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.