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"Saishû heiki kanojo" More at IMDbPro »
| Index | 9 reviews in total |
5 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Saikano, 31 August 2006
Author:
nekotakuto from United States
Saikano was plainly put: astounding. At first when it starts out it
feels like it could go along a generic storyline but it doesn't.
Instead it becomes a depressing and emotionally impacting
tour-de-force.
To put it in a brief non-spoiler summary, Saikano takes place amidst a
huge war. Our main characters are Chise and Shuji who lived in a
peaceful small town that is not affected by this war...yet. However,
Japan needs a weapon to turn the tide of the war and Chise becomes this
weapon
This anime successfully depicted the true site of war: not all-the-time
glorious gung-ho fighting seen in some movies or video games. But the
cold long days of war, filled with death and fear. While going through
the series, its just character after character dying in what appears to
be a World War going on.
Much character development was present as the characters grow up and
move on. All the changes happening around our main character Shuji
creates another depressing aspect added to the anime. Yet such things
happen in real life, these parts make anime even more realistic and
human.
The interaction and relationships between characters is beautifully
orchestrated and human. The uncertainty and fear that troubles are main
couple Shuji and Chise are those that occur in many normal
relationships, and not just those that have a weaponized girl.
As characters die, the way their friends try to move on and coupe is
completely natural. Again it is no surprise that this anime has been
adapted to a live-action movie (released earlier this year in 2006). I
have not yet seen it but definitely looks good, rather than such flops
like the live action Sailor Moon.
Voice acting in both English and Japanese was well-done and full of
emotions. One of the better English dubs I've watched among anime I've
seen.
The pacing of each episode was great just like of IGPX which was one of
the aspects that made that anime enjoyable. Episodes all feel
fulfilling and keep on with the story. No filler episodes with this 13
episode anime at all. With the story never stopping with the episodes,
can be a plus or a minus. Some may not get as attached to the
characters as much and thats a plus to filler eps in such series like
Inuyasha or Full Moon. Yet by never side stepping from the story, it
makes it makes its impact just more powerful.
This is definitely a more mature-titled anime with many deep themes of
violence, some sex & gore, and scenes of massive destruction. Again,
this isn't a happy-go-lucky love story but about, as the tagline says,
the last love song on this little planet. Beautifully animation and
story is executed into the downward-spiraling waltz that is Saikano.
I give Saishu Heiki Kanojo (Saikano) a 8.5 out of 10. ~ NekoTakuto
Few minor complaints: - It's short...Maybe too short? - No explanations
of how Chise works as a weapon
7 out of 11 people found the following review useful:
Recommendation., 18 November 2003
Author:
xanothis from Darlington, England
Gah... I'm surprised that nobody's actually commented on this series
before!
SaiKano (shortened and commonly used form of the Japanese title) is truly
a
wonderful story, very well voiced, with a very moving story. Set in a
potential modern Japan, at first one would presume this is 'just another'
Japanese High School story, about love and relationships. Until the end
of
the first episode. Of course, that's a major part of it, but this is by
no
means the same as any other. Within the second half of the first episode,
however, we are shown that a lot of violence and action is to be
included,
of a very moving (and sometimes graphic) nature.
It's amazing how many emotions can be stirred up in just thirteen
episodes,
but this manages an awful lot. A wonderful series, very recommended. If
you
don't mind becoming depressed for a week.
5 out of 8 people found the following review useful:
Sad and moving series, 2 February 2005
Author:
scarlet478 from Illinois
SaiKano is a sad, sad series. And yet somehow uplifting by the end. The
message of the series really sticks with you afterwards- it's that
moving.
I love the characters the most- they're all so admirable in their own
ways, and they each make their own sacrifices for the sake of someone
special to them. That's what it's about; loving and trying to receive
love, getting hurt in a confusing and quickly changing world but still
struggling to go on despite these difficulties. I'll never forget a
moment near the end that made me realize that the series started off in
a vastly different world. It really brings home the irreversible
effects of war, and the changes that the main characters have
experienced.
This series is a good mix of pathos and cute moments (mostly courtesy
of Chise) not to be missed. I haven't read the manga, but as a series
alone, it is quite excellent.
I'm Sorry... This was rather good, 4 August 2008
Author:
Tweekums from United Kingdom
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I hadn't heard of this anime till it was recommended to me on Amazon at
a good price, after watching the first episode on line I decided to
give it a go and buy it on DVD. I'm glad that I did as it was pretty
good. While it is set in a war and there is plenty of action it is at
heart a love story, not just between the two protagonists but involving
many of the characters.
Shuji is a typical high school student and Chise is his somewhat klutzy
girl friend who is always apologising. Everything seems to be going
well for them, although Japan is at war it doesn't seem to effect their
town. Then one day when Shuji is out shopping with his friends in the
city enemy aircraft attack killing one of his friends. Suddenly
something else appears in the sky and destroys the enemy aircraft. When
the dust settles Shuji sees that the object that so easily defeated the
enemy is Chise. The rest of their friends remain unaware that Chise is
in fact the ultimate weapon. As the story progresses they struggle to
keep their relationships going as the war keeps taking Chise away on
duty and another woman takes an interest in Shuji. Chise grows stronger
as a weapon but also loses more and more control, activating to counter
any threat in a way that makes her as much a danger to her own side as
the enemy.
As well as the thirteen part series there is a two part OVA, this
concentrates on Chise's predecessor, Lt Col Mizuki who unlike Chise is
keen to fight, unfortunately for her she is damaged from all the
fighting she has been involved in. We also learn more about Chise's
evolution as a weapon.
The animation was all well done in a pleasing style with the pastel
colours a soft feel despite the fact that it a war story. The
characters are likable and it is sad when certain ones die. If you
don't dislike sad stories this anime is well worth watching.
These comments were based on watching both the series and the OVA in
Japanese with English subtitles.
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
One of the best!, 26 September 2006
Author:
destro8165 from United States
Definitely one of the best anime's I have seen. Very moving and just very, very good. I recommend this anime to anyone that can handle the emotional ups and downs. If anyone can do this than I salute you! I could barely handle the emotions when everyone was dying. It was that powerful to move a grown man to shed some tears. I don't know what's wrong with me, but, there'd actually a few good anime's out there that are so well written and animated with the story lines, that can have a profound impact on those who view them. I guess it depends on your state of mind etc. but do not pass this one up, I highly recommend it. I will compile a list of really good anime's that I recommend to watch.
2 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Disappointing, 11 February 2007
Author:
tunaspam from Plymouth, MI
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I must admit, I had very high expectations for this show but it didn't
turn out at all how i had thought it would.
Saikano is a Gonzo production and it's complete some gimmicky stuff.
The characters are all very basic and none of them really seem to be
exceptional. Shuji and Chise are the only ones who really have any
distinguishing art in them, the rest kinda look like "Fillers" with
blushed cheeks that will not go away. The backgrounds are alright;
still the same kinda linear style of animation with no real flare to
it. Their isn't a whole lot of action in the show so the characters
don't really get to move around a lot; and when there is action, it's
just basically little explosions in the sky with an occasional plane
crashing toward the ground. Chise's "ultimate-weapon" animation was
kinda poor, and underdeveloped, especially when she would "transform"
into it. Overall, the animation is really very average and kinda
half-baked; very disappointing.
The series is presented in 5.1 audio (at least the version I watched
was) so it sounds crisp; but there's not really much to it besides
that. The voice actors on both ends of the spectrum don't really
accomplish much and, despite the few good moments, the music is pretty
boring as well.
The story is Saikano is extremely half-baked and very confusing, even
though it has such a simple core. The basic root of the story is Chise
and Shuji's vow to fall in love and always be in love despite their
terrible circumstances. That being said, if you only focus on that side
of the plot, then you'll at least get a partly enjoyable story about a
young couple searching for true love. But so much of the actual plot is
left out that you don't really have a reason to care about what happens
to Shuji and Chise and their relationship with themselves and others.
Chise is the ultimate-weapon. Why? Japan is fighting a terrible war
with other nations. Which nations? And why? When did the research for
the ultimate weapon begin? What is it capable of? What are all its
abilities? Why have it be incorporated into a young like Chise who has
no military profile or reason to be in the war? Why? Why? Why? These
questions are never answered in the series of Saikano and the plot
suffers greatly because of it.
I did find, some of, the characters, and their relationships to one
another, in this series to be enjoyable. Shuji's relationship with his
old lover, Fyumi, and Chise's best friend, Akemi, are interesting and
actually, at the end of them, have some substance. But that's about all
there really is. There are several, too many in fact, characters,
including the two leads, that simply display nothing more than teen
angst. While this is not necessarily bad, because angst makes for some
quite incredible film making, it's just not approached in the right
manner. All of the characters just seem to be floating on, they don't
really have purpose in their quest and that kinda makes the whole thing
seem pointless because they don;t really have a reason to achieve
anything. But despite all of the bad, there is some good character
development in Saikano. Shuji changes from being a complete moronic
teenager, to actually knowing, at least a little bit, about true love
and relationships. Chise develops from a weak schoolgirl, to
appreciating the value of love and knowing the consequences of her
actions. There is also a great moment in episode 9 with Shuji and Akemi
that really spoke to me more than any other part of the show.
Saikano had a lot of potential; it really did. But it just wasn't done
correctly and, therefore, it fell to the wayside. So, in the end, i
couldn't recommend this show to anyone, not with titles like Voices of
a Distant Star and The Place Promised in Our Early Days around, because
it just doesn't get the whole love/romance/war/tragedy formula quite
right.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
the last love song on earth, 18 December 2006
Author:
k_alby from Dominican Republic
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Well, you'll read a lot of mixed reviews on this anime series. I
haven't yet seen the OVA's or specials or movies or whatnot. I simply
comment on the series, which i've seen on Spanish dubs (which aren't
nearly as bad as English dubs are), and some episodes on JP.
Starts out as a story on Chise and Shuji, high-schoolers in love,
except that later on the pilot you realize that Chise's Japan's
Ultimate weapon (you don't know why). There is war all around and
people being dramatically killed, Chise "wants to help it end".
At the beginning isn't even that big a love story simply because
Shuji's character is very insecure about his feelings, and they even
break up once. So the anime spins between his loving Chise and trying
to protect their love and him not knowing how to handle the war
situation.
And the war part, is the saddest. From the fight scenes, to the dialog
on it, to how people uninvolved and involved in it die, will make you
cry far worse than the love story itself. It'll remind you of movies
like "Grave of the fireflies" and that's what's great about the anime.
It'll depress you some, but you'll sure to appreciate those parts, even
if the "love story" itself gets on your nerves at times. They are,
after all, high-schoolers and behave childishly throughout the series,
and respond to the war around them in not the sanest of matters.
As for the ending, if you didn't like series like "neon genesis
evangelion", stay away from this one, at least in the last episode.
Episodes 1 - 12 are touching and sad, and somewhat romantic, but
episode 13 will lead you on an evangelion-like abstract quest to
realize what really happens and it throws the anime in a totally
different direction.
All in all, I for one liked it very much. I could've done with a little
less crying from Chise and a better attitude at times from Shuji, but
everything else works nicely. I recommend it to those who'll appreciate
the action driven war scenes and drama, as told by a high-schooler in
love, and his lover's diary.
4 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
A chore to watch..., 29 September 2007
Author:
MisuBisu from Melbourne, Australia
I can't believe that this series has such a high rating on IMDb. I
reviewing the English dubbed version of the TV series... perhaps
something was lost in the translation?? The dialogue is very corny...
all of the characters are constantly apologizing to each other for the
things that they are saying... and getting mad at each other for saying
sorry all the time!! It's really quite ludicrous. And very hard to
digest. Plus very annoying to watch. The premise of the story is what
attracted me to it. Potentually a very engaging storyline.
Well, I have only watched about 10 episodes, and all ten were not easy
to watch. Up until now, there has been *no* explanation of how the girl
(the ultimate weapon) has become what she is. Some may say, the how it
happened (to her) is not important, as the emotion behind what has
happened to her (and how her boyfriend feels and accepts her) is what
is important. But I disagree. They attempt to play on these feelings
and emotions way too much, to the point where it is just boring. There
in no buildup during each episode that drives you to want to watch the
next episode. You watch the next one, because you are desperate for
something to happen, to propel the story forward. But it never happens.
Now I love a good emotional story as much as (if not, more than) the
next girl... but this story is *not* emotional. It's just draining and
as I said, very hard to watch. You don't get to love, or feel sorry for
any of the characters. There is not attachment to them at all. Which to
me is very unusual... I have watched a lot of anime, and am often drawn
to the characters and feel for their situations. So I'm sure it's not
me!!
I will continue to watch the series, but only because I have purchased
the full DVD set... but I will only watch them when I have nothing
better to watch... and only to see if it gets any better. If it does, I
will revise this review. But something tells me, that this is as good
as it gets. Plus I am curious to see how they are going to pad out the
story for the next three DVDs. In ten episodes *nothing* has happened.
A big thumbs down for 'She - The Ultimate Weapon'. Very disappointing!!
8 out of 27 people found the following review useful:
a complete lack of personality, 20 May 2006
Author:
David Snyder from United States
I had to force myself to watch the last few episodes of this anime just so I could be done with it. I just could not stand it by the end. If you're going to create an alternate setting for an anime, you should at least explain it. It is never gone into why the country is at war, why it was necessary to change a little girl into an ultimate weapon, or why this "ultimate weapon" doesn't just end the war immediately. Not only that, but I simply could not stand the characters. They just had no personalities whatsoever, aside from reacting to the fact that she was an ultimate weapon. Everyone treats Chisu with a sort of reverent fear, the only difference in anyone being that Shuji "loves" her for no apparent reason. The visuals are okay and the music and voice acting are decent, but in the end, it's just sadness for the sake of being sad.
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