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Madlax is a bizarre show. Being the second entry in Studio Bee Train's girls-with-guns trilogy, it does little to differentiate itself from Noir, the first in the series. Their premises are similar, as are many plot points and characters. Even the shoddy action with girls flipping gracefully through the air, firing with their airs closed and forlorn expressions, getting hit by none of the other characters, even that's basically the same thing as Noir. I mention this because I think if you were able to put up with the many pitfalls of Noir, you will be able to put up with the same in Madlax, ... and as such, it is a series worth trying for you.

If you haven't watched Noir, then Madlax is a much tougher sell. The pacing of the story is awful, the action is pretty underwhelming, the characters are very two dimensional, and the plot is a bit nonsensical. That said, the anime scratches an itch that few others do. I think the wartorn third world country setting has a lot of potential for anime, and while Madlax doesn't fully explore said potential, it gets closer to commenting on the stark contrast between those 'developed' countries that are comparatively utopian and so far removed from war and violence and the pillaged 'developing' countries who are not in control of their own destinies. On top of that, the soundtrack for the show is phenomenal. Yuki Kajiura once again knocks it out of the park with several memorable tracks that are deserving of a more memorable show.

I believe the average person's enjoyment of Madlax depends on how forgiving they can be. If you can look past shoddy pacing and repetitive storytelling, if you can look past flat characters and unengaging action, then give Madlax a shot. If not, then your time is better spent elsewhere.

Note: I am writing this review several months after completing the show.

[i]Noir[/i] is a difficult anime to review, much less discuss. It appears to have had a small budget, been released into obscurity, and hardly remembered in the 22 years since it started airing. The title makes it somewhat difficult to research as well, since searches tend to return results related to Chat Noir for some reason. In fact, I consider myself rather blessed that I happened onto the show at all.

To cut to the chase, yes, I recommend this show. It's fun, intelligent, and soulful. It has a number of flaws that I'll get ... to, but what a prospective viewer should really consider is that this show is [i]dated[/i]. I don't know much about anime, but from what I've seen, I get the general sense that action anime released pre-2010 were given much more of a license to wander and to be much more thoughtful (see the works of Shinichirō Watanabe and Hideaki Anno, for instance). [i]Noir[/i] takes this to the extreme. Not only is the main plot neglected for many episodes, but within each episode there are often shots that linger for no specific purpose and very stiffly animated fight scenes that indicate to me a small budget or rushed production time. In any case, it is worth noting that the rather intriguing premise of this odd-couple assassin duo does not get fully explored until halfway through the show.

Onto some other cons. As I said, the animation can be very rigid. The fight scenes are carried a lot by the music, as the combatants will use illogical tactics in fighting one another and a lot of the action is obscured or conducted out of frame. There is the sense of drama, but if you aren't immersed in the characters, story, and setting, then the action will not excite you at all, because without those elements to support it, the action falls rather flat - aside from some cool moments. The story itself is... rough. I actually prefer a lot of the earlier standalone episodes because they have simple but emotional plots, usually involving the targets that Kirika and Mireille, the protagonists, are contracted to kill. The overarching plot of the show honestly makes very little sense, and although it offers an interesting conflict, the execution is drawn out and ham-fisted to say the least.

But oh [i]man[/i] did I [i]feel[/i] this anime. The soundtrack really is phenomenal, and the art style often lends itself to some pretty shots. The people who worked on this show understood companionship and loneliness really well, and it shows in the way that individual scenes and even entire episodes are crafted. There's an overwhelming sense of melancholy that pervades throughout the show, even in the happy moments, as the protagonists try and fail to establish human connections. It's something that I think is explored really well in the era of visual media at the turn of the millennium: a feeling of isolation, of the end of history.

So, all this being said, I do recommend [i]Noir[/i] to the vast majority of viewers, as, despite its faults, it offers something I found to be very unique and memorable. Go in with low expectations and allow yourself to slip into the world of the Noir duo. It's a special one.

After watching this OVA and seeing other reviews, I gotta write a quickie to defend this first foray into the animated world of One Piece.

First of all, I feel like the majority of those writing negative reviews of this short movie have really weird expectations. They're judging the movie (which predates any other OP animation) by the Studio Toei series that wouldn't begin until next year (comparing the voice actors, art style, etc.), which makes no sense. The movie should be seen in the proper context, as something preceding other attempts to bring OP into the world of anime. I think it does a splendid ... job of this, so let me get to the meat of it:

Story - 8/10
The plot of this little adventure is classic early One Piece. The Strawhats arrive at an island, find its inhabitants oppressed by some cliche evil villain, then they take him down. I honestly found it really satisfying. It serves as a great introduction to the typical formula of most of East Blue, and if you like what you get in this OVA, you get more of it with even more detail in the Toei adaptation. Nothing to complain about here.

Art/Sound - 7/10
Some of the weirder complaints about this OVA refer to the art. I just don't get it. Of course it's somewhat dated, it's from 1998. The quality is hardly different from that of the first Toei saga. It's nothing spectacular, but it stays true to the vision and style of the manga for the most part. I am quite mixed on the sound however. There were a few tracks in the OVA that STUNNED me for being so quality in such a short one-off thing. However, I did have a problem with the sound design. For some reason the way the tracks were played felt... off. It was the one part of the OVA that felt unduly rushed to me, both in the sense that it was as if proper time wasn't put into doing the sound design, and also in the sense that it felt like the music was really speeding along and changing frequently. Not that big a deal though.

Character - 10/10
You get everything One Piece out of this. Luffy, Zoro, and Nami get all of their most prominent character attributes displayed in a very short amount of time, giving a viewer all the characterization they need to decide if these are characters they want to see more of. The OVA also does a good job of showing what other typical OP characters seem like, from the over-the-top and cruel villain to the hapless but loveable villagers (I especially liked Medaka and wish she was a canon character).

Enjoyment - 8
I like this OVA better than a lot of regular One Piece episodes as it contains a full story in such a short amount of time, and I happen to find one of my biggest issues with the main series to be its pacing. It really works as an example of what One Piece is, and I enjoyed it a lot for the short runtime it has.

Overall - 8
Taking into consideration that this animation was the first foray into animated OP and is separate from the popular Toei adaptation, I really liked this OVA. It's a nice little self-contained story with the characters every OP fan loves, only 28 minutes long. Definitely worth the watch and gives you little to complain about.

Vinland Saga is trying to be a good anime. It's trying to be Berserk. The thing that sucks is that I want it to succeed. I legitimately wanted to like the story because I think it has a lot of potential. I love stories with a large cast of characters and different plots of intrigue (see ASOIAF). Vinland Saga fails to establish that.

Let's start with the action, just to get it out of the way. Despite presenting itself as an epic viking anime taking place in the real world (even including and referencing real figures such as Cnut and Brian Boru), the fight scenes are ... straight out of [insert shonen action anime]. Thorfinn zips around with two dumbass daggers like he's on the Survey Corps, Thors leaps and bounds like the Incredible Hulk, and Thorkell is just... Thorkell. The only character who ever fights realistically is Askelaad, and that's still a stretch. Is the action well-animated? Sure. Are the fights well-choregraphed. Well enough I guess. But the fact remains that all of the fighting is dumb as hell and totally unfitting for the setting. Thorfinn even Naruto runs a couple of times, like come on.

Another note on the action before I move on - the power balance is weird. It's not bad enough for me to mention it along with the other poor elements of the action, but it's so inconsistent. The main characters can slaughter wave after wave of enemies until the story requires them to fall, and when they fight each other, it's yet again up to the story who will win. It's boring.

As I said though, the animation is great. I wouldn't say it's anything spectacular by modern standards, and I highly doubt the show will be remembered for its animation/art-style in the coming years, but I have to compliment the artists. The show, visually, looks good.
The sound design is also okay. I would have scored it lower than a 7 as the OST is rather bland, but both openings and the second ending were great in my opinion. The second opening in particular I feel is worthy of a better anime than Vinland Saga.

Now for the worst bit. The characters really suck and the story is wasted.

Of every character in the show, the only ones I liked were Leif and Ari, who are almost never seen throughout this season. I had no reason at all to root for Thorfinn, Askelaad, Thorkell, or Canute. Thorfinn has one personality trait which is his edginess. Though Askelaad appears to be a cOmPlEx character, he spends most of the show being selfish and schemy. Thorkell gets away with being a pretty simple character, but again I have no reason to care about him.
Canute is the worst of the bunch. While both Thorfinn and Canute receive Express Character Development, Thorfinn's is at least justified with a time gap to explain how he suddenly is a demigod. Canute literally falls asleep and wakes up as a badass. As another reviewer put it, his voice drops an octave and suddenly he goes from being the weakest most cowardly character to the bravest. Though I never rooted for any character, I actively rooted against Canute.

Man, I promise I wanted to like the plot. It really could have been something, but it just isn't. I can't explain much without spoiling, but the pacing is slow, the goals of the main cast switch moment to moment, which might make sense in-universe but it leaves me wondering what the point of this show is. It's called "Vinland Saga", and yet nothing that happens makes me think of a mighty saga. I know manga readers are going to say "oooooo but this is just the prologue", but I don't care. The season should be good enough to stand on its own, and it isn't.

Vinland Saga wishes it was an epic saga, and so do I. Somehow it has tricked thousands of people on this site into thinking it is. Is it because of the faux life lessons that are sprinkled throughout? Is it because of the "badass" mise-en-scene? I really can't say what makes each person who sees this anime think it's somehow anything greater than mediocre, but I sincerely am sorry this show isn't better than it is.

Oh boy. Writing a review about NGE is a challenge, no matter where your opinions fall. It is a daunting task, and I don't think I'd take it up for any other anime, even those I love or hate more. The problem with NGE though is that I might explode if I don't say something about it.

Let's begin on a high note. Neon Genesis Evangelion has probably the best sound design I've witnessed yet. There are aural motifs strewn throughout the series that condition the viewer to associate sounds with feelings of distress and anxiety. The screeching of the Angels and EVAs are legendary, and ... the overall ambience in scenes without dialogue is intoxicating. Combined with the flawless art style, the atmosphere draws you in and holds you, squirming or complacent, so it can pummel you psychologically.

This mental assault is executed wonderfully. While the pacing may start off wonky, it accelerates and maintains a chaotic bent that complements the wrenching twists and turns that the story (and viewer) takes. Sight and sound synthesize to terrify and upset the viewer, entrancing them and horrifying them. As someone who is not unfamiliar with distressing movies, I can confidently say that the subjects discussed and depicted in this anime can be legitimately upsetting for the average viewer. I'm writing this review on what I hope is the tailend of the worst year of my life, and if I'd watched this show two or three months ago it would've possibly messed me up. A warning to those considering the watch: be careful. Make sure you're ready. If you are familiar with clinical depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, abandonment issues, feelings of sexual inferiority, loneliness, or worthlessness, then tread lightly. Getting invested in NGE is dangerous to one's psyche and perspective on life and death. I probably sound melodramatic or corny, but I sincerely believe this.

The characters initially fall into anime tropes, but they are anything but. Each character is written spectacularly and realistically. There is not much more I can say without getting into specific spoilers, but seriously. Every character, even the minor ones, have a moment to shine and receive recognition.

Now for the major downside. I think the show was too ambitious. It was innovative and delivered on a lot of its objectives, but ultimately its message is obfuscated by a confusing narrative and poorly explained plot. The story draws heavily on Judeo-Christian mythology which I feel is its greatest weakness. Bringing in characters from Christian myth causes confusion when it causes viewers to make assumptions based on what they already know about Christianity. I feel it also has little tie-in with the main subject of mental health. A clearer story with a slower pace would have better suited the type of message NGE attempts to deliver.

On this matter, one must inevitably address the ending. Since this is a review not a commentary, I will simply recommend that the viewer watch both the final two episodes of NGE and End of Evangelion. Frankly, both endings were unsatisfying for me, though for different reasons. As this is a review for the show, I will say that I personally did not find the original ending as poor as most seem to have. I think the themes developed throughout the run of the show are wrapped up nicely, though the story may not be.



NGE is a show where everything has meaning. There is a reason it is still discussed 25 years on. The story effectively utilizes sight, sound, incredible voice-acting, a solid soundtrack, and well-informed insights on its themes to deliver an anime deserving of its place in pop culture as one of "the greats". I'm sure my opinion on Neon Genesis Evangelion will change in future, but I really had to write something about it or I'd lose my mind. If you are considering watching it, do. This is a very subjective anime, and your opinion of it will likely depend heavily on the kind of person you are. It's worth finding out a bit about yourself and your fellow human.

P.S.: This is my first review and I'm not trying to be professional. I don't know the conventions for reviews on this site, but I'm trying to follow the rules while doing justice to this piece of art. Enjoy.