Tide-Line Blue Anime Review

Tide-Line Blue
Bandai Entertainment
Complete Collection - 4 discs
325 mins. - 13 episodes
$49.98 (2008)
ISBN 669198228445
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Iida Umanosuke
Studio - Bandai Visual

Synopsis: It's been 14 years since the catastrophic environmental disaster called "The Hammer of Eden" flooded 90% of the Earth's surface and killed over 6 billion people.  Mankind perseveres and has rebuilt a global civilization comprised of island nations.  Leaders from these surviving political states have gathered to discuss the establishment of a new United Nations under proposed chairwoman Aoi.  The negotiations have been less than successful as larger nations with deeper resources demand veto power.

In the midst of the negotiations Captain Gould, the renegade commander of the now-modified nuclear submarine the U.S.S. Ulysses, attacks.  His goal is to unite the world by military force where political meetings have failed.  Gould's physical appearance is unsettling - he's covered in scars across his body and has lost the use of one eye.  His determination to achieve his goal runs as deep as his scars, but he once had a collaborative relationship with Aoi after the global disaster. 

Caught in the middle of the fight are delinquent Keel and his beautiful, pregnant friend Isla.  The shock of the battle forces her into early labor.  The two are aided by a member of Gould's crew and by shocking coincidence Keel's twin brother, Teen.  He delivers the baby and disappears amidst the carnage.  Keel, Isla and the newborn baby manage to find their way aboard Gould's ship. 

Seriously, what happened here?  I need to know!

They find the frightening Captain Gould to be a gentle, rational man at heart who takes them both under his wing.  Keel and Isla must readjust to life aboard the Ulysses as the world's naval forces vigorously pursue them.  Keel and Teen are linked to the last manned space station in orbit called Freedom.  They haven't spoken in years and despise each other.  What made them this way and complete polar opposites?  Keel is rambunctious while Teen is reserved. 

Overwhelming forces are on their trail and the two must work together in order to save the world's hope for a fragile peace.  What secret does Freedom hold which could tilt the delicate balance of power in the world and why is Aoi hiding it?

Pros: Quality animation and production values (Bandai Visual doesn't fool around), good use of CG, highly accurate portrayal of naval vehicles, distinct character designs, some amusing moments, cool extra where they sail a motorized model of the Ulysses in a swimming pool - damn fine looking model, the ostrich was pretty funny

Cons: Environmental disaster "The Hammer of Eden" is never explained, I didn't really dig Keel's character design, comedy deflates the serious nature of the story (too goofy for the subject matter), especially Captain Gould - the guy was a hardcore submarine captain yet he had this jovial side which appeared constantly (quite a contradiction and completely on purpose), ending with Keel and Teen was unsatisfying


This man does not look jovial and should really wear an eyepatch

Mike Tells It Straight: This show is very well-crafted with an interesting plot setup, quality animation, and characters with compelling motivations - yet is fails to be emotionally moving because of the obtrusive comedy moments laced into what should be a serious plot. 

Tide-Line Blue was created by Satoru Ozawa, renowned creator of Blue Submarine No. 6.  Both shows have a similar post-apocalyptic world-with-flooded-land and massive population decimation, but the latter had a serious tone and much more positive reception. 

The story tries to be funny and endearing, but ends up diluting its potential to make a lasting impression.  It's still a decent show and I mostly enjoyed watching it (let's be honest - you're not going to find too many submarine anime out there), but it just didn't quite iron out. 

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Popotan Anime Review

Popotan
Geneon (Pioneer)
Complete Collection - 3 discs
300 mins. - 12 episodes
$34.98 (2007)
$29.98 (2009)
ISBN 013023295292
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Shinichiro Kimura
Studio - Shaft

Synopsis: A magical house mysteriously appears outside of town and is rumored to be haunted.  A young boy musters his courage and enters the house to investigate.  Instead of finding ghosts he accidentally barges in on a naked young lady after her bath!  He discovers the house is inhabited by three lovely sisters, their maid, and a feisty little ferret.  They befriend him, but soon thereafter the house and sisters disappear.

We follow the sisters as their magical house travels through space and time on a search for an enigmatic young woman.  At each place the sisters converse with 'popotan' (dandelions) and find clues to the whereabouts of the young woman.  The sisters also make friends and help people at each place, but are forced to abrubtly abandon their friendships when the house transports. 

Mai, Mii, Ai, Unagi and the mystery girl

Their quest becomes increasingly difficult as the sisters continuously leave friends behind.  They move forward in time and witness the negative results of their departures on those left behind.  Can the sisters maintain their quest despite the grueling emotional challenges they face? 

List of characters residing in the house and participating in the quest:

• Ai - the oldest sister who wears glasses, has large boobs, cooks terribly, has the ability to speak to the 'popotan', has an easygoing nature, but is too accomodating and will let people walk all over her
• Mai - the middle sister who is more athletic, has small breasts (and is constantly reminded of this fact by her younger sister), is tomboyish, has the hardest time dealing with leaving her friends behind each time the house travels
• Mii - the youngest sister who cosplays as 'Magical Girl Mii', is obsessed with rubbing her face on anything 'puffy' including people's cheeks and especially breasts (particularly Ai's)
• Mea - the sisters' maid, is apparently an android showing very little emotion, has small breasts like Mai, a voracious appetite, and is a skilled fighter
• Unagi - the sisters' pet white female ferret, she can apparently transform into human form, and likes to hang out in between Ai's breasts (because they are warm and soft)

Pros: Lots of fan-service/nudity - the girls take a lot of baths together (at least once an episode), opening/ending theme songs are really catchy (especially the ending song), good soundtrack, trip to the hot springs episode, nice theme of valuing your friendships with other people


Mii loves her 'puffies' at bath time! 

Cons: Nothing is really explained about the ultimate purpose of the sisters' quest or the convention of how the magic works, character designs are a little bland, the youngest sister Mii is shown naked quite a bit - lolicon (see explanation below) and could be offensive to some viewers

Mike Tells It Straight: Based on an adult-themed computer game (a visual novel with decision points varying the plot), Popotan has a storied and successful history in Japan.  The video game's protagonist was a wandering guitar player who rents a room with the sisters and his goal in the game is to have sexual encounters with all of them (and then unlock a couple more girls for him to have sexual encounters with).  Yeah, this doesn't happen in the anime. 

Instead we get a show with heavy fan-service and a minor lolicon character in Mii.  Lolicon is the Japanese version of the "Lolita complex" where underage girls are portrayed in sexually suggestive poses, clothing or situations.  Mii runs around naked in the bath, talks about and rubs her face on 'puffies' (boobs) a few times.  This could be offensive to some viewers and if you're one of them - the show is not for you.  Be glad Mii doesn't act the same in the anime as in the video game (which will never be released in the US). 



This dance became an internet phenomenon. Try it! 

 As far as I can tell this show is for introverted, adult males (otaku) based on the source material (a video game where you get to score with girls).  It really doesn't explain much about the setup for the story - the girls just keep jumping to a few different places and forward in time.  The game goes into a lot more detail, but first-time viewers are not given any backstory. 

I almost gave up watching this show after the first few episodes because it seemed ridiculous.  Every episode the girls talk to flowers, take nude baths together and then disappear.  Sticking it out was a good thing as the story progressed beyond the mere fan-service vehicle it seemed into a poignant tale of caring for ones friends.  The message was heartfelt, but I didn't really care about any of the characters except Mai.  She was the most interesting and showed genuine emotional loss at the forced abandonment of her new friends.

The progression of time and effect the sisters' relationships have on other people was done well as everything interlaced quite nicely.  I loved the ending theme song too - it was super-catchy.  This show had some good points, a lot of mediocre bits, and gets a fair recommendation.  It won't blow your socks off (maybe that happens in the video game), but you'll probably enjoy some of it. 

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

E's Otherwise Anime Review

E's Otherwise
ADV Films
Complete Collection - 5 discs
650 min. - 26 episodes
$59.98 (2006)
$49.98 (2009)
ISBN 702727150326
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Masami Shimoda
Studio - Studio Pierrot

Synopsis: Kai Kudou is the latest recruit to join AESES - a team of young psychics working for ASHURUM, one of the twelve corporations controlling the modern world.  Psychics (also known as Espers) have incredible mental powers, but are feared and hated by humans.  AESES was put together by Eiji Sagimiya in an effort to study, train, and police the world's psychics.  Kai's sister Hikaru is sickly and Eiji offers her the best medical treatment available in exchange for Kai's participation. 

After completing his training along with the other psychics of AESES, Kai is sent out on missions by Eiji - missions to apprehend renegade, dangerous psychics endangering the general population.  A sinister plot emerges when Kai starts to notice all of the psychics he apprehends mysteriously disappear. 

AESES is sent into neighboring territory Gald to 'apprehend' more psychics, but the mission ends in disaster as Kai is injured and lost in the city.  He is taken in by two human siblings, Yuki and Asuka.  Kai stays with them in Gald to escape ASHURUM and worries about his sister.

Clockwise from left - Kai, Asuka, Eiji, and Yuki (holding the gun)

Kai begins to understand the humans' fears of pyschics and uncover the secrets of ASHURUM.  Will he be too late to save his sister Hikaru from the evil plans of Eiji and his legion of brainwashed psychics?

Pros: Some neat psychic powers and battles, interesting story setup with evil corporation exploiting psychics, animation for opening credits was pretty good

Who is that strking young lady?

Cons: Opening/ending theme songs were generic, Kai *reluctantly* cross-dresses a couple times (shyea-right), too many silly episodes in the middle, dub voices were pretty annoying (especially Shen-Long and Asuka), weak animation quality, no extras

Mike Tells It Straight: I've had this series on my 'to be watched' list for a long time and finally checked it out over the holidays.  It could have waited.  The first few episodes were great and the drama built as Kai began running missions for AESES.  Right when things were really gaining steam the story veered off into a silly, episodic mess with Kai helping Yuki do odd jobs.  I guess the Gald episodes were meant to show Kai growing closer to Yuki and Asuka in a lighthearted fashion, but it really killed the momentum of the series. 

I wish the animation looked this good

The story finally picked up again in the last few episodes, but the ending felt rushed with too much crammed into that final episode.  We learn several key details about Kai, Hikaru, and Eiji at the end, but I still felt confused.  I really loved the character designs and art from original creator Satoru Yuiga's manga, but it didn't translate into the anime.  Despite having some good points, this show was a confusing mess and doesn't rate a good recommendation.   

TO BUY and Recommendations:

   

Strike Witches Season One Anime Review

Strike Witches Season One
Funimation
Complete Collection - 2 discs
300 min. - 12 episodes
$59.98 (2010)
$49.98 (2011)
ISBN 704400011900
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Kazuhiro Takamura
Studio - Gonzo

Synopsis: It is 1944 and the world is threatened by an extraterrestrial threat called the Neuroi - unidentified flying objects which have destroyed and occupied much of Europe.  The national armed forces of the world have united to fight the alien threat, but conventional warfare has proven useless.  Instead the magical abilities of young women have been put to military application and give the world a fighting chance. 

The Witches' powers include enhanced strength, tracking, telekinesis, a deflector shield, healing, and a myriad of others.  Each Witch manifests dog ears and a tail when using their powers.  Scientists have developed the Striker Unit for the Witches' use - a hybrid magical/mechanical propeller device worn as a pair on the Witches' legs.  The Striker Units allow Witches high-speed, maneuverable flight capabilities and may only be used by highly adept Witches in their prime (typically below age 20).  The units also enhance the magical abilities of the Witches.

Each Witch possesses a unique Striker Unit based on airplanes from their home country.  Because the units affix to the legs of the Witches, require a high amount of skin-to-machinery contact, and due to the unpredictable attacks of the Neuroi, the Witches have stopped wearing pants as part of their military uniforms.  The lack of pants allows them to quickly don their units and race into battle.

We first meet Yoshika Miyafuji, a witch with powerful healing abilities, as she is recruited into the 501st Joint Fighter Wing aka the Strike Witches.  Her father was a prominent scientist and largely responsible for creating the Striker Units, but died in the war.  She is anti-war, but wants to help protect those who fight the Neuroi.  Does she have what it takes to become a Witch and what secret is the military harboring which may affect the future of the Witches?

List of Strike Witches:

• Yoshika Miyafuji (Mitsubishi A6M Zero) - Japanese, healing abilities, father created Striker Units, peaceful and cares greatly for the welfare of others
• Mio Sakamoto (Mitsubishi A6M Zero) - Japanese, veteran fighter of the Neuroi, chief trainer of the Witches, wears an eyepatch over her magical eye (enhanced sight)
• Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke (Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2) - German, enhanced spatial awareness, ranking officer of the 501st, lost her lover during the war and afraid of losing those close to her
• Lynette Bishop (Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX) - British, superpowered magical shots and sharpshooting, becomes best friends with Miyafuji, sometimes clumsy
• Perrine-H. Clostermann (Arsenal VG-39) - French, lightning spell, emotionally traumatized by the Neuroi destruction of her homeland, has a huge crush on Sakamoto, highly jealous of Miyafuji because of Sakamoto's time spent training her
• Erica Hartmann (Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6) - German, wind-based spell to distrupt enemies, a flying ace, only serious when the situation calls for it, panty stealer
• Gertrude Barkhorn (Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-6 Prototype) - German, enhanced physical strength, has a younger sister injured in a Neuroi attack who resembles Miyafuji
• Francesca Lucchini (Fiat G.55 Centauro) - Italian, pinpoint energy burst, childish and self-indulgent, enjoys naps, friends with Yeager
• Charlotte Yeager (North American P-51D Mustang) - American, superior speed abilities, tall and buxom, neat freak, obsessed with speed and broke land-speed record on a motorcycle
• Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen (Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4) - Finnish, precognitive abilities, mischievous, possessive of Litvyak
• Sanya V. Litvyak (MiG-60) - Russian, enhanced spatial awareness and intercepts hard to detect signals (like radio waves), flies the night patrol

Pros: Excellent animation, tons of fan-service, some nudity during extended bath scenes, Striker units are pretty cool and modelled after actual WWII fighter planes, this show was obsessed with panty shots

Aerial group hug panty shot maneuver

Cons: Neuroi are a bland plot foil - generic alien enemy for the Witches to fight, excessive panty shots (I can't believe I just wrote that), girls appear very young - kinda pervy if you add in the panty shots (although perfect if you're a teenager), lolicon (see explanation below) - may be offensive to some viewers

Mike Tells It Straight: This show literally felt like one long fan-service panty shot.  Good animation, some character development, and a heaping dose of young, barely-clothed girls loosely wrapped in a paper-thin plot.  The Strike Witches evolved from a series of illustrations by Humikane Shimada depicting kawaii (super-cute) teen girls combined with WWII era military airplanes.  The idea became popular and a series of novels/manga was created prior to this anime series along with some video games.   



The Witches celebrate another victory...over pants

The fan-service was very well done (pretty much the show's main focus) and the character interactions were entertaining, but the plot was an afterthought.  The girls themselves were prime examples of "Lolicon" the Japanese version of the "Lolita complex" where underage girls are portrayed in sexually suggestive poses, clothing or situations.  The loli's could be offensive to some viewers (i.e. your parents). 



Bathtime is fun time for Perrine



If you're looking for panty shots and nudity with a sparse plot then park your rear.  Want a good story with some depth?  Not happening here - pass on by.  Miyafuji's character development was a tiny diamond in the rough, but not enough to carry the show.  Seriously, there is only one reason to watch this show - hot young girls allergic to pants. 

TO BUY and Recommendations: