Witch Hunter Robin Anime Review

Witch Hunter Robin

Bandai Entertainment – Anime Legends

Complete Collection – 26 episodes

650 mins. – 6 discs

$149.98 Limited Edition w/pin set (2004) $49.98 (2006)

ISBN 1594097216
English/Japanese Audio – English Subtitles
Director – Shuko Murase
Studio - Sunrise
TO BUY: Witch Hunter Robin

Synopsis: Witches are real and have phenomenal psychic powers which explode into existence based on pre-determined genetic dispositions. They’ve been hiding within humanity for hundreds of years and are a part of modern history (Salem witch trials). A clandestine organization called Solomon operates throughout the world hunting witches. Backed by Solomon the STN-J is an investigative unit in Japan actively finding witches and incarcerating them at The Factory.

Robin is a fifteen-year-old girl who has incredible pyrokinetic powers and is just trying to belong somewhere. She’s been trained to hunt witches and is assigned to the STN-J by Solomon. She has a secret which could destroy her new life, but worse yet, her secret is just the tip of the iceberg. Another secret uncovered by a Solomon researcher many years ago threatens to change the face of humanity.

Pros: High production values, somewhat original story, good character/tech designs, awesome backgrounds, gothic techno punk, not your average monster-of-the-week show, mildly spooky beginning with a crime drama middle and action packed ending

Cons: Story progresses pretty slowly throughout the entire show, no nudity :), Robin herself is a rather drab character and spends a lot of time soul-searching

Mike Tells It Straight: A gothic mystery series for the Matrix generation and highly popular when it first aired. Good quality although it takes awhile to get going this show is worth viewing. It’s perfect to watch if you have kids since there’s no nudity and very subdued violence. Not a lot of replay value once all the secrets are revealed along with the slow story build-up.

TO BUY and Recommendations: Fullmetal Alchemist Season One Fullmetal Alchemist Season Two

   

Great Dangaioh Anime Review

Great Dangaioh
Viz Video
Volumes 1-4 - 13 episodes
325 minutes - 4 discs
$24.98/ea. ($99.92 total)
ISBN 782009100492 782009100690 782009100898 782009101093
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Toshiki Hirano
Studio - AIC

Synopsis: A mysterious explosion devastates Futagami Island and one girl is the sole survivor. Investigation into the phenomena leads to the creation of a powerful robot - Dangaioh! Three individual robots combine to form the powerful mecha and are piloted by teenagers: Kuya Amagi, Mishio Manami, and Chidou Hitomi. Kuya's older brother died while test piloting the original Dangaioh robot.

Ten years after the original explosion a shadow organization emerges to threaten the world.  Headed by defamed and former Dangaioh research head - Doctor Kadou! Battling the good doctor is only the beginning for the team as new threats continue to appear. The ultimate threat drops from space to reveal Dangaioh's true enemies.

What secrets are hidden deep within the Futagami base, who is the true enemy, and is Kuya's brother really dead?

Pros: Character designs and interactions were okay, perverted robot was funny (although voice was terrible on both original Japanese and English dub - I checked), a few decent plot twists

Cons: Mecha designs are lame, ending was abrupt, soundtrack is weak, Dangaioh actually shoots its fists out to clobber enemies *groan*

Mike Tells It Straight: Incredibly mediocre giant robot fare - this show was mildly entertaining, but left no lasting impression. Each episode has a new menace for the three teenaged pilots to defeat by combining into Dangaioh - they always win and the villains are steadfastly one-dimensional - "now is our time to rule the world - attack!". I laughed at the perverted little robot (always lurking below some female character's desk "observing" her panties), but its voice was awful.

This show is related to the original three-episode Dangaioh OVA (released in the late '80s/early '90s on VHS with a poorly executed DVD release in 2003 - Dangaioh: Hyper-Combat Unit) and revelas itself to be a sequel halfway through the story. Shoji Kawamori did mechanical designs for the first OVA, but he is completely missing from this sequel (although it appears the creator/director are the same).

Great Dangaioh was originally slated to be 26-episodes, but was cancelled halfway through due to poor ratings (which completely explains the abrubt ending). No complete collection was ever released and the individual discs are dirt cheap. Dangaioh is a doomed franchise - don't waste your time.

TO BUY:
   

Macross Zero Anime Review

Macross Zero
Bandai Visual
Complete Collection - 5 episodes
175 minutes
MSRP - n/a (no official US release available)

¥21,000 (2008) Blu-Ray

¥5,250 (2002-2004) Vol. 1-5/ea.

ISBN - n/a
Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Shoji Kawamori
Studio - Satelight
TO BUY: Macross Zero

Synopsis: In 1999 an alien spacecraft crash lands on South Ataria Island on Earth proving we are not alone. The world is divided between the constant fighting of U.N. and Anti-U.N. factions, but now a new battle has begun to harness the alien technology.

Pilot Shin Kudo first encounters Sara Nome

By 2008 both sides have secretly developed variable aircraft - the U.N. Spacy through research of the alien artifacts and the Anti-U.N. by stealing that information. Pilot Shin Kudo is shot down by an incredible plane which transforms itself into a robot. He lands on Mayan Island where the inhabitants lead a mostly tribal lifestyle and greatly shun modern technology.

Meet the Focker!

Here he meets Sara Nome - the young priestess of the Mayan people. She distrusts outsiders, but her sister Mao secretly wishes to leave the island and journey to a modern city. The island and its people hold a startling link to the downed spacecraft and both groups of outsiders desperately seek to uncover it.

The VF-0S piloted by Roy Focker

Shin rejoins his fleet and begins training with ace test pilot Roy Focker on the top secret U.N. variable fighter plane - the VF-0 Phoenix! Just in time as the Anti-U.N. forces converge on Mayan Island.  It's a dogfight to the finish with Shin and Sara in the middle as the U.N. Wars come to a spectacular close!

"Oh, hey. I didn't see you singing naked there.  What's up?"

Pros: Roy Focker! - we get some worthy backstory on our favorite Senpai, Sara Nome sings in the buff, great mecha designs for the prototype valkyries, even better design for the Anti-U.N. fighter, soundtrack is decent

The VF-0S in action

Cons: Subtitles were awful - barely understood what

Shin and Roy let loose in their new Valkyries

was happening in some crucial scenes, story was confusing (probably due to the subtitles) - especially the ending, CG mecha rendering and dogfights don't feel flawless, color choices for some visual effects are questionable (neon green/pink thruster flames on the missiles?)

Nora Polyansky flies her SV-51 against the U.N. forces

Mike Tells It Straight: This show ain't no Macross Plus. Lush visuals (Satelight went on to create Macross Frontier) and some great dogfight sequences, but the overall plot was a bit unclear. The ending left me scratching my head. I really enjoyed seeing old favorite Roy Focker back in action and the mecha designs were top notch (the prototype Monster and GBP armor were incredible).

"Listen to my song...and stop looking at my boobs!"

Having original creator Shoji Kawamori at the helm had me completely psyched, but it felt like too much was being crammed into this five episode OVA. It's an interesting entry into Macross canon and worth a viewing for the stunning visuals, but won't leave you satisfied at the end.  What the heck is a Bird-Human anyway!?  I was left scratching my head a bit after the dust settled.  Watch Macross Zero before Macross Frontier as episode 10 of MF pays homage to the OVA.  Ranka Lee plays Mao Nome in a movie version of the events of this story!  

1/60 scale VF-0S perfect transformation 'toy' by Yamato

* Note: Macross Zero is not available as an official US release due to the continuing copyright battle between Harmony Gold (licensees of the original Super Dimension Fortress Macross in the US/outside of Japan - aka Robotech season one) and Big West (original license owners of Macross).  For purposes of this review I watched the HK unofficial version because it was relatively cheap and had subtitles (the Japanese official versions don't have English subtitles).  Bah!

Just imagine Ride of the Valkyries playing in the background ;)

Site recommendations: Macross World, Macross Compendium

TO BUY and Recommendations: Macross Zero FX Macross Frontier FX
Macross: Do You Remember Love Perfect Edition
   

Divergence Eve Anime Review

Divergence Eve
ADV Films
Complete Collection - 13 episodes
325 minutes - 3 discs
$44.98 (2006)
ISBN 702727155024
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Atsushi Takada
Studio - Radix

Synopsis: On Earth in the year 2017 a gravitational phenomena is detected within the core of Saturn's moon Titan, and thought to be a wormhole. It is theorized that faster-than-light travel can be achieved by entering a baby universe still in a state of cosmic inflation therefore bypassing the known laws of physics and traveling at infinite speed. An excavation gains access to the wormhole and research continues.

The first faster-than-light travel by humans is achieved in 2197. Eventually another planet with a wormhole core is found with a strange "apple core" shape.  Surrounded by massive rings it was apparently used by a long-dead alien race.  By 2246 a base has been built and the planet has been dubbed "Watcher's Nest".

An unscheduled arrival occurs within the Core and encounters the first Ghoul - an extra-dimensional creature attempting to form in our universe. The Core team is slaughtered by the Ghoul and autopsies performed by the research group Alchemy in 2252 reveal artificial genetic modifications.

Alchemy begins applying the genes to monkeys and in 2272 the lead scientist, Doctor Kessler, attempts the first human tests as the Ghoul intended.  The research group objects and shuts down the project, but not before at least one test subject (the most promising human/Ghoul hybrid) disappears.

An elite group of pilots called Seraphim are stationed on the Watcher's Nest and commanded by Lyar Von Ertiana. Four cadets arrive at the station to test for membership in Seraphim, but an accident occurs during their arrival. The Ghoul assaults their craft, but no one is hurt. The cadets include clutzy yet chipper Misaki Kureha, talented pilot Luxandra Frail, tough Kiri Marialate, and plucky Suzanna Bluestein.

Bizarre accidents keep happening and are centered around Misaki. Watcher's Nest is filled with a terrible secret - one that claimed the life of Misaki's father many years ago. Will the answers destroy Misaki and her fellow cadets? Not everyone gets out alive!

Pros: Fan-service aplenty, surprisingly compelling storyline, some plot twists, ending credits and theme song are great - very catchy and playful (warning - these are super-hyper and can cause brain damage after multiple viewings)

Cons: Mecha designs are terrible, CG is so-so and noticeably dated by today's standards, characters are fairly one-dimensional, Ghoul designs are awful and they just serve as simple plot device (no depth)

Mike Tells It Straight: The fan-service first attracted me to Divergence Eve (due to its extreme nature that's no surprise), but I found myself digging the storyline after the first few episodes. The characters themselves are incredibly one-dimensional (and every female character has ridiculously massive cleavage), but the science portrayed was interesting and enough questions were posed to keep me engaged. This show is definitely middle-of-the-road for quality, but garnered enough interest to spawn a sequel (see recommendations below). My biggest gripes are the horrid CG/designs for both the mecha and Ghouls. Overall you'll get a little more than you expected from this show (if all you're expecting is fan-service with zero plot).




TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Ghost Stories Anime Review

Ghost Stories
ADV Films
Complete Collection - 20 episodes
550 minutes - 5 discs
$49.98 (2008)
ISBN 702727186424
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Noriyuki Abe
Studio - Pierrot
TO BUY: Ghost Stories

Synopsis: Satsuki Manshita (pronounced exactly as it's spelled) moves with her family to the hometown of her deceased mother.  She and her younger brother Keiichirou begin school and instantly discover the old abandoned schoolhouse next door is host to a legion of ghosts! On their first day they become trapped in the schoolhouse along with three other students: Hajime is Satsuki's neighbor and an unrepentant pervert who delights in catching a peek at Satsuki's panties on a daily basis, Leo is the local paranormal expert and a Jew, and Momoko is an evangelical christian and former drug-addict. The five become uneasy allies in a battle against an evil demon named Amanojaku. Satsuki finds her mother's journal which contains detailed notes on each ghost - apparently her mother confronted and sealed away the ghosts haunting the schoolhouse when she was a student many years ago. Recent construction has disturbed the spirits and released them once against to prey on the living!

The "monster squad" manage to seal Amanojaku away with the help of Satsuki's mother's journal.  Unfortunately they seal him in Satsuki's pet cat, Kaya.  He vows revenge and delights in tormenting the group as they face down all of the deadly ghosts. Can the motley crew of amateur "ghostbusters" seal the ghosts away again? 

Pros: Dub is pretty funny, they changed some major plot points which were mostly hilarious, Amanojaku as the possessed cat has some funny lines (especially in the final episode), ending theme song was surprisingly catchy  - "Sexy, sexy", includes subtitles for the original Japanese audio along with the ADV dub

Cons: Dub can be a bit over-the-top and includes a lot of pop-culture references which may not be familiar to all viewers, swearing in later episodes, show is a little corny, no nudity (the fanboy in me always demands nudity of my anime), opening theme song is weak

Mike Tells It Straight: ADV took a straight-forward, innocent show about grade school kids investigating ghosts and turned it into a rude, crude story about foul-mouthed tweens. The dub was funny and brought the story to a whole new level (low), but was more than a little offensive (racial jokes, religious jokes, inappropriate sexual jokes, swearing) and absolutely not for kids. If you're at all sensitive to any of those things then don't watch the dub (unless you just like complaining about that kind of $#%@). Fortunately the original Japanese audio with English subtitles is available to watch (which adds to the replay value) with the unadulterated storyline (which is fairly decent). Leo is not Jewish, Momoko is a psychic and very courageous, Satsuki's dad is not a drug-addict pedophile, and Satsuki's mother is not a lesbian.

Keiichirou: "Hey, can you guys hear anything?"

Satsuki: "You know what I hear? I hear the sound of you shuttin' the F@#% up!"

Hajime: [after a bolt of lightning strikes] "Holy crack addicts, it hit the gym!"

Keiichirou: "I'm gonna make a snowman and a snowwoman, and maybe even a little snow Keiichirou...but I guess I'll have to make the snowwoman dead, because Mom's dead." *cries* T_T

Satsuki: "You can mess with me...you can pick on my little brother and friends...but don't F@#% with my cat!"


TO BUY and Recommendations: Ghost Hunt

   

Infinite Ryvius Anime Review

Infinite Ryvius
Bandai Entertainment
Complete Collection - 26 episodes
650 minutes - 6 discs
$59.98 (2005) $49.98 (2006)
ISBN 669198210334
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Goro Taniguchi
Studio - Sunrise
TO BUY: Infinite Ryvius

Synopsis: In 2137 AD a massive eruption from the sun flooded the solar system in a sea of plasma.  The effect is called the Geduld and exhibits intensely high pressure/temperatures at varying levels (similar to pressure/cold in deep sea diving).  The year is now 2225 AD and despite the Geduld phenomena mankind has populated the solar system with space travel being commonplace.  Many seek careers as astronauts and schools have been set up in orbital training stations.  One such station is the Liebe Delta. 

Kouji Aiba is training on the Liebe Delta to become a Level 2 pilot along with his flight training partner Ikumi Oze.  Kouji's childhood friend Aoi Housen is also on the station learning to be a flight attendant along with his brother Yuki.  The Aiba brothers hate each other due to their parents difficult divorce and Yuki's resentment of his older brother Kouji.  Yuki often loses his temper and beats up Kouji. 

During a school break the Liebe Delta was sabotaged and began submerging into the Geduld where it started disintegrating due to the crushing heat/pressure.  In a desperate act the remaining instructors sacrificed themselves in an attempt to save the students.  Ultimately the space station was destroyed, but the 495 students were saved by the discovery of a mysterious deep-dive vessel hidden within the station's structure. 

The students are stranded aboard the Ryvius deep within the Geduld and must discover its incredible gravitational power to survive the constant attacks by clandestine military vessels attempting to capture the ship (formerly known as the "Brattica"). A smaller ship and giant robot (called the "Vital Guarder") are found to house the majority of the Ryvius' offensive and defensive capabilities. Attempts are made to seek rescue, but each is met with failure as the Earth politicians falsely label the Ryvius as a terrorist vessel.   

Pushed to the brink and desperate to find safety the students on the Ryvius must deal with their situation.  Some rise to the occasion, lash out at others, fall victim to self-preservation anxiety, or attempt to control the people around them. All must cooperate in order to survive. 

Who is the strangely dressed girl appearing on the ship like a phantom? Can the students survive each subsequent battle while their forced society strains closer to the breaking point?   

Pros: Lots of extras including mini-episodes titled "Infinite Ryvius Illusion" on each disc ("Together with Neya" shorts are hilarious), good production values (no overt CG used) and tons of plot/characters, satisfying ending

Cons: Neya's character is completely random and confusing for most of the show, Kouji is a stereotypical anime weakling (like Shinji in Neon Genesis Evangelion) and his plight can be frustrating at times, brother-sister love backstory for one of the characters (a common theme in many Japanese anime), zero nudity

Mike Tells It Straight: Complex, emotional, and pronounced Ri-vy-us, this show is essentially Lord of the Flies in space.  Well-received by Japanese audiences when it first aired back in 2000, it gained a lot of attention due to a fusion of American urban culture into it's soundtrack (R&B/hip-hop/J-pop) and graphics (graffiti).  Possessing an ambitious cast of characters (nearly 500 total) with complicated motivations and backstory, this show forces you to sit down and really pay attention in order to enjoy the series.  At times it was painful viewing Kouji's lack of strength and constant beat downs, but the ending was worthwhile.  The whole Neya/Vaia sub-plot was downright confusing, but I liked how the space battles were methodical and slow (adding more realism). I'd give this a cursory recommendation if you're looking for character-driven sci-fi -- it's good quality, but definitely not for everyone. 

TO BUY and Recommendations:Last Exile Summer Wars 

   

Demon Lord Dante Anime Review

Demon Lord Dante
Geneon (Pioneer)
Complete Collection - 13 episodes
325 minutes - 4 discs
$99.99 (2005)
ISBN 013023254091
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Kenichi Maejima
Studio - Dante Project - Dynamic Planning

Synopsis: A group of satanists are abducting women to perform sacrifices.  Ryo Utsugi is a normal high school student who suffers from horrific nightmares.  The cultists kidnap his sister, Saori, for their black mass to resurrect an ancient devil known as Demon Lord Dante.  Ryo's visions lead him to the ceremony where he attempts to free his sister.  Simultaneously a clandestine holy organization called "D" attack the satanists.  In the ensuing confusion Ryo manages to rescue Saori.

Ryo's nightmares worsen and infiltrate his daily life until he seemingly commits suicide by jumping from a cliff.  Instead of falling to his death he is transported to the mountain cavern where Demon Lord Dante has been imprisoned by God for 2000 years.  Dante tricks Ryo into freeing him and then summarily gobbles him up.  The trick is on Dante when Ryo usurps his former human host, Judas Iscariot, and assumes control of the vile monster. 

Now Ryo is in control of a 200-foot-tall beast of unimaginable power and a body made up of giant fangs, massive horns, bat-like wings, a gnashing tri-spiked tail, bird-like legs, and Ryo's face smack in the middle of its forehead.  Horrified, Ryo rages uncontrollably in the city with his merest gesture causing extreme death and destruction.  Ultimately he learns to control the power of Dante and returns to his normal form (able to transform back to Dante when necessary). 

The satanists bid for control of Dante by convincing Ryo to join their cause, while the organization D hunts him with genetic weapons.  Demons and angels from his past come to haunt Dante/Ryo and Saori becomes an unwitting pawn against them.  In true Go Nagai fashion this show is an action-packed thrill ride and the true nature of Dante will shatter everything you know about God, Satan, devils and humanity!!

Pros: Go Nagai, extras include press conference with Nagai (explaining he first drew Dante because he thought a big monster would fill up the comic panels and be easier to draw) and director Maejima (who is revealed to be a giant "Man-Baby"), unique story and ballsy concept by Nagai, the origin of Dante is hilariously absurd, the plight of humanity and influence of God is absurdly hilarious

Cons: Animation style is dated/low quality (although true to the original style of Nagai), absolutely not for children (which could also be a good thing), Nagai's original character designs are fairly hideous, Ryo has a creepy crush on his sister (a recurring theme in many anime)

Mike Tells It Straight: I can guarantee Go Nagai will burn in hell for creating Demon Lord Dante.  Taken at face value this show is incredibly bad, but it fits into that rare category of bad which ends up being really funny.  I grew up watching those low-budget, late-night horror anthology shows (like The Twilight Zone, Tales From the Darkside, and The Outer Limits) and developed a keen ability to find enjoyment in low-budget programming.  The plot twists here had me laughing for days, especially after trying to explain the story to my wife and some friends.  They just looked at me like I was crazy (well, crazier than usual).  Mostly awful and incredibly blasphemous, this show went somewhere I didn't expect. 

WARNING: IF YOU ARE A RIGHT-WING CHRISTIAN THEN WATCHING THIS SHOW IS LIKE BEING SPLASHED IN THE FACE WITH ACID.  I AM SERIOUS.  DO NOT READ THE NEXT SECTION OR ATTEMPT TO SUE ME.  I DID NOT CREATE THIS ANIME!!!

*SPOILER ALERT*

I usually avoid spoilers in my reviews, but just in case you're not planning to watch Dante and still want to know WTF I'm talking about...then read on.

 Three-quarters through the show we discover all sorts of disturbing facts:

1. God is a sentient ball of energy  travelling through space which descended to Earth in order to inhabit the bodies of others and experience their lives 
2. The original humans lived in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  They refused God's request at the behest of their leader Satan the Wise One
3. God was infuriated with the original humans declaring war and attempting to slaughter them.  He then evolved the next highest form of life - monkeys 'natch - into human forms and placed a fraction of his essence into them to replace their souls.  So the current "humans" on Earth are not the originals and have no souls
4. The original humans were then dubbed "demons" and God continued to wage war on them through his "humans" by twisting their perception through organized religion
5. During the original battle with God, Dante is flying a jet armed with a powerful weapon when he is hit by a stray energy bolt from God.  Careening into a nearby tyrannosaurus rex the bolt combines all the different parts into one massive creature -- Demon Lord Dante!!  Yes, that means Dante is a jet/weapon/T-Rex/humanoid demon hybrid which should make perfect sense to anyone reading this (right?)
6. Demons are good (like Satan and Zeil Zebub aka Beezlebub), God is evil, and humans are really soulless monkeys (surprise!)
7. Fortunately Ryo's sister is not actually related to him by blood (so his creepy crush is kinda less creepy).  I guess there's a happy ending for these two, but all of humanity buys it in the end

The individual discs (vol. 1-4) are relatively cheap these days compared to the uber-expensive box set (the original $99.99 MSRP was outrageous).

TO BUY:
   

Gilgamesh Anime Review

Gilgamesh

ADV Films
Complete Collection - 26 episodes
650 minutes
$69.98 (2007) $49.98 (2009)
ISBN 702727146527
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Masahiko Murata
Studio - Group TAC/Section 23
TO BUY: Gilgamesh

Synopsis: A group of scientists are researching genetics after discovering the ancient tomb of Gilgamesh.  Their research facility is called Heaven's Gate and it becomes ground zero for a catastrophic accident which forms a mirror-like layer in the atmosphere blocking out direct sunlight.  The accident occurs on October 10th and is dubbed "Twin X" (10-10).  Twin X causes global turmoil as all computers and wireless communications stop functioning. 

Our story picks up ten years after Twin X and focuses on the two children of the head researcher at Heaven's Gate (Terumichi Madoka).  Tatsuya and his older sister Kiyoko are trying to scrape by after the death of their deadbeat mother and their assumption of her debt with the local mobsters.  They're hiding from the gangsters in an abandoned house when they meet three ominous young men.  The young men are attacked by a group of three teens and all the combatants exhibit startling abilities.  Tatsuya and Kiyoko watch in horror as the young men transform into large monsters. 

The two become wards of the Countess of Werdenberg (Hiroko Kageyama) who pays off their debt with the mob.  They join the three teens at the Hotel Providence.  The Countess and the teens are a group called Orga who battle against the Gilgamesh - human-like creatures composed of anti-matter with the ability to manipulate Dynamis (psychic energy).  The three young men from the abandoned house were Gilgamesh and under the orders of Professor Madoka to find his children. 

The three teens with the Countess have psychic powers and control Dynamis.  Tatsuya was born after Twin X and exhibits an amazingly high degree of power over Dynamis, although Kiyoko, born before the cataclysm, has no powers.  The overall theme of the story is which side the brother-sister choose - Orga for humanity or Gilgamesh to start the world over.  Which side will you choose?

Pros: Great mix of gothic science-fiction, soundtrack is decent, character designs (large, haunting eyes) were unique and memorable (including the Blattaria based on Venetian medico masks) , complex storyline with a few interesting plot twists/revelations

Cons: Low replay value, slow plot development at times, ending was quick, brother-sister relationship is kinda pervy

Mike Tells It Straight: Dark and haunting, Gilgamesh has a complex storyline and arresting visuals, but delivers a rushed ending.  Reminiscent of Evangelion with it's 'remake the world' theme, this show falls a bit short in comparison.  Although I found it very interesting to watch and liked the unique character designs the show stays a peripheral recommendation.  Check this series out if you really like the gothic/sci-fi fusion genre and need something depressing to watch.

TO BUY and Recommendations:Red Garden Texhnolyze
   

Shadow Star Narutaru Anime Review

Shadow Star Narutaru
Central Park Media/U.S. Manga Corps
Complete Collection - 13 episodes
325 minutes
$49.98 (2006)
ISBN 719987245921
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Toshiaki Iino
Studio - Central Park Media

Synopsis: Shiina visits her grandparents for the summer and is rescued from drowning by an innocent-looking, star-shaped creature.  She names it Hoshimaru and takes it home to live with her and her father.  Hoshimaru transforms into a floating surfboard for Shiina to ride on or disguises itself as a backpack for her to wear in public.  Everything is fine until she meets a girl named Akira with her own creature.  Akira is profoundly depressed and suicidal due to the psychic link she shares with her creature, Ensof.  Shiina's bubbly personality wins over and the two become friends.

Both girls uncover a secret group of psychic teenagers bonded to similar creatures called Dragon's Children.  Each creature is different in appearance although display similar powers, but the level of control and focus varies greatly among the teens.  The teens are waging a silent war against the Japanese Self-Defense Army and plan to create a better society after the grown-ups have soiled the current one. 

Dragon's Children offer power to the inexperienced teens and an irresistible temptation to use it.  Shiina is an innocent caught up in an incredible situation where everything she holds dear is imperiled.  Can she possibly protect those she loves from the dangerous game these teens are playing? 

Pros: Captivating concept, shocking revelation of the true underlying story, the contrast of Hoshimaru's innocent appearance and actions completely blindsided me!

Cons: Ending felt abrupt and not enough explanations were given, soundtrack is forgettable, pacing was slow and then rushed at the end

Mike Tells It Straight: Deceptively cute at first and blindly malicious by the end, this story is definitely not for children.  I put this show on for my friend's 8-year-old daughter and quickly turned it off after the third episode.  Don't let the Pokemon-esque creatures fool you -- this is a dark series exploring the depths of human cruelty.  The teens are largely corrupted by the power of the Dragon's Children and I enjoyed this angle to the story.  It was all about contrast -- cute Shiina and Hoshimaru thrust into deadly confrontations with evil teens.  This series is based on a notoriously graphic/violent manga and only covers about half the full story (which is why the ending to the show felt abrupt).  Based solely on the anime I was disappointed and recommend checking out the manga instead for a more satisfying (if wholly twisted) experience.

TO BUY and Recommendations:
Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne Hell Girl  Blue Gender
   

Kiddy Grade Anime Review

Kiddy Grade
Funimation
Complete Collection - 24 episodes
600 minutes
$89.98 (2006) $49.98 Viridian Collection (2008)
ISBN 704400075407
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Keiji Gotoh
Studio - Gonzo
TO BUY: Kiddy Grade

Synopsis: In the far future mankind is spread throughout the galaxy under the Global Union.  The Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs (GOTT) acts as a universal police force and includes a 'shadow unit' called the ES Force (Encounter of Shadow-work) comprised of twelve superpowered operatives.  The operatives are paired up as teams with each team given a spaceship and guard robot.  Orders are issued by the Galactic Council to Chief Eclipse who then puts her teams into action.  We focus on the C-Class team of Eclair and Lumiere as they stop intergalactic crimes with the help of auditor Armblast.  ES teams include:

• Eclair ("Power") & Lumiere ("Puppet") with guard robot Donnerschlag and spaceship La Muse (Wirbelwind)
• Alv ("Absorb" "Reflex") & Dvergr ("Absorb" "Reflex" "Transmission") with guard robot Thor and spaceship Svart
• Tweedledee ("Storm") & Tweedledum ("Magnetfeld") with guard robot Dodo and spaceship Cheshire Cat (C-Square). Twins can combine powers for "Windstorm"
• Viola ("Calamity") & Cesario ("Driver") with guard robot Titano and spaceship Fenice 
• Un-ou ("Amazing") & A-ou ("Amplifier") with guard robot Ganador and spaceship Salyut
• Sinistra ("Whenever") & Dextera ("Anywhere") with guard robot Zephyrus and spaceship Centurion

The Nouvlesse are the galactic elite and hidden force behind the GU/GOTT.  They are fanatical "Earthlings" who look down on others as "commoners" and exploit them (classic bourgeois v. proletariat).  When a particularly nasty assignment triggers latent memories in Eclair the entire galactic balance of power is dangerously imperiled.

Pros: Box set included trading cards of the 48 different eyecatch images (although this adds a lot of extra weight to the set), plenty of fanservice (although Lumiere's character looks a bit young), halfway through the show Eclair gets a new body -- with bigger boobs!

Cons: Eight discs!? Funimation seriously put only 3 episodes with practically zero bonus features on each disc - what a waste! Character designs were simple, plot was convoluted and developed too slowly

Mike Tells It Straight: Mixed reaction to this show - pacing was too slow and the episode count could have been cut in half without hurting the plot.  The character designs and motivations were too simple for my taste, but the fanservice was playfully done.  The later episodes brought everything together and made for a decent sci-fi story.  Overall a bit too childish, but not intended for children.

TO BUY and Recommendations: Speed Grapher Shattered Angels S.A.V.E.
   

Red Garden Anime Review

Red Garden

Funimation

Complete Collection - 22 episodes + OVA

600 minutes

$29.98 S.A.V.E. edition (2009)

ISBN 704400096556
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Kou Matsuo
Studio - Gonzo
TO BUY: Red Garden

Synopsis: Four girls at a prestigious private academy wake up one morning with no recollection of the previous night.  They learn a fifth girl is found dead and then strange things start to happen.  They are drawn by butterflies to the same place where a woman named Lula and her partner JC inform them they are dead and residing in magical bodies.  The girls witness a man partially transform into a beast and attack them.  They manage to fight and eventually kill him.  In order to regain their true bodies the girls must fight and kill these man-creatures on a nightly basis.

Attempting to resume their normal lives proves difficult for the girls as they continue the nightly killings and discover their new bodies possess heightened agility.  Revelations comes slowly, but they learn of two opposing clans suffering from curses: Animus and Dolore.  The Dolore become beasts and have only two remaining female relatives thus endangering the continuation of their clan.  The girls are thrust into this nightmarish war against their wills.

Also includes OVA Red Garden: Dead Girls - set several hundred years after the ending of the original series

Pros: Somewhat interesting premise with two cursed clans, animation style and fashion costumes are really well done - girls actually change clothes!, OVA flash-forward (a couple centuries) was pretty cool seeing the girls' future selves after they forget all their previous memories

Cons: Image quality is poor for such a recent anime - immediately noticeable when the show starts, characters are bland - especially Kate and Rose, very little horror/suspense moments, zero answers about what the deal is with the Red Garden, how did the one family know when the other ones would turn so they could beat them to death?, the dub voices suck (there's singing)

Mike Tells It Straight: I had really high hopes for this anime after seeing the preview.  Four dead girls taking on things that go bump in the night, but the story was a disappointment.  The girls' lives were really boring and the show dragged along until the last few episodes.  Visually compelling, I was impressed with the show's design and style, but the image quality was terrible.  I'm not sure if Funimation skimped on production quality for the S.A.V.E. edition since it's at a lower price point, but I've never seen such bad quality outside of an HK bootleg.  I would recommend this to female anime viewers due to the teenage girl angst and impressive visuals/fashion designs, but overall this set was a miss for me.

TO BUY and Recommendations: