 |
Video Picks
Recommending anything to anyone else is a
job fraught with danger as no two people look at things in the same
way. Nevertheless, there are some films and series which we feel
are so great that something has to be said on their behalf. The
shows listed here are not the only things that you should be looking
at by any means ... the way to enjoy this hobby is to look at a
little of everything. If you are in doubt about something, by all
means give us a call.
|
Akira
Debuting three months after Totoro, Akira
is the last of the three big guns of 1988. Following on the wild
success of the manga by the same name, Akira is a story of science
gone mad. During an experiment for which the effect is shown before
the opening credits, Tokyo is wiped from the map. When it is mostly
rebuilt in the future, similar experiments are taking place again
whose ultimate results seem eerily inevitable. Told largely from
the perspective of a motorcycle gang member, Akira is a brilliant
Tour de Force with some of the most careful animation and seamless
computer graphics ever put into an anime film. Due mostly to the
vision of Katsuhiro Otomo (its creator), this film maintains an
integrity that is most atypical. Its pacing and execution frequently
stunning, it also features one of the biggest sendups at the end
that has ever been attempted.
|
|
Armitage III
Armitage is a fairly standard story about
a recently transferred policeman and his Martian partner. She doesn't
have Ray Walston's little antennas coming out of her head, but she
is nonetheless a Martian (being born on Mars) and not quite what
she appears to be. Her exploits (and her partner's as well) are
aimed toward her exploration of self ... but it's sometimes hard
to remember as she usually wears a very kinky red leather outfit.
It's a fun series (there are only four installments, and a "movie"
compilation) with excellent character design and excellent editing.
|
|
Armored Trooper Votoms
Although some people will be turned off before
they even start by the fact that this is a 1980's robot series or
that it's got a load of episodes, there's a lot here to like. The
machines are used to great effect, and not used as a crutch . Like
many of the 1980's series, a fair amount of the shows are devoted
to character development so as the series progresses you really
do find yourself caring about these people. The only thing that's
against this is that there is SO much backstory involved that you
really almost need the RPG supplement to fully appreciate the care
that is in this series. If you like character driven stories, give
this one a shot.
|
|
Astro Boy
The series that started it all. Volumes have
been written about this series and its effect on the infant animation
industry. Osamu Tezuka has been elevated to a position in the history
of animation and of manga due partly to this that no one else will
ever be. Tezuka himself singlehandedly revolutionized character
design (those big eyes ...), and in Astro Boy himself, this is evident.
The concepts presented were remarkably adult by US standards of
the time (death, "non" persons and alienation are handled incredibly
well), and this was by all accounts a children's show. Generations
have grown up around the world with this character's wisdom and
visage. And, if you're over 30 you can probably still whistle the
theme music without even trying very hard.
|
|
Bubblegum Crisis
One of the very early OVA releases, Bubblegum
Crisis has several Blade Runner references contained in it. In execution,
however, there are very few similarities. This series certainly
did not tell all the stories which were intended, and has become
famous for being a series that is incomplete. It has been an open
secret for years that at least one of the principal characters is
not human, but only hints remain of what this series could eventually
have become. This 8 installment series succeeds due to both the
vision of Ken Ichi Sonoda, and to the plethora of great music which
has become even more popular than the series itself. There is a
new television series in Japan this year, and it too has been licensed
for the US market (although not yet available for sale). This new
series does NOT include Sonoda, and bears (from what little we've
seen) little resemblance to the OVA set. Priss SORTA looks like
Priss. Linna SORTA looks like Linna. Sylia doesn't look anything
like Sylia, and Nene looks like she's about twelve (and is inexplicably
blonde). Maybe the new show should be called Bubblegum Crisis Flash
instead.
|
|
Cool Devices (Adult)
If adult anime is your thing, look no further
than Cool Devices. This series of five tapes is about the nastiest
thing we've ever seen (and has ever been made, in all likelihood).
The set (with the exception of a pair of two-parters) are all unique
stories done by different directors ... and unique stories they
are. These are heavy S&M and B&D tapes with requisite doses of latex
and leather thrown in. Stories range from ... well, we can't really
tell you in any detail here. Suffice it to say that they're everything
you've heard about (and more) ... particularly when you get to the
electrodes on tape 3. And (for a change) with the exception of two
stories (and not even all that much there), there isn't a tentacle
to be found.
|
|
Darkside Blues
Think of Vampire Hunter D without Amano (actually,
this is closer than you might think), and you've got this film pretty
well. A surprising release (even more so since there wasn't a lot
of buzz on this title), this is a stylish and elegant film. Watch
it. It's worth it (ok, ok ... so it doesn't have Doris' short ruffled
dress).
|
|
Dragon Ball
Akira Toriyama's signature piece (well, between this and Doctor Slump
anyway), this manga and TV series is at least as familiar as Mickey
Mouse is all over the world (except in America ... until now). Goku
basically looks like a little boy (if you forget about the tail),
and is pure of heart and mind. He is also a very nasty martial artist
when you convince him to fight. Goku and his companions (a bunch
of lunatics who have formed a loose group) are looking for the same
thing: a series of seven spheres which, when brought together, will
summon a powerful dragon. This dragon will grant their owner a single
wish, and then scatter these "dragonballs" again to the four winds.
A truly wonderful series (one of the best series ever to come from
Japan, period) and one worth at least a look from everyone.
|
|
Fushigi Yugi
Once exclusively the domain of hardcore fansubbers,
this series is finally coming to legitimate videotape. While it's
more than a bit Shojo and is most definitely not for everyone, this
is a wonderful (if long) television series with a little bit for
everyone. Well written and populated with very three dimensional
characters (like all good Shojo series are), this comes highly recommended.
Pioneer gets major kudos from us by releasing this, even if they
DID spell it strangely.
|
|
Ghost in the Shell
Huge anticipation also grew around this film in the years leading up
to its release. Shiro Masamune's first real work in many years,
and featuring direction by Mamoru Oshii (who also did Beautiful
Dreamer among other stuff), it was a film that really couldn't fail.
It didn't. Easily the top seller of 1995 (perhaps the biggest of
all time over on this side of the Pacific), this has unusual and
interesting character design, a creepy score, and a whole lot of
large caliber weapons. Oshii is currently rumored to be working
on the new Masamune film "Gundress."
|
|
Giant Robo
Giant Robo is one of the breaths of fresh air that arrived in those dead
years a while back. Taking its cue from early manga series (probably
most heavily from Shotaro Ishimori's work), here is a genuine rip
roaring retro-designed series. Fans almost universally adore Ginrei,
a heroine who always seems to know where her clothes are ... something
that's fairly unusual for a series like this. The show is, of course,
a new animated retelling of the Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot
live action stories, but they are far better than anything previously
seen. It also has one of the most effective musical scores in years.
Manga Entertainment has finally begun releasing these subtitled,
and we recommend these!
|
|
Grave of the Fireflies
This is a unique film that may be disquieting
for some American
animation fans. It deals with the last days of World War 2, and
of the carpet bombing that took place over large Japanese civilian
targets. Through the wreckage of a city, two young children try
to survive even though they've been orphaned. They dream of simple
pleasures, live through the chaos all around them, and die utterly
meaningless deaths. Sometimes difficult to watch for entertainment,
here is a striking film that reminds us all that there are faces
attached to all the statistics of war. Amazingly, this film was
shown theatrically on a double bill with Totoro.
|
|
Here is Greenwood
Greenwood
is cut from the same stock as Otaku no Video ... it almost revels
in being anti-commercial. More than half Shojo, it's not for everybody
... but it is for anybody who likes a good story without giant robots
or girls in battle armor!
|
|
Iczer 1
Toshihiro Hirano's signature piece, the Iczer
1 series was one of the first hugely successful OVA series. Weaving
standard story elements of female warriors and giant robots with
elements which shortly would turn into adult programming, this series/film
stood right on the edge and only looked over at the other side.
In many ways, Iczer 1 is as responsible for current animation design
as Astro Boy is. There are three separate flavors of Iczer stories
now available in the US on videotape, but probably the one that's
the most pure is the first. While some sections have questionable
production values, the design and the storytelling pace more than
make up for it. The look and the tone of this series is great, and
this film cuts together the three original installments with bridge
sections so the original vision is maintained. It's also presented
subtitled, for the first time.
|
|
Iria: Zeiram the Animation
It's easy to dismiss this without seeing
it once the "apprentice bounty hunter" label gets thrown around,
but there's more here. Sharing a universe with the similarly named
live action film, this is a well designed and genuinely fun little
action-adventure series. It's a standard story, but it's always
entertaining. The mecha designs are a little odd, and the sound
design (no, not those awful stereos) is surprisingly good. And,
Iria herself looks a whole lot like a certain Battle Angel ...
|
|
Irresponsible Captain
Tylor
Picture in your mind the image of a space battleship commander from any
Japanese series ... an old man who has been hardened by the death
he has seen and the friends he has lost. He would sit silently in
his command chair as the enemy pounds his ship, considering his
options and waiting for the appropriate time ... then leap into
action with the perfect strategic solution to the problem. Now,
with that in mind, turn it around 180 degrees ... you've got Captain
Tylor. Justy Ueki (Just Awake) Tylor is loathed by most of his crew and despised by both his enemies and his commanders.
With this sort of a situation going on, you'd expect him to wind
up dead someplace quiet. Tylor, of course, is counting down the
days until he can retire with a nice fat pension...
|
[ Back to Top ]
|
Enhanced Feed
