ataru moroboshi Reviews

Tenchi Muyo! (1992–2005)

Merely a Clone of Urusei Yatsura

[23 August 2001]

Tenchi Muyo came out in 1992. Urusei Yatsura ended completely in 1991. I don't think that was a coincidence. Tenchi Muyo is nothing more than a clone of Urusei Yatsura. Once again a Japanese family is disrupted by the sudden arrival of aliens. Once again the major male character is the object of desire by an alien. However, the character interactions are reduced to one dimension as all the characters fit into narrow anime stereotypes (Ryoko the gaijin, Ayeka the traditional Japanese girl, Washu the older woman, Sasami the child) contrived plots are the norm (all the jokes and stories have been done before, and better as well) and the series as a whole feels as if it were written by a committee.

If you enjoy this series, I suggest you see the series it borrowed from, Urusei Yatsura, and see the humor done in a much higher caliber.

If you do insist on viewing Tenchi Muyo, I suggest the "Tenchi Universe" TV series, which is funnier and more coherent than the OVA series.

Cowboy Bebop (1998– )

I'd give it more than 2 thumbs up-- if I had more hands!

[15 March 2001]

I'm an anime fan myself, so non-anime fans may want to take it with a grain of salt.

However, this 26 episode TV series is one of the best I've come across in any medium, animated OR live action. Done with outstanding artwork, character development and animation. Also the world the characters dwell in is well thought out. Excellent action, yet humorous when appropriate-- mostly when a character does something foolish.

Especially recommended is episode 5, in which an excellent homage is given to the Hong Kong cinema works of director John Woo.

Gunsmith Cats (1995–1996)

What's not to like?

[9/10 · 15 March 2001]

For the original audience, it was probably a look into America-- though not neccesarilly accurate with everything. Excellent animation-- especially the driving scenes and gun battles. Clever all the way around.

Looking at it with the Clinton years and the BATF, it becomes rather ironic: The heroine is a gun store owner while the villains were the head of the ATF and an anti-gun politician. If made in America, it would be labelled "right-wing propaganda."

X (1996)

A minimalsit movie with maximum results

[8/10 · 25 October 2000]

This movie was very minimalistic in approach. A small cast, with a small amount of character development. Theoretically, it should have gotten a lower rating (much as I said with "Akira". However, this movie had spectacular artwork, vivid animation and a story that just seemed to work. Rather than being a liability, the minimal character development just made me wish I could have known them better before...

Akira (1988)

I find this movie grossly overrated.

[1/10 · 19 October 2000]

The problem i had with this movie is that it came off as a plotless mess with very superficial characters. I'll admit it was well animated but there was nothing to make me want to see it again nor recommend it to anyone else. I think the reason it is so highly acclaimed is that when it was released to the west, it was so fresh to viewers equating animation with Disney that it automatically became "good." I think it gets 1.5 stars