Elemental Gelade – React (Volume One/Animé TV)

 

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

 

 

Elemental Gelade (2005) is yet another attempt to spoof the Superhero genre and Animé series that take themselves more seriously.  Unfortunately, unlike the much more entertaining, funny and successful Viewtiful Joe (reviewed elsewhere on this site), it is clueless on how to make jokey lead hero Cou be really funny.  It may have even been inspired by its longer-running counterpart, but just has nowhere to go.

 

Part of the problem is that Cou is only part of the same boring world he inhabits, while Joe is from the “real” world who enters the superhero world.  The jokes are nowhere near as funny, nor are the characters as developed or interesting.  There are constantly missed opportunities throughout the show and it wallows in its limits when all is said and done.  Who cares if he is part of the “Red Lynx” or if they reach Edel Garden?  This is not a good start to the series at all.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image has some good color, but definition is not as good as usual for this aspect ratio, though it is lacking the annoying washed-out white look that is one of the worse clichés of the genre.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo in English or Japanese has no surrounds whatsoever.  Textless opening, textless closing and three trailers for other Geneon DVDs are the only extras, though the limited edition gift box comes with a chrome metallic pencil board and headband replica that female lead Ren wears.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo