Here’s your latest compilation of attention to older anime!
As usual, remarks from Feez are in blue and those from Thaliarchus are in red.
Blogging
Nanto has a new post up about Big X (1964). Okay, it’s actually the release of some translations, but the internet is not exactly overrun with discussions of this show so we’re putting it in this section! One reason Big X is notable is that it’s a partially lost anime: like some live-action television of its era, a substantial number of episodes are not known to survive in any storage medium.
Sticking with translation release posts which are also informative for a moment, Collectr’s latest write-up discusses Techno Police 21C (which I’m embarrassed to say I’d not heard of… it has a Wikipedia page with a strange tone and almost no references).
Land of Obscusion examines Nekojiru Gekijou Jirujiru Original (1999), which is Cat Soup‘s less well-known but similarly strange predecessor.
The latest post at Let’s Anime explores two 1970s Matsumoto titles, Space Pirate Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999, both of which are now more easily and legally accessible in North America. This is a good introduction to both shows if you’re not familiar with them, and the illustrations include photos of some interesting artefacts, such as ancient quasi-official subtitles and a bilingual Harlock LP gloss.
Wrong Every Time’s episodic posts for a couple of older titles continue: here’re Ojamajo Doremi 30 and Princess Tutu 10.
Humble Ace has new watch reports on the original Macross, episodes 19–21 and 22–24. I like Humble Ace’s blogging style, where they summarize the episode(s) by bullet-points and follow-up with thoughts and analysis.
The Great OAV Watch, meanwhile, tackles a real heavy-hitter which is turning thirty this year, the first Patlabor OVA, plus Gall Force: Eternal Story (1986; see also ‘Podcasting’ below) and Battle Arena Toshinden (1996).
Beneath the Tangles has started a series of rewatch posts for Serial Experiments Lain, joining the anniversary activity discussed in our last post.
Finally, Cecilia D’Anastasio, a writer at the k-site, recounts her search for a semi-mythical US version of Sailor Moon. What I found most striking in this was the broader idea about attempts to sell anime or anime-adjacent things in the US ‘too early’.
Podcasting
All Units, which is reviewing pairs of (primarily live-action) thrillers, has an episode on Golgo 13: The Professional paired with Elephant (1989). This is an interesting chance to hear an audio essay on an older anime from sort of outside current anime fandom, with other, much more serious, material for comparison. (It will kind of spoil parts of The Professional, if you’re concerned about that—for what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s really a film many people watch for the story!)
Oldtaku no Radio put in ninety minutes discussing the 1987 anthology Robot Carnival. (A late entry here—we missed this last time round! Sorry!)
The Retro Anime Podcast cover the first few Gall Force titles.
The Anime Nostalgia Podcast reviews the 1998 Tekken anime. I didn’t even know there was a Tekken anime, but I suppose it’s not too surprising. Plenty of fighting games have anime adaptations.
Anime World Order have a review of Maou Dante (2002).
AniFem’s latest ‘watchalong’ podcast series is Dennou Coil and at the time of writing they have podcasts out on episodes 1–6 and 7–13.
Translations
- Bosco Adventure 4, 5, 6 (GANGO)
- Bonobono (1995) 25
- Goldfish Warning 48, 49 (Senritsu)
- Sabu and Ichi’s Detective Tales 26 (Skaro)
- Magical Emi 22 (Live Evil)
- Magical Idol Pastel Yumi 21 (Johnny (sic) English)
- Dr Slump and Arale-chan 70 (SES)
Anonymous Russian Rippers have continued to put out episodes of all kinds of obscurities, including Godam, Ougon Bat, Daimos, Jeeg &c &c, so check their work out if that sounds interesting.
And, as above, Skaro have episodes of Big X and Orphan have put out subtitles for Techno Police 21C.
What we’ve been up to
Feez — I’ve begun watching Toushou Daimos, which’s one of the last anime Tadao Nagahama was involved in before his untimely death. I’ve heard very good things about Daimos, so I’ve always been curious. I’m enjoying it a lot so far! It’s reminiscent of its predecessor, Voltes V, yet incorporates aspects of a Romeo & Juliet-inspired story, and so far it’s convincing. Unfortunately only eleven episodes are subbed..… and that is a big shame.
Other than that, my life has been slowly settling down again. And now I’m playing too many video games for my own good.
Thaliarchus — I’ve been moving house! During a heatwave, in a country where domestic air-conditioning is barely known and buildings are not built for heat. So, as you can imagine, that’s been a lovely experience. I’m about halfway through the blurays of Noein, which so far largely deserves its positive reputation. It has a fine halfway-point episode which cleverly weaves in a great fight scene.
Armoured Trooper Votoms is going to be legally available in the UK for (I think) the first time, so I put out a quick thread on its virtues, influences &c, including various details from the interview with the director, Ryosuke Takahashi, from the old CPM DVDs. Also on Twitter, @sasuraiger’s trying to assemble a group-watch of Votoms, incorporating Hidive’s group chat function, if you fancy (re)watching this show in company.
Anime Redshift Chronicle 