Video:
Flawless video. This 13 episode set is distributed as a 6-7 breakdown, ensuring the highest video quality possible over 2 DVDs. The effort pays off, as I didn't detect even the slightest trace of pixelation in the series, even during the most special effects laden action scenes. This anime is worth checking out, if for nothing else than the absolutely amazing use of colors. Check out some of the screenshots I posted for this title, to see even just the tiniest taste of what I'm talking about.
Mmmmmm... did I mention 16X9 widescreen? Yum.
Audio:
Again, given the very reasonable episode breakdown on these two DVDs, the audio is flawless. I personally love the soundtrack for this show, and still have the theme song stuck in my head. The Japanese voice track sounds good, but with the amount of well-known (cartoon VA-wise, anyways) talent on the English track, I just had to go with the dub this time around. Many, many familiar voices from Ranma, Inu Yasha, Escaflowne, X-Men: Evolution, etc... all -very- fitting to the respective characters.
Subtitle:
Again, given the very reasonable episode breakdown on these two DVDs, the audio is flawless. I personally love the soundtrack for this show, and still have the theme song stuck in my head. The Japanese voice track sounds good, but with the amount of well-known (cartoon VA-wise, anyways) talent on the English track, I just had to go with the dub this time around. Many, many familiar voices from Ranma, Inu Yasha, Escaflowne, X-Men: Evolution, etc... all -very- fitting to the respective characters.
Comment:
Of all the new series I've watched this year, The Soul Taker is probably the only series that blew me away as much as sCRYed did. I really didn't have any expectations going into this show, and it got me so hooked the first time through, that I'm actually just starting it through the second time... without the slightest break in viewing.
For a 13 episode series, the writers really fleshed out an amazingly dark, gothic, comic book universe... along with some fantastically designed characters. Some of the mutant designs are like a wonderful twisting of gargoyles, transformers, and HR Giger's work.
The action scenes have the flair and slick style to go with the phenomenal use of colors in this series, giving it an over-all feeling of "cool" not rivalled by many animated predecessors.
The series has some great plot twists, and some predictable ones, but manages to pull them off in a way that you don't feel too jerked about over a short 13 episodes... and the story comes together in such a great way, without holding your hand through it at all, that you feel completely satisfied with what is going on at all times.
My highest recommendation... right up there with sCRYed for the must-sees of the year.
Review Hardware:
DVD Player(s): Sony DVP-NS315, Malata DVP-393, Sony Playstation 2
TV: Sony Trinitron 32" Flat Screen
Level: 10
Reviews: 34
Experience: 199,279
100%
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