Sailor Moon R Part 9 Episode 86-89

Things are getting pretty desperate for the Sailor Senshi.  The Black Moon Clans assault on two fronts is drawing to a close and their beloved Chibiusa has become a corrupted but powerful ally to Prince Demande and the Wiseman.  As Usagi fights for the life of Chibiusa, Saphir desperately tries to warn Demande about the Wiseman’s deceptions.  As two timelines begin to collide, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus and Tuxedo Mask stand united against an oncoming apocalypse with one mission: Save the world and Chibiusa.  But even if they succeed, what’s next for the battle weary Sailor Senshi?

The Second Season of Sailor Moon was heading to a pretty emotional climax, what with Chibiusa being aged up and corrupted by the influence of the Wiseman.  With the Black Moon Clan’s power descending on two time periods, it was definitely do or die time for the Sailor Senshi, especially Usagi.  But could she save her future daughter and the world at the same time and could everyone find a way to actually make it out alive this time and not experience a really bad case of dejavu?  The answer to both is an obvious yes and while it feels light on action until the final battle, Sailor Moon R’s finale does succeed and an emotional level, capping off a season long arc for Usagi that’s shown her grow once more, not just as a protector of the planet but also as a girl whose gonna make one helluva Mother in the future.
 

FIF#177-Trigun: Stampede

On the dusty planet of Gunsmoake, the descendants of a doomed colony expedition try to survive as best they can in the face of lawless outlaws roaming the lands and power plants shutting down.  Wandering this arid and dusty planet is Vash the Stampede.  He’s known as the “Humanoid Typhoon”, bringing chaos and destruction to every town he visits.  Two gung ho reporters venture out in search of this legend to see if the stories are true.  Not only are they true, they pail in comparison to the past Vash has been trying to outrun his entire life…a past that is about to violently catch up with him.

 
Easily one of the most anticipated Anime of 2023, Trigun sees the return of the iconic Vash the Stampede for a new telling of his original 90s adventures.  The lead up to this one has seen a mixed reception from the title being a fully CG Anime to the radical redesign of Vash himself, amongst other things.  Well, now that the Stampede is upon us, is there hope this new Trigun series can live up to the legacy of its popular 90s counterpart?  Well…it’s still too early to call from just one episode but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have fun watching the first episode.  Actually, many of my complaints come from stuff I just mentioned because, let’s face it, there’s gonna be a lot of comparing to the 90s series.  But aside from that, the first episode of Trigun: Stampede is actually kind of fun.
 

Sailor Moon R Part 8 Episode 81-85

With time running out for Crystal Tokyo and her Mother, Chibiusa decides to return to the future and asks Usagi and the others to accompany her.  At long last, the Sailor Senshi gaze upon the ruins of Crystal Tokyo and learn the origins of their conflict with the Black Moon Clan.  Waiting for them are the most powerful warriors of the Black Moon Clan, including their leader, Prince Demande, who has his eyes set on Usagi.  But his most trusted advisor, the Wiseman, has other plans, plans that involve corrupting Chibiusa into becoming the most terrifying adversary Usagi and the others have ever faced.  The battle for the future begins now.

For the bulk of this Season, it’s been hard to ignore the plethora of questions the time travel angle has brought forth and I have been wondering if any of those questions would even attempted to be answers.  Thankfully, Sailor Moon R delivered in it’s penultimate chapter as the Senshi headed into the future to confront the Black Moon Clan head on.  This resulted in more great character work and some great action scenes and, more importantly, finally some freaking answers.  It wasn’t perfect though as I have some issues about a characters total makeover and the less than compelling motivations behind one of the main villains.  Let’s get to it.
 

T5W#389-Top 5 Tips for Getting into Dragon Ball Z

With new generations of Anime fans being born everyday, it’s hard to believe that in an age of shiny, brand spanking new titles, legacy franchises can still act as proper gateway titles for them.  Case in point, the myth, the legend that is Dragon Ball Z.  Ever since it took over US airwaves on Cartoon Network’s Toonami in the late 90s, the adventures of Goku, Vegeta and the Z-Fighters have continues to dazzle, amaze and cause several generations of Anime fans to freak out over a new power up or ultimate move unleashed on screen.  As such, DBZ remains one of the most popular Anime in the world and of all time.  After talking about it a little bit with a friend who has a son who really loves the show and characters, I’m opting to take this week to do them a solid and provide a nice little overview of what to expect should they sit down to watch a bunch of shiny haired guys punch the crap out of each other for 25 minutes.  Considering how important this Anime means to me and my overall history with the fandom, it feels only right to present new readers and viewers with these Top 5 Tips for Getting into Dragon Ball Z.

Sailor Moon R Part 7 Episode 76-80

Sailor Moon and the Sailor Senshi have scored a decisive victory against the Black Moon Clan with the death of Rubeus.  But the Clan’s leader, Prince Demande, is far from finished with the past.  Even as he continues his assault on Crystal Tokyo, he sends his latest emissary, Esmeraude, to the 20^th Century to open a portal through time by which the Malefic Black Crystal can destroy the past.  But Sailor Moon and the Sailor Senshi stand ready to continue the fight and aren’t backing down no matter what.  And speaking of backing down, Usagi begins having shared dreams with Mamoru.  Now that she’s seen his visions, can Usagi finally rekindle her romance with her beloved, or will Mamoru double down in his desperation to protect Usagi from a dark future?

Seeing as how I’m going to be spending the better part of the year with the Sailor Senshi, this little criticism is going to come up every once in a while…but why, OH WHY, does this show have to be 200 episodes long?  I get it, this is from the age of Anime where the runtime gets padded for various reasons like letting the Manga get ahead.  But when filler comes just as major headway is made in the main storyline, it can threaten to ruin a good shows momentum.  This set of Sailor Moon R episodes had its moments for sure.  But overall, given what happened with the death of Rubeus and the revelations around Chibiusa, you’d think we would be in high gear heading into the final act of the season.  Sadly, I think that’s gonna be our next set of episodes instead, so today we were stuck in FillerVille.
 

FIF#176-The Last of Us

Twenty years have passed since a mysterious infection ravaged the planet.  Humanity is now a shell of its former self and what’s left of it loses more hope day after day as it struggles to survive.  For Joel Miller, having lost the most important things in his life at the beginning of the nightmare has left him a broken man.  That is until he has an important job shoved into his path.  Ellie is a girl born after the apocalypse and harbors a secret that could lead to its end.  Together, Joel and Ellie begin a journey across the desolate ruins on the United States, searching for glimmers of hope in a world where the only thing worse than the monsters the virus created is the lowest depths of the darkness Humanity has fallen into.
 
(Quick Note: Yes, yes, this is my THIRD Live Action First Impression Friday in 3 weeks.  I was supposed to do Trigun: Stampede today but I was that impressed with the premiere of The Last of Us and since it’s video game related and I do cover that kind of stuff here, I had to do a quick write up.  I promise, PROMISE, we’ll be back to actual Anime First Impression next week with Trigun: Stampede.  Ok with that out of the way…)
 
Love it or hate it (especially in the case of its sequel), The Last of Us is an important part of Video Gaming History.  Beyond it’s graphic and violent gameplay, it’s character writing and hard hitting realism are second to none, crafting a gorgeous but brutal video gaming masterpiece that has won tons of critical acclaim.  After a couple of years of waiting, HBO has finally unleashed the live action TV Series to the world and now we all hold our breath to see if it lives up to the highest levels of hype that have preceded it.  And after the very negative fan reception to the Halo adaptation, Live Action Video Game projects could use a big win.  Personally, I haven’t played either of the two Last of Us games and only know bits and pieces about the story and the characters.  So I’m approaching this with a very, very fresh perspective.  So…how’s the first episode?
 

Sailor Moon R Part 6 Episode 71-75

Furious at the continuous failures of the Spectre Sisters, Rubeus finds himself needing to step in and handle the destruction of Chibiusa and the Silver Crystal personally.  When another failed attempt to return to the future results in the capture of the Sailor Senshi, Chibiusa must take responsibility for her selfishness and join Usagi in a desperate attempt to save their friends.  High above the Earth, Sailor Moon and Chibiusa faces Rubeus in an intense final battle.  But even if they defeat him, the Black Moon Clan is far from finished and a new wave of their best stands ready to succeed where Rubeus fails.  And who is this beautiful and ethereal new Guardian who has been speaking to Chibiusa from the future?

I’ll admit, while this Second Season has been a long one (thanks in needless part to the Makai Tree Arc), the Black Moon Clan Arc has become a very solid watching experience.  This set offered a thrilling wrap up to the first half of this arc with some big battles, bigger reveals and some solid character work for the growing bond between Usagi and Chibiusa, even if some of that did have to result from some backpedaling on Chibiusa’s recent character development.  We even got some Inception level inspirations and Usagi managing to act like the toughest of Saiyans, Goku and Vegeta would be proud.  All in all, this might be my favorite set of episodes so far in Sailor Moon R.  Let me break down why that is.
 

T5W#388-Top 5 Most Gruesome Deaths in Gundam

Beyond the awesome looking Giant Robots and flashy action scenes, Gundam, at its core, has always been about the cost and the horrors of war.  Most typical Gundam series tend to carry a very hefty body count and that’s not just talking about the principal cast and, in the case of “Kill em all” Tomino, even those characters tend to risk being brought back in pieces when they head out into battle.  Gundam certainly isn’t above showing some very disturbing and occasionally graphic demises on screen.  Seeing as how one such scene blew up the internet recently, it got me wondering what other characters, main or otherwise, have met some rather grizzly ends in battle.  So we’re back to Mobile Suit Gundam for today’s Top 5 Wednesday as I cover the Top 5 Most Gruesome Deaths in Gundam.  I’ll try not to get into too much detail for those who might be a bit squeamish and don’t worry, I wont be posting any bloody pics beyond that shot of Miorine above.

 

Sailor Moon R Part 5 Episode 66-70

Despite the bickering between her and Usagi, Chibiusa has been accepted amongst the girls and Mamoru.  But the child yearns to return home to her parents and risks attempting to do so, triggering an intense showdown between the Sailor Senshi and the Spectre Sisters, plus their leader Rubeus.  The mystery behind Chibiusa’s mysterious origins and the goals of the Black Moon Clan deepen as a far off city in the future barely holds on despite an all out assault.  Their imminent defeat affects Mamoru’s dreams but can he really protect Usagi from a future disaster by keeping himself away from her?
 
There was a pivotal moment in todays set of Sailor Moon episodes where I realized that I might’ve been too harsh with Chibiusa last week.  Yes, she is obnoxious and prone to annoying childish antics.  But when Usagi saw her in danger and took a serious beating to protect her, she realized that despite the trouble this miniature version of herself puts her through, she cant bring herself to hate Chibiusa.  It shows growth and maturity for Sailor Moon and continues to prove that even though Usagi is a klutz, she is a hero through and through.  This set of episodes was much stronger than last weeks start to the new arc.  It not only gave Chibiusa a little more depth and understanding, it also gave us some major showdowns between the Sailor Senshi and the Black Moon Clan.  There are still some frustrating storytelling choices that I can’t get past but I still found myself enjoying this set a lot.  I wanted things to improve and they did.
 

FIF#175-Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger

Years ago, when the merciless Zangyack Empire descended upon the Earth, 34 Super Sentai Teams united and sacrificed their powers to repel then.  Now, the Zangyack have returned, more powerful than ever, to finish what they started.  Their arrival coincides with a group of Space Pirates who have come to Earth seeking the Ultimate Treasure.  Led by the flashy Captain Marvelous, Joe, Luka, Doc and Ahim not only fly as the Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger but also possess the ability to summon the powers of the other 34 Sentai Teams as well.  They aren’t here to save the Earth, but if anyone gets in their way, it might be something to do for a day.

 
The 25^th Anniversary Season of Power Rangers, Power Rangers Super Megaforce, is widely considered one of, if not the worst season of Power Rangers.  And after watching the first episode of Gokaiger, I can see why that probably is.  Gokaiger is meant to celebrate the 35^th Anniversary of the Super Sentai Franchise and looks to do so in the most epic fashion ever, showing off a super cool, very OP yet still cool new team while also harkening back to the past and bringing back costumes (and apparently past cast members too) from throughout the long history of Super Sentai.  I’ve heard nothing but good things, especially in regards to the roguishly handsome leader of the Gokaiger bunch but is the first episode as promising as one might want out of a milestone season of one of Japans longest running sagas?
 

Sailor Moon R Part 4 Episode 60-65

A tiny, pink haired girl descends from the sky right on top of Usagi and Mamoru on a date.  This Usagi lookalike, dubbed “Chibiusa”, is a child on the mission: retrieve the Legendary Silver Crystal from Usagi.  She’s also been targeted by a new dangerous group known as the Black Moon Clan.  As Usagi and the girls prepare for another intense battle, Mamoru begins having terrifying nightmares of danger, visions that compel him to put some distance between himself and Usagi.  Can Usagi defeat these new enemies, keep Chibiusa safe and somehow save her deteriorating relationship with the one she loves?

Well, with the Makai Tree gone and never coming back, we can finally continue with the main story of Sailor Moon properly.  In this slightly extended set of episodes, things did pick up in terms of the quality of the threat and some fun episodes for all of the Senshi that helped flesh them out a bit more, especially those who were still in great need of it (Minkao).  But with this new change in status quo comes new problems and one of them I have been dreading from the very beginning of this show.  I know I’m gonna get a lot of flack for this but I’m just gonna say it and get it out of the way: I don’t like Chibiusa.  Which is definitely going to be a problem because I know she plays a central role in the rest of this season (and likely the rest of the series).  Alright, let me break down my thoughts and reasonings behind this.
 

T5W#387-Top 5 Titles I’m Considering for Review in 2023

With the new year well underway, the Gundam Anime Corner is continuing on the road to it’s 9^th Anniversary and the eventual 10^th Season that will follow.  There’s just one tiny problem.  Even though I’ve worked a lot to map out the paths of my year long Sailor Moon project and my usual Extended Summer Series Review, most of 2023 still has a ton of undecided review slots.  In fact, as I probably noted in my “Welcome to the Gundam Anime Corner 2023 Post”, the only months that are totally locked in with titles right now are January and February…and the months that belong to the aforementioned Sailor Moon seasons.  That’s a ton of dead air that needs filling but I’ve been looking at a bunch of titles in my downtime, all with valid reasons for review.  So today, I’m counting the Top 5 Titles I’m Considering for Review in 2023.  Right now, every title on this list has about a 90% chance of becoming a sure fire review later in the year.  Naturally this is always subject to change but right now, theyre right next to garuntees.  Onto the candidates.

 

Sailor Moon R Part 3 Episode 56-59

The Makai Tree is on the verge of death.  With time running out, Ail and Ann set their sights on Sailor Moon herself to finish restoring their dying tree to its former glory.  But when their separate feelings for Usagi and Mamoru come into conflict with their mission, will Ail and Ann be truly committed to their nefarious goal?  As the Makai Tree unleashes its monstrous might on the city, the Sailor Senshi prepare for their final battle with the twins.  Will their newfound powers be enough to stop Ail and An and will Usagi finally be able to get through to Mamoru, whose memories still remain locked away?  And what of the Moonlight Knight, will his origins and mysterious connection to Mamoru be revealed as well?

So…let me get this straight.  The Makai Tree has been sentient this entire time and has been trying to tell Ail and An that it didn’t need human energy to thrive…all it needed was for them to truly fall in love and everything would’ve been fine?  Wow, with a revelation like that, it only makes this Arc feel like more of a waste of time than it already was.  And the sad thing is, there have been bits of good stuff here and there and some of that stems from this closing set of episodes for this Arc.  I guess I’ll touch on that first before putting this chapter to rest before hopefully getting into the good stuff at last in our next review.  But first, the Makai Tree Arc conclusion.
 

FIF#174-Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger

During a visit to the mysterious Planet Nemesis, an expedition team accidentally releases the Witch Bandora from her 170 Million Year slumber.  Dead set on revenge, Bandora attacks Earth with her band of Monsters.  Standing in Bandora’s is her old rival, the Sage Barza.  Though her power might exceed his own, Barza has an ace up his sleeve.  Five legendary warriors have been sleeping as well, waiting for the day when they’d be called upon to face Bandora once again.  They are Geki, Goushi, Dan, Boi and Mei.  Together, with new abilities given to them by Barza, they become the mighty team known as Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger. 

 
*Special Note: This was written back in March 2022 but I’d like to dedicate this First Impression Friday episode to the memory of a man who’s character isn’t in this first episode of Zyuranger but who’s lasting legacy will live on well into the future.  Rest in Peace Jason David Frank, May your Power Protect Us All.*
 
Welcome, Dear Readers, to 2023 and a brand new season of First Impression Fridays.  Originally, todays title was meant to be looked at last year…til I realized Power Rangers 30^th Anniversary was still a year away, so I held off.  That’s right, one of the most popular live action kids franchises of all time turns 30 this year.  Mighty Morphin Power Rangers debuted in 1993 to massive success with kids and has since become a juggernaut still held in high regard today.  At the time, few even knew that the bulk of the Ranger fight scenes were actually from Japanese Super Sentai footage.  It would be easy just to do a First Impression on the very first episode of MMPR…but I think looking at the first episode of the show it drew from is much more fun.
 

Sailor Moon R Part 2 Episode 51-55

Luna and Artemis have successfully revived the memories of Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto and Minako.  The fight is on to stop Ail and Ann from gathering the energy of everyone in the city to fuel the rejuvenation of their Makai Tree.  But their Cardian Monsters are far more powerful than anything the Senshi have faced before.  Newfound strength, courage and a host of new powers will be needed to take down these fearsome foes.  And who is this dashing new all, the Moonlight Knight, and why does he remind Usagi so much of Tuxedo Mask? 

In my last review, I said the filler arc that’s opening Sailor Moon R was probably going to go on longer than needed and man did it show in this set.  While some episodes tried to do something different, the general formula was always the same.  It’s strange living in a day and age when Filler Arcs are becoming less and less frequent, with shows gaining enough momentum and good will to risk taking some time off the let the Manga catch up so it can be adapted more faithfully into Anime.  Season One of Sailor Moon had its fair share of Filler Episodes but an entire Arc is another thing entirely.  The Hell Tree Arc isn’t anything special right now, especially with a pair of boring villains and the general feeling of this whole arc being a placeholder til the main story can continue…so yeah a Filler Arc.
 

T5W#386-Top 5 Power Rangers Series

Welcome to the first Top 5 Wednesday of 2023.  It was almost 30 years ago that a team of “teenagers with attitude” was recruited to face off against the forces of Rita Repulsa as the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.  Utilizing American storylines mixed with Japanese Sentai footage, the series blew up the airwaves and started a juggernaut franchise with new Sentai series (and sometimes older ones) being adapted into new seasons for the last thirty years.  And with the cast of Power Rangers: Dino Fury teaming up with the original Mighty Morphin team in the forthcoming Power Rangers: Cosmic Fury, the 30^th Anniversary is amping up to be truly the stuff of legends this franchise deserves.  We’ll be spending the first couple of First Impression Fridays this year with those classic Sentai Series but today I’m gonna look at the thirty years of Ranger history to pick out my Top 5 Power Rangers Series.  Grab your Morpher of choice and say it with me, “ITS MORPHIN TIME”.

Sailor Moon R Part 1 Episode 47-50

It’s been two months since the fall of the Dark Kingdom and Usagi Tsukino and her friends live without the knowledge of their pasts as the Sailor Senshi.  However, when a pair of beautiful Aliens arrive on Earth looking to harness the energy of Humans for their Makai Tree, the Senshi must be restored.  Usagi wanted nothing more than to continue living a peaceful life as a High School Girl.  But now those days must be put aside for now as the battle for the planet begins again and Usagi, Rei, Ami, Makoto and Minako reunite once again.  The Pretty Guardian in a Sailor Suit who fights for Love and Justice, Sailor Moon, has been reborn.

And so it begins.  Welcome Dear Readers to the Gundam Anime Corner 2023 and the start of another year long event that was promised last Summer 2022.  Over the course of 2023, I’ll be looking at the remainder of the original Sailor Moon Series, starting today with Season 2 aka Sailor Moon R (the R stands for…Rebirth, I guess?).  While it certainly fell victim to the trappings of being a longer than needed adaptation which resulted in a lot of filler, the First Season of Sailor Moon was pretty strong overall, especially in its high stakes finale.  So, does Sailor Moon R get off to a good start and carry on the good momentum built up by the end of Season One?
 

Kakegurui Twin Part 2 Episodes 4-6

Barely into her first week at Hyakkaou Academy, Mary Saotome is approached by Student Council member Aoi Mibuomi with an unusual request: help him take down Student Council President, Kirari Momobami by joining his underground resistance movement.  To this end, Mary is thrown into a gauntlet of grueling games that will test her resolve, her intellect and how much she trusts those she has allied herself with.  The pressure mounts and soon Mary begins to doubt everyone around her, including Tsuzura, who Mary has sworn to save from House Pet status.  Can Mary rise to become the symbol of hope for Hyakkaou Academy?  Or is she doomed to fall prey to the merciless hands of the demented Student Council, especially Sachiko Juraku, who will stop at nothing to make Mary her own personal House Pet? 

 
Before we get started, Happy New Year Everyone!!!!
 
Learning that Kakegurui Twin was only going to be six episodes was admittedly a bit of a buzzkill before I even started it.  Like it’s sibling Anime, Twin is hampered by the fact that the Manga is still ongoing and you’d be lucky enough to get two volumes of it in the same year.  This is the chief reason why we probably wont see Kakegurui Season Three anytime soon.  When it comes to Kakegurui Twin, however, it’s not that I’m worried it might not get a Second Season, it’s that what could be that Second Season could have easily fit into this First Season.  Why was this Anime so short?  Why is it ending just as Mary made some bold moves in her plan to become a Winner alongside Tsuzura and Yukimi?  And let’s not even begin thinking about how Mary goes from this optimistic and hopeful spirit to the more cynical girl we see in Kakegurui, sans the many friends she’s made or any of the major supporting players from this Spin Off.  I feel like this intro is a lot of rambling and complaining and it is.  That said, this back half of Kakegurui Twin was as solid as you’d expect from a Kakegurui Anime and it’s left me wanting more, or at the very least I need to dig more into the Manga.
 

Welcome to the Gundam Anime Corner 2023

Greetings Dear Readers and Weary Travelers and welcome to my little corner of the universe that I like to call the Gundam Anime Corner.  Begun back in 2014 as a means of trying to stay inspired to write short stories, the Gundam Anime Corner has become one of the biggest and longest running endeavors of my entire life.  From Anime Reviews to Top 5 Lists to First Impressions to Convention Reports and Franchise Retrospectives, I’ve tackled a lot over the nearly last 10 years.  Speaking of, 2023 begins the long march to the 10^th Anniversary of the Gundam Anime Corner and as such, I’m planning on going big this year with the longest and biggest series I’ve covered to date.  And it is my hope that all readers, new and old, will join me on this lengthy journey that will hopefully see me trying new features (some that have been in the works for over a year and I still need to crack) and appeasing everyone with praise of good titles and furious frustrations at the terrible ones.  2023 is gonna be big, pure and simple.  So why don’t I break things down a little for what’s coming in the next few months?