areaseven

s-CRY-ed ( スクライド ) Sunrise/TV Tokyo/Bandai Visual, 2001 Bandai Entertainment, 2003-2004 Directed by Goro Taniguchi (Infinite Ryvius, Planetes). Rated 13-Up for violence, mature situations and strong language. Based on the manga by Yosuke Kuroda (screenplay writer for Excel Saga, Puni Puni Poemi and Trigun) and Yasunori Toda, s-CRY-ed takes place in Lost Ground, an island separated from the rest of Japan by a mysterious phenomenon 22 years ago. On the island live a new breed of humans who possess an extraordinary ability known as an "Alter". To keep track of these Alter Users, the Japanese Government created an organization known as HOLD. In this organization is an elite group of Alter Users known as HOLY. Kazuma is a native Alter User with the ability to generate armor on his right arm and fin-like attachments on his back. With this Alter, his punches guarantee total destruction all around him. But after being captured by HOLY and escaping shortly afterwards, Kazuma swears complete hatred towards Ryuho, an HOLY member who uses a mecha-like entity as an Alter. Story: B s-CRY-ed is a bit confusing at first, but after a couple of episodes, it grows on you with its deep character development and non-stop action. Too bad the ending sucked. Animation: B+ The artwork and animation are not very groundbreaking, but still impressive for a mid-budget TV series. s-CRY-ed's fight scenes are very well-choreographed and more fun to watch than Dragon Ball Z. Character designs by Hisaishi Hirai (Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Infinite Ryvius). Soundtrack: B+ It's pretty good. Just not much to talk about other than the exceptional use of Spanish-style guitar music. Sub vs. Dub s-CRY-ed features Souichiro Hoshi (Kira in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Kei in Please Teacher!) as Kazuma, Hikaru Midorikawa (Heero in Gundam Wing, Zelgadiss in The Slayers) as Ryuho, Yuko Nagashima (Rina in Saint Tail) as Mimori, Masayo Kurata (Shinobu in Love Hina, Karinka in Steel Angel Kurumi) as Xeres, Yukari Tamura (Asuka in The Soul Taker, Kasumi in Labyrinth of Flames) as Kanami, Kyosei Tsukui as Straight Cougar, Yuji Takada (Frank in Argento Soma, Paion in Brigadoon) as Martin, Takumi Yamazaki (Isamu in Macross Plus, George in Mobile Fighter G-Gundam) as Kunihiko, Tetsu Shiratori (Yuu in Brain Powered, Yasushi in Boogiepop Phantom) as Kyoji, Tetsuya Iwanaga (Makoto in El Hazard, Kensuke in Neon Genesis Evangelion) as Asuka, and Norio Wakamoto (Coach in Gunbuster, Vicious in Cowboy Bebop) as the narrator. I haven't seen the English dub (by Bang Zoom! Entertainment), but I've read that David Lucas (Spike in Cowboy Bebop, Roger in The Big O) did a good job as the voice of Kazuma. DVD Extras Coming Soon. The Bottom Line Sick and tired of Dragon Ball Z? Pick up s-CRY-ed. It's anime with a serious punch. Links Bandai Entertainment's Official s-CRY-ed Homepage Reference Anime News Network

Mazinkaiser ( マジンカイザー ) Dynamic Planning/Bandai Visual, 2001-2002 ADV Films, 2003 Directed by Masahiko Murata (Serial Experiments Lain, Getter Robo Armageddon). Rated 15+ for graphic violence, nudity, suggestive sexual situations and strong language. "Mazin Go!" - Koji Kabuto In one of their epic battles, the Mazinger Team suffers a crushing defeat at the hands of Dr. Hell and his minions after Mazinger Z is stolen and its pilot, the legendary Koji Kabuto, is rendered missing in action. Just when Dr. Hell's second-in-command, Baron Ashura, uses Mazinger Z against our heroes, Koji makes a surprise return in Mazinkaiser - an all-new Mazinger with heavier armor and deadlier attacks. Story: B I was seriously into this series during the first two episodes, but episodes 3-4 got pretty lame with all the gratuitous fan service. Really unnecessary, even if most of creator Go Nagai's works are hentai-oriented. But then again, it picked up with episodes 5-7, despite the hokey elements on the side. Animation: B+ I would've given Mazinkaiser an A+, but episode 4 had really goofy artwork and animation that looked like the whole production team was on crack. Aside from that, the mecha designs by Tatsuo Yamada (Getter Robo Armageddon) are awesome. The opening sequence looks cool, but it makes you think the animators have been watching too many Duran Duran videos. Soundtrack: A- Mazinkaiser uses an impressive orchestral score reminiscent of Giant Robo. The opening theme, "Fire Wars" by JAM Project, absolutely rocks. Sub vs. Dub Reprising their roles after over 30 years are Hiroya Ishimaru (Sengoku in Cyber City Oedo 808, Agrippa in Turn-A Gundam) as Koji, Johji Yanami (Narrator in Dragon Ball/DBZ/DBGT, Jubei in Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture) as Professor Yumi, Hidekatsu Shibata (Geese in Fatal Fury, Degwin Zabi in Mobile Suit Gundam) as Male Baron Ashura, and Kousei Tomita as Dr. Hell. Joining the cast are Hiroshi Yanaka (Celestin in Ah! My Goddess: The Movie, Tsukioka in Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture) as Tetsuya, Ai Uchikawa as Sayaka, Fumihiko Tachiki (Gendo in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Choro-sama in A Little Snow Fairy Sugar) as Boss, Sayaka Aida (Taiyo in Machine Robo Rescue) as Shiro, Mitsuki Saiga (King of Bandit Jing, Tsukasa in .hack//SIGN) as Jun, Akiko Hiramatsu (Yukari-sensei in Azumanga Daioh, Miyuki in You're Under Arrest) as Lolly, Shiho Kikuchi (Ayamo in Stratos 4) as Roll, and Haruko Kitahama as Female Baron Ashura. ADV's English dub tries too hard to sound like Giant Robo, but fails miserably. DVD Extras: B- Each DVD comes with original line art, sketches and untouched opening/ending sequences. Despite a confusing and sometimes unreadable menu, the two DVDs are worth buying. The Bottom Line Despite all the raunchy fan service, Mazinger is back - big-time. Now for a Mazinkaiser vs. Shin Getter Robo anime... Links Bandai Visual's Official Mazinkaiser Homepage (Japanese) Reference Anime News Network

Macross Zero Episode 2: "The Stars on the Ground" ( マクロス　ゼロ 第二章 「地上の星」 ) Big West/Satelight/Bandai Visual, 2003 U.S. Distributor Seriously Pending. Directed by Shoji Kawamori (Macross/Macross Plus, Spring and Chaos). Not Rated (Suggested 16-Up). Contains graphic violence, nudity and mature situations. The war between the UN Spacy and the Anti-UN forces reaches the shores of Mayan. After the smoke clears, Shin returns to active duty, only to feel the pressure of inexperience with piloting the VF-0. Meanwhile, Dr. Aries Turner and the research team behind excavating an alien artifact underwater set camp on Mayan, and Shin finds out that there's more to the priestess Sara than anyone has ever known. Story: A Finally, Big West gives us what we've longed for - a major battle. This episode also gives more emphasis on Focker's character and the secrets of Protoculture slowly begin to unfold. Plus, we get to know more about the Anti-UN force and its ace pilot Nora Polyansky. Shin's past is also hinted, but we'll have to wait until the next episode for the rest of it. Animation: A++ Thought the animation on episode 1 was good? Think again. Satelight (Heat Guy J, Gene Shaft) raises the bar up a few more notches with digital 3D combat scenes that make the first episode pale in comparison. Soundtrack: A Kuniaki Haishima's soundtrack took a lot of getting used to on episode 1, but it progressively got better on this episode. Cast Joining the cast from the first episode are TWO-MIX lead vocalist Minami Takayama (Kiki's Delivery Service, Nabiki in Ranma 1/2) as Nora, Romi Paku (Edward in Fullmetal Alchemist, Loran in Turn-A Gundam) as Katie, and Ryuzaburo Otomo (Crocodile in One Piece, Dennis in Macross II) as Ivanov. The Bottom Line Improved visuals make a good thing even better. If you want the best variable mecha action since Macross Plus, pick up Macross Zero now. Links Big West's Official Macross Zero Homepage (Japanese) Bandai Visual's Official Macross Zero Homepage (Japanese) Reference Anime News Network

Macross Zero Vol. 1: "The Ocean, the Wind, and..." ( マクロス　ゼロ 第一章 「海と風と」 ) Big West/Satelight/Bandai Visual, 2002 U.S. Distributor Pending. Directed by Shoji Kawamori (Macross Plus, Earth Girl Arjuna). Not Rated (Suggested 13-Up). Contains violence and mature situations. The year is 2008. Nine years have passed since an alien spaceship crashed on Earth, making us realize that we are not alone in the universe. Before the Earth/Zentraedi War (2009-2010), the United Nations was at war with anti-UN factions over global control. The last few days of this war are chronicled in Macross Zero, a five-episode prequel series from the people that gave you the original Macross series. After being shot down by a new enemy aircraft, UN pilot Shin Kudo wakes up on the remote island of Mayan. As he slowly learns about the culture of the inhabitants, the tranqulity of the island is shattered by a battle that involves the UN's newest fighter - the VF-0! Story: A Unlike Macross or Macross Plus, Macross Zero does not have a love triangle subplot or idol singers. Instead, the storyline simply focuses on the war and life on an island almost devoid of modern civilization. It even borrows environmental elements from one of Kawamori's recent works, Earth Girl Arjuna. Animation: A++ In 1994, Macross Plus set new standards in mixing 2D animation with digital 3D effects. Today, Macross Zero takes that same standard to a much higher level than the human eye has ever seen. The first five minutes of the video is filled with jaw-dropping eye-candy as you see F-14 Tomcats duel with MiG-29 Fulcrums and an SV-51. However, that's nothing compared to the VF-0's killer transformation sequence. And you can thank Satelight (Heat Guy J, Escaflowne) for all the excellent visuals. Soundtrack: A Kuniaki Haishima (Gasaraki, Spriggan) supplies an orchestral score that's not up to the same level of Yoko Kanno's compositions in Macross Plus, but has a lot of punch in it, especially in the combat scenes. Cast Macross Zero features Kenichi Suzumura (Kamui in X, Hajiki in Gad Guard) as Shin, Sanae Kobayashi (Kitori in Area 88, Antonia in Heat Guy J) as Sara, Yuka Nanri (Henrietta in Gunslinger Girl, Sayuri in Beyond the Clouds) as Mao, Naomi Shindo (Cagalli in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Noike in Tenchi Muyo! GXP/Ryo-Ohki 3) as Aries, Tamio Ohki (Tashiro in Gunbuster, the general in Steel Angel Kurumi) as Nutouk, Sosuke Komori as Edgar, and Akira Kamiya (Kenshiro in Fist of the North Star, Ryo in City Hunter) reprising his role as Roy Focker. The Bottom Line With pulse-pounding battle scenes and outstanding animation, Macross Zero is the ultimate roller-coaster ride on video. Links Macross Zero Official Homepage Bandai Visual's Official Macross Zero Homepage Reference Anime News Network Newtype USA vol. 2 no. 3

I'm still the same old username, even though it took me the whole day to get my account ready.