Roujin Z - Review

(r) 1991 Tokyo Theaters Co
(r) 1994 Manga Entertainment
(r) 1995 Centeral Park Media Corporation


An early 90's OAV that is dated in the sense of animation quality, the overall appeal for me is in the underlying theme presented.

I like that both Satoshi Kon, and Katsuhiro Otomo worked on this project. There are many other very prominent anime stalwarts I won't get into to much here as most other dedicated anime purists will have better information as to who did what, and where etc.

I enjoy each innate detail that is in the backgrounds, fleshed out characters (to some degree), the designs and aesthetics of the late 80's and early 90's i.e. clothing, attitudes etc..

I also enjoy the chaotic energy happening in the story, yet this isn't the sole presence of the overall narrative. Haruko is the main character and we the audience are taken in on an adventure in her life. Though the MacGuffin is very much the issue of elderly services, and the growing issue with how best to deal with it is as complex as it is in the elegiac repose of our innate refusal to deal with age.  This is affluent throughout this anime.

Though I am being woven in out of different characters, and their motivations, I am accosted with lateral militaristic reproach, a subversive subtext of a single nefarious individual out for only one thing, and the overall construction bringing home a point about greed and profiting off of the exploding elderly population.

While this title was something I came into much much later, I am glad to have had the opportunity to see this and marvel at the work. Though it isn't perfect by any stretch, I do enjoy quite a bit of the different angles, and contextual visuals used. I am definitely realizing that I am lucky to still know how old school animation was developed, which sadly has become Jurassic due to today's digital means.

Roujin Z is what I like about animation, with the U.S. counterparts knee deep in theatrical Disney productions, and television programs, it has been nice to see something that had an element of human realism to it, which during that time was rare here in the states.

Sadly this is an era that I think has lost its allure insomuch in taking risks with animation style, getting fresh invigorated artists in a field that desperately needs some influx of ideas that isn't watered down by mere upper management meddling. More to the point of the underlying ability to show something that is unique in a field kind of lost in the mire of studio politics.

I think what brings me back to this title isn't in the juvenile approach but in a a cadence that shows me how well connected and focused the work is. Roujin Z can't work in today's construction, and I think that in itself should speak volumes on the eccentricities of a time that I think gets a lot of crap from newer viewers as being that 'old' stuff. Give it a watch, I think you'll enjoy it. Thanks for reading.

B.

Mad Bull 34 - Review

http://www.discotekmedia.com/mad_bull_34.htm

Mad Bull 34 Release date: 02/26/2013

**/*****

Contains four episodes

Hit and Rape

Manhattan Connection

Charging Jackie
Good-By Sleepy

Enclosed in the DVD case is a single DVD, with no liner notes. A basic no frills set. On the DVD there are four episodes 45 minutes each totaling 180 minutes. There are no extras, just two spoken language tracks Japanese, English, with English subtitles.

Firstly I am not new to the anime experience, watching this set there are minor comparisons of the period title like: Ninja Scroll, Violence Jack, Wicked City, Fist Of The North Star, BAOH, Midnight Goku, and a few other titles I'm spacing on currently.

Specifically speaking about the theme of stereotypes and the uses as a narrative. I believe stereotypes are in every facet of film, show, and music. Stereotypes are typically used to accentuate a plot construction, to give an audience a way to understand each character motivation, and is used in creating friction with the audiences perception. If one masters this well you can have a convincing character in a situation that is remarkably great or be completely nonredeemable that you really want to assail it.

With Mad Bull 34 a couple things stand out, the use of the 'MacGuffin' (to me) is the over the top violence. The justification of the ends to must always justify the means. Secondary, the subplot is the male super ego, and the use of overused sexual tropes which end in horrific situations. This productions overall outlook about women comes across as easily taunted, battered, and abused. Third, the implied rape infuriates and makes the audience uncomfortable with that intended construction.

There isn't a lot of motivation beyond the violent aspect. I can tell with the main characters except 'Sleepy' John Estes and his barbaric sense of being philanthropic with street prostitutes. Essentially he steals their money to pay for a hospital for battered and abused woman. But somehow I am to take this as a redeemable quality, yet underneath I'm already fed up with it.

For the time this was created, interesting elements taking place in the U.S. with action films like Robocop, Total Recall, Terminator, Predator, Aliens, and many other b-grade action/sci-fi flicks I feel definitely influenced this production.

The director I think tried to create some aspect to jar the senses, but it fails so badly at the execution. You are given four distinct episodes, and you can predict where each aspect unfolds into. With director Satoshi Dezaki's interpretation of Kazo Koike's manga character Sleepy does whatever the hell he wants without any regard to any regulation or rule. Recent new hire Daizaburo is the most unparalleled pairing, as he is a much smaller weaker character being dominated by larger powerful stereotypical men. I should say here that the way the bad guy character plays on the rapers, pimps, pushers, and con men project a fear that isn't exactly true in any context we are seeing.

I want to point to a specific film that has all these elements. Director Yoshiaki Kawajiri  and the anime Ninja Scroll, We are introduced to Jubie, his unremarkable smartass expose immediately connects me to his motivations. Jubie has a very clear distinction of right and wrong. You know what he stands for, and why he is the traveling ninja for hire. With Sleepy I am to take at face value his presence, and motivations as a driving force in a way that I should care, I didn't feel this in any way.

The women in Mad Bull 34 are represented as objects, and I felt this was deliberate. To make it as shocking as possible, taking merits with justification and clear seated distinction of sexualized power, and interwoven psychological damage. It's as if the point is so what, people are bad, and everything will work out if you do the most twisted and sick things to justify the end result.

The dub though is hilarious, and that alone saves this title. Though the anime is pretty bad in story and plot, the dub takes the viewer into what I call "what the hell?" moments. A great deal of the episodes are like this in that the dialog is stiff, and the accents don't match the performances. Episode 2 Manhattan Connection is a great example of how to stay in character voice, as there is noticeable British accents cropping in and out in that episode.

Finally the animation is not very good. Many of the cells looked unfinished, that the production was not entirely focused. I could distinctly tell with the cells the background movements didn't gel. Colors and body parts don't match, skin tone will change, and fluid movement will often be choppy as to create a disorientating effect. 

Mad Bull 34 is bad, really, its that bad, but I come back to this title mainly in study, and background noise. Thanks for reading.

B.