T5W#368-Top 5 Thoughts About Psycho Pass: Providence

In 2012, Production I.G. and writer Gen Urobuchi released a brand new cyberpunk/dystopian Anime that has gone down as a new classic, Psycho Pass.  Set in a future Japan where your behaviorial status could land you in prison or dead, the series followed a team of investigators and hunters tasked with keeping the peace while also finding themselves at odds with the truths about the system they are sworn to protect.  Over the course of ten years there have been three TV seasons plus a few movies and, to celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of the franchise, a new Psycho Pass movie has been announced: Psycho Pass: Providence.  I’ve looked at pretty much everything Psycho Pass related here at the Anime Corner (except for the Sinners of the System Trilogy) and I’ve grown quite fond of it.  So I’m psyched that more is on the way and am itching to share my thoughts on the franchise thus far and what I think might be happening in this new movie.  So settle in for todays Top 5 Wednesday as I look at my Top 5 Thoughts About Psycho Pass: Providence. 

 

Tenchi Universe Part 4 Episodes 14-17

Far across the galaxy, a change in leadership rocks the Planet Jurai and finds Ayeka, Sasami and Ryoko now wanted criminals.  When the Juraian Military comes looking for the trio on Earth, Tenchi and the others beat a hasty escape that results in trouble for Mihoshi and Kiyone too.  Now everyone on the run from the Royal Jurai Empire and the Galaxy Police.  There’s only one way to end this: get to Jurai and find the one responsible for all of this-the new Emperor Yosho.

For a series called “Tenchi Universe” a lot of the action and story has been kept pretty local, on Earth.  Well this week that changes as the third, and last, major arc of Tenchi Universe, The Space Arc, kicks off with a big change in the status quo before returning to the usual formula, just in space now instead of on Earth.  Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved the slice of life approach Tenchi Universe has taken to the characters and the series overall so far.  It’s really helped it stand apart from its far more complex OVA counterpart.  But now that a new game changer has been introduced and the series is changing locations and upping the urgency, does it feel wrong that the same old, same old isn’t really stacking up against the more serious elements?
 

T5W#367-Top 5 Reasons why Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Came in #1 at the US Box Office

It’s one of you things you hope might happen but you stopped expecting it a long time ago.  Well, at long last, Anime fans can rejoice knowing that one of their greatest franchises hit it really big this weekend at the US Box Office.  Ok so it’s not exactly MCU numbers but it doesn’t matter because DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO CAME IN #1 AT THE US BOX OFFICE THIS WEEKEND!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!  Ok so it’s not the first Anime to do that, it’s actually the third (Pokemon: The First Movie came in #1 when it was released in 1999 and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train jumped into the #1 spot in its second weekend after it debuted in second place behind the new Mortal Kombat).  But still, this is a major milestone for the Dragon Ball franchise and Anime feature films releases as a whole and today I’m gonna talk about why that is.  Sure this means pushing the Top 5 I wanted to talk about this week to next week and this means I’m doing 2 Dragon Ball themed Top 5s back to back but…screw it, I was so happy to see this news at the end of the weekend.  These are the Top 5 Reasons why Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Came in #1 at the US Box Office.

 

Tenchi Universe Part 3 Episodes 11-13

When Washu creates a machine capable of making alternate realities out of the users wishes, Ryoko and Ayeka cant wait to create their ideal realities with Tenchi.  But before you can say “of course”, the machine goes haywire, sending the gang into a bevy of alternate realities.  From Rashomon to Magical Girls; from high school romance to feudal politics; from endangered drifters to carefree thieves; the Tenchi Universe is about to explode in a big way…literally if Washu cant find a way to fix her machine and recover the others in time.

I’m gonna wonder why this wasn’t a movie.  The second arc of Tenchi Universe, aka Tenchi Muyo: Time and Space Adventures, feels like a 3-part cinematic event with Tenchi and the gang being flung into different realities of their own making.  Some are stronger than others, some are actually weaker than they should be.  But I’m here to break everything down about this fun little diversion before we jump into the much more serious, story driven arc next week.  Let’s take a looksee.
 

Dragon Ball Super: The Movie-Super Hero

The Red Ribbon Army has returned.  Recruiting the Grandson of Dr. Gero, Dr. Hedo, to their ranks, the nefarious Commander Magenta orders the construction of brand new Androids, aiming to use them to crush those who defeated Cell years ago and resume their conquest of the world.  With Goku and Vegeta training off world with Broly, it falls to Piccolo, Gohan and a handful of others to protect the planet from this new threat.  Things only get more dire when Gohan’s daughter, Pan, is kidnapped to get his attention.  Can Gohan tap into the power he once had and attain a new level to save his daughter and the planet?

Even though Dragon Ball Super wrapped up its TV run in 2018, the need for more Dragon Ball is still going strong today.  While I’m sure a new TV Series is inevitable at this point, the movies are doing a good job continuing the saga of our favorite Anime fighters while expanding the mythos in amazing ways.  DBS: Broly reintroduced the movie exclusive Broly and gave him an amazing character arc that he was more than deserving of, a great official welcome into the official Dragon Ball timeline (most of the Z movies are one off/non cannon adventures).  With Super Hero, not only do we get a new generation of one of Dragon Ball’s earliest foes, it also does something few Dragon Ball films are ever willing to do: give the central spotlight to someone other than Goku for a change.  And while the animation is gonna get mixed reactions from the fan base, everyone might agree that a movie dedicated to other members of Dragon Balls massive cast is long overdue.
 

T5W#366-Top 5 Best (and Worst) Dragon Ball Movies

The enduring and endearing power of Dragon Ball cant be understated by this point.  Since it debuted in 1986, the Dragon Ball franchise has spawned 4 TV Series, 20 movies, 3 TV Specials and at least 2 OVAs, insane for a franchise coming up on its 40^th anniversary in a few years.  Speaking of Movies, after debuting earlier this summer in Japan, the next chapter of Dragon Ball Super, Super Hero, is about to arrive stateside this weekend.  They’ve advertised the heck out of it and I’m sure the powers are be are hoping it will replicate the same success Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and even the last Dragon Ball Super Movie achieved at the US Box Office.  To celebrate the arrival of a brand new Dragon Ball movie, I’m doing a special Top 5 this week and it’s a bit of a Redux.  A few years back I did a list of my Top 5 Dragon Ball Z Movies (and you can find that here: ).  But not only have opinions changed and new movies have arrived, I haven’t touched on the Dragon Ball films I don’t particularly like.  So, it’s a double sized Top 5 Wednesday as I look at the Top 5 Best (and Worst) Dragon Ball Movies.  To be clear, this spans the entire franchise including Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super (GT never had a movie, just one special). 

 

Tenchi Universe Part 2 Episodes 6-10

In the blink of an eye, Tenchi Masaki now finds several beautiful alien women living under his roof.  And each one has brought their own problems with them: Kiyone and Mihoshi must adjust to their new roles as Protectors of Earth while balancing part time jobs; Washu’s wish to get back into the invention game results in a blissfully unaware super robot; and Ryoko’s past catches up with her when a powerful bounty hunter comes calling.  All the while, Tenchi’s just trying to stay alive throughout the madness that has come into his home.  But Tenchi’s gotta admit also…it may not be quiet, but life certainly isn’t boring anymore.

If for whatever a reason you weren’t a fan of the more light hearted, slice of life direction Tenchi Universe seemed to be taking the franchise last week, then Part 2 probably isn’t your cup of tea and that’s a shame.  While we haven’t gotten a build up to an overarching plot, just hanging out with Team Tenchi is reward enough and the stand alones have done a great job expanding on everyones characters, even Ryo-Ohki to a degree.  Thankfully, for the most part, all of this is done without relegating Tenchi to a titular bystander as he’s right in the middle of most of this weeks stories.  That includes one that actually tugs on the heartstrings and makes me look forward to a future Tenchi title we’ll be reviewing later this year.  But first, this weeks set of episodes.
 

T5W#365-Top 5 Gundam Pilots Who Could Take on The Predator (Sans Mobile Suits)

Last weekend, the long awaited fifth chapter in the Predator franchise, Prey, dropped on Hulu and HOLY F**** S*** IT WAS AWESOME!!!!  Seriously while the other Predator sequels are kind of guilty pleasures, Prey is without a doubt a best since the original and much of that is thanks to a back to basics approach for the legendary Monster and a powerful performance by Amber Midthunder as Comanche Warrior, Naru.  Seeing this beautiful and fierce warrior take on a foe from beyond the stars reminded me of a Top 5 I did when the last Predator Movie came out in 2018 (check that list here: http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/t5w161-top-5-anime-characters-who-could.html).  It made me want to choose another 5 Anime characters who could go head to head with the ugly MFer…and wonder how I could make it different this time.  Then it clicked: Gundam Pilots.  Plenty of my favorite Mobile Suit Pilots are equally deadly in and out of their cockpits.  So what would happen if they were shot down in a jungle hunting ground and had to deal with the extraterrestrial game hunter?  Well let’s find out today as I count down my Top 5 Gundam Pilots Who Could Take on The Predator (Sans Mobile Suits).

 

Tenchi Universe Part 1 Episodes 1-5

For Tenchi Masaki, life was simple: school, homework, chores, a peaceful life in the country.  Then, one day, a vivacious alien girl fell into his arms and all hell has now broken loose.  Tenchi’s about to learn the hard way that there’s a vast universe beyond his quiet little life.  Torn between beautiful but deadly Space Pirates, elegant but high strung Princesses, and incredibly overworked Galaxy Police Officers, Tenchi’s about to become the universes luckiest bachelor…or a young man cursed with terrible luck. 

 
Welcome back to the Gundam Anime Corner, Mr. Masaki.  Been a bit hasn’t it? Our year long look at the Tenchi Muyo franchise (the Toonami era stuff, or as I’m now calling it: The Tenchi Toonami Saga) continues with Tenchi Universe.  Kind of in the same vein as Record of Lodoss War: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight, Universe is a TV Series retelling of the first of the two Tenchi OVAs we looked at back in April.  Unlike the horrendous Lodoss War TV adaptation though, Universe starts at the very beginning making distinct changes while still keeping the heart and fun we knew back in Tenchi Muyo, though there’s a better mix of humor and action this time around.  The big takeaway:  it’s good to be back with this crew of wacky characters.
 

Gundam Anime Corner-Mid Summer/Early Fall 2022 Announcements

Greetings Dear Readers.  It’s been a minute since I did an upcoming features update.  Against all odds, Otakon came and went amazingly (you can see the some of the highlights right here: http://gundamanimeblog.blogspot.com/2022/08/t5w364-top-5-otakon-2022-moments.html).  Now the rest of the year awaits.  I had one major idea for another Comparison Project this year and while I’d hoped to get it going just after Otakon, 2022 has been rough, especially this Summer and the weeks leading up to Otakon.  I think I can still make it happen and maybe get it going by September but we’ll see.  For now I wont reveal what that Special Project is.  For now, I’m gonna focus on the reviews coming to the Anime Corner in the coming months.  As with last year, I’m going back to one review per week every Monday, baring certain special circumstances.  Also, while First Impression Friday’s most recent season ended a couple of weeks back, I wont rule out a special Miniseries Event for October given the host of premieres coming that month (I’ll talk more about that in a Top 5 in a couple of weeks).  Anyway, rambling done, onto the Coming Attractions.

 

T5W#364-Top 5 Otakon 2022 Moments

While I did take a single day trip in 2021, I hadn’t been able to have a full four day Otakon experience (including Pre Reg Day) since 2019.  The Pandemic really slowed down a lot of things and while Katsucon was back in full swing earlier this year, more or less, I still chose not to go due to fear of the new Omicron variant still ravaging the place.  But Otakon, this was something I was never going to pass up, come Hell or high water.  And trust me, on a personal level 2022 has been more mentally trying than any before it and that’s saying a lot.  Plus, a near Covid scare on my end threatened to derail the trip right at the starting line.  BUT, in spite of all the drama, Otakon 2022 did happen for four days and man, it was something I really, really, really needed.  From tearful reunions to being able to walk the halls of the Walter E. Washington again to all the crazy adventures, this was an epic return for Otakon for the ages and at last, I get to talk about my five favorite moments.  Probably my most anticipated Top 5 Wednesday of the year, it’s my Top 5 Otakon 2022 Moments.