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Forum - View topicSaber Marionette J, et al
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DragonsRevenge
 Posts: 1150 |
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I found J and J to X at best buy for a measily 15 bucks a piece about a month a go. I remember Right Stuf having the entire franschise on thier weekily special, and I had wanted to see it since.
Basically it's a Harem title with robots. Terra II is populated by men with the only "women" being in the form of robots called Marionettes. There are a few with "maiden circuits" who allow them to think and act just like human women. Guess it's pointless for me to give a summary since you've either all seen it, or could've just looked it up in the encyclopedia. J is a pretty entertaining series- they both are, really- nothing that really jumps out at me. Both have have poignant moments, centering on the Marionettes as they continue to grow and develop human emotions. One of the best episodes was an early one in the J to X series, where Cherry cares for an infant. The biggest problem I have with J to X is the character designs are atrocious, compared to the first one. They're overly cartoony, even during the more dramatic moments, and it's really distracting. Even now that I'm watching it, and have gotten used to it, going back to the first one, the difference is all the more apparent . Overall, they're entertaining, nothing mindblowing, but worth a watch. Especially for 15 bucks a piece. Now then, I know there's like two OVA's besides. How are they? |
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undeadben
 Posts: 1212 Location: West Texas |
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Well there is Saber Marionette J Again which is a direct sequel to SMJ and happens before J-X. I thought it was pretty good. It's still fun like the series and it just sort of tells its own little side story about a "mysterious" marionette. One of my only big complaints is that it tries to do some CG work that sort of sticks out like a sore thumb sometimes, but outside that the artwork is about the same as SMJ, maybe a bit better. You're not missing much if you don't watch it, but if you like the series and want to see another story with the characters, it's alright. I like all the SMJ series but Saber Marionette R is my favorite. The OAV was made about a year before SMJ, and is only 3 episode but I thought it outstripped the two series in almost every category; it has better character designs, a better story, and even better action, in my opinion. Oh, and It takes place on the same planet in the same universe, but it does not really have any connection to the other series, despite that the marionettes have the same names, so it's pretty much its own little story. |
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Tony K.
 SubscriberModerator  Posts: 12083 Location: Frisco, TX |
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Wow, it's great to see more people who actually like the SMJ franchise. I first saw J through a bootleg (didn't know what a bootleg was at the time, but later bought the Ultimate Collection to make up for it). I thought the series was Excellent and that the characters, while a bit cliché, were fun to watch. The chemistry developed between Otaru and the girls, the bittersweet relationship between Faust and his girls, and a little Hanagata on the side made for a great mix of drama and comedy.
But after J, I felt it lost some of its appeal. I didn't like how J Again and J to X changed the art style and made everything all smooth and digital. The paint and coloring just seemed to drain that vintage quality that J has. I will say J to X carried over much of the same atmosphere of J, but it felt a little more emo at times. The ending, however, was pretty good and enough to make me forget some of those moments. I haven't seen R, but I do have the DVD sitting on my shelf waiting for me to watch, so I can't say anything on that one. J Again is okay, I suppose. It's been a while since I've seen it and I don't remember much other than a new character they introduce (strictly for that timeline) and something to do with spoiler[ Faust joining Otaru. Or maybe I'm thinking of J to X. ]. |
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DragonsRevenge
Posts: 1150 |
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Lol, I can't stand Hanagata. He serves no purpose whatsover but to provide crappy ambigously gay slapstick humor. In the very rare occasion he does get serious, the next word he utters just ruins it. I can't imagine a more useless character. Even the pontas are more fun to watch than he is.
SMJ2X is fast becoming my favorite of the two I own, ugly animation aside, this series really develops them way beyond the first one. |
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Tony K.
Subscriber Moderator Posts: 12083 Location: Frisco, TX |
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I found Hanagata's flamboyance to be very entertaining, mostly because of his seiyuu, Takehito Koyasu. Prior to his role as Hana, all I kept seeing him play were mostly bishounen characters, so it was a nice change of pace to hear him act like such a fruit.
And big ups to Yuuka Imai for Otaru. Her performance would later influence my checking out of the Crest/Banner of the Stars series because I knew she was playing Jinto. It really bugs me to hear people badmouth even the thought of having female seiyuu play male roles. I've heard many, many outstanding performances, and Imai has done at least two of them. But yeah, the story and characters in J to X do have a deeper sense of drama and emotion than J. My friends who have seen it all really like the ending spoiler[ and it nearly had me in disbelief when I thought all three of them were going to die, but it's great that they were "reborn."]. |
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DragonsRevenge
Posts: 1150 |
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I just finished it.
spoiler[I found it kind of depressing to find that they were reborn. Now they wouldnt be able to have the same relationship he had before they went to Xian, at least. But at least raising them as his daughters he really can love them equally, instead of having to choose just one.] I'd say this was the best couple series I've seen since Now and Then... last winter, but I haven't seen very many since then. I will say it was worth the money. |
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