Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Beautiful ending saves what otherwise could have been a boring and tiresome show.) 『Crest of the Stars starts out very promising, with a mysteries empire know as the United Mankind Empire Abh launching a surprise invasion of our main characters, Jinto, home planet. When it becomes clear to the defenders that fighting back would result in the destruction of their planet, they decide to surrender without firing a single shot. The first episode, without question, is very engrossing and manages to catch the viewer's attention early; however, the follow up is hardly as noteworthy. The rest of volume one is as boring and dull as the first episode is captivating and exiting. I can 100% appreciate a slow, well thought out show, after all, Haibane-Renmei: Complete Vols. 1-4 is one of my favorite animes, but there comes a point where the story has to move forward and for the longest time this one didn't. For three episodes after the opening we are given very little besides horrendously long conversations that go on and on and on without any sort of break in between. Many times I felt like yelling, "Get on with it already" as the show sloshed its way forward. Although we get to learn a lot of history behind our characters, information that is very good to know, there is really little actual development until later in the show. Their personalities, their fears, their hopes and their dreams are all put away to the side in favor of their histories. Lafiel, an Abh princess and female lead for the series, and Jinto, the male lead, make a pretty good team throughout the story, each playing upon each other's strengths in order to find ways out of tough situations. Although Jinto seems pretty useless during the first three volumes, his weaknesses as a character are more then made up for in the last volume when its his tern to save the beautiful (and lets not forget smoking hot) girl instead of her saving him all the time. It is also to be noted that Lafiel plays the strong female as well, if not better, as any Miyazaki character I've ever seen. She reminded me a lot of Nausicaa from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, or San from Princess Mononoke. How could such a young, skinny, beautiful girl be so darn deadly? Japan has a thing for beautiful worrier princesses, and Lafiel fits in with the best of them.
The story seems to pick up around episode five when there is a battle between an Abh space ship and a small fleet of United Mankind ships, an alliance of human nations which have put aside their differences to fight the aggressive Abh's. Unfortunately the battle itself is very dull, most of it only being shown on radar screens as if they were submarine battles, and the main characters go on a four episode sub plot that, quite frankly, was unnecessary and derailed the main plot considerably. The middle part of this series has little in the way of entertainment, substance, or character development, its just a really long and really annoying subplot. The one thing this part of the series really does well is give us a better understanding of how the Abh live, what their culture is like, and what their motivations are. At this point, I would have given the series a three star review, but fortunately it really picks up in the final volume.
Where the beginning and middle part of the series seemed overly long and boring, the final picked things up to a pace fitting of a sci fi classic. Gone are the fifteen minute conversations and stupid scantly clad bimbos prancing around without a clue as to what is going on, replaced by a generous dose of good action, some real character development, and well thought out scripts. No longer is Jinto some useless piece of meat who gets in the way all the time and always needs saving, now he is the one who's needed, and Lafeil might as well be Cinderella. As an Abh, she has lived her whole life in outer space, so when these two end up on a surface world they are on Jinto's home turf, and he shines like never before proving to himself and Lafiel that he isn't so worthless after all, not to mention Lafeil is even more striking in black hair if that is in any way possible. The last three episodes really do a fantastic job of wrapping up the series and making me want to see the next two installments, Banner of the Stars - Anime Legends Complete Collection, and Banner of the Stars II - Complete Collection. Although it doesn't quite end on a cliff hanger, it does give you enough of an incentive to want to finish what you've started, which is what I plan to do some time soon. Do not get this show if you don't want to watch all three installments. If you don't like it, you'll have wasted your money, if you do like it you will have to see the other two.
Whatever you do, please for the love of all things holey, do NOT watch this series in English. I am normally very tolerant of English dubs, but after five minutes of watching this one I had to tern it off. There is really nothing good I can say about this dub, the acting is bad, the voices are bad, and the main character comes off as gay in it, which he most definitely is not. Its a shame that a show like this gets such a bad dub, but I suppose that not every dub can be as good as Kino's Journey - The Complete Collection or Serial Experiments Lain - Boxed Set (Signature Series).
Although not perfect, the soundtrack for this series is very fitting and nice. When I first heard it, it reminded me of ET and some old 70's sci fi music, but I also heard a lot of similarities to Star Wars and Now and Then, Here and There (Complete Collector's Boxed Set). Very nice music, with woodwinds and strings being the most present instruments. Unfortunately, if also suffers from being played too much. Although I really enjoyed listening to it, I didn't enjoy it so much that I wanted to hear the same exact songs every single episode. I suppose that's to be expected, but still I would have liked to hear a little more variation with the song selection. the opening has a very old fashioned sc-fi sound to it, which makes it seem like an old classic as opposed to a futuristic tale, while the closing delivers yet another mediocre song to go along with a whole host of mediocre anime closers like Cowboy Bebop Remix, Volume 1, and EVA, but that, too, is to be expected.
Overall I'd make the same advice for this show as to someone looking to see Haibane-Renmei, if you HAVE to see action in every episode, if you NEED to see people get their arms ripped off and huge space battles, then this isn't a show for you. It isn't Star Wars, and it isn't Star Treck, there isn't a lot of action at all and is very limited in regards to its space fights as well. It's also very slow and hard to get into, but the rewards are there for those patient ones who are willing to sit though the fifteen minute conversations to get to the gold at the end. There's a light at the end of the tunnel in this series, but you have to struggle though the muck to get to it.
Re-watch value; high.』
(No mecha here.) 『Crest of the Stars, and the sequels are well thought out stories set in space. This is sci-fi anime at its best. Aside from the battles, the story explores cultural differences and media manipulation (united mankind) to ensure compliance and 'correct thinking' by the population. It is an easy flowing story, which has deeper meaning if you chose to acknowledge it.
This is one of the best animes I've come across. Enjoy.』
(Great Anime!) 『I won't go too much into the details of the show since I think anyone that knows enough about it to search for it here knows what it's basic storyline is. Not to mention there have already been plenty of people that have explained it.
So let me talk about the collection itself. I was a bit disapointed that the discs came in a over-sized DVD box instead of a actual box set a lot of other animes come in, but that was no real biggy. The DVDs are solid and the quality is good for the age of this show. There are four discs, each have a different colored look to them and when you play them they each have a different menu animation according to the episodes on that disc. Nice to see they put some effort into it. There is also a little peice of paper inside that which explains some of the show (like Abh terms, what this 'word' means, etc..) but that's about it.
One thing that I warn people about Crest of the Stars is the english voice overs, or dubs as most call them, are horrible! If this is your first time ever watching Crest of the Stars do not watch it in English first, it'll kill it for you. May even make you regret purchasing or even watching the show. Watch it in Japanese with English subtitles to truely enjoy it. The English voice actors lack any emotion at all, and I was really disapointed in that, probably the worst english dub ever conceived by man. Not to mention, some of the characters in the show (such as random people that just appear in the show to add atmosphere) don't even have english voice actors! They just left them in Japanese. Only the main characters have their own voices. You'll see what I mean in the first or second episodes. But if you watch it in Japanese, you'll love it. The Japanese actors display a great deal of emotion and even though I can't understand what they're saying without the subtitles, it's obvious they have talent.
Other than that there is really no reason to not purchase this series, it is a classic, and one of my favorites. Overall I'm grateful of the purchase. It has its quirks, and there isn't much in the way of extras.. but I didn't buy it for that, I bought it for episodes themselves. Which I'm sure to enjoy for a long time. 5/5』
(AMAZING SHOWS) 『I have seen many shows in the past but about this one, I have to admit that it is truly an amazing show. I will avoid writing down all the names and terms that occur during the shows so that to avoid causing any "headaches" to the reader.
The story basically evolves through a galactic war among an elf-look-alike nation, called the Abhs, and humanity. Thing is that the first ones are human beings as well; they just altered their DNA and became something like a supreme human race. Moreover, they are conquering the galaxy and as it becomes obvious let us say, the "primitive" kind of humanity resists.
Apart from it, the amazing thing is that the story evolves around Lafiel and Jinto, the first is the daughter of an aristocrat and a princess at the same time, of the Abhs, and the second one is a human and a noble man among the ranks of the Abhs. May sound confusing, but in the series it will become apparent that some human nations have also formed alliances with the Abhs and fight side by side with them.
Having watched the complete shows, meaning all the episodes from "Crest of the Stars" up to "Banner of the Starts II", the viewer will definitely get hooked up with the show. As the episodes go on, the more attached he or she will become with the main protagonists, especially with the relationship between Lafiel and Jinto, that starts as a strong friendship and evolves to a... . Furthermore, the protagonists are caught up in the mists of war and have to do anything possible not just to stay alive but also to protect each other... As for the ending, it surely answers all the questions that me be in the viewers mind and has a satisfying ending.
All this been said, I will definitely suggest the show. But if you truly want to watch the show, than you must see it from the beginning, meaning to the "Crest of the Stars", then "Banner of the Starts I" and lastly, "Banner of the Starts II". The only sad thing is that in the end you will want more of these shows but I do not know if there will be anything new "out there".
The only thing left to say is: Enjoy them...』
(Great Sci-fi Anime!!!) 『A few years ago I was exposed to my first anime. I was instantly turned on to it and have seen countless series, movies, and OVAs. Crest of the stars is not for the light-hearted as it is somewhat slow, however its characters are still my time honored favorites. While other anime might have more pretty flashes and explosions Crest of the Stars has an overwhelming character cast (specificly Lafiel and Jinto).
Basicly, if you like Scifi/Drama/Romance Anime and are not of the light-hearted, Get Crest of the Stars.』 『Fans of this 1999 TV series compare it to the live-action sci-fi programBabylon 5. Jinto Lin becomes a prince when his home planet Martine is conquered by the interstellar Abh empire. The Abh claim to be descended from humans, but have altered their genetics to give themselves 200-year life spans, blue hair, and elfin features. As Jinto begins his education aboard an Abh starship, he meets pilot trainee Lafiel, the granddaughter of the Abh Empress. Jinto is a good-hearted, unassertive character, while Lafiel vacillates between no-nonsense discipline and romantic daydreams. Jinto's puppy-like adoration and Lafiel's reluctant acceptance of his attention is played against the escalating conflict between the Abh and the forces of United Mankind. AlthoughCrest of the Starslooks and sounds good, with lavish backgrounds, flashy CG effects, and a lush score, the story telling is often spotty. The filmmakers devote too much effort to preserving details from Hiroyuki Morioka's science fiction novel and too little to pacing and character development. Aya Yoshinaga's screenplay suffers from an overload of Abh jargon, including such nonsense as "You put lope in your til nom?" The series ends with Jinto declaring he will always remain at Lafiel's side, but questions of divided loyalties, the rights of subject people, the legitimacy of military conquest, and the struggle for freedom are left unresolved. The sequel,Celestial Banner, followed in 2000. (Rated 13 and older: brief nudity, minor profanity, violence)--Charles Solomon』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (The Meat of the Patlabor TV series) 『This is the continuation of the Patlabor TV series. The show left off with our heroes in Division 2 participating in a series of stand-alone episodes, and these volumes continue that at first, with a plot against Captain Goto's life, a pop singer joining Division 2 for a few days, and the team having to descend into subterranian passageways to defuse a terrorist bomb.
Then the Phantom from Episodes 10&11 returns at just the moment in time that Asuma and Noa's working relationship begins to go south. This short two-part story provides more depth to the understated relationship between Asuma and Noa, and also intensifies the mystery surounding the Phantom and Schaft.
After another short interlude with a wonderful character story involving yakuza who take an interest in labors (and Noa), Kanuka's tenure with Division 2 ends. But before she can depart, her hapless teammates attempt to throw her a surprise good-bye party and end up reading her private journal detailing her opinion on the strengths and weaknesses of the other members in Division 2. Even at the airport, Kanuka's departure cannot go smoothly, as a pitiful excuse for a terrorist attempts to hijack the airplane before it has even left the tarmac.
Once Kanuka has left the country, Goto must deal with the matter of replacing her; who could possibly keep Ota in check? Mild-mannered Shinshi is thrown to the wolves -- I mean, given the job, with which he struggles. And these trials could not come at a more difficult time for him, as civilian businesses are attempting to lure him away from public service.
Eventually, however, a new member is added to Division 2, Takeo Kumagami. Though just as calm and level-headed as Shinshi, she has all of Kanuka's competence without the hair-trigger temper or competitive edge, and she manages to keep firmer control of Ota's wild rages than Kanuka could. This leads to a few episodes which help establish her character, but then the action picks up again.
The last third of these episodes deals with a new threat to Division 2: Schaft's new Griffin Labor. The new data-gathering machine of Schaft, it was designed solely to confront the Ingrams and defeat them, hopefully bringing away the Ingram's computer programs (looted from wrecked Ingrams) so that Schaft will not have to bother doing its own research and development to compete with Shinohara Heavy Industry's increasing dominance of the Labor market. As Noa struggles against this radical new threat, Kumagamai ends up in the hospital after discovering the identity of Schaft's new man-on-the-scene, Utsumi. Kanuka, meanwhile, resurfaces on the trail of Schaft's private army, known as Triple-S, who were themselves brought to Japan in an effort to deal with Utsumi's rogue behavior within Schaft's own organization.
These action episodes between the Ingrams and Griffin are among the best of the series, and made all the more impressive by the turmoil Noa suffers as she wonders if she's good enough to defeat the "black labor" -- this self-doubt will later resurface in the last volumes of the TV series and the "New Files" OAV.
The disappointment is that the final conclusion of the multi-episode battle between Noa and the Griffin is not in this set; it's the first episode of the next volume.
Overall, this set has the real meat of the Patlabor TV series; it is here that the major themes (other than comedy) are dealt with, and where the majority of the action takes place. The humor will get better in the final three volumes, but the action reaches its peak here with the Griffin vs Ingram battles, and the characterization remains just as good throughout these as ever.』 『The adventure begins! In the not-too-distant future, girl-next-door Noa Izumi begins her job as a pilot for the police force's famous giant robots. Within days, she's faced with a pack of crazy crewmates and the adventure of a lifetime! Boxed set contains the first four volumes of this groundbreaking series.』
price：$27.49
Adv Films
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Product Review: GetBackers Season 1 *Complete*) 『Everything that I wanted to really know was there except how far up the episodes go. For the people who wanted to know season one depicts the first 25 episodes. Awesome product!』
(Hard-Core Anime Fans, Stick With It) 『When I first watched Get Backers a while back, I found it almost impossible to get past the first couple episodes. The "powers" they have just seem a little TOO powerful (and the whole ultra-hypnosis power is just a little TOO hokey and can obviously be used by the writers whenever they write themselves into a corner...It was all a DREAM!). I forced myself to continue after a couple days break and surprisingly it started to get better - and KEPT getting better.
Ep. 3, where Ginji&Ban attempt to recover a box filled with 'platinum' is where the characters finally started to grow on me - and episode 4 "Transport service Vs recovery Service" is where the story really drew me in. Only 4 episodes in and already we begin to doubt the Get Backers powers as they butt heads with some VERY sinister nemeses. The last episode on Volume One culminates with the expected - and mandatory - battle that have become so cliched in anime since DBZ arrived in America. But as far as the whole 'good-guy vs bad-guy' battles go, this one was pretty darned good.
Subsequent volumes in season one are as good - if not better - and I really am glad I stuck with this one (The Violin episodes were only fair though). If you're a teenager, you'll probably love this show without hesitation due to the large number of fights and battles - but I also recommend this to the die-hard anime fans out there who cringe at the thought of collecting any 'mainstream' anime - at least rent the first volume and see how you feel after seeing the first five episodes.
One word of warning - unless you were just CAPTIVATED by the voicework in Captain Planet, make sure to watch it in Japanese with the subtitles. Shotaru Morikobu (Ginji) and something-Canna (Ban) are just great in their roles and are a large reason why the show became such a success, IMO. They're not just reading a script - they're ACTING.
(I have not seen season two yet so cannot comment on that box set. I know that Morikubo-san and Canna-san are recurring but don't know if they have the same director/producers/ or if the animation looks the same.)
(If you like the whole idea of having superpowers, but only using them sparingly in rare occasions AND enjoy romance in your anime, try out "Kimagure Orange Road", one of modern anime's founding fathers from the late 80's.)』
(Really amazing anime) 『You cannot stop watching until the end of the story. It is better to have season 1 and 2. Season 1 is just complete half the puzzle. Besides the fighting scene, the entire scene is skillfully written. The character design is so beautiful.』
(it's ok) 『This isn't a bad show, I was entartained throughout, which is what I look for most from a movie or series. The only real problem with the show is that it really doesn't explore the concept it embraces. Out of 25 episodes the Get Backers actually only get back 5 things. Most of the series follows the fight of the week style in which a one on one battle ensues between one of the 2 main characters (more join later, sort of) and someone from his past, all of whom have some type of extraordinary skill or power. The whole thing reminded me of a more grounded version of Dragonball or Yu Yu Hakusho. I like those shows well enough, but they were not what I expected when I purchased this. I would give it 3.5 if possible.』
(Release date late on Amazon) 『I bought this at a Barnes and Noble on October 7, 2006. Three days before it was released on Amazon. Mismanagement or late release date? Either way this is a great series and the discs are in the slim dvd cases and fairly slippery. The front of thebox has Hevn and Ginji while the back has Ban and Himiko. I paid $44 and change for it so it might be a better deal at Barnes and Noble. No offense to Amazon but at pre-release prices today it was $53 through them. So savings of seven bucks to spend on more anime. I only hope Season 2 comes out soon.』 『If it’s lost, they’ll get it back. Doesn’t sound difficult, but when you throw in strange mutant powers and back it up with one of the top manga franchises in North America, it’s easy to understand why Get Backers is such a fan favorite anime series!』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Good, but could have been better) 『I began my Initial D experience with Live-Evil&Ideology's translation and reproduction of Fourth Stage. It was near flawless in my opinion. Every added subtitle and other translation (signs, etc) looked like it belonged there. I'm not sure who produced this version, but the placement of the subtitles is horrible at times, i.e. placed so that you can't read it, and acceptable at others. For example at the begining of a new episode when you see the Kanji title, the English title will often be right on top of it in the same color, so you can't read the title of the episode. The subtitles also look like they are written in a low grade font, the letters are not smooth at all and look like they were added afterwards instead of looking like part of the cartoon (i.e. Live-Evil's version).
This version of Second Stage is on two discs. The chapters are set up so that each chapter is an episode, as opposed to Tokyo Pop's versions which begin each chapter at a commercial break. It means that if you want to see a particular battle in some episode, you have to fast forward.
I love the story of Second Stage, and while the animation is of course dated, it is better than that of First Stage. Second Stage is short, having only 13 or 14 episodes, but the battles are memorable, and there is significant character development. For example, you see Takumi go from this kid who knows nothing about cars and isn't interested in them, to having his head under the hood working on the 86 at the end of the season.
Overall, I don't regret this purchase, and I still pop this DVD in to watch some of the better battles. Though, I really wish it was done better. I would pay twice what I paid for this season if I could get a version with none of the production flaws that this version has.』
(Great Series, Not Seen The Funimation Release though) 『I love the series. I'm a die hard anime fan and for a time was a street racer. So when I stumbled upon Initial D I was instantly intrested and once I started I couldnt stop. I bought each of the 14 disks Toyo Pop released of the series as they came out.
My only quesiton is does funimation have any more episodes in these sets than I have in my toyko pop dvd's? Someone please let me know.
Thanks』
(Like cars? Like anime? This is may the one for you...) 『Wow, I have not seen this one for more than ten years ago. Time sure flies. When I see this product in stores, I was a bit hesitating because I have seen the trailer in english dubbed and music changed. Once I have heard from friends who rented or owned it, they said the japanese versions were kept in tact. You know, they were right!. That made me happy. I tried to give english version a chance, but I cannot surpass the music, the new given names, and the new special effects during the race. It just not the same! Just to be fair, I will only review only the original japanese version. The picture and the sound are really clean for a TV series. The contents are kept intact. I do not recall any scenes have been edited out. It also include "Extra Stage" to complete the series. This is a surprising add on which I almost forgot about. I recommend who enjoys classic sport cars do battle and remind how good the cars in their time.』
(Great, but short.) 『I love initial D and drifting as a whole. This box set even has extra stage included. Second stage was good but it was too short compared to first stage. If you like the series or street racing in general check this out.』 『"In case you don't know Takumi or haven't heard of Initial D, where have you been? It's pratically the coolest thing since the Japanese discovered drifting." --- IGN.com
When Keisuke Takahashi of the infamous RedSuns racing team accidentally witnesses normal, everyday tofu delivery boy Takumi Fujiwara's expert drift technique, Takumi's life shifts into high gear. Keisuke challenges him to a racing battle and the race results in Takumi plunging headlights first into the white-knuckle, adrenalin-rushing world of underground mountain pass street racing.
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A Nice Mecha Supernatural Anime But Dubbing Is Atrocious) 『I've had this set for a few months and now I feel I can say what I do feel about it. The series starts in Japan around the 1920's where supernatural enemies are attacking the nation a secret government/business group form a division to fight this threat thus a scientist develops steamed power robots that a person who has the right frequency of spiritual and psychic powers can use the machines but amazingly it seems that only woman have this frequency to be able to use the robots. The government looks for and finds five woman of different ethnicity and age but who have the ability to use the machines to defend Japan. In the series the female characters will get enough background story-time to explain why their there and the conflicts that arise within the group because of their difference. Also in the series you'll see that as a cover for the female group the government decides to give them a carer as actresses on the theater stage performing in plays in-between their assignments. I will tell you most of the English dubbing was mediocre to downright atrocious so I do advise watching the series subbed instead the video is standard format with clear picture and nice audio the Japanese voice actors did a superb job unlike the English cast the extras aren't much just the usual intro/ending songs and trailers. So with that if you like mecha shown with the flourished background of early Japanese culture I say this one is a pretty good choice...』
(Lovable anime, excellent!!) 『I agree that before watching other Sakura Wars series collections, you must watch this original TV series first. Fujishima Kousuke sensei's anime is always wonderful and never disappoint anyone. Unlike AH! My Goddess, this story is about some evil spirits invading Japan, particularly in Tokyo, battles are more emphasized in Sakura War. Needless to say, it is exciting. In addition, the story also describes the daily lives of the characters. Humors, fantasy and excitment are combined perfectly.』
(The essential Sakura Wars - watch this before watching the others!) 『Anyone interested in Sakura Taisen (Sakura Wars) - whether a fan of the games or just interested in the anime - should definitely watch this 5-disc compilation of the entire 25-episode run of the TV series. Be aware, though, that the story told in the TV series is slightly but significantly different from that told in the OAV (and also from that told in the new manga version, which is now being published in English in the USA). I definitely recommend watching the TV series BEFORE watching "Sakura Wars: The Movie", because otherwise the latter won't make much sense to you at all and the TV series provides a tremendous amount of character development missing from the OVA. (Also, I strongly recommend watching the TV series and the movie both before watching "Sakura Taisen: Ecole de Paris", since that particular anime takes place in the timeframe between the series and the movie.)
Note also: the TV series has a lot of emotional heft to it and can get dark, almost somber in places, but I don't think it's much of a spoiler to say that everything works out in the end. HOW it works out, though, you'll just have to watch to find out! :)
P.S. On further thought, I wanted to put in a word here about the alternate-history background of this anime. Sakura Wars takes place in a timeline where steam appears to have become the dominant method of power generation and propulsion (right down to steam-powered telephones!!) and also where technology in this version of the 1920's is up to at least 1990's levels (computerlike machines and some form of virtual reality simulator are seen being used in several scenes, and there is obviously some kind of video technology as well). Also, socially and politically, the 1920's Japan of Sakura Wars seems to be a very different place from the 1920's Japan of our "real" time line - in fact, according to the new English translation of the manga, the characters for the Imperial era "Taisho" used in this series translate to "Broad Truth" in English, not "Great Truth" as in our actual history. Something to be aware of as you watch the show.』
(Sakura Wars!!!!!!!!!) 『i love this series and i ordered this whole collection on [...] they have awesome stuff there for low prices!!!!!! all about anime!!!!!!』 『It is the 1920s, and Japan is under attack by demonic invaders. The government has designed sturdy, albeit steam-owered, robot armor suits for the impending battle, but only young ladies with the proper combination of virtue and spirit can pilot the robots successfully.』
price：$3.50
ANIME WORKS
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (The final volume of Beast King GoLion) 『Beast King GoLion Volume 3 is a three-disc set that contains the last sixteen episodes of the series; this series is the original source material for what ended up becoming Lion Force Voltron in the United States. Unfortunately, the audio level problem that appeared on the first two sets is still present with the third volume. The audio is so soft that you have to turn up the volume quite a bit in order to hear the audio.
Just like the previous two sets, I could see where changes had been made between Beast King GoLion and Voltron. For example, shots of blood and people obviously being maimed or killed appeared in this version of the episodes. Overall, more cuts of this nature had to be made during the episodes included on this last set, when compared to the previous two sets. This was especially true for the last six episodes of the series.
While Voltron would be acceptable for kids to watch, I can't say the same thing for Beast King GoLion. This set is definitely being targeted at and marketed to the adults who had originally watched Voltron when they were children over twenty years ago. However, teenagers might also find this set to be enjoyable. Even with the issues I have with the audio levels, I would still recommend this set to any Voltron fan that is curious to see what the series was originally like before it became Lion Force Voltron. However, if you do purchase this set, be sure to watch it when younger children aren't around or after they've gone to bed.
』
(Bob's Box Office) 『I loved this show even in its watered down English versions Please make the other series too』
(Voltron in Japanese!) 『This is it! Voltron has you have never seen it! Beastking Golion collection 3! This is the third and final collection for Lion Force Voltron series. Get these Japanese with English subtitled episodes because they are very different from the American Cartoon counterparts we are use to. It contains episodes 37-52! This is Voltron/Golion as you have never seen it! Highly Recommended it! A』
(The repetitive, episodic meandering is over.) 『Golion is like a reverse sandwitch. It's two pieces of good, spiced lunch meat with five slices of bleached wonder bread in the middle. The first 7 episodes established the story. Then major events are then hard to find until the last ten or so episodes. Really, only the last four are critical.
The normal Golion episode structure finally becomes reversed as Golion and Altea attack Galra, and Galra is forced to defend itself. The build up to this is pretty slow, as they have to free one planet at a time, then attack. The actual attack on Galra spans the last 3 episodes.
Again, there are no special features. There are previews for Tekkeman Blade, Morbito, and Alteil (an online card game). Also, you get two fewer episodes with this set. You may be asking "Lion Voltron was 70+ episodes long? Why is Golion only 52 episodes?" Well, 20+ additional episodes were made for American TV only. From what I understand, Golion just kinda came and went in Japan. It did much better in the US as Voltron. There are no previews for Vehicle Voltron/Dairugger XV, which I found kind of odd. You'd think people willing to see Golion all the way through would be the target audience to at least try Vehicle Voltron.
The last four episodes, all on the last disk, are the key reason to buy this set. They contain most of the character deaths and gore, cut out of Voltron in the US. Although gems like the Galra special forces that look like they stepped out of an old John Wayne war movie, and the "children's suicide squad" (it's an episode title) appear in the first two discs.
Again, although it's less episodic than the second half of volume 1 or all of volume 2, this volume is still more of the same with an ending loosely attached. It's nice for fans of old anime, but I still wouldn't recommend this to the average viewer.
』
(Not your daddy's Voltron....(Part III)) 『These are the episodes that I've been waiting for. The many adventures of Kogane and the Golion team is coming to a climatic close in Collection 3 of Beast King Golion.
Lives are forever changed and alliances on both sides are tested and pushed to the limits in episodes 37-52. Some new characters in the mix is Raible's long-lost, presumed-dead son and Ryuo Shirogane, who bares a very strong resemblance to his late older brother, Takashi Shirogane.
Highlight episodes are: -Space Speed Demon -The 3-parter (The Hypergravity Planetoid Trap, No Tomorrow for Altea and Brave Shirogane's Brother) -The Sand Planet of Death -Angry Youth Suicide Corp -The 2-parter (Reunion of the Phantom and The Last of Hys) -The 3-parter (The Great Storming of Galra, Golion's Desperate Battle and Burn, Galra Castle)
*The one standout episode that is NOT for the faint of heart is Golion Hunting (or the Attack of the Red Berets episode in Voltron). It kind of reminds me of the very first episode of Golion (if you know what I'm talking about).
Some questions arise with this release: -Will Golion and its interplanetary alliances finally defeat Daibazaal and his great Galra empire? -Will Planet Galra gain the upper hand and finally put an end to the tireless crusades of Golion, Planet Altea and their allies, all in one fatal, crushing blow? -Will the slaves of Planet Galra ever be free from Daibazaal's deathgrip? -Will Prince Sincline ever find out the whereabouts of his mother? -Who will survive and who will die after all is said and done? -Will peace ever return to the planets within the Great Dark Nebula?
The only clues that I'll tell you lies within the characters Honerva, Daibazaal's crafty old witch, and the space mice of Castle Graydam on Planet Altea. I guess that you'll have to find that out for yourselves.
Also, both Golion and Voltron has their pluses and minuses: -The lions' sound effects (i.e. combining, forming their swords and launching of their arsenal of assorted weapons, etc.) are better in Voltron because it has more of a mechanized sound and feel to it. -The plots are more interesting in Golion, but both Golion and Voltron has a tendency of having little to some plotholes along the way. Some of the plots do stay the same in both (depending on the episode). -Some of the characters' dialogue are retained in both series, but worded slightly different. -Both series has some pretty good theme music, but Golion's themes helps support its original Japanese roots. -Some of the character traits are similar to each other, but with Voltron, the names has been changed to protect the innocent....ha, ha!
In conclusion, World Events not only decided to release Voltron twenty years after its release, but both AnimeWorks and Media Blasters decided to get with World Events to finally release its original Japanese counterpart, Beast King Golion, here in the U.S. Simply comparing them, you can see the differences within each of the episodes and its main plot. You'll also understand why World Events had to heavily edit and change both the show and its plot. Despite these slight oversights, I would still recommend this and the other 2 volumes for any Golion and Voltron fans out there.
An underrated show with an interesting continuous storyline. I'm just waiting for another Toei Animation underrated gem, Armored Fleet Dairugger XV. We'll just have to wait and see when World Events, AnimeWorks and Media Blasters will set a release date.
I hope that you've enjoyed this (and my many reviews) has much as I've enjoyed watching and writing them.
Get prepped, form your jyuoken and destroy evil. Happy viewing.』 『Kogane, Princess Fala and the rest of the GoLion team have finally repelled Prince Sincline and the oppressive forces of the Galra Empire. In the heated battle, they managed to capture an enormous energy cannon capable of firing at a planet half a solar system away. Under the direction of Raible and Fala, the former slave planets of Galra come together to support GoLion. The hatch a daring plan -to attack the evil empire s home planet and put an end to its tyranny once and for all. Raible uses the energy cannon to destroy the protective barrier around planet Galra, while the GoLion team launches a frontal attack and Shirogane s brother Sho leads a rebel force into the castle! But Sincline has already taken over the empire, and turned King Diabazaal into the most powerful Super Beastman ever. He's even developed a superwepon that will paralyze GoLion -a cannon that shoots slave-filled missiles! To save the lives of the remaining slaves, Kogane and the others may be forced to abandon GoLion.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Interesting Series With Many Ups and Downs) 『On paper, Overman King Gainer looks a lot like a legitimate alternative to the massive Gundam franchise. Beginning with the fact that it's a Sunrise/ Bandai collaboration then followed by the fact that the show was directed by longtime animator Yoshiyuki Tomino, who just so happens to be the creator of the Gundam series. Looking beyond the technicalities, the mecha based series takes place in a future setting where humanity, due to earth being uninhabitable, live in domed cities called Domepolises (not to be confused with colonies of course).
Like Gundam, the show is rife with political struggles, slight economic reference, kids able to manage the audacious task of piloting a complicated robot, and some pretty slick action sequences. That said, my own interest was planted instantly as true alternatives to the rich Gundam universe are few and far between. Unfortunately, this title may have been a bit too ambitious for its own good.
This fact is revealed right in the first episode of the first disc. Our main character is arrested, broken out of jail, discovers a giant robot, learns to pilot it all the while political struggles, royalty kidnappings, environmental cataclysms, and the lines of good versus evil are all being drawn. The fact that all of this is condensed into twenty-four minutes really speaks volumes about the strange pacing that the series is known for. Some episodes contain more information than entire fifty-episode series do while others drag on with virtually no plot advancements whatsoever. The viewer occasionally gets the feeling that the story was all there when the production crew began the project but individual episodes were made up as they went along.
The plot itself has some interesting ideas, however. It turns out that while much of the population believes the earth is a polluted wasteland, there are actually areas of the world that have been cleaned and as such are deemed safe to inhabit. So why bother living in the restrictive (and fairly depressing) Domes at all you ask? The answer is political pressure applied by royalty and massive trade empires. Since these groups would be powerless without people to control, the act of deflecting from one's Dome (called Exodus here) is quite illegal.
Enforcing these laws is the organization called the Siberian Railroad company, which is separate from the official police (the Saint Reagan division of the) London International Management Authority. Confused yet? Don't be. The bottom line is that if you're suspected of being a part of the Exodus movement, the Siberian Railroad company (in the form of a spandex-clad hottie) will come into your classroom at school and toss you in the slammer quicker than you can say "all I am is an innocent video-game-loving geek".
Fortunately there is an eqaulizer to the corrupt powers that be in the form of perhaps the oddest mecha-design the world has ever known, an Overman. Taking a page from shows like Rahxephon, the Overman design is perhaps more biological than it is mechanical (making the term mecha quite innapropriate). However, if the winged Xephon pushed your definition of strange, prepare to scratch your forhead raw staring at the Overman.
With a color pallet straight out of a box of Crayola crayons, a video-screen face and dreadlock tube-clad head, prepare to wonder if the design was artistically brilliant or certifiably bizarre. Factor in that entering the cockpit is eerily reminiscent of watching a birth in reverse and even the most anime-savvy will begin to wonder what inspired Tomino when he was penning up the designs.
Animation is solid here throughout but especially so during the battle scenes. Fans of classic anime will delight in the fact that not a move is performed without first announcing it. The battles, thanks in no small part to that color pallet mentioned above, look sharp and quite unique. Unfortunately with the introduction of superpowers called Overskills, many of the potentially amazing fights end up looking more like cliché super hero comic-book scenes.
Character development certainly takes the backseat to the action throughout the show though and while this is a common tradeoff in anime, it is sad considering the potential here. With a gritty feel reminisent of some of the earlier Gundam series (such as Zeta), the ability to create some real personality and depth in the cast existed. Perhaps because this is a 26-epsiode series (rather than 50), time restraints were a factor.
Extras included in the six-disc box set (Anime Legends Collection) include an extensive collection of concept art and promo spots, as well as a half-hour behind the scenes documentary that includes interviews with the legendary Tomino and other staff members involved in the production.
Sadly Overman King Gainer will likely be remembered for its opening sequence that depicts a bunch of Overman doing the monkey-dance to a Yoshiki Fukuyama theme song with lyrics delivered by Tomino himself. Yes its funny and yes its memorable but unfortunately the rest of the show itself isn't quite as special.』
(Logan's Run... but with GIANT ROBOTS! (and no Jenny Agutter)) 『Quiz time: what's the coolest thing you can think of? A giant robot, of course. Now, what's cooler than a giant robot? A giant robot with dreds! Now, what can possibly be cooler than a giant robot with dreds? A giant robot with dreds and a FREAKIN' CHAINSAW GUN! And this is what you will get when you watch "Overman King Gainer," Yoshiyuki Tomino's latest giant robot TV show. Oh, and an insanely catchy theme song. And ending song. God, those songs. When watching any television show on DVD, I usually skip over the opening and endings to save time, but not King Gainer. This is the only time in my life so far that I have watched every single opening and ending sequence for every episode of a TV show. And these tunes will get stuck in your head for days! Along with dancing robots and weasels. Anyway, the story - it's kind of like Logan's Run, where everyone in THE FUTURE lives in domed cities (but without the whole "you have to die at age 30" thing). Well, a group of people in one domed city in Siberia attempts an Exodus ("Movement of Jah People!") to escape and does so with the help of Gain Bijou, an "Exodus Specialist" and Gainer Sanga, a videogame nerd. Guess which one takes control of the titular giant robot. The Siberian Railway, who has a controlling interest in Domepoli attempts to stop the Exodus... episode after episode. This is my main problem with "Overman King Gainer." I got the idea while watching this that Tomino wanted to go back to/make an affectionate tribute to the super-robot shows of the 70s (some of which he himself made until he single-handedly invented the real-robot genre). However, he uses all of the bad tropes and cliches along with the good ones. The standard setup for an episode is: Robot-of-the-Week challenges Gainer with a new super-power and is eventually defeated - rinse and repeat. My other main problem is that the show sort of abruptly ends, without a satisfying resolution to the whole Exodus to Yapan (only one guess as to where this is) storyline. So why do I give this four stars? Simple. The characters. Yoshiyuki Tomino has always been good about creating good, memorable characters (although I don't know about this time around, since he only created and directed this show and didn't actually write it, handing off writer duties to Ichiro Okouchi). The characters in "King Gainer" are well rounded and three-dimensional. There are very few completely evil characters. Even the villains are somewhat sympathetic, and some characters that you start out hating become much more likable later on. And the comedy that comes from these creations is absolute gold! On another positive note Gainer, the main protagonist is relatively not-that-whiny as far as Tomino teenagers go. On the scale of Tomino Teenage Whinyness Gainer rates about 4 (With 0 being nonexistent and 10 being Camille Bidan from Z Gundam). Another great thing (from the male perspective) is that Tomino also populates this show with a lot of very cute female characters, but unlike Jenny Agutter in Logan's Run *SPOILER ALERT* none of them take their clothes off (and for absolutely no reason at all). Damn! Oh well. At least we get Adette Kistler and Her Stripperific Outfit. Fanservice Ho!
Onto the DVDs themselves (This is a set of 6)! There are some good extra features on here, including a TV special on the making of the show, some TV commercials and textless openings and endings (so you can get those songs stuck in your head all over again). Packaging: this is a great way to own a television show in that all six discs fit in one normal sized case. This really, really saves on shelf space. My only concern is that some of the discs have a habit of coming loose sometimes.
Still, this is recommended to anyone who likes giant robots.
Summing up:
Pluses: Great characters, great theme songs, a giant robot with DREDS AND A CHAINSAW GUN.
Minuses: Meanders sometimes, super-robot of the week syndrome, the ending.』 『In the distant future, mankind is forced to live in domed cities called Domepolis after an environmental cataclysm. These cities are maintained and supplied by private corporations, but at what cost to the inhabitants living within them? In a Siberian Domepolis, virtual game champion Gainer Sanga is arrested on suspicion of Exodus, an unauthorized venture beyond the dome walls and strictly prohibited by the government. In prison, he meets Gain Bijou, a mercenary bent on escaping and together the two will steal a mysterious Overman out of Duke Medaiyu s mansion. Fighting back the Siberian Railway Patrol forces, they both lead a massive Exodus out of the city to the east land Yapan, where their ancestors are originally from. Witness this bold new challenge from Mobile Suit Gundam director Yoshiyuki Tomino as he defies genre classifications and creates a new style, blending intense mecha action and light-hearted comedy.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (action packed but yet short storie) 『Well i like M.D. geist very cool characters but m.d.geist and genocyber lacking store.But enough for me m.d. geist is a great action movie very much not lacking violence or blood great to watch when borde. Genocyber it good but stores off track.cybernetics is good to. it a good amount to pay for this. you could call this great action moive but poor storie line. i like it though.』
(Good value for Koichi Ohata fans) 『The Animes in this box are all Sci-fi/Cyberpunk with lots of action and violence. Fans of Koichi Ohatas animes will not be dissapointed, the DVD transfer is good and there is lots of bonus materials including the original soundtracks. I recommend this box for everyone who likes some mindless cyberpunk action and violence.』
(Boxed Junk) 『Listen up folks, don't waste your hard earned money on this set. Compiling a bunch of...movies together in a shiny box does NOT increase their watchability. These are a few of the most inane and obscenely horrible anime films out there. Bad animation, terrible writing and lackluster presentations scar every film.
Don't even bother. Save your dollars on something worthwhile like the Outlaw Star boxed set or the Gasaraki box.』
『Spine-crushing sci-fi action as man comes to terms with the monsters he's created in dystopian future.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Spectacular!!!!!) 『All I can say is WOW!!! This Is easily the grimmest and coolest endings in the Entire Gundam Universe!!!! I wont spoil any of the Details but in short if you enjoy real Gundan (Not you wanna be fans of Seed, and Wing ) You must see this!!!! Zeta Gundam Is easily the crown jewel on the crown we call Gundam, the animation is a bit dated but passable, and the story is absolutely amazing and comes to such an epic conclusion/cliffhanger, the North American Voice actors are amazing and It was Dubbed to near perfection! I would say cant wait for ZZ gundam But as it was a huge let down Its rather dissapointing to see the amazing story Of the Argama end like that.........I hope the Release the Zeta Gundam movies in the US cause They are truly the perfect ending to this Masterpiece.』
(Epic.... would be an understatement) 『This DVD is amazing. I've been a gundam fan since Gundam Wing first aired on Cartoon Network, and recently finished my collection of Zeta Gundam with this DVD. You can try to say that the animation is old and that there's no CGI like there is in Gundam SEED or Destiny, BUT this is GOOD stuff.
What's to love? ... Simple: the story is tightly nit, the characters are compelling and well done (even if Katz lends himself to annoyance here and there), and the action is not the type that flashes up for a minute and is then forgotten. I think that the most interesting part of watching it is seeing the elements of the story that inspired later villans and weapons in other gundam series.
It's also a nice buy because you get 10 EPISODES per DVD, at a standard DVD price (which is the same you pay for about 3-5 episodes for a typical Anime show). Whether you're a Gundam addict or just an Anime fan, Zeta Gundam is a piece your collection is not complete without. You won't regret it.』 『With the Titan's ultimate weapon complete, the AEUG resistance group must forge an alliance with the renegade Axis fleet, a force no less dangerous than the Titans themselves. Yet as the war enters its last stages, the battlefield becomes a maze of treachery and confusion. The sinister Paptimus Scirocco schemes to seize control of the Titans, while Axis leader Haman Karn plays both sides against each other. Even if Char Axnable and Kamille Bidan can survive this final battle, what will become of their hopes for the future? Double disc, 10 episodes in one volume. Created by the famed director Yoshiyuki Tomino. Genre Anime: Sci-Fi/Action/Mecha.』
price：$5.00
Anime Works
Not yet released 『Ito Keita has one thing in his favor: luck! And luck has just landed him a special invitation to attend the Bell Liberty Academy for Boys, an exclusive High School only for the most privileged, the most talented, and the most beautiful. When a strange accident on move-in day attracts the attention of Niwa Tetsuya, the student body president, and Saiyonji Kaoru, the class secretary, Ito finds himself the center of attention. With the eyes of a whole school of pretty boys on him, where will Ito find the time to unravel the mystery of his invitation?』
The scallop of large satisfactory ! northern countries and - [ of how much ] botan shrimp are ! tightly.
getting to know the technique of motorbike expensive sale -- Ta -- if -- -
>,Yuka Imai,Ayako Kawasumi,Takehito Koyasu,Hirotaka Suzuoki,Michelle Armeneau
