Saiyuki 10 – Trouble In Paradise (Animé TV)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B- Extras: C+ Episodes: C+
In one of
the latest “joined in progress” Animé shows we have jumped into yet, we join Saiyuki in its 10th DVD
release. The events that taken place in
this show are rooted 500 years prior, There are quests for wealth as well as
religious achievements, all set against a more “realistic” and certainly
grittier than usual for even an Animé series.
However, I doubt I would have enjoyed this any more had I started at the
beginning than where I am picking up.
Though
there does seem to be a more mature than usual tone in this series, which I
wish I saw in more Animé series, but it gets too distracted and preoccupied
with ancillary ideas to have the impact of an Akira. This is, therefore,
what we would consider an acquired taste, which I can respect on that
level. A following would certainly make
sense. It just seems it is being
stretched out for the purposes of soothing the TV grind that destroys most
series. Here, it just weakens it.
The full
frame color images are animated better than typical for TV Animé, but this is
not as sharp or as clear as the best block style Animé DVDs, though it
sometimes comes close. The Dolby Digital
is available in an English 5.1 mix and a more naturalistic 2.0 Japanese Stereo
with some Pro Logic surrounds. Episodes
39 through 42 are offered here. Extras
include the trailer, the opening and closing credits with out text, “cultural
background notes” text, production sketches and previews for 6 other ADV Animé
DVD titles.
- Nicholas Sheffo
