All you really need to know is Angel Cop boasts decent action scenes, gratuitous violence and a hilarious English dub with such gems as "If this is justice, then I'm a banana!" Starts with an anime Dirty Harry, throw in a cyberpunk element and psychic powers like so many anime of the time, and you have an admittedly interesting setup. Unfortunately, the plot is flimsy and silly, the protagonist is easy to hate and the villain masterminds are practically cardboard cutouts. The final fight with a nigh-invulnerable psychic is neat, but all importance is quickly diminished by our incredibly inept hero. I like the weapon concepts; Recoil so high it breaks your arm, or muzzle flash so bright it fries your retinas. Not surprisingly, there's excessive violence to go along with it. Anyway, watch it for the laughs.
Reviews
8 Reviews
Genocyber
(1994)
Confusing, gory spectacle
15 December 2016
Genocyber's plot is confusing to say the least. It seems like there's an actual story hiding somewhere, but in an incomplete state (which is exactly the case for the manga this OVA was adapted from). The OVA is divided into three barely-connected parts. The plot, what little there is, is told through vague exposition which just feels like an excuse for the nightmarish imagery we're about to see. This show is full of graphic violence (which is the only reason it's remembered), but said violence is never justified. Bad things happen to innocent people just so the good guys have an excuse to get violent and the bad guys create carnage just for the sake of it. Who works for whom? What was the point of all that carnage? Never answered. There are also moments of jaw-dropping insanity in the form of cyborgs that morph into impossibly large mecha-monsters. I'll give Genocyber props for some detailed animation and cool imagery, but there's just little substance to be found.
Anime Abandon
(2011– )
Entertaining reviews for any anime fan
30 November 2016
Internet critic Bennett "the Sage" White has been reviewing anime since 2011. Close to 150 titles have been reviewed so far, and most are of the infamously bad 90's variety. He regularly makes fun of some obscure piece of trash, providing historical context and trivia where available, though it all comes from a place of fandom and the effort put into each review is clear, so that even when you disagree with his opinions, they're still entertaining to watch.
Unfortunately, the sound mixing is awful. The volume difference between Sage's voice and the anime being reviewed is often too much and worse, there are a few speaker-blowing moments thanks to his yelling. I also have no interest in his live-action sketches or characters, which are admittedly not used that often.
Unfortunately, the sound mixing is awful. The volume difference between Sage's voice and the anime being reviewed is often too much and worse, there are a few speaker-blowing moments thanks to his yelling. I also have no interest in his live-action sketches or characters, which are admittedly not used that often.
Jumanji
(1996–1999)
Seek to leave this show behind
24 July 2016
This show was a mess. Whereas the book and movie took place in the real world, this show mostly plays out within Jumanji itself, which is a great concept brimming with potential. Unfortunately, little of note was done with it.
The writers do introduce us to a biologically diverse world with jungles, deserts, oceans and ruined temples, populated by giant, dangerous animals (Amusingly, everything has carnivorous teeth, even the insects.) and introduce new villains as well. Each show follows the same simple formula: Judy and Peter get sucked into the game (which happens every time they roll the dice), get chased by animals, defeat some villain, find an artifact, try and fail to free Alan, and solve a clue which conveniently solves their mundane real-world issue. Occasionally, an intriguing concept is introduced, such as where the animals come from, or what purpose Van Pelt serves, but the writers never do anything else with them. Don't even try to make sense of it among the countless plot holes. The ultimate insult is the final episode, a glorified clip show where no questions are answered.
The positives: decent animation and voice acting, and it has a cool instrumental intro sequence. But I really can't recommend this series. The movie achieved in around 90 minutes what this series couldn't in 40 episodes.
The writers do introduce us to a biologically diverse world with jungles, deserts, oceans and ruined temples, populated by giant, dangerous animals (Amusingly, everything has carnivorous teeth, even the insects.) and introduce new villains as well. Each show follows the same simple formula: Judy and Peter get sucked into the game (which happens every time they roll the dice), get chased by animals, defeat some villain, find an artifact, try and fail to free Alan, and solve a clue which conveniently solves their mundane real-world issue. Occasionally, an intriguing concept is introduced, such as where the animals come from, or what purpose Van Pelt serves, but the writers never do anything else with them. Don't even try to make sense of it among the countless plot holes. The ultimate insult is the final episode, a glorified clip show where no questions are answered.
The positives: decent animation and voice acting, and it has a cool instrumental intro sequence. But I really can't recommend this series. The movie achieved in around 90 minutes what this series couldn't in 40 episodes.
Grand adventures
23 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Around the World With Willy Fog combines the artistic talents of a French author, a Spanish production company, Japanese animators and pop music - a strange combination of ingredients to be sure, but it just works.
As an adaptation of Jules Vernes' classic adventure novel, this series is pretty faithful, though it manages to differentiate itself in a few positive ways. While all major plot points remain intact and only names were changed, additions include a spirited sidekick for Mr. Fog's butler and a villain who constantly tries to thwart the heroes. The backgrounds and scenery are gorgeous and detailed, and are well-utilized by the series' diverse locations, although the character animation lacks fluidity, which is unfortunately typical for anime. It has a great soundtrack as well, composed by Mocedades, a prolific Spanish pop group, and it shows, as the opening and closing songs are particularly pleasant ear-worms. (But strangely, for the English dub at least, any mid-episode song is of much worse sound quality.)
As an adaptation of Jules Vernes' classic adventure novel, this series is pretty faithful, though it manages to differentiate itself in a few positive ways. While all major plot points remain intact and only names were changed, additions include a spirited sidekick for Mr. Fog's butler and a villain who constantly tries to thwart the heroes. The backgrounds and scenery are gorgeous and detailed, and are well-utilized by the series' diverse locations, although the character animation lacks fluidity, which is unfortunately typical for anime. It has a great soundtrack as well, composed by Mocedades, a prolific Spanish pop group, and it shows, as the opening and closing songs are particularly pleasant ear-worms. (But strangely, for the English dub at least, any mid-episode song is of much worse sound quality.)
Dumb and Dumber
(1995–1996)
Bland and Blander
29 June 2016
Warning: Spoilers
There's not much to say. On the plus side,it has decent cartoon caricatures of Harry and Lloyd and good voice likenesses; Matt Frewer in particular does a very convincing Jim Carrey. Unfortunately, nothing else is noteworthy. Each episode centers around the two taking an odd job and inevitably failing through wacky cartoon antics, accompanied by their pet, Kitty Kat (a beaver). The only difference between episodes is a change of setting and they all play out in the most predictable, clichéd way possible. Even the intro seems passionless, where the the two bounce around in random costumes to a bland instrumental track. There's zero creativity to be found, which is what made other cheaply-animated shows like Dexter's Laboratory succeed where this one failed, lasting just one season. Skip it.
Bump in the Night
(1994–1995)
He's green dynamite
23 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This show had smooth claymation, wacky humor and a small cast of entertaining characters: Mr. Bumpy, the green, sock-eating, wise-cracking monster, Squishington, the kind but neurotic bathroom monster and Molly Coddle, the loyal comfort doll. (You know the writing is good when some segments get by on just two of them!) They were backed by a great voice cast too, with guests including Brad Garrett as a baby and Gilbert Gottfried as a stinkbug. It also had a catchy intro which perfectly set the mood, and some pixelated flash-animated shorts which could be described as "cartoons on a Super Nintendo".
Unfortunately, the show declined in quality during the second season, allegedly when it became a co-production with DIC Entertainment. I started noticing close-up shots of characters being re-used often, and it's also when the "Karaoke Cafe" segments were introduced. These were montages of previous footage set to music, sandwiched between a minute or two of new animation. What's worse is these often made up half of an episode, alongside a rerun segment for the other half. Budget problems, I assume.
Unfortunately, the show declined in quality during the second season, allegedly when it became a co-production with DIC Entertainment. I started noticing close-up shots of characters being re-used often, and it's also when the "Karaoke Cafe" segments were introduced. These were montages of previous footage set to music, sandwiched between a minute or two of new animation. What's worse is these often made up half of an episode, alongside a rerun segment for the other half. Budget problems, I assume.
Beetlejuice
(1989–1991)
Spooky, joke-filled fun
19 October 2015
First off, this series is quite different from the movie. See the FAQ for details, but to summarize: The ghost couple are completely absent, the Neitherworld is spooky in a campy way but never scary, Lydia's parents are one-dimensional, Lydia herself seems to be younger and Beetlejuice is a prankster instead of a sleazy villain. Also, even though I love the former, I still enjoy this for different reasons, so don't let that turn you off.
This show's sense of humor revolves around pranks and puns delivered rapid-fire, often with literal visual representations. Some are unsurprisingly re-used and every episode you'll hear that cliché, um... horn sound that plays whenever someone tells a bad joke. Suffice it to say, if you don't like bad puns, you won't be able to stomach this show.
The Neitherworld (land of the dead) is often present here and that's where the show really picks up, showing off all sorts of creative, bizarre locations and eccentric characters, from a French stereotype skeleton to a corrupt mummy mayor. Lydia is a regular visitor and always tags along to keep BJ out of trouble, always fails and wacky antics ensue. Beetlejuice has an endless supply of magical, shape-shifting powers which seem to comply involuntarily to what he says... sort of? They also stop working or are forgotten about when it's convenient to the plot. Not much is ever explained and very little of BJ's back-story is revealed, so you really have to learn to accept the weirdness and not think too much.
The plot of most episodes can be summarized as "Beetlejuice goes to (insert location)" or "Beetlejuice is a (insert profession)" - those are hit-and-miss. The show also has periods set in the mortal world with more typical situations which are (not surprisingly) a bit boring compared to the over-the-top insanity of the Neitherworld. But the show really falls flat when you see the basically-no-plot episodes which are nothing but random jokes. However, this show also has moments of brilliance (especially in season 4) where you get one episode which is a sly commentary on network TV, some with indulgently bizarre visuals, one tribute to The Twilight Zone, another where an evil black-and- white cartoon character rules a parody of Disney World... you get the idea.
The opening theme is nice and is accompanied by a great opening sequence, especially for the 4th season, though the incidental music is pretty bland. The acting is pretty solid all over and the sheer volume of voices and imitations that Stephen Ouimette (BJ himself) does throughout the series is commendable.
Overall, Beetlejuice doesn't do anything too different from other Saturday morning cartoons of the 90's, but has some real moments of brilliance that I'd argue are worth sitting through the bland ones to see.
This show's sense of humor revolves around pranks and puns delivered rapid-fire, often with literal visual representations. Some are unsurprisingly re-used and every episode you'll hear that cliché, um... horn sound that plays whenever someone tells a bad joke. Suffice it to say, if you don't like bad puns, you won't be able to stomach this show.
The Neitherworld (land of the dead) is often present here and that's where the show really picks up, showing off all sorts of creative, bizarre locations and eccentric characters, from a French stereotype skeleton to a corrupt mummy mayor. Lydia is a regular visitor and always tags along to keep BJ out of trouble, always fails and wacky antics ensue. Beetlejuice has an endless supply of magical, shape-shifting powers which seem to comply involuntarily to what he says... sort of? They also stop working or are forgotten about when it's convenient to the plot. Not much is ever explained and very little of BJ's back-story is revealed, so you really have to learn to accept the weirdness and not think too much.
The plot of most episodes can be summarized as "Beetlejuice goes to (insert location)" or "Beetlejuice is a (insert profession)" - those are hit-and-miss. The show also has periods set in the mortal world with more typical situations which are (not surprisingly) a bit boring compared to the over-the-top insanity of the Neitherworld. But the show really falls flat when you see the basically-no-plot episodes which are nothing but random jokes. However, this show also has moments of brilliance (especially in season 4) where you get one episode which is a sly commentary on network TV, some with indulgently bizarre visuals, one tribute to The Twilight Zone, another where an evil black-and- white cartoon character rules a parody of Disney World... you get the idea.
The opening theme is nice and is accompanied by a great opening sequence, especially for the 4th season, though the incidental music is pretty bland. The acting is pretty solid all over and the sheer volume of voices and imitations that Stephen Ouimette (BJ himself) does throughout the series is commendable.
Overall, Beetlejuice doesn't do anything too different from other Saturday morning cartoons of the 90's, but has some real moments of brilliance that I'd argue are worth sitting through the bland ones to see.
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