T5W#107-Top 5 Titles I’m Considering for December 2017

 

Well we’re getting into the final months of a very rough but interesting year.  As I talked about in an earlier post, September, October and November are all planned out in terms of reviews.  December, however, is still a mystery that needs to be solved.  Ive talked about it with some friends and readers and ive managed to narrow my choices down a bit…to just around five of them.  So I said, screw it, that’s my Top 5 for this week.  Behold below, the Top 5 Titles I’m Considering Reviewing for December 2017. 

 

#5-Other

Yep, I took the lotto option.  The list of Anime I haven’t reviewed from my personal collection is still a really long list, with everything from stand alone films like Ninja Scroll and Jin Roh to longer shows like Slayers, Death Note and K-On.  Any of the other items on my lengthy list could surplant any of the other choices on todays list.  This isn’t the first time ive made a plan and shuffled it around a bit.  Peacemaker Kurogane, currently being reviewed, was originally on my schedule for the spring.  Then I got my hands on Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 and I promised a friend if I ever got that title, I’d review it.  Hence why Peacemaker got shuffled to now.  And, of course, there’s also the last minute change up of reviewing Gundam Wing over the summer instead of the two part combo of Fate/Zero and Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works.  Point is, things happen, schedules change, other options become available and (in some cases) appear more interesting than others.  If anything does change, I’ll let everyone know.

 

#4-Ouran High School Host Club

This title, out of the “not my usual cup of tea” barrel, has always been one ive been thinking about covering.  The adventures of Haruhi Fujioka, masquerading as a boy and joining a club of Handsome Gentlemen Hosts, are beloved by many fans, myself included.  True, the initial premise still goes over my head as to how it could all work.  Once you look past that though, Ouran is a very fun show.  In truth, if I don’t cover it in December, there’s a strong chance I might choose it as the title to open 2018 with (if I end up going to Katsucon, fingers crossed, I could even make that my lead-in to that event).  This would probably the most different kind of show ive reviewed on the Anime Corner since Love Hina and Bamboo Blade, and it could be my favorite of those three.

 

#3-Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt

If you ever wanted to see what would happen if you mixed potty humor with sexy Angel transformation strip teases and every visual taboo known to man…this is what you have been waiting for.  Two fallen Angels, the Anarchy Sisters Panty and Stocking, are stuck in Downton City, a purgatory home to the worst of the worst.  If they want to get back to Heaven, they’ll have to buy their way back in by collection the bounties from the demons they slay.  Oh and they have weapons based on their sexy lingerie (Panty’s panties become guns and Stocking’s stockings become swords).  Plus they have a guardian in the form of a pedophilic ex drug kingpin turned fallen Priest named Garterbelt.  Let those ideas and images simmer, or watch the trailer, and see why this would be a fun one for me to review.

 

#2-Dragon Ball Movies (Curse of the Blood Rubies, Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle, Mystical Adventure, Path to Power)

Since there are an even 4 weeks in December, this makes the most sense to go with.  These four feature films cover the first few seasons of Akira Toriyama’s original tale with a few changes and alterations.  The gist is still the same: Goku travels the world collecting the Dragon Balls while facing the worlds strongest opponents…you know everything you love about Z except it’s Kid Goku and the actions not as intense yet.  This set of reviews would also include Path to Power, which is the tenth anniversary film for the Dragon Ball franchise.  If you have never seen the original Dragon Ball, or refuse to accept that there is no Dragon Ball without Z, then maybe I should cover these to show that even the greatest of legends have their origins (like it or not it’s still wayyyy better than GT).

 

#1-Katsuhiro Otomo Month

I’ll admit.  With Christmas being the last Monday of 2017, I just want to make this happen so I have an excuse to finally review Akira, on Christmas Day no less.  But if I want to keep it in a theme, I’d have to find some more Otomo related works.  Granted, the man who directed Akira hasn’t really done a lot of directing since his game changing legend.  He’s done writing and produced a few things, such as Metropolis (which I reviewed back in July).  So that would be my criteria.  Obviously, Akira would be on the list.  I’d also include his feature Anime follow up, Steamboy, along with the much overlooked action epic, Spiggan, which he wrote and produced (I think).  I’d like to add his anthology film, Memories, to the list and that’s kind of the make or break on this one.  There is one other film I could try and get if I cant find Memories, the live action Mushishi film that Otomo directed.  I’d like it to be Memories though, IF this is the option I go with.  But even if this doesn’t happen, I’ll probably review Akira just for the hell of it.  It’ll be Christmas after all.

 

Of course, there’s the “Other” option at #5.  So if anyone has any suggestions, send them my way and I’ll take them into consideration.  Til then, see you Friday for the return of First Impression Friday.  Thanks for reading.

 

Peacemaker Kurogane Part 2 Episodes 6-10

Testunosuke has been officially allowed into the Shinsengumi…as a page for Vice Commander Hijikata.  Despite his low rank, Tetsu is slowly guided by a host of elite warriors, inching along the path to his goal.  But more importantly, new faces enter Tetsu’s life who will help define the path he walks: Saya, a mute girl whose life Tetsu once saved; and Suzu, who just so happens to be the page of Toshimaru Yoshida, the greatest adversary of the Shinsengumi and possibly the man who killed Testu’s parents.  But the most important might be a mysterious man who reminds Tetsu of his father.  Who is the gunweilding samurai who seems very taken with the word “Peacemaker”?

The second week of Peacemaker was a little strange, to say the least.  After a decent set of intro episodes, we continued to plod along with a teeny bit of plot progression and very little action.  We did, however, get some solid character and history establishing moments that gave the Shinsengumi a lot more depth and likeability.  Event Tetsu made some strides this week to become a little better…but only when certain people were around.

Yeah, it looks like every episode is meant to start with shouts and complaints from our “protagonist” and that’s starting to become grating.  Tetsu’s need to scream his mouth off every two minutes doesn’t make him endearing, funny or even the least bit likeable.  Seriously, how did Tetsu’s voice actor not lose their voice with all the screaming this kid does?  That being said, I mentioned he did make some strides to better himself this week.  Believe it or not, those strides happened because of a girl.  Saya may look cute but her constantly sad expression and her inability to speak hints at a much darker story.  Her friend, Hana, almost let slip that they may be young Courtesans in training, a sad fact of history.  And yet, the girl who cannot speak is showing Tetsu the path to become better without losing who he is.  It’s a cute friendship and Testu seems to shout a lot less, so I’ll take that.

Testu’s other new friendship this week came from Suzu, who happens to be Yoshida’s page.  Now this is a trainwreck waiting to happen.  Suzu’s working for Yoshida because he took him in after the Shinsengumi killed his brother.  And yet, Suzu has a hard time trying to figure out which master is the “real master”: the one who is kind or the one who kills?  Clearly Yoshida is a dark figure with his own nefarious agenda so it’s likely he’s just keeping Suzu around for sinister purposes the poor kid doesn’t realize.  So how’s Tetsu going to react when he finds out his new friend works for the Shinsengumi’s #1 Most Wanted?  More than any of their interactions this week, I’m looking forward to seeing how that all plays out for Tetsu and Suzu down the line.

Looking past Testunosuke for the moment, the Shinsengumi themselves continue to be a worthy reason to check this show out.  The mini festival Kondo holds while Hijikata is on a mission should feel out of place.  However it is good to see that even hardened warriors know how take a break…when certain people aren’t around.  I get that Kondo is the Head Captain, but it’s hard to tell who is more in charge when Hijikata seems to be calling all the shots and he’s just a Vice Commander.  Even Yamanami, who’s rank is about equal with Hijikata, seems to view him as a man with the ultimate power, one he thinks he might be abusing.  They are a complicated bunch, this Shinsengumi.  But that makes them, the central group of Hijikara, Okita, Kondo, Yamanami, Shinpachi, Heisuke, Sanosuke and Saito, the most compelling parts of this series, even more so than Tetsu might ever become.  We even got a nice dose of history from the Wolves of Mibu this week as Kondo reflected on how they first traveled to Kyoto and Hijikata and Yamanami looked back on an assassination that solidified their positions of power.

Throughout all of this, there was little action to come out of this week.  There was one brief skirmish involving Susumu, Hijikata’s ninja spy, and some Choshu ninjas (plus the fun Oniwanbashu name drop, again if you know your Rurouni Kenshin you’ll recognize the name).  But the biggest action set piece was from where Peacemaker is easily the weakest.  The use of supernatural elements feels outright unecessary and out of place.  It almost feels like something that should be placed in Samurai 7, another Studio Gonzo series based on Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai.  Is this really going to play a role towards the end of the show?  Considering where we know it’s heading, it’s hard to imagine magic playing a role in one of the most infamous moments in Japanese history.

Lastly, wanted to touch on the mysterious stranger Testu ran into.  Humming the Star Spangaled Banner (just cause?) and bearing a sleek revolver, this gun wielding samurai seems like a fun addition.  Clearly, his mannerisms and speaking style echo what little we’ve seen of Testunosuke’s father.  Im not going to assume that Tetsu’s dad faked his death and is masquerading as this guy.  But the stranger clearly knows Tetsu’s dad, even whispering the term “Peacemaker”, a word spoken to Testu by his father.  Like the supernatural plotline, I wonder how much this man will play into events.  However, I do think he’ll be way more important that any magical demons being summoned in to spice things up a bit.

So far, Peacemaker is doing right by the historical figures it’s portraying on screen.  When the Shinsengumi’s central cast is around, I’m with this show.  When Tetsu is around them…it’s annoying.  When Tetsu is around Saya, he’s better?  It’s an odd mix to say the least but I’m hoping with a lot of the exposition out of the way (I think) we can get to some more samurai action in later weeks.  They cant be saving everything for the Ikedaya Incident in the finale, right?

Death Note (2017)

When student Light Turner finds a supernatural notebook, called the Death Note, his world changes forever.  Possessing the power of a God of Death and guided by one, the clever Ryuk, Light begins to bring about his own brand of justice, adopting the alias “Kira”.  While those, like beautiful student Mia Sutton, see Kira as a new kind of savior, others see him as the ultimate killer.  When Kira’s activities attract the attention of underground detective, L, Light finds himself in a game of cat and mouse.  Trying to stay one step ahead of L, Light finds his newfound power spinning out of control.  When this battle of wits and wills ends, the world will never be the same again.

From a certain standpoint, there’s a lot of understandable hesitation about approaching an American adaptation of…well anything Anime.  The US track record for adapting Anime has been pretty dismal.  Heck, the most successful attempt wasn’t even a total adaptation (Pacific Rim).  So yeah, going into Death Note, which debuted today on Netflix, I opted to keep my expectations low, especially after Ghost in the Shell failed so miserably earlier this year.  So, after much hype (little positive and mostly negative), how did this one fare?

Well…it’s definitely better than Ghost in the Shell.  It is chalk full of problems but Death Note becomes more of a step in the right direction for American takes on popular Anime titles.  It’s a mix of good and bad really and I’ll try to cover them all.

The casting is pretty good for the most part.  Keith Stanfeild and Shea Whigham bring a lot of good work to the roles of L and James Turner.  The L seen here is a more intense take on the character, more unhinged and capable of being a bit destructive even if he isn’t realizing it.  He’s definitely not the calm and nearly emotionless guy we all know from the Anime and Manga.  I wasn’t sure about his Mr. Robot inspired look but Stanfield should be commended for making this new version of L work in unexpected ways.  Same goes for Whigham playing Light’s dad.  Then again, the man has been good in just about every role I’ve seen him in from the Fast and the Furious movies to Agent Carter.  The real stand out of the cast, however, is Margaret Qualley as Mia Sutton.  Holy crap, Misa Amane’s got nothing on this girl.  While Misa, the original character from the Anime, was an obnoxious girl playing with fire and failing, Mia is more Kira than Light is for most of the movie.  There’s a fearlessness to her that is awe inspiring and seeing her downward spiral is just plain “wow” to watch.  Of all the characters to get a sort of upgrade from this film, Misa needed it the most.  There’s very little playful naievte here. 

Which brings us to Light.  This was…interesting.  Most of us who know Death Note know Light Yagami is pretty much the Walter White of Japanese Anime.  He matched L blow for blow mentally and managed to keep his secret safe right up until the rug is pulled out from under him in the finale.  If L is the Sherlock Holmes of Death Note, Light is certainly Moriarty.  Nat Wolff as Light Turner is pretty much the exact opposite.  He has the aspirations of Light Yagami.  However, he lacks his counterparts confidence and doesn’t try to rise to the same levels of “whatever it takes”.  Most of that falls to Mia, again backing my claim that she is more Kira than Light is.  There are lines that Anime Light would cross and not look back on that new movie Light is hesitant to and flat out refuses at times.  There are moments when the Anime Light shines through, especially in the finale but I’ll get to that in a moment.  It’s not a terrible performance by any means, Wolff’s definitely reacts more like the average teen would to seeing the Death Note’s power in action, plus seeing a Death God in person.  Still, the comparisons between him and one of Anime’s greatest villains is unavoidable and it could make or break some people’s enjoyment of the film.  Me, I’m ok with it…and here’s why.

While the film does speed along at a rapid pace, obviously cramming 12 volumes of Manga and 37 episodes of Anime into a less than 2 hour film, most of it’s missteps can be forgiven for one helluva finale that I can only describe as “What If?”  The last thirty minutes presents us with something that Ghost in the Shell refused to do in it’s adaptation, take chances (trying to justify why Motoko looks like ScarJo doesn’t count, that’s just insulting).  The original ending of Death Note is brilliant but not without it’s own faults, which I wont spoil here.  The ending of the Netflix film is a very different take on things, more rapid paced action than the gravitas breakdown of Light Yagami (amazing as that scene still is).  On top of that, the final moments impressed me the most, leaving us with an ambiguous ending that I feel should not be elaborated on or explored.  It’s strange to say, but it reminds me of Inception’s infamous “did the spinner topple or keep spinning? Is Leo still in the dream?” question that Christopher Nolan will never answer.  In short, the ending is the most brilliant part of the film, almost making me wish we had seen it in the Anime itself.  Let me be clear though: The final episode of Death Note is still one of the greatest endings in all of Anime and I will never say otherwise...just incase someone thinks I might be. 

I’m praising the movie a lot, aren’t I?  Funny enough, I guess I am, and I haven’t even gotten to Ryuk yet.  That’s kind of a given though.  From the first mention of Willem Dafoe’s casting to the initial images of the character shrouded in darkness save for his eyes, Ryuk was my most anticipated character of the film and he did not disappoint.  His design is the stuff of nightmares, I dare say it’s even superior to the 2006 Japanese movies (though that was closer to his Anime design…which does make a small cameo in this movie).  And Dafoe?  His voice is perfect.  He makes Ryuk the shady con artist he really is, selling destruction for the price of enjoyment…a role Willem Dafoe could play in his sleep.  He and Nat Wolff play well off of each other and in the end, it’s one of the best castings in a live action Anime since “Beat” Takeshi Kitano in Ghost in the Shell (one of the few things I liked about that movie).

Now for the bad.  While the ending is great, getting there is a mixed bag.  Again, this is a lot of story crammed into a film less than 2 hours long.  Even the Japanese films split the story into two parts (then added a third last year but we’ll hopefully get that stateside eventually).  I feel like this could have been good material for a Netflix series rather than a movie, sort of in the vein of Daredevil or Stranger Things.  The plot feels generally rushed without giving us the chance to take in the world that Light and Mia are creating with this little crusade.  The movie is also, most surprising, gory beyond belief.  Some of the kills in this film are downright brutal.  The very first by Light’s hand made me iffy about how things would play out going forward watching.  It’s almost parody like (along with a couple of scenes with the actors) and more over the top compared to some of the subtlety of the Anime’s kills…sans potato chips.  The bloodshed could have been toned down and the story expanded, maybe even as a two part movie.  It might have even helped flesh out the character relationships that speed along with the rest of the movie without giving them time to simmer and grow naturally (they were played in as much fast forward speed as the many montages in the first third of the film).

Death Note isn’t an awful movie but it not going to satisfy everyone.  It goes for loud and over the top chaos and makes Light a shell of what fans know him to be.  The story doesn’t hit its true strides until the last act begins and until then, it’s a crap shoot as to how the adaptation will treat the source material and I’ll admit, sometimes I felt like I was watching a CW pilot in the beginning.  For me though, it’s better than Ghost in the Shell, if only because that last act stunned the hell out of me.  I would say that fans and viewers will either love it or hate it.  Me, I’m in the middle.  The cast is solid, the finale is awesome, as is Mia.  The changes to Light did bother me and I don’t know if I can let that go fully.  As far as US adaptations of Japanese Anime go, temper your expectations and you might find some enjoyment.  Cause trust me, given our track record, this could have been a lot worse.

7/10

T5W#106-Top 5 School Themed Anime

It’s sadly that time of year again.  Summer has gone and passed and hundreds of kids droop their heads in despair as the school bells summon them once again (Green Day got it right, “Wake me up when September ends).  Still, there’s always excitement to be had in starting a new year of learning from brand new discoveries to brand new friends.  So on today’s Top 5 Wednesday, I’ll be looking at my Top 5 School Themed Anime.  These are the school I’d love to have attended when I was younger.  It’s a mix of adventure, some supernatural and even slice of life (cause even that can be fun sometimes too).

 

#5-Ouran High School Host Club

I don’t think I could ever see myself as a “Host”.  But these after school club makes the concept look pretty cool.  Haruhi Fujioka breaks a priceless vase belonging to the Ouran High School Host Club and must pay them back by becoming a member herself…emphasis on “Herself”.  Yep Haruhi is a girl who dresses like a guy, so it’s up to the club to keep her secret…or exploit it to hilarious effect.  I’m considering reviewing this one at the end of the year in December.  It’s a series I never thought id find myself liking but man was I so wrong for doubting it.

 

#4-The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

When beautiful but weird student Haruhi Suzumiya announces she only wants to meet Aliens, Espers or Time Travelers, she creates a club dedicated to seeking them out and drags the only boy who would take a chance talking to her about it, Kyon, on as first official member of the SOS Brigade.  However, Kyon just so happens to meet an Alien, an Esper and a Time Traveler who all join the club, and Haruhi it totally oblivious, or is she.  On the surface, were I attending the school, it might not seem like much goes on in this club.  Stepping into the world of Haruhi Suzumiya, turns out, is a bizzarley enjoyable ride that took the Anime world by storm with it’s genre bending storytelling, deep character study and nods to just about every genre on the map.  There’s also that crazy Hare Hare Yukai dance that EVERYONE has tried to pull off…or make a crap ton of AMVs around it (guilty).  It’s definitely an afterschool club I’d want to join, even if it means I must accept Haruhi as my lord and savior (don’t ask)

 

#3-My Hero Academia

A school where can learn to be your worlds Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman?  It’s no wonder this show has caught on as much as it has.  Deku is a child without a special power, or Quirk, and yet longs to save the world like his idol, the World’s Strongest Hero All Might.  When Deku meets All Might and learns the truth about his powers, he becomes the mighty Hero’s pupil and enrolls in the legendary U.A. Academy.  This world is so freaking imaginative with everyones quirks and Deku’s path to becoming his own hero is littered with “F Yeah” moments.  The supporting cast is equally strong with lovable characters like Tenya, Uchaco and everyone favorite Best Girl, Tsu.  Sign me up, just don’t put me next to Kaachan, he annoys me more than he is actually threatening (seriously how did Deku ever look up to him for so long when Kaachan treats him like crap?)

 

#2-Little Witch Academia

After see a magic show performed by her idol, Shinny Chariot, Atsuko “Akko” Kagerri, aims to become a witch herself, enrolling at the prestigious Luna Nova Academy.  She also discovers the “Shinny Rod” that once belonged to Chariot and seeks to reawaken it’s power, hoping to see her hero who has vanished from the limelight.  If Harry Potter was an Anime, and focused on cute girls exclusively, it would Little Witch Academia.  It’s been a long time since an Anime had my attention so strongly.  It’s a feel good show with genuine magic from the animation to the loveable characters to the fact that it’s Studio Trigger having a freaking blast bringing this all together.  Plus, wouldn’t hurt to have a Professor as cute as Ursula, I’d take extra classes with her hehehe.

 

#1-K-On

Yui Hirasawa has never played an instrument in her life. Yet when she shows surprising natural skills with a guitar, she is strong armed into the Light Music Club.  Along drummer Ritsu Tainaka, bassist Mio Akiyama, keyboardist Tsumugi “Mugi” Kotobuki, and freshman guitarist Azusa Nakano, Yui brings a new kind of sound to Sakuragaoka High School.  This series has an amazing soundtrack.  But you’d be surprised to know there’s very little music playing (at least in the first season anyway) and that’s fine.  Yes, the tracks these girls can pull together sound incredible.  But the hilarity that comes from their friendship and adventures, THAT’s the exciting thing.  If heaven was a room with just these five, enjoying cake as the sun set in their little club room, I’d welcome it.  This anime is the kind you put on when it’s a rainy day or you’ve had a rough day yourself (maybe even at school).  Listen to one of the songs or enjoy an adventurous pratfall…and you’ll know things are going to be ok.

End of Summer/Fall 2017 Announcements

Hey everyone,

Hope the eclipse looked cool cause it’s too cloudy where I am to see it, figures.

Anyway, here to give everyone a heads up on what’s coming to the Anime Corner as we head into the homestretch of 2017.  It’s been a quick year but it has been a rough year and I think it’s a miracle ive kept up with things here as well as I can…and am about to make  a little more work for myself. 

Before I get to what new shows ill be covering over the next couple of months, im happy to announce…FIRST IMPRESSION FRIDAY RESSURECTION!!! 

Yep, thanks to a couple of titles recommended to me by a new friend, ive decided to bring my Friday feature out of retirement for a new slew of shows where I share my initial thoughts on the first 1-3 episodes.  I’m aiming to do maybe 10 of these initially and see where things go from there (right now 6 have been completed).  Expect the first of these to arrive on September 1^st.  I was going to start it this week, along with the premiere of Peacemaker Kurogane and a new Top 5 Wednesday.  However, Friday is also the debut of the Netflix Death Note Movie…so ill be covering that instead since ill be able to see it right when it airs.

As for reviews, the schedule at the moment is thus:

Right now until mid September I’ll be reviewing Peacemaker Kurogane, a historical dramedy about a young boy seeking revenge by joining the legendary Shinsengumi.  You can see my first review right here:  http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2017/08/peacemaker-kurogane-part-1-episodes-1-5.html

Following that, for the month of October I’ll be reviewing the Kia Asamiya supernatural scifi epic Silent Mobius.  In 2023, five beautiful police officers use a mix of technology and sorcery to battle an evil that almost destroyed the world once and is determined to finish the job this time.  I’ll be covering the TV series through the end of September through all of October before reviewing the Two Part Feature Film at the beginning of November.

And that brings us to, at long last, the third (and not final) season of Full Metal Panic, aka The Second Raid.  Things seem to be going well for Sousuke and his long term assignment protecting Kaname Chidori.  When an organization appears with the ability to counter Mithril at every turn, Sousuke is forcibly pulled from his protection detail to take the fight right to the enemy.  What does this mean for Kaname’s safety and how will being apart from her affect Sousuke?

I have finalized what I’m reviewing for the end of the year.  I’m half tempted to do a “Katsuhiro Otomo” month if only so I have an excuse to post a review of Akira on Christmas Day.  Of course, I’m not sure I have 4 Katsuhiro Otomo themed project in my collection to review.  Again, this is still TBD, I could just review another show (Ouran High School Host Club and K-On have both been thrown my way). 

So there you have it: First Impression Fridays return; plus Peacemaker, Silent Mobius and Full Metal Panic; and whatever I can come up with for an on the spot Top 5 Wednesday.

Hope everyones having a great day.  And thanks for stopping by.

Peacemaker Kurogane Part 1 Episodes 1-5

Tetsunosuke Ichimura is a fiery youth who seeks to join the Shinsengumi, the elite fighting force of the Shogunate.  As a young boy, he saw a Choshu Swordsman dressed in black cut down his parents and now he seeks the strength to avenge them.  However, this isn’t a normal band of warriors Tetsu wishes to join.  Though they may seem cheerful, the Shinsengumi are called “Demons” and “The Wolves of Mibu” for a reason.  In the most turbulent time in Japanese history, blood is spilt on a daily basis.  And if he is to rise to match the ranks of the Shinsengumi’s greatest warriors, Tetsu will have to learn to shed some of his own as well.

The Shinsengumi.  Anyone who’s watch Rurouni Kenshin knows them.  Anyone who knows a thing or two about Japanese history knows them even better.  Peacemaker Kurogane…should be about shining a light on these characters.  And though it does a lot of that in the first introductory episodes, there’s one big thing that hampers what I hope turns into a really good show…the main character.  Well him and the fact that this is a show by Studio Gonzo and they’re really hit and miss.  They can make good looking shows like Trinity Blood and Vandread.  But in the story department, they kind of fall flat.  It sounds like im judging the show based on the first five episodes alone so I’ll take a step back and focus on this intro set.

The Shinsengumi presented here are a freaking awesome bunch.  History has seen them painted as heroes and villans depending on who you ask.  Here, we’re meant to see them as the heroes of the story and it’s easy to get into that mindset.  Despite their strictness and their ruthlessness in combat, the Wolves of Mibu are a very tight and likeable group.  Characters like Hijikata and Kondo balance strict rules with heart and cheer while unit commanders Sanosuke and Shinpachi offer plenty of humor and bad ass battle moments.  The stand out character of the main group has to be Soji Okita.  He make look feminine and delicate like a flower but WOW can he get intense when he needs to.  The look he gives Tetsu when he says he is “a child of demons” is bone chilling.  And yet he speaks so kindly as a man you’d never expect to have such a talent for bloodshed.  That and his childlike innocence that either irks Hijikata or soothes him makes Okita the most complex yet likeable character so far in the cast.

The same cannot be said for Tetsunosuke.  Even when you find out his motivations and his tragic backstory, you still have to start each episode with him shouting or complaining about something.  It is a freaking miracle he was even accepted into the Shinsengumi at all.  It makes me wonder if Hijikata has some underlying reason for letting him in.  He’s made it clear he doesn’t want him sent into battle, hence why Tetsu is whining about being his page.  Did he know Tetsu’s dad maybe?  Anyway, Tetsu is very much the Naruto type of this series, screaming every five minutes about how he’ll become the greatest Shinsengumi swordsman in history without realizing the cost it will take to get there.  This is one of the bloodiest times in Japanese history.  Those who have seen Rurouni Kenshin know through Kenshin’s backstory that murder in the streets at night was a pretty common occurance.  Does Tetsu not realize that he is going to have to kill if he wants his true revenge?  Or is he too busy yelling at how this thing and that thing is unfair to realize this?  He’s got some growing to do (emotional not physical, I don’t have a problem with him being short).  Unlike Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist, he doesn’t seem the kind of character with a focus of steel and the determination of an adult.  Tetsunosuke never comes off as more than a brat in these intro episodes…and that’s a problem when he’s the focal point of this story as a whole.

We also get a look at the Choshu Clansman coming into Kyoto.  Since the Shinsengumi are meant to be the heroes, the rebels are equally easily made out to be the clear villains.  Yoshida carries an air of darkness, beyond the clothes he wears.  Hijikata outing him as a serial arsonist pins even more red flags in his direction.  Much like history, or Mobile Suit Gundam, will tell you, there were heroes and villains on both sides of any conflict.  There’s some indication that Yoshida’s extreme actions might not match up with some other revolutionists of the time.  Perhaps the Shinsengumi stopping whatever he might have planned is in the best interest of both parties.  I should note we did get a flashfoward to start the series off, glimpsing the famous Ikedaya Incident that was a pivotal moment in the Civil War that brought about the Meiji Period.  If you know your history, or again watched Rurouni Kenshin, you know how this ends.  In any case, Yoshida might not make it out of this show.  Even if that’s the case, he’ll still be a tough guy for the Wolves of Mibu to take down.

Lastly, I want to talk about an element introduced early on that feels more out of place than Tetsunosuke himself.  There is a supernatural element that is being tacked on for literally no reason.  There’s a chance they might want to tap into the spiritual prowness of Hajime Saito, a name RuroKen fans will definitely recognize.  The Saito presented here is a far cry from his RuroKen counterpart.  History speaks of him as a very spiritual man, whereas RuroKen keeps him more like a Samurai version of The Punisher.  Peacemaker taps into his spirituality and makes him more ethereal, which would be a good element to tone down Tetsu a bit.  However, making him fight against zombies possessed by wizards on the Choshu side seems…just weird. 

Overall, if you can tune out Testu’s rantings, Peacemaker Kurogane has a very entertaining first set of episodes here.  The Shinsengumi are the standouts.  Their comradere, their philosophy, and the way they kick ass in such bloody fashion make me wonder why we need Tetsunosuke in the first place.  This could’ve been a good historical drama and it still could be…though we have a loud mouth Naruto wannabe and supernatural wizards and zombies too.  I’ll hold out hope though, I’m not sorry im watching this.  It’s just sad to think “it could be better” so early into the run.

T5W#105-Top 5 Anime Fan Parody Films

As anticipated, I wasn’t able to attend Otakon 2017 in Washington DC this past weekend.  This meant I had to miss out on friends, cosplay, the new setting that apparently kicked all kinds of ass.  It also meant I missed out on some good Anime viewing, especially the fan parodies.  The Late Night Fan Parody Videos shown on Friday and Saturday night are always a treat to see, a chance to see my favorite Anime (or Anime ive never heard of or haven’t seen before) being used to produce laughter in some unexpected ways.  They either have new stories grafted or poke fun at the already established premisies of the shows and films theyre trying to parody.  Today, I’m looking at my Top 5 Favorite Anime Fan Parody Films.  I already did Abridged Parody Series a while back so if youre curious about that list, you can see it here:

 

#5: Nescaflowne

What happens when you take a typical Japanese High School Track Star and plant her on a planet where Coffee is the ultimate power and those who farm it pilot giant mechas called Brewers?  What happens when you add in a Sean Connery mad genius who can alter the plot at will thanks to his Plasystation 2 powered machine?  You get what’s arguably a much more understandable story than Escaflowne itself.  Nescaflowne may run a little long but it’s take on the shows main romantic trio, the confusion of the central plot and motivations of the villains, and it’s hard rocking soundtrack keep you entertained from beginning to end.  And I love the new names given to Van, Hitomi and Allen: now featured as Juan Valdez, Hitme and Head and Shoulders of Maxwell House…priceless comedy gold.

 

#4: Macross 7.5 ½

Fan Parody Artist Trigger Mortis makes many of his classic comedies based on old school scifi mecha Anime.  Ideon/Off and Combattler V: The Parody both have some truly hilarious moments.  However the first of his projects I ever saw, Macross 7.5 1/2 , is what I consider the best.  The parody focuses on Basara and his failing band (due in no small part to Basara’s lameness).  However, it’s Basara’s lack of musical talent that might be what saves the Macross 7 from Proto Mojo juicing aliens and the poor captaining skills of Captain Max Sterling.  Oh and it’s got an amazing 80’s focused soundtrack, this guy knows how to make the most perfect mixes for any fan parody.

 

#3: Fanboy Soze vs the Reanimators of the Otakulypse

The was the first film I ever saw from Non De Fan Films, a group who’s members have been part of Otakon’s staff, even heading the Fan Parodies event themselves.  Wow was this a good one to start with.  Using Akira as their base for the parody, Fanboy Soze follows Tyler, Andy and a group of underground Anime Activists seeking to take down a greedy corporate Anime Company before they bastardize Dragon Ball Z one more time.  Oh and Tylers would be love interest (who he doesn’t know is a dude) is slowly being taken over by a psycho editing computer who sounds like Glados.  The film pokes fun at redubbing Anime time and time again and even eggs on some of the “sins” of dubbed Anime’s past (aka Robotech).  It’s a gut buster that every fan should see and only a taste of the genius that is Non De Fan Films.

 

#2: Evangelion ReDeath

I’ve talked about this one a few times before and I still think that if you ever go to an Otakon, this is one fan parody that must be seen.  I still cant give my own adequate description of this one, so I’ll let the official Otakon handbook handle this one: “It doesn’t bother Shinji that his father (who might be a pimp) thinks giant robots are babe magnets. It doesn’t bother him that he shares an apartment with a strangely masculine German girl. It doesn’t even bother him that the world may be coming to an end thanks to a long forgotten Prince song. The only thing on Shinji’s mind is the nookie, whatever that is.  No one said adolescence was easy.” The excessive use of Prince (and one of the most perfect soundtracks ever put together), Gendo’s new level of bad ass (let’s face it, we all wish we had his theme song), Shinji being more funny than unbearable, German Terminator Asuka, and the funniest take on the end of the world ever crafted.  This right here…might be Evangelion done right…right down to the cutest giant kaiju plushie battle of all time: PIKACHU VS RYO OHKI FTW!!!!

 

#1: This is Otakudom

This is Otakudom is a parody I tend to keep close to my heart.  Not only is it funny, it’s also a very through exploration into the realm of Anime Convention Communities.  The film, using footage most from Fushigi Yugi, follows a small band of Anime fans from all walks of life: cosplayers, gamers, fan fic writers, even those who aren’t as into Anime as others, as they travel to their first Otakon convention in Baltimore.  From Pre Registration chaos to trying to find the right item in the Dealer’s Room, there is nary a detail about these amazing weekends that is glossed over.  This is Otakudom is a Fan Parody for people who love to laugh and, like me, love Anime Conventions with all their hearts…and kind of wish their adventures were as wild and wacky as this one (ok that’s a bit much…I know others are far more intense and memorable haha).

 

 

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Part 10 Episodes 46-49

The Eve Wars have begun.  Treize and the World Nation forces clash with Zechs and his army of White Fang Mobile Dolls.  Heero, Duo, Trowa, Quatre and Wufei find themselves right in the middle of the action, each with their own mission and scores to settle.  As Wufei has his final battle with Treize, Duo, Quatre and Trowa hurry to stop Dorthy Catalonia and the Mobile Doll Control System.  As Libra descends on Earth, Heero battles Zechs one last time, with the fate of Relena and the planet at stake.  How far will Heero go to protect the people he cares about the most and how far will Zechs go to satisfy his own ends?  The final chapter is here.

So it’s finally come down to this.  Even as I start to type this out, I’m trying to figure out how to word my final thoughts, not just on this finale, but on the series as a whole.  Were the final episodes good?  From an action standpoint, yeah it was good.  From a plot and character standpoint, even the excuse that Endless Waltz does follow, it doesn’t excuse that somethings were not brought to the best conclusion involving most of the cast.  I expect I’m going to get a lot of judgement out of this part more than any before it, so let’s not waste anymore time and just get to it.

We finally got the promised all out war that Treize and Zechs both wanted, the war to end all wars so that peace could finally be attained.  Whoever came up with the idea that total destruction is the ultimate path to total pacifism should be slapped, especially since it ended up being Zechs’ motivation for these last few episodes.  In retrospect, it seemed like making Zechs the leader of White Fang was just an excuse to get him to fight Heero one more time.  Could this have been done a bit differently, perhaps, but I’ll get into my thoughts about how I would have done things differently with this finale as I continue along.  My gripes with Zechs’ motivations aside, his final battle with Heero was as intense as it should have been for one last duel.  Thankfully, the animation was given a last bit of “umph” and really, the rest of the show should have looked this good from the get go. 

As the final battle raged, it was time to wrap up everyones stories as best as the show could with four episodes left.  Dorothy finally revealed that she wanted this war to happen because she wanted humanity so afraid of war that there woudnt be another.  Her and Quatre’s back and forth was interesting and I can see why these two are “shipped”.  Quatre’s honest heart is something Dorothy could have used a long time ago and a relationship developing throughout the show would have benefited both.  As for Treize, it really is hard to believe he was once the big bad of Gundam Wing.  Now he’s leading the charge, in person, to start the road to total pacifism, one he intended to give his life for.  I will say this, Treize has been one of the most complex but well written characters in all of Gundam Wing, probably the best overall (besides maybe Heero).  I have no qualms about him dying in the end…but I kind of wish maybe he didn’t.  Wufei even admits he never expected to win and I think Wufei would have actually been ok if he had fallen to Treize giving it his all.  Think about it, losing Wufei would definitely have upped the ante, since Quatre getting stabbed was the only point I ever got to be worried about any of the pilots getting out alive.  Plus, it would have forced Treize to work with Relena to see the new world bloom as a result.  Still, Treize went out as he wished, few can say they ever do so on their terms.  He was a man who saw the world he helped create and sought redemption for it.  Hats off to you Treize Kushrenada, you magnificent bastard.

With so much going on in space, it was ballsy to have the writers throw in everything they could, even if it meant some head scratching.  Killing off Doctor J and his buddies, that’s fine but suddenly having Quinze reveal he was also part of Operation Meteor and this whole White Fang operation was basically Plan B…WHY DIDN’T WE LEAD WITH THAT?  The return of the original operation to defeat the Earth powers that be in a darker and deadlier form would have been a much better plot device to drive the show to the end, rather than suddenly there’s a colony rebellion we never saw creep up til it was too late.  Operation Meteor never had a proper conclusion, rather it was halted after it began.  Seeing one of the original masterminds step up to finish what he started would have been a great endgame and make the White Fang more threatening to begin with.  Also, we got the return of Lady Une…who much like a certain “speedster” developed super powers in her coma and used them to fly Wing Gundam up to space in under ten minutes and save Treize’s life while sacrificing the Gundam to do so…ok, that’s a leap of logic but I’m more miffed that Wing comes back for one more fight and that’s all it does, save Treize’s life.  How cool would it be if Treize swapped out his “eh” Tallgeese II for the Wing Gundam, which I’m sure he could pilot.

What about the Gundam boys?  Well Heero, Quatre and Wufei seemed to be the only ones with any meatier plot points to wrap up.  Wufei got to have his final showdown with Treize, while Quatre faced Dorothy.  Trowa kind of just flew around blowing up stuff...he actually had nothing really to contribute in the end at all.  I could harp on Duo but he’s Duo and he always gets a free pass to blow stuff up and look cool doing it.  Again, here’s where picking off one or two of them could have raised the stakes and made you worry about who was going to come out of this alive.  I’ve always thought Trowa should have died at the mid point of the series and I already discussed how Wufei dying would have been a good plot development had Treize won.  Heero’s story benefited from actually coming full circle with Relena.  The second half of Gundam Wing has done both characters true wonders, especially Relena.  Relena’s strong leadership inspired the former bad guys to change their ways, even Treize.  And it gave Heero hope.  The moment he and Relena share before he heads off to find Zechs is one of the most touching of the finale (besides the teddy bear at the end).  Heero has changed so much from the killing machine he thought he was.  Sure he jabs at Relena’s optimism.  But he also asks Relena to have faith in him as he flies off to battle.  I gave Relena a ton of crap for being the creepy stalker she was in the very beginning.  But here, I can see now why she and Heero would work as a couple. 

So what happens after Heero saves the day and blows up the asteroid…sorry the battleship heading for Earth (sorry I was confused with Char’s Counterattack for a moment)?  Nothing.  We cut to a little while later, where Relena receives a birthday note and a cute little teddy bear gift.  She sees Heero trying to sneak off but gets his attention and tears his note up.  Heero smiles, walks away…and that’s it.  We’re told that Earth and the Colonies were finally coming together and peace was almost certain.  But what about the others?  Besides Noin and Dorothy visiting the graves of loved ones (Noin of course knows Zechs is still alive), we don’t see any final moments for Duo, Quatre, Wufei, Trowa, Lady Une or Sally Po.  Not even a little glimpse.  I guess if time was a factor, Heero and Relena would get the final scene for themselves.  Still, even if we didn’t know Endless Waltz was coming, some more closure would’ve been really nice.

Sigh.  Ok.  It’s time.  What are my final thoughts now that I’ve finished the last episode of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing?  *deep breathe*  It has been more than 17 years since I first saw this show on Toonami.  In my heart, Gundam Wing is the reason I am still in love with Anime, more than Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon or even FLCL.  Heck, it made me a Gundam fan in general and I have delved head first into the mythos far beyond the After Colony era where I began.  I love Gundam and the reason for that is Gundam Wing.  However, Gundam Wing isn’t exactly the shining gem it once was for me when I first saw it and the flaws are there, even if some aren’t willing to accept them.  The plot is fine but too many developments happen off screen and we just have to accept their coming to be.  The reused animation happens more often than I want to admit.  Several characters are either unnecessary (Sally Po) or don’t really live up to their potential because they have no real story until the end (Trowa).  Many of the character motivations towards the end, especially Zechs, feel a little forced and there are many things I would have done differently with the finale itself. 

There are better Gundam stories out there: the original Gundam 0079, 08^th MS Team, 0080 to name a few, with better pacing, character and plot development and more consistent animation levels.  But let me be absolutely clear about this: Don’t think for one second that I’m writing Gundam Wing off as a bad nostalgia trip or an unimportant entry in the Gundam franchise.  Without this show, for better or worse, Gundam would not be the name it is in the US Anime community.  Like many others, the images of the characters, battles and the Gundams themselves, are the first that come to mind often when I hear “Gundam”.  That, in and of itself, is a negative with “die hard” fans who think that Wing’s popularity overshadows better entries in the franchise.  It’s tough to try and get others into other Gundam entries but not impossible (I found the original series and 08^th MS Team a year later and love them to death).  In the end, I’m on both sides of the fence as to whether or not Id recommend Gundam Wing as the starting point for new fans.  I could easily say, watch Mobile Suit Gundam first because it’s where everything began for Gundam.  For me, I’d say start with Wing…because at the end of the day, this is where Gundam started for me.  Flaws and all, I will never forget that and as much as I’ve ragged on it, I will stand up for this show until the day I die.

Impossible, you say?  I say…Mission Accepted.

7.5/10

Whew, ok.  Time for a bit of a break.  There’s not Otakon this year for me but I’m still taking a planned week off to breathe a little bit.  I’ll see you back on the Anime Corner in two weeks for the start of our next series, Peacemaker Kurogane.  Til then, TOBE GUNDAM!!!