A friend of mine is absolutely nuts about the Tales series. Having grown up with him playing Tales of Destiny I and II on the PSX, you can imagine his excitement, and my anticipation for this anime film. Finally, it gets the blu-ray treatment and I am here to let you guys know it does a great job presenting the world of Tales. Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike will take place a few years after the end of the Great War before the events in Tales of Vesperia the game. That is correct, Production I.G decided to toss out the plot of the game and make a prequel! The movie starts with Yuri Lowell and Flynn Scifo, new Imperial Knight recruits in the Niren Corps. They are sent to investigate abnormal aer on the outskirts of town that is causing the forest to wilt and the animals to behave savagely. All together, the cast is put together quite nicely and the voice acting is impressive, using the same voice actors from the game.

Utilizing the power of a powerful substance known as aer the people of the planet Terca Lumireis are in an age of discovery and prosperity. The crystallized form of aer which is known as Apatheia, is considered to be a very powerful energy source as it is essential to human life. In order to protect towns from attacks by monsters large amounts of Apatheia are being produced to create barriers around towns. You also get to learn about Flynn’s backround, and why Yuri left the knights, and where he got his special Blastia from. Although, I am a little disapointed that a lot of the characters were not in it. Also, Yuri looked less feminine than I remember him being in the game. But, the effort Production I.G put into this film is very apparant in the animation department. A lot of anime show the same animation or background over and over, but this movie kept showing new material and I can really appreciate the effort from the animators.

I like how they crammed so many things in to this movie, and I’m glad it’s just under two hours, because that way, the movie didn’t feel rushed, unlike most movies that are 90 minuites long, but they’re usually American. But it’s probably less about plot and drama, but moreso the creation of a world of fantasy. The demons, creatures were somewhere between animals and monsters, and they also are one of the most appealing factors of the film. Director Kanta Kamei, who was involved as an artist even in large projects has now completed his first debut and in doing so – puts the focus entirely on this show’s presentation. Naturally, plot will suffer, but even then, he had yet to put in a little more effort. While the world borrows looks from “Vesperia” quite obviously, it lacks that certain something. Again, the animation is clean, and has a solid look, but this gives the work the character of an assembly line product.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl2p9j6CZkg

The main characters contrast in which Yuri follows his heart and helps the people in need, while Flynn just does what he is ordered to do. Yuri and the captain look up to Flynn’s father who disobeyed orders and protected the Lower area of the city and died in the process. However Flynn thinks his father died pointlessly and left nothing behind apart from dishonour, however later in the show he realizes when the captain does the same that many people were alive because of the captain’s sacrifice. This really does open up layers and layers of the franchise that have never been seen before. The movie is light-hearted and doesn’t take itself too seriously, but I didn’t mind, it’s typical because it’s proven to work. My very personal recommendation would be that if you played the game you should really watch this. After all, with the high demand of video game anime lately, such as Dragon Age; Dawn of the Seeker, it is obvious who the demographic is chasing. This is a quality anime that only misses A marks by a few centimeters. Add it to your collection this June!

On a dark and stormy night in Kumogakure, the Raikage is holding a small council with his closest advisers and confidants. Things are disrupted as sleeping gas slowly edges into the room through the doors. While his usually quite capable jounin are distracted and fall prey to this gas, Raikage has time to react and actually see this attacker. As they fight, the Raikage tears off the hood, and sees the face of the most recognizable ninja in Konoha: Uzumaki Naruto.

Anyone still watch Naruto? If you do I am sure you are outraged by the number of fillers that are plaguing Shippuuden at the moment. Well, dive into Blood Prison for a much needed distraction and things should get better for you! Thrown in a prison for Shinobi only, Naruto becomes a participant although non-consensual of having his powerful Chakra stolen by the Prison head for himself. The Chakra will then be used upon a box, or The box of enlightened bliss. For who so ever uses it, is granted a wish in exchange for the Chakra. Yet the prison head does not realize that when he resurrects his son, after sacrificing him in the first place, has now a nearly unstoppable force to be reckoned with. Naruto, with his never ending ways of using his talents, along with a close friend, both become a united force for which Muku (Reserrected Son) has to deal with. In a transformed state Muku uses fear in the hearts of men to avoid any attacks. Which makes him a weapon of choice. Yet Naruto and for all of his training, uses the Sennin technique to block off any fear which Muku can sense. Now armed with more wisdom, both Naruto, and Ryuzetsu, finally stop Muku and his barrage of chaos. At the expense of her life. I have to say every Naruto film is always enjoyable. To see brand new stories, new episodes, and more laughs. This makes the series one the greatest on television. And one of the longest running Animes to date.

His many attempts to escape rides through the film and eventually leads him to understand the purpose of the prison: a secret tomb, hidden underneath the jail’s courtyard, was used by the Grass Country to take over the world during the great Rokkudo Sage. It is also very nice to simply watch Naruto do what he does best, inspiring others and kicking ass. It’s still a lot of the same old when it comes to powers, but it’s still fun to watch because the quality is that much better than the TV series. In terms of animation, it’s okay. I wasn’t really blown away during any point in regard to the visuals. The guy that controls the prison has this ability to bond your chakra. That means Naruto and all the other prisoners were not able to use there powers. So in the movie, Naruto has to fight hand to hand and be fast as hell. A very interesting turn of events!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go1JyaqpuFY

At the end of the movie we are treated to an excellent fight that features not only Naruto’s Konoha friends but also Killer Bee. While the movie is a bit ahead of the anime (Bee and Naruto already know each other, and as of last Thursday, Naruto was only just setting out to the Island where he will meet Bee), it is still quite amazing to hear Killer Bee’s voice on the big screen. It looked really nice and gave the fans of Naruto the opportunity to get some higher quality animation with a more put together storyline. Fans of Naruto will eat this up, but to general anime fans? I’d say you’re not missing much by skipping this one, as it is catered to an already-established audience. Creator Masashi Kishimoto may have had nothing to do with this year’s movie, but it was an amazing improvement from previous series.

Colorful is not an easy anime to digest. The episodes are fast-paced, experimental in animation and sound and music. The show is rather ambiguous as to whether it supports the themes it deals with or not. I enjoyed it precisely because it was underplayed and realistic. With that out of the way, a film does not need to be melodramatic to be powerful or moving in its content. This little boy Makoto, well, let’s just say I don’t envy him. Upon death, a wayward soul is given a second chance to “get it right” by returning into the body of a 14-year-old Japanese boy who tried to commit suicide, and must discover the reason for the attempt to avoid disappearing again.

Colorful is a bittersweet character-driven story, as it follows Makoto Kobayashi, who has just committed suicide and is watched over by a neutral spirit. The soul must figure out what his greatest sin and mistake in his former life was before his time limit in Makoto’s body runs out. He also has a number of other lesser duties he must complete, such as understanding what led Makoto to commit suicide in the first place and learning how to enjoy his second chance at life. The narrative goes through subtle shifts from the struggle against the world you find yourself in and raging against the people there, to learning to see that the world isn’t just one thing, that people themselves cannot be defined by one thing – and sometimes all you need is one person to talk too, someone who doesn’t expect anything and who doesn’t need anything, who is just willing to be beside you, a friend.

There is a reveal towards the end of the film that, though some may foresee, I thought was the perfect way to the end the film. message of “Keep Calm and Carry On” really. The art style is suited to the subtle tone and is more ‘realistic’ with softer colors. Similar to the work of Makoto Shinkai, Colorful beautifully reflects the true-to-life environments in which it so accurately portrays. It really is no surprise that internationally, it received the Audience Award and Special Distinction prize at the 2011 Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8alZd7emPA

Moreover, the attached AMV (Anime music video) above is a nice companion piece for the deeper meaning behind the film. This is an AMV about suicide and how problems at home and school can effect people. I thought that by attaching this video, then maybe others can take a step back and think about their lives. “Is it really worth it?” “Is death the only option?” I don’t think so. Hopefully anyone who is currently feeling in that way will change their mind before it’s too late. If you’re looking for escapism or that magic quality you usually get in slice-of-life movies, you won’t really find it here. This is more of an important film, rather then a good one, and these particular animes are always hard to score. I appreciate the effort involved and hope you all seek this one out. Colorful is a substance dedicated to the Japanese 14-16 youth, but it can easily be understood and liked by an adult.

King of Thorn is a very smart anime film with intelligent underlying ideas throughout. A virus begins to grip the Earth’s population and a group of hopeful survivors are cryogenically frozen in attempt to find a cure. But when the group awakens they are flung into a horrifying situation. It’s 100% fatal once you’re infected and it turns people to a somewhat fragile stone-like state in its last stage. Needless to say, it is something you want to avoid. The virus that is, not the movie. As after about 20 minutes you get to encouter the first plot twist which is the breaking point of nonstop action. I would charecterize the plot as a spiral: once a twist ends, the other one is eager to start.

While perceived as a terrible malaise by the world, many believed it to be a curse that will bring the humanity to an end, but it were the people affiliated with Venus Gate, a religious sect, that believed it was a gift from heavens. The world of King of Thorn manages keep a tentative handle on the disease that plagues it and the dread comes from the sacrifice that the main characters decide on to find a cure, placing their well being in the care of a questionable corporation and tossing away their lives as they’ve know them. Not only does the film challenge you to think about society as a whole but after pondering the events, it turns out to be more complex and metaphysical then you originally anticipated. It also has a strong video-game influence in terms of structure and creatures as the young boy accompanying the group keeps reminding us. His enthusiasm is also responsible for the few smiles in an otherwise dark adventure.

In addition, we learn of a corporation that’s apparently built a modern day Noah’s Ark where animals, plants, and a select few humans will be cryogenic-ally stored. This does not take from the compelling nature of the story and its mystery, but did not feel as rare a story experience as the first act. The third act however, is filled with exposition! There is the mystery of what has happened to the world and what the Medusa virus really is, as well as the survival aspect with a group of unconnected people battling and escaping weird monsters. Post-apocalyptic stories with monsters are nothing new in this case; it is the character interactions and the main player’s development that save the story from the “meh” category. Director Kazuyoshi Katayama (production assistant on Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind), shows great effort but it ultimately lacks the dream sequences as Ghibli productions are known for, but King of Thorn is filled with imagination and ingenuity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSQVghfBAXI

King of Thorn is a very good specimen of its genius. Finally, the animation proves as successful, as the look, locations, and the character design (even the blood content), were translated seamlessly from the manga. Like I mentioned above, King of Thorn is most impressive, mainly because it urges you to ask your own questions. What’s more, the social commentary on the “end of the world”, is a message more films should bring to light. It is much more than just running away from monsters; the film infuses Roman folklore and combines it with Christian mythology. If by the films credits you are left confused, it is only because the film is so grand you must revisit to fully comprehend its message. FUNimation has acquired a fantastic film into its already impressive collection of Anime films.

In the land of Orlais, where battles are fought with swords and magic, a young heroine rises as templars, mages, and dragons clash. Cassandra, a brash and beautiful Seeker, must stop a conspiracy that threatens the realm’s most powerful religious order, the Chantry of Andraste. Accused of treasonous crimes and hunted by friend and foe, Cassandra must clear her name and overcome her raging emotions in order to save the day and take her place in legend. A bold tale that has quite the fan following based on the highly successful video game franchise by Bioware, director Fumihiko Sori and the good folks at FUNIimation made sure that the amount of care and dedication to this project was evident in the first five minutes of the film. This isn’t classified as anime to the realists out there but it does add to the trend of CG films bombarding the market similar to last years’ Tekken: Blood Vengeance.

Dawn of the Seeker really tries to tell a story, and sucks you in by revealing character who I can say with confidence are interesting! The film centers not just on Cassandra’s life as a Seeker, but also on the continuing themes of faith and corruption within the Chantry. That said, if the video games didn’t spark your interest, this film probably wont do anything for you either. It deals with the same subject matter and environments such as getting tangled up in a conspiracy, which pits her against blood mages as a primary antagonist. If you couldn’t guess, yes blood mages are the bad guys and you will be introduced to many clans throughout the world. There are a few warring factions in this world, as well.

For those who are NOT familiar with the game, don’t fret! In my opinion you should at least understand the core conflicts which is enough to enjoy this film on a basic level. Cassandra is the type of main character that begs you to cry out in excitement during thrilling moments. Their vocal performances are also well done, befitting the professionals behind them. If you are a logician you are going to find a couple things that don’t make sense, but I wouldn’t worry about it, the point of the film is to continue the franchises story while providing a lot of action, and a bit of dialog; not an intellectual exercise. More importantly, Dawn of the Seeker is a first for Funimation, as it was the first time that they had worked from scratch and not adapted a Japanese production for the west. Although that is valid enough reason to support this films’ effort, the real strenght relies, however, upon the consumers attachment to the franchise’s world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm-kJ5vQ8Ig

Like I mentioned above, the action is pulse-pounding. You can see everything that is going on in the screen clearly which brings a greater reaction from the viewer. At times, some of the scenes seem to drift away from the original plot, but in the end, you’ll see that each is important in developing the character personalities, and helping to understand them more. This works well in conjunction with the animation style, since the detail and shadow effects are so amazing, it will take a few viewings just to stop drooling over yourself. Another great thing about this film is the weapons, which as in anime, research has always been done to blend a balanced present and futuristic/fantasy weaponry. Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker is a film any fan of the video game should rush out and see, as it involves wonderful fight scenes, pyrotechnics, and epic moments throughout.

Hayate the Combat Butler! Heaven Is a Place on Earth is a film adaption of the manga and anime series Hayate the Combat Butler. The film was released in theaters on August 27, 2011 as a double-bill with Mahou Sensei Negima! Anime Final. The plot revoles around Hayate, Nagi and the gang spending the last days of summer break at Nishizawa’s countryside vacation home. But a mysterious spirit has concocted a scheme to separate the butler from his young mistress. For those keeping track at home, this film takes place after the events in Hayate no Gotoku!! Season 2. 16-year-old Hayate is really down on his luck. His unemployed parents are good-for-nothings who waste the money they have on gambling. One day, his parents have racked up a huge gambling debt that they had to sell Hayate to the yakuza for the value of his organs. In a desperate attempt to avoid that fate, Hayate decides to become a “bad guy” and kidnap someone to be held for ransom, but his efforts to do so are mistaken as a confession of love by the girl he targets.

The movie is, as you may expect from Hayate no Gotoku, pretty formulaic. Having had to provide myself with a refresher course of the series, I had to digest a lot of the series in a short amount of time. In doing so, I definitely feel that it was worth watching as a viewer of the series, for some teasers into Hayate’s past and some awesome and well made scenes towards the end. It is a series that demands you laugh and the film is no different. Sure the AMV I provided with this review makes is SEEM like it is action-oriented, but in reality it is a comedy. Heaven Is a Place on Earth proves why nobody watches Hayate no Gotoku! for the story. Also, I noticed a lot of the plot points were mostly stuff irrelevant to the plot, the appearance of not so relevant character and the copious amounts of fanservice, which falls in line with the stuff you see in filler chapters of Hayate no Gotoku! The movie opens with none other than the idol singer (and doujinshi artist) Suirenji Ruka. It will still be some time before we can see her in the anime, so Hata-sensei found a way to slip her in here.

Excuse my mini rant, because I realize only fans would bother to buy a DVD/Blu-Ray anyway, so these additional parts need only the appreciation of fans. However, unlike the OVA, the fanservice was not at all distracting. This time around studio manglobe is in charge of production where JC Staff had handled season two, and Synergy SP handled season one. How will manglobe’s shot at this franchise fare in comparison with its previous entries? Does it lose its own identity? I’d say no and thought it was a nice change in pace. Wouldn’t really call it a movie sequel as it has no relation to the main story other than a opportunity for Hayate to gain enough money to pay off his debt and balk his career as a combat butler. Actually there is no relation to enjoyment what so ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bbr8NHF7tk

The movie ends on a uplifting note, but the only thing that kept me watching was being able to actually hear Rie Kugimiya and see Hina talking again. Trust me, your better off watching “The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya” if you want to see an anime film of a similar genre. Visually, the movie is a joy to look at. The character designs in Hayate are so simple it’s difficult to screw them up. On par with the second season, no better nor worse, it can just be thought of as a quick mid-season two-parter episode. The attention to character nuances and details made everything more positive and fans of the show will welcome this film and start getting prepared for the awesome season premiere of season three! Heaven Is a Place on Earth isn’t terrible for non-fans of the series but it would help if you were familiar with the series beforehand.

After roughly a ten year gap after making the highly-underrated film Jin-Roh, Hiroyuki Okiura returns! Clinging to an unfinished letter written by her recently deceased father, young Momo moves with her mother from bustling Tokyo to the remote Japanese island of Shio. Upon their arrival, she begins to explore her new habitat, meeting local children and learning their routines and customs. However, it’s not long before several bizarre occurrences crop up around the previously tranquil island. Orchards are found ransacked, prized trinkets start disappearing and, worst of all, each morning after her mother leaves for work, Momo hears strange mumblings coming from the attic of their home. Annoyed by these creepy goings-on and her mother’s refusal to believe them, Momo embarks on a strange and supernatural adventure to discover the source of the mischief, which leads her to a trio of troublesome imps: the flatulent lizard Kawa, the childlike Mame and their hulking ogre leader Iwa. Momo also learns that her visit to the island is in some way connected to her father’s mysterious letter.

The biggest statement thus far is that there has been a 10 year gap in between films. No, he wasn’t Tarantinoing it, as A Letter to Momo had reportedly taken the director Okiura seven years to produce. Momo ponders an unfinished letter left in her father’s drawer. It deals with heavy issues. She also has to deal with new living quarters after her mom decides to move them both back to her childhood home on the island. Animation is executed flawlessly as her adolescent awkwardness is honestly and masterfully portrayed by the animators.

The theme of family reconciliation, is admittedly not very family-friendly but somehow I could see young viewers getting into this anime. Both Production I.G. and director Hiroyuki Okiura wanted to expand their horizons past adult-oriented animation, and wanted to do something more charming, and family friendly. Momo is the result of that. The subject of loss is difficult to convey on film, yet alone in an animated one and perhaps this isn’t just a good film, but maybe essential viewing to the nerdy adolescence? The only hinderance I can see is the extremely long running time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p93ArHyvzLw

I imagine that at this point, this review has begun to give off a portrait of a family-friendly anime, which was not entirely my intention. Its complex characterizations and multiple storylines are on par with Spirited Away. They both have introverted girls forced to face a new environment with Shinto-themed underpinnings. Take away the fantasy aspects and throw in a realistic environment and ideology, and you have A Letter To Momo! It sticks to the tried and tested formula of supernatural spirits that only interacts with kids, and is a magical crowd-pleaser with great pacing and a heartwarming story.

The story follows a pilot who rises to the top ranks of the military. As a beautiful daughter of the noble family del Moral, Fana was proposed by Prince Carlo, who is the crown prince of their country Levamme. However, since Levamme is at war with Amatsuvian, the marriage had to wait until the war ends. Meanwhile, as a bestado, the lowest caste in Levamme, Charles had always dreamed of flying and eventually became the ace pilot of the air force. Although he was often mistreated, a glorious chance came about when the Amatsuvian bombarded del Moral’s home in order to get rid of the future empress. Charles was then entrusted with the top secret mission of delivering the princess to the prince. In addition, near the start, we are shown an extravagant ball, the guest of honor is Lady Fana del Moral, the silver-haired daughter of the del Moral, who have garnered prestige as a royal house.

In the film, The Princess and the Pilot, Charles is shown to be a perfect soldier: skilled, obedient, and loyal. However, it’s in a very different tone and feel from the typical Mazui project, focusing on the story of a pilot and a princess and the battles, emotions, and determination they must fight through to get to their destination together. His choice to value his duty to his country over love for Fana was unwise and detrimental to his future happiness. That is basically the meat if this film in trying to decipher arguments between who is right and just. A final argument for Charles’s decision is that it was for Fana’s protection. I am sure many people will have many different perspectives on the matter, which shows how good of a film this is that can warp the minds of its viewers.

Thirdly, technically it’s a romance movie, however it’s not the main focus of the story, or so I felt like. After living in a country that has given him nothing but hardship, it is baffling to me why he chose to place his duty to that country above the love he had for Fana. So what did I get? I got a pleasant enjoyable movie, nothing groundbreaking, but a solid enjoyable watch. It looked nice, the characters were pretty cool guys, some nice dogfights which sticks smartly to a compact cast, as the majority of the screen time will be firmly fixed on the Pilot and his glamorous gunner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCyi2xJla2M

The only blemish in an otherwise great anime was the incomplete, or shall I say lack thereof, ending. Not only is the end rather inconclusive, but the ending credits have a nice description of what the two main-characters do in the future. How lazy is that? I expected a bit more from a MadHouse porject in terms of that aspect, but still, all of the flying scenes were amazing as well, including some great action sequences which were filled with superb piloting while being believable at the same time. And really, isn’t that why you go to see an anime that takes place in the sky? Aside from the glitter dance scene at the end, there is an abundence of excellent cinematography to set the mood and feel for the setting, especially the planes and airships. I hope in 2012 this gets a bigger buzz from the anime community because it deserves it.

When she was young, Hotaru was once lost when she played in the forest near her uncle’s place that she visits every summer. There, she had a fateful encounter with a spirit, who helped her even though he would disappear if a human being touches him. She began to visit him every summer, even as she grows; while he waits for the summer to come, for their time together to flow again. Pretty heavy story for a film with only a 45 minute running time. Still, the circumstances of them not being able to touch could have very easily been played into some overwrought drama, but the story avoids that and it is often played for laughs. Hotaru is funny and adorable at the beginning and she later grows up into someone level-headed without becoming boring. While she is the narrator, we see her growing over the years the same as Gin.

I felt that the film effectively opened him up to the audience at a good pace. In the end you’ll find yourself hoping for a happy ending because the characters are so likable and pure-hearted, unique in the world of loud protagonists driven by righteous passions. Forbidden romance is usually marked as tragic and fated for a bad end due to conflict stemming from outside the relationship’s power. In this case, the story was about so much more than a simple romantic relationship. That’s the kind of simple but subtle storytelling I would like to see more often in animes. There are no set expectations or desires and it allows the story to unfold unfiltered.

The few flaws are difficult to ignore. The ending was a bit tricky but it was still within your expectation if you know how a human and youkai’s relationship works in Natsume Yuujinchou but even so, the ending was a bit sudden because, as you watched it, you had been tricked by the positive flow of the events and that a key plot development at the end is brought about by arbitrary means. Fans of Natsume, however, have likely already made their plans to view the film based solely on its similarities to their beloved show, and the end result is the film should fall within expectations. Maybe not the best but still solid animation, fairytale characters and a nice story make this anime more than worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dBt5cNzbTE

In The Forest Of The Fireflies Light is a perfect exemplar why I like Japanese animation so much. Forest and it’s spiritual surrounding represent an important part of Japanese culture, whereas this symbol can be found in many anime originated from Japan, but also in other Asian productions and traditions. An interesting and touching story is told without fireworks and big splashes. Some might think that 40 minutes isn’t all that long, but in this case, it was more than enough to tell a tale. Remember that the story of Hotarubi was written nearly a decade ago, and taking that into account makes the film even more remarkable.

Gyo follows the adventures of Kaori, a girl-next-door who rushes back to Tokyo to find her boyfriend, who’s caught in the worst of a sudden and unexplained “fish-on-legs” epidemic. To say much more would spoil what little plot there is in Gyo, but suffice to say there’s not much of one anyways. It’s an OVA of more than an distance long, where the characters were a integrated bag and the result is one of the weirdest things I’ve ever seen. Walking fish seem to be at the front line of the bizarro-world that is this anime and the more you find out, the more your new understandings of this new creature gets thrown out the window.

Into gross plots? This anime has got you covered! With tentacle rape and the sheer absurdity of walking carnivorous sea creatures, it is almost a shame that the production values are so high. It presents well drawn, pretty visuals and realistic animation throughout the entirety of the movie. Later, it is found that the Japanese Army was researching germs that produce the death stench during World War II in a desperate effort to turn the tide of the war. Infection by the germ produced large amounts of foul-smelling gas from body tissue, and since infection quickly killed the test animals, walking machines were built to carry them further, allowing them to reach and sicken enemy troops. Enemy planes sunk the ship carrying the prototypes for the walking machines, which ran entirely on the gas.

You’re probably thinking to yourself, “In a movie about walking fish, what more could I want?” How about loads on T&A? What was the director thinking to go from his usual B grade horror to full on Z-grade exploitation? Gyo definitely brings about a lot of wierd stuff that we don’t see every day. Still, with production values so high, it was also a shame to see that the backgrounds are average and forgettable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWNB0kpq8Sk

In conclusion, Gyo has 70 minutes to tell its story, so it doesn’t waste its time. Gyo can be summarized as a fast-paced horror genre given the disturbing source material, but if I can praise one thing about the film, it’s that it doesn’t lack creativity. I honestly had a relatively hard time taking it seriously. Even if I, personally, didn’t enjoy it, it was clear that they did put some effort into it. Needless to say, it wasn’t my cup of tea. I would recommend this more to fans of the manga then actual animation. Before I conclude, I will note that there were changes made. Most obviously, the characters Kaori and Tadashi have changed roles. If you can deal with that, you should enjoy this one.