Anime Review Roundup

Straight into the reviews this week, beginning with a One Piece double header, or is that quadruple header? First up was the next collection of episodes in One Piece Collection 8, which sees the conclusion of the Skypiea arc, and which certainly goes out with a bang. There then follows a stretch of filler, and once again, One Piece shows that it can do filler on a par with the canon episodes. The only annoying thing is that this collection ends just one episode shy of the arc’s conclusion. Otherwise, when it comes to comedy and action in a long running series, Collection 8 once again shows why One Piece is considered the pinnacle of its genre. I couldn’t find a trailer, so here’s the music video for the opening theme...

Then it was the turn of One Piece again. Or should that be Three Piece, given that this is the final One Piece Movie Collection to be released here by Manga Entertainment, containing movies 7-9? It’s our last chance to say ‘Yah Boo Sucks’ to the rest of the English speaking world, as we get two of the movies before everyone else. Movie 8 has been released in the US and Australia though. However, with this collection, it seems that the originality of the first six films is beginning to wane, as two of the films here are re-workings of series arc stories. Two of the films here aren’t that great, but unexpectedly, the one that is good isn’t the one that I anticipated.

You ever have one of those weeks? I posted my One Piece movie collection review with a whinge that Manga had forgotten the Blu-ray release for movie 8 that they had promised. The day after I posted that review, they announced the release date for the Blu-ray. That was rectified by a hasty edit. Then, I posted this review for Attack on Titan Part 2, the conclusion of the fan favourite series, noting its open ending, and the long period without comment by its creators, opining that the quality and impact of this show would only be determined if a second series would be made. One hour after I posted the review, just one hour, and it was announced in Japan that Attack on Titan Season 2 is in production for a 2016 release! It’s too much of a pain to edit that review. Some days it just doesn’t pay to get out of bed!

No such problems with my final review. There was a problem with the sound sync on one episode of the pre-release version, but that was fixed for retail long before I even started reviewing Kill la Kill Part 1, which is a good thing, as this is one of the anime highlights of the year. It’s coming from the same school of deconstruction and parody that Gurren Lagann graduated from, but Kill la Kill does for its high school combat genre (with added magical girls) with a whole lot more energy, pizzazz and perfectly judged humour. It’s an absolute peach of a show, entertaining from beginning to end, and certainly a high point to end the week on.