Customer Reviews

Ayane's High Kick

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ayane's High Kick is a smart, entertaining comic anime. It doesn't really break new ground in the genre, and its ending leaves you hanging, but the character designs are appealing, the plot doesn't become boring, the humor is effective, and the fighting scenes are remarkably devoid of the flashy stuff found in yawners like Fatal Fury. The story's about Ayane -yet another Japanese high school student- and her goal to become a professional wrestler. But before this turns into Metal Fighters Miku, a Muay Thai kickboxing coach tricks her into training at his low-rent 'dojo.' The result is Ayane ending up in two kickboxing matches that play out more like a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie than a typical anime fight, with a surprising amount of drama and attention to technical detail. Of course, like a Van Damme movie, the ending is predictable, although you end up wishing Ayane could have pounded on her annoying B-ko-like opponent a little longer. Mostly Ayane's High Kick stands out because its characters and situations are just a bit out of the typical anime mold, and its offbeat humor sometimes takes you by surprise (like the coach's day job and Ayane's brother playing Tekken). Unfortunately, the two episodes that make up the DVD are a pilot for a TV series that never happened - according to U.S. Manga Corps, there are no sequels. This, unfortunately is typical for anime. And this would have made a cool series, too. Notably on the DVD, there is an option to view only the fighting scenes (a useful bonus), although this disk continues USMC's bad habit of not crediting the Japanese voice actors. Really tacky. Still, Ayane's High Kick is one of their best offerings on DVD. Not brilliant, but really entertaining, and better than Fatal Fury - or the latest Van Damme flick.

This is a very good, and clean set. No foul language, nudity or other junk so prevelent in anime these days. Really good story of a girl trying to become a female wrestler and tricked into being a kick boxer, who must hide it from school, family, and so on. Complete with blackmailing little brother who finds out. The only reason I don't rate it higher is that it is only two episodes.

I agree with other review that said this show was rather tame in the violence area compared to other animes, and sometimes that's nice. Yeah, it's about kickboxing, but it is not too excessive or over the edge as so many animes are. The storyline is ok; there's some character development, but it's pretty simple stuff. I felt that I enjoyed the show (I hesitate calling it a "movie"; it appears to be a TV show to me), but it was kind of like eating candy rather than a whole meal -- kind of a light meal. Anyways, it's nice for a quick anime fix. Not too bad, not too outstanding. The dubbing wasn't distracting to me; I don't know how purists would like it.

Perhaps this would be a better show for a teen?

So, I'm the first person to ever review the movie on amazon.com. Not many people have seen it, I see. The best thing about it was that it was a nice break from the "mature" content in most other anime. It's not that I can't stomach some animated violence and nudity, but sometime's a person just needs a vacation from it. The story was nothig to write home about, but it was extremely cute and I liked the art. (esspecially the eyes) Hard-core anime fans might laugh at it. I did. (but that was most the fun) Anyway, this one was worth my time.

Ayane's High Kick was the fourth anime I ever saw, and the third anime DvD I bought (I now have over 150.) It was an impulse buy, and the first time I watched it I was disapointed. Well, then I saw it again, and I found it much more entertaining. It has cute characters and good fights. I'm glad I bought it!

Maybe I've just been watching anime for too long, but it seemed to me that most of this story was "borrowed" from other videos I've already seen.

Although the movie can be racey, and a little funny at time the ending was a little, well... lame. It leaves the viewer interested to find out what happens later in this career of kick boxing. That's why I say expect sequals, other than that it wasn't bad at all in the slightest.

it is almost the best anima i ever saw it is not gory and its a family movie

Ayane, a young high school girl is desperate to become a professional wrestler in the women's wrestling association. After failing her audition, she is taken in by a mysterious trainer who offers to train her for free. Ayane realizes during her first bout that all along she was training to be a kick boxer. Not just any ordinary kick boxer, but the master of the "Golden High Kick." A very fun sports movie that any Rocky fan will enjoy.

"From The Screenwriter Of Cutey Honey!" That's what the headlines on the back of the DVD scream. I'll confess now, upon reading that, I had foreboding thoughts of naked girls with their naughty bits barely covered up.

Boy was I wrong.

There's no naughtily at all. Ayane's High Kick is the story of Ayane Mitsui and her dream to become a Professional Wrestler. Unfortunately, she sucks. However, she dose have one strong point. Her legs. With these legs, she can deliver what's dubbed "The Golden High Kick," a blow that can cause a KO instantly, which would without a doubt, make her an excellent Kick Boxer. Just one tiny problem. Ayane HATES kick boxing. So, her manager tricks her into thinking he's training her to be a Pro Wrestler, all the while, training her to be the best Kick Boxer in all Japan, and defeat the nasty Sakurako Miyagawa and her gravity defying Pony Tail.

Like I said in the beginning, Ayane's High Kick is not what I expected, in fact, the ending caught me by surprise, and you can't help but wonder weather or not the producers had plans for a sequel. The animation is superb, and the voice acting to mediocre. I say this because the actors do their best to lip sync to the obviously over done mouth movements of the animation. The end result is that some words come out over done, and strung out a bit too long. The characters themselves are fine, and are the typical Japanese animie characters. My only problem with the characters are the vice principle, who seems way to obsessed with trying to get Ayane expelled, and Sakurako's motives for hating Ayane. They just seemed too forced in my opinion.

Over all, Ayane's High Kick is a fine investment, and a good watch.