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Outlaw Star Episode 07 – SETTING COURSE! …To Set Course for Adventure

I’m slowly but surely getting into the unknown, unwatched, territory of Outlaw Star. Soon, I’ll be at the point where I dropped the series, to my shame. It’s a somewhat big shame, given how good this episode is in getting people pumped for adventure.

So after two episodes of character study on the final two crew members, we now have Gene prepping the Outlaw Star for further adventures. While he’s pretty darn good piloting the thing, doing the whole captain thing BEFORE the ship even gets moving is much harder. This includes not only launching the darn thing (in a humourous scene with Gilliam), but also having the money necessary to keep it docked, never mind live off of. I forgot most of these scenes, so seeing them again is a nice thing. Despite having his own state-of-the-art ship, that don’t mean it comes with wealth to maintain it. read more

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Outlaw Star Episode 06 – Wood

The article title may not sound much, but Gene DOES get a lot of wood this episode. Unfortunately this isn’t because he wants it; the people dishing it out are giving it to him without consent. Never give your wood without asking first.

Anyway, we’re introduced to the final member of the team showcased in the opening: Twilight Suzuka. Like Hilda, she’s a hard-ass professional who’s good at what she does. Unlike Hilda, she holds herself in a bit more dignified manner, and has a really particular code and conduct on how she does what she does best: kill. She’s also a pretty good combat foil to Gene, who’d rather be clever and evasive regarding fights with women wielding wooden swords. His duel with Suzuka, which takes the second half of the episode is overall engaging, and ends in the most Gene way possible: embarrassment and him running circles around Suzuka’s worldview when it comes to getting her to stop killing an associate of his. read more

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Outlaw Star Episode 05 – Gritty Kitty

Obviously after such a whirlwind series of events, Gene and the gang (this includes you, the viewer) have to take a break. So, we’re back at Blue Heaven, and as the Outlaw Star begins its dynamic change into the iconic ship in the opening, our remaining three heroes take some deserved R&R. Except, as per the episode title “Beast Girl! Ready to Pounce!” this isn’t going to come true.

Unlike her shrill, screamy, debut on Episode 03, the Ctarl-Ctarl’s character is handled better. Despite being a product of a proud, privileged, family with a military history, Aisha’s well… a bit dim and goofy. It helps how Gene and the gang are unfazed and unimpressed by her, and thus opens the gate for some amusing moments. We get some good fight scenes between her and Gene, and a tease of a greater Beast form in the future, so when she finally joins the crew (you don’t want the opening to LIE to you, this isn’t Gundam SEED after all) those character qualities are good to have. read more

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Outlaw Star Episode 04 – Get It By Your Ship Hands [SPOILERS?]

SPOILERS?

In a testament to my lack of involvement in the animu community, I’m probably not even the first to think this. However…

When it comes to tragic, role model, deaths early on in an animu, erryboddy loves to think about a couple of characters from Martian Successor Nadesico and Gurren Lagann. Those two are larger than life characters (or at least acted the part well enough) who got things rolling so our main protagonists can start the series proper. On my rewatch of this episode (my third I believe), I realize Hilda does not get as much love as she should. Granted she only meets our heroes in the first episode, but her kick in their ass to get things moving has the same ripple effect the other two had on their show. So raise a toast to the now ex-Hilda before we talk about the episode proper. read more

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Outlaw Star Episode 03 – All Aboard the Ctarl-Ctrain

This episode always was a bit of a lull for me. Like the last two there is quite a bit of whirlwind action taking place within the runtime, however it feels like a bit too much time is spent in transit. After putting the kybosh on their nighttime assailants, Hilda and the gang make off for the mysterious ship she spoke to Gene of last week. Obviously this means more space battles…

…However the space battles are not as exciting as they were in the first episode, and if the opening and episode 1 prologue are any indication, the best is yet to come. One can’t do too much with firing lasers on the run on ships that are immune to lasers. So what is there then to make things interesting? Well, introduce a fourth character out of the five showcased in the intro of course: Aisha Clan-Clan. The intro pretty much spoils she’ll join the crew in the future, but I guess it’s nice to see how she and the other three in the intro (Gene, Jim, and Melfina)get their destinies intertwined. read more

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Outlaw Star Episode 02 – Pathos to Gail Simone’s Chagrin

In the fight for gender equality, I believe women have a more pressing group to compete towards than men: The waifu. You may wonder: “Yo, aren’t waifus women? What makes them different and treated better?” Well, it’s a matter of this.

When you stick a woman in a refrigerator, chances are she’s dead. When you stick a waifu in one, it’s for the purpose of waking her up again for some story element a bit of a ways away. The argument has an issue however in that River Tam was NOT a waifu, nor should be considered one. However, that is another story for another day (That will never come). Let’s get back to Outlaw Star. read more

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Outlaw Star Episode 01 – Makings of a Legend?

I’ve a confession. I never really finished Outlaw Star. I watched the first half until the midpoint of what I remember is the Space Race, and then lost interest after that, except for the then-taboo “Hot Springs Planet Tenrei”. However, thanks to FUNimation and an evolved animu home media market which does not sell 25 to 26 episode series in three-volume two-disc sets with an MSRP of $44.99 each, I have decided to take the plunge once more. It’ll not only be great finishing this, but it’ll also be great having a full opinion on the complete product instead of one where I’m “Oh, what I saw was good but I didn’t finish it.” read more

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Otaku Revolution’s Top 15 Anime Soundtracks: Honorable Mentions


Introduction | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-2 | 1 | Honorable Mentions

So, while indulging in a Mexican standoff (or was it Mexican takeout?) to decide who makes the cut here, the geeks who assembled this list may have had to leave out some soundtracks that, while good, could not be agreed upon to be “the best”. Well, fine, I say. The Philistines who don’t want to see those great works glorified can go die in twelve fires. However, they will not go without mention! No, sir, these soundtracks will get their moment in the sun (actually, I can’t recall what the sun looks like… I need to get out more)! read more