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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Enjoyable Romp and an Excellent Value, May 27, 2004
This review is from: Steel Angel Kurumi - Complete Collection (DVD)
"Steel Angel Kurumi" is not for everyone; I often have questioned myself as to why I like it. But I do...it's a guilty pleasure. Set in the 1910's, the story revolves around a "steel angel" robot/weapon named Kurumi with the personality of an innocent, scatterbrained, clingy young girl, who is activated/brought to life by the kiss of a young boy mystic. The adventures that follow...the relationships that develop, the introduction of Kurumi's "sisters" (steel angels sent to destroy her), and the gradual revelation of Kurumi's incredibly distructive powers...draw the viewer to the inevitable nearly catistrophic climax. Now ADV has issued has issued this "Complete Collection", containing the original 4-disc, 24 episode first series, the single disc 4 episode encore OVA, and the 2-disc, 12 episode second series, with a plethora of extras. However, if you already own any of the original DVD releases, you'll find that this collection is just a re-issue of the currently available DVDs. All of the information here has already been issued.[...] The first 4 DVDs contain the original "Steel Angel Kurumi". It's an unusual series; cute and sappy as much as it is action filled, sweet and innocent as well as loaded with sexual overtones. The charaters are well drawn and the animation is top notch. The storyline drags a bit, but develops well, as do the characters. Some great stuff here. It's campy, but highly enjoyable. The extras on the first 4 discs are exceptional; interviews with the English dub cast, translator's notes (which helps clarify a great deal), background information relating to the setting and time frame in which the series is set, and more. ADV makes a great effort to help in the enjoyment of the series, and the material presented is quite interesting. The good quality continues with the single disc encore OVA. The 4 episodes are well done and add to the original series. The extras are plentiful here as well, including a running commentary with some of the English actors. It's the last 2 discs that drop the ball a bit. The second series in general is basically a re-hash of the first, and a not real good one at that. A few decent ideas are launched (a modern setting, the mystic that awakens Kurumi this time is a young girl, which boosts the already palpable lesbian overtones), but some of the ideas are just plain bad. The delicate balance of comedy, camp, action and character development that existed in the first series is totally upended in the second. It can still be fun, but pales by comparison. Plus the extras on the DVDs are minimal at best. Still, at this price, it's better to get the whole package for the price of buying 2 seperate DVDs, and it is definitely worth it for the first series alone. A great value and a fun anime.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Gift from Heaven, October 25, 2004
This review is from: Steel Angel Kurumi - Complete Collection (DVD)
Personally, I have the collection myself and have gone through it a dozen times. Although I still don't know all the important people who played a role in bringing Steel Angel Kurumi into our lives; I still can truly say that it is a gift from heaven. It's a story for all time which contains a little bit of something for everyone: action, suspense, comedy, romance, history, and plenty of extra features. This collection contains detailed backgrounds and details on the era Steel Angel Kurumi takes place in and explains how this fiction ties in with the history of Japan in the 1900's skilfully. It also has detailed production sketches with mini-comidical explanations, and loads of other goodies. As for the series itself, it has some amazing characters and artwork you'll instantly fall in love with. Kurumi's comedic devotion to nakahito, Karinka's "kiss my a**" attitude, Saki's sweet yet "fruity" nature, nakahito's down to earth attitude, and an even more extensive amount of likable if not lovable characters. The artwork is simply amazing and gives you a feel of 1900 Japan. There's a good amount of action in the show almost portrayed in a comic book fashion; lots of hilarious lines, puns, and actions; and also other things which I'm sure will delight people. Overall Steel Angel Kurumi is a definite must have for any anime lover and even for those who are just getting into the genre. I give this instant classic 5 stars.
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29 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A anime chizzled by angels and sent from Heaven., June 15, 2005
This review is from: Steel Angel Kurumi - Complete Collection (DVD)
To start off I will be dividing up this review in three sections.
1)Steel Angel Kurumi [Season 1]
2)Steel Angel Kurumi [Encore]
3)Steel Angel Kurumi [Season 2]
For the season 1 let me just say that.....IT WAS AMAZEING!!! I fell in love with kurumi instantely. The way she acts and the love she has for her master. It's like watching saber marionette J all over again. The first seasons story was also a work of art, although the series only had 12 minute episodes it still was able to string together a amazeing story that just grabbed hold of me and didn't let me go until the end. With the premanition of the black wings and the mysterious "Demon Kind" race, and the whole Mark II Heart scenarios, this anime is true genious sent by the angels of heaven.
-I give Season 1, 5 out of 5
Moveing on now to the Encore dvd. The encore dvd is just a simple four episode countinuation of season one. With cute fillers and lots of fights over Nagahito, the encore is a nice cherry on top of a amazeing sundae.
-I give the Encore, 5 out of 5
Now for the bain of the set unfourchounetly. Season two was a huge disappointment to me. There was just something missing in this series and it was a good thing they only went on for 12 episodes instead of 24. The second season takes place 75 years after the first season and this dicendent of Nagahito, most likesly his great grand daughter, awakens Kurumi. The series eventually progresess and awakens the other steel angels who now have mark II Hearts as well. The whole scenario with Nako's friend's farther useing his private military to kill Kurumi and bring his daughter happiness is really stupid, although the series did make me laugh and the fact that everyone is a lesbian may have been some redeaming qualities, but over all I feel that the second season was totally uncalled for and shouldn't have aired. However, they were able to keep the orignal voices, so props to them for at least doing that.
-I give season 2, 3 out of 5
All in all the collection is a must have even if you just want the first season, which in my personel opinion is amazeing. Anyone can agree that the heart warming story between Nagahito and Kurumi is truely wonderful and is just a classic anime of a human falling in love with a machine.
-average score 4 out of 5, but since I love the first season so much, this review gets the full 5 out of 5
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