3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Blast From the Past, May 9, 2005
This review is from: Moeyo Ken (DVD)
A couple of the greatest names in anime are behind this derivative but memorably offbeat series. Rumiko Takahashi is the creator of "Ranma 1/2", "Urusei Yatsura" and "Inu-Yasha". Ouji Hiroi is the creator of "Sakura Wars" and "Gungrave OD". The two of them collaborated on this entertaining OVA (Original Video Animation) which is set during the Meiji Restoration period.
The residents of Kyoto have had to deal with demons on a daily basis and now have the Mobile Shinsengumi team to aid them with their ongoing problem. The team is made up of three young women: Yuuko, Toshie and Kaoru, who are daughters of three of the most well known members of the Shinsengumi -- a team of assassins and protectors who are hired by a regime to overthrow the Shogun. The Shinsengumi are master swordsmen who will battle to the death to serve their cause.
To aid them in their battle against the demons, the Mobile Shinsengumi employs an array of outlandish devices. For example, they use a high-speed vehicle that resembles a race car, but features wooden computers with wooden keyboards! The most amusing weapon the girls use is a huge cannon that shoots out powerful magical armor that the girls wear to scare away the demons. The only drawback with these girls is that they seem to cause more problems than they solve!
There isn't a great deal of meaningful character development in the series, but that's because this show is intended to be nothing more than fast-paced and outlandish fun. It doesn't exactly aim very high, but it does fulfill its modest aspirations in a splendidly quirky fashion. The character designs are attractive and it's readily apparent that Takahashi has not lost her artistic touch or her fondness for sight gags and physical humor. The female characters are sweet and engaging without ever becoming too sappy or weak.
Overall, this series is a highly amusing creation that will remind anime fans of such memorable series as "Sakura Wars" and "Dirty Pair". If you're an admirer of "Sakura Wars" or the works of Rumiko Takahashi (and who isn't?) then "Moeyo Ken: A Clash from the Past" will make a nice addition to your DVD library. However, if you're looking for something dark or serious then you should probably be looking elsewhere. After all, these girls just wanna have fun.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyed it but truthfully wanted to see it more for Takahashi Rumi's character designs, August 13, 2008
This review is from: Moeyo Ken (DVD)
The city is under siege and paranormal phenomenas are to blame. Who do you call? No need toc call anyone... the Mobile Shinsengumi are there.
Who are the Mobile Shinsengumi? They are the daughters of Shinsengumi heroes featuring team leader Kondou Yuko, Hijikata Toshie and Okita Kaoru who follow in their father's footsteps as loyal guardian heroes in this 4-OAV series by Hiroi Ohji ("Sakura Wars", "Virgin Fleet") and character designs by Takahashi Rumiko ("Urusei Yatsura", "Ranma 1/2", "Inuyasha").
The storyline of "Moeyo Ken" revolves around three daughters of shinsengumi heroes protecting their city against demons, ghosts and the Gods that people believed in Japan's yesteryear. Throw in plot devices such as destruction caused by our heroes and the people they protect, despising them to the heroes owing money or broke because they aren't making money doing the job they do, that's "MoeyoKen".
I would have to admit that watching the first episode, I found "Moeyo Ken" a bit campy. With several anime series out there that take on the Meiji era and even more that focus on samurai action, it was interesting to see the daughters of the shinsengumi in mobile arbor and in a Batman-like vehicle.
I figured that I should ease up and not take this anime in too seriously and question how modern technology got into the mobile shinsegumi's hands (ie. too not be too analytical) and just enjoy the anime as is. Afterall, Hiroi's "Sakura Wars" is similar yet totally different and so I figured that I needed to watch more episodes.
Episode 1 features the mobile shinsengumi's battle vs. the wanyuudou, a wheel-shaped monster bearing a human face. Also, a battle with the photograph monster who steals the souls of people. More or less an episode introducing the main and supporting characters and how the villagers view our three heroes.
But who is responsible in resurrecting these spirits and why?
It was until I watched OAV episodes 2-4 when each episode focused on each of the Mobile Shinsengumi characters is when I started to enjoy "Moeyo Ken" much more.
As for the DVD, the animation combines the cool character designs of Takashi Rumiko and 3D renderings of the Mobile Shinsengumi vehicle and headquarters.
I must admit it felt weird seeing the 3D renderings in this anime especially since it's used mainly in the vehicle scenes but in some instances, such as 3D use in buildings look quite nice. The anime is presented in 4:3 ratio.
As for the audio, I listened to the Japanese 2.0 track and the English 5.1 track. Although I am more biased towards the Japanese track for my anime viewing, the English vocal track is good.
Special features on this DVD include production art, character sketches, 3D model art, "Moeyo Ken" bestiary and the clean opening an closing theme animations.
It's definitely nice to watch a Hiroi Ohji anime series and "Moeyo Ken" is a type of series that would be great if it became a television series.
There are many characters in this anime aside from our three main characters that are so fun and interesting, that it would be fun to explore the storylines of each of them.
I enjoyed "Moeyo Ken" and I would definitely love to see more. With so many interesting characters, several unanswered questions, I hope that the OAV series will evolve into a television series.
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