 | "Straggler Reviews" by Konstantin
(2006-05-30) |
This season being as busy as it is, anime-wise, there have been quite a few shows that I haven't gotten around to seeing in the initial volley. I'm definitely kicking myself now for not discovering some of them earlier.
Juuousei - Twin brothers get exiled from a high-tech far future society to a savage prison planet, where they have to survive carnivorous plant life and brutal locals. This show is deliciously pulpy sci-fi with a decidedly non-idiot protagonist (the idiocy seems to have gone straight to his brother, who, thankfully, doesn't get much screen time after the first episode). The animation is great (Bones seem to be on a roll this season with both this and Ouran Host Club), the plot intriguing, and the characters memorable. About the only regret is that this is only slated for 11 episodes. One of the best shows in this already excellent season, I'm surprised it hasn't generated more hype.
Nishi no Yoki Majo (a.k.a. Good Witch of the West) - Gave this one a look based entirely on Akira's recommendation, and am very glad I did. This is a beautifully presented shoujo fantasy whose fairytale elements get interwoven with a darker story of intrigue, conspiracy, and forbidden science. While I wouldn't quite give it an A rating just yet, I think it's definitely worth a look.
Saiunkoku Monogatari - Fushigi Yuugi meets 12 Kingdoms. There's the harem full of bishounen, an imperial Chinese themed fantasy setting, and a plucky heroine (though this time around she's a native of the fantasy world rather than a hapless Japanese schoolgirl). It's hard to tell from what's been subbed so far whether the show will develop a serious plot, but it doesn't look like this has quite the depth of 12 Kingdoms. Still, the protagonist isn't anywhere near as annoyingly airheaded as Fushigi Yuugi's either, and the show is at the very least amusing and well animated. Should be worth a try if you're a shoujo fan.
Witchblade - Based on an American comic book series by the same name. And by based I mean it has a female protagonist with a highly improbable chest size who has a stabby arm thingie, everything else seems to be completely new, and not necessarily for the better. While not the worst show I've seen this season (and it's neat hearing Noto Mamiko voice an adult character), the production values are fairly mediocre, there's very little there to hold one's interest, and the massive mammaries are ridiculous even by anime standards. I'd recommend giving this one a pass, though it's not quite bad enough to qualify for a *plonk*.
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