Customer Reviews

Rg Veda Part 1 [VHS]

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

 

 

I watched RG Veda on VHS over 7 years ago, and it was one of the first anime I had ever seen. I remember going back to my video store and renting it again and again because it was so good. RG Veda is a fantasy anime what had enormous potential to be a great series, but sadly was cut short (Does anyone know why that happened?).

The animation was gorgeous, as is to be expected from the people at CLAMP. The story was original and entertaining. The story had 4 main characters, a princess, a prince, a king and a queen from 4 different realms, and each with extraordinary abilities. They joined forces to fight a common enemy that was threatening their respective kingdoms (I'm sorry I can't remember more. It has been years since I have watched this). The action is terrific and the voice acting (Japanese) was supberb.

Like other reviewers have stated it is sad that RG Veda is so short and obviously unfinished. I really believe this one could have been a fantastic series. If some of you remember, the same thing happened to the Guyver series although it did get considerably further than RG Veda in epsiodes. It's very short, but it is sweet. Hopefully there is a manga out there of this series so that those of us that have watched this can continue on with the books.

It's been a long time since I watched this series. Based on the manga series by CLAMP, the animé is actually a little different in feel from the manga. Unfortunately, only two OAVs were ever produced (to my knowledge), both of which illustrate key points in the manga series, but without knowledge of the manga, this series may not be entirely interesting for some people. However, at the same time, it may interest people to look into the manga (like me!) to find out more.

CLAMP's drawing style is quite unmistakeable; especially the eyes, and I have to admit to being rather partial to their style. The animation quality in the OAV is a bit of an odd mix however using a combination of some very nicely detailed shots, combined with camera pans over less detailed still drawings. Definitely not a high budget production, but using the budget in an innovative manner. The music is a bit unusual; rather dark in places, and makes heavy use of a synthesizer, but is still well done. The translations are also decent although there is occasionally a bit of awkward wording due to literal translations. The story while interesting on its own leaves many, many questions which are not answered unless you go to the manga series (ex. just who is Kujaku? ) Unfortunately, these questions won't be answered in the anime. There is a brief background narrative at the beginning of the episode which helps to fill in some of the history which passed and gives the viewer a starting point. Otherwise my only problem with the animation, was that I find the concept of exchanging looks in animé just looks too contrived.

I bought the DVD and a complete set of RG Veda manga. It is my favorite manga from the CLAMP.
What on the DVD is based on 1992's OAV. Technically speaking it is not superbly done not like all digital enhanced ones. However, the two episodes in the set do reflect the great art work in the manga. In my opinion, the best image in the DVD set is short lived King Ashura (well, he is really sexy :) ). Yasha's image is a bit dull. He had a much better image in the manga.
I showed somebody in my family who had not read the manga, the person liked the show just by looking at the art work and listening to the music. Well, the person is usaully very picky on what DVDs I should buy or should not. Certainly, I had to answer some "why"s and "how come"s after the show. The conclusion was "This one is not bad". Thanks, sweetie.
It is your choice whether you should buy the DVD. To be honest, without the manga, you may miss many emotions. The emotions are a CLAMP's manga all about besides their incompitible art works. Oh, by the way, the English voice acting is not bad at all.

the movie is great has a really cool storyline , but it doesn't unfold like I wish it would , you're really getting into it when it stops (?!) , I was wondering if there where more episodes on sale , but for my surprise .. No -_-* , that its really sad.
but still , its good.

Regardless of what my family thinks, I'm no anime guru. I don't buy the books, or manga, or listen to the Japanese dub of an anime and try to keep up with the subtitles. However, I do know a good deal about anime and cartooning in general and I can tell you that this it a beautifuly animated movie with an interesting plotline and quite a bit of action to boot. I recommend this movie for young and old alike, due to it's reasonible language and lack of nudity and adult situations.

It's the first and the best work that CLAMP has done. Story plot has more than meets the eye and visually beautiful. The First OAV is around the 2nd-3rd book about a princess that is locked in a castle of ice. She waits eternity for her family to arrive but in trade for immortality she sells herself to the demons. A great buy for all CLAMP fans and those who love mystery fantasy.

This movie was very good and I enjoy every time. However, there is one problem. The story builds up to really good plot and then...stops!? It just drops off and leaves you hanging! I hate cliffhangers. Espescially when the chances of a conclusion are slim to none. The movie was good though. I'd recommend it. Just expect to be ticked off when it leaves you without any kind of ending.

I think the best words to describe this anime would be "WTF". No, seriously. I like the manga, I really do. And I don't have any main squabbles with the voice actors chosen. As far as camp factor is concerned, this movie would succeed were that it didn't drag so much.

I liked the weird sound effects for battle scenes that sound like Doubly Digital Whatever that you get in movie theatres. I liked that absolute ridiculousness of an overly masculine character being done in by butterflies. It reminded me of the stupidity of Herakles. It was also worth rewinding. In the manga, that scene was dramatic, conveying the image as smothering, but in the anime, it was...well, it was beyond ridiculous. Ridiculously beautiful. I cried. I don't know whether to thank the director or the script-author.

The movie, overall, has a very bad 80's tone to it. Besides the haircuts, oversized, overly geometric wardrobes, and outdated special effects - which can be excused - it was just so cheesy. No, wait, we can't blame the 80's for cheesiness. The 80's also had a few good Gundam series. What was wrong with RGVeda was that too much of the original story was taken out of the movie. Most of the drama was lost in the process, as well as coherence. I was so busy trying to figure out everybody's backstory that I sometimes forgot the current story.

In the end, I was running out of things to make fun of and just wishing for it all to end. Please, don't watch this - read the manga. Or, if you must, fast forward to the part with the butterflies. Then the end. Nothing in between.

I cannot stand the animes that I have read before and then when I watch the DVD I get really dissapointed! Everything was too simplified! The story did not make sense unless one read the books! The books were superb but this... terrible! It needs another DVD!!!!

However, if you read the books you will see that it cannot be compared to the books...

I remember seeing this animation when I was 9 years old and I am so happy I've finally found it again on Amazon - just wish part 2 was available! The images and story are well-crafted, a definate must see for people who enjoy a good fantasy animation.