anime review

All reviews written since I moved the blog to the wordpress platform. Default category.

Review: Arakawa Under The Bridge (荒川アンダーザブリッジ)

Posted by ranpha on 18th July 2010

Posted in: anime review, STOP THAT BLURRY ANIMATION TECHNIQUE NOW!. Tagged: Arakawa Under The Bridge (series), Arakawa Under The Bridge (荒川アンダーザブリッジ). Leave a Comment

The main male protagonist and the best character in this anime.

The audition to select the first holder of the ‘Anime of the Year 2010’ title begins with my review of the first season of Arakawa Under The Bridge. This review will also allows me to take the beta version of the Windows Live Writer Wave 4 beta for a spin. A second season of this anime has already been announced, therefore below you will know if I think this anime deserved one or not.

The main male protagonist's new neighbors…

Story:-
A heir to the most powerful corporation in the world found himself pant-less on a bridge after a prank went too far. Trying to retrieve his pants from high atop a steel beam, his bad luck strikes again and he fell into the river. As he fought a losing battle for his life, he was saved by a girl who happened to live nearby, under the said bridge. Therefore, to conform to his family’s motto of not ever be indebted to anyone, he agreed to her request for him to become her lover and they started to live together in sin, forever and ever, under the bridge.

I only watched this anime for 10 minutes but I can’t help but think that this anime is very similar to the Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei series. The story maybe vastly different, ditto for cast of characters and settings etc. but these two has this eerie feeling of similarity. The story in this anime itself revolves around the main protagonist and his interactions with his new ‘diverse’ neighbors. Instead of a harem filled with willing high-school girls who will do anything for the main protagonist, he has to deal with some crazed people that made one hell of a habitat under the bridge.

…and this is his apt description of them.

This anime has nearly none of the parodies that is one of the hallmarks of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, but there are humor aplenty throughout this anime. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the high-potential romance element that could have made the story even better isn’t really pronounced or explored, therefore no slapping the romance genre handicap tag upon this anime. But just kinda like Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, the pacing of this anime is quite fast too; about just a little bit slower than the slowest Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei installment – the third season. Despite the fast pacing, this doesn’t affect the development of the story one bit as it evolves and flows around the vibrant community under the bridge.

Unfortunately, this anime also inherits one aspect that Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is bad at, and that would be character developments. To be honest, the character development in this anime is not as glacial as they are in Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei’s 2nd and 3rd season, but they are very minimal. Only the main protagonist has the biggest slice of the character developments (making him the best character in this series), and even that it doesn’t compare to what the suicidal teacher in Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei has in its first season. About two-thirds of the regular characters (example: the two kids with lead masks, the kappa guy and the main female protagonist) doesn’t have any character development at all. You won’t have any idea who they are at all and why on earth they lived under the bridge.

The ending is where you can actually see some plots in this anime and frankly speaking, it is just ordinary. It served up it purpose of setting up the second season well though. I will definitely watch the second season because there should be more hidden gems still left within the storyline and the characters to be exploited and mined. Surely the director will do that in the next season right? Or is he/she is just as crazy as those queers that lives under the bridge?

This green (and not eco-friendly) character is just one of the queers that lives under the bridge.

Character Design:-
Character designs in this anime is good and a positive point for this anime, but IMO not as good as the one in Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei series. Lack of black hairs in this anime is forgiven; after all, except for the black-haired main protagonist, there are some strange people living under the bridge…

Ok I should stop ending my paragraphs that way.

The subtitle aptly describe the said queer perfectly.

Voice Acting:-
Another hallmark of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, but this anime easily matched it in this department. 3 characters come to mind; Stella (who shared the same voice actress with the best character in Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei), the main male protagonist (the main protagonists of this anime and Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei shared the same voice actor) and Piko. The latter is unique and the former is simply awesome. A positive point for this anime.

Music:-
The OST is quite decent but none of the OP/ED theme is any good.

And here our green but not eco-friendly hero is fooling around with two of his equally bat-shit crazy buddies.

Animation/Direction:-
Make this anime the fourth title that uses the blurry animation techniques I have mentioned in Monochrome Factor, Nabari no Ou and in last review of this blog, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Finally, Japan has figured out the way to use that technique outside battle scenes (THIS ANIME DOESN’T HAVE ANY – THIS IS NOT A SHOUNEN TITLE – NO WORLD IS GOING TO BE SAVED), and here I initially thought that Fullmetal Alchemist’s usage of that technique outside battles is an aberration. I fear for the future where this technique will finally be deployed in normal scenes. A point docked off the final evaluation because of this.

If the said technique is ignored, this anime actually has decent animation quality even in fast-paced scenes. Choreography in this slice-of-life with plenty of humor and creep is basically non-existent. The director, which is also the same one who directs all three seasons of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei titles (hmmm… I wonder what else is the same between these two series) also has done a good job in this anime, although of course I do think his works in Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei are better.

The closest thing this anime has as a parody.

Conclusion:-
At 7 out of 10, I don’t really see this anime become the first ‘Anime of the Year 2010’ title holder, unlike the third season of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei that has become a surprise package last year. If somehow this anime can hold on and win the title, I will do really fear for the future of Japanese animation industry.

A hilarious yet very creepy gay moments in this anime.

Shortlink: http://wp.me/prgSo-ec

Review: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (鋼の錬金術師)

Posted by ranpha on 14th July 2010

Posted in: anime review, STOP THAT BLURRY ANIMATION TECHNIQUE NOW!. Tagged: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (鋼の錬金術師). 3 comments

The main title protagonist.

As mentioned in the last post, my review today is for the recently concluded Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood anime (simulcast in Animax Asia just like Tears to Tiara – actually quite a lot of recent anime titles does nowadays). Also in the same post, I mentioned that this anime, and Winter Sonata, are the candidates that may be able to dethrone the current ‘Anime of the Year 2009’ holder Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei. Unfortunately, this anime failed to do it. Therefore, Winter Sonata is the only 2009 anime I have left in my queue that has the likeliest possibility and bestest potential to become the newest ‘Anime of the Year 2009’ in the future.

I do have more 2009 anime titles in my queue such as Bakemonogatari, the second season of Haruhi Suzumiya, Aoi Bungaku, Seitokai no Ichizon etc., but unless they spring a nice surprise to me the way Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei did back then, their chances is basically nil. Coming back to this review, while this anime failed to get the ‘Anime of the Year 2009’ award, it doesn’t mean I have stumbled upon a new Macross 7. This is still a very good anime; read on to see what I think of it.

And this is the main protagonist sidekick a.k.a. little brother.

Story:-
In a fictional world where alchemy actually works, two siblings tried to misuse the said alchemy to try and revive their dead mother. Predictably, they failed but they get away with it lightly (only losing a couple of limbs and a full body, while in our world they would have been burned alive on the stake). To atone for their sins, they set on a journey to find the way of restoring their body parts to original again, while saving the world in the process.

A disclaimer: I have watched the first iteration of this series a few years ago before this blog was created, and I also have read the manga too. Unlike the first series, this new reboot stay more faithfully towards the manga version. Some early parts of the manga that was also reproduced in this first version of this anime (only the first half of that anime is canon) has been abridged or omitted altogether, but when the part of the manga that wasn’t animated in the first series comes in episode 16 or 17, deviations become far rarer.

OK, unlike many of the votes casted in the ANN page of this anime, personally I think the original storyline seen in this anime is only at the same level as the one you can see in Märchen Awakens Romance, and not more. This may be heresy, but I think the original anime, as a whole, also has better storyline than this original reproduction of the manga. This anime is purely an unadulterated conservative shounen title all the way to the ending just like Märchen Awakens Romance and unlike the edgier first Fullmetal Alchemist anime. But the fact that this anime rarely deviates from the manga saves this anime from the abyss of ordinariness.

With rare deviations from the manga (and basically none from episode 16 onwards), the pacing of this anime is picture-perfect. With rare deviations from the manga (and basically none from episode 16 onwards), the story development and the flow of the plot is simply flawless. In other word, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has the best ever presentation for an anime based from a manga. Apart from a recap episode, this anime doesn’t have fillers or useless episodes. Each episode will advance the story, and each episode with see character developments. This anime is on par with Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is this aspect, and where this anime really shine.

With rare deviations from the manga (and basically none from episode 16 onwards), character developments in this anime is very good all around even with a huge roster cast. The big episode count really help too. The best character I liked the most is the homunculus Envy; the homunculus group is really the biggest beneficiary of having the anime sticking up with the manga while the two main protagonists benefits the least.

I wonder if Japan will do more reboots of past series that was already aired. Some titles like Hellsing and Claymore could do with a treatment like what this series has.

This is the main protagonist's woman.

Character Design:-
This anime has good character designs overall. Lack of black hairs (and gazillions of blondes) are overlooked due to the setting of this anime. A positive point for this anime.

And this is the main protagonist's pet puppy. And they are very similar indeed.

Voice Acting:-
Many of the voice actors/actresses that features in the first series doesn’t return in the reboot. Some characters are affected negatively because of it, such as Envy, but those cases are exceptions in otherwise solid voice acting gigs in this anime overall. I only singled out Envy because in his case, the voice acting regressed significantly. His voice actress in the first series is so much better than the one in this anime. A positive point for this anime.

This is the best character in the series, facepalming himself because his voice actress in the reboot series is vastly inferior compared to the one in the first series.

Music:-
The OST in this anime is just as good as the one in the first series, but you cannot say the same thing about the OP/ED themes. The first series has at least 4 good OP/ED themes but this anime only has the 2nd ED theme to show for it. 1 out of 10 themes, that’s a huge fail rate there.

Animation/Direction:-
This anime is another title that used the abhorrent blurry animation technique I have mentioned in Monochrome Factor and Nabari no Ou, And this anime seems to use it outside battle scenes too, especially in the latter part of this anime. Even Monochrome Factor and Nabari no Ou doesn’t do that. One point is docked off the final rating of this anime because of this. This is a pity because otherwise, the animation in this anime is very good overall, even in fast-paced scenes.

Choreography in battle scenes are mixed bag; the ones that doesn’t involve alchemy (read: all of the Fuhrer President King Bradley battles) are great while the vast majority of battles that involves alchemy (read: battles that includes the two main protagonists) are almost below average. In fact, the highlights of the ending arc are the two duels that King Bradley is involved in. Those fights are worth the price of admission alone.

The directing is flawless, but if following the manga storyline is the paramount goal of this anime, then you really have to try to screw-up the directing of this anime. This anime is a rare example of where the manga writer is actually the de-facto director of this anime.

And I don’t even mention the ridiculously fake-looking rain effects in this anime. Someone in Japan has to learn from Mister Makoto Shinkai before being allowed to animate again.

Conclusion:-
8 out of 10. The journey ends here, hahahaha! Therefore Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei will still retain the ‘Anime of the Year 2009’ title for the time being. Meanwhile, the selection for the first ‘Anime of the Year 2010’ title holder will commence right after this. From the shortlist of eight 2010 titles, one will be chosen to be listed at the right sidebar of this blog. The 2010 titles are, in no particular reviewing order, Nodame Cantabile Finale (S3), Ookiku Furikabutte S2, Mayoi Neko Overrun, Hakuouki, Angel Beats, Arakawa Under the Bridge, Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu, B gata H kei and Working. Which anime will come first, the answer will only be known in the next post.

And this is the main protagonist, in a pinch and is about to be beaten to a pulp.

Shortlink: http://wp.me/prgSo-e1

Review: Black Jack TV (ブラック・ジャック)

Posted by ranpha on 4th July 2010

Posted in: anime review, perfect score. Tagged: Black Jack (series), Black Jack TV (ブラック・ジャック). Leave a Comment

The bad-ass main title protagonist…

…and this is an apt description for him.

A few hours after Brazil was dumped out of World Cup by the Netherlands (definitely the best match to date), I finished watching yet another humongous 63-episode anime series, titled Black Jack TV. It includes 61 regular aired episodes and two extra unaired episodes. This anime was also aired in Animax some time back just like Tantei Gakuen Q, Gakkou no Kaidan and Urusei Yatsura but I didn’t watch it. This is a 2004 anime, therefore it will not compete for any of the ‘Anime of the Year’ titles. Read on for the most screenshot-laden review this blog ever have.

Just another victim of the main protagonist…

…and his price will eventually increase 10-fold as the series went on.

Story:-
This anime revolves around a part-time unlicensed veterinarian, full-time genius unlicensed surgeon who performed near-miraculous surgery feats while charging outrageous fees on his weeping patients. Aided by a pseudo-loli assistant, he prowl around Japan and around the world, extorting desperate people out of their life savings, one episode at a time. Then he buys more exotic islands. The end.

The main protagonist is sweet-talking an innocent vulnerable kid into paying gazillion yen as payment to save the kid's father life. Notice the windowless van behind the main protagonist.

If the victim is a sweet young thing and she doesn't have the money to pay for the surgery, he will ask for 'something else' as payment! No prizes for guessing what he will ask as payment in such situations.

This anime is an episodic series, therefore it doesn’t have a main prevailing plot (no saving the world from aliens invaders or no saving a female protagonist from bad guys). Each episode will feature the surgery (and rip-off) of the day, but more often than not, any given episode will usually revolves around the circumstances of the surgery. The surgeries itself are rarely shown, and usually takes only 10 seconds or so of the airtime of any given episode (exceptions are very rare). Some of the plots are reused a few times throughout the series too. Due to the episodic nature of this anime, you can actually skip many of the episodes in this series, and you won’t miss anything.

Some of the reused plots involves the main protagonist operating on traffic accident victims. In this episode, he is the one who mowed down the unsuspecting victim though. And even when the accident is completely his fault, he will still ask for outrageous fees for a surgery that shouldn't have happened in the first place.

The main protagonist will also do animals. The fees are still exorbitant though. You should see how he makes the killer whale in the picture above to look for precious pearls and corals as payment for his treatment. In another episode, you can see how the main protagonist forced a bird to pay for surgery of the bird's master. The bird dies in the end, from exhaustion. The main protagonist is evil, am I right?

Nevertheless, the episodic plots around those surgery-of-the-week are the main essence of this anime, and where this anime really shine. The stories behind each surgery are largely excellent, making this anime one of the best slice-of-life title I have ever watched. The episodic plots contains various kind of stories. Heart-warming stories, ones that tugs your heart, heroic efforts from the main protagonist, or more likely, other people; sacrifices for the sake of others, some funny stories plus a few advocacy messages too from the author (the legendary Osamu Tezuka). You can watch the kind of stories that you can read from the ‘Chicken Soup For The Soul’ book series in this anime. And not all episodes has a happy ending, which also helps this anime immensely. Very immensely.

When the main protagonist feels generous, he will only charge this price. The man above is one lucky SOB.

Some of his former victims are now very wary about being double-dipped by the main protagonist.

Being an episodic anime series, the pacing within the episodes is usually fast and sometimes this caused the plot development to suffer. But only a few times within the sixty-something-episode run does that happened in this series. Characters’ development are virtually non-existent, and flashbacks are used to depict the past of the two main recurring characters. It was these kind of episodes that you should not skip when watching this anime because they are the closest thing this anime has as a substitute for a prevailing plot.

This Black Jack episode is a cross between Hikaru no Go and Midori no Hibi.

This guy even have the nerve to charge a grey alien 2 million dollars for a surgery. Thank god the aliens doesn't destroy the Earth for his greediness.

A very good example is episode 44, which deals with the past of the pseudo-loli assistant I have mentioned above. But if you ever plan to watch this anime too, make sure that you watch at least 20 episodes that precedes the 44th episode, preferably the first 10 episodes, then any random 10 from the next 33 episodes. Episode 44 contained a very powerful plot twist, in addition of one of the more controversial and outrageous surgery feats ever done by the main protagonist (which puts him in the same bracket as Victor Frankenstein). But it was the plot twist that really defines this episode. You know, in many of the preceding episodes before episode 44, the pseudo-loli assistant always make an outrageous claim when introducing herself to the new characters that she met. More often than not, her claim was dismissed as a lie by the characters that she met, and even I do think she is just overexaggerating. But only when I watched the 44th episode, I did realize that she is not lying after all and Osamu Tezuka has just managed to troll me. And this is why the pseudo-loli assistant is the best character in this series.

A talking tumor with powerful psychic abilities. Just a hazardous day in the office for the main protagonist.

The scene of a desperate victim who will pay anything to have their loved ones cured is the cue for our main protagonist to make his entrance.

A minor drawback that this anime has is the outrageous surgery feats that the main protagonist performed, even with suspension of belief in place. Apparently, the main protagonist can do limbs transplant (WTF!?), brain transplant from the head to torso (holy sh*t), open surgery in total darkness (okaaay…), open surgery on grey aliens ( ), open surgery on himself without anesthetic and more. The feat performed in the aforementioned episode 44 should also mentioned, but I don’t want to spoil that episode to you. Some overreactions can also be seen in this anime, where a cholera outbreak was treated as if the Black Death has just occurred again. The fansub group (or is just the broadcasters themselves?) has to made a disclaimer before an episode was played, saying that tuberculosis was usually treated with antibiotics, and not surgery as the main protagonist has done in the said episode. Seeing his skills in action, you will be forgiven if you think that the main protagonist has the ability to cure AIDS, and cancer too (he does this quite regularly).

The bad-ass main protagonist can even perform open surgery on himself without any anesthetic.

OMG! The Hell is freezing!

There are no visible ending of course, being episodic and all. But I heard that the sequel has a plot. Therefore I will have to watch it some time in the future.

The main protagonist favorite computer program: Winamp. It really whips the llama's ass!

Character Design:-
One thing you will notice about the character designs in this anime is that they are very Westernized. If the dialogues are in English and the names are changed to Caucasian ones, no one will realize that Black Jack is an anime from Japan. However, this is not a bad thing for this anime.

Thank god there are no silly card jokes being used in this anime.

Voice Acting:-
Voice acting in this dialogue-heavy anime is very good, with the two main protagonists being the best of them all. Definitely a positive point for this anime.

There's only one time where our serial blackmailer become the one who are blackmailed!

Music:-
The sparse multi-genre OST is just average, but the 1st and 3rd OP as well as the 1st and 3rd Ed themes are good.

The sad past of our main protagonist: beating innocent classmates and become the big bully at his high school.

Animation/Direction:-
The animation quality s just average, but the little amount of fast-paced scenes in this anime doesn’t seem to be affected. Choreography is non-existent. While unspectacular, the directing is basically flawless and has no persistent weaknesses, except in the rare cases where the pacing affects the story development as mentioned above.

The manga which this anime is based upon is actually older than the CD-ROM technology itself. And Winamp for the matter.

Conclusion:-
10 out of 10 for this excellent slice-of-life anime. This anime, the second Osamu Tezuka work that I have watched, is better than the first one I have watched before, titled Metropolis, in AXN a few years back. The next anime that I will review is the long-awaited Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, which alongside Winter Sonata, are probably the only anime titles out there that can dethrone Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei off its current title.

This is the main protagonist's pet. Would not be alien in Looney Tunes or Hanna & Barbera shows. Hahahaha!