Forum - View topicKurau Phantom Memories
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godakame
 Posts: 112 Location: Disney World |
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A new season of anime begins, yet I go hunting for older anime series. While I was going through my occasional bot whoring spree, I came across Kurau Phantom Memory. I was quite suprised when I dove into the anime, while I was not expecting much, as I didn't do any prior research beforehand, I am greeted with some high production values; in addition, all the categories for which anime is rated, getting high marks from me. I can't believe this title slipped under my radar for so long. Kurau was made by the good people from Bones in 2004, and apparently is one of their lesser known titles(judging from number of search hits that is) which is quite a shame. This sci-fi drama is probably my favorite Bones production to date. For those too lazy to go into the encyclopedia, or those with arthritis, here's a little synopsis:
While I loved this anime, I don't think many will share the same sentiments. I warn you now, for those interested, this is a slow moving series, which might put some people off. This situation is analagous to another studio Bones production: Wolf's Rain. So when I say it's "slow moving", it's about as slow moving as Wolf's Rain (minus the recap episodes). So yeah, a little problem with pacing, no big deal. I found myself enjoying the slower moments, which were used to develop the characters and their relationships more. Well if you do get strung up on it, everything else makes up for it. Wonderful characters, where the side characters get developed just as much as the 2 main characters, a pair of sisters; the chemistry between the sisters are great by the way. An interesting and original storyline (lacking these days). Consistent and top-notch animation. But if that dosen't suffice, the music will surely suck you in. Amazing soundtrack. I think it's worth watching the anime alone just for the ending song. The opening song...take it or leave it, but the ending song will rock your ears off. Hmm maybe I shouldn't put it on that high of a pedestal, it will dampen the effect once you hear it..the music was good. Okay, yeah so that was my little crappy poorly written review. I would write more, but my fingers have told me to stop typing, and I can't muster enough brainpower to say more than "Kurau Phantom Memory good". I felt I should do something to bring more attention to this underappreciated title. I highly recommend people check it out Kurau, give the first episode a try at least. It grabbed my attention at the get go. For those who did see it. What did you think? And why is it, that this anime getting licensed after the airing of the first episode in Japan in 2004 by ADV, we have yet to see a dvd released? |
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Anthony P
Posts: 227 Location: Phoenix, Arizona, US |
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I distinctly remember posting in this thread last night, but now only the first post and a new one remain. Did the discussion deteriorate to a fansub debate, and rather than lock the thread did the moderators delete all the posts save for the first one instead? |
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omar235
 Posts: 1572 Location: Florida, Jacksonvile |
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So, I'm not insane...I posted in numerous threads last night and now they are gone...even one I made myself but I have already sent a PM to Tony K. about it so I can confirm if it really did happen...so for now we wait. 
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Zalis116
Moderator
 Posts: 6903 Location: Kazune City |
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The forums were down for awhile between 12 AM and 7 AM last night (at least), so maybe something happened to that thread...I know I remember posting in it, and though I said some inflammatory things, I'm not sure if they warranted a deletion. So, to summarize what I said:
ADV seems to have a history of delays, retractions, NCND, and licensing limbo (Noir, Excel Saga, Nanaka 6/17, Super Gals! Season 2), though some titles like Paniponi Dash! seem to come out soon enough after the announcement (5 months). It would be better for companies to have some kind of consistent interval between announcement and street date, like 6 months to a year, else fans will get impatient and reach for the fansubs, and yes, they are out there for KPM. I think I could like KPM, but I'm setting it aside for now. I do like slow-paced series much of the time, although the concept isn't entirely original; the "girl gets a twin due to sci-fi incident" bit has been done in Figure 17. |
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Lynx
 Posts: 39 |
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Posts were lost due to a crash yesterday. There's a thread about it in the Announcements & Teh Rules board. |
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omar235
Posts: 1572 Location: Florida, Jacksonvile |
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Ah so it was a crash, thanks Lynx and Zalis116 for clarifing that...guess I'll have to repost my thread.
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godakame
Posts: 112 Location: Disney World |
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Gah, now this thread will fall deeper into obscurity than it would have before; I didn't expect too many people to look at it, but was interested in what those few reponses were. I remember reading Zalis's post clarifying AdV's position of unclarification. So thanks. And a couple posts of people wanting to watch the anime. And another post of some guy not liking it (the last post I saw), which I responded to. *sigh*, oh well.
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Ask John
Company Representative
Posts: 32 |
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Loved this show. It was one of my picks for best anime of 2004. Here's what I wrote about it back in December 2004:
Out of all the high profile and well known anime produced by Studio Bones, including Angelic Layer, RahXephon, Scrapped Princess, and the Cowboy Bebop movie, the often overlooked Kurau: Phantom Memory may, in fact, be their masterwork. This dramatic sci-fi story about two inhuman girls trying to find peace and happiness in the world of humans exhibited a consistently affecting warmth and humanity. Without being heavy handed, the show did a brilliant job of illustrating the way in which humans can be thoughtlessly inhumane, and that humanity has the potential for both kindness and generosity, and cruelty and narrow minded selfishness. This character study of the human race was placed within a futuristic setting that was both fantastic and utterly believable, which is a testament to the skill of the writers and artists that worked on the show. Kurau was frequently moving, not because it was manipulative, but because it methodically developed its characterizations and setting so that viewers would honestly empathize with them. Kurau: Phantom Memory continually impressed me with its ability to convey such a deep sense of compassion and humanity. If Uchuu no Stellvia was 2003's sci-fi human drama, Kurau was 2004's. |
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godakame
Posts: 112 Location: Disney World |
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 what is this, someone else who watched this!? And a much better, and persuasive way you described it than I. I'm glad to hear somebody out there watched, and appreciated this hidden gem. Now if only more people jumped on this tiny bandwagon.
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Inujun
Posts: 8 Location: currently sydney |
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I watched this too in the beginning of the year and like you, I really loved it in every aspect and sealed me as a hardcore Bones fan
this indeed was an overlooked title because it was licensed very early and doesn't have the appeal to the mainstream audience (tsundere, harem, moe, lolis{christmas may not be loli enough},ecchi, mecha) and other sorts of fanservice, guess thats y it slipped under the radar of most I just discovered it when I was looking under Bones productions and saw one that I had never heard of, yet getting extremely high ratings from other users, so decided to try it out and what a surprise I got, it started off slightly confusing but I was deeply moved by the mysterious atmosphere, the haunting background music and the beautiful ending theme, not to mention the great plot True that not many people know this, its like another hidden gem called "Fantastic Children", another anime that i consider one of the best of 2004 Anyway this anime is in my top 10, another masterpiece from Bones, just glad that others think the same way as me too |
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Zalis116
Moderator
Posts: 6903 Location: Kazune City |
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Come to think of it, I'm a bit of a BONES fan by default, considering that they've made three of my top 10 anime (Angelic Layer, FMA, and Scrapped Princess).
Wow, after reading John's post, I'm a bit more inclined to watch KPM...unfortunately, I'd have to download fansubs of a licensed anime to do that, and that would be wrong*  , so I'll do the right thing and buy it on DVD...oh, wait, ADV isn't telling us when the heck the DVDs are coming out. Guess I'll have to watch something else for the time being.
*Though of course, it wouldn't be the first or last time I've done so... |
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Jedi General
 Posts: 2485 Location: Tucson, AZ |
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Thought I'd bump this, rather than making a new topic. I just watched the first dubbed episode (thanks to the new Kurau skin), and I very much enjoyed it. I first saw an article on this series in Newtype USA, and I thought I'd check it out, being a BONES fan and all. I'm glad that I was able to sample this series for free, and I will definitely be picking up the DVD when I comes out next month, since I liked the episode and it also got a good review in this week's Shelf Life column.
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Zork
 Posts: 204 |
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After initially reading the article about Kurau Phantom Memories in the March New Type magazine I was seriously considering purchasing this anime. But a closing comment by the director in the article has made me decide not to bother.
The director, Matt Greenfield, said that not all love stories have happy endings. I take that to mean that either Kurau or Christmas will either die or have some horribly depressing thing happen to them. I buy anime mostly to be entertained, not to become depressed at the endings. If I want depression I would watch my local and world news. |
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Zalis116
Moderator
Posts: 6903 Location: Kazune City |
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Key
Moderator
 Posts: 18589 Location: Indianapolis, IN (formerly Mimiho Valley) |
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Much as I hate to admit it, I am of the same mind as Zalis116 on this. An anime (or any other TV show or movie, for that matter) will always get higher marks from me if it can work me over emotionally, even if it is being blatantly manipulative.
Besides, I just finished watching, writing, and turning in a review for the first volume, which should be up next week. It's a winner in almost every sense and a definite departure from the norm for sci-fi series. The tone of the series does imply that something truly bad is going to happen at some point, but I don't care. Quality work like this doesn't come along every week. |
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