Recap: It Attacks

Warning: This recap contains some violent and frightening images. Read at your own risk.

Hello again. I’ve been wanting to do this one for a while, and things have been getting in the way. I’m thinking after this one; I can do just 1 or 2 more Halloween recaps of TBA material. In the meantime; I came across Kamisama Dolls about a year ago and have been enjoying it so far. It is quite well-made; and has some good approaches to Japanese mythology. However, there has also been material for recaps because of things in it that don’t seem to add up. So, let’s open up “It Attacks.”

We open on two truck drivers heading home from a shrine; talking about dealing with a rogue member of the Ryuga clan that was facing a double life sentence in prison for crimes prior to the beginning of the series. 

Naturally, they had a sword on hand just in case anything happened, left in clear view. This can only end well! 

As their banter continues, suddenly the driver is stabbed in the chest!

This is gonna ruin my whole day.

The truck then crashes over a ravine with some conspicuous CGI leftover from IGPX. Who did it? Sony Computer Entertainment? 

That is going to kill the Blue Book value.

The passenger then staggers out of the wreckage in an attempt to call for help. The JAF is not going to be happy about this!

Then, a man with white hair approaches the passenger.

We then get our theme song, and it is a pretty good tune; with a catchy beat and creative animation.

As you can tell by the subtitles, the lyrics don’t make a whole lot of sense. Keep in mind you’re seeing an abridged version. I’ve been sitting here for at least 3 minutes. 

I’m serious, we get our title twice before we get to the episode proper. Even so, if you’ve never wondered where Kami come from, I say it’s time you’ve begun!

In this town we call home, everyone hail to the Kami song.

We then cut to the city, where Utao Kuga is helping at a local restaurant.

Then, Utao stars scrubbing more feverishly, and a large reason why I wanted to recap this is because it is essentially Mood Whiplash: the anime. I know it’s typical in most mediums to have a lighter scene after an intense moment; but it works better when they’re set up. Doing it immediately tends to create a key pacing problem I often have.

You want three beers, a pot of sake, and something called a sterno?

Then, a stereotypical anime nerd glances at Utao as he gets the kids’ special. It has fewer calories; and the premiums have some cool designs! 

Then, (sighs), we get the entrance of Suoh, and Hibino Shiba. Hibino isn’t that bad, but Suoh is a key reason why I decided to do this recap. The way she talks down to Utao when she is nowhere near as smart or powerful as she is makes her one of the most inherently unlikable characters I’ve come across. 

Then, she starts feeling up Utao like some demented family friend named Skip! 

Arceus, it's like Himeko from Pani Poni Dash if they sucked all the charm out of her!

The way Suoh harasses Utao: I must once again point out how gender dynamics are different in Japan; seeing as how this setup would also require Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC in the states.

Why don't you take a seat?

We then get our title card, pure and simple. 

And many a scream yourself awake nightmare!

Naturally; Utao returns her feelings in kind. Utao speaks for me in this situation.

She laments the fact that she’d rather be playing Mach Dogfight with Kikkuri.

Do a barrel roll!

Hibino takes a different approach: giving Utao gateau chocolate cake. I’ve had that kind before; it’s incredibly tasty.

Got the recipe from a Rotom!

By the time her older brother arrives; it is quite clear that Utao has had quite a day. 

It'll be fun for approximately 3.7 seconds!

Hibino then offers to take Utao out for a day off. 

Sure enough, they and Kikkuri head out for a day of fun.

Kikkuri is also training underwater.

Utao wonders how Kikkuri is doing if the water is filled with garbage. Oh yes, the Japanese are big environmentalists; as the medium has been clashing with these debates since its inception.

Kikkuri just continues surveying the waters; with Utao noting it likes cleaner ones.

There's more garbage here than Kotaku!

We then cut to Mr. Kuga walking to meet his sister when he gets a text letting them know what they’re doing. 

Then, what appears to be a random transient is actually an escaped convict known as Aki.

He looks like a loony; but Mr. Kuga buys him lunch anyway.

Brought you a little snack, Eckhart.

Then, we find out Aki is all too happy that he broke the necks of some punks that egged him on.  Aki then relates his experiences behind bars, but Mr. Kuga will have none of it.

Aki was responsible for a mass murder back at home; and is on the run. 

Then, another man in a leather jacket approaches them. This not quite Toguro is Koshiro; also after Aki.

He then threatens Mr. Kuga with a small blade. It’s because of people like him that I can’t bring nail clippers on a plane!

After a brief rescue from a falling truck, Utao and Hibino fist bump; then decide to go have dinner. 

Aki then lays down on the rooftop of a building; as if he just wanted to die right there. 

He also keeps flashing back to all the people he killed. This guy is severely messed up! 

We then cut to a lady from previous episodes collecting on a job she’s doing for this stereotypical Japanese game shop owner; and I don’t mean Solomon Moto, either. Try that tweed that Marik bought off to get everyone into Battle City. 

The shop owner chides her for taking an illegal side job, but you technically can’t even work at McDonald’s under Japanese law if you’re a student.

What do you know: she gets caught in the crossfire of a fight between Aki and Koshiro. This can only end well! 

Then, what do you know: Koshiro unleashes his doll in the alley. 

The woman then muses it’s the same doll as Kikkuri. Same type, technically.

Then, a strange kid who resembles Utao approaches Koshiro as we transition to the woman dragging Aki away as we cut to our ending theme; which I shall refer to its opening lyric of “My Name is Miss Broken” until I can find out what it’s called. 

You think we just end on Utao, her big brother Kuga, Hibino playing, right? Wrong!

Now it’s time for Kamisama Dolls Corner; where puppet versions of Utao and Kikkuri answer fan mail!

First, we get a letter regarding Kikkuri’s innards; and Utao comes up with a concept that actually looks quite cool. I am not sure exactly how old she is, but she doesn’t look or act much older than a little girl.

The next letter regards her plans for a theme park, a much bigger Kamisama Corner! Just imagine what kind of ads they’ll have! 

Last, but not least, we see her answer a question about their scale in comparison to the other characters, thanks to a handy chart!

“It Attacks” is a flawed, but enjoyable little charade, as is the series itself. The biggest thing is essentially the same as I said in my first impressions a year ago: mood whiplash. Those aren’t just my screen caps or me talking: the pacing is an admitted flaw. However, the animation is nice, the core characters likable, and the story itself interesting in how it approaches  Japanese mythology. Even so, I apologize for how late this recap is; and I will be doing something lighter next. You should see it up by Halloween night. See you, space cowboy! 

Recap: His Name is Blade

Hello everyone. Halloween is coming; and now it’s time to do a recap I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. The first episode of the Blade anime. The last of the Marvel anime I haven’t recapped yet. While it is quite good; as with the previous Marvel anime I have done, there is material as I discovered when I watched it.

While I am unfamiliar with the comic book series; the films, especially the first two, are quite enjoyable, and it turns out that Blade is quite popular in Japan; as are vampires. They have been there for decades; and I am pleased that they have been given lots of representation in anime and manga. One I am following, Seraph of the End; is being turned into an anime by the same folks behind the massive smash Attack on Titan. So, let’s open up “His Name is Blade!”

We open on Blade sitting in his home; and it turns out he is a “day-walker,” a man who possesses both vampire and human qualities since birth; since his parents were killed by vampires. Typical superhero stuff, to be frank; but the films, as well as this anime have a cinematic quality to them that make it much easier to take on their own merits (note: I am generally a casual reader of regular comics, but if a story interests me; you bet I’ll pick it up.) 

Who's the private dick that cuts up vampires real sick? BLADE! Damn right!

From its opening moments; it is already quite clear that this is a better use of Blade than Blade Trinity was. 

The theme song is a sort of j-metal horror-core tune; perfect for the season and for an anime about vampires.

In short order, we get our title under a red moonlit sky.

Can you dig it?

Naturally, we pan down to a nightclub in Yokohama, Japan.

In Blade’s native London, it turns out he was born under a blood moon shortly before the death of his parents. 

His mother is cornered in an alley by a vampire. 

Back in the present, Blade senses something in the nightclub and decides it’s time to punch in.

A man stumbles out drunk as all can be. 

Despite his slurred claims, he’s in no condition to drive; or even stand up all that much. Just as well; since this was a last gasp of G4’s nerd appeal before Esquire took it over and gave fashions that were definitely not sunglasses and 20 pounds of black leather.

I think maybe we should call for a pizza! We can ride home in the delivery boy's car!

He then hits on a young woman from the club.

You mind if I take off my shirt? It's kind of chafing me.

Then, it turns out the woman is a vampire; and the man tries to run away. 

What a terrible night to have a curse!

Blade rescues the man, and it turns out some of the guards are vampires as well.

He confronts one of them about the club belonging to Existence, an entire faction of evil vampires. The way he looks as he’s cornered just calls for my standard loser horns.

Now that Blade has the information he needs; he’s going to go about the club in a fashion that’s worthy of a U2 AMV.

The vampire guard still makes a scared face as he wonders what Blade will do; but it turns out he has bigger fish to fry. So, let’s once again put on this tune from The Raspberries with the possibility of me seeing lots of people young and old going as Star Lord.

Then, the vampire that killed Blade’s parents arrives in a limousine. So, here is yet another villain in these Marvel anime that pride themselves on theatrically flaunting their affluence. 

We then see a fellow vampire hunter named Makoto in disguise. I must say, she looks different after the last fighting tournament she entered. 

The club’s interior has even more of a paranormal vibe to it; as if it were Day of the Dead night.

The way the guests are dressed, it almost feels like it’s a club built around an industrial metal motif. Perfect for vampires.

There’s even a cage for dancers, both employed, and not. 

Makoto then addresses some of the guests for information.

Also, one amusing screen cap I took was of how Dark Souls was being brought stateside; and it is a series well-known for its difficulty, and it’s another reminder of how the gaming market has long outlasted one of its key outlets.

You are dead, Existence!

Then, Makoto manages to get into a private room with one of the owners of the club. 

The man then remarks about the expense of his cologne. I also notice the X-Play bumper at the bottom; and I miss that show too.

It's the same kind Adam Sessler wore when he reviewed Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis!

Then, as he tries to make a move on Makoto, she knows who she’s looking for.

A fight ensues on the dance floor; and the man is a werewolf who calls the humans ugly.

Who are you calling ugly, you Darkstalkers reject?!

Makoto’s partner tries shooting him, but to no avail. If only there were some metal that had some ill effect on lycan beasts! 

Blade then enters the space; ready to take out the trash.

Blade then opts to engage the werewolf. His live actor survived federal prison and The Expendables 3. He can survive this!

He draws his sword in a manner worthy of a fighter of his stature.

FSHING!

He then totally eviscerates that werewolf! If only he could do that to the Cullens.

Blade wins! BRUTALITY!

One of the things I found amusing is this instance of E*Trade product placement on the cargo containers. This is intentionally creepy, unlike those badly photoshopped babies.

The vampire owner of the club then makes a smirk worthy of a Jim Jarmusch film.

Love is the drug!

Oddly, now that Makoto is outside the club; she is now suffering from dull surprise even though she wasn’t before. Still better than Abigail Whistler though.

Dull surprise!

The vampire then gets jumped by Blade. 

Gravity is trying to bring me down!

It turns out he’s the one Blade is looking for!

Four! That's 4 puncture wounds I put in your mother! Ha ha ha!

Yet, Makoto’s father is attacking Blade instead of working with him.

What is a man? A miserable pile of secrets. But enough talk, have at you!

Despite Blade’s best efforts, he loses the fight. Still a better fight than the PS2 game in Blade II!

The vampire then says they will meet again. Marvel says they want 12 episodes! That’s when we’ll fight! 

Then, two hoods appear that look like they’re rejects from Vampire Knight.

Amoeba!

It turns out Makoto’s father was bitten and is taken out by Blade. It’s a general superhero rule: there must be at least one parent dead; and at least one no-win situation. This is how it ends, and it’s a pretty good story.

“His Name is Blade” is an enjoyable, if flawed entry in the Marvel anime canon. While not quite as good as the Iron Man, X-Men, or Wolverine anime in terms of storytelling; it does have enough slick animation and gothic atmosphere to offset some occasional silly scenes. Next time is also something I’ve been wanting to do for almost a year. Next time: I recap an episode of Kamisama Dolls! 

End of Saban Vortexx+End of Naruto=End of an Era?

Hello everyone. I am working on the recap of the first episode of the Blade anime to kick off my Halloween-related recaps. While it was pretty good, there was indeed material as a I took screencaps; and I just have to finish some schoolwork to get started as early as tonight.

On a sadder note; I must point out that the Saban Vortexx has effectively ended its run this past Saturday; with the CW finally succumbing to most local stations' favoring edutainment; infomercials and sports in an age of online streaming; Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network now taking up the bulk of Saturday mornings officially. The last remnants of the past Saturday mornings have been swept away.

Even further, Masashi Kishimoto has pointed out the manga of Naruto will be ending in 5 weeks. The series has been running in Japan since 1999; with it coming stateside in the early-to-mid-2000s. While not being the biggest fan of the series; I do acknowledge that this is quite the development.

So, while I get to work on writing the recap on the first episode of the Blade anime, what do you think about this? Feel free to let me know what you think. Bang.