Boogiepop Phantom
12 Episodes
TV Series
Contemporary Fantasy/Monsters
Sometimes I start a series and think "oh shit...this is gonna suck" and most of the time it redeems itself before it's over. It all comes together and makes sense. It has a cool/poignant ending or just a whole bunch of badass action sequences or it really makes me laugh or the animation is awesome. Something. Something usually comes together and makes what I initially think is going to be a shitty series into something that is at least decent. This is not one of those anime.
Boogiepop Phantom has lots of things going for it. It's got an interesting concept, great opening song, cool character design (at times), and it's Madhouse for christ's sake! But none of these pull it out of the fire it throws itself into. As you're watching the opening sequence you're thinking, "man...is there something wrong with the video?" you're going to check your settings, you might even re-download the files or check someone else's DVD. Sadly...there's nothing wrong with the video. This is actually the way they intended it. I know...I know...why would a studio that prides itself on awesome visuals and animation do this on purpose? I can only imagine that they were thinking that the visual style would coincide with the theme of dreams, memories and the unknown. Sure...I guess it does. So I kept watching. That was my first mistake.
The visuals never get out of their tunnel vision feel, but unfortunately the plot never really goes anywhere either. The concept is that well...hold on...ok. Let me be truthful: I have only the vaguest idea of what the plot is really about, and that's not a good thing. So there's a light shaft, and it seems that it gave a bunch of people powers and at the same time it...well...caused a wave of memories to wash over the city and drive a good handful of people to suicide and murder because of the ghosts of the memories. Handful of monsters get rustled up because of the shockwave/"rainbow"/shaft of light. Anyway. You don't follow anyone in particular you basically just jump from individual story to individual story back and forth through time. Usually that isn't a problem but basically it can't decide what it really wants to be, and before the end of the series you have no idea what caused the phenomenon oh...wait...that's right they NEVER tell you what really caused the phenomenon. Joy. I love wading through 12 episodes of confusing and muddy looking crap just to get to...nothing. Another thing: though some of the character design is really cool, LOTS of it is crap and really just adds to the confusion when so many people look similar or IDENTICAL to other characters. "Well gee Tommy...sometimes this just happens!" No...this time? Yeah...this time they did it on purpose. What - The - Fuck.
Anyway. I have ranted enough about this anime. Just don't watch it ok? Please teach Madhouse a lesson on this one. Oh...and if you do happen to understand it or, god forbid, like it? Gimme a call, I can hook you up with a good rehab clinic for the crack you are obviously smoking. Tommy out. Next up: Something from Karin!! Nah...just kidding...I think she died. I'll probably be reviewing Sunabouzu AKA Desert Punk next. So far it's pretty rad. We'll see.
Tommy
TV Series
Contemporary Fantasy/Monsters
Sometimes I start a series and think "oh shit...this is gonna suck" and most of the time it redeems itself before it's over. It all comes together and makes sense. It has a cool/poignant ending or just a whole bunch of badass action sequences or it really makes me laugh or the animation is awesome. Something. Something usually comes together and makes what I initially think is going to be a shitty series into something that is at least decent. This is not one of those anime.
Boogiepop Phantom has lots of things going for it. It's got an interesting concept, great opening song, cool character design (at times), and it's Madhouse for christ's sake! But none of these pull it out of the fire it throws itself into. As you're watching the opening sequence you're thinking, "man...is there something wrong with the video?" you're going to check your settings, you might even re-download the files or check someone else's DVD. Sadly...there's nothing wrong with the video. This is actually the way they intended it. I know...I know...why would a studio that prides itself on awesome visuals and animation do this on purpose? I can only imagine that they were thinking that the visual style would coincide with the theme of dreams, memories and the unknown. Sure...I guess it does. So I kept watching. That was my first mistake.
The visuals never get out of their tunnel vision feel, but unfortunately the plot never really goes anywhere either. The concept is that well...hold on...ok. Let me be truthful: I have only the vaguest idea of what the plot is really about, and that's not a good thing. So there's a light shaft, and it seems that it gave a bunch of people powers and at the same time it...well...caused a wave of memories to wash over the city and drive a good handful of people to suicide and murder because of the ghosts of the memories. Handful of monsters get rustled up because of the shockwave/"rainbow"/shaft of light. Anyway. You don't follow anyone in particular you basically just jump from individual story to individual story back and forth through time. Usually that isn't a problem but basically it can't decide what it really wants to be, and before the end of the series you have no idea what caused the phenomenon oh...wait...that's right they NEVER tell you what really caused the phenomenon. Joy. I love wading through 12 episodes of confusing and muddy looking crap just to get to...nothing. Another thing: though some of the character design is really cool, LOTS of it is crap and really just adds to the confusion when so many people look similar or IDENTICAL to other characters. "Well gee Tommy...sometimes this just happens!" No...this time? Yeah...this time they did it on purpose. What - The - Fuck.
Anyway. I have ranted enough about this anime. Just don't watch it ok? Please teach Madhouse a lesson on this one. Oh...and if you do happen to understand it or, god forbid, like it? Gimme a call, I can hook you up with a good rehab clinic for the crack you are obviously smoking. Tommy out. Next up: Something from Karin!! Nah...just kidding...I think she died. I'll probably be reviewing Sunabouzu AKA Desert Punk next. So far it's pretty rad. We'll see.
Tommy
posted by Tommy at 12:01 AM
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