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Exclusive review: Inu-Yasha:
Rumiko Takahashi's (Ranma 1/2, Maison Ikkoku, Mermaid Tales) new hit TV series in Japan
  Rating: R
  U.S. Distribution Rights: Bandai Entertainment
  Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi


Saber Marionette J Again (OVA)

Description:    Lime, Cherry, and Bloodberry, female-like androids called marionettes, have returned to Otaru's side. The somewhat reformed marionettes of Faust (Tiger, Luchs, and Panther) are sent to stay with Otaru and friends to learn more about being human. Enter a seventh marionette named Marine, who has a mysterious power -- and they all possess the special maiden circuit that allows a marionette to feel emotions!

Overall Grade: 88% (B+)

The Saber Marionette J (TV) Review
The Saber Marionette J to X (OVA) Review
The Saber Marionette R (OVA) Review

  Reviewer #1: Andrew Kent
  Episodes reviewed: 1-6; subtitled
Grade: 93% (A)
   The SMJ Again OVAs are a bridging series, occurring after the events of Saber Marionette J but before the sequel, Saber Marionette J to X. As such, shattering plot developments are more or less out of the question. What's left is a mix of humor and drama that centers around Otaru's post-J domestic life and a new marionette, Marine.

My first reaction was, "what, five isn't enough marionettes?" The first episode deals with Faust's marionettes, who have overcome their antipathy for Otaru and the others, but are also hopeless at any sort of domestic task, and are staying with Otaru for "household training". Soon, the new, mysterious, and super-powerful marionette Marine shows up, and her rather naïve outlook makes Otaru and Lime realize some things about their relationship. The series closes in rather explosive fashion as the New Texas government tries to cover up their experimental failure and all of the parties that survived SMJ are reunited in an attempt to save the world from a natural catastrophe.

The animation is great, a cut above SMJ's already high standards... except for some of the computer-assisted animation. This was an early computer-assisted-animation project, and it shows. Some of the effects, such as ripples on water, are stunning; some of the others aren't, and it tends to stick out with a sore thumb when it doesn't work. Still, the overall quality is good. I also have to weigh in my approval for the multiple opening sequences, a different one every episode - the cosplay opening was especially creative. There's a lot more sexual references, though, especially in episode three.

As a native Houstonian, I am obliged to register my disapproval of the hideous stereotyping of Texans used in this anime. Sorry, that's out of the way. Heh.

On a more serious note, this series accomplishes the same thing as the full SMJ series does, but in miniature... going from a witty comedy to a dramatic cliffhanger. If you've seen SMJ, then you'll be extremely pleased with this addition. If you haven't, avoid it... not because it's not funny on its own, but because the nature of a sequel would subject you to hideous spoilers for the first series. Watch J, then J Again.



  Reviewer #2: Zac Bertschy
  Episodes reviewed: 1-6, subtitled
Grade: 83% (B)
   Saber Marionette J wasn't a bad show, it just didn't have a whole lot going for it in terms of storyline and character development. It garnered a sizable fanbase and made it over to the U.S. after a few years, picking up another small sect of devoted hardcore fans. Not yet ready to commit to another TV series, Bandai released this 6-episode OVA series. Surprisingly, I enjoyed this OVA series far more than the TV show that preceded it or the one that followed it. It's just the right length, and does everything that a show like this needs to do.

I think the real problem with the original Saber Marionette J series was its length; they had a good idea, but it was really better suited to a 13-episode format. They could have just cut right to the chase and given us the meat of the storyline without going through 20 episodes of filler. This OVA series does what I had hoped the first series would do — show us the character interaction we expect, then digging right in to the real core of the storyline. Granted, it's the same basic storyline as the first TV series. Despite how many times they try to retell it, it's still basically uninteresting at its core. But I'd much rather sit through 6 episodes of it than 26, and as far as Saber Marionette J is concerned, that's enough for me to give this OVA a good score. The animation and music are all basically the same as the TV series. Animation quality is, of course, a smidge higher and the music is all recycled heavily from the TV series. There's nothing remarkable about it or even anything especially noteworthy — just a short OVA series meant to please the hardcore fans and maybe win a few new converts. It fails at this second task; but at least it wasn't as painfully lengthy as the original TV show.



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