IGPX Immortal Grand Prix Season Two Anime Review

IGPX Immortal Grand Prix Season Two
Bandai Entertainment
Complete Collection - 3 discs
290 mins. - 13 episodes
$39.98 (2007)
$24.98 (2006) Vol. 1-7/ea.
ISBN 669198227882
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Mitsuru Hongo
Studio - Production I.G

Synopsis: In the year 2048 the ultimate race is the Immortal Grand Prix using giant high-performance robots!  The mecha race along a 60-mile track at speeds upwards of 350 miles per hour in teams of three.  Each team battles the other in order to finish the race and the fastest ones win.  Team Satomi returns after a successful rookie season in the highest IG-1 racing level and amidst a bevy of financial troubles.  The team is made up of Takeshi Jin (talented forward and avid kendo practitioner), Liz Ricarro (spirited tomboy and martial arts expert), Amy Stapleton (former child prodigy and empathic midfielder), and Amy's co-pilot Luca (a cat!).

The IGPX racetrack has an entire city built around it

Now a new team called White Snow joins the IG-1 league.  What is their secret agenda?  Team Satomi made a lot of enemies in their first season and everyone seems to be targeting them.  Alex, the ace pilot from Team Velshtein still considers Takeshi his chief rival.  Even Fantine from Team Skylark can't decide whether she likes Takeshi as a boyfriend or an opponent.  The poor guy is being crushed by an overwhelming pressure to succeed.  Takeshi is starting to crack under the psychological strain and lashing out at his teammates.

Team Satomi struggles under the pressure of the IG-1
(from left) Amy Stapleton, Takeshi Jin, and Liz Ricarro

It's a perfect time for Team White Snow to strike using their computer hacker tactics.  Can even the talented chief mechanic, Mark Ramsey, keep them from messing with his prize mechs?  Just wait until Team Satomi faces White Snow on the racetrack - sparks will fly!  Does Team Satomi's coach, Andrei Rublev, still have a few tricks up his sleeve to save the day?  What is his mysterious connection to the famous Rocket G, former race champion who disappeared over a decade ago?  It's the final race to the finish and Team White Snow has an ultimate attack!

Team White Snow join the IG-1 and cause a major uproar

Pros: Good soundtrack, lots of mecha racing battles, animation is nice, decent CG graphics, Team Satomi have a cat co-pilot, the races/battles get kicked up a notch compared to the first season, likable characters, good voice acting, fair ending, broad appeal

Team Satomi battles Team White Snow!

Cons: Takeshi and the rest of Team Satomi turn into a bunch of whiners, the commercial break visuals (eyecatch) had really weak CG renderings, Team Satomi does far too well for a rather fresh team to the IG-1, final attach by Team White Snow as a bit silly

Fantine has doubts about her relationship with Takeshi

Mike Tells It Straight: The first season of IGPX was exciting as we meet the members of Team Satomi and their support cast while they compete as rookies against more experienced opponents.  It was fun to root for the underdogs, but things changed in the second season.  Now they're no longer rookies and have established themselves among the other teams.  Replacing the excitement of the first season we have a fractured team with Takeshi bowing under the pressure of fame.

Team Satomi faces Team Sledge Mamma

A lot of episodes are just Takeshi being a total pill and fighting with his teammates.  The only good thing which came out of this season was more intense mecha racing battles!  This time robots are smashed apart and pilots actually get injured.  The first season seemed pretty tame in comparison.  I thought Andrei's big reveal was well-played especially during the actual races.  The voice-acting continued to be top notch in the series (although I swear they changed up Fantine's voice).

Coach Andrei, owner Michiru Satomi, and assistant Jesse Martin
watch as Team Satomi flounders!

My expectations for the second season were high and I think the first season ending kind of blew it for the series.  They could have easily ended it right there without dragging out another season.  The ending for the series was still fairly decent and it's a good little show.  Definitely has broad appeal and can be watched by younger viewers.  This second season is ridiculously hard to buy at a reasonable price (as of this review) and I was incredibly lucky to find it after years of searching.  From the box cover art I expected things to get violent (red racing suits), but the show doesn't fall out of it's giant mecha racing theme.  It's not worth the inflated price and hopefully an affordable re-release will hit the market.

Can Team Satomi pull it together in time?

TO BUY and Recommendations:

Mobile Fighter G Gundam Anime Review

Mobile Fighter G Gundam
Kido Butoden Ji Gandamu or Mobile Fighting Legend G Gundam
Bandai Entertainment
Complete Collection - 12 discs
1275 minutes - 49 episodes
$49.98 (2006) Collection Parts 1-2/ea.
$49.98 (2003-2004) Box Sets 1-4/ea.
$19.98 (2002-2003) Vol. 1-12 /ea.
ISBN 669198801570
Japanese/English Audio - Japanese Subtitles
Director -Yasuhiro Imagawa
Studio - Sunrise

Synopsis: The year is Future Century 60 and much of the Earth is a ruined wasteland.  The rich and powerful have left the planet behind in order to live in orbiting space colonies.  Each colony corresponds to an influential nation of the world - Neo America, Neo Japan, and Neo Russia to name a few.  The Gundam Fight was developed to minimize casualties and property damage between nation colonies.  Each nation sends their own Gundam into the fray every four years to determine who will rule until the next fight.  The Earth is the ring as Gundams battle each other across its face causing massive damage.  FC60 sees the 13th Gundam Fight and Domon Kasshu in his Shining Gundam is the fighter for Neo Japan.

The Gundam Fight decides which country rules for the next four years

Domon is a hot-headed yet incredibly skilled martial artist whose natural talents are enhanced when he pilots his Gundam.  He is supported by Rain Mikamura as his talented mechanic and childhood friend.  Domon is obsessed with finding the whereabouts of his brother Kyoji and the renegade Dark Gundam.  Their father was the inventor of the Dark Gundam until Kyoji went rogue and fell to Earth.  Now Domon scours the globe searching for clues to find his missing brother and battling any Gundams who cross his path.  He wishes to free his father who is held in a cryogenic state by Japan's government as punishment for creating the Dark Gundam.

Domon searches for clues to his renegade brother's whereabouts

Each Gundam is equipped with the 'Mobile Trace System' which allows an unprecedented alignment of movement between pilot and machine.  This system allowed martial artists and fighters to rise to the top as Gundam pilots, and even mimics their special attacks.  The most successful Gundam fighters are the ones whose machines have been designed to enhance and emphasize their strengths as combatants.  Domon utilizes a devastating attack called the 'Shining Finger' which can destroy an enemy Gundam's head with one blow.  He is a true martial artist and speaks best through his fighting.

Domon's special finishing attack 'Shining Finger'

Along the way Domon battles some very strong fighters including:

• Neo America - Gundam Maxter piloted by Chibodee Crocket, the champion boxer who grew up in the slums of New York and made a name for himself as a fighter.  He wants to win the Gundam Fight to inspire the poor and downtrodden in his homeland.  His Gundam resembles a football player, is equipped with two guns resembling a gunslinger's revolvers, the shoulder-pads can attack to the hands as boxing gloves, and a shield which turns into a flying surfboard.  He is supported by four beautiful and skilled women - Shirly, Janet, Cath, and Bunny
• Neo France - Gundam Rose piloted by George de Sand, a chivalrous gentleman who prizes honor above all else.  He desires to win the Gundam Fight to bring honor to his country and impress Princess Marie Louise.  His Gundam is equipped with a fencing sword and most notably the 'Rose Bits' which are mentally controlled flying weapons with several features.  They can fire small beams, are numerous, and can gather together as a shield.  He is aided by his trusty manservant Raymond.
• Neo China - Dragon Gundam piloted by Sai Saici, a young martial artist and prodigal of the Shaolin Temple who wishes to restore them by winning the tournament.  He is a typical youngster prone to goofing around, but also a supreme martial artist.  He also likes to cook and has lost out on a normal childhood due to his intense training.  His Gundam has dragon claw arms which can extend, they expel fire, is equipped with many poles which can produce a barrier around opponents, and a pointed braid.  He is helped by two Shaolin monks, Zuisen and Keiun.  
• Neo Russia - Bolt Gundam piloted by Argo Gulskii, a former space pirate who is locked up in a Siberian prison along with the rest of his crew.  He wishes to win the tournament and free his crew.  His Gundam is highly armored, very strong, and equipped with magnetic balls which detach from the shoulders.  He is watched over by the attractive prison warden, Natasha.  

From left (front row) - Sai Saici, Argo Gulskii, Rain Mikimura, Domon Kashu
Chibodee Crocket, George de Sand, and the Burning/Shining Gundams (back)

The Dark Gundam makes itself known by terrorizing Japan and creating the Dark Army.  Domon is compelled to find it along with his renegade brother, Kyoji.  He encounters his teacher, Master Asia, who won the 12th Gundam Fight piloting the Haow Gundam for Neo Hong Kong.  The relief Domon feels at finding his old master is overshadowed by the revelations of the capabilities of the Dark Gundam.  Will Master Asia support his old student or seek to retain his lofty title 'Undefeated of the East'.  A mysterious group called the Shuffle Alliance surfaces to oppose both the Dark Gundam and the current batch of fighters.  What is their true purpose and intentions for our heroes and who is the King of Hearts?  

Master Asia - Domon's former teacher and returning Gundam Fight champion

Many other nation's Gundams engage in matches and fight for a seat in the final battle royale.  The final tournament site is the seat on Earth of Neo Hong Kong and presided over by the politician Wong Yunfat. These Gundams include:

• Neo England's Royal Gundam piloted by Gentle Chapman, a three-time winner of the Gundam Fight and normally has impeccable sportsmanship. Now he's an aging fighter attempting to stay in the game by any means necessary
• Neo Italy's Neros Gundam piloted by Michelo Chariot, a corrupt fighter who attempts to win at any cost and cares little for 
• Neo Sweden's Nobel Gundam piloted by Allenby Beardsley, a young female fighter.  She harbors secret behind her success
• Neo Germany's Shadow Gundam piloted by Schwartz Bruder, a mysterious masked fighter who harbors a strong interest in Domon
• Neo Nepal's Mandala Gundam piloted by Kyral Mekirel, a deadly assassin who kills his opponents before matches
• Neo Canada's Grizzly Gundam piloted by Andrew Graham, a former space researcher who has an undying hatred for Neo Russia's fighter, Argo Gulskii

Watch out for...Mermaid Gundam!  A Gundam based on a fish.

The tournament continues as Domon gets closer to finding answers about the Dark Gundam and his missing brother. What wedge will be driven between Domon and Rain concerning the origin of the Dark Gundam?  Who are the Four Kings?  What lies in wait for Domon and will he recognize his true friends before it's too late?  Can the 13th Gundam Fight possibly continue under the looming threat of the Dark Gundam?

Gundam Fight all set!  Ready!! Go!!!

Domon chases after the Dark Gundam and his brother, Kyoji

Pros: Lots of really cool looking and unique Gundam designs which are specific to each nation, opening theme songs (there were two) were catchy, Domon and Master Asia are badass fighters - they're a great team, Rain is very attractive and wears a mini-skirt, Dark (aka Devil) Gundam was fairly menacing, Shadow Gundam (Spiegel) was another really neat design and plot twist, plot builds in excitement as the series goes on, lots of little cameos by mobile suits/robots from other series (Wing Gundam, RX-78-2, Gundam F91, and more), the toys for this show were pretty awesome (particularly the gold 'hyper mode' ones)

Why does Neo Germany's pilot, Schwartz Bruder, take an interest in Domon?

Cons: For every cool Gundam design there is a goofy one (Neo Spain turns into a giant bull head?, Mermaid Gundam is...a fish?, and Neo India's Cobra Gundam looks like a cobra, sheesh) not to mention most of the character designs were silly (especially Chibodee's hairstyle!), with all the gimmicks and tournament-style fights this isn't Gundam - it's Dragon Ball!, this version of Gundam is far less mature and 'real-type' than traditional versions, Domon is a thick-headed dolt for most of the series, incredibly simple characters and situations

Domon unlocks the 'Hyper Mode' for his Shining Gundam turning it gold-hued

Mike Tells It Straight: Mobile Fighter G Gundam was a controversial departure from the traditional themes of the Gundam series franchise.  Mobile Suit Gundam originally aired in 1979-80 and was the first 'Real Robot' series which depicted giant robots set against a war-torn background.  It focused on poignant stories and became a sensation based on sales of toy model kits.  Successive Gundam series all followed the same formula to differing degrees of success.  These included Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, and many others.

Domon holds Allenby after the two finish a devastating battle

By the 1990s the Gundam franchise had been relying on the same themes for over a decade.  A new series was developed which was heavily influenced by the desire to sell [a lot of] new toys and latch onto the current successes of fighting/tournament genre anime series (primarily the very successful Dragon Ball Z and Street Fighter video game franchise).  The series departed from the 'Real Robot' genre, left behind the human perspective on the turmoils of war, and focused on a multi-national tournament.  The director was seasoned veteran Yasuhiro Imagawa, most famous at the time for storyboarding these epic 1980s series: Aura Battler Dunbine and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.  He resurrected the Giant Robo franchise with an OVA version directly prior to making this series.

The Dark (Devil) Gundam looms overhead and possesses the power
of regeneration along with many other dangerous abilities 

This series had the full backing of Bandai and was crafted primarily to sell toys, but director Imagawa's creative dedication instilled the work with its own voice.  Some amazing mechanical designs came out of this show - the Dark (Devil) Gundam, Master Gundam, Burning (God) Gundam, Shining Gundam, and Shadow Gundam were incredible.  The toys produced from this show were really fun and I picked up the entire domestic release of the action figures (from the Mobile Suit In Action aka MSIA line originally released in Japan)   These were Gundam designs unfettered by the confines of 'Real Robot' or even the laws of physics. Just pure cool and silliness.

G Gundam toys! (from left) - Shadow Gundam, Rising Gundam (front), Walter
Gundam (back and holding Berserker Nobel Gundam), Burning (God) Gundam,
Dark (Devil) Gundam, and Dark (Death) Army (Beast configuration)

The audience for the show was definitely not the die-hard Gundam fans from the 1980s who were steadily maturing in age.  They protested the loudest when this series was released.  Instead the producers and toy makers wanted to create a show for younger viewers essentially to refresh the fan-base.  It's action-packed with a fairly simple plot and some character drama.  The characters are straight-forward and the plot progression is mostly formulaic (introduction to the main fighters and then the final tournament).  Domon relies on ever-increasing power from new techniques to win each fight.

The 'Hyper Mode' toys were crazy and look gold-plated.  From left -
Gundam Maxter, Gundam Rose, Shining Gundam, Burning Gundam,
Bolt Gundam, and Dragon Gundam

I found the standout points of this series to be the relationships between certain characters.  Domon and Master Asia's student/teacher past was great to see.  The relief Domon feels when he sees Master again is great and you can tell the pair of fighters are truly unstoppable together.  Domon and Rain's relationship was just as good, but far more difficult to genuinely portray for the creators.  Rain truly cares for Domon who is fueled by this intense mission of revenge.  He usually dismisses her advice and treats her unkindly.  I disliked him quite a bit at the beginning of the show.  Even the relationship between Domon and his renegade brother Kyoji ended up being worthwhile.

Domon summons the 'Burning Finger' in his new Burning (God) Gundam

G Gundam is one of those love-hate anime.  You either love it or hate it with equal fervor.  It's a long series at 49 episodes and quite a commitment to watch in its entirety.  The series is easily split into two parts: 1) Domon's pursuit of Kyoji and the Dark Gundam and 2) the tournament saga and final battle.  It's over-the-top and the plot is geared for younger viewers, but the mecha designs and toys were great.  It was the first alternate-reality (outside of the Universal Century timeline) series which spawned a score of others (most notably Gundam Wing).  I liked the personal relationships and progressive buildup of the plot, but at times it felt pretty darn corny.  Despite the silliness I still enjoyed the series and have sat through it twice, but the recent second viewing was much less positive (I blame it on getting old).  It's such a departure from your typical Gundam show and aligns itself to the 'Super Robot' shows of the past, but crossed with a tournament series.  Younger viewers (or those young at heart) will love the giant-robot-smashing action and special moves (hyper mode was pretty neat), but sophisticated Gundam fans will likely hate it.

The new Shuffle Alliance - Gundam Rose/George de Sand (top left), Dragon
Gundam/Sai Saici (bottom left), Burning Gundam/Domon Kasshu/Rain
Mikimura (center), Bolt Gundam/Argo Gulskii (top right), and Gundam
Maxter/Chibodee Crocket (bottom right)

TO BUY and Recommendations:

Dan Doh!! The Super Shot! Anime Review

Dan Doh!! The Super Shot!
Dando
Bandai Entertainment
Complete Collection - 6 discs
650 mins. - 26 episodes
$49.98 (2008)
$79.98 (2006)
$29.98 (2005-06) Vol. 1-3/ea. (2-disc sets)
ISBN 669198262876
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Hidetoshi Oomori
Studio - HoriPro/Tokyo Kids

Synopsis: Fifth grader Tadamichi "Dandoh" Aoba is a star baseball player, but gets into trouble with the principal and is introduced to the game of golf.  He considers it a challenge and ends up really enjoying the game.  Two of his friends, Yuka Sunada and Kohei Ooike, try golf with Dandoh.  They're all lucky enough to be students of former up-and-coming star professional golfer, Shinjo Mikiyasu.  His promising career was cut short after a tragic car accident.

From left (front): Yuka, Dandoh, Kohei 

Shinjo teaches the three friends to trust themselves and take chances.  They are only allowed to use a six iron club until they are ready for learning the rest of their clubs.  They enter their first tournament and must play difficult rounds with some harsh competitors.  Yuka must deal with a pair of cruel players in her group, but manages to overcome their taunts with help from Dandoh.  Kohei suffers from a lack of self-confidence despite being a more powerful hitter than Dandoh and excellent putter.

Dandoh accidentally gets in trouble with the principal

Dandoh's positive attitude is infectious and he always plays fair.  All the players who first dislike him as someone they consider to be a naive kid end up admiring and even considering him their friend.  It's an amazing phenomena, but that's Dandoh!  He takes on impossible shots and learns from every mistake.

The three friends start practicing golf together

He meets hard-luck former pro Takuya Akano who washed out of the professional circuit by hitting another player.  Shinjo somehow talks Takuya into accepting Dandoh as his caddy and sends them to a professional tournament against some of the top golfers in the world.  Can Dandoh's youthful spirit revitalize the dispirited Takuya back into the game?

Takuya has a bad reputation among other golf professionals

Dandoh's mother abandoned his father, older sister, and him when he was very young over money problems.    He hides deep abandonment issues and hopes to someday catch the attention of his mother by winning at golf.  All the players who come into contact with Dandoh are changed by his amazing spirit.  His contemporaries, professional players, groundskeepers, and even officials can't help being enlivened after watching him play.

Yuka excels in the girls' junior competition

Dandoh plays in several juniors tournaments against a host of talented young golfers.  Can his positive energy compensate for his lack of experience?  Will he ever see his mother again and what about his disapproving father who doesn't want him to play golf?  Yuka and Kohei support their friend, but are amateurs themselves.  Witness the exciting journey of Dandoh as he learns to play golf!

Dandoh's father disapproves of him playing golf

Pros: Opening/ending theme music was surprisingly catchy (by Bullet 77), very positive message to work hard and have a good attitude, some minor sports drama during the tournaments, it tries to make golf more exciting

Dandoh's competition are very talented

Cons: Simplistic and childish, unrealistic, character designs are silly (Dandoh's blue spiky hair and some of the other golfers look goofy), makes golf look like a video game with power boosts for big shots, long series and slow-paced, dub voices and acting are pretty bad

Dandoh feels the pressure at a particularly difficult hole

Mike Tells It Straight: I like to play golf and Dan Doh!! piqued my interest as the only golf anime show I had ever heard of released in America.  I was expecting a cross between golf and Pokemon which was mostly true.  The character designs were pretty silly with Dandoh's spiky blue hair, his buddy Kohei's bleached-up bangs, and Takuya's dark green locks.  Whenever a player hit a really powerful drive the ball would make little sonic booms in the air (wish that effect happened in real life!).

Dandoh plans his next shot

Dandoh marks his ball by drawing a smiley face on it (and starts calling it Smiley Ball!), Kohei puts eyebrows on his ball, and Yuka draws eyes with eyelashes on hers.  The plot was pretty standard - kid is a great baseball player and then tries golf (if he played hockey it could have been Happy Gilmore!), his powerful swing makes him a natural long-ball driver, and he's an instant golf prodigy.  I wasn't expecting much from an obviously shounen (meant for younger viewers) and Dan Doh!! was not a surprise.  Just another typical sports anime.

Dandoh eyeballs a putt

The themes of the show are fair play, trying your best, and sticking up for your friends.  All good messages and obviously preachy.  Dan Doh!! is aimed squarely at young boys who like sports (maybe some young girls since Yuka is featured).  It's a fair effort, but nothing makes it stand out from other sports shows (maybe the opening/ending themes which are pretty catchy).  I mostly watched it in the background while doing other things and could still follow along perfectly well.  I guess if you want to introduce a kid to golf then this show might make it more exciting.  My 3-year-old daughter was entertained and loved the Smiley Ball (I made her one to play with)!  As far as I know Dan Doh!! is it if you're looking for golf anime.  

Let's go Smiley Ball!  Smiiiiiiile shot!!!

TO BUY and Recommendations:

Stratos 4: Return to Base OVA Anime Review

Stratos 4: Return to Base
Bandai Entertainment
Complete Collection - 1 disc
65 mins. - 2 episodes
$29.98 (2005)
ISBN 669198254109
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Takeshi Mori
Studio - Studio Fantasia/Bandai Visual

Synopsis: Giant meteors have been falling to Earth and endangering the population.  The organization CEMA (Comet Emergency Management Agency) was set up with the mission to stop the meteors. They put in place two levels of deterrent - the Comet Blasters intercept meteors in space by launching from orbital space stations while the Meteor Sweepers intercept any meteors which break through to the atmosphere.  The job is tough and Mikaze is one of the Meteor Sweepers based on Shimoji Island in Japan.  Her dream is to one day work in space as a Comet Blaster.

The meteor strikes are part of a covert alien invasion and the aliens can take over the bodies of humans.  Orbital Station 7 was taken over by aliens, but were stopped by Mikaze and her team.  CEMA has hushed up the alien invasion and quarantined all of the infected personnel on Earth.  The space station is undergoing repairs when it is struck by stray space debris and enters a terminal orbit.

The Meteor Sweeper crew from Shimoji Island

Impossible to repair and restore orbital status, the station will crash land on Earth with devastating effect.  It has been decided the station must be blown apart in the upper atmosphere to mitigate its potential for collateral damage to the surface.  Too bad the repair crew is trapped on the station.  Now a pair of Comet Blasters must stage a daring rescue while Mikaze and her team prepare to blow apart the station.  It's a race against the clock - will they make it in time?

Pros: Lots of fan-service and an extended swimming scene, CG planes were well done, Admiral the cat remains a funny part of the show, hilarious parody episode where the Stratos 4 planes become a combiner mecha

Mikaze has a deep moment underwater

Cons: Expensive for only two episodes, side cover says 'Retern to Base' - nice job production team, not much additional story progression, story is pretty silly, no more episodes released in North America after these two (although more episodes were made in Japan to continue/conclude the story)

Mike Tells It Straight: Stratos 4 (reviewed here) continues with two OVA (original video animation) episodes entitled Return to Base.  We get to see Mikaze and the Meteor Sweepers back in action.  The story continues directly after the events in the original series ending.  The director and animation team are the same.  These two episodes are pretty good when taken in the context of the previous 13 episodes.

Mikaze gets serious to get the job done

By themselves however, these two episodes don't stand on their own very well.  They progress the story only the slightest bit and leave it unresolved.  Another six episodes were produced in Japan entitled Stratos 4: Advance along with two final episodes called Stratos 4: Advance Final to end the series.  These episodes will presumably never see an official North America release (with dub).

It's always a shame to see an unfinished series, but I can't say this series was ever truly compelling.  Just a bit of cheesecake featuring pretty girls and a paper thin plot.  I'm just going to assume the ending was super-happy with the alien invasion stopped and Mikaze's dreams fulfilled.  Go check out Divergence EVE if you want cheesecake with a better story.

Yeah, that's how I felt about this series too

TO BUY and Recommendations:

Junkers Come Here Anime Movie Review

Junkers Come Here
Bandai Entertainment
Movie - 100 mins. - 1 disc
$29.98 (2003)
$29.98 (2004)
ISBN 669198223594
Japanese/English Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Junishi Sato
Studio - Bandai Visual/Triangle Staff

Synopsis: Hiromi is your typical 6th grade girl who has a crush on a boy and spends time with her friend.  She also has a talking dog named Junkers (pronounced Yoon-kers).  He only talks to her in order to keep from starting a media frenzy caused by a talking dog.  Junkers is a little Schnauzer with a big personality.  He keeps Hiromi company because both of her parents are so busy working they never have time to spend with her.

Junkers and Hiromi listen to a music box

Her father directs commercials and is always out of the country shooting on location somewhere.  Her mother is a corporate workaholic who spends every night at her office.  Hiromi lives with her housekeeper and tutor (yeah, that's kind of odd), but her parents are barely home.  She has developed a crush on her tutor (almost big enough to rival the housekeeper's) and he is engaged to be married after taking his college entrance exams.

Hiromi's parents in the same room for ten seconds.  Awkward!

Junkers and Hiromi go on adventures together and her imagination runs wild as an overcompensation for her solitary existence away from her parents.  She puts up a good front to hide her feelings, but the delicate facade is in danger of cracking when her mother drops a bombshell - she is considering a divorce from Hiromi's father.  Now Hiromi must face a looming divorce between her parents along with the departure of her tutor, Keisuke, after exams.  It may be too much for her to take.

Hiromi on the phone with her mom while her tutor Keisuke eats dinner

Hiromi's life is filled with problems a young kid shouldn't have to face.  It could be her magical dog Junkers can do more than just talk.  What other amazing things can he do?  Maybe he can help Hiromi keep the people she cares about in her life, but at what price?  Get ready for a magical Christmas!

Hiromi and Junkers in disguise

Pros: Super cute dog who talks!, Hiromi is awesome and her fantasies are pretty amusing, great message about spending time with your kids instead of working too much, very interesting slice-of-life view of a Japanese (upper) middle class family,

Hiromi's housekeeper cleans Junkers' feet

Cons: Heavier subject matter than indicated by the description on the case (i.e. divorce), animation feels a bit dated, ending had some hokey magical elements, Junkers is pronounced Yoon-kers (in the dub too)

Keisuke and his fiancee Yoko talk while Junkers spies on them for Hiromi

Mike Tells It Straight: Junkers Come Here is a feel-good moving with lots of comedy and cute misunderstandings.  Junkers is pretty adorable and has a fun personality.  The adventures he and Hiromi have are great.  The story gets more serious once Hiromi's mother drops the d-word - divorce.  Suddenly the story takes a serious turn as Hiromi is faced with a monumental crisis.

Hiromi's father reads a letter from her while in France

Her life is in utter turmoil and her parents are too busy working to notice.  It's a tough lesson for parents and kids to go through, but this movie gives a good portrayal.  Divorce is a heavy topic and might not be suitable for some children.  Definitely a judgement call by parents whether they should show this to their kids or not.

Junkers is kinda magic

This movie is kind of a cross between a Satoshi Kon (Tokyo Godfathers, Perfect Blue) and Studio Ghibli (Kiki's Delivery Service, Spirited Away) film.  Great characterization and serious subject matter crossed with magical whimsy.  I thought the message was done well and many kids must go through this dilemma when their parents are going to split.  The animation is not up to Studio Ghibli standards and I didn't see a lot of replay value due to the serious subject matter.  I would say this movie is worth watching and it might surprise you, but wouldn't put a high priority on seeing it and can't say it's a keeper.

TO BUY and Recommendations: