Review of R.O.D. (TV Series): Vol. 6

Introduction

So here it is finally…the penultimate volume of this highly addictive and creative anime TV series. It`s a real shame that we only get three episodes here, the final three being reserved for the last volume. At a running time of circa 75 minutes, and with compression and dual layering now able to comfortably manage a little more than we get here, I must confess to feeling slightly disappointed that I`m still three episodes short of the full-set. For fans, this will mean either a two month wait, or resorting to low-grade fan-subs. (Naturally, not endorsed here).

But with that gripe aside, the series continues with more twists, turns and revelations than a week of `Big Brother`.

So - look away NOW if you don`t want to read any spoilers!

It took me a little while to get back on track, with the delay since the last volume meaning some months had passed since viewing Volume 5. A little `memory jerker` trailer might have helped as things had started to get very complicated indeed. (Once the set is complete, I`m sure it will be far more satisfying to watch back-to back).

The previous volume ended with the group now separated. Joker (the urbane Brit) has now taken his plans of global domination to new levels, and the episode kicks off with the U.S falling under his power. He is ready to launch his new worldwide library (a metaphor for the world-wide web?) and has continued to destroy all books in order to control the dissemination of all information.

Anita crawled out of the helicopter crash and heads back to town with Wendy.

Everyone else is holed up in a secret hideaway - Nancy, Drake, Junior and Michelle.

Junior is still embittered about his discovery that Nancy is his mother, and starts dropping heavy clues. Nancy is too self-focussed to recognise these until Junior can stand her self-interest no more and blurts the whole thing out.

Joker, who has now been `captured` by the team, is held hostage and reveals how all the Paper-masters are `test tube` babies, created as part of the libraries experimentation, which is, naturally, a bombshell to all. It`s curious how they all listen without once interrupting this hated man…

Joker`s dedicated assistant puts a manipulative plan into action to secure his release which works…leaving the group with nothing to negotiate with once again, despite their reunion at the end of these action-packed three episodes.

Video

In a word, this full-frame aspect ratio transfer is great. Flawless with a nice rich colour palette, combined with detailed blacks in darker scenes. You`ll never want to watch a low-grade fan-sub again!

Audio

I listened to the English 5.1 track (though normally elect Japanese with subtitles), mainly because the English dub is superb. It just shows how good a dubbed series can be if some real effort goes into casting. The 5.1 mix is fine and effects throughout are very impressively placed, but on occasion they overwhelm the dialogue, which is frustrating. However, this seems to be very occasional.

Features

Not bad for an anime release which tend to be a bit lacking in the `features` department. There are the original Japanese previews for the three episodes if you want a sneak-peek before you begin. These are set to almost ad-libbed bits of dialogue from the English dubbing artists and are a lot of fun. There`s also a click-through production artwork section (with a mere 9 stills) for those with an interest in developing their own Manga drawing skills. I guess the only really notable extra this time is yet another English Voice-over artiste commentary track on the first episode which is fun. Interestingly, it opens with someone fluffing the line `audio commentary` so I don`t think much time and effort was put unto it. There`s a lot of giggling and frivolity though.

Conclusion

Volume 6 pulls together the loose strands set out in Volume 5 as the series makes its way into the final story arc. Whilst there is a mass of information in these three episodes (as much as the rest of the series put together) it remains satisfying viewing.

The only frustration that I have is the delay before I get to see the final three episodes. I can`t help feeling that, with a running time of under 75 minutes over the three episodes here that they could have been squeezed onto this disc. (They even admit to being mean about this in the audio commentary!) But I guess this is a way of doubling the income.

R.O.D is one of those anime`s that comes along from time to time that is full of great characters, good humour, and a strangely compelling atmosphere all of its own. The artwork is fresh, the music score perfect, the English dub quite exceptional and it`s a lot of fun.

There`s no doubt that you`ll need a huge suspension of disbelief to go with the `paper` ideas (which are highly imaginative but clearly preposterous) and there is no doubt that if you`ve made it this far, you`ll be thirsting for the final furlong.