Welcome to Astral Animations, where we'll examine the imports of Japanese animation currently available in the United States.
This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the movie.
That said, on to the review!
Demons threatened the security of Japan during the early years of the Taisho Era, and only the bravery and determination of that nation's soldiers preserved the peace. One among those Kazuma Shinguchi, wielder of the Northern Long Blade Style Spirit Sword Cherry Blossom Spirit Attack, gave his life for the sake of his nation. Now it is his daughter's turn to battle the demons. But first she must conquer the ones which lurk within her, which is the only way she will ever wield the Spirit Sword, Arataka, or learn the Cherry Blossom Spirit Attack for herself. The only question is if she'll be able to do this without her father's help...and if she'll achieve what she's seeking before the demons begin their attacks in earnest.
She won't be alone, however. Already young women with strong spirit energy are being gathered in Tokyo to form the nucleus of the Imperial Floral Assault Unit. Young women, because they are the only ones thus far able to move the Oobu steam-powered armor. Each girl has her own strengths: Iris Chateaubriand's psychic powers; Sumire Kanzaki's mastery of the Kanzaki Rising Wind Style; Kanna Kirishima's heritage in the Kirishima Open-Handed style of karate; Ri Kohran's exceptional scientific skills; and Maria Tachibana's cool command of nearly any situation. Together they could become the greatest fighting force the nation has ever seen.
But there are problems. Kohran is busy working on the Imperial Floral Assault Unit's support vehicles, important work that can't be interrupted. Iris's psychic abilities are a direct reflection of her emotions, causing unwanted damage when she loses her temper. And Kanna and Sumire just can't seem to get along. And Maria, despite her best efforts and those of the unit's officers, Admiral Yoneda and Ayame, can only watch as the team begins to splinter. And now the admiral wants to add another girl to the roster? What will destroy the team first, the demons or the team?
Sakura Wars features the first two episodes in a four-part (what's available, anyway) series, with each episode approximately 30 minutes long. There's a great deal to recommend it to viewers of all ages and types. Whether you like stories set in the past (the story takes place in the 1920s), enjoy supernatural manifestations (demons and the like), love giant robot battles (steam-driven, but no less effective), or just enjoy watching young women in action defending the city from demons (fully clothed, you hentaitachi), you'll find it all in here.
I admit, when I first saw it on the shelves I didn't think much about it. The premise seemed a bit far-fetched. I could accept the people of Japan fighting against the demons, no probem. But then to watch the previews on other anime tapes with these large, lumbering "mecha" fighting against demons and the like...no way could I believe it. Then, however, I thought more about it and wondered how in the world the storytellers were going to combine what essentially amounts to science and sorcery (or spirituality, if you want to call it that). And so I bought the video. I took me a while to actually watch it--until I got the second video, actually--because I had third, fourth, and fifth thoughts about it. Now? I can't stop watching it.
Even though the story itself could be serious--demons, once vanquished, now threatening to arise again is certainly the stuff of a serious story--the writers don't let the viewers get bogged down in intense action. Comedic moments are interspersed throughout the two episodes. Some seem to be running gags, like the way Sakura can't seem to understand her grandmother even when she's right next to her while her mother and the family servant, Gonji, can hear her just fine. In Gonji's case, even from outside in the yard raking leaves and/or sweeping the paths. Others, however, are solo acts, like Sumire Kanzaki's unexpected dubbing of the Oobu battle armor as the "Three Colored Pansies," a name the scientists who worked on it would never have chosen but--as she is the granddaughter of their boss--must accept. And it's a whole lot of fun to watch Sakura as she tries to read a blank scroll using all sorts of techniques: with a magnifying glass, using water to bring out "hidden" ink, holding it up to the sun, heating the paper by holding it over the fire (which has the results you might expect). And that's only involving those two girls. Remember, there are four more!
If I had to choose a character as my favorite, I'd probably have to say Sakura. Maybe it's because she's apparently the main character. On the other hand, it may be because she's trying so hard to live up to her father's memory. However, I might also choose her father, Kazuma Shinguchi. He doesn't have much stage time (he's dead, what do you expect) but in the time he does appear there's something unbearably gentle and noble about him. It makes you sorry that he's dead and not really there to guide Sakura. On the other hand, he does appear to her in visions and memories, teaching her the way to call forth the Cherry Blossom Spirit Attack. And the way he talks--in the dub and the sub--in his last two messages to Sakura gives the impression that he's become one with nature somehow, and that he continues to exist as a part of the world around Sakura. Way cool or what?
The only thing that was somewhat difficult to swallow was that the Oobu is actually a steam-powered mecha. I guess it was necessary to keep in sync with the chronal setting of the anime, but it's a little hard to accept that an entire steam engine can power such a heavy suit of armor. Of course, much of the power also comes from the girls' spirit energy, but still! I guess it's just the after-effect of watching so many giant robot anime like Robotech and Mobile Suite Gundam (among others) with more modern or futuristic power sources. It's all right, though. Taken as a whole, it only requires a minimal suspension of disbelief to enjoy this anime. So go out there and enjoy!
You should be able to purchase Sakura Wars on videotape at any video store that sells Japanese anime. Otherwise, you can contact A.D.V. Films to find out how to order it.
Interested in buying this video? You can! Just follow the links to order the English dubbed VHS version, or the DVD version. You can also visit the Stellar Video Store for other titles.
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