El-Hazard the Magnificent World 2: A Conservative Misstep

The month of El-Hazard continues with El Hazard the Magnificent World 2, a sequel that has everything you’d expect but still manages to fall short of recapturing the magic of the original.

Magnificent World 2 begins with the wedding of Mr. Fujisawa and the water priestess Miz, something that was mentioned during the conclusion of the first OVA, but as usual things get crazy and our heroes set off on another journey across the world of El-Hazard. Along the way they’ll meet a few new characters and some familiar faces, but for the most part it’s just another big adventure with the original cast. Considering that's probably why many would ever buy this OVA in the first place perhaps that's not such a bad thing.

The storyline is basically a rinse and repeat version of the first OVA, Jinnai finds yet another demon goddess and everyone has to stop a super weapon from destroying the world. It’s not completely identical, there are some mild twists, but for the most part it just feels like the creative team took the easy way out and decided to copy the original formula as much as they could rather then expand on the universe in a meaningful way. The story doesn’t start off particularly strong and there’s never a point where it really kicks in, you get the sense that they put this project on cruise control to capitalize on the property doing just enough to please hardcore fans but too little to actually make this anime anything special. At times it just felt tedious, which is pretty amazing considering the series is just two hours long, and I’m not sure whether the concept just can’t entertain for more then one OVA or if it’s just being handled poorly.

But El-Hazard 2 does have a some positives, namely the fact that the entire cast is intact and they’re as likable as ever. It’s interesting to see how the characters who were originally from Earth have integrated into Rashtarian society. All three have minor cosmetic changes and seem to be making a realistic transition into a new life in that dimension. The other characters have minor touch-ups as well but nothing really substantial, everyone’s motivations are basically the same as before but it’s tough to fault anyone for that decision. One of the original OVA’s biggest strengths was its interesting cast, the sequel leans on them heavily and they provide a great deal of entertainment despite the unoriginal story.

My biggest complaint with El-Hazard 2, outside the conservative storyline, is the drop in production value. The original wasn’t a landmark achievement in animation or sound but it was at least solid in both areas with some occasionally memorable work sprinkled in as well. The sequel’s animation quality dips pathetically at times and at best it’s only as good as the first OVA’s lowest quality scenes. The soundtrack lacks the catchy tone of the original so the synthesized music comes off very badly. It never really sets the mood well, at times it does manage to blend into the background nicely, but at its worst the music can really draw your attention away from the action and that’s never a good thing.

I rarely go into detail about dialogue but I have to mention it this time around, it’s just that poor. To be fair the entire show isn’t filled with terrible lines, the majority of the time it’s passable, but at it’s worst it can be painfully bad. There is a scene where an argument is going on, one of the protagonists says Makoto shouldn’t go because it’s dangerous, he says he wants to, and they immediately agree. Not a reluctant “It’s our only choice” but literally just “Yes”. The fact that it occurs during what should be the emotional climax of the show makes it even worse. Some anime simply have terrible dialogue throughout, El Hazard 2's worst moments are few and far between but in some ways that's even worse. After an hour of decent lines, hearing an awful exchange during a key scene can jerk your mind away from the action in an instant. The dub quality is actually pretty good, most of the English cast has been retained, but when you ask them to deliver barely passable dialogue there’s not a whole lot they can do with it.

El-Hazard 2 seems to have all the necessary elements of a good sequel but it just comes together very poorly. The story is recycled, the animation quality is sloppy, and the dialogue is sometimes atrocious. Overall it’s just a movie-length epilogue that feels unnecessary. El-Hazard 2 is strictly for fans of the first OVA who are clamoring for more adventures from this group regardless of quality. For anyone else, just watch the original and don’t bother with this one.

Final Score: 7.2
Storyline: Poor
Animation: Passable
Soundtrack: Poor
Dub: Good

Also Try: El-Hazard the Magnificent World

El-Hazard the Magnificent World: El-Hazard Month Commences

When searching for another anime to watch I stumbled upon El-Hazard, which I had heard of before but knew absolutely nothing about. That’s generally the best type of show to watch, the one you don’t have any expectations coming into, so I decided to make it the next review. I soon found that El-Hazard is actually a franchise comprised of three OVAs and a 26-episode alternate take on the concept, not just the one-shot show I expected. So rather then simply review one of them all three of you loyal readers are going to be treated to a solid month’s worth of El-Hazard. Is it a worthy of an entire month of exposure? Who knows? The important thing is that we’re going to soon find out. So without further delay let’s begin the first part of the series, El-Hazard the Magnificent World.

I honestly had no idea what to expect coming into El-Hazard the Magnificent World, and I think that really contributed to my enjoyment of it. The show is your basic alternate dimension fantasy anime but it rises above the cliché mainly because its parts are so unique and enjoyable. The story revolves around honor student Makoto Mizuhara who is transported to the alternate dimension El-Hazard by an ancient ruin he stumbles upon underneath his school. His history teacher and two of classmates are swept there along with him and they all have to find their place in the new surroundings as they play a crucial role in a climactic period of El-Hazard’s history.

El-Hazard seems very typical at first. Average school kid transported to another dimension and conveniently thrust into the role of savior? Check. Mysterious foreshadowing that he may have had previous connections there? Yep. Ancient doomsday devices that brought the world to ruin once again threatening civilization? You bet. But despite a storyline that would make any fan of fantasy anime or Super Nintendo RPGs feel right at home El-Hazard carves out a place for itself by simply being better then average. The show balances the dramatic elements with its interesting sense of humor and never dips too far towards either side. The story moves along at a steady pace without too many ridiculously convenient events that tend to hurt other fantasy shows and it ends in a satisfying way that delivers on all the buildup.

El-Hazard’s characters are all classic anime archetypes at first glance but they’ve been endowed with just enough individuality to keep the viewer from constantly thinking about it. Makoto is your average teenage hero protagonist who’s ever so willing to save the day despite the fact he has no prior experience doing so, and on the opposite end of the spectrum is Katsuhiko Jinnai the evil overachiever who has decided they are bitter rivals. The way those two characters embrace the two opposing forces of El-Hazard, and how they adapt to their new positions, is one of the best aspects of the show. The other supporting characters are all memorable as well in their own special ways. The other two Earthlings, the history teacher Mr. Fujisawa and Katsuhiko’s sister Nanami, acquire special abilities following their dimension-hop that allow them to contribute to the story in a meaningful way. Despite the fact this OVA only has six episodes all the characters seem to get plenty of face time, some shows struggle when juggling a large cast in a limited run but El-Hazard hit’s the perfect balance.

The music of El-Hazard is interesting. I could definitely see it grating on some people’s nerves but to me it hit the spot. The soundtrack reminded me of old 16-bit RPGs, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. The positive is that all the songs fit specific settings and are catchy, while the negative is that some of the music sounds terribly synthesized. For some shows this would be a burden but the campy tunes fit this particular universe well so it’s hardly even a bother. The dub is solid all around. No one particularly stands out and some of the lines could have been delivered better but on the whole the cast did a good job. The animation varies at times, a lot of the far off shots come out very blurry while the close-ups are sharp, and it can be a little jarring in certain scenes. Overall though, considering the time of its release (1997) El-Hazard’s animation is on par with the other releases of that period and comparing it to current shows would be pretty unfair.

To wrap it up, El Hazard the Magnificent World is an excellent albeit short anime. It really exceeded my expectations going above and beyond the majority of entries in its genre with very few weaknesses. It’s a show I’d recommend to anyone with an interest in anime, it’s very accessible and not the type of series that only otaku can get into. What it lacks in depth El Hazard makes up for in charm. You’ll no doubt come away from the experience having enjoyed yourself and it’s tough to knock any show that can manage that.


Final Score: 8.7
Storyline: Good
Animation: Good
Soundtrack: Good
Dub: Good

Also Try: Escaflowne, Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind

Ergo Proxy: Cyberpunk Done Right

I realize this may come as a shock to anyone who’s been reading this blog, but I’m actually going to review a show that hasn’t been out for nearly a decade. Ergo Proxy is one of the best new anime I’ve seen in a long time and has the look of a show that could very well be remembered as one of the all-time greats. For that reason I will attempt to keep away from as many spoilers as possible. Any details given in this review are minor and shouldn’t hurt the experience from anyone yet to watch the series. And you won’t want anything spoiled, trust me, Ergo Proxy is that good.

Set in the distant future, mankind has fled into domed cities to escape the wasteland created after a nuclear war. Ergo Proxy begins in the dome city of Romdo, where the “fellow citizens” believe they are the last outpost of civilization on the planet. Their blissful ignorance is being put to the test however by the Cogito virus, a computer malfunction that is sweeping through the robot population. Since the citizens rely on these robots, referred to as AutoReivs or Entourages, for almost everything this is a serious problem. Detective Re-l Mayer is tasked with investigating the strange events caused by Cogito-infected AutoReivs and she will eventually discover the rabbit hole goes much deeper then she had originally thought.

Ergo Proxy appears to be a typical cyberpunk anime at first glance. It has the color palette that rarely strays from blacks and grays, everyone inexplicably wears leather and trench coats, and it’s set in a post-apocalyptic world controlled by an elaborate government. But it quickly differentiates itself from the pack by doing all the little things right. Far too often cyberpunk anime gets bogged down in complicated terminology or giant robots, Ergo Proxy knows exactly what it wants to do and cuts the excess. The show takes a few episodes to get going, and I’m not kidding the opening acts can be incredibly dull, but once it finds traction it grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.

Ergo Proxy does an excellent job of creating a universe the viewer will want to understand and explore. Romdo is your typical domed dystopia but luckily we escape its confines fairly early on and see the world beyond, and that world is filled with interesting locales and memorable characters. Ergo Proxy is not a show that gets stuck in one spot for too long, if anything it cycles through settings and secondary characters so quickly you wonder if it might not have benefited from lingering there a little longer. But it’s difficult to hold that against it because while many lesser shows would get mired in fleshing out petty details this anime actually has places to go.

The quickest way to draw a viewer into an unfamiliar and foreboding world like this is to show it to them through the experiences of an interesting cast. Ergo Proxy only has three characters that could be considered “core” protagonists but they are more then enough. Each of them has a unique perspective on the world, interesting motivations, and they interact with each other in a realistic manner that keeps you guessing. Unlike many shows where the cast is predictable Ergo Proxy’s main group actually evolves over time in a way that makes you eager to see what will happen next. Focusing on just three characters with what amounts to a revolving door for a supporting cast was a daring decision, but it pays off because of how it’s all handled. You never get a sense of overexposure when it comes to these three because there’s rarely a dull moment that allows for that sort of reflection.

The production values are top-notch as well. Monglobe, the same studio that brought us Samurai Champloo, produced Ergo Proxy and they didn’t cut any corners. While it rarely uses any color the animation is fantastic throughout. A limited amount of CG is used but thankfully it doesn’t detract from the visual experience. The soundtrack is nothing memorable but this isn’t a show that relies on a grand score to get points across, instead opting for silence or specific sound effects to set the tone. The opening and closing themes are fantastic and fit the show perfectly and they deserve a special mention. Like most anime produced in the last few years Ergo Proxy’s dub is handled very well. The character’s personalities really shine through in the actors performances, which is crucial because a show that’s this centered on a small cast can’t afford to have any of them seem wooden.

With all the praise I’ve heaped on Ergo Proxy you’d think it was without fault, but unfortunately this is not the case. While the show does many things well it has a few flaws in the form of questionable decisions. There is a stretch of three out of five episodes in the latter half of the series that are serious head scratchers. To call them odd would be kind. They completely stray from the series' tone and make you wonder if their was some sort of a minimum episode requirement that had to be met. With such an interesting world to be explored you have to question how the writing staff came to the conclusion that it was better to have three oddball excursions then a few more episodes that would have benefited the whole.

But with all that being said those negative points can’t change the fact that Ergo Proxy is one of the best sci-fi anime in years and my personal choice for best new anime of 2007. I’m honestly amazed it hasn’t gotten more buzz within the community then it has, but I have no doubt the positive word of mouth will pick up and help it find an audience for years to come.


Final Score: 8.8
Storyline: Excellent
Animation: Excellent
Soundtrack: Passable
Dub: Good

Also Try: Wolf's Rain, Serial Experiments Lain

Cowboy Bebop the Movie: Knockin on Heaven's Door

Anytime an anime has a movie years after its conclusion there’s always a good chance it could go awry. When that movie revisits one of the most beloved series in the history of the medium there’s even less room for error. Luckily for fans of Cowboy Bebop, director Shinichiro Watanabe managed to bring the entire crew back for one more adventure that lives up to the original’s reputation.

Rather then try to make a sequel Watanabe chose instead to set the movie just before the show’s finale, this decision was the right one for several reasons. If Watanabe had chosen to set the movie after the final episode it would have had to either bring characters back and lessen the original sacrifices or move forward without them and risk losing what made the series so successful in the first place. So rather then a tacked-on epilogue to an already perfect package we get an untold tale that fits perfectly in tone with the rest of the show as if it were just an extra long episode.

The movie captures the original series’ tone perfectly. Although it tends to skew a bit darker at times, and somehow manages to garner an R rating (seriously, MPAA?) the movie will feel familiar to anyone who has spent time on the Bebop before. One notable difference is the movie’s animation quality. Bebop always had solid animation but the movie really improves upon that with an extra layer of polish. It’s nice to see that the production team didn’t skimp and just match the series’ original animation quality but instead produced something on par with other feature-length anime films.

The Bebop crew’s latest bounty is a terrorist detonating biological weapons all over Mars. Many familiar characters make an appearance, a veritable who’s who of secondary cast members, but nothing feels forced. The pacing is excellent as usual and the plot alludes to previous stories we’ve heard about military experiments on Titan, the only difference this time is that the writing staff can paint with broader strokes. The original series had a few two-part story arcs, all of them excellent, but the stories that could be told were still limited to roughly 48 minutes. The movie isn’t long by American film standards but it’s still longer then any story ever told in the original 26 episodes and it allows for more detail with a deliberate pace that doesn’t have to conform to rigid time limits.

It’s fortunate too because the movie’s story is more epic then anything the show ever attempted. The original show generally focused on intimate encounters with the occasional space battle or chase scene. The movie has more variety in its settings but it doesn’t overdo it, it’s obvious that the creative team knew they had more leeway with this project and they took that freedom as far as they could without losing the soul that made the show so beloved in the first place. All the main characters are given plenty of screen time and each of them plays an important role in the tale although they rarely act in tandem. All the classic elements are there, Spike’s unorthodox investigation techniques, Jet’s old-school contacts, and Ed’s accidental assistance make the viewer feel as if they’ve never left the universe.

Composer Yoko Kanno returns to put together an impressive soundtrack we’ve come to expect from her. The music is once again a mishmash of jazz, funk, folk and every other genre of music you can imagine. The diversity never hurts though, each tune perfectly fit’s the scene it’s in and complements the action well. The excellent English dub cast returns in full, fortunately, and they don’t miss a beat.

To conclude, Cowboy Bebop the Movie is a worthy sequel to one of the genre’s defining shows. It recaptures the intangible cool that endeared the series to so many in the first place but also takes advantage of the more epic possibilities that a feature film allows. The only real complaint one could have with it is that anyone who has already seen the show wouldn’t feel too concerned about any of the major characters being in any real danger. This is really a minor complaint, and Bebop has never been about imminent doom anyway, but it’s worth noting nonetheless. The film is definitely worth checking out for anyone who ever enjoyed the original show and the fact that it has a stand alone quality makes it a decent introduction to the universe for newcomers as well. One of the few anime movies that can be enjoyed by nearly anyone, even those with little interest in the medium, and obviously a must-watch for any otaku.
Final Score: 9.1
Story: Good
Animation: Excellent
Soundtrack: Excellent
Dub: Excellent

Also Try: Cowboy Bebop (Series), Trigun