Review of Tokyo Underground: Series 1

Introduction

This is by far the best way to buy your anime. A box set containing all 26 episodes of a series in one gulp. I find the waiting trail, with releases drip-fed monthly, bi-monthly or worse, really frustrating. No wonder so many anime fans resort to lo-res fan-sub downloads or sets of dubious origin from ebay!

`TU` is a fun hybrid of fight-action (without gore or blood) and teenage romance (`Love Hina`). In truth it`s lightweight stuff. Its 26-episode story-arc could easily have been condensed into a feature length movie, though that`s entirely beside the point. TU is quite simply an entertaining diversion - there`s nothing new or innovative here, and nothing of the philosophical undertones that are a feature of some of the better animes today. I`m guessing that its target audience would be boys over the age of 12, though I must say that, despite its relatively straightforward plot and format, that I thoroughly enjoyed it myself. (Note: there`s a single mild swearword amongst the episodes that may offend the sensitive parent, though the frequent violence is pretty tame).

The tale involves four principal characters in a series of high-octane adventures in a world that exists below the Earth`s surface, below the streets of Tokyo.

Key to all the adventures are four principal characters. RUMINA ASAGI is a young high-school student who`s Grandpa has trained him to be a powerful fighter. One day two strange girls turn up at his house whilst his Grandfather is away and turn his world upside down! When trying to protect one of the two from strange foes, he is killed then resurrected, this time with amazing powers. He is able to harness the power of the wind!

RURI SARASA is a cute girl who seems to have a crush on Rumina. It transpires that she is the `Maiden of Life`, and it is she who resurrects Rumina after he `dies` defending her. Because of her tremendous power, there are those in the Underground who are intent on capturing her in order to harness her life-giving powers.

CHELSEA ROURKE is Ruri`s personal bodyguard who would give her own life to protect her. She is both pretty and tough, and is able to harness another of the elements (gravity) to help fight Ruri`s foes.

Finally, there`s Rumina`s comical sidekick, school-friend, GINOSUKE ISUZU, who wears geeky glasses (though is surprisingly handsome without them). His courage and devotion is akin to Frodo`s Sam, and he proves to be a valuable companion to the team on more than one occasion during their adventures.

The Underground is governed by `The Company` who peddle propaganda to their population that the over-ground is evil. The truth is that they have plans to waken the power of the underground`s sleeping dragon`s to wage war and devastation on the over ground world. They believe that Ruri`s powers will enable them to achieve this diabolical purpose. They also have an unhealthy disregard for their own population despite propaganda to the contrary.

Thus the stage is set for a series of episode length battles and adventures that follow the general story-arc of Ruri`s recapture and rescue. The plot is country-simple (unlike some anime where the plot seems to have got `lost in translation`!), so will entertain you without demanding much in return.

Curiously the title music (an irritatingly off-key number) is replaced by a new title sequence from Episode 18 onwards. The ending sequence (with a great Cocteau Twins like song) is retained throughout.

TU`s animation is manga simple, with frequent use of rostrum stills and textured backgrounds reducing animation time. But if you`re comfortable with these oft used techniques of the genre then there`s nothing here to upset you. But Disney it aint!

Video

Good transfer of an otherwise visually adequate though unremarkable anime.

Audio

I watched this with the US dub which made reasonable use of 5.1 though on occasion fed so much to the rear that it battled with dialogue which was pretty much centred. That annoyance aside, the dub is a good one though all male voices are in that clichéd half-shout, whilst the majority of female voice is sugary sweet child-like whispers, with one or two obvious exceptions (e.g. Chelsea Rourke).

Features

Just a fistful of trailers on Disc 6. These include a generic `art of anime` trailer that I`ve seen on Manga releases previously. Also includes trailers for GIS 2nd Gig, GIS 2 - Innocence, Heatguy, Millennium Actress, Submarine 707R, Tetsujin 28 and Tokyo Underground.

Conclusion

Full series box sets are the only way to go with TV series anime or Ova`s. The imposed wait-time of drip-feed releases is not only tiresome, it`s damned expensive too. No such problem with `Tokyo Underground` Series 1, presented here in its 26-episode entirety.

Whilst there`s nothing particularly innovative about TU, it does have a strong (and cute) central cast, a nice mix of humour, action and romance, and a story that even a 10 year old can follow.

In truth, its narrative is so simple that it could easily be translated into a single feature length piece, though the `filler` material is mighty entertaining.

So for anyone looking for an easy watch, or a gentle introduction to the delights of anime manga adaptations, TU could well be a good first choice. For those with a preference for something more thought provoking, cerebral or urbane, it will almost certainly fall short.