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REVIEW: Ikki Tousen DVD 1


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biliano*



Joined: 11 Feb 2004
Posts: 0
PostPosted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:59 am Reply with quote
Quote:
Ikki Tousen sets low goals for itself and accomplishes them eminently: lots of fighting, and lots of pantyshots. Sadly, these goals do not equate to the criteria of what makes good anime, and what we get stuck with is a story as thin as the girls' outfits, coupled with visuals that try to titillate but get hung up on technical issues. If you like hot girls, or if you like fighting, or if you like hot girls fighting, you can surely find plenty of other anime titles containing those elements that don't stoop to the level of Ikki Tousen.


Two titles that I would suggest would be Najica Blitz Tactics and Tenjo Tenge. They at least have a plot, which doesn't exist in Ikki Tousen.

Yes, Ikki Tousen exists for one reason and one reason only: fan service, fan service, and more fan service. It's all about the fan service, baby!
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darkchibi07



Joined: 15 Oct 2003
Posts: 5512
PostPosted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 7:58 am Reply with quote
biliano wrote:


Yes, Ikki Tousen exists for one reason and one reason only: fan service, fan service, and more fan service. It's all about the fan service, baby!


Oh HELL YEAH! Cool

*plans to buy 1st volume*
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Godaistudios



Joined: 12 Jun 2003
Posts: 2075
Location: Albuquerque, NM (the land of entrapment)
PostPosted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:45 pm Reply with quote
Nah... there's a plot in Ikkitousen, but it gets lost amidst all the panty shots... I don't think the animation is as bad as Carlos makes it out to be, but otherwise, it's a pretty awful series.
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IanC



Joined: 26 Sep 2004
Posts: 685
Location: Essex, England
PostPosted: Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:38 pm Reply with quote
I like this show.... Embarassed
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Himemiya



Joined: 30 Jun 2004
Posts: 43
Location: NC
PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:20 pm Reply with quote
The good parts about Ikkitousen (as coming from a girl) keep a balance in this show.

I like this show because though there is no major character development, there is plot development. It's interesting to see how the legend is portrayed by the characters and their confrontations. Most every episode ends with how it was in the legend. It's only 13 episodes, and the plot is more important than the char development (IMHO).

The animation is strange, and at times doesn't make any sense. Proportion is definitely off, the girl's clothes get ripped off for no reason, and most sexual scenes aren't done quite right. By the way... Hakufu, honey, wear a bra.

I don't watch the show for the big boobies swinging around and the panty shots as much. The fight sequences are well orchestrated, there's just enough backstory in the characters to understand them a bit, and of course the drama.

But the main reason I watch and love this show is the girls fight, and they win. They don't fight to protect their boyfriend, they don't wimp out in the middle, they don't have magical wands or transformations, they don't have guns or mechs. They straight out FIGHT, fists and kicks and bruises and broken arms. Ikkitousen was the first anime I saw where this happened. Badass girls are common, but how often do you see them fighting like the boys? In Naruto, most of the girls ended up flaking or losing for stupid reasons. I'm sure Tenjo Tenge has fighting as well (I haven't seen it), but darnit Ikkitousen came first! Cool The main character is (an annoying) girl, who fights and wins. Hard to come by.

I really like the characters. Ryomou has past friends and past drama, and fights for a reason. And she's BAT-SH** CRAZY. Any of these girls would be fun to cosplay for the fighting and posing and badass-ed-ness.

IN CONCLUSION, There are many reasons to try this show out other than fanservice. For some people, the bad parts are worth it for the good parts; for others, the bad parts are too bothersome to watch at all. If the animation style bothers you, try out the manga (Battle Vixens in the US). Give fighting girls a chance! </ insanely long post>
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DriftRoot



Joined: 20 Jun 2003
Posts: 222
Location: NH
PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:54 pm Reply with quote
Himemiya wrote:
...how often do you see them fighting like the boys? In Naruto, most of the girls ended up flaking or losing for stupid reasons. I'm sure Tenjo Tenge has fighting as well (I haven't seen it), but darnit Ikkitousen came first!


You're going to luuuuvvvvv TenTen. Not only do the girls fight like the guys, in most cases they fight the best, have their clothes ripped off for plausible (if far too convenient) reasons and wear bras (sometimes), they only lose for good reasons i.e. they're not good enough vs. "ohhhh I'm a girl and I can't take this any more" or "oooohhh, I am too embarressed by my panties showing to keep kicking so high."

Always hated that last situation. For God's sake, if anime girls are so horrified by the thought of guys sneaking a peek, at WHATEVER, then don't wear half-inch miniskirts and diving cleavage. Rolling Eyes
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Jadress



Joined: 08 Oct 2003
Posts: 807
Location: Seattle. It purdy and nerdy!
PostPosted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 3:37 am Reply with quote
I totally connect with what Himemiya said. I really like Naruto a lot, but was always annoyed that all the female characters were weak, glossed over, or otherwise inhibited and not as bad ass as the boys. Judging from reviews and what people have said, I probably won't see Ikkitousen, but it is good to see girls breaking eachothers' faces just as well as the guys. Though for once, I'd like to see an anime/manga that has this without the fan service or sexual connotations. Okay, I'm asking for too much, I know.

Oh, on a similar vein, anyone ever see that OAV ShadowSkill? It was terrible.. everytime the girl fought, she looked gorgeous even when defeated.. when the guy fought, he got bruised and battered and bloody. Stupid rules of society...
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JackBassV



Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 241
Location: Coventry, England
PostPosted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 6:44 am Reply with quote
Me, I love Ikki Tousen Smile and I love Battle Vixens (Why the name change!?)

Seen the whole series, and it improves as it goes on.
BUT, I love the way the Three Kingdoms period is translated to the schools, especially since it's a period of history I find interesting.

In terms of fan service, Najica is much better.

If you want strong female characters, you're stuck with Najica, Ikki Tousen, Azumanga Daioh and Maria-sama Ga Miteru.

Okay, no fighting in the last two, just girls in school and no fanservice, but they're my two favourite series Very Happy
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biliano*



Joined: 11 Feb 2004
Posts: 0
PostPosted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 8:09 am Reply with quote
JackBassV wrote:
If you want strong female characters, you're stuck with Najica, Ikki Tousen, Azumanga Daioh and Maria-sama Ga Miteru.


You forgot another strong female character - Sora Naegino of Kaleido Star. Wink

OK, I rented Ikki Tousen last week, and I'll say that I have a change of heart about this series. It's not as awful as everyone thinks it is; I actually enjoyed it. I still think that it only exists for the fan service and that there's no indication of a good plot, but some of the technical elements of the series are pretty decent. The music is catchy, and the animation is pretty good. I'm a little shocked that Carlos gave low grades to the animation and artwork, since Ikki Tousen is a J.C. Staff title, and their titles usually have good animation and artwork.

BTW, Himemiya, Hakufu might wear a bra in the anime, but she doesn't wear one in the manga, baby! Very Happy
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Raoh



Joined: 28 Jul 2003
Posts: 357
Location: Florence, OR
PostPosted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 5:45 pm Reply with quote
[quote="biliano"]
JackBassV wrote:
BTW, Himemiya, Hakufu might wear a bra in the anime, but she doesn't wear one in the manga, baby! Very Happy

Well said. And if anyone thinks the anime has fanservice, check out the manga. It shouldn't be titled "Battle Vixens", it should be titled "Fanservice O'Plenty".

Oddly enough, I knew Ikki was bad, having watched the fansub when it came out, yet I still enjoyed it, and I bought the first DVD (Boxset, which came with a cool replica earring. Now I gotta pierce my left ear so I can wear it and feel cool!), and even though I knew it had little development and plot, I still found myself enjoying it.

The bottom line is, even though Ikki can be bad at times, it can still be a very enjoyable anime to watch.

As for Naruto, I disagree. I think Tsunade is physically one of the strongest, if not THE strongest in the series, and she's a female. So I think what they're trying to say in Naruto is it takes alot more work for females to become stronger than guys. But when they do, look out, or you might find yourself on the otherside of a wall-crushing fist. Very Happy
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JackBassV



Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 241
Location: Coventry, England
PostPosted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:54 pm Reply with quote
biliano wrote:
JackBassV wrote:
If you want strong female characters, you're stuck with Najica, Ikki Tousen, Azumanga Daioh and Maria-sama Ga Miteru.


You forgot another strong female character - Sora Naegino of Kaleido Star. Wink


Didn't forget Kaleido Star, just don't like it Razz

Strangely though, i do like Sora's character, just don't like the series.
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Romuska
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Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 811
PostPosted: Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:51 pm Reply with quote
This one's for all the kids that can't buy porn. As for the rest of us, back to Love Doll.
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JackBassV



Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 241
Location: Coventry, England
PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 2:50 pm Reply with quote
Romuska wrote:
This one's for all the kids that can't buy porn. As for the rest of us, back to Love Doll.


I don't know if it's my age (41 this year), but I prefer fanservice to porn :-p
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biliano*



Joined: 11 Feb 2004
Posts: 0
PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 2:58 pm Reply with quote
JackBassV wrote:
Romuska wrote:
This one's for all the kids that can't buy porn. As for the rest of us, back to Love Doll.


I don't know if it's my age (41 this year), but I prefer fanservice to porn :-p


I'm with you there. Fan service is more entertaining. Porn is just plain sick. Twisted Evil
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quincyarcher



Joined: 13 Oct 2004
Posts: 164
Location: Age of Paranoia
PostPosted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:56 pm Reply with quote
DriftRoot wrote:
Always hated that last situation. For God's sake, if anime girls are so horrified by the thought of guys sneaking a peek, at WHATEVER, then don't wear half-inch miniskirts and diving cleavage. Rolling Eyes


Confused Well, truth to be told, the longer the skirt is(unless it's ankle-length), the easier it catches in the wind. The farther it's pinned up/rolled up, there's less material to catch in the wind.

But as far as Ikki Tousen(the manga anyways), the dialogue rolls me. I like to see strong girls, but the way this series presents its girls, I'd rather it just... not. Confused
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