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What is KO
Beast? An anime which depicts beasts knocking each other out? Or
the 90’s OVA series that never really saw a release in North
America? If you answered the first question, then you consist of
the large group of anime fans out their that don’t know too much
about this. As such, direct your attention to the remainder of
this review below. Didn’t answer to the first? Well keep reading
anyway!
KO Beast tells
the story of a world that is shared between Humans and Beasts.
(People that can transform into animals.) However, in this Humans
are the bad guys, and are on a quest to be rulers of the world
again, by trying to capture the Jinn -- Figures that are
worshipped by the beast tribes. Or main characters Wen from the
Tiger tribe. Bud from the bird tribe and Mei-mer, the princess
from the Mermaid tribe and her friend Turtle. Are all captured and
their Jinns taken. The four now must team up to escape and put an
end to the humans quest. While grabbing the mystical treasure the
humans are ultimately trying to get.
I’m going to
tell you this right now, this OVA is crazy -- And totally
predicable at the same time. A lot of the high fast paced action
scenes, didn’t seem all that exciting seeing how I knew what was
going to happen… yet I’ve never even seen the series before. Then
again, this is also a comedy, with that said; all the
entertainment is found within the characters. Such as Bud, whose
only goal is too meet women, you won’t believe the things he says
or will do just to get close. Plus he’s says every other word in
English in the Japanese mix. -- It’s quite funny really. We also
have Mei-mer whose quite amusing as well, and not because she
provides much of fan service. But because, despite the fact that
she’s a princess, all she cares about is money… oh yeah, and she
always finds a way to save the day.
Even though
this was released back in 1992 if my memory serves me correct. The
video to this looks truly spectator… well that’s what I’d be
writing if it weren’t for those annoying scratches and dots that
flicker on the screen every so often. Worry not; it gets better
later on in the DVD… after it gets worst! Other than that, I
didn’t’ really see anything else wrong with this.
I have much
more to say about the audio however. Having both tracks released
in 2.0 stereo, there wasn’t anything to get excited about. It
seems somewhat clear, but most of the sounds played from all
speakers. Well more so on the English track, which sounds kind of
bad. Not the worst dub out there, but it was something I could do
with out. Needless to say, watching this in its original language
was the most enjoyable choice. And as I said earlier, it’s funnier
this way with Bud saying some sentences in English.... mixed in
with Japanese. Plus the Japanese audio quality just sounded much
better coming from my fierce audio set up.
The extras on
this totally blew me away. There’s so many such as, in depth
character bios, outtakes, which are funny as hell I might add.
Translation notes, the original openings, trailers (Which should
be mandatory for all DVDs) and the
Art
Gallery…
which I was kind of disappointed with. Seeing how you couldn’t
scroll through it your self. But they were lots of pictures to
look at, and a nice song playing in the background. The menu
designs weren't too shady either, with great animations and quick
and easy access.
This release
overall left me felling quite pleased, but at the same time,
giving me a hard time trying to recommend it to the masses. It’s
really not all that great so far, but yet, I have a huge yearning
for some more. Meh, if you’re fan of this or had spent the last 10
years or so waiting for it’s release here. Now is the time to get
it. Not in the group? Rent it. Either way see to it you do watch
it. |
Version 2.0
