T5W#268-Top 5 Anime You’ll Like if You Like Dune

Ever since Director Dennis Villenuve was attached to direct it, I’ve been mega hyped for the forthcoming adaptation of Frank Herbet’s Dune.  Dune is probably my favorite novel of all time.  It’s a sprawling scifi saga of action, romance, mysticism, intricate plots (putting that lightly) and scale the likes of which I still think haven’t been topped in Science Fiction.  While there’s still plenty of time to find a copy of the book and read it before the movie comes out, I come to offer an alternate solution (besides tracking down the 1984 David Lynch Movie (a guilty pleasure of mine) or the 2000 SciFi Channel Miniseries).  Of course if I have a movie that I like, I can think of several Anime that would be good watches to follow them up with.  Finding Anime like Dune isn’t an easy task…and that’s something I say way too often about these Top 5 lists, but here we go again.  Probs should do this closer to its release at Christmas (hopefully).  But since it’s been on my mind and I just watched one of the shows on this list for the first time and it kind of inspired this idea, lets check out the Top 5 Anime You’ll Like if You Like Dune. 

Psycho Pass 3 Part 4 Episodes 7-8

It is a time of desperation.  With Kei and Mao captured during an undercover assignment, it’s up to Arata and Chief Mika to get the evidence they need to raid Heaven’s Leap and rescue their comrades.  Things are even more desperate for Kei when his wife falls into the hands of the enemy.  With so much at stake, what sacrifice will Kei have to make and will it mean turning against his best friend and partner, Arata?  Or is the will of Bifrost too powerful for anyone to oppose?  Whatever the outcome, one member of Unit 01 will not make it through this case alive.

You have got to be kidding me.  Did…did we just lose Yayoi?  That would be a heartwrenching note to leave things and probably the biggest one considering the heap of unanswered questions and dangling plot threads left after these last two episodes.  Also, just to clarify, that isn’t a complaint.  No way, this was a far better ending to a far better season of Psycho Pass that makes me hope that Psycho Pass 4 gets here pronto.

FIF#121-Beast King GoLion

Legend tells of the mighty robot GoLion.  Eons ago, he challenged a powerful deity and for his arrogance, he was broken into five pieces and scattered across the planet Altea.  Now, GoLion is needed again.  The Galra Empire begins a ruthless conquest of the galaxy, slaughtering millions and enslaving others for their own entertainment on planet Galra.  Five of those slaves, Humans from a war torn Planet Earth, escape to Altea and learn the legend of GoLion.  Together, they reawaken the giant warrior once more to destroy Emperor Daibazzal and his Robeasts and restore peace to the cosmos.

Ah the 80’s, a different time for Anime in the US.  If you thought the editing we had to do for Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon in the 90’s was rough, you clearly didn’t know how really, really, really bad they had to cut down Anime from the 80’s trying to make a splash stateside.  Last week we looked at the first Gatchaman adaptation for US broadcst, Battle of the Planets from the 70’s.  Today, we look at the series that was the basis for one of the greatest names in the history of Giant Robots, so much so that we know him by that name and rarely mention his original Japanese title.  And ohhhhhh man…Voltron: Defender of the Universe really was a kids show compared to Beast King GoLion.

T5W#267-Top 5 PS5 Trailers from the Playstation 5 Event

Last week, Sony held a special event to reveal the launch date and pricing of the upcoming Playstation 5.  Not taking into account the preorder debacle it’s still facing, the Playstation 5 looks to be one of the best things to happen to gaming in a long time.  This is no doubt thanks to the fact that it has a decent slew of launch titles ready to go and some highly anticipated titles coming in 2021 and beyond.  As luck would have it, we got new looks at many of these upcoming titles and some were pretty surprising.  It’s an easy Top 5 list to put together (and my third video game centered Top 5 in 3 weeks.  Do I go for a fourth next week or try to find something Anime related to talk about?), the Top 5 PS5 Trailers from the Playstation 5 Event.  Let’s get to it.

Psycho Pass 3 Part 3 Episodes 5-6

A suicide bombing disrupts the opening ceremiones for the Mitake Special Religious Zone.  Unit 01, present during the attack, takes lead on the case which finds three suspects, each the head of a separate religious group opposed to the Special Zone’s existence.  Could three people of pure peace who can uncloud the harshest of hues truly be responsible for this act of violence?  The investigation sends Kei and Mao undercover in one of Tokyo’s largest religious sanctuaty’s, Heaven’s Leap.  But there’s danger lurking there as well as on the outside as the master manipulators of Bifrost enact their most dangerous gamble yet, one that could mean the end of several members of Unit 01.

While not as strong as last weeks pair of back to back awesome episodes, this weeks continuation of Psycho Pass 3 remains pretty good.  The continuous world building and exploration of social aspects of the Sybil controlled Japan continue to be fascinating and watching things get dire and dire for the cast keeps things on the edge of your seat.

FIF#120-Battle of the Planets

As the Earth expands it relations with those among the stars, it finds itself threatened by hostile Alien invaders.  To protect them, a special team is commissioned, specifically trained to deal with enemies from space.  They are Mark, Jason, Princess, Tiny and Keyop.  All five have been given special training and bird like costumes, gadgets and vehicles they can use to combat those who would attack their homeworld.  They are G-Force and they will always be ready to partake in the Battle of the Planets.

While Anime is pretty everywhere you can think of today, decades ago it was trying its best to make a splash here in the US.  While Akira would provide that beachhead in the late 80’s, some earlier attempts were made as far back as the 1960’s with Astro Boy and Gigantor (aka Tetsujin 28-go).  A couple years back on First Impression Friday we covered the three series that made up Robotech: Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeda.  Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be looking at a couple of other popular Anime titles of US yesteryear.  The first of those is the first adaptation of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman…Battle of the Planets. 

T5W#266-Top 5 Classic Super Mario Games

It’s hard to believe Mario is turning 35 this year.  I can remember back to my first encounter with a Nintendo Entertainment System, playing Super Mario Bros for the first time and becoming addicted to gaming.  I think a lot of people can say they’ve had the same experience.  I might not be as up on my Mario knowledge since I didn’t own a lot of Nintendo systems after the Nintendo 64.  Still, this blog has plenty of gaming content to it.  So in honor of the forthcoming Super Mario 3D All Stars, im counting down the Top 5 Classic Super Mario Games.  To qualify, any of these games had to come out on the NES, SNES, N64 or the Game Boy.  Like I said, I haven’t played any of the Wii and beyond Mario games so I cant include what I don’t have experience with.  Anyway, in the immortal words of Mario himself, “Here we goooo!!!”  

Psycho Pass 3 Part 2 Episodes 3-4

The death of a renowned psychiatrist puts Arata and Kei’s unit in the middle of a showdown between two political parties vying for the position of Governor of Japan.  One is a former Pro Wrestler.  The other a beautiful Ex-Idol.  With an unseen force manipulating events from behind a curtain, Arata and Kei venture forth into the slums of Tokyo for answers.  Between holographic experiments and powerful wrestling assassins, this could be the case that makes or breaks the pair in their career as Inspectors.  Thankfully, Chief Mika Shimotsuki has some allies who might keep them alive until the case is complete.

Oh man…this was good from the get go and is surprisingly getting better.  Everything that worked with last weeks premiere continued to work and improvements were made in some of the more troubled angles. And was it me or did Shimotsuki actually show signs of likeability at long last?  Honestly, in even beginning this review, im finding myself hard pressed to think of things I didn’t like right off the bat.  Everything just clicked: the new Unit 01, the likeable front runners for Governor of Tokyo, the action, the pacing, the return of Yayoi and the revelation that someone from Psycho Pass is living a pretty nice life outside of the Public Security Bureau.  

FIF#119-Tenjou Tenge

Having moved from High School to High School, conquering each one with their unrivaled might, delinquent partners Nagi and Bob have arrived at the next stop on their list: Toudou Academy.  They enter expecting another cakewalk of useless students with no fighting skill.  Theyre about to learn that Todou isn’t your average High School.  It’s a place where those you least expect will show the greatest fighting potential.  It’s a school where the head of the Kendo Club is a diminuitive sprite who is in reality a warrior Goddess.  And it’s where Nagi meets the beautiful Aya Natsume, who declares she will marry him.  Basically, Nagi and Bob might’ve bitten off more than they can chew picking a fight with this hidden gem of the world of combat.  Welcome to Toudou Academy boys.

When I was in High School, I always daydream of being in an Anime like setting.  Not the slice of life types like K-On but more the fantastical/hyper action types.  Being able to brawl with super powers in the middle of the hallways or battle supernatural threats as part of an after school club, that sort of thing.  No surprise, Japan had the same fantasies I had and from Full Metal Panic to Real Bout High School, there were plenty of Anime that made everyday high school life the ultimate adventure.  Tenjho Tenge was one of those titles…but it doesn’t look like the kind of fun id want to have, even with all the prerequisites it checks off: mostly cute girls, samurai swords and action.

T5W#265-Top 5 Devil May Cry Games

Since quarantine began, I’ve been doing a ton of gaming in addition to watching Anime.  While ive definitely sunk more time than usual into Overwatch, I’ve also been revisiting some old single player favorites.  I did a Halo campaign marathon.  I replayed Resident Evil 4.  Most recently, I’ve dived back into the world of Dante the Devil Hunter and all the sick and awesome chaos he brings with each new adventure.  So for todays Top 5 Wednesday, I’m ranking his 5 main adventures (not including the DMC: Devil May Cry reboot that pretty much no one enjoys as far as I know, plus ive never played it).  Here are the Top 5 Devil May Cry Games.

Psycho Pass 3 Part 1 Episodes 1-2

2120 A.D.  Tokyo is thriving under the watchful gaze of the Sybil System and the crime rate continues to dwindle as a result.  When a new model Transport Drone crashes in to Tokyo Harbor, most want to see it as an accident.  However, the newest heads of Public Safety Bureau Unit 01, Arata Shindo and Kei Mikhail Ignatov believe otherwise.  Sure enough, their investigation into the matter reveals a conspiracy in a scope larger than anything the country has ever seen before.  With a mix of old and new Enforcers at their side and the backing of Bureau Chief Mika Shimotsuki, Arata and Kei are determined to solve this case, no matter the cost to their careers or their Psycho Pass.

Psycho Pass 3.  Man has this one been a long time coming.  I reviewed the first two seasons back in 2018 as part of the Gundam Anime Corners Fifth Season.  Like the general consensus, I think the First Season is a work of art with one of the best finales ive ever seen in an Anime.  Season Two was so embarrassingly bad I’m surprised it was fully approved at all by the studio with a terrible retread of a familiar case and one of the most infuriatingly frustrating characters in all of Anime in the form of Mika Shimotsuki.  Sure Psycho Pass: The Movie worked to redeem some of Season Two’s faults by putting the main story back on Kogame and Akane but still left things without a clear direction of where Psycho Pass was going.  Well after an anthology film trilogy, Sinners of the System, Psycho Pass returns to TV with the long awaited Third Season.  Is it already better than Psycho Pass 2?  Yes it is but I don’t think it’s quite up to the gold standard set by Season One…not that it isn’t up to the task of trying.

FIF#118-Samurai 7

On a far off world, a village finds itself plagued by attacks from Nobruseri bandits, former Samurai who turned themselves into dangerous machines.  Helpless against these monsters, the villagers are desperate for relief.  Some suggest a dire course of action: to battle Samurai, they must hire Samurai themselves.  In the wake of a devastating war, seven wandering soldiers of the sword are selected by these desperate souls to defend their land from an enemy these men thought they’d never face again.  Together, these seven Samurai must do the impossible and save one village from an unstoppable force…if they can put aside their differences and learn to work together.

Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made.  Amazing cinematography, legendary performances and a timeless story, it has been an inspiration for filmmakers for decades (most notably on George Lucas when he was working on Star Wars).  Personally…I think it’s good but I also find it a little too long and kind of boring at times.  I actually prefer the American Western version, The Magnificent Seven (partly because of that kick ass theme song).  So what happens when you take one of Japan’s most revered and legendary landmarks and give it a scifi/Anime spin? 

T5W#264-Top 5 Best Anime Sequels

Last week, I did a list of the Top 5 Most Disappointing Anime Sequels (http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/t5w263-top-5-most-disappointing-anime.html) and…yeah, sometimes asking for more of a good thing can turn out pretty dismally.  HOWEVER!!! That doesn’t mean every attempt to continue a story is bad.  In fact, said continuation can be just as good, if not better, than its predecessor.  So we looked at the worst last week, today on Top 5 Wednesday, let’s look at the sunnier side of things as we count down the Top 5 Best Anime Sequels.

Gundam Anime Corner-Fall 2020 Updates

Hey guys.  Well we’re in the last legs of a rather quick summer.  Worlds still a bit of a mess but I’m surviving and I know everyones doing the best to do the same as well.  As for the blog, well having a bunch of time off from work has set a lot of things in motion for the rest of the year and even well into 2021.  You saw some of this when I decided to binge review all of Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny back in May.  So…look forward to another extreme project like that down the line.  In the meantime, let’s walkdown what’s coming from September through December, shall we?