T5W#253-Top 5 Anime Compilation Films

When the subject of “Compilation Films” gets brought up, the first question I usually think of is…”why?”  Why do we need a feature length recap of something that was already pretty much perfect in it’s TV Series or OVA form?  Arent they just several episodes spliced together in some random marathon format?  It’s one of the reasons ive tried not to review them here at the Gundam Anime Corner because, in the end, what more can they offer that their respective shows already have?  Sometimes they just don’t work, like the two part Turn A Gundam Compilation Films: Earth Light and Moonlight Butterfly.  But every once in a while, a Compilation Film comes along that not only tells the story meant to be retold, it surpasses or does the recapping of the subject matter proper justice.  Well, since we’ll be covering a the Code Geass Compilation Film Trilogy in a couple of weeks, heading into the review of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection, I’m gonna pick out my Top 5 Anime Compilation Films and explain why they stand tall along side, or sometimes, surpass the original series they cover.

#5-Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz-Special Edition

I always wonder if Endless Waltz was always meant to be a movie and not an OVA.  Not that there’s anything wrong with the original 3 episode miniseries…maybe the story could have been tighter.  The Special Edition is a smoother, more efficient work.  It swaps around various scenes, especially the flashbacks and makes them fit more organically into the larger tale.  And there’s several new additional scenes that feature the return of lost characters and, more importantly, more action with the Gundams kicking serious ass.  The end result of the movie is still the same but if you really want to experience the sequel to Gundam Wing, The Special Edition of Endless Waltz is the proper way to view it.

#4-Rahxephon: The Motion Picture-Pluralitas Concentio

The story of Rahxephon is pretty dense and as hard to decipher as a certain Anime that inspired it…we’ll get to it in a second actually.  To even attempt a single compilation film on it would be nuts.  But Pluralitas Concentio decides to try a more unique approach.  It’s both a compilation film and an alternate retelling of the Rahxephon story.  This time, the focus is almost exclusively on the romance between series protagonist Ayato Kamina and Haruka Stow, his love across time and space.  While the movie lacks an abundance of mecha battles, the most important showdowns are here.  If you finish and like Rahxephon, this alternate take is worth a look.

#3-Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death (2)

Originally meant to be released alongside The End of Evangelion, the Evangelion grand finale wasn’t completed in time.  So it was split into two halves: Death and Rebirth (or Death (2) ) and The End of Evangelion.  Death (2) is a one hour deep examination of all of Neon Genesis Evangelions major players: from Shinji, Rei and Askua, to support characters like Misato, Kwaoru, Toji, Fuyutsuki, Kaji, Ritsuko and yes, Gendo Ikari.  This is a deep dive unlike any other and is edited very well together, taking us from before the beginning of the series to the heartwrenching final choice Shinji must make regarding Kaworu’s existence.  Death (2) is a good last chance to get to know one of the best ensemble casts in all of Anime before everything goes to hell in the epic finale.

#2-Mobile Suit Gundam: The Movie II: Soldiers of Sorrow 

Last year I reviewed the original Mobile Suit Gundam Compilation Trilogy, solely because without it, Gundam might not have gotten its second chance to become popular.  Of the three films, Soldiers of Sorrow is my favorite.  It has the difficult task of being the middle chapter of an epic saga without a proper beginning or end.  And yet the movie covers a huge swath of time, over 15 episodes of the series, into an exciting action piece that is just as much about the giant robot battles as it is about the people fighting to survive in a war they wanted no part of.  If nothing else, Soldiers of Sorrow makes you want to pop in Encounters in Space just to continue to adventure and see how the first chapter of the Gundam saga ends.

#1-Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Beginnings and Eternal

To promote the release of the Madoka Magica Rebellion movie, two compilation features were commissioned.  This is one of those instances where I felt this was unnecessary because Madoka Magica is a near perfect Anime.  But Beginnings and Eternal surprised me.  Even split into two films, it’s hard to tell if anything has been changed or left out.  Everything important is here, nothing is skimped of glossed over.  Hell, even the ending is intact and doesn’t act as a lead in to the Rebellion movie.  This is a rare instance where id say you could watch Madoka Magica in either its original 11 episode TV format or these two films if youre pressed to time.  The same heart tugging and tear jerking experience is still the same…few TV to Compilation Film features can manage such an achievement.