Ranked #27

Tsubasa Chronicle: Tokyo Revelations

Let me start off by saying I am among a minority of critics that feels the Anime series is a work of misunderstood genius and I'm probably the only one who's tired of the Bee Train haterz because OCD CLAMP fans can't stand anything that's different from the Manga. That's not to say I don't recognize the flaws in Bee Train's TV anime series, but nothing is with out it's flaws. With Tokyo Revelations being picked up by Production I.G from BEE TRAIN I wasn't sure what to really expect.

That being said I've always been a long Tsubasa fan more so because I've enjoyed the story telling by CLAMP. Tokyo Revelations I had mixed feelings going into, on the one hand I was delighted to see another anime adaption, on the other hand I wasn't particularly looking forward to Production I.G's new Gothic style. But still I wanted to see if Tokyo was worth the hype and for the most part it is.

Tokyo was very strange, dark and an extreme departure from the campy and brighter anime series broadcasted by NHK sure enough to please the OCD CLAMP fans.

I want to talk about Nanase (or Aghea) Okawa's writing, which I found to be exceptional quality for her. Mostly I've known Okawa's screenwriting skills for my guilty pleasure series Cardcaptor Sakura. Okawa brought out the strong writing that really attracted me to Tsubasa and held me as I read the Manga. I haven't read since the end of the Ashura Arc (having already seen the Dangerous Race I didn't really want to read it again) anyway Okawa probably brought out the strongest story telling so far of any Tsubasa anime adaption, which something the series writer, Hiroyuki Kawasaki, couldn't quite accomplish but still managed in spirit.

The dramatic and somber story telling was done in a very stylistic way that I wasn't expecting really. The writing was action packed and dramatic with out being dark and mopey like other pseudo-Goth animes like Boogiepop or Serial Experiments Lain. This also includes giving the much left out Sakura more of a central role and a pretty kick-ass story arc later, whereas in all earlier volumes of the manga and anime she has been the classical damsel in distress. The awakening of the Clones was beyond strange yes, and even a little confusing but again Okawa wrote that in a sense that it was almost like watching a thriller as opposed to a fantasy.

A highly unusual departure and downright scary it blew me away, it was intense and highly packed full emotion. Overall you may be blown aback unless you just simply like this stuff to begin with.

The new art and character designs is to be expected with a new studio taking over the production, as such I'm not a fan of the psudo-Gothic style of anime, so naturally, I can't say I particularly liked Yoko Kikuchi's new designs. I did not care for the new animation style, I do want to say that director Shunsuke Tada was at least able to keep it balanced. He didn't allow it to become overly saturated with blacks and shadows and dull unexpressive character designs and animation as most directors in this style do. He allowed enough darkness to show a different style and allowed the tone and mood to be set to get us in the new world and not hit us over the head with it. Tada has an easy style that is again often missed by most in this kind of Genre so my hat is off to him for keeping a relatively easy story line, and decent animation style. But he dropped the ball in the Music Department overall.

Music wise you'll notice 98% of the music is from the TV series slightly altered. It's almost appalling that a production company of I.G's status can't make a slightly more original, original soundtrack. I'm certainly glad they have been keeping Yuki Kajiura on as Composer since she was previously brought in under Koichi Mashimo's direction. Whether simply Kajiura was too busy to write new material I don't know but this is one of the reason I find Koichi Mashimo and his company Bee Train to be above the par with most. All I can say is if you are looking forward to another potentially great score, you'll be rather disappointed as I probably heard 5 new musical pieces including the opening theme and closing theme. It's almost silly people have complained about repetitive music in the TV series when it's equally obvious in this OAV Series.

However, the opening theme song Synchronicity once again shows off the immense talent Yui Makino has especially when she's working with Kajiura and Maaya Sakamoto delivers a pleasant and well crafted ending theme. Both Kajiura and Sakamoto are talented writers, and both can do wonders if they are given the chance.

With the up and coming OAD's I really hope Tada get's his act together and starts having Kajiura write some newer compositions. OAV or no OAV if you have a sequel make some new music, if BEE TRAIN could do it for their small 4 OAV series .hack//Liminality, surely a company like Production I.G can do it too. (especially the way CLAMP fans have been making IG into a Mecca).

Overall Revelations is worthy of a checkout and a full watch. How much, is up to you. I am happy to say it wasn't a waste of my time and I will look forward anything new I.G. brings to the Tsubasa Universe.




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The continuation of the ever-so-great series Tsubasa Chronicle, this OVA (Original Video Animation) series was as good as expected, maybe even better. The group we are familiar with has now entered a Tokyo in which all but two buildings has been destroyed by acid rain. They encounter new people, and as the title suggests, there's some revelations waiting for them as well as anyone who watch this.

I really enjoyed the story. Albeit too rushed: I had trouble understanding at times, though everything's clear now. I think it could've been twice the length it was without really being any worse. Anyway, it was really great, from the original Syaoran's and the Clone's awakening to the revelation of Fei Wong's plans and how much he has actually affected the group's journey so far.

The animation style of this was... wow. At first, I was surprised to see a completely new animation style, but I soon got accustomed to it, and soon after I fell in love with it. It was a quantum leap in quality, which was most likely due to the fact that it was an OVA. If only the entire series had been like this... Oh, well. At any rate, you'll most likely enjoy the improved animation.

The music in this series is - and will always be - legendary, at least in my heart. Nay but astounding pieces of music; themes and songs which I could listen to over and over again without growing bored of them (and so have I done). This is how an anime soundtrack should be, and I can almost certainly guarantee that you'll enjoy the music in this series.

In this OVA, the characters experienced a change for the better; growing much more deeper. The characters were somewhat the same as the original series, but I felt that there were changes to them - both at the start of and during the series. Die-hard fans of the original series might get turned off by the fact that the characters changed a bit, but I felt that they were much more enjoyable, and I'm sure you will too, even though you might require some time to get used to it.

All in all, I really, really enjoyed the OVA; there were many changes for the better, but it also kept the best from the earlier seasons, making this much better. There are some changes you might have to get used to, and the story was definitely a bit rushed, but I can guarantee that you will enjoy this OVA at least as much as you enjoyed the original series.

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