- Last OnlineJan 1, 2014 10:13 AM
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- BirthdayJun 5, 1989
- LocationMemphis
- JoinedNov 19, 2009
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Jul 4, 2011
This is one of those series you find yourself just staring at, wondering "is this even worth my time?", when you're looking for something to be "entertained" by. Well, in that sense it isn't worth it. The H scenes are very soft, really short, and don't show much. That being said it's still a very entertaining watch. "Why?" you ask?
To start out, you have the main character, the 'Dark Devil', the being said to herald the end of everything, the destroyer of time and space itself, acting like a good, decent, human being. He even says "It's the human thing to do" several times. The
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charm to the character is that while he does indeed have the power to end it all, he has empathy towards other (especially women) and he acts more like an actual good guy rather than the devil he's supposed to be.
After that you have the other cast members, which are the girls of the series our 'devil' gets his due from. Yes, they're somewhat stereotypical (klutz space cop, inept bounty hunter, emotionless doll, and pure-hearted maiden) and they don't bring much beyond the usual jokes. Their character designs are a bit plain due to how often we've seen their character types before but are still memorable. They all help work as foils to our protagonist and help make the show more enjoyable and that's all that is really needed out of them. By having what they have, the interaction between the devil and the world they're set in makes it an enjoyable watch, while the humor can be summed up as the ridiculousness of the situation created by the devil having empathy.
The sound for the series isn't much to be impressed about but it isn't bad or anything that makes you want to gouge your ears out. At best it's easily forgettable and lets you keep on moving through the show.
The art is the nice cell shaded/painted stuff that we got to see before everything went digital, so there's nothing to complain about the art besides that most of the designs are, again, stereotypical. The people (extras), vehicles, and buildings are forgettable because we've all seen them a million times before. The best part about the designs, in my opinion, is that remind me of the Tenchi OVAs, seeing as it came out a few years afterwards and the setting feels like it could be in the same cannon thanks to said designs.
The voice acting was fine and there were no voices that felt out of place or mishandled but, again, you'll probably be able to forget them after you finish watching because while they do a good job, there's nothing overly special about them.
The only REAL problem this series has is that it's too short. It ends is a way that makes you want to see more. Though if you think about it, since it was based off of a video game, having it this short would in theory make you want to go out and buy the game so you could play it yourself. *sigh*
Overall, the characters, art and sound are all okay, but it's the story and the humor that the plot generates that really help make this series worth the watch. If anything, I wish they'd either cut out/alluded to/shorted the sex scenes so it was age appropriate and made this a full 12 to 24 episode series. Hell, even six episodes would have been better.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you found it helpful.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 21, 2009
"Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventures" is, as everyone I've met who has seen it in its entirety and I will call it, a happy Neon Genesis Evangelion.
I say this because for the large part, there are enough parallels between the two series that it's at times not to accidentally finding yourself calling the main character Shinji. Except, in Dual! the main character has a spine and actually grows very bold when it comes to him fighting the enemy of the series, the RaRa Army. But even though it can be hard not to see the parallels, it's its own entity.
Dual!, for all intent and
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purposes, is a Tenchi series. It's drawn and written by Masaki Kajishima, has a few Easter eggs that point you towards the Tenchi universe, and there's even a direct throwback to Dual! in Tenchi GXP. with that being said, let's dissect Dual!.
First we have the artwork. As a 1999 series, we see that the cell painted style has cycled out and has been replaced by the more smoother use of computer animation (most likely an early adobe or correl product) and the slightest hint of CG with a sophisticated enough style to remind you of Beast Wars (which only appears when the mechs are being launched, computer screens are shown, or a long hallway needs to be walked down....you'll see). Textures and patterns are used very sparingly, and "cheesy" photoshop effects are used only when needed. Overall, the artwork is at the point where it's just about at it's best.
Second is the Opening and the Ending. The opening song is catchy, but at the same time forgettable. I say this because if you were to put the opening to NGE to Dual! you'd never tell the difference the sound would make. The ending...... it's cute (and again forgetable) but the graphics... my god, the graphics... I will say this. Watch it ONCE and SKIP IT forever more. It's that bad.
Third on the list is the plot. The plot is fairly simple, and yet complex because of the questions it leaves you with once you've figured out how Dual! fits into the tenchi universe. But for the most part thle plot can be broken down into this :
1.Boy has visions of giant robots beating each other up
2.Boy meets girl
3.Girl's father sends boy to world where the robots are
4.Boy has to fight robots to figure out a way back
Simple, no?
Next up, the characters. All I can really say is this. Once you see the parallels between NGE and Dual! (it's inevitable so I'm telling you now) take a second to stop, completely remove any thoughts that these characters are from NGE ad enjoy them or hate them for who they are and how Masaki wrote the to be. That's all I can really say about them.
Second to last are the voice tracks. We all know they all sound better in Japanese, but Dual! is from that magical time period when English dubbing didn't suck. Not only can you watch it in English, but you can ENJOY it in English.
Finally Is the fun factor. The humor isn't really slap-stick, because it's the character's demeanor and their personas that add the humor to the series. The giant robot fights are fun all around and certainly add to the series, even though Dual! could survive without them if it had too.
Overall, Dual! is a great series with good artwork, characters, vocals, plot, and humor. If that's not enough, it'll make you feel better for ever having to sit through the horrible mind-breaker that is Neon Genesis Evangelion since it mocks Eva to the core by saying "this is funny and leaves you feeling good, unlike Eva".
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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