anime

Posted in

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! read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

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. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Lupin III Part V Episode 19 Review

Episode 19, “A 7.62 mm Mirage”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  A wealthy man named Zylberstein challenges Lupin to a chess match by having people around him shot by a sniper. Lupin reluctantly accepts the bet of a million euros for the winner of the game, but is meanwhile targeted by the old man’s sniper, Mirage. Jigen, an old acquaintance of Mirage acts as a counter-sniper, and the ordeal becomes two simultaneous battles of skill. Can Jigen bring himself to kill this former comrade? It’s checkmate in this intense double attack! read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Otaku Evolution Episode 120 – Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory

Time to exorcise another evil spirit from my anime fandom and shove Gundam 0083 in the wood chipper where it belongs. Sure, it’s pretty, but it’s also as dumb as a sack of knobs. It’s quite possibly the worst entry into the Universal Century timeline in terms of characters and plot. The characters? Most of them are insufferable. The plot? Goes further than it needs to. Maybe it’s best to watch this by fast forwarding through most of the dialogue to the action bits. Or, you know, watch War in the Pocket or 08th MS Team instead. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Lupin III Part V Episode 18 Review

Episode 18, “Fujiko’s Souvenir”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  When Lupin’s toilet breaks, the gang are forced to quarrel over who uses Jigen’s, all the while trying to figure out why Fujiko is around, and warding off a clueless Inspector Zenigata. Will our favorite cast of thieves be able to keep hideout secret from the law? Will the men figure out what Fujiko’s hiding? It’s a domestic Lupin episode!

Comments:

I’m not really sure how to review this episode. Did you read my synopsis? That’s basically it, folks. Lupin’s toilet breaks because Fujiko leaves something in the tank (fortunately, not steaming upper decker). The gang argue over who gets to use the other one (does Goemon not have his own room?). Then Zenigata drops in when he smells Goemon’s cooking and is craving Japanese food. Then Fujiko retrieves the object she was hiding and we discover why she did it (kind of). read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Lupin III Part V Episode 17 Review

Episode 17, “Introducing Detective Jim Barnett III”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  Lupin is summoned to the home of Count Phillipe de Maunbassant’s widow, Isabelle, to solve the mystery of his murder. His reward for playing detective will be the jewel he’d previously attempted to steal from the couple. The suspects include a famous sommelier, the count’s nephew, and a business rival. However, Lupin must contend with a second murder, and the house is sealed until morning. Can famous detective “Jim Barnett” root out the killer and retrieve his prize? It’s a whodunit where the criminal ISN’T Lupin! read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Otaku Evolution Episode 119 – Cowboy Bebop

Hm, maybe I should have timed this better so it could be the 120th episode. 20th anniversary of the show, 120th episode, get it? Well, whatever, 119 will have to do.

Cowboy Bebop is an unvarnished work of genius, an exquisite blending of genres set to a multitude of rhythms. It’s not defined by its genres, though, but by ingenuity in execution and emotional gravity. There’s plenty of other reasons why it remains my favorite anime after so long.  So for my 35th birthday (what the fuck am I doing with my life?), I’ve decided to review this eternal classic of Japanese animation. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Lupin III Part V Episode 16 Review

Episode 16, “Let’s Talk About First Loves”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  Martial law descends on Padar, where the High Priest plans to marry Princess Dolma to become the legitimate ruler, but is fought by the king’s loyalists. While the king, with the help of Shake Hands, rallies support, a disguised Lupin and Ami catch up to the underhanded usurper. Will they be able to stop the wedding? And what last move does the CIA have in this? It’s more palace politics in Padar in this story’s conclusion! read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Otaku Evolution Episode 118 – Mid Year English Dub Review IV

Ah, the middle of the year (was over a month ago!). A great time to go over the English dubs of anime I’ve covered thus far in 2018, so I don’t have to cover a year’s worth at the end of the year. This is also an opportunity to talk about the myriad of different ADR studios, specific dubs, and voice actors encountered in these videos.

And hey, only a pre-title bit, no after-credits bit! I’m actually going to retire those things until late October. It’s been taking me two or three weeks to do videos that should only take a single week, maybe a week and half, to finish, these days. I do love my leftover detritus from my old sprite comic, but I need to concentrate on the actual REVIEW part of each review video. read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•
Posted in

Lupin III Part V Episode 15 Review

Episode 15, “Her Relationship With Lupin”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  A badly injured Lupin is rescued by Fujiko, who wisks him and Ami away from the palace, pursued by the High Priest’s forces. Dolma has been working with the CIA and the High Priest to overthrow Padar’s government and take the throne as a puppet in exchange for the sparing of her father, the king’s, life. Her father, in the meantime, has cozied up to the Shake Hands tech corporation, run by a man with ambigious intentions. After removing the arrow from Lupin’s abdomen and running a ways with him and Ami, Fujiko seemingly abandons the two to draw the fire of the High Priest’s men, but Lupin springs back into action to help her. Will he get her out of danger in time? Fujiko’s fiercer than ever in this dash to safety as martial law is declared! read more

Penguin Truthby Penguin Truth•