It’s time again for my annual Halloween video! This time I took a page out of my first year’s Halloween fare, Hellsing, with a review of Hellsing Ultimate, the 10-episode more-accurate-to-the-manga adaptation of Kouta Hirano’s manga. It’s big, it’s loud, it’s kind of silly, but it’s oh so compelling, a monster mash with an operatic flair. So pour a bowl of mini Kit Kats, open a pumpkin beer, and let’s watch an OP mega-vampire fight Nazis! Hey, if you’re going to be a denizen of a undead horde, don’t also be a bigot!
Author: Penguin Truth
Otaku Evolution Episode 124 – Bubblegum Crisis (OVA)
Ahhh… damn it. Action Channel Month is supposed to, you know, be in one month. September. But for some reason, this one took longer than usual. Well, it’s not like I have enough of a following (or any) to dash expectations. If I do this again next year (though I may replace it with another kind of theme month), I’ll try to get three videos done on time. I’m only doing a few more videos this year because of personal reasons, but I’ll try my best.
Anyway, Bubblegum Crisis is a one of those anime that got popular back before I was an anime fan, video tapes passed around college campuses, the classic Usenet newsgroup, the 40 second clips that took 90 minutes to download on a dial-up modem, etc. I’d heard the title, but it sounded a little too bizarre. Even when I learned the premise, I let it pass me by. When I started watching anime on The Action Channel, however, I finally got a chance to see what the fuss was about, and I was pretty impressed. Badass beauties battling bots in breastplates with bit rates? Brilliant!
Lupin III Part V Episode 24 Review
Episode 20, “Viva Lupin III”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Shake Hands is in turmoil as governments of the world clamp down on PeopleLog to prevent leaks of classified information. This is the perfect time for Lupin, with allies past and present, to strike at their HQ once again. The plan is complicated by the US military doing some striking of their own, so our favorite felon has to be fleet to uncage Fujiko before everything collapses. Albert, meanwhile, has his own designs on PeopleLog’s resources, and Fujiko demands the answer to her important question. A mask flies off as the clock winds down for this fantastic Lupin series with one last hurrah!
Otaku Evolution Episode 123 – 3×3 Eyes
My second Action Channel Month video for this year is on 3×3 Eyes, an OVA based on a 40 volume manga, told in 7 episodes. So, yeah, obviously not all of it is adapted. But it does have an interesting twist in its set up and use of Hindu lore. Plus I got to break out a short montage, an Indiana Jones clip, and reference Iron Fist. Oh, and it’s pronounced “Sazan Eyes”, apparently, though next episode previews for the dub always say “three by three eyes”. Hm.
Lupin III Part V Episode 23 Review
Episode 23, “Just Then, An Old Buddy Said Something”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Injured, Lupin is taken into custody by the ICPO, along with a regretful Goemon. Ami tries to reach out to her father, only to find that he’s more interested in PeopleLog than in her. While transferring Lupin to ICPO HQ in Lyon, the convoy carrying Lupin is stopped by Jigen, who uses an arsenal of weapons to free his colleagues. With Lupin rescued, Jigen advises Lupin to retire, as their business has gotten too risky. Lupin has different plans, though, exploiting PeopleLog to release classified information and causing a stir among world governments who look to regulate the platform. Can Lupin turn PeopleLog against Enzo? It’s an episode you’ll want to leak to the public!
Lupin III Part V Episode 22 Review
Episode 22, “Answer Me, Zantetsuken”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Fujiko is a prisoner of Enzo, the head of the Shake Hands group responsible for PeopleLog and Lupin’s current professional woes. Our sideburned swindler storms the headquarters with Jigen, Goemon, and Ami, to save Fujiko and take apart the pernicious program. However, incensed about being referred to as merely “Lupin’s underling”, and egged on by Enzo, Goemon makes a startling decision that halts the entire operation. How will Lupin answer Goemon’s wavering blade? No matter how you slice it, the ending of this entry is unforgettable!
Otaku Evolution Episode 122 – Sol Bianca
It’s time once again for Action Channel Month, and this year’s first subject is the two episode OVA, Sol Bianca, from the early 90s. It features a crew of female space pirates, an orbital sniper rifle, a human trophy room, a BGM track used in wrestling, and perhaps the coolest ship in anime. I don’t know what’s weirder, though, that it never had any more episodes after the second, or that ADV didn’t even bother dubbing the second. It’s a fun little romp, regardless, and I’ve been meaning to cover it for a while.
Lupin III Part V Episode 21 Review
Episode 21, “An Outdated Master Thief”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Enzo, the president of Shake Hands, unveils his new app, PeopleLog, which compiles information about any person within moments, and supposedly blocks inaccurate information. While attempting to steal a statue, Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon are repelled by a public incident involving the app. While discussing the new phenomenon, the three are identified by a restaurant patron, and have difficulty escaping from the law and crowds. Beset on all sides by the police and old enemies looking to settle grudges, they decide to contact Ami for her expertise. Inspector Zenigata passes along to Lupin that Fujiko has been captured by Enzo, who sees the Lupin crew as outdated.
Lupin III Part V Episode 20 Review
Episode 20, “Zenigata, Gentleman Thief”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon return to small town in Russia where they’d previously pulled a heist, with the intention of grabbing more loot. However, every attempt they make is interrupted by three other thieves, and one is Inspector Zenigata! Apparently Pops, suffering amnesia, is going under the name Monety, and pulling capers to get closer to his lost memories. Is Lupin more concerned with returning his enemy to his normal state or rather outraged by the new competition? It’s a trip down memory lane in this competition to be the superior stealer!
Otaku Evolution Episode 121 – Case Closed: Captured in Her Eyes
Fuck TMS. Seriously. They’ve flagged this a several times already and I’ve had to re-edit and upload to see if I can beat the algorithm. They’re being more draconian than with Lupin videos. They’re just REVIEW VIDEOS! If this keeps up, I’ll have to move the video to Dailymotion or Bitchute or whatever. Otherwise the review will be about four minutes long and just have static screencaps, making it all the more the glorified slideshows my videos usually are.
Anyway, Case Closed (Detective Conan): Captured in Her Eyes is pretty standard Conan fare, not being especially stand out, but being pretty decent. It still has a number of flaws, though, and I’m more than willing and able to nitpick this thing for chuckles.