Customer Reviews

Tokyo Babylon 2 [VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tokyo Babylon is a magnificent, heartbreaking CLAMP story (and a personal favorite) about young Subaru Sumeragi, his twin sister, Hokuto, and their friend, Seishiro Sakurazuka. Together, the three explore Tokyo City, commenting upon the hypocritical and unthinking masses and the damage group mentality can cause the individual. Subaru Sumeragi, as an onmyouji (a Japanese medium and exorcist), is privy to things that a normal sixteen only imagines. In Tokyo Babylon, Subaru is the protagonist of a tale that interweaves an existentialist Tokyo with traditional Japanese mysticism.

Unfortunately, the seven-volume CLAMP manga series will probably never be commerically released in the United States, as it is primarily a societal criticism with some male-male romantic underpinings between Seishiro and Subaru. Combining the knee-jerk reaction in the US toward any suggestion of homosexual romance and the culture-bound nature of the criticism makes for a story that is unlikely to sell. However, the anime demonstrates neither of these (despite the cover art's insinuation), so this two-part anime certainly the most assessible manner in which to enjoy Tokyo Babylon. Unlike many anime OVA series based upon manga titles, the anime comprises original stories, which, incidentally, were not created by CLAMP.

The first volume details Subaru's confrontation with Negumo, a young businessman with uncanny good luck that seems to leave anyone in his way dead. After Negumo's luck leads to the death of a colleague, the man's sister seeks revenge, using spiritual means that endangers everyone. Subaru must help this woman, but how can he reach a woman in deep mourning?

In the second volume, Subaru witnesses a grisly murder on the subway. A postcognitive woman also witnesses the murder with her powers, and Subaru immediately feels a connection to her. Caught up in a horrifying web of murder and madness, Subaru is forced to meet the serial killer face to face. This episode also includes a beautifully interpreted animation of the famed "Sakura Barrow" scene.

Thus, though the anime contains many of the surface features and motifs of the CLAMP creation, it lacks much of the depth and passion that made Tokyo Babylon so great. For example, in both parts 1 and 2, Subaru needs physical rescuing. In the manga, he is a onmyouji of great competence and professionalism; when he needs rescuing, it is typically from himself, not others.

Also, the anime is open-ended. None of the underlying story arcs are resolved or explained. US Manga Corps changed the dub significantly to try to resolve these issues, undoubtedly appalling purists, but, in the sub, the ambiguity has been preserved. In either case, though the complex relationship between Seishiro and Subaru is sublimated and not at all well-represented. This relationship between the two is explained and developed in another CLAMP title, X. For this reason, this anime is a must for those familiar with X (X/1999 in the US).

Why, then, is the series called, "Tokyo Babylon"? Such a question is not necessarily made clear even upon repeated viewings of the videos but is essential to truly understanding the story. The title is a metaphor, likening the city of Tokyo to the Biblical city of Babel and criticizing the hubris of the modern populace. Their selfishness and arrogance is compared to the purity and innocence of Subaru. The Tokyo of the anime is dark and oppressive; buildings loom high overhead, threatening those under them and people brush past without a second glance.

Nonetheless, the Tokyo Babylon anime is a delightful story, subtle and impressive. It has a provocative, if disturbing message, one that will surely move any who take the time to view it. I highly recommend it to anime lovers interested in a story that transcends super-powered robots and big-breasted women and definitively label it a must for all CLAMP fans.

This is a wonderful companion to the original manga series, but even the most versed Tokyo Babylon fans will likely be a little let down by the material covered here. The stories covered in the OAVs, while presented true to the spirit of the original manga, aren't particularly integral to the much larger story behind Tokyo Babylon. The only hint of the series' true depth in these OAVs is a brief opening sequence. Unfortunately it's been done in such a way that will leave those who haven't read the manga scratching their heads in confusion.

Still; the animation is excellent for its time, the action is fast-paced and the OAVs stand alone much better than CLAMP's other early OAV attempt RG Veda. It's still enjoyable... just not as much as it could have been.

For those who are calling this DVD a prologue to the X TV series.. that's not really accurate. Tokyo Babylon is NOT NEEDED to understand X, but it's nice to understand the deeper relationship between Subaru and Seishirou, and why they seem to know each other so well in the X series. Both episodes cover cases that Subaru tackles during his Onmyouji duties. The animation isn't top-notch (considering how recently it was made), but it's not painful. Watching the subtitled version is recommended, as with most anime, because Subaru's English voice actor especially wasn't at his best. If you want to really learn more about Subaru and Seishirou, you can always import the manga (untranslated when I wrote this review) because I'm sure this disc will leave you wanting more. Also take note that it does not cover a LOT of important details later in the manga, mainly how Seishirou lost his eyes, how Subaru was betrayed, why Seishirou killed-- you get the point.

Basically, occult fans, bishounen, shounen-ai fans, CLAMP fans, and mystery fans should enjoy this nice little snippit from the Tokyo Babylon saga. I personally really enjoyed this disc as a TB fan.

[PS: BTW, its Seishirou, not Seichiro. ;) Seichiro's a completely different character.]

This anime takes the wonderful and adorable Tokyo Babylon manga and makes it look bad. It gets points from me because I adore Subaru and Seishirou, but the dub voices are awful, the plot is, while CLAMP-ly original, not on par with the original manga (which has not been translated in the US, but you can find translations and scanlations of it online), and the animation just doesn't hold the same charm that other CLAMP titles do.

I've heard said about this that you either love it or hate it. Personally, I was disappointed. Some adore it, but most haven't seen the manga, of which this is a sad, pale shadow.

CLAMP created one of their most appealing characters ever in Subaru Sumeragi, the teenage exorcist/magician who is at the center of Tokyo Babylon (and also shows up in an older, wiser and sadder version in X). His legions of fangirls will not be disappointed in these OVAs. These are side stories to the manga, and while not all character relationships from the original are fully explored, this definitely gives the viewer a taste of CLAMP's universe. In both stories, Subaru investigates a baffling paranormal case, accompanied by his two sidekicks -- Hokuto, his twin sister, and Seishirou Sakarazuka, a veteranarian and fellow magician (with a dark secret that's not fully revealed in these productions -- and, BTW, his Japanese voice actor is no other than the great Koyasu Takehito!). OVA1 is about a mysterious series of murders at a construction site, a man who seems to have been "born lucky," and a woman out for a grisly revenge. OVA2 concerns a psychic who can see the past through her fingers and a killer stalking the Tokyo subways. Both are well-written and suspenseful (although the story of OVA2 is more engaging), the production values surprisingly good for OVA animation of this time period, and the Japanese voice actors give terrific performances (well, hey. . . it's *Koyasu*!) However, I'd stick with the Japanese subtitled version, as the dub makes some serious script changes (some of which alter the character of Seishirou). I'd recommend this to CLAMP fans, Koyasu fans, and people who like similar types of supernatural mystery (i.e. X-Files, Yami no Matsuei). And I can't think of anyone who wouldn't love Subaru. ^_^

Tons of iron and cement; kilometres of asphalt and tubeways; millions of people with apparentaly no identity. Big cities seem like a hell made by the hand of the man that had replaced the ancient evil kingdoms from old history. Among so much technology and so much artificial light it doesn't seem to be space for the spirits and, nevertheless, these exist, like Subaru and Hokuto, the Sumeragi Twins know well. Descendants of a family of wise spiritists, the Sumeragi twins live in the biggest city of the Pacific shore. A proud metropolis that not only boasts of having reborn from it's own ashes but that aspirates to rule the world. A city very parallel to the biblic Babylon. A city that seems to be waiting for some god to punish it for it's pride and it's inhabitants 'sins. Because each one of the many millons of citizens of Tokyo city has his dreams, his yearnings, his anguishes and his pains. Everyone of them are easy preys of despair and feel tempted to turn to magical methods to escape from their little dramas. Methods that, if wrongly used, can bring about the destruction and misery of everyone that surrounds them. Sumeragi Subaru is a young Omnyouji, Thirteenth Head of the powerful Sumeragi Clan. His duty is to unsummon the painful spirits that still walk the world of the living. He lives with his twin sister, Hokuto, whose main occupation seems to laugh at his shyness and his deep relationship with Seishirou, descendent of another ancient family, the mysterious Sakurazuka Clan. Seishirou is also an Omnyouji, though he dedicates his life to veterinary, and seems as well to be hidding a darker side of his personality from the twins as romantically interested in Subaru. But, is there any shadowy bond that links the couple appart from their relationship?

This anime is well worth watching even for those who haven't heard of Tokyo Babylon. The relationship between Subaru and Seishirou is a thing to watch out and the constant annoying Hokuto adds to the lack of humor in the anime. The plot in the anime are quite typical though but nevertheless entertaining and thrilling. Also, this anime have a very mild Yaoi touch to it so becareful those who don't like this stuff.

This review refers to the DVD.

The English voice acting is quite bad, that's well established by now. Oh well, there is the Japanese track with subtitles, right? Not quite. The Japanese voice acting seem decent enough but the subtitles are outrageous. The timing is wrong half the time (the text appears before someone speaks or long after they finish speaking) and even with my minimal knowledge of Japanese I can tell they left a lot that was said unsubtitled or partly subtitled. Worse than that- they sometimes added dialogue that was not in the Japanese script. What makes the makers of this DVD think they know better than the script writers of the OVA? Their job is to translate, not rewrite the script.

The video and audio quality is also unimpressive- not what you would expect to see on a DVD.

Overall- quite bad.

I originally picked up this title because I recognised it as a CLAMP effort, and, as a huge CLAMP fan, felt obliged to. Once I bought it and read the back, I discovered it could be considered as a prelude to the X/1999 series, and was naturally thrilled. After watching it, I can't say I was disappointed.

The drawings are, like all of CLAMP's works, beautiful. While the animation between the two parts is rather different (a brief online search allowed me to find out they were made at different times) it is still superb in both. I won't rehash the stories here, as I don't wish to spoil them, but both of them are fantastic. Mostly dark, but with a sprinkling of humour (particularly from Subaru's lively sister Hokuto) and likeable characters, Tokyo Babylon is a work of art.

It's not for the faint-hearted though- it has its fair share of gore, and a little occultism, which may offend some. It is also implied throughout the two parts, the second especially, that Subaru and Seichiro are slightly more than 'best friends'. (Readers of the X/1999 manga, or people who have seen X will know what I'm talking about here.) I understand that a male/male relationship may offend some.

I really only had a few slight problems with this title:

1) There were only ever two episodes made. (I remember reading somewhere that there was also a live-action Tokyo Babylon movie made, but I don't have much hope of finding it if it exists.) I really started to get into this series, and was vaguely depressed when it was over, and I didn't have any more.

This would be an easily solved problem, if the manga was released as well. However, due to the content of the manga (same-sex pairings) I don't think we'll ever see it here. Though Tokyopop is bringing out Gravitation, and I know that Tokyo Babylon was released in France a few years ago, so maybe there is hope...

2) Subaru's English voice-actor. Sadly, he just makes Subaru sound like a wimp. I'm sure that he's a very talented person, but I don't think he tapped Subaru very well. Subaru might be young in this, and a little whipped by his sister, but we do have to remember that he is the head of one of Japan's most powerful families- his voice needed a little backbone! And don't get me started on the Japanese chanting at the start of episode one...

All in all though, this is a charming series. Aimed more at women, this title would certainly appeal to men as well though, and is an excellent addition to any anime collection. For CLAMP fans, if you don't have this, you should be ashamed of yourself.

The subtitles in this production were very poorly timed, and appeared rather unprofessional. The usual "features" often found in such productions are absent, replaced by several hours worth of poorly-made previews for other titles, few of which are even anime. In addition to filling free-space, the producers have utilized a dual-sided disc, filling one entire side with garbage.

When I found this DVD, I was thrilled. I am a HUGE fan of the 7 part manga series and expected this to be the same. However, I was wrong. While this DVD has an interesting plotline and the same three main characters: Subaru, Seishiro, and Hokuto, it chops up the original story from the manga and distorts it in a weird way.

Now, I did like some of the elements of it (example: the relationship between Mirai and the older man. I found that sweet), but I rather liked the ending of the manga and was hoping they would cover it.

If you are a fan of the manga, I would advise to stay away from this DVD. It is not flattering.