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Jul 4, 2014
Stylistically sound and surprisingly fresh, "Space Dandy" is by no means a masterpiece, but then again I don't think it tried to be. Watanabe, Shinichiro is a man with a solid vision for his works, and you can tell. From "Cowboy Bebop" to "Samurai Champloo" Watanabe has forged a very recognizable rhythm that each of his tales match too. Whether it be jazz or Hip Hop, Watanabe has an unmatched "swagger" no matter what direction he takes. So if I were to try to describe what path "Space Dandy" took, well, lets just say it was groovy. Oh baby was it groovy.
Story: 7/10
This
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funky adventure through space (even time) was one sporadic ride, and this more or less senseless journey was at the end of the day at least unique. Now unique is actually a huge complement (I know surprising right), Watanabe has one hell of an imagination, and this show is a testament to it. Voyaging across 13 episodes in the first season the story remains relatively episodic as it goes from adventure to adventure. Each contained story at bare minimum kept my attention, and at the most engaged my senses with its "acid dropping" narrative. From this handful of stories there was plenty of fun to be had, but the general lack of focus might turn people away. It does what it went for well, but at the end of the day it has been done better (hell by shows from Watanabe himself). This leaves us very lopsided in terms of the shows narrative, but because most of the episodes manage to hit their mark with remarkable accuracy the overall product comes out well for it.
Art: 8/10
Vibrantly colorful, and distinctly stylistic "Space Dandy" mixes together a very solid art direction with various blends of masterful camera work. The story boarding alone was incredibly well done. All of these aspects come together to make some wonderful eye candy, and helped the show stay fresh throughout by adding various new visual morsels for your eyes to devour.
Sound: 9/10
I don't usually phrase my input quite this crass, but I have to say this "Shit's so cash". Original, groovy, funky, and well dandy; it mixes together so many different vibes that it effortlessly bounces around from story to story. It not only matches each one on an individual level, but ties the show itself together in such a distinct rhythm that you find yourself moving along to the beat. Much like what Watanabe did with his previous works, he found the right swing, and the show grooves along to it.
Characters: 6/10
This for me was the weakest point of the show. Dandy and crew were quite the enjoyable group of individuals, but unlike the vastness of space there just wasn't that much there. Dandy himself was interesting, and every episode I looked forward to learning more about this dandy in space. He was charismatic, self centered, and kind of an ass hat. However in certain moments throughout the show we had glimpses at some other qualities to this dandy man. Although brash and poser like, I was still engaged into seeing more about this roguish character who proclaimed himself to be a "great" bounty hunter. Sadly Dandy himself was the only real "charm" that the show had going for it. Meow and QT, although excellent side editions, didn't really have the same draw or appeal. Both of them were pretty much one note except in their respective character episodes, which tried to further evolve who these people were. Sadly they just come up even in the end, and don't really do much. The show is Dandy's, and it makes no attempt to hide this fact.
As for the collection of other characters like the Dr. Gel, Admiral Perry, and other individuals that Dandy meets on his journey they were serviceable. Out of the lot who were restricted to their one episode my favorites were Adélie and Prince.
Enjoyment: 9/10
I had a load of fun with "Space Dandy", and can't wait for season 2 to air.
Overall: 7/10
"Space Dandy" is about a Dandy in space, and his grand adventures across the cosmos. Although missing the mark from time to time, Watanabe still manages to pump this show full of style, and creativity. It isn't quite "Cowboy Bebop" or "Samurai Champloo", but it is something wonderful. In the vastness of space where Anime seems to run the same tired scripts over and over again it was nice to something this fresh. Dandy may not be Captain Kirk, but this space traveler tries his hardest to go where no man has gone before.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 30, 2014
Elfen Lied is a textbook example of "shock and awe". It electrifies its viewers with its grizzly mutilations and almost preposterous levels of nudity, but forgets that what is impactful the first time loses its sting the twentieth.
Story: 4/10
Conceptually Elfen Lied is endowed with potential, but loses much of this in its execution. The narrative at best could be considered stilted, or contrived. In attempts to be tragic, and griping it falls into almost comical. The writer relies too heavily on default human responses towards text book examples of "their life was hard" to make us care for the characters. Tragedy shouldn't seem forced, but
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naturally derived from the characters themselves. Not the writer trying too hard. Something that also should be addressed is the jarring tone clashes. For a story that wishes to be taken seriously it consistently makes it hard with its constant use of fan service. This again is just a veiled shortcoming of the director not having faith in his narrative. With its graphic violence, and high volumes of nudity it gives me the feeling that the director was more afraid of the audience getting bored then actually telling a story. Beyond this fact Elfen Lied also runs into being cut short, which is tragic in itself. For a story that seemed to be building up to its ending it's shameful when we don't get to see it.
Art: 5/10
Generic/bland when it needs to be, and vibrantly savage when it wants, Elfen Lied's style almost lacks as much identity as its story. Most people have heard the phrase "style over substance" at least once in their life; Elfen Lied, rather, would be "very little style, and what substance?" The mediocrity in the quality of animation involving anything that isn't gratuitous violence or breasts really highlights what the creators thought were important in this story.
Sound: 6/10
Besides the absolutely beautiful opening song "Lilium" Eflen Lied doesn't have much going for it here. Slightly above average, but nothing that really shines. The voice acting is decent as well, and no real complaints.
Characters: 3/10
To tackle this I will present my thoughts on three of the main characters: Kouta, Lucy, and Yuka. Kouta starts out harmlessly bland, but then never progresses any further past the generic. He casually accepts situations as they are, and glides through the show almost like an insert character. He is there for someone like us to relate with, and to this extent he succeeds. Sadly this burdens the show on having its emotional impact at the end. Everything that Kouta's actual development amounts to is he learns something new about his past, and proceeds to carry on life with the same lackluster attitude he had at the beginning. Lucy in many circles has been branded as "edgy". “Edgy” is an English slang term used to describe things, behaviors or trends which are provocative or avant-garde, and is often used to describe things that are dark and gothic in nature. It is commonly used as an insult on 4chan and Tumblr for someone attempting to be badass by acting emo or overly contrarian. This adjective perfectly describes her outer appearance in the show, but this is only one side of the coin. What about the ghost within the machine? Who is Lucy as a person? This other half doesn't really amount to anything, besides maybe the word "sad". Finally there is Yuka who is not only a third wheel to Kouta and Lucy relationship wise, but is also a third wheel from a narrative slant. She quite literally serves no purpose, which comically parallels the story when she realizes she is just in the way. She forces unnecessary drama into some situations, and is much like her cousin, hilariously bland. Besides Lucy who is slightly interesting out of the gate due to her species, the rest of the cast are either cardboard cut outs or cannon fodder.
Enjoyment: 4/10
If you get thrills out of mindless carnage then this show might be your thing. But even then, to be crass, they "blow their load" early with the first episode leaving nothing left to catch you attention except mutilating a child.
Overall: 4.4/10
Elfen Lied is basically an exploitation show. It relies on its attempts to blind the viewer with guts and breasts. The concept held some promise, but due to the writer's own lack of faith in his work, it is no surprise that the audience shares his feelings.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jan 23, 2014
Videogames, and Anime seem to go hand in hand. A combination of the two should be a perfect union with the similar niche audience they target. There have been several attempts at such a union, and why not? Should be easy enough. For me, though, these shows never quite hit their mark. However I think I've come across one particular show that did - well, mostly.
Story: 7
"Btooom!" as I stated blends the two concepts of Anime and videogames together to form its narrative. Unlike other attempts at this such as "Sword Art Online"/".Hack Sign" "Btooom!" does something different. Instead of bringing the players into
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the game the show brings the game into reality (there is a difference). This works greatly in the shows favor by showing the blurred line between the virtual world, and physical. Anyone who has had a "addiction" to gamming, specifically online, knows exactly what I mean. Having the characters being placed in a game like scenario while staying in reality is just more interesting. The idea of a "survival game" has been done before throughout the medium; so I wouldn't blame someone if they said "the whole idea seems tired at this point", but what "Btooom!" has going for it is its setting. The lush tropical island is ideal for something like this, and is a beautiful paradise filled with danger- human or otherwise. One problem that I had with the show is the jarring fan service. It was just tone conflicting, and destroyed any idea of taking some parts/characters seriously. The show is still a lot of fun, but just seems unsure of itself. Now for the elephant in the room, which is the ending. There isn't one. Of course this is due to the fact that the Anime only adapted a few chapters of the Manga, and not the whole thing (which isn't finished yet). This might be a problem for some people, and I completely understand. I however don't mind seeing as I can just read the rest of the story from the Manga itself, but I thought this was still something worth mentioning. Overall concept is sound, and mostly nails it on the execution. Just some missteps here, and there hold the product back.
Art: 8
The lush, colorful, and vibrant jungle environment is truly something behold. The sandy shores of paradise is animated beautiful by Madhouse. The character designs themselves were handled well besides for a couple of hiccups (referring to Himiko, but more on that later). No real complaints on this end. My eyes were pleased.
Sound: 7
So where the OST is concerned it's a mixed bag. Half of it was pretty damn good where the other was...interesting. I personally enjoyed it, but it had this really awkward roaring sax piece that threw me for a loop by how ridiculous it was. However certain action pieces were kept up with some upbeat music, and played off the scenes nicely. The voice acting was also top notch, and no real complaints performance wise. Not much more to say except damn good job.
Characters: 7
So here is actually one of the best, and worst parts of the show. I'll be breaking this down by focusing on the three main characters: Himiko, Ryouta, and Taira. For the rest of the lot they were a mixed bag of interesting to nonexistent (except for that little kid, sweet Jesus).Anyways so Ryouta is our protagonist for this tale, and I must say I was impressed. Unlike most shows of this breed where the main characters are normal, functioning humans "Btooom!" showcases what people who dive an inhuman amount of time into online gaming actually are like. NEETs, losers, social outcasts, people who make the game their life. Online gaming is used as a sort of escape from ones reality for some. Seeing this represented through Ryouta was refreshing. You usually don't see such a realistic take on a matter such as this in the medium. This is a nice transition actually into talking about Himiko. Himiko is actually the biggest problem with the show. The root of the matter is she helps reinforce the clash in tones that I mentioned earlier. Spoilers aside to be short she has this aversion to men, and has a pretty damn good reason why. The issues are in the writer trying to pull something serious using this character. She is over sexualized to a point where it devalues her character so that us as the audience can't take any of her actions seriously. Slight spoiler, but I will be as vague as possible. There is one instance where a character throws a grenade at Himiko, and it ends up bouncing off of her breast with a jiggle/moan. This is one of many instances where the Author undermines any chance of the audience being able to take her serious. We are left at going strictly by face value, which leaves us with basically just a heroine that Ryouta is meant to conquer. This is a shame actually because I find the relationship between Ryouta, and Himiko to be well crafted. For people who use online gaming to escape from reality these online relationships are the real deal. Starved of social interaction true bonds can actually be found via online gaming, which is why the understanding shared between both characters is a solid base for such a romance to exist. I just wish there was more to her as a character than this relationship with Ryouta, and that any attempt to add more to her is undermined by her being over sexualized. Now with that out of the we finally can talk about Taira. I love this man for being so wonderfully Human. Sadly I can't go to much in-depth without going into spoiler territory, but he was probably the best "character" in the show. He is with Ryouta for the entire journey throughout the short 12 episodes, and adds some much needed context to the situation. His interactions off of Ryouta are downright relatable, and believable.
Enjoyment: 8
I had a ton of fun with this show, and I'd be lying if I said otherwise. The general concept, and the overall execution of the series was really appealing to me. "Btooom!" was actually quite the surprise for me, and I'm really happy with how it turned out.
Overall: 7.4
"Btooom!" is a very entertaining show with a cool concept, and for the most part pulled it off really well. With a few tone/character issues, and nonexistent conclusion "Btooom!" is held back from being truly great. But despite these complaints I had a damn good time with it, and would recommend it. It was worth the watch, and I'm glad I gave it a shot. As always, thanks for reading.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 16, 2014
Have you ever read Bram Stokers Dracula? Have you ever wondered what happened afterwards? If the answer to both of these questions are yes then do I have a show for you, but first I recommend taking an assortment of drugs (much like the creators of this show) to receive the full effect. Do you have your cocaine lines ready? Alright before you make sweet love to that let me tell you my thoughts.
Story: 7
This might sound crazy, but this show can actually be tied directly to Stokers original work. In fact on the wiki page it's deemed a sequel, and boy what a
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sequel it is. Broken up into 10 OVA "Hellsing Ultimate" in terms of story telling, to be frank, isn't all that great. But if you absorb yourself into the ridiculous nature of the show there is tons of fun to be had. Structurally what I loosely call a plot is actually fairly sound, and by that I mean its enough to get you from fight scene to fight scene. For hour long episodes the pacing is immaculate, and doesn't slow down really at all. One aspect I personally found to be a great touch is the actual connection to Stokers work. The notion itself is crazy I know, but it adds another layer of enjoyment to the overall madness.
Art: 9
Stylistically devilish, and full of creativity "Hellsing Ultimate" delivers the goods in this department. The overall cinematography, and art assets create action scenes that are some real crowd pleasures. Sticking to form of its roots the art itself is Gothic in nature, and really pleasing to the eyes. The character designs themselves are creative, and fun.
Sound: 8
Production value on this end is high as well. Every gun shot, and explosion sounds absolutely wonderful. Sticking to form the OST is ridiculous, but sadly nothing to truly right home about. It does its job at the very least. Now where voice acting is concerned its downright fabulous. Everyone in the cast does a stand up job, and some are just hilariously over the top.
Character: 7
Lets be honest here. The real question is are there any actual characters in "Hellsing Ultimate"? Well yes and no. If we are going by means of growth, and depth then no not really. Most of the cast is as thin as cardboard. But if we were to think in terms of likable, and entertaining then yes. Looking at Alucard we have a sleek, suave, and devilish individual. Brutal by nature he is a fantastic portrayal of the King of the night, but in terms of actual depth there technically isn't any. In a situation such as this a term I've come to use concerning characters like Alucard seems to fit just right. More or less he is a fully realized character. At the end of a show you usually have a character that has grown, and developed. Well take that end result, and start a show from that point. This is what I've come to coin as a "Fully realized character". (One of the best examples of this in Anime would be Kamina from Gurren Lagann). Alucard is the only cast member that I actually would deem this, and pass in terms of character. Now concerning the rest of the cast we have Seras, and Walter which have their own little growth, but again nothing real substantial. Oddly enough this still doesn't hurt the show. What I'm getting at is its serviceable. The cast overall is quite likeable, and for a show of this nature that is really all you need.
Enjoyment: 9
One of the best times I've had watching an Anime. Filled with jaw dropping action scenes, and overall crowd pleasing moments "Hellsing Ultimate" is one hell of a good time.
Overall: 8.0
"Hellsing Ultimate" is a fun ride, and filled with creativity. It really is one of the most enjoyable Anime I've seen. If you are a big fan on action then I'd give this one a try because honestly its one of the best aspects of it. If blood, guts, and violence isn't your thing then I'd say stay clear. I really enjoyed the show, and for me it was all that I wanted. As always thanks for reading.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 8, 2014
"Mahou shoujo Lyrical Nanoha: The Movie 2nd A's" surpasses it's predecessor in literally ever aspect. For the longest time I've always figured sequels were inferior products just by definition alone, but Nanoha 2 proved just how wrong I was.
Story: 8
This adaption of the second season's events was handled far better than its prequel's attempt at the first season. Gone is the jagged pacing of the previous film, which I'm thankful for. Along with that the tale is just far more interesting this time around. Our heroes were up against a foe that actually felt more like a threat. This is largely because of the
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first fight in the film which highlights this fact. True to form like the prequel, Nanoha 2's antagonists are even more interesting, and have their own special dynamic that makes the film. We also get a glimpse at the world of these magi, which added a much needed scale to how the world works.With the stakes higher, action better, and script tighter, Nanoha's second film raises the bar higher.
Art: 9
So this is what having a budget looks like. Although I was a littler underwhelmed with the production values of the first film this second outing was truly outstanding. The action scenes were bright, vibrant, and eye popping. Transformation sequences were also stunning, and same can be said about the character designs.
Sound: 8
The OST this time around was truly a force. Unlike the first film the music wasn't hidden in the background, and made itself present. It was incredibly affective at amplifying the tone of the show, and added to the overall impact-fullness of scenes. The voice acting was also solid, and everyone did a fantastic job except for one. Raising Heart's voice actress still is bad. Luckily she didn't have as many lines this time around so it didn't hurt the overall production as much as the first. Other than that small complaint no real problems in this department.
Character: 8
I'm still impressed by the amount of attention the villains receive in this series. Because of this the aren't really villains, but people with their own goals/hopes. The antagonists this time around are better than ever. The Knights were all interesting in their own right, and there Master as well. As returning characters go the whole gang is back in one way or another. Fate is still in my opinion one of the strongest points of this series. Nanoha I still find to be lacking, which is depressing considering she is the title character. She has no more depth beyond that she is kind which is a nice trait, but I would like a little more. Chrono and his mother also have layers added to them, which is a welcome addition. One complaint besides Nanoha is that Yunno sort of gets side lined because of the expanded cast. Although necessary considering how many more characters needed screen time/development I missed that furry bastard.
Enjoyment: 9
This movie knocked my socks off in terms of jump in quality. I really enjoyed this sequel, and couldn't of been more pleased.
Overall: 8.4
Tighter script, fantastic villains, and a wonderful continuation of the Lyrical Nanoha series. This sequel raises the bar even higher, and delivers the goods. If you are a fan of this genre then I would highly recommend this movie. I was skeptical going in because of my thoughts of the first film (I still liked it, but just wasn't quite there for me), but this film gave me what I wanted. Anyways those are my thoughts, and always thanks for reading.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 7, 2014
"Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha" is one of the more true to form Magical Girl works that I've personally seen (the only other one being Madoka Magica), and personally I wasn't all that impressed. That being said Nanoha still manages to deliver on some level despite its quirks.
Story: 6
Execution wise the story could of panned out slightly better. Bogged down with pacing issues, and a few mechanical problems with the plot. These mechanical issues pertain to mainly: Nanoha herself (more on that later), some lack luster dialogue, and the powers of the girls. The overall tale lost impact due to some less than stellar writing,
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which is a shame considering what the story was trying to convey is touching. Thematically speaking (as simplistic as it was) Nanoha was still solid,but didn't effectively present its core themes. Moving onto the powers, or the magic. With something like this I don't really need to know the inner workings of everything, but a little would of been nice. This becomes an issue in the latter half of the show when the physical limitations of the characters are brought into question. With no guide lines or basic systems to how these powers work all tension is diffused. I never once felt like any of the characters were in danger, which is a problem since it devalues the overall struggle. "Struggle" being the key word, because it never felt like one. This is not considering inner struggles of some of the cast, which was quite real. I'm only commenting on the outer more physical challenges. With all of this said Nanoha still had some sparks of actual quality, and delivers on a fundamental level. Sadly nothing more. If you are generally a fan of the this genre then you will feel right at home with Nanoha's setup, and progression.
Art: 6
Nanoha's art falls short of ever being anything more than alright. Animation wise although nothing really spectacular was still fair, and did a decent job. The character designs were also decent, but left much to be desired for in appearance. Also the CG in almost every instance was jarring, and really took me out of the experience. Now on a more personal note I found the overall style of the show to be to clean, and incredibly bland. This is of course personal preference, but worth mentioning. Although I found it bland it still wasn't bad just not my cup of tea.
Sound: 5
I was initially going to give this a 6. Although the OST never really shined me on it fit into the background, and never really pulled me out of the show. But this is one of the first instances I've encountered where voice acting was actually an issue. Nanoha's weapon speaks, and dear God is it bad. Maybe it's the Engrish, the robotic nature of her voice, or she is just a bad voice actress. Either way it was so bad that I actually was praying for her not to talk. That aside there just wasn't really anything special about it, and the only really bad part would be that voice.
Character: 7
Here is one of the better parts of the film, but also one of the weakest. The strengths in this don't come from our main "character". I use character loosely because Nanoha isn't one, which being the title character this is kind of a problem. So much so that she almost becomes a side character in the end. This is the weakest part of the entire show, and the most hurtful. Luckily besides her, and her non existent friends (who also play almost no part) we have a group of likable side characters. They aren't really all that deep, but at the very least entertaining. Now time for why this is one of the better parts of the film. The dynamic between Fate, and her mother. I found Fate's struggle/journey not only more interesting then Nanoha's, but I think the film did as well considering that it pretty much becomes her show in the latter half. Also Fate's mother was an excellent villain. I really appreciate when you see where the villain is coming from, and can actually sympathize with them. These two characters had more depth, and had the most time devoted to them then any other cast members. Fun fact this isn't a bad thing. The only problem that arises with this was that I wondered why the movie wasn't called Mahou shoujo Lyrical Fate.
Enjoyment: 6
Even if this wasn't really my cup of tea I still enjoyed my time with "Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha". A few times it pushed my patients, but never to the point to where I wanted to stop watching.
Overall: 6.0
Overall with a somewhat generic story, but touching theme "Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha" execution made it fall short. If you are a fan of magical girl shows then I see no reason why you wouldn't enjoy this movie. For what it was I had some fun with Nanoha faults included. As always, thanks for reading.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 1, 2014
Breathtaking, imaginative, and ground breaking. Even these few words don't really justify the late 1980s film "Akira".
Story: 7
Film is a lot different than serialized works because execution is key. This is not to state that execution isn't important in a serial, but just lesser in comparison. A movie doesn't have a elongated run time too double back, and fix issues. Execution is something that "Akira" suffers from. This is a large tale with many different layers, with an expansive lore base, and a fleshed out world. Sadly 2 hours isn't quite enough, and quite a few things are left vague compared to the Manga.
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After a couple of viewings however there is enough within the film to piece the entire puzzle together, but an extra couple of minutes of run time could of helped. This aside "Akira's" overall plot, and setting are really imaginative. By the time the credits rolled I was taken aback by what I just finished watching. The film not only left a impression on me, but on the industry as a whole.
Art: 10
Captivating almost doesn't do it justice. Age usually isn't kind to older works when you go back too a certain point. Dodgy frame work, and overall lack of detail become noticeable with these films of the past. But not with "Akira". Brimming with creativity "Akira" delivers a vibrant dystopia filled to the brim with overwhelming attention to detail. Every gunshot wound, and gory mutilation is jaw dropping. This for me at least is the films strongest aspect. It feels like you are watching moving art. Now the character designs have that realistic kind of feel, which is a plus because it adds to the overall effect of the film.
Sound: 8
The OST is funky, wacky, and demands your attention when it's playing. This is both good, and bad. I found the score to be highly original, and fun. But the issues lies in the fact that it is just plains ridiculous, and jarring during some ques. I loved it, but be weary it's not for everyone. Now the voice cast across the board did a stellar job. Special shout out to Iwata, Mitsuo who voiced Kaneda. He was smooth, ridiculous, and a lot of fun, and his voice contributed to a lot of this.
Character: 7
This is another issues with the film. With so much to tell a lot of the characterization that was present in the Manga got reduced down to a couple of scenes. Even then it was only for a few of the characters. Such is the way with a film adaptation, but luckily I still feel it did a good job with how much time they had. Kaneda was the ever likable protagonist, and a bad ass to boot. I found myself pulled into every scene he was in. Tetsuo is the other main character in this story, and one of the central focuses of the tale. Both were unique, and likable in their own ways. Now from the supporting cast there isn't much. I did however really like Colonel Shikishima. For a good chunk of the movie I was actually on his side, but besides him the rest left much to be desired for. They were enjoyable, but didn't have much under the hood.
Enjoyment: 9
One of my favorite Anime films, and in my eyes a true classic. "Akira" left an impression, and lived up to its praise.
Overall: 8.2
This film is truly unique, and a classic that stood the test of time. With a few execution problems, and a little lacking in the character department this film still deserves its acclaim. I would highly recommend this to just about everyone for it's an experience that one should form their own thoughts on. Anyways those are my thoughts, and as always thanks for reading.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Dec 10, 2013
I'm bitter, I'm sad, and I'm filled with despair. To some this might sound bad, but for those who have experienced this film then you know it is the biggest complement I can give.
Story: 9
The final chapter in the highly acclaimed Madoka trilogy/show has come to a close, and studio Shaft has closed this book right (if not heart wrenching). The story is all tied to Homura after the events of the first two films. We follow her as the story travels down a road most fans never saw coming, but since this is the final chapter there is an end to this road.
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A very fitting end. I won't go into detail because of spoiler reasons, but some fans might feel crossed (Homura's actions during the final moments of the film). Thematically speaking this series has always been about the balance of hope and despair. How the influx of these two emotions create the balance of the world. I feel that once you see the film (and are done crying in a puddle of tears), if you think about what the show has been leading up to, then there is no other way this could have ended. Also there is some excellent fan pandering in the film. Several fights, and scenes were crafted for your viewing pleasure and entertainment. Which this being the final film I really appreciated (mainly in the beginning of the movie). Very minor complaints are near the beginning of the film tho. Lets just say it is a little jarring (for a good reason of course), and takes a little while to get going. Once it gets moving however it never stops, which is a good thing given the run time of the film. Overall an excellently crafted narrative, and conclusion to the series. Filled with tid bits, and nods to the fans of the series. What more could you ask for from a final chapter? For me at least, nothing.
Art: 9
I've always been a fan of the style of animation in the Madoka franchise. The artistic nature of the backgrounds, and the world I have always found incredibly appealing. Here is no different. The world is beautifully rendered, and full of little details brimming with color and imagination. The Character designs are top notch as well. Fans will be happy to know there is also new transformation scenes, which look fantastic as well. The fights in this hold a cinematic quality to it that I just don't see in Anime all that often. They were fluid and fast, which added to the spectacle of what was going on. If the Madoka animation hasn't shined you on in the past then I don't think this one will do anything different. For fans on the other hand, they will be happy.
Sound: 10
The rule of thumb, besides pure enjoyment, that I use for judging an OST is if it amplifies the tone of the film. All to fitting is what I can say. The music moves with the scenes, and allows the audience to feel connected to it that much more. The voice acting as well is top notch. Saito, Chiwa delivers a fantastic performance as Homura, which is a good thing considering this is her show. Everyone else was great across the board, but her specifically was a stand out.
Characters: 9
Everyone is back this time around including some new additions. Of course the spot light is on Homura in this film, and this journey for her has been a rough one. It truly is heart breaking. Now like I said earlier some fans will be split on Homura's actions in the latter half of this film. So it is up to you to decide on how you feel at the end, but for me it was tragic in a good way. I've rarely ever felt more understanding, and sympathetic for a character. This is the fruition of her development, and it is damn good. Concerning the rest of the cast, none of them were really side lined, except for the new addition, Nagisa. Nagisa is the new "magical girl" in the film, and she is underused. Which I am actually fine with considering I came to see the characters I have grown to love, but then I just think back to why she was there to start with (fan service probably). Anyways it was great to see everyone for one last show, and minus the addition of Nagisa, they brought their all.
Enjoyment: 10
This film broke my heart in all the right ways, and I will take good story telling over happy any day. Filled with moments that made me want to cheer, and sink into a pit of sadness; this final film was what I needed in my life.
Overall: 9.4
Like all good books one has to reach the last page sometime, and this closing chapter delivers. As a fan I would recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed the original series/films (because they are necessary for this one). If Madoka was never your thing then this won't win you over. Fantastic characters, story, art, and sound, nothing more to really say except one hell of a good film, and I can't wait to watch it again. As always thanks for reading.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 9, 2013
Blood Lad was a sad case adaption wise. Allotted only 10 episodes for a Manga with over 30 chapters is a crime. Sadly as a result the Anime was pushed for time, and rushed through the Manga. After hearing this I gave the Manga a shot, and enjoyed it greatly. Bundled with the new Manga chapter arrived this new OVA which is a continuation of the show. From a fan I was glad to get more of a show that didn't really have a fair shot. Here is my review.
Story: 6
With this OVA we now have new outing with Staz and Fuyumi. Nothing really special
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in terms of a riveting story, but non the less another fun adventure. A new episode a new set of bad guys for Staz to destroy (because he is kind of broken now). Nothing more to really say except I had fun. It was brief, but for a show that already had a very short run time I really appreciated this.
Art: 7
The original show was never a fantastic looking one, but for me at least it had a charm. A bright, colorful animation style really worked for the original shows benefit, and that doesn't change here. If anything I would say the animation is better here. Specially the fights that occur. Seeing Staz unleash more of his awakened Vampire power from the show was a fun site indeed.
Sound: 6
Nothing really special in this department. Hearing the original voice cast another time was fun, and hearing the opening role again was a treat. Sadly nothing really substantial in terms of OST. It is only one episode tho so it isn't to big of a problem.
Character: 7
Seeing Staz again is fantastic as always, and Fuyumi was nice. The new cast members were alright. Nothing really special, but they were mindlessly entertaining. This score primarily comes from seeing Staz again. I have always found him incredibly fun and entertaining. He isn't the greatest character in the world, but I do love him.
Enjoyment: 8
As you can tell I'm a fan, and having more is never a bad thing.
Overall: 6.8
If you are a fan of the Manga or of the original series then I recommend giving this a watch. I appreciate having more Blood Lad in my life, and this was what the doctor ordered. It isn't completing the show, but merely just providing more. Which for someone like me that is all I could ask for given the conditions that this adaption went through.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 6, 2013
"Kotonoha no Niwa" is like a short story. I can recall back to some brisk tales only lasting a couple of pages, but within those pages these tales leave a bigger impression then some full length books.
Story: 7
Story telling is an art, and some are more successful at it then others. I've seen many stories like "Kotonoha no Niwa". This being the case I must ask myself two questions: 1. Was it told well? 2. Was it worth watching? I am happy to say that the answer is yes on both accounts. With the short 45 minutes Kotonoha handles time management better then most
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films out there. Given the quick run time Kotonoha was able to tell a touching story with masterful ease. Some would call it "rushed", but I see it another way. The passage of time within the story felt natural, and fluid. It didn't linger anywhere to long. It kept moving forward, but the story never felt like it was being left behind. In fact it kept pace all the way to the finish. Every scene was almost picture perfect length, which accommodated the short run time. So mad props in that regard. Other than that it is more of the same. But if you like Romance or things in this genre this is definitely worth your time.
Art: 10
This was the first thing I decided on after finishing the movie. The animation was stunning, breath taking even, and fit the show wonderfully. Everything was modeled to appear life like, and it worked in the shows favor. This gave a since of realism, but without taking away the pure spectacle of it. My jaw was dropped for a majority of the film.
Sound: 8
How come when you mix a piano with the sound of falling rain everything feels right in the world. Background music fits the tone perfectly, if not a little cheesy at times. But I eat that stuff up like its candy. Plus cheesy or not it at least fit the work. It didn't ever pull me out of the moment, but only amplified it. That is what it should do, and it did it well. Also worth mentioning the voice cast did a wonderful job. So no complaints on that end.
Characters: 7
The best depth 45 min. can buy. I figured this would be one of the weaker parts of the film, because for obvious reasons there is only so much you can do with the time given. These aren't weak characters tho. You can see that they have layers to them, and that there is a lot behind what we see in the show. Sadly they couldn't be expanded upon anymore than they were. The writer still did a good job weaving in enough for me to care. Like I said impressive time management.
Enjoyment: 9
Short, enjoyable, and well worth my time.
Overall: 8.2
If you are a fan of romance or SoL I would say give this one a shot. Yeah it's short, and will be over in the blink of an eye. But it still should grab your attention. If this kind of stuff isn't your thing, then I would probably stay away. Unless you want to check out some really good animation. I personally really enjoyed this tale, and found it rather touching. This definitely isn't the story of the century, but worth a look or two if you have time. As always thanks for reading.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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