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May 13, 2009
Now this is an interesting little endeavor I set upon. I originally began to watch Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters because a friend of mine directed me to a site which had download links to subbed episodes (of course, he’s not here at the moment and can’t find it again). Being the strange and organized completist I am, I noticed that the original series created by Toei Animation was only 27 episodes, so I decided to watch that first. Exactly two months to the day later, I finished it…and was left…well, just read on. Just note: I have not read the original manga that the show is
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based on, and I have limited information about it, so forgive me if I make a mistake on something.
Story [4.0]
Although the idea is an interesting one, I think it was poorly executed. It reminds me of a little-know Nickelodeon show called Chalk Zone. I thought it was a neat idea, but the way it was put together was just…odd. However, that is something for another day. The first few episodes I thought were neat, because the game that Yugi’s alter-ego set up for the antagonist of the particular episode were actually rather clever. However, it quickly goes downhill from there. Most of the time, the characters are involved with typical and sometimes odd situations in school that eventually lead to the game at the end. However, the game become so quick, it’s rather hard to enjoy it. Around the middle of the series, Yugi’s friend Anzu discovers Yugi’s secret in an episode that presents a clear danger, a clever game, and more time dedicated to it. That way, it was much better to get into. Some of the challenges in between are also a bit interesting, but there are too many flat, quick ones, and others just leave your head scratching as to how the challenge could have been accomplished. Things pick up at the end, where the final battles against Kaiba and Bakura each span a number of episodes, so it does have a bit of suspense to it, even though it’s entirely predictable. In fact, the final battle against Kaiba will look very familiar if you’ve watched the newer series. Almost to the point where you’ll be utterly bored. The Bakura battle also has similarities to its counterpart, where the main characters are put into the role of combatants with both spirits battling against each other and Bakura’s pure heart being the deciding factor. So, in conclusion. Interesting idea but inconsistent with its highs and lows throughout the series.
Art [4.0]
Well, this is an old show, so you can’t really expect much in the art department. Nothing too dazzling, nothing too spectacular. Just your basic animation. They try to make it dark at times, but nothing ominous comes out of it. Crazy hair is included, of course.
Sound [3.0]
Well…the music just doesn’t work for me. Nothing catchy, nothing stand out. It’s very repetitive. The OP and ED are underwhelming. All synthesized, as far as I can tell.
Character [4.0]
Not much to say about characters, either, except the following points. The decision to make Miho a main character was a bad idea. Far too ditzy and with that whiny/cute image that I find more annoying than cute. Yet, of course, she manages to be quite useful and extremely lucky near the end. Kaiba is a good villain, but it seems like he is just too power-hungry and willing to prove his own greatness. His younger brother Mokuba probably could have had more screen, but he spends pretty much all his time gloating about how he’s going to defeat Yugi that his worries about how his brother had become ruthless in his endeavors seems so…awkward. The Egyptian guy at the very beginning (didn’t care enough to know his name) should have been used more instead of having Kaiba every three or four episodes. And Bakura appears a bit too late. It’s more like he arrives, disappears, and reappears at the very end of the series to confront the protagonists. However, I did enjoy how we got to know more about the character and how he turned from the innocent person into the possessed monster. Something that I haven’t seen in the other series. Then again, that starts pretty much after this one…ish.
Oh, yeah. More Miho rant. Maybe it’s just me, but how do you fall in love with a guy after only seeing him for one freakin’ second and completely changing plans because of that. I’m willing to bet that girls really aren’t that way.
Enjoyment [3.0]
If you watch the Duel Monsters part of this series, this one is going to be very much less enjoyable. For those who are new, you can probably only watch the first few and last six episodes and get pretty much the backstory that you need to take into Duel Monsters. There are few interesting moments, and those usually come at either end, with a few exceptions in the middle. Most of the time, I began to zone out, as the story was not deep enough to get me interested. No touching, emotional movements, either. Also, you may have heard people spoofing Yu-Gi-Oh!’s use of friendship as a major factor in plot advancement. While the end is interesting, the use of this friendship gets used to such a cheesy level, you may begin to appreciate those efforts from Duel Monsters. Oh, and mentioning things that happen after the next episode…not a good idea, especially if mentioned more than once on the way there.
Overall
If you’ve begun to watch ahead of this series, don’t look back at this. You will not need it to understand everything. If you must watch it, you’re in for a long and droning saga, even though it’s only 27 episodes. In short, pass if you can and/or don’t care.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Jun 18, 2008
Story [7.0]
The story is a bit of a disappointment. Of course, this is just short of 30 minutes, so everything has to wrap up in that time. However, I felt that it could have been extended longer, mostly in the flower-caused mischief. It could have started to be small things and escalate to much serious things, but it wasn't meant to be. The best was arguably the moments that Doremi and Pop spent together and things are revealed about the main character of the series. However, before you know it, you're at the end, which is rather predictable but still has a few hidden things
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that may require a second look. In short, okay story but had the potential to become extended and deeper.
Art [8.75]
The art is pretty much the same that you would see on the TV series, except for a smoother frame rate that are typical of animated feature films. However, these moments are not constant, but it was a treat to see them when they appeared. [UPDATE] Apparently, my computer has fixed the video to its original widescreen format, so I bumped up the score just for that.
Sound [7.0]
Copy + paste from the show, but the ending song had a Latin vibe (like the OP), so I enjoyed it.
Character [6.5]
The focus on the movie was on the two sisters, so they were pretty much the characters. Everyone else is just...the same from the show. It was very nice to see the oft-quarreling siblings have a nice talk (and revealing interesting secrets) and looking out for each other...but how long will it last?
Enjoyment [6.5]
If you watch the series, you'll like it, but probably not more than the show. If not, you're going to pass it.
Overall [7.0]
An okay attempt but it feels like it should have had more involvement in the story and characters. Too short and maybe too focused, but there were a few character backstories that make it interesting.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 30, 2008
Note that this review was originally on my blog, so I may have score that differ from here because of different scoring systems
It was many years ago when I first heard of this show. I’m not exactly sure how I came to know it, but I remember hearing about this show about some kids with some kind of other worldly abilities that was ridiculously popular. Of course, this was at the time before I got into anime, so I kind of dismissed it, but it was always in the back (and I mean the VERY back of my mind). After getting into the world of
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anime with Sonic X and Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z, I decided to give this show a try, as I started to get familiar with differences between the shonen and shoujo genres. With a few eccentric experiences and the way I was raised, I developed a weakness for cuteness (if you must ask, I am male) and though the show would appeal to me. However, I was in for a big surprise as the show exceeded all expectations.
Story [8.5]
As you can see, the story isn’t overly complicated. There are no deep complex storylines. Sure, there are a few mini story arcs thrown in the mix, but nothing convoluted. After all, this is a show primarily aimed at a younger audience. While the story is simple, it’s not the kind of simple where older fans will get bored out of their mind. They’re entertaining and will want you to find out what happens. The episodes are presented in a way that there are sometimes two things going on: the girls going through their trials to “witchdom,” and the girls helping out their many friends and family members. Sometimes, this can get in the way and make the more interesting parts of the show seem a bit rushed, but it’s also used to show their trials in magic provide valuable lessons in life or vice versa. Unlike similar genres where the main characters use their abilities against a similar or more powerful enemy (e.g. Sailor Moon, also from Toei Animation), this one lacks a common enemy and is more personal to the characters. When they’re not doing magic, the girls are helping their friends. However, a flaw arises as most of these stories follow the same path over and over again. Friend like a particular thing. Friend no longer does due to some circumstance. Girls use magic to solve problem. Of course, you may complain that it makes the show less interesting…and it does, to an extent. The more interesting part of the story is when the magic shop falls into the hands of Majoruka, and the girls try to get it back. The small story ends in a neat magic battle and feels very satisfying the way it was tied. Later in the season, when the girls are entrusted with the eradication of cursed items, the story feels rather stretched, as the hunting spans around 20 episodes. Most episodes are in a format where you do not necessarily have to see everything that happened before that and understand what’s going on. Approximately five episodes, however, did end in cliffhangers, which provided more incentive to continue. You sometimes can’t help but wonder how it all ends. There’s a nice mix of stuff, too. You have a blend of comedy, emotion, action, and fun that makes the show and interesting watch, even though it is a bit childish.
Art [7.0]
The animation of this show is not something to be impressed by. After all, this show did make it’s debut in 1999, and animation has come a ways since then. The characters are simply drawn, the effects are just average, backgrounds are painted nicely but simple. However, the colors stand out just a bit, which is just fine. Mostly, the animation is consistent from episode to episode, but there were a few times where I noticed that the drawings of the characters were different, some better and some worse. At first, I was usually unaware of more minute changes, but after seeing more and more episodes, it became easier to pick out the flaws. In the end, the art is just average, but it works for what it is.
Sound [10]
This is where the show really shines. From the beginning, you can see that there is an underlying musical theme to the show, but it never really becomes a major factor in any story except for one episode where the girls combine their favorite instruments with their wands. I really found it neat that when they were told to insert a certain melody to access their magical items, they stuck with it and made it make perfect sense. After the aforementioned episode, it was great to hear their instruments play during the casting of spells. There were other musical mentions, with treble and bass clef signals on doors, musical notes adorning spells, and others. Never is it forced upon the viewer in a way that becomes annoying. As for the actual music in the show, it’s not a bad selection. You have a mix of vocal and instrumental, everything fits with the situation, and there is no constant changing of types of music as you see with many American shows. It’s satisfying at times to have no music when there is a lot of dialogue. It makes you focus on what’s being said instead of being a distraction.
Character [9.5]
Another thing that makes the show deceptively addicting. Every character is clearly details. Their likes, dislikes, problems, all shown clearly with their major personalities shining. Doremi’s klutziness is always fun to watch. Hazuki is intelligent, but it’s her kindness that becomes the main focus. She needed more episodes around her, though. Aiko is special. Although she is the toughest of the group, all the episodes centering around her were emotional and dealt with the divorce of her parents, something you don’t usually see talked about much in a kids’ show (at least, what I’ve seen). However, I feel that there should have been an episode that centered around her that wasn’t about her family troubles. Pop Harukaze is as sassy as you would expect some young kids to be, and it’s surprising to see Onpu Segawa unlike any other celebrity people who act like they are above everyone else. All other characters, especially the classmates, all have their personalities, and they all fit together and are something you would expect to see in any classroom. This is one thing about anime that I really like. If there are shows that involve classroom settings, the creators of the show will make the necessary number of characters, all different from the others, and they will use those characters later on. It makes you feel that you are there in the classroom yourself and are friends with these people. In American shows, you usually have a few reoccurring characters but everyone else is usually generic or one-shot, and you don’t really get to know them. Also, a little research will net you even more information about the characters, including birthdays (with years), height, weight, and blood type (seriously). All the more reason to really get in touch with them.
Enjoyment [10]
As I mentioned earlier, once you get into it, you want to know what happens. You see them take on their new “life” and want to see them grow up. Except for a few large gaps, every few episodes add a new story element or cliffhanger that begs to watch. The antics of the girls, especially Doremi, are always a hoot, Like a few of the shows I get into, I spend many hours letting my mind wander, and it often wanders into new storylines that I know won’t really happen in the series, but I wish could happen (well, not all of them). However, as the season began to enter its final episodes, I saw idea after idea that I had thought of actually become true in some way or another. I was so amazed that it happened that I just had to finish it off. And the ending did not disappoint. Even though it was something I wasn’t really expecting, it was fitting, and it still alludes to a new season.
Overall, this is a very excellent show. I would highly recommend this, but there are a few problems with that. If you’re concerned about being discovered watching this show and being made fun of, you’re probably not going to enjoy it. If you find the need to be immersed in complicated stories, you’re probably not going to like it. If you need violence, blood, and sex in your shows, you’re probably not going to like it. For everyone else, watch it. Now! Even those I mentioned above, watch it. This is a timeless classic and has enjoyed success everywhere (unfortunately, not in the U.S., but more about that in another review). I think this quote from the people at Doremi-Fansubs sums it up.
“Best Magical Girl Show. Ever. Who cares if it's girly? Who cares if you'll get laughed at for watching this? It's freaking awesome damnit!”
Or is it an allusion of what is to come? Seeing one episode of Sharp convinces me so, but you can't fully enjoy it all without missing a thing.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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