Samurai 7

original author: Akira Kurosawa
director: Toshifumi Takizawa
review type: anime
status: completed
genre: Shonen, Chanbara, Action,
studio: Gonzo
original run: July 12, 2004- December 25, 2004
episodes: 26
similiar to: Samurai Champloo, Peacemaker Kurogane


Synopsis

It began with a small rice village, Kanna. Every year during the harvest, a group of bandits would forceful steal their produce. To add salt to their wounds, the bandits have began to rob them off their woman and children. It is a curse they deal with yearly and have finally decided to put it an end to it.


The village Elder has decided that as the safety of the village has been jeopardized, the only way they could attain that freedom is to hire samurai to fight against these marauders. Sadly, the village cannot afford to pay them, but in trade for their services they would pay them with a supply of rice. They send three people to the city. One of them is Kirara; a village priestess of Kanna. Her willingness to search for samurai was substantiated with the fact that she wanted desperately to see the outside world; that which is beyond Kanna.

As the convey reaches the city, they run into trouble. But was rescued by Okamoto Katsushiro; a young and inexperienced samurai. They then bump into Shimada Kambei; the lead protagonist and a war veteran with an awful distaste to war and anything violent. He was reluctant at first, but decides to help out after being persuaded. Together with Katsushiro and Kambei, they search diligently for others who could and would help out the dilemma Kanna is facing. They are successful and five others join Katsushiro and Kambei to form the seven samurai that would aid Kanna in their liberty from the bandits.

But what awaits the fate of the seven is just not the issue of Kanna alone. There would be a bigger and dangerous picture that the seven would need to deal with. The anime details the journey of these "band of brothers"; warriors who were wounded by the tides of war and are searching for a redemptive moment.



Rempit's Vrooming Comment

Well, this is definitely the anime version of Akira Kurosawa's 1954 hit movie Seven Samurai; the predecessor of the American 1960 Magnificent Seven. The anime however differs from the original by having a steampunk atmosphere and environment to it. Which I think is absolutely cool. Having a healthy dosage of ancient and modern concepts gave the anime the boost it needed.

Frustratingly, there is not much character development. Just that the young Katsushiro would soon discover the life of the battlefield. Which is not an easy one; though many might fancy it. I like the role played by Kambei. Here he not only acts as a mentor to Katsushiro but also we note a more matured lead even though some may argue that Katsushiro is the lead character. He is somewhere in the line of Okita Soji from Peacemaker Kurogane and also Hatake Kakashi from Naruto in terms of mentoring, leading and planning.

Now the other interesting part of this anime is that those who are part of the seven do get their fair share of airtime. Not many would focus on each specific character and their contributions much. Most secondary characters would either be doing something only when it demands them too and would basically be filling up the behind the scenes actions; the gaps and transitions from one episode to another. But here, all seven which is still a big group, are somewhat the lead cast of the show and I think that's a fairly strong concept of the anime; teamwork.

But what marks this anime from the rest is the x factor to why I liked watching it. They stuck to the original plot when some of them had to die in battle. Which of course is familiar to us, but what's the difference? The usual pattern for an anime would be that they would die one at a time, having an epic battle and then die. It is customized for them. But here the for the first time, we have three of them dying at the same time; during the final battle. It is a threshold event. First of it's kind. And I'd have to say that it is definitely a brave move to do that.

There are moments of exaggeration in it, but I guess the good part is that despite things being overdone (like a normal katana slicing through a 10 storey robot in half), it still has its sense of realism. Battle scars, battle wounds, and finally martyrdom; for some of them of course. The art is not bad, typical for any Gonzo production. So you'd have the designs somewhat familiar to some other titles; if you'd notice the similarities of anything Gonzo. I guess it's their trademark.

Well there is one con in the show I totally forgot to highlight. It's their dialogue lines. Some of them are just hilarious. So if you are a fan of the Seven Samurai or would like something modern meets ancient and fast paced, then check this out.



Rempit Rates:

Storyline: 4/5
Character Development: 3/5
Art: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Peacemaker Kurogane

author: Nanae Chrono
director: Tomohiro Hirata
review type: anime
status: completed
genre: Shonen, Chanbara, Action, Drama
studio: Gonzo
original run: October 7, 2003- March 24, 2004
episodes: 24

Synopsis

Ichimura Tetsunosuke, or fondly known as Tetsu by his peers, is an immature, energetic, and very short 15 year old. He is even sometimes mistaken for a boy because of his attitude and physical stature. Tetsu's past is a grim one. His parents were brutally murdered, leaving him and his older brother Tatsu to fend for themselves. Tetsu still reeling with the bitter wound that has been inflicted onto him, seeks out revenge against his perpetrators.

Tatsu, joins the Shinsengumi; a special police task force consisting of highly skilled men, but as an accountant to earn a decent income. Tatsu's desire of providing bread for the both of them is contrasted with the attitude of Tetsu; who like Tatsu desires to join the Shinsengumi but with vengeful intents.

During his tenure with the Shinsengumi, Tetsu became accustomed to some of the other skilled warriors in the house. He develops a close bond to the prodigious Okita Soji, and even becomes his sparring partner.

The anime chronicles the challenging and trying life of Tetsu, a summon or 'office boy' for the Shinsengumi police corps. He wrestles with the voices that contend for his desire to mete out revenge, to finally seek redemption and to be part of the Shinsengumi as a warring warrior on the side of justice. Tetsu would also learn to understand that the path of a warrior is indeed a crucifying one. And finally realize that the responsibility placed that would be placed on him is not a childish ideology.




Rempit's Vrooming Comment

Substance. If I could drop a word before this introduction, for such a breathe taking series it would definitely be substance. I began watching this, after being vehemently frustrated with the Samurai X franchise, or at least the mainstream version of the Samurai X franchise. I preceded with caution on Peacemaker. Hoping that, it would be of a different delight. And it was.

Firstly, I would say this would be one of the most interesting historical anime I have came across with. The other would be the Vagabond manga. I do think Nanae Chrono did a fantastic job in portraying a fictional account of the real Shinsengumi police corps and also the characters that have donned the Shinsengumi mantle. So credits to the author.

Now there is a theme that is somewhat overarching the anime. And I am not sure if this was done purposely, but note that contradiction/s is a dominant theme throughout. Let's take Tatsu and Tetsu. Both have gone through the same nightmare and yet are different in views and goals. Each has a different purpose driven life. If you even look at Okita Soji would notice the opposites that primarily feature him. He is a prodigy and would be considered a shinigami (death god), but on the other hand he is soft, kind, femine (in the context of the anime) and is able to attend to Tetsu with pastoral care. And to top that off is the famous disease he was known to have, tuberculosis; which is historically accurate as well. Beyond the characters, this theme is emphasized as mentioned in the synopsis as when Tetsu learns that fighthing for good does not necessarily earn satisfaction or even a positive reward.

The character development is not that thorough, considerably reasonable given the duration of the anime. But I would say that Chrono did quite a good job in playing with the characters because it is realistic. There is nothing fancy about them, each would have a large percentage of getting killed by thugs or vandals during police raids and probably would also be harboring a dark side to them. All are seem to have their own share of struggles and that is supplemented by the risks involved in serving with the Shinsengumi.

The art is amazing and the fight scenes really make my day. Even though there is a lot of drama comparing to the action involved, The plot and its twists and turns could actually keep you glued to your seat.

I am quite surprised this was intended for a shonen audience. Even though Tetsu and the overarching idea of good triumphing over evil is present, you might just have categorized this as seinen if you aren't careful. Actually I do think this leans more towards seinen because Tetsu doesn't have a rival, neither does he grow exponentially strong in the anime. A stark contradiction to Naruto, Bleach, D-Gray Man, One Piece, etc. The anime never fails to highlight Tetsu's contemporaries as not only stronger, but with a good dosage of substance in terms of character development. So there is this break away from just focusing on Tetsu.

If you're looking for drama, with some zen to it and really good depth in terms of plot, action and art and also concept that this is something you might want to check out.




Rempit Rates:

Storyline: 4/5
Character Development: 3/5 (episodes are just too short)
Art: 5/5
Originality: 4/5

Beck : Mongolian Chop Squad

Writer: Harold Sakuishi
Director: Osamu Kobayashi
Production House: Madhouse
Review Type: Anime
Status: Completed
Genre: Shounen, Music, Slice of Life
Vintage: October 2004-March 2005
Episodes: 26

Synopsis

Beck revolves around an average 14 year old boy named Yukio, or Koyuki as addressed by his friends, who enters junior high with two childhood acquaintances. Coincidentally one of his childhood buddies is kind of a perv, and ironically the other is one of the most popular girls in high school. Koyuki's seemingly uneventful life takes a turn in the opposite direction when he saves an odd-looking dog going by the name of Beck, from some kids that was bullying him. As it turns out, Beck's owner is a budding rock musician named Ryusuke Minami, who soon influences Koyuki to learn playing the guitar, even giving him his first one to practice with. As time goes by Ryusuke and Koyuki formed a band named BECK, and proceeded to play a few gigs. The plot mainly focuses on the trials and tribulations, and also the hardships of the band, and also Koyuki's relationships with its members, particularly Ryusuke and his sister Maho.


Chibi's Chop Squad Comments

Being a music student, a came across Beck during my first year in college. I didn't come across the anime with people's recommendations though, it was just me trying to link both my loves of anime and music together, and upon shopping for some anime I got recommended by the friendly store owner to purchase a copy.

I was pleasantly surprised at how addictive the anime was. You get a story in the veins of a coming of age of sorts with Koyuki, who was a nerdy little kid who wasn't very popular (what'd you expect? It's a shounen title), blooming into a really good frontman and guitarist for his band, also making a name for himself along the way. For rock music fans, Beck pays homage to a lot of rock icons past, present and future, and many references are strewn about each episode. Even the band itself is an homage to a few rock stars, with Beck's main vocalist Chiba's appearance, style and attitude are based on Zach de la Rocha (from Rage Against the Machine). Ryusuke is a merging of Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) and Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) , and the way Koyuki sings is reminiscent to the pose Liam Gallagher makes when he sings (Oasis). Even the guitar Ryusuke covets, nicknamed 'Lucille', is a reference to blues legend B.B. King's guitar with the same name. With this much attention put into all the little details, I spent many an hour re-watching the anime over and over looking for any reference to any rock icon that I may have missed during my first viewing of the show.


The pacing of the plot is set at a slower pace than most shounen fare, which in my opinion is a wise decision on the director's part. This helps the viewer to ease into the story, and significant developments are well placed in terms of delivery, making the flow more of an easygoing kind of feel than the usual frenetic pace often seen in standard shounen fare. The transition from Koyuki's humble beginnings to enigmatic frontman are also set in a logical pace (where most shounen stuff are highly illogical), and you don't actually see Koyuki getting from zero to hero quickly, rather he has to practice and practice to actually get that good, much like in real life.

Beck's strong point is in the unique focus on rock music, but it might also be it's weakest point. Viewers who aren't fans of rock music (if there are any) might not find this series as interesting or relevant. The sound however in this anime is awesome, the songs are catchy and I would think that most rock music fans would enjoy its soundtrack. It was also quite amusing to see some of the characters trying to converse in English (as Ryusuke and Maho used to study in the States), and most of the English dialogue include a good amount of cursing. The quality of the animation, although quite decent, is pretty questionable given today's standards, but seeing the focal point in this series is actually the music, I guess it is permissible (hey it's not like we're watching Beavis and Butthead here).


All in all, I would recommend Beck to newcomers and also veteran otakus looking for something new than the usual shounen fare. The story and character development are good, and watching Koyuki's social life and musical talent grow are both pretty compelling, particularly when the band starts taking off. A must watch for musicians and music fans alike.



Chibi's Review



Storyline: 4/5
Character Development: 5/5
Art: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Initial D: Fourth Stage--Project D

* In an all true Initial D spirit, I have decided to place their opening theme song as the opener to the post. Just like an anime episode. I found this highly entertaining and I so wanna learn those dance moves he does at the beginning! LOL!


author: Shuichi Shigeno
director: Tsuneo Tominaga
review type: anime
status: completed
genre: Shonen, Racing
studio: Frontline, Gainax
original run: October 17, 2004- February 1, 2006
episodes: 24


Synopsis

Ryosuke has finally fulfilled the task of forming Project D; a street racing team featuring the best in the Gunma district. The lineup consists of Ryosuke (leader and racing strategist), Takumi (downhill specialist), Keisuke (uphill specialist), and a staff that compromised mostly of the Red Suns racing team. Their main agenda simply is to be the best street racing team in the region. As they go around defeating them, the race results would be posted up on their website.

Ryosuke, being a master strategist, arranges each race accordingly so that each driver from Project D would be able to improve on their driving skills after each challenge. Takumi, by this time begins to develop into a more mature street racer. His contemporary, Keisuke, begins focusing on the technical aspects of his driving. Ryosuke acts as a mentor for the up and coming Takumi by encouraging him to explore new and unconventional driving techniques during races.

But Ryosuke would also have something else troubling him. This would be his final moments in the street racing arena, as he would be off to medical school. Project D then, would be his last moments of bliss. Before it decrescendos into a more formal and rigid life of a university student.

The experiences Project D would go through are challenging. There would be many tough teams wanting to inflict damage on the maverick attitude brought about by Project D. They would meet tough opponents such as Team Purple Shadow. Takumi, would also undergo a change in perspective when he learns of the capabilities of the Four-Wheel Drive when he was outwitted during his tofu delivering routines by a Subaru Impreza. Takumi would be in for a surprise when he finds out who was that person who creamed him during the downhill of his favorite Mt.Akine course.

With all these, Project D will no choice but to weather through the storm. In order to be the best there is to the Japanese street racing world.



Rempit's Vrooming Comment

Being the last installation to date; I hope this wouldn't be the finale for the entire series!, I think much has developed through time. And the anime got really good, here in season 4 of the Initial D franchise. This time the only thing that you can afford to complain is still well the typical shonen attitude of win all, lose none. But you must admit, that each race does entitle you to break a sweat here and there. Simply because the races are really good. The challenges are real and the handicaps of the drivers; Takumi and Keisuke are more evident and known to most of their opponents.

Takumi undergoes a real rollercoaster in his pursuit of being the best downhill driver in the region. The character development done on this one, is probably the best among the four previous installments. The fact that he is even challenged to expand his horizon, by an old man, is simply a play of irony and sensibility. Most people would complain and say that well you need to be young to be technologic. But this anime allows some old rusty senior citizens to do the teaching ( I will allow you to guess who's the one who'd teach Takumi on the Four-Wheel Drive complex!). So in the light of Takumi learning from all angles and at times breaking a sweat and coming up with random ways to win, is a delight.

The anime begins to now focus on the bigger picture too. Besides Takumi, you have Keisuke and Ryosuke. I can't help but think that Keisuke is a pure sucker. He got his ass kicked by Takumi on the downhill and now can't help but be included in Project D as an uphill driver? Well I'd say the reasons are more filial and substantial than from my point of view, but it's a shame isn't it. Ryosuke on the other hand delivers some of the most interesting tactics and leadership strategies around. He is a more calmer and nicer version of Hiruma from Eyeshield 21 and again he is the embodiment of many Asian males; forgoing their passions for the workforce.

The races are excellent as I'd mention in the beginning. The graphics and art have improved! Phew! But the characters still possess a bean-shaped fixture which I still find it annoying. But overlooking that, there are interesting bits and pieces of the way the races are depict which would make you think that it takes an absolute genius to get you hooked on to it. Which I do agree.

This anime does well, as the ending leaves you with a "I want more!" feeling. Definitely deserves a sequel at this point in time; which I have been faithfully waiting for. So do watch this one and give it a shot. I think this would have the makings to be one good and exciting anime franchise.




Rempit Rates:

Storyline: 4/5
Character Development: 4/5
Art: 5/5
Originality: 4/5

Initial D: Third Stage

author: Shuichi Shigeno
director: Noboru Mitsusawa
review type: anime movie
status: completed
genre: Shonen, Racing
studio: Pastel
released: May 15, 2002
runtime: 105 minutes


Synopsis

It is a journey that has now demanded a decision for the maverick and prodigious Takumi. Ryosuke, of the Red Suns fame asks him to join a new racing team he is forming featuring the best street drivers from the Gunma district. Takumi, still relishing that bitter moment with Team Emperor's front man Sudou Kyouichi, mentions his desire to only decide after having settled the score with him.

Takumi proceeds to challenge Kyouichi at the Irohazaka pass. The battle format is simple. Kyouichi decides that Takumi should lead. If Takumi loses the lead, than Kyouichi wins. Takumi has the daunting task of preventing Kyouichi from slipping ride out and above him, since a change in leader would ultimately be the penalty for defeat. Takumi bravely fends off Kyouicihi to stay ahead and win the race.

Kyouichi, who's a racer that's absolutely proud in his knowledge of his own home course, concedes defeat and gives the AE86 the praise it deserves. Takumi felt that it could only muster up a draw but was more concerned for the acknowledgement of Kyouichi that the AE86 is a competent race car and not just an antic on wheels.

More awaits Takumi has he would face his father, Bunta's old rival's son, Kogashiwa Kai. This would lead to a finale of epic proportions as Takumi begins to feel the heat of street racing and thus pursuing s more matured approach to racing.



Rempit's Vrooming Review

Finally, Initial D has produced a quality plot. Of course the bitter issue of Takumi and his quest for proving the AE86 was a little immature and typical, but finally Takumi becomes the go-getter. Takumi has largely been apathetic in the first two installments, and to see him react in a different fashion, just tells you that Takumi might be actually real! For once!

And the idea of having him square off with his rival is also yet another typical shonen issue, but then again having squared off with someone so talented that the win might just be out of Takumi's hands is so enticing. So I'd say that these factors are a manager break into the series and it does seem to be an exciting one.

The season challenges Takumi to be a more mature driver, honing not only his skills on the road but also his ability to decide. So character development here is up a notch. As he battles the crossroads of joining Ryosuke's team, Takumi's philosophy might just be a different approach to the more mainstreamed "hard-resolved" resolutions shonen heroes and heroines would normally undertake. Plus, since Takumi does age in the series it is noteworthy that the author did allow that maturing process to transpire into the series. At least he is not perpetually stuck at high school;Form 4 Science Stream, anyone?

The art, well is still the same. I guess I don't have much to complement when people look like kidney beans with a weird triangle as a nose. But I do have to say that in terms of the cars, and the race tracks, then this is promising. Their attempt to 3D-fy the races has gradually improved. So there's quality control going on, and that gives it the point of difference.

I still do think their races are the best feature. Ok, DUH!. But, since the series has travelled this deep, you'd just be worried that the excitement might just die off at the fact that it has become monotonous. But surprisingly, it still manages to keep you faithfully hooked into the world of downhill and uphill street racing.

I do think this installment is an exciting one. And a better one comparing to the 2nd, and on par with the 1st (my favorite's still the first, somehow in a weird way). So give this one a try and you might discover a franchise that may not be as a good as other common titles out there, but simply one that keeps promising and delivering gradually. Maybe it was intentional that we too, the viewers, also grow along with the franchise in terms of like ability? Perhaps. But give this one a shot.



Rempit Rates:

Storyline: 4/5
Character Development: 4/5
Art: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Initial D: Second Stage

author: Shuichi Shigeno
director: Shin-ichi Masaki
review type: anime
status: completed
genre: Shonen, Racing
studio: Pastel
original run: October 14, 1999- January 6, 2000
episodes: 13


Synopsis

There are a new group of baddies in town and they are none other than Team Emperor, a street racing team that utilizes the Mitsubishi Evolution as their trademark race car. They are well known for their aggressive approach to street racing and for defeating any racer that comes up against them. However, their pride fell short when Seiji Iwaki; a prominent and seasoned racer with Team Emperor, was defeated by Takumi and his AE86.

With Team Emperor's pride and reputation at stake, their leader Kyouichi Sudo decides to challenge Takumi to a race. The avenger decides to teach Takumi a lesson. But the main purpose behind the race would simply be to bait in Ryosuke, his main target for a race.

Kyouichi, a professional racer, unleashes the full capacity of the Mistubishi Evolution during his race with Takumi. Literally, pawning him during the course. Luck runs out for Takumi as during the race, his engine blows. Officially placing him out of the race. Kyouichi however doesn't consider the defeat official and tells Takumi that it was more of a showcase to inform him of a need to drive better suited cars in order to match his own skills.

Kyouichi than successfully proceeds to race Ryosuke. The tide is turned when Ryosuke defeats Kyouichi; shocking Kyouichi dramatically.

Bunta; Takumi's father has always been preparing for the day Takumi would lose. He knew that the engine would suffer a blow out and waited for that day to happen. When it did, he installed a new engine with extraordinary capabilities. Wanting Takumi to learn more about the car, he doesn't inform Takumi on the equipment needed to suit the new engine.

The anime deals basically with Takumi learning to cope with the new engine and a rival AE86 driver whose not only competent with his driving skills but mechanical knowledge, challenging Takumi to a first ever AE86 showdown.



Rempits Vrooming Comment:

So things are finally starting to shape up. Of course defeating a Mitsubishi Evolution is totally bizarre. But the idea of Takumi suffering something that would rule him out is a good twist to the plot. Another good twist is to patch him up with a rival AE86 user. So you'd have a battle of the best and I think that's pretty neat and exciting; but predictable. How? Just pay attention and you'd know how.

Again there's not much character development here. Except that we note more of Takumi's contemporaries being totally skilled and cool. Sometimes you'd just wonder how did Takumi beat Ryosuke; with Ryosuke being a total lean mean driving machine? Takumi on the other would eventually become more knowledgeable about his car and the mechanics that are involved in it. But somehow or the other, it is again through a huge dosage of apathetic- ness which ultimately gave way to the thought of succeeding. Which basically would mean that Takumi is still a slow learner when it comes to things beyond the steering and accelerator.

Well the graphics get better, the art sometimes just pisses me off. But I think for classical anime fans, the art is less than a bother. The races are very well depicted and they still keep you in suspended animation; not entirely but it is fair enough.

So here's the continuation of the life of Takumi as a race car driver. With only the looming thought of victory that keeps him going. And I personally think it is only worth it to watch in terms of the races and the hype that surrounds it. Besides that, it is as a shallow as the Straits of Malacca; where you can even see the nice green algae at the bottom of the ocean.

I recommend this title if you're itchy for a sequel and if you're feeling high and a little less melancholic. And of course it is still a shonen title. A really straightforward and enjoyable one of course; on occasions.


Rempit Rates:

Storyline: 3/5
Character Development: 2/5
Art: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Initial D: First Stage

author: Shuichi Shigeno
director: Noburu Mitsusawa
review type: anime
status: completed
genre: Shonen, Racing
studio: Studio Gallop, Pastel
original run: April 18, 1998- November 28, 1998
episodes: 26



Synopsis

In the dark of the night, there is an event with cult like following. Many flock to the hills to watch by the railings; speed demons blazing down the hills with ghastly speeds. Displaying a series of intense skills, they race to be the king of the hill.

The story begins with street racers called the Red Suns; a champion street racing team from Mt.Akagi challenging the local Mt.Akina's Speed Stars to a friendly race. The Speed Stars begin doing their homework to only find out that they have a serious job to do in maintaining their pride when they go up against the Red Suns. It becomes a race for pride. However, fate decides to take a twist when the Speed Stars main man and primary downhill racer; Iketani is injured during a practice run. They are left in a bind and desperately search for a replacement.

Iketani learns from Yuuchi; manager of the gas station Iketani works at, that the fastest downhill car at Mt.Akina is a black and white Trueno AE86. And during Yuuchi's younger days that driver was known as the "Ghost of Mt.Akina". And surprisingly the racer who rode the AE86 was none other than tofu seller Bunta Fujiwara. Iketani begs Bunta to race for him; despite knowing that he has passed his prime. Without a confident answer, Iketani remains hopeful that Bunta will come to save the day.

On the race day, the Trueno appears. The Speed Stars sigh and rejoice with relief that their savior has arrived. Only to findout that the driver was not Bunta but his son; the lack luster, slack and boring Takumi! Iketani is reluctant to let Takumi race, but allows him to when he learns that during the Red Sun's downhill practice run, it was none other than Takumi that defeated him; a mere accident as Takumi was just running his daily errands of delivering tofu on time. Takumi wins the downhill battle against the same man he outran previously, Keisuke Takahashi and his Mazda RX-7.

The story continues with others challenging Takumi, the "Ghost of Mt.Akina" and follows the growth of Takumi from an apathetic, goaless driver who succeeds by mere talent to a passionate and skilled street racer.




Rempit's Vrooming Comment

Initial D, if placed on a scale, would be evenly balanced by positive and negative points that would leave this anime a mediocre one. But this is one of the most decent racing titles that we've come to watch and love, besides Dash Yonkuro (Remember them Tamiya's?).

There's not much to character development. And the only thing you'd probably get is the growing of Takumi from noob to professional. But the character portrayal of Takumi is such, that he learns more about driving and his car with a poker face, lazy attitude. So you don't see that hard working feel of Takumi in pursuing his passion. Here is a character that is lazy, remains lazy but yet succeeds somehow through skill and talent. But at least that's counter balanced by his dilemma and urge to race and keep racing in the later episodes; which you can say it's a sign of working hard, but his face still remains expressionless. So that's actually a fresh take to a shonen character. Which in any case is a good thing to celebrate!

but his other contemporaries would make you go "Owh...right..hmmm". Typical, straight up characters. Nothing to it.

The races now, that's something. You'd feel like pulling off drifts and stunts once watching it! It never fails to depict the races with high speeds and tons of adrenaline. Knowing of course as with any anime, there's the commonsense exaggerated moments being pulled off here and there. But hey, it's action packed. And with that techno, euro beats that keep you suspended in racing world, I would have to say this anime can be a great and inspiring watch.

I also have to add that even though, looking at it we'd laugh at the 3-d attempt to make cars looks real, and real cool during motion. But I'd say it's a brave and fair attempt to utilize 3D motion graphics in it. So applause to a brave move! and not necessarily a bad one too.

But beware if you'd begin to realize that Takumi's winning streak is out of hand. That's the sad part. And I think it would be the biggest mistake the Initial D franchise would have to offer. Win after win after win. I was begging for Takumi to lose, but he kept on winning and winning. In that sense, this anime really blew it by having a ridiculous concept of wins. Even Ippo from HNI had to lose? I mean what's wrong with that?

There is some argument going on if this is a shonen or seinen title. I would say that this would be a shonen title. It can't be seinen simply because of a peek-a-boo tease or a short spout of adult talk in a few episodes. Taking this with everything in it, this remains a shonen title and follows orthodoxly the rules of the shonen world.

Well I liked the anime for it's simply straightforward idea of bringing that rush of adrenaline into you which kept me balanced in my diet for anime/mangas. So I would say, go for it if you're looking for a no brainer.

BTW! I think Jay Chou SUCKED BIG TIME in the Initial D movie. Comeon, what were they thinking. Tsk Tsk Tsk. and to Andrew Lau and Alan Mak; the directors, Congrats! you've successful directed the movie to ruins. Reminds me of Hollywood's take of DragonBall.





Rempit Rates

Storyline: 3/5
Character Development: 2/5
Art: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Death Note

Writer: Tsugumi Ohba
Artist: Takeshi Obata
Publisher: Shueisha
English Publisher: Viz Media
Review Type: Manga
Status: Completed
Genre: Shounen, Mystery, Supernatural Thriller
Volumes: 12
Vintage: Dec 2003-May 2006


* The human whose name is written in this note shall die.

* This note will not take effect unless the writer has the subject’s face in their mind when writing his or her name. Therefore, the people sharing the same name will not be affected.

* If the cause of death is written within 40 seconds of writing the subject’s name, it will happen.

* If the cause of death is not specified, the subject will simply die of a heart attack.

* After writing the cause of death, the details of the death should be written in the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.


Synopsis

Death Note is essentially a story about Light Yagami, an extremely intelligent young man who resents the growing corruption and crime rate in the world today. One day he came across a mysterious notebook with 'Death Note' written on the cover, and his life took a drastic turn as a result. Inside of the Death Note are instructions, and it claims that if a person's name is written on it, he or she will die. Naturally Light was skeptical of the Death Note's authenticity, and he subsequently proceeds to experiment with it, and it turns out that the Death Note is for real. After encountering the previous owner of said Death Note, a shinigami (death god for u noobs) named Ryuk, Light seeks to become 'the God of the New World', embarking on a mission to eradicate crime and evil, by passing his judgment on those he deems to be just that.

Soon, the increasing number in deaths of reported criminals catches the eye of the International Police Organization (IPO), and garnered interest from a mysterious detective known only as 'L'. After doing a little investigating L discovers that the person responsible for the deaths, known to the public as Kira (which is really what killer sounds like if a Japanese dude said it, honestly), is located in Japan, also concluding that Kira does not physically commit the murders, rather he has an ability to murder them without even being in their vicinity. Light quickly recognizes the huge threat L poses toward his plans, and thus a psychological game of cat and mouse begins.


Chibi's Kira Comments

It was about the time when I just returned from a long time staying away from all things otaku that the Death Note phenomenon had begun. I was certainly curious on what the hubbub is really about, since there was a movie out, a manga series, and everyone sported black notebooks with 'Death Note' on them everywhere I went. So I picked up a couple of volumes on my manga run to find out.

What can I say? Death Note is one right riveting read, indeed. The suspenseful moments coupled with the convoluted reasonings and heart pounding action is enough to tire me out after just two volumes, yet the manga is so compelling that after a short breather I was back for more. With each chapter finished I was compelled to read on to uncover the answers to the questions that just kept coming at me; will Light get caught this time? Who was that guy? How's Light gonna get out of this one? What's L gonna do next? With each pressing question comes the frantic reading to find out what had transpired.


The 12 volumes compiling the Death Note saga are split into two main story arcs. Within those arcs are minor story arcs that lasts about a volume to complete, making it relatively easy to jump in at any point of the series (although I never do this). The first main arc is essentially about the battle between Light and L, and as the IPO closes in on Light, he must find a way to use the notebook to steer attention away from him and eliminate L. In the second arc, Light is now a high ranking government officer locked in a battle with L's predecessor, threatening to expose him and his involvement with Kira.


It's the incredible art that won me over with this series. Obata-san's beautiful character designs to the beautifully detailed covers are what makes this such an enjoyable read, and coupled with Ohba-san's amazingly well written plot the combination is just too good to ignore. Light himself is not actually your typical shounen protagonist, but instead more of an evil sociopath with fascism running rampant in his mind, and despite all this he is so collected in his demeanor that rooting for him is almost second nature. L is an equally obsessive uber-nerd with a holier than thou attitude similar to Light, and they are essentially mirror images of one another except for the sides they are on. As the story moves along we are introduced to a few new characters, later on playing important roles in Light's quest.


Morality is the big issue in this series. There are instances when Light (at one point suffering from amnesia) comes off as a genuine good guy, refusing to succumb to L's methods of willing to let others die in order to obtain evidence, but resumes his role as 'the God of the New World' as his memories return. As Light's futile attempts to subvert the IPO are further exposed, it becomes obvious that Light is a pathetic Angel of Death whose mission on cleansing the world of evil is too often distracted by his megalomania.

In conclusion, Death Note in my opinion is one of the most original mangas released in recent years, and I do recommend it to anyone looking for a surprisingly fresh manga to read. An amazing thriller with an intriguing plot, coupled with the beautiful art, makes this series a must read for any otaku.



Chibi's Review



Storyline: 5/5
Character Development: 5/5
Art: 5/5
Originality: 5/5

Full Metal Panic!

Writer: Shoji Gatoh
Director: Koichi Chigira
Production House: Gonzo
Review Type: Anime
Status: Completed
Genre: Mecha, Romantic Comedy, Action
Vintage: Jan-June 2002
Episodes: 24

Synopsis

Sagara Sosuke may look like a high school boy, but he is anything but your average teenager: hardened by years of battle, he is now one of the most skilled (and humorless) operatives of the secretive and powerful paramilitary MITHRIL organization. All this changes, however, when he, along with the lecherous sniper Kurtz Weber and ornery commander Melissa Mao, are assigned to protect pretty young Chidori Kaname, who may be one of the mysterious and sought-after 'Whispered'. Trained assassins, mech-piloting psychopaths, and booby traps, Sagara can deal with... it's infiltrating a Japanese high school and trying to blend in that's the real challenge. And he will learn that an enraged girl can be the most lethal opponent of all.

Full Metal Panic is a story that combines this romantic comedy with futuristic military combat (mechas included), and it tells the story of a teen-aged army sergeant (Sagara) who grew up as a child soldier that ends up protecting a not so regular high school girl (Chidori). These two really are the reason why you would want to watch this series: even though the series is seven years old by now, they’re still fresh and dynamic, and the relationship between the two of them really grows on you. Sousuke’s socially inept antics will delight any fan of deadpan humour, while Chidori herself quickly sets herself apart from all other overused tsunderes with her wit. The two shine in the comedic part with some fresh jokes, but they definitely impress the most when they get serious.


Chibi's Panicking Comments

I actually came across Full Metal Panic about 2-3 years ago by mistake. I was looking for another series with Full Metal in its title (does Edward Elric ring a bell?) and accidentally picked up the DVD to Panic instead. Realising the mistake I made a little too late (I'd already reached home when I found out), I decided to leave it on the shelf so I could watch it when there's nothing else to do. Finally after neglecting the series for a long time, i decided to give it a shot. Then it dawned on me, I should have watched it as soon as I bought it. Here's why.

Full Metal Panic takes a decidedly fun twist to the mecha genre by blending in a few romantic comedy elements to the plot, with an already amazing story laid out. It's almost unavoidable to not burst out laughing at Sagara's extremely serious demeanor and intent on protecting Chidori through any means necessary via guns, live explosives and also smoke grenades. It's also quite amusing to see Sagara, who never had a proper teenage life trying to cope with the daily routine of high school, and he always comes off as the deathly serious new guy in class. However, it is when the laughter stops that the action begins, and we are treated to some amazing battle scenes reminiscent of Evangelion and a few Gundam OVAs.


The entire setting to this series is just awesome. With mouth-watering animation and character design, Full Metal Panic also has impressive music. As with other Gonzo releases such as Vandread, there is always a catchy song provided to properly capture the mood, from the J-poppy theme song to the background music during battle and even on normal school days, the compositions are truly phenomenal in their conception. As Gonzo had been famous for its emphasis on detailed art and animation, Full Metal Panic does not disappoint, with pleasing character designs and sharp animation complementing the already gripping action scenes.

Although the main plot is pretty well written and ropes you in from the start of the series, the real appeal of Full Metal Panic is the character relationships. Sagara and Chidori are perhaps in my opinion one of the best couples in anime. Seemingly the exact opposites to each other, delving a little deeper into their backgrounds suggest that they are more similar than expected, with their difficulties in integrating themselves into the school populace. Of course this is more glaringly obvious in Sagara, but Chidori herself is noticeably different from the rest of the girls in school, and its this back and forth relationship between the two is what really makes Full Metal Panic such a joy to watch. Think some of the sitcoms' romantic tension between the lead male and female (ala Friends for example) and you kind of get the point I'm trying to make.


As with previous Gonzo titles, Full Metal Panic did not actually reel me in from the get-go, i was still skeptical whether it was just another fan-service title taking itself a little too seriously (ala Vandread) and throughout the first 6-8 episodes it was exactly that, seemingly confused in itself not knowing which direction to take, be it engaging mecha battle royale or fan-service laden comedy, and there were times where I wanted to actually stop watching for fear of wasted time. The comedy, while in itself is very funny, kind of takes away the tense moments during the first half of the series. It's hard to believe that Chidori and Sagara are in danger when they were in a romantic comedy laden episode just before, and there was very little progression in the plot during the first half as it gets broken up with filler comedy episodes (not really a bad thing, but for die-hard mecha freaks it probably is).

Fortunately, the show does makes its mind up and decidedly focusing on the action in the second half of its run. The plot develops steadily, and more personality is further added to the main characters, making them more than just comic relief. The superb animation and well choreographed action sequences are readily present to back up the plot. The final stretch of the series kept me glued to the screen all the way to its end, which made me wish that the series was like this from the get-go.


All said and done, I do recommend this series to mecha fans, even the humorless ones, as the battles are truly something else. Full Metal Panic remains as one of the better mecha anime titles that had been out in recent years, and will provide the viewer with hours of entertainment, provided they approach it with a pinch of salt and an open mind (you know who you are, mecha purists). Great for a weekend filler and also good to watch at your own pace.



Chibi's Review


Storyline: 3/5
Character Development: 4/5
Art: 5/5
Originality: 3/5

Vagabond

author: Takehiko Inoue
publisher: Kodansha
genre: Chanbara, Seinen
review type: manga
status: ongoing
original run: 1998-ongoing
magazine: Weekly Morning






A vagabond is an itinerant person. Such people may be called drifters, tramps, rogues, or hobos. A vagabond is characterised by almost continuous travelling, lacking a fixed home, temporary abode, or permanent residence. Vagabonds are not bums, as bums are not known for travelling, preferring to stay in one location.^[1]


Synopsis

It is the 15th century Sengoku era in Japan. It is a time marred by war, violence and political strife. Here, a young Shinmen Takezo decides to join the Toyotomi army to fight the Tokugawa clan at the battle of Sekigahara. His childhood friend, Honiden Matahachi joins him on this bloody crusade. Unfortunately, the Tokugawa army stages a dramatic win against the Toyotomi militia. This also marks the infamous 300 year shogunate rule under the Tokugawa empire.

Takezo and Matahachi survive the war. They, with deep resolution, each decide to carve a path of greatness. But that was lived shortly when, Takezo becomes a wanted criminal. He is sentenced to death. However good fate befalls him when he learns of a monk called Takuan Soho; who ironically sets him up for the capture and whose also responsible for his release. He renames Takezo to Miyamoto Mushashi. Takuan believes that by this, Shinmen will not only gain freedom to travel, but to tame that wildness inside of him and evolve as a person; to not be that wild, devil child he was once known for in his village.

Mushashi undergoes a journey that is different. Encountering characters that will inevitably change his life and both his fighting and personal philosophy.



Rempit's Vrooming Comment

Now where do I begin with this. Again another delicious manga to read. Takehiko Inoue drives so many themes into this manga, that it is so insatiable to resist! Looking at his previous work, Slam Dunk, Buzz Beater and Real, this is by far taken from a different perspective. If you'd note, the titles above are heavily sports driven. Vagabond sets itself in time and history. Miyamoto Mushashi, is a real life swordsman and the Sengoku Period was an actual time in the history of Japan. So to be able to pull something off out of history and make that big genre leap, thats the work of a genius.

Inoue takes chracter development into a deeper level. If you'd think Real had substance; than this takes it down below even more. Mushashi is a classic example of how complex it is to be able to be sane in a world where insanity demands the best of you. His contemporaries; the ones who influenced him come from a variety of backgrounds, provides the anti-violence Mushashi needs to develop into an able fighter. A counter-personality to his wild animal likeness.

You can also find themes of love vs ambition or even the dilemma we go through in playing catching up with life as others we know are scaling new heights in career and personal economics ( can you guess who I am taking about here? *hint definitely not Mushashi).

The cultural influences behind this manga are very Asian. It's very Zen, very Buddhist and has that tinge of Eastern flavor behind it. But why not? Sometimes mangas are guilty of leaving behind such a beautiful Asian heritage. And Inoue takes it back to being truly Asian. Actually, it's so cultural rooted, you can only guess that Mushashi actually undergoes a spiritual journey.Again hat's off to being culturally embedded.

The fight scenes are awesome. You don't have wimps like Naruto flocking around the battlefield singing "my little pony" and killing bigger opponents with a "something no jutsu". Every strike of a sword is fatal, every injury is painful, every victory nothing short but bittersweet. And this gives you the seinen feel to understanding that violence is real business.

So, thinking of a good seinen manga, that has an appetite of say having a hero in a grim, dark and lawless world? or perhaps a lost soul in a grim, dark and lawless world? Than this is the one for you.




Rempit Rates

Character Development: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Art: 5/5
Originality: 5/5

Path of the Assassin

Author: Kazuo Koike
Artist: Goseki Kojima
Publisher: Kodansha
English Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Review Type: Manga
Status: Completed
Genre: Seinen, Historical, Martial Arts, Mature
Volumes: 15
Vintage: 1978-1984



Synopsis

Path of the Assasin follows the famed Suppa (ninja) Hattori Hanzo Masanari as he is chosen to become the protector and vassal for the Matsudaira clan's future leader, Motonobu, who would eventually grow up to become Tokugawa Ieyasu, head of the Tokugawa clan, and the man responsible for unifying Japan, ushering 200 years of peace during his rule as Shogun. Our story takes place from both protagonists' humble beginnings, and still in their teens; Hanzo then 15 while his master (still known as Matsudaira Motonobu) was 16. While both showed promise, they are still inexperienced and learning about life the way most teenagers do. After a faulty first meeting, master and servant quickly become friends. The relationship between the two quickly transcends the master-servant demographic, and poetically described as 'Lifelong Friends, with the Same Dreams, Striving to Grow into a Rising River.' The quality of their relationship is unforgettably crystallized by Hanzo's fulfillment of a challenging but enticing task Ieyasu sets him, which was to demonstrate how to make love to a woman, which neither youngster has ever done.

Path of the Assassin in essence encapsulates the lives of both Hanzo and Ieyasu as they begin their long and arduous path towards the unification of Japan, and the problems and people they encounter, as well as the women they meet and love along the way.



Chibi's Path of Comments

There was this computer game I used to play endless hours on my PC growing up. It was basically a strategy game based on feudal Japan, and the aim of the user is to get the daimyo he's in control of to conquer all the fief (provinces) in Japan to complete the game. That game was called Nobunaga's Ambition, and was released by Koei in 1989. It being historically accurate gave me insight to how Japan was during the 1500s, and I grew familiar with all the characters (actual daimyos during the time), playing it over and over, and when the company released a sequel, which was more of an upgrade in terms of graphics from monochrome to VGA (damn this sounds really prehistoric), I played it over and over again. So given the knowledge of how Japan's history was during the feudal era, I came across Koike and Kojima-san's historical epic, and quickly rushed to pick up a copy.

I was initially hoping to read more about the namesake of the game I used to be so fond of, which was lord Oda Nobunaga, who actually was the one who laid the groundwork before passing away, giving Ieyasu the opportunity to capitulate and unify Japan. But I was honestly impressed with Koike-san's portrayal of both Ieyasu and Hanzo (Hanzo actually appears in the second Nobunaga's Ambition as one of his generals), giving us a feel of a buddy movie more than an intense political historic drama. Although the politics is abundant throughout the series, he also does balance it out with a few amusing moments and lots of ninja-on-ninja violence.


My favorite aspect of this manga was learning more about the ninja. In other mangas we either get a fictitious view of what a Suppa organization, but in this series we get an extremely accurate view of what they do exactly, and their code of honor. Ninja have long been popular in fiction and especially in American pop culture, but there is very little known about their rumored existence in reality. The ninja code, as it begins to be examined in this manga, is similar to the samurai code in some ways, but in others it is quite different. In short, without giving away too much, there is a level of secrecy about the very existence and performance of ninja that is vital for them to successfully perform their duties, unlike samurai, who perform their duties in the open for all to see. Like all of Koike and Kojima-san's stories, this comic provides a highly engaging, historically accurate look at this period of time in Japan, showing us just what it was like for the Japanese people at that time and teaching us more about the culture.

We are first introduced to Hanzo in the very first chapter of the series, and we are shown why Hanzo was chosen over his brothers to shadow Motonobu (I address him as Motonobu from here on because this is before he changed his name). He has skills that exceed his brothers’, despite the fact that they are grown men. As the story progresses, we meet Motonobu. He is not as mature as Hanzo, probably because of the Hanzo’s extensive martial arts training, but as the story progresses, I became aware that Motonobu is more honorable than I had originally thought. He is young and foolish in many ways (realistically, he’s probably just a bit more like an average 16 year old than Hanzo is), but he does have a samurai heart, and Hanzo realizes this early on as well. The two characters begin to forge a close friendship without even really intending to.


As the story progresses throughout the later volumes of the series, we do get to witness the advice Motonobu seeks from Hanzo for ideas on his new name, and we get to see how their paths towards maturity, although vastly different, would still have very much the same outcome on certain issues. Several well known historical figures of feudal Japan do make an appearance throughout the series, such as the famous Tiger of the Kai Takeda Shingen, Oda Nobunaga, and also a few of the famous generals of the era. We often see how Motonobu relies on Hanzo, from political advice to mundane things such as making his wife happy, further cementing their friendship to be more than that of a master and his vassal.

There is a slight learning curve to this series, however, as readers who are unfamiliar with Japanese history might have problems in recognizing the characters as they are introduced, where more Japanese readers would automatically be able to identify as they are welcomed into the fold of the series' plot. Certain events would also confuse and bewilder the readers who aren't well-read in Japanese history, but in my opinion this is part of the fun. Doing research as you read through the series makes it all the more enjoyable given Japan's colorful and violent history during the feudal era, and it certainly educated me in more parts than most in Japanese culture and tradition, apart from its history.


In conclusion, Path of the Assassin is a more mature story told by the incredible duo of Koike and Kojima-san, and also a kind of a Japanese history lesson in pictures. The only qualm I have on this series is that maybe Dark Horse should have provided a historical overview on some of the events in the manga, to steer the uninformed in the right path and to also give them an accurate understanding of the story. I do think that the duo has surpassed the epic Lone Wolf and Cub with this one, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat from the start till the end. A must read for history buffs and samurai manga fans alike.



Chibi's Review


Storyline: 5/5
Character Development: 5/5
Art: 3/5
Originality: 4/5