Product Details

• Actors: Artist Not Provided
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Surround Sound, Digital Sound, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• 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: Bandai
• DVD Release Date: January 20, 2004
• Run Time: 75 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000Z050A
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #95,909 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Animation > Characters & Series > The Big O

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The first season of The Big O ended in mid-story, with the fate of the characters left hanging; fans will be glad to see the second season make its belated appearance. The familiar characters--Negotiator Roger Smith, his automaton Girl Friday Dorothy, and blonde Angel--are all back, as are the sinister Alex Rosewater, the head of the Paradigm Corporation, and the screechy villain Schwartzwald (although Schwartzwald may actually be dead). Instead of individual stories, the episodes form a single narrative, albeit a jumbled and often incoherent one. In the first installment, an impoverished Roger wanders through a strangely reconstituted Paradigm City, yet in the next three, he's once again his wealthy, suave self. Presumably all these questions will be sorted out as the story progresses, along with source of plague that erased the memories of the citizens of Paradigm City. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Start for the Big O Season II, October 24, 2003

By	Benjamin Waber (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Big O season II picks up exactly where the first season left off. The style of the show, however, has noticably changed. Gone are the one episode stories that focused on aspects of the main characters, and a direct storyline is followed for the entire second season. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, however the inherent reliance on the first season episodes will make it hard for someone not acquainted with the Big O to follow (if you are interested in the plot of the first season, please consult the various Amazon.com pages for a summary).

The actual depth of storyline has also decreased with the second season. Granted, the first season of the Big O contains some extremely thought provoking episodes, but the second season just cannot compare. All that said, it is great that we were all given some closure (for those of you who don't know, the first season ended in a cliffhanger a few years ago) on the situation in Paradigm City, with all the original Japanese voice talent intact. Those of you who have never seen the Big O before are still in for a treat, and hardened Big O veterans will get enjoyment from seeing their favorite Negotiator back in action.

5.0 out of 5 stars Back in business, back in action, and BACK IN BLACK..., September 2, 2004

By	Strategos "The Guardian of Time" (In Space above Planet Earth) - See all my reviews

Fans of the modern anime masterpiece The Big O can finally stop holding their breaths, as the long-awaited sequel to everyone's favorite new giant robot series arrives...

When the last series left off, our hero Rodger was wounded, in the pilot seat, outgunned, and outnumbered. Things were just about to start to get interesting... Amazingly, unlike the first Big O where mystery followed mystery and plot points and characters were developed slowly, this series gives you a one-two punch from the get-go and never slows down.

The change of pace will delight some, confuse others, and perhaps irritate those unwilling to adapt, but at no time does it fail to entertain. In the past Rodger Smith was always a cool, calm, collected individual that was always in command of the situation. The first episode shows us right into the heart of what makes up his world and how he relates to it, giving more character devlopment and introspection in that one episode than perhaps the entire first series did. And from there things just get crazier.

Watching the first few dvds, it almost seems like the creators of this show decided "To heck with style, let's just tell people what's going on already!" Characters who before just talked in riddles (remember Dorothy and Rodger and Angel and Rodger's conversations from Big O?) now S-P-E-L-L things out for you. In a way, the new directness of the show is very appealing, as the relationships of the characters evolve and they open-up to each other and become more honest and straight-forward.

And while the old style isn't quite there in terms of animation and music (the dark noir-style is replaced by a more pastel-looking universe and more uptempo versions of the old themes are present from time to time), there are moments of sheer brilliance to be found. Some people found the music of the first Big O overly repetitive, and I agree (although the score was most excellent). The new Big O has some music that's so dramatic and so moving, that it made me IMMEDIATELY purchase the soundtrack (a new version of the main theme which can only be called a "love theme" really takes the cake). The action sequences are also flashier, prettier, and in general, a bit cooler than before.

If you wanted your questions answered (How do Dorothy and Rodger really feel about each other? What is Rosewater after? Who is Angel REALLY working for? What's OUTSIDE of Paradigm city?) then this series will probably be most satisfying to you. The plot really thickens this time around, with things getting more and more dramatic as the show progreses (to say nothing of more profound {get a load of all the religous references, and the questions on the nature of what makes a person human, what a person's place is in the universe, and can a person change their destiny}). Big O II really is what a sequel should be. It's not just more of the same, but an entirely new perspective on a universe and characters that we have grown to love. HIGHLY recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Starts with a BANG!, March 13, 2004

By	Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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Most of the time I hate cliffhangers, but in this case, I love it. When we last saw Roger he was about to battle three other robots, with the help of Big O and Dorothy, and season two gives us what we want. Not just a real battle between the robots, but also a battle for his mind. Flashbacks of memory he never knew he had, fighting old enemies and finding brand new ones, and clues to what had happened forty years ago. Batman, Noir and Gasaraki all mixed into one. Better strap in for the ride!
I just hope Roger and Dorothy's relationship is developed more in the future.