I forgot that I did episode by episode reviews at The Bus's Transit of Anime Reality. I doubt the true otakus need me to do an in depth critique of this Fighter to Anime, but it's my blog, so first and for most this should be for me. The past couple of weeks, I've kept it free of overly depressing 2009 Russ Stevens related bullshit, so at the very least you can give me this.
This video game to anime adaptation is every bad thing I associate with U.S. Manga Corps (opinion has changed): bad colors, mediocre music and sound, and far from top quality animation. Still if your a fan of video game fighters, you'll enjoy this anime.
"Battle Arena Toshinden" is good enough to pull the fights together, and all the fights are important unlike the "Street Fighter 2: the Animated Movie". It does a good job at only concentrating on the story's main character, but unfortunately it does give us bits with the mediocre characters (only as characters not as video game fighters), Mondo, Duke, Fo, and perhaps Rongo, but at least they still are relevant to the plot. Also the video does does give us the authentic feel of a button smasher, unfortunately it is done only through special moves. Then again, some people may say that is the only way to fight in the video game. The animation still has a unique style and there is some great artwork available. Again you have to be a fan or looking for a cheap anime to enjoy this, so it is definitely not for everyone.
Eiji Shinjo, a finalist in the last Toshin Tounament, long lost brother, Sho, has just defeated two of the past Toshin champions using their own moves, and a fellow fighter, Rongo, was defeated by a mysterious opponent using the same strategy. Eiji joins forces with his friend Kayan to try and find out what is happening. As a precaution, they to go to warn their friends Sophia and Ellis. When Eiji meets up with Sophia (oh what a dumb teenager I was, spoilers), Sho comes to defeat his younger brother, but is it really Sho that Eiji is facing? If not who is behind this?
The story is not too original, and maybe even tacky since we are seeing one man create so much destruction. Even if he is an cyborg he is still a human (strength, weakeness wise), so making the Man Machine Project sounds pretty stupid. Still their are bits where the viewer can really get into the action, and the fight scenes are done very well. In other words, we don't have to care about the plot. The quality of the animation is low, but there are always scenes that are masterfully drawn, and I can see why they can sell the cells. Damn the need for motion.
After defeating Sho's clone, Eiji goes to meet up with Kayan and Ellis to tell them what he now knows about the The Organization's Man Machine Project. The two leave by telling Ellis to watch her back, and their premonition comes true when a Man Machine of a fighter killed by Ellis's father, Gaia, comes to capture her. Her two friends try to rescue her, but this Man Machine is far greater and knows everything thing about the two's fighting styles. Soon Gaia comes to the rescue, but Ellis tries to save her father from some poisoned throwing blades. Blades whose antidote is known only by The Organization. Now Gaia has to exchange himself for the antidote, and try to defeat the stronger Man Machine.
Definitely the worst episode on the tape because the characters who return stink. The voice actress of Sophia changes her image to a cold character, and why the hell would the Duke (not featured in the prior volume) have a grudge with The Organization. The fights are still well done, but we don't get any artistic treats in this episode like in the first volume. Also the horrible sound effects and music are even more noticeable. By no means was this a good way to end any series.
 |
| wikipedia.org |
No comments:
Post a Comment