Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

When Final Fantasy The Spirits Within came out in early 2001 there was talk not so much about the film itself but about the future of filmmaking. There was a great deal of hype about how realistic this all-CG film was, about how life-like the characters were, right down to individual strands of hair and their eyelashes. There was even, at one point, a fair amount of fear-mongering (at least in the media) about how this film was the way … (read more)

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Fruits Basket (2000)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

Seen the Fruits Basket trailer? Wondered what the hell it was all about? Well, the first thing I need to say is, forget the trailer. Don’t know what they were thinking when they cut that one. Maybe it was an issue of how to represent a series like Fruits Basket (affectionately nicknamed Furuba by its Japanese fans for its Katakana syllables) in thirty seconds or less, because it’s definitely one of those series difficult to categorise. On one hand it’s … (read more)

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Full Metal Panic (2002)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by James

After watching the first four episodes of Full Metal Panic, like Kaname I have no idea what is really going on. Often leaving things unexplained, FMP’s mysteriousness is probably its best asset. Unanswered gaps in the story (bad guy Gauron’s motives, Mithril’s provocative ethics, the Whispered’s identities and powers) compelled me to either (a) kick-in the TV set, or (b) think about what I was watching with a little more cognitive application than usual. I’ll try to make some … (read more)

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Gad Guard (2003)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Andy

First off, don’t be misled by the kiddie visuals of Gad Gard’s box art. It is actually quite sophisticated with some overt sexuality from the female players.

Gad Gard stitches together a retro patchwork of influences from sixties mod chic: short, pleated mini-shirts, sweater vests, mopeds, a jazzy saxophone in the title sequence straight out of Cowboy Bebop, to nineteenth century Dickensian street urchins armed with jet-powered skateboards and Faginesque villians. Patch this all into a Euro steam-punk future … (read more)

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Galaxy Angel (2001)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Andy

You know I tried to resist but “wacky and zany” pretty much sums up Galaxy Angel. It is a far-flung future where hysterical over-reaction is the standard response to any given situation and any notion of plot is subservient to comedic set-ups & pay-offs.

And where there is anime hi-jinx, a little fan service can’t be far behind. Discipline in the Galaxy Angels seems to be fairly relaxed with the standard issue uniforms undergoing a number of personal modifications. … (read more)

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Gasaraki (2002)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

Dancing While Standing Still

Gasaraki is on the surface exactly what it appears to be – mysteries and experiments and secret organisations; a boy and a girl and dangerous destinies; advanced weaponry, military might and political scheming. It does not fail to deliver and is complex and intriguing enough to be enjoyed on this level with few shortcomings. But it is also more than this and that is where its greater strength lies. Look beneath its initial value. Think not … (read more)

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Getbackers (2002)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Deni

Getbackers is the coolest boys’ anime for girls you’re ever likely to see.

What? What do you mean how can it be a boy’s anime if it’s for girls? Alright, alright. I mean,

Getbackers is the coolest girls’ anime for boys you’re ever likely to see.

No? Confused? Then let me explain a little by putting the phenomena of deliberate subtext into brief, vague historical context.

A while ago anime producers realised something that probably came as a bit of … (read more)

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Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2003)

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Posted on January 25, 2006 by Andy

If you haven’t seen the Mamorou Oshii’s 1996 masterpiece, Ghost in the Shell, then you can go and sit in the corner of anime class and face the wall. In a lot of ways, Ghost in the Shell was the heir to Otomo’s Akira. At times explosive action, at others a meditation on what it means to be human, Ghost in the Shell presented a fully realised world of rapidly advancing technology set against a backdrop of decaying … (read more)

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