Comments on: Kekkaishi Review - 84/100

by: Dan

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 07:43:26 +0000

“Fighting-series should NEVER play with hidden powers, and yet every single one seems to have them.”
I think that statement’s a little too broad for its own good. After all, in probably some of the best fight scenes the genre has known, unexpected powers bring in the suspenseful possibility that things may not go as we had all predicted.
I agree with you that the final few episodes were not as exciting as they could’ve been. I think that’s more a result of the fact that the show was ending, and the focus ultimately had to return to the characters that are important.
It was definitely a great journey, and I’m hoping for a sequel in the not-too-distant future.

by: death13a

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:42:18 +0000

I hope for second season as i really like Kekkaishi. And there is more to tell about Urekai and Karasumori. Also psgels watch Planetes(from Greek it translates to wanderers). It really is good series that for me is at same level as Cowboy Bebop.

by: bran

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:01:54 +0000

Sunrise is up there with Madhouse as my favorite studios, sure they have put out plenty of mediocre series but rarely repulsively bad like other studios.

I agree with Archer, Hunter X Hunter is the epitome of a shounen done well.

by: psgels

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:56:37 +0000

Archer: Well, there are enough chances to say how much it sucks once the next season starts, so yeah, I deliberately didn’t mention Code Geass for that one. I suspect that I’ve been using it as a bad example a few times too many. ^^;

by: Archer

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:43:38 +0000

finally a shounen-fighting series that knew that the comedy should be always present in it’s plot because most anime in this genre tend to last to long and try to hard to give us some drama in the story and it all goes downhill from there (example Bleach,very good until around ep 30 i think when i lost interest,good example Hunter X Hunter the perfect shounen-fighting series)
back to kekkaishi i was kinda disappointed by a few things in the last 3 episodes but in the end i had a lot of fun watching this anime and if i would have to recommend a shounen anime this would one of them
btw psg i am surprised you had another change to say something about Code Geass (of curse a negative remark ) and i did not find it :p i guess you got bored of mentioning it

by: nahrub

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:14:04 +0000

1st of all, kekkashi is great compared to other similar shounen anime. it knew when to stop. and the characters are not as annoying also.

2ndly, i personally prefer sunrise over gonzo. considering the series produced in 2007/2008, gonzo only manage 1/8 on an epic level. the 7 rest are been-there-done-that series or it-burned-my-eyes-watching-it series. they starting to slip more n more.

lastly, makoto shinkai’ll always do romance, satoshi kon’ll always do twisted stories n sunrise’ll always strive for commercial success. coz in the end only money pays the bill n keeps the studio running. gonzo’s quite new, they’ll learn soon enough.

imo.

by: Westlo

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:19:52 +0000

If you want to see Sunrise do something sorta slice of life than watch Planetes from the director of Code Geass, Infinite Ryvuis and Scryed.

by: apexantapex

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:26:35 +0000

I noticed a while ago that McDonald’s wasn’t appearing on their sponsor screen. That’s some big money to lose. PIty. The action flow in this one runs rings around Naruto — and I’m a Naruto fan (though Studio Pierrot makes it very, very difficult to do so. *sigh*)

I read the manga in addition to watching this show — I felt that this show had some of the best story rearrangement and filler moments I’ve seen so far. It was pretty seamless — nothing screamed “filler! timesuck!” at me. I also enjoyed the way they rewrote the ending to be more inclusive of Tokine and her abilities, while keeping the ending true to the end of this particular arc in the manga.

I agree, though, the last 3 episodes were peculiarly draggy for what should be a wham-bang shounen ending. I like character development, but it was a weird time to be doing background story on some of the ayakashi.

The animation went a little berserk toward the end — nice how Yoshimori grew this long ropy neck and Tokine sported fluttery eyelashes, a tight top and bouncing D-cups in that last scene, and then became a talking puppethead at an odd moment.

All that said, this has been a favorite of mine for a long time and I’m sad it’s over, though luckily I find it very rewatchable and of course the story goes on in the books.

by: Kim

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:31:49 +0000

Well I would recommend both Planetes and Gankutsuou. From what you like I think you would definitely like Planetes. It really focuses on the character development.

Personally I don’t really like Last Exile that much (the first half was good but I think it fell apart in the 2nd half) but a lot of people do like that one. :)

by: psgels

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:16:28 +0000

I was indeed mostly referring to the Sunrise of the 21st century, because I do acknowledge that they did a terrific job for Escaflowne. As for Planetes, I’ve yet to see that one, so I can’t judge it. :P

As for Gonzo, I’ve actually seen quite a few memorable series from them: Bokura no, Red Garden, Master of Epic, NHK ni Youkoso and Blue Submarine no.6, and I haven’t even seen their most famous works yet: Last Exile and Gankutsuou.

by: Kim

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:09:00 +0000

I think you are forgetting a lot of great Sunrise productions: Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, Planetes.

Personally I think they have a much better track record than Gonzo. IMHO the only noteworthy series I saw from Gonzo is Gankutsuou.