Feb 10 2007 03:38 AM I read today that Bandai America licensed this series for the US and wanted to warn anyone who was thinking about buying the DVD(s) to not waste their money.
I slogged through 7 episodes of this anime and came to the realization that this series was produced, written, directed and animated by a tragically inept group of individuals. (Asahi TV?)
- The director and writer blatantly fail to build any kind of tangible tension so the audience fails to care about the story line or characters. It's rarely a good sign when one becomes so ambivalent that they find their minds wandering down paths which include work and / or school.
- While having a protagonist that is a screw-up is generally OK (and a staple of most series), Keel is a weak, self centered, idiot whose only purpose is to serve as a bit of continuity between scenes.
- The animation and CGI are 3rd rate at best. If you've ever seen the mass-produced cartoons from the 80âs (He-Man, etc) then you'll definitely note the similarities. For instance: The Ulysses is a submarine that is probably the length of a football field; according to the animators, this vessel has the ability to
turn on a dime. I'm no naval aficionado but even I know this is impossible. Aside from the subs there are a variety of other vehicles and objects throughout the series which continually defy the laws of physics, gravity and common sense.
The animation QC/QA department should be demoted to spell checkers and strictly limited to 'magical girl' anime for the rest of their careers.
What to do if you find yourself in possession of this series and have no need of a coaster: Turn it into a drinking game.
Beginning rules are as follows:
Take a swig when one of the following occurs:You see a boob,
Keel acts like an ass hat,
Any vehicle defies physics/ gravity,
A ship is sunk,
An ostrich appears,
Finish off the can / bottle:A cruise missile (from a seemingly endless supply) is launched,
A torpedo turns into an impenetrable torpedo-stopping shield
Warning: This game should not be played with minors or with more than 12 beers as the former is illegal and you'll probably burn through half of a case within the first 23 minutes and you therefore run the risk of alcohol poisoning or possibly buying the other DVDs in the series.
-=Rish
