Anime REVIEW: Mōretsu Pirates

Even before Gokaiger aired, if there was one thing that could get me interested in a show it would be space pirates. So when Mōretsu Pirates, or Bodacious Space Pirates to give it its English title, was announced it was a show that quickly fell onto my "to watch" list. But as perhaps a lesson in not to judge a book by its cover, this 26-episode series is not quite the space pirate experience you might expect from something based on a light novel series called "Miniskirt Space Pirates".

In the distant future, a war of independence was waged between the Galactic Empire and the third planet in the Tau Ceti system - Sea of the Morningstar. To compliment their meagre fleet, the Sea of the Morningstar issued the Letter or Marque, a document legalizing piracy. The pirates made a great contribution to the revolution's success, and over 100 years later still exist.

Meet Captain Marika...

The series focuses on Marika Kato, a high-school girl who is one day approached by subordinates of her dead father Gonzaemon. Marika learns that her father was the captain of a pirate ship named the Bentenmaru, and that her mother Ririka had also been a space pirate. In order for the Bentenmaru to continue legal operation, the ship's captaincy must be inherited by the former captain's closest descendant - Marika. As Marika juggles life as a space pirate, high-schooler and member of the yacht club, she realises that space piracy has changed a lot over the years and also her gifted abilities as a captain.

So how has piracy changed? Well to begin with the inclusion of the Letter of Marque makes them more akin to privateers than actual pirates, but the title of 'pirates' lends itself well to what has become of the lost art of space piracy has mostly become - an entertainment. The pirates still tackle escort missions and the like, but most raids tend to be for show, arranged beforehand with cruise companies and such. The subject of how the pirates have decayed over the years is a subject tackled at the end of the series, but in the early stages its harder to appreciate what's on offer if you might have been expecting something a bit different (I know I was). Not necessarily a bad thing as it does make Mōretsu Pirates a cleverer show overall,  but it does fall into the pitfalls of becoming rather mundane on repeated occasions.

...and her pirate crew!

Much like the vastness of the space it occupies, Mōretsu Pirates has a TON of characters. In only 26 episodes there isn't enough time to give all the characters equal focus, and the show chooses wisely which ones deserve more screen time than others. However this doesn't change the fact that sometimes the cast feels too big, leading to too many characters you don't really care about and ones that come and go as the story chooses which element of Marika's life it's focussing on (the pirates or the yacht club). Marika herself is a very likeable protagonist, but often delves too deeply into being the "perfect" captain. The fact she learns through asking questions presents positive development, but rarely does she seem to make mistakes - something that might make her rise to space piracy more believable.

A long with her highschool yacht club,

The series is split into very defined story arcs - some of which are more successful than others. Early episodes pay close attention to world building and establishing the mythos of the show, but can feel like a drag as they also move at a snail's pace. Each arc has a considerable amount of build-up to keep interest flowing as they draw close to their climax, but most simply fizzle out rather than end with a bang. Filler episodes (and there are quite a few) are often painful to get through, featuring the yacht club who are a pretty generic and uninteresting bunch save for a few little twists.

The real area Pirates excels at is in the animation department, courtesy of studio Satelight (Macross Zero/Frontier, Aquarion). There is a distinct look at the two elements of the series - the seemingly prestigious school life and grimier pirate underbelly, with great character designs that inhabit both. The crew of the Bentenmaru all have looks worthy of the term "space pirate" and Hakuoh Academy's Yacht Club provides everything you'd expect from "shojo in space". The fluid combination of traditionally drawn characters and backgrounds with CGI spaceships that Satelight showed off in Macross Frontier once again makes an appearance here, making the space sequences among the finest modern anime has on offer.

Marika faces adventures in space aboard the Bentenmaru!

So Mōretsu Pirates isn't quite a high-flying space adventure about a band of galactic pirates, but a character-driven space opera that delves more into political climates and high-school hi-jinks than it does shooting and looting. A beautifully animated series, but one of subject matter which will either grab you or not. With a movie announced to follow the show (unless it simply turns out to be recap film), and plenty of source material to carry on into a second season, Marika's band of pirates may not quite be done with yet.

Series REVIEW: Hikōnin Sentai Akibaranger

However you look at it, Super Sentai is kids show. It may have a large adult fanbase, but it has and probably always will be mainly for children. So what if Toei made a Sentai show strictly for adults? Well our prayers have been answered....somewhat. Hikōnin (Unofficial) Sentai Akibaranger is a 13-episode series is an adult parody Super Sentai series geared for adult fans of the show and is not part of the main Super Sentai series of shows. Just like in reality, Super Sentai is a long-running television show within the world of Akibaranger.

Our heroes

In the otaku paradise of Akihabara, three individuals are chosen by a scientist to become the unofficial Sentai Akibaranger, protecting Akihabara from the evil Stema Otsu Corporation and their attempts to destroy otaku culture. These three individuals - long time Super Sentai fan and 29-year-old delivery boy Nobuo Akagi, 18-year-old martial artist Mitsuki Aoyagi and 23-year-old cosplay fanatic Yumeria Moegi battle the Corporation head Malshina and her Chief Clerks in a delusional world, where their Sentai abilities are amplified and are able to call upon the help of past Super Sentai heroes.

But as the Akibarangers' delusional powers grow stronger and stronger, the fight eventually breaks out into the real world. Here they must not only face Dr Z, the true mastermind villain, but also the Delusion Empire and some very abrupt changes in the storyline.

Malshina, a sure sign this show isn't for kids

Akibaranger does some bold things with the traditional Super Sentai formula, and the first being shaking things up with a one man, 2 girls team. In fact, the show is pretty much dominated by (human) female cast members. Nobuo (Akiba Red) is exactly how you'd expect a Super Sentai fanboy given the opportunity to be a superhero to be, a stereotypical nerd but with a heart of gold. Mitsuki (Akiba Blue) starts out as perhaps the least interesting of the three, a more serious character who simply became an Akibaranger for the chance to become a stronger fighter. But as she learns to appreciate Super Sentai and her inner-nerd is exposed she becomes a much stronger character. Finally we have Yumeria (Akiba Yellow), the oddball of the group. From her various cosplays to her yaoi-fixation and seemingly never ending roll-calls, Yumeria is to fangirls what Nobuo is to fanboys. The three have an excellent dynamic together, which grows as the characters get to know each other and become friends. The Akibaranger suits are equally as wacky, playing with extremes that you'd never see on an official Sentai costume.

With a small ranger cast, Akibaranger equally relies on strong antagonists and secondary characters. Malshina (played by Adult Video actress Honoka) is a fantastic villain, oozing personality and playing off the Akibarangers (particularly Akiba Red) well. Assisting the Akibarangers are their mentor Hiroyo Hakase and her assistant KozuKozu Mita, Sentai heroine cosplay extraordinaire. The two become more intertwined with the story as it progresses, the story at one point being just as much about Hakase as it is our heroes.

Of course what would any Sentai team be without their own giant robot?

The series contains a huge number of Super Sentai references, from story lines and characters to actors and production. When the Akibarangers achieve their first victory against a monster, they sit around waiting for him to grow (which never happens). When the story begins to mysteriously change, Nobuo doesn't take long to realise its akin to what happened to Sun Vulcan back in 1981. Even the background is chock full of blink-and-you'll-miss-it references and homages (after all, their base of operations is a Sentai-themed cafe covered wall to wall in various toys and props).

Deka Red of Dekaranger, Bouken Red of Boukenger and Red Hawk of Jetman all show up at various stages to assist the Akibarangers, leaving them with their own "inordinate powers" - giant Deka Wappers, the Bouken Scooper and Jet Winger respectively. These weapons combine to form the Akibarangers Inordinate Cannon, adding yet another trope to the team's impressive arsenal. A more interesting cameo comes in the form of Kazuo Niborii, suit actor for 14 different Red's in Super Sentai's history. A show like Akibaranger is perfect for handing the spotlight to those who have helped the franchise become what it is, and Niborii's inclusion was well-deserved.

Some old heroes dropping by

But even among Akibaranger's constant barrage of comedy, there lies a story which still has a lot of emotion. Episode five shows a different side to Yumeria, guest starring singer/voice acting legend Rica Matsumoto (perhaps better known as Satoshi/Ash in Pokemon) as her mother. While the story still contains Akibaranger's trademark brand of humour, its a very heartwarming episode that shows that even a parody series can pull off emotion and deeper story lines when the time comes. As the show breaks down into its final act, it become a whole different beast. Just like the classic Looney Tunes cartoon "Duck Amuck", Akibaranger tackles its metafiction in a way that doesn't just break the fourth wall, it tears it down altogether.

A prominent theme within the show is also the anime Nijiyome Academy Z-Cune Aoi, which all three characters are huge fans of. The MMZ-01, the Akibaranger's transformation device and weapon, is modelled on the character, and the show's relevance to the overall story becomes clearer as the plot progresses. What little of the show is presented in Akibaranger is beautifully animated, and suggests that it plays up to many magical girl/moe stereotypes just as Akibaranger does with otaku and Super Sentai. With a manga and mobile phone game on the way, I wouldn't be surprised if Toei announce an anime spin-off in the near future.

Meet Aoi-tan!

Sadly all good things must come to an end, and although the final episode of Akibaranger may be a recap episode, even that manages to be fun and play around with various tropes of the franchise. Reviewing their past adventure as an opportunity to gain a second season, the team provide commentary throughout the clip-show. Throw in some amusing product placement for future S.H. Figuarts toys and the final realisation that the Akibaranger's task had been given to them to fill up the remaining broadcast slot at the cheapest budget possible.

Gokaiger may have been a celebration of Super Sentai within the franchise's overall story, but Akibaranger is one outside it. It manages to celebrate the show and perhaps more importantly, its fans, in a way the former never could, resulting in a show that keeps surprising you until the very end and is sadly gone before you know it. During the final episode Nobuo explains to his team mates that if they're show is remembered by otaku like him, then everything they've done up until this point is all worth it. And this is exactly what they've done. If ANY Super Sentai series deserves a chance at a second season, forget about the official Sentai - the unofficial ones have done far more in far less time to earn it.

Series REVIEW: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Season Two)

By 1994 Power Rangers had hit the height of popularity, however the Zyurangerfootage was running out and Saban was left with the choice of whether to continue on with the original costumes or move forward with the aesthetic for the next Super Sentai show, Gosei Sentai Dairanger. So what they did was use both - creating a whole new Power Rangers experience that combined the two shows and continued the franchise in a neat fashion. The 52-episode second season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers continued the use of the five main Zyuranger suits, but would see the mecha, monsters and sixth ranger of Dairanger join the fray.

Our story continues with Rita Repulsa being overthrown by her own master - Lord Zedd, the self-proclaimed  "Emperor of Evil". As Zedd packs Rita back into her dumpster and sends her hurdling through space, he vows to finish what Rita could never do and destroy the Power Rangers. The rangers struggle against Zedd's far more powerful monsters and putty patrollers, and eventually the Dinozords fall against Zedd's first creation Pirantishead.

It's goodbye to Jason, Zack and Trini...

Calling upon the power of Thunder, the rangers pilot new zords to defeat Zedd's monsters, however the Green Ranger powers are fully extinguished and Tommy is forced to leave the team. After a brief absence, he returns with new White Ranger powers and becomes team leader of the rangers. Shortly afterward Jason, Zack and Trini are selected to represent Angel Grove at a teen peace conference in Switzerland, leaving the fate of the power team up in arms. Step in new students Rocky, Adam and Aisha to become the new red, black and yellow rangers!

And even though the rangers constantly face the threat of Zedd, Rita Repulsa isn't too far away and has her own plans for both Zedd and the rangers.

...and hello Rocky, Adam and Aisha!

Despite being marred with obvious problems, the cast changeover is handled better than other shows I've watched that did similar things. Rocky, Adam and Aisha all get a fair introduction before they become Power Rangers so the audience can get used to their characters and the changeover doesn't come a big shock. Of course by the time their introduction swings around Austin St John (Jason), Walter Jones (Zack) and Thuy Thrang (Trini) had already left the show, resulting in much stock footage, suit actors and "obviously not Jason" voice overs to continue the illusion that they're still around. It does become laughable at points, but I still give them credit for trying and trying to make the most of a bad situation.

While they may not be as instantly charismatic as their predecessors, Rocky, Adam and Aisha are fantastic characters and given plenty of opportunity to grow into their roles. Billy, who I considered the weakest of the original Power Rangers, has also significantly improved in this season. Gone are the constant awkward sentences, replaced by a character who is both a competent fighter and able to give off the impression that he's the smart one without having to resort to a ridiculous stereotype.

Tommy's return as the White Ranger is also something I found superior to the first series. Despite the fan consensus that the Green Ranger is some sort of badass, I never really feel that shows outside of the times he's being evil. Initially he's simply a bit player, and then he begins to lose his powers and is capable of very little, to the point of ridiculousness in season two. A unmorphed Tommy fares better against Goldar than the Green Ranger. The White Ranger powers see Tommy far better integrated into the show as a character, ranger and leader - even if he does come across a little overpowered in his repeated fights against Zedd's forces, able to take numerous monsters down on his own.

Without a doubt the most important aspect of season two is Lord Zedd, and his impact on Power Rangers as a whole. A completely original US creation, even from looks alone Zedd poses a greater threat than Rita ever did. A powerful mass of exposed muscle covered only by tubes, a skeletal frame and a nightmarish mask, even before he starts attacking the rangers Zedd makes his presence felt. The character was said to be too scary for children, leading to him being drastically toned down and married to Rita Repulsa. Since the wedding his plans and actions become more comedic, but at the same time Rita and Zedd make an effective team and seeing them together is just as, if not moreso, interesting to watch as it was when they were acting separately. If there was a competition to decide what wholly original part of Power Rangers was the best, it would undoubtedly be Lord Zedd.

Lord Zedd, Power Rangers' finest creation

Bulk and Skull have also developed into much more interesting characters. While they're still the bullies they were in the first season, they now have their sights set on revealing the identities of the Power Rangers. Cue a whole season's worth of elaborate plans and gadgets, some of which actually work, and two characters that have become far more involved in the plot and less about getting covered in food. The episode "When is a Ranger not a Ranger" sees the two actually save the day, and marks the first major bit of character growth for the two that would continue right up until Power Rangers in Space.

Back and better than before

With the Dinozords gone, our robot battles are now provided by the Thunderzords. Although a much bulkier design and elaborate design than the original Megazord, the Thunder Megazord still fits right into the aesthetic of the show. I question some of the renaming Saban did to the Dairanger mecha (a unicorn without a prominent horn, a griffin that doesn't look anything like a lion or an eagle) but the stock footage used to morph the Dinozords into the Thunderzords really helps convey the "upgrade" feel these zords have. The Tigerzord remains one of my favourite Power Rangers zords, and there isn't really a lot to say about Tor the Shuttlezord - who is easily the weakest of the bunch. A carrier zord with little introduction, and an even more underwhelming Ultrazord combination.

"We need Mega Thunderzord...I mean Thunder Megazord power now!"

But that's not all! As Lord Zedd gets a zord of his very own - Sepentera, which towers over the Thunderzords and has the potential to be the most devastating foe the rangers face. Unfortunately this potential is never lived up due to the uselessness of the Dairanger footage, but Saban certainly have fun with it and it adds a bit more flavour to Zedd's drop into more comedic antics. Though a source of massive power and destruction, Serpentera gets very little done because it constantly runs out of energy - leaving Zedd and Goldar to have to make a hasty retreat.

That isn't to say it isn't without some flaws. The main one being the writers insistent to make everything leaving the show to look inferior to what's about to come. The Green Ranger was near-useless in the first lot of episodes, and then Jason, Zack and Trini were made to look pretty awful in comparison to Rocky, Adam and Aisha. At least with Tommy is made some sense in terms of the story, but to see veteran rangers become so useless just before they leave is just jarring. There are also a few naming errors (they can't decide whether its Thunder Megazord or Mega Thunderzord to start with) and a brief appearance of the original Megazord in one fight sequence, but nothing quite as glaring as the first season.

The first season of Power Rangers may have been good, but the second season is really where it comes into its own. With more original footage and ideas it provides something to please both parties - a continuing narrative for Power Rangers fans, and a completely different viewing experience to Dairanger for Super Sentai fans. While sometimes noticeable, the footage is stitched together well to produce excellent stories, and the season is full of fantastic multi-part stories that remain among the most memorable in Power Rangers history.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Meteor

With Kamen Rider Fourze slowly drawing to a close on Japanese televisions to make way for Kamen Rider Wizard, the wait has seemed like an eternity to see the secondary rider of the series in Bandai's Figuarts line. We've already has the majority of Fourze's states (with Cosmic soon to come too), so the release of Ryusei Sakuta's "WA-CHA"-ing alter ego brings a breath of fresh air to a line that so far has only seen Fourze himself. So without further ado, I present to you Kamen Rider Bruce Lee Meteor!

The Meteor design has been a particular favourite of mine since it was first unveiled, so I'm happy to report that Bandai have really knocked it out of the park when it comes to the figure. The constellation markings on the bodysuit are really nicely painted, and there's a good amount of detail on the Meteor driver and Meteor Galaxy. The silver and translucent blue sections stand out nicely against the black body, but the colours work effectively together to give off the space-theme of Fourze.

Meteor is certainly a character who can make the most of the articulation Figuarts has to offer. The double-jointed hips are perfect for recreating a wide variety of Meteor's trademark martial arts poses and moves. The right-shoulder band may initially feel restrictive in comparison to the left arm, it after fiddling around with it for a bit its quite easy to get the same range of motion out of it. The head on my figure feels a little loose (not sure if this is a common problem), but nothing to the point where it falls off or droops downward.

Meteor isn't particularly one for gadgets on the show, instead fighting using his impressive martial arts skill. This is reflected in the toy, who comes with a minimal amount of accessories. Included are seven extra hands (one pair of open hands, one set of posed hands, two thumbs up hands and a left pointing hand), alternate versions of the Meteor Driver and Meteor Galaxy (the former without the switch, the latter with) and two versions of the Hulashaker Foodroid. Its nice to see the Foodroids getting a release scaled with the Figuarts but personally I'd have preferred a planet effect piece to recreate Meteor's limit break. The thumbs up hands are my personal favourite of his hands selection, as it means his iconic "Your fate is mine to decide" pose is doable. No minuscule switches is also a bonus in my books.

Despite his meagre accessory count, I'm in love with Meteor. The Figuarts body is able to pull off the elaborate poses of the character, and Bandai really nailed the sculpt in both design and colouring. If you're one of the people who struggle to get behind the Kamen Rider Fourze design, then Meteor is definitely someone worth your attention as he has a far less outlandish look while at the same time in keeping with both the space theme and the iconic Kamen Rider motifs. A more than worthy addition to anyone's collection.

Legend Sentai Ranger Key Set: Dekaranger

The Legend Sentai Ranger Key sets are slowly ploughing through both old and new Sentai teams, and last month one of the few key sets I've decided to pick up was released - one of my favourite Sentai series...the Dekarangers! Included in the set is Deka Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and Pink (so Deka Break, Master and Swan still need to be bought by other means).

Usually I'm not one to complain that much about box art, but the font they chose for the "Special Police Dekaranger" is just flat out awful. It doesn't match the look and tone of the box or the series itself, and feels like something that was pulled out of a default computer font bank last minute. I originally thought about displaying these in the box (like I've done with my Gokaiger set) but the end product has really put me off that idea.

As you'd expect, inserting any of the keys into the Mobirates or Legend Mobirates makes the "DEEEEKAAAARAAANGER" call out (along with a unique sound effect). In the Legends Mobirates encyclopaedia mode you'll also get a short bio of the team.

Anime REVIEW: Deadman Wonderland

Based on the manga series by Jinsei Kataoka, Deadman Wonderland is a science-fiction/horror drama with a particularly interesting premise. Taking content from the first 21 chapters of the manga, it ran for 12 episode (with one side OVA) between April and July 2011.

Ganta Igarashi is the sole survivor of a mass murder by the "red man", who burst into his school one day and violently murdered all of his classmates. Instead of killing Ganta, the red man thrusts a red crystal into his chest, knocking him unconscious in the process. When he awakens in hospital, Ganta finds he is the sole suspect of the murder. Set up by his own defence lawyer, he is sentenced to death and incarcerated at Deadman Wonderland, a massive prison set up like a theme park.

Ganta Igarashi is blamed for a crime he didn't commit

Inmates of Deadman Wonderland are fitted with a special collar, which monitors their life signs and kills them in three days unless they eat a special piece of candy. To get this candy, the inmates must take part in various events which are put on as shows for the theme park visitors, winning cast points which can also be used on food, clothing and more. However these events are extremely dangerous and many inmates don't survive.

Meeting his long-forgotten childhood friend, the mysterious Shiro, Ganta struggles to accept life in prison. But when he discovers he possesses the power to turn his own blood into a projectile weapon, he's thrust into the world of the Deadmen. Here he partakes in even more brutal events, and becomes part of a larger scheme to escape the prison and bring down both its promoter and the red man himself.

I didn't know quite what to expect going into Deadman Wonderland, so to be treated with a twisted-fun fair prison drama came as a pleasant surprise. While it does tend to lose this focus as it progresses (as the prison enters "inspection" in the latter half, the theme park element seems dropped entirely), it keeps up a relatively fast pace so nothing ever seems to drag. There's a lot of terminology in Deadman Wonderland, some of which gets more explanation than others. Terms like "Red Hole", "Wretched Egg" and "Worm Eater" are thrown around constantly, and you really have to keep a keen eye on the dialogue to keep up with what they all mean.

The mystery of Shiro is largely unanswered one

Ganta is a reasonably likeable protagonist, but too often swings between strength and weakness. Shiro seems like an odd character in a realm of insanity, always cheerful and constantly talking about racing or snacking. However the level of mystery to her (her appearance and lack of prison ID number) keep Shiro interesting. Tsunenaga Tamaki, the promoter and later director of Deadman Wonderland, is a villain through and through - setting up Ganta as a guilty man, keeping secrets from the people around him and showing no remorse for human life, taking sick pleasure in everything he does. There is a good variety of characters - some likeable, some hateable and others who swing between the two.  The problem is that it uses a considerably wide cast in such a short span of time, meaning characters are shoved aside midway through to make room for the new ones. Yoh, an inmate searching for his Deadman sister, starts out as a main character, but is quickly thrown aside when the Scar Chain group is introduced. The standout character in Deadman Wonderland is without a doubt Senji (aka Crow), a Deadman with the ability to turn is blood into knives who revels in fighting and bloodshed. As a character who goes from an initial antagonist to eventual hero and mentor to Ganta, it's a crime that the show doesn't focus more on him.

Why oh why isn't this show more about him?

Tamaki, as his role suggests, is more of a behind the scenes villain, and so in terms of action there are also the Undertakers as primary antagonists. The two the series mainly focuses on are Azuma, a self proclaimed "Super Monk" who uses and electric guitar-gun as a weapon, and Hibana - a young girl who wields a massive sectioned sword. Both characters have pretty traumatic backgrounds to explain their lust for killing, but ultimately feel hollow with very little real relevance to the plot.

The powers the Deadmen have - the ability to mould their blood into different weapons and/or abilities is a focal point of the show and seems to have taken much visual inspiration from Carnage of Spider-Man fame. With plenty of cage fights and twisted races for the prison inmates to take part in, the show also has a particularly high gore level. Perhaps the most unsettling part is the "sore loser" game, in which losing a Deadman is forced to use a slot machine to determine what body part they'll lose.

About as twisted as they come

While Deadman Wonderland's biggest flaw is one that affects most anime series based on ongoing manga series, here it is especially prevalent. Already steeped in its own complex mythology, 12 episodes simply isn't enough to get any sort of story across. New characters are introduced in the final few episodes which have little relevance other than to foreshadow future events (that will never come), and main characters that were present the entire time (such as the prison's chief guard Makina) have roles that lead to nowhere because its all build up. The final episode feels more like a mid-series fight than a series finale, and the final line of show leaves things on a pretty major cliffhanger. If, like me, you aren't a huge manga reader and have little intention of reading the source material at a later date, then this series is going to only leave you wanting more.

If Akuma taught us anything, its that more guitars should be modified into guns

Deadman Wonderland is an excellent series, but at the same time merely a fraction of what it should be. Far too much is left open-ended, and unfortunately unless the series can muster higher DVD sales or pull a "Big O" in America (since its part of the new Toonami block) it's probably going to stay that way. A perfect companion piece to the manga, but an incomplete show to anyone who's watching the anime and the anime alone.