Jyu Oh Sei/Planet of the Beast King Mini Review (anime)
November 26th, 2007 by Lianne
PG-16 for violence, some sexuality, scariness, killer plants that eat people, etc.; Wikipedia site for info since no version has been released domestically just yet, and I grabbed the screenshot from another review here
In the future — think “everyone has a job commute through space” future — a pair of pubescent twin boys who look like Dilandau from Escaflowne return home one day to find their parents murdered. The twins are then mysteriously and unceremoniously dumped on a jungle planet filled with criminals. Cue adventure!
I really wanted to like this series — a sci-fi shoujo series animated by Studio BONES (Full Metal Alchemist, Scrapped Princess) is like sweet cake and honeyed wine to me. But this show is sadly boring, complete with unlikable and surprisingly flat characters, not to mention directing that gives me the vague sensation that I’ve seen the show before (ripping off directing styles and camera shots from other shows, maybe? I can’t quite put my finger on it…). I’ve only seen the first few episodes, so when Funimation brings the show over domestically and Tokyopop translates the manga, I’ll give the series another shot. But I won’t get my hopes up again. *sigh* My guess is that this show partly suffered because it was run alongside another BONES series, Ouran High School Host Club, which is probably the best-done romantic comedy shoujo anime ever (yes, less romantic but better than even Kare Kano). BONES used all their awesome on Ouran, methinks.
Besides the excellent J-Pop closing and the hilarious and sorta awesome Japanese hip hop opening, the one saving grace of this show is the unique voice of the character known as The Third. I looked it up, only to find that he was voiced by the somewhat attractive actor Shun Oguri, who is almost exclusive to live-action stuff. You may know him as “Hanazawa…Rui” of the live-action Hana Yori Dango (good haircut) and Sano of the live-action Hana Kimi (bad haircut). For a good time, laugh for the two minutes it takes you to read through the homoerotic write-up of his personal life and trivia on Wikipedia, undoubtedly courtesy of some fangirl (possibly my roommate).
Initial impression: Don’t bother. Boy, I really could’ve made this review shorter. (Lianne)