Juushin Enbu: Hero Tales

I must say, the concept of an anime using a wuxia context really intrigued me. But in the end, it was yes and no everything that I could expect. The very bad news is, it’s about 90% of your typical shounen anime. Such characterizations and development is present, but it’s already stuff you’ve seen before in typical shounen anime. The good news is, it’s in a completely different context and it makes those qualities feel fresher. But what I personally was expecting was a balanced mixed of the qualities of anime and wuxia. Taitou is your typical big hearted and small-brained overly righteous teenage hero ... with a big appetite, and his sister is your typical damsel in distress. And the rest of the characters have their purpose but felt they were created partially to be each other’s foil. I mean, they have their own individuality, but I feel they were created more out of a reaction from one core character to the next.

But some of the character’s individuality such as Koyo’s and Ryuuko’s bring that balance to the atmosphere. Ryuuko is overly serious and has this kind of mentor role, but I like how his flaws are presented in the show and how he tries to confront them. Koyo may have a care free life, but he knows what’s at stake and is serious about getting the job done. Housei is your typical friendly rival with Taitou, but in the end, they know they must unite. I felt Keirou was quite a unique and excellent villain in his own right. I would get into him, but to give my thoughts and reasons of why he was such a great villain would have to make me reveal spoilers.

Anyway, if this anime has one huge flaw, it’s the pacing. I felt the anime could have been shorter by five to eight episodes. There are episodes where the characters are in an emo-shell like Kenshin near the end of the manga of Rurouni Kenshin and felt in this anime, it could have been done much quicker. I felt there were times they could have taken advantage of the slower moments and also get into the other characters more deeply. Also, I felt it’s pacing also rushed and forced too many things at the end. But I’ll confess it was still a descent ending.

But I say it’s best trait is the unpredictability. The plot twists are kind of forced as well, but I say it does make those twists much more effective.

In case some of you Full Metal Alchemist fans that are watching this, you’ll be able to recognize that the way the eyes, shapes of faces, and angles are drawn, the characters are designed by Araka Hiromu, the artist of that respective anime. Granted they will be recognizable, but I have to say with the character design, I was personally not that impressed. I felt they were too one-dimensional (such as lack of distinction between Housei and Taitou and some other characters) and lacked detail (such as little use of shadowing, lighting, and cross hatching). But I guess what makes it for this flaw are the authentic but a little flashy costume designs, and I think the anime does a great job of capturing the setting of ancient China. I felt it was geographically and architecturally well represented.

Unfortunately, the anime does not have much action presented, and it’s not really action driven. But what I liked was that it did have martial arts action that wasn’t over the top. None of your typical Matrix bullet time or wire fu crap. The hand to hand action at some capacity feels realistic. But I felt the action was very stiff in a Japanese Karate kind of way. I’ll get more into my reasons when I get into the overall commentaryAnd last, despite my praises for the anime of being realistic, it also has action that has typical anime qualities such as using ki manipulation. But I like how the ki manipulation called Sekihou in the anime, has an interesting foundation and concept and only the seven stars can use them. So it brought an interesting twist to the action.

The music and voice acting, is definitely one of this anime’s greatest qualities. The opening theme Winterlong sung by the Beat Crusaders, is sung in English. Granted the English isn’t perfect, but tolerable and actually makes sense. Granted the style is not culturally appropriate to the context, but I felt it’s energy and lyrics brought an appropriate sense of feeling to the intense and light hearted atmosphere this anime has. And High and Mighty Color who sang songs for Gundam SEED Destiny are also present for future themes in the later half and bring the same qualities that Winterlong has. Despite the theme songs not being culturally appropriate as either Japanese or Chinese, the background music however is dead on. It’s what you are to expect in a Wuxia film or when you enter an authentic Chinese buffet restaurant. Nothing really much to complain with music.

The voice acting is also superb. Suzumura Ken’ichi, the voice of Shinn Asuka from Gundam SEED Destiny plays our main lead, Taito. Pretty much take his portrayal of Shinn and put it into a typical shounen hero, and that’s what you get and it works pretty well. The legendary Ginga Banjou, the voice of Giren from Gundam and Souther from Hokuto no Ken plays the main villain, General Keirou. He brings that intimidating charisma to his character. But the winner to me with the seiyuu cast is Koyama Rikiya, the voice of Takamura Mamoru from Hajime no Ippo as Koyo. He brought Takamura’s badassness to Koyo and felt like I was getting prepared for season 2 of Hajime no Ippo. So the voice acting is great.

Granted this anime has all kinds of flaws, but I think a lot of its good qualities make up for them at the right circumstances and brings a minimally decent balance. Even though some people may rightfully disagree with me, but I think the problem is that despite a Chinese setting, I found this anime to be way too Japanese with its action, story telling, and characterization and development. The disagreement of course will be, “but it’s made by Japanese people” which I do understand, but I have felt that there have been some animes that did not take place in Japan, and yet did not have to come across as typical Japanese or shounen. In the end, my impression was that it made the typical shounen story fresh with a different kind of context and twist. I think if this anime took some qualities from Hero, Once Upon a Time in China, Monkey King, and other iconic wuxia classics, I think it could have achieved something bigger. It’s of course not the most perfect anime in the world, but interesting enough to say it's good and worth watching.

Best Rating: 4.5/10 Worst Rating: 3/10 Average Rating: 3.7/10

*note: pardon me for my language, it's just the way I roll*
don't agree with what I say about this anime? that's your problem....

Review: Hero Tales
Could have been good, but turned out bad. It had potential, but it was wasted unfortunately.

*WIN
Started off with a good idea/plot.
... ~but then turned it into something completely stupid with out of proportion power and not much logical understanding or explanation behind the back-story and background of the story.
(Ex. Karma of the stars) (Ex. over exaggerated strength of the bad guy at the end)

*WIN
Decent fairly well developed characters.

*FAIL
Karma of the stars/ Alkaid concept makes no fucking sense at all. It’s basically saying that this and that are destined to happen but its total B.S. because the people themselves decide what to do, not some fucking stupid destiny karma of the stars garbage.


*FAIL
The anime failed to truly make sense of the forced karma of the stars destiny, never thoroughly explained how they are forced or why…

*FAIL
Main character is forced to put up with his very annoying bitch sister at the beginning and being called “dumb” by everyone for no reason.

*FAIL
Main character keeps getting beat up by stupid side characters all the time.
~the main character should be the one kicking ass, not getting his ass kicked.

*FAIL
Weird psycho ending that is completely blown out of proportion from what is already established. The big bad boss at the end turns into a complete monster. Doesn’t make sense how the main character won at the end since he hasn’t really done anything special that warrants victory, no training, no prophecy, nothing that would make logically be able to explain why he won at the end.

*FAIL
It was a lame, happy and sappy ending which I predicted and just about expected. I saw it coming a mile away. This was one of the worst ways to end it or at least in my opinion.

This is definitely not an anime I recommend watching unless you're really really bored and have absolutely nothing better to do with your time, in which case enjoy.

This is one of the best plotted bad animes I have seen.

I started watching the show and continued warching because I enjoyed the story and plot in the beginning, and only continued to watch it to see how it developed. Then I noticed a pattern. The main character is actually weak, none intelligent, and weak willed.

I may see it different from others, but it makes no sense that when the main character in hislose control mode still loses. It tries to seem like he has friends that support him but in reality all they do is verbally attack him with no reasoning or ... basis.

Then the plot started having too many contradictions. It especialky occured with the karma of the stars. It became confusing the more characters tried to explain it.

Overall my response is it has a great plot but the many characters responses to situations or heartfelt situations that can happen in real life is not realistic and gets annoying to a point. It only needed better writing on the characters interaction with the main character and plot development.

I've been on a streak of positive reviews recently, so to shake things up and prove I still know how to criticize where criticism is due, here are my thoughts on a show so bland I dropped it TWICE.

-Story-

'Hero Tales' is as generic as the name would have you believe. Setting a story in medieval China (or a fantasy look-alike) is as common in East Asian media as setting a Western fantasy in medieval Europe. The basic plot isn't any more original, following seven warriors who are each the reincarnation of various warrior deities, with two (conveniently our protagonist and antagonist) being well-known as the ... most powerful while the other five pick sides. Why are they fighting? THE KARMA OF THE STARS!!! Now, the concept of fate and free will has been with humans as long we've told stories, but it can also be a crutch for the author who can use it as a cheap cop-out. In this case, 'Hero Tales' uses fate and karma as an excuse to drive the plot in the absence of developed character motivations.

The story itself actually isn't bad, but it plays so painfully and unimaginatively close to formula that there's nothing to make it good either. Anything you see here you've seen better elsewhere.

-Art-

Hiromu Arakawa created one of the most famous manga series of all time with 'Fullmetal Alchemist'. That fame creates a bit of a problem when she tries to reuse the character designs in other works- you'll be playing "Spot the FMA character" while watching this show (and judging by 'The Heroic Legend of Arslan' this is a recurring mistake for her). The quality and aesthetic are nothing impressive either, having decent animation but a very generic and simple palette - lots of bright, flat colors. The series doesn't look bad, but it doesn't look good either (noticing a trend here?)

-Sound-

When not even J. Michael Tatum can't make his character sound very interesting, the show most likely has a writing deficiency. English dub voice actors do fine, but the sound is still pretty generic (nobody is given much that's memorable to say, so there's little opportunity to shine or suck). The soundtrack does nothing special either, the OP and ED are very basic.

-Characters-

The cast wouldn't be unique even if their designs weren't copy-pasted from a stupendously better series. Taitou is the untouched archetype of a Shonen protagonist: loud, violent, not terribly bright, and a big eater. The rest stick extremely close to archetype as well: the not-related-by-blood-so-it-technically-wouldn't-be-consanguinity sister, the goofball best friend, the pirate with a good heart, the bad girl with a good heart, the warlord who wants to take over for kicks and giggles- it's all been done before. The only interesting one is the assassin Shimei, who doesn't care who actually wins so long as he gets to watch a good show- however, he's a relatively minor character. The point where I stopped watching 'Hero Tales' for the second time came when a certain character switched sides and joined the villain- because the villain said he was fighting for peace. No explanation of how his evil deeds would actually bring peace, his just stated that was his goal and this character (who knew his evil deeds full well) simply up and joined him with hardly a moment's hesitation. And that's when I left.

-Enjoyment-

It was good for a while as 'turn your brain off' fun, but with the plot taking its sweet time to get anywhere and the cast not being interesting enough to make up for it, it dropped the show. Then a few months later I took a second stab at it, nothing got better, and when the dumb plot twist I just said 'forget it' and haven't bothered with Hero Tales since. I rarely drop a series because I won't start one unless I think there's a good chance I'll like it. I took a gamble on this one and it failed.

-Overall-

'Hero Tales' doesn't actually stink, but for the same reason there's nothing good to note either: it's utterly generic. You can avoid catastrophic failure by sticking to the archetype, but you'll never be remembered for it one way or the other (people like to crap on "School Days", but they're still talking about it long after they've forgotten other more generic romantic dramas). It's not worth watching for something good, or just to see how bad it can get. Skip this lukewarm series, I doubt it's worth your time.

The art style is similar to FMA since the creator seems to be the same ^_^, so it's nice/cute.
Story-wise it is a bit cliche (the whole epic power-struggle, and betrayal themes) but it does have it's own unique characteristics which is cute and makes you want to see more.
The character development is well done which as usual enhances the anime's enjoyment.
Overall entertainment is very good so far, so if you liked FMA, any martial-arts/fantasy-type genre stories you willl not be disappointed with this anime. Also, I think the plot will end up getting more complicated (I'm hoping lol XP) so there is much ... to anticipate in the following episodes for this series.
Also, the opening theme is noice!!

There were so many negative reviews I felt compelled to leave a positive one because I actually quite liked it.

The anime itself I feel isn't as bad as others are making it out to be. I feel the reason it leaves a bad taste in people's mouth is because they try to over complicate things.

The story is a straight forward good vs evil fantasy set in a fictional ancient empire. It's the classic save the world from an overpowered evil power hell bent on wreaking havoc. The plot is somewhat predictable and the characters lack depth but that isn't necessarily a bad thing for an ... anime like this.

Who is this anime for? If you want to sit back and watch an entertaining, easy to digest anime with tons of action, comedy and the characters have an unwavering sense of loyalty and duty then this is for you. It's an adventure from start to finish and the plot isn't tied down to any one location. Nothing is over complicated and the anime doesn't emphasise on character's emotional baggage.

I wouldn't call this the best anime out there, or even one of the greats, but if you come in with realistic expectations then there's a good chance you'll enjoy it as much as I have.

The storyline of Hero Tales isn't really anything special. A used-to-be nobody kid named Taitou finds out that he's actually the incarnation of a star. When he gets too angry he gets out of control and only his sister can stop him from destroying himself. I don't really want to explain it here I'm too lazy but I'll just say it disappointed me coming from Hiromu.

Taitou gets really obnoxious around the middle of the series and is so whiny it made me want to stop watching. I almost did stop but I had to keep watching to see if it got better. It did for ... a little bit but then went back downhill. The final fight is pretty lame and ends in the stereotypical anime fashion( if you know what I mean). I most certainly won't be watching this series again but it's okay to watch through once.

In the sea of shounen anime, it takes a lot to stand out in the crowd. No matter how hard a work tries to be different, it is constantly compared to its genre-kin. Such is the fate of any work. Jyuushin Enbu: Hero Tales (HT) is a series that plays it safe, yet somehow finds a way to stick with viewers even after the last somewhat cliche scenes.

Story: 8

HT is a story about a simple-minded young man named Taito who is just living his life with his family, minding his own business, when Keiro, a power-hungry warlord busts down his door and demands for ... the sacred sword that will make him the emperor. Taito, barely surviving his confrontation with Keiro, soon learns that the two of them have their fates tied to two celestial deities and their destines are mapped out by the Karma of the Stars. Taito knows that he can't face Keiro alone so he, along with his sister Laila, embark on a quest to gather the five Celestial Guardians and take down the Dubhe warmonger, Keiro, before Empire collapses under the powers of fate itself.

The plot is very by-the-books shonen: one guy needs to gather whole bunch of other guys to beat the final boss. Despite that, the anime deserves more credit for what it does right. It shows the development of character strength in a realistic fashion. It throws wrenches in the heroes' road to Keiro and the good part about that is that the good guys don't always win. Characters that Taito and his friends love die before their eyes. The cast discovers themselves and while some may find closure, others only find more conflict. Soon, those trapped within fate's plans try to break free and make their own choices. This is a show that could not have been rushed, and it is clear that time was taken to make sure that the audience could develop a feeling for the characters. Sure, you might guess that they'd probably win later down the line, but at what cost?

Action is the obvious focus of the series and the action present is quite well done. Fighting isn't every episode, but its in the episodes that matter. The comedy in the series is decent, nothing ground breaking. However, there are a few scenes where despair is accurately portrayed. You'll feel the anguish, the exhaustion and the desperation of the characters, especially during the conclusion. Its a shame that the conclusion wasn't wholly original, but as I said earlier, this anime plays it safe genre-wise but that's not always a bad thing.

Art: 8

Anyone who has seen FMA can notice the striking similarity to the art in HT. Its an art style that will probably pique at least a "oh, that looks like FMA." It was the reason why I decided to give this series a chance.

The animation is solid. Character designs are pretty down to earth, at least by anime standards. What really stands out is the choice to make a very Chinese-esque setting. While colors don't pop off the screen, the series at least makes an effort to look different than a lot of modern shounen.

Sound: 7

Each one of the openings is catchy in its own way, especially the first one. The first ending left a lot to be desired but the second ending was very good. It maintains the kind of the typical friendship theme but is still a very nice track, even though there is some sub-par engrish. That part is all to opinion, however. The rest of the BGM is composed of mostly Chinese-influenced tracks that don't help or hurt the series. The voice acting fits each character nicely.

Characters: 7

There seems to be an inherit problem with a lot of shounens: too many characters, not enough development for the vast majority. Taito doesn't change that much and neither does Keiro, but each fufills their role perfectly. Keiro is a brutal warmonger who uses anyone and anything to achieve his ends and isn't afraid to kill his own men to do so. Taito, on the other hand, is a knuckle head powered by friendship. While at times he can be a fool, he knows how to bring out the best in people. He's an all around good guy and proceeds to at least he fufill his role. Ryuko is the rival of Taito and the two of them eventually cross paths. Along the way to fight Keiro, Ryuko learns a lot about himself and he eventually needs to work out his priorities and loyalties in life. Hosei is the clown of the group, but he too begins to see that there are more important things than making fun of Taito's habit of repeating himself.

Sadly, that's about as far as the character development goes. Laila does a decent job at standing out in the little sister crowd (she's not in love with Taito, by the way, which is a nice bonus) and she and Rinmei have a blast with the "Men are useless" club, but neither of them go farther than that. All of the others character don't go too far with their developments either. There are a few other side characters that make a splash, but their significance is better left to be experienced rather than just explained.

Overall, HT doesn't go far with its characters, but the subtle details do matter and the party chemistry is still entertaining none the less.

Enjoyment: 9

So, what makes HT so enjoyable? Is it the actions scenes, the comedy, or the friendship? My answer: Why not all three? What really makes it stand apart is actually the very thing that makes it seem so unremarkable: Its absolutely shounen. It should be a must see for anyone just getting into anime, but wants an alternative to those big series. HT is all the shounen goodness anyone could possible ask for in just 26 episodes. It might not rock the boat, but it coasts relatively smoothly. Unlike a lot shounen that try to be more, HT is comfortable with what it is and the passion really shows. Its plays out and sticks with the audience like how an ancient Chinese myth might stick with a person: Looking back, isn't aren't anything brilliant but still enjoyable and deserves to be shared.

This is a great show for anyone who like an anime in which the good guy triumphs by finding strength from his beliefs. It's about two warriors fated to face each other in battle, and the four (actually five but one doesn't do anything worth mentioning until the last few episodes) warriors who find themselves draw to this epic conflict in one way or another. There is also the tag along sister, who despite adding a little comedy and moral support, doesn't do much fighting. The action scenes were great, the messages and philosophy were cool, but not so insistant that they take away from ... the show, and the characters were engaging and interesting.The only thing I didn't like about this series is that the character Hosei spends the whole series throwing himself at the main character's sister Liala, and even though you're lead to believe they'll end up together, nothing ever happens. I hate animes where guys are obessesd with girls they never wind up with. It leaves you with emotional blue... we you know. Other than that, great series.

6/10. Hero Tales is bland if you have watched a lot of anime I don't recommend if you are veteran anime fan. The story is short it's got a good plot it's easy to follow with a bunch of fun and interesting characters, it's visually very beautiful but it is a walking anime cliche. This is a great anime to suggest if you want to see if someone will like anime. The characters are unique but shallow but that's due to the briefs storyline. Typical shonen plot MC is a bit boring side characters are the real strength of the cast.