Denkyu: Anime Webzine

by Otakuden

You wake up one morning to find the world has change drastically overnight. Amazingly enough, you go about your routine in normalcy and call it a day as you crawl into bed and succumb to a peaceful slumber. The next day you wake up and that which had been so different was now so boringly normal it bore hardly a conscious thought, blending into the scenery, life, and society as naturally as if it had always been there.

The mothership.

After she crash-landed on Earth at some point in Mayuko’s (Mayu) early childhood, the sudden shock to humanity of not being alone and having to coexist with a human-like alien race all but disappeared. Humanity and society created a place for the displaced aliens just as they would have for fellow displaced immigrants. Years later it is simply business as usual. On the flip-side, because of the new alien residents, NieA_7 also deals with a lot of the rather heavy and pertinent issues of discrimination, racism, stereotypes, poverty, social class, small town vs. big city, etc. If life is business as usual, that unfortunately means one must live with and deal with the darker side of humanity also.

Thrust into this new mish-mash of modern society and its ills are our two main characters, Mayu and NieA, an Under 7 alien which means that NieA is of the lowest class of aliens, an outcast whose existence isn’t even recognized by the alien citizenship board. Mayu is a poor, hard-working small town girl who attends cram school in the city during the day and works at a small family-owned restaurant at night to make ends meet. She lives in one of the upper level rooms at a public bath house which her family used to own when she was just a child. It has since passed out of her family’s hands, but fortunately it is currently owned and operated by the enthusiastic if slightly eccentric Kotomi. NieA is her fun-loving, free-wheeling and free-loading room-mate who set up her home in Mayu’s closet one day, much to Mayu’s initial disgruntlement. The two couldn’t be more dissimilar, and yet a deepening friendship and trust gradually develops between Mayu and NieA. Factor in Mayu’s UFO otaku friend and fellow cram school student, Chiaki, and Yoshitoshi Abe and his creative staff has formulated one of the most endearing and wackiest slice-of-life anime yet.

NieA_7 revels in the boorishly normal by being extremely exotic. Lavish accessories, absurd fashionistas, and consumerism take a back seat to the everyday. The daily bathhouse customers, Mayu, NieA, Chiaki, Genzo, Kotomi and others are just your average young adults trying to get by, find their place in the world, and have fun all at the same time.

That doesn’t mean that NieA_7 is without slapstick humor, gags, and a plethora of insanity. It is, and more. The pure zaniness and incredulity is what brings that natural sense of realism to NieA_7. Each time I watch this 13 episode OVA, there is nothing I cannot personally relate to. I can relate to Mayu’s super-strict budget and almost daily struggle to make ends meet all while trying to maintain a positive outlook on life. NieA’s innocently naïve and free spirit reminds me of my carefree youth, and can make anyone who is tied down by the burden of excessive adult responsibilities think twice about what being happy and being free really means. Chiaki’s bold honesty with her UFO otaku obsession makes a fellow anime otaku like myself grin from ear-to-ear each time she has a major geek-out moment, having had quite a few of those myself.

Is there some great cosmic secret or truth to be told? A mystery of life to be revealed? A great revelation of epic proportions?

No. That is not at the heart of NieA_7. It’s place is to raise awareness of discrimination, racism, poverty, social class, and stereotypes without being preachy by allowing her zany characters just to live their lives and thus illuminate these touchy issues naturally. NieA_7’s greatest treasures are Mayu, NieA, Chiaki, and others, living day to day, laughing, crying, arguing, reminiscing, relaxing, and just trying to be. They are the heart of NieA_7.

A crimson sunrise.
Sundaes with your best friends at a local café.
Late nights helping out at work.
Quiet moments of reflection.
Bitter arguments and teary reconciliations.
Battery operated UFO flights.
Exploding bath-houses.

NieA_7 was originally licensed and released on DVD in the US by Geneon. Its license is currently either lost or in limbo to the best of my knowledge, but new and used copies can be found online and in scattered stores. If you happen to stumble across this fabulously hilarious and poignant slice-of-life anime, take Mayu and the gang home with you. Just be sure to watch out for killer man-eating venus fly traps along the way.

To check out all of Otakuden’s reviews, check out her blog at http://otakudenreviews.livejournal.com/

by Otakuden

Life is a very serious matter, but that doesn’t mean that life is meant to be taken seriously all the time. If it wasn’t for laughter, for outrageous comedic moments, outlandish parodies, and priceless satire, surely humanity would have gone mad eons ago. While the serious moments of our lives give purpose and drive, the laughter and smiles is the glue that holds us all together and makes living possible.

This is nowhere more evident than in the creative genius that is Photon: The Idiot Adventures. Brought to me by Masaki Kajishima, the same creative genius who was behind Tenchi Muyo and Dual, Photon perfectly bridges the gap between the serious tragedies of life and the gut-busting insanity of our day to day reality. What is life but one big cosmic joke in which taking things too seriously is just as detrimental as being too lackadaisical.

Enter our main characters: Photon, Keyne, Aun, Papacha, and Lashara. In the distant past on a remote planet, there was once a spaceship which crash-landed, thus opening our anime, Photon. During its fiery descent, a mysterious object from the ship fell to the ground, landing amidst the primitive people there. Recovered by one of the natives during its descent, this seemingly mystical and sacred object is help aloft for all too see, and in one single instant, the path of evolution and society takes an unexpected turn. Hundreds of years later, the Holy Object has catapulted the original natives to a civilized agricultural state by giving motion and life to various objects and implements: tools, machinery, modern conveniences, and even producing fire.

So, just what is this Holy Object?

A marker.

Yes. None other than a marker, also known as an Aho pen in the civilization it came from. To truly appreciate the double, triple, and sometimes quadruple entendres of this and other linguistic parodies within Photon: The Idiot Adventures, one must first understand what the word Aho means in Japanese.

Translation: moron, stupid, idiot.

In other words, an all around buffoon. The counter-agent to the great power of Aho is Un-Aho, and the center of all Un-Aho is known as the Singularity Point. This would mean that whoever is the Singularity Point is the antithesis to all Aho in the known universe.

Amidst all the silly hijinks unravels a tale of power and corruption, love and heartbreak, promises made and promises kept, and intergalactic conflict. Thrust into this mayhem is our main characters. While there are multiple important secondary characters, the main character in this tale is Photon, our loveable mascot, or man, for whom this particular OVA series is named. Photon, our token idiot with whom we adventure is simple, quiet, and sensibly down-to-earth almost to the point of simpleton. In summary, Photon embodies the basic principles of chivalry which, unfortunately or fortunately, this also makes him an idiot.

I always find it amazing that the Japanese have so perfectly mastered the craft of pairing absolutely outrageous comedy with very real, very taught emotional human drama and circumstance. In one moment Keyne and Aun are having a no-holds-barred showdown to see who can cook a better meal for Photon, thus proving who is more worthy of being his wife. In another, Keyne battles for her life against Papacha and the Galactic Emperor, both of whom wish to utilize her body which is also the Key to unlocking the limitless power of Aho. Through various turns of events, our heroes will have you laughing vigorously in one moment and on the edge of your seat, pillow clenched in hand the next, as they battle to save the universe and each other.

Photon, Keyne, Aun, Lashara, and Papacha have forever endeared themselves to my heart. Whenever I reminisce about the anime Photon, I can’t help but to smile and snicker. Papacha is one of the most selfish, arrogant, and unbelievably stupid villains I have ever experienced. There is no boundary that cannot be crossed and no parody too crazy. From dancing black dots strategically placed in delicate areas to exploding nose bleeds and sake-swilling hot spring mischief, Photon has something for everyone’s funny bone.

Fortunately, Photon: The Idiot Adventures is available domestically from US Manga Corp. Collected on one DVD; Photon delivers three solid hours of Aho hilarity. No matter how much time passes or how many times I revisit Photon and friends, it is always just as good as the last.

To check out all of Otakuden’s reviews, check out her blog at http://otakudenreviews.livejournal.com/

by Otakuden

Life as you know it consists of your bedroom, a large gathering room where you and other children play, and the adults who raised you. There is no outside world, just the institution with its hospital white walls, sterile atmosphere, and impersonal staff who tend to your basic needs. Years pass, friendships are made and lost, as you and the other children living there grow into teenagers. Protected by the staff members who work in the institution, your home, you trust them as one would trust family.

And then, betrayal.

Ignorant of the institution’s real purpose, the children’s role as nothing more than cattle to be farmed for their organs is brutally revealed to one young girl who had been raised by the institution for as long as she could remember. Within seconds, her quiet, peaceful life was shattered because some powerful multi-millionaire’s daughter needed new eyes. Instantly, she was reduced from human being to objectified organ donor. With her eyes stolen and any usefulness over, only death awaits our tragic victim as an unknown armed force attacks the institution. In physical pain, emotionally shocked and shattered, she awaits her fate in listless resignation. Bursting into her life, a shadowed figure scoops the young girl into his arms and fights their way to freedom.

Blind and incapacitated, our young lady is brought to the mysterious Black Jack, a doctor of almost magical abilities. He restores her sight with new set of eyes capable of x-ray vision, giving our young lady a new chance at life. Black Jack informs Ray, our tragic heroine, that her life is now hers to live and her new ability hers to use as she sees fit. While not an original character created by Yoshitomi Akihito, mangaka of the manga Ray, Black Jack is an original creation of Osamu Tezuka, the grandfather of manga. A mercenary doctor who operates on seemingly anybody and everybody, Ray feels greatly indebted to Black Jack.

After being rescued from the institution, Ray was raised by Dr. Kasugawa, a surgeon and Ray’s adoptive mother. A kind lady, wise and caring, Ray admires Dr. Kasugawa as she was a major influence along Ray’s path to becoming a surgeon. Ray is supported on all sides by Dr. Kasugawa, the eccentric surgeon and hospital director Sawa and his staff, and Shinoyama, a genius at manufacturing artificial organs. Shinoyama works closely with Ray on multiple occasions and harbors a not-so-secret crush on Ray. Unfortunately for Shinoyama, Ray doesn’t take notice, and if she does, her memories of Koichi interfere. While she was at the institution, there was a young boy there, Koichi, whom Ray fell in love with. Their relationship was mutual, a quiet tragedy which would be revealed many years later.

Much of the first half of Ray the Animation is spent getting to know our main protagonist and heroine, Ray. Despite having gone through such a hellacious tragedy, Ray grows into a beautiful intelligent young lady and a very skilled surgeon. Using her special ability to control her x-ray vision, Ray performs seemingly impossible medical feats, saving lives that had been written off as lost. Each case ranges from average to the bizarre; a plot similar to Black Jack, but Ray operates for personal reasons and not profit or gain. Ray cannot see someone in pain, hurt, or dying and not want to help. Her personal creed as a doctor and her morals won’t allow it.

Throughout all her operations and her daily life, Ray has never forgotten nor forgiven the institution for what it did to her and her friends, nor the “H-Ring” man who stole her eyes. While Ray never saw the powerful billionaire who bought her eyes, she did see his hand which had a large ring on it with the letter “H”. Thus, he is known only to her as the H-Ring man. Together with Director Sawa and his staff, who are revealed as being part of the team that raided and burnt down the institution years ago, Ray searches for lost friends and the “H-Ring” man. It was Director Sawa himself who saved Ray so many years ago, losing an eye and a leg in the process. A rather intimidating figure of a man, Sawa is actually a gentle giant, and cares deeply for Ray as he would for his own daughter. It was Director Sawa and Dr. Kasugawa who raised Ray after her rescue.

Through a devastating sequence of events, Ray learns the truth of her origins, her original purpose and why H-Ring is so obsessed with her. She also finds Koichi and is finally able to put an end to everything. Supporting her throughout her ordeal is Director Sawa, Dr Kasugawa, Shinoyama, and hidden in the shadows, Black Jack. The shocking truth acts as a release, breaking the chains which had bound Ray to her past. Truly free now, Ray continues her chosen path, continuing to use her gift, her special eyes and surgical talent to help people and save lives.

Ray the Animation features amazing medical mysteries, detailed, gritty, and out-of-this world surgical procedures amidst top-notch animation. At the heart of Ray the Animation though is Ray herself. The horrible journey she has had to endure through life and the path she has chosen for herself despite said tragedies. It takes great inner strength to continuously turn tragedy into hope and resolve. With the help of close friends and family, Ray uses that innate inner strength to build her a new life.

As sentient, intelligent human beings, just what value and worth do we put on people and life? Are we nothing more than just organs waiting to be farmed out or donated to someone else after we die? Is someone else’s life more important than mine? Who deserves to live and who deserves to die? Should it matter whether the patient is a saint, or a vicious cold-blooded serial killer? If you only have one chance at life, how will you choose to live it?

Life and mortality. Morals and justice. Forgiveness and redemption.

Ray the Animation puts these issues at the forefront as our heroine Ray searches for her own answers. Strong yet vulnerable at the same time, Ray is the lost, hurt child in all of us: fighting to live, to find meaning and purpose in life, and to find who we were and who we are going to be. As Ray searches for her answers, so too does the viewer. Unfortunately, Ray the Animation is unlicensed. At thirteen episodes long, it is an enjoyable anime, and one I could easily watch in one sitting. Once Ray grabs a hold of you, she doesn’t let go. The manga is currently available translated, but it is my hope that someday soon Ray the Animation will get the US DVD release she deserves.

To check out all of Otakuden’s reviews, check out her blog at http://otakudenreviews.livejournal.com/

by Otakuden

What do you get when you combine one of the greatest anime directors and an English techno dance band? A funkadelic sci-fi romp through adventure and romance in vivid colors and classic anime style.

Leiji Matsumoto has been writing manga and directing anime since the early 70s, bringing into existence such timeless classics as Galaxy Express 999, Captain Harlock, Space Battleship Yamato, Queen Millenia, and Queen Emeraldas. To this day, Matsumoto-san is still very active in the anime industry, writing and producing new anime, all occurring within a fictional world known as the Leijiverse. Over the decades, Matsumoto-san has singe-handedly created a living, breathing anime universe that is uniquely his own. Space Opera; were there to be a king of this genre, Matsumoto-san would definitely be sitting in the throne.

Daft Punk is a French techno dance funk band who got their start in the late 80s. Back when dance and techno was in its fledgling stages, Daft Punk was tearing up the dance floors and club scene, pioneering new ground in this emerging musical frontier. Daft Punk’s search for their own unique sound culminated in the mid 90s with their debut album Homework, and they haven’t slowed down since. Closet otaku and life-long fans of Matsumoto-san, in 2003 Daft Punk approached Matsumoto-san with a completed script and their desire to create an animated musical movie centered on their album, Discovery. Matsumoto-san agreed and joined the creative team of Shinji Shimizu, Kazuhisa Takenouchi, and Tamiyuki Sugiyama as the visual supervisor.

Between the fall of 2000 and the spring of 2003, a modern classic was born: Interstella 5555 – The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem

Interstella begins with the slow, building beat of One More Time, the opening song on the album Discovery and the opening song for our nonstop musical thrill ride through Interstella, an epic space opera. On a colorful planet amidst distant stars, citizens dance free and enjoy life to the funky beats and musical styling of the stars of the Crescendolls, a blue-skinned four member band which includes Octave, Baryl, Arpegus, and Stella. In true Matsumoto-san style, Stella is strikingly waifish and feminine, yet vibrant and strong-willed. She plays the bass guitar and is the heart of the Crescendolls. Matsumoto-san has always been a proponent of what I would consider a well-rounded, strong female lead who is both vulnerable and indomitable. Her fellow band members fill the roles of quietly stoic, fun-loving rascal, and noble leader.

Unfortunately for the Crescendolls, Earl de Darkwood, an evil megalomaniac has set his eyes on their underground popularity with selfish designs of profit and power. As the album plays nonstop, so too do the unraveling events of Interstella. Kidnapped mid-concert by masked, armored humanoids sent by Darkwood, the future seems bleak for the Crescendolls as they are ferreted away in Darkwood’s ship. A distress signal is sent to our hero, Shep, aboard his spaceship which just happens to be in the shape of a huge electric guitar. A fellow otaku of the band and harboring a boyish crush on the beauteous Stella, Shep dons his battle gear and steers his ship for the kidnapped Crescendolls final destination: Earth.

In a hidden facility, the Crescendolls are brain wiped of their vibrant personality and identity and turned into mindless automatons. No originality. No creative freedom. No passion or inspiration. No sense of genius or style. No heart or soul. Originally nameless to the viewers, the band was given their name Crescendolls by Earl de Darkwood which eventually becomes their accepted identity. It may be the only redeeming contribution they receive from their time on Earth.

With their minds reprogrammed, appearances disguised with a human skin-tone spray, and a new hip look, the Crescendolls make their Earth debut and are an instant hit. While Darkwood would like to credit their success and achievements all to him, it is really the Crescendolls original passion and creativity which lends them their success and lovability, whether it be on Earth or the far reaches of space. Darkwood is, after all, stealing their music, their talents, and their image to rake in the millions of dollars of profit he can make from the band, gaining the coveted Gold Record. And when their use is over, he plans nothing more than to store his Gold Record and their musical essence in some heartless machine and then dispose of the leftovers.

Shep, who crash landed on Earth in his pursuit of the kidnapper’s spaceship, witnesses the Crescendolls concert on TV. Recognizing their disguised form, he plans their rescue. Without a human disguise, Shep covers himself to hide his blue skin and alien features from the dangerous inhabitants of Earth. As our musical space opera continues, Shep plans a desperate rescue during one of their concerts which quickly falls apart in the face of Darkwood’s armed guards and the Crescendoll’s disoriented confusion. After all, they have no memory of who they really are, so Shep is just as alien and a dangerous threat to them and their audience. Valiantly, Shep is able to release Darkwood’s mind-control over all the band members except Stella. Freed from Darkwood’s clutches, Shep and the other three band members eventually rescue Stella, but not before misfortune strikes and tragedy claims her first victim.

Octave, Baryl, Arpages, and Stella head for Earl de Darkwood’s lair, an ominous castle nestled high upon a craggy cliff. Inside, they learn of the Earl’s devious plan. Every one of his Gold Record bands have kidnapped, brain wiped aliens. After he receives the 5,555th Gold Record award and places it and the representative band member into his evil machine, Darkwood would be granted absolute rule over the Universe. Appalled and enraged, the Crescendolls foil his plans, sending the Darkwood to his deserved doom. With their identities restored and their disguise abandoned, the Crescendolls return home. Arriving safely, they hold their first concert in honor of their fallen hero as their performance is broadcast on digital sets throughout the Universe.

Peace, Love, and Musical Freedom is restored. For the Crescendolls and the viewing audience, there is once again goodwill and happiness in the universe. Interstella 5555 is one of the best collaborations between two creative forces, and another timeless addition to the Leijiverse. While watching Interstella, I can’t help but wonder where the original story ends and the cynical criticism of commercialized music begins. Ultimately, I believe it to be Daft Punk’s love for original music and Matsumoto-san’s love for impassioned story-telling which gives credit to both social points.

Social studies aside, anytime is always Daft Punk and Matsumoto-san time, and Interstella 5555 will always be a modern space opera of retro funkadelic pleasure to watch, hum, and think along to.

To check out all of Otakuden’s reviews, check out her blog at http://otakudenreviews.livejournal.com/

by Otakuden

In 1994, a 4 part OVA titled Armitage III: Poly Matrix swept through the sci-fi cyberpunk anime scene. Gritty and unforgiving, Armitage addresses the complex issue of humanity and morality. What does it mean to be alive? What does it mean to be human? Ross Sylibus and Naomi Armitage, they both seem like your typical, professional police officer. There is one difference though; Naomi Armitage is not human. Naomi is a Third, an illegal series of humanoid robots created by the reclusive genius, Dr. Asakura. Their secret: Thirds can conceive. Initially, Ross and Naomi are very much at odds with each other but as they work together and learn more about each other, they inevitably fall in love. Breaking away from the force, Ross and Naomi have a spectacular final showdown against the armored versions of the Thirds, and then escape together where they elope and start a new life with new identities.

Suffice to say, the OVA was a success, and in 2002 a movie sequel was produced: Armitage III: Dual Matrix. Taking place a few years after Poly Matrix, we find Ross, Naomi, and their daughter Yoko living a happy, peaceful family life together on Mars. Naomi is a glowing mother whose greatest joy is her daughter Yoko and being Ross’ wife. Ross works as a security guard while enjoying his role as doting father and loving husband. While I enjoyed Poly Matrix for its urban Blade Runner-esque theme, I enjoy Dual Matrix most because it exudes a comforting familial warmth and tenderness. Ross, Naomi, and Yoko strive not to be special or extraordinary, but to simply live their everyday lives in peace and simple joys. This reality is what they strove and fought so hard for in Poly Matrix.

Dual Matrix opens in the middle of a covert Special Ops attack on an Earth robotics plant. A bloody massacre ensues. As she lay dying, the last Third sends a desperate transmission of the unprovoked attack to Naomi. Technically, Third production is outlawed, thus a violent attack on a secret base that shouldn’t exist never really happened in the first place. Written off as a necessary measure to suppress a violent robot uprising against their human scientists, only Naomi knows the truth. Anti-robot sentiment on Earth escalates, while Mars fights for both its independence and Human Rights for their robots, a necessity on Mars where the men outnumber the women almost 2:1.

With such controversial and volatile issues as Human Rights, social conflict, and a battle for independence at the forefront, one may think I have just summed up the theme behind Dual Matrix. Wrong. Dual Matrix is wholly about the indomitable boundless love of a Mother for her Daughter. As Naomi searches for answers on Earth, Ross arrives with Yoko to act as a delegate for the robot rights bill and to try and find Naomi. Unfortunately, Yoko gets caught in the crossfire and is kidnapped by Demetrio Mardini, a demented robotics creator who seeks to find the answer to Naomi and the Thirds ability to conceive life. He is no robot rights activist though, and wants only to duplicate in subservient, obedient robots the ability to conceive. In truth, Demetrio wishes to create a brand new race born into slavery.

His twisted desires aside, Naomi ultimately cares about only one thing; her daughters safety and well-being. Learning of Yoko’s capture, she and Ross set out to rescue Yoko from the Earth Robotics Federation where Demetrio is Vice President. Ross takes the backseat, as Naomi time and time again selflessly places her being in danger and injury to save Yoko. Battling two of Demetrio’s robot creations modeled after her original Third design, Naomi struggles to rescue her daughter with no concern for herself. A bit reckless to be sure, but to Naomi, there is no one more important or precious to her than Yoko.

While it is vaguely hinted at during the beginning of the movie, the fact that Naomi is a robot, no matter how human-like, is revealed to Yoko in a shocking, heart-wrenching instant. Up until then, Yoko believed her mother to be just another normal flesh and blood human like all the other mothers. While it may have been a topic to slowly broach later in her life, to suddenly be exposed to that startling truth while in the middle of being kidnapped and pursued by violent robots proves very traumatizing. Withdrawing her hand and her trust, Yoko looks at Naomi with eyes that don’t seem to recognize her anymore, and you can feel, hear Naomi’s heart breaking. Unsure how to address the situation and with no time left to do so, Naomi leaves Yoko in the care of Ross and lures the two assassin robots away from them.

A mother’s ultimate sacrifice and selfish wish: to put her daughter’s life before her own.

At the height of Naomi’s battle against the remaining Third assassin, she releases her combat-mode limiters in a desperate bid to save Yoko and Ross. Frightened as she is, Yoko cannot stand to see her mom suffering anymore. Disregarding her own safety, Yoko flees into her mother’s battered figure. Mother and daughter embrace in bittersweet tears of pain and joy – united once more in heart and soul.

Lush sci-fi scenery and tense battle scenes serve a suitable futuristic backdrop for the very real human bond of mother and daughter. Naomi and Yoko are inseparable; being a Third means nothing in the face of their love and familial bonds. In a particularly tense confrontation between Demetrio and Naomi, she said:
“Don’t you know where the power to create a child is in a woman? Her heart! You don’t just make a child with your body. The love she feels for someone! The need to protect them! Thee need to pass those feelings on to the future is what makes a child.”
Dual Matrix really plucks at the motherly heartstrings in me. Not because I desire to have children, but because I was lucky enough to have a caring mother and understanding father. I grew up in a loving household and that can speak a lot for how a person grows up and the values they hold dear. As I watch the selfless love Naomi has for Yoko, it resonates within me as I think about the relationship between mom and me.

Originally licensed by the now-defunct anime company Geneon, Dual Matrix is no longer domestically available as the license is lost and the DVD Out Of Print. Hope is not lost though. It is still possible to find new and used copies of Dual Matrix floating around in brick and mortar stores or online via various etailers. If you should happen upon this anime one day, please give Naomi, Yoko, and Ross a place in your home and your heart.

To check out all of Otakuden’s reviews, check out her blog at http://otakudenreviews.livejournal.com/