Save on ADV merchandise!
All ADV Films merchandise is on sale at TRSI, so I’ve been trying to sample as many titles as I can before deciding whether or not to place a few orders. Thanks to the wonders of the interweb, I’ve been able to sample the first episodes of Maburaho, Air TV, Jing, King of Bandits, and [L/R] Licensed by Royalty.
While reading through some of the posts on the Recommendations category of the AoD forums, I got the impression that Maburaho was a dud. The opposite happens to be true. So far, I’m most interested in continuing this series. It’s kind of like Tenchi crossed with Harry Potter. Yes, that sounds odd.
The protagonist is a student at an all magic-user school (like Hogwarts, but with some standard muggle curriculum tossed in) where he spends all day being reminded of how unexceptional he is and how his ancestors were humble farmers.
When he returns to his dorm, he finds some pink-haired girl undressing. She claims to be his wife! So afraid of the prospect of marriage (as all men should be) was he that he crashed into the bosom of blonde with antennae hair. You know, those stray strands that sprout from the head like antennae. The blonde knocks him to the floor and is willing to perform a little cowgirl style action right there in the hallway, but she’s interrupted by Miss Pink (I can’t remember everyone’s name, so just deal with it) who explodes the dorm’s hallway with magic.
Outside now, he runs for safety, but instead finds himself face to pointy end of a katana wielded by yet another girl. This one wants to kill him so she won’t have to marry him.
Finally, the school’s physician reveals why these girl’s are after this kid. He may be a lame-ass magic user, but he’s carrying some powerful genes. Unfortunately, this story was revealed in front of even more girls…
AIR, the TV series was something I had actually seen somewhere (probably on a Newtype DVD) before. I didn’t care for it much back then, but this go-round seemed more amusing. There’s not a lot going on that I can reminisce about. Mostly a bunch of oddball characters. I’m willing to give this one a few more episodes to see if it’s going somewhere.
The lack of subtitles made Jing, King of Bandits difficult to follow, but that’s okay considering how the music was mildly annoying and the characters looked ridiculous. Sadly, I hit STOP before the two minute mark. I had seen enough to come to the conclusion it’s not for me.
[L/R] played all the way through, but again – not impressed. I’ll be passing on this one.
Look for more ADV opinions in the days ahead as I meander through various titles like Moonlight Mile, Megazone 23, Eden’s Bowy, Neo Ranga, and Madlax.
