Customer Reviews

Haunted Junction

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To me the Haunted Junction collection seemed good value, which is why I initially bought it. I wasn't expecting a great deal due to this, but I was wrong! The story itself is in many ways different from what can be considered the mainstream anime seen today. It covers subjects whilst being totally at home in the Japanese culture, receive a mixed reception in the western world. The series is well constructed, and putting aside the animation which maybe is not as good as some of the other mainstream works, it's funny as hell, another series full of humour and one liners, a light tale of high school life (with ghosts and spirits.) If you like the Burn Up series or Tenchi Muyo, then this collection is probably for you. It may not be the best quality in the world, but really who cares about perfection, it's good enough in that department, but excels in the story and humour departments, which is where it really counts. Plus as mentioned earlier the collection is good value, containing the full 12 episodes on two disks, none of the dreaded 3 episodes per disk and wait three months for the next instalment here! This is a definite buy, if for nothing else, so you can own something different from the mainstream anime, something which is in the Japanese way of thinking.

I have been away from Japanime for a long while and am not very knowledgeable on what is out there these days. Just after Christmas I was at the video store and decided to take a chance. I bought the 2 DVD "Haunted Junction" Collection. (I decided to purchase it after reading on the cover that the character design was done by an artist who worked on "Ranma 1/2".) I thought buying it was a major gamble, but it turned out that I was pleasantly surprised - this anime is a riot!

First of all, I like the fact that the series is self-contained. You have 12 episodes in the 2 discs and that's it. Also, the storylines flow very well from the first to the final episode. Only the last two are parts of a single story - which acts as a "season finale" for the series. The ending leaves the viewer satisfied, yet it does make one wish that more "Haunted Junction" episodes were in production.

The first episode serves to introduce one of the most fun and bizarre casts of characters I have ever seen in Japanime. At first I wasn't sure what to make of the three "Holy Student Council" members or of the seven spirits/ghosts who are summoned to their aid in times of "school emergencies." It soon struck me that this was the most non-PC, unpredictable, and zany ensemble I have come across. I laughed out loud many times, and with each episode I came to like the characters more and more. About the weirdest factor in the whole story is Asahina's "Shouta" complex (she likes/lusts after boys who are only 12 years of age or younger.) However, even that I considered a parody of the usual tendency for Japanime to portray young girls as sexual icons.

The only thing I would have liked to see would have been a higher quality in the animation itself. Don't get me wrong - the animation is not substandard. It's about the same quality as you would get by watching "Pokemon" or Saturday morning cartoons. It's just not in the same league as, say "Giant Robo" or "Akira". Then again, maybe it isn't meant to be - which doesn't detract one bit from your enjoyment of the humor.

I highly recommend Haruto, Asahina, and Kazumi's misadventures in "Haunted Junction" to the anime newcomer. You won't find giant robots or tentacled demon monsters (not a lot of them, anyway), but you are sure to laugh your head off viewing the insane antics at the most haunted high school in the world. There's definitely a little bit of everything for everyone, from Toilet Hanako (the sex-kitten ghost who haunts the boys' rest room) to a living anatomy model and his skeleton whose special power is..... Cossack dancing. Check it out! OH MY GHOD!

During the joy of conversation, should one bring up the subject of spirits or various hauntings; a wide variety of imagery is instantly resurrected to the mind's eye. Be it the ominous thoughts of thrilling tales such as William Shakespear's Macbeath to the whimsical childhood cartoons of Casper the friendly ghost, one can't help but be intrigued and maybe a litte frieghtened of the subject. However, with the exceptions of Harry Potter and Ghostbusters, there is very little middleground on the subject. Hollywood and literature has always depicted spirits and hauntings in either the extreme of the chilling macrabe or children's lighthearted fables. I am happy to annouce that Haunted Junction on DVD is neither. Treading on almost virgin territory, the plot is fresh and overflowing with offbeat energy. Centering around the life of Haruto Hojo, the president of his Highschool's Spiritual Student Council and son of the local minister. He is reluctantly forced into the task of maintaining the seven wonders of Saito High with the help of Mutsuki (the daughter of a Shinto Priest) and Kazuo (the son of a Budhist monk). Now, if you're thinking this is simply a different take on the formula behind Ghostbusters, you're so very wrong. The story is not meant for no one less than the age of teen, because it's so politically incorrect that it puts Howard Stern to a crying shame. Haunted Junction's main drive is to make one laugh until the cry in pain and this is what it accomplishes in honors. It is a comedy with an encompassing range from the deviously witty to the most riske of slapstick. Where else can one possible expect to find satiric allusions on the structure of religions and the insanity of one boy's scandelous quest to find a particular bathroom stall in the same episode. I greatly enjoyed the exploits of Haruto as he fights for his sanity in the crazy world that is Haunted Junction. If you love anime you surely will love this fresh series containing beautiful artwork and limitless energy. It's not for everyone, however, if you can keep an open mind you will find yourself succumbing to the contagious laughter of this lovable comedic work. I do apologize for being vague, but to give any detail would spoil the all the gags and jokes that are contained in this gem, because you simply can't tell one and not leave out telling the rest. It truly is a masterpiece in the art of humor for it is all tied together in this parlor of mad hurrahs.

What I want to express first is this one has the worst Japanese cast (CV) in my collection but I still love this serious.

The author does remix traditional Japanese school ghost stories in some creative ways and make them pretty fresh to the audience. Weakness: the cast and character drawings (somehow their body proportions are out of balance). Also, it does not (cannot due to the length) incorporate all the original setting in its manga version. Due to this reason, this anime does not really have an ending. They were supposed to fight with another high school's "Seitokai (student association)".

Nevertheless, the anime itself is still enjoyable. I'm really surprised that they put this on the (US) market, it was a minor one and I've been looking for it for some time. The reason: it's full of jokes that can keep you laugh all the time.

By the way, the Ninomiya is a "legendary" outstanding student in ancient time, who use all his time to study. That is why many schools put his scupture in their campuses, in order to promote a "learning organizaion" climate. The story has explained Hanako and Akamanto.

The author is good in writing stories related to ghosts/phantoms, most of his titles talk about that.

I loved this series! It's short, with only 12 episodes, but it'll keep you laughing! The DVD version is only Japanese language with or without English subtitles. (As opposed to having both Japanese and English language tracks.) AT least in a few places the "jokes" which are Japanese puns are actually explained in the subtitles.. which makes them even funnier! Defintely a good one to get if you like ghostly humor! It's a lot less "tame" with some sexual content that might not be as amusing to a more "conservative" lot, but I laughed all the same!

I think that titles of Bandai Entertainment are comparatively reliable. Most of all, the price of this title is quite reasonable. This title has all 12 episodes in two disks. Nevertheless, the quality of video is not bad. Generally, looks like good title. If you are a fan of Ranma 1/2 or Urusei Yatsura, you can enjoy this.

Now a lot of people might kill me for saying this, but this seriously is one good show. My friends hate it because when they watch Anime, they're looking for something really deep, not slapstick brainless fun. So if you are like them, looking for something hartdcore, with a message and tons of action, or as in lain, tons of mystery, stay away from this. If you're like me, and enjoy anime of all sorts, then this is a must buy. They really don't pull any stops. There is a lady with the female version of the Lolita complex ( i.e. she only goes for boys twelve years old or younger). A womanizing idiot, who loves what seems to be a race of beautiful women, the Hanakos, the craziest assortment of ghosts, including the school chairman, and in the middle of all this, a blond blue eyed guy who wants nothing but a normal school life. they pull no punches, and the situations get weirder and weirder. my only complaint about this series is the fact that the last two episodes are way out of character, with the whole cast being super serious. When your supposed to be slapstick, you should be slapstick all the way. but, this only retracts about half a star, so rounding it off would still give five.

This is a farely good anime comedy series. Lots of ghosts and laughs that take place within a High School all on one 2-disc set. The DVD however is kinda poor. First off, there is no English version. Only Japanese with subtitles. I'm not one to complain about this, but this makes many a victim in the dubbing versus subtitle war. Extras include character biographies, but thats about it. Anyway, even if this DVD isn't at full potenetial, its still a great value for 12 episodes. However, if you haven't seen it yet, I recommend seeing a VHS version first and then decide on this DVD. Its far from Scooby Doo. Trust me.

Haunted Junction, a ridiculous comedy about three high school students and the seven spirits that haunt their school. Haunted Junction is like X-files with a twist of Japanese comedy. The three students work together as the "Holy Student Council" chosen specifically out of the other students because of their religious background. Should anything get between their school and the spirits that live there, the seven school spirits are always ready to... find some creative hijinx to play around with the enemy. For the lover of anime, silly slapstick comdey, and the sci-fi fantatic, Haunted Junction is definetly worth watching!

this anime takes a funny look at hauntings centered around a local school. the plot is serious at times but mostly just plain funny. the animation is fair quality and it only comes in subtitles (no english dubbed version) This anime isn't wishy washy, you'll either like it or run screaming away from the TV. it attacks a plot in a FLCL kind of way or maybe dragon-half. Not end-of-the-world with a set agenda like X or even the more serious side of Saiyuki.

I would reccomend it if you liked dragon-half, FLCL, Animation Runner Kuromi or Kyo Kara Maoh. It is funny in that wrong kinda way!