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Dec 5, 2009
Specials usually suck. Not always, but the majority of the time they fall short of the standard set by the main series. It is only once every so often that they're able to maintain the status quo.
"You're Under Arrest: Mini Specials" is one such aberration. This twenty episode collection of eight minute specials nearly matches the quality of the original series despite moving in a different creative direction. It cannot compare in terms of romance or drama, but it boasts far more intelligent comedy while managing to develop the characters even further than they had already been.
Kobayakawa Miyuki in particular was deeply explored. Her
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fear of ghosts and monsters led to some hilarious episodes while her fascination and aptitude of all things mechanical and electronic proved to be the base for others. These, alongside a rather scary and strong inclination towards vindication, had been touched upon in the main series but never quite fully examined.
One other aspect that was explored further was the ecchi factor. Many of the specials revolved around panties thieves and perverts, which ultimately led to a lot of fan service. One episode even had them arguing over breast size! Despite all this, the scenarios always end up the same way, and thats with the duo layin' the smackdown on the bad guy.
That is not to say that there wasn't a fair share of action though! Many episodes involved high speed chases or superhuman acts of strength (exemplified by Natsumi of course).
In other words, the specials did what few others in anime ever have, and that is accurately supplement the main series. I'd recommend this to any fan of the main series, as it essentially is a fuller taste of the same dish.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 4, 2009
Does Japan really think Americans are re-skinned buffoons who covet material wealth over all and are quick to the gun? They must, cause thats the impression this offensive special gives off. One second, allow me to clarify. It wasn't the overblown American stereotypes that offended me, oh no. It was the absolute shamelessness of this twenty-three minute dreck that offended me.
Guns, explosions and bikinis! Those idiot Americans will love it!
No, we won't. This was god awful. The best part about it was hearing a Japanese voice actor shout out the American phrase "Oh Jesus!". There was a story, if you could call it that,
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but it was so poorly presented that it was hard to tell if it even mattered. Nothing seemed to flow smoothly and only half of everything seemed to pertain to what was supposed to be going on.
Natsumi and Miyuki are, for whatever unknown reason, doing their traffic patrol now in downtown Los Angeles instead of quiet town Japan. Joining them are thinly veiled clones of the usual supporting cast that have overblown personalities...Aoi is a full blown homosexual, Nakaji- I mean, Cain, is a male pig slut, Rico is a gun toting miser, and Sally? Well, shes supposed to be Saori, but they're absolutely nothing alike.
The team is investigating a string of speeding illegally modified cars off route 404 ( I wished a 404 had popped up in the middle of this special). Naturally, their initial reaction is to go out for drinks! Unfortunately, that plan doesn't seem to work out too well as Miyukis new Mustang is stolen from the parking lot. The team gives chase, but ultimately fail.
As any reasonable police force would, they decide it best to stock up on guns and go to the beach! After a day of carefree fun and games, the team relaxes knowing everything will come their way...and how convenient, they're right! They spot the section chief getting chummy with the prime suspect in the case. They follow and assault without thinking, blowing their oh-so-clever undercover operation.
"Oh Jesus!"
No worries, they have a ton of guns! So, logically, they start blowing the nonsense out of whatever is unfortunate enough to be breathing in their line of sight. One criminal manages to escape in a stolen vehicle, but after a short chase from Natsumi and Miyuki...and a little help from a sniper rifle, they catch the rotten jerk and blow his brains out.
Okay, so they don't kill him, but that would have been on par with everything preceding.
In a nutshell, this is one of the worst specials I have ever had the displeasure to sit through. I'd rather have watched an episode of Sesame Street, or maybe even an entire hour of The View with Whoopi Goldberg. ANYTHING would have been a better choice than this...
Okay, well, maybe not better than the Lupin: Return of Pycal special but..pretty darn close.
The art is fine (minus the lazy re-skinning of the supporting cast) the music is bad, and as a package deal you're better off ripping all your toenails in half with rusty pliers.
Stay away. There is no reason to watch this abortion, especially if you're a fan of the franchise.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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Dec 3, 2009
Want some food? Prance about in your swimsuit!
Diverting Traffic at the Beach is the special 52nd episode to the You're Under Arrest first season series. It isn't an accurate portrayal of the series however, and ends up boiling down to a lot of ecchi fanservice.
The story goes that the section chief down in Bokuto tricks Natsumi into doing some extra work down by the beach. Naturally, Miyuki follows, and the two end up managing incoming traffic towards the beach. Its hot, they hadn't thought to bring anything to drink, and the drivers end up taunting them, but they somehow keep up their spirits.
Wait about
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10 minutes and it becomes apparent why. After being given a short break from Aoi and Yoriko, Natsumi and Miyuki catch onto the trail of a luggage thief on the beach. Just as they begin their investigation, someone begins to drown.
Cue to the nonsense.
Natsumi and Miyuki RIP off their uniforms, revealing provocative swimwear underneath, and lunge forth into the waters to rescue the drowning damsel...much to the delight of the mostly male beach goers.
After securing the victim, the pair notice the luggage thief being spotted on the beach. The thief is chased to the dock where he has hidden a motorboat, and begins to take flight.
Natsumi and Miyuki, however, are conveniently positioned to a motor boat of their own, and begin to chase the villain in a ridiculous display of over the top and unnecessary jet ski jumps and trick. After about a minute of Natsumi jumping around like a darned fool, they out maneuver the suspect and retrieve the stolen luggage!
No time to rest though...The girls make their way back to their traffic post. The exiting patrons all decide to show their appreciation for their thrilling heroism...with food. And Inflatable sharks. before you know it, there is a larger backup than before with guys in cars just drooling to get a peek at Natsumi, Miyuki, Aoi, and/or Yoriko in their swimsuits.
Lame.
Well, its a one episode special, so you can't take too much from this. It was a chance to show them all off in swimsuits, and mission accomplished. Now, I can't say I was totally adverse to that, but the episode seemed to be centered around that one aspect rather than being something you could truly call "special". The soundtrack is as solid as before, and the animation isnt anything to really complain about either..
Nothing great, but nothing you should avoid either.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Dec 3, 2009
Hokey smokes, that was awesome. Only in the world of anime can policewomen beat out goddesses
You're Under Arrest! Its been one anime that I've been meaning to watch for years and years and have simply ignored for one reason or another. I knew all about it being the first child of Kosuke Fujishima (who also fathered another of my favorite all time franchises, Ah! My Goddess), and I had heard good things, but I just never ever bothered.
For the past week, I bothered.
Fourty-seven episodes never went by so quick. I was simply blown away at the sheer "goodness" of this series. From amazingly well
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developed characters to the quirk 90s fusion jazz soundtrack, there wasn't a single bad thing I could find here. Granted, there were leaps of logic at times, and a few episodes were just way too corny, but none of that really detracted from what proved to be a truly enjoyable series.
Onto the synopsis.
If you've never heard of the basic story, then you're either young or living under a rock. Tsujimoto Natsumi, on her way to her first day at work, is flagged down for violating several traffic laws by a beautiful policewoman named Kobayawa Miyuki. She then discovers that Miyuki is her new patrol partner at the Bokuto Station; Traffic section. The two start out rocky, but develop into one of the most impressive crime fighting duos ever seen.
Sorry Batman & Robin, but you need to step aside.
They unlikely pair are surrounded by a bevy of personalities including a timid mountain man (Nakajima Ken), a happy, gossipy, busybody (Nikaidou, Yoriko), and a stoic enigma of a section chief (Kachou). Throw in a draq queen and an archetype detective and you got yourself a decent supportive cast.
But it doesn't end there! Through their misadventures, Natsumi and Miyuki constantly encounter one of the most bizzare "superheroes" in anime history. Strike Man, the masked vigilante, while proving to be ultimately harmless, bungles his way through the series as a friendly pseudo-antagonist while providing some hilarious JUSTICE monologues. His deadly mega-ultimate-meteor-fireball-crusher-strike-ball-of-justice is a thing of deadly beauty...though Natsumi has never once failed to hit it out of the proverbial park and send him packing.
Another interesting character is one of the least seen but most explored. Tokairin Shoji makes his first appearance, unannounced and unheralded, late into the series but slowly develops as something very special. For someone like me who has never once touched this franchise, it was incredibly awesome to watch this guy interact with the existing characters, so I won't spoil anything, but I can guarantee you that his presence "makes" the series.
Of course the cast doesn't end there, but I got to cut it off at some point right? Shout outs go to the old man/young girl couple, the intense teenage policewoman wanna be, the kindergarten kids, and Beach Volley Ball Man.
Yes, Beach Volley Ball Man.
With all these interesting characters, its easy to think only a few of them matter. That simply isn't the case. While everyone does have their part to play, their path to that part is well explained and shown. It seemed as though for each character, even the most minor of them, the viewer is given a history and a reason to not only care for them, but also grow attached.
In other words, the characters are the story. Their actions, their relationships with one another, and the blossoming romances and admiration are the selling points, and with as uplifting as they prove to be, I'd be hard pressed not to buy!
Love, Friendship, and ACTION! Simple, heartwarming, and honest. Everything about this series gave off those feelings, and the soundtrack champions those themes.
Now, jazz certainly isn't the most popular music genres, and even less so is fusion jazz, but considering the setting and date of the series (1996 Japan), the music fits perfectly and adds a little something extra to every scene...smooth when it needs to be and fast paced fusion-action during the more volatile scenarios. The two opening songs were excellent and addictive while the endings did a nice job wrapping things up. As always, music is a matter of personal taste, so perhaps being a fan of jazz AND fusion jazz jades me, but I would think most anyone would agree that this was a decent OST.
Ultimately You're Under Arrest! was one of the most entertaining anime I have ever seen. I full expect to immerse myself in the franchise as a result, and I have to say, I'd expect the same from anyone else who gives this a try. There is a prequel four episode OVA, but they don't pack the same punch. If you're interested in the franchise, THIS is the installment you'll want to use as your barometer.
I HIGHLY recommend this. It doesn't matter whether you prefer new school or old school, action or romance, policewomen or goddess...this is something you'll want to check out for sure.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 20, 2009
*This Review may contain spoilers*
This is Kino's Journey? I'd rather stay at home.
What many people believe to be a great series, Kino's Journey is a collection of short stories revolving around different countries, customs, traditions and beliefs. The main character Kino travels to these countries with her talking motorcycle pal Hermes, and together they observe the world through outside perspectives.
In fact, its almost as if Kino is nothing more than a representation of the viewer. Kino does nothing but observe....ever. She never interferes or judges or saves, when she so easily could. She does nothing but watch the people of these countries act like morons,
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much like the viewer is forced to.
Due to this, unfortunately the feelings of helplessness and despair sets in and gets comfortable for the entirety of the series.
I was amazed at the stupidity of it all. I get the concept...we're supposed to feel like nothing can change these awful, horrid events...we cannot change the way of the world. We're about as powerful as a traveler with no soul or heart, but how does that translate into entertainment? All it did was frustrate me.
For example...Episode 5, Kino and Hermes meet 3 old dudes that have all been working about fifty years...One is polishing old tracks and making them sparkle. The second is dismantling those tracks piece by piece. The Third? Well, he's repairing the tracks! Kino meets all three and says not one word to any of them of the futility of their efforts and lives.
Worse than that, the twelfth episode had two countries at war massacring a third to decide the winner! BY POINTS!
Kino doesn't mind. Kino doesn't care. Neither do the citizens of the two larger countries. They're cool with it, who cares? I mean, its not THEIR homes and families being destroyed in a conflict that has nothing to do with them...
Helplessness and despair.
Kino, however, shows glimpses of humanity both in her past and towards the end of the series. She does not seem adverse to murder (she kills at least five people throughout the series) and yet she shows a tiny fragment of pain and loss when someone she connected with on a few levels dies (due to an irrational decision to get melted rather than move). These moments are brief, scarce, and quickly forgotten when she hops aboard Hermes and rides nonchalantly towards the next country.
Kino's Journey disappoints on plot, but what really stood out to me was the animation. At first, I dismissed the art with the feeling that it was "too kiddy". As the series progressed, the style grew on me and by the end I came to enjoy the "differentness" of it. That is a matter of taste though, same with the soundtrack, which was repetitive and inconsistent at the same time. The opening and ending songs were enjoyable enough, but the few tracks within the show itself often took away from scenes as much as they added in spots.
In the end, I did not enjoy Kino's Journey. The series frustrated me and did not make me feel at all like there might be hope for ANYONE in that world. Actually, there was one happy story in the span of 13 episodes, but among all the death and despair, I had forgotten it. I couldn't, in good conscience, recommend this series to anyone looking to anime for an escape or an enjoyable experience.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Aug 16, 2009
***THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS***
Miyazaki. What comes to mind when you hear that name? Cute characters? Great movies? Remarkable talent? Any of these would be normal and deserved. There isn't a person in their right mind whose heart didn't warm itself while watching Tortoro, or fluttered with excitement in Sprirted Away. Which is why when Ponyo was announced, their was born an anticipation. An anticipation for the same Miyazaki magic that has touched us time and time again.
And it is also why the disappointment was so great.
Ponyo was bad. The plot had holes large enough to happily sail through and the characters were about as
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two-dimensional as you can get; depth wise, not graphic wise. Now the animation and the music is what you'd expect; Beautiful, inspiring, and amazing. But they do not save this film, the Miyazaki legacy does.
The Miyazaki legacy has the mindless majority praising this film solely based on the name and preceding accomplishments. I guarantee, however, of its own merits Ponyo would be quickly forgotten and ignored due to its many flaws.
I dare anyone to try to explain to me what this movie was even about without delving into any folklore or mythology that wasn't properly represented or explained in the film. I dare myself to make sense of it. I dare Miyazaki to try this again and make it more like his other films! Y'know, the ones with the action, danger, and heart-wrenching drama? NONE of that was here!
In fact, I can re-tell the story of Ponyo in five easy sentences without missing a thing.
Ponyo is a fish girl that decides to run away from her little fish sisters and her crazy-cool father. She meets a boy named Sosuke and they play together. Ponyo has magic powers and, for the hell of it, tsunamis Sosuskes' hometown. Ponyo and Sosuke go to look for Sosukes mom who ABANDONED the children during the tsunami.Ponyo and Sosuke run into their moms and dads, innocently and without hesitation proclaim their lukewarm, mild-mannered lover for one another and SAVE THE WORLD...somehow.
Did I mention the world was in danger? Neither did the movie, cept in passing once and at the very end. "Oh and, by the way, you saved the world from complete and utter annihilation!....somehow"
What a mess. That all said...it wasn't terrible. I still enjoyed what I was watching but I would compare to it to cloud watching; calm, beautiful, enjoyable, but with no sense of danger, drama, or action anywhere in sight. Not a hint of villainy or doom or even excitement. Just....clouds, harmlessly and happily floating along. And if thats the story Miyazaki wanted to tell, then fine, but by all accounts, thats just boring.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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May 19, 2009
Agent 007. Part-Time Assassins. Cross Dressing Nazis. Over the top characters? Check.
Three crazy statues. An eight-hundred BILLION dollar treasure. Lupin scores a date. Off the charts absurdity? Check.
Fujiko? Jigen? Zenigata? Check, check and check.
Alright, we got ourselves another Lupin special. Released in 1996, this is just another notch in the Lupin franchise with nothing too unique or defining about it. Unless, of course, you consider the bringing together of two literary icons "unique".
James Bond, born on page in 1953, is one of the most charismatic and captivating characters ever seen to come out of the 20th century. He is an icon, the embodiment of espionage
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and lady killing. A true master in his craft, an over-the-top personality that overcomes seemingly impossible odds time and time again...all in his best suit.
Lupin the Third, born as we know him on page in 1967, is without a doubt heavily influenced by the cavalier English spy. The adventures, the women, the gadgets...just about anything seen in them Lupin franchise can be traced back to the original exploits of double-o seven.
With all that said you're being led to believe that this story would be one epic tale of heroism, charm, and subterfuge. Well, it isn't. In fact, its rather disappointing all things considered. The two begin as enemies for only a brief while and become a tandem, yet their tandem is also brief and lackluster.
Long story short, same ol Lupin as always. Only difference is we get the rather disappointing inclusion of 007. You'll see the same characters as always reprising their same roles pulling the same gags to the same soundtrack.
I will admit though, I did get a chuckle out of Goemon being a "part-timer".
Lupin fans will enjoy this for what it is. It carried the franchise along in 1996 and has its place. Other than that, I can't recommend this to most anyone else. If you're not a big Lupin fan then theres no reason to catch this specific special. If you're looking to try out Lupin, there are much better representations (Secret of Mamo, Missed By A Dollar, Cagliostro).
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Feb 23, 2009
Robots. Pandas. Simple Humor. Take these three ingredients, stir em together and place in thirty 5-minute episodes. Let sit and cool. Enjoy.
This is a recipe for success. Well, maybe not success, but at the very least a recipe for a pretty good mini-series. Panda Z: The Robonimation is a cute string of gags and slapstick in the form of slightly inept, animal-shaped mechs. No complicated story, no deep character development, no dramatic adventures or romances...just simple low-key comedy.
Now, you might read that and think to yourself "why even bother?". The truth is, not every animu series needs to be a three dimensional wonder that
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hooks into you with everything it has. Sometimes all a series has to do is do one thing well. Panda Z does this. From the first minute to the final gag, expect to giggle, snicker, smile, and laugh.
Panda Z is short, light hearted, and fun. I would suggest any fan of comedy or children shows to check this out.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Feb 22, 2009
Its the one that started it all. Sure, the manga is where Lupin was truly born, but in terms of beginning a legacy, the first television series can take a good chunk of the glory. While its impossible to review this without comparisons and/or contrasts to the second and third series, Lupin III has done enough to give itself its own limelight.
On its own, Lupin III lays down a solid effort. There is action, intrigue, and betrayal...all of which would become staples of the Lupin franchise. The characters that will go on to become some of the most famous in anime history are established here.
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And while the animation is undoubtedly telling of its' age, the standard for long, lanky legs and hairy hands is set. With all the good foundation that Lupin III sets for the franchise, there is, thankfully, one aspect that did not carry over...the music. The combination of hippy j-rock and the repetition of Lupins' name does not make for a good soundtrack.
Another trait that fails to carry over is the dark and dirty side of Lupin. Fans of the second series and later specials are familiar with family-friendly Lupin, but Lupin III allows for a much more serious, James Bond-type espionage story. During the course of the series, Lupin and the gang commit and encounter murder, violence against women, and even rape.
As a stand alone series, I'd give this a 7 out of 10. But Lupin III isn't a stand alone series. It, while having its own identity and place within the Lupin Franchise, does so much to establish Lupin and the gang as a powerhouse in the anime world. For any Lupin fan that wants too see how it all got started, I highly recommend this. For any old school anime fan, this is straight up your alley, so what have you been waiting for?
And for everyone else, if you can find it, watch it. Bear with the hippy j-rock and enjoy a fun, exciting series that'll introduce you to the fun world of Lupin the Third.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Feb 19, 2009
How can there not be a review for this yet? Must be because this is the forgotten child of the franchise. With the manga and tv series all being far more popular and fleshed out, its easy to overlook the OVA here. But to ignore it completely is a mistake. The OVA episodes here are without a doubt a re-telling of the same AMG story we've come to know and enjoy over the years....but there are a few mildly interesting discrepancies.
So lets get down to it. You got Keiichi, Belldandy, and the rest of the gang. In fact, all the main characters show up with
...
the exception of Marller. You got the 'sittin-at-home-waitin-for-a-phone-call-and-oh-shi-its-a-babe-in-the-window' inciting incident. After a little fast forwarding they get their temple house set up and then everyone begins to make their entrances.
This is where the aforementioned discrepancies begin. Sayoko and Belldandy meet on a beach five months later instead of at the university. In the same episode they pull the love potion Keiichi, Sayoko, and Belldandy story while switching out Marller for Urd as the antagonist of that situation. If that weren't strange enough, the third episode has them drag racing against Toshimas club for a bet that apparently be one-sided here.
But its in the fourth episode where the story really breaks down. There is some kinda crazy that keeps Belldandy and Keeichi from being near one another. Whats worse is that Belldandy has to go back to the Heavens in three days time and probably won't be coming back any time soon. The source of all their problems? Some goofing looking tree that has a connection to both Keiichi and Belldandys childhoods. Hmmmm, I'm sure I don't remember any of this in the rest of the franchise.
But thats not all. They even took a couple chances on changing characters. Take Keiichi for example. He is usually very shy, gentle, and understanding. Here he is more courageous and confrontational. Belldandy is pretty much the same, though I would say her "strong" moments fell short, and Tamiya and Ootaki seemed to be dialed way down.
As you can see, the OVA starts out as a missable re-tell, goes into a chopped up fast forward presentation, and finally evolves into a brand new story all its own. The names and setting remained the same, but the events and even the characters changed at least a bit.
So if you've skipped this in the past, re-think it. If you're looking for a different twist to the AMG series, check it out. The only thing you have to lose is about 2 and a half hours.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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