Product Details

• Actors: Artist Not Provided
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Adv Films
• DVD Release Date: March 4, 2003
• Run Time: 120 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00007M5JI
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #110,535 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This off-beat TV series aired as part of the anthology Anime Complex (1998). The title mecha is the "god" of the South Sea island of Bauou. Early one morning, it rises out of Tokyo Bay in search of the Shimabara Sisters, whose brother married the last princess of Bauou. These first episodes spoof Godzilla, with Neo Ranga casually trampling big chunks of Tokyo in its search. As the story progresses, the focus shifts to the sisters (Minami, Yuuhi, and Ushio) and their nephew Joel as they attempt to lead something approximating a normal life in Tokyo with an 18-meter mecha in their front yard. Although the 15-minute length of the episodes restricts the development of the story and characters, this very quirky series was the most popular show to come out of Anime Complex. (Rated 15 and older: violence, nudity, profanity, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Product Description

Across the ocean, on the tiny island kingdom of Barou, something wakes an ancient god-Neo Ranga-from his slumber. He is drawn to Tokyo, and nothing's going to stop him as he searches for Minami, Ushio and Yuuhi, three beautiful sisters who are unwittingly linked to him. But instead of rolling out the red carpet, the military rolls out the weaponry, and things start to get nasty.

As Neo Ranga goes on his rough-and-tumble, crush-and-crumble romp through the city, the mystery grows. Is he a vehicle for corruption, or is he simply uncovering what already dwells within the city? Is he a messenger with a warning for humankind, or just a big boy out for a good time? Can Ranga defeat the military's fully-loaded ACE robot and the power-mad pilot who's out to blast him to bits? When they're forced to confront him - and each other - will the people of Tokyo actually learn anything from all this? And what's behind Ranga's mysterious eyes?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The God never quite rises..., January 20, 2004

By	Zack Davisson "All Good Things" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Neo Ranga - A God is Risen (Vol. 1)" is a fairly mediocre anime, one that seems to be pushing a formula established by Neon Genesis Evangelion. Now, I have no problem with formulaic anime, so long as the variation on a theme entertains. However, this fledgling episode of Neo Ranga failed to capture me, and I have little interest in pursuing the series.

The 15 minute episodes seems like a good idea at first, allowing quick viewing over breakfast without a long time commitment. However, ultimately the story does not advance in a logical enough manner with the short episodes. One minute, Neo Ranga is warring with the army and destroying Tokyo, the next episode, without much explanation, the army has decided to back off and Neo Ranga is a wacky tourist attraction giving the girls rides to school.

The three sisters make for interesting characters, but again their personalities are not developed well enough, and they remain little more than one-note girls.

It is possible that the story fleshes out more with the remainder of the series, and some of the illogical points link up, but with such a lackluster initial offering, it seems like few would stick around to find out.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A rampaging giant monster in the family?, February 13, 2003

By	Dale A Verdi (Western Australia) - See all my reviews

A giant monster rising out of Tokyo Bay to rampage in downtown Tokyo is practically a stereotypical cliche. However this show manages to add some extra life to the old cliche.

Each episode is about 12 minutes long, so it is somewhat difficult to have the story unfold in a smooth manner. Nonetheless, this becomes a rather intriguiging saga of family troubles, mysterious conspiracies and the power politics of weapons of mass destruction.

On the surface, it is the story of what happens when 3 orphan sisters (2 still school-age) become the beneficiary of their older brother's death. Their older brother had married into the royal family of an obscure pacific island nation (that had once been occupied by the Japanese in WW2). The islanders worshipped their own god that just happens to be a real, multi-storey monster. With the death of the royal family, Ranga decides that the 3 sisters are the new ruling triad, and goes to Tokyo to be with them. From then on it causes crises in National Security, local tourism, property values, and parking permits.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Sister's are Worse Than Others, March 28, 2003

By	Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Neo Ranga - A God Is Risen (Vol. 1) - With Series Box (DVD)

This is the simple story of three sisters - Minami, Ushio and Yuuhi - who discover that a long lost elder brother has disappeared, leaving them the kings of an island paradise (Barou) and owners of a 'god' that looks suspiciously like a drop-out from Evangelion (Neo Ranga). Simple, that is, unless you live in a community on the edge of Tokyo and Ranga decides to leave Barou and take up residence with them - trampling houses, highways and the National Defense Force in the process.

The youngest, Yuuhi, is a bit ill tempered, and keeps grabbing control of Neo Ranga to pound some Yakuza or corrupt government officials. Since this often involves pounding local traffic and architecture as well, the god of Barou is getting a lukewarm reception, and the sisters are being harassed by police, media people, and friends. For Ushio, who has a strong moral sense, and Minami, who wants to have a nice, simple, Japanese life, these are woeful circumstances. In addition, no one is sure what Neo Ranga is thinking.

The story is told in a light, witty style that contrasts with the footage of parts of Tokyo being turned into dust. Other than Yuuhi, who is the incarnation of one of the Furies, characters are predictable within the limits of the story. In addition to irritated neighbors, we have suspicious government agents trying to find out what makes Neo Ranga tick.

I am not quite sure where this story is going. Thematically, it is a serious story, and the antics of some of the characters distract from this. It is hard to accept the woes of three young women who are trying to fit a 60-foot tall god into their back yard. Think of this as light entertainment with some potential for becoming a strong story. The only thing that really irritates me is that the story is told in 15-minute episodes. When you discount intro and trailer, there isn't a lot of story time. And this distracts from the larger story arcs. So far, I like it, but it is too soon to go overboard.