FIF#87-Fruits Basket (2019)

Having lost her mother to a car accident and her current residence being renovated, ever determined Tohru Honda has been living in a tent that just happens to be on the grounds owned by the mysterious and powerful Sohma Family.  Feeling bad for her, the handsome Yuki Sohma invites Tohru to come live with him and his cousins, Shigure and Kyo.  It isn’t long until Tohru literally stumbles into the family secret: 12 members of the family have been cursed to transform into their Chinese Zodiac member when hugged by a member of the opposite sex.  As Tohru learns more about the difficult life of the Sohma Clan, the closer she becomes with several family members…and becomes determined to find a way to free them from their curse forever.

It cant be just me noticing several Anime from yesteryear getting reboots or continuations in the last decade.  Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball and Devilman are just a few examples getting a new lease on life in this new age of Anime.  So it’s strange to see Fruits Basket getting the same treatment nearly 20 years after the original Anime aired.  But id be lying if I said that I wasn’t all onboard with it while checking out the first episode.  Believe it or not, I did read the Fruits Basket Manga and check out the original Anime when both were coming to the States (courtesy of it being one of the first big Anime and Manga my sister got into).  It’s been a long time but I do remember bits of Fruits Basket fondly.  So I know I’m not the only one whose nostalgia strings were tugged on in this new debut.

I was surprised how faithful this new Anime is staying not just to the story but the artstyle too.  There are certain images recreated from the Manga that invoke that feel good nature of early 2000’s Anime.  It’s hard to describe but the new Fruits Basket doesn’t try to look anything like most Anime you see today.  This is a nostalgia train on full steam power and it’s kind of awesome really. From the first appearance of Tohru, everything came flooding back to me at once: the gorgeous scenery of the Sohma household; the always entertaining banter between Yuki, Kyo and Shigure; the whimsically funny but heartbreaking storyline.  Fruits Basket’s first episode plays beat for beat the first couple chapters of the Manga and the first episode of the original Anime without attempting to really spice things up beyond the new animation.  And that’s perfectly ok for now.  I suspect that one thing this new iteration is destined to do is tell the complete Manga story, unlike the original series which only went up to Volume 6 (I think) and deviated from the original story at times too).  So it’s ok to run at a leisurly pace like the Manga and get the story going properly.  At least by the end of the episode we did get the big reveal of the Sohma Family secret and Tohru’s eternally priceless reaction.

I feel like for the high school kid in me, that first read a bit of the Manga in a preview guide, that I should continue on with this new Fruits Basket.  It’s hard to say if the final product will finally bring the entire Manga to life at last.  But it’s undeniable how good it is to see these characters again, feel the magic of the story and enjoy a glimpse of artwork that has aged very well and is being recreated in good hands.  I never knew how much I missed Tohru Honda or the Sohmas until I saw them again.  If you’re just discovering Fruits Basket for the first time, I think sticking with it for a bit wouldn’t hurt.  You might be in for a surprise, and I hope I am too.

T5W#209-Top 5 Anime that Make me Really, Really Mad

I love Anime.  Heck this blog being in its sixth year is proof of that, nevermind ive been into the overall fandom for over two decades now.  I love many titles from Gundam to Ghost in the Shell to Dragon Ball Z to Pokemon to Inuyasha and Full Metal Panic.  The list could go on and on about my absolute favs.  But what about the titles I don’t like, the ones that get me so riled up I am ready to go Super Saiyan just thinking about them. Well, full disclosure, it’s been kind of a rough weekend and the week hasn’t started off the best either tbh.  So for this weeks Top 5, I’m exercising my right to rant and I know 5 particular titles I can do that with easily.  Here are my Top 5 Anime that Make me Really, Really Mad.  Enjoy the comedic venting.

#5-Silent Mobius: The Series

I think I said it week after week when I was reviewing this one here at the Anime Corner, the potential for this shows greatness was squandered episode after episode.  Despite an interesting premise and promising cast, Silent Mobius never rose to the occasion.  The AMP is basically useless without its Dark Phoenix imbuned Katsumi and their technology never seems to work at fighting Lucifer Hawks.  Factor in a less than stellar backstory that is begging to be explored, villains who are just there to be there and a sense that the animation and writing staff just gave up after the first episode floundered and you have one of the saddest tragedies in all of Anime: not because of what happens to some of the main characters but because this could have been the Anime successor to Sailor Moon…and it just failed on every concieveable level for 26 episodes.  (the two part movies aren’t bad though.  Even though theyre an incomplete story id recommend checking them out anytime over the TV Series)

#4-Gundam Build Fighters Try

If Gundam Build Fighters was a love letter to me as a fan of Gundam for almost two decades, Build Fighters Try was the exact opposite.  Trading optimistic and  fun for hopeless and terrible characters, I think I was crying inside with every episode I watched.  The Build Fighters Try team had so much potential that was squandered on one characters depressing attitude and the other trying to be the Gundam Naruto.  Sure some of the Gunpla were cool but the series managed to take one of the most fun and interesting takes on one of Gundam’s most prominent staying powers and turn it into the most depressing game of torture ever played.  At least the first have of Gundam Build Divers managed to bring back some of magic of Build Fighters before the second half tried to play by Build Fighters Try rules…and broke my heart all over again.

#3-Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Move 3-Rebellion

Madoka Magica is one of those rare, perfect Anime in existence that delivers more than what was initially promised and manages to overcome the odds to join the ranks of legends like Neon Genesis Evangelion and Akira.  The first two compilation movies achieve even rarer greatness when it comes to telling a condensed version of the TV series without much content sacrificed.  And then came the third film.  And truthfully, it was ok…until the last fifteen minutes when the Danarys Targaryan of all character shifts happens and tears down everything that Madoka stood for.  Homura becomes a demon?  Madoka’s powers sealed away and theyre destined to fight each other in the future?  WHAT THE F***!!!??? Why mess up one of the most perfect endings in all of Anime with this BS twist that has gone nowhere since it was released because it was so horrible?  Believe me when I say, avoid this movie if youre watching the Anime…the TV Series is perfect as is without this forced and insulting continuation/epilogue.

#2-Ghost in the Shell (Live Action 2017)

I honest to God recently had to get a friend to change the subject when this movie got brought up because I was going to get rilled up.  Ghost in the Shell is one of my Top 3 favorite Anime fanchises sandwhiched between Mobile Suit Gundam and Dragon Ball Z.  I love pretty much every adaptation from the Oshii films to Arise.  The live action movie boils my blood whenever it gets brought up, so much so I wonder if I really should have just written a rage fueled review of it for the Anime Corner’s Third Birthday.  Eveyrthing that makes Ghost in the Shell what it is doesn’t exist in this travesty, trading metaphysics for an old and boring festival of bad 80’s scifi tropes that basically make it a fusion of Total Recall and Robocop.  Bad casting, a half assed script and nods to the franchise that never feel earned…at least Death Note 2017 was a hilarious to watch train wreck of a disaster.  Ghost in the Shell 2017 makes me wish we had the technology to erase certain memories cause this movie should be freaking purged from the history books.

#1-Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny

Oh man.  This was probably the very first low point I ever discovered for my favorite franchise.  I still remember watching this series on YouTube during my freshman year of college, hoping beyond all hope that this series would somehow get better.  Episode after episode I was proven wrong.  The sheer wasted potential of a conflict that could’ve dwarfed that of Gundam Seed.  The rapidly changing character motivations that felt more like grab bag than logical progression.  The fact that Shinn Asuka was calling the shots and claiming to be a hero when he might’ve been the biggest damn villain of the series.  Seed Destiny was the first Anime I truly regretted giving my attention to and I still to this day want those 50 episodes worth of time back.  Why…OH WHY…am I possibly planning to take a look at this one in the future for a special project I have planned for 2020?  Should make for an extended entertaining 10 part rant I can guarantee that.

Street Fighter II V Part 2 Episodes 5-8

Ryu and Ken are having a grand old time in Hong Kong, their first stop on their world tour to find the best fighters.  They’ve already come out of Kowloon City victorious and even have the beautiful and capable Chun Li as a tour guide.  Now Ken will face off with a popular Hong Kong Martial Artist who aspires to be an action film legend.  And Ryu will learn the first steps of a technique that will change his life forever.  All the while, more fighters are coming out of the woodwork for the two heroes.  Simple bouts are one thing but what happens when Ryu and Ken go to war with one of Asia’s most powerful crime syndicates?

 

For a show that seems set on sending Ryu and Ken around the world (not quite so in 80 days…ok ill stop now), Street Fighter II V gave them a bit of an extended stay in Hong Kong.  Though I was hoping theyd be going at a swifter pace with the story, the Hong Kong adventures haven’t been a bad thing.  Things improved from a strong beginning and only got better right up until the plane right to the next destination.  In short: not a bad second week for Street Fighter II V.

 

After not getting his shot at a one on one with Guile, Ken got to step in and battle Martial Arts legend turned Action Star Fei Long.  Definitely a much more hot headed Bruce Lee, Fei Long was a great addition to the cast and his fight with Ken was amazing.  I like how the director of Fei Long’s film wanted to catch it all on film and edit it for the final movie he was putting together.  This lead to great back and forth battle moments between Ken and Fei Long while the film crew tried to keep up (and also keep Ryu from talking during filming which was funny).  Best yet, Chun Li finally got in on the action and managed to throw down with a group of assassins sent to kill her and her father, Dorai.  Sure Ryu, Ken and Fei Long helped settle things down but Chun Li was given a good chance to shine at last and reminded us why she’s one of the best, and sexiest, characters in video game history.

 

Ryu also got to begin his journey to the move we all know him best for: the Hadouken.  Much like Goku with his Kamehameha Wave in OG Dragon Ball, it’s def not a technique that can be mastered overnight.  But Ryu got the basics down from aged Master Yo, who I wonder if we’ll see again (Ryu’s gotta learn the rest at somepoint, somehow right?).  It was a rather cheery encounter, bookended with this weeks climax that saw Ryu thrown in a Bangkok prison thanks to the assassins he and Ken encountered in Hong Kong.  Here, Ryu went through a torture scene that was unnecessarily brutal and extensive.  The continuous bloody whipping our poor dude got is probably a reason this series never found its way to a Toonami broadcast (Ive been wondering why this never came to be during the late 90’s early 2000’s period of Toonami history).  Still, Ryu got his payback in with some of the inmates and set the stage for what’s sure to be an epic fight against another Street Fighter regular: Sagat.

 

Speaking of fights, the Streets of Rage like battles I mentioned in the Kowloon City arc last week carried over this week too.  By now though, I was alright with battles being group based rather than one on one.  We still got our typical Street Fighter duels like Ken vs. Fei Long.  But seeing Ryu, Ken, Chun Li, Fei Long and Dorai facing Ashura assassins together was a treat and everyone got to show off fine.  That said, it does suck that Chun Li wont be continuing her adventures with Ken and Ryu to Thailand and beyond, at least for the moment.  I feel like we waited a bit to see her in action and only got a glimpse of what she’s truly capable of.  Eh, I’m sure she’ll be back.  After all, Chun Li is probably as famous, if not more, than Ryu and Ken or franchise baddie M. Bison (who’s organization was alluded to be in cahoots with the Ashura).  It’d feel wrong not to include her in more of the action.

 

Some needlessly darker moments aside, Street Fighter II V gave us a very strong second round after lasts weeks stellar debut.  Hong Kong was a great place to kick off the action packed grand tour of Ken and Ryu and Bangkok promises even more ferocious violence when Ryu steps into the prison ring with Sagat.  What can I say, so far this series has more than earned the “V” in its title.  See ya next week for more travels and fist fights.

FIF#86-ULTRAMAN

 It has been decades since Shin Hayata joined with the Giant of Light to defend the Earth from monstrous giants known as Kaiju.  Today, the hero known as Ultraman is a long remembered legend in a world at peace.  However, a new enemy has emerged, wishing to bring a new kind of chaos to the planet.  But Humanity is ready.  Though Hayata long since retired, the Scientific Special Search Party has been preparing for the day Ultraman would be needed again and that day has come.  Now, the future of Mankind falls to a new chosen one: Shinjiro Hayata, who has inherited his fathers powers.  New suit, new enemies, new Ultraman, the legend continues.

I start off this First Impression with a sad confession: outside of the name and the concept and super suit associated with it, I don’t know much about Ultraman.  I never knew he was part of a special science team and had to keep his identity secret from his comrades.  Don’t know much about his powers beyond getting big to fight Kaiju either.  Fortunately, you don’t really have to be a long time veteran of the franchise to enjoy this new continuation of the Ultraman story.  And if the first two episodes are any proof, the creative team in charge has things well in hand and are ready to offer something new and exciting for old and new fans alike.

What surprised me about this new Ultraman was that it was a sequel to the original.  I was

expecting a full blown reboot or a retelling of the original with a new animation style.  Instead, the new series transitions seamlessly into the next era while also letting viewers know that this world and this hero have a history and it’s important.  It’s not surprising to see Ultraman’s legend so fondly remembered in a museum (hell im sure there are a couple dedicated to him in Japan in real life.).  We even get adequate time to spend with both generations of the titular hero.  Shin Hayata has aged and while he still has his old powers, you can tell time has taken a toll on him.  He can still kick ass but he’s def not the Ultraman he used to be.  As for Shinjiro, he takes the surprising reveal that he has powers pretty well.  Even before he dawns the new bad ass Ultraman/Iron Man hybrid suit, he’s testing out his power in his free time and having a ball.  But Shinjiro also wants to do some good with his powers, even if part of that good might be to impress a girl.  Point is, the kids got heart and seems like a worthy successor to his old man, especially when he fairs well in his first foray as Ultraman.

Anime done in Ultraman’s artstyle of CG heaviness can be more miss than hit with the community, just look at the Berserk continuation.  This style of Anime seems to suit Ultraman nicely, however.  It doesn’t hurt that there are a couple of CG Anime experts co-directing this project.  Shinji Aramaki is best known for his work on the Appleseed Movie Trilogy and the recent Space Pirate Captain Harlock Movie, both done in an even more detailed kind of theatrical CG Anime.  And then there’s Kenji Kamiyama, the director and godfather of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex franchise.  The talents of these two seem to go hand in hand on Ultraman, keeping the human drama at the center of proceedings while still making the action look so freaking cool.  Considering these two directors are partnering up for a new future chapter of Stand Alone Complex, I cant wait for that even more now that ive seen Ultraman’s opening episodes.

Considering there are dozens of Ultraman series out there, im not shocked a new iteration can be squeezed in like this (Hell Gundam’s been doing it for years).  This project doesn’t just look like it’s trying to stand out from the rest because of its artstyle.  Ultraman’s newest chapter acknowledges its long history while bringing in fresh blood to carry on the legend.  This might be one I continue on with just to see if the goodness of the debut episodes can be maintained throughout its short season.  And who knows, maybe if I watch more, I’ll want to go back and find more older Ultraman series and movies to check out.  At the end of the day, I cant think of a higher accomplishment for a newcomer in a long running franchise to pull off.

T5W#208-Top 5 Hottest Final Fantasy Heroines

As one of the longest lasting video game franchises of all time, Final Fantasy continues to deliver unique worlds with plenty wonder, danger and tons of unforgettable characters.  And while there’s usually a somber guy learning how to smile while kicking ass, there’s a fair chance there’s a beauty worth dying for fighting by their side.  Yep, much like Chun Li of Street Fighter or the plethora of Dead or Alive femme fatales, Final Fantasy has a large library of brave and beautiful bad asses that are sometimes far more remembered than their leading counterparts.  Todays Top 5 Wednesday is a shoutout to these beauties: my Top 5 Hottest Final Fantasy Characters.  From front and center to supporting roles, these gals stole the show of their respective games and my heart too.  To keep things a little fair, only

 

#5-Quistis Trepe (Final Fantasy VIII)

Could anyone ask for a hotter teacher in their next generation mage/super soldier academy?  The moment Quistis first appeared in VIII, shaking her head at Squall landing in the hospital again, she had my attention.  Rocking glasses and a riding crop as her weapon of choice, Quistis could give you a good scolding while throwing down with monsters ten times her size.  She also has a small crush on Squall…which would make any guy jealous.  But Squall’s heart belongs to the lovely Rinoa, so there’s hope for us all still with the best Final Fantasy teacher ever.

 

 

#4-Riku (Final Fantasy X-2)

Final Fantasy X was the first main numbered entry to have the honor of getting a direct sequel, X-2.  What might’ve caught everyone off guard more than this news was Charlie’s Angels esque makeover given to Yuna and Riku.  And WOW Riku got one helluva new look.  It would be hard to pay attention to a girl twirling dual knives when she is basically rocking a string bikini leaving little to the imagination.  Throw in a fun hairdo and a deceptively flirty smile and you’ve got an amazing secret weapon in Yuna’s YRP trio.  Sure Yuna got to become a Jpop star with some nice tunes, but Riku still has part of my heart to this day.

 

 

#3-Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy VII)

Oh boy, I know I’m gonna get some flack for this (either this or that other Final Fantasy ladies aren’t on or at the top of the list).  Yes, I think Tifa is the best character in Final Fantasy VII and I like her more than Aeris, not that the latter is bad by any mean.  Tifa hits harder, is a cute bartender and her sense of fashion is enough to charm even certain members of the Turks.  Heck, Tifa’s newly revealed look in the Final Fantasy VII Remake is the reason I thought about doing this list in the first place.  Tifa looks tougher and more devastatingly beautiful than ever before (and yes adding in the Rin Tohsaka esque thigh highs is a very big plus in my eyes). I know Cloud will always love Aeris, but man…he should know how lucky he is to have Tifa by his side no matter what.

 

 

#2-Cindy Aurum (Final Fantasy XV)

The moment this southern voiced belle walked out of the Hammerhead station garage, I was in love and there would be no other competiton from any other girl in Final Fantasy XV, not Lunafreya or Aranea or Iris (and they all have their good qualities too).  Besides the obvious sexy attire, Cindy is a girl who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty handling all the hard work on the Regalia.  After a long day of hunting monsters, it’s good to come back to Hammerhead and have even a brief conversation with Cindy to hear her soothing voice and her effortless, sexy charm.  Best mechanic in Final Fantasy, fight me.

 

 

#1-Obera Yun Fang (Final Fantasy XIII)

Wont lie, for the longest time Lightning was my Queen of Final Fantasy, the ultimate warrior crush…then I actually played XIII all the way through and found she’s not quite the best character in the game.  Nope, that honor went to a much more hyped character who lived up to the hype and surpassed it.  Rocking a tribal outfit, a sick spear, legs for days and a beautiful accent that could melt the toughest of hearts, Fang has good looks and a strong personality and one of the best character journeys in the whole game.  Not to mention the way her interactions with XIII’s lead heroine Lightning play out, I can see why these two continue to be shipped (including by yours truly).  Fang was on my party from the moment she first appeared and never got traded out.  Sorry Lightning but Fang is my official Queen of Final Fantasy.