Netflix has continued to add to its growing library of anime titles, some spectacular, some a little awful. Of course, that is the melting pot we are so fortunate to have on our Netflix-capable devices, so it’s about time to get down to what you should be watching.
The good:
Baccano! is a very Japanese take on Prohibition-era Gangster stories. In fact, the entire original series of light novels was inspired by Brian De Palma’s “The Untouchables”. What makes it different is, of course, the addition of supernatural elements such as immortality and alchemy. This blend of Mafioso gang wars and fantasy is definitely worth your time, so add this one to your favorites.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
FMA is a staple series for any anime fan, and has been that way for years. So why a remake of an already wildly popular franchise? You see, the original series was produced side by side with the manga, finishing its story before the graphic novels. A few characters and storyline elements were left out of the animated companion as a result. Brotherhood attempts to bridge this gap, and does so pretty well. For fans, this edition is pretty decent, although I feel that the emotional impact of some of the more tragic scenes is lessened in the remake. I’d still recommend the original airing over this, but in no way is this version bad. The animation quality is a far step over the already impressive first run, and the action sequences are top-notch.
For the gamers:
For fans of the Halo and Dead Space series, Netflix is streaming the titles on both universes. Halo Legends is animated with multiple artists doing their own parts of a larger story as a whole, continuing the tradition of expanding on entertainment like The Matrix, or Batman. The shifts in visuals make this one easy and interesting to watch, and any Halo fan will enjoy the new insight into the background stories of the Covenant War. Included is a story of the first Arbiter who refused the covenant faith, and a non-cannon parody of the events covered in the games.
Dead Space: Downfall is actually not that great. It’s Americanized anime, so it’s not actually authentic. However the company based out of Korea is famous for its work on “The Boondocks” series on Adult Swim, and the animation is pretty decent. The story is a filler between Dead Space 1 & 2, and the cast is populated by cliched archetypes, including “F-bomb black guy” and “Tough exterior, heart of gold” heroine. These stereotypes match the somewhat cheesy dialog and story throughout.
However, it’s enjoyable in a campy horror way. It doesn’t care if you want deeper plot line, it just begs to be sat down and streamed with a few good friends and a bucket of popcorn.
Finally, a classic worth revisiting:
The complete Trigun episode collection has been uploaded to Netflix, and it’s been a real treat re-watching another anime that had an impact on the medium. Trigun has a definite American stamp on it, and here’s why; when Trigun was released in Japan in 1998, it had to run against the big boy, the legend, Cowboy Bebop. It was lost in the ratings shuffle, but managed to find a home among fans in the states.
Following the adventures of “Vash the Stanpede”, Trigun takes place in a wasteland western style world. Vash is the most wanted criminal in existence, boasting a six-billion double-dollar bounty on his head for supposedly destroying an entire town in few hours. However the Vash we see is just an unlucky, clumsy oaf who trouble just seems to follow. Despite this, he always manages to come out on top to save the day.
The world develops around the characters, and it was always exciting to get a bit more background on Vash as the plot deepened. The dialog can be hilarious at times, but a few over-the-top moments flat-lined and were more awkward then anything. This may just be a product of localization and voice-over changes, but it’s there. All in all though, this series is a gem, and more than worth your time. All 26 episodes are ready to stream, so check it out today.
That about wraps us up this week, so keeping reading Big Shiny Robot! for all your nerd news, and more anime worth your time on Netflix right here.
*(The author of this article is Pixelbot 7, and he’s trying to move out of state on a limited budget-Visit here to see how you can help)