Vandread: The Second Stage Part 3 Episodes 9-13

After months of travel and hardship, the Nirvana has almost reached its home galaxy.  Much has changed and no one is who they used to be, especially young Hibiki Tokai.  But while home is in sight, the real final battle is closer than anyone thinks.  Not only do the Harvest arrive in force to finish their mission from Earth, but new revelations and a shocking betrayal rock the Nirvana crew to its core.  But this crew is tougher than that and no matter the odds, Hibiki, Dita, Meia, Jura and the others will fight on.  For the first time in decades, the Men of Taraak and Women of Mejere unite to fight the last war Humanity will ever wage.

At the end of Vandreads First Season I had doubts, a lot of doubts.  It wasn’t so much about the loose ends I knew would somehow be tied up in The Second Stage.  My doubts concerned the poor world building around Taraak and Mejere and the mystery as to why they became so divided in the first place.  My biggest fear was that it was over some really stupid squabble between the leaders known as GrandPA and GrandMA over one hundred years ago.  As it turns out, it was something far more stupid than that and it really hampers an otherwise pretty solid series finale for Vandread: The Second Stage.

FIF#133-Shaman King (2021)

Yoh Asakura might seem like a carefree slacker.  But that’s mostly just an act.  Yoh is actually a very gifted Shaman, able to communicate with the souls of the dead looking for someone to talk to.  Partnering up with some of the strongest and most honorable spirits, Yoh aims to become the Shaman King, a Master Medium with the power to reshape the world in any way they see fit.  But Yoh’s got tough competition from others vying for the crown…among them is his evil twin brother, Hao, who wants to see Mankind wiped off the face of the Earth.  With the power of an Ancient Samurai and a loyal team of friends behind him, Yoh steps up to the challenge, good thing he’s not afraid of ghosts.

I’ll admit right here and now, my understanding of Shaman King is mostly just the title alone.  I never watched the original Anime and what little I do know comes from the short Manga chapters I read when I picked up an occasional Shonen Jump.  I remember there was a push to make it popular here in the States but Shaman King never rose to the heights of the Big Three at the time (Naruto, One Piece and Bleach).  However, I do know Shaman King has a pretty loyal fanbase that has long waited for a revival.  Low and behold, that revival has arrived.  The 2021 reboot of Shaman King looks to be starting all over again which is both refreshing for newcomers like myself and veteran fans who probably miss this show a lot. 

T5W#315-Top 5 Thoughts on the Netflix Cowboy Bebop First Look

Given their history, everyones got a right to be worried about any Live Action Anime adaptation, especially if the Anime is a beloved by just about everyone.  For every Rurouni Kenshin and Death Note (the Japanese films), there’s a Dragon Ball Evolution and Ghost in the Shell.  Ever since it’s announcement, the Netflix adaptation of the mega legend Cowboy Bebop has been eyed with caution.  The cast seems solid enough but that’s all we really know about it (plus the direct involvement of series creator Shinichiro Watanabe and Yoko Kanno returning to do the music).  But between the pandemic and delays caused by lead John Cho injuring himself, im sure everyone wondered if this new series would see the light of day.  Monday, we got a surprise.  Netflix dropped a slew of images revealing the cast in character for the first time PLUS a release date of November 19^th.  It’s almost time to Jam again and I’ve got thoughts to share…mostly positive and optimistic.  These are my Top 5 Thoughts on the Netflix Cowboy Bebop First Look. 

Vandread: The Second Stage Part 2 Episodes 5-8

The Nirvana clashes with another Harvest Mothership and this time, the battle comes at the cost of one of its most beloved crewmembers.  As the crew mourns, Hibiki rallies the Men and Women to battle, not for vengeance but to survive in their honor.  When the dust settles, can things ever return to normal on the ship?  Well when the subject is a forthcoming birthday and looking into the ever growing romance between Hibiki and Dita…no matter the loss or sorrow, it looks like the good times aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

It’s official: last weeks premiere was not a fluke.  Vandread: The Second Stage continued on just as strong in its sophomore week by not just delivering another heart tugging emotional event for the crew of the Nirvana, but also showing that it can handle more troublesome Season One elements with a lot more maturity.  Jeez, this season really is even better than the first right now.  It may be a bit darker and more serious but I freaking love it.  And yes, it does suck that in order to achieve this greatness, the sacrifice of a beloved character was required.

FIF#132-Doomed Megalopolis

As the Imperial Capital City of Tokyo rises to prominence, there is one who would see it burned to the ground.  That someone is Yasuori Kato, an Oni with a powerful mastery of mystic arts who seeks to fulfill the grudges of his ancestors.  As a new century dawns, Kato begins his dark and deadly plans for Tokyo, leaving a trail of bodies and rivers of blood in his wake.  Few stand to oppose Kato, including a beautiful psychic who is essential to his plans.  Darkness falls over the Doomed Megalopolis and the battle that will ravage its streets will change the history of Tokyo forever.

When I was growing up with Anime in the Mid-Late 90s, there was always this stigma that it was a style of animation meant only for adults.  Sure there were kid offerings like Pokemon, Sailor Moon and yes, Dragon Ball Z.  But titles like Akira, Ghost in the Shell and Ninja Scroll were always locked behind that “mature wall” for me and when one glimpses even a few moments of Doomed Megalopolis, I can see why.  While a more respected artform today, Doomed Megalopolis seems to show off exactly what people though of Anime a couple decades ago: extreme Animation with gore filled action, explicit sexual sequences and this hard edge that made it as far different from family friendly Disney fare as you can get.

T5W#314-Top 5 Moments from Evangelion 3.0+1.0-Thrice Upon a Time (SPOILER ALERT)

It was almost a decade long wait for it but Evangelion 3.0+1.0-Thrice Upon a Time finished off the Rebuild of Evangelion Film Series with one of the best entries in the Evangelion franchise.  Even with a franchise as large as Eva, no one could’ve predicted things would turn out so well, especially for a film with such a hectic production timeline.  Thrice Upon a Time gave us some of the most unexpected twists and in my review, I tried to keep things as spoiler free as possible to preserve the experience.  Well, it’s been a few days, time to talk Spoilers and about the stuff I truly enjoyed about this brand new ending to Evangelion.  These are my Top 5 Moments from Evangelion 3.0+1.0-Thrice Upon a Time.  Last chance, reading after this point means you don’t mind a few spoilers (also I’m doing everyone a solid and reinforcing that in the title of my Top 5…so there, warning issued, let’s talk. 

Vandread: The Second Stage Part 1 Episodes 1-4

Hibiki, Dita, Meia and Jura all share the same nightmare of a red energy that destroys them and the Nirvana.  But this is just the beginning of the new troubles that lie ahead for them.  One crew member is set to have a baby; another faces a life altering crisis and an unkeepable promise; and the Nirvana is about to get a whole new face aboard, one who might have the answers as to the true identity of the Alien enemy still aiming to destroy them and their homeworlds.  Against new and rising odds, does HIbiki have the strength to rise to the challenge?  Or will this new red light mark the end for the Nirvana and her crew?

And we’re back and ummmm…so where the heck was all of this a few months ago?  Yep, Vandread returns to the Gundam Anime Corner with it’s Second Season, subtitled The Second Stage.  If it wasn’t indicated by the first sentence, Vandread has kind of soft rebooted itself during its continuation.  The tone of the show has changed and its starting to take itself a bit more seriously.  At the very least, it has considerably eased up on the half assed Man vs. Woman humor that wore out its welcome by the end of the second episode of Season One.  Id even go so far as to say these first four episode dwarfed the whole of Season One in terms of quality and enjoyment.  Let’s see if I can back up that claim with examples.

Evangelion 3.0+1.0-Thrice Upon A Time

It was only by pure luck and sacrifice that a Fourth Impact was stalled.  Now, Shinji Ikari must grapple with the fallout from that ordeal.  Together with Asuka and Rei, he ventures into the unknown of a world that he himself has ruined.  Deep within, Shinji finds a beacon of hope, life among the ruins and it spurs him to return to battle one last time.  As NERV and WILLE gather for their final showdown, Shinji prepares to take his place as the master of his own destiny.  Determined to step out of his fathers ambitions, Shinji boards Evangelion Unit 01 once more…for what many hope to be the last battle of the last war mankind will ever face.  The story ends…but the legend of Evangelion lives forever as a Neon Genesis begins.

With a wait time of nearly 10 years since Evangelion 3.33-You Can (Not) Redo, you can believe expectations for the final chapter of the Rebuild of Evangelion saga are at a fever pitch.  There have been delays aplenty and bouts of depression that led to Director Hideaki Anno taking a step back (and thankfully directing one of the best Godzilla movies ever in that downtime).  But we’ve come to it at last.  13 years after it was originally announced for release in the Summer of 2008 (along with Eva 3.33), Evangelion 3.0+1.0-Thrice Upon A Time has finally arrived.  Is it the Anime to end all Anime or, at the very least, does it send the Rebuild of Eva Saga out in style despite some missteps along the way (looking at you again Eva 3.33)?

FIF#131-Godzilla: Singular Point

The appearance of a mysterious signal from a long abandoned mansion heralds the coming of a Catastrophe the world has never known.  Monsters being to emerge all over the world, bringing red dust and destruction along with them.  Two highly intelligent, young minds, Yun Arikawa and Mei Kamino, begin to trace the origin of the signal and where these monsters came from two separate angles.  If the world is to survive the coming apocalypse, Yun and Mei will have to crack the code of the signal before the creature who will bring about the death blow to humanity arrives…a legendary monster known as “Gojira”.

It’s been a bit but First Impression Fridays is back.  For those new to this, FIF is something I came up with after going to Katsucon one year and scoping out the first couple of episodes of Your Lie in April.  These aren’t full blown beginning of the series reviews, these are shorter ones focusing on the first episode or two and whether or not ill continue on with them.  Just a little something extra for the Gundam Anime Corner.  And there’s a lot of titles to discuss like this thanks to time in lockdown so…let’s get to the return of the King of the Monsters, shall we?

T5W#313-Top 5 Otakon 2021 Moments

I normally try to keep COVID chat to a minimum and try to make my blog a zone where people can find something fun to read that doesn’t involve the sorry state of the world at the moment.  And you know what, even if said sorry state of the world factored heavily into the weekend, it doesn’t matter.  I don’t know the future.  I didn’t come here to talk about how bad things are with COVID again, I came here to tell you about a single day, a day some said shouldn’t happen, others thought would never happen.  I was nervous, I wont lie, I know how bad things are getting out there.  Right up until I left home for the journey, I was unsure of myself.  But then my friends and I saw the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and everything felt right.  Then I saw the line of Otaku in Cosplay wrapped around the building and everything felt right.  Once I was inside, badge in hand, gazing upon the familiar halls…I was home and I was ready to make a one day experience count.  I knew Otakon 2021 wouldn’t be a three day experience, im not ready for that yet (Katsucon 2022 will hopefully be a different matter).  It would be a day and “there are those who said that this day would never come.  What have they to say now?”  Welcome, Dear Readers, to my Top 5 Otakon 2021 Moments. 

Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning

Japan, 1864.  It is the time of the Bakumatsu-where rebels loyal to the true Emperor battle to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate.  Among their ranks is a young swordsman with nigh supernatural capabilities.  Some call him a demon.  Most know him as Himura Battosai.  Only a handful know him by his true name: Kenshin Himura.  Long before he became the kind hearted Rurouni who vowed never to take a life, Kenshin was the most feared and ruthless weapon of the revolution that would change a nation.  This is the story of how Kenshin became so feared…and how a chance encounter with a beautiful woman would forever alter his destiny.

This was it.  The second they announced they were doing two more Rurouni Kenshin films and this movie was one of them: the pressure was on.  More so than the first film in the series, my hopes for The Beginning were through the roof.  Not only is Kenshin’s backstory my favorite arc of the Manga, it’s also the basis for one of my favorite OVA’s, Trust and Betrayal, which is as perfect a Kenshin tale as you can get.  More than seeing Enishi on the big screen for the first time in The Final, THIS was the movie I really wanted to see…and I got it and I’ve gotta say inspite of one very minor nitpick that should keep me from giving this movie a 10/10…Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning accomplishes what I thought no film ever would…it has surpassed the King of the Live Action Anime mountain aka the first Rurouni Kenshin movie and now sits as my absolute, de facto THIS IS MY FAVORITE LIVE ACTION ANIME MOVIE EVER!!!!  I could just list the final score and leave it at that but I wanna brag about how good this movie is before I do.

Rurouni Kenshin: The Final

With the defeat of Makoto Shishio, it looks like the former Battosai, Kenshin Himura, can finally enjoy a time of peace with his friends in Tokyo.  This dream comes to a crashing halt when a devastating attack ravages the city.  Through the fire, Enishi Yukishiro appears.  Bearing a strong tie to Kenshin’s bloody past, Enishi has returned to enact a plan years in the making.  Beyond revenge, Enishi hopes to crush Kenshin’s soul in a way no one else ever could.  With his new home and family threatened like never before, Kenshin must draw his blade one last time and settle one last score with his past if he is ever to live for the future.

I thought it was a little weird that the Live Action Kenshin series seemed to want to stop after the Kyoto Arc.  Heck, the third film title “The Legend Ends” hinted that was the end point.  It’s weird because the arc that followed in the Manga, The Jinchu Arc, is a pretty important part of Kenshin’s story and arguably even more emotionally charged and action packed than the much beloved Kyoto Arc.  Well, it took them a while but the filmmakers finally decided to give Kenshin fans their due.  We’ve gotten two more films to close out Kenshins incredibly successful live action adventures and The Final rises to the challenge set before it.  In a way, I think it actually surpasses the two part Kyoto films: Kyoto Inferno and The Legend Ends.  It’s not without flaws but I can say that as an adaptation of an Arc several volumes long, The Final succeeds more often than not.

Mobile Suit Victory Gundam Part 10 Episodes 47-51

Universal Century 0153.  The Zanscare Empire’s Angel Halo satellite stands complete and ready to use.  However, internal fighting has led to chaos in an already chaotic battle.  Who will seize control of Angel Halo and how will they use it: to save Humanity or eliminate it?  As foes are slain and friends are sacrificed, Uso Evin races to stop the war that has already cost him most of what he holds dear.  His final mission is simple: Save Shakti and destroy Angel Halo.  In his way: his rival, Cronicle Asher, and Katejina Loos, his former friend.  The glow of Angel Halo gives birth to a new age…who will live long enough to see it?

Now that is what I call a good finale.  The stakes were the highest they’ve ever been.  Everyone was at risk of dying.  You even had a giant death weapon descending on the planet that needed to be stopped somehow.  It’s been a bit of a rocky road but I can say for sure, the finale of Mobile Suit Victory Gundam was not its weakest part, in fact it was probably the strongest act of the whole series.  True, this came at a pretty hefty cost for the good guys.  And as a, so far, final note on this far into the Universal Century, Victory Gundam ends on a sad but oddly optimistic note.  What do I mean by that?  Well, the finale awaits us.

T5W#312-Top 5 Anime Suggestions for Beginners

While I was at a wedding this past weekend, I met a knew friend who, once they learned I was into Anime, asked me a question I haven’t really thought about in a long time: If you’re new to Anime, what’s a good start point or what titles would you recommend?  The answer to these questions has changed overtime across all of Anime’s existence.  There’s no exception in the here and now: Anime in the early 2020’s and most of the 2010’s is a far cry from where Anime was in the 90’s or 2000’s.  With all this said, what would be my Top 5 Anime Suggestions for Beginners?  To answer, I’m going to be looking back at some of the biggest and most accessible titles from the last decade and change.  Some of these titles should come as no surprise and some are ones I think hold the most appeal and are the reason why Anime has continued to prosper and is now more in the public zeitgeist than ever before. 

Mobile Suit Victory Gundam Part 9 Episodes 42-46

The combined might of a League Militaire and Earth Federation fleet stands ready to launch a final assault on the Zanscare Empire.  Their target: Angel Halo-Zanscare’s final trump card that Queen Maria hopes will being about peace across Planet Earth.  Behind the scenes, Zanscares finest and most desperate plot their own rise to power and become their own worst enemies.  Uso, once again, races to save Shakti from being used as the final key to the apocalypse.  But now he faces his strongest opponents and the might of Angel Halo itself.  Will his strength and that of the V2 Gundam be enough to get Uso through this battle?

As you’d expect, things got pretty chaotic and crazy for the penultimate chapter of Mobile Suit Victory Gundam.  Space battles galore, the revival of old rivalries, some long term plans coming to fruition, hell we even had Uso tripping through a flashback hallucination thanks to the power of Angel Halo.  I’m kind of surprised there’s still five episodes left to go because with the way things are going, there should only be like three tops.  Anyway, onto the second to last part of Victory Gundam and how it sets the stage for the finale.