Anime Review - Mai-HiME

Mai-HiME

Anime Review
By Le Chupacabra

Sunrise
26 episodes
Age Rating: 15+

Tokiha Mai and her younger brother have just been offered scholarships at the prestigious Fuuka Academy. It’s a good thing for the orphaned children now that they can enjoy a quality education without financial woes. However, money is the least of their worries when they’re caught in the crossfire of a vicious battle between two teenage girls armed with strange weapons. Things start getting heated once Mai discovers the secret links between Fuuka Academy and these female warriors called ‘HiME’ (Highly-advanced Materialising Equipment).

While almost flawless, Mai-HiME still lacks what makes anime like FullMetal Alchemist and Monster peerless… but as far as sheer entertainment is concerned, it ranks as one of the finest!

Mai-HiME starts off conforming to staples set by many shounen (for teenage boys, essentially) anime. In fact, early on it’s quite easy to write this one off as unspectacular and cliché. It’s a good thing that it doesn’t take too long to obliterate such impressions!

Mai-HiME wonderfully mixes together action, comedy and drama into a hearty concoction that leaves you unusually satisfied.

The story strikes a perfect balance between familiarity and freshness. Then it goes one step further and rewards viewers with a bevy of tantalizing plot twists that will have you glued to the screen. The pacing is slightly off however; the first half progresses quite reluctantly as characters are introduced and the audience is immersed into the world of Mai-HiME. The latter portion flies along at a breakneck pace with unexpected revelations at every corner. The transition is rather sudden, however it doesn’t harm what is otherwise a rather enjoyable yarn.

It seems that new characters are consistently brought into the limelight for the first half of Mai-HiME and as a result, it has quite an extensive roster. While this is typically disastrous for an anime of standard length (26 episodes), Mai-HiME pulls it off with aplomb. Without delving too much into each personality, Mai-HiME is still able to develop its characters through a skilful mixture of dialogue and interactions. As a result, these guys and gals are quite genuine people and you definitely feel for them.

Mai-HiME has a very clean and rather beautiful art style that should sate most palates. It’s also nice to see a consistency being maintained in that there is no drop in quality for the full run of the anime. The designs are quite brilliant, particularly those of the Orphans (the monsters that the HiME fight) and Children (the creatures that choose to help HiME in their battles). The characters themselves have a lot of personality in terms of looks alone. The animation for the battles is great stuff and combined with some fine choreography, it makes for quality viewing.

Something I personally love about Mai-HiME is the music. The opening song is an energetic J-pop track that you’ll find hard to skip while watching. The closing theme does a fantastic job of segueing with the ending portions much like ‘Tobira no Mukou he’ did in FullMetal Alchemist. The music within the anime itself really shines and the battle themes are brilliant.

Finding problems with Mai-HiME will really boil down to personal preference. Some initial episodes are somewhat hackneyed in that they’re evocative of the ‘Monster of the Week’ formula. Overall, the anime also lacks any aspirations to be superlative like the ones I have mentioned. In a sense, Mai-HiME tends to be solid in every aspect without excelling particularly in any. The ending may also bring about a smidgen of stupor in that it outdoes a Disney film for being too good to be true. Otherwise, I have nothing else to complain about.

Just because I think Mai-HiME is ideal in many ways, it’s still not one to be compared with the likes of FMA or other truly peerless anime. On the other hand, Mai-HiME knows exactly what it wants to achieve and it does so with conviction. As a result, it’s a ridiculously entertaining anime that you really must watch.

Film Review - Borat

BORAT

A Film Review By
Le Chupacabra

Age Rating: 18+
Genre: Comedy/Documentary

Borat: Although Kazakhstan a glorious country, it have a problem too: economic, social and Jew.

Pause yourself, open wide and breathe.

That’s something you’ll clearly forget to do while watching this film! Why? Simply because you’ll either be laughing to the point of suffocation or coughing out every bit of your life in utter revulsion.

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan or more commonly (and painlessly), Borat is a documentary-style film that takes our loveable Kazakhstani reporter on a cross country romp through the USA. On the way, laws will be broken, social morals will be shattered and the fabric of society will unravel as Borat Sagdiyev attempts to learn about American culture while giving offering a bit of his own in return.

At its heart this film is a pretty well-disguised satire that liberally takes a few jabs, if not full-fledged punches, at the face of American society. Of course, if you don’t want to think too much about the hidden, postmodern agenda of Borat, it still happens to be one that’s utterly hilarious and oh-so-wrong at every step of the way.

While a lot of the humour seems to be exceedingly crude, it’s also quite ingenious and hides a subtler message in its facets. Simultaneously, it’s also extremely blatant and in-your-face when it comes to touchier (oh the irony) topics such as anti-Semetism and rights against feminism. Sacha Baron Cohen is a man who knows how to write up excellent satire whereas Borat is one who says anything on his mind – together we have a character who knows he’s wrong but doesn’t give a damn and all the while, drags the audience along for a rollercoaster ride of endless laughter. There’s something brilliant about the way the ridiculously accented Borat just manages to bring about the most brazen emotions from people who would otherwise think twice before hooting and hollering to something like “May George Bush drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq!”.

There are numerous points in the film where you’ll just burst out – even though that little voice at the back of your mind is tutting away. While being extremely funny, there are also moments that will make you cringe, if not completely writhe, in absolute disgust. You’ll know what I’m talking about… trust me! (Dear god, the memories burn….)

A little warning here seems fair: if you are one who takes offence quite easily (oh and trust me, Borat will take any and all opportunities for that) then you would be better off avoiding this film. Even though I find this absolutely hilarious, there were still portions that were just plain wrong.

In the end however, you’ll still come out a giggling mess of flesh and bone that’ll stop chuckling only to quote a random one-liner and thus reducing yourself to hysteria yet again. Just make sure you’ve got some like-minded friends with you on this journey! Ah, good times…

PS2 Game Reviews - Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

A PS2 Game Review By
Le Chupacabra

The ‘RPG’ genre has a tendency to remain aloof of most ‘deshi gamers with the odd exception of the suitably famous Final Fantasy series. However, there’s a staggering variety of pureblood RPGs (most games contain RPG elements nowadays) that both lack the Final Fantasy moniker yet also happen to be rather excellent; it’s just that us Muggles often fail to notice them.

Disgaea is one such gem.

If you enter this game expecting poignant (read: whiny) protagonists and epic storylines you’ll be better off looking elsewhere. Disgaea places you in the curly-toed shoes of the egotistical Prince Laharl. Rudely awaken from a two-year nap, this heir to the Netherworld finds his father, the nigh-unpronounceable King Krichevskoy, murdered; meanwhile, various demons of noble (and otherwise) blood have been vying for the throne. There is only one way a self-respecting demon can achieve supreme glory – kill off the competition.

The story is charming in its own way, mind you. There are a few predictable twists, but it’s eventually the quirky humour that wins it all. Since it’s set in a rather juvenile version of the Netherworld, sardonic attitudes, witty (read: corny) remarks and much Narcissism is the order of the day. These aren’t the most remarkable characters in the world, but they will offer oodles of amusement at their expense. It’s worth plugging away through the game just to get to the next bit of story where the characters interact. Better yet, the game gets even funnier as it goes on despite how bad a situation our motley crew of loveable demons ends up in!

The graphics are unique to say the least; if you’re looking for a visual tour de force… for the SNES… then you’ve found your game. Disgaea is comprised of 2D hand-drawn sprites superimposed on what appear to be ‘3D’ arenas. Underneath these seemingly ancient graphics lie some incredible anime-style character designs and a lot of personality that is lacking in games with superior visuals. The sound effects are quaint while the music has this silly, carnival-like atmosphere to it. You’ll be surprised at how the voices give a whole new level of personality and charm to the characters! Perfectly over-the-top and over-acted at the right situations, this is truly entertaining stuff.

The true star of the show, however, is the gameplay. Yes, this game is guilty of having a turn-based battle system set on a rigid grid (think Final Fantasy Tactics). However, (like Tactics) it’s also guilty of endless customisation options, unfathomable depth and intriguing strategy.

In combat you have to position all your characters in suitable locations and then order them to do their actions – be it attacking, defending, casting magic, et al. Once prepared, you choose to initiate your stratagems and tactics. After your turn is up, the enemy will begin… and the cycle goes on. This affords you a level of freedom and calculated planning that few RPGs can boast of. As you control your troops to victory (and higher levels), you get a great sense of satisfaction and achievement – this is one of the reasons why this game is so addictive. You can name each character making everyone quite personal to you.

You can also pick and throw people all across the map. In this way, it’s possible set up special attacks or reach greater heights. If you throw enemies into each other they fuse into a more powerful character with a greater level. Then there are Team Attacks. If a character has allies adjacent to him/her/it while performing an attack there is a possibility that they will execute team attacks. Geo Stones and Panels are also distinctive additions. Each coloured Geo panel may or may not give some distinct advantage or disadvantage to you or your enemies. If the corresponding Geo Stones are strategically destroyed you can achieve long chain combos that may help obliterate your enemies in one fell swoop or do insane damage at the very least. Then there’s the fact that each character class has dozens of specific attributes and aptitudes to take into account. A character is also able to have pupils (try not to think about it too much); these pupils benefit their master with unique skills as they level up. Then there’s all the weapons and item customisation and how each and every article can have a domino effect on your characters. Basically this game offers a multitude of ways to earn Experience for and customise your characters. And you know what? These features are barely the tip of the proverbial iceberg!

A really cool aspect that deserves special mention is the Dark Assembly. These are senators of the underworld that have the power to allow or deny your requests (in the form of bills). Requests range from improved abilities to controlling prices at the Item Shop. This is determined by their status towards you which range from Love to a Leaning Yes to Loathe. But it doesn’t stop there. Senators don’t like you? Simply bribe them. They denied your bill? “Persuade” them by force. Remember that higher level senators have more influence than lower ones. This very Bangladeshi-Parliament feature adds more depth to an already fun game and you can spend hours chasing after particular bills, and in making and breaking alliances.

Despite all these complex features, this game is surprisingly easy to get into and once you’ve begun, you will be addicted. However, this is still geared towards RPG and strategy fans and it does require quite a bit of patience and perseverance for reaping the rewards.

If you’ve ever chastised the PS2 for the lack of an RTS, you may want to check the unique brand of RPG-strategy only console games can offer with Disgaea: Hour of Darkness.

Anime Review - Azumanga Daioh

Azumanga Daioh

Anime Review
By Le Chupacabra

GENCO
26 episodes
Ages 8+

Chiyo is just a ten-year old kid but she also happens to be a genius who’s been promoted… all the way to high school! There she meets her new classmates and peers: a wacky bunch of colourful personalities. There’s the hyperactive Tomo (think of a female version of Adnan Fakir who’s just been injected with Tang) and her best friend, the calm and collected Yomi. Sakaki is the athlete of the class whereas Osaka always gets lost in her bizarre daydreams. And then there’s Chiyo herself who’s just absolutely adorable. High school will never be the same again for this bunch!

It’s pretty unconceivable that an anime with no plot whatsoever can be so entertaining… but here lies indisputable proof of that: Azumanga Daioh is easily one of the cutest, quirkiest yet cleanest comedies you’ll find!

Unlike other school anime (like School Rumble or Kare Kano), Azumanga doesn’t rely on an ongoing story or complex character relationships to drive itself. Rather it does something unorthodox by chronicling mundane school events like exams and lunch breaks… and then injecting a large dose of hilarity into the proceedings. It’s quite possible to relate with a fair few of these anecdotes! Each episode is split into five small vignettes that are somewhat independent of each other. It’s a weird format, but it really helps in keeping events contained and in retaining a crispy freshness to the anime.

The comedy in Azumanga is quite brilliant as well! It’s a winning combination of absolute randomness and perfect timing with the jokes. The dialogue is also really funny and humour that’s derived at the expense of the characters is even more so. Regardless of the fact that these jokes are reused throughout the run of the anime, they somehow never get stale; rather they seem funnier the second time around! Another feature I appreciate is that Azumanga has very little in the way of toilet humour or crude jokes making it suitable for younger viewers as well.

The characters play a crucial role here since all the wackiness is credit to them. Particularly brilliant is Yukari-sensei; I’ve yet to see a teacher so utterly selfish, arrogant and immature! Then there’s Kimura-sensei who’ll make you smile even if he just stares blankly into open space. (NB – he’s always staring… you’ll get the point once you’ve started watching). The constant sparring between the characters is really entertaining and isn’t too far removed from real life. With that said, their interactions, thoughts and dreams are all quite believable and despite a lack of characterisation, they come across as real people. In fact, it’s possible to see many of your own classmates among this group!

There’s also this discreet, almost latent genius to the events and people in Azumanga and that’s something that hit me after some time. I can’t explain it but whatever magic is woven makes Azumanga feel remarkably genuine and closer to the heart. That’s probably why – beyond the comedy – this anime is truly wonderful.

The last episode of Azumanga Daioh is a beautiful testament to school life everywhere around the world! When it (school and this anime) ends, it does so with emotion. If you’ve graduated school, you’ll really be able to empathise with the characters and there’s this strong sense of lump-throated, teary-eyed nostalgia that the ending of Azumanga will evoke.

The intro song “Goodbye Sadness!” is really catchy and does well in setting the tone for the anime. Equally brilliant is the voice acting, particularly Chiyo’s – she sounds every bit as utterly lovable as she looks!

Despite such a wonderful premise, Azumanga isn’t for everyone. The jokes are of a pretty unique nature and they will not segue with some people. If you don’t find yourself laughing early on… you will fall asleep during the later episodes, trust me! Some portions also rely on knowledge of the Japanese school culture but it’s still possible to enjoy the rest of it.

Azumanga Daioh is a pretty niche comedy with its unique brand of humour and unusual format. However, it manages to be effortlessly entertaining and it’s one anime that you can watch over and over again!

Anime Review - FullMetal Alchemist

FullMetal Alchemist

Anime Review
By Le Chupacabra

Studio BONES/Square-Enix
51 Episodes
Age Rating: 10+

FullMetal Alchemist is the shocking, emotional journey of the two Elric brothers who broke forbidden ground when attempting to revive their dead mother through the powers of Alchemy. As a result, Ed loses his arm and his leg, while Al's soul is bound to a suit of armour. Now the brothers begin their search for the Legendary Philosopher's Stone whose power will allow them to set things right…

Now, I know Lancer has already reviewed this but since they’re showing it on Animax, I thought I’d leave my review as a tribute to anime fans all over Bangladesh before I fly off abroad.

I started watching FMA without knowing what I was getting into – no hype, no rants, no recommendation, nothing. And I was suitably blown away…

The true beauty of FMA lies in its character cast. Each individual is utterly compelling and truly gives off an aura of being; they’re such real people. It’s quite easy to connect to them on an emotional level and relate to their thoughts, comments and aspirations. Their interactions are genuine in the way they confide in, spar with and avoid each other in the appropriate situations. In fact, these characters are no different from you or me: they can be selfish; they live for their dreams and stop at nothing to achieve them. All of them are developed beautifully and in the end, you will feel like you were travelling alongside the Elric brothers on their journey of retribution.

The story itself is deep, poignant and dark; it’s a poetic tale of loss, consequence, and life. FMA truly appreciates the melding of the blacks and whites of the world into numerous shades of grey. There are no heroes or villains here – only real people. There are subtle messages in every facet and mesmeric twists that’ll leave you spellbound. FMA gains momentum with every chapter and the last ten episodes will leave you breathless due to the brutal rapidity with which the events unfold; it’s simply brilliance incarnate. Alchemy itself is portrayed in a way that gives it depth and character. And lastly, FMA is a fantastic perspective of life from the eyes of two children.

The dialogue is extremely well-written and there is nary a plot-hole in sight. Everything is explained beautifully within the limits of the world that FMA has created and that only heightens the sense of realism. The comedy is also good stuff that warms the heart. Even the few fight scenes are great because of the way they are presented.

The artwork is a beautiful thing to behold; the use of bright, vibrant imagery contrasts marvellously with the darker scenarios. The animation flows lusciously, making FMA a true visual treat. CGI is used with every subtlety and enhances the scenarios without making one realise it’s being used at all.

The voice acting in FMA is quality stuff, both the English and Japanese versions. The respective voice actors really give life to their characters and the way they play off each other is amusing to watch (or hear). The music is truly memorable. It’s soul stirring and sombre yet light-hearted and flippant when it needs to be. The intro themes (four of them) are fantastically catchy J-pop themes whose exclusion in the English version is a severe oversight on Animax’s part. The outro songs are also great. Truly unforgettable is the way that the second one (‘Tobira no Mukou he’) segues from the ending scene into the song itself. In my opinion, it’s the definitive ending theme!

There are things that people will nitpick about, but I am not they. For the sake of parity, the story can threaten to confuse casual viewers and some comedic moments don’t gel. That’s all, folks.

In the end, I love FMA. It’s definitely my favourite anime and you could accuse me of bias because of that. However, put your scepticism aside and you’ll find an unforgettable, engrossing and emotional viewing experience like no other.

PS2 Game Review - Kingdom Hearts II

Kingdom Hearts II

A PS2 Game Review
By Le Chupacabra

Kingdom Hearts started as a chance collaboration between the Japanese offices of SquareSoft (now Square-Enix) and Disney. Flitting between various ideas, Square finally handed the reins to a concept artist named Tetsuya Nomura. It was an unusual choice for a game director and it was certainly an unusual premise: the cutesy, iconic world of Disney colliding with the sombre realms of the Final Fantasy series. However, the game went beyond expectation: it was an imaginative, epic adventure that was a whole lot more than the sum of its parts.

Kingdom Hearts II continues a year after the ending of the original and directly after the Gameboy Advance title, Chain of Memories. Since it does so, it is strongly advised that you peruse www.gamefaqs.com and check out the game script for Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Otherwise, many interesting plot points will be lost on you.

One of the first things this game does as a sequel is break away from the confines of the first game and take steps into its own unique territory. As a result, we have a far more original narrative that happens to be more immersive than the first; it’s a little darker, a little more mature and it’s all very good stuff. There’s an initial MGS2-esque character twist (it’s the other way around here) that builds up the story from a different yet equally entertaining perspective. One key flaw of the plot is that after the first bit you’re essentially revisiting Disney worlds to play out their tales and their tales only. As a result, questions regarding the fierce Nobodies and enigmatic Organisation XIII are put on hold for a very long (read: around 10-12 hours!) time; as a result one’s desire to keep going starts dwindling after a while. However, once you plough through the plot-drought you are rewarded with a tale that’s quite brilliant.

Like its predecessor, Kingdom Hearts II boasts a voice-cast that rivals most Hollywood feature films. A now-matured Haley Joel Osmont reprises his role as the plucky Sora while all the classic Disney actors are back in full force. A particularly inspired addition was having Christopher Lee (you know, the guy who plays Count Dooku and Saruman… not at once, mind you) lend his authoritative tones to the enigmatic DiZ. The Organisation members get some brilliant actors too, each one matching their avatars personality quite faithfully. Axel is definitely my fave. Besides a few awkward moments, the dialogue is polished and well-written and the actors do it supreme justice.

The music is equally an aural treat with memorable tunes and an epic score that lives up to the grandeur of the game’s premise. If you’ve played the first game, you’ll recognize many of the remixed Disney tracks. There are also fresh tunes for the newly added ‘worlds’ in this game. I also liked the battle theme in this game better than in the first; it’s got a lot more tempo and it’s quite catchy! In this game, the world of the Little Mermaid - Atlantica - becomes a rhythm-based level. The first song is grating and the latter few uninspired. However it’s the second one that’s just bloody brilliant; it’s a cute remix of Under the Sea and the writers did a great job with changing the lyrics but maintaining the nostalgia this one evokes!

Visually, Kingdom Hearts II is quite pleasing. Some locations come off as rather unimaginative while others are truly awe-inspiring. Fortunately the latter holds true more often. The variety of the Heartless has been downgraded but on the other hand the individual designs surpass the artistry of the original. There are plenty of little touches that add to the immersion wonderfully. In the Pride Lands, you take the guise of a lion and have to hold the KeyBlade between your jaws! At the Timeless River, all the characters move with exaggerated motions reminiscent of the black-and-white Mickey Mouse ‘toons of old. The Pirates of the Caribbean themed world (Port Royal) looks stunning with realistic characters and animation that captures the drunken swagger and mannerisms of the Captain Jack Sparrow perfectly. And the world of Tron? Just jaw-dropping.

The gameplay is in many ways hugely improved over its predecessor while some previously great parts have been unnecessarily tinkered with; “ten steps forward and two steps backward” to quote my friend. The fighting is fast and frenetic and the combination of the fantastic graphics leads to some visually mesmerising sequences. New additions include Drive forms that let you merge with various characters, thus imbuing you with enhanced fighting prowess or magical dexterity. The forms not only look awesome but the power they afford you is amazing - you become a badass warrior of the highest degree. Reaction attacks form yet another portion of your repertoire of moves. When prompted, you have to tap Triangle and this initiates a real-time action sequence that would be otherwise impossible with standard attacks. Whether it’s slick dodge-counterattack combo or a an entire chain of flamboyant maneuvers, these scenes look fantastic. Think of God of War’s killing mini-games minus the brutality. Another addition is the Limit Break, with which Final Fantasy fans should be familiar.

However, much of the exploration that gave the first game an adventure-esque feel has been undermined to criminally disappointing proportions. The levels are more linear than Kingdom Hearts (which was also linear, but had some neat bits that rewarded curious players) and the worlds are somewhat smaller. The gameplay is also much easier mainly due to the use of the Reaction commands and Drive forms. Fortunately, playing on the ‘hard’ (called Proud) difficulty setting makes up in spades with the gratifyingly increased challenge. While Drive forms are optional, the way in which the Reaction attacks are presented seems to suggest that you should use them rather than as a possible attack variation. Minor grievances, but they tend to add up.

One thing that really deserves special mention is the Gummi Ship mode. From being a slow, headache-inducing chore (in the first game), it’s become a fast-paced, frantic shooter mini-game that’s actually fun to play. The last Gummi Ship level has a great Star Wars-esque feel and many portions of that segment recall the famous Death Star trench run from the films.

While no longer as novel as the first, Kingdom Hearts II remains a wonderfully charming experience that not only tells a beautiful story but is also chockfull of luscious graphics, evocative music and entertaining gameplay. If you have a PS2, you have no excuse to pass up such an adventure! So go get your copy and make sure you pick up the original Kingdom Hearts if you haven’t already!

Anime Review - School Rumble

School Rumble

Anime Review By
Le Chupacabra

Studio Comet
26 Episodes
Ages 15+

Harima Kenji, former delinquent and all-round street thug, returns to resume his education at school. Why the sudden change of heart? You just named the reason: his heart. Smitten by Tsukamoto Tenma after having saved her from muggers once before, Harima rejoins school so he can try to win Tenma's (incredibly short-spanned) attention. Tenma on the other hand has her eyes set on the equally oblivious top boy (and resident weirdo), Karasuma Ohto... Let's get ready to rummmbbbble!

School Rumble actually starts off somewhat seriously, making you think for a few moments that it's an intrigueing romance series under the veil of comedy. Kare Kano… eat your heart out!

Okay fine, that's a blatant lie.

It's actually the other way around. Whereas Kare Kano is a more sophisticated, thought-provoking romantic-comedy, School Rumble is its polar opposite. It's all about the laughs in a somewhat asinine, Johnny Bravo kind of way. While the love triangle between Tenma, Harima and Karasuma allows quite a lot of mirth at their expense, the individual characters inevitably steal the show. Class 2-C is comprised of a smorgasbord of (superbly exaggerated) classroom personalities. You have everyone from cup-size comparing perverts to mind readers to ultra-strong female wrestlers and all sorts of other zany characters. It's a great recipe for hilarity with any hint of normalcy being hurled out the window.

Of course, while they're not considering inane schemes to get one to notice the other, Harima and Tenma's day-to-day antics will have you splitting your sides. Harima is uncharacteristically serious about his feelings for Tenma but his IQ (or lack thereof) is what has him falling into awkward situations. His daydreams of getting Tenma's attention away from Karasuma are the highlight of the show with pop culture parodies of everything from The Matrix to DragonBall Z being liberally thrown into the mix. In fact, it's Harima that brings in most of the laughter. He usually ends up getting into trouble with many of the characters and as a result you've got some genuinely funny moments; there's the one where he has a mistaken identity crisis with a guy named Harry McKenzie (which sounds a lot like Harima Kenji in Japanese), gets into a brawl with the resident black belt Hanai (cue lots of obscure Street Fighter references; HariKen Uppercut anyone?) and of course, as a budding manga artist Harima manages to confuse the viewer with an entire episode where he essentially makes Karasuma an alien. Surprisingly, that incident actually makes sense given how peculiar Karasuma is.

So where does the romance part come into play? It takes more of a latent role since it's essentially the Harima-Tenma-Karasuma love triangle that is the catalyst for much of the insanity. There is a particular point where Harima almost gets his feelings across to Tenma but unfortunately, Eri Sawachika (one of Tenma's best friends) ends up with the message… and returns the feelings. It's an awkward beginning that leads to a pretty interesting relationship. However, events like that are somewhat rare. The problem is, once you've stopped chortling and started to follow the plot, you'll realise something: there is no real plot. The characters, save very few, also don't get developed all too well. Basically, there's a nagging lack of substance which the show covers up, sometimes barely, with the comedy.

Another issue with School Rumble is that its best attribute can also become its biggest detriment. While there is a lot of generally brilliant slapstick to go around, many of the gags are of a greatly esoteric nature while others rely on some knowledge about Japanese school culture. In the fight between Harima (as part of one of his daydreams) and Karasuma, Harima's hair turns yellow and they have a 'power' battle. If you haven't watched DragonBall Z, that bit is completely wasted. There are plenty of examples like that and it's not encouraging for casual anime viewers. Lastly, School Rumble ends up reusing many of jokes as the show wears on. What may have seemed funny at first may end up tasteless after multiple times.

However, with all that said, School Rumble was still brilliantly entertaining. It doesn't take itself seriously at all and at its best, it's outrageously funny. It's still with a bit of caution that I recommend this anime. If you don't like some of jokes initially, chances are you won't like the latter ones. Plus, this anime is quite skewed towards male viewers. If you're a casual fan of anime, you can try this out but also know that there are finer romantic-comedy anime out there. If you've been watching anime for quite some time and are willing to try something that doesn't require you to think too much, you'll certainly enjoy this one at the very least.

PS2 Game Review - Psychonauts

PsychoNauts

A PS2 Game Review
By Le Chupacabra

Excluding the typical dreams of endless plummets off cliffs or you trying to fight off bad guys only to find that you can’t use your super powers at all, the human psyche can be a pretty weird (understatement of the century!) and scary place at times. A visualization of everything that makes a person who she/he is - their joys, sorrows, fears, ambitions - could end up as something that would make Freud crap his pants. Or maybe not. Who knows? However, one thing is certain - a journey into a person’s mind could become an adventure like no other.

And that’s where Psychonauts comes in.

Born from the ingenious mind of Tim Schafer, Psychonauts is a game that puts you into the boots, or rather, the goggles of a young boy named Rasputin (‘Raz’ to his friends). Raz’s dream is to become a ‘psychonaut’ - a psychic warrior of sorts. The role of a psychonaut is to infiltrate the mind of other people and take care of whatever business is required. While that doesn’t sound too exciting, the possibilities are stupendous.

Here’s a game where you begin by entering the mind of your military-oriented teacher, Coach Oleander, to do some basic training. On the way you’ll encounter emotional baggage which are, brilliantly, actual pieces of luggage! Later you’ll delve into your own mind to literally battle your inner demons. You’ll encounter figments of imagination, mental cobwebs, censors that try to boot you from other people’s minds and basically every psychiatry-related cliché in the book - all realised oh-so-creatively in visual form. That’s where the true beauty of this game lies: imaginative level design. Coach Oleander’s mind is a battlefield full of exploding shells, flying zeppelins and old film slides of his greatest achievements. Sasha Nien’s is a Spartan cube wherein all emotion and secrets are kept under tight lock - only by accident do you find out what sorrows he hides. There are the minds of your fellow students - each one is as unique as they come. Both like and unlike the real world, nothing is what it seems in these crazy locations. You’ll wonder whether what you’re seeing is true, or whether there are deeper secrets behind all the nooks and crannies. Each mind is a maze (pun intended) and presents a whole new set of challenges and more importantly, a perpetual feeling of wonder and amazement. If you think you’ve seen insanity, think again. While you enter relatively few minds compared to the huge cast of diverse, loveable characters you interact with - each one also provides a fantastic vehicle for characterization. It’s the mixture of what you see, hear and unearth during these psychic treks that flesh out the personalities in this game.

This naturally leads to one of best parts of the game: humour. The humour ranges from literal, in-your-face clichés (the mind-levels themselves!) to characters spewing innuendo left and right to classic slapstick. All this wonderful comedy is beautifully integrated into the whole experience thanks to some fantastic writing by Tim Schafer. Whether it’s the typical jock/bully Bobby or the adorable Dogen, each has some great dialogue that make them feel more believable than most game characters. You know what a broad spectrum of personalities the typical classroom contains, right? Psychonauts appreciates this (most of the characters are based on Tim Schafer’s schooldays) and you’ll end up finding more than just a few recognizable personas. That’s yet another aspect of Psychonauts that makes it so enjoyable - you can actually relate to and empathize with the people portrayed.

Since the game is all about psychic powers and all, Raz can actually hear the thoughts of the people around him - more opportunity for hilarity and especially so when these precocious kids are thinking ‘inappropriate’ thoughts.

Given the way the game is designed, Psychonauts works best as a platformer - and that’s pretty much how it plays. Raz has to overcome obstacles by a combination of jumping, double jumping, sliding, grabbing onto ledges… you get the point. He’s able to attack by creating a giant psychic hand that karate chops anyone foolish enough to impede his progress. You can even perform the classic jump-smash where you jump up and direct a heavy smash attack below you. All these traditional platformer maneuvers are augmented by various psychic attacks such as Pyrokinesis, telepathy and the such. There’s also a handy Lock-Strafe function ala Ratchet & Clank that makes combat much more enjoyable. As far as gameplay is concerned, Psychonauts is pretty solid stuff although the jumping lacks a grace period - you know, the part in other games where, if you miss a jump, your character can still grab the edge. Some jumps can be tricky and the camera can be somewhat unwieldy; this can cause frustration at times. Besides that, Psychonauts has the fundamentals down pat so it’s all good.

Artistically, Psychonauts is a work of genius. The characters are designed in a very Tim Burton-esque manner with deformed bodies, over-large heads and a certain air of eccentricity. Despite the fact that they look kind of weird, they still exude a lot of personality. But what will really blow you away is the level design of all the minds you enter. Innovative, amazing and truly insane - each one is a visual masterpiece that you’ll enjoy seeing over and over again. That’s the artistic portion though; Psychonauts won’t win any awards for technical graphics. The game suffers from a slightly rocky frame-rate, the loading is quite slow and the draw-distance (how far you can see in a game) is poor. The general graphics are pretty low-quality overall. The artistry makes up for this pretty well most of the time, but occasionally only just.

The sound department is an equal balance of good and bad. The voice acting is extremely enjoyable and recalls the perfectly camp yet loveable voices that characterize classic Hanna-Barbera toons. On the flip side, the music is commonplace to the point of being forgettable.

Psychonauts is a work of creativity and freshness with diverse level design, brilliant humour and truly wonderful characters. Despite some rather glaring flaws, it’s one of those gaming concepts that don’t come around very often so pick this up before it disappears.

PS2 Game Review - Sly 3: Band of Thieves

A PS2 Game Review By
Le Chupacabra

Honour Among Thieves starts from the ending of the previous title. A harrowing battle left the bespectacled turtle Bentley wheelchair-bound. Placing the blame on his negligence, the powerhouse Murray decides to leave the trio, and his life of crime, behind and embark upon a journey of self-discovery. As timing would have it, the master thief Sly was about to pull off the heist to end all heists. How will he manage it now that the brains and brawns of the gang are out of commission?

As you can see, the story treads well-known territory. However, instead of becoming unnecessarily cliché, the plot has enough twists and quirks that ride on the feeling of familiarity and this leads to a warm, fuzzy feeling that only old Hanna-Barbera toons can evoke. The story is predictable in that you know good will prevail over evil yet fresh in that the situations and events are novel and relentlessly entertaining. When Bentley begins outlining the plan to next heist, you'll nod at each word and your eyes will grow ever wider as you realise how ingenious and compelling his ideas are. You only know that this heist is but one on the path to the big event itself and as a result you're always expecting the ante to be upped further - and that's exactly what happens!

The writing and dialogue are witty and humorous and doesn't degenerate towards slapstick or innuendo to provide the laughs. The combination of the zany situations the protagonists find themselves leads to the game encompassing humour that's subtly ingrained into the psyche of the whole experience. This leads to a level of sophistication that few can reach. The voice acting is equally engaging with the actors giving a lot of life and zest to some already compelling characters.

The graphics of Sly 3 follow the Sly tradition with vibrant locations and exaggerated edges and angles befitting of its cartoon atmosphere. The enemy come in all shapes and sizes and it's not unusual to catch yourself admiring the bizarre character designs much like those of the sublime DragonQuest VIII. The piece de resistance of the whole picture is the marvellous cel-shaded graphics that give truly unique definition to the characters. Complemented by some luxuriously smooth animation, Sly 3 looks every bit like a classic cartoon. Given the larger locales in this iteration, the game will slow down occasionally. Sometimes you can shrug it off, but sometimes it can cut in to the gameplay experience. I guess it's the price to pay for such brilliant artistry.

As it is, Sly 3 has all that it takes to create an entertaining and memorable cartoon that's perfect to sit down to when you're having lunch after a hot day at school!

However, Sly 3 is still a game. Therefore, does the gameplay match up to everything else?

Pretty much!
Sly 3 is a fusion of classic platforming and stealth-based gameplay ala Metal Gear Solid. While Sly has some mean combat tricks up his sleeve, his forte is sticking to the shadows and utilising his master thief skills. Sly is a rather athletic creature and this only adds to his formidable criminal abilities. He can balance himself on and run across narrow wires and slip into niches that his enemies can never reach. He can sneak on his tiptoes behind unwary sentries and pick their pockets dry! It's worth the extra trouble since that's the only method of getting keys and rare items. You can sell such items for coins and exchange coins to buy upgrades from ThiefNet which is essentially the Ebay of Sly's world. The fleet-footed Sly isn't the only character though! A successful heist works due to a collaboration of all the members and as a result, you get to play the parts of Bentley, Murray and other characters. Infact, Sly begins the Ocean's Eleven-esque task of enlisting the help of world class thieves so he can pull off the heist of the century. You get to use a diverse range of characters ranging from Sly's rival and love interest Carmelita Fox to the freaky Koala shaman that is Murray's spiritual mentor.

Being incapacitated has done little to dent Bentley's fervour for solving problems! He ends up inventing a wheelchair equipped with all manner of cutting-edge technology like rocket boosters, bombs and other sneaky additions. It's extremely amusing when you tap left or right and see Bentley hopping his wheelchair in the appropriate direction. While Sly and Bentley are more about evasion and tactics, Murray is all-out muscle and his levels involved you smashing around stuff. He doesn't pick pockets like his friends, no. He picks up the enemy and shakes the coins out of them! There's humour in every facet of the gameplay and as I said before, that is what makes it so brilliantly entertaining.

The multi-tiered heists of each level present some great gameplay potential. Carrying out Bentley's wacky plans is extremely fun and you never know what he'll ask you to do next! From cracking safes to donning sneaky disguises to taking part in biplane dogfights - the amusement never dies down.

Sly 3: Band of Thieves is quality gaming entertainment that's as charming as it is funny. If you're into an epic adventure of loony proportions, then you should pick this one up now!

Anime Review - Last EXILE

Last EXILE

Anime Review
By Le Chupacabra

GONZO
26 Episodes
Ages 8+

In the world of Prester, two mighty nations, Anatore and Dusis are at war with each other. The whole conflict is overseen by the mysterious Guild – a seemingly neutral entity armed with strange and powerful technology. Of course, all this means nothing to Vanship riders Klaus Valca and Lavie Head. Their job is to deliver messages – and they’ll take any risks necessary to complete their mission. However, their lives are turned upside down when they encounter a severely damaged Vanship; with his last breath the messenger pilot asks Klaus and Lavie to escort a young girl named Alvis Hamilton to the notorious battleship Sylvana. Thus begins a whirlwind adventure of epic proportions – and one that looks to change the fate of Prester forever!

First and foremost, Last EXILE is an all-out visual and aural assault on the senses. By perfectly segueing together CGI and hand-drawn animation, GONZO have produced a truly artistic masterpiece that will never fail to astonish the viewer. While the colours are purposely subdued and the palette is rather dull, this gives the show a rather dated look which adds to the steampunk-esque world it tries to convey. Combined with some stunning lighting effects, Last EXILE creates a brilliantly evocative and somewhat nostalgic atmosphere.

A lot of attention went towards the fight scenes in this anime. Whether it’s a group of Vanships tearing through the air during the dangerous high-speed races or the giant warships of Anatore and Dusis battling it out for supremacy of skies, these scenes will have you awestruck. The ships are peppered with delicate and distinctive mechanical detail while the fights themselves are choreographed beautifully with moments that will leave you breathless. If you’re a lover of flight, then this anime does a wonderful job of romanticising the feeling of soaring through the heavens themselves.

The music in Last EXILE is simply brilliant. The soundtrack makes brilliant use of wind instruments to create some fast-paced, catchy medleys that are evocative of Irish folk music. The music is strangely uplifting and just goes perfectly with the airship escapades and glorious air battles that are liberally spread throughout the anime. The slower tunes may often go unnoticed but those are used subtly during the darker scenes to create the fantastic atmosphere of Last EXILE.

It’s a creative, fresh new world of adventure to explore here and GONZO have pulled this off with aplomb. From the onset, you are presented with a surprisingly persistent and accomplished world that seems very believable.

The story is actually rather interesting; Last EXILE isn’t about looks only! Instead of deeply exploring the nuances of the world it has created, the focus is on the journey of the three protagonists. Although, it wouldn’t have to hurt to give some back-story to some things; it’s such a rich, intrigueing world that it becomes somewhat of an injustice not to realise its full potential.

From a simple lifestyle of Vanship messengers to being thrust into an journey that will probably change everyone’s lives – Klaus and Lavie are at the heart of it all. Their actions and morals become the catalysts that lead to the consequences and events that unfold. The way one affair leads to another is intrigueing indeed and the journey itself is just a whirlwind adventure of people, places and experiences. It’s definitely epic stuff but in its own subtle way (however weird that may sound). This is yet another aspect of Last EXILE that makes it so enjoyable.

Initially, it seems that when it comes to characterisation, Last EXILE falls a bit short. However, that isn’t so. Through their interactions with each other, the subtle side-stories and their somewhat intertwined relationships, you come to know a lot more about the personalities of Last EXILE than you realise. Some seem cliché, others fairly unique - but in terms of the complete picture, Last EXILE has a character cast you’ll come to know and love.

Last EXILE, in short, is a great anime. The art and sound are of immensely high calibre and the story and characters will definitely hold your interest for the whole ride. But what I loved about Last EXILE was the beautifully evocative atmosphere painted by the amalgamation of all the various facets of this anime.

Anime Review - Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

GHOST ^{IN THE} SHELL

Stand Alone Complex

Anime Review
By Le Chupacabra

Production IG
26 episodes
Age rating: 16+

Stand Alone Complex is set some time before the events of the critically acclaimed film. In a future where man and machine have become seamlessly intertwined, its upto Public Peace Section 9 to resolve complex cases involving homicide, hostage situations and of course, cyber hacking. However, the re-emergence of a 6-year old case involving the enigmatic master hacker and industrial terrorist simply known as ‘The Laughing Man’ brings to light the disturbing depth of the corruption that runs rampant through the very bureaucracy that has employed them.

With the series being based on such a celebrated cult phenomenon, GITS SAC had a lot to live up to. The original movie was one of the few that pushed the whole anime extravaganza further into the limelight - does its episodic counterpart do the same?

Well, for me, not entirely. However, it’s still one of the best cyberpunk thrillers I’ve watched since the film itself.

For starters, there’s the plot. It can be occasionally confusing but that’s the point. I liken the whole thing to a puppet-master controlling a complex marionette; in order for the whole show to proceed almost all the strings must be used, but it has to be done a few or one at a time with each movement setting up subsequent ones, for now or for later. That’s exactly how the plot ‘strings’ here work and that’s exactly what makes the show gripping. Allusions are made, theories are surmised and seeds are planted and then left untended to for quite some time. Just when your curiosity reaches a peak, the next tier of revelations commence. The dialogue here is rather interesting since much like the animated iteration there are intriguing discussions particularly regarding the human ‘soul’ and its place in the mysterious opera of ‘life’. The show won’t express anything as a definite or certainty, instead it allows the viewer to ponder the points by himself/herself and then come to his/her own conclusions. Suffice to say if you’re a fan of intricately orchestrated plotlines peppered with a healthy dose of philosophical musings, you’ll find a lot to love here.

‘Character development’ is a phrase that’s thrown around in reviews all the time. In terms of anime, many believe that without it, the characters lack personality or appeal and especially so if we haven’t thoroughly explored each and every nanometre of their past. Those reviewers must hate GITS SAC for that! However, I see that as a strength. Since we see only the briefest of snippets of their previous accomplishments we are left to concentrate on what they’re doing now: their current thoughts, their current actions, et al. It gives them a sense of spontaneity and leaves us piecing together their personalities from our own perspectives.

The animated movie was also popular for its incredible artwork and while Stand Alone Complex doesn’t quite reach those lofty standards, it’s still simply breathtaking in its own right. The animation is fluid, everything is lushly detailed and there’s a pretty atmospheric use of lighting that gives it a brilliant sense of mood. While a lot of the more gratuitous scenes from the film have been removed, SAC still stands a visual masterpiece. The music is masterfully composed by none other than the great Kanno Yoko. The beauty of it was that I didn’t notice the music until it was no longer present in some scenes. It goes to show how seamlessly and perfectly it segues with the action and drama. I particularly enjoyed the haunting intro song which was vocalised in Russian I believe.

The second season of Stand Alone Complex (called “The 2nd GIG”) has already begun, so hurry up and watch the brilliant first season before you start on that one!

The PS2 Games of Winter 2005

The PS2 Games of Winter 2005

By Le Chupacabra

The following are, what I believe, the ten most essential PS2 titles you should be spending your money on. Happy holidays!

DragonBall Z: Budokai Tenkaichi (Atari)

DBZ: BT is the new way of playing Budokai. That’s right, no more classic side-view fighting… this time your avatars battle it out across large interactive terrain where total freedom is the key to combat. Fly anywhere you like, bash your opponent into mountains, hide underwater, perform sneak attacks – the essence of DBZ has been captured rather excellently. Visually resplendent blast attacks, ridiculous name-yelling and copious amounts of wacky hairstyles are still the order of the day! The story mode is now spliced with some great CGI-cutscenes and there are innumerable extras to discover!

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (Square-Enix)

DQVIII has an undeniably simplistic and palatable storyline with little in the way of Byzantine twists or unfathomable depth as expected of the modern RPG. It offers a lavishly detailed world that’s a joy to explore for hours upon hours. Conflicts are refreshingly challenging affairs where you really must plan ahead or suffer the consequences; even if it is the most classic of turn-based formulae, battles manage to be tense and engaging. Rounding off this ‘old-school’ style are some immensely charming protagonists and some of the most personable animation and character quirks this side of Nintendo. The artwork by mangaka Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball, Chrono Trigger) is worth the price of admission itself!

Fahrenheit (Atari)

Fahrenheit deftly combines context-sensitive problem solving in ways never seen before with an absolutely gripping murder mystery that’s easily on par with the likes of Holmes or Poirot… except with a twist. Playing as Lucas Kane, you are besieged by visions of gruesome pagan rituals and before you know it, you’ve killed an innocent man whilst in a trance. Played from the perspective of both hunter (two detectives) and hunted (Kane), you’ll be racing against the clock to unravel the mystery before it’s too late. The avant-garde gameplay is absolutely addictive and completely unique; in a world where every choice you make has a consequence this leads to one of the most refreshing, cerebral experiences of the year!

Peter Jackson’s King Kong (UbiSoft)

There are few games that capture such conflicting emotions on such an epic scale, but King Kong is one of them! You’ll play some parts as the mega-ape King Kong whose feral brutality truly gives a satisfying feeling of raw power. Conversely you’ll also play as human protagonist Jake Driscoll: these scenarios truly instil a sense of fear and terror since you’re always on the verge of becoming the food for the prehistoric creatures inhabiting Skull Island. Only with sheer wits and quick thinking will you survive. There’s no HUD as well, so the level of immersion is unmatched! Lush, organic visuals are combined with some mind-blowing action gameplay where almost everything is possible.

Prince of Persia: Two Thrones (UbiSoft)

After the enigmatic Sands of Time and the rather charisma-less Warrior Within, comes the Two Thrones. Incorporating the engrossing puzzles and Middle-Eastern charm of the first title with the robust combat system of the sequel, TT caters to fans of both camps! The Prince is now able to sneak off rooftops onto the unwary enemy’s back, offing him in the process. You can quickly combine the Prince’s speedy acrobatics for stringing up a number of these ‘stealth’ kills for some spectacular, over-the-top ninja action. New here is the Dark Prince: a sort of anti-Prince born of the Sands of Time. Unlike the Prince this guy plays nasty and uses a suitably sadistic chain-sword for more brutal, yet gratifying slaughter. There’s also a pretty awesome diversion from the main gameplay in the form of thrilling chariot races!

Pro Evolution Soccer 5 (Konami)

I don’t how they do it… is it magic? Voodoo? Witchcraft? Or sheer dumb luck? Whatever it is, when it comes to football, Pro Evo is unsurpassed and this, the latest version, is too awesome to be real. Whether it’s the divinely realistic animation that lets you recognise players without a second glance at their names, or the way you’ll never score the same goal twice: Pro Evo is simply brilliant. The gameplay has undergone huge tweaks and the experience is just so much more satisfying due to its newly reached heights of flexibility and intuitiveness. Graphics are simply dead-on: you don’t have to guess the pseudo-face anymore; you can see who it is! The rosters are extremely up-to-date and while there are some licensing discrepancies, the supreme majority of the players are absolutely accurate. Pro Evo 5 is as near as you can get to the beautiful game without actually going outside for a kick around!

Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)

The best game on GameCube finally returns to its home console! Eschewing the slow, grating zombie action of the past, Resi 4 places you in the shoes of Agent Leon S. Kennedy (of Resi 2 fame) and charges you with rescuing the President’s kidnapped daughter. This time you’re up against scarily intelligent (and seemingly possessed) villagers who really know how to make you wet your pants in fear! The stunning graphics, mercurial set-pieces, mind-blowing cutscenes and tense action scenarios culminate to make this the #1 action game of 2005. Added are PS2-only extras including an intriguing side-story that explores the apparent demise of the once-ubiquitous Umbrella Corp.!

Shadow of the Colossus (SCEJ)

In order to save your deceased love, you must summon and slay the ancient Colossi and only then will you receive the power to achieve the impossible. With miles of lush scenery to explore on your horse Agro, you must take on sixteen Colossi who truly give new meaning to the word ‘colossal’. You first have to figure out how to traverse across these bloody massive beasts before you can find their weak spots; this is an absolutely innovative and fresh way of combining the incredibly organic puzzle-solving of predecessor Ico with tense, gripping combat. Evocative visuals that verge on art form are juxtaposed with a haunting, soul-stirring soundtrack to make this yet another unforgettable experience from the makers of Ico.

Star Wars Battlefront II (LucasArts)

Set against the epic, galactic backdrop of the Star Wars universe, this is an action title where the thrills are born from immense variety. Being able to use Jedi, Sith, Wookies, Ewoks and all manner of indigenous Star Wars life-forms is its greatest addition, but that’s not all! You can take part in high-speed spaceship battles this time around as well. Missions aren’t just about shooting everything in sight; the multitude of diverse objectives makes sure that you never get bored! The musical score and sound effects are vintage stuff and the graphics are pretty impressive this time.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Buena Vista Games)

Another licensed game that rocks! Gasp! At any rate this is a much better and varied gaming experience than this year’s interactive Potter offering. All four playable characters possess unique skills and the game is built around that concept offering some diverse challenges that keep things fresh and involving. Co-op mode is a welcome feature; players can join in and leave anytime they want to. Graphics are top-notch and presentation is brilliant recalling the amount of work EA put into its LOTR game franchise. This game also features a similarly streamlined upgrade system and of course, DVD-style unlockable content.

Anime Review - FLCL

FLCL

An Anime Review By
Le Chupacabra

Gainax Entertainment
6 OVAs/Episodes
Age Rating 15+

Naota is your average adolescent with his fair share of the odd trials and tribulations that are juxtaposed with the experience of growing up. Of course things don’t truly get wacky till the day a crazy woman on a scooter crashes into him and then to complete the deal, wallops him on the head with her guitar. Then something strange begins to grow out from poor Naota’s cranium…

“What. The. ?” was the first thing that came out of my mouth after I finished the 6 OVAs that constitute FLCL (aka Furi Kuri). Watching FLCL was like having gone into a non-stop head-banging seizure at a heavy metal concert, having your face slapped silly, gasping for breath while drowning and also taking a trip through the minds of Dali, Picasso and other avant-garde artists. Not in that order mind you. But that’s what FLCL is… avant-garde in every sense of the world. It’s a pure assault on all of your senses; FLCL is craziness incarnate.

But is it any good? And what is it really about?

To be honest it’s nigh on impossible answering both those questions. FLCL is definitely entertaining – it certainly takes that word to unimaginable limits. An eclectic concoction of brilliantly performed rock music (by The Pillows… no, I’ve never heard of them either) and some truly memorable artwork, FLCL leaves your head reeling for hours. Images flash by at light speed and often need you to rewind and take in what you missed. But you should definitely not pass up any part of it. Rife with sight gags and subtle (and not-so subtle) cultural references, FLCL is what can be called true art.

Now the striking thing about the story of FLCL is that there seems to be nothing solid about it. It’s infinitely subliminal – it’s full of messages seemingly about everything. The beauty of it all is that each viewer will find his or her own interpretation of it. Adults will look at it from their perspective while kids will look at it from theirs. I’d like to believe that each one’s impressions will be unique. FLCL is symbolic, it’s insanely incoherent and you know what, you’ll probably never even make any sense of it even after hundreds of viewings. That is what FLCL is about, I think.

If it’s anything, FLCL is truly a work of genius and unbounded creativity that’s as profound as it is mystifying. It will shatter the limits of your imagination and perspective. And it’s definitely guaranteed to bring about some temporary insanity as well. You’ve been warned!