Product Details

• Actors: Tôru Furuya, Mami Koyama, Masako Ikeda, Keiko Han, Kaneto Shiozawa
• Directors: Rintaro
• Writers: Chiho Katsura, Kazumasa Hirai, Makoto Naitô, Mori Masaki, Shôtarô Ishinomori
• Producers: Haruki Kadokawa, Kôichirô Ogura
• Format: Animated, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Manga Video
• VHS Release Date: September 23, 1997
• Run Time: 135 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304585055
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #448,801 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This was not at all that bad., March 1, 2000

By 

Hallie Carroll (Frankfort, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Armageddon [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I'm talking about the subtitled version here. Of course, I may be a little biased (seeing it was one of my first experiences with anime, I was 10 when I saw it, and Katsuhiro Otomo did the character design), but Harmegedon wasn't nearly as bad as everyone claims it is. The animation was excellent for the time period and is effective at creating a moody atmosphere. We're talking about the early eighties here, and it still looks better than many productions today. The plot, if somewhat familiar ("Troubled, introverted teen gains telekinetic powers"), is fair if a little silly at parts, and is not so far removed from other Japanese productions. Taro Rin, one of the best directors in anime, does his job well. So what's wrong? Well, the character development (except for Jo) was a bit wanting. The ending was somewhat predictable and wrapped up in a bow. The other espers were mostly stereotypes (the wise old yogi, the tall, dark, silent Native American, the 10-year-old black American crimelord) and weren't at all developed, excepting, perhaps, for a small degree, Sonny Lynx (how come so many American gangsters are named Lynx in anime?). Other than that, there's not much to complain about. These people who say it's the worst anime they've ever seen probably haven't seen much. Harmegedon could've been a LOT worse.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A land mark for anime., July 24, 2004

By 

BiolanteX (Valparaiso, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harmagedon (Collector's Series 20th Anniversary Edition) (DVD)

I enjoyed this film emensely. Its a great science fiction story from Kazumu Hirai's very long and fabled series of Genma Wars novels. The direction from Rintaro in this film is excelent and visionary. Katsuhiro Otomo's character designs also give this film a nice touch. Hamragedon is the americanized name though. Its real name is The Battle With Genma (or perhaps simply Genma Wars). This film was highly influential in Japan, especially for its realism, and it is considered a landmark among many otaku and those in the industry. The anime tv series Genma Wars is also based on the same novels (and manga by Shotaro Ishinomori), which I also liked dispite extremely low budgeted animation. If only that series had the animation and direction of this film. This special edition DVD is also a very nice package, with a good, remastered transfer, aswell as a very interesting commentary by Rintaro. Highly reccomended.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It is brilliant in Japanese language though!!, April 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Armageddon [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It's a shame really that many people find this anime very bad. It must be to do with the dubbing. I watched it when I was 10 in Japan. I am 26 now but this anime was so impressive that I have been saying that this anime was definitely one of the best animes I've ever seen! It felt very good to see chidren regardless the race are actually bind together to fight to protect our earth!(Don't forget that this was made well before "Independence Day"!) Well, as a Japanese, I am proud of this anime...