Gundam Month Mark VI-The Undiscovered Country Announcement

Greetings Dear Readers.  I’ve been teasing this since the end of my last major Gundam Event back in December and, This Friday, the franchise I’ve named this blog after is back on the blog with another blockbuster seasonal event.  With The Witch from Mercury almost on the horizon, I’ll be taking a look at the last two major Gundam TV Series (that aren’t Build Divers).  First up is the 35^th Anniversary Series from the mind of franchise Godfather, Yoshiyuki Tomino himself, Gundam: Reconguista in G.  Then, it’s a straight two week marathon of it’s successor and the last of the more traditional Gundam shows (ones that were like 50 episodes long): Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans.  On top of that, you’re getting Gundam themed Top 5 Wednesdays all month long, plus a special First Impression Friday taking a look at the newest Mobile Suit Gundam feature film, Cucuruz Doan’s Island.  It’s just a little summer event I like to call GUNDAM MONTH MARK VI-THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY…and it kicks off This Friday right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.  See ya then.

Appleseed Alpha

In a world torn apart by a devastating Global War, two soldiers continue a seemingly eternal struggle to survive.  They are Deunan Knute, one of the best of the best; and Briareos Hacatonchires, an advanced Cyborg with exceptional capabilities.  Deunan dreams of traveling to they whispered city of Olympus.  But she and Briareos appear to be slaves to the wasteland and those who will pay them enough to live to fight another day.  Then, one day, the pair come across another lost duo on a secret mission.  With a deadly army in hot pursuit, Deunan and Briareos steel themselves for the battle of their lives.  The price of failure is death.  The price of victory…a slim chance at paradise.

After Appleseed started things on a disappointing note (despite it being far superior to the horrendous 1988 Appleseed OVA), Appleseed: Ex Machina got the franchise onto a better track, trading in the mountains of boring, world building exposition for better character arcs and action you’d want to see from a CG Anime Feature Film.  So how does the (thus far) final chapter of Shinji Aramaki’s Appleseed Trilogy decide to end?  Curiously, we head back to the beginning but not quite what we might’ve been expecting. 
 

FIF#160-My Love Story

Takeo Goda may look like an intimidating giant but he has the purest heart of any High School Student.  And yet he can never seem to admit his feelings for the various girls he falls for…mostly because theyre having their hearts broken following confessions to his handsome best friend, Makoto.  But when Goda saves an innocent High School Girl from getting groped on a train, everything changes.  Takeo finds himself the object of a pretty girls affections for once: the lovely Rinko Yamato to be precise.  He may be gullible and a bit unfamiliar with the ways of love.  But Takeo isn’t about to let a good thing pass him by.  And so begins his love story and the path to ultimate happiness with Rinko.
 
Even if you’d never heard of My Love Story, you’ve gotta be instantly familiar with the sight of Takeo standing next to or close by Rinko.  Its become one of the most prominent images in Anime during the 2010s and My Love Story has been hailed as one of the best of the decade for various reasons.  After the first episode, I can see the appeal.  In fact, while I don’t feel like it’s exactly on the same level, I was reminded of my First Impression on Komi Cant Communicate: basically feeling like just the first episode was more than enough to stand on its own as a short film without the Anime series if necessary.  Maybe that’s too high praise but the first episode of My Love Story is a treat to watch.
 

Appleseed: Ex Machina

In the utopian city of Olympus, the peace is kept by the elite warriors of ESWAT.  Among their ranks are Deunan Knute, a beautiful warrior from the wasteland, and Briareos Hecatonchires, a cyborg soldier who was once Deunan’s lover.  As effective as they are together, their partnership becomes tested when theyre assigned a rookie: A Bioroid named Tereus, who bears the likeness of Briareos’ human form.  This comes at a time when a string of berserk cyborg attacks begin to escalate across the city.  In the end, a Warrior, a Cyborg and a Bioriod might be all that stands in the way of an apocalyptic uprising.

Well, looks we have a case of “Now why didn’t we lead with this one?”.  While it definitely doesn’t reinvent the genre like its predecessor wanted to, Appleseed: Ex Machina still comes out as a much better attempt to breathe life into the franchise that wants stand alongside it’s fellow Shirow Masamune sibling, Ghost in the Shell.  Some of the first films problems are still present but it looks like Ex Machina knows exactly what it wants to be from the get go and delivers more of what should have been seen in the first place.
 

T5W#354-Top 5 Top Gun Inspirations in Macross Plus

This Friday, Tom Cruise returns to the cockpit of a souped up fighter jet in the long awaited sequel to Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick.  Top Gun is a cinema action classic and it’s influence has continued to be felt for over 35 in the shaping of both action blockbusters and, believe it or not, Anime.  One franchise that’s always seemed to have a kinship with Top Gun is the Super Dimension Fortress Macross saga.  While Macross’ beginnings predate Top Gun by 4 years (the original Macross Series began in 1982 while Top Gun premiered in 1986), the combination of hot shot pilots, top notch fighter jets (that can become giant robots), cute girls giving the orders and several popular musical tunes would make anyone think these two were a match made in heaven.  Of all the entries in the Macross pantheon, only one has been constantly marketed as the “Top Gun of Anime” here in the West, my personal favorite entry, Macross Plus.  Is there truth to this claim?  Is Macross Plus the closest to a Top Gun Anime we’re ever going to get?  Who knows, maybe.  For today though, I get to talk about a movie and an Anime I both hold close to my heart.  These are the Top 5 Top Gun Inspirations in Macross Plus on todays Top 5 Wednesday.

 

Appleseed

In the wake of a devastating Global War, the utopian city of Olympus now stands as a beacon of hope for the survivors.  One of those survivors is Deunan Knute, who has been plucked from her war torn hellscape and brought to Olympus.  Here, Deunan is made the newest member of Olympus’ E-SWAT defenders, alongside her once thought dead lover Briareos Hecatonchires, whose body has been reborn as a full cyborg.  As Deunan comes to terms with her new reality, she and Briareos become embroiled in a conspiracy to wipe out the Artificial Human population of Olympus, known as Bioroids.  With the sins of the war poised to take root, Deunan and Briareos must work together to preserve the peace their future desperately needs.
 
Released back in 2004, Appleseed seemed meant to kickstart a new generation of Anime filmmaking.  It was one of the first Anime films of its kind to be completely computer generated.  As a bonus, it was both an introduction to another property created by Shirow Masamune, best known for Ghost in the Shell, and launched the career of Shinji Aramaki, the man who would receive much of his work in this CG Anime Film field.  But as we take a look at Aramaki’s three Appleseed feature films, does the first one live up to the buzz it generated?
 

FIF#159-Ya Boy Kongming

Upon his deathbed, legendary tactician Zhuge Liang Kongming wished to be reborn into a world of peace, far from his war torn period.  Unexpectedly, his wish is granted as Kongming is reincarnated into his younger body and plopped right in the middle of Tokyo.  Seeking a newfound reason to exist in this strange land, Kongming meets Eiko Tsukimi, a beautiful bartender and singer at a popular nightclub.  Kongming becomes inspired by Eiko’s singing talents and declares that, with his help, Eiko will achieve her dream of making it as a popular singer.  Past and Present collide as the second coming of Kongming begins.

 
I only recently heard about this title but with a premise so out there, I couldn’t help but be intrigued.  A military strategist from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms period of China reborn in Modern Day Japan who becomes obsessed with music and partners up with a cute songstress to realize her dreams: Only in Anime right?  Well having checked out the first episode of Ya Boy Kongming, I’m happy to say that the outlandish premise is everything I hoped it would be and I think it offers a pretty good first impression.  With the year already stacked full of heavy hitters like Spy X Family, My Dress Up Darling and the continued success of Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Ya Boy Kongming might have a shot at being a big sleeper hit for 2022.
 

Samurai 7 Part 6 Episodes 21-26

Now in the ultimate position of power, Ukyo begins a long con game to gain the trust of the villagers and merchants.  As his popularity grows, so does his power and Ukyo intends to use it to crush his enemies and solidify his new empire.  Only six Samurai and the Villagers of Kanna stand in his way.  Kambei, Katsushiro, Schichiroji, Kyuzo, Heihachi and Kikuchiyo unite for one final stand against the full might of the Capital and the Nobuseri under its control.  Live by the sword or die by it, this will be a battle that will one day become the stuff of Legends.

Ive got to hand it to Samurai 7.  Despite some frustrating characters, animation staggers and the pressure from unnecessary plotlines, it managed to deliver one rousing finale that held all the spirit of Akira Kurosawa’s classic, just with a futuristic Anime tinge.  The journey of the titular Seven Samurai has been a crazy and amazing one and it got the ending we all knew was coming but was nonetheless as surprising and rewarding as we could’ve hoped for.  Lets get into things properly.
 

T5W#353-Top 5 Thoughts on the Chainsaw Man Trailer

The trailer for Chainsaw Man dropped over the weekend and while I have zero clue what its about, the more I’ve watched it, the more intrigued I’ve become.  It isn’t very long but there’s a lot to unpack.  Several images of peaceful good times followed by a barrage of constant carnage, for a second I thought this might’ve been a movie and not a TV Series but nope, it’s the latter.  This trailer has garnered a lot of buzz and has quickly become one of the most anticipated Anime of 2022.  No official release date has been announced but my guess is theyre gonna try and get this out either by late Summer or early Fall (and if it’s Fall jeez it’s gonna be the best Season for Anime in a long time).  So, for today’s Top 5 Wednesday, I’m sharing my Top 5 Thoughts on the Chainsaw Man Trailer.  There could def be a First Impression Friday article on this one for sure (might even be a special depending on when it drops cause right now FIF will be ending its current season at the end of July, more on that another time).

 

Samurai 7 Part 5 Episodes 17-20

The Battle of Kanna Village has ended in victory but not without cost.  One of the Seven Samurai has fallen in the Villages defense and now a period of reconstruction begins.  But one Samurai still has a promise to keep.  Kambei arranges capture, in order to be taken to the illusive Capital in order to rescue the women stolen by the Nobuseri, including Rikichi’s Wife.  However, an old enemy is waiting for him at the Capital, an enemy with a plan to grab ultimate power in one long, calculated swoop.  Will Kambei escape with his life or will he be the one in need of rescue by his two protegees: Katsushiro and Kikychiyo

We’ve now reached a point of Samurai 7 that I’ve been worried about from the beginning.  With the Nobuseri driven off and Kanna Village safe, what story is there left to tell?  Nuggets of other storylines have been planted in the lead up to now and even more popped up in the aftermath of the victory at Kanna.  All in all, this set of episodes was both about establishing where Samurai 7 will be heading in its final act.  This came at the cost of a great deal of action (there were only a handful of really brief skirmishes).  But watching Kambei play his continuing game of Chess and a sort of reset of one of the series weakest characters kept things interesting and fascinating.
 

FIF#158-Ergo Proxy

Romdo City: the Domed City and the last refuge of Humanity.  In a society slowly eating itself alive, a series of Android malfunctions leads to murder and a new breed of monster roams the streets: The Proxy.  Enter Re-L Mayer, a beautiful investigator assigned to the Proxy cases.  However, her investigation hits wall after wall and questions lead to more questions.  Re-L’s only lead is a young Immigrant named Vincent Law.  Together, they work to uncover the secret of the Proxys.  However, it is a secret that could push the tepid peace in Romdo City right over the edge and into utter chaos.
 
At first glance, Ergo Proxy looks like something that should be right up my alley: a futuristic dystopia featuring a sexy investigator who looks into matter involving Androids or Cyborgs with a hint of deep existential examinations.  As a life long fan of Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell, I should be eating this kind of scifi Anime up no problem.  Buuuuut Ergo Proxy isn’t the easiest show to get into in its first episode.  And a big problem right away is one question: WHAT THE F*** IS GOING ON!!!???  Oh, I don’t mean that from a “this plot makes no sense” standpoint (even though it doesn’t).  I mean that from a visual standpoint.  Ergo Proxy is so damn dark I feel like you have to watch it with the lights out just to get the full experience.
 

Samurai 7 Part 4 Episodes 13-16

It’s all been building to this.  Seven Samurai and dozens of desperate villagers are all that stand against the all powerful might of the Nobuseri.  As arrows flies, cannons are fired and steel meets flesh and metal, the rain and the chaos herald the days of old for many of these battle hardened warriors.  Against all odds, Kambei and his Seven Samurai make their final stand against the mechanical bandits…and not every one will be making it out alive.

If we were going by the original outline of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, these would have been the final four episodes of Samurai 7.  After all, if we were going based on a perfect recreation of that work, the Bandits have been dealt with, Kanna is safe, and there were some expected but nonetheless tragic casualties.  However, there are still 10 episodes to go.  I’ll go into my concerns over that later but right now, the build up to the Battle of Kanna was worth it and Samurai 7 was in perfect form for this important event.
 

T5W#352-Top 5 Moments from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Entertainment District Arc)

It took me longer than I’d like to admit but I finally got around to binging the Second Season of Demon Slayer.  Because I wasn’t a fan of the decision to turn it into a TV Arc, I opted to skip the Mugen Train Arc and just press on with the Entertainment District Arc (if the Mugen Train Arc added anything extra or new I think I picked up on it fine, like the epilogue with Rengoku’s family).  And to be honest, I’m glad I opted to just jump right into the Entertainment District Arc because HOLY S*** Demon Slayer did it again.  What a freaking amazing thrill ride that basically topped everything the First Season and the Mugen Train Movie offered.  Needless to say, I know I’m several weeks late but I’m gonna use todays Top 5 Wednesday to talk about my Top 5 Moments from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yauba (Entertainment District Arc).  How the heck theyre gonna top this in the recently announced Season Three, I have no idea.  For now, let’s focus on this awesomeness first and why it continues to cement Demon Slayer as one of the best Anime in the world right now.

 

Samurai 7 Part 3 Episodes 9-12

Kirara’s search is finally over.  The Seven Samurai have been assembled: Noble veteran Kambei; Street Performer Gorobei; Mechanic Heihachi; Kambei’s war ally Shichiroji; rookie Samurai Katsushiro; silent assassin Kyuzo and the unstoppable Kikuchiyo.  With her party assembled, Kirara returns home only to find the Nobuseri are aware of the challenge being brought to their territory.  Can the Seven Samurai work together as a team and, more importantly, will Kanna Village stand alongside them with the Nobuseri bearing down on them?

Samurai 7 continues to be a show I have concerns about but for the time being, I’ve been pushing them to the back of my mind.  This is mostly because with the city behind us and the challenge of defending Kanna Village in sight, the series has picked up considerably.  Also helps that the titular team is now a full fledged Seven Samurai.  I’ve enjoyed Samurai 7 with caution but for the time being, this is a fun show to watch right now.
 

FIF#157-Cromartie High School

It's Takashi Kamiyama’s first day at Cromartie High School.  Though he strives for academic success, he’s entire school is comprised of delinquents…and everyone has a bone to pick or a curiosity about Kamiyama.  In a school full of guys who claim to be the biggest bad ass of them all, Kamiyama is about to learn that there’s more to being super tough than just a scary face.  You have to also contend with Gorilla’s, a Robot unaware he is a Robot…and a guy who is a dead ringer for the lead singer from Queen.  Welcome to Cromartie High School, Kamiyama…hope you survive the experience.

 
High School Anime are a dime a dozen and many tend to blend together at the end of the day, save for the ones with a unique stand out feature like Haruhi Suzumiya or Bunny Girl Senpai.  Cromartie High School seems to fit into that Unique Stand Out category simply based on its look and premise and I think I am all on board for it.  I mean, it’s not everyday that the first joke in the first minute and a half of an eleven minute episode lands so well it basically set an immediate benchmark for the rest.  But it’s that brilliant and that funny and it only gets better from that point on.
 

Samurai 7 Part 2 Episodes 5-8

In his search for a team of Seven Samurai to defend Kanna Village, Kambei has found one official member and one promising prospect.  However, with the assassins of the Magistrate still searching for him and the Villagers he is protecting, movement throughout the city becomes difficult.  Will Kambei be able to find the remaining members needed for this impossible mission?  And what of Kikuchiyo and Katsushiro?  Will they prove themselves worthy of joining the Seven Samurai despite their brashness and inexperience?

We’re two chapters in with Samurai 7.  Even though the full team hasn’t been assembled yet, I’m enjoying the attention that’s being given to each new member added to the team.  Granted, we’re 8 episodes in and it seems like we’re inching our way to Kanna Village.  But today, Kambei and company added two new names to their team and we got to get an up close and personal encounter with a member of the Metal Gear…dammit, Nobuseri.  And we even got an exciting train chase to boot.  All in all, some flaws but otherwise fun times.
 

T5W#351-Top 5 Star Wars Visions Stories

It’s Star Wars Day!!!!!  Last year, Disney + debuted a series of Anime shorts centered in the Star Wars universe and it was a long time marriage that should’ve happened a long time ago.  Anime has taken a ton of inspiration from Star Wars with franchises like Mobile Suit Gundam and Tenchi Muyo sharing more than a few similarities from story beats to signature weapons.  Why we had to wait almost 45 years to get a Star Wars Anime Anthology is kind of a crime (we should have at least 10 OVAs by now).  But it happened and for once, May the 4^th falls on a Wednesday and I have something both Star Wars and Anime to talk about for Top 5 Wednesday.  So, May the 4^th be with us all and here are my Top 5 Star Wars Visions Stories.

 

Samurai 7 Part 1 Episodes 1-4

In a land still recovering from a long war, the village of Kanna is besieged by Mechanical Samurai Giants known as the Nobuseri.  Desperate for salvation, a small band of villagers set out for the big city with one mission: Find hungry Samurai.  But no astounding swordsman would ever take a job for the simple promise of food…save for a small band of seven warriors, both tested and untested in battle.  Slowly, the paths of these seven wayward souls come together for a mission that holds little chance of success.

 
Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai is a work of art and widely considered one of the greatest movies ever made.  It’s timeless tale of seven warriors banding together for a noble cause in the face of overwhelming odds has been the basis for many remakes and adaptations throughout the years: the two most prevalent are the equally amazing western: The Magnificent Seven (which I actually like a bit better) and the space adventure Battle Beyond the Stars.  Boggles the mind to know that there haven’t been any true attempts at making a Seven Samurai Anime.  Well, here is the main attempt, the chance to spin a different yarn on a classic but with a very scifi/Anime edge.  This is Samurai 7.