Hidden gem not so hidden.
Area 88 could be an anime that would be a perfect fit for the western eighties market at the time, due to its setting, its genre, and the soundtrack that practically screams in your face: "EIGHTIESSSSSSSSSS." And as an eighties story that it is, it has a badass protagonist, something lonely and brave. And speaking of its protagonist, this is the best-worn character of the entire series, the one that carries the most its messages, and the one that has evolved the most throughout the series. Compared to the rest, these fall a bit short, since only some become more
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explored throughout the series, such as Saki, Boris, and Micky, but, although not all are so well deepened or equal charismatic than the protagonist, they fulfill within what fits, and almost all of them share the same theme and message as Shin, only that the latter concludes it and has the plus of being in a development due to the environment in which it is, That forces him to change in order to survive and adapt, and that is what Area 88 speaks of, the great power that an environment can have over us, making it even possible to make us lose importance to serious acts such as killing someone, At that point, the soldiers at war are forced to avoid falling into madness and guilt that they have taken lives that were like theirs. It is fascinating how it touches such a complex subject, that it even goes for more without being extremely convoluted. All this seasoned by a superb, epic, beautiful and dramatic soundtrack that makes many of the scenes in this OVA series touching and memorable in the extreme, a very good animation for the time with destruction and detailed action scenes (except for those abrupt cuts that make you dizzy and misplaced from time to time), and a pretty good sound section. But, even with its great points, and sounding as if this could aspire to a legendary 10/10, it has its flaws, and it gives me some anger because either they are somewhat silly mistakes or they are things that would be easily solved if they had had more time to duration.
Let me explain, in the category of silly mistakes things like that scene of Shin and Micky shooting at some bombs stuck in a plane, flying under it and making maneuvers almost impossible for anyone. And in general, that scene of the commercial plane is one of the weakest in the entire OVA, for the convenience of Saki and Ryoko, the arrival of Shin and Micky to save the day when they were supposed to be very far from that area, added to the unlikely maneuver I mentioned. Scene only saved by that beautiful moment of Shin having Ryoko and his salvation from death in front of him, but not recognizing her, as he ended up happening at the end of the play.
In the category of timing errors, there are things like the antagonist, whose motivations became quite weak, as well as little present. It's bad bad muahahahaha and that's it. And the following although it is not a mistake, it could be something that greatly improved the series, and that is that they were able to explore more the pasts, interactions and personalities of each member of Area 88, they did it in the third OVA, but I feel like it took more interactions between them to really hit the feeling when what happens happens. And ending with the "what happens happens", that crude ending shows perfectly what war is in an individual, how much it breaks the human mind, leaving sequels for life. And it is much more realistic when you see how war veterans act in real life, how bankrupt they were in the name of their country (which is even worse in the OVAs because the characters do not even have that consolation of being fighting for their country) , and the sudden change they had to undergo, of those few cases in which the phrase "The old me has already died" is a reality. It is highly proven that war, at least in the human mind, has disastrous results, which corrupt the person little by little, and make it worse, causing people themselves to crush themselves with their own morals and their thoughts, and all this makes me think. "To what extent will a war be necessary? Will all these people fighting for a cause be worth the sacrifice? Is all the pain that must be caused in order to acquire a better future worth it?" We will not know, in an issue as complex as war.
That is Area 88, an excellent piece of entertainment and reflection, a highly realistic piece with a relevant message, especially for those in Middle Eastern countries. Definitely a recommendation, and if it does not paint them, give it to them anyway, they will thank me when they see the scene of the walk in the desert. (っ ´ω`) ﾉ (╥ω╥) 8/10
Joya oculta no tan oculta.
Area 88 podría ser un anime que encajaría de manera perfecta en el mercado occidental ochentero de aquel entonces, debido a su ambientación, a su género, y a la banda sonora que prácticamente te grita a la cara: "OCHENTASSSSSSSSS." Y como historia ochentera que es, tiene un protagonista badass, algo solitario y valiente. Y hablando de su protagonista, este es el personaje mejor llevado de toda la serie, el que más carga con los mensajes de esta, y el que más evolución tiene a lo largo de la serie. Comparado a lo demás, estos se quedan un poco cortos, ya que solo algunos llegan a ser más explorados a lo largo de la serie, como lo son Saki, Boris, y Micky, pero, aunque no todos estén tan bien profundizados o sean igual de carismáticos que el protagonista, cumplen dentro de lo que cabe, y casi todos ellos comparten el mismo tema y mensaje que Shin, solo que este último lo concluye y tiene el plus de estar en un desarrollo debido al entorno en el que se encuentra, que lo orilla a cambiar para poder sobrevivir y adaptarse, y de eso habla Área 88, del gran poder que puede llegar a tener un entorno sobre nosotros, haciendo que este incluso pueda lograr que le perdamos importancia a actos graves tales como matar a alguien, a ese punto se ven orillados los soldados en guerra para no caer en la demencia y culpa de que han quitado vidas que eran como las suyas. Es fascinante como toca un tema tan complejo, que incluso da para más sin llegar a ser enrevesado en extremo. Todo esto aderezado por una banda sonora excelsa, épica, hermosa y dramática que hace que muchas de las escenas de esta serie de OVAs sean tocantes y memorables en extremo, una animación buenísima para la época con destrozos y escenas de acción detalladas (a excepción de esos cortes abruptos que te marean y desubican de vez en cuando), y un apartado sonoro bastante bueno.
Pero, aún con sus grandes puntazos, y sonando como si esto pudiese aspirar a un legendario 10/10, tiene sus defectos, y da algo de bronca porque o son errores algo tontos o son cosas que se solucionarían fácilmente si hubiesen tenido más tiempo de duración.
Me explico, en la categoría de errores tontos podrían entrar cosas como aquella escena de Shin y Micky disparandole a unas bombas pegadas en un avión, volando por abajo de él y haciendo maniobras casi imposibles para cualquier persona. Y en general, esa escena del avión comercial es de las más débiles de toda la OVA, por la conveniencia de Saki y Ryoko, la llegada de Shin y Micky para salvar el día cuando se supone ellos estaban muy alejados de la zona esa, sumado a la maniobra improbable que mencioné. Escena solamente salvada por ese lindo momento de Shin teniendo enfrente suyo a Ryoko y a su salvación de la muerte, pero no reconociéndola, tal y como terminó de pasar al final de la obra.
En la categoría de errores de tiempo, hay cosas como el antagonista, cuyas motivaciones se me hicieron bastante débiles, además de poco presentes. Es malo maloso muahahahaha y listo. Y lo siguiente aunque no sea un error, sí que pudo ser algo que mejorara en gran medida a la serie, y es que pudieron explorar más los pasados, interacciones y personalidades de cada integrante del Area 88, lo hicieron en la tercer OVA, pero siento que se requería de más interacciones entre ellos para que realmente pegara en el sentimiento cuando pasa lo que pasa.
Y terminando ya con el "pasa lo que pasa", ese final crudo deja ver a la perfección lo que es la guerra en un individuo, lo mucho que rompe la mente humana, dejando secuelas de por vida. Y es mucho más realista cuando ves como actúan veteranos de guerra en la vida real, lo quebrados que quedaron en nombre de su país (cosa que incluso es peor en las OVAs porque los personajes ni siquiera tienen ese consuelo de estar luchando por su país), y el cambio tan brusco que tuvieron que sufrir, de esos pocos casos en los que la frase "El viejo yo ya murió" es una realidad. Queda sumamente comprobado que la guerra, al menos en la mente humana, tiene resultados desastrosos, que corrompen a la persona poco a poco, y la llevan a peor, haciendo que las personas mismas se aplasten ellos solitos con su propia moral y sus pensamientos, y todo esto hace que piense. "¿Hasta qué punto será necesaria una guerra? ¿Valdrá la pena el sacrificio de toda esta gente que lucha por una causa? ¿Es un sacrificio equivalente todo el dolor que debe ser causado para poder adquirir un mejor futuro?" No lo sabremos, en un tema tan complejo como lo es la guerra.
Eso es Area 88, una pieza excelsa de entretenimiento y reflexión, una pieza sumamente realista con un mensaje relevante, más para aquellas personas en países de Oriente Medio. Definitivamente una recomendación, y si no les pinta, dénsela igual, me lo van a agradecer cuando vean la escena de la caminata en el desierto.
(っ´ω`)ﾉ(╥ω╥)
8/10
Oct 3, 2021
Hidden gem not so hidden.
Area 88 could be an anime that would be a perfect fit for the western eighties market at the time, due to its setting, its genre, and the soundtrack that practically screams in your face: "EIGHTIESSSSSSSSSS." And as an eighties story that it is, it has a badass protagonist, something lonely and brave. And speaking of its protagonist, this is the best-worn character of the entire series, the one that carries the most its messages, and the one that has evolved the most throughout the series. Compared to the rest, these fall a bit short, since only some become more ... 
Jan 20, 2021
Inuyashiki
(Anime)
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Well, let's start, it's been decades since i reviewed something.
Inuyashiki is a simple good vs evil story, really, is the most simple of concepts, more like even the most popular anime plot and spokons. This starts with Inuyashiki, and old man whose life is a disaster, his family gives a fuck about him, i think they fire him from work, and plus, the cherry on the cake: He got cancer, all this in one day. Then, for some reason, he goes to the park and starts crying about how his life is sooo miserable, AND FOR SOME REASON AN UFO OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT, CRASHES ... 
Nov 16, 2020
Araburu Kisetsu no Otome-domo yo.
(Anime)
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Really, this thing caught me offguard.
I was expecting a shitty generic anime, but it was more interesting than I tought. Araburu's history sounds ridiculous: Girls discovering sex sex sex sex Normally, this will be full of fanservice and ecchi random shit, but I don't think i've seen a single boob or sexy moment, a good surprise. The art is really really really full of a certain colours tone, it doesn't look good, it's like if you are seeing a movie with an instagram filter, a little bit weird, but I can pass it. Like I said, the story is very simple, it's just girls discovering that sex IS a thing, ... 
Sep 13, 2020
This may contain spoilers, so read it under your own risks.
Golgo 13 is an old anime, and for what I know, the manga is much older, a friend told me that it's one of the few mangas that were good in almost all the arcs, a manga that kept a good quality in storyes and all. Golgo 13: The professional, is about a professional murder, Golgo, who accepts contracts in order to kill people, the story starts when he kills the son of an old man, who is owner of a billionaire company. Now, what happens when you make an adaptation of a manga that contais ... 
Sep 4, 2020
Dragon Ball in an apocalyptic reality where the androids won against the Z warriors, with just two of heroes that still live: Trunks and Gohan.
SPPPPPPPPOiler It's a simple idea, but it sounds very interesting. This movie gives future Trunks a past, a horrible past. It's very simple, too much I say. Half of it are battles and scenes that are not so important. The plot twist and the reason of Trunks SSJ is predictable, so it hasn't the waited effect to see Gohan dead. Trunks is bland till he has his transformation, the real star of the first half of the movie is Gohan, who is now ... 
Sep 4, 2020
Ok, so I watched this thing thanks to a friend, he fucking loves any sports anime, and he likes Kimetsu, so it doesn't surprises me that he recommended me this.
spoillller To be honest, i't's good for killing time, you can sure be entertained by this, the matchs are fun and all, but that's all. The objective of the protagonist is to be the best in the rugby and blah, blah, typical spokon objective. Oh, and I don't forget the fact that the protagonist has a disadvantage in his side: He is a little boy who cannot do nothing against those giant beast that often play this ... 
Sep 4, 2020
Ansatsu Kyoushitsu
(Anime)
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Really, I can't understand why everyone think this is a good series.
Sopilers ahead. Assassination Classroom is about Koro-sensei, a monster that is so powerful, that he could break the 70% of the moon with no problem. He, for some reason, wants to be a teacher. The goverment, for some reason, gives him what he wants, and so, he starts teaching to a class of social scum that is not so social scum. God, where do I start. I can't stand the character design, those flashy colors in their hair look real bad, especially Nagisa and Karma. And talking about Nagisa, I hate him with all my soul ... 
Aug 27, 2020
Damn, this was so good, but too damn wasted.
SPPPPOILERS Shamo had a lot of potential, and the posibility of having an espectacullar end, but it didn't. The series had a good start, with Ryo killing his parents and getting into the martial arts world by pure need. The manga is very good, until the Naoto accident happens. When that happens, the manga enters in an arc that leaves all the original tone of the series behind, and it introduces the ki, a fantasy element, breaking all the realism that it previously had. But that's not all, the arc finishes and it has none repercussion, you can ... 
Aug 5, 2020
One Punch Man
(Anime)
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SSSSSSPOILEERSSSSSSSS
Yeah, yeah, the animation is really, really, REALLY good, but the history is nothing of another world. It's just a common fight shonen story, but with a character thats ridiculously powerful, yeah, that makes it better than generic shonen stories (Yeah, now I know that the anime is a seinen, lol) , but it's not enough. The secondary characters are plain as always, and the show is so desperate to make a joke about how Saitama doesn't fit in this generic super hero world, that the characters will keep like that, like generic shonen characters. Genos could perfectly be the protagonist, and the show will ... |
