Archive for the English Anime Category


Revolutionary Girl Utena Anime, Volume 3, Disk 3 (English)

May 25th, 2012

The”Apocalypse Arc” of Revolutionary Girl Utena is going to spend the rest of the anime blowing us up like a balloon and piercing us with pins, just to watch us go “pop!”

I don’t know what to say about this arc other than I wholly wiped it from my memory the first time around and am not at all pleased at having to remember any of it this time. And not to spoil anything, but we learn three things during this arc and not one of them makes us any happier.

The shadow girls tell us what we’ve been guessing for a while, that the true story lay somewhere deep in our subsconscious where all fairytales live – and we’re reminded yet again that the story started with something like a fairy tale. The beginning, which seemed innocent in the beginning takes on a much, much darker meaning now and there is nowhere on the screen to look that does not bring us pain.

I’m reminded of the hatred shown to Akio when fans saw this series the first time. It’s a fair bet to say that he remains the most loathesome anime character I’ve ever encountered.

Of the two things that keep me going towards the end, one of them is revealed in this arc. Knowing Anthy’s true story makes me love her even more, but I do not pity her. Because…

One more disk to go, only a few days left in the contest to win this boxset. Only a few more episodes to the end that I long for, that I cling to like a mirage in the desert. I wonder what my reaction to it will be when I watch it again for the first time in a decade?

My original review for this disk was going to be something like – ARRRRRGGGGHHHHH.

I’ll withhold ratings until the end. I can’t speak of this disk without spitting.





Jormungand Anime (English)

May 1st, 2012

Many thanks to Mara for pointing out at Sunday’s Live Online Yuri Panel that the Jormungand anime had begun streaming. It’s available for free (supported by commercials) with English subtitles on the Funimation channel.
The Funi channel requires registration before you can watch anything. As much as I don’t love commercials or registering, if this gives me a chance to watch Jormungand for free, legally I think it’s a fair deal. ^_^

If you’ve been reading the manga, you know what to expect and, pleasantly, that’s exactly what you get. The anime is an animated version of the manga, not some mangled other story with barely any relation to what we know. Koko Hekmatyar and her band of cheerful cutthroats are still unapologetically arms dealers; many guns will be shot, people will be knifed and blood will spurt. But it’s all in good fun.

Bizarrely, I actually mean that. What makes the manga series work for me is the sense of humor Koko and her group have, and how they don’t make excuses for what they do. They are a family of a sort, and they are resolved to be the best they can be. As I wrote in my review of Volume 2 of the manga:

There’s a certain amount of philosophical rambling I’m willing to put up with in stories of people with no ethical underpinnings. It’s interesting to watch authors struggle with the “why” someone would do something so awful and interesting to see that they often have to create a kind of cheerful nihilism to explain it, so that their characters remain likable while slaughtering people.

This is captured perfectly by the anime. Artistically, the series looks more like the manga than maybe I’d want, since the manga is frequently drawn pretty sketchily, but it means that we know what blacked-out eyes and crazy looks mean.

Voice acting is just exactly what I want from the series. Itou Shizuka is using her Nadie voice with an edge of crazy and Valmet is voiced by Ohara Sayaka, who has played many of our favorites, Layla Hamilton in Kaleido Star, Alicia Florence in Aria and is now also popular with the Yuri crowd as Irisviel from Fate/Zero. More importantly for us, the Yuri inherent in Valmet’s character is left firmly in place. Mildo is creepily interested in Valmet, I have no doubt Schokolade will be gay as a pride parade and Dr. Miami will also have a serious interest in Koko. It’s just that kind of series. ^_^

Ratings:

Art- C’mon, seriously? You are not watching this for the art.
Story – Guns shoot bullets, people die horribly. You smile.
Characters – They are all broken, but they smile an awful lot, too – mostly while shooting things.
Yuri – Valmet is in love/lust with Koko
Service – Depends. No moe here, so that’s a 0. Weapons fetishtry – 1000000000 Valmet has large breasts and is hot for Koko – 6

Overall – I like it 8, but I’m probably never suggesting it to someone other than my Dad. ^_^





Yuri Anime: Bodacious Space Pirates (English)

April 29th, 2012

Back in February, I was persuaded by longtime Okazu reader, Cryssoberyl, to watch a new anime called Bodacious Space Pirates. Due to the salaciousness of the name I was a little hesitant, but was quickly absorbed in what I consider to be a very fun story. I did my preliminary review at that time.

Another reader, Helen, pointed out that Jenny and Lynn were a couple and another longtime reader, DezoPenguin, pointed out that they are a couple in the novels…and when they director said there’d be no romance in the series, fans were devastated that that meant Jenny and Lynn too….

(These two paragraphs are a perfect example of why I value my Yuri Network so highly! I didn’t know any of this, and was glad to learn it all from you.)

The upshot of all of this? Well…the director lied. And gosh I am so happy to say that. ^_^

In episode 17, Jenny and Lynn are reunited in front of the Hakuoh Yacht Club, acting as provisional Bentenmaru crew…with a kiss. Actually two kisses, just to make the point. ^_^

 
And, as service-y as it was, Jenny is dressed as a bride because she was supposed to have been married and Lynn is dressed like Lady Oscar because the director is not a moron. ^_^
 
I have been enjoying the heck out of this series as it streams (free! legally! on Crunchyroll) and I had every intention of buying it when Sentai Filmworks releases it on DVD. (Can I be cynical again? Who wants to bet that Sentai licensed it because of the title and will be disappointed….?) ^_^ Now, even moreso, for obvious reasons.
 
In any case, Bodacious Space Pirates is now a Yuri Anime and has pretty much entered the race for Top Yuri Anime of 2012.
 
Ratings:
 
Art – Generally meh, exceptionally bad for this episode, but whatever
Story – Fun, with a light coating of awesome
Characters – Fantastic and getting better
Yuri – There’s Yuri! Squee!
Service – 1 and that’s why I say…
 
Overall – 10
 
Two anime ratings at 10 in a row? I’m getting soft.  ^_^




Revolutionary Girl Utena Anime, Volume 3, Disk 1 (English)

April 27th, 2012

The difference in tone between the first disk of the third box set, the “Apocalypse Arc” and first disk of the “Student Council Arc” of Revolutionary Girl Utena is so profound, the gap so enormous, that I’m having trouble finding words to express my thoughts on it.

The Student Council themselves are different. They have faced their darkest thoughts and are no longer terrified by them. It almost comes as a surprise to them that still they have weak spots to be be exploited. And yet, there they are, on the dueling ground, for reasons that they themselves don’t really understand, fighting.

The End of the World shows himself to us, and in many ways, he is aptly named. Akio, the Morning Star, Lucifer, the fallen angel…the End of the World, in the sense of a border or a boundary outside which is…what?

There are significant changes in the dynamic between the characters. Everything is fraught with sexual energy, even relationships we desperately wish were not. (How many of us grit our teeth when Akio put his hand on Utena and pulls her closer?) Kozue and Shiori attempt to embrace their own sexuality, only to find themselves left as wreckage on the side of the road. Nanami is made fun of, brutally, blatantly, so we must see her as a buffoon, naive and soft. This will lead to one of the most mind blowingly profound moments in the series.

But of all the changes, the most fraught, the most profound is the change that has come over Anthy. In the beginning of the series she was (apparently) a passive player in the game. Now Utena and she share a room – to some extent, a bed – and in the transformation and subsequent duels, Anthy plays a more active role. It’s impossible to ignore her or write her off as a victim with a nasty sense of humor. There is something very important going on in regards to her, although we do not yet know the full story. Watching this disk, I am reminded of the concept of shakti and suddenly, Anthy’s physical appearance makes sense on a deeper level than it ever has before. Is she the divine feminine power, the agent of change that charges the male manifestation of divinity’s power and makes him “able to do”? I think so.

In the beginning, Utena was the Prince who longed to save Anthy, the Princess. Now Anthy appears more as a goddess, giving Utena the power to…what, revolutionize the world? Really? Does that mean anything? With each episode, the tension around that phrase and around the phrase “The End of the World” becomes thicker. To see what it all means, we must simply keep watching.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – 10
Character – 9
Yuri – 4
Service – 4

Overall – 10

I don’t want to look, but I can’t stop watching.





Magic Knight Rayearth Anime Second Season, Disks 5 & 6 (English)

April 22nd, 2012

As I suspected, neither of the two plotlines that were the entirety of the end of the Second Season Complete Box Set of Magic Knight Rayearth, were enough to hold my attention.

At least twice, I thought “Surely we must be past Hikaru’s self-confidence issues (i.e., Nova)?” But no, both times we’re dragged back to re-re-re-re-face the darkness in her heart. And the last of the plotlines was resolved in the only way that made any sense, really, from the very beginning.

For the rest, the girls befriend enemies and land, once again, back at Tokyo Tower, probably incapable of ever really returning to a normal life. Sure, “will” can help us overcome difficulties in our world, but they’ve been trained to associate “will” with whipping out a weapon and fighting. That’s going to be awkward next time they get in an argument in school. Just kidding – they’ve all proven repeatedly that they can fight with their brains and hearts, as well. Still…you can’t tell me Umi won’t reget not being able to kick someone’s butt every once in a while. ^_^

I felt generally unsatisfied with the ending. Mostly because it took three disks too long to arrive. Most of the final two disks were fluff, while they put the end of the story off. I was watching only an episode or two at a time, and it just felt too delayed, much like the final episodes of Sailor Moon Stars…we *know* what’s gonna happen and we get that we have to get through certain things, but…3 episodes of recaps on two episodes of action…ugh.

Ratings:

Art – 6
Story – 3
Characters – 6
Yuri – 4
LoserFanBoy – 4

Overall – 5

The second season was just not as satisfying as the first season – too loosely plotted, not enough content for its length. And Nova will forever remain in my mind as a total bore. She also kills the family-friendliness of the series, to no real end. She could have been just as annoying without boob-grabbing. Sigh.