Customer Reviews

Anime Toonz: Kikuko Inoue

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Fans hoping to hear Inoue Kikuko's rendition of some of Japanese animation's most well-known theme songs will likely be disappointed with this disc. I strongly recommend listening to the music samples before purchasing. The music has been totally remixed into techno with a very strong beat. The remixes themselves aren't particularly inspired, with extended moments of repetition acting as filler. The vocal parts of each track act almost in a secondary role; they are relatively short and are mixed in at such a low level that it's almost lost in the background.

My verdict: Kikuo-san's voice is as beautiful as ever; so it's truly a pity that it was wasted on this disc.

I got two copies of this CD, one for myself and another for a anime-loving friend. When it arrived, I was excited to see how it would be, because the titles looked terrific. These are a good representation of what's out there in anime music (which made me give this CD those two stars.) However, in my initial excitement when seeing this on amazon.com, I must have overlooked the fact that these were remixes. Kikuko Inoue has a nice voice and all, but the remixes don't do justice to the songs as they were originally, generally speaking. I'm a huge fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion's "Thesis of a Cruel Angel," and I couldn't even listen to the entire track on this CD. For those of you who like new twists to your favorite anime songs, by all means, don't let my opinion be the deciding factor as to whether or not you get this CD. But for those of you who expect something like the original, don't bother with this one. Save your money up for that import instead!

I purchased this cd on a whim (as I adore techno *AND* anime music). I probably would've been happier filling up my car's gas tank with the [amt]...

It's a nice idea (and I've heard a lot of successfully done anime techno remixes), but the music is poorly done. Kikuko Inoue has a very nice, clear voice and the techno beats aren't half-bad... but together they don't really fuse correctly. During half of the songs it sounds like the DJ and the singer are singing different songs... (the Escaflowne mix is probably the worst on the album, as it sounds like the DJ is playing music to Utena as the singer does the Esca opening... sounds really disorganized).

The main problem with the music is this: the techno beats are nice, but they're so EMPTY! The DJ has this problem throughout the whole cd. There's a good backbone to a techno song, and the voice overlaps nicely on some songs (horribly on others, such as the Esca song), but there's no techno melody to back it up. It's just the drumbeats and the standard used-a-thousand-times techno sounds. It's like listening to an amateur musician play a standard beat on a Casio keyboard and then sing the songs... sounds very pre-programed and leaves a LOT to be desired. The Fushigi Yuugi opening would be o.k. if the DJ would play some of the melody along with the singer (since they seldom overlap her voice as it's done in the original song).

I will admit, though, that the Utena closing (it's the second TV closing song, not Missing Truth) is at least interesting. It's actually not too bad since the DJ uses some interesting voice synthesizers on the chorus... however, the synth and the singer don't always hormonize very well, and some of the song is painful to listen to (unfortunately for us Utena fans).

All in all... my advice is to probably pick something else up first. Para Para Max does some decent anime theme song remixes. Shine (a J-pop group) does a fun Euro-anime mix that has some of the older stuff (Totoro, Cat's Eye, Sailor Moon, Eva, Cutey Honey, etc).

If you really want to listen to this mix, go buy yourself a cheap electronic keyboard, hit the button for the standard drum dance beat, and sing along. You'll get about the same effect as spending [amt] on this cd, and you can actually do more stuff with the keyboard. :P (Although the cd would probably make a nice frisbee...)

As a listener of techno/electronic music (Trance, DnB, House, etc...), and as an anime fan, I found myself enjoying this album. There are a lot of fan-favorite songs that were remixed, and all of them are well done. As a music experiment in the genre of electronic music, it's not as good as some of the stuff currently available, but then again, none of that stuff remixes anime music. I also take it with a grain of salt since most anime themes don't lend well to serious remixes, so I think the remixers did an exceptional job all things considered. The booklet and art is very well done... I especially like the fact that all lyrics AND translations are included... a nice touch.

You may have seen "Sailor Moon" or "Pokémon". Maybe "Tenchi Muyo" and "Outlaw Star" on Cartoon Network has tripped an interest into the world of Japanese Animation otherwise known as "Anime". One of the best parts of anime is the music. Unlike in the USA where themes are usually based on the show ("Pokémon, Gotta' Catch em' All"), Japanese animation series have more popular songs. This CD is a good example of this. For example, you may have heard the theme to the Kids WB series "Cardcaptors", just wait until you hear "Catch You Catch Me", it is nothing like it. You will also find the openings to other shoujo (girls) titles like "Fushigi Yuugi" and "Magic Knight Rayearth". Even if you don't understand one word of Japanese, you will still enjoy this CD. This is the perfect "starter" CD for someone wanting to learn more about anime and the great music that is made for it.

Ever since purchasing the first Project Ako soundtrack, I've developed a love of anime and its music. When I saw that Inoue Kikuko had a CD compilation of popular anime themes, I immediately ordered it. Unfortunately, the CD did not meet my expectations. As usual, Inoue-san's voice was beyond sweet. What else could one say about the voice of Tendou Kasumi. However, the often tone-deaf background remix left much to be desired. Rather than enhancing the beauty of her voice, it almost drones it out. I sadly cannot recommend this CD to anyone interested in hearing Inoue-san's voice at its best. Her other CD's do her more credit. Gomenasai Onechan.

Ever since purchasing the first Project Ako soundtrack, I've developed a love of anime and its music. When I saw that Inoue Kikuko had a CD compilation of popular anime themes, I immediately ordered it. Unfortunately, the CD did not meet my expectations. As usual, Inoue-san's voice was beyond sweet. What else could one say about the voice of Tendou Kasumi. However, the often tone-deaf background remix left much to be desired. Rather than enhancing the beauty of her voice, it almost drones it out. I sadly cannot recommend this CD to anyone interested in hearing Inoue-san's voice at its best. Her other CD's do her more credit. Gomenasai Onechan.

I just got my CD today. Frankly, I think I expected a lot more of the CD, since I am also a DJ. Although I don't mix much trance and electronica, I know good remixes from experience, and some of the remixes on this CD was just downright lazy. Seemed like the DJ put a lot of effort in remixing one track then fell asleep while remixing the other. For example, the melody for Sailor Moon's "Moonlight Densetsu" was killed completely, and Mr. DJ was content to have the drum machine and keyboard run non-stop without rhyme or reason on one of my favorite song "Yuzurenai Negai". On the other hand the opening theme to Kareshi Kanojyo no Jijyo was remixed competently, that of Neon Genesis Evangelion was ok, the OP to Sakura Diaries was pretty well done. You get the idea. I guess the best remixes should still be left in the competent hands of their original composers and writers. Oh, also the vocal was potted too low I thought. Sometimes I can barely hear it over the obtrusive drum and bass beats. That is all.

I'm sorry to say... but I was actually not that happy with my cd. I was so excited when I finally got the cd... but once I started listening to it I was feeling regretful for buying this cd. As from a previous review, Thomas was right about the trance/electronica remixes. But I have heard some good remixed anime music though, but they weren't remixed to these extremes. I do admit I liked some of the songs... but not all. Just so everyone knows and prepared for it... the song lyrics are there and sounds really good. But the music was replaced by the trance... and at times it wasn't too good. I guess I'm just being picky since I didn't actually make any trance music and haven't experienced the hard and tedious work... which from seeing my friend's do it... it is tedious. To make it short... some of these songs, I'd rather have the original.
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This is my update after listening to it again after a very very long gap. I really hate this CD now. The background music is awful. The backgrounds do not go well at all with the songs. Before I said it is forgivable, but now I feel it is not. It is like grabbing an instrumental and then singing a song you randomly chose for it. It doesn't match. I still admit, one or two songs are okay. Only good point I can say about this CD, it shows how good of a singer kikuo is because she still sounds good despite the music.

I have been a big fan of Anime for a long time. The first anime I saw was Ranma ½, this is where I heard Kikuko Inuoe and since then I have been a big fan of her work. She has also did voice acting for some popular anime series, such as Ah! My Goddess. Along with voice acting, Ms. Inuoe is a well-established singer with countless CD's to her name. Anime Toonz will be the first time that audiences will listen to Ms. Inuoe in the United States. The remixing by the use of electronic music is a great compliment to these popular Anime Songs. Long time fans and fans who are new to anime will not be disappointed with the selection that is presented in this CD.