mink – Innocent Blue ~Chi hate umi tsukiru made (a J!-ENT World Groove Music Review)

The blue wolf has been unleashed and the film “Aoki Ookami” will be in theaters in Japan on March 3rd.

The epic Japanese/Mongol film which stars Sorichmachi Takashi and Korean CM queen Ara and many, many others about the life of legendary ruler (or conqueror), Genghis Khan.

Singing the theme song for this epic film is rhythm zone recording artist mink (which stands for “Made IN Korea”).

Released on New Year’s Day, the CD single “Innocent Blue ~Chi hate umi tsukiru made” features a beautiful slow ballad that continues to showcase mink’s vocal talents.

The CD single comes with a total of three ballads and three instrumental versions of those tracks.

The second track is “Aoki Ookami”, a mid-tempo ballad and like most her CD single releases, an all-English song is included. For this CD single, the third track in English is “BLESSING OF LOVE”.

For many people, this may be their first time discovering mink but this artist’s career has continued to blossom on the Amazon and iTunes music charts.

In April 2006, mink’s “Glory of Life” which was released in the US reached the #1 position on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play.

Her first concept album “Prologue” (RZCD-45228, released on Aug. 3, 2005) featuring covers of hits by Extreme, the EAGLES, DREAMS COME TRUE and Stevie Wonder debuted at #3 on Amazon Japan’s music chart and her CD singlereached to #2 on iTunes Japan.

Her second concept album “e+motion” (RZCD-45314, released on Dec. 7, 2005) debuted at #1 on the iTunes Music Store pop chart in Japan.

Her music has also been featured on several films and soundtracks.

Her last movie song “Eternal Love (Remix Version) was used for the film “Chisaki Yusha Tachi GAMERA” (RZCD-45342, released on April 19, 2006), “Beautiful” was used in the live film version of “Initial D” and in December of 2006, her song “Here by my side (original version)” was used as the theme for the 3D anime short “Joe and Marilyn” for the anime anthology “Amazing Nuts!” and featured in the soundtrack.

The singer who grew up listening to Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston has been attracting fans to her music and has recently been in the headlines promoting the film “Aoki Ookami”, performing the theme song “Innocent Blue~Chi hate umi tsukiru made~” on a number of music shows.

So, far I have enjoyed Mink’s music and to be perfectly honest, I have grown enamored with her ballads.

Having listened to her previous CD singles, her song “Here by my side” won me over and this CD single continues my enjoyment of her music.

For Avex, who has many women in their roster who are known for their R&B, Eurobeat or rock music, Mink has a way of standing out positively as a unique female vocalist.

Not only is she Korean woman who can sing Japanese and English (perfectly) but she’s managed to attract the attention of J-POP and non-J-POP fans.

As for the DVD in the CD/DVD version, the music video for “innocent blue” stars “Aoki Ookami” actress (Korean commercial queen) Ara and features both women in lush, beautiful backgrounds. Beautiful song and a beautiful music video.

Also, the two trailers for the film “Aoki Ookami” is included on the DVD.

A solid single that I would love to see an orchestra-based version someday but all in all, I’m quite content with it. So, check it out!

Also, an FYI that on Feb. 28th, mink will release her first full-length album “Shalom” which will feature “innocent blue ~Chi hate umi tsukiru made” and many of her previous hits.

— DENNIS A. AMITH

Catalog #: RZCD-45483/B | Dur. 29:14
Release date: January 1, 2007

For audio samples of this CD single, visit mu-mo

1. Innocent Blue ~Chi Hate Umi Tsukiru
Made
2. Aoki Ookami
3. BLESSING OF LOVE
4. Innocent Blue ~Chi Hate Umi Tsukiru
Made (instrumental)
5. Aoki Ookami (instrumental)
6. BLESSING OF LOVE (instrumental)

DVD:
8 minutes, Region 2, 4:3

1. Innocent Blue ~Chi Hate Umi Tsukiru
Made~ Video Clip
2. Aoki Ookami Trailer 1
3. Aoki Ookami Trailer 2

 

AMAZING NUTS! DVD BOX SET (A J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

As the entertainment company Avex is known for the music industry, they have their sites set on various areas of entertainment such as film and definitely in the area of animation.
One of the most ambitious projects is “Amazing Nuts!”, featuring a joint collaboration between Avex Entertainment Inc. (who now has an anime division for anime distribution) and well-respected Japanese animation studio, STUDIO4°C.

From Avex, featured is music from rhythm zone artists m-flo (ala m-flo loves DOPING PANDA), RAM RIDER, Koda Kumi and Mink).

STUDIO4°C who has worked on critically acclaimed animated films such as “MEMORIES”, “Spriggan”, “Princess Arete” and “Mind Game” and most notably to “Matrix” fans for “The Animatrix”.

Even Japanese music fans may recognize their work from the music videos such as Glay’s “Survival” and Hamasaki Ayumi’s “Connected”.

And this is just to name a few as the studio has created works for television and video games as well.

But to know STUDIO4°C, you need to go back to the founders Morimoto Koji, Tanaka Eiko and Sato Yoshiharu.

Morimoto Koji is known for his work that are frenetic and bizarre and has set himself apart other animators with his unique approach to animation, thus he is considered one of Japan’s top animators.

Morimoto is known for working on Otomo Katsuhiro’s “AKIRA” and also animation directorial works for the “Franken Gear’s” segment on “Robot Carnival”, “MEMORIES” and many more.

His animated film works include animation such as “Tomorrow’s Joe”, “Golgo 13”, “The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do you Remember Love?”, “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and “Macross Plus” to name a few.

Musically, Utada Hikaru fans will recognize his work on the music videos for “EXODUS” and “passion”.

The trio have produced a wide variety of work since 1986 and nearly twenty years later, have shown no signs of slowing down.

So, here we are with “Amazing Nuts!”, a 37 minute anthology which contains around four distinctive shorts that last about 7-8 minutes long.

The big positive is the studio is being given the freedom to create something different and new without having it to be based on an original manga.

According to producer, Tanaka Eiko, their goal was to create shorts that could be a music video, a pilot to future anime projects and a standalone DVD release.

The first short is titled “Global Astro Liner” which is directed by Nakayama Daisuke (who also provides the character designs).

Nakayama’s previous works include “Blood: the Last Vampire” and “Ghost in the Shell” films. “Princess Mononoke” and “Shin Megami Tensei Devil Children” and “Maho Shoujo Tai Arusu” TV series.

The music featured is “She loves the Cream -Amazing Nuts! Ver.-” by m-flo loves DOPING PANDA. Combining the hip hop and R&B sound of m-flo and the frenetic rock and digital sounds of DOPING PANDA, the animation and the music balance each other well.

“Global Astroliner” has the feel of a futuristic police or headhunter team taking down underworld thugs in the future.

The film is definitely futuristic, urban, gritty, frenetic, of a metropolitan city rift with chaos and you are fed with many scenes of multiple teams of bad guys and scenes that looks like it comes from an actual series.

Obviously an anime short that shows that it can be a potential animated series if given the chance to.
The second anime short is titled “Glass Eyes” directed by Yamashita Takashi with character designs by
Morimoto Koji.

The music for this short is titled “Smile Again” by digital music artist RAM RIDER known for his experimentation with 8 bit sound and digital music.

“Glass Eyes” is Yamashita’s first animated project as a director. Hired because of his script and a story about a guy who has dreams or images of apocalypse.

And throughout these dark scenes in his mind is a woman who looks like she’s in a brink of death. Is he supposed to save her?

The animation is so beautiful as it shows love and destruction. This short was hands down, my favorite short of the whole anthology.

Different animation styles with interest dark imagery that was just too awesome that you just craved for more. A wonderful balance between CG and animation.

I felt that RAM RIDER’s music also showed an interesting balance with his music and the animation.

The third animation is titled “Tatoeba Kimi ga Sekaijyu no Teki ni Nattemo” (Even if you were to become the enemy to the rest of the world) aka “Kung-Fu Love” which is directed by Aoki Yasuhiro and also the person responsible for the character designs.

The music featured in this short is titled “Twinkle” by Koda Kumi.

Definitely a no brainer to include Japan’s top selling music artist of 2006 in this Avex project (which is the label Koda is from).

“Kung-Fu Love” features a fighter who takes on other opponents and also finds love.

Suffice to say that compared to the other two shorts which were gritty and dark, this short is actually very colorful. and different animation wise from the previous two.

Also, as the music found a good balance in the first two shorts, “Twinkle” is more of a pop song that tries to feature Koda Kumi’s bubbly personality with the main character. Even the main character sports the Koda Kumi eyes when shown close-up.

I actually enjoyed the animation style and use of lighting for “Kung-Fu Love”. Although simple drawn characters, the actual city that the characters live in are lush and is beautifully created.

Aoki who’s previous roles as key animator for the “Sailor Moon” films, “You’re Under Arrest” TV episodes and director for the Mahou Shojou Tai Arusu TV Series (again, just to name a few) utilizes the fighting action scenes very well.

Aoki used between 6,000-7,000 drawings for this 10 minute short which is five times the volume for a TV series.
Similar to the first short, “Kung-Fu Love” shows many scenes that could become a TV series or a film if ever given a chance.

The fourth and final short on the anthology is “Joe and Marilyn”.

This time a 3D animated film directed by 4°Fahrenheit with character designs by Ishida Takafumi.

The music featured in this short is “Here by my side” sung by Mink. Mink is an English and Japanese speaking artist that has made it to the top on the billboard Dance Charts in the US.

The story of “Joe and Marilyn” revolves around a love story between the two characters.

Marilyn is a performer and is shown singing in front of many people until trouble finds itself into a venue that Marilyn is performing at. Unfortunately, Joe somehow gets involved in the trouble and I don’t’ want to spoil the rest for you.

Some may look at the animation with the thick hair and think this is 3D from several years ago but it really isn’t.

Needless to say that Mink’s ballad works with the short very well but compared to the other three shorts, it does seem out of place. But then again, the nature of this anthology was to have something different.

As for the DVD release, there are several versions released.

The limited edition DVD box set of “Amazing Nuts!” (AVBA-35001, Y5800, pictured on page 1) is definitely the version I highly recommend on getting.

Included in the DVD box set are two DVD’s. One which includes the 37 minute anthology feature and a second DVD which includes a 40 minute that includes “The Story of Amazing Nuts!” with interviews with STUDIO4°C, those who were involved in directing or character animation of the shorts and also the interview with the music artists.

The biggest key in the DVD box set is the over 300+ pages of storyboard and interviews discussing the progression of the featured shorts.

For those who are art students who want to get into animation, these type of books are definitely desired and to see how much time and work was involved for just 7-10 minutes of animation will blow you away.

You won’t believe how detailed they were for each of these shorts when it came to storyboards. Everything was thoroughly planned.

The regular edition of “Amazing Nuts!” (AVBA-35003, Y2856) features the anthology with no special features.

And last, is the “Amazing Nuts!” CD+DVD (RZCD-45477, Y1895) which is the soundtrack which comes with the four audio tracks and the four music videos. Total time is 13 minutes for the DVD music videos.

Granted, you can possibly catch most of what you want to see in the CD+DVD version but the DVD box set offers so much more that I won’t hesitate but recommend the limited edition box set.

All in all, I look at this anthology as a collection of animated artwork. Showcasing a studio known for taking risks and doing things different, many fans of STUDIO4°C’s animation respect the work of those involved in this anthology and it doesn’t surprise me that people from all over the world have been importing this product.

Unfortunately it does not look like the anthology has been picked up by a US anime distributor, thus it could mean that you may need to import this and also need a region-free player.

A lot of work went into creating these shorts and it would be a shame if they weren’t furthered to a OAV or TV series.

All in all, for fans of STUDIO4°C, this is definitely worth owning for your collection.

A — DENNIS A. AMITH

For more information visit, http://www.avexmovie.jp/lineup/amazing-nuts/

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Otsuka Ai – Love is Born (a J!-ENT Music DVD Review)

Celebrating her 24th birthday and her 3rd year as a music artist, a DVD of Otsuka Ai’s special concert at Hibiya Yagai Ongaku-Do from last September was released on New Year’s Day.

In three years, Otsuka has had 13 of her last 14 CD singles debut on the Oricon top 5 music charts and has become one of the shining female vocalists on the Avex label.

Otsuka fourth concert DVD “LOVE IS BORN”, is a 110 minute DVD featuring an energetic performance by the Osaka-born artist but this time at an outdoor venue. .

With “LOVE IS BORN” being my first Otsuka Ai concert DVD that I’ve reviewed, I would have to say that I’m quite impressed by Otsuka’s live performance.

I’ve watched many Japanese music artists do live concerts outdoors but for this concert, the ambience was just perfect.

At nighttime, nestled in Hibia Park with the rees and vegitation, buildings in the background and you can even hear the crickets chirping.

It was definitely a perfect and beautiful setting for a concert until the rain came (fortunately) at the end of the concert.

But even during the rain, the wet singer and audience didn’t seem phased.

With each song that she performed, Otsuka was energetc and it was great to see the camera footage on the musicians of her band and the audience.

Rarely do you see much focus on the band members for a solo artist but you can tell that they really feed off Otsuka’s onstage energy and it shows.

From the moment she starts her concert off with her hit single “Yumekui”, to the moment where she sings “Birthday Song” and interacts with the crowd to sing with her to the moment where bugs are flying towards the stage and a scared

Otsuka Ai stood cowering while her band members try to get the huge bugs away from her stage area. Also, the artist showing off her piano talent while singing “planeterium” to the final song before the encore as she and the fans get into the excitment of the song “Sakuranbo”.

Even when the concert is completed, the singer continues to talk and interact with her fans.

This is truly an artist that cares about her fans and I really found the interaction with the fans very enjoyable.

The camerawork on the DVD is very well-done with cameras everywhere on stage to cover Otsuka and her band even a camera at the audience.

With the use of many camera angles, It would have been nice to be able to select a concert angle to watch the concert.

The video quality of the concert was very good and stage lighting was well done. Well-balanced shots from all camera angles and nothing dizzying.

As for the DVD’s features, well, there are no special features but a menu chapter for 5.1 and 2.0 audio and song selection.

With 5.1, the audio is indeed crisp and with the crickets chirping, it definiitely gives you a different audio sense compared to most concert DVD’s.

If you bought the first pressing of this DVD, you were able to obtain a 40-page photo booklet. Otherwise, you can buy it now (w/o the book) at a cheap price at under $28 (US) which is great for fans who import and were used to paying $60-$100 for a concert LD or VHS back then.

Since Otsuka Ai’s debut, I have seen this artist mature and diversify her talents from music to acting (Tokyo Friends) and with each single coming one after the other making it on the Oricon top 5, she still remains grounded and keeps it real.

All in all, this is a great concert that I feel Otsuka Ai fans will truly embrace.It’s full of energy, great music and very well-done camera work that fans will definitely enjoy..

It’s a bit of a barebones DVD but on its own and for its price, still worth checking out.

A — DENNIS A. AMITH
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LE CHEVALIER D’EON Vol. 1 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

A man obsessed with his sisters murder. A man possessed by his murdered sister.

Perhaps one of the most ambitious anime series yet, welcome to the anime Le Chevalier D’Eon. An anime combining individuals from French history, religion, horror and mystery.

Paris, 1742 and a coffin floats in the shimmering Seine. Written on the coffin are the words “Psalms” and inside the coffin is Lia de Beaumont.

The story focuses on her brother D’Eon as he tries to find the reason for her mysterious murderer while the shadow of evil rests on the palace of Kings and the dark alleys of Europe.

I have no doubt how difficult this anime may have been to translate and to plan out.

Having the story set in France during the 1700’s and to combine real characters during that era, mixing in religion, possessed zombies, mysticism and horror makes one hell of an anime!

With six volumes planned, the first volume focuses on the first four episodes as D’Eon tries to find out why his sister was murdered but the more he looks into it, he learns about the evil that lurks around him.

To make things even more confusing to the main character, somehow D’Eon when in battle against the evil forces, gets possessed by his murdered sister.

Why this is happening and the secret life that Lia De Beaumont lived is what the first volume focuses on.

Obviously “Le Chevalier D’Eon” is an anime that is too difficult for me to even describe.

All I can say is because the anime focuses on the Rococo era, the costumes, the characters, the secret societies, the use of religion, the mysticm and the horror definitely makes this anime standout.

It’s definitely unique.

The character designs for the anime is something that is fresh.

The voice acting for both Japanese and English dubs are done very well.

Special features include commentaries with the ADR Director and one of the voice actors (a commentary that has a lot of profanity), an informative commentary by the translators which really go into detail of the challenges they faced, putting together the 20-page booklet with character info & relationships. Also, including a storyboard analysis, script and creator interview.

I found it very interesting when they talked about the real D’Eon de Beaumont, although not having a sister in real life, nor possessed but in real life believed he was a woman and lived his life as one in his later life.

Special features include historical notes, Japanese promotional video and trailer, clean opening and closing animation and more.

All in all, I feel there is a lot of potential with this anime series.

Obviously, the first volume is more of a set up for more important things to come in the next volume. So, look at the first volume more as introduction to the characters and situations of the series.
I definitely look forward in seeing how this anime progresses.

If you are into dark, horror anime or the Rococco era, definitely check this anime out!

B+ — DENNIS A. AMITH

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TOKYO FRIENDS THE MOVIE – NAVIGATION EDITION (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

A tale about four women searching for their dreams in Tokyo. The story of four women through hapiness and pain, welcome to “Tokyo Friends”.

Originally released as five episode OAV drama series on DVD (three volumes), the series sets up for a major film release for “Tokyo Friends” which came out in Japan in the Summer of 2006.

The main storyline revolves around the character Iwatsuki Rei (played by singer Otsuka Ai).

Rei moves from the country to Tokyo and gets a job at a pub called “Yume no Kura”.

Through the pub is where Rei meets Abiko Maki (Kobayashi Mao) who is Rei’s co-worker. A woman who has a talent for painting and is urged by her teacher to pursue her dreams in art.

At the pub, we meet an OL named Fujiki Ryoko (Yoko Maki) who seems to be drunk all the time and seems to be with a different man. As it is her dream to find a financially sufficient husband.

And last, there is Hayama Hirono (played by Matsumoto Rio) who is an actress who came to Tokyo to be close to her senpai. And ends up working at the pub. Hayama’s dream is to star in her own play.

And through the pub, the main character Rei witnesses a fight between members of the rock band Survival Company.

By trying to help stop the fight, Rei ends up getting a bloody nose and from that point, she and the band’s guitarist, Ryuuji develop a relationship.

With the band needing a new vocalist, the band takes in Rei as their new vocalist.

So, throughout the series, we watch as Rei and the band Survival Company evolve, as they experience many ups and downs.

As for the four women, aside from knowing their dreams, we also see the trouble they have with the men in their lives and of course, their friendship.

In order to get people who never watched the five episode OAV drama, and get them up to speed before the release of the film, a special “Navigation Edition” was released.

Included in this edition are four chapter tracks. The first is the navigation of Tokyo Friends, the second is a 90 minute digest version of drama episodes 1-5. The third is the making of “Tokyo Friends The Movie” and the fourth is the trailer for the film.

Of course, with the original episodes being 70-minutes long, with 25 minutes dedicated per episode, you don’t get too see too much into the women’s relationships with the men in their lives.

But the condensed stories are cutwell enough that you understand what is going on.

All in all, I found the navigation edition to be a great resource and primer to the film.

Having never watched the drama series, watching the digest version really kept me up-to-speed of what is going on in the series. So, the navigation edition accomplishes what it is supposed to be used for and now I want to watch “Tokyo Friends – The Movie”.

If you want to learn about the series before watching the film, definitely check out the navigation edition.

A — DENNIS A. AMITH

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COYOTE RAGTIME SHOW VOL. 1 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

Another world where the government and the police are corrupted.

Another world where the hunted are the “coyotes” (space pirates) and in this series, the “coyote” target is a man named “Mister”.

Prepare yourself for action and adventure, it’s the Coyote Ragtime Show.
“Coyote Ragtime Show” is a 12-episode anime series which began airing on Japanese television in 2006.

The storyline centers on a few characters. The main character is “Mister”.

A man wanted for many offenses. He has used so many names that the investigators have been thwarted. He is also a well-known space pirate aka Coyote.

Angelica is an investigator who is determined to catch “Mister” and finally gets tipped off that he may be in a prison.

And then there is Madame Marciano. The evil enemy that is after “Mister”. She and her twelve sisters (killer androids dressed in lolita outfits) with help from the government are after “Mister” as well.

In episode 1, the storyline focuses on investigator Angelica who is after “Mister” but at the same time, a plan to break “Mister” out from prison is underway.

In episode 2, we are introduced to Franca. The daughter of Pirate King Bruce who trusts “Mister” to raise his daughter after being severely wounded.

Franca carries a necklace that she believes leads to a treasure.

In episode 3, we are introduced to Mr. Swamp, King Bruce’s right hand man and a man who is a bit jealous that Bruce entrusted “Mister” with his daughter and not him. “Mister” visits Mr. Swamp for assistance.

In episode 4, the secret of Franca’s necklace is revealed and we learn more about her father Pirate King Bruce and how he pulled off the most difficult, ultimate heist.

At first glance, the first episode made me think animated version of “Prison Break” but as the episodes progress, it becomes more of a two cats fighting over a mouse, but the mouse happens to be a very good space pirate.

The animation for “Coyote Ragtime Show” is well done. The English dub and the Japanese are very well done with the English dub actually more on mark with the overall feel of the series.

Special features include a production artwork gallery and the clean opening and closing animations.

All in all, “Coyote Ragtime Show” is a fun sci-fi, action anime series.

To see the enemies as 12 cute-girl, although violent androids in lolita costumes is quite intriguing.

I was hoping that the first episode was how the anime series would pan out with Angelica being the main character trying to catch the ultimate pirate but the main protagonist is “Mister” himself.

Nevertheless, it is a good series that you may feel that you have seen somewhere else before, but it does offer something different.

B — DENNIS A. AMITH

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UTAWARERUMONO “MASK OF A STRANGER” VOL. 1 (A J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

A mysterious man, a village and the war that cometh.

This is the story of “UTAWARERUMONO”, a 26-episode anime TV series which aired in Japan in 2006 and is based on a PC and PlayStation 2 video game from Aqua PLUS and LEAF.
The story revolves around a man who wears a mask.

Found wounded and left for dead in the forest, an apprentice healer named Elulu brings the man to her village and helps nurse back to health.

The man has no recollection of his past and is not sure why he wears a mask but he does have images of destruction that comes and passes into his memory.

At first glance, I actually thought this series would be something along the lines of a “SLAYERS” wannabe series. I was definitely wrong with that assumption.

As much as the series has its times of humor, the storyline is very well-written, smart, violent and at times serious.

In a way, you can say that it reminds me of the time I watched the popular series “Record of Lodoss War” for the first time.

The first episode introduces us to the man with the masked who will later be named Hakuoro. Also, apprentice healer Elulu and her little sister Aruru and their grandmother.

You learn about the village and their fears of the forest god who wreaks vengeance against the villagers until one night the god or beast attacks the village.

Episode 2 features the village contemplating what they can do to appease the god or to destroy it.

Episode 3 introduces us to a careless fighter from another village named Oboro and his sick sister Yuzuha and what he will do to save his sister.

Episode 4 deals with the repercussions of Oboro’s actions, a major character death and the beginning of the war that the villagers will have to face against the oppressive government and its selfish and maniacal king who wants the villagers destroyed and massacred. And the villagers look towards Hakuoro to lead them.

The series is definitely action-packed and definitely intriguing. It has an Akira Kurosawa “Seven Samurai” type feel that you root for Hakuoro and the villagers and hope they are able to stand up against the evil government and its soldiers.

The DVD features the first four episodes. The animation is very well done and both Japanese and English dubbed voice acting are very well done.

DVD extras include an omake theater, extended episode reviews, character art gallery, glossary of terms and a booklet featuring an interview with the screenwriter and voice actors for Oboro and Yuzuha.
“UTAWARERUMONO” is riveting, must-see series which each episode ending with somewhat of a cliffhanger that you want more.

Not only is it a series about friendship and caring but it’s also a series about the price of war and how people are brought together through unfortunate circumstances.

This series is highly, highly recommended.

A — DENNIS A. AMITH

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AIR GEAR VOL. 1 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

If you enjoy the thrill of racing competition-based anime such as “Initial D” and enjoy the world and characters of the popular Sega Dreamcast and XBOX video game “Jet Grind Radio”, you will definitely find “AIR GEAR” to your liking.
“AIR GEAR” takes place in a world where Storm Riders are known for their motor-powered inline skates called Air Treck’s (AT).
Many thrillseekers join groups or gangs in order compete and be on top of this dangerous (and illegal) extreme sport.

The storyline revolves around Ikki Minami. A guy who lives with the Noyama sisters who are also part of their own racing group.

Needless to say that because he is more or less a freeloader (who tends to get himself into trouble) at their home, the sisters look down on him. With the exception of Ringo, who is closer to Ikki.

In the first episode, Ikki gets into trouble by taking one of the sister’s AT’s and starts experimenting with them.

You start to learn that although Ikki is a beginner, he has a talent riding the AT’s.

So, talented that he manages to do things that he and others can’t comprehend during a race.

Ikki has a talent to fly. A phenomenon to the Storm Riders that very few are gifted with this ability. But for Ikki, he doesn’t know much about this talent but with each episode he learns about the world of the Storm Rider.

Because he is naive to the sport and his crush on Shimuka, a beautiful and talented Storm Rider leads him to trouble.

Fortunately, with the support of his friends (aka his own startip Storm Riders team). hopefully Ikki’s dream to climb to the top as a Storm Rider may come true.

The first four episodes are fantastic and full of energy and excitement that I just wanted to see more.

You can’t help but root for Ikki, the underdog (with unknown talent) as he takes on the various Storm Rider gangs.

The vocal talent for both the English dub and the Japanese version are awesome. But I will say that “AIR GEAR” ala English dub does feature it’s share of adult language. So, definitely not an anime to watch with the kids.

Also, with the first episode, it is a bit ecchi, with scenes of the sisters nude as they shower. But nudity is not used on every episode, nor does it detract from the pacing of the series.

I found the animation to be very cool. Because the races take place in so many areas, definitely a lot of work was involved to create settings for this anime series.

As for special features, you get the opening and closing ending. The opening theme “CHAIN” by rock band BACK-ON is awesome.

So, in conclusion, I highly recommend the first volume of this series. I like the competition aspect with the multiple groups/gangs, the use of motorized inline skating and including technical aspects that the Storm Riders nead to complete ala “Parts War” and the characters are numerous but yet very interesting and fun to watch.

“AIR GEAR” definitely rocks!

A — DENNIS A. AMITH
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NERIMA DAIKON BROTHERS VOLUME 1 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

Love it or hate it, I love musicals. From “Will Rogers Follies” to “Grease” and even that “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” episode, I dig musicals.

So, when I found out that ADV’s “Nerima Daikon Brothers” is an anime musical, I was curious and even stoked!

After watching all episodes, all I can say is… WOW!

Not only is this anime unique, it’s not afraid to take a poke at Japanese pop culture (and the entertainment industry) and also include some mature themes that I found hilarious.

So, what is “Nerima Daikon Brothers”? The story revolves around three people: Hideki (the farmer of Daikons), Ichiro (the charismatic man who entertains women at Japanese host bars) and the sexy Mako (yes, a woman and cousin of Hideki).

Three individuals who want to make money as the music trio known as “Nerima Daikon Brothers”.

The first episode for those not familiar with Japanese entertainment takes a poke at Johnny’s Jimusho (the popular boy band agency known for bands like SMAP, V6, TOKIO, ARASHI, etc.)

With subtle hints with watercolored images of Kimura Takuya and other Johnny’s guys on the walls, the person in charge of the agency is recruiting for a music group.

The person in charge of this agency happens to be a cross-dressing pervert who can’t seem to stop stroking Ichiro (yes, you read that right) and gives Nerima Daikon Brothers a try.

After the agency takes the money from those who have auditioned and leaving them broke, the Nerima Daikon Brothers fight back.

What happens before your eyes is just a shock that I can’t even describe in words. You have to watch it to find out.

The second episode takes a poke at the popularity of Korean star Yonsama (Bae Yong Joon) who captured the hearts of Japanese women with his drama “Winter Sonata” and started the Korean craze in Japan.

In this episode, Korean men using the fad to their advantage to take the money of Japanese housewives by wowing them at Korean pachinko parlors.

Hideki doesn’t like that his cousin (and the woman he likes) Mako has spent all his money at this bar and is addicted, thus the Nerima Daikon Brothers do what they can to get their money back from the parlor.

The DVD is just awesome. The music is great and the storyline is hilarious. Both English and Japanese versions are very well done.
The DVD features the clean opening and closing themes, a Nerima Daikon Brothers music video, sing-along with the Daikon Brothers, ADVidnotes, commentaries with Nabeshin & Haruka (Technician) and Nabeshin and Matsuzaki Shingeru (Japanese voice of Hideki) and roots of NDB insert.

“Nerima Daikon Brothers” is hard to describe in words but if your like me and enjoy anime, musicals and a lot of perverted humor, this one is definitely for you!

A — DENNIS A. AMITH
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THE BEST STUDENT COUNCIL VOL. 1 (A J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

A girl and her talking puppet, Pucchan. Attending the paradise all-girls school known as Miyagami Gakuen and also being a member of the Best Student Council. Not bad.

“The Best Student Council” is an anime full of fun, plenty of humor and a large cast of characters that interest you with a great balance in its storyline that just draws you in.

The 26-episode series was originally aired in Japan back in 1995 on TV Tokyo and was produced by KONAMI and J.C. Staff.

The series revolves around a girl named Rando Rino who recently lost her mother. The happy but clumsy girl has a pen pal who invites her to attend the school Miyagami Gakuen.

An all-girls school that is run by the Best Student Council.

A student council that is even more powerful than the faculty due to its president, Jinguji Kaede (who serves also as an executive director and founder of the school, president of the Gokujou Seitokai, and the successor to the Jinguji conglomerate).

But in making sure that the school is protected, Kaede is joined by student council members that form an executive branch, covert, assault and vehicle squad.

As for the main character, Rino is ccompanied by her special friend, a puppet named Pucchan.

Upon coming to the school, Rino experiences a chain of bad luck and her only place to stay has burned down.

Thus being homeless, her only friend at the new school enlists her for tryouts for class representative and a chance to be a member of the Best Sudent Council.

The reason, because if one was be a member of the council, one would get free boarding and food.

Needless to say, everyone looks at Rino as very unusual because she is very close to her puppet.

Many don’t understand why the puppet talks so much but the question makes you think why Rino depends on it so much.

Also, Rino treats it like real individual (while her classmate thinks she is a ventriloquist and is talking for the puppet).

The first episode features Rino and Pucchan (accidentally) taking down a pyromaniac at the school and thus becoming a member of the Best Student Council.

This leads to future episodes of people questioning why the new girl at school was able to get in (especially when she’s not very qualified in terms of intellect and athleticism).

To make matters even more interesting (or worse), the president of the Best Student Council, Jinguji Kaede, has a special interest towards Rino that make the students and even members of the Best Student Council suspicious.

The animation for “The Best Student Council” is fun and the voice acting (American and Japanese) are top notch.

As for the special features on the DVD, the clean opening and closing animation and character art gallery is included.

So, far watching each episode of “The Best Student Council” has been a blast.

I have to admit that at first, an anime featuring a teenage girl holding a puppet was something that I was very skeptical of enjoying. But after watching the first volume, this anime truly rocks and I’m looking forward to watching more.

The first volume of “The Best Student Council” is highly recommended for the start of 2007.

A — DENNIS A. AMITH
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