Customer Reviews

Ayakashi - Samurai Horror Tales, Vol. 3 - Goblin Cat

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bakeneko combines incredible artwork with a dark, mature story and a good score. I've watched a bit of the other volumes of Ayakashi, but Bakeneko is definitely in a league by itself. Once you've seen this show, you'll want to watch its twelve-episode sequel called Mononoke (not yet licensed, though, only fansubbed).

I rarely listen to dubs, but I can't imagine anyone else voicing the Medicine Seller role besides Sakurai. His performance contains all the intelligence, subtlety, menace, and cynicism the role demands.

This stand alone DVD contains the 3 episode story of The Goblin Cat. Or as I like the call it The Birth of the Medicine Seller. A VERY WELL thought out and intriguing storyline, An amazing main character(The Medicine Seller), and most importantly AMAZING art are exactly what you can expect from this DVD. This 3 episode story(An arc of a series called Ayakashi Samurai Horror Tales) was so striking and wonderful it spawned it's own Anime series called "Mononoke" following the tales and travels of the Medicine Seller. A great horror/ghost/spirit story. Highly recommended!!!

This DVD was everything I expected. The story is well done, the artwork is amazing. It has a very unique style. I didn't think it was scary, but you should know the rating on the DVD suggests 16 and up for adult themes and violence. I was happy to learn that it gives the option of watching it in Japanese and with English subs. The English dubs aren't bad and no offense to Andrew Francis, but I think Takahiro Sakurai did a better job as the voice of the Medicine Seller. I'm a big fan.

I do not want to give anything away, but the soft of heart may cry during the last episode of Goblin Cat, or Bakeneko.

One thing that I love about this anime is the art style, how it's colored and textured to look like a print. If you ever watch this and the sequel anime Mononoke you may think they should put a seizure warning on the dvd or something.

The one thing that may disinterest most viewers is that there are a lot of cultural references that new anime watchers or other people not familiar with Japan may not understand. However, there is a good enough story and a few spotlight characters that makes this one viewable for anyone that's old enough to do so.

Goblin Cat is not very scary, but it is definitely not for kids. I would say that anyone 16 and over can watch it without any problems. There is not really any swearing, but there is some violence and women issues.

The one bug I had with this DVD did not affect it's rating simply because it could be turned off. That is... the English dub. It is HORRIBLE! Most of the characters, especially the Medicine Seller, seemed to lack personality. Please, watch it in Japanese, unless you dare see how bad the English dub can be.

Another thing is that I noticed now closed Geneon Studio covered this dvd, so who knows if Mononoke will ever come out. It's fan-subbed so who ever is willing can find it.

A friend introduced me to this anime last year, and I was so enthralled and terrified from the very start. The art direction is exceptional, as she puts it "it's as though a package of origami paper exploded!". What really holds my imagination, though, its the sublime storytelling. The horror is done well, as an aspect of a more intricate plot as opposed to the focus in and of itself. There is a reason this is the only part of the Samurai Horror Tales that spawned any further episodes. Please, if you are on the fence, don't be. You won't regret buying this, so long as you like well-told and engaging horror stories with terrific art. And I'm guessing you do :)

I am a fan of the "Mononoke" series and of the arch in the show "Ayakashi" that started it all: "Bake Neko", or its English name "Goblin Cat" (which I, personally, don't think to be a very accurately translation of the ghost's name.) This story arch in "Ayakashi" is poignant and masterfully animated, mixing current Japanese carton-styles with traditional Japanese art and patterns. It has some light humor in the beginning, but it then turns into a story with themes very common in Japanese horror.
The DVD for this is great - great condition with accenting designs, and the DVD menu stays true to the overall artistic style of this cartoon.
I have not watched this cartoon with English audio because, from what I've heard, the English voice actors project completely different characters than those of the original Japanese voice actors. For example: the Medicine Seller is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai in the Japanese version, who has a dark and quirky voice (and he is probably one of the best voices I've heard) while, in the English version, he is voiced by Andrew Francis, who sounds much younger and not quite as well-rounded for the character.
Overall, this is a unique and wonderfully completed cartoon and is definitely worth buying.