Next up is an 80s classic.
Hold up, isn't this Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs? Why yes it is, but this is the original Japanese incarnation Star Musketeer Bismarck, so on it's own merits does it do better than what the Americans did to it?
Our team of pilots is made up of four members.
Shinji Hikari - A military dropout turned race driver.
Richard Lancelot - An intelligence officer for Her Majesty's British Intelligence Division.
Bill Willcox - American Sharpshooter Jet Pilot.
Marianne Louvre - French Engineer for the giant robot they pilot called Bismarck hence the title and sadly the robot doesn't talk.
The team are set up to stop an evil alien race called Deathcula from taking over the solar system, now I feel like we've been done out of a better story than what Saber Rider gave us; when set in a proper order the episodes are much easier to follow, the violence gives more weight to it's scenes and makes the villains more effective, the character building and chemistry between the Bismarck cast is superb with special mention to Marianne who is less 'the girl' and more the lynchpin for the other cast members to function.
It's a solid sci-fi space adventure that really didn't need changing, heck knowing what I know now, Saber Rider feels like a poor man's version in comparison and makes me feel sorry for the 80s kids who watched it, because we in the west missed out big time.
Final Verdict: It's a solid sci-fi space adventure that easily slots in the era along with it's contemporaries. It didn't need changing at all and I feel the west were done out of something far better than what we actually got.
Kind of a sequels theme going as next is Gundam Seed Destiny.
Two years after the war ended, rumblings among both sides threaten to start another war when ZAFT's new mobile suits get stolen by a terrorist group under the Earth Alliance, however the crew of the Minerva also discover rogue ZAFT troops attempting a colony drop on Earth, with actions on both sides aggravating each other a new war starts with the Minerva in the center and Shinn Asuka being the focus as he attempts to get over losing his family during a battle in season 1.
It's more of the same as season 1 but while Kira Yamato at least had something to work with, Shinn Asuka is a serious downgrade as he's the worst protagonist since Kamille Bidan, he won't stop whining and the impact of his loss gets weaker with every viewing, it makes for difficult watching when he's on screen but at least Athrun and Kira are around to make up the weakness as well as a decent supporting cast, dub is as good as before and it still kept it's core values but Shinn Asuka is a huge challenge to look pass.
Final Verdict: A strong story led by a weak protagonist, if you stick with it, you can enjoy it but if you can't because of Shinn, I don't blame you
This has been coming for a while but it's necessary to address a common problem with Clamp.
A year after the events of the first series along with 20 years worth of technology as well, Sakura starts Junior High School, however a new dream of a mysterious cloaked individual haunts her regularly which triggers a host of events beginning with the clow cards losing power and Sakura's key upgrading to capture new cards known as the Clear Cards in what is basically deja vu as she seems to retread the same scenarios she used to capture the Clow Cards.
Now I really do like Card Captor Sakura but when the old series ended, it ended on the right notes, it didn't require a follow up, especially not like this.
The issue comes from the heavy build up to a big reveal which never happens, we know from watching that Sakura's new friend is involved and that said friend's butler is not as he seems but after 22 episodes were left with just pure speculation and this is after retreading the same plot the first series had, it's very poor writing which brings me to my big pet peeve with Clamp.
Clamp keep trying to fix what isn't broken, it's a common problem shared among all four artists in the group, it's more notable failures are season 2 of Rayearth and Sakura's role in Tsubasa, I also didn't care much for Chobits after a while and there's a plot point in the Angelic Layer manga that had me pissed off, I haven't even got to the train wreck of X but that maybe coming soon as a review, my point is that the stuff they do well shouldn't need anymore done to it but Clamp insist on undoing their own franchises by trying to push for poor sequels that weren't needed and their universal laws are hard enough to work out as it is knowing that much of their key characters easily cross stories.
I never did like Card Captor's dub so I'm glad not to view one, even if the cast is changed assuming there is a dub.
Final Verdict: It's a retread of the first season essentially, with better art but more frustrating story.
Ever had that anime you watched years ago but revisiting it makes you wonder why you even liked it, that's the energy going into today's review.
Kazuya is an engineer college student with a love of robotics as he works on Ikariya, a robot squid, in order to pass his course.
Nanbara, Kazuya's self proclaimed friend and enemy tries to sabotage him with a computer virus only to cause Kazuya to make an order for a robot maid, this tiny maid known as May becomes part of Kazuya's life as she tries her best to make him happy, all the while drawing in more Cyberdolls like May as it seems Kazuya has more in common with these Cyberdolls than you think.
I watched this as a teen and loved it but returning to it in my 30s, it doesn't seem that great, the story is confusing, lacking explanations which would answer some essential questions; the show's gimmick of May being small is scrapped mid series losing it's uniqueness among it's peers at the time; with Nanbara being Nanbara, the dub is unwatchable suffering from early dub awkardness, it's not bad but my god Nanbara is only just bearable in Japanese.
It's not entirely terrible, it's more restrained than most harem shows and much of the cast are very endearing, I think that's what I remembered best when I watched it back in 2002 and that remains true now.
Final Verdict: The story needs some serious rewrites because there is a good anime within this as the characters are good to work with, otherwise it's okay.
Up next, something everyone needs to watch.
Meimi is a normal school girl by day, but by night she is the phantom thief Saint Tail, whose skills inherited by her parents, a stage magician father and a former phantom thief mother, give her the powers to recover items that have been stolen like a kawaii Robin Hood.
Her antics are approved by the church and trainee nun Seira but chasing her is Asuka Jr, the son of a detective.
Saint Tail is the greatest hits of the 90s, borrowing elements from Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Detective Conan and many Phantom Thief stories, it's a glorious story, with beautiful art and fantastic characters with a wholesome feel that is sorely missed in current generation anime, it's horribly underrated and deserves more praise.
It's only real issue is a weak dub, I don't find it bad but it just suffers from early dub syndrome.
Final Verdict: I can't recommend this anime enough, go watch it, especially if you like classic magical girl shows.
