Anime questions....

[Gemini1999]

Hey all you Anime fans -

Can anyone fill me in on a series called Blue Gender? I saw it in SunCoast Motion Picture today and the art on the back of the DVD case looked kinda cool! I just wanted to see if anyone's seen it to get their impressions....

I also wanted to ask about Megazone 22 & Megazone 23 - I've never seen them either of them. Is is true that they are rescripted cousins of the Macross series? I went on Netflix.com, but they only had one of the 3 disks on their released list. Any info would be appreciated.....

Later,
Bryan

[thomas7g]

There is only Megazone 23. But there is the original movie, Megazone23 part 2, and Megazone 23 Part 3(which comes in two parts). No Megazone 22.

Basically it uses left over ideas from Macross. It has some designs that are similiar. But its not as good. Though I liked it at the time. It was the first anime I saw. I found a place that had imported japanese films in San Diego.

Megasone 23 is about this wonderful peaceful world. If you know japan its actually the Shinjuku area. Everything is wonderful and the people have a wonderful life.

They don't know the world has been destroyed and they are on a giant ship.

There are several conflicts going. On the periphery there are aliens attacking the ship. Internally the ship is controlled by this computer who is devoted to making life peacefull. But the military wants to gear up for war, so its the military vs the computer. But the mass population is clueless to any of this.

One kid gets involve when a friend of his steals an advanced prototype "motorcycle" called Garland. His friend is killed, and he is chased by the military the whole first movie. The computer, EVE, forms a friendship with him cause of the bike.

The first movie doesn't really end. Its more like the main kid, Shogo, reaches an epiphany about what is important to him. But the american release of this movie has another additional ending that was made long after the film was released. Basically climatic battle, he beats up the bad guys. Rescues a girl. And is reunited with his girlfriend.

The second movie was done by another studio and looks VERY different. I liked the hard work they did to make everything VERY detailed. It looks old by todays standards. But it was incredible for its time. Basically Shogo is on the run still. The military REALLY wants him since he seems to eonly person the computer will let have access. And Megasone is facing a climatic point with the aliens. Shogo is now with a biker gang, and its bikers vs military for most of the movie. And there is some excellent animation here.

The third movie takes place MANY years after the first two. Life is pretty idyllic again. But then... there is always trouble in paradise. I don't remember much more...its been a looooong while since i saw this one. (I have the laser disks of the first two)

The Megazone series was good at the time, but time seems to have made its effect. It seems very outdated by how we see the world today. The animation has that old 80s look. I loved the movies at the time but would be hard pressed to recommend them.

Also the first two have a sex scene in it that will make you have to hide it from the kids. Its equivalent to something you might see on a cable show like Nip Tuck. Its kinda weird seeing kids style animation of intercourse. I just feels weird.

But outside of that I would say this is a rental, not a purchase kind of anime.

[thomas7g]

Blue Gender I breifly saw on Cartoon network. I didn't like it. The animation was similiar to Armitage and was pretty good. But the story seemed boring and I couldnt get into it. The basic storyline is similiar in setting to the third chapter of Robotech with the Invids. But.... I just couldn't get into it. I found it uninspired.

Though I have heard tales of some people likeing this.

[Gemini1999]

Tom -

Thanks for your input - it really helps a lot! I'm gonna rent the first disk from each series and see how they go. I really love that about Netflix - they have such a large inventory, it is really a money saver when it comes to taking a peek at something that appears good at first.

I'm really picky about the anime I like - it's really hit or miss with me. I mean, I can like something that is well done, but aimed at the young ones with stuff like Spirited Away, but then go for something that is more adult and complex like Macross or Last Exile. You just never know when something is gonna pique your fancy....

Thanks again,
Bryan

P.S. - What was for dinner? I had Chinese....!

[thomas7g]

Just had meatloaf. And mashed potatoes. :D

I'm glad yo ulike my review of Megazone and Blue Gender. I know what you mean about not knowing which series to pick. I hate it when I buy a tape/dvd and I can only watch it once. And you never know. Naruto is extremely popular with anime fans, but I can't get into it. Maybe its cause I am too old to "get it". But then I can really like films that no one likes. Or I may not like a series cause of my impression of it, then find out later on I really like it. I remember not liking Bubblegum Crisis cause I thought Power Ranger suits with cricket heads. But when I saw the older ones, I liked them.

One website I like to go to for reviews is this one. http://www.anime-source.com/banzai/modules.php?name=Reviews

It has nice quick reviews of newer shows.

hmmm... I should start a thread on one of my favorite animes....:D