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Coud Van Giruet is a sky pirate of the wind, a rather inept
member of the Red Lynx gang, who hopes to one day to become
the boss. On a raid against another ship Coud rescues Reverie
Metherlence (Ren) who turns out to be one of the Shichiko-hoju,
an Edil Raid, who, in conjunction with a human being can become
the ultimate fighting machine...
Elemental Gelade - Volume One: Scrolls of Blood is based
on the manga by Mayumi Azuma. The
show was directed by Shigeru Ueda and produced by TV TOKYO.
The disc hold a very generous five episodes of this twenty-six
episode series, so unless there is a sudden drop in the number
of shows per disc this should be quite an economical show
to collect. One of the nice things about the show, and a thing
which will help younger viewer and people like me (who has
the short term memory of an ant) is the omnipresent narrator.
Find yourself getting lost with all the new names and terminology,
no problem, every so often the narrator pops back into the
story to let you know what's happening.
Some of the animation backgrounds in the show are relatively
crude, certainly a level above your usual Saturday Morning
fare, but not by a great amount. Character design and detail
is much better, with each of the characters having a distinct
look, making it easier to follow the show.
Although it is an action/comedy show squarely aimed at a juvenile
audience, it does follow the tried and trusted pattern of
exploring the burgeoning relationship between Ren and Coud,
promising the possibility of later episodes providing a deeper,
richer show
Episode One: The Songs of the Sky and the Wind is your
average introduction episode. Coud discovers Ren in a recent
haul. Before he can get to know her they get a visit from
the Edil Complete Protection Agency (Arc Aile), who tries
to purchase Ren. Coud discovers a moral centre, which is odd
for a pirate, and refuses to sell Ren. Well this is an amine
show. So, for no good reason Ninjas attack and all hell breaks
loose.
This first show demonstrates both the strengths and weaknesses
of the following shows on the disc, good humour, interesting
characters and an odd problem with the pacing. For some reason
the makers have seen fit to interrupt many of the fight sequences
for exposition, disrupting the flow of the show.
Episode Two: A Fateful React. Cool, the girl turns
into a sword. The unnamed Ninjas kidnap Ren, although the
rescue is successful Ren and Coud are separated from the rest
of the Pirates. Ren tells Coud that she wants to go to Edil
Garden, a mythical place where science is far advanced.
So we have the main thrust of the story set up as a series
of journeys. Cloud and Ren's journey towards a relationship,
Couds journey towards manhood and their journey towards Edil
Gardens. Accompanying them on this journey are the three members
of the protection agency who provide the comic relief.
Episode Three: Betrayal and Confusion, and Ren has
been kidnapped. Ok, so the show's general set-up is Coud looses
Ren and has to fight to get her back, with the bad guys getting
larger and more difficult as they head towards Edil Garden.
Episode Four: Elemental Gelade of Light and Darkness
is the second part of the story, and the gang are still fighting
to release Ren from the castle, more running and more fighting
ensue, but little in the way of character development.
Episode Five: The Teardrop from that Day and the journey
continues. Having rescued Ren the gang has to find food and
shelter in the surrounding countryside, but all they find
is some old comrades of Coud's and trouble.
Although the extras are a little underwhelming, textless opening
and closing sequence, trailers and the DVD credits, it's interesting
to note that the PR blurb says that the disc will also be
available in a limited edition which will include volume one
of the original manga.
Audio is a rather vanilla English or Japanese stereo track
with subtitles.
Charles
Packer
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£13.99
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