I've seen the first six episodes of this so I'll try to complement Rare Thunder's review as well.


Somehow, the Japanese animation studios have lately begun to produce television anime (Japanese animation) with such high frame-rates that they look and feel like video only releases. The latest trio consist of three science fiction series, all with a similar bent:

Outlaw Star

Cowboy Bebop

Trigun

This will be the first of a trio of reviews, each focusing on one of these series.

There's been a drought of good sci-fi here in the states. The only sci-fi movie to come out in the past decade that was worth a look has been the Matrix (which is worth more than a look, but...). It's disappointing, to say the least, especially for a sci-fi buff. So I've turned to Japan.

Sweet.

It's a genre that Japan has no problem exploring. Their current society is based, arguably, on an empire of electronics and technology, so it holds a fascination for them. The new. The high-tech. This past year, they've come out with three outstanding anime (Japanese animation) television series that have begun to grace our video stores.

Outlaw Star follows a young bounty hunter Gene and his younger "brother" (not sure if they're actually related) Jim in their quest to discover the secret behind an ancient, powerful "Grappler" ship. Along the way, they run into space pirates a-plenty, meet some strange bed-fellows and get into all kinds of fun danger.

Sounds fun? It's more than that. Outlaw Star employs some of the finest animation techniques ever seen in a television series. The frame-rate is high and smooth and, like Neon Genesis Evangelion, could have come off of a video only release (typically better quality, higher budget, fewer episodes).

Though the story seems a little typical, so far (up to episode 6), the execution is anything but. The character designs are vibrant and clean and the action is nothing less than pure, sci-fi, intergalactic swashbuckling fun. The character actors do a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life as each episode moves them forward bit by bit in their journey to discover the secret behind the Grappler ship.

Outlaw Star also incorporates an element not usually seen in American science fiction. There's a bit of mythology incorporated here as well, with spell-casters joining the ranks of gun-toting villains. It provides an interesting, original and highly graphic aspect to the series. As if it needed any more.

The action is fast paced and exciting, full of suspense and twists and turns. And people die. No pansy G.I.-Joe-can't-hit-the-broad-side-of-an-elephant's-butt-cheek kind of fight scenes. And keep an eye out for the dogfights. Those are simply a thrill to watch.

Again, I have to talk about that seldom touched-upon aspect of entertainment. Music. The music in Outlaw Star definitely gives the show a gigantic extra punch. They've chosen to use Space Opera type music (you know, like Star Wars' sweeping scores) to enviable results. Trust me when I say it adds an unbelievable amount of quality to the show, elevating it from just being a great anime to becoming something more.

Outlaw Star is amongst the best that anime has to offer, with high action and suspense, a thrilling, original storyline and action scenes to blow the mind. This is hard core science fiction with some of the coolest tech designs I've seen in a while.

Okay, so some of the actions scenes aren't QUITE believable.

Who cares?







Recommended: Yes