Posts Tagged ‘sci-fi’
Aquarion, LOL
March 23rd, 2008
I can see why Funimation chose Aquarion to test the season box-set release instead of releasing it the traditional one volume at a time. Aquarion has names behind it that anime fans in the US recognize like Shoji Kawamori and Yoko Kanno, so Funimation can market the show. Who doesn’t like Yoko Kanno?
Though after watching the first volume, it’s pretty easy to see why Aquarion was chosen as a season-set guinea pig. The first five episodes are quite lame. I know I probably would not have bought volume two after seeing volume one.
Sure, most mecha shows are either super cheesy or are trying their hardest to prove mecha can be a serious business. Aquarion straddles the line quite deliberately in equal parts that it comes off as trying too hard without a clue. Eventually it sorts it self out enough to dump some interesting ideas about some shadow angel bad guys who harvest humans as food and that there are reincarnated heroes who are able to fight them.
Begins Simoun
February 19th, 2008
I didn’t know much about Simoun before putting it in my queue other than it was mystical sci-fantasy, had some yuri affection, and pretty character designs. While Simoun has set things up in a way for some convenient yuri action, it looks like the show has a lot more going for it than some good old fashioned pandering. I might even use that placeholder word that people like to use when they’re a little suspicious of something while they are being drawn in and wanting to know where it will go — yeah after viewing the first dvd (eps. 1-6), Simoun looks “promising”.
Finished 009-1
February 4th, 2008
At first, 009-1 looked like it would be an action oriented spy story, lots of gadgets, infiltration missions, and spy duels. At least, that was the impression I got from the first DVD. The series changes tempo for the rest, slowing down into something more blue that’s worth it if you can take slower riffs on infiltration, gadgets, and spy duels.
009-1 Weird Look, but I Like It
January 6th, 2008
As far as current style goes, 009-1 has a unique look to the character designs which acts as both blessing and curse. It’s a new show that looks old, so to many fans that makes 009-1 a fugly show. Fugly hurts when the sex appeal of the lead, Mylene Hoffman who comes from the curvaceous school of character design, is supposed to sell the show. On the other hand, the retro look adds a lot to the mood of 009-1, if 60’s spy movies and tv shows have ever been part of your viewing pleasure. After a few minutes I got to liking the art direction and character design quite a bit, but even though I know and get that Mylene is sexy, she doesn’t turn me on. That’s actually OK though.
Ending Haruhi in the Rain
December 18th, 2007
Hype is a giant killer. The more furious the proclamations of greatness the more likely the legend will be dead on arrival. A few days ago I finished The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, its battered and bloody, but it survived hype’s special attack and was a fun show for me to watch.
