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Dec 5, 2013
Corpse Party - it says it all in the name - a gore-filled 4 episode slaughterfest of anarchy, knitted together only by a flimsy poorly thought-out storyline, with even weaker characters thrown into the mix.
Don't get me wrong, I loved it. But for all the wrong reasons. I realise it was a game beforehand, and honestly, without the story (perfect for a game but leaving nothing to desire for an anime), the art, sound and situation shine brightly.
Maybe the downfall of this misused gem was the length - fitting that much story, characters and mystery into such a small time frame prevented Corpse Party from
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developing and defining it's characters (could barely tell them apart, albeit their creative hairstyles), slowly unfurling the mystery, balancing the gore with the emotional trauma the characters naturally would have suffered, and presenting engaging themes.
Perhaps its downfall was the number of characters - sure, you need plenty to kill off, a party isn't a party without corpses, but could the filler characters have been vaguer?
Those that died simple and quick demanded the same background and influence as those who survive til the end - completely illogical. That time could have been spent rounding out the characters we would continue to see - the fact that we didn't know them that well lessened any effect death/misfortune would have on them - I found myself quite apathetic to the majority of the characters.
The mix of the humour didn't quite do it for me. The purpose was probably to portray a high contrast between their life/psychology, and what they were to endure/become, but it reeally could have been done better - all bells and sparkles vs. all intestines and blood is too sharp a contrast to promote cohesion.
Some positives, the art was mind-blowing. So cartoon-realistic that it made me want to puke, and i've survived some pretty gross anime. I would say that, for gore, this is the best of it's kind. We get really realistic deaths and injuries, with a consistent amount of blood, authentic results of weapons such as insides falling out, organs abandoning ship, decay swooping in. Good save art department. You done good.
Of course nothing is so cringe worthy without sound. The squelch of grossness is what makes you want to cover your orifices, the removal of an eye can be determined with your eyes closed, the voice acting - especially scream/reaction to pain and fear are fantastic, adding sympathy where the story could not.
I don't know, I think others may disagree.
In raw form, definitely a winning series. The execution is lacking, and the detriments I mentioned really held it back from being an extreme success of an already popular franchise. It has none of the first person emotional power of the game, and maybe with this the rush would not hurt its integrity so sharply. I really did enjoy it, and I think lovers of the game will find a special affinity with it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Dec 5, 2013
I have seen Darker Than Black (DTB) soo many times - ultimately because I love it. But my consistent return to the series has allowed me to deconstruct it, so let me continue wholeheartedly unbiased.
Firstly, what I think makes me watch it over and over again, is the significant character development that flows evenly over the episodes.
Normally I hate the episodic 'to each episode his own' presentation of storyline (i.e. Jigoku Shoujo), but DTB seems to take this in it's stride. Showing the narrative through other's eyes and experiences - as well as the main characters in rarity - allows new content to constantly engage
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us, adding an apt authenticity to the mix as the natural progression of events and characters are showcased in a very organic fashion.
The dramatic irony of keeping the main characters out of the bigger picture also lengthens the charm, resulting in a mystery, unravelled unwittingly by the audience at their own pace.
Every character transforms in this anime. I mean EVERY character. Whether it is the slow realisation of fate, or the quick yet influential paradigm shift between one episode and the next (a la Kenji's ball growing), adaptation is vital to the survival of dramatic veracity and cohesion of DTB.
The art is another praise to the series. The neo-noir feel paints the city in palettes of browns, greens and purples, which is cleverly reflected in the costume of the Black Reaper. The characters are distinct, with their own tells and quirks, unique enough to stand on their own, but similar enough to synthesis a conglomerate of functional characters. I did however find myself wishing that the nationality of the characters was made more distinct (with the risk of stereotypes and racism it might have been good to avoid it) as I didn't even know Hei was Chinese til I googled it! That being said, Alice Wang/Wei were tastefully true to their culture, the ChiPao relevant, and I definitely appreciated that.
The action takes the cake in this anime. It is so artful, engaging, creative, and fluid. Hei has a definite style, and this remains throughout. The opening always had me cheering, the snipets of fighting and art outstanding.
The music was great, I found myself singing along to the themes (in Japanese, imagine my surprise), and the digetic sounds certainly sustained the tension and engagement.
What I didn't like (it may seem unfair and anal) was the cheap narrative method to establish the situation - inner monologue explaining what has been consistent for years, whaaat, lack of background/orientation of the South American war, the overuse of deathstares, hit and miss comedy of Mao, Hei's sudden love for Yin, and the constant breaking of the "Contractors have no feelings" rule that we are reminded of incremently. The real detriment is the dialogue because of story purposes, rather than dialogue because that is how the Characters are likely to act.
This is getting long-winded. Obviously I thoroughly enjoyed this season (I don't ever want to think about the second again!), even though it is generally not the genre I would pursue, my gamble paid off; and hopefully so will/did yours. I definitely recommend watching Darker Than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha, because on first glimpse, it is certainly flawless.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Dec 5, 2013
Honestly this OVA is nothing but a fan service, showcasing a path that the actual anime would definitely not take, as it slaughters the tragedy and eternal melancholy that ripped fans hearts out but was necessary for the success of the show, leaving an ending full of fluff and contradiction basically to the entire series.
Now if this had developed into a season 2, i.e. shown the result of this, maybe Yuno becoming the God of the third world, other complications, I would definitely support this turn of events.
The episode itself is beautiful - action scenes are wonderfully choreographed, fast-paced, and artfully consistent; the Japanese
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vocal cast is intune with the needs of the character; the music is phenomenal, the opening scene blew me away with the art and fit of the song to the anime.
Unfortunately the humour (a present but not vital part of the original story) dominates the piece, and the drama, fighting and reuniting (THE GOOD BITS) are all shoved into the last minutes of the episode - come on, you haven't seen the love of your life in 1000-10,000 years Yukki! Writers please give this some time!
Overall I love the series and the concepts, but this was really underwhelming. Sorry, not sorry.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Sep 11, 2013
Now usually I am not a fan of action/mecha anime.
HOWEVER the depth of character, story and concept in this series drew me in from the first episode.
Lelouch is a main character you can get behind. His intentions are good, and no matter what evils he commits, as an audience we always feel our beliefs aligning with his - everything he does is for Nunnally.
The empathy inspiring characters are the ultimate merits of this anime, the presentation of backstories like Kallen, mystery like C.C, Euphemia's hope, and Suzaku's loyalty, all contributing to the mass love fans have for Code Geass.
Secondly, the story is pretty damn intricate.
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It's a whole new universe, where alliances have changed, and power is shifted. There is an immense acceleration in technology, and the supernatural element exists. Lelouch possesses the coolest power out - the ability to control people. The clever ways in which he manipulates battle strategy, his identity, his friends, and also his enemies, lead to an intelligent character, and a very interesting story.
I think the only detriment to the story is the characters who JUST WON'T DIE. I won't spoil it for anyone, but my god just stay dead please.
Another awesome factor of Code Geass is the art and manipulation of it in animation. The characters are unique, grand, appropriate, and have a definitive style. The action is fast paced, engaging, and unique to each situation - this is animated perfectly, the Nightmare Frames appropriately and successfully represented as a machine, but also an extension of their controllers themselves.
The characters are also easily defined by way of voice acting. The crew (English dub and Japanese) utilise rhythm as required to present interesting scenes of drama as well as action. Good quality stuff.
Overall, I definitely recommend Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch (and its sequel) to every anime lover - it is a must watch for any genre specific audiences, and I guarantee there is some element for everyone to find to love in this anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 8, 2013
In today's society, it's so difficult to find innovative, challenging and stimulating material that is also enjoyable. Death Note hits the nail on the head with it's highly appealing, informative, and complex storyline. It is truly unique in concept, and indisputably my favourite anime. Ever.
I could certainly spout praise for the series all day, not to say it's ultimately perfect.
Obviously the supernatural subject matter throws reason out the window, but an element of realism is lost. The detectives chasing Light make huge leaps - killings during the day? MUST BE A STUDENT - and though this may be pinned on their amazing deductive skill,
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it seems a little implausible.
There are minor plot holes, but this doesn't detract too severely seeing as it contains such a complex, overarching story - an audience is pleasantly confused.
Some emphasis on ideas is a little obvious; different views are sliced into the action with somewhat cheesy dialogue.
Also, while the voice acting (English Dub) is usually consistent and indicative of the talented cast, we sometimes are subject to awkward transitions and vocal techniques that aren't behavioural of characters. Another thing I noticed (only because I have watched it sooo many times) was that actors of well known characters (Matsuda, L) voice minor characters such as news reporters and bystanders - but I suppose i'm being pedantic now.
Well, that ends my list of what was not so good, the rest is good news, I assure you!
One of my favourite things about the anime is the use of symbolism - the apple to represent sin (as in the Garden of Eden ordeal...), and the meta scenes where L and Light (and even other characters) are represented by different colours and openly fight each other. The creator's clever presentation of ideas allows the audience to search for a deeper meaning.
And this deeper meaning is certainly prominent. Each episode highlights philosophical ideas - mortality, justice, corruption of society, good vs. evil, morality, sin, and so much more. It leads you to think about the world; would we be better off without these criminals? Whose job is it to "pass righteous judgement on the wicked?" Does killing exile you from heaven?
Characters are another strength of Death Note. Ryuk and Misa will make you laugh, Light will make you cringe, and the empathy and rapport we gain with the characters make us hope and suffer along with them. Undoubtedly, you will take a side. Kira, or the law?
I found myself routing for Light, his tactics, acting, and intelligence were pretty... appealing ;) Every action he would take, I'd be all like "NOOO DON'T YOU'LL FALL INTO L'S TRAP!" or "OH HOLY JESUS YOU ARE A GENIUS"
The art is simply outstanding. Characters are proportional, environments are beautiful and detailed, setting is appropriate, colouring sets a distinctive mood, and the design is flawless and unique. The style is quite realistic for the anime convention - no crazy coloured hair or unlikely features - which really allowed focus on the ideas conveyed, and the seriousness of the story.
Overall, I don't think I can really explain why I love Death Note so much. Everytime I watch it, I just marvel at the genius and artful masterpiece that was produced. I definitely recommend it to anyone with a love for mystery and a mentally challenging anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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