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With FLCL Grunge being the latest installment in what I'd begrudgingly call the "FLCL Franchise", one cannot help but make comparisons to the the original entry from 2000 and the following entries Progressive and Alternative from 2018. Opinions on how necessary it was for us to have more FLCL will of course vary from person to person, but for this review I do feel like it's more important to see this as it's own interpretation of the themes presented in the original FLCL because of the heavy iconography that it takes from it in order to form a new coming of age story from three ... different perspectives, though this will not preclude comparisons to the original since it still draws heavily from it.

Following the three main characters: Shinpachi, the son of a sushi chef; Shonari a rock alien with an alcoholic older brother in the Yakuza and Orinoko who is the daughter to a sickly sword smith. Paving a way for the next generation is the central theme of this coming of age story and the setting of Grunge seems to reflect the world that young people have to face today. The town is polluted, education is underfunded, future prospects are limited, criminals and politicians collude with each other to further their own interests and a corporation controls the only form of social mobility available to the people of that town. This is all in the subtext though, the tone is still full of the same jovial, anarchic and transgressive sensibilities that is associated with the FLCL name. This is all strengthened by the structure that was chosen to tell this story. The three episodes tell more or less self contained stories revolving around our main characters, but they all eventually converge into the climactic events of the night from those perspectives leading into an ending that is quite heartfelt and satisfying for its short three episode run. Time never feels wasted, and the balance of introspection and fun feels great. While the new ideas shine brightly in this entry, the use of imagery from the original muddles the identity of Grunge in a way that I think is simultaneously interesting and annoying. The interest comes from how this imagery is recontextualized for this story. Some events and character appearances deliberately echo the original OVA to draw attention to the new ways it takes those themes to create a dialogue between the two for its audience. At other times however, while fun, the reuse of the imagery feels a little bit purposeless by drawing too much attention towards it, breaking the immersion for me a little. Overall though, my feelings towards the writing is more positive than negative.

The visuals have been contentious overall because of its use of CGI, though I do feel as if this contention comes from a general aversion that some people have towards it in anime. I do not want to dwell on that point too much, but what I do want to do is encourage the readers of this review who are on the fence on it because of this choice to still watch it anyway because it is a creative choice that still lies within the ethos of the original for artistic expression. Throughout there's a really strong style and tone through its use of bold colour contrasted with black shadows for some really cool looking silhouettes and scene composition. The characters themselves are cel shaded with expressive models, and 2D animation is often used for gags and fights keeping up the anachronistic styling FLCL is known for. The music is part of the aesthetic of FLCL as well and the Pillows deliver with some new recordings of old songs they have composed. I do wish that there was more variety in the track selection however as a person who has been listening to them for more than a decade now since there is again that reliance on making callbacks to the original musically as well, but when tracks that have not been used before do come up, it is truly a treat. I'm very fond of the use of the track "Sayonara Universe" in the final episode with its melancholic and droning chords to book end the show, as well as being a nice thematic bow on it all. More of that sort of thing would have made the end product stronger in my opinion.

With the callbacks and references to the original, one might ask then "who is this for?". Standalone I do think that it works but it doesn't have the runtime to really make it's symbols its own. The original that it draws from also exists and most including me would tell a newcomer to just watch that. The more likely person to be interested in FLCL Grunge is that fan of the original since that is who it seemed to be marketed towards. In that capacity, I think that a lot of enjoyment can be derived from it. A new and fresh take on FLCL's coming of age themes, cool new art and animation, the pillows and it doesn't overstay it's welcome. If you have the itch for more FLCL, then I think you will have a good time with Grunge

This going to be a very short review because there isn't too much to say about this collection of shorts. SMAnime are three shorts about as long as an anime OP. They were directed by Takeshi Koike of Redline fame and they're meant to be advertising a concert. I couldn't tell you what kind of concert it was from the shorts because the seem so far removed from it and there were no subtitles. As for the shorts themselves they're freaking awesome. I wouldn't want to spoil the contents of the shorts but what I can say is that they are opulently animated absurdity. Koike ... as an animator is known to be a bit "extra" by exaggerating proportionality and depth of field as well as cramming what feels like ten thousand frames and detailed character designs in his cuts. So it's more Koike goodness, hence why I'm rating it so highly: the art and animation stand out on their own. So who is this for? I guess if you wanna deep dive into his career, then this is an interesting stop. If you like cool animation, this is for you as well. Otherwise you're not really missing out. But if this piqued your curiosity, its not a bad way to spend about 5 minutes. And it's all an easy Youtube search away too!

Altered Carbon: Resleeved is pretty average by most metrics, but is elevated by what it excels at: its visuals and overall aesthetic. There's one caveat to take into consideration before I start the review proper; this is my first piece of media from the Altered Carbon franchise so if I get anything wrong, am missing information or I misrepresent something, know full well it's because I'm completely ignorant about the franchise. But I do know about anime, so I'll be reviewing it standalone (I've also read that you don't need any prior knowledge to get into it so I guess this approach works anyway).

Being a ... cyberpunk anime Altered Carbon: Resleeved comes with a lot of the visual and narrative short-hand of a typical cyberpunk work; neon lights filled with sexed up ads, dingy and rainy streets filled with graffiti and trash, the extreme advantages of the rich over the poor because of the hyper-capitalistic society and so on. What sets this one apart from others is its premise. Though bodies can be enhanced with technology, they mostly remain flesh and blood. These bodies are called "skins". But due to technological innovations, one's mind can be digitized and put into a "stack", meaning that as long as the mind survives, you can effectively become immortal if you have the means to do so. This is honestly quite the interesting premise that goes under explored I feel, although this is probably something the main franchise has explored at length. The story chooses to instead focus on is a Yakuza succession story, with a cyberpunk twist. The story follows a Yakuza from a rival clan, Takeshi, tasked to find and protect a tattoo artist Holly alongside Gena, a policewoman who also has business with her. I don't have too much to say about the story since it's pretty straight forward. It isn't really boring though since there's enough intrigue to keep you engaged. I don't have much to say about the main characters either since Takeshi comes off as a "Bad ass punch man who smokes a lot", the villain as "Ambitious scheming successor" and on and on. I don't like to reduce characters this way since there's more going on with them which might be followed up on in any future entry, but for now, they serve their role.

The real meat of this ONA is the artwork, and its atmosphere. The visuals are fully done in 3D in a cel shaded style; typical for anime. Techniques to limit the frame count haven't been used so everything animates quite smoothly. The character designs also work quite well in 3D since facial features are a bit more pronounced allowing for more natural feeling mouth and face movements, all the while allowing for more diverse faces in general. Like I mentioned before, the movie is cel shaded, but an interesting lighting technique is used allowing for shadows to have a softer and more layered look, while keeping the distinctive blocks of shadow that this style is known for. Textures have also been implemented well to give the character designs that extra pop, all resulting in a slick and sexy package. A strange choice to me would be the more realistically rendered effects such as blood and smoke since blood splatter becomes a texture on the characters and environments, but that's a nit pick. What was a little disappointing was the background work, but it's not because it was bad. They were actually done really well, having a more sterile and cleanly lit look to them. The disappointment comes because the first 30 or so minutes are spent in this beautiful and colorful cyberpunk city that feels so lived in it's immersive. The rest of the movie is set in a Yakuza styled hotel which is, while beautiful, is quite boring compared to the previous setting. That seems to be more a story issue though. I don't have too much to say about the fight scenes, they kick ass!

In the end, Altered Carbon: Resleeved is a little by the numbers in terms of story and characters, but you'll care enough about them to watch all the way through. This movie is more about the art on display, and I can say that it succeeds overwhelmingly. Though its strong overall, it's kinda weakened because for the most part, we've been there and done that. There are some genuinely interesting ideas that could have been explored because of the premise, but the movie leaves you to speculate on your own. If you absolutely love Altered Carbon as a franchise, you'll probably be watching this one anyway, but if you're on the fence, I'll nudge you on and say that the art impressed me as an outsider. To outsiders like me, check it out if you have time. To the 3DCG fan, it's a definite must watch. A side note: I'm not sure if this is it's own thing or going to be a longer series since a there's a sequel hook at the end. But as far as first impressions go, its a good one.

Lupin the 3rd part 5 is another fine addition to the franchise. This part stands out because it feels like a celebration of everything the series is, as well as being a modernized take on the franchise. Technology is at the forefront of this part you see, and it has changed the world greatly. Now Lupin and his crew have to deal with new threats from social media tracking where they are, face recognition technology and bio-metric security among others. But Lupin himself hasn't fallen behind the times, his kit has been updated to keep up. His main tool is his new monocle that is ... basically just an incredibly advanced computer allowing him to keep up with the constant stream of information. New technologies such as 3D printers and smartphones help round out his kit. The modernization of the series doesn't stop there, contemporary political issues and the impact of technology on them are brought up. They aren't the main focus of this part (Its still Lupin after all, cool heists and fun are the focus), but they are present enough that it can provide some commentary on them while adding texture to the world.

Character wise one should expect more of the same from the main cast of Lupin the fun loving master thief, Jigen the mellow marksman, Goemon the stoic swordsman, and Fujiko the femme fatale. More of the same from the characters in the Lupin franchise isn't a bad thing, these characters are so enduring because their strong characterization and group dynamic; they are always a delight to watch. There are some "throwback" episodes that tell self contained stories using different styles and tones that just prove how flexible these characters are in terms of writing. But the relationships between them don't remain unexplored. There are moments where the characters express their weariness at the changing world and reflect on what they all mean to each other; a strong feature for long time Lupin fans. There are some stand out new characters too, mainly Ami. She is a young genius hacker who Lupin meets at the beginning of the series. I don't want to reveal too much about her since she is such a delightful recurring character, but what I will say is that watching her grow more confident in her skills and as well as her relationship with the other main characters is endearing. As for villains, a new one is introduced each "episode", with an episode being a three to four episode long arc. They all put Lupin to the test in new and interesting ways thanks to the ever present backdrop of technology.

TMS entertainment didn't skimp out on the art and animation either. Part 5 is set in France this time around, and all of the background art of buildings, countrysides, scenic roads and interiors (whether they be lavish or homely) are rendered with such love and care. Small details like making all of the signs French, making all of the vehicles European models and even paying attention to cuisine make it all the more authentic. What I'm pointing out is pretty obvious when you look at it, but this sort of consistency and dedication to setting must be applauded. The fact that it would go unnoticed speaks to how effective the immersion is. Character designs are still very appealing. They are a little softer looking than in part 4, giving them more of the classic style to them, but not so soft that they don't look modern. Ami again is a stand out character in this department. The more classic look makes things feel less jarring when we transition to the throwback episodes as well. Animation is also very strong and consistent throughout too, with all of the vehicles being animated without the use of CGI, even in car chases too. The music still consists of groovy big band jazz tracks, some funk, fusion and the use of the accordion in the opening song and main theme of the series to situate it in France even further.

So the final verdict is go watch Lupin Part 5. You will be treated to an entertaining thrill ride with great characters and visuals, as well as an astounding finale. If you are a newcomer, I would suggest you start with Part 4, but if you watch Part 5 first, you will still be in good hands since each Part is more or less self contained, with minor references to earlier bits of Lupin media. If you're already a fan, DO NOT HESITATE, watch it as soon as you can!

Afro Samurai: Resurrection is set after the events of the original five episode anime. The premise is simple: the main character Afro is on a quest for revenge to take the life of the man who took his father's life for the number 1 headband which is rumored to give the owner godlike power. The movie is about what happens after you get your revenge, and the cycle of vengeance. A new character, Sio is one of the many people who was affected by Afro's vengeful path. She take's the remains of Afro's father in order to bring him back to life, all for the ... purpose of inflicting as much pain on him for her revenge, and takes the number one headband from him in order to motivate Afro to come to her. It's a lot of words for what is essentially a very simple plot, but this plot is pretty strong for its simplicity. Character motivations are clear, what needs to be done is clear, and it is also clear thematically.

Because of the rather unique circumstances that led to the creation of the animated version of Afro Samurai, there's a lot of star power behind it. Samuel L. Jackson is the producer and all of his celebrity money and his love for anime (and hentai too!) shows in the final product. I want to start to start with the voice cast first of all. Many are apprehensive when it comes to English voice acting in anime and I want to put those fears aside. This movie was produced for the West first and foremost, so the script and dialogue fit naturally. The main character himself, Afro, is voiced by Samuel L. Jackson. There isn't much to say about this performance because it consists mostly of single words and grunts. That doesn't mean Afro is uninteresting. On the contrary, because he's so quiet, you really wonder whats going on in his head. Jackson really shines in his other role as Ninja Ninja, a wise cracking and fast talking companion for Afro. He acts like an inner voice for him, often questioning Afro's motivations and goading him on in some instances. Together they make a very entertaining duo. The other major celebrity role is Lucy Liu of Kill Bill and Charlie's Angels fame. She does a good role in the role of Sio, the antagonist of the film, bit the delivery of some of her lines falls flat. This could either be due to direction issues or issues in sound mixing (an issue I'll soon be getting to). Mark Hamill also has a role though its for a minor character. Lastly, there are some other big names in the anime English dub sphere: Yuri Lowenthal and Liam O'Brien. They do what they do best and provide some anime voices to anime characters. They don't really deviate too much from what they usually do but its an otherwise solid performance they bring.

The other big celebrity name brought in for this project is RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame. Those who are familiar with the Wu-Tang Clan would know that they have a love for anime, so RZA was a natural fit for the his love of anime, and for the fact that he has done the score for other films as well. What you'll expect is some authentic old school hip hop beats, complete with boom bap drums, soul samples and rapping (some of which is done by the man himself). The tracks themselves are very well done and are implemented appropriately within the movie. There are issues with the mixing and sound editing however. In some scenes, the music sounds quite muffled and not loud enough, or sometimes, the volume of the voice track is around the same as the music, making it a little hard to appreciate the music in the moment. In other instances, the music fades out in a pretty obvious way, taking you out of the moment. This isn't a deal breaker overall, since its only in a few moments, but it can detract from your enjoyment if one of the reasons you want to watch the movie. If you are that kind of person, you were probably going to, or have already listened to the soundtrack in album form.

The animation and art are just as strong, if not stronger than the original. With the movie being action oriented, action scenes are going to be the major focus of the animation team. Scenes are still bloody, violent and intense a you would expect. Animation is also really detailed and polished in them thanks to the additional time and money that was poured into it. It's a showcase of what studio Gonzo can do at their best despite their reputation for being an inconsistent studio. Character designs are still great, blending together traditional Japanese clothing and design sensibilities with technology. The background art and settings are also quite varied for a two hour long movie. There are wastelands, some locations that feel like they would straight up fit into a western, but replace the saloons with more Japanese flavored houses. A location at the end of movie is particularly stunning because of the strong color choices, the strangeness of background elements like mountains and some overall "epic" imagery for that location; you can feel the brutal history of it.

So I highly recommend this movie, especially if you've completed the anime. It may be style over substance for sum, but i say to them, the style is the substance for this movie. A small side note: a sequel is teased at the end of this movie, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. The movie by itself is complete, so don't let that stinger ruin it for you.

Lupin III: Goodbye Partner is a fairly entertaining special running for about an hour and a half. The premise itself is quite interesting mostly because Lupin's loyal friend and partner Jigen is an antagonist throughout the film. Our main character is tasked with stealing a "Time Jewel" from a highly fortified facility. In typical Lupin fashion its carried out but not before a betrayal by Jigen who takes it for himself, therefore setting up the events of the movie. Characterization remains strong as all of the returning characters in the special behave as they would in any other Lupin property; Jingen's betrayal is portrayed in ... such a way that wouldn't be out of character for him. With a strong main cast, then what about the side characters? There's Alisa, a young girl who is kidnapped for nefarious purposes. Though she's kind of a damsel in distress sort of character, she does have more going on and is also quite plot crucial. Roy Forest also serves to be a clever and conniving antagonist for Lupin to face as well.

The movie moves from beat to beat quite briskly so I was hardly bored watching it. But that pace feels too brisk when concerning events towards the ending. Without spoiling anything, things escalate quite quickly and there's a lot of information that you'll have to keep track of. This causes things to feel a bit messy although everything is tied up by the end of it. I think the movie would have benefited from having an additional 15-30 minuets to build up things properly or some extraneous details needed to be cut out. Another complaint that I'd anticipate from the movie is the use of politics in it. If you're the type to be bothered by it, don't let it because its still a good Lupin special. At the same time, do not dismiss the political content simply because it is there. This special deals with technology and wants to comment on that, so it provides pitfalls, examines uses and provides solutions which I think are worth considering. (On a side note, this special probably influenced or was influenced by part 5 since it's so tech focused. Just my two cents). I will admit though, that it felt a bit shoehorned in since its a contributing factor towards the messy ending. Despite it all, its still a fun Lupin romp.

Animation is serviceable, there isn't anything too spectacular going on. The character designs do remain strong, retaining a "classic" Lupin look as well as being as expressive as they've always been. This special is mostly set in Los Angeles and the Nevada desert, so while the backgrounds and locations do look pretty, they're a bit uninspired for my tastes. This is an issue if part of your enjoyment for Lupin comes from the setting. In this instance, the setting is flavorless, mostly serving its function as a vehicle to contextualize the events in a plausible manner. The music is still strong, with it's original compositions setting the appropriate mood. Music is also a crucial plot element to the movie, with Chopin's compositions being used throughout. I'm not very into classical music so I couldn't tell you how good the renditions are, but they sounded good to my ears.

Overall, if you're a Lupin fan, I wouldn't say you're missing out by skipping this special. But if you want more Lupin, then check it out. More Lupin is never a bad thing after all.

The Afro Samurai Pilot is an interesting little short for a few reasons. Firstly it's a pretty insightful look into the story, concepts and character designs that the main show would end up using or dropping. Second, its a great showcase of Takeshi Koike's animation style and aesthetic sensibilities.

As for the short itself, it can be described as a three minute long sakuga filled hip hop music videos involving the titular Afro Samurai tearing through his enemies, with all the slick action and hyper violence one would expect from the franchise. In a sense it captures the essence of Afro Samurai. An artistically excellent action ... piece punctuated by hip hop beats.

I've been raving a lot about the art and animation, so what would one expect. It's a mostly monochrome piece with the main colors being black white and grey. This is complemented by intense bursts of red blood spray and wrapped up in Koike's characteristic dark and one tone shadows and you get a slick looking project. The minimalist color palate and background design also makes things feel pretty abstract at times. The animation throughout is just as smooth. The backgrounds having low detail just helps to emphasize the action, making it stand out quite a bit.

The music is an important aspect of the short as well. There are two tracks used in it, the first being "400 Years" by CYNE. Its a great opener for the short, using a very Japanese sounding guitar sample and punchy percussion accompanied by lyrics about emancipation. The last half is accompanied by "Next Time" by Gang Starr, a jazzier track with a verse about the artist's unmatched skill on the mic, much like Afro's skill in a fight. There isn't any dialogue in the short, but the music helps tell as much of the story as the visuals.

So who is this short for? I would recommend it for three types of people. The first kind of person is the Afro Samurai super fan. If you haven't seen this yet, it's invaluable because you get to see the similarities and differences between the original and final products. The second type of person is for the sakuga and staff list nerd. Its an interesting little footnote in Takeshi Koike's career, and a showcase of some of the best animation he's put to screen. The last sort of person is the lover of both anime and Hip Hop. What it offers to them are cool action scenes, cool character designs and a good selection of tracks to boot. If you are any of these three, I'd strongly recommend checking this short out!

Lupin the IIIrd: Goemon's Blood Spray is the second in Takeshi Koike's darker take on the Lupin franchise. Focusing on the title character, Ishikawa Goemon, we are introduced to him acting as a bodyguard to a Yakuza boss running a casino styled cruise ship. In the background we have Lupin and the others organizing a heist on this ship, all the while an assassin sabotages it. With a cool and action packed introduction to the movie, the tone is set for the rest of it.

First and foremost, Goemon's Blood Spray is an action focused movie. As such, its appropriately fast paced and frantic. This is ... mostly to do with the main antagonist Hawk. He's a bad ass and unstoppable fighting machine with the mission to kill Lupin. He's also what I found to be the strongest point of the movie, mostly because he's so delightfully entertaining. He holsters his axes like guns and is just as quick to the draw with them, he has metal teeth that he bares in a mocking way and he's as durable as a vault. That isn't to say that he's unintelligent either. He's as calculating and as deadly as any other Lupin antagonist, he's just backed up by his immense strength. Because of these qualities, the pressure is kept up and the tension is high. The title character, Goemon, is tasked with stopping this threat because of his failure to protect his boss. As in other entries, he is stoic, confident and assured in his skill. Pitting the two aforementioned characters against each other creates some greatly entertaining action scenes.

Speaking of action scenes, the animation only helps elevate them. Under Takeshi Koike's direction, we not only have some fluid action animation throughout, there are also some intense and inventive sequences of action throughout that play into the strengths of each combatant. The spectacle of the fights have also been appropriately elevated in order to accommodate and action flick centered around Goemon. Art wise, the character designs are as strong as they were in the first movie, and backgrounds are still great. A point I'd like to emphasize is that despite all of the action I've been alluding to, there are some incredible moments of quiet in the movie, letting the sound design shine. These scenes let you immerse yourself in the moment or let you feel the buzz of an adrenaline high from some action sequences. The only nitpicks I have with the movie is that it doesn't do much to move the overall plot of the series of movies, which I would have liked to see. Zenigata is also in the movie and he doesn't seem to do too much, or at least as much as I'd like to see from him.

All in all, Goemon's Blood Spray is a really intense action thrill ride from start to finish. Though its a bit bogged down by the lack of overall plot progression, it more than makes up for it with its ever entertaining villain and great action scenes.

Lupin the IIIrd: Fujiko Mine's Lie is the third entry into Takeshi Koike's series of movies, so needless to say, this review will be for those who have already watched the other two. If you're curious about the others and want to check them out then I wholeheartedly recommend them. For those already invested in the series (the Koike Movies and the franchise in general) it is indeed a worthy entry into the series.

Fujiko Mine's Lie is a bit of a slow burn compared to the other entries, with a greater focus Fujiko herself and Jean, son of an accountant who siphoned off funds from ... a shady company in order to pay for his child's heart surgery. Lupin and Jigen are involved in the adventure going forward but they take more of a backseat role this time round. This character focus extends to the the assassin in this movie as well Binkam. I didn't find him as intimidating as the tooled up and tactical Yael Okuzaki or the unstoppable force known as Hawk, but he struk me as the most interesting villain character wise. He additionally serves as a good foil/counterpart to Fujiko just as the other two in the previous movies.

The art and animation still stands as excellent. Character designs always look good (with my favorite being the henchman Carla), and the action scenes are fluid and fun in that characteristic Lupin way. You also get to see Fujiko more involved in the action, with some wonderfully choreographed hand to hand scenes that also make use of her distinct charm. The setting has been moved to a city within an arid desert. Background art is still great in both the city and desert environment, but there are some low texture CG model citizens walking the street in the city area. Its a minor nitpick though since it isn't too distracting when they're in your periphery, but its a bit jarring when you notice that the bustle of the city is made out of them.

All in all, Fujiko Mine's Lie works well on its own merits and within the continuity of these movies. Its a bit headier and character focused, but its a treat if you particularly like Fujiko's character and her conniving ways.