Hellsing Ultimate Review

Bloody Hell!

 Hellsing was a pretty good vampire anime back in 2001. While it didn't exactly follow the manga, in fact it completely distanced itself from it, causing major differences. This caused backlash from fans who loved the manga but thankfully Hellsing Ultimate, released back in 2006 and ended in 2012 fixed those fan issues with more vampire awesomeness. Is it any good for newcomers? Let's find out.


STORY- The story follows vampire Alucard (backwards spelled Dracula) as he hunts down wanted vampires for the Hellsing group, an organization that protects Britain from supernatural threats. A neo-Nazi major from the organization called "Millennium", wages war against London and Hellsing, with many blood-thirsty Nazi ghouls at his disposal. Obviously, it's up to Alucard and the Hellsing organization to neutralize them. The story is all-out bloody action with non-stop fight scenes and plot- twists, it's not the most philosophical and sophisticated out there, but sure is bloody fun.

Hellsing Ultimate presents a great story.

CHARACTERS- Another great aspect of Hellsing Ultimate are the characters. Alucard is our main lead, he's cold, ruthless, and a pro gunslinger. Also, Alucard is seen as savage at times compared to Hellsing's stylish and cool Alucard, but that's my opinion. Seras Victoria, the female lead and former police officer turned vampire, is the most likable character in the show. Despite being a blood-thirsty vampire, she's kind, sweet, and whimsical. Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, is the cigar-smoking boss of the Hellsing organization and Alucard's master. She is seen as a serious, no-nonsense woman. The most interesting character is the Nazi Major. He's mad and wishes to see London in ruins, in a polite way. Overall, the cast are interesting and get more depth as the episodes move on.

Lol.

PRESENTATION- The presentation in Hellsing Ultimate is stunning. The visuals are looking great and filled with detailed. The color you'll be seeing most is red, the color of blood. Which shows how much care was put into the visuals by studio Madhouse. The audio in Ultimate is neat as well. The original cast of Hellsing reprise their roles and deliver a great job, Crispin Freeman does a fine job as the dark, stylish vampire Alucard. The soundtrack is good, with many cool tracks to listen to, but I prefer the soundtrack of Hellsing, "A World Without Logos" was a damn good opening.

Presentation-wise its bloody great.

OVERALL- Hellsing Ultimate is the awesome and is one of the best action/vampire anime out there. Newcomers interested in the series should check Ultimate out since its the definitive version of Hellsing. Those looking for a serious plot and action will not be disappointed.

- Hellsing Ultimate is definitely not for children and is targeted for mature audiences. There excessive scenes of blood and gore, some sexual themes and profanity.-

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Hellsing Review

Vampire hunting in style.

 Based on the Hirano Kouta manga of the same name, Hellsing is a vampire anime with action elements. It was released back in 2001, when the manga was still not finished, meaning Hellsing mostly follows the story of the manga but later in its episodes comes up with its own original story. 


STORY- The story follows the Hellsing Organization, lead by Integra Hellsing, as it seeks and destroy any supernatural forces that threatens Britain. On one night, Seras Victoria, a police officer, is captured by a vampire whom turned a village's locals and members of her team into ghouls. Hellsing's expert vampire, Alucard is sent in the neutralize the threat, he succeeds but badly injures Seras. He offers her that he drinks her blood and make her a vampire, she agrees. She now joins the Hellsing Organization and fights the supernatural threats awaits.

 Since the manga wasn't finished at the time, Studio Gonzo had to come up with an original story to continue the show. The result is OK. Many major plot points were dropped to focus on the "freak chip" technology and the villain, Incognito. Speaking of Incognito, he's not as interesting and memorable as The Major from the manga and later in Hellsing Ultimate. During the short 13 episodes, barely anything is given about him and the ending feels rushed and vague.


CHARACTERS- Hellsing focuses on three major characters. Alucard is the main anti-hero of the show. His methods in dealing with other vampires and enemies are ruthless, cold, and extreme. He does it all with style, of course. Seras is our main female lead. Former police officer turned vampire, she tries to adapt to her new lifestyle of drinking blood and realizing her true potential as a vampire. But in this anime series, she feels left out and forgotten, a missed opportunity. Integra Hellsing is Alucard's cold and no-nonsense master and current head of the Hellsing Organization. There are many characters to discuss as well, but only Alucard, Seras, and Integra feel that they are the only fleshed-out in the series.

The characters in Hellsing are neat.

PRESENTATION- The presentation in Hellsing is great. The visuals were OK for their time. Background and character models are good but Alucard in his stylish duster coat, red hat, and yellow shades is the best looking character in the show. The English dub is great, with Crispin Freeman providing a great job voicing Alucard. The best and most memorable aspect of the presentation and the show itself is the is soundtrack. Jazzy and rock tunes are packed in and they sound great. The opening theme "A World Without Logos" and the ending credits both sound great are among the best I've heard.


OVERALL- Hellsing is a good adaptation of the source material, but could have done better in terms of plot. Its a good watch for Hellsing fans looking for more and if you're new to the Hellsing series, watch Hellsing Ultimate. It follows the manga more closely. Despite its shortcomings, the soundtrack and characters are a treat to watch and listen.

- Hellsing is targeted at a mature audiance. The are scenes of violence, sexual themes, and profanity.- 

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Blue Gender Review

Blue isn't the color you're expecting.

 There are a lot of overlooked anime out there and one of them is Blue Gender, which originally aired in 1999 and ended in 2000, mainly because its aliens versus humans plot. This concept was seen in other shows, so it's not very original. However, Blue Gender offers more side-stories and interesting backgrounds that keeps the story fresh and engaging. Which is why those who overlooked missed out on a great story.



STORY- After 20 years of cryogenic sleep, Yuji Kaido awakens in a destroyed and decayed Earth. Its been overrun by Blue, alien-like insects that have harvested most of the human population as a source of food. He is rescued by a team of humans from Second Earth, a space station and mankind's last restort. Now, Yuji and the team must fight their way back to Second Earth, only more trouble awaits. The plot may sound simple and straightforward, but gets deeper as the episodes move on. Also, we get to learn about life in post-apocalyptic Earth, how the Blue originated, and how to stop them.


CHARACTERS- Blue Gender focuses on two characters and their struggles in post-apocalitic Earth. Yuji at first is whiny and wimpy, but throughout the series, he gets the courage and the skill to fight off the Blue. Marlene Angel, who awoken and saved him from the Blue, is cold and heartless at first but is relate-able and even shoes emotions for Yuji. There are many characters to like in Blue Gender, but be sure to like them while you still can cause most of them tend to die.


PRESENTATION- Well probably the weakest part is its visuals. Its still good looking, but there are times where its a bit bland. At times during the mechs and Blue fights, you can't tell who's fighting who, making it a bit disorienting. The sound is great in Blue Gender. The opening theme is catchy and nice as well as the ending credits. The voice work is good, with some great performances. Overall, the presentation is good, but could have been better.


OVERALL- Blue Gender is a great watch for sci-fi, mecha, or mystery fans. Yuji and Marlene's struggle in an alien infested planet is engaging and will keep you at the edge of your seat. Despite the at times simplistic visuals, Blue Gender is a great, yet sadly overlooked anime.

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Ergo Proxy Review

Suspenseful Sci-fi Action.

 Ergo Proxy is not a typical cyberpunk anime. It presents a unique, interesting premise and is one of the most original shows I've watched. Focusing on elements of mystery and philosophy to convey its themes, which nails them perfectly, Ergo Proxy is one engaging ride. Having thoroughly watched the show, how does it compare to other cyberpunk animes?

STORY- The story follows inspector Re-l Mayer as she investigates brutal murders caused by AutoReivs (robots) under the influence of the Cogito virus, which basically lets them have free will, and poses a threat against the domed city of Romdo. She later discovers creatures known as Proxies are  also involved. And an immigrant worker, Vincent Law, is connected to one of the proxies. Without spoiling much of the story, Ergo Proxy presents a rather cool-looking world full of secrets and mystery, along with some plot-twits along the way.

Ergo Proxy presents a neat story.

CHARACTERS- One of  Ergo Proxy's main highlights are its interesting batch of characters. Re-l is a confident and cold  inspector, but she gets major character development while accompanying Vincent. Vincent can be seen as the main hero of the story. He journeys to Mosk, his birthplace, to figure out what is his relation with the proxy, he'll meets many hardships and obstacles along the way, but as the episodes go by, you'll be rooting for him to overcome them. Pino, whom accompanies Vincent on his journey, is an AutoReiv that has been infected by the Cogito virus. She's seen as lighthearted and kind and a lovable character overall. Also, the supporting characters in Ergo Proxy are interesting as well. Characters such as Raul, Deadulous, Iggy, and more get developments as well since they play vital roles in the story. Ergo Proxy nails it in the characters department thanks to its varying and great cast. 

Pino!

PRESENTATION- Ergo Proxy is one of the bets looking cyberpunk animes around. The facial features of the characters are drawn well and are believable. The attention to detail in the environments, characters designs, etc. are staggering and neat. The voice work is another great feature of Ergo Proxy. The performances, Liam O'Brien as Vincent included, are outstanding and top notch. The music such as the opening and ending credits, unlike the over-the-top J-Pop madness nowadays , are very good and I've liked listening to them. In terms of presentation, Ergo proxy did a outstanding job.

Style and substance.

 Despite some questionable and confusing episodes (Ep. 20 being the most confusing with a weird twist), Ergo Proxy is a must-watch for cyberpunk fans who want a deep and thought-out story with great characters and neat elements of philosophy. Its in a league of its own compared to other animes out there, and one of the best animes I've watched.

- Ergo Proxy contains violence, heavy use of blood, and profanity. Its targeted for a mature audience.-

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Steins;Gate Review

Couldn't Stop Watching.

 Steins;Gate, originally started as a visual novel game developed by 5pb. and Nitroplus which released back in 2009 for Xbox 360 in Japan. The game received positive critical acclaim for handling its concepts of time and time travel. Also, an anime adaptation followed in 2011 simply called Steins;Gate. After watching this unique and entertaining anime, it is time we pass a verdict!

STORY- Steins;Gate follows the main character Okabe Rintaro, an eccentric "mad scientist" whom goes by the alais "Houoiun Kyouma". He is joined by his super hacker friend, Daru, and childhood friend Mayuri. Together, they formed the "Future Gadget Research Laboratory", where they develop rather weird and strangely named inventions. And when the gang figures out that their "phone microwave" has the ability to send texts to the past and affect the flow of time, deep consequences await. At first, the story is hard-to-follow and slow, but by the end its deep, engaging, and satisfying.

Science and time-traveling awaits.

CHARACTERS- Steins;Gate is one of those anime where you'll like most of the cast. Okabe is silly, over-the-top, and dramatic. But as the story progress, we get to see him handle difficult situations that will have deep effects on him. Early in the story, Okabe meets Kurisu Makise, the main female lead, and new member of the lab. The relationship between Okabe and Kurisu is funny, competitive, and serious at the end. Furthermore, Daru will occasionally reference typical otaku things and at times pervert jokes. Mayuri, while at times clueless to whats going on in the lab, is seen as sweet and kind towards others, not to mention funny. Overall, there are still many characters I haven't gotten into, but Steins;Gate handles its characters and humor well.

The story and character are the best aspect Steins;Gate.

PRESENTATION- For an anime that came out a while ago, Steins;Gate is looking good. Its not on a high budget like most animes, but the artstyle still does a great job expressing the world and characters. The voice acting is great as well, with many excellent performances, Okabe and Kurisu mainly.  The soundtrack is good, but would have loved to hear more of it, then again it does a great job in terms of presentation.



OVERALL- I loved watching Steins;Gate, and many would agree as well. The interesting plot about time and time travel is handled and delivered excellently and the times the characters spend together and communicate are handled well. Basically, Steins;Gate goes down as one of the best anime to watch if you currently are looking for a deep and engaging anime, Steins;Gate does not disappoint.

- Steins;Gate is an anime with some violence, blood, and some profanity. Recommend for teens and up.-

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Trigun Badlands Rumble (2010) Review

A bit predictable.

 Trigun became a hit in the late 90s. An interesting plot, fun characters, and neat action moments proved its one of the best anime to watch. Also, Trigun enjoyed more success in the west rather in Japan, and when a movie was rumored in 2005, everyone got excited. Several years later, 2010 to be exact, the movie known as Trigun Badlands Rumble was released. Having watched the long-awaited movie, is Badlands Rumble just as great as the anime series? 

STORY- Gasback, a notorious robber with a bounty of 300,000 $$ is on the loose and is targeting Macca City. Coincidentally, that's where Vash the Stampede is going as well. Also, Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson of Bernardelli Insurance Society are assigned to protect an artifact that Gasback is planning to steal. Throughout the story, there will be mayham, action, and funny moments, typcal of Trigun, which is fun to see after many years. However, without spoilers, there is a part that's just real and plain predictable.

CHARACTERS- All of the main Trigun cast are here and well. Vash, our misunderstood protagonist, is silly and heroic (though he tends to be more silly this time around) and it's great seeing him back years after the anime finished. Meryl and Milly are here as well, this time on a more important mission: prevent Gasback's attempted robbery. The encounters between Vash and the girls are funny and chaotic as ever. Also, Wolfwood makes an appearance (that's right!), and just like with the girls, Vash's encounters with Wolfwood are hilarious. Furthermore, Amelia, a bounty hunter whom has a grudge against Gasback and Gasback, the main villain both get brief insight on their pasts.

Old characters make an appearance.

PRESENTATION- Anime studio Madhouse, who worked on the Trigun anime, did a fantastic job handling the film in terms of presentation. Environments, character designs, and overall look are detailed and polished, Badlands Rumble is one of Madhouse Studio's best works. In terms od audio its okay, Johnny Young Bosch whom voiced Vash back in the 1998 anime still delivers an excellent performance. However, the voices of Meryl, Milly, and Wolfwood have been changed, though not in a bad way. Those who watched the anime will notice the change, and I personally liked Jeff Nimoy's performance as Wolfwood in the anime. Presentation-wise, Badlands Rumble looks and sounds great.

Funny as always Vash.

OVERALL- Trigun Badlands Rumble is a nice treat for Trigun fans who were carving for more adventures of Vash and company. Despite the predictable nature of the plot, Badlands Rumble is still a great watch for fans of the show or those looking for a great time. 

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Trigun Review

Maximum Greatness.

 Trigun was originally a manga series also known as Trigun Maximum. It was written and illustrated by Yasuhiro Nightow and would later be serialized in three volumes starting from 1996 and ending in 1997. In 1998, the manga was adapted into an anime series by Madhouse Studios, which later became a classic hit. After finishing 26 episodes of gunslinging goodness, its time to review the adventures of Vash the Stampede.

STORY- The story follows Vash the Stampede, a legendary gunslinger with a bounty of 60,000,000,000 $$ (double dollars). Also known as the "Humanoid Typhoon", he has a reputation of leaving trails of mass destruction behind. Two insurance girls, Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson are sent to minimize the damage caused by Vash, only to get into trouble along the way. Throughout the journey, Vash will encounter fearsome enemies, try to stay out of trouble, and face his rather dark past.

Many challenges await Vash.

CHARACTERS- Despite his intimidating looks, Vash is a very kindhearted and peaceful person. Vash only uses his gun to only disarm enemies, not killing them. He doesn't encourage taking the lives of people and disapprove of suicide, and he can be silly at times. At first, Meryl can be seen as hateful towards Vash, but throughout the episodes, she comes to understand him and even shows a liking to him. Milly can be seen as clumsy and silly, but like Vash, she is kindhearted and her character develops as the story progress. Later in his journey, Vash meets up with a not your average priest called Nicholas D. Wolfwood, an gunman who is just as good as Vash, but somehow ends up in many of Vash's Misadventures.

"Love And Peace"

PRESENTATION- Trigun was one of the best looking anime of the 90s, and still is today. Anime studio Madhouse have done a great job adapting manga into an anime. The environments, character models, and especially the weapon design are topnotch and detailed. Also, the audio in Trigun is neat as well. The voice work is great and well done and the soundtrack is amazing. Fitting the desert-like planet Gunsmoke , the soundtrack offers some really neat tracks. H.T., has to be one of the best opening themes in anime.

Meet a variety of colorful characters.

OVERALL-  I really enjoyed watching all 26 episodes of this action-packed adventure. Trigun is a must watch if you're looking for a fun, stylish anime. The story is interesting, the characters are great, and the presentation is rock solid. Its an anime classic.

- Trigun is mostly targeted at a teen audiance. There are some scenes of violence and profanity- 

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Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society (2006) Review

 

"Stay away from the Solid State Society"

 After two seasons, the Ghost in the Shell : Stand Alone Complex series gets a high budget film titled Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society. Featuring high and detailed production values, an interesting story and mastermind villain, how does it compare to the Oshii previous films?

 STORY- A.D. 2034. Its been two years after 2nd GIG and Major Motoko Kusanagi left Public Security Section 9. Togusa is now in charge of the growing Section 9, Batou prefers to work based on his instincts, and now they must investigate the assassination of a former dictator. They later investigate that a mastermind super hacker called the "Puppeteer" is behind this act. Is the Major the so called Puppeteer? Can Section 9 solve and unveil the identity of this mastermind? And what is the Solid State Society? Compared the Laughing Man and Individual Eleven cases, the film is good in its own way, but does not reach the former and latter's greatness.

Is the Major a friend or foe?

CHARACTERS- All of the members of Section 9 make a return in the film, but the story mainly focuses on Motoko, Batou, and Togusa. The Major operates in her own way(it would be considered spoilers if talk more about her); Batou, feeling lonely after the Major left the team, is more quiet and calm, similar to the Oshii movies. Togusa plays a more prominent role in the film since he is in charge of Section 9, and we get to see how it has affected him and his family. If you have watched the two season of Stand Alone Complex, you should already be familiar with all of Section 9's crew. Also, the Prime Minister from 2nd GIG makes a cameo appearance in the film, which is slightly disappointing since she showed potential in the second season.

PRESENTATION- Solid State Society features some impressive production values, the animations, backgrounds, and characters are all well designed and neat looking. However, if you've the past two seasons, you will notice that its too similar, basically one long episode. The audio work is impressive, with great performances from the voice cast and the soundtrack. Speaking of the soundtrack, Yoko Kanno, as always, does a fantastic job with the score of the film, with some upbeat and futuristic tracks. However, compared to 2nd GIG, the soundtrack is a step back since most of they songs don't stick with you that much.

OVERALL- As a fan of Stand Alone Complex, I did enjoy Solid State Society. While not as great as the previous movies, but manages to entertains for those who watched the TV series. Despite not having a strong antagonist, the story and characters, as well as the presentation still makes it a good movie and continuation of 2nd GIG.

- There are some scenes of violence and profanity, so its mostly targeted at a mature audience.- 

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Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG Review

Back For More.

 Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. was a neat anime series for GitS fans, it captured the philosophical elements of the original 1995 classic and mixes them with some action-oriented situations. Now, the series returns with a more dark second season titled Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG. This time featuring a more thrilling case, new enemies, and philosophical story.


STORY- Two years after the Laughing Man incident, Section 9 must deal with a new terrorist group called "The Individual Eleven" who are planning to assassinate the newly elected prime minister of Japan. Also the season focus on three million Asian refugees that came to labor in Japan after the Third and Fourth Worlds. Basically, Section 9 are in for more hard times.

Section 9 is in for more thrills.

CHARACTERS- All of Section 9's main members are here and stand alone episodes gives them more development than before. We get a get a glimpse at the Major's childhood and the accident that caused her to go full cyborg. Furthermore, Batou gets more action-oriented moments, which shows how hot-headed he can be and the Tachikomas get more screen time and an episode focusing on their creator. Also, minor Section 9 members such as Saito and Paz get their own stand-alone episodes however we only get a brief insight of Borma's past. 


PRESENTATION- Production I.G did an excellent style with the artwork. The background and characters are rich in detail, which shows during night scenes. The CG is widly-used but is more detailed this time around. The voice work is great as always and the soundtrack by Yoko Kanno is still great to listen to. With many neat tracks to listen to this time. Overall, 2nd GIG has a slight edge in terms of presentation.

Presentation-wise, the second season goes all-out stylish.

OVERALL- If you want more Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C., then 2nd GIG is for you. If you're interested then check out the first season then this one. Overall, 2nd GIG is just as captivating and exciting as the first season, Production I.G truly outdid themselves in terms of presentation.

- Similar to its fist season GitS: 2nd GIG has some violence, some sexual scenes, and profanity.-

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