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berserk

Berserk

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Alternate Titles: None

Original Japanese Release Date: October 7th, 1997

Episode Length/Run-time: 25

Summary:

A man named Guts finds himself joining a band of mercenaries called the Band of the Hawk.  Led by the charismatic Griffith, they climb their way through the ranks of the royal count. Little does Guts know that his involvement with Griffith will lead both their fates down a path neither of them could have forseen.

Review:

Berserk is nearly the perfect anime. Filled with gripping action, engaging politics, betrayal, love, and everything in between, it helped define the 1990’s as a great decade for anime. Berserk’s plotline, up until the end, is one of its strongest assets.  Watching Griffith execute his masterful military strategy, as the Band of the Hawk wins battle after battle, is truly a treat.  The masterfully crafted military battles are supported by a dark animation style that creates the perfect atmosphere for an anime that couldn’t be less “moe”.  Outside of the battlefield, the other primary setting for the show falls within the falls of the king’s court.  This show contains a lot of politics, which amongst other things, includes a lot of plotting against Griffith by the current members of the court.

Despite all the praise you can heap on Berserk for it’s engaging pacing it is the relationships between the characters that make it truly great.  The three main characters Gutts, Griffith and Casca, are as interconnected as a set of characters can possibly be.  Throughout the course of the show you’ll see Griffith, a genius leader and strategist, grow very dependent upon Guts’s talent as a military general and warrior.  In much the same way, Casca is dependent upon Griffith as her source of strength.  Rescued as a young girl by Griffith, Casca is completely loyal to Griffith and would do anything to see him fulfill his ambitions.  The most interesting aspect of the relationships is to see what happens when certain characters are removed from the equation.

In spite of all the positive aspects of the show, Berserk is a love it or hate it anime. It has one of the worst endings in the history of anime, that very much requires the viewer to continue the story on into the manga.  I fully recommend this show to anybody that can handle a healthy degree of violence and assuming that they are able to stomache the knowledge that they will be disappointed by the series conclusion.

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twelvekingdoms

Twelve Kingdoms

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Alternate Titles: Juuni Kokki/十二国記

Original Japanese Release Date: April 9th, 2002

Episode Length/Run-time: 45

Summary:

High school girl Yoko Nakajima was a model Japanese high school student, living the life of a typical girl.  One day, a mysterious man, Keiki comes to her and announces that he will “never desert his post before her throne”  and if she wishes to live, she will come with him.  She is swept off to the world of the Twelve Kingdoms, a world willed with dangerous beasts, interesting cultures, mythology, and vibrant societies.  This is the tale of Yoko Nakajima and her journey to find her place in the new world she now calls home.

Review:

The Twelve Kingdoms is one of the most unique series you’ll find in any anime fans library. Because this show depicts a girl dragged into a mysterous world, it is often compared to Fushigi Yuugi.  Still, this anime couldn’t be more different.  It presents a world full of rich cultures that are incredibly detailed.  It goes so far as to explain how the kingdoms new rulers are selected, how parents pray to receive a healthy child, and much much more.  The kingdoms even have unique religion and languages.  This creates a rich setting, but viewers should be aware that this show uses a great deal of terminology to explain all of these things.  For example, a single kingdoms ruler will be referred to in three, maybe even four ways, depending on who is speaking.

The show boasts a cast of interesting characters that are deep and compelling.  Yoko Nakajima’s character transformation from a high school student into her ultimate role in the world of the Twelve Kingdoms serves as one of the most powerful character transformations to date.  The Twelve Kingdoms also boasts fantastic audio and visuals and a voice acting cast that won’t disappoint any seiyuu buff.

This anime is divided into a number of story arcs that serve as one of the shows biggest assets and defeats.  Each story arc focuses on a unique set of characters, sometimes set in different kingdoms which allows the viewer to experience a variety of situations that include rebellion, drought, trimuph, conquest, and many other interesting situations.  Even still, this show contains one story arc that ultimately gets dropped from the anime which serves as one of the most common complaints about the show.

Despite the dropped story arc, the Twelve Kingdoms is one of the greatest fantasy anime ever created.  It is an absolute must watch for any anime viewer looking for a rich viewing experience filled with excitement, culture and adventure.

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akira

Akira

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Alternate Titles: アキラ

Original Japanese Release Date: July 16th, 1988

Episode Length/Run-time: 124 Minutes

Summary:

In the 21st century, after World War III, Neo-Tokyo is engulfed in a struggle between the government authorities and the underground revolution movement.  In the midst of the chaos, a man, Kaneda leads a motorcycle gang that through a series of events ends up getting involved with a scientific branch of the government which seeks to nuture the psychic powers within humans.  After an accident, Kaneda’s friend Tetsuo is abducted by the government, and entered into the psychic program which results in him developing  powers beyond his control.

Review:

Directed by renowned direct Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira is a film that revolutionized the medium in a number of ways after its release.  The film was groundbreaking both in its animation but also in its far reaching influence outside of Japan.  Akira still holds up against current animation production values and to this day, Akira may be the most well known anime film in the United States.  The characters of Kaneda and Tetsuo serve as some of the most iconic in anime history.  Just the image of Kaneda’s jacket or motorcycle are identifiable to numerous anime fans worldwide.

Akira has many benefits that make it an excellent film for a new anime viewer.  The animation style is very darkly shaded and has a more realistic appeal to the eye.  For a newer viewer, the spiky multicolored hair, the likes of Yu-gi-oh can be a tough sell for some.  Furthermore, from start to finish, Akira doesn’t have a dull moment.  The pacing is such that it is a an entertaining viewing experience, filled with  motorcycle gang chases, scenes of rebellion, and psychic battles.

If there is one drawback that the movie has it’s that its plotline is inundated with scientific lingo that can make the story difficult to follow for some.  This all leads up to an ending that many will conclude to be one of the worst in anime’s history, right up there with Neon Genesis Evangelion and Berzerk.

In the end, the movies amazing pacing, excellent characters, and sharp visuals, make up for its lack of a coherent conclusion.  This is a recommendable film for most people who are looking to see an anime film classic.

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