Too long!

This installment sees the review of 3 anime, an epic manga and one magnificent tokusatsu show. I’ll be breaking each of them up and doing it in the “Mini-Review A-Go-Go!” format. So why are we dawdling when there is anime to discuss?

I love a good idea that is supported by a strong ensemble cast. I love good comedy that can combine goofy characters, slapstick and subtle humor all at once. That being said, "Azumanga Daioh" is one of the best new shows to hit me in quite sometime. Everything about the show is dependent on the characters and how they react and interact with a simple slice of life situation.

Originally done as a 4-page comic in "Dengeki Daioh" by writer/artist Azuma Kiyohiko and the people at Media Works, "Azumanga Daioh: The Animation" breaks down each weekly episode in to 3-4 short stories revolving anyone of its 4-6 main characters as a focus. Oh the characters are fantastic and they range from the hyper kinetic (Tomo), to the subdued (Sakaki) to the nauseatingly cute (Chiyo-chan). Basically the show takes place in a high school and each mini-installment unravels, sometimes flowing right into the next mini-story. All the characters have their little quirks from Tomo’s enthusiasm bordering on psychosis to Chiyo-chan being a mere 10-years old (she’s a child genius don’t ya know).

The beauty of "Azumanga Daioh" is that there is no real overall story. You can watch it and not sit there and fret about who may die, or what fate will befall Sakaki (chances are she will be bitten by the cat). No sir, you just sit back and watch this show and love it for its brilliant comedy. What more could you ask for?

Anime and Tokusatsu (Japanese special effects shows) are cousins in the world of Japanese entertainment. Some of the greatest manga creators lent their skills to creating both anime and "Toku". In fact I’m of the opinion that an anime fan that claims to hate “Toku” isn’t a true fan. Yes “Toku” has given us the Sentai show which Haim Saban raped to create "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers", but if you look past what Saban did to these shows and watch them in their original context what you have is essentially live action anime!

Who better to be the link between anime and “Toku” than the late Shotaro Ishinimori. The man created such anime and manga classics as "Cyborg 009" and "The Round Straw Lid", but then he gives birth to some of the most beloved “Toku” characters of all time including Zubat, Go Ranger and of course the cultural icon known as Kamen rider. What’s that? You never heard of Kamen Rider?

Since 1972 Kamen Rider has been a staple on Japanese TV. Altogether there are 18 different shows that bear the name, including the 2002 TV series "Kamen Rider Ryuuki". Ryuuki is the 3rd attempt to revive the franchise after the character vanished from the public eye in 1992 after the "Kamen Rider J" movie. Since 2000 Toei-Doga and Bandai have put their promotional weight behind Ishinimori’s creation, giving fans the highly praised shows Kamen Rider Kuuga and Kamen Rider Agito. "KR Ryuuki" has no connection to the 2 previous shows (unlike Rider shows in the past that always had old Riders show up to help out the new guy towards the end of a series). In fact the concept of the show is so different from past Rider shows that many fans were, at first, angry about it.

See, the idea behind Kamen Rider is usually a person is kidnapped and experimented on by an evil organization. This person rebels and uses his powers as Kamen Rider to fight for justice. Pretty simple huh?

Well Ryuuki was set to break the mold by introducing the concept of one show with 13 different Kamen Riders all slugging it out to be #1. Even more interesting is the fact that not all of them are fighting for justice; in fact some of them are just downright prick bastards. Also, gone were the days of when Kamen Rider would have his powers such as the Rider kick as result of his mutation. No these Riders get their powers from “Advent Cards”, cards which enhance their fighting power. Add to this the need for each Rider needing to find and enter a contract with special mechanical monsters to enhance his own power. This Kamen Rider is truly like no other. Already I’ve sat through episodes 1-3 and the main Rider (Ryuuki) is trying not to get himself killed by brooding Rider (Knight).

Now this much I will say, the story so far is intriguing. See monsters from the “Mirror World” have been abducting people for ages and are now set on using our world as a feeding ground. One man discovered this fact and created the ADVENT system to fight them. He created 13 ADVENT decks and gave them to anyone who would listen to him. The ADVENT deck turns the person into a Kamen Rider and they in turn fight the Mirror World monsters. In some cases they enter into a contract with these Monsters for aid and the Monsters get stronger by devouring the energy of defeated monsters.

So the whole “Rider v. Rider” concept is actually cool and the fight sequences are just awesome. Ryuuki’s monster is a red Dragon called Dragedar and he has some neato attacks. Kamen Rider Knight also has monster sidekick in the form of Dark Wing. Since the focus of this show seems to be the conflict among Riders it is obvious there is going to be a big showdown to determine who is the best. It’s such a videogame concept that I have to love it.

Honestly, if you haven’t tried any “Toku” I would recommend Kamen Rider Ryuuki. It has tons of action and moves at such a great pace that the story never really bogs down. Hell it could be worse; I could ask you to watch Gridman.

It seems once every so often a child is born that will rid the world of Demons. Of course till such a time as this child’s powers are activated it is up to a small band of Temple Maidens (Miko) to guard his life. Well there you have the basic set-up of "Asagiri No Miko". Sure it sounds like a generic action show with fanservice but it is sooooooo not that. In fact the girls we are dealing with are Junior High Schoolers at best and the action often collides with some surprising slapstick moments.

The problem lies in the fact that each episode is only 10-12 minutes long (it is shown on a double bill with "Rikujo Boueitai Mao-chan", the new show by Ken “Love Hina” Akamatsu). Still the characters are engaging and the first episode has enough humor and action to warrant you watching more of it. Don’t believe me? Well go watch it yourself and tell me what you think.

All kidding aside, the animation in this show is astonishingly great. I mean it is not "Betterman" or anything but it is very clean, smooth animation that at times reminds me of "FLCL". This being well and good, go ahead and give "Asagiri No Miko" a spin, be judge and you may find yourself laughing and enjoying this charming show.

God bless you Aoyama Goshou, you magnificent twisted bastard. All my life I’ve wanted to go see Japan and marvel at both its ancient and modern culture. Thanks to you and your creation "Detective Conan", I am afraid to even think of visiting that once marvelous country. Why?

Simply put I could be killed in a variety of different ways. Decapitated on a Roller Coaster, sure why not?

Man with a fake foot injury climbs though my balcony window and shoots me in the face? You betcha!

Why I could even fall on a knife stuck in an ice cube in an attempt to kill myself!

For a show aimed at children, "Detective Conan" is one gruesome reminder of just how violent the world is. Hell its like Murder She Wrote with a kid detective instead of that fat bitch played by Angela Lansbury.

Seems Shinichi Kudo is your average High School boy. He loves to play soccer, has a crush on his best female friend Ran and spends his free time solving grisly murders for the Tokyo Police. What? You don’t help the Tokyo Police solve grisly murders? Slacker!

Seems our boy Shinichi is a great admirer of Sherlock Holmes, so much so that Shinichi has made it his life goal to be the Sherlock Holmes of his generation. Unfortunately since Shinichi is such a great detective, he is targeted for elimination by the underworld. So in an attempt to poison our young hero goes wrong and he finds himself now with the body of a 10-year old boy. Thus assuming the name Edogawa Conan (after Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) Shinichi continues his fight for justice, despite the fact no one listens to him since he’s a kid. Luckily his good friend Dr. Agasa aids him in his quest to return to normal by searching for a cure and giving young Conan various devices and inventions to aid in his quest for justice.

To say this show is a hit is a gross understatement. Since it began airing in 1996 Detective Conan has been solving mysteries with his Elementary school pals Ayumi, Genta and Mitsuhiko and the episode count is nearing 300 with no end in sight. Creator Aoyama Goshou has also taken one of his less successful creations, The Kaitou Kid, and incorporated him into the Conan story. Since this has been done it also means Detective Conan also takes place in the same universe as Goshou’s other major success Yaiba.

I must say that despite all the gruesome murders I really like this show as it forces the viewer to piece the details of the murder or crime together. It is not enough to now who did it but how they did it (the “why they did it” is always explained by the criminal). "Detective Conan" maybe aimed at children but really is a thinking man’s show chock full of clues and fun.

The artwork itself may seem cartoony but that is Goshou’s unique style that harkens back to the days of Yokoyama and Tezuka. Besides it has a very rabid audience that seems to buy up everything Conan related. This show needs to be watched, for the simple reason that it is quality TV. What other reason is there?

Mamoru Nagano is best known in anime for his character designs in collaboration with stories by Yoshiyuki “Father Of Gundam” Tomino. These works include "Heavy Metal L-Gaim" and "Kido Senshi Zeta Gundam". But the work that he has spent the most time, that which he has called his “Life’s Work” is the sprawling science fiction epic "The Five Star Stories".

Set in the Joker cluster, a small galaxy where warring planet states vie for supremacy, Nagano unravels the tale of the immortal Amaretsu, the man who is destined to unite the Joker Cluster under his reign as Emperor. Of course any story with such a grand ideal is going ot take time to unravel and Nagano has spent close to 20 years telling this story. In fact the tale spans generations and even a few millennia in its attempts to tell the story of Amaretsu and his Fatima bride Lachesis.

What’s that? What the hell is a Fatima?

OK, glad you asked. In the Joker System wars are waged in giant mechanoids known as Mortar Headds. Pilots of these war machines are known as Headd Liners and are some of the most respected knights in the galaxy. The problem is that Mortar Headds are so complex to pilot that they put an enormous strain on the body. Thus biomechanical beings known as Fatimas are created to help along the functions of the robot. Fatimas are widely sought after for their abilities to co-pilot Mortar Headds.

The first story in FSS actually deals with the unveiling of 2 new Fatimas, the sisters Clotho and Lachesis. Headd Liners from all over the cluster gather to see these fatimas in hopes that they attain their services. But one man is determined to have Lachesis as not only his co-pilot but as his lover as well. This man Laddios Sopp, a Meister (builder of Mortar heads), who is hiding his real identity for obvious reasons.

This just the start of an incredible story that is best described as epic. FSS isn’t just manga, it is sci-fi litereature that invokes such litereary references as King Arthur, Aeneas and Asimov. You don’t read FSS, you experience it through the complex politics and dialogue. The artwork is just an added bonus. Oh and what artwork!

Nagano uses a rather clean style for his characters and his background as a fashion designer has led to him drawing characters in some magnificent clothing. His Mortar Headd designs are elegant, evoking the feel of giant mechanical knights, especially the magnificent Junchoon and its eternal enemy The Knight Of Gold. Thank God this story is available in English through Books Kinokuniya. This is more than manga, this art and literature in grand fashion.

James