Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations

The continuation of the ever-so-great series Tsubasa Chronicle, this OVA (Original Video Animation) series was as good as expected, maybe even better. The group we are familiar with has now entered a Tokyo in which all but two buildings has been destroyed by acid rain. They encounter new people, and as the title suggests, there's some revelations waiting for them as well as anyone who watch this.

I really enjoyed the story. Albeit too rushed: I had trouble understanding at times, though everything's clear now. I think it could've been twice the length it was without really being any worse. Anyway, it was really great, from ... the original Syaoran's and the Clone's awakening to the revelation of Fei Wong's plans and how much he has actually affected the group's journey so far.

The animation style of this was... wow. At first, I was surprised to see a completely new animation style, but I soon got accustomed to it, and soon after I fell in love with it. It was a quantum leap in quality, which was most likely due to the fact that it was an OVA. If only the entire series had been like this... Oh, well. At any rate, you'll most likely enjoy the improved animation.

The music in this series is - and will always be - legendary, at least in my heart. Nay but astounding pieces of music; themes and songs which I could listen to over and over again without growing bored of them (and so have I done). This is how an anime soundtrack should be, and I can almost certainly guarantee that you'll enjoy the music in this series.

In this OVA, the characters experienced a change for the better; growing much more deeper. The characters were somewhat the same as the original series, but I felt that there were changes to them - both at the start of and during the series. Die-hard fans of the original series might get turned off by the fact that the characters changed a bit, but I felt that they were much more enjoyable, and I'm sure you will too, even though you might require some time to get used to it.

All in all, I really, really enjoyed the OVA; there were many changes for the better, but it also kept the best from the earlier seasons, making this much better. There are some changes you might have to get used to, and the story was definitely a bit rushed, but I can guarantee that you will enjoy this OVA at least as much as you enjoyed the original series.

To 'Not Helpful' voters (and you 'Helpful' voters too): Feedback greatly appreciated =)

Tsubasa Chronicle's anime experience has been a very rocky one. In spite of staying true to the manga to an extent, the original TV series was shameless in it's amateur art styl, jilted animation, and wholly uneven pacing. Fans got a brief look at something amazing when the short movie came out and wondered, "what if Production I.G. did the canon story of Tsubasa?"

Wonder no more.

Tsubasa Chronicle: Tokyo Revelations is quite literally a godsend, not only for the poor souls that suffered through the uninspired Bee Train adaptation, but also those (myself included) who felt the artwork and pacing for the manga chapters the OVA ... covers were way off-balance. For the revelations at hand, no one delivers the goods better.

First thing fans are going to recognize is the art style, which is much more defined and fluid than the TV series. The fight scenes are seamless and perfect in nearly every way, and backgrounds are fleshed out wonderfully. Moreso, the series' shining point, the OST, is abundant here. Unlike the TV series, however, the OVA uses Yuki Kajiura's compositions minimally and saves the big pieces for dramatic effect. For me, the OST just got better. Also, I adore the melancholy OP.

Of course, Tsubasa has a story and, in this case, one Bee Train decided to ignore completely due to the dark nature of the titular revelations. Production I.G. did not sway. Though some minor plot points are rearranged, everything flows and follows the manga as if you were watching a full-color, audio-enhanced slideshow of the chapter panels. Though these chapters suffer themselves from pacing, the OVA makes things clearer and much less muddled than the manga. Still, too much happens at once and the OVA faults in not giving each revelation enough due reaction with all that's going on.

Naturally, characters also take some turns as this is the manga's turning point. And wow, what changes they are! Really, going any further would risk massive spoiler territory, but the OVA crams a series' worth of character development into these 3 episodes. Phenomenal is an understatement, and the way the seiyuu handle these changes is nothing short of vocal mastery. It is easily the high point of this already excellent OVA.

When everything comes together, it's definitely something worth appreciating, and one can only hope that more Tsubasa anime will follow from Production I.G. It is very much enjoyable, but it won't leave a serious impact on you. The only thing I really took from this was "this is Tsubasa done right", but for me that is enough to warrant a high enjoyment rating.

Overall, Tsubasa Chronicle: Tokyo Revelations gets a 9. Best anime adaption of the series to date, and excels beyond the manga in delivering the goods in a way that isn't horribly confusing.

Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations was pretty special at times, it had the kind of CLAMP magic that you see in various other media by them, such as Magic Knight Rayearth, Cardcaptor Sakura, or even Code Geass.

The kind of annoying thing is it has this spark of imagination that is so often underpowered because it ends up being poured into a conventional kind of gooey cheesy romance.

Moreover, there is a grating sense of disconnectedness fueled by the anime's bizzare relationship to the previous anime, the manga itself, and events in the future, as well as current events, which all do not ever really feel that ... they are all heading totally in the same direction.

It's a mixed experience for me, and this sounds like it almost wasn't worth watching, so I wouldn't be surprised if other people felt the same. In other words, but anytime CLAMP does anything I think it is something unique and interesting, but all the possibilities drown beneath so many other wild and erratic things it becomes difficult to stand firmly by it.

CLAMP will always have this weird special thing with magic or honesty or something that tends to raise an interest or catch your attention, but outside of maybe Cardcaptor Sakura it never really felt like it coalesced into a formidable current (and maybe not even Cardcaptor)

A 6 seems appropriate.