Review: Wolf Children

Daughter, Yuki tells the story of her mother Hana who falls in love with a werewolf  and has two half-werewolf children with him.  Soon after the boy Ame's birth, their father is killed. 

Hana soon finds out that the children  Yuki and Ame can  switch between their human and wolf forms, and Hana has to hide them from the world.  Hana moves the family to the countryside.  

Soon Yuki is  begging her mother to let her go to school like other children. Hana accepts on the condition that Yuki keeps her werewolf nature secret.  Ame, on the other hand,  Arne is more interested in the forest, and spends most of his time in the forest, learning about survival in the wild.

The film ends as Yuki ends her narration describing Ame's choice to remain in the forest, as a wolf while Yuki moves back to the city where Yuki  is now a teen entering Jr. high school.  And Hana, living alone in the old house in the country, reflects on her life with the wolf children as magical. 

I really got lucky getting a chance to view this fine anime movie.  It really is magical.   The wolf here are very believable much as those in Wolf's Rain say.  Director Mamoru Hosoda could have gone for the cheap tear jerker but instead deftly and calmly  slides through the high moment as well, leaving the viewer calm but interested in what comes next.   All but for the end, when you realize that people that you have come to appreciate in the few short minutes you have been with them, are drawing nie. Because it is ultimately a good feeling ending, one where you wish all, best of luck. 

How would I rate Wolf Children?  There has to be a 9 out of 10 in the mix,  Spirited Away is in the same block, as is The Girl who Leaped  Through Time  to mane only a few.   My suggestion would be to find it and watch it.  If you like anime and like a well crafted  anime movie,  then you really can not go wrong with Wolf Children.

Review: Elfin Lied

Elfin Lied is based on a Japanese manga series  originally serialized Weekly from June 2002 to August 2005, with the 107 chapters collected into twelve tankōbon volumes. 

Elfen Lied focuses on the "Diclonius" who's appearance is similar to humans, but with several key differencese, namely horn-like protrusions on the forehead and telekinetic  arms called "Vectors". One such Diclonius, Lucy, is the main character of the series: Initially held in a facility built for experimentation, located off the coast of Kamakura, she manages to escape and wreak havoc, but is injured in the process, an event which causes her to develop a secondary, childlike personality known as Nyu.

Lucy is found by two locals, Kohta, who studies at the local university, and his cousin Yuka. They take her in, and become involved with the numerous, often brutal, attempts to recapture her by a Special Assault Team and a number of other Diclonius, who shift frequently from oblivious to murderous.

It is obvious even with this short description, that Elfin Lied has a great deal going for it.  An engaging tale with characters that are both interesting and easy to identify with.  

However the very things that make this series work also work against it.  Taking 107 chapters and making 13 episodes should set off the warning bells quickly.  The main character goes from a quiet introvert to one that exudes confidence and does so in a very short order.   Nyu is a wonderful foil but it is never quite believable that Nyu is the blood drenched "Diclonius" Lucy.   Episode 13 comes quickly, so much so that one is very confused because it does not seem to have a contiguous timeline.

Don't get me wrong, Elfin Lied was far and away one of the better series I have watched to date.  I really think that generally this series will be found entertaining.  However the flaws will be evident early on.  So out of a possible 10 I would list it a 7.

Review: Future Diary Anime Series

 Review by Ninthgate_Show

So you're an antisocial, nonathletic, Japanese wallflower with really no ambition besides writing inconsequential sightings in your cell phone diary. No? Well, if you were, you would likely be Yukiteru Amano, the main protagonist in the anime Future Diary/ Mirai Nikki, one of most intense and disturbing sci-fi series in the last couple years.

Review: HAL

Hal

Here is this initial setup for the movie:

• Kurumi struggles with the loss of her boyfriend, Hal, and shuts herself off from the world. She remains a recluse until an android is made to look like Hal and sent to help her cope.

From this point the audience is treated to an even paced "slice of life" which slowly pulls you in to where you buy into the plot devices completely.  

Hal maintains the premise through most of the movie.  There are the odd moments however when Hal is it would appear, reintroduced to childhood friends who are completely nonpluses when Hal doesn't recall them at all.  Now this would at first blush be expected, however it is the friends reaction that begins to be telling.  Not all is as it seems.  That mixed with an ofttimes melancholy and often tearful happiness.  

The ending moments are hardly a given.  I was privy to the concluding moments and still found myself asking why such and such a development happened.  

The film at times is cute, other times heart breathtakingly sad and through it all is woven a thread of mystery.  

I would give the movie a solid 8, I would take off some for what appears to be deliberate confusion

Pixyfox Streaming Media for Manga & Anime Fans

This is what AnimeNewsNetwork has to say about Pixyfox:

• Pixy Fox is an anime website with extensive unique features that will help you connect and discover new anime 

Pixyfox's press release says in part      

• Pixy Fox will focus on creating a way which will connect Anime and Manga fans and allow their interest in the Anime and Manga to be pushed to the next level.    

 I had a chance to tool around the site and I will have to admit that I was largely unimpressed.  The idea is great but the implementation leaves something to be desired.   There are damn few videos on the site and the ones I did find were streaming by another site.  If this is all the site has to offer then it is of very limited use and if they plan on adding content, one has to wonder why they would roll out such a crippled site?


See what you think, I would be interested in your observations. 


http://www.pixyfox.com/

Mebbles joins BMU!

Hi guys!

Mebbles' avatar

   ...I sense confusion; let me elaborate: I have been known as BMU's "anime consultant". There, now I bet some of you hard-core BMU followers and the like have at least some idea of who I am! *Laughs*

   I was huge into anime when each DVD cost about 30 dollars US back around the early 2000's, so I was into pretty new ones at the time. I also was getting some of the older-ish anime from the 90's on DVD for a better price (like some Gundam anime). Currently, I bought the Outlaw Star series and I am having a blast watching it again!

   Besides anime, at heart I am ultra big into video games! I really love the ones that involve awesome technology, space, and all kinds of sci fi goodness. One of my favorite video game franchises is Megaman (or Mega Man or Rockman, however you want to put it) and I am huge into the Megaman X series which takes place after the original Megaman series. The main protagonist in Megaman X is a blue robot guy named X that has human thoughts and emotions. X appears physically and mentally older than the older yet child-like blue robot of the previous series named Megaman (Megaman is often compared to Astro Boy).

More on X from Megaman X can be found here
More on the original Megaman can be found here



   Here is one of my favorite songs of all time that's from Megaman X6 that was made into a video that has spoiler-y visuals and English subtitles:

(The video above isn't made by me)

P.S. - I also have started my very own blog recently. I cover games, toys and post my YouTube videos on it.

My blog can be found here

Edit: I am very happy happy to contribute directly to BMU! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to comment on this post and if I can respond to it, I'll do so!

Crunchyroll to Stream Railwars Anime Series

 

Hot on the heals of Netflix's anime release is Crunchyroll's stream of "Railwars" which will start July 5th 10pm pacific   (for premium members and one week later for free members).  

Crunchyroll's synopsis:

• In a parallel world where Japan has not privatized any of its railways, Naoto Takayama is an ordinary high school student who dreams of being a train conductor for the Japanese National Railways. He is assigned as to the Tokyo Central Railway Public Security Office. He is teamed up with Aoi Sakurai, a strong willed woman who excels in marksmanship and close combat, Haruka Koumi, who has an extraordinary memory, Sho Iwaizumi, a hot-blooded man who relies on brute force. From lost children to bombings, Naoto must lead this team, despite not having any special strength! 

Netflix Goes Strong For Anime With the Launch of Knights Of Sidonia

Netflix is certainly strongly suggesting that it is committed to original programming AND original anime with the release of  Knights Of Sidonia.   As the article from Den of Geeks reports, Knights originally appeared in Japan April of this year. However just a week after the show's finale, Netflix had gained the rights, put together an English cast and had Knights Of Sidonia ready for release July 4th.

Here is a synopsis from the Den of Geeks article:

• The story follows the struggle of human survival amongst the monstrous shapeshifting aliens “Gauna” who all but destroyed the solar system a millennia ago and are bent on eliminating humans from existence.
•   Nagate Tanikaze, a low-born youth in a society of genetically engineered humans - now refugees that escaped the destruction of Earth one thousand years earlier, occupying the massive ship Sidonia. Nagate grew up living in the bottom layers of Sidonia away from civilization and raised by his now deceased grandfather. When Nagate’s talent as a pilot is revealed he becomes one of Sidonia’s elite defenders against the Guana.

Here is the Japanese trailer:

 

BMU #409 Is Now Online

 

For an opening to this week's program I start with Mushi - shi opening song "The Sore Feet Song" by Ally Kerr.  For fans, there is a follow on season now available.

This week from the blog, the canceled boost glide tech used in the Boeing X20 Dyna Soar that originated in the 50s and canceled by the end of the decade.  The weird thing? Maybe it wasn't all that canceled?

Next I review the movie "On The Beach" based on the Nevil Shute novel of the same name.

There may be more proof that the Moon WAS created by a giant impactor.

Again the Hubble Space Telescope has taken ground breaking deep field photos that will change a lot of what we know about the formation of the early universe.

Finally Phil Temple sends in "The Little Thief" by Phil Temple

Review: Summer Wars

Summer Wars

Animated Anime Feature 114 minutes

Mamoru Hosoda director

Our anime guru Justin has come through again with a really timeless anime film called Summer Wars.   From the director who did the wonderful film The Girl Who Jumped Through Time.

First thing is to imagine a large social media program like Facebook combined with with something like Second Life.   The program itself is the basis for a virtual world called Oz.  This meeting place has grown from a simple place to play games or to talk to people, to a huge multi-faceted  world where much of daily life takes place.  Work and leisure, take place in the virtual settings of OZ and the film's layers all revolve around this virtual world.

The main theme is this virtual world is compromised by a mysterious person.  As a result, much of the infrastructure in Japan begins to crumble.

At the same time we have a young high-school student being exposed to a large extended family of really unique individuals.  The dynamics of several of the family members is what keeps the movie entertaining as well as intriguing.

I really don't want to give away to much of the plot because how this film progresses as the main character becomes more involved with them is the dynamic of what makes this very unique film, immensely entertaining. The plot moves along very well and the animation is very good.  I would put this piece of anime in a class that would contain films like Spirited Away, The Girl Who Jumped Through Time  or Steamboy, it really is that good.

I would give Summer Wars a conditional must see.  It is very entertaining  but sometimes you get the feel that you are watching a good anime serial instead of a stand alone film, but that is certainly not anything that should  keep you from seeing this film.   

Review: Eden of the East

The anime series starts with a naked man with a cell and a gun standing outside the white house.  Through a few unlikely misadventures, a female Japanese  high-school student named Saki Morimi who is visiting Washington on a graduation trip is aided by this naked man who apparently has no memory of previous events except for his name: Akira Takizawa.  His only possessions are the gun and a very weird cell phone and several billion in credit available.  The money is to be used to "save" Japan in some unspecified manner.  However, it appears that there are 11 other Seleção with the same setup and their own plans.

Often, what makes a good anime series is one that convoluted and at time difficult to follow.  I don't mean a show that is deliberately obtuse to the point where nothing makes sense, but one with layer upon layer and nothing is quite what it seems.  Eden of the East is multi-layered but not to the point that you feel like your drowning but just enough that as the story proceeds, you have many "aha!" moments.  

Saki through out it all seems to be in the middle of a maelstrom so it is fun when she starts to put the pieces together. 

The artwork isn't too bad at all, but it is the story that really shines.  Anytime we are gifted with a good story line that isn't adolescent school girls in short skirts suffering the angst of who likes who and what high-school club your in.....well that is just golden, and Eden of the East has so very little of that type of anime, that you can't help but be intrigued.     

The story rates a 9 in my book and since I caught it on youtube, I can not speak to the extras...If you get a chance to rent it, I would give it a go!

original run 2009 with 11 episodes. 

Review: Lady Death - animated film

Lady Death takes place for the most part in the 15th  century Sweden.  The story centers on the young daughter, Hope, of a skilled and ruthless mercenary called Matthias who in fact is in actuality a  demon.  

Matthias is dispatched by villagers for him evil.  Hope herself is accused of consorting with the Devil and is sentenced to burn at the stake.  At the very last moment she is transported to Hell by winged demons.  Her body restored, she is taken to her father who in fact is the ruler of all the levels of hell 

and demands that she join him in ruling Hell.  Matthias/Lucifer forces her hand by showing that he has trapped he mother and the first true love.  

Refusing to join him, Hope is cast out to die, but instead she is transformed into a powerful demon in her own right and with other powerful demons join power to take down Lucifer.

Hope however finds out that she is still trapped in  Hell for as long as one of Lucifer's allies remains alive.

Not a badly animated film.  Looks very much like the work that used to come out of CLAMP.  Many of the graphics and back-ground have a very stylized look to them, which lends itself well to projecting the horror of the local without graphic death and dismemberment.  Though it is an animated film from the US,  Japanese anime fans will still enjoy it as well.   It seemed a bit dated to me however, not that the story or the graphics lacked anything, just the nagging feeling that it has been done before.   The movie deserves an overall 7 easily.  Worth a check.

BMU #365 now Online!

Another hour that just flies by.

I play the conclusion of David Scholes Trath: The Final intervention, just to make sure that I get in them in this week.

Next from the blog and Kallimus:  Trouble with the ISS coolant again, Ray Harryhousen has passed away at 92, Neil DeGrasse-Tyson has a web site that promotes his radio program Startalk  and YouTube videos, there is a link on the wrfrbeameup.blogspot.com BMU blog.  A company has developed a bulletin board that sends two messages, one to adults and one to children in a call to help reduce child abuse.  Check out the blog for more information. 

Earth Sky articles are next, the Milky-way, asteroids, temporary moons and Earth's shadow are on tap. 

I review the live action version of Death Note. 

And finally, chapter 3 of No Great Magic by Fritz Leiber a novelette from the sixties.  

That is it!  I hop you enjoy this week's offering of Beam Me Up.

Review: Death Note the Movie

Death Note is a live-action Japanese film released in 2006. The  movie is based on the Death Note manga and the later anime series.  

The film primarily center on a university student, Light Yagami, who finds a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it.

Light begins a campaign to rid the world of evil with the help of the notebook but soon blurs the boundaries of real evil and perceived evil.  

If you have watched the anime you know that the series goes much further than this.  In truth, Death Note is two part series.  Part 2 was released shortly after the first and deals mainly with the actress Misa.

When watching this movie, I really did not think that the director could pull off the same look and feel as the original anime series that I had watched earlier.  I was however surprised as just how accurate they managed to get.  Yes Ryuk, the Shinigami who was the original owner of the Death Note book was CGI but really masterfully done!  Plus the interaction between the live and cgi characters was seamless.  

If you liked the original DeathNote anime then you should enjoy the live action as well.  In the original anime I really had trouble liking some of the anime characters.  I can't even go so far as calling some Anti-heroes.  The sets are good and really to be honest, it is the best try I have seen so far. 

With that in mind, the movie deserves an 8 and the extras which good are one of the most frustrating ways to navigate!  Good extras...hard to get to! 6  for a total of 14 and an average of 7 which is low for the movie, but more than generous for the extras. 

Thanks to our movie guy Mark for the find.

Review: Redline an Anime Movie

Redline is a 2010 anime film, running 102 minutes.  Released by the studio Madhouse in Japanese

with English subtitles.

Redline is an auto racing movie.  In the far distant future our main character JP qualifies for the REDLINE underground (against the law) auto race.  

As you can expect, the Redline race is a "no rules" competition with plenty of crashes, fires and other forms of constant mayhem.  The graphic are all over the top, almost suggestion an altered state while putting the frames together.  Psychedelic  colors and characters alike make for a surreal feel. 

It might take you a couple of tries but you can get through the movie and may even like it at the end. 

I had trouble getting started for the simple reason there is very little reality to grab a hold of and for me, that is a turn off.  Others have enjoyed just this aspect.  

The DVD has plenty of extras though so there is a plus for those that like deleted scenes or a director's commentary.   

I appreciate the effort that went into this film, but in the end I felt as though I needed a Bleach movie to clean my anime palette.   Rate 5 for the movie and 7 for the extras for an overall 6.  

Review: Gantz dvd series

Review: Gantz anime DVD series

Gantz is an anime series based on the Gantz Manga series written by Hiroya Oku.  

The story line orbits around  Kei Kurono and his friend Masaru Kato who die while saving a drunk who has fallen onto the tracks of the subway.  But instead of nothing, the pair wake in a room with a dark sphere and shortly there after a man dressed in what appears to be a dark latex body suit.  

They are informed that they are not really dead, but in between and as such have to complete tasks devised   by a mysterious Gantz.  As the series proceeds, more people join under the very same circumstances and even more are "killed" under increasingly more difficult tasks.  

The Animation of Gantz which appears in Japan as Manga, is directed by  Ichiro Itano and produced by Gonzo.  The series aired in Japan on Fuji Television and AT-X. The Gantz anime is divided into two seasons: The first season is known as "The First Stage", while the second season is known as "The Second Stage", which is a direct continuation of the first season. The First Stage aired in Japan with several scenes censored due to inappropriate content such as violence or nudity. However, the DVDs from the series contained the scenes uncensored. The Second Stage aired on Japanese network AT-X on August 26, 2004.There are a total of 12 Japanese DVDs, released from August 28, 2004 to June 29, 2005.  The US release contains ALL the scenes as the Japanese dvd release. 

On June 25, 2010, anime distributor Funimation Entertainment announced on their online FuniCon 4.0 panel, that they have acquired the rights to the series, along with 3 other former ADV titles after ADV's collapse in 2009.

That's the basic history of Gantz.  If you want a break from High School antics, Gundam power suits and move into something more sophisticated as say Ghost in the machine, with an even harder edge, you might just want to check Gantz out.  However FAIR WARNING The average character is unpleasant, the action is fast and violent to the point that if it can be cut off or sliced up, it is!  With great gusto.  Gouts of blood and flying body parts are the rule of the day along with...well if you caught the review about scene censoring you have to know where that was headed.  If you want introspection, you are not going to get it here! Graphic violence and nudity, and more, that would get this series canceled except on dvd anywhere you can imagine.  If this is your cup of tea, well you are not going to be able to rent it, so pony up and buy BOTH sets and you will not be disappointed   But if you want introspection for the ages, put the DVD down and run away.  

How would rate this? if looking for edge of your seat action you will get it in spades.  If I had to I would deduct a point for just to damn much! that would still give it an 8 or 9 with the graphics right up there with it.  Hey its' no DC or Marvel but then it ain't trying to be.  If weird weapons and whacked power suits (not gundam but form fitting latex with weird power globes at strategic locations) you will be watching one dvd and have two or three right at hand ready to go, and the world will go away for several hours....

Review: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time - Anime Film

I was noodling around the search engines looking for information on the anime movie Spirited Away, an award winning anime film from Japan when I came across a list of some of the best anime films of the past few years. One that stood out was The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. A 2006 film Directed by Mamoru Hosoda know for One Piece series and the animated film Summer Wars, and is affiliated with the production house Madhouse.

The film is based around a teenage girl Makoto Konno who finds out from her aunt that she has the power to jump through time.  Makoto quickly learns how to control the jump and through the balance of the film uses this power to reverse many of the problems that have plagued here for most of the day and a few other troubling circumstances as well.

 Makoto finds out that the power she has been using is not endless and she must use the remaining power to correct a mistake early on plus finds out some fundamental points in her life.

From the Wiki:

• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time was released on July 15, 2006 and received positive reviews. The film won numerous awards, including the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. 

From my standpoint, the film well deserves the positive reviews and awards it received.  The film moves along at a steady pace.  It is a very low key  film, where the most tension is generated by the protagonist running to rescue a friend or prevent someone from getting hurt.   The emotions seem genuine and even though I viewed the English dub, I was sure that I was getting a genuine feeling for the film.  Bottom line is, this is a fine film if a bit aged, you will not feel cheated.  It should be fairly easy to find as well.  I searched less than five minutes and was able to view the film that evening.  I am sure if you like problem driven movies and emotionally keyed scenes than this piece of anime is a no brainer.  Check it out. 

Review : Btoom! anime series

Anyone ever catch the latest Predator movie? The last one remember? Where

people wake up not knowing where they are or why. Periodically a c130 flies over and drops supplies. You "win" when you destroy the mysterious alien bent on killing you. This is where the review gets a little strange because to some extent I have been describing the anime series Btoom! In Btoom! Main character Ryōta wakes up hanging in a parachute harness. Once free he finds that everyone he meets wants to kill him. There are no guns or knives but different "flavors" of hand thrown explosive. Ryōta is know a one of the best players of an online game called "Btoom" and strangely enough the island and the online game seem to mirror each other. Ryōta realizes that if he plays the game on the island he may be able to go home. Throughout the first few episodes Ryōta gains allies and begins to think that he might be able to get back. The only downside is each player wears a crystal embedded in their hand. when they dye the crystal releases. When you have killed 8 other players you can get off the island. Btoom! is much better than I make it out to be. The plot is far superior to the regular anime angst in high school. The premise keeps you attention and the action, though sometimes ultra violent, leave you in anticipation of the next installment. Though I might want to warn some of the faint of heart, the Mature warning is not all for the violence. There are some very adult situations as well. Many of the "players" on the island feel that the isolation is carte blanche on any type of behavior. It soon becomes evident why the women trapped on the island and forced to play, do not trust men at all. Well it soon is clear to all that the people on the island were chosen for their playing ability of Btoom! With many in fact knowing each other! I thought this series very inventive and entertaining in many ways. I would give it an 8.5 just wondering why some of the theme items are REAL close to the Predator movie. Nit picking I know. Watch it, you will not be disapointed!

Oh, and the ending is way wide open!  Only 12 episodes and almost none of the strings are tied up!
Bummer!

Review: Sound of the Sky anime series

Review of anime series Sound of the Sky

Directed by Mamoru Kanbe

Original run January 5, 2010 – March 22, 2010
Episodes 12

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic world after a great war in the fairly distant future as evidence by the "tank", which is considered a relic from a earlier time but hints at tech far in advance of that available in the present, that the series character and one in particular is working to restore to operational status. The "world war" regressed humanity to early 20th century technology. It also appears that the world is slowly running down. Each year there is more desert and less arable land.

The main character is called Kanata who is motivated to join the Helvetian (seems to be another name for Switzerland) Army after hearing a talented bugler. Joining she is assigned to the 1121st Platoon.

Peace talks with "Rome", but they speak German, have collapsed and their army is on the move towards Helvetia. There are sub-plots and character interactions and one is general, that of the Tower Maidens, which the story seems to slowly revolve around.

There are only 12 episode spread across 4 dvd disks, but that is enough to build characters that are complex and heart-warming. There is also enough time to evolve a strong plot of people and circumstances.

The anime art is pretty standard but overall done well. The characters are easy to identify with and the story is long enough for you to familiarize with them.

There are no extra to account for, but the story is interesting and entertaining enough to make up for. I would be tempted to call it young adult anime but it is adult and complex enough to keep an adults interest.

If you are looking for a weekend rental...this would do the job as long as you can get all four disks. That was my complaint was that on a budget plan it took a while to see all the episodes, so maybe it would be worth a purchase if it could be had at discount.

Review: Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror

Every now and then you get surprised by something that is really good, I mean way past expectations. Seems that is happening to me more and more with what I would call, High Concept Anime. Most often in the feature length versions, but not always.

I was recently notified by list that a new animated anime feature was available called Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror". If you enjoyed the lovely anime feature "Spiriting Away" then you really have to take a look at "Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror". Oblivion is a 2009 Japanese computer-animated film directed by Shinsuke Sato. It was produced in commemoration of Fuji Television's 50th anniversary.

I am not a great fan of computer animation, mainly because it gives the characters a somewhat plastic look as apposed to the hand drawn version which I consider more pleasing to the eye.

That being said, the movie is every bit as fast paced and environment rich as say Spirited Away. The premise of the movie is that forgotten or otherwise lost items are collected by the fox god.

A young girl missing her mother and feeling unloved, asks for the return of her mother's long lost hand mirror. Soon she finds herself in a small shrine, where through misadventure manages to witness this very same fox god "collecting" items.

Following him, she finds herself thrust into a world of small creatures who build their world with the collected detritus from the human world.

Our main character Haruka soon discovers that this world is ruled by someone called the Barron who in fact has the very mirror she wants returned. The balance of the movie follows Haruka as she and one of the "foxes" as she attempts to regain the mirror and in the balance foil his plans of destruction.

You might not get the same feel of rich legend that Spirited Away provided, but it is clear that the movie's plot and characterizations are rooted in Japanese mythology and a lot of respect was given to the legends that helped formulate the plot.

As far as animated features go, this film I think exemplifies the art-form without being pedantic, so in it's class I would give it a 9 with the drawback of the slightly plastic look to the graphics. I would say that it is well worth tracking down. I found it on YouTube, check it out.

Wikipedia article on Oblivion can be seen HERE