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Utawarerumono-The False Faces: Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 3, 2017
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review provided by Katie and Andrew

Title: Utawarerumono-The False Faces: Complete Collection on Blu-ray
Director: Keitaro Motonaga
Studio: White Fox
Author: Takamitsu Kono
U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23
U.S. Release Date: April 25, 2017
Format and Length: Blu-ray / 25 Episodes / 600 Minutes
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Industry Age Rating: 17 and up
Overall Personal Rating: B+
Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Utawarerumono

Synopsis:
Where is he? More importantly, who is he? Awakening in a frozen wasteland, his first memories are of danger as he is instantly attacked by a giant creature. Kuon, the cat-like girl who rescues him, doesn’t know who he is either, but she gives him the name Haku in honor of another mysterious stranger who came to this world. Now, Haku must quickly learn how to survive in a land where monstrous beasts prowl, and where half-human beings rule in a city riddled with intrigue and secrets. With armies to aid, Princesses to guard, and a whole new future to explore, Haku and Kuon will face truth after shocking truth!

Commentary:
Utawarerumono-The False Faces: Complete Collection is a continuation of the original series, and takes place several years after the original Utawarerumono series. I have to say that the original scored very high in my book, as it would have received an A. It was an epic tale, with twists and turns all about. Utawarerumono-The False Faces: Complete Collection (second season is a fair statement) continues to live up to its predecessor. You are introduced to a completely new set of characters, and a new land. There are a few characters that make an appearance from the original series but they are only there for a few scenes, and make little impact. The first ten or so episodes do go slow at first, but they spend all this time building characters and relationships. The characters are very well developed and feel very real. You will develop an emotional attachment to many of them. At first the menial day to day activities will drag, as they develop characters, but after that it turns into another epic story as the action picks up, making it hard to stop watching. Many things will surprise you, and if you are a fan of the original, you will find a few of them will bother you, but rest assured that there is a reason for the turns it takes. The ultimate surprise came in the last episode, and completely without warning. Then it happened. It ended. If you have read any of my previous reviews of animes based on video games, you know it’s a pet peeve of mine that they must wrap up a story, and not use it as a “buy the game to see how it ends” to promote further sales of the game. In fact, there is little that irritates me more, as I am not a gamer. I cannot say that it ended completely, because it did not. It was more an end to that chapter, and more to come, except, there was no more. That was a big let down in the moment, but all things considered they did stop at a good point, if they plan to release another season to continue it. I very much hope they do, because I’m not buying the game. If they don’t, my disappointment will be extreme.

The art work itself was very good. In most scenes, they did a great job of mixing the CG with the animation so it did not stick out like a sore thumb. They also did very well with background scenery. Always active, like real life, the animation did not halt when characters were talking, like they do with many other titles. From tale and ear movements, to overall background action, there was much detail and made it even more enjoyable. Also the music was pretty good. Not epic, but worth listening to and not skipping the openings and endings, unless you cannot wait to see what happens next, like I did. I’m not known for my patience either. Overall, Utawarerumono-The False Faces: Complete Collection was a great story and worth checking it out. Had it wrapped up better instead of leaving it as an end of a chapter with lots of story left to tell, it would have gotten the highest score possible. I look forward, with much anticipation, to the continuation of Utawarerumono-The False Faces: Complete Collection.

Extras:
Utawarerumono-The False Faces: Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations and Sentai Filmworks trailers as special features. This series was released with both English and Japanese with English subtitles as language options.

Overall Grade: B+

Majestic Prince Collection 2

Posted by :Patches On : September 14, 2014
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Majestic Prince collection 2Title: Majestic Prince Collection 2 on Blu-ray

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Studio: Dogakobo, Orange

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: July 15th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Mecha, Sci Fi, Comedy, Romance

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

For the members of Team Rabbits and Team Doberman, each new sortie becomes increasingly dangerous. As the fight against the Wulgaru continues, it’s harder to determine what the real objectives of Team Rabbits are, and the arrival of a new addition to team’s lineup only further confuses things. The unwritten rules of mecha combat teams seem to require that there’s always at least one mysterious loner in the group, but the enigmas and conundrums surrounding Ange Kuroki are so extreme that even the new pilot’s gender is a riddle!

As the pieces of the puzzle come together and the layers of the riddle slowly peel back, it becomes apparent that everything Izuru, Asagi, Kei, Tamaki and Suruga have encountered are interconnected to a greater extent than they ever imagined. Deadly reversals and shocking revelations await!

Commentary:

I knew it was going to tough to wrap this series up, but to my delight it wrapped up very nicely. The utter silliness of the first half of the season has settled down and a relative seriousness of the story line takes over. This change of pace makes difference in how these young hero’s come across and it is for the best. Of course not all of the comic relief is removed and there are still some rather funny moments, but there is nowhere near the focus on this approach in the final 12 episodes. There are a few hidden secrets discovered that help solidify the plot line and at the same time clear up some mysteries about our mecha pilots.

The animation stylings still tips it’s hat to the great series of the past and manages to prove that it can have some fun with the past and at the same time show respect to what set the stage for today’s mecha stories. It is in this animation production styling that some of the strength and weakness to the series come out. There are moments in the series that I felt like they relied on the past a little too much and made the imagery look 20 to 25 years old. As much as I appreciate what they are doing I also found it distracting and somewhat disappointing.  At least this did not ruin the series for me.

Overall Grade: B

With everything that is happening with the series and how they build toward the final battle it was nice to see how they dealt with the mix in cultures and how the outcome was not totally devastating. I also felt like much of the portrayal of the Wulgaru in mays takes stab at our own species and our obsession with hunting and superiority. I found it to be a nice touch of commentary.

In the world of good and great mecha anime, Majestic Prince falls solidly between just good and great. It is very possible that with a little time, there might be a following for this somewhat quirky series. I found it to be rather entertaining and easy to watch. I also found myself comparing it to some of the more beloved mecha series that have graced our screens in the past. At time this comparison was fun and other times I found it rather distracting, but all in all I must express my appreciation for the effort that was given to reminding us all that without the past we would have a hard time enjoying the present.

All you mecha fans, Majestic Prince is a series you should check out if for no other reason than to see how many older series does it pay homage too. In doing so, you just might find it to be a positive and enjoyable show.

Majestic Prince Collection 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 10, 2014
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Majestic PrinceTitle: Majestic Prince Collection 1

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Studio: Dogakobo, Orange

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: July 15th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Mecha, Sci Fi, Comedy, Romance

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B-

 

Synopsis:

In the not-so-distant future, the people of earth have expanded their frontier into the solar system. And now, we’re under attack! Advances in physics and genetic engineering have created astonishing new flying war machines and pilots with a wide array of enhanced abilities.

Young Izuru has been chosen to lead the hapless Team Rabbits into battle against the sinister Wulgaru forces. Spearheaded by the cold and savage Prince Jiart, these dark invaders possess both superior firepower and technology, as well as an unwavering thirst for earthly destruction. It will be up to Izuru and his brash band of misfits to vanquish the enemy and save us all… if they don’t kill each other first.

Commentary:

It is always fun to watch a series that proves to be a fine omage to a archetype from the past. Majestic Prince just so happens to be one of those series. In its opening segments and the others to follow it manages to tip its hat to most of the great mecha anime of the past. Of course with Majestic Prince our heroes are setup a losers right off the bat and it doesn’t take long to see where they are headed. This leaves out much of the mystery and only gives us some sad moments of self doubt and societal abuse pointed in their direction. The other side of that plot device is that it sets up some rather funny situation, but because of the way the lead characters are written they just end up being nothing more than silly and at the same time pitiful. After the first 9 or 10 episodes I did begin to feel a title sympathic toward them, but this is because they are beginning to develop into more direct and serious characters.

The animation stylings are a mix of old and new. Some of the space battle scenes look like they are straight out of Marcoss or Gundam with the odd round burst of light far off in the distance and the strange little clusters of explosions that follow. The mecha are well rendered and end of being the star of the show. With the genetic connection as being part of the premiss of the series it is hard not to make them important and to show off the thing that will allow our band of misfits to become the heroes they all wish to become.

Overall Grade: B-

Majestic Prince is one of those series that has a great deal of possibilities but end up relying on rather weak characters and tired plot devices to try and carry the series. I can understand the appeal this series might have to some serious mecha fans and also how the comedic aspects do help it stay afloat, but in the end I honestly hope that the second half of the series looses the looser persona and allows the serious side of the show to come forward. I think that if give the right writing and move in a note dramatic direction Majestic Prince could end up being both an omage to the classic mecha from the past and also a worthy series in its own right.

Ah My Buddha! Complete Collection

Posted by :Patches On : June 15, 2014
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Ah My Buddha!Title: Ah My Buddha!!

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Studio: Studio Deen

U. S. Distributor: Nozomi / Lucky Penny

U. S. Re-Release Date: June 3rd, 2014

Format: DVD / 26 Episodes / 650 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Harem, Supernatural

Age Rating: 16 +

Overall Personal Rating: B

 

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Ikkou Satonaka has raging hormones that make every other boy’s look simply weak in comparison. When he gets turned on, he’s literally turned into a super-powerful Buddhist monk capable of vanquishing the most evil of spirits! Ikkou’s parents send him to the Saienji Temple to train to become a proper monk under the watchful eye of his grandmother. One of his first challenges is to learn to control his lusty desires – but that’s easier said than done when he’s surrounded by a bevy of beautiful nun trainees who keep losing their clothes! Can Ikkou pull himself together, or will his pervy nature win out?

 

Commentary:

Following behind some other great Harem series like Ah! My Goddess and Ai Yori Aoshi, Ah My Buddha!! stays true to the sexy comedic format that made these harem anime so very popular. In this case it plays off the heavy use of a simple young man who is plagued with a very special spiritual ability that helps drive away demons and spirits who aim to cause harm. The only thing is that his awakening is brought on by his natural perversion and inability to control himself when flashed by a young women. Of course this leads to plenty of humors situations, but it also limits the series to a continual stream of some rather uncomfortable situation for the other young sisters in training.

For the viewer it comes across as an inevitable event, but after a while it becomes a little sexist in nature. It was nice to see this become a condition that Ikkou, our hero, is forced to learn how to control and something less of a prop and more of serious plot device.

The animation is still fresh looking today, almost 9 years after first released and the writing is strong enough to keep us entertained throughout the series. I do have to admit that all things being equal, this series is full of fun and sexy young women. It is classic in its depiction of young ladies and their full development that is clearly idealized.

Overall Grade: B

Ah My Buddha!! is very easy to watch and stays light enough to keep you coming back for more. One thing about Ah My Buddha! is that it is a perfect example of the style of series that had it height of popularity from the late 1990’s thru the mid 2000’s.  There are still plenty of new harem series being produced but they tend to have a darker side and some what more cynical outlook.  The one that has a very similar premise to Ah Mt Buhhda! is the more recent release I Can’t Play H where a young mans simple perversions make him a savior of humanity and the demon world. So, if you want some fan service and a relatively fun harem then Ah My Buddha!! would be a great choice. Thanks Nozomi/ Lucky Penny for bring this back to life for the next generation to experience the fun ans simple approach to telling a story of this nature.

Date A Live Complete Series (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 11, 2014
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Date A Live Complete Series

review provided by Luther

Title: Date A Live Complete Series

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Writer: Hideki Shirane

U. S. Distributor: FUNIMATION

U. S. Release Date: June 10th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes + 1 OVA / 311 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Science Fiction, Harem

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

In a world devastated by mysterious Spatial Quakes, Shidoh isn’t what you’d expect in a hero. He’s an average Joe who gets bossed around by his adorable little sister and mocked by the popular girls at his school. You’d definitely pick him last for dodge ball, but when it comes to saving the planet from imminent destruction, Shidoh’s got one thing going for him: intergalactic hotties can’t keep their hands off him!

When the secret to stopping the Spatial Quakes turns out to be romancing the extraterrestrial Spirits responsible for all the chaos, Shidoh the loveable loser becomes the hero of all humanity. For every Spirit he makes out with, mankind breathes a little bit easier. Kiss the girls – save the world. That name of the game is driving the space babes crazy, and nobody does it better than Shidoh!

Commentary:

At its core Date A Live is a harem anime, in which an unsuspecting dull male protagonist spontaneously attracts a horde of eccentric women. In many ways Date A Live is just a standard harem, for even the heroines are common character types. So the show does have a somewhat generic feel to it, however that does work to its advantage in some ways. With the show being as short as it is, having characters that are very distinguishable and easy to connect with, I was able to get a relatively good understanding of who the characters are with the limited episodes available.

One thing that Date A Live does have that sets it apart from other harem anime is that the protagonist, Shidoh, goes on actual dates with all the girls. While this may not be a revolutionary concept, it’s definitely not something I’ve seen in a lot of harem anime. There is also a lot of action in this series, for these dates will explode in to fantastical fights between super powerful girls. Though the change in action can be sudden and drastic, the transitions are well done and work well with the setting of the story.

Overall Personal Grade: B

Although Date A Live isn’t anything outstanding, it has bold characters in a memorable story and a good mix of action and romance. If you are a fan of harem anime, this series should not be missed.

Jormungand: Perfect Order part 2 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : February 21, 2014
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Jormungand part 2Title: Jormungand: Perfect Order part 2

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Writer: Keitaro Takahashi

Studio: White Fox

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date: Feb. 11th, 2014

Format: DVD/Blu-ray/ 12 Episodes/ 300 minutes

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: A

Synopsis:

The child soldier Jonah continues to protect Koko while she brings the boom to cities across the globe. When the international arms dealer ramps up sales, her hired guns are targeted by government agencies, warmongers, and assassins – leading to some devastating betrayals and losses.

Amid all the gunfire and grenades, Koko begins to work on a secret project in South Africa: Jormungand. But when she finally reveals her master plan for the future of war, not everyone is happy with the plot. As the body count starts to explode, Jonah will have to decide if he can stand by and watch his employer’s blood-soaked plan for world peace unfold, or try to put a stop to it.

Commentary:

In my review of part one I discussed the existential aspects of the series. Part 2 of Jormungand stays with that projection and builds a very special ending that brings into question the entire backbone of the series. The playing with the underlying humanity within this series is powerful enough but to add the personal struggle that one young warrior has takes the entire plot to a much more rewarding level. The story takes several interesting turns that leaves you wondering what in the world could be next. In the world of anime this is not new, but when it is put together with a touch of emotional meaning it ends up standing out above the rest. Jormungand manages to take our heartless world and prove that it just might be possible to create a new dynamic and hopefulness through all of the pain and stupidity we have become all too accustom to.

Jormungand, is by no means for everyone and I can’t even begin to suggest that it should find its way on to shelves of the majority of anime fans. The thing about Jormungand is that it is a pure drama and doesn’t pretend to be anything else. That in itself places it aside other amazing dries like Urasawa’s Monster, Phantom: Requiem of a Phantom or even the relentless drama Black Lagoon. It is also a series that doesn’t try to paint a positive picture of the human  race, but in the end it give hope were hope may not be deserved.

Overall Grade: A

I’m sure you can tell that I really liked this series and that I have some very strong feelings about it and yes I fall into that category. Other than the drastic strength of the series it also manages to have a production quality that serves it well and the voice acting comes through and holds up the series for what it is. I wish I should this one off to everyone, but there is just a title to much raw violence . So, if you are of an age that it is made for then I really suggest that you take the time to give this one a try. Be ready of a hard hitting story that makes you think about the path we are on and how might we as a race get off of it.