Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

This time I’m reviewing another mecha, and I think this one is one of the most brilliant mecha productions out there. Gundam SEED. No… no it’s not about Gundam jerking off and releasing his seed. SEED refers to some kind of evolution, but I will let you reveal that for yourselves. At first it seems kind of standard, kind of ,,been there done that”, nothing special… but as you continue, each episode gets more and more interesting and the story gets more intense. If you haven’t changed the screen yet, then I think you might be interested in what I have to say, so here are my thoughts on this one.

The story is set in the Cosmic Era. The series begins with the Bloody Valentine War between Earth and the colonies. On one side is the Earth Alliance, and on the opposite are the space colonies that form ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty). Mankind is divided over human genetic engineering, with normal humans known as "Naturals" and the genetically altered humans known as "Coordinators", which have enhanced physical and mental capabilities. While ZAFT has a head start on mobile suit design, the Earth Alliance quickly catches up with its five prototype Gundams. With ZAFT having stolen four of the prototypes, young Coordinator Kira Yamato pilots the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam and is forced to fight his old friend Athrun Zala. Little do they know that there exist sinister forces working to bring events that go far beyond their worst nightmares. One thing that I complain about in most mecha anime, and it’s nothing major, but… why in the name of holy fuck do they have teenagers pilot giant-ass robots, and kill a lot. I mean it’s not something rare in mecha anime, to have teenagers pilot mecha suits, so it gets old and you’re like ,,Well that’s a fucking surprise… haven’t we seen this already?”. It also makes me think that anyone can do it, even I. Imagine I just go in one of those things, pull something and the robot will… play… frigging Mozart or something like that. And the pilots instantly go from ,,I can’t handle this” to ,,I’m a fucking expert”. There is nothing in between; they get accustomed to it so quick that it’s almost ridiculous. But anyway, that doesn’t mean that this is a big complaint, it’s just a minor detail I encounter a lot, and I’m sure you encounter it a lot as well. Still this thing influences the story a lot cause it shows how Kira gets troubled about many things (e.g. Can’t protect someone) since he is at an age that doesn’t have much life experience, and it also helps at character development and how he interacts with others.

So there are enough plot twists and drama to make an intriguing story, but it’s the war, the epic battles and the awesome action that attracts you to this. Cause that’s what you expect from it, right? Giant robots with guys inside piloting them, pushing God knows what to make them tango if they have to, and battling each other to the death. If you expect mind numbing action and great battles, then Gundam SEED delivers exactly what you expect. One minor problem is that the battles sometimes get too repetitive. You see the same bad guys fighting the same good guys and the outcome is always the same… bad guys flee, good guys win. And when somebody actually gets hurt or killed (yes, we have such moments… we must have such moments), the pacing changes a bit and you feel like you get a breath of fresh air. Sometimes the enemies change as well, and the battlefields (it’s not always in space), and you get something new. But repetitiveness remains an issue. Imagine you play basketball with the same friends, with the same outcome… 10 TIMES IN A FRIGGING ROW. But aside from that, the battles are awesome, and even if it gets repetitive, you’ll still watch every one of them.
The character cast is big, but not so diverse. It has a lot of characters that don’t influence things much (e.g. Kira’s friends) and are there just for shits and giggles. Sometimes they help for character development, sometimes they actually do something worthy, like helping Kira in battle, but most of the times you get the feeling like you can do without them. And worst is that they don’t have anything worth mentioning and act the same, like they all do and say the same things. Also some of them feel like they were copied from other anime. But at least they don’t interfere much, and the story focuses on what it’s supposed to focus… Kira and Athrun: the 2 friends that have to battle each other. These 2 you focus your attention the most on, and the other characters feel like they are there just to help these 2 progress. It’s hard to explain, but… it’s like if you think about your life as an anime series, then all the other characters in your life are there to help you progress in the story. But even though I think that some characters are useless, I also think that they did a good job with the cast, and I’m sure that very few (if at all) share my opinion about uselessness.
Presentation is flawless. You have to remind yourself that it’s 2002, so naturally if you watch it now it will feel outdated, but for 2002 it is well done. Character models are good, but feel copied while some feel like they are the foundation for future models. At least they are distinct amongst each other, and don’t get repetitive. But what makes this one good is the coloring. Not just special effects but also characters and objects get the same coloring treatment, which reflect personalities and make things eye pleasing. Voice cast (I’m talking about dub) is believable, even though sometimes feels forced, and sound effects are realistic. The opening(s) and ending aren’t memorable for me, but the music that accompanies the action always feels in-place.

Overall, this is a must see for all of you mecha or sci-fi fans, and I promise that you will not be disappointed. And if you don’t believe me, as proof, look at its ratings and read forums. It’s not just a winner for male viewers, but also has a lot of girl fans. So if you’re busting your balls (or something else if you don’t have balls) on what to see next, you should give this one a try.

Evangelion 2.0 - You Can (Not) Advance Trailers

Continuing where Evangelion 1.0 left off, the paramilitary organization NERV continues to defend the world from the return of the Angels. The somewhat pleasant life Shinji Ikari has found in Tokyo-3 is about to take a drastic turn when a new group of Evangelion pilots, including the fiery redhead Asuka Langley Shikinami, are brought in to assist him and Rei Ayanami in battle. Meanwhile, Misato Katsuragi faces a problem of her own as her old flame Ryoji Kaji is transferred to NERV, raising mixed feelings between them. As everyone tries to adjust to each other, and the war against the Angels takes its toll, a series of events will bring the coming end of mankind ever closer.
The film will make its first international release at Animotion Film Festival 2009 in Bonn, Germany. The film festival will run from July 31st to August 2nd 2009 and the film will be subtitled in English.

ps: if you didn't see the first movie yet...SEE IT...seriously..no problem..I'll wait..yeah..I will be standing right here, now goooo

Code Geass Lelouch Of The Rebellion R2

After the release of the review for the first season, I know it took me a while to write the second, but here it is: the AnimeNerdz official Code Geass Lelouch Of The Rebellion R2 review. There is no doubt that Code Geass is one of the best anime series ever. With millions of fans and 2 season to entertain them, Code Geass took the "anti-hero" style to another level. What is so amazing about Code Geass that makes it one of the best series out there? The twists in the plot. They started in the first season, and the second season just exploded in twists. It was great, but at some point it was getting old and very confusing. For me, that was the only problem I had with the second season. The twists were very confusing, and there were moments when I just didn't know what to believe. And the way the characters develop throughout the plot and their importance is also something R2 lacks despite of an excellent first season.Another thing that i Hated about Code Geass R2 were the meaningless mecha battles. At some point they were shadowing the strategical mind games that Code Geass was so loved for. The sounds are great, with thrilling soundtracks every second of the action. What I didn't enjoy was the animation. Yes, the character designs and backgrounds are bright and colorful but they were slacking of at the end of the season, in my opinion. The last 5 episodes were horrible when it came to animation level.


All the AMVs on Code Geass on youtube are just horrible...they are all based on the mecha side of the series, which is not what made it incredible..so I had to go with this one...
WARNING MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS



Graphics 8/10
Sound 10/10
Storyline 10/10 (amazing ending)
Characters 6/10
Overall 9/10

Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann

Tengen Toppa … is one of the greatest mecha anime ever. I know I haven’t written a review of a crappy one, but I believe that it’s my obligation, as a mecha fan, to write the review of Tengen Toppa… Although it is brilliant, with certain visual styles, it has it’s little moments, when, even for a mecha anime, it loses logic. Unlike other anime, when the lack of logic is frustrating, here I don’t really give a shit because it’s so entertaining that you will stop trying figuring things out. But even so, for the sake of this review, I’ll bring them to light. Now, first of all I want to comment on the title. It’s not that it doesn’t make sense, it’s just, well…. It’s so fucking long. Why ? Gurren-Lagann would’ve been enough, or even just Lagann would suffice. Why not Tengen Toppa ? Because the only time these words are pronounced is at the end. The plot is that in a bleak future where humanity is oppressed by an army of mutants and forced to live underground, a young orphan unearths a powerful robot. Together with a boisterous man named Kamina, a beautiful sharpshooter named Yoko and many other friends, they use the robots power to fight against their oppressors and take back the surface. In their closed-off underground village, Kamina and Simon chafe at the limits imposed by the village elder. Yet all this will change, when Simon stumbles across a fantastic device - just as the village's peace is broken by a violent intrusion. So eventually this adventure takes the form of a war for survival, when our heroes capture more mecha for the humans and form a resistance group to fight the Beastmen. Well it’s all bright and blue, but… where the fuck did they get weapons to fight ? Well they say they found a stash of weapons with ammunition. Ok… but how the fuck did they know how to use them ? And what do they have unlimited ammo ? Best not try to think about it to much. It’s like I said, these are just tiny details, not like Pokemon, and you don’t really pay much attention to them. What’s important is that they have them, and they can use them, and that means you will see a lot of fighting. The plot, even though sounds simple, you know, like… we fight… they lose… the end… isn’t that simple at all cause there are a lot of twists and turns. There are a few moments that I’m sure you haven’t ( or won’t, if you haven’t seen it yet ) even predicted. I would tell you more about some things that don’t have logic, but that would be spoiling for those that haven’t seen it yet but read this review, and they don’t matter really much.
The opening song is nice and energetic which really defines the anime. As the story progresses ( both character development and timeline ) there are multiple openings but with the same song. All I can say about the ending is that it’s not memorable.
The character cast really steals the show. Like in any mecha anime it is big and has variety. Everyone has his/her own distinct feature and have great personalities and design. One of the biggest characters is Kamina, and rightfully so. He is like a hero of the oppressed and the symbol of the resistance. He is brave, strong-willed, caring and pure-hearted but sometimes… behaves like a total MINDLESS ASS. I mean he says and does stupid things sometimes, and the only reason they work out well is not because of skill but because of luck. Lucky monkey-brained bitch. Also he says some weird things to Simon, like ,,Don’t believe in yourself, believe in ME that believes in YOU”. Ok… so you’re saying ,,Fuck self-confidence, just focus on me”. What a self-centered bastard. But wait, later he says ,,Don’t believe in yourself, don’t believe in me that believes in you but believe in yourself THAT BELIEVES IN YOU” Ok… how does that work ? I don’t know, I just think he is retarded, makes things easier.
Sound effects and visuals are pleasing. The musical score is good and always puts you in the right mood, voice work is believable and sound effects are realistic. But it’s the graphics that take the highlight in presentation. Character models define they’re personality, there is a lot of sex-appeal, and all the mecha, although don’t look very realistic, are rich in detail and color. The visual style here really depends on rich coloring and laser-show effects. They are awesome to look at.
Overall this is one mecha you do NOT want to miss, cause it delivers entertainment and delivers it with style.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

why 2 amv's? because they're both cool...couldn't decide xD

I am going to spoil myself a bit with this review. Hyperion let me do the Code Geass review, so that's what I am about to do. What is Code Geass? Well, it may be the best fucking anime ever made. Why am I saying this? Well, because Code Geass offers everything you ever want in an anime: amazing plot, amazing characters, great graphics and sounds, fabulous spins that keep you guessing the whole episode what will happen and an unbelievable ending. The plot in Geass takes place in Japan, an area called Area 11 after being conquered by the Holy Empire of Britain and their robot army. The main character is a charismatic teenager called Lelouch. He is actually the son of the emperor but he hides his true identity and hates the royal family. Him mother was killed when he was a boy in an assassination, and his sister lost her ability to see and walk in the same attack. He receives the power of Geass, which allows him to command other people by giving them orders only if he is eye contacting them during it, from a girl named C.C., and starts his revenge on the empire, by taking the identity of a masked savior called Zero. The anime follows Zero as he builds the resistance movement inside Japan against the Empire. I summarized the plot for you, and it may sound boring but it’s not. Watching Zero commanding his troops is incredible, and the battles are also very creative. The team behind the project was brainstorming ideas like a fucking marathon, because the twists and turns in the plot never fucking end. At one point you’re like, how the fuck did he do that, and when they explain it to you, you stay there, in front of your monitor, amazed at his Highness, Zero. There’s not much to say about the characters either, except that they develop incredibly well during the plot. With Lelouch living a double life, one was being the student of an expensive academy for British rich kids, and two was being Zero. And you’d think things would mess the fuck up, but they stay pretty clear. They even get more characters involved, with one of his friends becoming a British soldier, and another classmate becoming Zero’s assistant without knowing his true identity. As I already said, Code Geass may be one of the best anime series ever made, and it has the quality to actually defend its title for a couple of more years. There’s really nothing to criticize, well, maybe the fact that the girl that gives him the power doesn’t actually instruct him how to use it, and also, the other thing that sucked was that he could only use it once on a person. Well, that’s bullshit. I mean, it gives you more control on the plot, but it sucks. If I get this kind of powers, and she would tell me you can only use it once on every person, I would fucking stab her in the head with a fork. Oh, one more thing about Code Geass that sucked. The way they made Lelouch look like a fucking anorexic. Look at him in the trailer, I mean, they had some real fun making him the skinniest human being alive.

Graphics 9/10
Sound 9/10
Storyline 10/10
Characters 10/10
Overall 9.5/10

ps: will review season 2 in a different post...you'll see why

Full Metal Panic!

  As you can see, this time I chose one of my top 5 anime. After that dog turd, s-CRY-ed, I thought that i deserve to review something nice and entertaining. Well this is it. Not only did I watch the full season, but also the second season ,,Second Raid” , the special season called ,,Fumoffu” and the OVA. Actually, I even watched them twice. It’s that entertaining. First of all, it has originality. Not that mecha was something new at the time, or the idea that teenagers pilot giant mecha suits, but the way the anime explains all the technology and robot suits, is really creative and it fits in the plot well and helps the story progress nicely. The idea is that there are certain people, called whisperers, that have valuable information locked up in their mind. One of the two main characters, Kaname, is a 16 year old girl with such information, and there are certain organizations that want it. That info is the source of much of the si-fi technology, including the mecha suits. That also means that the world will be set in some kind of alternate history of the beginning of the 21st century. Countries are divided, wars and revolution are all over the world, and many historical wars ended and are named differently. In short, it`s fucked up. But as you can see, if you watch the anime everything is tied in and there are no loose ends. But the best part is the main male protagonist, Souske. He is one serious military guy that is disciplined, calm, talented, skilled… in short he is an outstanding soldier ( and he is an excellent mecha pilot ). But the problem is that he is 16 year old too, and all he ever had in his life was war and the military. So when he is appointed Kaname’s bodyguard, he has a hard time adjusting. This gives premises for a lot of comedy, but also romance and drama. But most of all, it has ACTION. Not just mecha battles, but also situation that a real life marine or special forces unit have to handle. So as you can see this anime is diverse. Now it’s time to comment on other things. First of, the title. Unlike s-CRY-ed, the title has some sense in it. Think about it ,,Full Metal Panic”. Full Metal talks about the mecha ( which i believe is made of metal ) and Panic can be referenced to… pretty much anything in the series ( either the chaos Souske causes because of his lack of understanding the day to day life , or the destruction caused by the villains, whatever ). The opening theme is really nice. It fits the teenage mood of the main characters, and it goes well with the video. The character cast is good. It has variety, everybody fells like they belong, and everyone has his own, distinct personality, meaning that you will never fell like you’ve seen him before. There isn’t a sequence that you will fell it’s out of place, or dumb. Well sure, usually Love letters don’t become terrorist threats and field trips don’t become commando operations, and in real life you probably wouldn’t see something like that, but nothing is out of place, and you will always laugh at the situation because it really is funny, it fits the mood, and defines the characters of the series. The sound effects are good, they make you perceive what they should be, the voice work is done right and it ads to the characters complexity. The graphics are kick-ass. Sharp, brightly colored and every model is well defined and detailed ( like Souske’s scar, the mecha suits, the battlefields etc. ). Not bad for 2002. Plus ,,The Second Raid” , since it’s from 2005, has even better graphics. So i can say that it is really pleasing to the eye. Overall this anime is great, and i recommend it as a ,,must see”.