Review of Mars of Destruction (2005)
Hello, everyone, it's time for a new review. This week I will review the infamous twenty minute anime OVA: Mars of Destruction.
Before watching I had already been warned by several reviews on Youtube and on MyAnimeList that Mars of Destruction is terrible. Despite all those words of caution, I decided to go ahead and watch it anyway. Why? I wanted to see if it was truly as bad as everyone made it out to be.
In short, I don't think Mars of Destruction is the worst anime of all time (Pupa and Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-Chan still hold the top two spots in that category), but I still give it a pretty low score. The story jumps around and very little information is given throughout, the surprise ending comes out of nowhere, the characters have no development, and the animation is terrible. However, there are a few redeeming qualities that I will explain later in this review--those alone keep this OVA from receiving the score it gets.
Story:
The story begins when two astronauts are returning from Mars. They have a cheerful dialogue just before the ship explodes. Without any explanation, or decent transition, an unknown number of months pass and aliens called Ancients have invaded earth. Three girls who are a part of a special force arrive to take down the aliens. None of them succeed, and one is killed in a gruesome manner.
The main character Takeru appears in battle armor armed with a sword that he can create at will. Takeru fights the aliens, and wins at the cost of major injuries. To be honest, this is something that I do like. Too often in anime, when in battle the protagonist wins with little consequences, so I like that this one almost cost Takeru his life, it makes the situation more grave that their top warrior is far from invincible.
From there the support team--a blonde woman, and green-haired woman, both nameless--develop a rifle to help in the next battle, while Takeru recovers. Meanwhile, what remained of the ship is to be sent to America for testing. This all leads up to the final battle between Takeru and the leader of the Ancients which includes a bizarre twist ending that feels like was made up on the spot.
I know that this feels like hardly a summary, but that is pretty much all I can give without any spoilers. In the short span of time that is this OVA, there aren't that many major plot points.
I believe that this anime had the potential to be good. However, one of the main factors against it is that this OVA is only twenty minutes long. With a plot this complex, I think it needed to be a full series, or at least a full length movie. As it is, too much is crammed in the span of twenty minutes (that includes the credits), so unfortunately a lot is left out. With more time there could be at the very least some character development, better transitions, a smoother, more coherent plot, and even some clues leading up to the plot twist.
Characters:
I don't have much to say in this segment. I feel that the characters can make or break a series for me, and in this case it's the latter. Other than Takeru, no information is given on the characters. Even with Takeru the backstory is limited.
All that the audience knows about Takeru is that he disagrees with his father's choice to use him to fight. Also, that he is just an ordinary high school student. He has no personality. Nothing is known about his life, likes, dislikes, interests, plans for the future, personal beliefs--nothing. He is a bland protagonist, that it's hard to feel any sympathy for him. On the other hand, the fact that he's a fighter who is not a macho man makes him unique in that sense.
As for the supporting characters (only three of which were given a name, and only mentioned once, or in Yamabuki's case twice), there are no distinct personalities. The audience knows nothing about them other than they are a part of a special unit designed to defeat the aliens. In fact, they could all be switched out and no one would be the wiser.
There is nothing interesting about the aliens. Even with that little information given in the ending, their motivation is not clear. They are as bland as the rest of the cast.
All of the characters are underdeveloped and boring.
Art:
Now, here is where I will give this anime some praise. I do find the character designs to be decent. Takeru has an interesting look (despite his lack of character). Even though the girls have indistinguishable personalities, have distinct designs. I do like how each of them looks different. Even with the unknown names, they can be referred to by hair colors. I especially like Yamabuki (pink pigtails) and how her cheerful design contrasts with this dark story.
However, character designs is the only place that I will praise the artwork. The backgrounds are boring. The aliens look generic. Again, other than the bold hair colors, the colors used in this anime look dull.
The animation is terrible. Everything looks like it's been filmed in slow motion. I did like the action sequences, and they could have been great, but they move so slow it ruins the sense of urgency. I don't have a problem with slow animation if it fits, but in general fights are supposed to be quick. There is very little moment during scenes of dialogue. With such boring animation, it's a good thing this anime is so short.
Music:
Mars of Destruction uses popular pieces of classical music. To be fair, I like each of the selections used in this anime. The opera in the opening is beautiful. I also caught a bit of "Ride of the Valkyries" by Richard Wagner as well as Beethoven's, "Moonlight Sonata."
So yes, I do enjoy the music used in this anime, but not at the time presented within this OVA. The use of the opera at the beginning is great. However, every other time one of these music selections were played was unfitting to the particular scene. It would be like having a cheerful, upbeat musical number played at the climactic scene in Titanic, it just doesn't fit.
Conclusion:
The story had potential, but due to time, lazy writing, or a limited budget, it wasn't given what was needed to properly develop. The characters have even less development. The plot jumped around too much, while the animation moved too slow. The music is great, but didn't fit the scene it was placed in.
If Mars of Destruction was remade, revisiting all the problem areas mentioned in this review, it could attain a higher score. However, as it is now, it's another anime with wasted potential. No, it's not the worst, but it is far from being good.
Mars of Destruction: 4/10
Showing posts with label Bad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bad. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Friday, April 24, 2015
Review of After School in the Teacher's Lounge (1994)
Review of After School in the Teacher's Lounge (1994)
Hey, everyone, it's time for a new review.
I came across an anime OVA from the mid nineties called After School in the Teacher's Lounge. I looked up a synopsis to find out it's about two school teachers who fall in love. My first thoughts were: Aww, that sounds like a cute story, I want to watch it. After viewing the first half of the first episode (there are only two total) those hopes for a good love story vanished.
In short, this is one of the worst anime I have ever seen. Everything about this OVA (characters, story, music, animation, design, etc) is bad. However, it's one saving grace, and the reason I didn't give it a score of a one, is the fact that it's so awful it made me laugh.
The story follows a teacher Kawase, who is seen watching a fellow teacher Kazama in the pool one afternoon. Kazama is intrigued and develops a liking for Kawase. Kazama asks Kawase out for his birthday where he proposes that they start a relationship. Kawase agrees, but then out of fear lies to get out of a date and retreats to a family-owned inn for the break. Kazama tracks him down and shows up at the inn, where he attempts to fix and further their relationship.
Right now you're probably thinking: This doesn't sound so bad. To be honest, this anime had the potential for a good story. However, all of that listed above happens in the first half of the first episode. One of the major problems I have with this anime is the pacing. There are five major plot points in the first episode that could have been slowed down, expanded, and turned into separate episodes: the meeting/birthday dinner; Kazama inviting Kawase away for the weekend, and Kawase lying to get out of it; Kazama at the inn and Kazuma showing up; Kazuma flirting with other guests and Kawase's brother having suspicions about Kazuma; and Kazuma finally confronting Kawase, and everything that happens in the end. Slowing this down would allow for better characterization for one, and making the relationship more believable.
There is a time skip between the two episodes. I don't recall it being specified how much, but I think that works in its favor, allowing the audience to decide how long they've been together. The second episode is less rushed in terms of its plot, mostly focusing on Kazama being set up with a friend of a friend's daughter. Of all the characters, I do think that Miho is the most likable.
On that note, I'll now discuss the two main characters. I'm not sure which character is the protagonist since both get a fair amount of screen time.
First, there is Kazama, who is ambitious and refuses to give up until he has what he wants. He can come across as kind of intimidating. For one he was able to track Kawase down that weekend he went out of town. Mind you, this was made in the days before Google. In order to find him he would have had to check perhaps a phone book, records, or maybe even ask around. Also, when Kawase suggests them breaking up, Kazama threatens to kill him. Perhaps it was meant as a joke, but he did put his hands around Kawase's neck. Even if it was meant for humor's sake, I'm wondering if Kawase would always have the feel of the hands belonging to the man who supposedly loves him around his neck in the back of his mind. I don't know if maybe I missed something along the way, but Kazama does come across as creepy.
Secondly there is Kawase. I don't even know what to think about him. In the first episode it seems like he can't make up his mind about Kazama. I do tend to think that he just doesn't like conflict, so avoids it in any way possible. Around the middle of episode one, Kazama confronts him about lying--and I will give him that--Kawase should have at least told him. He could have said something along the lines of: I'm scared that we're moving too fast, I don't want a relationship right now, until I get to know you better. I think anything would have been better than lying.
This anime is classified as a romance. However, I just don't see it as believable. Kazama claims to love Kawase. However, his love for him seemed to have come out of nowhere. Also, he never mentions what it is that he loves about Kawase. I don't see any chemistry between the two. This is the strangest love story I've ever seen.
The art is horrible. I understand this was made before the animation technology of today, therefore I don't expect it to look as good as more recent anime. However, even compared to other anime at the time (Sailor Moon, Record of Lodoss War, and Yu Yu Hakusho to name a few), it's lacking.
The characters look odd. I won't necessarily say ugly, but their bodies are strangely designed. It just looks like their bodies are out of proportion. The faces look weird, especially during closeups of the eyes and nose. The only character who looks like a normal human would be Miho. In all it just seems like a strange choice for character designs.
The animation is minimal and at times look sloppy. I will admit that there seems to be better animation in the second episode. As with the art, I don't expect an anime made at this time to be on par with more recent titles, but other anime made in the same years, or even a few before, have much better quality than this one.
The soundtrack to this anime has a kind of soft jazz feel. However, the same kind of music is used throughout the series, so it's pretty forgettable after a while. In the first episode it felt like the same song was being played on repeat for the full twenty-five or so minutes.
I will say one thing this anime has going for it is the good voice acting. Even if the dialogue may be strange at times, the voice talent still shines through.
In conclusion, I found this anime to be a waste of time. This is a unique story idea that unfortunately was too rushed. For the most part the characters were unlikable, and the art even worse. Often times I found myself laughing at just how ridiculous it is. However, I feel that if this anime was remade today with better animation and with a slower pace, allowing the characters and their romance to develop, it has potential to be a good show.
After School in the Teacher's Lounge: 2/10
Beverage: XXX Vitamin Water
Hey, everyone, it's time for a new review.
I came across an anime OVA from the mid nineties called After School in the Teacher's Lounge. I looked up a synopsis to find out it's about two school teachers who fall in love. My first thoughts were: Aww, that sounds like a cute story, I want to watch it. After viewing the first half of the first episode (there are only two total) those hopes for a good love story vanished.
In short, this is one of the worst anime I have ever seen. Everything about this OVA (characters, story, music, animation, design, etc) is bad. However, it's one saving grace, and the reason I didn't give it a score of a one, is the fact that it's so awful it made me laugh.
The story follows a teacher Kawase, who is seen watching a fellow teacher Kazama in the pool one afternoon. Kazama is intrigued and develops a liking for Kawase. Kazama asks Kawase out for his birthday where he proposes that they start a relationship. Kawase agrees, but then out of fear lies to get out of a date and retreats to a family-owned inn for the break. Kazama tracks him down and shows up at the inn, where he attempts to fix and further their relationship.
Right now you're probably thinking: This doesn't sound so bad. To be honest, this anime had the potential for a good story. However, all of that listed above happens in the first half of the first episode. One of the major problems I have with this anime is the pacing. There are five major plot points in the first episode that could have been slowed down, expanded, and turned into separate episodes: the meeting/birthday dinner; Kazama inviting Kawase away for the weekend, and Kawase lying to get out of it; Kazama at the inn and Kazuma showing up; Kazuma flirting with other guests and Kawase's brother having suspicions about Kazuma; and Kazuma finally confronting Kawase, and everything that happens in the end. Slowing this down would allow for better characterization for one, and making the relationship more believable.
There is a time skip between the two episodes. I don't recall it being specified how much, but I think that works in its favor, allowing the audience to decide how long they've been together. The second episode is less rushed in terms of its plot, mostly focusing on Kazama being set up with a friend of a friend's daughter. Of all the characters, I do think that Miho is the most likable.
On that note, I'll now discuss the two main characters. I'm not sure which character is the protagonist since both get a fair amount of screen time.
First, there is Kazama, who is ambitious and refuses to give up until he has what he wants. He can come across as kind of intimidating. For one he was able to track Kawase down that weekend he went out of town. Mind you, this was made in the days before Google. In order to find him he would have had to check perhaps a phone book, records, or maybe even ask around. Also, when Kawase suggests them breaking up, Kazama threatens to kill him. Perhaps it was meant as a joke, but he did put his hands around Kawase's neck. Even if it was meant for humor's sake, I'm wondering if Kawase would always have the feel of the hands belonging to the man who supposedly loves him around his neck in the back of his mind. I don't know if maybe I missed something along the way, but Kazama does come across as creepy.
Secondly there is Kawase. I don't even know what to think about him. In the first episode it seems like he can't make up his mind about Kazama. I do tend to think that he just doesn't like conflict, so avoids it in any way possible. Around the middle of episode one, Kazama confronts him about lying--and I will give him that--Kawase should have at least told him. He could have said something along the lines of: I'm scared that we're moving too fast, I don't want a relationship right now, until I get to know you better. I think anything would have been better than lying.
This anime is classified as a romance. However, I just don't see it as believable. Kazama claims to love Kawase. However, his love for him seemed to have come out of nowhere. Also, he never mentions what it is that he loves about Kawase. I don't see any chemistry between the two. This is the strangest love story I've ever seen.
The art is horrible. I understand this was made before the animation technology of today, therefore I don't expect it to look as good as more recent anime. However, even compared to other anime at the time (Sailor Moon, Record of Lodoss War, and Yu Yu Hakusho to name a few), it's lacking.
The characters look odd. I won't necessarily say ugly, but their bodies are strangely designed. It just looks like their bodies are out of proportion. The faces look weird, especially during closeups of the eyes and nose. The only character who looks like a normal human would be Miho. In all it just seems like a strange choice for character designs.
The animation is minimal and at times look sloppy. I will admit that there seems to be better animation in the second episode. As with the art, I don't expect an anime made at this time to be on par with more recent titles, but other anime made in the same years, or even a few before, have much better quality than this one.
The soundtrack to this anime has a kind of soft jazz feel. However, the same kind of music is used throughout the series, so it's pretty forgettable after a while. In the first episode it felt like the same song was being played on repeat for the full twenty-five or so minutes.
I will say one thing this anime has going for it is the good voice acting. Even if the dialogue may be strange at times, the voice talent still shines through.
In conclusion, I found this anime to be a waste of time. This is a unique story idea that unfortunately was too rushed. For the most part the characters were unlikable, and the art even worse. Often times I found myself laughing at just how ridiculous it is. However, I feel that if this anime was remade today with better animation and with a slower pace, allowing the characters and their romance to develop, it has potential to be a good show.
After School in the Teacher's Lounge: 2/10
Beverage: XXX Vitamin Water
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