Shelf Life

Moonlight Sonata

Both avid mountain climbers, they conquered the Seven Summits by their late 20s. After reaching the peak of Mt. Everest, they realized that the only way they could surpass their accomplishments was to go up into space, so Goro became a construction expert, while Longman became a Navy pilot. Both are so manly that not only are they naturals at everything they attempt, but they also have copious amounts of sex. Goro likes to have sex in construction cranes, while Longman always needs a good luck session before he goes out in his plane. Together, with their vast expertise (in flying/building/sexing), they eventually make it up to the moon, where scientists have discovered copious reserves of Helium 3, which will supply Earth with enough energy to solve its energy needs forever.

Did I mention that the guys really like sex? Because they have a lot of sex. In fact, this show really enjoys talking about it and showing it. One of the first scenes in the series is Goro having his way with a couple women with giant knockers. The best part? The background music, which is better suited for documentaries about the Sarangeti. Nothing says passionate love-making like a drifting clarinet solo and the dull roar of a timpani. This is pretty much standard throughout the show, whether it's people getting it on in a bed, or getting blowj's in the Jacuzzi. Goro's sexual prowess is so admired by everyone that he even has this parlor trick where he rips off his drawers in bars and does something he calls “the Giant Swirl.”

While Moonlight Mile may not be the most highbrow of anime, it does pack some gorgeous animation. One of the first things that jumped out at me was the creativity of the “camera” placement. To give an example, in the first episode, we don't just see a shot of two guys scrambling up a mountain. We get a shot of a gloved hand grabbing a crevice, then an upwards shot showing their progress from below, then a glove clutching a rope, then a puff of condensation from their mouths, then a pickaxe digging into the ice. It's absolutely gorgeous, and it makes for a really rich viewing experience. The guys never just fix machinery, or just drive a car—you see the action from several different vantage points, every single time. It really shows you just how much you can do with animation, and it's fabulous. Also, check out these slick screencaps. This is a good looking show—even if they devoted an absurd amount of time to tracing muscle outlines.

Moonlight Mile isn't so much about space itself or the lives of astronauts. It's more of a testament to what man can accomplish. It's a show that shows the hyperdrama and glamour of space, told through men so virile they pee sports cars and brisket. It's not something that will really hold up under intense scrutiny, because it's basically a bromance set to PBS Nature music, but it's really entertaining to watch. The men are easy to cheer for because they're so confident and good at what they do, and they make space look badass. This is definitely worth watching at least once, at least for the visuals.[TOP]

Like most Shin Chan box sets, you get a wide variety of themed episodes to suit your mood. My favorites tend to be the ones where they're lampooning other genres: last time, it was the Star Wars one; this time, it's the continuation of the Shin Chan: The High School Years saga. Luckily, it's right at the beginning of the set, too, so it puts you in a good mood for the rest of the episodes. Basically, they've taken all the characters, gave them 10 years, and plopped them in high school. Of course, all the characters look the same, but now Shin is an aspiring boxer who has to face one of his toughest enemies yet—a Russian fighter named Sergei who spouts delightfully clichéd jokes like, “In Russia, Hell goes to you.” Bonus points goes towards the warning, “It's Sergei's new punch! It hurts like a train! It's like his punch is the train, and your face is the tunnel!”

Best of all, though, was the music. Every important scene was met with a somber choral arrangement, making that whole saga seem like an episode of Boston Public. Lyrics included the now somewhat tired joke: “Here's a montage, here's a montage, watch him train!!!” Aside from that gem, everything else on the disc was your standard Shin fair. He occasionally makes a fart joke, while his friends punch stuffed rabbits, talk about Ralph Nader, and so forth. It's all fun and games, even if you've heard the jokes before. Because let's face it, a good chunk of the jokes are recycled Internet gags and reused comedy bits.

Still, Shin Chan is somewhat like an old pair of socks. It may be a little worn out, and the logo may have faded a long time ago, but it still fits, and it still feels relatively comfy when you're lounging around the house. I'm at the point where I no longer anxiously rip the shrink wrap off new boxsets, but I never regret watching any of the episodes. Even if I'm pretty sure I want to punch each and every character at this point. Like a train.[TOP]