Gravion – Divine Steel (Animé TV)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C     Episodes: C

 

 

ADV launches yet another Animé series on DVD with Gravion – Divine Steel, which features the first five episodes of the show.  In a very clichéd set up, there is another smart scientist who is about to come up with another great robot fighter, and quicker than you can say “Gigantor” we get a hundredth-generation version of everything from the transformers, to Shogun warriors, to Power Rangers to all of their tired knock-offs.

 

There is a bit more emphasis on the female characters and the artwork is a bit better than usual, but this plays itself out very quickly.  It just offers nothing new, even though there is some effort here that shows.  The full frame image is not as sharp as it ought to be for the improvements in art, often still too soft, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 English audio is only so much of an improvement over the 2.0 Japanese Stereo with Pro Logic surrounds.  For a DVD recommended for children as young as 13, the language on the English track is surprisingly foul and graphic, which is why parents have a continuous right to be suspicious of Animé.  Extras include sketch designs, a mechanical designs booklet in the DVD case, static cling decals in the case (six in all, starting with two here), opening and closing credits without text, previews for other ADV Animé DVDs, and the Japanese trailer for this show.

 

At least those who might like the show will get some interesting extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo