Randy's Room

Ah, Quentin Tarantino does it again! This guy has a weird way in giving each of his stories presentation flare. Besides the weird choice of music and chapter logs, he has a exclusively unique way in showing off his characters and story. Each film will begin a the plot or chapter off with very nerve racking yet calm situations. This calmness will last until the end of the chapter which would be the climax for that part of the film. So its pretty much the silence before the storm. Except theres no storm. Theres just a big bang that's usually unpredictable regardless if you tried to predict what would happen..
In this film each chapter has a climax. And each chapter tells a story that has little filler... But this bit of filler usually is how the unpredictable happens.
I came to Inglourious Basterds expecting a historical comedy.
What i got was a historical themed film with comedy in it and a alternate ending.

Yes. This movie is fiction.
Yes. This movie is funny.
But holy shit, this movie makes you flinch as you see people's body parts fly off during gun fire.

Honestly, i wasn't expecting to see much blood at all. I didn't just see blood. I saw gore.
Tarantino? Gore? Its more likely than you think. Kill Bill was filled with comical gore.
Inglourious Basterds was filled with laughs topped off with gore.
BIG difference. In Kill Bill you expect to see blood in every corner. Inglourious Basterds just pops in with a baseball bat to the head and surprises the living shit out of you. Its wayyy more flinchy. Especially when you thought it was only a comedy.

Anywho..
This film was an alternate retelling on how Hitler could have died. During WWII alot of assassinations were on Hitlers head.. This film happens to be a assassination that Tarantino thought of for A DECADE!
Thats right. Tarantino has been working on Inglourious Basterds almost forever. Every so on he'd get new ideas and expand on it which would lead to delays in production. During these phases, he'd do other projects whilst working on what he would call "his masterpiece".
But is it a masterpiece?
I'd say so. I'd say that you'd have to be very clever to think out all these ideas. BUT, this isn't a movie you'd want to watch 3 times. But you'd definitely buy it to have a fun night with friends and family. What makes it this way was the execution.
Its great and all, but it always feels like you're waiting for each climax more than expected. Waiting ALONG time.
I'M LOOKING AT YOU CHAPTER 4!!!!!!
This movie was 2 and a half hours long. It never felt like it was going by slowly, it just felt like you knew too much about whats going on for the scene to move along already (but it wouldn't move along).
Great film indeed. Alot of the unexpected, and alot of blood and lulz.

VERDICT
Art B+
Animation N/A
Story B+
Characters B+
Acting A
Music B-
Laughs B-
Action B-
Drama C+
Execution B- (surprised us with emotions, but had us wait alittle too long)

IS THIS STILL AN ANIME FOR DUDES? DAMN RIGHT IT IS!

I did see some of this at Comic-Con. But regardless of how shitty or great the series might have been, i decided to add it to my shopping list as a "BUY NO MATTER WHAT" title. The Kujian OVA alone was fun to watch and made me a fan of the fake anime series.
Last time we saw Kujibiki Unbalance, it was a 3 episode OVA that was used in the Genshiken universe as an Anime the crew of Genshiken would watch and masterbait over.
In Genshiken, Kujibiki Unbalance is a 26 episode romance comedy that was supposed to be a stereo typical anime in almost every way possible including almost everything that is cliche in anime. Hence it being an "Otaku's anime" and Genshiken -an Otaku club.
So basically 'Kujian' has lots of fan-service to go with your action packed goodness, moe and fetishes such as pantie shots and "healthy" thighs.

But i can't really say the same for this newer retelling of the series...
KUJIBIKI UNBALANCE (TV) (2006)

Kujibiki means raffle. Unbalance could possibly refer to the fickle emotions that go with this series. In the 3 episode ova, the story was about students who draw a raffle to become a position in the randomly picked team that they are assigned too. The positions are Secretary, treasurer, Vice President and President.. These teams would go up against each other in a tournament style setting and the winning team would advance to the next round. I have no fucking idea what happens if you have the last team standing. But i think that the final Team becomes the official School counsel for the next year.

3 years apart.

BUT in THIS NEWER retelling of the series..
The tournament theme was stripped away. ALOT of things were stripped away.
The story sadly pretty much dropped everything that would have kept it a comedy.
But it was probably for the better.. Or worse depending on what kind of anime you want.
Synopsis:
Rikkyouin High School is a prestigious and powerful facility. This school is soo damn powerful, that it has the authority of a small country. And as such is treated like one. Rikkyouin has a lottery every year to determine the next year's Student Council membership. They do this because the Kujibiki (the lottery) is "sacred" and it's choices are the final absolute truth. It decides the fate of alot of things that goes on. It decides who's worthy and who's not.
The lottery slots are the same as the OVA. President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
But in this story, not every one in the school has these roles anymore like the ova. Just 4 people this time around in the whole school. WHICH ALSO MEANS theres no tournament like battle themes which also means no comedy or whacked out humor. So what happens is that the 4 chosen ones have to complete missions sent out by the current school President to show if they're up for the job. If one fails to show up or complete the mission, the whole team is expelled from the School.

It does seem like a loss by how i put it. But was it? This anime kept it's Otaku roots oh so slightly. If its not a comedy... Then what fuck is it?
Its Romance/Drama/Sci-Fi. A very well done one at that.
First off, let me say that this anime is something that will appeal to the target audience (Males ages 14-35 who like boobs and pantie shots, and females of any age). Second, that you know that what you're watching is meant to be moe moe and COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from the Genshiken anime.
I'm pointing all this out because Genshiken fans bought this for Genshiken (a slice of life comedy) and not for Kujibiki Unbalance (A Drama romance show ment for Otaku males).
Having somebody review Kujian (a title farrrr out from their own taste) is like sending a Metal-head thrasher out to a Hip-Hop concert.
I on the other hand fit the target demographic. COMPLETELY!
Its like sending me to a Darkthrone and Puffy concert.

Now.. my thoughts...(on the whole story)
Let me start out by saying THIS IS SUM HIGH BUDGET SERIOUS SHIT SON.
High budget often means it'll be a serious anime. And MY GOD IT IS.
During DVD 1, we're stuck with 4 episodes that introduce the characters.
When i mean stuck, i mean you have to sit at the beginning stages of the show when it
still wanted to incorporate Wacky shit. Wacky isn't bad, but how this revision of the anime goes, i would rather they put it away if this is meant to be a darker approach to Kujian.

So we meet Chihiro Enomoto, a teen who has had bad luck his whole life. As he waits for the bus on the day of the lottery, the first thing we notice is the female protagonist Tokino Akiyama.

Shes at a vendy machine thats part slot machine. And apparently it seems that she "won" at the vendy machine what ever the fuck that means (she probably got her change back?). Anywho,
When our poor hero Chihiro walks to check up on Tokino's win, we see Crow shit fall out of the sky and onto Chihiro's nice leather shoes. As he bends down to clean it off, the fucking bus comes.
Tokino seems like she really doesn't give a shit and "WALKS" to the bus rather than run with Chihiro to catch it. By the time they both arrive, triplets and a mom walk out as the bus shits out the handicap ramp. See where i'm going with this? Tokino is gifted with being blessed with such good luck, that the world stops for her.
So we have 2 best friends that are cursed with good and bad luck. I'm just watching and going "oh, thats neat, i wonder what else is". later in the series we find out the the School President (Ritsuko Kübel Kettenkrad) was a friend of Tokino and Chihiro back when they were 5 years old. You keep seeing flashbacks of them saving a baby chicken named Pi-chan from a dog. Now what really sets the tension is that this is 10 years later. "Ritschan" was a crybaby back in the day. But now she seems like a silent prestigious bitch. So seeing "Ritsko" after ten years really shakes up Chihiro's emotions as this was his Childhood lover. He too was her childhood lover. They even promised to get married in the OVA as long as Ritsko stopped being a cry baby. And holy shit look at them now. One day during a weekend, Chihiro and Tokino go to school to find a text book Chihiro left. During their adventure, they get lost IN THE FRIGGEN BIG ASS SCHOOL. But our heroes happen to hear the violin play.. and by following that sound, the gang was no longer lost as the sound lead to the President's room.. Ritsko's room. So now Chihiro is being a big pussy but Tokino wants to help Ritsko do work because her co-workers are out. So they do. And spending time with Ritsko makes her seem less of a bitch, infact lots of happy memories were referenced as Ritsko pulls food and treats out of her ass that came straight from their early childhood. See how cute this is getting?

A few episodes later and its Ritsko's birthday at her big ass house.
Guess what Chihiro? SHES ENGAGED. The one you friggen love so much and can't stop thinking about. But its ok. You get to dance with her and stare at her huge rack as Tokino watches and feels her heart break. But thats ok too, because Pi-Chan is back! BUT HES A ROOSTER NOW!
And who gives a shit that shes engaged? Ritsko still wants Chihiro's nuts. Hence why she wants him to hold her hand and fuck her all over the kitchen table.
OK, now you get that theres a love triangle. TIME TO MOVE ON!

Now my thoughts in general;

Besides the gorgeous colors and character design, i get to see some old friends of the old Kujian cast later in the series.

Shinobu Enomoto was Chihiro's OLDER but younger looking sister and a teacher in the OVA. That still hasn't changed. But in this anime the first time we see Shinobu, we are instantly greeted with the most incestuous anime character ever.
Every chance she gets, she tries to fuck her brother. In one of the episodes it even starts out with Chihiro and Shinobu having sex. (In her dream of course) Remember when i said this was an Otaku show?

Renko Kamishakujii used to be on a rivaling team in the Kujian OVA. But in this story shes the secretary on Tokino's team and is possibly the bitchiest anime character you have ever seen in your life. But you get to see her panties in every episode. This hoe fucking slaps Tokino for being happy or some shit. You'll never find any anime character as Tsundere as this. The example i just gave was a bad one too. Thats how bitchy she is. Remember when i said this was an Otaku show?

In the OVA you might remember Kaoruko Yamada as the girl who calls Renko "Mistress".
In this anime shes still Renko's bitch. But this time we find out that shes a cyborg who powers Renko's mechas. You'll see alot of her boobs in this show. Some pantie shots too. Remember when i said this was an Otaku show?

Yamada and Renko doing normal lesbian things.

Later in the series we meet Komaki Asagiri who played the pink haired, scarf wearing busty girl on Tokino's team in the OVA. But in his anime shes now a Ninja who works the ramen shop that our protagonists always hang out at. Remember when i said this was an Otaku show?

Komaki's little sister (Koyuki Asagiri) now plays Komaki's former spot as Treasurer. Koyuki has Mewtwo's powers in this show (All Otaku shows have Shonen Lolis). Remember when i said this was an Otaku show?

Remember the awesome green haired Izumi Tachibana in the OVA that was on Tokino's team?
Yeah, she now plays the role of a mysterious fighter for hire/assassin who is out to kill the President but is bounded by Tokino in a lesbian like attraction and contract.
Remember when i said this was an Otaku show?

Mugio Rokuhara, He was Chihiro's only friend in the OVA. and nothing has changed about him in this show besides character design. (Which didn't change much)

Current Student Council
Ritsuko Kübel Kettenkrad, aka The President. I really fucking love her new design in this.
You see her changing into a $1000 party dress as well. Lots of boobage on this one. Remember when i said this was an Otaku show?

Kasumi Kisaragi (the chick with the Katana), OMFG BEST CHARACTER IN THE SERIES. Her voice actor for the dub is AMAZING, her mannerisms are sexy yet so fucking modest. Shes damn classy as hell and hates the shit out of Ritsuko, but protects her with impressive samurai skills because its her job as Vice President.. Remember when i said this was an Otaku show?

Lisa Humvee, the only American in this anime. Shes also the only red head that was in the ova. Shes the treasurer and types out calculations like its no body's fucking business. I really don't like her english voice over. Its annoying. The voice actor is great.. But it doesn't fit the character. This is the only character in the series to have a different voice actor from the OVA. Not sure if this still applies to Kasumi as she never spoke in the OVA. I think..
You know who the fucking Secretary is?
ITS A FUCKING DOG. Remember when i said this was an Otaku show?

Moving on.. The English voice work is AMAZING. Can you say REAL voice actors?
Tokino's VA is the infamous Veronica Taylor (Pokemon, Samurai Deeper Kyo).
The only problems with the Voice work is Chihiro's VA. Love the voice, but the execution comes out too boring.
The art? Fucking brilliant. The backgrounds and architecture fucking pretty as shit and the style of anime used is so cute that it brightens the character's appearances to capture the innocence of them. But this also allows dazzling effects of the night when the moon shines on the serious dark side of this anime. Theres LITERALLY not enough words to explain it without wasting 3 more hours of typing.
Now for what you really want to know... Was it a good anime?
For a Drama/Romance series... Yes. Yes it is.
DVD 1 was just some bullshit slapped together, but still had the somewhat lovable characters.
It was basically just 4 episodes of fillers that introduce the characters.
DVD 2 & 3 is where the shit is at. It goes from OMG KAWAII to grimdark frostbitten winter storms.. I wasn't expecting this anime to take such a strong turn into the dark side (moody and dramatic). And it gets pulled off elegantly in style. There actually isn't much script to work with... But the directors went all out to capture you with just 2 pages of writting and 12 episodes.
The dramatic feeling the show slowly builds up is at a great pace. The forbidden love triangle between Chihiro x Ritschan x Tokino is so typical in love that you just got to know more about it.

DURING AND AFTER OVA

1.Lisa 2.Ritsuko 3.kasumi 4.Komaki 5.Tokino 6.Izumi

What pisses me off is that the old character designs and character traits are COMPLETELY gone and may never return. I enjoyed the cliche colorful style and art that the OVA had. I enjoyed that Tokino was an ADDICTED mushroom whore. I really loved that Izumi was part of a Yakuza clan and was pro at majhong. I loved Komaki's modestness but still had to strip to save the team.
Now for this new retelling, it appears that any fan service shown wasn't done on purpose, but rather it just had to be done to keep it an Otaku anime. In the OVA, it was obvious that it was thrown in there because thats what the show was all about. And remember those tiny Aliens in the OVA that were in a swimming contest? Those fuckers are back. Remember that purple haired assasin out to kill Ritsko with a gun? Poor fellow got scrapped. I wished a prequel were made... I REALLY want to see how the OVA would have turned out.

...I'm really going to miss those big thighs regaurdless of how busty everyone is in the retelling.

Side note;
-The ending lets you hang there as you don't get to see what happens to everybody's relationship.
Nor do you see what happens to the ex student counsel or if Chihiro makes a good President.
-I might have liked this anime even more because of how it reminds me of Rhianna and I (Chihiro x Ritsuko)

VERDICT
Art A
Animation B-
Story C+ (There wasn't much plot power, but still enough to keep you watching)
Characters B+
Acting B-
Music A
Laughs C (The new serious approach kills anything remotely funny)
Action C
Drama A-
Execution B+ (The effects in the art went very well with the drama and suspense, but the comedy was lackluster in comparison)

Is it worth every penny? In my book, Yes. (if you're into this kind of thing)

Lucky star festa yesterday

HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY MIKU!!!

Inglourious Basterds

Miku Hatsune preforms in front of 25,000 and BLACK ROCK SHOOTER ANIME CONFIRMED

Masami Okui, Nyo.

English Arceus movie trailer

Kujibiki Unbalance Box set

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