{"id":487,"date":"2007-06-10T17:56:51","date_gmt":"2007-06-10T21:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/2007\/06\/10\/fantastic-children-anime-review\/"},"modified":"2008-06-15T21:56:53","modified_gmt":"2008-06-16T02:56:53","slug":"fantastic-children-anime-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/2007\/06\/10\/fantastic-children-anime-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantastic Children&#8211;Anime Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/image\/stars\/25o5.gif\" alt=\"2.5 Stars\" \/><br \/>\n<em>For centuries there have been rumors about a mysterious group of white-haired children, sometimes called &#8220;The Children of B\u00e9fort.&#8221; At age 5 they leave their homes and find each other. They search the world for something or someone, pursued by shadowy enemies. At age 12 they die&#8211;only to reappear again shortly thereafter.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Someone had a really great idea for a story here. Unfortunately in this case a great story idea did not result in a great <a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#anime\">anime<\/a>, due to flawed execution.<br \/>\n<!--more--> <\/p>\n<ul class=\"ItemList\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Original Title<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\"><em>FANTAJIKKU CHIRUDOREN<\/em><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Genres<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure, Romance<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Contents<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">26 Episodes on 6 DVDs<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Languages<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">English, Japanese with subtitles<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Director<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Takashi Nakamura<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Script<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Hideki Mitsui,Takashi Nakamura<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Character Design<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Takashi Nakamura<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Chief Animation Director<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Miyuki Nakamura<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Animation Studio<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Nippon Animation<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Broadcast<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">TV Tokyo, 2004-2005<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div class=\"Item\">Region 1 Publisher<\/div>\n<div class=\"Description\">Bandai Entertainment<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The main problem with this frustrating series is that the writers are not up to the challenge. Their notion of dramatic exposition is mostly to have the characters stare at something off-screen and gasp in horror. That sort of thing is acceptable in small doses, but here it happens every five minutes and quickly becomes tiresome. (I&#8217;m tempted to call this &#8220;bad acting&#8221;, but it&#8217;s not the fault of the voice actors who presumably are doing the best they can with what they have been given.)<\/p>\n<p>The Children of B\u00e9fort never really come to life as distinct characters. Some characters seem to exist only to spoon-feed us background information and never actually do anything that contributes to the plot. And the setup phase drags on endlessly; we have to endure about 15 episodes of gasp-and-stare before the real story actually gets started.<\/p>\n<p>The character designs don&#8217;t help at all. They are rather cheap-looking and cartoony, and seem to allow a very limited range of facial expressions. For a different kind of story they might have been fine, but for this story, a dramatic tale of passion and obsession, something different is needed; perhaps a more realistic style, or at least one that allows more emotional expression.<\/p>\n<p>Still the story, once it finally gets started, is powerful and affecting (though not as powerful and affecting as it might have been in the hands of better writers and artists.) The effect is enhanced by the haunting music, especially the opening theme song &#8220;Voyage&#8221; by Masumi Yamazaki and Mikio Sakai. It is easy to understand why this series has some devoted fans.<\/p>\n<h3>Parental Advisory<\/h3>\n<p>This series is too dark and violent for young children. (In fact I found some of the scenes surprisingly bloody given the style of the artwork.) Due to the limitations of the writing and artwork, older viewers are not likely to find it particularly frightening or upsetting, but young children are another matter.<\/p>\n<p>Probably anyone over age 10 will be able to watch it without being unduly disturbed.<\/p>\n<h3>DVD Notes<\/h3>\n<p>The last DVD includes a &#8220;Special Ending&#8221; which some fans love. I find it harmless but superfluous; something that we should be able to figure out from the regular ending.<\/p>\n<h3>Characters<\/h3>\n<h4>The Children of B\u00e9fort<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/aghi.jpg' alt='Aghi' \/><strong>Aghi<\/strong> appears to be the leader of the group.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/soretoaghi.jpg' alt='Soreto and Aghi' \/><strong>Soreto<\/strong> is a strong and determined girl, perhaps a co-leader.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/hesma.jpg' alt='Hesma' \/><strong>Hesma<\/strong> often seems angry and resentful.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/hasmodye.jpg' alt='Hasmodye' \/><strong>Hasmodye<\/strong>  is emotional and easily distracted.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/tarlant.jpg' alt='Tarlant' \/><strong>Tarlant<\/strong> is a talented inventor.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/palza.jpg' alt='Palza' \/><strong>Palza<\/strong> loses faith in the mission at the beginning of the story, and quits the group.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/mel2.jpg' alt='Mel' \/><strong>Mel<\/strong> is in love with Palza and is demoralized by his defection.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<\/div>\n<h4>Other Characters, Ordered Approximately by Date of Birth<\/h4>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/dumas.jpg' alt='Dumas' \/><strong>Dumas<\/strong> looks like one of the Children of B\u00e9fort, but is actually working against them.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/christina.jpg' alt='Christina' \/>In the early Eighteenth Century <strong>Christina<\/strong> embroidered strange scenes of an alien landscape with a strange tower and two moons.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/rugen.jpg' alt='Conran Rugen' \/><strong>Conran Rugen<\/strong> was the discoverer of X-rays [<a href=\"http:#note_rugen\">1<\/a>] .\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/serafine4.jpg' alt='Serafine' \/><strong>Serafine<\/strong> was an obscure Nineteenth Century artist who painted pictures of a strange alien landscape with a tower and two moons.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/radcliffe4.jpg' alt='Radcliffe' \/><strong>Dr Radcliffe<\/strong> was a respected scientist who became obsessed with solving the mystery of the Children of B\u00e8fort. His quest finally drove him mad.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/wonder2.jpg' alt='Wonder' \/><strong>Wonder<\/strong> is a helpful <a href=\"\/fun\/terms-used-in-anime-reviews#mecha\">mecha<\/a>, created by Tarlant.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/gherta2.jpg' alt='Gherta' \/><strong>Gherta Hawksbee<\/strong> is a brilliant physicist who reveres the memory of Conrad Rugen. Her desire to carry on his legacy leads her to accept the directorship of a very ill-advised research project.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/cooks.jpg' alt='Cooks' \/><strong>Detective Cooks<\/strong> has inherited Radcliffe&#8217;s journal and is also obsessed with the Children of B\u00e8fort.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/alice.jpg' alt='Alice' \/><strong>Alice Holingworth<\/strong> is a detective sent by Headquarters to check of on Cooks, whose behavior is causing concern.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/thoma3.jpg' alt='Thoma' \/><strong>Thoma<\/strong>, the main character of the story, is a young boy growing up on Papen Island [<a href=\"http:#note_history\">2<\/a>]. His father, who seems to be some sort of Buddhist priest, has trained him in an obscure style of martial arts.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/helga2.jpg' alt='Helga' \/><strong>Helga<\/strong> is an orphan girl who draws strange pictures of an alien landscape with a tower and two moons.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<img src='https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/chitto.jpg' alt='Chitto' \/><strong>Chitto<\/strong> is a little orphan boy who acts as Helga&#8217;s friend and protector.\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Character\">\n<\/div>\n<h3>Links<\/h3>\n<p>Wikipedia <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fantastic_Children\">entry<\/a> (spoilers.)<br \/>\nAnime News Network Encyclopedia <a href=\"http:\/\/www.animenewsnetwork.com\/encyclopedia\/anime.php?id=4241\">entry<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Notes<\/h3>\n<p>[<a name=\"note_rugen\">1<\/a>] &#8220;Rugen&#8221; is presumably a Japanese attempt to pronounce &#8220;R\u00f6ntgen&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>[<a name=\"note_history\">2<\/a>] The story appears to be set in an alternate history universe in an unnamed Southeast Asian country which has a substantial European population and is ruled by a royal family of Dutch descent. None of this is ever really explained, so I may be interpreting it incorrectly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For centuries there have been rumors about a mysterious group of white-haired children, sometimes called &#8220;The Children of B\u00e9fort.&#8221; At age 5 they leave their homes and find each other&#8230;. <a href=\"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/2007\/06\/10\/fantastic-children-anime-review\/\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[133],"class_list":["post-487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-anime","tag-fantastic-children"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=487"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bugfox.net\/fun\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}