Anime Sophist

The End of Evangelion: More Love It Or Hate It

2008-02-16T00:23:00.005-05:00

Having already reviewed Neon Genesis Evangelion I figured I’d try and tackle it’s controversial “ending”, End of Evangelion. Following the colossal success of the series, and fan backlash of equal size over the original ending, director Hideaki Anno released two feature films. The first, Death and Rebirth, was a retelling of the original story crammed into a much smaller timeframe. The second film is the one that’s important, End of Evangelion is a feature-length replacement for the show’s original ending which left audiences bewildered and in many cases angry. While the film is enjoyable it shares many of the strengths and weaknesses of the rest of Evangelion that will no doubt polarize audiences.

End of Evangelion is intended to replace the final two episodes of the series so anyone who has not watched the previous 24 parts will be overwhelmed from the get-go. All the characters are where we left them as the final pieces fall into place for an epic final chapter in humanity’s story. The protagonists, still saddled with the same flaws as before, will fight through the final battle both physically and psychologically as is the series’ trademark.

It is important to note that despite the fact this film was created due to negative feedback it never makes a serious attempt to correct any of the divisive points. It doesn’t feel as if this was an ending created due to fan feedback at all but rather the true vision of the creator realized because of the opportunity that negativity presented. It is clear Anno had no interest in appeasing detractors but is instead creating the finale he had envisioned all along which will change no one’s mind because it doesn’t intend to. Evangelion’s confused psychobabble is perhaps the show’s most irritating and endearing quality and it is in full effect here. No explanations are offered and few can even be deciphered from the visual bombardment taking place on screen. The viewer is assaulted with wave after wave of seemingly arbitrary metaphors with no compass to direct them toward the correct interpretation. For fans of the show this will no doubt be a good time but for those turned off by pretentious pseudo-philosophy and the like it’s not going to be a particularly fun 90 minutes.

While the apparently unrelated stream of metaphors can be disorienting it is also quite a spectacle. Few shows that have attempted such grandiose sequences have pulled them off this well, and that can appreciated regardless of whether you care for the confused undertones. In addition the audience is treated to one of the best mech battles I’ve ever seen, and while I admit I’m not a big fan of that genre in general I’m confident that fight sequence is as good as any. Anyone who enjoyed the series in the first place will find a lot to enjoy here, the characters do not have any sudden change of personality and End of Eva never really tries to surprise. It fits well within the original work and your enjoyment of it will rely heavily on whether you were a fan of Evangelion to begin with.

The production values are solid throughout. The original series was well-known for recycling sequences or using other tricks to lower production costs and that burden has been lifted for this film. The scope of many scenes is far greater then anything seen in the series no doubt because of the improved budget. The majority of the original voice cast returns and they do an equally competent job this time around. Some minor characters are played by new voice actors and their performance is notably worse, in the early part of the film especially. The musical score helps create a sense of scope but is nothing particularly groundbreaking.

On the negative side End of Eva is something of a missed opportunity. While it can be argued the film never intended to be an improvement on a flawed ending, because the creator ever considered it flawed in the first place, the reality is people expect more from a retold finale then the same jargon made even more confusing with more elaborate imagery. There is no attempt to find a middle ground between the original vision and a milder conclusion that would resonate with a larger audience, if anything this film will create an even greater split between the two sides.

The simple fact is End of Evangelion is a film for fans of the original vision of the creator. It does nothing to appease the angry horde of detractors and isn’t even particularly kind to the legions of fans that try to decipher meaning from the metaphors by being even more confusing. For this reason it is a difficult film to rate, is it good because it gives the fans what they desire or is it bad because it missed a fantastic opportunity to recruit a new audience? It is a very rare anime film that can simultaneously excite one group and further infuriate another.

Final Score: 8.5
Storyline: Passable
Animation: Good
Soundtrack: Good
Dub: Good

El-Hazard: The Wanderers

2008-02-02T03:57:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the long delay guys, but at long last here’s a review of the last El-Hazard series. While not the chronologically, in that universe or ours, final addition to the universe I chose to view The Wanderers last because it is completely unconnected to the other OVAs. To put it simply El Hazard: The Wanderers is a retelling of the original OVA. At first the differences seem minor but as the twenty-six episodes (more then all the other El-Hazard OVAs combined) roll along the slight discrepancies widen to drastically change the final half of the storyline. But with that being said The Wanderers is still just another regurgitation of the formula that made the original such a charming success, though it does come much closer to matching its predecessor then the other sequels.

The story begins with our hero Makoto building a machine and subsequently being transported to the world of El-Hazard thanks to damage done to it during a fight with his rival Jinnai. Those two along with Jinnai’s sister Nanami and their history teacher Mr. Fujisawa will have an important part to play during a pivotal time in El-Hazard’s history.

The differences between The Wanderers and the original OVA are noticeable almost from the beginning. Makoto’s method of dimensional transportation is not the same and upon his arrival he immediately runs into the Princess Rune. The most jarring difference for fans of the original OVA will be the fact that Rune does not in fact have a sister this time around. In the first series Makoto’s striking similarity to the second princess drove a good chunk of the story along but The Wanderers tosses this ideas aside and replaces cross-dressing hijinx with a more conventional journey with an epic feel. The three priestesses are also introduced more gradually and fans may struggle with the slow start when the other OVAs thrust them right into the thick of things immediately. The writing adjusts appropriately for the fact that a four-episode story is being retold with six times the length and oddly enough nothing feels too stretched or forced.

The twenty-six episode run is interesting to note because it gives us an opportunity to see the strengths and weaknesses of storytelling in comparison to the original’s shorter run. In many ways The Wanderers is a fantastic example of the traps shows tend to fall into when running twenty-plus episodes but it also flaunts things that would have been impossible to pull off in a four episode run. Character development is dramatically improved in The Wanderers, while the first three OVAs featured a decent bit all things considered they never had the luxury to push and pull the heroes in villains in different directions. Motivations are no longer always clear-cut and many of the heroes are more three-dimensional. On the flip-side at times you feel as though the show should be moving along but it lingers too long, this is especially irritating having seen the original OVA. When you know what’s coming next, however roughly, it can be difficult to listen to a seemingly pointless conversation between characters that won’t even be involved in the plot shortly.

The production values in The Wanderers are perhaps the best in the franchise, which is surprising considering this it the longest entry. The score is more similar to the first OVA’s catchy synthesized sound then the epic feel of The Alternative World and it’s nice to hear some of the better tunes be revisited during key moments. The animation is crisp and clean throughout, there are no noticeable peaks or dips in quality giving The Wanderers a visual consistency the original lacked. The original voice cast is back for a fourth time, thankfully, and they once again deliver a quality, believable dub that more then does the job.

While El-Hazard the Wanderers is just a lengthy retelling of the original OVA it’s still worth a look especially for fans of the universe. While it doesn’t quite match the charm of its predecessor and can’t be considered superior it’s interesting to see the differences that twenty-six episodes bring. After watching all four entries in the El-Hazard saga consecutively it’s tough to get too excited for yet another entry with the same dimension-hopping-ancient-weapon-peril but there is fun to be had here and The Wanderers is actually nearly as good of an entry point to the universe as the first OVA.

Final Score: 8.1
Storyline: Passable
Animation: Good
Soundtrack: Good
Dub: Passable

Update on the Lack of Updates.....

2008-01-29T03:10:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the all the downtime folks , I've been out of my routine for the last couple of weeks because of the new semester just starting. But the transition period, that wacky time when I'm not sure when I can eat without referring to my class schedule and vary between too much and too little sleep, is just about over. So expect the weekly updates to start again this Friday and continue to be posted every Friday after that.

In the meantime I've been trying to figure out what new anime I should be looking forward to in 2008. I know I'll definitely be picking up Rebuild of Evangelion whenever that hits, if only to see what changes have been made, but beyond that I'm drawing a blank. So what shows are you guys anticipating this year?

El-Hazard the Alternative World

2008-01-08T04:00:00.000-05:00

Having already watched the first two El-Hazard OVAs I was a bit tentative about the third series. The original El-Hazard was fantastic while its sequel lacked entertainment value and quality, would the third installment make things even worse or redeem the franchise? That was my question heading in and the answer is while Alternative World is a big improvement over El-Hazard 2 it doesn’t quite match the original. I’m going to assume that anyone reading this review is at least mildly familiar with character names from the first two OVAs, if you aren’t then just skip down a couple places and read my earlier critiques to avoid confusion.

El Hazard the Alternative World begins when a new water priestess is chosen to replace Miz, who is now married to Mr. Fujisawa. The ceremony to officially instate her is ruined by yet another dimensional anomaly. The main cast are all thrust into yet another unfamiliar world where they meet some new faces but face familiar challenges.

That’s really The Alternative World in a nutshell, new characters with the same old obstacles to overcome. The first two OVAs had very similar storylines and this series does little to stray from that formula. Luckily, unlike El-Hazard 2, this show throws enough interesting twists into the tale to keep the viewer interested. The new dimension differentiates itself enough from the previous one to keep your attention and the handful of new faces mesh with the original cast well. The show really takes some time to get off the ground and at times it can drag but it’s never too severe, the conclusion is the high point without a doubt and that’s a blessing and a curse. On one hand it’s preferable for a show to conclude with a bang, but some viewers may have difficulty slogging through the first nine episodes to ever actually reach the meat of the story. For anyone familiar with the first two OVAs the entire cast is back and as likable as ever. Fortunately a few new characters have been added that are vital to the story and just as charming as the original crew. The Emperor Dalton is especially important, if only because he’s the first villainous character in the series who wasn’t an insect or some ancient demon.

The production values are what really separate Alternative World and make it superior to El-Hazard 2. The animation has gotten a significant upgrade, even better then the original OVA, and I never noticed any dips in quality at all. The soundtrack is also better, but in a different way then the original. The first OVA featured a lot of synthesized but catchy tunes while this series has more of a traditional anime score. It fits the atmosphere perfectly though and it’s understandable why the change was made, I would say the music is equal to the original’s just in an entirely different way. The dub is solid once again, the same voice cast is back for the third time around and they remain as reliable as ever. The dialogue is significantly better then El-Hazard 2 and that helps the dub out as well simply because the actors never have to deliver anything totally ridiculous anymore.

Alternative World is not without its faults however, and there are several. The fact is this is the third consecutive El-Hazard featuring almost the same story. The concept has simply run its course, the creative team apparently cannot imagine any use for these characters outside of inter-dimensional adventures and it’s easy to see why this was the final installment in the series. While the show’s climax is excellent and enjoyable it once again boils down to a scenario where you end up right where you started. In this case it’s exactly where they started, no one even knew the characters were ever away. This makes you wonder how confident the writing staff was in the first place, if every story you come up with has absolutely no effect on the universe how is the audience supposed to care? Some of the mechanisms that set up the conclusion are incredibly convenient as well, though not as bad as many anime. The original El-Hazard was enjoyable and had an infectious energy that compelled you to keep watching, this show doesn’t do nearly enough to carve out its own legacy and just seems to be living off the familiar faces set up by its predecessor. A good sequel expands upon the original premise in a meaningful way, El-Hazard the Alternative World is just a well-polished holding pattern and that can’t be overlooked.

To conclude El-Hazard the Alternative World is a worthwhile addition to the franchise, but only barely. If you’ve seen the original El-Hazard the familiar faces will keep you engaged but don’t expect any sort of meaningful additions to the universe. This anime is strictly a cash-in, albeit a much better cash-in then most, and only recommended for those who enjoyed the original.
Final Score: 7.9
Storyline: Passable
Animation: Good
Soundtrack: Good
Dub: Good

El-Hazard the Magnificent World 2: A Conservative Misstep

2007-12-21T15:37:00.001-05:00

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

2007-12-12T23:58:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-07T01:46:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-01T16:11:00.000-05:00

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

FLCL: Effortless Cool

2007-11-23T02:53:00.000-05:00

It’s rare to come across an anime that simply cannot be categorized, a show that can’t really be compared to anything because it’s just so different. FLCL is one of those anomalies. It’s an enigma even down to it’s name, whether you prefer it called FLCL, Fooly Cooly, or Furi Kuri. FLCL is an anime that viewers will either immediately connect with or dismiss, but it’s a series that’s worth the effort to understand. FLCL has been on and off Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block for years now and it’s easy to see why they keep bringing it back. While the show may not have universal appeal due to its tendency to overwhelm the viewer it’s certainly one of the most unique anime you’ll ever see.

FLCL takes place in the small town of Mabase, a typical Japanese community that is described as boring in the show’s first sentence. Naota, the young boy who utters those words, will soon encounter an interstellar visitor that will turn his life upside down and reveal that things are not so dull in his hometown as they first seem. Along the way he’ll progress from a petulant child to a mature young man, the show could aptly be described as one of the most bizarre coming of age tales ever told.

The first thing most viewers will notice about FLCL is it’s borderline-insane pacing. It’s almost constant action, sudden meaningful silence, and then more action with a rock soundtrack spurring it all on. Naota’s personal issues are always front and center. From his struggles with his brother’s former girlfriend Mamimi to his clashes with the mysterious Haruko and his immature father, these problems are compounded by the fact he has evil robots emerge from his forehead at inopportune times. Yes, you read that right. It’s a crazy mish-mash of genres that on paper would seem impossible to pull off. It’s a small miracle this story got past the boardroom at Gainax but they should be credited for giving this oddball concept a chance. But this is where FLCL shines, it’s brash sense of certainty as it throws such a ridiculous plot at the viewer is refreshing. The show is just effortless cool that is unashamedly designed with the otaku crowd in mind. Most of the humor works on several levels, from the physical gags to the allusions to other anime viewers from a variety of backgrounds can come away with a different reason for enjoying each episode.

FLCL’s characters have a charisma that makes it all work. Naota complains constantly but with the circumstances around him it’s understandable and never becomes whiny. Mamimi, his brother’s ex-girlfriend, provides plenty of odd, sometimes dark, but always enjoyable moments as well. She’s the town delinquent hanging out under the bridge and smoking cigarettes while dealing with her emotional problems, sometimes in ways that draw Naota into even more trouble. Then there’s Canti, the robot that emerges from Naota’s head in the first episode and seems to be dragged along by Mamimi or Haruko for the rest of the series. Haruko really steals the show though. She’s your typical eternally energetic female lead but her endearing delivery is unlike any other. While Naota may be the show’s focus Haruko is certainly the straw that stirs the drink. She pushes Naota to grow up while making sure he never has a shortage of crazy capers to fend off in the process. FLCL’s dub is top notch and highly recommended. The characters personality really comes through in the voiceovers and the entire cast delivers a spectacular performance. It’s truly amazing that they pulled it off considering the unusual circumstances this show presents and they definitely deserve a tip of that hat for their efforts.

FLCL’s soundtrack establishes the show’s atmosphere with an assortment of rock tunes from Japanese rock group The Pillows. The music really add to the action in some cases, but at other times it recedes into the background and allows the characters to take center stage while it continues. It’s difficult to describe, but the difference between the two ways the music is utilized is noticeable and the switch is always made at a perfect time. FLCL has one of the most fitting soundtracks for any anime in history, which is truly an accomplishment considering the tunes were not created specifically for the show. FLCL’s animation is top-notch. It’s obvious Gainax took a 26-episode budget and used it for just six allowing the animators to create some truly beautiful shots. The constant action always keep your eyes occupied and it will take several viewing before you catch everything going on in a scene, which will be a treat for anyone who just enjoys analyzing animation.

The show’s length is perhaps it’s only flaw. The story is deceptively deep, almost every line is meaningful but first-time viewers probably won’t realize this immediately and may become confused. It’s obvious that the plot could have used a few more episodes to spread it’s wings a bit, but it’s uncertain whether the non-stop pace could have been maintained with additional length. It takes several views to totally understand the plot and while that may frustrate some those that take the time will be rewarded.

In conclusion FLCL is a show that cannot be categorized. I realize that’s a bit cliché but in this case it’s really the only way to describe it. The fact it’s unlike anything else and flaunts it at every opportunity is very charming. It throws the audience through its tale at 200mph and never lets up for a second daring you to blink, for most shows this would be a crippling flaw but for FLCL it’s one of the main reasons it succeeds. The unabashed style FLCL has in spades carries this show well beyond what most anime accomplish. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea those that give it a chance will be glad they did. By all conventional standards FLCL should be a colossal failure, but it somehow pulls together seemingly contradictory elements by the sheer force of its cocksure attitude and delivers an experience like no other. Highly recommended. This score might surprise some but it’s reflective of the fact this anime will grow on you in a big way given the chance.

Final Score: 10.0
Storyline: Excellent
Animation: Excellent
Soundtrack: Excellent
Dub: Excellent

Also Try: Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi

Azumanga Daioh: A Pleasant Surprise

2007-10-15T02:48:00.000-04:00

There are certain anime genres I will readily admit I’m not really interested in. Giant robots, most shows with werewolves, and schoolgirl anime are just a few of the subsets I’ve never particularly cared about. It’s important that I say that to establish the context in which I first watched Azumanga Daioh. While creeping around various anime forums I only heard positive comments about the show and despite the fact it’s about a group of high school girls, and is one of the defining series in a genre I don’t like, I caved to the pressure and gave it a chance. Let me say right up front, I’m very glad that I did. While Azumanga Daioh does have its cutesy moments, and some guys may have difficulty getting into it because it isn’t what they’d consider the pinnacle of manliness, the show really shines because it’s excellent in just about every way. Even better, it doesn’t fall into the creepy and pedo-riffic trap of constant panty shots other schoolgirl shows feature and its comedy is genuinely funny on several levels. Even if it doesn’t resemble the anime you’d typically watch you owe it to yourself to give this show an honest chance, it will win you over.

Azumanga Daioh is a comedy that revolves around the high school experiences of a group of female students. The show begins at the start of their high school careers and the final episode is their graduation. An interesting aspect of the episode structure is that certain school events are repeated each year so the series has, for example, three summer break episodes. The comedy comes from how the eccentric personalities of the girls react to normal everyday situations. All the characters have recurring gags but since the cast is so varied the viewers won’t get burnt out on any particular joke from overuse.

My main issue with the schoolgirl anime genre, and the reason I was so hesitant to watch this series in the first place is many studios…..uh…..interesting….approach to underage girls in anime. Basically many series degrade into constant fan service, panty shots everywhere, and it’s difficult for a series to really tie anything worthwhile into that focus. Certain behavior in these series goes beyond disarming satire and, to me, desensitizes you to behavior that should definitely not be considered kosher. If I come off as ethnocentric because of those comments I apologize, but I really don’t see that it’s necessary or morally defensible to blatantly establish underage girls as objects of lust. But anyway, let’s move away from that tangent and back to the review. Azumanga Daioh surprised me by not featuring any of those unnerving moments. Instead of turning the girls into sex goddesses it takes several shots at that sort of behavior by establishing a male teacher as a pervert (he is in fact the only male character in the show) and continually emphasizing through the girls’ reactions that his behavior is not appreciated. The show is very Charlie Brown-esque in the way that the cast is limited and parents are never shown. The series is completely focused on the experiences of the girls and doesn’t stray away from that for a second. It’s also important to note that this show has an excellent ending and is a great example of how a character-driven show should wrap itself up.

Azumanga Daioh is as dependent on the personalities of its characters as any anime I’ve ever seen and thankfully the cast never ceases to keep you interested. Each of the girls has a unique outlook on events and the way they band together or clash over simple matters makes up the majority of the comedy. The girls have a constant manic energy that manages to be amusing without ever becoming annoying. Some shows would suffer from a limited cast but Daioh succeeds largely because of that decision. By choosing to highlight only a few characters the viewer can really understand every one of them completely and in many cases see the comedy coming just before it happens which is sometimes more satisfying then a surprise laugh.

The soundtrack of Daioh isn’t anything special, but it does manage to get the job done. A handful of tunes are used almost every episode in the series but they’re easy on the ears and viewers probably won’t even notice how often they’re recycled. All the music fits the mood of the show well and while you wouldn’t want to listen to it separately it also won’t detract from the other action onscreen which is good enough for me.

To conclude, while Daioh is hardly something I was expecting to enjoy it pleasantly surprised me. While it may not appear to be your cup of tea right away give it a few episodes before passing judgment, more then likely you’ll end up sitting through the whole series and thoroughly enjoy the experience. If more school-based anime was of this quality I’d be a much bigger fan of the genre. Don’t let the generic nature of other schoolgirl shows make you miss out on Azumanga Daioh, it’s the cream of the crop and it isn’t even close.

Final Score: 9.0
Storyline: Good
Animation: Excellent
Soundtrack: Passable
Dub: Excellent

Also Try: Cromartie High School, FLCL

Neon Genesis Evangelion Review: Half Crappy Psychobabble, Half the Best Anime Ever Made

2007-09-25T02:29:00.000-04:00

In the history of anime no series has sparked more debate then Evangelion. No, it has nothing to do with the biblical metaphors and psychological drama of the show but rather the argument rests on whether it is deserving of all the hype is has received. Some anime fans swear by it and call it a masterpiece, the pinnacle of the medium. Others point out its flaws and loathe the fact it has gotten such praise. The truth is a bit in between. When trying to explain my feelings about Evangelion it’s admittedly tough, but here goes. If anyone has heard the song “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin (and if you haven’t go do that right now) and pondered why it’s so beloved you begin to see some similarities between the two seemingly unconnected works. “Stairway” clocks in at over 8 minutes, but it takes over five of those minutes to actually get to the emotional climax of the song. It’s basically five minutes of enjoyable throwaway music with three minutes of the best song ever made at the end. Evangelion has a similar conundrum. It’s beginning and conclusion are nothing special, in fact the original ending is so atrocious and convoluted they made a new one, but the middle section of the show is probably the best 13 episodes of anime you’ll ever find. If the above paragraph is a bit confusing I apologize, this is what watching Eva does to you.

Evangelion is a show about a teenage boy named Shinji who is thrust into the position of savior. He has a natural gift at piloting giant mecha, known as Evangelions, and with the help of fellow Evangelion pilots Asuka and Rei he must try to stop giant “Angels” from wiping out humanity. Reading a simple summary of the plot really doesn’t do it justice though. On the surface Evangelion is just another giant robot anime but when you delve a bit deeper you find some surprisingly amazing pieces uncharacteristic of this type of show. The director, Hideaki Anno, chose to sprinkle in bits of biblical imagery throughout the show and puts major emphasis on the personal psychology of each character. This is both a blessing and a curse. The characters in Evangelion have great depth and feel fully fleshed out, but at times you can sense the creative team got too impressed with their own ideas and what was once clever metaphor becomes grating and repetitive as the series progresses.

It takes a few episodes to get off the ground but when Evangelion gets going every episode is a treat. While the action isn’t constant, thanks to the low animation budget, the characters mesh so well that you can sit back and enjoy watching them work things out. The myriad of personalities in the show are dull when alone but they have such a great chemistry when together that you actually begin to feel for them. What Anno failed to understand when writing this show was that the viewer does not care about sitting inside one character’s head for thirty minutes. To know what someone is like you don’t listen into their thoughts, you watch their actions and how they interact with everything around them. When interaction is emphasized Evangelion is a masterwork deserving of every bit of praise it gets, when isolation is emphasized the show becomes redundant and mediocre.

In many ways Evangelion is a show that succeeds in spite of itself. It has many debilitating qualities, a terrible ending, too many meaningless biblical images, a protagonist who is easy to hate, that would kill a lesser show. But Eva perseveres in spite of all this because when it puts all those things aside and actually chooses to be an action show it’s as good as any anime around. It’s distressing because after trudging through a handful of boring episodes you finally get to the catalyst of what makes this show work, Asuka, and then the writing swings totally away from her as the series comes to a close. Evangelion works best when the characters are bouncing off one another and Asuka makes that happen. When she’s in the thick of things Shinji is forced to actually interact and make decisions and kept from the annoying, and depressing, self-hatred that drags this series down at times. It’s clear that the show takes a dramatic shift in tone when Asuka enters and when her role is diminished the show crawls to a grueling close. Asuka herself is not that amazing but the fact she keeps the others from going off on mental tangents makes her the straw that stirs the drink during the best stretch of episodes in the series. Anno clearly favored the psychological drama that Shinji brings over the action and energy that Asuka provided, and while I can understand that he had a story he wanted to tell sometimes you just have to suck it up and go with what works. Instead he decided to put the audience through episodes of worthless crap so he could feel like an artist. That’s basically Evangelion’s problem in a nutshell: it’s a great action anime show based around Asuka and Shinji’s opposite personalities but it wants so desperately to be an art piece that it shoots itself in the foot.

The animation and soundtrack get the job done but aren’t particularly spectacular. Evangelion was in production during a time when the animation budget was tight at Gainax, because of this as the series progresses you see more recycled footage. It’s done in very clever ways though, characters just happen to talk with coffee cups covering their mouths or the camera shifts to a view of the scenery during a long conversation, these solutions keep your attention away from the fact the show is reusing frames and the mediocre animation doesn’t even cross your mind until the second or third viewing of any given episode. One odd quirk about the soundtrack is that the end theme, “Fly Me to the Moon”, is performed differently in each episode. For a show with budget constraints it’s absolutely beyond me why they felt the need to waste resources by recording the end theme 26 times.

In the end Evangelion’s flaws are substantial but its successes are even greater. While the show really only has twelve enjoyable episodes those episodes are so excellent that they make it easy to overlook the inadequacies found in the rest of the series. Evangelion is a great series and a benchmark show in anime history, while this review may seem critical it’s only because Eva had so much potential and just fell short. Some proclaim the series as fantastic because of the religious or psychological themes, those people are wrong. Eva fails to deliver anything intellectually stimulating but excels when it just lets loose and allows the audience to have a bit of fun. Definitely recommended viewing for any anime fan, but prepare to be frustrated if you aren’t into senseless psychobabble.

Final Score: 9.7
Storyline: Good
Animation: Good
Soundtrack: Good
Dub: Excellent

Rurouni Kenshin Review: Wandering Samurais & My Wandering Attention

2007-09-20T00:51:00.000-04:00

Rurouni Kenshin, along with Dragonball Z, helped anime make huge strides in North America during the late 1990s. While panned by anime critics, with whom I agree, you’ve got to give Kenshin at least some credit for allowing the medium to get more airtime so we could enjoy better shows. With all that being said, Kenshin is not a terrible show by any means but it is a great example of why 90+ episode shounen shows will always struggle to stay fresh and exciting through such a long run. Yes, I realize I said in the introduction post I wouldn’t review any shounen programs but since I’ve already seen this one front to back (inspired by the OVA Samurai X) I might as well prove my word means nothing as quickly as I possibly can.

Rurouni Kenshin follows the journey of wandering samurai Kenshin Himura as he seeks to atone for the murders he committed during the war that started the Meiji era. Once known as Battosai the manslayer Kenshin has traded in his weapons of war for a reverse-blade sword symbolizing his devotion to nonviolence. His skills are still quite formidable though and, as is the case with any good shounen program, he will put his talents to use in a series of progressively tougher fights to save his loved ones.

One of the cool things about Rurouni Kenshin is unlike other shounen shows which take killing extremely lightly, and in fact use it as a key feature to draw audiences, this series takes Kenshin’s new pacifist views very seriously. Kenshin will go through the entire series continually avoiding hundreds of perfectly good opportunities to off his foes. While this is neat at the beginning as the 90 episodes drag on you begin to question how much further the writing team can really get Kenshin without having him kill anyone. Divided into three major story arcs, The Tokyo Arc (episodes 1-27), The Kyoto Arc( episodes 28-62), and “filler” episodes (63-95), the series is just too long for its own good.

That’s really this show’s biggest flaw. It takes too long to get off the ground and really start a cohesive plot, 27 episodes in fact, and while the Kyoto Arc is great at the beginning by the time the creative team milks it for everything it’s worth on the way to the conclusion you care more about it ending soon then you do if it ends well for Kenshin and friends. After the Kyoto Arc everything goes way downhill and those episodes are the major reason for the series’ cancellation. When I first began even considering watching anime I automatically assumed shows with longer run times would be superior, why wouldn’t I want as many opportunities as possible to go on adventures with my favorite characters? After finishing Kenshin, my first shounen show, front to back I realized just how wrong I was. While the 26 episode cap most series stay under may seem restrictive at first after a bit of experience with anime you begin to realize quitting while you’re ahead is not always such a bad thing. Kenshin is a show that does nothing particularly poorly, and it has some really interesting points, but it kills all the momentum it scrapes together by stretching everything out so much.

The characters in Rurouni Kenshin aren’t particularly original but they do a good enough job of keeping you interested. Kenshin is obviously the main draw here but his supporting cast has their owns set of goals and quirks that keeps the show interesting. While it would be easy for a show about a samurai atoning for his wartime sins to become dark and brooding the tone of this series is surprisingly light-hearted throughout. While Kenshin’s inner demons are always just under the surface he hides them very well and younger viewers would probably never even get the turmoil that’s going on. This, along with Kenshin’s devotion to pacifism, makes the show a great anime for kids.

Kenshin’s animation and music are both just passable. Ironically the filler episodes, by far the worst plot-wise, sport the best production values of the entire series. The dub isn’t particularly noteworthy either, but considering that when it was released anime voice acting standards were nonexistent it’s above average for its era. Much like the other elements of this series, the animation, music, and dub exist in that awkward spot between memorable and horrible.

To wrap things up, Rurouni Kenshin isn’t a total waste of your time but there are many better options for anime fans to enjoy. The show is solid but unspectacular in all of its elements and the ridiculous amount of episodes makes the whole series seem loose and unwieldy. It’s a shame too because the premise is solid, as the far superior (and shorter) prequel Samurai X proves, but the poor execution dooms the series to mediocrity.

Final Score: 6.0
Story: Passable
Animation: Passable
Soundtrack: Passable
Dub: Passable

Also Try: Samurai X, Samurai Champloo

Nausicaa Valley of the Wind Review: Miyazaki's First Masterpiece

2007-09-19T00:59:00.001-04:00

When it comes to anime directors it doesn’t get any bigger then Studio Ghibli’s resident genius Hayao Miyazaki. Fans of animation worldwide have become accustomed to the extraordinary when it comes to his work and today we’ll look at the film that brought him to the forefront of the industry. Nausicaa Valley of the Wind is considered the first of Studio Ghibli’s films, even though it actually predates the formation of the company, and boy do they hit the ground running. Despite being released over 20 years ago Nausicaa still stands tall among anime feature films with its vibrant and imaginative animation, charming story, and a heroine who you can’t help but root for. Considered one of the finest animated films ever created, Animage magazine ranked it number one on its list for ten consecutive years, it’s easy to see why Nausicaa has stood the test of time. While the film has some minor flaws its strengths definitely outweigh its weaknesses, this is a film every anime fan should see.

Nausicaa is set in the future, though it does not specify exactly when, after humanity has basically destroyed the environment. A ravenous toxic jungle is consuming the world and threatening the very existence of mankind. Giant insects, such as the giant rolly-polly Ohmu, encroach on the tiny human settlements and with each passing day they destroy more kingdoms. Princess Nausicaa of The Valley of the Wind has a unique ability to communicate with animals, her skills will prove pivotal in saving the remnants of civilization from the hordes of insects and giving humanity a second chance.

The setting of Nausicaa is perhaps the film’s greatest strength. The detailed environments, from the poisonous jungles to the few remaining villages, bring the world to life. While not as sharp and clean as modern day Ghibli works the animation quality is incredible for its time and still looks quite good. The film does an excellent job of using color to set the mood. In light-hearted scenes you’ll find that everything is bright while nearly every scene that features conflict makes extensive use of blacks and grays. It’s not something that you notice initially but it’s subtle and effective.

The storyline of Nausicaa is the film’s weakest point. While it keeps you occupied and entertained throughout there are some considerable flaws, especially towards the end, that keep it from being perfect. The origin of the toxic jungle and the explanation of how the world became barren is interesting, and the way revelations are slowly uncovered as the film unfolds allows the viewer to think as little or as much about it as they would like. This is important because Nausicaa has a heavy environmentalist tilt if you really delve under the surface. I’ve watched numerous animated films in the past that have tried to push awareness and have suffered for it, becoming heavy-handed and losing entertainment value. Nausicaa avoids this pitfall by giving you all the information about how the new eco-system works in great detail without ever trying to tell you what to think about it. Viewers will come to the conclusion it was foolish for mankind to cause the toxic jungle to form and while it could be very easy for the film to paint humanity as the villains it doesn’t because it doesn’t have to. This is a good example for other animated films with a public service undertone to follow, it keeps things fast and fun while delivering its point rather then letting the message grind things to a halt. The film’s story is very well done for about 80% of the way, but the ending is basically the definition of dues ex machina. Nonetheless it gives you exactly what you want to see and for that reason it’s easy to forgive it for not being overly clever.

Nausicaa’s sountrack is a bit uneven. The main theme is catchy and uplifting and most the background music sets the tone well while never grinding on your nerves. But things go a bit awry when the action begins. Every action scene in the movie has been given 80s-tastic synthesized tunes that clash with the rest of the score. While it doesn’t really detract from your enjoyment and the songs aren’t truly terrible it makes you question why they chose to make the music so dramatically different during these key scenes. Disney has done a spectacular job dubbing the film, the voice work is strong across the board and features respected names such as Patrick Stewart and Mark Hamill. They really went the extra mile to make sure this classic got the attention it deserved, a tip of the hat to them.

In the end while Nausicaa is far from perfect its many strong points and charm make it easy to brush off the minor imperfections. While it’s a bit rough around the edges, most likely because it was Miyazaki’s first major original work, Nausicaa has a certain magic to it that’s indescribable. While other Ghibli movies have better animation and a more cohesive storyline Nausicaa may be the most endearing of the lot. Highly recommended viewing for any anime fan, and a great film for children as well.
Final Score: 9.3
Story: Good
Animation: Excellent
Soundtrack: Good
Dub: Excellent

Also Try: Laputa Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away

Cowboy Bebop Review: The Real Folk Blues

2007-09-18T21:58:00.001-04:00

It only seemed fitting to kick off the reviews with a series that’s considered a landmark achievement in anime. Cowboy Bebop excels in all aspects with fast-paced and engaging storytelling, memorable characters, and a soundtrack unlike any other. The show has become a staple of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block and continues to draw more American viewers into anime with its unique style each passing year. After watching just a few episodes of this series you’ll understand why.

Cowboy Bebop is set in the year 2071 and centers on the ragtag crew of the spaceship Bebop. A catastrophic event has made Earth’s surface uninhabitable and mankind has spread across the solar system to avoid extinction. With such a wide area to cover police forces can’t handle everything so the government has begun handing out bounties for the capture of fugitives. The cast of Bebop is one such team of bounty hunters crossing the solar system in search of new bounty heads hoping to scratch together enough of a reward to survive until tomorrow.

Many anime, especially sci-fi anime, fall into the trap of fleshing out the world a bit too much to the point where it becomes redundant. Bebop smoothly avoids that trap by simply dropping the viewer into the world and acting as if it had always been there. Details about what exactly happened to Earth and how people live in this new frontier are gradually revealed as the series progresses rather then shoving it down the viewer’s throat from the get-go. It’s handled very much the same way as you’d explain the world to a child. You don’t tell the kid everything about the world from the minute they can understand what you’re saying, you just let them live their life and after awhile they pretty much understand how and why most things work without needing a lecture. As the series progresses the pasts of the all the protagonists are revealed and we slowly see how the crime syndicates are making bounty hunters a necessity. The brilliant thing is none of this is heavy-handed, the show never has to explicitly tell you it’s explaining these things. The episodes end and you just realize you know it all, the tiny details strewn amongst all the little stories come together to create a cohesive and believable universe. The final episode ties up the package neatly and gives the viewer a feeling of fulfillment and closure, something that many anime fail to accomplish.

The characters of Bebop include some of the most beloved in anime history. Each one of them has a unique outlook on life and their situation and while the show never gets philosophical about any of their motivations it’s easy to see through their actions exactly what keeps them going. Each one of them brings a lot to the table and the show never loses speed, as some anime suffer from, because one character is less interesting then another but they both need screen time. The animation really brings the cast to life. From Spike’s deceptively awkward gait to Ed’s eccentric antics the animators really outdid themselves. The dub of Bebop is one of the best of any anime around, the dialogue is crisp and believable and awkwardly emphasized sentences are nowhere to be found. Anime dubbing has made significant strides over the years and it’s important to note that Bebop’s was one of the first to cause critics to question whether the Japanese cast always had to be superior.

The music and atmosphere of Bebop are arguable why the show is so beloved in the first place. Set to jazz, folk, blues, and in one instance metal, music Bebop’s soundtrack is unlike any other anime. The music fits the scenes perfectly as well, while an intense dogfight and a trumpet solo wouldn’t seem like a natural fit when you see it in action you become a believer instantly. The noir setting adds so much to the story and blends perfectly with Yoko Kanno’s soundtrack. The crew’s daily struggles are constant but never too overbearing to the viewer. The cast of Bebop handles it in an off-hand way like a college student realizing they’re on a shoestring budget but not letting it get them down. The bills provide a motivation for the characters and a necessary sense of urgency to the hunt without crushing you with a bleak feeling. From the brilliant opening theme to the bittersweet closing credits Bebop touts by far the most unique atmosphere of any serious anime.

In closing, Cowboy Bebop accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do. It meshes the seemingly opposite themes of science-fiction and noir and brings it all together with an amazing but equally curious soundtrack. Bebop is considered one of the finest anime series ever produced with good reason, it excels at everything and never lets up at any point. The show can be enjoyed both as individual episodes and as a whole. Bebop stands as one of the best examples of how anime can produce an experience equal to anything Hollywood can provide and in some cases do things that a live-action show could never accomplish. Highly recommended to everyone regardless of whether you are a huge anime fan or someone who simply enjoys good television.
Final Score: 10.0
Story: Excellent
Animation: Excellent
Soundtrack: Excellent
Dub: Excellent

Also Try: Trigun, Outlaw Star

Introduction & Review Policy

2007-09-18T19:35:00.000-04:00

Anime Sophist was created primarily because I’ve been searching the internet for thorough yet approachable anime reviews to no avail. While there are many review sites that do an excellent job of outlining the pros and cons of a series they are generally bogged down with terminology only a devoted anime-head would be able to understand. The reviews also usually center around individual DVD releases (3-5 episodes) rather than a series as a whole. To make matters worse the review scales used are never really explained and the scores appear arbitrary at times. With all that in mind the Anime Sophist will feature reviews of anime series across many genres that will hopefully be informative yet simplistic enough for someone who isn’t an expert in the field to draw a conclusion about whether a particular series is right for them. The reviews will also be spoiler free, while I might note if a show has a great ending I'm not going to tell you exactly why lest I ruin the entire series for you all at once.

The review scale will range from 5.0 to 10.0 with scores in increments of .1 to provide what will hopefully be a clear distinction between which titles are simply good and which titles are truly great. The reason this scale was chosen because other scales, such as the whole point scale or the 0.5 scale, can sometimes be misleading. For example, a title with an 8.8 and a title with a 9.2 would receive the same score on either of those scales when one is significantly better then the other. The reason the scale starts at 5.0 is because any show below that score would be considered so bad that even hardcore anime fans wouldn’t give it the time of day. The basic understanding of what each number means is as follows, any .1s above that are to illustrate how close it comes to the next level.

5.0- Barely passable, only for fans of the genre or hardcore anime addicts in general. It may have a few good points but they are obscured by some significant failings. Example: None yet

6.0-Fans of the genre will probably enjoy a show with this score, it’s very doubtful anyone else would. This show does a few things well but also does several things poorly. Nothing about it is great. Example: Rurouni Kenshin

7.0-A show fans of the genre will enjoy, but it’s questionable anyone else would really like it. 7.0s typically have many good elements but no great elements. Example: Vision of Escaflowne

8.0-A show with a moderate amount of flaws, but nothing that seriously hinders enjoyment. Example: Ah! My Goddess

9.0-An excellent show with many strong points. Minor flaws have kept it from what would be considered perfection but nonetheless it’s a great work and most viewers will really take to it. Example: Samurai Champloo

10.0- A show that accomplishes perfectly what it has set out to do. Anything with a review of 10 means there is almost no chance a viewer won’t thoroughly enjoy it. More than likely this is a landmark accomplishment in the history of anime. 10s will be difficult to come by. Example: Cowboy Bebop

The majority of reviews should fall somewhere between 7.0 and 8.0 but since I’ll be working through the cream of the crop first things are going to be pretty skewed initially.

At the end of each review after the score is given a few other categories will be noted. These won’t be given a score but rather a simple word to reflect quality. Something like “Excellent”, “Good“, “Passable”, or “Poor”. The categories that will be noted in this way are as follows: Storyline, Animation, Soundtrack, and Dub. A series or two that are similar to the one reviewed will also be recommended under “Also try:”

Shows that have not yet come to the United States will not be reviewed, I will wait until these shows are released in their entirety because it would be pointless to review half a series or the first few episodes. The vast majority of what I watch will be dubbed because I’m such an animation nut that if I am distracted from the picture in the slightest bit it kills the experience for me. For that reason do not expect a paragraph in every review detailing the quality of the subs, only the dub quality will be mentioned. I understand that the dub/sub debate rages on across the anime community but here is not the place to clash over it. Regardless of which side of the fence you’re on these reviews should give you a good idea of whether a show is worth your time. Since I’m not fluent in Japanese, and thus am unqualified to rate the accuracy of subtitle translations, it would be ignorant of me to even try. I stick with what I know for the purpose of delivering the best review possible.

Suggestions are welcome. While I have a back catalog of shows to review initially, and a good idea of what to view after that, I’m not averse to straying from the plan a bit and checking out shows that other people want to hear about. It’s important to mention this right now so it doesn’t come up down the road, shounen series will be rarely if ever reviewed so please do not leave me any “Please review Naruto” comments. This is mainly due to length, I can go through 3-4 (sometimes even more) 20-30 episode series in the same time it would take me to watch a show like Inuyasha in its entirety. With this blog in its infancy it’s important to build up an archive as quickly as possible and shounen shows hinder that. I won’t rule out some shounen series being reviewed in the future, Bleach is a strong possibility when it finishes up.

Here’s is a quick list of a few anime terms I’ll use that those outside the hardcore community might not immediately understand. Don’t expect much anime slang outside of what’s listed below.

Otaku- A devoted fan, generally to the point of being borderline obsessive. The term can have both a positive and negative connotation. I will only use it in the positive. I’m an anime nerd, you’re an anime nerd, why hate?

OVA- Stands for Original Video Animation. Not all anime are released for television, the ones that come straight to DVD are OVAs.

Shounen- A show aimed at boys, generally runs much longer then other shows.

Dub- For the purpose of this blog, the re-recording of character voices in English.

Fan Service-Unnecessary body shots done strictly to please fans of a particular character, generally a female character.

Mecha- A giant robot.

So yeah, now that we have all the housecleaning out of the way let's get to some reviews.