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REVIEW: BASTARD!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- Part 1


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tintor2



Joined: 11 Aug 2010
Posts: 2108
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 11:13 am Reply with quote
Yeah, it's weird that the series doesn't show complete nudes despite being a Netflix show and being from a time that this type of content was common. Just look at Devilman Crybaby. Still, what I don't really get about the story is how to feel ain regards to Dark Schneider. The dude is nice and all, but he seems serious about making harems no matter the time and having a love interest doesn't bother him. Also, it confused me what the kid is supposed to be considering he sometimes completly disappears from Scheneiner's persona.
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Key
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Joined: 03 Nov 2003
Posts: 18424
Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley)
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 12:00 pm Reply with quote
Been quite a while since I've seen the OVAs, but IIRC, the fan service we're seeing in this version is the same that the OVAs had, so it's not like the new version downgrades it. Being this dodgy about showing the money bits wasn't uncommon back at the time the OVAs came out, either, and after a while I almost felt that the series was teasing the audience over that. (It would definitely fit the at-times-juvenile attitude of the OVAs if that really was going on.)

Oh, and the reviewer is understating how deep the heavy metal influence goes. Nearly all of the character, location, and spell names in the series are heavy metal references; for instance, Dark Schneider himself is named after the lead singer of the German heavy metal band which is the namesake for the spell which causes him to be released.
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BaronViolet



Joined: 27 May 2018
Posts: 228
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 12:00 pm Reply with quote
If Netflix is going to green lit an adaptation of an over the top 90s action anime why not go all out with the nudes? I really hope this isn't stupid studio censorship because that would be beyond stupid? Devilman crybaby got away with loads of nudity why not Dark Schinder?
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TheSleepyMonkey



Joined: 11 Jul 2022
Posts: 952
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 12:48 pm Reply with quote
So far, this series has been the definition of "dumb fun" - it doesn't seem to even actually attempt at making an actual good story, it's just Dark Scheiner just doing whatever the fudge he wants and being presented as this unbeatable guy that everyone either fears, respects, or gets wet over. It's edgy garbage and I love it.
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Key
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Joined: 03 Nov 2003
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Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley)
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 12:52 pm Reply with quote
BaronViolet wrote:
If Netflix is going to green lit an adaptation of an over the top 90s action anime why not go all out with the nudes? I really hope this isn't stupid studio censorship because that would be beyond stupid? Devilman crybaby got away with loads of nudity why not Dark Schinder?

It's not "stupid studio censorship" if they're just following what the original manga did. It didn't show anything defined, either.
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billy bob



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 23
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 1:03 pm Reply with quote
Plus im pretty sure in Japan, dude money bits are censored anyway.

Wonder how GOT worked over there.

Anyway as dated and tasteless as the show is, given how much of an anime snob I can be... I LOVED it so far, DS is such a fun and delightfully RUDE protag like you don't really see these days.

Character animation is kinda lame but the dub is a treat ESPECIALLY DS'S actor who for some reason is UNCREDITED.
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Multi-Facets



Joined: 15 Oct 2019
Posts: 255
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 1:12 pm Reply with quote
Key wrote:
It's not "stupid studio censorship" if they're just following what the original manga did. It didn't show anything defined, either.


Also, to springboard off this comment, I've noticed that in general and for whatever reason, a book or comic can get away with a whole heckuva lot more than a TV show or a movie can. I don't know why: Maybe it's easier to deny the sale of an age-restricted book than it is to control who's watching.

For example, the "Sorcerer Hunters" anime toned down Tira and Chocolat Misu's battle outfits for a long time while the manga went ham with them. On network TV, "Lucifer" starring Tom Ellis had to play it safe when it came to nude scenes; Netflix didn't. So while yes, Netflix could've gotten away with a lot, they're going with the style of censorship used by Kazushi Hagiwara and Studio Loud in School. Maybe that'll change, maybe it won't. [shrug]
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Beatdigga



Joined: 26 Oct 2003
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Location: New York
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 1:42 pm Reply with quote
I feel like this show should go full throttle on things in the next season after teasing it out this season, but that's another topic. Netflix ain't going to say no.

This show is still a lot of fun because it's self-aware of how ridiculous its premise is, yet keeps its characters from laughing at it. That's more important than you would think. It's the definitive example of what people in the late 80s/early 90s thought all anime was, adolescent fantasies with little regard for taboos, and yet still doing enough to enforce the strictest taboos present.
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billy bob



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 23
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 3:41 pm Reply with quote
Beatdigga wrote:
I feel like this show should go full throttle on things in the next season after teasing it out this season, but that's another topic. Netflix ain't going to say no.

This show is still a lot of fun because it's self-aware of how ridiculous its premise is, yet keeps its characters from laughing at it. That's more important than you would think. It's the definitive example of what people in the late 80s/early 90s thought all anime was, adolescent fantasies with little regard for taboos, and yet still doing enough to enforce the strictest taboos present.


On the first part, while not too sure on details I hear the manga DEFINITELY did after moving to Ultra Jump.

Second point TOTALLY AGREE. To me thats what sets it apart.
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FireChick
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Joined: 26 Mar 2006
Posts: 2476
Location: United States
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 4:54 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
Character animation is kinda lame but the dub is a treat ESPECIALLY DS'S actor who for some reason is UNCREDITED.


Isn't Kyle McCarley listed on here as DS?
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Animegomaniac



Joined: 16 Feb 2012
Posts: 4157
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 6:56 pm Reply with quote
"Series composition: Yousuke Kuroda".

That does explain a lot. Fourth wall breaking humor whose favorite target is itself; it's certainly his style. I love the fact that everyone but Yoko knows exactly who they are and what they're in while Yoko only sees the kid she helped raise and not a dark Dark Lord at all. DS allows Yoko to have power over him because he accepts she has power over him.
That's it. No "Sit!", no mental abuse or physical abuse, she has the power because they agree she has the older sister position.
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Lord Geo



Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 2665
Location: North Brunswick, New Jersey
PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:14 pm Reply with quote
billy bob wrote:
Beatdigga wrote:
I feel like this show should go full throttle on things in the next season after teasing it out this season, but that's another topic. Netflix ain't going to say no.

This show is still a lot of fun because it's self-aware of how ridiculous its premise is, yet keeps its characters from laughing at it. That's more important than you would think. It's the definitive example of what people in the late 80s/early 90s thought all anime was, adolescent fantasies with little regard for taboos, and yet still doing enough to enforce the strictest taboos present.


On the first part, while not too sure on details I hear the manga DEFINITELY did after moving to Ultra Jump.

Second point TOTALLY AGREE. To me thats what sets it apart.


The truth of the matter is that when Bastard!! moved over to Ultra Jump, which happens roughly half way into Volume 22 (so if the anime continues on after the second batch comes out next week we won't be getting to the UJ stuff for a LOOOOOOONG while still), the story was in the middle of a gigantic battle that essentially took up the entire remainder of the story arc it was telling (The Immoral Laws). Because of this, the Ultra Jump run is arguably LESS SEXUAL than any of the Shonen Jump run (Weekly or Seasonal Specials), since the story didn't really allow it to do so.

The only exception would be the stuff that made up Volume 27 (the last volume ever released, so far), but the trick there is that the most sexual part of that volume was actually added in for the tankouban & wasn't in the serialized run. As for the self-referential aspects, Bastard!! actually kind of holds back on that for the first story arc (I do hope that the anime handles the JoJo reference well, though), but from the second story arc on Dark Schneider starts becoming more & more wildly referential, from something as simple as drawing the Ide Symbol from Ideon when casting a spell to something as direct as poking fun at a character's power up by comparing it to Kikaider, GaoGaiGar's Symmetrical Docking, or Gill from Street Fighter III, because it uses a half-red/half-blue color scheme.

Trust me, while I do really enjoy Bastard!!'s first story arc, it just gets even more wild, crazy, & excellent afterwards. I really do hope that the anime does well enough to warrant another season, like Baki has done.
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billy bob



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 23
PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2022 2:24 pm Reply with quote
Wow, I had no idea.

Well, its made top 10 lists in Japan and a few EU countries before so fingers crossed on a long run, especially if it gets even Looney Tunier from now on lol.
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RR529



Joined: 14 Dec 2020
Posts: 46
PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:52 pm Reply with quote
Due to post WWII obscenity laws, Japanese productions can't show genitals even in actual adult-only materials. Netflix or no, this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Now, if it's "censoring" breasts as well, that would certainly be odd given the vibe the show gives off, but no genitals should be a given.
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Spawn29



Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 556
PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2022 3:42 pm Reply with quote
I have been a huge fan of the manga for ages and it was worth the wait to see a new adaption. I don't see how any of the tropes are dated, but to each of their own.
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