Customer Reviews

Gasaraki - The Circle Opens (Vol. 2)

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

 

 

This is the second installment in the soon to be long running series, Gasaraki. The previous review seemed to be comparing this particular volume to future episodes of the anime. Well, I haven't seen future episodes and can only base it on what I see now. True, Gasaraki isn't packed full of action sequence, after action sequence. But what it is packed full of is a deep and intricate plot. Within the current stage of anime, we see plots that have had crappy cliched story lines and bubbly characters that almost none of us can actually relate to (there just kind of funny to watch). Gasaraki takes a giant step away from this premise and has a deep, serious, and engaging story line. If there's not mechs or tanks duking it out on screen. Your watching the characters interact and watching how this interesting plot begins to unfold. Despite the intimate conversations taking place, Gasaraki does have quite a few action sequences. The action sequences are tense and suspenseful and are animated very nicely. One of Gasaraki's highlights is its animation. After viewing the first two volumes I can easily say this has the best animation I've seen in an on going series. Gasaraki is one of the most unique and original anime's I have seen in a while. I greatly look forward to the next installments. I would recommend the series to anyone who like's deep original plots. The first 2 volumes so far set up the stage for something wonderful. There characters all seem to have many different personalities, I look forward to finding out what they are. After viewing the first two volumes, I can tell you I definitely will be purchasing future volumes and you should do so as well.

The series is deeper than most out there, and more interesting as well. The storyline and character development are in-line with quality of other great anime titles like Macross. The animation is very good, excellent for an on-going series. The story is the most original of it's type since Macross, due to the overpopulated anime world of mechs. The characters are not cute little furrys and strange looking bug eyed types of alot of anime, but more in tone with mature audiences, characters you can relate to more than just emotionally but physically. The mechs for instance aren't as anime as Macross in that they are more like Metal Gear, military types with restrictions on what they can do. They are not skyscraper size yet agile, they are machines, extensions of the pilots as if they were real. They are under more real physics than alot of other mechs in anime, they actually malfunction when they get clogged with sand in the desert in this particular volume. Very entertaining and very interesting original story as well as well developed characters.

If you saw the first tape, you know the drill. If not, that's what Gasaraki is in a nutshell: if you want cool acrobatics, ninja action, or see the whimpy hero grow a spine to save that good looking girl you'll have to pass this one up. It's not how it works in real life, and Gasaraki closely follows the way things are in our world. The show to this point is about real people living in a real world, politics, blurry lines between right or wrong, battles where you survive by luck as much as by skill. In this world, sandstorms will affect tanks and mechas, just like real life.

What it means, though, is that when something weird happens, it really feels weird! When was the last time you were surprised in Tenchi Muyo? There's many tidbits that will leave you wondering. Half glimpsed images of things that just can't be. Strange people with secret agendas. The fact that the main characters aren't invincible really add to the suspense though.

I've seen later episodes, and I can tell it gets even better, if you hadn't checked this series out, do it. It's unique.

This was similar to the first volume. Now however, the TA's have fought in real battle and there has been more action than the first volume- slowly things are coming together. Volume 3 is when you'll decide if you like the series or not though- There is a lot more action and more character development than the first 2 volumes. Although Volumes 1 and 2 seem slow, it is important for a basis for the rest of the series so bear through it! Again, I recommend you rent the first 3 volumes before buying them to decided whether or not you'll like the series. I really enjoyed this series and it took the first 3 volumes to figure that out.

It offers nothing but mystery. The first volume was left me a bit clueless. I had bought this hoping it would answer some of the questions of the first volume, like what is up with the ceremony, the main charector or even what does the TA's have to do with any of this. It appears to be extremely slow. So far there is nothing much more than talking with a little bit of action in the 2 DVDs. It makes it seem like you need to buy the next DVD for the answers, but they do not give enough episodes per DVD for price and I usually do not buy any more of a series if I did not enjoy the first few episodes, more of less the first 7. This DVD make me feel like I would be wasting money if I were to finish the series. I recommend watching one of the Gundam series, at least that might offer more action, plot or even comedy.

The shoe picks up from where it last left off. Yushiro was in shock and the Fakes from Symbol are attacking. Yushiro manages to get back up into his TA, but then a rampid sand storm occurs and the TAs and Fakes draw back. They resume their battle later at an abandoned town in Belgistan. Yushiro gets an even closer encounter with Miharu (a girl who is strikingly similar to Yushro and possess the same powers as he does). The battle is stopped when Tornado Bombers make a pass over the battle and film the battle to show to the world. They then proceed to bomb Belgistan. It appears that Symbol betrayed Belgistan and Belgistan is wiped out of the picture. The JSDF is now in a struggle to get out of Belgistan. However, Yushiro goes wandering off again to find Miharu. He finds her at the stone church of Akura and manage to explain some things. Yushiro and Miharu are soon split up again. Yushiro heads back to Japan and Miharu returns to Symbol's custody. The extras on the DVD are very nice if you like to go in depth on this show. The Japanese dialoge is extremely good and more funnier than the English. Hearing Captain Ataka in Japanese trying to speak English is very funny. Not to mention some jokes about Japanese language. Anyway, dubbed or subbed, either way you view it, its still great. It doesn't have as much action as the first tape, but it still has action and it still is great. A must have DVD.

This was a great tape. The animation is still the best. And the dub is still good. The first episode picks up were the last one left off. And we get to see some robot vs. robot action. With Yushiro fighting the girl in his dreams. You will be pleased. We also learn more about the other TA piolets. Then in the second episode we see Yushiro meet the girl. With introducing new characters as well. Even though there isn't as much action in this one until the end, the story will still keep you intrigued. And the action is great to. I am not going to spoil it, But it isn't in the robots this time. The third episode is my favorite. As Yushiro is heading back to Japan, with the rest of the piolets, with the Ta's in a big plane, get attacked. (forgive the run-on sentence) And how they handle it will keep you on the edge. This is a great series, and is highly recomended.

Very impressive I must say. This second DVD is even better then the first one (although you have to buy vol.1 in order to fully appreciate this volume). When i first heared about Gasaraki I though it was just a copy of Neon Genesis Evangelion, this was a mistake. Sure Miharu is VERY close to Rei, the plot, so fare, follows the same path as evangelion's but still it is very different, mainly because Gasaraki has a very reallistic aspect, exept for the mechs there's nothing futuristic. If you like Evangelion you'll like this anime (probably even more). For me it's by fare the best anime of this year. VERY recommended!

The first volume of Gasaraki really surprised me. It was well written and thoughtful, trying to tell a deep story that was more about behind the scenes power plays than robot brawls.

This second disc continues to add new wrinkles and complications. The war with Belgistan comes to a close (which surprised me as I thought it was going to run through the entire series) and the JSSDF forces prepare to pull out. We learn about a secret organization calling itself Symbol that was assisting Belgistan, though their motivations for doing so are still clouded.

Yushiro causes some commotion when he heads off base and winds up in the middle of a kidnapping. We also see more of the mysterious girl from the first disc that seems to share Yushiro's powers.

Very little seems to happen episode by episode. If the disc is watched straight through it is very satisfying viewing, but I can see that if I were watching this half an hour at a time as it was broadcast it would have been tough to follow.

Gasaraki is a futuristic, war-time tale utilizing "mechas"; or "Tactical Armor", as the weapon du jour. Gasaraki is an unfolding type of story whereas plot points are doled out sparingly and new characters are introduced frequently. Think war epics from the 1960's with dozens of movie stars as an example.

It is refreshing to see an anime that strives to be adult in a more geo-political and character driven way rather than by the over use of sex. The writers here worked very hard to create a refreshing storyline that creates a multitude of conflicts rather than focusing on a simple conflict as most animes do.

The plots are many encompassing not just the war, the politics, and social interaction but Japanese spiritual themes are included as well. A heavy use of Shinto religious themes and icons gives the story a mystical edge.

The story plays out by immersing the audience into the conflict by showing it from different points of view. You see this war from the media point of view, such as a "live CNN-like" report from the front lines with its grainy footage and color commentary, from the Generals' war room, from within the Tactical Armor itself, and the "mecha's" support crew as well.

The Character design is very good, especially the hardware though one particular annoying choice the designers made was the use of long hair on a particular "Tactical Armor" pilot. You have a story line here that rarely dissapoints and takes military and political protocol as accurately as it can but a particular T.A. pilot has hair that is way too stylized for the type of detailed story. This could be my particular quirk but it bothered me that his fellow crew and mostly every other soldier had military looking short hair.

The english Dub is very good. Generally speaking the actors did an above average job. The DVD interface is hassle free though I wish they would of included more extras.

A final point that frustrated me about Gasaraki is the animation frame rate. At times it can be to static or the walk cycles can be choppy. Obviously the budget was spent on the designers, actors, and director rather than the "in between artists".

This is a must see anime but don't expect it be flawless, just expect to be entertained.