Post by ravenwithoutcause on Feb 11, 2005 9:41:25 GMT -5
A lot of attention has been focused on X, but many people wonder why. The original movie is delirious and beautiful. It's one of the most memorable viewing experiences an anime fan can have, in my opinion -- provided that you actually manage to pay attention and untangle the threads of a plot that's the over-boiled essence of an entire manga series. It's directed by talented veteran Rintaro (Metropolis), based on a popular manga by supergroup CLAMP, and has character designs by the fabulous Noboteru Yuuki, of Escaflowne fame -- but it's reviled by a large number of viewers due to its scatterbrain plotting and ridiculously speedy pace. Even though I like the film, I bought the Japanese laserdisc set because I didn't care if it had subtitles or not -- that's how sub-coherent it is. Judging from the first disc, this TV series will redress fans' concerns. 
X concerns the struggles of two groups over a battle for the future of Tokyo, and ultimately the fate of the world. They're the Dragons of Heaven, who are dedicated to the preservation of the world, versus The Dragons of Earth, who, like so many antagonists in Japanese pop-culture, are intent on cleansing the Earth, and they don't mean spritzing some countertops with Orange Clean. Each faction of seven psychic warriors is lead by a mystic, and everyone is searching for a mysterious lad named Kamui, who's the key to the whole apocalyptic saga. Kamui's a recalcitrant young man, and he's busy searching for the divine sword, a weapon that will allow him to do...whatever it is that he does. Everyone converges on Tokyo at the appointed time, to find their destinies. (According to my import LD box, "THEIR DESTINIES WERE FOREORDAINED 1999." Destiny is a very important theme in this series.)
The first episode on the disc, "Episode 0: An Omen", is a boiled-down condensation of the plot of the entire series. I was momentarily aghast. Doesn't anyone learn? This didn't work so great last time, guys. But after that extremely well directed if far too fragmentary peek into what's to come, we get down to nice, linear, fleshed-out plotting and pacing. Whew. X is stylish and mysterious, dark and intelligent, and filled with characters that are expertly crafted, macabre visuals and desperate situations on the eve of apocalypse. The psychic battles are almost as ostentatious as the film's, as well. It's heavy stuff. Fortunately, they got a studio well-versed in this milieu, Madhouse (who is the usual go-to for CLAMP, having also animated the X film, and Cardcaptor Sakura) and director Yoshiaki Kawajiri (Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Demon City Shinjuku, Wicked City, Ninja Scroll) to helm the project.
Even though I knew the basic story of X from a brief foray into the manga and the aforementioned movie, it was a revelation to see it all played out afresh on my screen. Suddenly I began to understand why people really do like the thing. The expert direction and taut scriptwriting in these first few episodes will give you a new window into all of the characters, who are familiar without being predictable, their introductions succinct without being trite. Kamui is an underdeveloped enigma in the film version, but his mystery is very well illustrated in the TV series. He's determined, amoral, antisocial, and puissant. Any scene with him is electric. Yoshinori Kanemori (another Madhouse vet) handles the character designs this time round by, and his angular art is far starker than Yuuki's film work.
As to the voice acting, there are a lot of relative newcomers in the Japanese-language version, but they seem particularly talented and inspired. That audio track shines. I really enjoyed the sullen performance of Kenichi Suzumura as Kamui, Fumiko Orikasa's sensitive and determined Kotori, and Junichi Suwabe's loyal Fuma. The core cast of the series is extremely well represented. The English dub, handled by Bang Zoom! (who I'm not familiar with) is less appealing. There are a lot of names I recognize in the credits, but that doesn't seem to have translated over the final product, which I would characterize as "average." The ADR scriptwriting is a tiny bit stilted, and many of the supporting actors don't seem to have found their characters yet. Another problem with the English track is that none of the lyrics, signage, or on-screen text is translated. The whole thing is soft subtitled through the DVD player, but they didn't provide a track to handle that for dub watchers. I'm unimpressed, as that's becoming quite a common feature. Pioneer has great video quality down pat, but their DVD production seems to be lagging a little bit behind otherwise.
The plot's convoluted nature is introduced by degrees this time, and you actually have time to let the jagged little nuggets sink into your brain before you're whipped to a new situation. Exposition is snuck in without seeming too obvious (although only just, in some circumstances) and the situations come alive. Kotori, the tragic heroine of the series, really surprised me. In the film she's little more than a vapid trinket for the two groups to fight over; in the TV series, I immediately began to see why they care to fight over her. In short, this first disc is a perfect intro to the struggles to come -- but unfortunately, given the fact that Episode 0 is limited to premonitory burbling, this disc just seems a little short on meatiness. Pioneer didn't cheat us -- it's the original series creators who did. Still, I can't wait to sink my teeth into the second disc. The way this series is shaping up, it'll provide the sinister mystery and multi-layered character struggle we've always hoped X could be.
Bottom line, a 9/10
