Video Backlog: "The Adventures of Hols, Prince of the Sun (The Little Norse Prince)"

Publisher: Optimum Releasing (UK)
Format: Region 2 DVD, PAL, Japanese Dialogue and English Subtitles
Length: 82 minutes
Production Date: 1968
Currently in Print (as of writing): Yes

Story Outline: Set in iron age Scandinavia, the film follows a boy named Hols whom after fighting off a pack of silver wolves and accidentally waking up a rock giant named Mogue, he receives a weathered sword he has pulled from the giant's shoulder which was bothering the giant. On his deathbed, Hols father tells him to return to his home village which was devastated by a demon named Grunwald to take revenge. Hols sets off with his friend, a bear cub named Coro. However Grunwald was waiting for him. He offers Hols a chance to join him, but Hols refuses and Grunwald lets him fall down a cliff face to die. However Hols is saved by a group of villagers who welcome him with open arms. Hols decides to slay a monster pike which has been eating all the fish upstream. In retaliation Grunwald sends out his silver wolves to attack the village and in the ensuing chaos as Hols attacks to pack leaders, he meets a mysterious singing girl named Hilda who is alone in a deserted village. He invites her back to his adopted village, however strange occurrences begin and Hilda is not whom she seems.

Mini Review: This was Isao Takahata's (of Studio Ghibli fame) first feature film and naturally Hayao Miyazaki played a big part in the film's creation as well. The story goes that in the mid 1960's there was a labour dispute at Toei and this film was a result of what was going on. Yes, a socialist/unionist movie for kids. For a film made over 40 years ago, it's just flipping amazing. I first saw it as a fansub over a decade ago and didn't quite get it. Having seen it now on DVD in glorious widescreen, I now see what the fuss is all about. Apart from the talking animals and the songs, this is pretty much 100% Ghibli. The film feels slightly truncated perhaps due to the fact Toei asked that 30 minutes be cut from the runtime. The animation and story are wonderful, however I thought it came to a bit of halt in the middle for a while. Was also annoyed at the static animation in the wolves attack at the village scene. However the imagination gone into this film is amazing. Ice mammoths, ice wind wolves and stone giants. Just great. Annoyingly the songs, about half dozen of them, aren't subbed. Also the odd UK title comes from an old 1980 US English dub of the film called "Little Norse Prince Valliant", but the dub isn't included on the disc due to a legal dispute. Also some liner notes would have been great for this film, but all we get is the Japanese theatrical trailer.

Fantasic film, a lot better than many modern anime films. I give it 8 out of 10.

Remaining Backlog: 18 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).

Video Backlog: "Star Fleet (X-Bomber)"

Publisher: Fabulous Films (UK)
Format: Region 2 DVD, PAL, English Dubbed
Length: 24 Episodes x 24 minutes
Production Date: 1980 - 1981
Currently in Print (as of writing): Yes

Story Outline: In the year 2999, the Earth is entering a new era of peace after Space War III. However a giant alien space battle cruiser enters the solar system and destroys Pluto base. The commander of the vessel, Commander Makara and her snivelling offsider Orion, head for earth and demand from the Earth Defence Force (EDF) something called the F-Zero-One. A short deadline is given, and with the EDF not knowing what the F-Zero-One is, they decide to launch the incomplete X-Project to defend the Earth. Doctor Benn who is charge of the project on the Moon Base. He recruits three pilots from the Space Academy; Shiro Hagen, Barry Hercules and John Lee to fly the X-Project, which actually a powerful spacecraft named X-Bomber. Along with a rather annoying robot named PPA (Perfectly Programmed Android), Dr Benn's secretary and Moon Base radar operator Lamia and her guardian Kirara who seems to be half wookie and half yeti. Over the course of the series they battle Makara and her minions, come to grips with the fact Lamia might be the F-Zero-One, the pilots come to grips with the loss of their instructor Captain Carter and contact a mysterious flying sailing ship named the Skull.

Review: No, this is not a show linked to Star Trek and no, it's not a Gerry Anderson Supermarionation show like Thunderbirds. "Star Fleet" (known as X-Bomber in it's original incarnation) is a Japanese sci-fi marionette show, totally unique in the world of tokusatsu (Japanese special effects). There's nothing else like it in Japanese sci-fi. Even more surprising is that behind the show was the creative force of Go Nagai and his production company Dynamic Production. Though just about every source credits Nagai as creator, a Manga Max magazine article credits producer Kimio Ikeda of Jin Productions with the idea and he recruited Nagai as a name as well as having Nagai and his company design the show and flesh out the story. Nagai in an interview on the UK DVD box set, states he wanted to make the show like "Star Wars", however it's also similar to his "Getter Robo" anime and includes a three part robot called Dai X, which is attached to X-Bomber. It is also stated that the show was axed in Japan after 8 episodes, however in Nagai's interview on the UK DVD box set, he states he had plans to create a second series. But with "Thunderbirds" being a major hit in Japan, you have wonder why there weren't at least a couple more of these shows made. I suspect the high production cost is what killed any plans to make similar shows dead.

Unknown to most outside the UK (and those born after 1978 or so) is that the show was reedited, rescored and dubbed into English and broadcast on London Weekend Television during 1982 and 1983. Gerry Anderson who was making "Terrahawks" was so concerned about "Star Fleet" competing with his program that he rang the production office to find out what the show was like. The show was a big hit, but never began reruns like "Monkey!" for some unknown reason. In fact it was probably for this reason that both Japanese imports gained cult status in the UK (as well as being quality programs of course).

Unlike most Gerry Anderson marionette shows, "Star Fleet" used rods from underneath rather than strings. Early on this lead to some weird movements such as this rather rude salute;
Which naturally is used in the English opening credits. Also strange is the half wookie, half yeti like Kirara, the alien creature has been Lamia's protector since she was found in crashed spacecraft on Mars as a baby;
What a heart-warming scene that is (and potentially horrifying). One of the biggest changes to the show is the music, written by Paul Bliss from the Moody Blues (no, really). The end theme song impressed Brian May of Queen (who used to watch the series with his son) so much that he recorded his own version under the title the Star Fleet Project which included Eddie Van Halen doing a solo and Queen drummer Roger Taylor on backing vocals! The video for the song is included on the DVD box set which features Brian May's disembodied head floating through space and footage from the show;
Other cool items in the box set include the previously mentioned documentary and a booklet containing the colourised UK Star Fleet comics from kid's magazine Look In from the early 1980's. I recall when I first set eyes on this show. It was a VHS trade about a decade ago. I sent off some anime fansubs and I was getting some live action Japanese stuff in return. At the time that stuff was really hard to come by (well it's still relatively hard to acquire now, especially subtitled). I got about the first four tapes of the eight tape US release (the only kind of release the show had outside the UK). I loved the show but naturally couldn't find a damn thing about it in the books and magazines I had.

I was happy that Fabulous Films released the whole series again in the UK, but was rather wary since I hadn't thought much of their "Monkey!" DVDs which were even worse than the DVDs that Siren in Australian put out (that's quite an achievement). However the video is pretty good, but looks messy and pixelated in some shots where there's a lot of action. But this is pretty rare.

Overall the show is pretty amazing and quite unique. It's a bit disappointing that more people don't know about this great little show. While I found almost the first half to be a bit episodic, the second half kicks into full gear and is fantastic. The English adaptation is mostly pretty good, it can be a little garbled and confused at times story wise. Overall I give the show 7.5 out of 10.

Remaining Backlog: 18 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).

Video Backlog: "Tokyo Vice (The Tokyo Project)"

Publisher: Media Blasters (USA)
Format: Region 1 DVD, NTSC, Japanese Dialogue with optional English Dub and English Subtitles
Length: 53 minutes
Production Date: 1988
Currently in Print (as of writing): Yes

Story Outline: A bloodied man in a suit who has been shot hands Akira a floppy disc at concert performed by his workmate, Junpei. The man soon dies leaving a mystery behind as to the contents of the disc. Unbelievably both Akira and Junpei are both part of the Rutz detective agency, and with Kumiko, Junpei's sister and Keiko they plan to find out what the story is. After Akira hunts around for some clues, he is attacked by a military helicopter on a busy highway while riding his motorcycle and ends up in hospital. The disc apparently contains information to produce a bipedal military robot and the corporation who wants the data will stop at nothing to get the data, including attempting kill Akira in hospital and kidnapping Kumiko. It's up to Junpei to get her back, however the injured Akira overhears his sister is missing, and despite being injured goes out to get her back.

Mini Review: Not exactly one of the best known titles of the 1980's, this OVA is surprisingly solid. I didn't think much of it when I first watched it on tape so many years ago, but for reason I quite liked it this time around. The story is implausible and a little confused at times, but what the hell, it’s rather fun. The robot, on the cover, when it finally appears during the climax is one ugly mother of a thing. It's pretty horrendous and looks rather awkward. The character designs are very reminiscent of some of Kia Asamiya's anime work, but then quite a lot of anime during this period looked a bit similar. The only name in the production credits I knew was Toshihiro Kawamoto (character designer extraordinaire) who did some key animation work. It'd be nice if there was a bit more character development and the whole detective agency thing is never fully explained. I felt parts of the OVA aren't well thought out or planned.

Though this OVA was released on VHS in 1999 under the original Japanese title of "Tokyo Vice", strangely the 2001 DVD release was titles "Tokyo Project". I can only assume maybe this has something to do with Media Blasters not wanting to get sued by the producers of Miami Vice. When's all said and done, a silly but fun late 1980's detective anime. But not all that great and a little forgettable. I give it 6 out of 10.

Remaining Backlog: 18 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).

Video Backlog: "Iczer 3 (Iczer Reborn)"

Publisher: US Manga Corps (USA)
Format: Region 1 DVD, NTSC, Japanese Dialogue and English Subtitles
Length: 6 Episodes x 30 minutes
Production Date: 1990 - 1991
Currently in Print (as of writing): No

Story Outline: About 100 or so years after the events of "Iczer 1", the Earth is attacked again by Neos Gold, a descendent of Big Gold. With Neos' minions doing massive damage on Earth, a group of soldiers and a delivery girl descendent of Nagisa from the original OVA series (also called confusingly called Nagisa) escape the moon base after it is attacked in a ship called the Queen Fuji. Due to Iczer 1 being injured after fighting off Neos Gold, Sister Grey sends the childlike Iczer 3 off the fight for Earth.

Mini Review: I have a soft spot for Toshihiro Hirano's stuff from the 1980's and 1990's. This follow up series to the original (and wonderful) three part sci-fi reference packed "Iczer 1" from 1985 to 1987, isn't as good a series though. However it's certainly fun. For some unknown reason it is never made clear as to how much time has passed since the original OVA. It's very easy for the audience to think that the Nagisa in this OVA is the same one in "Iczer 1". Also for some reason the producers decided to use female wrestler Cutey Suzuki as Iczer 3's voice actress rather than the original voice actress in the audio drama which preceded the OVA. Suzuki can't act for nuts. Her lack of acting skills are evident with the more experienced voice actors around her. The only other films Suzuki has acted in are direct to video live action B-graders like "Battle Girl" (known as "The Living Dead in Tokyo Bay" in the bootleg realm of the mid 1990's), in which she played the lead, Keiko. One also has to question why CPM renamed this OVA "Iczer Reborn" after previously releasing it under it's original name and leaving the "Iczer 3" title card in the opening credits. Also frustratingly I think my disc might have DVD rot.

Big stupid OVA fun from the 1990's, but the original OVA is better. I give it 7.5 out of 10.

Remaining Backlog: 18 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).

Video Backlog: "Colorful"

Publisher: ADV Films (USA)
Format: Region 1 DVD, NTSC, Japanese Dialogue with optional English Dub and English Subtitles
Length: 16 Episodes x 6 minutes
Production Date: 1999
Currently in Print (as of writing): Yes

Story Outline: Story? What story? Panties, girls, girls, girls. Some more panties. And then some more. Boobs. Gee, how unlikely was it that ADV licenced this. Wow, this is really unusual for them.

Mini Review: This is one of these short little TV anime that were part of a larger show. This show was screened in the "Wonderful" TV series alongside the mini "You're Under Arrest" series (which I disliked). This show is just a collection of skits, some only 30 or 60 seconds long which, as you may have guessed by the DVD cover are about panties. I don't know what the whole panties fetish thing is popular with Japanese men. After about 10 seconds of this show, I'd really had a gutfull. Both visually and sonicly, the show is a complete mess. The animation and designs are ugly and look like a film student's project. Add in several pieces of stock animation which are played over and over and cut up in a DJ like fashion to look "visually interesting". The audio sounds like a keyboard sampler vomiting. Like the most annoying dance music you've ever heard. There just isn't enough meat in here to sustain the show. Nearly two hours of panties? Oh please, spare me. There's absolutely no substance. Why in god's name would you make a show like this? This is why I should think a bit more before grabbing $5 discs from the Right Stuf's bargin bin.

However I did laugh about twice. Also the concept of a giant high school girl and the skit about a guy who wins a 2D anime girl as second prize in a manga competition were very clever. Other than that, it's complete rubbish. Becuase I'm feeling generous, I'll give it 3 out of 10.

Remaining Backlog: 18 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).

Video Backlog: "Tsukihime, Lunar Legend"

Publisher: Geneon USA
Format: Region 1 DVD, NTSC, Japanese Dialogue with optional English Dub and English Subtitles
Length: 12 Episodes x 25 minutes (released as three discs and box set)
Production Date: 2003
Currently in Print (as of writing): Yes

Story Outline: Based on a visual novel (naturally an erotic one), Shiki Tohno, a high school boy, was banished from his well to do family after an accident as a child which left him with a psychic ability to see “death lines” in everything. All he has to is cut them with a knife and the object, human or otherwise, falls apart and dies. A mysterious woman gives him a pair of glasses so he is unable to see the lines. She informs him that he should only take his glasses off when he needs to protect someone special. He later is invited back into the family house by his rather stiff and cultured sister, who seems be hiding some sort of secret. He also has a run in with a mysterious blonde woman named Arcueid Brunestud who claims she is a vampire and that had previously killed her the day prior.

Mini Review: I like the set up of this show, but I think the whole vampire thing has been done to death (no pun intended…). The story is quite slow at times, and the animation isn’t the greatest. However it showed a lot of promise, even if it didn’t quite deliver. A pleasant diversion. That’s about all I can say about it really. Got it for about $8 a disc, so I don’t mind.

Overall quite a fun show, but drags at a number of points. Could have easily been told in a four part OVA format. I'd give it a 6 out of 10.

Remaining Backlog: 18 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).

Video Backlog: "Hanaukyo Maid Team: La Verite"

Publisher: Geneon USA
Format: Region 1 DVD, NTSC, Japanese Dialogue with optional English Dub and English Subtitles
Length: 12 Episodes x 25 minutes (released as three discs and box set)
Production Date: 2004
Currently in Print (as of writing): No

Story Outline: Our milquetoast hero Taro Hanaukyo, who is in his very early teens, becomes the head of the of the Hanauko family house after his grandfather abdicates, and obtains a multi million dollar fortune, a massive mansion and estate and about 150 maids. Hilarity ensues as Taro meets and greets maids, with various clichéd anime personalities, some of which want to bugger him (is that legal? He looks underage...) including triplet bed warmers who seem to be nothing more than glorified prostitutes. But soon our little hero falls in love with the dullest maid of all; Mariel.

Mini Review: Well, it wasn't 18 kinds of awful, but half way there. I knew I shouldn't have bought this thing, but I think it about $8 per disc in the closeout bin, so I thought what the heck. 18 months after I bought it, there's still 300 - 400+ of each disc in the closeout bin at Right Stuf…

The show; oh our milquetoast hero gets an instant harem, maids, lots of maids. At least some of the girls want to screw him right from the get go. And of course the usual stereotyped anime girls. And of course he goes for the no personality doormat Beldandy clone (but at least Beldandy HAS a personality) rather than any of the other girls who have backbone, have their own mind and far more interesting than Mariel. Blarg. What was wrong with the head of security, Konoe? Easily the pick of the girls. At the very least the designs were great (spoiled by some really off model animation in the second last episode) and I respect the fact they just went for nudity and sex in the first episode rather than stringing the viewers along. Also the young maid with multiple personalities was a rather original touch for this type of show.

Overall, OK for wasting time. Not much good for keeping in your collection really. I'd give it a 5 out of 10.

Remaining Backlog: 18 months (it's much easier this way than listing the number of discs).