Before I begin, let me explain things I liked and hated about the Original Ghost in the Shell Theatrical Release. First, the Character Designer. You look at GitS, then you read the Manga. The difference is glaring to me. I don't know about you. Next was the plot. Ending? "With a movie this expensive, who needs an ending?" was what I thought ran through the director's head. This TV series does NOT pick up where the Movie left. Thank God... The music also was something I didn't like all too much. Industrial Techno just didn't fit my tastes back then. (a little more now, but still, not too inclined to listening to it...) What did I like about the movie? Well, to be honest, VERY LITTLE. The "semi-cg" use at that time was somewhat vague and the storyline was driving, up to the end at least. The action was good. Yes, I disliked the original GitS.
What do I LOVE about the new TV series? OH boy, let me make this quick so I don't forget I'm reviewing this thing... The character designer isn't someone we don't know about. Heh heh... The character designer is none other than... [drumroll] THE GREAT MASAMUNE SHIROW HIMSELF! Yes peeps, the manga writer is ALSO doing his TV Series character designs. (it is noticeable too I might add) The music. Heh, if you haven't heard of YOKO KANNO, you should be proverbially dragged out into the street and shot. YES PEOPLE, the famed magic fingers of Yoko Kanno will play out the riveting music pieces for this anime and damn I tell, ya, this thing rivals Noir in terms of action pieces and unlike Noir, there's MORE THAN ONE tune to hear! [enough rambling *cough*]
On with the review!
Ok, as far as I can tell, NOTHING is like Ghost in the Shell. NOTHING! The older anime before it or the newer ones being released. I've never heard of a "Ghost in the Shell Clone" of sorts due to its, well, luck I guess. We've seen many genres of anime ranging from "Tenchi Syndrome" to "scifi mecha". But GITSSAC seems to be in a Sci-Fi niche all its own. So as far as originality goes (not basing this in comparison to the theatrical release) this TV series is like nothing you'll ever see... Nothing...
Capture quality is going to be HOT! The digisub Chojin so gleefully placed in my possession is a prime candidate for amv footage. It's very dark though. Just as it should be. The use of CG is "somewhat" blatant. It's some where between the subtle usage of Inu Yasha to the extreme (sometimes awful) useage in Blue Submarine... You'll know when CG hits, but not all the time. I'm for CG use in anime by the way, but I'm sure some of you are not. However, I don't think the CG use in this anime is TOO distracting... ^_^
Sounds of the gunshots, reloads, car screeches, etc. were probably all digitized but WHO CARES! THIS THING SOUND BEAUTIFUL! Not a single moment was missed. What this category normally points to is the bgms and such. The opening is sung in a language that is NOT Japanese and I'm not sure what to make of it. By Yoko Kanno, the opening song is called "Inner Universe" (according to the op credits.) The end theme is in Engrish (^_^) and mostly understandable... The Combat BGMs rival Noir. As in, dark and gothic. Unlike Noir however, they use more than a single song... [thank goodness]
How's the action Omni? You may ask. Well, let's say HIGH. If you liked the "decapitative shotgun shells" in the GitS Movie, this TV series will NOT disappoint. Though the 1st ep I got featured robot Geishas getting their heads ripped off, it probably wouldn't be hard to "redraw" or imagine the machine fluid spewing out of their neck stumps as blood. This series is going to be for all those who can stomach extreme ammo violence. The weapons are for the most part, "silent stealth" types. Full auto submachine guns that cut you up like Counterstrike's MP5 Navy. The characters talk almost through Telepathy. (actually, encrypted radio beacons on the back of their skulls...) And watching the Peace Keeping Unit (sounds cliche I know) execute a SWAT team strike is actually VERY exciting. When 4 commandos enter a building and go into Thermo-Optic Camo mode is just BAD ASS Predator style. Also, to the disappointment of some viewers, Major Kusanagi does NOT have to be naked in order to use her thermo-op in this TV Series. (why is it my fav characters in anime use the name, "Kusanagi"? ie. Mamoru Kusanagi, Shizuma Kusanagi, Kei Kusanagi, Mizuho Kusanagi (yum), Motoko Kusanagi, it keeps going!) It's only a matter of time before the action becomes bloody I'm sure...
Lip Synchro is an unknown at this point because I've only seen the first ep but I'm POSITIVE that someone's going to license this sucker. My only prayer is that it's someone using Ocean Group or ADV Film's voice crew or Media Blasters cause quite frankly, most of the other voice dubber productions are quite weak...
Digital FX: You better believe it. All the cars. YES ALL OF THEM are polygons with windows where you'll see the anime characters conversing. Unlike the "hand-drawn" thermo-optics we saw in the GitS Movie, this anime uses the "Predator" effect through the use of CG. And very well I might add. Those of you who wanted to see GITSSAC without CG, I can only say, you hope for the impossible. There's NO WAY this series of this genre and execution could stand up to the budget extremes of a pure cell-drawn anime series... Also, all anime use cg now so...
Effort: Well, the movie version was said to be one of the (if not THE) MOST expensive animation ever created to date. I'm saddened to hear such a thing because the movie disappointed me. If you didn't see the movie, you won't miss anything here. Why? There's WAY too much effort placed into this series that it's hard to miss. The detail in the animation of the guns, the cg style sci-fi tools, the sheer number of characters in the first episode alone, and the BIG names of Shirow and Yoko Kanno. Nope, I see no expense spared in the making of this series. I only hope that the first ep is the harbinger of something much greater! ^_^
Overall: A keeper. I'm most definitely putting this as tied for my #1 anime alongside Onegai Teacher, Ai Yori Aoshi, and Saishu Heiki Kanojo (She, the Ultimate Weapon). Once I've seen its ending, maybe THEN I can come up with a decision. [woe is me...] So much good anime... So little time...
Reviewable: You've just GOT to see Major Kusanagi in her "default" combat uniform. OH, that's something worth coming back to again and again. It's both concealing, yet beautiful and perfect for just down and out fanservice delivery AND HEAVY DAMAGE delivery... Aside from her beauty, the series itself (hell the first episode!) is awesome from the get-go and I find myself watching it now as I type. Good thing I can type blindfolded... X_X
Well, as an anime viewer, I can recommend this to, well EVERYONE! Just make sure you're old enough to "understand" that guns kill people. It may sound stupid but hey, some people don't get this aspect yet. So let me say this anime is good for EVERYONE who can stomach street combat firearms and beautiful women warriors. You will NOT like this series if you're into more realistic stuff or if you dislike sci-fi in general due to its "redundance". If you didn't like the first movie, take it from me, they SOOOO improved upon it. Trust me... ^_^
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Next on my Double Feature:
"Asagiri no Miko" (Priestess of Asagiri)
This is a "priestess" series kind of like Shoujo. (wtf did I just say!!! 0_0) What's it about? A family of 3 sisters who dress up in miko garbs (Kikyo style no less... yum...) who fight demons. This is NOT a serious series from what I can tell. I saw 3 eps. Each ep is similar in type to "Hanaukyo Maids". Yes, they're barely 12 mins a piece also! The fanservice is nonexistent (but I only saw 3 eps, who knows?) If you want to see an odd take on Priestesses, this is the anime for you... ON TO THE REVIEW!
Originality is quite good here. The "Shoujo Magical Girl" genre isn't new, but this is an odd take on it. The Hiyeda sisters all fight demons as shrine priestesses and use odd weapons to do it. The love story in it is still cute and cuddly innocent love. Though it may be considered "incestuous". I'm unsure, but would it be incest to like your cousin if you're not related by blood, just by marriage law? ie. Your cousin is a nephew of your aunt's husband? Blah, don't know don't care... But this anime has an odd aspect. The Left Eye of the "hero" is oddly colored. Can't say why, don't wanna spoil it... ^_^ The middle sister of the 3 has a crush on him, though it's said that they're all cousins... Quite odd if you ask me. As far as the look and execution goes. There's some Super Deformed mode and it's quite comical and the story is an odd twist on other things you may have seen.
The Capture is great. Gotta rent the DVDs of this thing when I get the chance. (yes, another digisub review) This Digisub is PERFECT amv footage. Ah, I love what these digisubbers are releasing these days. 0_0
Sounds good too. The opening is sung by Megumi Hayashibara and she's in this anime's cast of lovely Priestesses as well. The combat bgms aren't anything special but overall, the music, sounds, and intro/endings are above average, but nothing as big as my previous review for GITSAC.
The action in this anime is very short lived. At barely 12 mins. an ep (why are these being made again?) the fights are over very quickly. The first eps fight ends in a hilarious way! Can't tell ya though. The fights are usually between the cutesy Priestesses and summoned demons that seem ripped from a Hentai anime. ^_^ The oldest sister utilizes a long bow like Kikyo with one exception, she can fire (SHOTGUN STYLE) 5 arrows in a spread! The other two sisters use bells, ribbons, and a small knife to purify their foes. Neat "prayer" stuff here...
Lip Synch is also unknown at this point. Don't have the domestic stuff yet and it is a digisub after all...
Digital FX are in the realm of Inu Yasha with the magic spells being computer generated. Aside from that, the cg finishing spells are as subtle as Inu Yasha's as well... Good stuff... ^_^
Effort isn't too high here. When an episode lasts barely 10 minutes, it makes you wonder what were these people smoking and how expensive was it to cut into their budget so hard. The cast is small. With the 3 eps I've seen, I've only heard 8 people talking... :/
Overall: This anime is good, but I'm going to "sit it out" as it were since it's not as great or goofy as other anime I've seen...
Reviewable: Not very. Again, at 12 mins. an ep, you're not missing much, but the SD comedy and love-love hijinks maybe worth it...
I'd recommend Asagiri no Miko to the lovers of Hanaukyo Maids and other gag anime. Though I don't think the fanservice can equal the Maids, this anime isn't for fanservice lovers. Shoujo fans should take a look though.
If you have any information regarding my reviews or some credit information that maybe wrong, please tell me! Also, your opinions are welcome and I've also come up with a plan, if any of you are willing (though you don't have to type as fast as me... ^_^) I'd like to "tag-team" with another avid anime digi-sub or import DVD watcher when I do these reviews. Perhaps that way, I don't have to write as much and we can be like Siskel and Ebert, only on this forum, we'd be "Strata and _______". Anyone willing to fill in that blank?
If you have questions, PM me! I'd be glad to hear it...
