Zetman

"To be the man, you gotta beat the man".
- Ric Flair

Being a superhero is never easy, especially when you try to live a double life. Superheroes like Batman, Superman, and Spiderman deals with the dangers they get exposed to on a daily basis. They feel like it's their responsibility to protect the innocent and deliver that strong sense of justice. After all, justice is the judgement of truth and to uphold such a sense comes at a great responsibility, sacrifice, and lives.

Then there comes a hero at the darkest hour. He is ZET. Enter Zetman.

The story is set in the modern times with technology that passes our own in the real world. Such technology of course brings forth wealth, prosperity, hope, but also crime and monstrosity. Luckily for the good folks, we have heroes.

Now, to call Jin a superhero would be an overstatement. He is in fact some of us see as a dark hero of vengeance. Or maybe, we should call him a dark angel. Because of his efforts, lives are saved but not without a cost. That's the price of being a hero. Sometimes, you just can't save everyone. Yet Jin is an interesting character if we look at him carefully. He is quite the mysterious figure and for most of us, difficult to read. After witnessing the tragedies of his past, Jin swears vengeance and to never let anyone else close to him die again. Now that my friends makes him the dark hero, the dark angel, and the holder of justice in a different light.

Then, we have somewhat of the antithesis of the story, Kouge Amagi. Both academically and sports-inclined, he is also popular and has nearly everything he's ever wanted...wealth, admirers, and a family. Yet, there's one thing he seems to be missing and always wanted. That would be his dream of becoming a hero of justice, one that people admire, one that people respect, and one that helps the helpless. Unlike Jin however, Amagi's desire to become such a hero is quite on the opposite globe. (rather than for vengeance to say the least) In his mind, justice should be delivered and enemies of justice will be terminated. Bu it's a lot said easier than done.

We also have some of the other characters that lighten up the gloom and doom story a bit. The all innocent Konoha Amagi, and sister of Kouga, who has known Jin since their childhood times. The tomboy Hanako who has a curiosity in our dark hero (who also holds a dark secret) and among others. They tend to balance out the dark atmosphere and brings a little light as well as entertainment into the story.

Now for the story. I'll best honest here, it's not really well performed. There's always a risk of making an anime adaptation off of a manga but even more so in this case because the amount of material it covers. There's a lot of potential and believe me, I want to see it at its finest form. Yet what I see so far is a rushed story based off a manga of over 150 chapters. It doesn't also help with the fact that the series only runs for 13 episodes. Thirteen episodes I'd repeat again! With that unlucky number, my hopes for the overall story is a little bit down with its rushed sequences. All in honesty, it kinda feels like reading a story with chapters missing. Oh yes, there are some awesome fights and blood gore if you can take it in the stomach. However, it feels that a piece of excitement is missing. This series could become a real blockbuster made for mature audiences with its old school action and violence. Yet with only 13 episodes, I just don't see how it could out perform some of the other longer series of this Spring. Maybe our heroes can save this series from being sent into turmoil.

As for the art, the series seems to adapt a bit of old school. With the old school-like art, it certainly spawns some nostalgia in some of us who have been anime fans. But this is a R+ rated story and a reason for that. There's bodies being torn opened, blood spilled, and showing what our heroes do best: delivering justice (even if it comes at a cost).

The sound is just "meh" in my opinion. It does contain drama and conveys the dark mood of the story but not something too noticeable. I do admit that the OP song, "dots and lines" by You Hitoto feat. Mummy-D, is performed well and give us a more suburban type of feeling. With the word "Zet" being mentioned several times, the songs brings out the dark hero out of the characters.

Well, it is also not surprising that Masakazu Katsura was involved with the work of this series. He is Batman's biggest fan and we all know who he is. (at least I hope you do). As such, it is one of the possible main influences of his work. In fact, his influences can be even traced to another superheroes series that debuted last year. Maybe, Tiger & Bunny ring a bell?

Overall, I'd say that this series just fits into the "so-so" for the Spring Season. It has entertainment value especially if you're into some fan-service and hardcore action. But if you can't take the violence and sexual content, then just hit that drop button and try something else. This series blends in the idea of a hero at the darkest hour and shows the cruelty of the world. Its approach of the dark hero genre will give you a strange feeling of both justice and also cruelty once you start watching. Yet, the story is blend and too rushed so for those looking for a complex storyline, then that little glimmer of hope may be crushed faster than a Player. However, if those aren't your criteria, then this series might be worth a shot. Try coming home from school or work, and watch this on your computer or TV with a nice cup of coffee (or w/e it is that you drink) and get into the OP song (while keeping up with the rhythm) after a tiring Monday. You might smile wishing that there are more heroes like Jin and Kouga to save you from all the tiredness of work/school. Or you might feel sad that there are such enemies of justice in the Zetman world. Yet, we all know one thing.

There is a hero, a hero living in all of us. read more

Heads up, this is not a faithful adaption to the manga. I'm not saying it's going to suck but I was really looking forward to a anime adaption of the manga. I was disappointed but you might not be.

PS. I wish they used another voice actor for young Jin, it's just the voice is so unique that I can't get into Zetman mood when I keep thinking of FMA or Deadman Wonderland.

If I had to summarize Zetman in two words they would be "rushed" and "confused". I don't understand how this didn't seem like a bad idea from the beginning, turning a 20 volume manga into a 13 episode anime, the result of this is a storyline that basically throws characters and plot devices at your face as fast as it kills them or make them disappear, with one of the worst openings I've ever seem and some really bland/undeveloped characters. I can't remember the name of a single character that was present in this show, mainly because they don't leave a lasting impression, or are just killed off or transformed into some monster before you start liking them.
Otherwise, the show has some very good animation and pretty cool fighting scenes, and I don't dislike many of the character designs neither.

OVERALL RECOMMENDATION: Don't watch this, just go read the manga, that's actually pretty awesome. read more

Tales of Zetman

This will be a review from an anime-only viewer. Non-biased in any way whatsoever. (Also my first.)

Story:
The Tales of Vesperia reference wasn't for nothing. Two youths that fight in the name of justice but with different ideals. In time their ideals mold who they are and how they serve the community. But that is just a small tidbit of the bigger plot. (Which really isn't that big.) An underground faction of corporate heads and scientists alike manifested these "monsters" called Players, or EVOL, for the mass entertainment of the wealthy class. These specimen broke free of their cage and now run free. The faction are trying to clean up a mess that they started and seek out someone to do it for them.

The EVOL, however, have developed minds of their own and wish to live in peace. But of course, not all have that intent.

Art:
The artwork is undeniably great. If you are not an accomplished artist yourself, you have no right so say this isn't good artwork. There's plenty of detail from the characters faces to the automobiles they ride in. Very satisfied in that department. The animation gets pretty sketchy when fight scenes roll around but you could say it is meant to be that way to express the speed of the battle. The action isn't very exciting if you've watched shows like Nisemonogatari and Senki Zesshou Symphogear. But it gets by with a Deadman Wonderland type of feel.

Sound:
The music isn't anything noticeable as I've never really paid it much mind up to this point. That could be a good an bad thing whereas it is so subtle it can ease you in the mood of a setting without you knowing or simply make something boring. It's either, or. But that's the soundtrack. That OP Theme is on some next sh*t. 8D

Character:
To anyone who's played Tales of Vesperia, this story is all to familiar. You have your Yuri Lowell, Jin, a man of the people who does for not himself but those around him that need it. Not a penny to his name, Jin spends a lot of his time aiding the community in various ways. On the other hand, we have out Flynn Scifo, Amagi Kouga, who fights in the name of justice in his own way, albeit more flashy. Unlike Jin, Kouga is bound by his father's reign, and his lack of strength. Thus his fight to prove himself to Jin.

Enjoyment:
I almost cried on the first episode.
..and on the second. And on the third. ;_;

Overall:
Zetman is a disappointment to its manga followers. But to those who are fresh to the series and enjoy a good strong gripping story with interesting characters reminiscent of Tiger and Bunny, it's worth the time. If your a manga reader and ready to moan n' groan, then steer clear of this adaptation. Otherwise, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good story of romance, justice, tears and corruption. read more