Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team Review

Not Your Average Gundam Series.

 The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise consists of many shows, movies, and original video animations (OVA, for short). Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team is one of those uniquely underrated shows of the franchise. Serving as a side-story, we take a glimpse of  of the One Year War from both an Earth Federation and Zeon pilot's perspective. Also, this series is only 12 episodes, one of the shortest Gundams in the franchise. Anyway, it's time to experience The 08 MS Team's short adventures.


STORY- Taking place in U.C. 0079, during and after the One Year War, the Earth Federation and Principality of Zeon are in a war over resources in a guerrilla-tactics manner.The story follows The 08 MS Team, lead by main protagonist Shiro Amada, as they track down a powerful Zeon weapon in the jungles of Southeast Asia. However, things get tough for Shiro when he falls in love with Zeon pilot, Aina Shahalin. Will his love for a Zeon pilot impact his mission and endanger his compared?

While mostly serious, the story can be light-hearted. 

 That's all for the story, I won't spoil anything for those interested. The story in The 08 MS Team is a breath of fresh air compared to other Gundam shows. We get a soldier's point of view on the war and how it can impact the lives of many. That's something that kept me engaged in the story.

CHARACTERS- Like the story, the cast are also memorable. Compared to Amuro, I liked Shiro almost immedailty. He's an honest and brave leader with noble intentions. It's surprising that one can know more about the characters considering the short nature of the show. They're well-written and each have their own goals, which they think is right. Again, you'll end up sympathizing with some of the Zeon crew along the way.

PRESENTATION- Similar to most Gundam shows in the 90's, the presentation is spot-on. The character and mech designs are detailed and neat, as well as the backgrounds. Furthermore, the voice performances are great and fits the atmosphere of the show. The same goes for the soundtrack as well, which packs some nice tracks.

The presentation is good.

OVERALL- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team is an enjoyable and unique. Despite its length and weak villain, if you're looking for a good adventure with interesting characters, The 08 MS Team is worth the look.

-The 08 MS Team contains some violence, profanity, and some nudity. Recommended for teens and up- 

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Mobile Suit Gundam Review

Humble Beginnings

 The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has come a long way since its inception way back in 1979. At some point, it was even close to being cancelled due to the initial low ratings. Now, over 30 years later, the franchise consists of multiple series', toylines, games, and more, the original is even considered an anime classic by many fans. During 1981 and 1982, three movies: Mobile Suit Gundam I, Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow, and Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters In Space were made to recap the events of the show. Now that the introductions are out of the way, it's time with a blast from the past with a review of the show that started it all, Mobile Suit Gundam. 

STORY- Universal Century 0079, mankind have colonized space and developed powerful weapons called mobile suits. A war between two factions, the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon is in action, this is known as The One Year War. The war is so severe that humanity's  existence is in question. The story begins with the Earth Federation's warship, White Base, arriving at Side 7 to pickup its latest weapons. Upon arrival, Zeon forces immediately attack Side 7, killing many civilians in the process. Amuro Ray, a 16 year-old civillain of Side 7, stumbles upon Earth Federation's latest weapon, a powerful mobile suit known as Gundam. From there, we follow Amuro, along with the crew of White Base, survive the war against Zeon. The story's themes are well-handled. The horrors of war, losses of loved ones, and ambitious ideals are greatly discussed and adds more substance to the story.

Right in the sensors.

CHARACTERS- The majority of the characters are likable. Amuro Ray, our main lead, may start as whiny and much of a jerk, but towards the end, he's a developed, mature person. His rival, and one of the coolest anti-heroes in anime history, Char Aznable, is an intelligent, yet cold person. Like Amuro, we know more about his true intentions and history as the story progresses. The crew of White Base, consisting of civilians from all ages, are likable and receive character development as well. Don't be surprised that you'll also empathize with many members of the Zeon forces as well.

The characters are likable and memorable.

PRESENTATION- Despite their age, the visuals for the most part hold up decently. However, at times the animations for the mechs can be a bit disjointed even for a late 70's show. While it doesn't severely hurt the visuals, it's still a noticeable. The audio is good. The voice-work is handed well and each character sounds just like how thye should. The soundtrack is good, with some nice tracks such as "Gallant Char" being my favorite.

The presentation is good for the most part.

OVERALL- I really had a lot of fun watching Mobile Suit Gundam. Its plot, characters, and themes of war and losses were well implemented. If you can get past the aged presentation, you'll find some enjoyment to be had. Newcomers who are interested in the Universal Century timeline should watch the original before heading on to its successors. 

-MSG contains some scenes of violence and profanity. Recommended age 13 and older-

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Paranoia Agent Review

Nothing Like It.

 From anime studio Madhouse (Death Note) and director Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue), comes Paranoia Agent (Mousou Dairinin in Japan). Similar to his previous Satoshi Kon works, Paranoia Agent is may sound like your typical detective show, but then does a 360 and turns in a new direction. And after watching this neat series, it's time for a review.

STORY- Set in modern day Tokyo, the plot follows two police detectives, Kechii Ikari and Misuhiro Minawa, as they investigate the assault of toy designer, Tsukiko Sagi. She claims that she was assaulted by a boy on roller skates with a bent baseball bat. Rumors eventually spread about the attack, and the "Lil' Slugger" name is created. The story mainly revolves around on those who have been affected by Lil' Slugger and the detectives that are tasked with finding him.

Unveil the mystery of Lil' Slugger.

CHARACTERS- Asides from our two main leads, there are many complex and interesting characters featured throughout the story. All of which are affected by Lil' Slugger in some way. Many aspects of human emotions are showed such as loneliness, greed, and despair. Without going into spoiler territory, the characters as well as story will keep on the edge of your seat.

The cast characters show all kinds of emotions and weaknesses.

PRESENTATION- As always anime studio Madhouse delivers an excellent job in the presentation department. The backgrounds and character designs are neatly animated and eye-catching. You'll notice some changes in animation later during the episodes, which doesn't hurt the presentation at all. Sound-wise, it great as well. The first thing you'll see before watching is the creepy intro accompanied by an eeries song. I found fitting for a weird series, so it's alright with me. The rest of he soundtrack is really catchy and fits well with the series. The voice-work is also commendable with great performances.

Paranoia Agent packs some silly moments at times.

OVERALL- There isn't anything like Paranoia Agent, expect for other Satohi Kon works. While many won't get the ending and would laugh at the length of the series (only 13 episodes), I found the ending and pacing of the series to alright, despite some filler here and there. It's one of my favorite anime of all-time, and again there isn't much like it. Overall, give it a try if you're looking for a good mystery.

-There are some blood, sexual scenes, and violence in Paranoia Agent. There are profanity here and there, so it's mainly targeted for a mature audience.-

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The End Of Evangelion (1997) Review

The End.

  Neon Genesis Evangelion proved to be a hit back in '96. However, many fans and critics alike were polarized over the ending, which didn't end that well, in opinion. After various death threats and hate mails, production studio Gainax (who worked on the original series) along with anime studio Production I.G, famous for 1995's Ghost in the Shell, bring us The End Of Evangelion, a alternative continuation of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The main question a fan would ask is: "Is it any good?" Well, it's time we found out.

Some Spoilers Ahead

STORY & CHARACTERS- The movie starts with a weird scene, which I won't spoil. The End of Evangelion is a retelling of episodes 25 and 26, focusing on the events outside of Shinji's mind. After killing fellow friend Kaworu Nagisa, who is revealed to be the 17th final Angel, Shinji is broken and left with sorrow. Without spoiling much of the film, there are questions left by the series that are answered, which a good thing. However, we get a more mysterious ending that leaves room for interpretation. At first I was disappointed once again for its ambiguity, but as time passed I came to accept it philosophical meaning. Again, it will polarize many to some extent.

 Series regulars make an appearance in the movie, though EoE focuses more on Shinji this time. Shinji, now distraught and sad, must once again face the threat of the Angels with the help of his fellow crew. The first part of the film is the usual Evagelion action provided by Asuka. The second part, however, is where the story and plot goes full psychological, which I found to be pretty good. Themes and questions such as "Why do we exist" and so on adds much needed depth. A downside of it, is the risk of the audience getting lost and completely confused.

PRESENTATION- To start off, Production I.G did a marvelous job with the presentation,a s expected. The backgrounds and designs are amazing and the battles featuring the Eva are stellar. The sound is also a strong factor. The voice cast of the original series make a return, with some cheesy dialogue. Though, it's the soundtrack that is the best part. A brief look at the presentation shows how much substance is added to The End Of Evangelion.

OVERALL- With great production values and complex messages, The End Of Evangelion may leave viewers scratching their heads with "What the hell happened?" And it's understandable. Overall, the film is worth a look, especially for fans, and should provide a good time.

-The End Of Evangelion features more violence and sexual themes as well as blood compared to the original series. Recommended to mature ages-

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Neon Genesis Evangelion Review

Don't Send Me An Angel.

 Neon Genesis Evangelion was regarded as one of the most important anime of the 1990s. Its unique premise and characters followed by neat mecha designs made it appealing for many back at the time. It was so popular that it spawned many merchandise including toys, a movie, and so on. It even influenced and had a huge impact on anime itself, often regarded as one of the best of its genre. Without further delay, let's go over what Evangelion has to offer and does still it hold up well today?

STORY- 2015, fifteen years after a global catastrophe known as the Second Impact, mankind has advanced to the point where it has created powerful weapons, known as Evas, to counterattack the Angels, a monstrous and deadly race that threats mankind itself. Shinji Ikari, tasked by special organization, NERV, to pilot the Eva Unit-01 and eliminate the Angels that threats mankind. Over the course of the 26 episodes, there will be many plot-twists and turns that will keep you engaging till the end. Speaking of the ending... it's a disappointment. At the height of the confusions and many questions. I will avoid spoilers, but to me and many back at the time, were let down by it.

The story is interesting and engaging, but falls flat at the end.

CHARACTERS- This is one of the best aspect of the anime, the characters. Let's focus on Shinji; he's not a rampaging killer like Alucard by any means, he's just a normal 14 year-old boy trying to cope with his hardships. As the show goes on, we get to see him going from whiny kid to a force to be reckoned with. Shinji's guardian, Misato Katsuragi, is a caring and kind person, and Shinji's superior in NERV. She gives him advice and occasionally the funniest out of the entire cast. Asuka Langly Soryu, Eva Unit-02 pilot and "friend" of Shinji, may take a while to like due to her rather egotistical personalty and short-temper. Though towards the ends, she can be a relate-able character. Rei Ayanami, Eva Unit-00 pilot and also friend of Shinji, is usually quiet and at times, duller than a rock. That's not to say she's a bad character, she's just more than meets the eye. NERV commander and father of Shinji, Genyo Ikari, is showed to be a cold and relentless person. When Shinji's mother died when he was a child in an accident, he abandoned him to purse his goals. He may sound as a douche but his goals has some sense to them later in the story.

Evangelion offers a wide cast.

 There are still many characters to cover in the world of Neon Genesis Evangelion, but I just went with the ones you'll be seeing most. Also, even some side characters do get fleshed-out in the story.

The Evangelions are uniquely craft and are looking good.

PRESENTATION-  This is where also Evangelion shines. The character designs and backgrounds are and were breathtaking for their time. However, that quality dropped a bit later during the series, though it was nothing major. The Evangelion designs are some of the best I've seen along with the Gundam series. Each unit is easily distinguishable from the other and have their own unique designs. The sound is also great. I've mainly watched the dub, and it was good. The soundtrack is also well-done with some neat tracks packed. 

OVERALL- Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the best anime I've watched. A unique premise, characters, and mecha action kept me engaged. Despite the crappy ending and short fights, its still worth a look.

-The show contains some violence and language, as well as some sexual themes, recommended to mature audiences-

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Devil May Cry: The Animated Series Review

Stylish!...

 Based on the hit game series of the same name, Devil May Cry: The Animated Series is anime adaption of the acclaimed series starring devil hunter Dante as he takes on various demon-related jobs. It was also produced by anime studio Madhouse (Trigun, Death Note), so a quality presentation is guaranteed. So does the adaptation capture the series' charm well?


STORY- Set between Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 4, the story follows half-demon, half-human devil hunter Dante. The show's short 12 episodes sees Dante take on different jobs, so the show does not follow a specific story. The villain and ending are both weak aspects of the story simply because the villain is unlikable and has a really pathetic motive, the ending however, is forced and short, which is a disappointment coming from a DMC fan.

Strawberry Sundaes are the real hero of the show.

CHARACTERS- Dante is your main hero who has an undying love for Strawberry Sundaes and Pizza. Aside from his food interests, he's a skilled devil hunter who'll take any job because well, he's in a large debt. In the first episode, Dante rescues an orphan girl, Patty Lowell, who then share a father-daughter relationship with Dante. Aside of good comic relief, her presence is insignificant. Dante's agent, Morrison, whom brings Dante various jobs to help him pay his debt is a smart and quite old-fashioned. I really wanted see more of because he proved to be an interesting character. 

 Characters from the games such as Lady and Trish make an appearance. Lady is here in most episodes to collect her money from Dante, we also see her in action killing demons. Trish, on the other hand, make rare appearances and we also see in action. The show also explains how Lady and Trish met but more of them would have been great.

PRESENTATION- Anime studio Madhouse does a good job with the presentation, the backgrounds and characters are both looking good. The demon and weapon designs are great, which showcases Madhouse's artistic qualities. In terms of sound, the voicework features DMC3's Reuben Langdon as Dante, whom delivers a fine job as always. The rest of the cast deliver good performances, though Patty can get on your nerves at times. Aside from the kick-ass intro, the music is mostly average, with barely any memorable tunes. 

Madhouse does a good job on the visuals.

OVERALL- Devil May Cry: The Animated Series is a mixed bag, it succeeds in some areas while failing in most. The fight scenes aren't anything stellar like in the games, Dante is overpowered and rarely gets hit, he's basically invincible. Devil May Cry fans will mostly dislike it, I really liked it but can't deny its shortcomings. In the end, those who aren't familiar with the series, will find some fun in it. 

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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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