CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

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X [1996]

starring: Tomokazu Seki, Ken Narita, Junko Iwao, Toni Barry, Rupert Degas
directed by: Rintaro

Release Date December 31, 2000
Having watched the series of X (which is amazing, but sadly hasn't been brought out on region 2), I thought I'd invest in the film version, especially as it was only £3.50 and I could have it as a treat after finishing a pretty lengthy exam.
It wasn't as rewarding as I hoped for. The characters, which I had come to know and love throughout the series, were now paper-thin and the plot was weak. Understandably with so many characters they couldn't go into all of their backstories, but, given that the film is a pale 93 mins, they could have well fleshed some of them out. The odd pacing and plot holes means the viewer is left just as bemused as Kamui is. If I hadn't seen the series, I would've been completely lost! Furthermore, the animation ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Tokyo Underground

starring: Haruhi Terada, Kaoru Morota, Souichiro Hoshi, Tomokazu Seki
directed by: Hayato Date

Release Date March 27, 2006
I don't usually take to new series of anime well; when I do watch series they have to interest very quickly. Strangly enough, when I picked up this anime it kinda looked abit kidified and I'm not going to lie, it was. But it was coupled with very likable characters; the charasmatic Rumina's love story with Ruri and the nerdy but strong character Ginasuke. The various elemental charged enimies through various obsticles in thir path leading along an entertaining story and climatic conclusion. Animation by Naruto team leaves it visualy impressive with fairly good music.
A must have.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Escaflowne: Anime Legends Complete Collection [2001] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Shinichirô Miki, Jôji Nakata, Maaya Sakamoto, Tomokazu Seki, Mayumi Iizuka
directed by: Kazuki Akane, Yoshiyuki Takei

Release Date April 11, 2006
I don't usually take to new series of anime well; when I do watch series they have to interest very quickly. Strangly enough, when I picked up this anime it kinda looked abit kidified and I'm not going to lie, it was. But it was coupled with very likable characters; the charasmatic Rumina's love story with Ruri and the nerdy but strong character Ginasuke. The various elemental charged enimies through various obsticles in thir path leading along an entertaining story and climatic conclusion. Animation by Naruto team leaves it visualy impressive with fairly good music.
A must have.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Escaflowne - Collection 2

starring: Maaya Sakamoto, Tomokazu Seki
directed by: Shoji Kawamori, Kazuki Akane

Release Date December 13, 2004
Up there with 'Evangelion', this is an intelligent, well written, beautiful looking series. Whilst the series obviously looks 'of its time' it stills looks amazing. Box set is expensive though so region 1 may be the way to go.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Escaflowne: The Movie - Anime Movie Classics [2000] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Maaya Sakamoto, Tomokazu Seki, Jôji Nakata, Mayumi Iizuka, Minami Takayama
directed by: Yoshiyuki Takei, Kazuki Akane

Release Date February 06, 2007
The characters in this movie are a lot more mature than in vision of esca, they are also a lot better drawn and the colours have more depth. overall the look and characters themselves are great. Hitomi is more depressed, deeper and lacks the annoying high school voice. Van is more muscular and is more likeable, less arrogant (despite wanting to 'defeat all his enemies'). Folken has gorgeous long hair and is a little crueler. Allen and Melerna are less annoying. And of course, dilandau and his slayers get a look in!

the story itself is better, with Hitomi being a wing goddess and Zaibach not even existing, just the black and white dragon clans. I just wish Hitomi had been captured once...sigh... would have made it more intereting.

I ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Coyote Ragtime Show: Complete Box Set (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Akio Ôtsuka, Kenyû Horiuchi, L.B. Bartholomee, Chris Patton, Tomokazu Seki
directed by: Matsuri Ouse, Takuya Nonaka

Release Date November 18, 2008
The characters in this movie are a lot more mature than in vision of esca, they are also a lot better drawn and the colours have more depth. overall the look and characters themselves are great. Hitomi is more depressed, deeper and lacks the annoying high school voice. Van is more muscular and is more likeable, less arrogant (despite wanting to 'defeat all his enemies'). Folken has gorgeous long hair and is a little crueler. Allen and Melerna are less annoying. And of course, dilandau and his slayers get a look in!

the story itself is better, with Hitomi being a wing goddess and Zaibach not even existing, just the black and white dragon clans. I just wish Hitomi had been captured once...sigh... would have made it more intereting.

I ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Gungrave - Beyond The Grave - Vol. 1

starring: Tomokazu Seki, Kenji Hamada, Tsutomu Isobe
directed by: Toshiyuki Tsuru

Release Date May 03, 2005
Gungrave is the story of Brandon and Harry, two young friends that join a mafia group called Milleneon. The series begins with Brandon and Harry as ordinary young men and continues with their activity within Milleneon. This includes their movement within the group, as well as how they change as time passes.

This is a really powerful anime. The story is brilliant- it sucks you in very quickly and keeps you gripped throughout. My description doesn't really do justice to the plot, which is very complex, moving and intriguing. Brandon, who really is the main character, is very well developed, as is Harry and the various supporting characters.

The art-work is really beautiful, as is the music, which helps create a heavy, haunting and tragic atmosphere. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Escaflowne - Collection 1

starring: Maaya Sakamoto, Tomokazu Seki
directed by: Shoji Kawamori, Kazuki Akane

Release Date November 15, 2004
Up there with 'Evangelion', this is an intelligent, well written, beautiful looking series. Whilst the series obviously looks 'of its time' it stills looks amazing. Box set is expensive though so region 1 may be the way to go.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid TSR (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Tomokazu Seki, Satsuki Yukino, Akio Ôtsuka, Daisuke Namikawa, Shinichirô Miki
directed by: Yasuhiro Takemoto

Release Date November 14, 2006
After finishing watching The Second Raid (TSR) around 20 minutes ago, I was left with a feeling of fulfilment anime rarely ever gives me these days. As an action series it's hard to fault: The action was enjoyable to watch, helped by the high production values, and it had a strong cast of characters that painted over the story simplicity. It did everything it needed to do right and ticked all my boxes, meeting my overly critical standards.

This wasn't the case with the original FMP series, though. Back when I watched that I was left a bit underwhelmed by an experience I'd expected to be a lot more enjoyable than it turned out to be. The constant switching between school comedy episodes and anti-terrorism/mecha action stories let it down, interrupting the flow and making it ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Martian Successor Nadesico - Vol. 5 And [1999]

starring: Spike Spencer, Jennifer K. Earhart, Sue Ulu, Mark Laskowski (II), Jenny Strader
directed by: Tatsuo Sato, Nobuyoshi Habara

Release Date September 22, 2003
Sick of people who take mecha anime too seriously? Tired of hearing Shinji Ikari whinging? You need some Nadesico!
Beautifully animated and with a suprisingly strong plotline, this is a cracking anime. It's also hillariously funny!
The spaceship Nadesico is rather strange in crew, a flirty secretary, an anime voice actress, a cold natured child genious, a crazy pilot who's obsessed with mecha anime and captain who can't seem to take anything seriously!
Akito, the male lead is a cook from Mars, he doesn't want to be a mech pilot, but it just seems to happen to him.
Bad points of the series though, are as follows:
The American dub is so bad that I can't stick it for over ten seconds. For your own good I suggest you ALWAYS watch it in original Japanese with subtitles. ... Read More: