Anime Review Roundup

It’s been a while since I’ve had a week of anime reviews, and a couple of new ones at that. Aria the Origination was first, with an added OVA to boot. This is the conclusion to the Aria story, although the franchise has continued since with further OVAs. It’s a gentle sci-fi comedy slice of life show, about girls training as gondoliers, in a recreated Venice on the planet Aqua. This gentle, reflective show is one of the best ‘mood’ shows around. Just twenty minutes in the presence of one of these episodes is like a deep tissue massage for the mind. With any luck, MVM will get the other spin-offs as well, but we have got three great series, and the conclusion in Aria the Origination is pitch perfect; click on the review to read more.

It’s like the entertainment equivalent of being suckered by a pretty face. Just put together a tantalising combination of words, and you have my attention. To my momentary regret, I was always going to watch a show named How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift? I say momentary, because while it may not be the anime show I might have hoped for, it’s also quite forgettable. Its mediocrity will have faded long before I ever think of watching it again, which no doubt is setting me up for another disappointment in a few years. This ‘after school club’ comedy about girls doing weight training is tired and predictable, and rather clumsily put together to cynically appeal to its target demographic. It’s also a world where people have no nipples...

If you’ve never seen this before, and are fan of the kind of classic cyberpunk anime that was Manga Video’s bread and butter back in the first UK anime boom, then take my word for it and just place an order for Cyber City Oedo 808 Limited Edition Blu-ray, making sure you order the right one. If you’re familiar with the show, then you won’t be surprised by my ranty review, as this is the second attempt to release Cyber City on Blu-ray, and in my opinion it hasn’t been handled well.

Daphne in the Brilliant Blue. In a futuristic water-world, this show reinvents the Charlie’s Angels template, with a group of scantily clad girls doing odd jobs and missions, as well as occasionally fighting crime. When it comes to the character designs and the costumes, this is full on fan service, and aspects of the episodes head straight to the lowest common denominator. And at the halfway mark, the show throws in a sci-fi twist that changes it completely. The fan service is still there, but the character development and story changes gear and leads to an emotionally effective conclusion.