Angelic Layer (2001)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Ian

I am a big fan of the works of CLAMP. From Card Captor Sakura to X, I have been greatly entertained by all of the CLAMP anime I have seen. Some of that is to do with the character designs; the eyes of the characters in CLAMP series always seem so expressive to me. The people are just so darn cute, you just sort of want to sit them on your shelf with your other plushies… CLAMP always bring … (read more)

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Argentosoma (2003)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

Borrowing from classical literature is nothing new in anime, and neither are themes of the armoured body, as evidenced by the numerous mecha titles available. Volume 1 of Argentosoma is unapologetic about its origins in that respect. Sure, if you’re looking for it, you’re going to find bits of Neon Genesis Evangelion or Robotech in there (“Hey those ships remind me of the Invid series” says my brother with a mixture of wistful approval and dismay), but the old take … (read more)

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Arjuna (2001)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

One hot summer day, I died.

Such a statement, a voiceover set amidst the mysterious serenity of zen archery practice, sets the pace for Arjuna Volume 01: Rebirth. There is something almost dreamlike about it; the haunting Yoko Kanno soundtrack, director Shoji Kawamori’s fine control of details and the rich, tactile colours all combine to generate something that borders on the grand. Even the opening of the first episode, setting the pace and describing clearly the central theme of … (read more)

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Armitage: Dual Matrix (2002)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Jonathan

The first anime I ever reviewed for H-C was Wicked City. It was an absolutely terrifying experience because, although I’d watched anime before, I’d never actually had to write about it and I wasn’t really sure I knew how. Thankfully, Wicked City was super cool and the review more or less wrote itself.

Like Wicked City, Armitage: Dual Matrix has proved quite simple to write about; unlike Wicked City however, Armitage is 90 minutes of complete dreck. … (read more)

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Astro Boy (1980)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Andy

Straight up I’m going to admit to not watching all fifty-one eps that make up this ten disc set of the color Astro Boy series from the eighties. This admission is probably breaking some critics’ code of ethics so if I’m killed in what appears to be an incident with a knight of the Templar, it wasn’t an accident.

Having left behind the present of hipster jeans & CSI: Franchise West and returned to my childhood of pastel v-neck sweaters … (read more)

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Avalon (2001)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Mark Morrison

According to Mamoru Oshii, the future is sepia. And Polish.

That’s the look of Avalon, Oshii’s first live-action film (you know him best from his anime Ghost in the Shell). Shot in Poland, with Polish actors, Avalon evokes an Eastern Bloc future in which life seems rationed. Technology is archaic; LCD monitors never happened. An underground virtual reality game called Avalon is the only escape, and heroine Ash (Malgorzata Foremniak) is the best player — that is, until a … (read more)

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Azumanga Daioh (2002)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Ching Yee

Azumanga Daioh is like a cute puppy… infected with rabies.
Rather than changing this situation, the producers of Azumanga Daioh decided it was going to have more fun foaming at the mouth and gnashing its teeth. And that’s a good thing, folks.
When you have to produce a straightforward anime series about the school lives of 16 year old girls, you know the concept isn’t going to keep anime folks awake at night in anticipation ..well, maybe for some.

The … (read more)

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Balzac & The Little Chinese Seamstress (2002)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Eugene

So. Why watch films? For that matter, why read books? Why listen to music?

Why idolise heroes and heroines that never were; villains and monsters that can never be and tales that are not true?

After all, what is the point of art and culture? It feeds no hunger and shelters nothing from the cold. What practical purpose does it serve to us as the human race?

This is the kind of thinking that led to things like the Cultural … (read more)

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