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2001 Nights is a nice anthology of deep-space exploration stories delivered in a western style of comic art. The quality reminds you of the silver age of comics, but there is great detail in both expression and scenary.
While the different stories have no apparent relation or continuation to each other, there is a steady progression in theme throughout the volumes. The first few start with more contemporary space flight achievements or deal with events that take place within our own solar system. The later stages involve more far-reaching destinations and are more fanciful in imagination. There is a great array of concepts and ideas ... to match the often bizarre new 'circumstances' the protagonists encounter. These are all backed by an often sizable amount of scientifically related information, but is done so to be both informative and also provide the backbone for the plot. While this might put-off some of the readers, it does enhance the reading and shows the near endless real-life scientific possibilities that could exist out in the universe.

However, the greatest appeal is the ever present moral and philosophical questions that surround the topic of space exploration. Exploitation rights of resources, the pursuit of knowledge, extra-terrestrial life, destruction, conquest, wars and the urge to find ourselves within the emptiness of space gives enough for the reader to contemplate. While much of 2001 Nights has a sobering undertone to it, they all depict the future as a wonderess one which only we ourselves can decide on how to leave our marks on.

A valued message no matter what era.

You're Under Arrest follows the happenings of a police station and in particular those officers of the Traffic division. Aired as an OVA, this later came to be the first 4 episodes of the TV series bearing the same name. However, this review will assess it's performance as a stand-alone.

- ANIMATION -
As expected from an OVA the animation quality is superb; with great detail taken in facial expression and general movement fluidity. The backgrounds are also of high detail and do not have that colour tone difference otherwise common to most televised series. Fujishima Kousuke being an avid motorsports enthusiast, made sure that You're Under ... Arrest featured excellent animated footage of cars, motorbikes and other mechanicals. It was an obvious match for his love of cars and anime that brought us this series.

- SOUND -
The soundtrack is mellow most of the time, but with a gripping 'suspense/action' theme used during the chase sequences, you soon find your own heart beating with expectation! In terms of effects, this is mostly focused on traffic/vehical related sounds (drifts, revs, gear changes etc.). Do not expect to see/hear any firearms - disappointing, seeing as this is a police anime. The dub version is well directed despite some dialogue adaptation.

- CHARACTERS -
The story revolves around a partner relationship so you should expect a lot of time dedicated to the two leads. Although only 4 episodes, you get a flare for the cast's own personalities, which are very distinct to the point of perhaps being stereotypical. Eitherway, the designs show a unique style characteristic of this mangaka, but tend to inevitably resemble characters from his other titles (Ah My Goddess!).

- VALUE & ENJOYMENT -
As mentioned, You're Under Arrest tries to showcase the human drama of police officers and their daily relationships. With this in mind, it does not boast of much action apart from car chasing so hardcore police-drama viewers might be disappointed. The storyline although split into 4 episodes, should be viewed as 2 plots each coming to a conclusion by the end of the OVA.
Personally, I consider this an 'all-rounder' because it manages to fit various elements (romance, comedy, drama, action) into a light-hearted, realistic storyline. Because of that, I would not be surprised if you would still enjoy a rewatch of this come a few years time... I know I did.
Finally, the excellent animation alone makes for a worthwhile watch, so its short duration becomes a bonus.

Starship Operators is primarily a space opera and as such follows the events through the eye's of the crew members of the spaceship Amateras. The story has an original twist compared to other titles for the genre because the crew members rebel and decide to take on the entire invading military estabilisement single-handedly in their state-of-the-art vessel. In addition, the young crew is corned into making a deal with a TV network in order to gain funds to finance their campaign by accepting to be filmed 24/7 - much akin to reality tv.

- ANIMATION -
The series typically uses CG to handle their spaceship ... animations, but it isn't overused and is pretty much reserved to animating their communication displays and panels. In terms of consistency, Starship Operators does a fine job with crisp detailed lineart and fluid motions throughout. The character designs were also carefully thought, the crew are all easily identified and support their own unique personality.
Regretably there is actually few combat scenes. Mostly you should expect stills of the spaceships charging up their cannons and then short explosive bursts of CG.

- SOUND -
Nothing memberable, except for the opening theme. A lot of dialogue. Hardily any background music. I do commend them for not putting sound effects in the space sequences, remember its a vacuum.

- CHARACTERS -
Expect some of the characters to only last a few episodes. This does mean that you will not engage much with the other remaining staff apart from the leading characters. Personally, I do not agree with the idea that mostly all the crew should be females with exceptional beauty.

- VALUE & ENJOYMENT -
Because of the nature of this anime, it's a typical 'spirit of youth shall prevail'. Although its a fine addition to the genre in its own right, I personally find the fact that an inexperienced crew can hold its own against an Imperial fleet with limitless resources, unrealistic. The Big-Brother reality tv mimic was interesting but you end up feeling that the political plot is secondary until the final episodes where all of a sudden things escalate without a decent plot development. It was well paced for 13 episodes and although climatic, leaves some room for sequels.

Aqua Knight doesn't stray far from other fantasy/adventure titles in the fact that it deals with topics like friendship, courage, quests, self-improvement and the like. Yet after reading it in a single sitting you do get the sense this is unique in its own right. I for one found it a light-hearted and highly enjoyable read.

The character designs are somewhat stereotypical but only to the extent that a charicature is in portraying someone's comic identity. Therefore, the art style isn't truely akin to japanese manga, as it adopts a western approach, but all the 'manga' features are still recognisable and intact. Still as it ... was published in the late 90s, the style is distinctive and brings fondness to older audiences. However, if you are somewhat biased to more 'hardcore' contemporary manga artwork this might not appease the readership in this particular category... but the other categories will !

The storyline is simple at first, with a heroine pursuing her ambitions and defeating her evil foes, but as you read on this divide line begins to blur and you come to find yourself identifying with the 'evil no-gooders' as people with their own stories behind them.

Even if people find the ending to be 'inconclusive', the moral of the story is clearly revealed come the final chapter... and isn't that the purpose of a story regardless? I however secretly habour a bittersweat feeling for Aqua Knight only because I regret it not being longer!
Clearly an under-appreciated title!

- ANIMATION -
Let not the cover art fool you, Amon Saga is from 1986 so the animation is very basic (yet typical of that time) and might not appeal to most audiences accustomed to modern illustration styles. Having said that, the sequences are fluid but do occassionally seem to stall with frames where animation was done against still background shots. This anime does not show much attention to image detail or definition but this is probably due to budget constraints. It seems evident that Amon Saga did not recieve a digital remastering when issued into its DVD format leaving the images blurry and the colours ... with a 'faded' feel to them; which sadly has hampered the viewing pleasure.

- SOUND -
Regretably the soundtrack is not a memorable one as it lacks a gripping opening score. Dialogue is limited specially from the main character who is a silent reserved figure. English narration is not to modern standards with a varied lipsync.

- STORY & CHARACTER -
The storyline is simple and relatively easy to follow without much prior knowledge of the title. Fantasy and vengence are very much the main themes but it allows for some romantic elements to develope between Amon and the captive Princess Lichia. Amon, the main character, shows little development and does not stray far from the stereotypical quiet, lone warrior who is tormented by violent past memories. It is interesting to note that he is not without flaws, since he is not the best fighter within the cast and relies on his comrades throughout his quest - strangely atypical for the genre.

- VALUE & ENJOYMENT -
I was not impressed by Amon Saga as I felt it was too basic in all respects to leave any mark on the viewer. It might however appeal to fans of Vampire Hunter D or Fist of the North Star as the main characters share the same traits, and more importantly have the same art director. I have tried to be impartial to its flaws by trying to relate to how the anime scene was back at the 80s. Yet even taking that into consideration, when compared to other titles from that time, Amon Saga still falls short.

This title makes better sense if you have previously read the manga. The OVA jumps back and forth along the manga plot illustrating the key moments of Nihei's (Author of manga) scenic perspective of a chaotic world, so it is very hard for a newcomer to even try to decypher the storyline.

- ANIMATION -
The animation itself is clean and fluid, however many scenes are mere transitional still background frames showing in colour the world of BLAME! but those with movement truely show Nihei's disturbing imagination.
Yet the series' production team was not entirely faithful to his drawing style so the characters are not identical to their ... manga counterparts.

- SOUND -
The music was an important asset to the OVA, it was the mixture of mechanical/industrial and eerie tunes that really gave the impression of 'desertedness' and the immensity that is the Megastructure cyborg world. It is almost as if you were cast into the darkness of that place and left to wonder what things are lurking in there. The ending themes are varied and on one particular occassion reminded of extracts from Marilyn Manson.

- STORY & CHARACTER -
In terms of the storyline and character development; the fact that the viewer needs prior knowledge of the series limits the score for these categories. It is very hard to see anything coherently with the storyline at first and even the manga needs you to concentrate and re-read certain plots. Yet despite this, its really a bizarre original series.

- VALUE & ENJOYMENT -
I have mixed feelings towards this series, I have read the manga and I believe this really should have been a larger production (full on series). If they followed the manga plot entirely in a more 'user-friendly' manner then it would have really been above the likes of movies such as Matrix or other highly regarded sci-fi/horror/action titles.
Nihei is an awesome author with a vivid sick mind but unfortunately the production team have not done justice to BLAME! OVA as it falls short of really inticing the viewer. It is a shame, since it degrades it into some form of fanservice/promo for the manga instead.

I'll / CKBC is not your typical sport anime. It's about what all those who play the sport at one time or another ask themselves... for whom or why do I play this sport for?

This OVA is pretty underground having passed by largely unnoticed and will appeal mostly to those who have read the excellent manga by Hiroyuki Asada.
One has to say that this is more drama oriented than sport, but the competitive atmosphere and the dilemma of the characters is something all sport fans have felt.

- ANIMATION -
The animation is fluid and the scenes transpire at a pace fast enough to keep up with. ... Both episodes build up to the final match, mixing in flashbacks of the characters' past encounters with the present time. As the anime revolves around a basketball court, the background and surrounding imagery is pretty basic; yet the definition of detail is kept at a good standard. Although there is not much playing action during the anime, the few moments that do, show the typical problem in trying to animate sports play. The speed of the ball dribbling or other player movements are sometimes either too slow or fast for portraying how accurate the realism should be; so you find a lot of slow-motion frames or only upper body shots burdened with dialogue. However, the style of the characters is thankfully kept to that of the manga.

- SOUND -
As far as voices are concerned the japanese dialogue fits well with the characters. One regrets that the background music is not that noticeable, apart from the very addictive closing theme song. The sFX are very good and are what you would expect to hear when playing a basketball match inside a sports hall - a lot of sneaker and friction sounds

- STORY & CHARACTER -
Regretably the storyline is very much restricted as it is only a 2 episode OVA, so in addition the viewer fails to really see the inner conflicts of the main characters and see their paths develop. The character designs seem to focus too much on the stereotypical. Most of the boys are portrayed as attractive and fit individuals capable of stealing the cheers from supportive girls, while the comic relief character seems to be more 'unathletic' and 'nerdy' of the team.
Apart from the two main characters one really does not learn much about the supporting secondary characters of the series and so the sense of the 'team' is lost.

- VALUE & ENJOYMENT -
I must say that I was somewhat disappointed with this OVA since I am a big fan of the manga. The manga title is a long story arc with a lot more attention given to the problems of all the team members and how they come to terms with them. There is also a lot of fast pace basketball scenes in the manga which one would have hoped the OVA would focused more on. Sadly the anime lacks the much desired gameplay sequences. One feels a lot was missed out from the series in its translation from manga to OVA, but these two episodes do a heartworthy attempt in presenting a somewhat more mature and introspective side of two athletes trying to realize their potential.