Customer Reviews

Bubblegum Crisis 8:Scoop Chase [VHS]

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The original Bubblegum Crisis is one of the best-known and most-loved anime series. Each of the four DVDs is available separately, but all can finally be purchased at once.

The first DVD presents the first three episodes of the Bubblegum Crisis series. The first episode presents the post-earthquake world of MegaTokyo in 2032, with Genom Corporation's Boomers wreaking havoc in the city, and a band of four women (the Knight Sabers) in hardsuits protecting the innocents. The second episdoe focuses on one of the women, Linna, and a close friend who is targeted by a Genom executive. In the final episode, the conflict between Genom and the Knight Sabers escalates.

The second DVD presents the episodes 4-6 of the Bubblegum Crisis series. Episode 4 steps away from the Genon-Knight Saber conflict to one man's deep-rooted hatred for a biker gang and his attempt to extract a very high-tech revenge. The fifth episode begins with a group of women attempting an escape from a top-secret space station, leading to the most personal injury Priss has ever received at the hands of a fabled Boomer model. Episode 6 presents the greatest challenge yet to the Knight Sabers, in the form of an evil group of "Knight Sabers" seeking to eliminate the real Genom-fighting quartet.

The third DVD of the original Bubblegum Crisis series contains my favorite episodes of the series. Episode 7 of the series introduces an American idol singer, Vision, who suddenly comes out of obscurity to start a new concert tour, beginning in Tokyo, although she really has revenge on her mind. The final episode of the original BGC series finds a snoopy reporter working with one of the Knight Sabers to uncover the identities of the fabled all-female fighting force even as Genom launches a new line of Boomers specifically to defeat the Knight Sabers. Finally, the disc ends with four BGC music videos featuring the music of the series' own music group Priss and the Replicants set against excellent footage of the Bubblegum Crisis series.

The final DVD in the original Bubblegum Crisis series presents thirteen music videos based on the series. Two videos are of live-action concert footage by the main voice actresses of the series, one video ("Say Yes!") mixes live-action concert footage with animation from the much-loved series, "Touchdown to Tomorrow" introduces new animation of the Knight Sabers as a rock group, and the others present excellent music with the best action scenes from the series. For those who have not seen the original Bubblegum Crisis series, or for those who absolutely love the series, the Hurricane Live videos present a beautiful and inspiring overview of the entire series.

Each DVD is constructed extremely well. With the exception of the Hurricane Live DVD (the last in the set), all offer Japanese and English audio; all four DVDs have English and French subtitle options, as well as a musical image gallery featuring highlights of the episodes on each disc. The only downfall to the DVD construction is that there is no way to play all episodes of each DVD sequentially.

The series, inspired by Blade Runner and itself a tremendous influence on following anime, is full of fast-paced action and incredible music. This DVD Box Set provides anime newcomers with an excellent introduction to the world of anime.

Future post-earthquake Tokyo has all-powerful corporation Genom taking complete control, were it not for interference from a vigilante mercenary super hero girl group called the "Knight sabers".

This is one of the best anime series projecting beautiful, sexy women in a non-degrading way. The Knight Sabers leader (Dr. Stingray) is a super-genius who designed (and keeps improving) the hard suits which are the only thing that can defeat Genom's android fighting units. Anime pinup idol Priss, the toughest one, is as daring on a motorcycle as she is beautiful. Linna is a great athlete while Nene is a computer hacker. Inter-personal relationships between these 4 are done really well.

There are lots of fighting scenes for those into that, but the story is really about the state of society (a possible future for us) and why the girls put their buts on the line and try to change what they can.

The music is like what MTV used to play, back when they actually played music videos. Those really into this (Or fans needing to see more of the Knight Sabers in action) will love the "Hurricane Live" bonus DVD. Kind of nostalgic, but not obnoxious as some 80's revival stuff tends to be.

Overall this MegaSeries is a great value with all 8 "OAV" episodes in this box set. The animation is a bit dated compared with more recent releases, but the story line is still better than most recent releases.

Anime doesn't get much better than this. A must for "best of class" collectors. (Word on the 'net is that this OAV series is superior to later derivatives).

Time: near future (2032-2033). Place: Tokyo, few years after a great earthquake. Situation: Corporate rule. Boomers on the loose. Who you're gonna call? KNIGHT SABERS!

Classical cyberpunk anime with great music, nice animation, interesting plot and a healthy dose of humour (i.e. poor Nene figthting with a cake and loosing ;). Four girls in HardSuits fight for peace, love and justice ;-) Mainly against the evil GENOM corporation and it's cyborgs/androids - boomers, but not only. BTW: if you've seen "Blade Runner" you will notice few similarities - i.e. GENOM towers look a lot like the Tyrel Corp. main building.

Thist is a 4-DVD set with all 8 episodes and many music videoclips.

PS: the original soundtrack is MUCH better then the english DUB (hear the original "Hurricane" and the english version - the second one is HORRIBLE).

I picked this dvd up by mistake thinking it was somthing else haveing to do with BGC. When i got home i popped it into the dvd player and it turned out to be a delightful collection of music videos pertaining to the original OAV series of BGC. After i got done slapping my forhead for my stupidity i watched what was there and loved it. If you love the music for BGC you will love this extra.

Once again, Animeigo has done it! Finally one can get the entire BGC story-line AND the Hurricane Live Videos in one set. This wonderful story of the Knight Sabers, and their fight against the evil use of Boomers (military grade cyborgs) by the GENOM Corporation is now without the famous second-episode-second-chapter-flaw. This is a definite must for any BGC fan...unless of course you already have the Collector's Suite...in that case just get the 4th DVD "Hurricane Live".

So this is the "new" Bubblegum Crisis. Many fans think that re-telling this wonderful story it's a crime, and that the old OAV are absolutely untouchable. Yes, it's true: "old" BGC is unforgettable and totally unique, but... it's also too short and unfinished. Eight OAV are not enough to tell such a complex story. Now there is this new series: Bubblegum Crisis 2040. With 26 episodes, there is all the space and time needed to build a great anime and a great story. Of course, this it's a TV show, so animation quality is inferior to OAVs. Of course, music lacks the OAV beauty. Of course, character designs have been changed. But... this _IS_ Bubblegum Crisis, 100% guaranteed. As an example... did you think that "Star Trek" was only Kirk, Spock & McCoy? Then you'll don't like BGC 2040. But if you have an open mind, you will recognize the ambientation, the "story flavour", the BGC feeling. Bubblegum Crisis is about themes like umanity (and loss of it), man and machine differences, dangers of technology, revenges and dark souls. All these things were in the "old" OAV and they are in this series, this is for sure. Great start! And I'm sure next episodes will be still better.

Here is BGC with new character designs, new stories, and altered characters. You'll love this if you never saw the old BGC (no excuse for that), since the animation is excellent, the character development is good and the combat is impressive. For everyone else, though, it's tough to reconcile this with the classic images of the old BGC. Well, Linna is the best of the new characters. While she is nothing like her old self (this 90-s inspired series is sans aerobics :), she is smart, tough at times, and very intriguing because she's trying to get into the Knight Sabers as the series develops; the addition of a team member was something the old OAVs never dealt with. Priss seems more burned out and moody. She still rides bikes, still sings, (no wig :) and still stupidly fights Boomers without her hard suit, but she seems a lot like Adam Warren's melancholy characterization of her in the comic. Nene isn't changed much; she is still working with the AD Police, still a hacker, and still saccharine, but the Ellen DeGeneres hair doesn't work for her - where are the flourescent locks that are supposed to denote kawaii charas? Sylia is in much the same situation as before and has many of the same habits, but she looks considerably different. She is also even more aloof, though she seems to be a bit promiscuous here. The old Sylia was much more charming.

The rewritten Knight Sabers are OK, especially Linna, but the supporting cast is boring. Leon is more of a gritty veteran type instead of a player, and Daley, who was funny as hell in the old BGC, is a bespectacled yuppie and serves no purpose. Quincy is immobile (literally wired into the Genom mainframe) and acts like a warped philosopher, not the formidable heavy that he was before.

Kenichi Sonoda's original work survives here only in the form of the hard suits, which are little altered. However, the suits now have limited batteries and are launched out of lifts at high speed. Perhaps one of the producers has been watching too much Evangelion? The Boomers are still the nuisance they were before, but are more stylized and warped looking than the former football-player-like designs of the past. Unfortunately, the music is very bad. It sounds like menu BGMs from Playstation games, though the wah-wah gituar riffs are effective on occasion. Priss ain't much of an entertainer anymore... not with lyrics that sound like Trent Reznor meets Sheryl Crow. Maybe I just miss "..moichido Hurricane."

The three episodes on the first video don't really elaborate a whole lot on the story. Perhaps with Linna on the team, some major plotlines will begin to take shape. Bonus points for de-emphasizing combat in this video in favor of character development and a close up look at the operation of a hard suit. Overall, this TV series is intelligent, and a little surreal. The computer animation seems out of place, but at least it's good; I can't be too hard on it just because I like to wax poetic about the original OAVs. Bubblegum Crisis 2040 is a very 90s series, from the better realized future tech to the character designs. That's fine, because that's what Japanese viewers want. The original OAVs, though, were a product of the 80s, giving them a charm and method all their own. That's always how I'll think of Bubblegum Crisis, so 2040 won't replace it. Fortunately, BCG 2040 is an excellent series in spite of its flaws, and it's more than worth taking a look at. Trashing Boomers is still fun no matter what decade you do it in.

The story is set in future tokyo (what sci-fi anime is not?) which is still recovering from a major earthquake. The story revolves around the fight between a corrupt company called GENOM and a group of female vigilantes called Knight Sabers. This 8-part series has a excellent collection of songs that make up its soundtrack. The music reminds me of 80's rock and roll. If you watch only one anime series in your life make it this one. You won't be disappointed!!!!!

The final DVD in the original Bubblegum Crisis series presents thirteen music videos based on the series. Two videos are of live-action concert footage by the main voice actresses of the series, one video ("Say Yes!") mixes live-action concert footage with animation from the much-loved series, "Touchdown to Tomorrow" introduces new animation of the Knight Sabers as a rock group, and the others present excellent music with the best action scenes from the series. For those who have not seen the original Bubblegum Crisis series, or for those who absolutely love the series, the Hurricane Live videos present a beautiful and inspiring overview of the entire series.

The series, inspired by Blade Runner and itself a tremendous influence on following anime, is full of fast-paced action and incredible music. This DVD provides anime newcomers with an excellent introduction to the world of anime.

The third DVD of the original Bubblegum Crisis series contains my favorite episodes of the series. Episode 7 of the series introduces an American idol singer, Vision, who suddenly comes out of obscurity to start a new concert tour, beginning in Tokyo, although she really has revenge on her mind. The final episode of the original BGC series finds a snoopy reporter working with one of the Knight Sabers to uncover the identities of the fabled all-female fighting force even as Genom launches a new line of Boomers specifically to defeat the Knight Sabers. Finally, the disc ends with four BGC music videos featuring the music of the series' own music group Priss and the Replicants set against excellent footage of the Bubblegum Crisis series.

The series, inspired by Blade Runner and itself a tremendous influence on following anime, is full of fast-paced
action and incredible music. This DVD provides anime newcomers with an excellent introduction to the world of
anime.