DBZ

Title: Dragonball Z (DBZ)
Distributor: Toei Animation
Genre(s): drama, action, adventure, sci-fi?
Age Rating: 13+

Episodes: 291
Aired:  26 April 1986 - 31 Jan 1996
Official Site: at  http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/ 
 
Authors Rating: 3/10

I seriously don’t know where to begin. Right now, on one hand, I have my favorite TV show from my pubescent years while on the other I have a steaming pile of shit. As much as I would love to write a glowing review from the vantage point of my 13 year old self I just can’t bring myself to recommend Dragonball Z to anyone regardless of the nostalgia value it contains. While Dragonball Z is arguably one of the most popular anime ever, I can whole-heartedly state that it is also one of the worst. Besides the above-average musical score, DBZ suffers from poor animation, God awful pacing, and a chronic lack of originality after the first 40 episodes.

Primarily, DBZ suffers from being highly consistent in it’s inconsistencies. If the basis of the show is to watch people fight each other, then they should be punching or kicking each other, right? Surely every so often some fist-like blurs whiz around on the screen, but for the most part Dragonball Z is lip service. The characters will throw a flurry of punches and become so winded that they have to stare at each other and discuss their upcoming strategy and how much more powerful they are than one another. Unfortunately, the loser in this pissing contest of “epic” proportions is the viewer. Additionally, during each new “epic” battle, it takes somewhere between five and six episodes for the story to progress through five minutes worth of events. Each saga lasts approximately 40 episodes and as soon as a saga is completed, the story skips ahead somewhere around ten years and three kids. Then it’s back to week-long ten minute time frames. Lather, rinse, repeat.

However, if the constant repetition isn’t enough to make one turn off the TV, the choppy and erratic animation will surely do the trick. I could take a box of crayons to a pre-school and get a flip-book better animated than Dragonball Z. The only difference is I wouldn’t make a killing on merchandising and licensing a terrible story about intergalactic muscle-men.

The only even remotely redeeming part of Dragonball Z is the soundtrack, which isn’t great, but makes the whole experience slightly more tolerable. For whatever reason I still get kind of excited when I hear the fight songs and I have this urge to reminisce so hard that I consider running upstairs to get my old Goku costume out of the trunk. Thank God I have some sense left.

Of course Dragonball Z is targeted to entertain pubescent males and it succeeds quite well having managed to hold my attention during those years better than Power Rangers and Justice League. However, to the more seasoned anime fan, DBZ is nothing more than a nuisance, and should be watched only to remember those times when you enjoyed kicking the crap out of your sofa.

Thanks to Nihon Review

Fullmetal Alchemist

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist
Distributor: Bones
Genre(s): drama, action, adventure, alchemy, science fantasy
Age Rating: 13+

Episodes: 51 + OVA (must watch)
Aired:  4 Oct 2003 - 2 Oct 2004
Official Site: at http://www.bones.co.jp/index1.html

Authors Rating: 9/10

After their mother has died from a sickness, the brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric try to resurrect her using the magical art of alchemy. But the attempt fails, and Edward loses an arm and a leg while Alphonse’s entire body is lost and his soul is bound into a set of platemail armor. To regain their original bodies, the brothers set for a quest to find the legendary Philosopher’s Stone which is said to allow even impossible alchemistic transmutations. Their search leads into an adventure of epic proportions…

Long anime series often suffer from several flaws at once: due to the length of the production, the budget for each individual episode is limited, and the quality of art and animation decreases. The scriptwriters have to come up with “filler episodes” to artificially lengthen the plot, taking away the pacing of the series. Finally, with a fixed set of heroes and villains, the same people will fight one another again and again without a decisive victory for either side as that would end the series prematurely.

Fortunately, Fullmetal Alchemist is the one exception to that rule. Even at a hefty fifty-one episodes, it retains a high quality standard during its entire length. Not only do art and animation consistently fulfill modern standards, the pacing of the series is nigh-perfect. Except for one side story focusing on a few minor characters, there are no filler episodes whatsoever. Many episodes end on beautifully crafted cliffhangers, and the steady development of the plot will keep everybody excited and waiting for more.

The plot itself is also a masterpiece. From an initially highly personal goal, the adventures of the Elric brothers soon start to take a turn for the bigger, culminating in war, death and destruction on a large scale. Characters you’ve known and loved for twenty episodes will suddenly die, and no one will bring them back. There are many different factions fighting for control of the Philosopher’s Stone, and every single one brings a new aspect into the story. Surprisingly, despite the overall larger-than-life plot, all motivations behind the characters’ actions are very down-to-Earth, making them believable and even understandable. I’d even go so far to say that Fullmetal Alchemisthas the most realistic set of characters of all contemporary anime.

It is beyond me why the creators of such a dark and serious series chose to spice it with lots of awkward and often inappropriate slapstick humor. Even in the most dramatic situations, characters will suddenly transform into their chibi forms for a short laugh, and all too many conflicts end like a Roadrunner cartoon. Were they trying to make the plot more attractive for kids? Another (albeit minor) flaw is a slight lack of logic in some details of the script - one episode features the outbreak of a dangerous disease, and in the end, we learn that the disease was intentionally created by a group of people. But there is no explanation for how these people would have the skill to create a new disease, and it even comes out that they shouldn’t have such skills at all. While these details are not that important to the main plot itself, it’s still unsatisfying to find them.

Even with these drawbacks, Fullmetal Alchemist is still one of the best anime series of the new millennium. An enthralling plot, believable characters you will care for and a perfect pacing are a guarantee for good entertainment from the exciting beginning to the powerful ending. If you haven’t seen this series so far, make it the next one you start watching.

Thanks to - nihonreview

Cowboy Bebop

Title: Cowboy Bebop
Distributor: Sunrise
Genre(s): drama, action, crime, space, bounty hunters
Age Rating: 13+

Episodes: 26
Aired:  3 Apr 1998 - 23 Apr 1999
Official Site: at http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/international/index.html

Authors Rating: 9.5/10












The year, 2071. With the rapid expansion in space colonization, it became necessary to create instant travel between planets. The result was a number of subspace gateways; however, inadvertently, an accident during construction caused great damage to the Earth. In this time, criminals thrive across the solar system, and someone needs to clean up what the authorities cannot: bounty hunters. Among these are former mobster Spike Spiegel and former police officer Jet Black. Along with gambler Faye Valentine and hacker Edward, they put the law in their hands, for the safety of others, to reconcile their pasts, and most importantly, to put food on the table.




I know, a great soundtrack, awesome fight scenes, and downright good characters, there’s gotta be a catch. Not this time. At the twilight of the 20th century, anime was at its peak giving rise to Cowboy Bebop, a series that went above and beyond all expectations. Aside from one small, yet potentially critical flaw, the viewer is left satisfied on all levels. Perhaps I’m just being nostalgic because this was the first anime I watched which wasn’t some Saturday morning bastardization. But there’s more to this than that.

The first thing I would have to say about Bebop is that it’s got class. I don’t think there is any musical genre Kanno Yoko can’t do. The blues create a perfect atmosphere, and even on its own it’s a treat to listen to. Much like Escaflowne’s(1,2) epic chorus andTurn A Gundam’s folksy bluegrass, one is entranced by the score to the point that you might as well be at the symphony. In all honesty, the first time I heard Bebop’s music, I had no idea that it was from an anime soundtrack, and boy was I surprised hearing it in the series.











Visually, the series is stunning, with a style that seems unique to anime. Despite being science fiction, many parts give off an early 20th century jazzy vibe, which complements the story and music well. However, when the animation needs to show its sci-fi face the moment is captured perfectly. And it doesn’t just look good, it moves well too. Many anime boast about their amazing fight scenes but few deliver. The action here is fast paced, engaging, and totally void of stock footage.However, this is all icing on the cake. Where Cowboy Bebop delivers more than just about anything else is in its characters. Spike Spiegel is the ultimate badass, rivaled by very few. The rest of the main cast is just as good including the well developed Faye, Radical Edward, and Jet who emits rays of awesomeness. Beyond being likable and interesting, the characters also succeed relationship wise. Chemistry between the Bebop crew is pure, lacking even a single forced moment. The only characterization I’ve seen that rivals this is probably Planetes.










Bebop, also, has one of the most fun and addicting plots in anime. The idea itself is simple; however, it is compelling as well. The compelling characters at the helm make you interested in their dreams and situations. The series is full of good examples of episodic stories. One, for example, involves Ed’s misadventures while chasing a narcotics dealer in a setting closely resembling the Wild West, while another involves a sympathetic story set on Venus involving Spike’s interactions with a man who wants to learn martial arts from him - for very personal reasons that Spike discovers later. These are just a few of the great stories and great characters that result in some of the most memorable moments ever to be shown on the small screen.

Cowboy Bebop is so well made that I didn’t want it to end. There was so much to it, but at lot more could have been possible. It didn’t help that Spike’s story felt a little incomplete. Not bagging on the ending, it was excellent, but I can only imagine how much richer the series would have been given another five to ten episodes. What I personally experienced was similar to when I watched Fafner, being so entranced, so connected that I wished it could go on much longer. Alas, that is a sign of good storytelling which I can forgive, especially with a standalone movie that came later. I could go on forever, the epic moments, the fun battles, the dub that was as good (maybe better) than the original. But I digress, this review is starting to go overboard. I bid you ado, until next time, space cowboy.

Afro Samurai

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Title: Afro Samurai
Distributor: Gonzo
Genre(s): samurai, drama, violence
Age Rating: 18+ (extreme violence and brutal scenes)

Episodes: 5 + Movie
Aired: January 4, 2007 - February 1, 2007
Official Site: at http://www.gonzo.co.jp/index.html

Authors Rating: 9/10











Set in a world where everyone’s desire is to beat up the bigger, tougher guy in order to become the biggest, toughest guy in the ’hood, Afro Samurai serves a plate of standardised plotting. Much of the development comprises a lot of macho stand-offs followed by gruesome resolutions; furthermore, the protagonist has no other motive for his deplorable actions except revenge against the individual who killed his beloved father - the owner of the number 1 head band - when he was barely old enough to remember it.




As Afro predictably hacks his way through one unfortunate challenger after another, the creative design continues to retain its fascination. Consider a irreverent world setting where rocket launchers are used in close-combat as easily as daggers - sex and violence are equally gratuitous - and the main character wears a pair of 18th century oriental bell bottoms. Even the chief antagonists are a menacing Pentecostal sect with fervent sermons drawn directly from the gospel preacher stereotype.






Afro Samurai consists of smooth, groovy, funky stuff and borrows its hard edge from African American culture in a way that brings to mind a bloodier, brawnier, but less original Samurai Champloo.

Alongside visual feasts Afro Samurai is at heart a long sequence of set pieces intentionally arranged to wow viewers who like rapid story progression, gory battle scenes and action so fast that if you blink you will miss. Afro dodges crossbow bolts, parries double swords, and carves flying bullets with the unnerving precision of a murderous master chef, all to an eerie backdrop of deep shadows, sinister greys, and hot splashing reds.




More than that, the show offers some excellent stylistic ‘comic book’ touches, from the majestic way hair floats to the ethereal fluttering of bandanna's and other loose material. Afro Samurai also makes the best use of smoke I’ve seen in Anime, including claustrophobic shots of steaming gun nozzles and cigarette fumes pumping out of nostrils, which adds to the intense 'hellish' atmosphere.

Unfortunately, stylistic excellence does not extend to the soundtrack. That is what many would tell you. I, however, completely disagree with the majority. I think the sound track is completely incomparable to Samurai Champloo's. The two Anime's are completely different. Afro Samurai is much darker and sinister. For this reason the opening music fits perfect with the dark nature of the show. If I had to compare it to Samurai Champloo I would say that I honestly preferred Afro Samurai. All that can really be said is to listen to both of them for yourself. Both Anime's have very memorable opening themes. Music within the show - Afro Samurai - has been heavily restricted and replaced by natural sounds and that add to a more eerie setting and provide a heavier atmosphere to the scenes. Music that is used is usually upon victory where our ... hero? ... Is leaving the battle field.

The men are all cold killers or shop owners, the women purely decorative, and the ham-fisted villains fall to Afro’s sword at the drop of a dismembered head. As for Afro himself, viewers need only know one thing: he’s hard. He’s so hard he could break rocks by just sitting on them. He’ll fuck a brother up quicker than he can utter ‘Yo momma’. Etcetera. In short, Afro is vacuous and only entertaining while he’s killing people; in fact, his blinkered, unrepentant lust for revenge even at the cost of allies is wholly unattractive without the necessary background substance to make it understandable.





As a pleasant surprise, the English dub consists of street lingo to match the show’s urban flair. It’s novel but it’s also rather corny. At worst, there’ll be Samuel L. Jackson’s monosyllabic deadpan performance as Afro filling up the empty scenes of the show, and making the 'lone traveller' part much more entertaining and gives the show some comic value. This character represents the internal Afro Samurai, which he suppresses but never the less is still there. 




Compact but viscerally impressive, Afro Samurai is one for the adults. It provides excellent visual entertainment and a gritty atmosphere that countless will find transiently enjoyable. Come for the style, watch for the stunts, and stay because it’s short and won’t waste too much of your time.