Before I begin, the term Rave in this post is not applied to dance parties called Raves. Rave Master is a title where Rave is a type of stone, used to apply onto a weapon to gain powerful properties. The anime was spotted on Cartoon Network's Toonami block back in 2004, and resurface on the channel Syfy in March 2009, where the name of its channel would take place 3 months later. It concluded in September of the same year, as part of the Ani-Monday block.
The world was caught in a deadly struggle, The Great War was between two magical powers, and 1/10th of the world was destroyed during such a conflict. The catalyst for that particular event was back in 0015, where Dark Bring, dark stones that bestows magic prowess, corrupted the world. In the hands of the Raregroove Kingdom, things looked at its bleakest. The Symphonia Kingdom opposes them using Rave Stones, which were made to rival the Dark Bring. Tasked with destroying the "mother" of the said evil, Sinclaire, Rave Master Shiba Roses attempts to do so with the Ten Commandments Sword, but this causes an explosion known as Override, which took a portion of the world with it. Sheilded from danger by his guardian "dog" Plue, Shiba survives with the sword and one of the Rave Stones. However, Plue, along with the other 4 Rave are scattered.
Fast forward to the year 0016, and we center on the anime's main hero, Haru Glory. What starts as a normal day with his sister Cattelya changes when he not only discovers (and fishes up) Plue, but also encounter Shiba with intentions to reclaim him. Soon, his house is totaled from an attack by the terrorists from Demon Card. Realizing how much of a problem they cause, he is appointed as the second Rave Master, fitted with Shiba's Rave stone and his Ten Commandments Sword. Haru, alongside Plue, venture out to stop them, gaining allies along the way, such as Elie, who suffers from amnesia, and two of Demon Card's attackers-turned-allies Shuda and Sieg Hart, among others. With the world to save, and memories to recover, Haru has his work cut out for him, but like his father, he is up for the task.
Rave Master lasts for 51 episodes. Created in Studio Deen, this title was licensed by Tokyopop, which is now defunct. There are 3 video games made from this title: one for Nintendo's Gamecube, and the other 2 for their Game Boy Advance series, all made under Konami, who is known for licensing Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and games. In the English translation, a few names got changed here and there, with Demon Card being called the Shadow Guard, and the Dark Bring called Shadow Stones. Yuri Lowenthall voices Haru in the dub, with Michelle Ruff voicing Elie. In addition, Rave Master's author, Hiro Mashima, is known for creating another popular work out now called Fairy Tail.
Rave Master wasn't what I expected, granted it's a fantasy title, and aside from the islands' mediocre naming, I was entertained, so I'll give it a 7 of 10 to be nice. Not that I was die-hard for it, the title did grasp my attention, so I say that looking back on it can't hurt.
2012/01/16
2012/01/05
CLXXXVII: "Cyborg 009" series
Another retro title, Cyborg 009 was another Toonami entrant I somehow overlooked. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, who introduced Android Kikaider and the original Kamen Rider, this title was hailed as the first anime dealing with a superpowered hero team made of 9 cybernetic warriors. Oddly enough, despite different creation times, it's often said that Cyborg 009 was based off of Android Kikaider, and the art of his work is similar to that of his mentor's: Osamu Tezuka, who created the iconic Astro Boy, which Ishinomori helped out on.
Cyborg 009 deals with a team of 9 cyborgs that were once human. Against their will, the secret organization Black Ghost kidnapped and converted 9 humans into cybernetic warriors. Their goal: to cause another world war, selling weapons of destruction for profit. To prevent such a conflict, and to securer their freedom, they band together to oppose Black Ghost, while dealing with other threats as well with their unwanted, but very useful modifications.
Cyborg 009 had plenty of animation titles, and the three that appeared in the US was part of it. However, only one of them featured well tolerated English dialogue and voices: that being their third series in 2001, which spanned 51 episodes, seeing daylight in the cartoon block, Toonami licensed under Avex Inc., who are the American branch of Avex Mode. Their first English attempt was the second film Cyborg 009: Legend of the Super Vortex, renamed Defenders of the Vortex, but was a poorly received attempt in English language. Aside from this there are 3 films and two other anime series: the first ran for 26 episodes, and the other ran for 50 episodes. Word is there is another set for 2012, details still unknown in regards to the plot, but Production I.G. and Ishimori Productions are said to be behind this. The title for this, at least for now, is 009: RE-CYBORG. Joe/009 is voiced by Joshua Seth, though Derek Stephen Prince sometimes voices him.
Cyborg 009 is a memorable one, scoring 8 of 10 from me. I never thought it would have such a history, but I see why this is such a big deal.
Cyborg 009 deals with a team of 9 cyborgs that were once human. Against their will, the secret organization Black Ghost kidnapped and converted 9 humans into cybernetic warriors. Their goal: to cause another world war, selling weapons of destruction for profit. To prevent such a conflict, and to securer their freedom, they band together to oppose Black Ghost, while dealing with other threats as well with their unwanted, but very useful modifications.
Cyborg 009 had plenty of animation titles, and the three that appeared in the US was part of it. However, only one of them featured well tolerated English dialogue and voices: that being their third series in 2001, which spanned 51 episodes, seeing daylight in the cartoon block, Toonami licensed under Avex Inc., who are the American branch of Avex Mode. Their first English attempt was the second film Cyborg 009: Legend of the Super Vortex, renamed Defenders of the Vortex, but was a poorly received attempt in English language. Aside from this there are 3 films and two other anime series: the first ran for 26 episodes, and the other ran for 50 episodes. Word is there is another set for 2012, details still unknown in regards to the plot, but Production I.G. and Ishimori Productions are said to be behind this. The title for this, at least for now, is 009: RE-CYBORG. Joe/009 is voiced by Joshua Seth, though Derek Stephen Prince sometimes voices him.
Cyborg 009 is a memorable one, scoring 8 of 10 from me. I never thought it would have such a history, but I see why this is such a big deal.
2012/01/03
CLXXXVI: "B Gata H Kei: Yamada's Fitst Time"
Again, I'm just thrown by the types of anime out there today. This title, B Gata H Kei: Yamada's First Time, is just as charming, yet ridiculous, as it sounds. Rightfully, all I can say is "What in the blue hell?", because like with MM!, it came as a fast ball to me, and if you checked my review, I was at odds with that one.
Well, on to the anime's story. The titular character is Yamada, her first name isn't disclosed. She is a beautiful student with just one overbearing fault: she's an oversexed 15 year old girl that is still a virgin, yet that doesn't stop her from being lustful and flirtatious. Guided by an Eros Deity (that looks like a chibi form of her with a mustache), she plans to become intimate with 100 men in her high school days. But, being a virgin is the roadblock she has to overcome, and the story really kicks off from there. Seeking the inexperienced boy, aka "Golden Cherry", she accidentally finds him: Takashi Kosuda. After an awkward first meeting, she'll go to any length to lose her innocence to this guy, but despite their different statuses in school (Yamada = popular and attractive/Takashi = ordinary and uninteresting), she could see something more to him than just being her object of lust. However, as with any romantic comedy, it's not without extra heads to mix things up.
The anime is 12 episodes long, though break them up and technically, you have 24 that's roughly... 12.5 minutes a piece. Yes, like with Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, they are 2-in-1, save for the lame "Title made after popular media" bit. Made in the Hal Film Maker studio, this was completed, and made its run last year. Interesting enough are these two things:
Off the wall to me, I'm grading B Gata H Kei: Yamada's First Time a 6 of 10 for the time being. If it's as wacky subbed, then I'm sure that when the dub gets released, if ever, it'll be just as crazy.
Well, on to the anime's story. The titular character is Yamada, her first name isn't disclosed. She is a beautiful student with just one overbearing fault: she's an oversexed 15 year old girl that is still a virgin, yet that doesn't stop her from being lustful and flirtatious. Guided by an Eros Deity (that looks like a chibi form of her with a mustache), she plans to become intimate with 100 men in her high school days. But, being a virgin is the roadblock she has to overcome, and the story really kicks off from there. Seeking the inexperienced boy, aka "Golden Cherry", she accidentally finds him: Takashi Kosuda. After an awkward first meeting, she'll go to any length to lose her innocence to this guy, but despite their different statuses in school (Yamada = popular and attractive/Takashi = ordinary and uninteresting), she could see something more to him than just being her object of lust. However, as with any romantic comedy, it's not without extra heads to mix things up.
The anime is 12 episodes long, though break them up and technically, you have 24 that's roughly... 12.5 minutes a piece. Yes, like with Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, they are 2-in-1, save for the lame "Title made after popular media" bit. Made in the Hal Film Maker studio, this was completed, and made its run last year. Interesting enough are these two things:
- Despite the short anime run, the manga is 9 volumes long, running from 2004-2011. Again, events unfold somewhat different, and more plot elements/characters appear more frequent in it.
- The anime, however, is licensed by Funimation, and English voices are confirmed. It's debut in English is set to begin at the end of this month. But given it's theme, it'll see a TV-MA rating.
Off the wall to me, I'm grading B Gata H Kei: Yamada's First Time a 6 of 10 for the time being. If it's as wacky subbed, then I'm sure that when the dub gets released, if ever, it'll be just as crazy.
2012/01/02
CLXXXV: "Mobile Suit Gundam"
Ah, I say this name often, partly because it's one of the mecha series I tend to live for. After covering other Gundam titles, I guess it feels only right to review the franchise origin: Mobile Suit Gundam. It is here where the titular white titan made its debut, spanning other series with the namesake machine.
The timeline here is known as the Universal Century. People have migrated to space colonies that had conditions fit for human living, monitored by the governing Earth Federation, who served a role similar to the United Nations. Independent from Earth Federation was the Republic of Zeon, located on Side 3. However, following the death of the founding leader, Zeon Zum Daikun, they called themselves the Principality of Zeon, and after amassing their guard force into an all-out military, utilizing machinery piloted by man, the term of them being called "Mobile Suits". Featuring that mass of power, Zeon soon declared war on the Earth Federation in order to declare their independence, sparking an atrocious conflict graved into history as the One Year War. The story begins 8 months after the conflict's beginning, and both sides were at a stalemate.
In the year U.C. 0079, the war was still on stalemate status, until the Zeon Army caught wind of intel regarding Project V, in which the Earth Federation Special Forces were having their own mobile suits, one of which that could play a huge part in the war. Picking them up was the newly developed warship White Base, known to their foes as the Trojan Horse. Under orders by Zeon ace pilot, Lt. Commander Char "Red Comet" Aznable, a reconnaissance team was sent to investigate the colony of Side 7. However, one of the members jumped the gun, ignoring orders and opening fire on the place, hoping to disrupt Project V. Side 7 civilian Amuro Ray stumbles upon one of the mobile suits. He then awakens the white mobile suit, called the RX-78. The name given to it was: GUNDAM. After dispatching the foes, he, along with other refugees, make an unlikely crew to serve as the E.F.S.F. flagship, led by Ensign-turned-Captain Bright Noa, with Amuro piloting Gundam. Through many conflicts and losses, it not only stood as the starting point of Amuro's military career, but it also brought forth the knowledge of Newtype pilots, and sparked a longtime rivalry with Char.
Initially intended to be longer, Mobile Suit Gundam ran for 43 episodes on TV, spotted on the likes of Cartoon Network's Toonami block. It was created in the Sunrise studio, with Bandai Entertainment licensing the animation. As such, the merchandise was also licensed by them, among which are model kits, clothing, and games (which are now under the Namco Bandai Games label.) There are also compilation films, which changed some features here and there to set it slightly apart from the anime. Nobody would expect that Gundam would become this big, as it lacked a fanbase before Bandai received the license. It's fame would erupt to a multi-title franchise we know of today, which is currently continuing with the young Mobile Suit Gundam AGE. Brad Swaile (who did other roles like Rock of Black Lagoon) voices Amuro Ray in the dub, with Char Aznable voiced by Michael Kopsa (who also voiced Commander Volcott O'Huey of the Galaxy Angel metaseries.)
Mobile Suit Gundam is a doubtless classic to what has become a common name in anime to this very day. Maybe that's saying too much, but this anime has its place in history, and in my book, scores a 9 of 10. Long live Gundam.
The timeline here is known as the Universal Century. People have migrated to space colonies that had conditions fit for human living, monitored by the governing Earth Federation, who served a role similar to the United Nations. Independent from Earth Federation was the Republic of Zeon, located on Side 3. However, following the death of the founding leader, Zeon Zum Daikun, they called themselves the Principality of Zeon, and after amassing their guard force into an all-out military, utilizing machinery piloted by man, the term of them being called "Mobile Suits". Featuring that mass of power, Zeon soon declared war on the Earth Federation in order to declare their independence, sparking an atrocious conflict graved into history as the One Year War. The story begins 8 months after the conflict's beginning, and both sides were at a stalemate.
In the year U.C. 0079, the war was still on stalemate status, until the Zeon Army caught wind of intel regarding Project V, in which the Earth Federation Special Forces were having their own mobile suits, one of which that could play a huge part in the war. Picking them up was the newly developed warship White Base, known to their foes as the Trojan Horse. Under orders by Zeon ace pilot, Lt. Commander Char "Red Comet" Aznable, a reconnaissance team was sent to investigate the colony of Side 7. However, one of the members jumped the gun, ignoring orders and opening fire on the place, hoping to disrupt Project V. Side 7 civilian Amuro Ray stumbles upon one of the mobile suits. He then awakens the white mobile suit, called the RX-78. The name given to it was: GUNDAM. After dispatching the foes, he, along with other refugees, make an unlikely crew to serve as the E.F.S.F. flagship, led by Ensign-turned-Captain Bright Noa, with Amuro piloting Gundam. Through many conflicts and losses, it not only stood as the starting point of Amuro's military career, but it also brought forth the knowledge of Newtype pilots, and sparked a longtime rivalry with Char.
Initially intended to be longer, Mobile Suit Gundam ran for 43 episodes on TV, spotted on the likes of Cartoon Network's Toonami block. It was created in the Sunrise studio, with Bandai Entertainment licensing the animation. As such, the merchandise was also licensed by them, among which are model kits, clothing, and games (which are now under the Namco Bandai Games label.) There are also compilation films, which changed some features here and there to set it slightly apart from the anime. Nobody would expect that Gundam would become this big, as it lacked a fanbase before Bandai received the license. It's fame would erupt to a multi-title franchise we know of today, which is currently continuing with the young Mobile Suit Gundam AGE. Brad Swaile (who did other roles like Rock of Black Lagoon) voices Amuro Ray in the dub, with Char Aznable voiced by Michael Kopsa (who also voiced Commander Volcott O'Huey of the Galaxy Angel metaseries.)
Mobile Suit Gundam is a doubtless classic to what has become a common name in anime to this very day. Maybe that's saying too much, but this anime has its place in history, and in my book, scores a 9 of 10. Long live Gundam.
CLXXXIV: "YuYu Hakusho"
Only one anime comes to mind when I think of a junior high student that was once dead, returns to life as a detective, and still cause ass-kicking mayhem with a potty mouth to match his toughness. Of course, by this I'm referring to Yusuke Urameshi and the anime he's in: YuYu Hakusho. Strange that my first post of the year is of a title I should have already went over. Oh well, here's the rough of things...
Yusuke Urameshi is considered a delinquent. He's known to get into fights, ditches class whenever people have pissed them off, and he is accompanied by a overexaggerated rumor to boot. However, he does tend to fight. Strangely enough, he would be the last person expected to die saving a kid, which is exactly where we see him at the very start: as a victim of a hit-and-run. Originally intent on staying dead, the mourning of those who know him: his mother, the school's principal, his childhood friend Keiko Yukimura, and even his punching bag/rival Kazuma Kuwabara, changes his outlook on being dead, and through certain trials, he is given a second shot at being alive. However, he soon learns that he can see, and do things he couldn't manage before. It's not until meeting again with the Spirit World's Grim Reaper, Botan, that he learns that he has gained powers, as well as the label of the Spirit Detective of Earth. Over time, he really starts to acknowledge his responsibilities. Instructed by Koenma, and fighting alongside Kuwabara and Botan, with later demon allies Hiei and Kurama, Yusuke gets ready to throw down at whatever problem comes his way.
A long 112 episode series, YuYu Hakusho also saw 2 OVAs and a movie featuring a few new faces. The anime is licensed under Funimation Entertainment for the U.S. Initially, it was part of the Toonami block back when it existed on Cartoon Network, but as of late, the show found itself on Funimation Channel, as with other works licensed by the company. It was censored during its first Toonami run, but after being featured on the block's Midnight Run, and later Adult Swim, it went uncut in terms of the language. Yusuke is voiced by Justin Cook in the dub (who is also known for Dragon Ball Z's Raditz), but in the movie, Rik Nagel voices him in English.
YuYu Hakusho is a ride indeed, scoring an 8 of 10. In a sense, this anime is one of the more memorable titles, still being broadcast today, and even gained more views that DBZ on its old run. However, as I stated, it has harsh language, and a few situations that may raise a few flags, so take caution when viewing, for it may not be suitable for minors.
Yusuke Urameshi is considered a delinquent. He's known to get into fights, ditches class whenever people have pissed them off, and he is accompanied by a overexaggerated rumor to boot. However, he does tend to fight. Strangely enough, he would be the last person expected to die saving a kid, which is exactly where we see him at the very start: as a victim of a hit-and-run. Originally intent on staying dead, the mourning of those who know him: his mother, the school's principal, his childhood friend Keiko Yukimura, and even his punching bag/rival Kazuma Kuwabara, changes his outlook on being dead, and through certain trials, he is given a second shot at being alive. However, he soon learns that he can see, and do things he couldn't manage before. It's not until meeting again with the Spirit World's Grim Reaper, Botan, that he learns that he has gained powers, as well as the label of the Spirit Detective of Earth. Over time, he really starts to acknowledge his responsibilities. Instructed by Koenma, and fighting alongside Kuwabara and Botan, with later demon allies Hiei and Kurama, Yusuke gets ready to throw down at whatever problem comes his way.
A long 112 episode series, YuYu Hakusho also saw 2 OVAs and a movie featuring a few new faces. The anime is licensed under Funimation Entertainment for the U.S. Initially, it was part of the Toonami block back when it existed on Cartoon Network, but as of late, the show found itself on Funimation Channel, as with other works licensed by the company. It was censored during its first Toonami run, but after being featured on the block's Midnight Run, and later Adult Swim, it went uncut in terms of the language. Yusuke is voiced by Justin Cook in the dub (who is also known for Dragon Ball Z's Raditz), but in the movie, Rik Nagel voices him in English.
YuYu Hakusho is a ride indeed, scoring an 8 of 10. In a sense, this anime is one of the more memorable titles, still being broadcast today, and even gained more views that DBZ on its old run. However, as I stated, it has harsh language, and a few situations that may raise a few flags, so take caution when viewing, for it may not be suitable for minors.
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