Customer Reviews

Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino: OVA

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

 

 

Gunslinger Girl is one of those anime properties that can easily be mistaken as being a gimmicky show. You know the type; the premise itself is so eccentric (in this case cybernetic-children assassins) that there's little need to bother with such details as say a good story or decent script. However, and as I had to discover for myself, Gunslinger Girl isn't nearly as one-dimensional. In fact it's a pretty darn well rounded property containing everything from political struggles to warring factions, and emotional overload to slight supernatural elements.

Though technically based on the series sequel, Gunslinger Girl IL Teatrino breaks the prose down into two episodes (each with a runtime of 17.5 minutes). The collection spans a single DVD packaged within a standard size clamshell DVD case. The total runtime comes in at 35 minutes and extras include an interview with a member of the Japanese vocal cast (the voice of Hilshire), textless opening and closing themes, and a host of Funimation trailers.

Language options are standard sub & dub meaning the viewer has the choice of viewing the OVA in either the original Japanese dialog (stereo) or with an English dub (5.1 Dolby Surround) and the option of turning on English subtitles beneath either track.

Finally the program wears an appropriate TV MA (mature, 17+) rating due to violent themes, gunfights, blood and a bit of gore. There is however no nudity and the foul language is kept to a minimum.

The story follows the exploits of the Social Welfare Agency and their ongoing exploits (missions) using mechanically bodied adolescents. While the Il Teatrino story arc is actually quite a bit more involved, the OVA concerns itself with one particular mission: Marco and Angelica's take-down of a heavily guarded Five Republics Faction safe house in Venice while Jean and Rico simultaneously travel to Venice in effort to do a job on a local Mafioso who is proven to be in cahoots with terrorists.

That said, viewers can expect quite a nice artistic presentation here, with moments retained from the series earning subtle (but definitely noticeable) gains in the amount of attention paid to visual detail. Surprisingly, the source material lends itself quite naturally to the OVA medium in that the deliberately slowed pacing makes the relatively short episodes feel quite complete.

At this point I cannot comment on whether or not Funimation intends on releasing further OVA episodes until the entire series is thus translated, but I can confess that the end of this particular collection does leave the viewer with a sense of non-fulfillment due to the fact that it basically highlights a single mission and not much more. There is some great character development scattered throughout but on the whole, the ending can't exactly be called conclusive either. I had the fortunate luxury of digging out my Gunslinger Girl anime series collection to ascertain where this particular thread of the tale was heading but it's likely that not everyone who purchases this OVA will have that opportunity (which I imagine would be a bit frustrating).

Aside from revamped visual treatment, the OVA contains all new audio in both language options, much of which manages to maintain (and sometimes improve upon) the standard set in the series. Though close, my nod to the superior language effort goes to the original Japanese track for it's more natural inflection and emotional range of the characters. The English vocals are nothing to shake a stick it either (Funimation has simply been raising the bar in this regard with each and every release), but a few of the vocal talents here in the States seem to try a bit too hard to be monotone and emotionless (and no I'm not talking about the cyborgs either). Still either selection really does a fine job of accompanying the visuals & themes presented.

In all, this is definitely a solid OVA selection that is easy to recommend to fans of the series especially. Deliberate and flawless pacing can totally be credited for making the relatively short episodes feel both big budget and never rushed. The only negatives to report are that with a total runtime of only 35 minutes, there is a lot of the tale (and I mean A LOT) that gets left behind on the cutting room floor. Additionally non-fans of the show may find the OVA to be a bit perplexing in its prose at times and especially the ending, which makes no apologies for lacking finality.

It's a safe bet to say that had this collection been spread over four episodes (rather than two), my few complaints would have been nullified completely. As it stands however, highly recommended only to those who know (or better yet own) the anime series DVD releases as this OVA collection compliments them perfectly.

These are 2 OVA episodes of the series. Normally an OVA may go off on another branching storyline but this just feels like a continuation of Il Teatrino (which I guess it is).

So why are these 2 episodes seperate? I have no idea but they're still the girls you know and probably love by now. Story focuses a bit more on Rico and Jean(?) which was needed and a decent amount of action. Gave it 4 stars because it just wasn't long as I'm used to (they could have saved these for Il Teatrino 2).

Also, you get to see how Triela is holding up after that duel with Pinocchio.
Can't wait for more!! If you're already collecting this series, it's a no-brainer. If you're not, what the hell are you waiting for?!

Gunslinger Girl OVA picks up where the 2nd series of the anime ended and you really have to wonder why they bothered with this.

The previous two series are about Italian Secret Police, fighting against terrorist separatists by using young girls who have been turned into cyborg killers and for anime they are pretty good. The imagery is sharper in the first series but the plots hold together better in the second so it's kind of a toss up depending on your taste.

The problem with this product is that I'm not sure why, plot wise, it was made. Business wise, it is clearly to make money. Unfortunately with only two episodes it doesn't have time to have much of a plot development, and it doesn't even try. Although the series can have good stand alone episodes with a good adventure it doesn't go for those but rather character development.

While the first two series focus on the cyborgs, adolescent girls with incredible fighting skills, the two episodes here are unconnected and focus more on the adult male handlers and what is supposed to be their motivation for being hardened killers. If it worked, this would be great, expanding the role of what have been otherwise 2 dimensional characters in the first 2 series. The problem is that they only start down the path and don't really go anywhere with it.

A good idea on paper, in execution this is really not worth your time. I liked the first two series which is why I bought this but as the credits rolled on the 2nd episode I found myself asking "That's it? That's all?" Seriously don't bother. It's not that it's bad or poorly produced or anything, there's just really no point.

I really enjoyed the original series of Gunslinger girls, so when I saw this disc I knew I had to watch it, for me the only problem was that I did not realise that there was another series of Gunslinger Girl, which come before this disc, which meant that I did not really catch what was going on, so I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. So if you are thinking of getting this disc make sure you watch series 2 first.

Ratings are a guesstimate, usually on the "safe side".

Genre: Action Suspense

Situations: PG+
Language: Probably PG
Nudity: PG or less
Violence: PG, maybe R

Language options: Separate Language and Sub-title enable. (Yay!)

Another Funimation DVD that commits the cardinal sin... you can't skip or fast forward through the load ads at the beginning.

Special Features: Japanese TV interview #5 of 5... (Why bother if you're not going to put them all in?). Textless Songs. And, of course, Trailers: Most are done well (they actually give you enough info about the show to decide if it's worth looking into) but a couple are vague and one is for a live action movie. (I dislike this. I want anime ads in my anime).

This is a 2 episode continuation of the "Il Teatrino" story. The first episode is character development of Rico, the second of her handler Jean (John) plus interaction with Henrietta and her handler, who's Jean's brother, in a non-work environment. While there is no continuation of the plot from Il Teatrino, this is still a thought provoking pair of episodes that explore the past of the brothers and how it has affected their lives and attitudes as handlers as well as people. If you enjoyed the background info in Il Teatrino, you will enjoy these. If you're just in it for the action, these probably won't hit your top 10 list.

Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino: OVA This Original Video Animation has info. on
the tragedies bringing handlers and cyborgs together as a team. Character designs are tight.
Veteran dubbers makes for a suspense filled and emotional production. A 'taste' of the continuing journey
in provided with a comment hint of a "new girl" [found in Japanese Manga] being dropped in OVA dialogue. FAN support
should enable a continuation of the saga.

Unless you have watched all of the second series, this will make no sense at all.
As many other reviewers have already said this is one for the true fans of the gunslinger girl anime,but the ending does leave it open for maybe another series? to follow.So buy the first and second seasons and watch them first then buy the OVA,and form you're own opinion as to wether there will be a third season or not.AS for the OVA it's self it is fun to watch and you get to see a different side to Rico and Jean's relationship, also a rare chance to see them relaxing at the villa in sicily. Where Jose and Henrietta stayed in the first season.

We have watched this several times; a lot of our friends realy like it as well. Good show. Fast delivery.