Actually I heard the worst ever comments you can hear about any anime, whenever a discussion was raised about this one. The least worse were about bad art and weak storyline :p . But hey, since I'm a die hard snk fan, I kept looking for this anime movie for awhile. Sure it's rare and old too, but finally I was able to get it today. And I watched it already ^^ . Now, I'm inviting you to watch it with me
.
2 hours ago :
I started watching, and the first thing I noticed was that the full length of this was only 45 minutes !!! Well, I knew that earlier before I got it, but ofcourse you wouldn't know :p . The cast was japanese but it was subtitled in english. So would we start watching that and stop talking :rolleyes: ........................... Finish already ? Oh ok that was short but let's review it.
Storyline :
Well, it was based on the first aof game for neo geo. That game didn't got all that awesome story, and in addition the movie removed some important parts in the game . They wanted it short as much as they can
. But hey, the story wasn't that all crap. I saw some B movies worse than that. Fatal Fury animes surpassed this ofcourse, but still I find the concept better than Street Fighter Alpha animation .
Now here about it, The main idea is about Ryo and Robert, two friends from totally different communities but they share their interest in martial arts (Karate specially :p ) . One day they are thought to to have stolen the "Sirius diamond" which worth so and so. Mr.Big, Who's supposed to be the worst of the baddies ever came to "South town", wanted that treasure from them. So he kidnapped Ryo's sister Yuri. And so it goes....
Simple story, but hey it's just 45 minutes :p . Plus it wasn't bad when you watch it really
.
6.5/10
Characters design :
That's something I always care for in every thing from VGs to movies and whatever else. Good designs encourage you to keep watching anyway. First we have in list :
1) Ryo Sakazaki : Owns a Karate dojo, he trains kids there. Well in the old aof games, that guy was really with no personality at all, but some angry taunts and whatever seems simply heroic. Plus his haircut was really ugh
. That look changed later in aof 3 and kof games to better. But now in that movie, Ryo was really ok to watch. Funny and outgoing really. He looked younger than in the game too, and they changed his hair color from orange to black, which was a good idea btw. Pretty cool really and made me like him more.
2) Robert Garcia : A rich italian dude. Actually that guy was one of the best snk first designs. In that movie, he has that costume which he never used in his fights in any game, but only appeared in some old Shinkiro aof art and other snk old artists. A traditional expensive suit with his red ferrari. Away from being funny to hell, that guy just have a problem against any woman.
3) Yuri Sakazaki : snk drew her better really
. Ryo's sister is so cute to be resisted (Actually I'm weak when it comes to her :p ) . Yuri's role there was to cry for help, which may remind you of the very old Donkey Kong games ^^ . I was pissed off, they didn't draw her the same she is supposed to be. Still very cute but not enough :p .
4) King : What's so unique about a thai kick boxer ? That design was made several times before, even by snk itself. I'll tell you, first of all she is a girl who like to act like men, second she fights with her waitress uniform. That's what I'd call originality ^^ . As in aof1 she is with the bad side.
5) Jack : An ordianry fattie gangester. Nothing too original in my eyes.
6) Todoh : Now that was hillarious. He had a different design there and he is now a police officer !!! You should see that by yourself, it was a nice addition.
7) Mr.Big : No joking that's what I can call a pimp. With the earings and sunglasses added to the bald head that one was tough to judge. Mr.Big used to act so big anyway.
7.5/10
Art :
Well, I knew what was the problem, it'sn't that bad. Actually Robert looks strange abit, but with time I was able to get used to him. Other than that every thing was really good looking, not the best animation though. Sometimes it's nicely animated sometimes you feel missing frames.
The strange thing it looked like an eighties American cartoon more than anime. And but for the way they drew women, I'd have sweared it's not japanese at all.
7.5/10
Effort :
Yes it was so small, I needed more myself. But the fights were good, and not with repetitve moves. And the camera moved so well, a good example is when Ryo fought with King.
Also fun factor was quite well used. Nice scenario changing too. My only complain would be that there were no trademark moves made
(like the Hoaskouken and other Kyoku-Gen moves) . But that was better than "Street fighter alpha" 's exccessive use of Shinko Hadoukens which were destroying buildings like bombs :p . (also appeared in some scenes in Fatal fury the motion picture) .
8.5/10
Overall :
Ofcourse that's not the perfect choice, but it's not the worst too . Give it a chance if you are a snk fan , interested in collecting rare anime or even looking for some old school fighting movies.
7.5/10
Extra stuff : Mr.Big reminds me with my uncle !?! But don't tell my uncle :p . (They barley look like each other, but if Big had some hair they'd look so similar :wacko: )
August 03, 2004, 10:22:09 am