Since it's easier to watch and summarize smaller chunks of anime, I'm going to break these posts down whenever I have a week where I watch a lot.
Mobile Suit Gudam 0083: Stardust Memory ep 1 - 2
Thanks to 00, I've been rather fixated on Gundam lately. One of the older Gundam shows I've been meaning to watch for a long time is 0083: Stardust Memory.
The series is an OVA set a few years after the original Mobile Suit Gundam, and centers on the theft and attempted retrieval of a Gundam with offensive nuclear capabilities.
The first episode makes quick work of introducing key characters: Kou Uraki, a young Earth Federation pilot; Anavel Gato, an embittered Zeon soldier who steals the nuclear-armed Gundam Unit 02; and Nina Purpleton, the engineer who created Gundam Units 01 and 02. Thanks to lax security on the Federation base, Gato is able to sneak in and steal Unit 02 only halfway through the first episode! I guess with only 13 episodes total, a quicker pace is to be expected.
The dub acting is alright, pretty average fare, although it can be cheesy at times, especially when Gato makes his ridiculous speeches, not to mention his use of the words "Earthnoids" and "Spacenoids"... Come on, couldn't they have thought up better terms for the dub? Those just sound silly.
As the main character, Kou doesn't have a chance to stand out yet, since he is young and has never before experienced combat. Although, that makes his reactions more realistic and human, since he throws himself into a situation that he can't fully handle when he brazenly jumps into Unit 01 to stop Gato.
The animation is fairly decent for an early '90s anime, though being an OVA this isn't surprising as they're usually able to do more with their budgets.
So, not a bad start, let down some by areas of lame dialogue, but on the whole an engaging start to the series.
Shadow Skill ep 1 - 3
Shadow Skill is a shounen/fantasy/martial arts action series from the late '90s. Since it's mainly concerned with action, it isn't a very deep series, but it still manages to entertain.
The series focuses on Elle Ragu, 59th Sevalle of the kingdom of Kuruda, nicknamed "Shadow Skill" for her mastery of this form of martial art; and her adopted brother, Gau Ban. They're often joined by their friend Faurinka "Folli" Maya, a user of Sui Rem talisman magic, who procures work for them. But, due to Elle's bar tabs and debts for property damage, they're more than often broke.
The first two episodes deal with a couple of attempts by minor villains to assassinate Elle before and during the competition taking place in Kuruda. Gau also meets Scarface, the kingdom's greatest warrior, who encourages him to fight and grow stronger.
In the third episode the gang meet Kyuo Lyu, last survivor of the elite Phantom unit of the Septia demon-beast hunters, who asks them to help her avenge the deaths of her comrades. Kyuo also joins them in order to pay back Elle.
Like I said at the outset, this isn't high drama or anything. This is your typical shounen fare, heavy on the action and repetition of various moves or techniques (since Kuruda martial arts require the incantations of certain words to give them power). Despite this and some rather hammy acting moments, it's quite entertaining. Elle's brash nature and Gau's attempts to rein her in provide some good comedic moments. It's also not some kind of endless tournament show, there is an actual plot!
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 S2 ep 4 - 6
The more I watch Season 2, the more I love it. I can safely say right now that this will surpass Season 1. I think it's A-Laws that helps make this season better: rather than random armed interventions to stop conflict, Celestial Being have a serious enemy to face. The more A-Laws slaughters people, the more you root for the good guys. I also like how Col. Mannequin, Col. Smirnov and Soma are questioning A-Law's methods.
Now, get ready for the rant: ALI AL-SACHEZ IS ALIVE!? ARGH! This totally sucks. I hate that psycho, I really hoped he was dead at the end of Season 1. This just robs so much meaning from Lockon's death. And now Setsuna has two obsessed freaks to deal with, Al-Sachez and Mr. Bushido (yes, it's not hard to figure out he's Graham Aker).
I hope Saji sorts himself out soon. Right now he's in full-time Shinji Ikari mode, and we all know how annoying that is.
I like how some of Sumeragi's past is revealed, as well as the first meeting between Allelujah and Marie. Backstory is always welcome.
