-knit feeling of Fafner[/i], Heroic Age[/i] is every bit as good. With any luck, somebody will pick this up and distribute it in the US. Until then, do what you can to watch it. You will not regret it.

- Shalashashka

Story: A
Animation: S
Design: S
Music: A
Direction: S
Overall: A

OP: "gravitation[/i]" by angela[/b]
As I said above, the sequel to "Shangri-La". Great song. A+

ED1 (1-14, 16-25): "Azurite[/i]" by Tae Urakabe[/b]
Decent, romantic ending song. B

ED2 (15): "Azurite ~ for luster star Dhianeila[/i]" by Yui Ishikawa[/b]
Later verse from the same song by a different singer. B

ED3 (26): "Azurite ~ True grace~" by Tae Urakabe
Most dramatic version of the song. Fits the moment. B+

[TheGunheart]

You know, I've had the DVD boxset for Fafner sitting on my shlef for a while now, and your review has convinced me to finally take it out and watch it (and you've put Heroic Age on my list of most anticipated titles).

BTW, would you mind if I posted my own review of Gad Guard here?

[Revolver Ocelot]

Read the first post, man. This was meant to be a thread for everyone to post anime reviews.

I'm glad I could get you into Fafner at least. Let me know what you think.