Rahxephon - Complete Collection
by Yutaka Izubuchi
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Aya Hisakawa, Chris Patton, Hiro Shimono, Kira Vincent-Davis, Monica RialDirector: Yutaka Izubuchi
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); English (Original Language); Japanese (Original Language)
Format: Animated, Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 650 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-05-17
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Adv Films
Movie Reviews of Rahxephon - Complete Collection
Movie Review: A very interesting world for us to see...
Summary: 3 Stars
This was yet another interesting Mecha Anime that I came across. I've noticed I tend to prefer the far more mechanical Mechs you see in things like Mechwarrior, but the Animes seem to favor a more organic or humanoid styled Mech. Maybe it's to make them seem like they're more than just a machine, which is the case in the instance of RahXephon. Despite the fact I'm not too big on the creature designs the stories are still very good and quite enjoyable! Don't get me wrong, the creatures are still drawn quite well and the rest of the art is very nice.
We are first brought into the world of Ayato Kamina. He seems kind of out of touch with reality, but in most Anime's like this the main character has a destiny to fulfill. Like other Anime's I've watched the characters are usually between the ages of fourteen and eighteen and in this case Ayato is seventeen. We see this used commonly in things like Serial Experiments Lain, Last Exile, Burst Angel, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. I guess that's the perfect age for things to get interesting. Also like many others I've seen so far start off with a seemingly normal world, lively and normal... except for our out of touch main character. However, there's a major twist because the world has pretty much been destroyed and the only city left is Tokyo. The world's population has been reduced to a mere twenty-three million! How could this happen? Apparently otherworldly beings called the Mu attacked Earth, but only Tokyo managed to survive. As in most other Anime's not everything is as it seems... an air of mystery comes about and something is amiss with the world. The synopsis would technically be much greater than that, but I don't want to give away the mystery or the awe of the world you get to enjoy through this Anime.
I suppose this Anime parallel's Neon Genesis Evangelion quite a bit, but with a major pro in my book. At the end of this series we get at least a decently logical conclusion! They don't go off into any overly philosophical episodes that may or may not have anything to do with the series. This story really does begin and end within the series and we really didn't quite get that in Neon Genesis Evangelion. Do I think that RahXephon is better? Actually... no. I think Neon Genesis Evangelion was a much more profound series, along with being much deeper and I liked the premise behind their Mechs a lot more as well. Despite all the borrowing and influence from various other Animes I think RahXephon managed to construct a decently original universe for us to enjoy and not feel like it's a blatant rip off of another series.
I really did enjoy the world they created for this Anime, but there are a few misgivings that I think really held it back from reaching its true potential. A major downside to this series is the huge cast. It feels like the normal twenty-six episode length is far too short to encompass all the kinds of character depth we need. At the end I was left with too many questions about Ayato's mother for example. She's a very mysterious character and they explain a lot, but I think there should've been a lot more for us to see. There are some expertly written twists and turns throughout the series, but the drama is really what drove my interest in this show. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the action sequences quite a bit, but like many of the Mecha shows I've seen thus far it seems like they force the action sequences in some episodes. As if they need to fit at least one action sequence into EVERY episode. There is plenty of drama and story to build on that they don't necessarily need this. In fact I wanted more of the dramatic elements and background story of some of the characters.
An interesting thing with this DVD set is that there are extras on every disc and these include various interviews with the creators and voice actors. In the end I enjoyed this series quite a bit. Not as profound as some other series I've seen, but it's quite good while it lasts. The last parts involving the God designer character are brilliant and that's the main part where you get a taste of some philosophical notions. If you enjoy a good Mecha with a complex story then I would recommend RahXephon. Just be forewarned that the cast is unnecessarily huge and you won't find out everything about every character. This is unfortunate, but I can't deny that the world and story are still good in the end.
3.5 out of 5.
Summary of Rahxephon - Complete Collection
This imaginative 2002 TV series is vastly superior to creator Yutaka Izubuchi's muddled Gasaraki (1997). High school student and aspiring artist Kamina stumbles into a parallel world after a subway accident. The Tokyo of 2015 that he knows has been hidden in a way that causes time to pass more slowly--it's 12 years later than he believed. The outer world is engaged in a war fought with giant mecha that use sound as a weapon--and in which Kamina will play a key role. Everyone in this world recognizes him as "the Ollin"; when Reika, a girl he's painted, leads Kamina to a gigantic egg, the splendid mecha RahXephon hatches from it and bonds with Kamina. The premise recalls Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure, but RahXephon is better plotted and executed, with more engaging characters and strikingly original mecha designs. This set contains all 7 volumes of the series. (Rated 15 and older: violence, brief nudity, minor profanity, alcohol use) --Charles SolomonThe city of Tokyo has been overthrown, taken over by Invaders who have devastated the rest of the planet. For 15 years, the remnants of the human race have fought a losing battle against the Mu and their Dolem, knowing that the key to victory lies within the domed walls of Tokyo Jupiter, where time flows in a different path and none of the mind-wiped citizens even know that the city has been conquered. But no one has been able to get into Tokyo. Until now. Prepare for the ultimate paradigm shift as one young man learns the horrifying secret in RahXephon.
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