FACEBOOK YOUTUBE TWITTER INSTAGRAM I'm That Kamen Rider Guy. I promise to never be less, to always review content for justice! Catch me at Comic Cons near you and make sure to visit all my social media for more of your geeky toku needs UPCOMING EVENTS: TBA
Mecha Breakdown: Mobile Suit Gundam: Real Robot Wars
機動戦士ガンダム (Kidō Senshi Gandamu)
Written By: Hagime Yatate
Directed By: Yashiyuki Tomino
Staring: Japan: Toru Fuyuya, Shuichi Ikeda, English: Brad Swaile, Micheal Kopsa,
Release Date: April 7, 1979
*Please support the official release*
In the 1979 the writer/director Yoshiyuki Tomino decided to throw his hat back into the arena of Mecha anime, trying to make a name for himself in a medium dominated by posing robots and hot blooded heroes. However Tomino decided to go at it from a fresh angle, drawing on fantastic robot designs that were firmly based on more real science as opposed to the “It runs of courage” norm. The result is what is considered to be the birth of the Real Robot genre of mecha anime.
In the future era called the Universal Century mankind has truly and fully entered the space age, advance machinery, casual space travel, and colonies on the moon and even largely self sufficient space colonies are commonplace, but humans never change. The farthest Colony, Side 3, denounces the United Earth Federation and sets itself up as the Principality of Zeon. Tensions eventually boilover and allout war is declared between the two factions, the Earth Federation however soon finds it’s self to be no match for the new type of weapon Zeon has developed, Mobile Suits. In a desperate gambit to gain footing the Earth Federation begin developing their own prototype Mobile weapons on Side 7, code name: Gundam.
Enter Amuro Rey, a teenage shut-in with a talent for technology, who is caught up in the crossfire when Zeon forces invade Side 7 and start shooting up the place. Falling under the care of Bright Noah, the field promoted captain of the new battleship White Base, Amuro is drafted by the Earth Federation as the pilot of Gundam. Problem being that Amuro is still just 15 years old and a conscientious objector to the war. Amuro will have to learn that war is a serious matter and that his petty attitude could not only get him and everyone on White Base killed, but could lose the war for the Earth Federation.
Fighting opposite Amuro Ray is the famed Red Comet, Zeon lieutenant Char Aznable. Char is a seasoned warrior, an ace Mobile Suit pilot, and a sound strategist. Worse yet his is under orders to capture or destroy White Base and all three Prototype Mobile weapons. Lucky for the White Base is subject to a military supply chain, chain of command and the fast learning, fast thinking Amuro. Char also seems to have his own apprehensions about Zeon’s leadership and the war as well, but that won’t stop him from using all his skills and resources into taking Amuro and White Base down.
In closing, Moblie Suit Gundam absolutely deserves it’s spot in history for sireing an entire genre and dozens of spin-offs. The Mobile Suit designs are classic and the gundam is still as cool as ever.The and the characters, despite to aged dynamics and dialogue, are believable enough that you feel for them one way or another. When Amuro refuses to fight or argues with Captain Bright, you feel frustration that you would for any whiny teen acting up, made worse by the war zone thing. However as said above, certain parts of the show simply do not hold up. Luckily for people who don’t want to suffer passed the whole show like I did, abridged retellings of the events are available as well so this classic can still be enjoyed wrinkles and all to this day. If you are a fan of older anime, mecha anime, or Gundam in general you owe it to yourself to watch this one at least once.
Magic Time: Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Ouch, My Heart!
魔法少女まどか☆マギカ( Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika)
Written By: Gen Urobuchi
Directed By: Akiyuki Shinbo
Staring: Japan: Aoi Yuki, Chiwa Saito, Eri Kitamura, English: Christine Marie Cabanos, Christina Vee, Sarah Williams,
Release Date: January 7, 2011
Watch it on: Netflix
*Please support the official release*
Since the 1950’s Magical Girls have always been a source of inspiration and role models to young girls, upholding the tenets of truth, justice and love, but how well would that hold up in real life? Well in 2011 Painmaster Gen Urobuchi decided to give us an answer. Knowing him for his work on shows like Fate/Zero and Kamen Rider Gaim, I kinda went in knowing that these precious young girls were gonna have a bad time. Boy, was I right!
Magic Time: Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Ouch, My Heart!
魔法少女まどか☆マギカ( Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magika)
Written By: Gen Urobuchi
Directed By: Akiyuki Shinbo
Staring: Japan: Aoi Yuki, Chiwa Saito, Eri Kitamura, English: Christine Marie Cabanos, Christina Vee, Sarah Williams,
Release Date: January 7, 2011
Watch it on: Netflix
*Please support the official release*
Since the 1950’s Magical Girls have always been a source of inspiration and role models to young girls, upholding the tenets of truth, justice and love, but how well would that hold up in real life? Well in 2011 Painmaster Gen Urobuchi decided to give us an answer. Knowing him for his work on shows like Fate/Zero and Kamen Rider Gaim, I kinda went in knowing that these precious young girls were gonna have a bad time. Boy, was I right!
Meet Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki, two average teenage girl in Mitakihara city, who meet an unusual new transfer student. Homura Akemi seems to know a little too much, delivers cryptic ultimatums, and tries to kill cute little cat… creature… things. Said cat-thing is a sentient being known as Kyubey, and after being saved by Madoka and Sayaka, offers the two of them a chance to be Magical Girls by granting them any one wish. Sounds fantastic, until people start dying… Misinformation, evil witches and other hostile Magical Girls await this sad macabre tale of sadness.
Madoka Kaname seems to be the focal point of all these events. Homura seems adamant, almost zealous about stopping her from making a wish and becoming a Magical Girl, while Kyubey is equally as determined to grant whatever wish Madoka will eventually settle on. As she is being tugged in a hundred different directions by the events unfolding around her as well as her own fears and compulsions she soon realises that her decision could make all the difference in this tragedy.
Sayaka Miki on the other hand is far more driven and determined than the timid Madoka. Hot blooded and willing to pick a fight, she seems very keen on the idea of becoming a Magical Girl and protecting the world and it’s people from witches. It also help that the wish she is thinking of making, is to help the boy she is very taken with, get out of the hospital. However she will soon find out that love sometimes does not conquer all and that helping others thanklessly is MUCH harder than it seems on tv.
Homura Akemi is a bit of a mystery, not only because she haves foresight bordering on precognition, and she seems to have a vendetta against the adorable Kyubey, but also because she first appeared to Madoka in a dream. How ever she is remarkable cold and aloof, bordering on outright hostility towards some of the other Magical Girls. Her motivations seem rather scattered as well, but one thing remains certain is her protection of Madoka. She will ether be the most helpful or the most dangerous of individuals, time will tell.
In closing, I have one recommendation to anyone watching this show, go in cold. The less you know about Urobuchi’s work the better, and as I had already seen Fate/Zero, Kamen Rider Gaim, and the show he reportedly drew inspiration from, Kamen Rider Ryuki, I kinda knew what I was getting into. However that didn’t stop this from being a hellishly fun ride, I found myself yelling at the screen, cackling with morbid, giddy revelation, and choking back tears within 13 episodes. It does not waste time. If you are a fan of Magical Girl anime, cosmic horror, or just really clean written anime, this is definitely worth your time, It certainly was worth mine.
Magic Time: Cutie Honey The Live: Stupid sexy robot girls!
キューティーハニー THE LIVE (Kyūtī Hanī Za Raibu)
Written By: Toshiki Inoue, Kazuhiko Inukai, Naoki Tozuka, Keichii Hasegawa, Riku Sanjo, Daisuke Ishibashi,
Directed By: Makoto Yokotama,
Staring: Mikie Hara, Shouma Yamato, Ayame Misaki, Makoto Takeda,
Release Date: October 7, 2007
*Please support the official release*
Cutie Honey is arguably the first Magical Girl ever, she was sassy, she fought and got her ass kicked, and she had a rather unusual transformation. It’s been said that she was a defining character in the lives of many young girls who are now adult women. A live action adaptation of this 1970’s character was of course inevitable. However instead of going on the traditional path of Honey beating the shit out of monsters with her butt, they went on an odd, sinister take on Honey’s origin story and tossed in a few new characters for extra content and variety, Resulting in a really interesting yet unusual story.
In modern day Japan (Circa 2007) the upper echelons of society are permeated be a malevolent organization named Panther Claw, who influence everything from medicine to higher learning in the interest of making money. They have high interest in the Airborne Element Fixing Device, an advance machine that can essentially make matter out of nothing and vice versa. Fortunately, this target of theres is kept inside the robotic body of their toughest enemy.
Honey Kisaragi is not your average high school girl, she is very intelligent, extra bubbly and an android. Because she is such a friendly personality she is completely opposed to the horrid beliefs of Panther Claw, believing in the value of kindness and friendship over money and power. She is more than happy to help anyone with her power to change her clothing to any profession, and her skills will follow suit. When she dawns her red clad combat form she becomes very dangerous with an unorthodox yet effective fighting style of “fight you with my boobs”. However she seems to struggle against Panther Claws executives, like Nakajo and Watari, and she is hopelessly naive making the sneaker dealings of Panther Claw go right under her nose. Despite all of this Honey’s will goes unbroken, through tears and pain she will take up her sword and fight, and for once she is not alone.
Miki Saotome is first seen in a juvenile detention facility. Calling her detached and quiet would be an understatement as it seems she to care VERY little for any situation she is in nor the people around her. However despite this apathetic demeanor, when push comes to shove and innocent lives are in danger she will use her powers to Honey Flash and fight the evils of Panther Claw. Along with her clothing, her stoic attitude seems to disappear as well giving rise to an aggressive fighter, using haymakers, axe kicks and headbutts to devastating effect in combat. If this is not enough Miki can draw the Boomerang Bleu, a massive Boomerang that she can throw or hack at her opponents with as an over sized saber. Though she is willing to lend a hand at time she still maintains a good distance from the others, as if not willing to get to close. Ether this is due to a self reliant belief or she is aware of some unknown factors at play. One way or an other staying out of her way seems to be for the best.
Lastly we are introduced to the affluent and refined Yuki Kenmochi, a very polite girl with no lack of money, being adopted into a wealthy family. She is friendly and incorrigible and is quickly befriended by Honey, to the point where Yuki develops a crush on Honey. However under this gentle personality lies fierce competitor that aborse losing anything to anyone. This becomes most apparent when it is revealed that she to is able the Honey Flash. Out of the three girls she is the most competent fighter, giving the Panther Claw executives a tough time as she seem trained in a school of what seems to be Kung Fu. When a little extra kick is needed she will pull out her Platinum Chakram to carve up her enemies or toss with destructive accuracy. Utterly single minded and merciless to her enemies Yuki could end up be as much of a liability as she is an asset, as her power would be very dangerous to anyone of the receiving end.
After years of watching Kamen Rider I thought nothing could rattle me. I WAS NOT PREPARED!! This show while a little scattered in delivery and not 100% following source material, is very fun and engaging. Honey’s antics can be a little grating at times, as they seem to have went with one of her ditzyer personas, but I did find yourself rooting for her, Miki and Yuki more than I expected. The fights are hard hitting and, while some get goofy, like the one with combat maids, are very well done. What I really enjoyed the most was how much somberness this show manages to achieve when the base premise is girls taking off their clothes. I do recommend this show if you are a long time Cutie Honey fan or are just curious and need more kickass women in your media.
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