CX01 Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory I've seen the entire 13-episode series, and I must say, I seriously recommend this title. The story takes place 3 years after the One Year War (as seen in Gundam War in the Pocket), and the Zeon forces have returned. Gato, aka "The Nightmare of Soloman," has stolen a new Gundam suit that can withstand a nuclear attack. Kou, a rookie pilot, takes the other Gundam suit being developed to chase after Gato. It's a pretty basic story, but it soon develops into a love triangle, a story of war's effects, and government betrayls. The animation, coming out in 1993, is superb for the time, far surpassing Mobile Suit Gundam W (as seen on Cartoon Network). The colors and details in the suit are strong and clean, and the fighting is more intense. The characters are pretty generic. My biggest complaint is Kou, the main character, who seems rather incompetent and annoying throughout the series. He seems to come from the Shinji of Evangelion school of piloting. The other supporting characters (such as the veteran pilots as well as the bridge crew) are pretty much unnecessary. Besides the entrance theme "The Winner," the music is rather bland. Overall: A Although Gundam W fans will recognize several things similar to their beloved series (a colony being dropped on Earth, for example), one should know that this came first. Also, Gundam W is an alternate world, so there are no customized Gundams. Just three. CX02 Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin): The Movie Be warned. This is not the sequel to the Samurai X OAV, which is a prequel to the Rurouni Kenshin TV series. The animation is very different and less serious, and several characters are in it that have not been introduced in the OAV series. Also, fans of the OAV series (who have not seen the TV series) will notice a character change in Kenshin, who acts more goofy and nicer. Basically, Kenshin and his three friends meet a really good swordsman in Yokohama. Turns out, this swordsman was the best friend of a man Kenshin killed earlier. Only Kenshin realizes this, and he stays silent about it. Then it leads into a political uprising somehow, and I won't spoil the rest. The story is a so-so, average plot of a Kenshin episode. It just so happens that the episode is longer...and it's supposed to be a movie. That's just the thing: the movie is supposed to bring the series a level higher. It does not. The characters are all very interesting, with their own individual struggles (although I wish the movie would focus more on Sano). Animation-wise, it is a huge step down from the OAV series, but it is slightly better than the TV series. The animators seen to have gotten lazy later, and they re-play the same animation over and over again. And the music is not very memorable at all. Overall: B CX03 Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture This is quite possibly the best video game adaptation ever. Not only does it enhane the game's dimension by giving their characters interactions and struggles, but it also boosts from the two OAVs before it. I really like this movie, just on entertainment value, as it also contains continuity. An evil youth is searching for the Armor of Mars, scattered throughout Alexander the Great's empire, and if he gets all six pieces, he will become a god. So, his twin sister (who's good by the way) searches for the best fighter...Terry Bogard. So Terry and his friends use their various martial arts techniques to fight goons and stuff. OK, so the story is not very monumental. The animation is not fantastic, but it is a huge step up from the OAVs. The characters are fluid, quick, and with personality based on their designs only. The characters have humor but also concern. Even if you've never played the game or seen the OAVs, the characters are easy to sympathize with. The music is rather sappy but appropriate for this kind of a movie. It is definitely not on the top ten of all anime, but it's pretty decent, considering what it is. Overall: B+ CX04 Fatal Fury: Double Impact (or "Legend of the Hungry Wolf" and "A New Battle") I saw this after watching the movie, which is a mistake. The movie, first of all, takes place after the OAVs. Second, the movie is far superior to the OAVs. The Double Impact collection has both OAVs: "Legend of the Hungry Wolf" (which details the characters' origins and quest for revenge by fighting in a tournament) and "A New Battle" (where yes, a new threat comes into play). Since it is two OAVs, I will rate them separately. "Legend of the Hungry Wolf" is so-so. The story is pretty lame, with the basic "fight the man who killed my father"-story. The animation is old, and the audience can clearly see it. The art is not inspiring, and the animation is rough and dry. The characters do not show as much personality as they do in the movie, which is a big disappointment. Too predictable (Will Terry get revenge? Will the bad guy Geese be punished?) of a story to rate that well. Music sucks too. "A New Battle" is slightly better which is a welcomed improvement. My problem is with the street fighter kid Tony, who wants to be the best fighter. But what makes this good is the uberman villain, Wolfgang Krauser (an evil German lord). Basically, Terry is defeated and gets drunk. The story of his struggle to redefine himself as a fighter, as well as Krauer's struggle as a youth, makes it rather interesting. Krauser is not really evil, he's just a really good fighter. The music is not very noticeable. Overall: B - CX05 Wicked City The movie starts out with sex. Seriously. But what makes this more than the regular encounter is that it's with a demon from a different dimension who has weird claws from her genital region. After, the story is about a cop who must team with a demon cop to protect a dirty old man who is to attend a peace conference (the two dimensions are at war and the demons want to stay that way). An interesting concept, but the movie becomes a stupid excuse to show more sex (it's not at hentai level at all, but it's in there a lot). The fighting sequences are not very interesting, and it just becomes too weird and out there. The characters are rather bland, and you don't really care what happens to them. The animation is so-so, no better than Ninja Scroll (it's the same director). The music is rather non-existent. Overall, the movie never really becomes boring, but the movie is also not very good. Overall: C+ CX06 Perfect Blue The movie is awesome. An intense psychological thriller, the story is about a young woman named Mima in modern Japan, when she decides to become an actress after a semi-successful singing career. The story then leads into identity, self-discovery, knowing what you really need, stalking, serial killing, and obsession. Even the most sophisticated adults may have to watch this twice to fully understand the entire movie, as several awakening sequences make the audience question what is reality. The music really adds to the film with its horrifying humming to classic J-pop. The characters make the film amazing with constant breakdowns, concerns, and realistic interactions. The animation is pretty good--very solid and smooth, for this kind of story to work. The story is very interesting, and even though some fans will think that it is really weird and be a little hesitant to watch it again, others will appreciate the plot twists. Is it predictable? Not really. Many things just happen in this story, whether it be a photographer being stabbed to death with a screwdriver or a ghostly version of Mima jumping on lamp posts. Weird but interesting enough to keep me enticed. I cannot really recommend this to younger audiences though because of its mature content (an acted rape scene among many stabbings). Basically, this movie blows a lot of the American thrillers out of the water. No question about it. Overall: A CX07 Macross Saga (Robotech - First Generation) Known as the best series of the Robotech saga (which is actually just three unrelated serieses), this story sets up the stage for Macross II, Plus, Seven, and all the other sequels and side stories. The story is about a young pilot named Rick Hunter who goes to Macross Island to meet his "older brother" Roy Fokker. Roy has been working for UN Spacey lately, and Rick is against the military. Macross is celebrating the launch of the new ship SDF-1, an alien spacecraft converted to be an aircraft carrier of sorts. But the Zentradi, the alien race of giants bent only on war, attack the Earth forces. RIck Hunter, who is sleeping inside the cockpit of a veritech fighter, is ordered to launch. Rick is thus forced into a battle. Pretty interesting, this story is rather original as it starts the entire love triangle in anime, effects of culture on other races (in particular love and music), and a young man's antiwar beliefs to being a prestigious officer. The animation is old, but it does not seriously damage the quality of the show. The space battles are rather intense for a show in the early-mid '80s, and the mecha designs are rather interesting. Some criticize the show because of its soap opera-like dimensions, but others like it even more because of it (it really comes down to if you can tolerate or not). The characters all have a distinct personality, and it actually quite emotional when a character dies. Takes a lot for a cartoon to do that. Good but the animation brings it down a little. Overall: A - CX08 Tekken: The Motion Picture Ugh. Another bad video game adaptation. But Tekken never really had a story to begin with. Just who are these characters? They put all these weird characters (a cyborg, a demon, a Chinese hard boiled cop, etc.) into one scenario. It's like Mortal Kombat the movie in the way that they all go to an island to fight in a tournament. Yawn. No story, unlike Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture. The action scenes are also rather tame. The U.S. edition adds modern rock music like Offspring and Stabbing Westward. But it's not like it's a big deal. The animation is bland--the art designs are not even that good. The characters are actually unlikable, even if you are a fan of their video game counterparts. The story is overused and lame to begin with. Thank God it's short. It's very boring, and it's very bad. Watch this only if you have to choose between this and something like Bio-Dome. It's that bad. Overall: D- CX09 Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie This movie is WAY better than Tekken. But how much? The story is very predictable. The character designs are pretty good, but the animation itself is a little crooked. It can be pretty good at some parts, while other parts features rather sloppy scenes. The fighting sequences (esp. Chun-Li vs. Vega) are pretty good, but they are nothing to buy a video or DVD for. It' pretty much average. There is really nothing special or redeeming about this. The story itself is about Shadowloo, an evil organization led by M. Bison, a Thai dictator (actually, his name is Vega, but it's changed in U.S.). He abducts certain street fighters to transform them into his pawns for world domination. Uh huh. Anyway, Guile and Chun-Li work for the government to take him down, and Ryu, the most powerful street fighter, is just wandering around--like everywhere in Asia. So so overall. Some of the characters' appearance (like Blanka) seem awkward and unnecessary for an actual movie to work. And the scenes between the fight sequences make the audience say: "This is boring" or "Why don't they fight now?" The movie is pretty much based on several fight sequences after all, since the story is not in-depth and the characters are not as sympathetic as Fatal Fury. Overall: C CX10 Ping Pong Club This comedy TV series is about a high school ping pong team that sucks. The team is basically a bunch of losers, sex fiends, and overall fanatics. The school is always pissed off at them because all they do is sophomoric pranks and attempts to look at the nude female student body. Not exactly a great story. The animation style is very weird but appropriate, and the characters seem to inhuman to actually like if they were real people. But there's something about this series even though it just relies on gross-out humor. It has a certain charm that makes its audiences laugh out loud, look in disgust, or just be weirded out. It has the power of humor on its side although some of its jokes aren't really funny but rather pushing the limit (a character named Mino shoves ping pong balls up his ass to only crap them out later to mock a sea turtle; he also uses his dick to distract his opponents while doing ping pong). It goes to the extreme of comedies, but it still remains humorous. It's not a series where you have to watch every episode, but it still is pretty entertaining. What I like about the series is that the creators know what it really is: a comedy that uses bodily functions among other things to shock people. It does have some drama in some parts, but the other characters (esp. Mino) break it up; it stays consistent. Overall: B CX11 Rurouni Kenshin This 95-episode series is about a swordsman named Kenshin who goes to live in a dojo, where he meets several characters. Of course, his nonviolent ways (he's a rurouni, although he used to be called the Battousai, a brutal killer) inspire several others. The series deals with redemption, sword fighting, the transition from feudal to modern lifestyle in Japan, and some comedy. The problem with the series is that Kenshin acts to goofy sometimes, and it has a certain Ranma-like feel to it...which would be why it appeals to girls. The series can become serious, but in the end, the entire series just involves the interactions between the characters. Sano, a former rebel who works with Kenshin, used to be a really good, brutal warrior, then he becomes a joke. The series tries to be dramatic or serious too many times, but it also has enough comedy to it for an inconsistent formula. Viewers of the Samurai X OAV (also part of the Kenshin series) will find it to be irreconcilable to the OAV series. In the OAV, Kenshin acts very serious, and it obviously is a drama. In the regular TV series, he is a laughing stock. The music is so-so, but it works; the characters are okay, even though Yahiko (the kid) can become rather annoying. The stories are not really thought provoking, but they contain some special messages. Overall: B CX12 End of Evangelion This movie wraps up the entire Neon Genesis Evangelion series (which is probably the best thing on the site), and several questions should be answered, right? Right? Nope; it only adds even more questions. The plot, especially, becomes even more confusing than before--it has several religious themes and betrayals. Characters will no doubt die. Ties will be broken. Lives will be changed forever. Unlike most of the anime I reviewed, the plot is epic. The series itself is excellent, and the audience can only hope to see the real end of it in this movie. I do not want to spoil the ending of the end, so excuse me if I'm not very specific. The music is not very noticeable, but it is appropriate. You don't really think about the music when all of this stuff is going on. The fight scenes are really good, and the revelations of the plot are pretty good. The character development is interesting, with lots of shocking betrayals and plot twists. I must warn all viewers to say that the ending is sad: expect lots of death as well as weirdness. Finally, the story concludes, but does it deliver to such a great series? The bottom line is that the ending is appropriate but not great. Overall: B+/A- CX13 Martian Successor Nadesico Martian Successor Nadesico is a 26-episode TV series about mechs. But unlike mech mainstays Macross and Gundam, this hilarious series parodies Macross and Gundam. It's a parody of other anime with enough drama aspects to keep the audience in. The story follows the adventures of Akito, a young chef who survived a Jovian Lizard attack on Mars when he was mysteriously transported to Earth. There, he meets Yurika, a childhood friend who is the captain of the Nadesico. The Nadesico is a civilian-controlled spaceship that is the setting for the rest of the story. The plot itself is not very mind-bending nor original, but it does allow many comedic instances as well as some interesting revelations, concerning character relationships as well as the identity of the villain. But really, this is just a comedy when it comes down to it. The animation is pretty recent, so it should be good. The art style is a change of pace from other mech anime, mainly because of its comedic base. At least it is clear enough to understand, although the animation itself is not quite fluid. The music is not stellar, and it's not very catchy--but some of the songs are funny because of how they parody other anime. The quite large cast of characters works with nice chemistry (love triangles, poking fun at each other, etc.), but a lot of the characters are rather unnecessary. Speaking of which, the character deaths are not very respected. A character might die, and some will be sad early on, but do they remember? Not really. It's a little detail, but it does happen. The consistency of the series is pretty good--it's just some episodes are funnier than others. The drama can keep you in, but it's the parody that makes you want to watch every episode. The series itself is not as good as some of the serious mech anime, but it is better than most comedy series that are currently available. If you are not watching it, you are truly missing out. That is, if you understand what is being parodied. (the fictional Voltron-like series "Gekigangar III" within the series is based on several old series, but it still is my personal favorite part). There are subtle references to several anime, but the audience should be familiar with what the creators are referring to (whether or not on purpose). Excellent comedy but also a good mech series. Overall: A/A+ CX14 Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof This 3-episode OAV follows the adventures of Rally Vincent, a gun shop manager and bounty hunter in Chicago, with her partner. Many people highly recommend the series, and I can only do so if you are just into guns, fast cars, and women. The plot is not very interesting, and it seems a lot like a prime time crime drama on TV. The difference is that the main characters are two women who like to have fun by catching bad guys. This particular series came out 1995-1996, and the animation is not that great. The art style is pretty good, but the animation seems outdated with its blurry colors. I can see how the series can be quite popular, but for me, I cannot put it that high. It's pretty good, but there is other stuff out there that I could be watching. The good thing about the series is the extras section on the DVD edition. Other than that, overall, it's good only if you have the time. The character interaction is funny at times, but it's nothing to rave about. The characters themselves are somewhat likeable. The plot of this particular OAV is that the Gunsmith Cats must work with the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agency) to stop gun smuggles. The OAV is consistent by having the developments continue throughout the three episodes, but it can be a little predictable. The music seems inappropriate in certain scenes. If this were not trying to be a comedy, I would probably like it a lot more. It needs more gun violence--at least Cowboy Bebop can tell when to differentiate between its drama and comedy episodes. The Gunsmith Cats try to combine both, and it seems weird at times. Overall: B-/B CX15 Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (movie edition) Even though this movie is just the three OAVs of Endless Waltz in movie form, I believe I must review it in a different review because it is a lot better than th OAV version. First of all, without the title sequences between each episode as well as the credits sequence at the end of each episode, the movie version helps to form a kind of consistency and nonstop action. If you do not know the story, the Gundam pilots in the Gundam W universe decide to destroy their suits because they are not needed anymore (that is all of them, except Wufei). Suddenly, the Barton Foundation, a group behind Operation Meteor, kidnaps Relena. More is revealed about the pilots' post-war motivations, their pasts, and the character interaction of new and old characters. I like this movie because it adds several dimensions to the Gundam W TV series, being both a sequel and a prequel. Also, it has way better animation. Unfortunately, the movie version keeps the hideous computer animated sequence. Other than that, the movie version is far superior to its OAV counterpart. The animation is pretty much the same, more detail and richer colors than the TV series. The music theme has changed from the somewhat annoying "White Reflection" to the more appropriate "Last Impression," making a cooler sequence when Heero boards the Wing Zero in space. The movie version also features more scenes, including Dorothy Catalonia and Sally Po. It also has a different ending. Way better than the OAV, and although they are little changes to the overall piece, they help it so much to deserve a better grade. Overall: A- CX16 The Big O Despite how pornographic the title of this more recent anime may sound, it is not a hentai. Rather, it is a very artsy noir series that combines elements from Batman: The Animated Series, Giant Robo, and the villains of Speed Racer. Although it does involve a lot of guns, ft cars, and battling robots, it does have a story. The story is about Paradigm City, a place where there are few domestic animals and lots of crime. Roger Smith (also same voice actor as Spike from Cowboy Bebop), a wealthy man who prefers everything black, takes action with his trusty butler (Batman anyone?) and Dorothy, an android coming to grips with memories and humanity. The story is very episodic, meaning you do not need to watch every episode to understand what's going on. I can see why a lot of people like this anime, as well as how many others dislike it. This does not have the traditional anime style of art not animation (their eyes are not that big, don't expect huge water droplets forming on their heads), and there is very little humor in it. The stories are never really complex, although some have some interesting sci-fi concepts. Basically, if you liked Batman: The Animated Series as a piece of art with great detective stories and crime fighting, you'll like Big O. It's a new series, but so many of its parts contain old style stuff (the villains are rather two-dimensional, for example). I do like how Big O does not rely on heavy action sequences, allowing the main characters to develop in post-battle conversations in Dorothy's attempt to discover herself. The music is very good, almost like Cowboy Bebop. The characters are rather interesting, but it has a more American comic book-ish feel to it (but I have no complaints). They are consistent throughout the series, but they also grow. The art, as said above, is not the best example of what anime looks like--however, as art, it is superb. If you cannot appreciate noir style, do not look here. Very interesting and entertaining, but it is not a must-see. In some respects, the Batman cartoon is better. Overall: B+/A- CX17 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Akane and Her Sisters (NOTE: It would be helpful to be familiar with the Ranma 1/2 characters first) This is a two part OAV in which Akane meets two young martial artists who are way better than her. When it turns out that they may be the illegitimate daughters of Soun Tendo (Akane's father), the former friends must battle to see who is better as well as control the Tendo Dojo. Ranma decides to be Akane's partner, but the two only face defeat. This is pretty interesting because this is one of the few times Ranma actually loses, and when he decides to evaluate himself as a martial artist as well as a guy/girl. Although not as funny as most Ranma OAVs, this one still remains one of the most memorable. Watching both Akane and Ranma train, the audience becomes more understanding behind their attitudes as well. Plus, there's character interaction from the supporting cast, whether it be Ryoga trying to help Akane or Shampoo trying to sabotage Akane's training. It's all fun. Animation could be better, but it is pretty good (in comparison to the TV series). The characters are funny at times, and the chemistry is good. Music is not memorable. Although it could be better, Akane and Her Sisters is not that bad. Overall: B CX18 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Desperately Seeking Shampoo Desperately Seeking Shampoo is yet another volume in the Ranma OAV series released here in America. It contains 2-episodes: the first about how Shampoo wearing a special jewel (that when worn upside down, turns love into hate--thus, she hates Ranma a lot; when worn the right way, it increases the love). This episode provides some laughs about Ranma's relationship with Shampoo and how he feels he lost his touch with women. There's some scheming, but the plot becomes a little too predictable at times as well as dull. The animation is better than the TV series, but in this particular episode, it could be a little better. Entertaining but not the best Ranma OAV. The second is the Christmas special, in which the Tendo family holds a Christmas party. It's nice to see cameo appearances by a lot of the characters that have shown up throughout the series (although people who do not read the manga will be wondering who some of them are), and it's also nice to see how each character tries to use Christmas as a way to get close with their loved one. It's a nice calm when they are not fighting some evil force, and it brings more of a sympathetic element to almost all of the characters. Better than the first episode, but I would not watch this one over and over again. Overall: B CX19 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Faster Kasumi, Kill, Kill This OAV is probably the weirdest and least appealing to me anyway. As much as I like to see demonic forces at work in the Ranma universe, it just seems like a dramatic shift in the series to fully appreciate. The first episode is about an oni that is released from its box, and it runs amok, possessing various people in the Tendo household. The oni plays upon the host's hatred and evil (the more evil the person, the more powerful the oni is). The main issue is when it posesses Kasumi (to get rid of the oni, you must hit the host--since Kasumi is, like, the nicest person on Earth, no one can really hit her). This episode brings in some interesting concepts, like how each person would react if fully evil. It's nice, but like almost all Ranma adventures, it ends in a "let's not talk about it" way. The second episode is how an evil doll at a hotel takes over Akane's body and how Akane is put into the doll. Again, it brings some interesting and funny parts (like the doll in Akane's body sexually advancing Ranma or Akane in doll form trying to convince P-chan that she is Akane). A little weird at times. The plot is rather out there, but it is a catalyst to examine the characters' own feelings. Also, it's a little funny at times. Music is non-existent pretty much, but like all Ranma stuff, it's the character interaction, humor, and crazy adventures that make the viewers tune in. Not as great as some of the Ranma OAVs. Overall: B-/B CX20 Ranma 1/2 OAV: One Flew Over the Kuno's Nest The first part of the OAV was originally the third Ranma movie, but since it was so short, the U.S. distributors put it in OAV format. In any case, the animation itself is a lot better here than any of the other OAVs. The first part involves Kuno, seeking revenge on Ranma (yes, again) buys a mystical egg, but when it is placed on Kuno's head, the egg hatches. It turns out that the bird is really a phoenix, and when it hatched, its imprinting process causes it to seek Ranma and kill him. Nothing can get Kuno to get rid of it (even if he wanted to, he could not), and so both entities seek Ranma's life, joining as one to become an invincible force. The story is a little different from the other Ranma films because it keeps the cast at home in Japan, so it makes more sense for the regular supporting cast to be there. The action sequences are more intense, and the humor that is integrated within the action is also entertaining. Music is, like all Ranma OAVs, so-so. This film looks at the Ranma characters from a non-"let's save Akane" perspective, capturing the series' atmosphere better than the other two previous films. The second episode is about how Ukyo and Shampoo plot to have a trip to the Tunnel of Lost Love (a place where couples break apart). They see it as the perfect way to split Akane and Ranma up (were they ever together?), but when Ryoga just suddenly shows up, things get more interesting. This episode is my personal favorite from all the Ranma OAVs because it shows Ukyo's scheming as well as the other characters' thought on different couples. Whether it be Nabiki using Kuno as a human shield (again) or Ranma thinking that Ukyo is in love with Ryoga, this particular episode provides lots of laughs...if you are familiar enough with the characters. Animation is not as good as the episode before it, but it's clear enough to understand. The character development and interaction in this one is great to reveal their inner feelings and ways to achieve their romantic hopes. Overall: B+/A - CX21 Ranma 1/2 OAV: An Akane to Remember This 2-episode OAV is also a two-parter. Apparently, this story was originally a manga,but it was considered by Japanese audiences to be one of the saddest Ranma tales ever. Akane returns to a forest, where monsters roam. She was once there is as a little girl, lost but saved by a young boy who had a whistle. He is one of the monster's keepers of sorts, protecting the innocents and making sure that the monsters do not attack. But when it turns out that he has amnesia, it becomes quite sad, as he works now as a teen to help others. There is not as much Ranma involvement in this anime, as there are in the other OAVs, which is somewhat refreshing. It becomes even more sad when it turns out that the boy is also dying. How depressing. Not much humor in this one, I guess Animation is pretty average as well as music, and I like this one because the crazy supporting cast with the exception of Ryoga, do not show up. It is an adventure, but you can only watch it so many times. Overall: B CX22 Ranma 1/2: TV Series This TV series is the animated adaptation of the Ranma 1/2 manga, and it follows it pretty accurately, with a few edits. I actually prefer the manga over the anime in this case because the animation is just too bland and dated. You can tell what's going on, but if you do not find it that funny, you will be easily bored. The music is rather original, but I think it's a little cutesy at times. It's a nice way to be introduced into the series, but it does not have as much quality animation nor humor as the OAV series. It takes, like, forever for any of the major characters that Ranma fans love (Dr. Tofu? How long was he in the series?) to show up. Another con is that there are so many episodes, and none of them really stand out as high quality. The characters develop, but it seems more like a girl's (which it is) comedy...less emphasis on jokes about perverts and what not. The fight scenes are not that interesting, but it is a good way to learn about the Ranma lore. I suggest reading the manga first, and then watch the OAV series. You do not need to watch the TV series at all, but if you want to, go ahead. Overall: C CX23 Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals If you expect Cloud, Locke, Squall, or any of the FF characters that you may know from the Squaresoft RPG series, do not look here. Rather, this is kind of a mix of Record of the Lodoss War: COTHK and the original Dragonball series. It seems that way anyway. There are no moogles or chocobos or any of that traditional stuff. It is not a high tech society like in FF8, but it does have airships. How would I rate it as an anime? Not that great. First, the animation sucks. The art designs are not that appealing, and the colors are rather blurry at times. The characters can become rather annoying and unsympathetic, and the overall plot lacks direction at times. The villain is not fully developed, and the music is not memorable. It seems as though they made a really crappy anime and put the FF name on it so that people would buy it. No impressive animated scenes. No intense battles. No plot twists or revelations about the villain's motivation. It's like Slayers: The Movie but without any humor. Ugh. Overall: D+/C - CX24 Golden Boy The story follows the misadventures of the Golden Boy, an ex-college student that dropped out after he finished his credits. He travels only on his bike, learning trades from whoever he meets. He quickly draws and writes notes into his trusty book, acting like a complete idiot to others. Oh yeah, and he's also a pervert (like rubbing his face on the women's toilet to get closer to their rears). But he proves them all wrong in the end...he's not the idiot that he appears. He learns really quickly, and he usually solves the problems that he starts. The animation is pretty good, nice art style especially for a comedy series. The characters are rather generic, especially since the Golden Boy pretty much just moves from town to town. He's obnoxious sometimes and rather pathetic, but he is thrown into hilarious situations. The humor is similar to Ping Pong Club, except not as extreme. The music is almost non-existent, and the plot is rather basic. It's just about a wanderer, messing up and cleaning up after himself. It can be annoying and sometimes too inappropriate, but most of the time, it will make you laugh at least once. Seeing from the perspective of the Golden Boy is interesting, as reality is warped with crude fantasies of women and achieving ultimate success. The character can become weird at times, but I would not expect a really big hit with this series. People should watch this just to expand their horizons a little bit, but in no way is this the epic comedy series you might be looking for. Overall: B CX25 Maze It's hard to know what to make of Maze. Maze is a teenager girl that is meant to protect Princess Mil in a fantasy world, where there she controls a mech and travels with many companions. Oh yeah, and she becomes a really horny man at night. And practically every person in the show wants her--and the girls don't seem to care if they pursue her in girl form (but this isn't like Ranma, they are really lesbians!). It's entertaining, combining Escaflowne, Slayers, and Ranma all in one, but it's really...weird. The characters are all third-raters, and there are many instances of unnecessary sex stuff. Mil is especially annoying, with her high-pitched voice and claims to the other female cast that she gets Maze. The series lacks direction and a concrete story overall like most Ranma stuff, but unlike Ranma, this only has its charm in few instances. Maze can try to be funny, and it sometimes is and sometimes is just weird. The actual animation is closer to Slayers--it's not that very good, but it's not terrible; the backgrounds especially are quite generic. I could not sympathize with most of the characters, as they portray Maze as more of a instrument to have characters fight over and not as an actual character (and where are the really cool villains???) Also, music is hardly noticeable. Overall, if you are looking for a few laughs and really like the fantasy genre, enjoy. But if you're looking for a serious, mature series, look far away. You won't find it here. Overall: C+/B - CX26 Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket Unlike most of the Gundam stuff available, this 6-episode OAV series focuses less on the rivalry of Zeon and Earth Fed through mobile suits and more on the common people. This takes place during the "One Year War," from the perspective of Al, an 11-year old who has troubles in school and dreams of the war. This is an incredibly personal story, and it makes it more emotional and sympathetic than most anime out there (think Grave of the Fireflies but far less tragedy). Through chance, Al meets Bernie, a pilot for Zeon just around the time Chris (his female neighbor who works for Earth Fed) returns. Of course, some sort of conflict must come out of this, right? These animators on the series do a great job on the mobile suits for early 1990's, but the art of people is somewhat questionable. Still, it's good enough to understand. The storyline is interesting from a civilian perspective, even though it's slower than most Gundam stuff out there. The characters can be annoying sometimes, though...especially this one female classmate Al has who keeps trying to prove she's right. The music is good and appropriate but not excellent. The best part of the series, in my honest opinion, is that the series shows that war has both sides--and neither of them are just all good or all evil. The audience may even sympathize more with the Zeon forces, and it can go either way: neither of them are evil, and it becomes even more tragic. It's poignant, but the animation, music, and characters bring it down slightly. Overall: B+/A - CX27 Roujin Z This is a feature film by Katsuhiro Otomo, better known for his work on Akira. Takazawa is an old man who is the test subject in the recent future of Japan. To better take care of elderly needs, a new invention has been created--an electronic bed that can talk and features TV, toilets, food, etc. But then the bed starts to adopt the persona of his dead wife, and it starts to escape with him inside of it, crawling throughout Japan. This film has a very nice charm to it with some comedic stuff, but it's very interesting because it's more realistic (is that the right word?) anime with a deep link of old couple relationships. It has its moments, but it's nothing extremely special. The music...don't really remember it. The animation...rather bland and outdated. The story is interesting, but this seems more like an animation short, not a feature film. The premise can only go on for so long, and its lack of action and slow-moving plot only drags it on and on. It can become boring at times, but it does have some touching moments. I would say watch this once, but if you're expecting another Akira, think again. This may be Otomo's work, but if you haven't seen any of his work besides Akira (like manga Domu or Memories), you'll be disappointed. It's only pretty good, not must-see. Overall: B CX28 Otaku No Video (1982 and 1985) Otaku No Video is a mockumentary with a very loose account on how Gainax (the company behind Gunbuster and Neon Genesis Evangelion) got started. It explores the world of otaku in the early 1980's from the perspective of a group of Japanese otaku. It also includes several live-action clips of actors who pretend to be otaku to show the audience just how pathetic their lives are. To real otaku: hold onto your egos. This is considered one of the must-see if you're an anime fan, and I would agree due to its several parody references. But I only recommend this to fans of the old school stuff like original Gundam, Macross, Starblazer, Lupin III, etc. I've spoken to many people about this, and fans who started at this time found it hilarious. Fans who started in the Gundam W or DBZ craze will not totally find it the funniest thing they've ever seen. It's somewhat like the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons, and people who are familiar with the difference of Spectacular Spider-Man and Peter Parker: Spider-Man will get the joke about it, while others will just think he's a loser. The fact that the live action clips are scattered throughout the film make it feel awkward at times, however. And the clips can be pathetic or comedic: overall, they're losers. The storyline itself is about Tanaka, the leader of an otaku group, and how he recruits a normal Japanese citizen (Kubo) into his own group. I would not take the anime itself seriously at all: it just becomes weird as they become otakings and try to make a corporation for all otaku. Success and failure in unrealistic ways come. Eh. The storyline is not monumental, but it does have charm. The entire anime is more like a commentary on otaku life and anime in general. It's just satire, and it may or may not be funny to you. It may even offend you. What I especially like about this anime, though, is how much Gainax makes fun of itself. They actually show anime under different companies in better light to some degree, and when Kobu and Tanaka plan to re-launch, they start a new anime about a magical girl who transforms. What's funny about this? Well, she has the notorious "Gainax bounce," if you know what I mean. And Gainax makes sure to point out they are making fun of themselves. Do yourself a favor. If you're beyond the casual fan level, if you've gone beyond the social world and stopped trying to live a normal life, then watch this and laugh. If you don't, be somewhat amused but not totally understanding the inside joke. Overall: B+/A- CX29 Fist of the North Star This right here is sheer "heads blowing up" entertainment. The story (not like it really matters in this) is that the Fist of the North Star is chosen to have the technique of blowing up people's heads on impact. Whatever. Anyway, he goes to help people in a rather bleak post-apocalyptic future and fight his brothers. He must try to reclaim the brighter life he once had...using violence. This is an anime classic right here. Is it very good? Not really, but you should see it once if you have the time. The best part of this anime is how people are blown up. That's it. Story? Put it in the trash. Animation? Too outdated, dump it too. Music? Gone. Character interaction? Screw that, let's see them fight. This movie (yes, this is a movie, not a film) is not for intellectuals. It just seems to go on with overly masculine, violent characters showing how dominant they can be in their patriarchy. This movie can be funny, though. But only when you laugh at it. It's not awful in the sense that you cannot watch it, but it's also not good. Some critics would give it an F because there is no redeeming value, while others would put it in the B range for being a classic. My view is that it's entertaining at times but not good enough. Overall: D+/C - CX30 Macross: Do You Remember Love? (Macross '84) This has the worst dubbing of any anime I've seen, and I swear, that's true. This is a very abridged re-make of the entire Macross Saga (Robotech- First Generation) in one movie. The story has been severly edited and the character depiction has changed a lot. This follows the adventures of Hikaru, a pilot on board the Macross, who meets Minmei, a famous singer during a battle. The two become trapped in one compartment, and their relationship blossoms. At this time, the humans are fighting the Zentradi, a race of giants who only want war and do not understand culture, so like in the original series, music must be used as a weapon. And then there's some romance stuff in it too. On the plus side, the film is far more detailed and fluid than it TV series counterpart. However, the actual film quality is scratchy and old, so it's sometimes difficult to understand what's going on. The characters' depections are very different: Roy is a drunk this time, and Minmei is actually likeable? Huh? And the character designs are far more modern and better looking; it's the same character designer as Gunbuster. The problem I found with the film is that it emphasizes way too much on the gender battle of the Zentradi as well as Minmei, where as the original series focused more on Rick (Hikaru) and his coming to grips on war and his relationship issues. Also, there are many plot holes. Traditional fans of Macross will no doubt respect this far more than new fans, and I would suggest that newbies stay with Macross Plus. The dubbing alone is too terrible. Overall: B - CX31 Shamanic Princess Shamanic Princess is a 6-episode OAV shoujo anime that follows the adventures of Tiara and Japolo, who are on a quest to find Kagetsu, Tiara's former lover. Kagetsu has some allies in the form of Tiara's past acquiantances as well, but the fate of the magical world depends on her. Yawn. The only reason why modern fans might be interested is because the creator of Outlaw Star made this. But there are several problems, like not establishing the characters enough to actually care about them in the beginning. Did anyone care? I didn't. Who are they? What is this world? Anyway, the animation quality is pretty recent and quite interesting with some refreshing blends to form the world backdrop. But the characters could be a lot better, and they look more strange than appealing. As for the music, eh. The storyline has potential, but the way it was built up was not well done. It's not completely fantasy nor romance nor sci-fi. I was just thinking "CLAMP" when watching this. It seems overly "girlish" to me to really enjoy, but I can respect the very solid animation. The series leaves you empty, and you have to be willing to go through all of it to fully understand the plot. The characters, however, can become easily annoying and unlikeable. For the guys, watch it if you want. There are some good things in there. For the girls, I don't know what to say. If you like Magic Knight Rayearth or X or that stuff, watch it. If you like pretty boy stuff (ahem Gundam W), then stay away. Just don't expect Outlaw Star. Overall: B - CX32 Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge This 4-episode series is based after the horror fighting game Darkstalkers by Capcom. It basically says that at one time in history there were real-life vampires, werewolves, and all the other forces of darkness. There are two worlds: human and Darkstalker, but a man named Donovan (who didn't appear in the game until the second installment of the game) comes to protect the innocent: he is half human, half Darkstalker (his character is similar to that of D from Vampire Hunter D). But there is a new alien threat that is coming to destroy all. For an anime based after a video game, this is not awful. The art design is decent, and although the music could be better, this is above average. The characters are the key to this anime, each with their own unique look. The animation is pretty smooth. But my main complaint is that for an anime based after a fighting game, it sure doesn't have a lot of fighting. This association can lead to a viewer thinking the OAV is boring. Most of the characters have such unrealistic dialogue and unsympathetic motivations that it is hard to truly identify with these characters. There is little sense of reality in the story if at all, and there's no one to break up all the serious and dark talk. In the end, it's no Fatal Fury in adaptations, but it's a nice quick fix, although it's not very memorable. Overall: B- CX33 Voltron: Defender of the Universe (Go Lion) This story is about five space explorers who seek to protect the universe from the evil Zarkon who uses magic and robotics to enslave humanity. Oh no! Anyway, they go to a planet called Arus, where the legend of Voltron originates. Voltron is a mighty robot ("loved by good! Feared by evil!") that was split into five robotic lions. Obviously, the space explorers become the pilots of the lions. Although the characters are archetypal (the main hero, the rival, the love interest, the big guy, and the kid), this anime is very cool for nostalgic factor as well as watching-big-robot-killing-things factor. However, when watching it now, it's hard to really enjoy episodes after the first story arch. The problem is this: it's too predictable! Will they form Voltron? Will they win? No doubt about it. The only surprise is when they don't use the blazing sword to kill a Robeast. You'd think after so many episodes, the Voltron team would learn to form Voltron right away. Alas, no. It's too repetitive, and the animation is so cheap and outdated by today's standards (esp. with noticeable use of the same footage). Still, the music is pretty catchy. Bottom line: good for little kids and those who grew up watching it in the 80's, but otherwise, just watch the first storyarch. Overall: B+ (for the first story arch); C (for the rest) CX34 Speed Racer the Movie (Mach Go Go Go) This feature film is actually a series of short Speed Racer adventures put in one. This was one of the anime pioneers that brought anime to America. The story (as if it matters) is about a rich guy who hates cars. But don't worry: Speed will take care of everything. Also, Speed races a really big car and then it turns into some story about gold. Whatever. The story doesn't really matter because it's so predictable--the hero will always win. I suggest reading the DC/Wildstorm comic by Tommy Yune, which goes into the character of Speed. The anime is just about his cool car and really fast-talking. The animation is seriously outdated (just still frames), but this is classic stuff here. Pretty much everyone just makes fun of their really fast talking and ridiculous plots. Still, for the time, the character designs were pretty good, and it had a nice concept. If you want to be all retro and stuff, you better watch it. Plus, it has one of the best theme songs for a show EVER. But just judging the movie, it's a good example of what the show is about. That's the problem: the movie is supposed to be enhanced from the show, not exactly the same. If you've watched the entire movie, you've pretty much seen the entire series. Overall: C CX35 Ranma 1/2 The Movie: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China This is the first Ranma movie, and I don't want to explain the origins of Ranma and Co. If you have no idea what Ranma is, don't watch the movie first (instead, read the manga or watch the TV series). Basically, a Chinese prince named Kirin is on a search for his bride (a woman who holds the other half of a scroll). Surprise! It lands in the hands of Akane, even though a girl named Lychee has held it for years (yes, she is a girl). So then Ranma and Co. travel to China to take Akane back. The plot is the same old, same old Ranma: someone likes/kidnaps Akane, and Ranma must rescue her. The problem is that this is very formulaic and thus predictable, but this is a comedy, after all. So is it funny? Not really. It has a few moments, but it doesn't reveal anything about the characters. This seems to be more DBZ action-esque then sex comedy/drama. I didn't feel as though the character of Kirin was likeable nor unlikeable. He was justthereall the time. There are no new jokes (make fun of Akane's cooking, see Happosai as a lecher, etc, etc.). This movie is 74 min. long, and it seemed TOO long. The animation quality is slightly better than the TV series, but it's not as sharp in detail or color as the OAV or second movie. I would recommend this for Ranma fans only. Overall: B- CX36 Ranma 1/2 The Movie 2: Nihao My Concubine This is the second Ranma movie, and again, I only recommend this to Ranma fans. Ranma and Co. are stranded on a tropical island (but somehow set up a café), but then the young women are kidnapped by a mysterious force. So Ranma goes in girl-form as bait to find out what happened to them. He learns that all these women are brought into a bridal contest (winner being the bride of Toma, a princenot again). Also, there's the possibility of Ranma turning back to full man if he wins. Okay, the plot is just restructured with different characters. Akane gets kidnapped a lot (so you know Ranma will save her). There's more pressure on Ranma and the other men to rescue the women (because their respective love interests are kidnapped as well), so it's more team-based. The animation quality is much brighter and smoother than the previous film, and it's more like the OAV, which is good. It's goofier than the previous one with more emphasis on cleavage and making jokes than fighting. I like this movie better because it's more like traditional Ranma yet enhanced to the big screen. The comedic parts are funny, and the serious parts are serious (I almost cried when Mousse sacrificed himself for Shampoo, <sniff>). The villains are much more evil, and it's only 60 min. which is just enough. Although it's too predictable, it's still better than the first movie in every respect. Overall: B+ CX37 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Like Water for Ranma Like Water for Ranma features two OAV episodes. The first episode is about how Akane finds her late mother's recipe book, and she decides to be a culinary master. It just so happens Kasumi gets sick and cannot cook, and Ranma's mother shows up to help out. This leads to a cooking contest between Ranma and Akane. This episode is hilariousthe reactions of the Tendo household to Akane's "cooking" are very memorable (Genma and Soun cooking rice like the old days, Nabiki ordering sushi, Ranma dying of agony). This is also an episode of interest because this is the first U.S. appearance of Ranma's mother, so there's more character development and revelation (also more humor as Genma and Ranma try to hide their secret). The second episode is how a new teacher (Ms. Hinako) shows up as a little girl, but she has this power-draining technique where she absorbs the fighting spirits of others. Then she transforms into a VERY DEVELOPED woman (in the same size dress!!!). Ranma is sent out to stop her, resulting in some embarrassing and humorous situations. The OAVs are self-contained, bringing some closure by the end of each episode. The animation is better than the TV series in every way, but after a few viewings, the jokes can get a little old. Still, these are some of the better Ranma OAV episodes. Overall: B+/A- CX38 Transformers: The Movie (Matrix yo eien ni) Some people don't consider this anime because the cartoon was mostly American based. Still, the movie as well as the license has its Japanese roots. If you don't know the characters, don't waste your time. This is a beloved movie by many people because of its dramatic change from "robots-saving-Earth" to "robots-brutally-killing-each-other." The year is 2005, and the Decepticons have won, forcing the Autobots to flee to the Earth and Cybertron's moons. A new threat comesUnicron a gigantic, transforming planet who seeks to destroy the Autobot Matrix. The animation for mid-80's is absolutely superb and still is by today's standards, far better than the TV series. The plot is more monumental than most Transformers stories, and it climaxes the Autobot/Decepticon rivalry. This also includes a celebrity voice track (Orson Welles' last film!), and a collection of awesome 80's music. The problem lies in thiswho is Unicron? We never know. Also, the conclusion is good, but it leads into a new era of new Transformers (something casual fans might interpret as a cheap attempt to sell more toys) that are inferior. However, although the main characters are completely new, the character interaction is top notch as well as action sequences. This actually made kids cry in the theaters when they realized that any of their favorite Transformers could be killed, enhancing the war theme. My main complaint is how many noticeable continuity problems there are throughout the movie. For example, Shrapnel the Insecticon might be converted into a Sweep, but after that, he'll show up fine in Shrapnel form. What happened? I'm not sure, but there are more problems similar to that. Still, it doesn't take away from the overall plot. One could easily distinguish the Japanese touch on this movie and the American-based TV series. The animation and story was mostly developed in Japan for the movie. If you're looking for the good example of what anime looks like, stay away. Otherwise, this is a treat to Trans-fans everywhere. Overall: A CX39 Appleseed This OAV is based after the manga by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell), in which a post-WW3 city is aided by cybernetic Biodroids. Some humans want to free themselves from these controlling druids, and they plan to destroy the main computer. It's a question of whether or not these humans will be stopped or not. This is another terrible Shirow adaptation, and although he's a master of manga, his anime versions are either very bad (Appleseed) or are changed somewhat (Ghost in the Shell). The problem is that the two main characters' origins are not revealed at all in the anime version, and there is no place for the audience to jump in and truly sympathize with them (the dialogue is rather dull, and the development is minimum). The plot is somewhat interesting, but the audience cannot get past the non-detailed, scratchy animation. Visually, it becomes rather boring and muddy. Shirow's original designs were good, but the main characters could be better in the anime. And there's not enough good action to keep interest: the action sequences are not very intense or innovative, and the animation only ruins them. If you're looking for a good example of what Shirow's work looks like, don't watch this. If you liked Ghost in the Shell, don't watch this. I would only say rent if you are somewhat interested by this, but in the end, you'll waste your time. It's a little lower than average, but I would rather watch this than a lot of the anime I graded lower. Overall: C- CX40 New Dominion Tank Police This is a six episode OAV, in which there is terrorism in a futuristic city. The only ones who can stop it? The Tank Police, using any means possible. The anime is not about a very hard-boiled police force, and the audience might question if tanks are overkill. The threats in this series are ones people face today, and they use tanks? The storyline is not really serious in this series, which upsets me. This seems to be more Gunsmith Cats then Ghost in the Shell, but I didn't really find any of it funny. The action sequences are not very high impact or serious. None of the characters really stood out as extremely likeable too. The ending is very inconclusive (and this series comes after regular Dominion!). What I did like about the anime (it was not the dubbing!) was how the episodes were self-contained with the same overall storyline throughoutthere was at least some continuity while keeping minimal closure. But the outdated, boring animation brings down any positives, as although it is clear enough to tell what's going on, nothing is very impressive or interesting. Newcomers will not really enjoy it because it's neither overly funny nor action-packed. It's better than some because it has its fun moments, but you won't be changed by it. Overall: C CX41 Shadow Skill: The Movie This movie is about a young Gau who returns to his parents' graves when he learns his martial arts abilities would be pushed to the extreme. Gau must struggle against several obstacles, including his adopted sister Ella. Whatever. This movie has the premise of a fighting game, but unlike Fatal Fury and Street Fighter, this is very boring and uninspired. I didn't care for the character of Gau at all, and although some fight sequences are somewhat interesting, the overall package comes out flat. Animation is better than some with some solid art designs, but the audience cannot accept this horrible, virtually non-existent plot and characterization. Several of the enemies are just there, with no origins explained nor motivations (maybe they're the good guys). The creators try to build this is a major epic of philosophy and martial arts, but it's just a bunch of semi-decent fighting scenes with some non-memorable music. I recommend this to no one, but if you want to torture yourself, rent it and waste 50 min of your life. Overall: D- CX42 Street Fighter II V This is about a younger Ryu and pre-Bison stuff, where Ken and Ryu travel together. They eventually meet up with a young Chun-Li, and then they get involved with Shadowloo. Along the way, they meet other fighters and learn new techniques. The good thing about this is that not all of the SF characters are just put in it just because they're in the video game. There's more pacing, and it makes more sense when they meet other SF characters. There's more time to develop the characters and involve them in situations where they grow as martial artists and as friends. I like this animation much better than the animated movie as there is more detail in their figures (plus, it makes more sense when they're not in their game outfits all the time). Also, it's nice to see the pasts of the characters to get a feel of what drives them in the present, and they don't always win. Still, it could be a lot better, and just because there's better pacing doesn't mean there's a better story. It still follows the video game with the entire Shadowloo, but I would've preferred just a story about their training and facing regular street fighters not a sinister corporation (just wait for that). The music is rather cheap too. This series is for Street Fighter fans, and its rather basic plot that lacks direction might turn off newcomers. Overall: C+/B- CX43 Street Fighter Alpha This movie is about the Street Fighter character Ryu and his struggle with the Dark Haddou (a super evil force). It has almost all of the Alpha (or Zero) characters, except noticeably Guy and Rolento. I didn't like the plot because my favorite characters weren't in it, there's this entire involvement with Ryu' s possible brother (who's not even in the game!), and a villain that also is not in the game. The villains just grimaced a lot and talked really angrilybut why?? I felt as if Ryu just sat at home and watched TV, the same outcome would happen. What's the threat?? This entire involvement with Ryu's brother is stupid, and he's really annoying (I suspect it's Ryu's sister, not his brother). The animation quality is fluid, but the art designs are weird and ugly. It attempts to capture the original Alpha/Zero designs, but it ends up looking blocky. Action sequences are rather tame for an anime based after a fighting game, but it does a contain the positive of having Dan getting his ass kicked. Plus, Gouki's in it, so that's pretty cool. For a movie, there should've either been more fighting or more plot. It's no Fatal Fury, and although it's not really true to the game, it does contain some semi-decent action scenes and some character development. Overall: C/C+ CX44 Tenchi Muyo the Movie 2: Daughter of Darkness This is the second and (in my opinion) worst movie of the Tenchi movie series. It's about how a young woman named Mayuka tells Tenchi she's his daughter. This leads to more Ryoko/Ayeka bickering, and some dark force trying to attack Yosho. Oh yeah, there's some possible incest in there too. Although it's interesting to find out Tenchi may or may not have offspring in the future, I found this movie to be stupid. It seemed like a regular Tenchi episode just longer. It doesn't add any new dimensions to the characters like a movie should. I feel like I've seen this beforean old flame wants revenge on Yosho, Ryoko and Ayeka are fighting again, etc, etc. This is not very epic in proportion to the first film. A person can easily get by with just seeing the first and third movies, totally skipping this altogether. This is more accurate to how Tenchi really is, but I liked serious, emotional Tenchi more. The animation is not as good as the first film, probably equal to the OAVs. Music is okay, but it's not memorable. This movie is not terrible, but it's such a rehashed storyline in the Tenchi universe that it becomes boring and pointless. Watch the other two Tenchi films, but skip this one. Hardcore Tenchi fans will like this (maybe more than the other movies), but I like the other two more. If I wanted to watch the regular Tenchi OAV, I'd watch the regular Tenchi OAV. Overall: C+/B- |
CHAMBERX ANIME REVIEWS |
Looking for a specific anime? Just go to to EDIT and select FIND... Then type the code # and hit ENTER twice CX39 Appleseed CX16 The Big O CX12 End of Evangelion CX04 Fatal Fury: Double Impact CX03 Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture CX23 Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals CX29 Fist of the North Star CX24 Golden Boy CX14 Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof CX30 Macross: Do You Remember Love? (Macross '84) CX07 Macross Saga (Robotech - First Generation) CX13 Martian Successor Nadesico CX25 Maze CX26 Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket CX01 Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory CX40 New Dominion Tank Police CX15 New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (movie edition) CX32 Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge CX28 Otaku No Video (1982 and 1985) CX06 Perfect Blue CX10 Ping Pong Club CX35 Ranma 1/2 The Movie: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China CX36 Ranma 1/2 The Movie 2: Nihao My Concubine CX17 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Akane and Her Sisters CX21 Ranma 1/2 OAV: An Akane to Remember CX18 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Desperately Seeking Shampoo CX19 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Faster Kasumi, Kill, Kill CX37 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Like Water for Ranma CX20 Ranma 1/2 OAV: One Flew Over the Kuno's Nest CX22 Ranma 1/2: TV Series CX27 Roujin Z CX11 Rurouni Kenshin CX02 Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin): The Movie CX41 Shadow Skill: The Movie CX31 Shamanic Princess CX34 Speed Racer the Movie (Mach Go Go Go) CX09 Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie CX42 Street Fighter II V CX43 Street Fighter Alpha CX08 Tekken: The Motion Picture CX44 Tenchi Muyo the Movie 2: Daughter of Darkness CX38 Transformers: The Movie (Matrix yo eien ni) CX33 Voltron: Defender of the Universe (Go Lion) CX05 Wicked City |
CX01 Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory I've seen the entire 13-episode series, and I must say, I seriously recommend this title. The story takes place 3 years after the One Year War (as seen in Gundam War in the Pocket), and the Zeon forces have returned. Gato, aka "The Nightmare of Soloman," has stolen a new Gundam suit that can withstand a nuclear attack. Kou, a rookie pilot, takes the other Gundam suit being developed to chase after Gato. It's a pretty basic story, but it soon develops into a love triangle, a story of war's effects, and government betrayls. The animation, coming out in 1993, is superb for the time, far surpassing Mobile Suit Gundam W (as seen on Cartoon Network). The colors and details in the suit are strong and clean, and the fighting is more intense. The characters are pretty generic. My biggest complaint is Kou, the main character, who seems rather incompetent and annoying throughout the series. He seems to come from the Shinji of Evangelion school of piloting. The other supporting characters (such as the veteran pilots as well as the bridge crew) are pretty much unnecessary. Besides the entrance theme "The Winner," the music is rather bland. Overall: A Although Gundam W fans will recognize several things similar to their beloved series (a colony being dropped on Earth, for example), one should know that this came first. Also, Gundam W is an alternate world, so there are no customized Gundams. Just three. CX02 Samurai X (Rurouni Kenshin): The Movie Be warned. This is not the sequel to the Samurai X OAV, which is a prequel to the Rurouni Kenshin TV series. The animation is very different and less serious, and several characters are in it that have not been introduced in the OAV series. Also, fans of the OAV series (who have not seen the TV series) will notice a character change in Kenshin, who acts more goofy and nicer. Basically, Kenshin and his three friends meet a really good swordsman in Yokohama. Turns out, this swordsman was the best friend of a man Kenshin killed earlier. Only Kenshin realizes this, and he stays silent about it. Then it leads into a political uprising somehow, and I won't spoil the rest. The story is a so-so, average plot of a Kenshin episode. It just so happens that the episode is longer...and it's supposed to be a movie. That's just the thing: the movie is supposed to bring the series a level higher. It does not. The characters are all very interesting, with their own individual struggles (although I wish the movie would focus more on Sano). Animation-wise, it is a huge step down from the OAV series, but it is slightly better than the TV series. The animators seen to have gotten lazy later, and they re-play the same animation over and over again. And the music is not very memorable at all. Overall: B CX03 Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture This is quite possibly the best video game adaptation ever. Not only does it enhane the game's dimension by giving their characters interactions and struggles, but it also boosts from the two OAVs before it. I really like this movie, just on entertainment value, as it also contains continuity. An evil youth is searching for the Armor of Mars, scattered throughout Alexander the Great's empire, and if he gets all six pieces, he will become a god. So, his twin sister (who's good by the way) searches for the best fighter...Terry Bogard. So Terry and his friends use their various martial arts techniques to fight goons and stuff. OK, so the story is not very monumental. The animation is not fantastic, but it is a huge step up from the OAVs. The characters are fluid, quick, and with personality based on their designs only. The characters have humor but also concern. Even if you've never played the game or seen the OAVs, the characters are easy to sympathize with. The music is rather sappy but appropriate for this kind of a movie. It is definitely not on the top ten of all anime, but it's pretty decent, considering what it is. Overall: B+ CX04 Fatal Fury: Double Impact (or "Legend of the Hungry Wolf" and "A New Battle") I saw this after watching the movie, which is a mistake. The movie, first of all, takes place after the OAVs. Second, the movie is far superior to the OAVs. The Double Impact collection has both OAVs: "Legend of the Hungry Wolf" (which details the characters' origins and quest for revenge by fighting in a tournament) and "A New Battle" (where yes, a new threat comes into play). Since it is two OAVs, I will rate them separately. "Legend of the Hungry Wolf" is so-so. The story is pretty lame, with the basic "fight the man who killed my father"-story. The animation is old, and the audience can clearly see it. The art is not inspiring, and the animation is rough and dry. The characters do not show as much personality as they do in the movie, which is a big disappointment. Too predictable (Will Terry get revenge? Will the bad guy Geese be punished?) of a story to rate that well. Music sucks too. "A New Battle" is slightly better which is a welcomed improvement. My problem is with the street fighter kid Tony, who wants to be the best fighter. But what makes this good is the uberman villain, Wolfgang Krauser (an evil German lord). Basically, Terry is defeated and gets drunk. The story of his struggle to redefine himself as a fighter, as well as Krauer's struggle as a youth, makes it rather interesting. Krauser is not really evil, he's just a really good fighter. The music is not very noticeable. Overall: B - CX05 Wicked City The movie starts out with sex. Seriously. But what makes this more than the regular encounter is that it's with a demon from a different dimension who has weird claws from her genital region. After, the story is about a cop who must team with a demon cop to protect a dirty old man who is to attend a peace conference (the two dimensions are at war and the demons want to stay that way). An interesting concept, but the movie becomes a stupid excuse to show more sex (it's not at hentai level at all, but it's in there a lot). The fighting sequences are not very interesting, and it just becomes too weird and out there. The characters are rather bland, and you don't really care what happens to them. The animation is so-so, no better than Ninja Scroll (it's the same director). The music is rather non-existent. Overall, the movie never really becomes boring, but the movie is also not very good. Overall: C+ CX06 Perfect Blue The movie is awesome. An intense psychological thriller, the story is about a young woman named Mima in modern Japan, when she decides to become an actress after a semi-successful singing career. The story then leads into identity, self-discovery, knowing what you really need, stalking, serial killing, and obsession. Even the most sophisticated adults may have to watch this twice to fully understand the entire movie, as several awakening sequences make the audience question what is reality. The music really adds to the film with its horrifying humming to classic J-pop. The characters make the film amazing with constant breakdowns, concerns, and realistic interactions. The animation is pretty good--very solid and smooth, for this kind of story to work. The story is very interesting, and even though some fans will think that it is really weird and be a little hesitant to watch it again, others will appreciate the plot twists. Is it predictable? Not really. Many things just happen in this story, whether it be a photographer being stabbed to death with a screwdriver or a ghostly version of Mima jumping on lamp posts. Weird but interesting enough to keep me enticed. I cannot really recommend this to younger audiences though because of its mature content (an acted rape scene among many stabbings). Basically, this movie blows a lot of the American thrillers out of the water. No question about it. Overall: A CX07 Macross Saga (Robotech - First Generation) Known as the best series of the Robotech saga (which is actually just three unrelated serieses), this story sets up the stage for Macross II, Plus, Seven, and all the other sequels and side stories. The story is about a young pilot named Rick Hunter who goes to Macross Island to meet his "older brother" Roy Fokker. Roy has been working for UN Spacey lately, and Rick is against the military. Macross is celebrating the launch of the new ship SDF-1, an alien spacecraft converted to be an aircraft carrier of sorts. But the Zentradi, the alien race of giants bent only on war, attack the Earth forces. RIck Hunter, who is sleeping inside the cockpit of a veritech fighter, is ordered to launch. Rick is thus forced into a battle. Pretty interesting, this story is rather original as it starts the entire love triangle in anime, effects of culture on other races (in particular love and music), and a young man's antiwar beliefs to being a prestigious officer. The animation is old, but it does not seriously damage the quality of the show. The space battles are rather intense for a show in the early-mid '80s, and the mecha designs are rather interesting. Some criticize the show because of its soap opera-like dimensions, but others like it even more because of it (it really comes down to if you can tolerate or not). The characters all have a distinct personality, and it actually quite emotional when a character dies. Takes a lot for a cartoon to do that. Good but the animation brings it down a little. Overall: A - CX08 Tekken: The Motion Picture Ugh. Another bad video game adaptation. But Tekken never really had a story to begin with. Just who are these characters? They put all these weird characters (a cyborg, a demon, a Chinese hard boiled cop, etc.) into one scenario. It's like Mortal Kombat the movie in the way that they all go to an island to fight in a tournament. Yawn. No story, unlike Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture. The action scenes are also rather tame. The U.S. edition adds modern rock music like Offspring and Stabbing Westward. But it's not like it's a big deal. The animation is bland--the art designs are not even that good. The characters are actually unlikable, even if you are a fan of their video game counterparts. The story is overused and lame to begin with. Thank God it's short. It's very boring, and it's very bad. Watch this only if you have to choose between this and something like Bio-Dome. It's that bad. Overall: D- CX09 Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie This movie is WAY better than Tekken. But how much? The story is very predictable. The character designs are pretty good, but the animation itself is a little crooked. It can be pretty good at some parts, while other parts features rather sloppy scenes. The fighting sequences (esp. Chun-Li vs. Vega) are pretty good, but they are nothing to buy a video or DVD for. It' pretty much average. There is really nothing special or redeeming about this. The story itself is about Shadowloo, an evil organization led by M. Bison, a Thai dictator (actually, his name is Vega, but it's changed in U.S.). He abducts certain street fighters to transform them into his pawns for world domination. Uh huh. Anyway, Guile and Chun-Li work for the government to take him down, and Ryu, the most powerful street fighter, is just wandering around--like everywhere in Asia. So so overall. Some of the characters' appearance (like Blanka) seem awkward and unnecessary for an actual movie to work. And the scenes between the fight sequences make the audience say: "This is boring" or "Why don't they fight now?" The movie is pretty much based on several fight sequences after all, since the story is not in-depth and the characters are not as sympathetic as Fatal Fury. Overall: C CX10 Ping Pong Club This comedy TV series is about a high school ping pong team that sucks. The team is basically a bunch of losers, sex fiends, and overall fanatics. The school is always pissed off at them because all they do is sophomoric pranks and attempts to look at the nude female student body. Not exactly a great story. The animation style is very weird but appropriate, and the characters seem to inhuman to actually like if they were real people. But there's something about this series even though it just relies on gross-out humor. It has a certain charm that makes its audiences laugh out loud, look in disgust, or just be weirded out. It has the power of humor on its side although some of its jokes aren't really funny but rather pushing the limit (a character named Mino shoves ping pong balls up his ass to only crap them out later to mock a sea turtle; he also uses his dick to distract his opponents while doing ping pong). It goes to the extreme of comedies, but it still remains humorous. It's not a series where you have to watch every episode, but it still is pretty entertaining. What I like about the series is that the creators know what it really is: a comedy that uses bodily functions among other things to shock people. It does have some drama in some parts, but the other characters (esp. Mino) break it up; it stays consistent. Overall: B CX11 Rurouni Kenshin This 95-episode series is about a swordsman named Kenshin who goes to live in a dojo, where he meets several characters. Of course, his nonviolent ways (he's a rurouni, although he used to be called the Battousai, a brutal killer) inspire several others. The series deals with redemption, sword fighting, the transition from feudal to modern lifestyle in Japan, and some comedy. The problem with the series is that Kenshin acts to goofy sometimes, and it has a certain Ranma-like feel to it...which would be why it appeals to girls. The series can become serious, but in the end, the entire series just involves the interactions between the characters. Sano, a former rebel who works with Kenshin, used to be a really good, brutal warrior, then he becomes a joke. The series tries to be dramatic or serious too many times, but it also has enough comedy to it for an inconsistent formula. Viewers of the Samurai X OAV (also part of the Kenshin series) will find it to be irreconcilable to the OAV series. In the OAV, Kenshin acts very serious, and it obviously is a drama. In the regular TV series, he is a laughing stock. The music is so-so, but it works; the characters are okay, even though Yahiko (the kid) can become rather annoying. The stories are not really thought provoking, but they contain some special messages. Overall: B CX12 End of Evangelion This movie wraps up the entire Neon Genesis Evangelion series (which is probably the best thing on the site), and several questions should be answered, right? Right? Nope; it only adds even more questions. The plot, especially, becomes even more confusing than before--it has several religious themes and betrayals. Characters will no doubt die. Ties will be broken. Lives will be changed forever. Unlike most of the anime I reviewed, the plot is epic. The series itself is excellent, and the audience can only hope to see the real end of it in this movie. I do not want to spoil the ending of the end, so excuse me if I'm not very specific. The music is not very noticeable, but it is appropriate. You don't really think about the music when all of this stuff is going on. The fight scenes are really good, and the revelations of the plot are pretty good. The character development is interesting, with lots of shocking betrayals and plot twists. I must warn all viewers to say that the ending is sad: expect lots of death as well as weirdness. Finally, the story concludes, but does it deliver to such a great series? The bottom line is that the ending is appropriate but not great. Overall: B+/A- CX13 Martian Successor Nadesico Martian Successor Nadesico is a 26-episode TV series about mechs. But unlike mech mainstays Macross and Gundam, this hilarious series parodies Macross and Gundam. It's a parody of other anime with enough drama aspects to keep the audience in. The story follows the adventures of Akito, a young chef who survived a Jovian Lizard attack on Mars when he was mysteriously transported to Earth. There, he meets Yurika, a childhood friend who is the captain of the Nadesico. The Nadesico is a civilian-controlled spaceship that is the setting for the rest of the story. The plot itself is not very mind-bending nor original, but it does allow many comedic instances as well as some interesting revelations, concerning character relationships as well as the identity of the villain. But really, this is just a comedy when it comes down to it. The animation is pretty recent, so it should be good. The art style is a change of pace from other mech anime, mainly because of its comedic base. At least it is clear enough to understand, although the animation itself is not quite fluid. The music is not stellar, and it's not very catchy--but some of the songs are funny because of how they parody other anime. The quite large cast of characters works with nice chemistry (love triangles, poking fun at each other, etc.), but a lot of the characters are rather unnecessary. Speaking of which, the character deaths are not very respected. A character might die, and some will be sad early on, but do they remember? Not really. It's a little detail, but it does happen. The consistency of the series is pretty good--it's just some episodes are funnier than others. The drama can keep you in, but it's the parody that makes you want to watch every episode. The series itself is not as good as some of the serious mech anime, but it is better than most comedy series that are currently available. If you are not watching it, you are truly missing out. That is, if you understand what is being parodied. (the fictional Voltron-like series "Gekigangar III" within the series is based on several old series, but it still is my personal favorite part). There are subtle references to several anime, but the audience should be familiar with what the creators are referring to (whether or not on purpose). Excellent comedy but also a good mech series. Overall: A/A+ CX14 Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof This 3-episode OAV follows the adventures of Rally Vincent, a gun shop manager and bounty hunter in Chicago, with her partner. Many people highly recommend the series, and I can only do so if you are just into guns, fast cars, and women. The plot is not very interesting, and it seems a lot like a prime time crime drama on TV. The difference is that the main characters are two women who like to have fun by catching bad guys. This particular series came out 1995-1996, and the animation is not that great. The art style is pretty good, but the animation seems outdated with its blurry colors. I can see how the series can be quite popular, but for me, I cannot put it that high. It's pretty good, but there is other stuff out there that I could be watching. The good thing about the series is the extras section on the DVD edition. Other than that, overall, it's good only if you have the time. The character interaction is funny at times, but it's nothing to rave about. The characters themselves are somewhat likeable. The plot of this particular OAV is that the Gunsmith Cats must work with the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agency) to stop gun smuggles. The OAV is consistent by having the developments continue throughout the three episodes, but it can be a little predictable. The music seems inappropriate in certain scenes. If this were not trying to be a comedy, I would probably like it a lot more. It needs more gun violence--at least Cowboy Bebop can tell when to differentiate between its drama and comedy episodes. The Gunsmith Cats try to combine both, and it seems weird at times. Overall: B-/B CX15 Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (movie edition) Even though this movie is just the three OAVs of Endless Waltz in movie form, I believe I must review it in a different review because it is a lot better than th OAV version. First of all, without the title sequences between each episode as well as the credits sequence at the end of each episode, the movie version helps to form a kind of consistency and nonstop action. If you do not know the story, the Gundam pilots in the Gundam W universe decide to destroy their suits because they are not needed anymore (that is all of them, except Wufei). Suddenly, the Barton Foundation, a group behind Operation Meteor, kidnaps Relena. More is revealed about the pilots' post-war motivations, their pasts, and the character interaction of new and old characters. I like this movie because it adds several dimensions to the Gundam W TV series, being both a sequel and a prequel. Also, it has way better animation. Unfortunately, the movie version keeps the hideous computer animated sequence. Other than that, the movie version is far superior to its OAV counterpart. The animation is pretty much the same, more detail and richer colors than the TV series. The music theme has changed from the somewhat annoying "White Reflection" to the more appropriate "Last Impression," making a cooler sequence when Heero boards the Wing Zero in space. The movie version also features more scenes, including Dorothy Catalonia and Sally Po. It also has a different ending. Way better than the OAV, and although they are little changes to the overall piece, they help it so much to deserve a better grade. Overall: A- CX16 The Big O Despite how pornographic the title of this more recent anime may sound, it is not a hentai. Rather, it is a very artsy noir series that combines elements from Batman: The Animated Series, Giant Robo, and the villains of Speed Racer. Although it does involve a lot of guns, ft cars, and battling robots, it does have a story. The story is about Paradigm City, a place where there are few domestic animals and lots of crime. Roger Smith (also same voice actor as Spike from Cowboy Bebop), a wealthy man who prefers everything black, takes action with his trusty butler (Batman anyone?) and Dorothy, an android coming to grips with memories and humanity. The story is very episodic, meaning you do not need to watch every episode to understand what's going on. I can see why a lot of people like this anime, as well as how many others dislike it. This does not have the traditional anime style of art not animation (their eyes are not that big, don't expect huge water droplets forming on their heads), and there is very little humor in it. The stories are never really complex, although some have some interesting sci-fi concepts. Basically, if you liked Batman: The Animated Series as a piece of art with great detective stories and crime fighting, you'll like Big O. It's a new series, but so many of its parts contain old style stuff (the villains are rather two-dimensional, for example). I do like how Big O does not rely on heavy action sequences, allowing the main characters to develop in post-battle conversations in Dorothy's attempt to discover herself. The music is very good, almost like Cowboy Bebop. The characters are rather interesting, but it has a more American comic book-ish feel to it (but I have no complaints). They are consistent throughout the series, but they also grow. The art, as said above, is not the best example of what anime looks like--however, as art, it is superb. If you cannot appreciate noir style, do not look here. Very interesting and entertaining, but it is not a must-see. In some respects, the Batman cartoon is better. Overall: B+/A- CX17 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Akane and Her Sisters (NOTE: It would be helpful to be familiar with the Ranma 1/2 characters first) This is a two part OAV in which Akane meets two young martial artists who are way better than her. When it turns out that they may be the illegitimate daughters of Soun Tendo (Akane's father), the former friends must battle to see who is better as well as control the Tendo Dojo. Ranma decides to be Akane's partner, but the two only face defeat. This is pretty interesting because this is one of the few times Ranma actually loses, and when he decides to evaluate himself as a martial artist as well as a guy/girl. Although not as funny as most Ranma OAVs, this one still remains one of the most memorable. Watching both Akane and Ranma train, the audience becomes more understanding behind their attitudes as well. Plus, there's character interaction from the supporting cast, whether it be Ryoga trying to help Akane or Shampoo trying to sabotage Akane's training. It's all fun. Animation could be better, but it is pretty good (in comparison to the TV series). The characters are funny at times, and the chemistry is good. Music is not memorable. Although it could be better, Akane and Her Sisters is not that bad. Overall: B CX18 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Desperately Seeking Shampoo Desperately Seeking Shampoo is yet another volume in the Ranma OAV series released here in America. It contains 2-episodes: the first about how Shampoo wearing a special jewel (that when worn upside down, turns love into hate--thus, she hates Ranma a lot; when worn the right way, it increases the love). This episode provides some laughs about Ranma's relationship with Shampoo and how he feels he lost his touch with women. There's some scheming, but the plot becomes a little too predictable at times as well as dull. The animation is better than the TV series, but in this particular episode, it could be a little better. Entertaining but not the best Ranma OAV. The second is the Christmas special, in which the Tendo family holds a Christmas party. It's nice to see cameo appearances by a lot of the characters that have shown up throughout the series (although people who do not read the manga will be wondering who some of them are), and it's also nice to see how each character tries to use Christmas as a way to get close with their loved one. It's a nice calm when they are not fighting some evil force, and it brings more of a sympathetic element to almost all of the characters. Better than the first episode, but I would not watch this one over and over again. Overall: B CX19 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Faster Kasumi, Kill, Kill This OAV is probably the weirdest and least appealing to me anyway. As much as I like to see demonic forces at work in the Ranma universe, it just seems like a dramatic shift in the series to fully appreciate. The first episode is about an oni that is released from its box, and it runs amok, possessing various people in the Tendo household. The oni plays upon the host's hatred and evil (the more evil the person, the more powerful the oni is). The main issue is when it posesses Kasumi (to get rid of the oni, you must hit the host--since Kasumi is, like, the nicest person on Earth, no one can really hit her). This episode brings in some interesting concepts, like how each person would react if fully evil. It's nice, but like almost all Ranma adventures, it ends in a "let's not talk about it" way. The second episode is how an evil doll at a hotel takes over Akane's body and how Akane is put into the doll. Again, it brings some interesting and funny parts (like the doll in Akane's body sexually advancing Ranma or Akane in doll form trying to convince P-chan that she is Akane). A little weird at times. The plot is rather out there, but it is a catalyst to examine the characters' own feelings. Also, it's a little funny at times. Music is non-existent pretty much, but like all Ranma stuff, it's the character interaction, humor, and crazy adventures that make the viewers tune in. Not as great as some of the Ranma OAVs. Overall: B-/B CX20 Ranma 1/2 OAV: One Flew Over the Kuno's Nest The first part of the OAV was originally the third Ranma movie, but since it was so short, the U.S. distributors put it in OAV format. In any case, the animation itself is a lot better here than any of the other OAVs. The first part involves Kuno, seeking revenge on Ranma (yes, again) buys a mystical egg, but when it is placed on Kuno's head, the egg hatches. It turns out that the bird is really a phoenix, and when it hatched, its imprinting process causes it to seek Ranma and kill him. Nothing can get Kuno to get rid of it (even if he wanted to, he could not), and so both entities seek Ranma's life, joining as one to become an invincible force. The story is a little different from the other Ranma films because it keeps the cast at home in Japan, so it makes more sense for the regular supporting cast to be there. The action sequences are more intense, and the humor that is integrated within the action is also entertaining. Music is, like all Ranma OAVs, so-so. This film looks at the Ranma characters from a non-"let's save Akane" perspective, capturing the series' atmosphere better than the other two previous films. The second episode is about how Ukyo and Shampoo plot to have a trip to the Tunnel of Lost Love (a place where couples break apart). They see it as the perfect way to split Akane and Ranma up (were they ever together?), but when Ryoga just suddenly shows up, things get more interesting. This episode is my personal favorite from all the Ranma OAVs because it shows Ukyo's scheming as well as the other characters' thought on different couples. Whether it be Nabiki using Kuno as a human shield (again) or Ranma thinking that Ukyo is in love with Ryoga, this particular episode provides lots of laughs...if you are familiar enough with the characters. Animation is not as good as the episode before it, but it's clear enough to understand. The character development and interaction in this one is great to reveal their inner feelings and ways to achieve their romantic hopes. Overall: B+/A - CX21 Ranma 1/2 OAV: An Akane to Remember This 2-episode OAV is also a two-parter. Apparently, this story was originally a manga,but it was considered by Japanese audiences to be one of the saddest Ranma tales ever. Akane returns to a forest, where monsters roam. She was once there is as a little girl, lost but saved by a young boy who had a whistle. He is one of the monster's keepers of sorts, protecting the innocents and making sure that the monsters do not attack. But when it turns out that he has amnesia, it becomes quite sad, as he works now as a teen to help others. There is not as much Ranma involvement in this anime, as there are in the other OAVs, which is somewhat refreshing. It becomes even more sad when it turns out that the boy is also dying. How depressing. Not much humor in this one, I guess Animation is pretty average as well as music, and I like this one because the crazy supporting cast with the exception of Ryoga, do not show up. It is an adventure, but you can only watch it so many times. Overall: B CX22 Ranma 1/2: TV Series This TV series is the animated adaptation of the Ranma 1/2 manga, and it follows it pretty accurately, with a few edits. I actually prefer the manga over the anime in this case because the animation is just too bland and dated. You can tell what's going on, but if you do not find it that funny, you will be easily bored. The music is rather original, but I think it's a little cutesy at times. It's a nice way to be introduced into the series, but it does not have as much quality animation nor humor as the OAV series. It takes, like, forever for any of the major characters that Ranma fans love (Dr. Tofu? How long was he in the series?) to show up. Another con is that there are so many episodes, and none of them really stand out as high quality. The characters develop, but it seems more like a girl's (which it is) comedy...less emphasis on jokes about perverts and what not. The fight scenes are not that interesting, but it is a good way to learn about the Ranma lore. I suggest reading the manga first, and then watch the OAV series. You do not need to watch the TV series at all, but if you want to, go ahead. Overall: C CX23 Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals If you expect Cloud, Locke, Squall, or any of the FF characters that you may know from the Squaresoft RPG series, do not look here. Rather, this is kind of a mix of Record of the Lodoss War: COTHK and the original Dragonball series. It seems that way anyway. There are no moogles or chocobos or any of that traditional stuff. It is not a high tech society like in FF8, but it does have airships. How would I rate it as an anime? Not that great. First, the animation sucks. The art designs are not that appealing, and the colors are rather blurry at times. The characters can become rather annoying and unsympathetic, and the overall plot lacks direction at times. The villain is not fully developed, and the music is not memorable. It seems as though they made a really crappy anime and put the FF name on it so that people would buy it. No impressive animated scenes. No intense battles. No plot twists or revelations about the villain's motivation. It's like Slayers: The Movie but without any humor. Ugh. Overall: D+/C - CX24 Golden Boy The story follows the misadventures of the Golden Boy, an ex-college student that dropped out after he finished his credits. He travels only on his bike, learning trades from whoever he meets. He quickly draws and writes notes into his trusty book, acting like a complete idiot to others. Oh yeah, and he's also a pervert (like rubbing his face on the women's toilet to get closer to their rears). But he proves them all wrong in the end...he's not the idiot that he appears. He learns really quickly, and he usually solves the problems that he starts. The animation is pretty good, nice art style especially for a comedy series. The characters are rather generic, especially since the Golden Boy pretty much just moves from town to town. He's obnoxious sometimes and rather pathetic, but he is thrown into hilarious situations. The humor is similar to Ping Pong Club, except not as extreme. The music is almost non-existent, and the plot is rather basic. It's just about a wanderer, messing up and cleaning up after himself. It can be annoying and sometimes too inappropriate, but most of the time, it will make you laugh at least once. Seeing from the perspective of the Golden Boy is interesting, as reality is warped with crude fantasies of women and achieving ultimate success. The character can become weird at times, but I would not expect a really big hit with this series. People should watch this just to expand their horizons a little bit, but in no way is this the epic comedy series you might be looking for. Overall: B CX25 Maze It's hard to know what to make of Maze. Maze is a teenager girl that is meant to protect Princess Mil in a fantasy world, where there she controls a mech and travels with many companions. Oh yeah, and she becomes a really horny man at night. And practically every person in the show wants her--and the girls don't seem to care if they pursue her in girl form (but this isn't like Ranma, they are really lesbians!). It's entertaining, combining Escaflowne, Slayers, and Ranma all in one, but it's really...weird. The characters are all third-raters, and there are many instances of unnecessary sex stuff. Mil is especially annoying, with her high-pitched voice and claims to the other female cast that she gets Maze. The series lacks direction and a concrete story overall like most Ranma stuff, but unlike Ranma, this only has its charm in few instances. Maze can try to be funny, and it sometimes is and sometimes is just weird. The actual animation is closer to Slayers--it's not that very good, but it's not terrible; the backgrounds especially are quite generic. I could not sympathize with most of the characters, as they portray Maze as more of a instrument to have characters fight over and not as an actual character (and where are the really cool villains???) Also, music is hardly noticeable. Overall, if you are looking for a few laughs and really like the fantasy genre, enjoy. But if you're looking for a serious, mature series, look far away. You won't find it here. Overall: C+/B - CX26 Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket Unlike most of the Gundam stuff available, this 6-episode OAV series focuses less on the rivalry of Zeon and Earth Fed through mobile suits and more on the common people. This takes place during the "One Year War," from the perspective of Al, an 11-year old who has troubles in school and dreams of the war. This is an incredibly personal story, and it makes it more emotional and sympathetic than most anime out there (think Grave of the Fireflies but far less tragedy). Through chance, Al meets Bernie, a pilot for Zeon just around the time Chris (his female neighbor who works for Earth Fed) returns. Of course, some sort of conflict must come out of this, right? These animators on the series do a great job on the mobile suits for early 1990's, but the art of people is somewhat questionable. Still, it's good enough to understand. The storyline is interesting from a civilian perspective, even though it's slower than most Gundam stuff out there. The characters can be annoying sometimes, though...especially this one female classmate Al has who keeps trying to prove she's right. The music is good and appropriate but not excellent. The best part of the series, in my honest opinion, is that the series shows that war has both sides--and neither of them are just all good or all evil. The audience may even sympathize more with the Zeon forces, and it can go either way: neither of them are evil, and it becomes even more tragic. It's poignant, but the animation, music, and characters bring it down slightly. Overall: B+/A - CX27 Roujin Z This is a feature film by Katsuhiro Otomo, better known for his work on Akira. Takazawa is an old man who is the test subject in the recent future of Japan. To better take care of elderly needs, a new invention has been created--an electronic bed that can talk and features TV, toilets, food, etc. But then the bed starts to adopt the persona of his dead wife, and it starts to escape with him inside of it, crawling throughout Japan. This film has a very nice charm to it with some comedic stuff, but it's very interesting because it's more realistic (is that the right word?) anime with a deep link of old couple relationships. It has its moments, but it's nothing extremely special. The music...don't really remember it. The animation...rather bland and outdated. The story is interesting, but this seems more like an animation short, not a feature film. The premise can only go on for so long, and its lack of action and slow-moving plot only drags it on and on. It can become boring at times, but it does have some touching moments. I would say watch this once, but if you're expecting another Akira, think again. This may be Otomo's work, but if you haven't seen any of his work besides Akira (like manga Domu or Memories), you'll be disappointed. It's only pretty good, not must-see. Overall: B CX28 Otaku No Video (1982 and 1985) Otaku No Video is a mockumentary with a very loose account on how Gainax (the company behind Gunbuster and Neon Genesis Evangelion) got started. It explores the world of otaku in the early 1980's from the perspective of a group of Japanese otaku. It also includes several live-action clips of actors who pretend to be otaku to show the audience just how pathetic their lives are. To real otaku: hold onto your egos. This is considered one of the must-see if you're an anime fan, and I would agree due to its several parody references. But I only recommend this to fans of the old school stuff like original Gundam, Macross, Starblazer, Lupin III, etc. I've spoken to many people about this, and fans who started at this time found it hilarious. Fans who started in the Gundam W or DBZ craze will not totally find it the funniest thing they've ever seen. It's somewhat like the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons, and people who are familiar with the difference of Spectacular Spider-Man and Peter Parker: Spider-Man will get the joke about it, while others will just think he's a loser. The fact that the live action clips are scattered throughout the film make it feel awkward at times, however. And the clips can be pathetic or comedic: overall, they're losers. The storyline itself is about Tanaka, the leader of an otaku group, and how he recruits a normal Japanese citizen (Kubo) into his own group. I would not take the anime itself seriously at all: it just becomes weird as they become otakings and try to make a corporation for all otaku. Success and failure in unrealistic ways come. Eh. The storyline is not monumental, but it does have charm. The entire anime is more like a commentary on otaku life and anime in general. It's just satire, and it may or may not be funny to you. It may even offend you. What I especially like about this anime, though, is how much Gainax makes fun of itself. They actually show anime under different companies in better light to some degree, and when Kobu and Tanaka plan to re-launch, they start a new anime about a magical girl who transforms. What's funny about this? Well, she has the notorious "Gainax bounce," if you know what I mean. And Gainax makes sure to point out they are making fun of themselves. Do yourself a favor. If you're beyond the casual fan level, if you've gone beyond the social world and stopped trying to live a normal life, then watch this and laugh. If you don't, be somewhat amused but not totally understanding the inside joke. Overall: B+/A- CX29 Fist of the North Star This right here is sheer "heads blowing up" entertainment. The story (not like it really matters in this) is that the Fist of the North Star is chosen to have the technique of blowing up people's heads on impact. Whatever. Anyway, he goes to help people in a rather bleak post-apocalyptic future and fight his brothers. He must try to reclaim the brighter life he once had...using violence. This is an anime classic right here. Is it very good? Not really, but you should see it once if you have the time. The best part of this anime is how people are blown up. That's it. Story? Put it in the trash. Animation? Too outdated, dump it too. Music? Gone. Character interaction? Screw that, let's see them fight. This movie (yes, this is a movie, not a film) is not for intellectuals. It just seems to go on with overly masculine, violent characters showing how dominant they can be in their patriarchy. This movie can be funny, though. But only when you laugh at it. It's not awful in the sense that you cannot watch it, but it's also not good. Some critics would give it an F because there is no redeeming value, while others would put it in the B range for being a classic. My view is that it's entertaining at times but not good enough. Overall: D+/C - CX30 Macross: Do You Remember Love? (Macross '84) This has the worst dubbing of any anime I've seen, and I swear, that's true. This is a very abridged re-make of the entire Macross Saga (Robotech- First Generation) in one movie. The story has been severly edited and the character depiction has changed a lot. This follows the adventures of Hikaru, a pilot on board the Macross, who meets Minmei, a famous singer during a battle. The two become trapped in one compartment, and their relationship blossoms. At this time, the humans are fighting the Zentradi, a race of giants who only want war and do not understand culture, so like in the original series, music must be used as a weapon. And then there's some romance stuff in it too. On the plus side, the film is far more detailed and fluid than it TV series counterpart. However, the actual film quality is scratchy and old, so it's sometimes difficult to understand what's going on. The characters' depections are very different: Roy is a drunk this time, and Minmei is actually likeable? Huh? And the character designs are far more modern and better looking; it's the same character designer as Gunbuster. The problem I found with the film is that it emphasizes way too much on the gender battle of the Zentradi as well as Minmei, where as the original series focused more on Rick (Hikaru) and his coming to grips on war and his relationship issues. Also, there are many plot holes. Traditional fans of Macross will no doubt respect this far more than new fans, and I would suggest that newbies stay with Macross Plus. The dubbing alone is too terrible. Overall: B - CX31 Shamanic Princess Shamanic Princess is a 6-episode OAV shoujo anime that follows the adventures of Tiara and Japolo, who are on a quest to find Kagetsu, Tiara's former lover. Kagetsu has some allies in the form of Tiara's past acquiantances as well, but the fate of the magical world depends on her. Yawn. The only reason why modern fans might be interested is because the creator of Outlaw Star made this. But there are several problems, like not establishing the characters enough to actually care about them in the beginning. Did anyone care? I didn't. Who are they? What is this world? Anyway, the animation quality is pretty recent and quite interesting with some refreshing blends to form the world backdrop. But the characters could be a lot better, and they look more strange than appealing. As for the music, eh. The storyline has potential, but the way it was built up was not well done. It's not completely fantasy nor romance nor sci-fi. I was just thinking "CLAMP" when watching this. It seems overly "girlish" to me to really enjoy, but I can respect the very solid animation. The series leaves you empty, and you have to be willing to go through all of it to fully understand the plot. The characters, however, can become easily annoying and unlikeable. For the guys, watch it if you want. There are some good things in there. For the girls, I don't know what to say. If you like Magic Knight Rayearth or X or that stuff, watch it. If you like pretty boy stuff (ahem Gundam W), then stay away. Just don't expect Outlaw Star. Overall: B - CX32 Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge This 4-episode series is based after the horror fighting game Darkstalkers by Capcom. It basically says that at one time in history there were real-life vampires, werewolves, and all the other forces of darkness. There are two worlds: human and Darkstalker, but a man named Donovan (who didn't appear in the game until the second installment of the game) comes to protect the innocent: he is half human, half Darkstalker (his character is similar to that of D from Vampire Hunter D). But there is a new alien threat that is coming to destroy all. For an anime based after a video game, this is not awful. The art design is decent, and although the music could be better, this is above average. The characters are the key to this anime, each with their own unique look. The animation is pretty smooth. But my main complaint is that for an anime based after a fighting game, it sure doesn't have a lot of fighting. This association can lead to a viewer thinking the OAV is boring. Most of the characters have such unrealistic dialogue and unsympathetic motivations that it is hard to truly identify with these characters. There is little sense of reality in the story if at all, and there's no one to break up all the serious and dark talk. In the end, it's no Fatal Fury in adaptations, but it's a nice quick fix, although it's not very memorable. Overall: B- CX33 Voltron: Defender of the Universe (Go Lion) This story is about five space explorers who seek to protect the universe from the evil Zarkon who uses magic and robotics to enslave humanity. Oh no! Anyway, they go to a planet called Arus, where the legend of Voltron originates. Voltron is a mighty robot ("loved by good! Feared by evil!") that was split into five robotic lions. Obviously, the space explorers become the pilots of the lions. Although the characters are archetypal (the main hero, the rival, the love interest, the big guy, and the kid), this anime is very cool for nostalgic factor as well as watching-big-robot-killing-things factor. However, when watching it now, it's hard to really enjoy episodes after the first story arch. The problem is this: it's too predictable! Will they form Voltron? Will they win? No doubt about it. The only surprise is when they don't use the blazing sword to kill a Robeast. You'd think after so many episodes, the Voltron team would learn to form Voltron right away. Alas, no. It's too repetitive, and the animation is so cheap and outdated by today's standards (esp. with noticeable use of the same footage). Still, the music is pretty catchy. Bottom line: good for little kids and those who grew up watching it in the 80's, but otherwise, just watch the first storyarch. Overall: B+ (for the first story arch); C (for the rest) CX34 Speed Racer the Movie (Mach Go Go Go) This feature film is actually a series of short Speed Racer adventures put in one. This was one of the anime pioneers that brought anime to America. The story (as if it matters) is about a rich guy who hates cars. But don't worry: Speed will take care of everything. Also, Speed races a really big car and then it turns into some story about gold. Whatever. The story doesn't really matter because it's so predictable--the hero will always win. I suggest reading the DC/Wildstorm comic by Tommy Yune, which goes into the character of Speed. The anime is just about his cool car and really fast-talking. The animation is seriously outdated (just still frames), but this is classic stuff here. Pretty much everyone just makes fun of their really fast talking and ridiculous plots. Still, for the time, the character designs were pretty good, and it had a nice concept. If you want to be all retro and stuff, you better watch it. Plus, it has one of the best theme songs for a show EVER. But just judging the movie, it's a good example of what the show is about. That's the problem: the movie is supposed to be enhanced from the show, not exactly the same. If you've watched the entire movie, you've pretty much seen the entire series. Overall: C CX35 Ranma 1/2 The Movie: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China This is the first Ranma movie, and I don't want to explain the origins of Ranma and Co. If you have no idea what Ranma is, don't watch the movie first (instead, read the manga or watch the TV series). Basically, a Chinese prince named Kirin is on a search for his bride (a woman who holds the other half of a scroll). Surprise! It lands in the hands of Akane, even though a girl named Lychee has held it for years (yes, she is a girl). So then Ranma and Co. travel to China to take Akane back. The plot is the same old, same old Ranma: someone likes/kidnaps Akane, and Ranma must rescue her. The problem is that this is very formulaic and thus predictable, but this is a comedy, after all. So is it funny? Not really. It has a few moments, but it doesn't reveal anything about the characters. This seems to be more DBZ action-esque then sex comedy/drama. I didn't feel as though the character of Kirin was likeable nor unlikeable. He was justthereall the time. There are no new jokes (make fun of Akane's cooking, see Happosai as a lecher, etc, etc.). This movie is 74 min. long, and it seemed TOO long. The animation quality is slightly better than the TV series, but it's not as sharp in detail or color as the OAV or second movie. I would recommend this for Ranma fans only. Overall: B- CX36 Ranma 1/2 The Movie 2: Nihao My Concubine This is the second Ranma movie, and again, I only recommend this to Ranma fans. Ranma and Co. are stranded on a tropical island (but somehow set up a café), but then the young women are kidnapped by a mysterious force. So Ranma goes in girl-form as bait to find out what happened to them. He learns that all these women are brought into a bridal contest (winner being the bride of Toma, a princenot again). Also, there's the possibility of Ranma turning back to full man if he wins. Okay, the plot is just restructured with different characters. Akane gets kidnapped a lot (so you know Ranma will save her). There's more pressure on Ranma and the other men to rescue the women (because their respective love interests are kidnapped as well), so it's more team-based. The animation quality is much brighter and smoother than the previous film, and it's more like the OAV, which is good. It's goofier than the previous one with more emphasis on cleavage and making jokes than fighting. I like this movie better because it's more like traditional Ranma yet enhanced to the big screen. The comedic parts are funny, and the serious parts are serious (I almost cried when Mousse sacrificed himself for Shampoo, <sniff>). The villains are much more evil, and it's only 60 min. which is just enough. Although it's too predictable, it's still better than the first movie in every respect. Overall: B+ CX37 Ranma 1/2 OAV: Like Water for Ranma Like Water for Ranma features two OAV episodes. The first episode is about how Akane finds her late mother's recipe book, and she decides to be a culinary master. It just so happens Kasumi gets sick and cannot cook, and Ranma's mother shows up to help out. This leads to a cooking contest between Ranma and Akane. This episode is hilariousthe reactions of the Tendo household to Akane's "cooking" are very memorable (Genma and Soun cooking rice like the old days, Nabiki ordering sushi, Ranma dying of agony). This is also an episode of interest because this is the first U.S. appearance of Ranma's mother, so there's more character development and revelation (also more humor as Genma and Ranma try to hide their secret). The second episode is how a new teacher (Ms. Hinako) shows up as a little girl, but she has this power-draining technique where she absorbs the fighting spirits of others. Then she transforms into a VERY DEVELOPED woman (in the same size dress!!!). Ranma is sent out to stop her, resulting in some embarrassing and humorous situations. The OAVs are self-contained, bringing some closure by the end of each episode. The animation is better than the TV series in every way, but after a few viewings, the jokes can get a little old. Still, these are some of the better Ranma OAV episodes. Overall: B+/A- CX38 Transformers: The Movie (Matrix yo eien ni) Some people don't consider this anime because the cartoon was mostly American based. Still, the movie as well as the license has its Japanese roots. If you don't know the characters, don't waste your time. This is a beloved movie by many people because of its dramatic change from "robots-saving-Earth" to "robots-brutally-killing-each-other." The year is 2005, and the Decepticons have won, forcing the Autobots to flee to the Earth and Cybertron's moons. A new threat comesUnicron a gigantic, transforming planet who seeks to destroy the Autobot Matrix. The animation for mid-80's is absolutely superb and still is by today's standards, far better than the TV series. The plot is more monumental than most Transformers stories, and it climaxes the Autobot/Decepticon rivalry. This also includes a celebrity voice track (Orson Welles' last film!), and a collection of awesome 80's music. The problem lies in thiswho is Unicron? We never know. Also, the conclusion is good, but it leads into a new era of new Transformers (something casual fans might interpret as a cheap attempt to sell more toys) that are inferior. However, although the main characters are completely new, the character interaction is top notch as well as action sequences. This actually made kids cry in the theaters when they realized that any of their favorite Transformers could be killed, enhancing the war theme. My main complaint is how many noticeable continuity problems there are throughout the movie. For example, Shrapnel the Insecticon might be converted into a Sweep, but after that, he'll show up fine in Shrapnel form. What happened? I'm not sure, but there are more problems similar to that. Still, it doesn't take away from the overall plot. One could easily distinguish the Japanese touch on this movie and the American-based TV series. The animation and story was mostly developed in Japan for the movie. If you're looking for the good example of what anime looks like, stay away. Otherwise, this is a treat to Trans-fans everywhere. Overall: A CX39 Appleseed This OAV is based after the manga by Masamune Shirow (Ghost in the Shell), in which a post-WW3 city is aided by cybernetic Biodroids. Some humans want to free themselves from these controlling druids, and they plan to destroy the main computer. It's a question of whether or not these humans will be stopped or not. This is another terrible Shirow adaptation, and although he's a master of manga, his anime versions are either very bad (Appleseed) or are changed somewhat (Ghost in the Shell). The problem is that the two main characters' origins are not revealed at all in the anime version, and there is no place for the audience to jump in and truly sympathize with them (the dialogue is rather dull, and the development is minimum). The plot is somewhat interesting, but the audience cannot get past the non-detailed, scratchy animation. Visually, it becomes rather boring and muddy. Shirow's original designs were good, but the main characters could be better in the anime. And there's not enough good action to keep interest: the action sequences are not very intense or innovative, and the animation only ruins them. If you're looking for a good example of what Shirow's work looks like, don't watch this. If you liked Ghost in the Shell, don't watch this. I would only say rent if you are somewhat interested by this, but in the end, you'll waste your time. It's a little lower than average, but I would rather watch this than a lot of the anime I graded lower. Overall: C- CX40 New Dominion Tank Police This is a six episode OAV, in which there is terrorism in a futuristic city. The only ones who can stop it? The Tank Police, using any means possible. The anime is not about a very hard-boiled police force, and the audience might question if tanks are overkill. The threats in this series are ones people face today, and they use tanks? The storyline is not really serious in this series, which upsets me. This seems to be more Gunsmith Cats then Ghost in the Shell, but I didn't really find any of it funny. The action sequences are not very high impact or serious. None of the characters really stood out as extremely likeable too. The ending is very inconclusive (and this series comes after regular Dominion!). What I did like about the anime (it was not the dubbing!) was how the episodes were self-contained with the same overall storyline throughoutthere was at least some continuity while keeping minimal closure. But the outdated, boring animation brings down any positives, as although it is clear enough to tell what's going on, nothing is very impressive or interesting. Newcomers will not really enjoy it because it's neither overly funny nor action-packed. It's better than some because it has its fun moments, but you won't be changed by it. Overall: C CX41 Shadow Skill: The Movie This movie is about a young Gau who returns to his parents' graves when he learns his martial arts abilities would be pushed to the extreme. Gau must struggle against several obstacles, including his adopted sister Ella. Whatever. This movie has the premise of a fighting game, but unlike Fatal Fury and Street Fighter, this is very boring and uninspired. I didn't care for the character of Gau at all, and although some fight sequences are somewhat interesting, the overall package comes out flat. Animation is better than some with some solid art designs, but the audience cannot accept this horrible, virtually non-existent plot and characterization. Several of the enemies are just there, with no origins explained nor motivations (maybe they're the good guys). The creators try to build this is a major epic of philosophy and martial arts, but it's just a bunch of semi-decent fighting scenes with some non-memorable music. I recommend this to no one, but if you want to torture yourself, rent it and waste 50 min of your life. Overall: D- CX42 Street Fighter II V This is about a younger Ryu and pre-Bison stuff, where Ken and Ryu travel together. They eventually meet up with a young Chun-Li, and then they get involved with Shadowloo. Along the way, they meet other fighters and learn new techniques. The good thing about this is that not all of the SF characters are just put in it just because they're in the video game. There's more pacing, and it makes more sense when they meet other SF characters. There's more time to develop the characters and involve them in situations where they grow as martial artists and as friends. I like this animation much better than the animated movie as there is more detail in their figures (plus, it makes more sense when they're not in their game outfits all the time). Also, it's nice to see the pasts of the characters to get a feel of what drives them in the present, and they don't always win. Still, it could be a lot better, and just because there's better pacing doesn't mean there's a better story. It still follows the video game with the entire Shadowloo, but I would've preferred just a story about their training and facing regular street fighters not a sinister corporation (just wait for that). The music is rather cheap too. This series is for Street Fighter fans, and its rather basic plot that lacks direction might turn off newcomers. Overall: C+/B- CX43 Street Fighter Alpha This movie is about the Street Fighter character Ryu and his struggle with the Dark Haddou (a super evil force). It has almost all of the Alpha (or Zero) characters, except noticeably Guy and Rolento. I didn't like the plot because my favorite characters weren't in it, there's this entire involvement with Ryu' s possible brother (who's not even in the game!), and a villain that also is not in the game. The villains just grimaced a lot and talked really angrilybut why?? I felt as if Ryu just sat at home and watched TV, the same outcome would happen. What's the threat?? This entire involvement with Ryu's brother is stupid, and he's really annoying (I suspect it's Ryu's sister, not his brother). The animation quality is fluid, but the art designs are weird and ugly. It attempts to capture the original Alpha/Zero designs, but it ends up looking blocky. Action sequences are rather tame for an anime based after a fighting game, but it does a contain the positive of having Dan getting his ass kicked. Plus, Gouki's in it, so that's pretty cool. For a movie, there should've either been more fighting or more plot. It's no Fatal Fury, and although it's not really true to the game, it does contain some semi-decent action scenes and some character development. Overall: C/C+ CX44 Tenchi Muyo the Movie 2: Daughter of Darkness This is the second and (in my opinion) worst movie of the Tenchi movie series. It's about how a young woman named Mayuka tells Tenchi she's his daughter. This leads to more Ryoko/Ayeka bickering, and some dark force trying to attack Yosho. Oh yeah, there's some possible incest in there too. Although it's interesting to find out Tenchi may or may not have offspring in the future, I found this movie to be stupid. It seemed like a regular Tenchi episode just longer. It doesn't add any new dimensions to the characters like a movie should. I feel like I've seen this beforean old flame wants revenge on Yosho, Ryoko and Ayeka are fighting again, etc, etc. This is not very epic in proportion to the first film. A person can easily get by with just seeing the first and third movies, totally skipping this altogether. This is more accurate to how Tenchi really is, but I liked serious, emotional Tenchi more. The animation is not as good as the first film, probably equal to the OAVs. Music is okay, but it's not memorable. This movie is not terrible, but it's such a rehashed storyline in the Tenchi universe that it becomes boring and pointless. Watch the other two Tenchi films, but skip this one. Hardcore Tenchi fans will like this (maybe more than the other movies), but I like the other two more. If I wanted to watch the regular Tenchi OAV, I'd watch the regular Tenchi OAV. Overall: C+/B- |
