Alternative TitlesEnglish: Black Jack Synonyms: Black Jack OVA, Black Jack Final Japanese: ブラック・ジャック
Information
Type: OVA
Episodes: 12
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Dec 21, 1993 to Dec 16, 2011
Duration:
50 min. per episode Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 7.911 (scored by 1940 users)
Ranked: #5792
Popularity: #2062
Members: 5,493
Favorites: 62 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
action drama medical |
SynopsisIn the medical profession, there is a name spoken in hushed tones, of an unlicensed genius physician who can save lives—for a price. His name is Black Jack, and he is a dashing, moody figure, caped in black, a Harlock of medicine, a man who lives by no rules other than his own—and the Hippocratic Oath. A man who would defy the will of God himself in the name of preserving life.
(Source: AnimeNfo) |
Related AnimeAdaptation: Black Jack
Side story: Black Jack the Movie
Alternative version: Black Jack (TV)
Other: Black Jack: Heian Sento
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
Reviews
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IAmZim
32 of 49 people found this review helpful
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12 episodes
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| Overall |
9 |
| Story |
8 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Character |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
The importance of BlackJack
Black Jack is an iconic figure in Japan. The original manga was created by Osamu Tezuka, creator of Pheonix, Buddha and Astro boy. Tezuka was often called the god of manga, or Japans Walt Disney, and he derserved these titles. After all, Tezuka's creation of the sci fi Manga epic "Metropolis" is what convinced Japan that comic books could be just as mature an artform as novels.
So when Osamu Dezaki (Who had worked under Tezuka) was asked to direct the new Black Jack series, he had a daunting task ahead of him. Osamu Dezaki decided, quite wisely, too create his own version of Black Jack. One less cartoony and more serious than the Manga, while staying true to the original. Comparing this version of black Jack with the original Manga, is like comparing Batman Begins to Tim Burtons Batman. There both great interpretations of the charachter, but there so different there's no use trying.
Story
Black Jack tells the story of a brillaint , but horribly scarred surgeon, who works outside of the law. As long as you pay him enough, he'll perform seemingly impossible surgical procedures. The surgeons name is BlackJack.
Don't worry if your not into medical drama's, Black Jack has enough weird diseases, and good drama to keep anyone entertained. Infact, alot of the best episodes are not about medical operations, but charachter interactions and interesting stories, which is what makes the show so interesting. One of my favourite episodes is not about a medical procedure, but a civil war in a south American country. There are a few charachters I don't like, for instance Pinoko, Black Jacks irritating sidekick, but for the most the chaachters are fleshed out enough for you to like them.
Audio
The soundtrack has a great 80's feel to it, especially the many opening themes. The dub and original are both great, though both very different. The biggest difference is Black Jack's VA, who sounds quite old and stern in the original, but young and calm in the English Dub. Not sure which I preffered.
Good Areas
There's alot to like in this show. The charachters are all very interesting, lots of dramatic scenes, and the fact that each episode is an hour long gives everyone's charachter time to develop. Great voice acting. Nice animation style, not ussually seen in anime. Alot of episodes are very grand in scope, and this show actually got me interested in medical stories and dramas.
Bad Areas
Slow pace in some areas. Never really strays from the formula. Endings sometimes feel rushed. Pinoko Wasn't needed.
Overall 8.1
This is really one of my all time favourite anime. Osamu Dezaki did a good job of updating Black Jack for a new audience while staying true to the source material. I can't reccomend this series enough.
I'm glad that they released this series on two boxsets rather than individual volumes. Also, the dvd's are regionless, so it works on any dvd player. read more
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Retro8bit
15 of 28 people found this review helpful
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10 of 12 episodes seen
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| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
6 |
| Character |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
Well as you probably already know from reading the above summary, this anime is all about the unlicensed surgeon named "Black Jack."
While this anime does show its age when compared to other series, its story is something that is truly a breath of fresh air to say the least. The surgeries themselves are pretty detailed and will especially appeal to those that have an interest in the medical field, yet are not overly graphic like you would expect. (though it does still stay true to its mature rating to be sure)
The character design is good and well detailed, you can tell the artists really wanted to try and draw as realistic human characters as possible. The soundtrack did not fair as well though, other than the opening theme, the music is pretty forgettable. Each episode begins with Black Jack getting a call from a random patient in need, and so the story goes. Which indecently is this series weakest point, each story plays out and concludes at the end. While it is very entertaining to watch, those that are looking for a deep storyline and plot twists, won't find it with these OVAs. The medical problems that he counters with each patient range from the ordinary.....to the super natural. Which also may be a turn off to some people, as not all cases are realistic.
Even so, if you are looking for a different style of anime with a refreshing change of pace, Black Jack may just be what the doctor ordered! read more
Recommendations
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Both series have very similar subjects and characters. Both involve doctors that get caught in the middle of serious humanitarian situations. "Monster" has an overarching storyline, where "Black Jack" is episodic (unless you watch Black Jack 21).
Both series are about a kick ass doctor who goes around saving people/performing operation. But it's more about the characters, then each operations. They also both have a little kid who follows them around (although the little girl in "Black Jack" is actually a tumor...yeah don't ask). Urasawa clearly likes Tezuka A LOT, given his "PLUTO" manga, so it's not a stretch to say "Black Jack" goes along nicely with "Monster". I also find Dezaki's directing style to be very cinematic in it's aproach, like Urasawa's manga, or Kojima's anime. Both series are mature, thrilling, suspenseful, dark, and graphic at times. They both also have a strong emphasis on drama.They are both very refined. On a more superficial level, the art styles of both are very similar.
And an odd thing I noticed, the DVD boxsets for both shows look a lot alike. CPM did a wonderful job with their box sets, and so did Viz Media.
However "Black Jack" is episodic, and very straightfoward/simple. "Monster" on the other hand is anything but simple. It's instead complicated, complex, convoluted and contrived (only some times), yet still easy to follow. "Monster" also has a single long running story to tell. Tenma's story is very different then the episodic romps of Dr. Black Jack. "Monster" also has much less to do about performing operations then "Black Jack", although it's still there, and a big focus of the show. "Black Jack" has supernatural and fantasy elements in the background, while "Monster" is pretty realistic.
Both are great shows worth watching though! Fans of one would really like the other in my opinion.
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A quote from my review:
"The best way for me to explain the series to someone totally in the dark is to use Mushishi; a very popular, totally episodic title, with very little development for its lead and few recurring characters. Like the lead of Mushishi, Black Jack is always on the move, attempting solve mysteries in order to save the lives of his patients. Each episode focuses on a different problem, and Black Jack often finds himself in a race against time to save lives. There's isn't much in the way of greenery, the stories mostly taking place inside towns, and there isn't any relaxing music that soothes the soul, but the basic premise of both titles are very, very similar. There are even a number of supernatural cases included, meaning there's no realism/supernatural divide separating the two. Black Jack does try to stick closer to reality, with its lead using the power of science rather than information about supernatural life-forms, though."
Both are episodic shows. Usually in each episode the main characters encounter some type of problem/mystery and work to solve them.
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Opening Theme#1: "Just Before Sunrise" by Rhodes (eps 1-3, 11-12)
#2: "Kioku no Kimi e (To You in My Memory)" by Another Moon (eps 4-5)
#3: "Moon Shadow" by The Orange Vox (ep 6)
#4: "Rebirth" by Kudo Eiko (eps 7-10)
Ending Theme#1: "I'll Be Back Again --- Moonlight" by Rhodes (eps 1-3, 11-12)
#2: "Kono omoi tsutaerareru (I Thought I Could Convey This Feeling...)" by Another Moon (eps 4-5)
#3: "Black Jack" by The Orange Vox (ep 6)
#4: "HOPE --- Not to be defeated, not to cry, and not to be daunted" by Kudo Eiko (eps 7-10)
Fansubbing Groups
Which fansubbers do you like the best? Click + to approve of their subs for this show. Click - if you don't think they did such a great job.
Related ClubsThe OVA/ONA/Anime Movie club, The Ani-Dictators Anime Podcast, ♥Yuuichi Nakamura Fanclub♥ [member cards are available], U.S.MANGA ☆CORPS☆, Osamu Tezuka - God of Manga, Central Park Media Fanclub, Medical Anime, Osamu Dezaki Appreciation Club, Action Dojo, Black Thundercats, H2O ~ Just add water , Watch Anime Together Club Headquarters, The Favorite OST Petition Club, Cogito Ergo Sum - Philosophy In Anime and Manga, Anime Addicted, Anime-tion, Black Jack, Inoue Kikuko Fanclub, Sharp-dressed Men, Japanese Anime's #1 Fans 日本のアニメの＃ 1ファンThe Classics Club, The Aironic OVA (Original Video Animation) Club see all
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