Robot Carnival

A massive structure roams the desert, carrying a never ending parade of robotic entertainment delights.  It is a show that brings memories and visions of worlds beyond imagination.  In each, Robots search for answers to their existence, clash for dominants on distant worlds or simply relish in the strangeness that follows them.  It’s a show only the greatest minds in Anime could conceive.  Welcome to the Robot Carnival.

Anime Anthologies can be a nice entry point to new fans of the Anime genre.  Usually they have a wide assortment of studios and directors with tons of experience under their belts that together can show off just how multifaceted Anime can be as a whole.  This has led to some truly amazing collections such as Halo: Legends, The Animatrix, Katsuhiro Otomo’s Memories and last weeks amazing Neo Tokyo.  However, then there are titles like Robot Carnival.  This was actually released a few months prior to Neo Tokyo in 1987 but the difference in quality between the two could not be more clear.  Whereas Neo Tokyo was an incredibly immersive and unforgettable experience, Robot Carnival turns out to be the opposite, overly long, nonsensical and worst of all, absolutely boring.
 

T5W#552-Top 5 Theories About the Next Evangelion TV Project

Just when we thought that the final word had been said on Evangelion back in 2021 with the epic masterpiece Evangelion 3.0+1.0-Thrice Upon a Time, a couple weeks back saw a major announcement during the 30^th Anniversary of Neon Genesis Evangelion: A New Evangelion TV Anime is in the works from the forces behind Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuX.  This is kind of a big deal.  This will be the third Anime iteration of Evangelion (or 4^th depending on how you look at the Death and Rebirth/End of Evangelion Movies).  Considering the story has been told in two spectacular ways across 30 years, what exactly can we expect from a new series?  More importantly, what’s it even about?  Well I have my thoughts on that and on todays Top 5 Wednesday I’m sharing my Top 5 Theories About the Next Evangelion TV Project.

 

Neo Tokyo

From the distant boundaries of the impossible to the deepest depths of the unknown, three of Anime’s most prolific Directors unite for a voyage unlike any seen before.  Three stories traverse the endless possibilities of the imagination from the bizarre and wicked to the deadly and dangerous.  Otomo.  Kawajiri.  Rintaro.  Join them as they guide you on a journey into the new world of Neo Tokyo

Neo Tokyo is another one of those titles I used to see in the Anime Section of Suncoast or Blockbuster and had no clue what it was about, I just knew I wanted to see it.  What I definitely didn’t know was that the anthology had not one but three big name Anime Directors whose resumes I’m quite familiar with.  Of course I knew Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira, Steamboy) had a hand in it but there’s also Rintaro (Galaxy Express 999, X) and Yoshiyaki Kawajiri (Ninja Scroll, Wicked City).  These three power houses of the craft together on the same project, it’s gotta be amazing right?  Well yes, yes it is and then some.  Neo Tokyo is a deep dive into the surreal and freaky side of Anime, not the Hentai kind but the kind of stuff that makes you wonder what exactly each Director was dreaming when they came up with these ideas.
 

T5W#551-Top 5 Best Things About Resident Evil: Requiem (No Spoilers)

The Requiem is finally upon us and I am happy to report Dear Readers that the 9^th mainline entry of the Resident Evil franchise, which arrives just in time for it’s 30^th Anniversary, is a pretty damn good time.  It’s both a solid new chapter for the universe and a homecoming of sorts for longtime fans who have been readily awaiting the return to Racoon City after its destruction.  I honestly didn’t expect to run through the Campaign as quickly as I did so now I have a legit excuse to talk about the only other game I’ve been hyper obsessive about this year next to Persona 5.  And do not worry, I wont be spoiling anything major for the games storyline since the release is still in its early days.  So, without further ado, let’s grab out flashlights and Devil May Cry style Magnums to explore the Top 5 Best Things About Resident Evil: Requiem (No Spoilers).

Roujin-Z

In the early 21^st century, Japan faces a crisis as it’s medical resources are being overwhelmed by the number of elderly patients in need of care.  To combat this issue, the Ministry of Public Welfare creates the Z-001: a fully automated hospital bed that can tend to any elderly patients needs.  It’s built to be perfect…but the truth is far from it.  When messages from the prototypes test subject, Kijuro Takazawa, begin reaching out to his beloved nurse, Haruko Mitsuhashi, it’s only the beginning of something more than a simple malfunction.  Soon, the Z-001 shows its true colors and it’s determined to help fulfill Takazawa’s wishes and no one is safe from the rampage its about to unleash.

I remember seeing a small portion of Roujin-Z during an Anime Night screening on the SciFi Channel when I was a kid and was always fascinated by it. Not only is the title cool (hey, given how young I was if the title had Z in it that automatically made it cool), but you had some sort of sentient robot bed with an old man at its core causing havoc in poor Tokyo, how can you not be curious about that.  Having now watched it from beginning to end, I can certainly say it is a very fun scifi action comedy from two of Anime’s most celebrated masters.  And while it has messages that kind of get drowned out by an insane second half, Roujin-Z still succeeds by being a dumb fun 80min flick that many can appreciate.