Ango Sakaguchi’s “Un-Go” takes a different, unique approach to the typical investigative anime series and includes a sci-fi edge with a twist. “Un-Go: Complete Collection” is an entertaining anime detective series that looks incredible on Blu-ray!
Images courtesy of © 2012 Sentai Filmworks, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: Un-Go: Complete Collection
TV SERIES AIR DATE: 2011
DURATION: Episodes 0-11 (325 Minutes)
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (1:78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen), Dolby Digital, Audio: English Dolby TrueHD 2.0, Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0, Subtitles: English
RATED: TV 14 V
COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks
RELEASE DATE: October 30, 2012
Originally created by Ango Sakaguchi
Directed by Seiji Mizushima
Screenplay by Shou Aikawa
Music by NARASAKI
Character Design by pako, Yun Kouga
Art Director: Takeshi Waki
Anime Productions: Bones
Featuring the voices of:
Aki Toyosaki/Emily Neves as Inga
Ryo Katsuji as ShinjūrŠYūki
Marika Matsumoto as Kazamori
Miyu Irino/Ross Bautsch as Seigen Hayami
Nozomi Yamamoto/Kris Carr as Rie KaishÅ
Shinichiro Miki/Justin Doran as Rinroku KaishÅ
Takako Honda/Elizabeth Bunch as Izumi Koyama
Yuuki Kaji as Novelist
Some call him the “Last Great Detective.” Others call him the “Defeated Detective.” What’s certain is that he’s Shinjurou Yuuki, a young man with a passion for mysteries and a talent for solving them that has made him the target of dark forces now stirring within the sinister underworld of a near future Tokyo.
That could prove lethal, given that not even the other “good guys,” including the police, are exactly on Shinjouro’s side. Fortunately Yuuki’s not completely on his own, and with the aid of his uniquely talented associate Inga, he’s ready to cut a swath through the veils of secrecy that have been laid before him.
From well-known Japanese novelist Ango Sakaguchi comes an anime adaptation of his novel “Meiji Kaika Ango Torimono-Cho”. An 11-episode anime series produced by Studio Bones and Aired on Fuji TV’s noitaminA from October through December 2011. With a “0 episode” prequel shown in theaters.
The series is directed by Seiji Mizushima (“Fullmetal Alchemist”, “Mobile Suite Gundam 00 Special Edition”, “Slayers Next”), screenplay by Shou Aikawa (“Gad Guard”, “Genocyber”, “Shikabane Hime, “Sorcerer Hunters”), character design by pako and Yun Kouga (“Gestalt”, “Genji”, “Mobile Suit Gundam 00”, art design by Takeshi Waki (“CANAAN”,”Geobreeders 2″, “Glass Fleet”) and music by NARASAKI (“Deadman Wodnerland”, “Aikatsu!”, “Aquarian Age the Movie”).
And now both the movie prequel and the eleven episode TV series will be released on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.
“Un-Go” is a mystery anime series where a a detective named Shinjuurou Yuuki and a mysterious individual named Inga work together to solve various mysteries.
Shinjuuro is not so well-liked and even is chastised by public prosecutor Izumi Koyama, but Shinjuurou is known for his work ethic. Also, trying to work on solving the mysteries is Rie Kaishou, a young detective who is the daughter of well-known detective Rinroku Kaishou, who solves mysteries through his super computer.
Shinjuurou has the reputation of being called “The Defeated Detective” for his ability to solve difficult mysteries. But he is often seen with Inga, a young boy who is able to transform into its real persona, a busty mature soul eater. Inga was a former killer who promised never to kill after agreeing to a deal with Shinjuuro to never kill anyone, but in return, she wants his soul. Inga also takes on an appearance of a woman from Shinjuurou’s past who gave up her life in order to save him.
And together, both Shinjuurou and Inga take on a variety of cases, but wants desperately to find the antagonist known as Bettenou.
VIDEO:
“Un-Go” is presented in 1080p High Definition (1:78:1 aspect ratio). Un-Go is a TV series that features a colorful, vibrant palette and well-detailed art backgrounds thanks to BONES and crew. If anything, the series has its own style and presentation, as one can expect from a TV series, you are going to always get that hint of softness, but in terms of character design, there is a good amount of shading with the characters, from hair to clothes and good use of pinks, purples, reds and oranges throughout the series.
While the TV series looks very good, as one would expect from a film, “Un-Go – Episode 0: Chapter of Inga” looks fantastic in HD!
AUDIO:
“Un-Go” is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0.    Although I would have preferred to have a more immersive 5.1 lossless soundtrack, “Un-Go” and its two soundtracks are crystal clear coming through the front channel and while the English has a more of a dynamic range than its Japanese counterpart, both are very close together in terms of its overall mix.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Un-Go: Complete Collection” comes with the following special features:
- Episode 0: Chapter of Inga – The animated film is a prequel that gives answers to how Yuki met Inga and how he became stuck with her and more.
- Inga Nikki Shorts – (3:43) The omake shorts for “Un-Go”.
- Chapter o the Inga Alternate Opening – (:31)
- Un-Go Up All Night Event – (28:09) A Q&A with the Japanese cast and crew of “Un-Go”.
- Japanese Promotion Video “Retake” – (3:21) A Japanese promotional video
- A Conversation with Ango Sakaguchi – (22:13) Discussion and Q&A regarding the work of the late Ango Sakaguchi.
- Japanese Spots – (14:34) Japanese TV spots for “Un-Go”.
- Clean Opening & Closing Animation
In Japan, there are quite a few animated series that feature a great detective. But with the series “Un-Go”, not only do you get a detective series but you have a detective’s sidekick who eats the souls of those who cause harm to people.
A series that takes place in a future Tokyo that survived a major disaster, all is not well in the world as the “Defeated Detective” known as Yuuki Shinjurou and his mysterious sidekick Inga take on cases that even the police are having a hard time figuring out.
While the series features a different case that Yuuki and Inga work on, you feel that you are left in the dark on why Yuuki is with this mysterious girl who can change to a woman (who happens to eat people’s souls). And that is where I was surprised and quite happy that the prequel film “Episode 0: Chapter of Inga” was included with this Blu-ray release. The film answers many questions of who Yuuki Shinjurou and what Inga is and why these two are together all the time. In fact, I recommend watching the prequel before watching the TV series, so you won’t be as confused.
As for the Blu-ray release, “Un-Go” is an anime series that looks absolutely beautiful on Blu-ray. Colors are vibrant, the artwork is well-detailed and Studio Bones did a magnificent job with the series overall! While the lossless tracks, both in Japanese and English are well done, because the amount of action presented, it would have been nice to have a 5.1 lossless soundtrack. But for the most part, dialogue is crystal clear as with the special effects which are front channel-driven.
Overall, Ango Sakaguchi’s “Un-Go” takes a different, unique approach to the typical investigative anime series and includes a sci-fi edge with a twist. “Un-Go: Complete Collection” is an entertaining anime detective series that looks incredible on Blu-ray!
