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Zipang
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Animation - 7.3 |
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Sound - 8.1 |
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Story - 9.1 |
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Character - 9.0 |
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Value - 8.9 |
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Enjoyment - 9.0 |
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Average - 8.6 |
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| Average |
9.3 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| One of the biggest surprise I've come to find this year... it beats Death Note and CLaymore easily by it's brillance and intelligence. one of the point in the history of mankind that is still of actuallity even today is the WWII and the japanese implication.
A lot of japaneses are even lost in this conception of the Imperial Japan with the conception of sacrifice. This serie do an awesome job to show the difference between today reality and the ones from the past by confronting both side face to face.
The reality here would probably be for peoples of this era, a change of the past would be something valuable and that's what happenning here.
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| Average |
8.8 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Zipang is a work which shows why you should watch anime. It is work which should be seen by all. Stop reading this go to your anime store to order the series now. If you can't afford that, then dload the series. Else you are missing out on one hell of a work.
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| Average |
7.5 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
8 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| (Deph fansubs for first 2 episodes, Digitalpanic fansubs for the rest. Very good translation, explaining the various techincal jargon and historical/military details)
Another anime I learned by chance and fortunately it turned out to be an enjoyable one too.
Those who're passionate about WWII (especially the Pacific Theatre) and history will not find any better animated title.
For detailed info the lengthy review of the reviewer below is perfect. Since I havent read the still continuing manga I cant draw comparisons with the anime, but even so the anime adaptation is serious and aimed at mature and patient viewers. It is also necessary to throw any patriotic/nationatistic veil while watching the anime, though the anime doesnt glorify any death at all (whether Japanese or American) and both sides are equally represented with all their prejudices.
Since it is a show aired in Japan it is only natural that it will chose an appropriate version of WWII so as not to stir the Japanese viewers. I will not judge the anime for that, since anyone interested in the matter can go and read some books from various sources and political views. Movies after all should never be used as tools to learn history. I'll judge this title only as an animated feature.
The first half of the anime , involving the Yamamoto, really didnt impress me that much as the second half. The moment the ship crosses the dimensions and it tries to find a way to return back, till it reaches Guadalcanal offer not many interesting moments. There isnt really any actual engagement between the Mirai and the Japanese/American fleets. Only in one episode is a conflict with some American marines and this was the best episode of the first half. For the most part there is dialog and whether it is right to intervene in the ensuing battles. Also all the main characters are introduced, though except the main character and his two old friends from the Academy the others werent that good and they got very short screen time. Kusaka of course was excellent
The second half is where real action takes place. Now the US Fleet and the Japanese government take a more active role and those episodes really were agonizing to watch from start to finish. The direction was very good ensuring tension till the last episode. The ending was only for the anime and I wonder how the manga is going to end. Notice also that the anime is based on the first 8 of totally 23 volumes. Like the anime Berserk, the title Zipang is justified much later and unfortunately another season is necessary to know what really Zipang means.
Animation wasnt anything special. Character design was good but the characters hardly moved. Their expression in some moments were very effectively animated though. Ship, submarine and aircraft design and animation, with the help of CGI were of high quality and met my expectations.
The sound department was also good, though not something worth remembering. I watched the fansub and a DVD release would increase the quality in that department. Very good Japanese rock OP and a nice soothing ED theme.
As mentioned, characters were very good but sometimes they were too pedantic instead of realistic. But since many of them were real historical figures of high intellectual caliber, such situations are unavoidable. Also the strong emotional moments are very effective.
The story is also good, though the idea isnt original (in the world of movies nothing is after all) but it has good direction, characters and tension, thus guaranteeing an enjoyable and thoughtprovoking title till the end.
One of the good and underrated titles. Licensed recently in the US by Geneon it would be a good and realistic watch if you could switch to the dubs whenever American soldiers spoke. Serious anime viewers should not miss this title.
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| Average |
8.2 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
8 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| I Will not develop how I appreciate the story, as it is being done quite well by previous reviews. I like the idea of speculating different historical hypothesis.
Enjoyment is really good. I am stuck to my screen every time I watch a new release. I can never wait for the next episode to come out.
Sound is good in a way that it maintains an atmosphere in the pace of the story. No specific comment on Character and Value
My strongest disappointment are the graphics. the Mirai is very well drawn, with an attention to details that show a lot of work was done, same for the Yamato, but lesser ships are really too sketchy and approximate. The most infuriating is how the ship behave and move. The Mirai should handle like a 180meter ship, not like a 15 meter launch that can accelerate and turn swiftly. The swell should be much slower. The ship movements are so unrealistic that they ruin the otherwise realistic impression.
A good show anyway, that is in my own top 10. may not please all public though
Update : all 26 eps reviewed
Increased the character ranking to 9 : many characters display real mind resource and independant thinking indeed. this contribute to giving this anime a good depth.
I feel the story is not finished and I am waiting a second season with very high anticipation.
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Shark |
(2006-01-06 03:17:57) 2005-06-13 08:57:28 |
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| Average |
8.7 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
| Taking into account that this anime is a masterpiece of Kaiji Kawaguchi who wrote the famous manga's 'The Silent Service', which I love his political ideology, but not his animation. Kaiji's animation style is unique and I would say it is not my type. Overlook the unique animation, I rather focus on the storyline. Somehow, I cannot disregard the fact that the animation did not deserve its high profile for their production year. Their scene with battleship is awesome, their details are perfect. The problem is the characters design. I found them too unique and I dislike thier color and sharpness of the animation (which is not that sharp), thier color is dull, and their music is not that great. However, the real gems are ahead of this little complain. The real value of this anime is their story.
Zipang is the Japanese version of the well known work of Robert Harris's 'The Fatherland'. However, there are more political twist in Zipang. As a political historian myself, Zipang still left a lot of room for criticism. However, I will do it after I explains my thought about this story. The concept of Zipang is not as simple as a fight between good guys versus bad guys, or Lieutenant Commander Kusaka versus Naval Commander Kadomatsu. It is the question that left to the viewer to think as
1. What is the best interest of the nation?
2. What is the right concept for Nationalism?
3. What is the best solution Realism or Liberalism?
4. Who is serving for the best interest of his nation?
5. What is the best solution to end the war?
6. Which peace approach is the best solution to end the WWII?
If you think around this circle, you will see that this anime presents two heroes. You have to leave your nationalism thought aside and start to think, who give the best solution to the WWII situation? Is the modern thinking of Kodamatsu correct? or Is the semi-imperialist approach of Kusaka is the best solution?
Leaving all political ideology behind, it is important to points out that both characters are aware that if the war goes on Japan will lost the WWII. Can they change the history? Now the story presents the new question that viewers have to think and follow:
1. What will happen if Japan did not suffered from a heavily defeated at the battles of Guadacanal?- Good one, all historian know that Guadacanal were the turning point of Pacific War. It was the Stalingrad of Pacific War. If Japan did not lost all 25,000 of their best trained soldiers in that battle, the situation would be differences.
2. What will happen, if Germany did not entered Stalingrad? - I love this approach, all historian aware that the severe defeat of German in Stalingrad turn the table of European War around.
3. What will happen if the Kanto armies ended up in Manchukuo and retreated from the Mainland China?- this is also another unique one. If Japanese advanced ended, then the Japanese retreat back behind the Great Wall to Harbin. Then they would not suffered from the Mainland Campaign, which made most of the Japanese Garrison ended up in China instead of all Islands that surrounded Japan, which led to the lack of defense from US Marines. Then did the Chinese Civil War will start earlier.
4. What will happen, if Cold War based on Balance of Power instead of Bipolar system? I love this one so much, yes, what will happen, if there were more than 2 superpowers in Cold War. In addition, there were no Nuclear War head yet.
5. What will happen to German, if Hitler assassination was success? Real Gems, you can make trillion speculation out of this one.
6. What will happen, if the peace negotiation took place between 1942-1943, while Allied did not have Nuclear Bomb, but Axis have Tomohawk missile (from 21st Century Mirai)?- Well, I guess this is a really great question that coming to my head, when the characters start to talk about peace negotiation.
All of these questions came out of your head, once Kusaku and Kodamamtsu started their action. I believe that this anime present an outstanding political history approached that did not based on nationalism or patriotism. You have to understand that both Kusaku and Kodamatsu are seeking for peace and ended the War of Destruction. But, which one has the best approach. Actually, Kodamatsu and Kusaka is like different side on the same coin. Both of them need to accomplished the same goal but with different approach, different strategy, but under the same expectation.
In addition, this anime present another powerful approach towards the audience by the presents of the modern Aegis Cruiser. It is the question of power. This anime gave a real masterpiece approach to tell the viewers that:
1. You cannot say you are a goodman and fight for peace, if you never have that kind of power to do it. - I think this is the real gem, the modern Aegis-Cruiser from 21st Century entered the WWII, not as a peacekeeper, but they can be either peacemaker or ultimate war machine. Now, their crews have to face the question of What will they do to the modern Tomohawk missiles of 450Kms ranges versus the most power torpedoes of WWII at 20 Kms range. Will they use it for the sake of their own country? or Are they going to use it for peace?
2. You cannot expect a peace, if your enemy did not willing to negotiate.- Giving the scene in Guadacanal, that is stunning. I will not say anymore to make it a spoiler.
3. You cannot say you are a goodman even you have a power, but you cannot use it freely.- Well, if you can kill anyone on earth by your finger tip, but the rule still did not make you feel free to do it. Then, what will you do?
4. Are you willing to be a goodman, if you know that you have power and no obiligation to hold you back from being the most powerful man on earth? This is the real question that even the mankind in the 21st Century still have to answer.
Overall, Zipang presents an exceptional masterpiece of human thought, human behavior, and human mental. This is the story of pride, ego, prestige, responsibility, and awareness.
Criticism of this anime came alone from historical approach. Having said all good thing about Zipang, I still see a lot of room for criticizing this anime including the inaccurate historical arrangement, on the Singapore question.
The Colonial Money is one of my criticism, the crews of Mirai try to print money from Laser Priners on board their ship and try to make them look old by using water is a bit odd. The standard laser priners that use on board the ship feed A4 paper which is completely different from the bank notes. No matter how wet they are the standard and feeling when you touch the paper will be completely different. Well, I put it more straightforward. The money printed by Japanese during the WW2 consisted of 2 standard. First is Javanese Paper printed in Batavia (today known as Jakarta), this types of notes consists of high standard paper, which is somewhat similar to US dollars and all paper money worldwide. The paper will be thicker than A4, and most of the printing part will be smooth, while the back of the paper is a bit greesy. The A4 from laser printer will never be able to make greesy paper as A4 are smooth on surface and the back. The second types of money is printed in Siam (modern day Thailand), who was allied to Japan during the WWII. Despite, Javanese company could not printed the money at the speed Japanese demand. The Japanese armed forces ask a favor from their allied on the Northern border to print the money for them. The Siamese standard at that times were completely differences, as the money was printed on the paper of newspaper standard, which you can notice the differences, when you touch the paper on newspaper and bank notes, then A4 paper. The newspaper is greesy and soft paper. This is the reason behind the rapid rise of Gold Prices in WWII, as people feared that the inaccuracy of bank notes would led to rapid inflation, as the government after the war might not accredit newspaper standard money. People in Malays and Singapore at that times tends to exchange the newspaper money to gold, which led to rapid rise of Gold Prices. Anyway, using A4 to printed Colonial money is a big Joke to me, as they will never be alike, and those who touch money everyday would notice the differences anyway.
After said all this small criticism and comment, I still strongly recommend this anime to those who left their animation preferences and style aside and concentrate on a good storyline. I admit that the author did a great jobs in his research and making this anime the exceptional political-history anime.
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| Average |
9.2 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
10 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
9 |
| This fabulous show has gone completely under the radar. It is thought provoking and with a wonderful cast of characters that are very realistic in their reactions to their surroundings. People who think this show is glorifying Imperial Japan need to get their heads out of their asses and realize that this is just entertainment. In truth if people watched enough of this show they would realize that both sides of the argument are represented in the characters themselves. Kusaka is the Japanese naval officer of the past who is trying to remold history in his own image and Kadomatsu is the officer of the present who is trying to stop him. Overall this show is well worth watching for those of us who want something more from anime than explosions and scantily clad anime girls. Once you start watching yuo wont be able to stop.
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Gatsu |
2005-02-02 11:45:05 |
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| Average |
8.3 |
| Animation |
8 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Story |
9 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
9 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| I think this anime is also quite rare in terms of its story and the way they present it.
Its a bit of Japanese sailors exploring what really happens during WW2 in the Pacific Naval Battles.
The main characters are mainly the subordinates of the Captain of the ship that accidenntally travels back in time to WW2.
They are puzzled about whether to help the Imperial Japanese Army, or just watch them die. The confusion is there because they themselves are japanese.
I feel that this series is more inclined to being a war thriller. It is exploring the feelings of the japanese soldiers of WW2.
I'm like the weapon illustration , the drawings, they look very real.
But I don't know if this whole anime turns out to be some show that glorifies Imperialism of Japan.
If that's the case, this anime can be dropped.
In the end, I say it has new concept, very real in terms of wartime commands and the ships are nicely drawn, but the characters are a bit too cartoonish
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