RavenHawk

Yeah, I was just about to comment on that. I actually liked the political side of RideBack (loved the first few episodes, with the joy of riding that they showed, but still expected it to become political, and thought it handled it well). So, overall, I thought it started strong, stayed strong in the middle, though based on different elements, and just the last episode disappointed. Viper's Creed, on the other hand, I thought started off weak (action, sure, but very weak characterization and plot), really dragged its feet in the middle, and didn't get good until the last few episodes. Ending as a little disappointing, though this seems to be the case with almost all anime.

That's a surprising amount of products for a show that doesn't seem to get a ton or attention, at least around these boards. Thanks Keith. I've done a quick search for it, but all I've found so far as bittorrents of it that look to be DVD rips, but don't seem to have english subs.

Mine just shipped. Once it gets in, can finally replace my old BitTorrents.

What are the updates? Just releasing the same ones that Toynami is releasing, in brighter colors?

That's how I viewed it, and thus enjoyed it. Though why someone would want to live in a world without The Kurgen... well, I just don't get it.

Well, it IS a Gregory Widen movie. He tends to write his with pretty clear endings, and then other people screw them up trying to make sequels. Look at how great The Prophecy was. Then look at how terrible the sequels were.

Thanks for the advice. Did the OVA have a specific name (so it's easier to distinguish from the regular series)?

I suppose most of the anime vets on here have already seen this show, but it's new to me. Came across it on another forum while looking up more bikes for my variable bikes site-to-be. Anyway, on that other forum people were talking about how awful and hated this anime was (comparing it to Blassreiter; I, on the other hand, actually enjoyed Blassreiter). Well, I just watched the first episode and thought it wasn't bad at all. Visually, I think it's gorgeous. Really beautiful animation and very cool mecha designs. The character design is a bit cartoony for my tastes, but I can overlook that. The action, well, looks like it was directly lifted from John Woo's repertoire. The only thing that really bothered me so far is that it's a bit too on the "let's show fairly young girls scantily clad and looking like sex objects" side of things, with closeups on butts and crotches and nipples for my tastes (yeah, I'm weird, I like that in my live-action, but not in my anime). The one wearing a skimpy cowboy outfit just makes no sense to me. Reminds me to Bubblegum Crisis in a lot of ways. Group of female mercenaries. Similar personalities, with the youngest/smallest being the computer person, the oldest being in charge, etc. Mecha. Some mecha opponents, and what look to be some more creature-like ones (which I usually don't like, but it was ok in BGC and sequels/spinoffs, and even grew on me in Blassreiter). I'd love to hear other people's thoughts, just please don't give away any spoilers.

I think if it were a stand-alone movie, people would think it was an ok anime, nothing special. Because it is part of the Highlander franchise, some may not consider it anime. Because it is part of the Highlander franchise, it absolutely shines compared to some of the live-action movies (and I love the franchise, but some of it has just been AWFUL).

I'm in too (it's a variable bike, so obviously...).

I posted pictures a page or two back in this thread. EDIT: Zx31, you beat me to it.

Put her on the Beagle. Ok, maybe not the cheapest large scale bike out there...

Still hoping (even though I know there's no chance) for the Hurricane II moto-slave, Typhoon I & II moto-slaves, Priss' Heavy moto-slave, AD Police moto-slave...

Same here. I want all 4, but right now I have the metallic Priss, and can't imagine getting the other three no in metallic. Only question is, will Yamato release the other three in metallic?

Good ol' Aoshima. Re-releasing Priss a THIRD time, again with the only difference being a new weapon. Sounds like CMs with the upcoming re-release of the Legioss/Tread. http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS04637

I can understand your disappointment with RideBack if you thought it was all going to be about racing RideBacks. I had read the first volume of the manga before I saw the anime, so knew to expect it to be more about politics. When I asked about the target audience, I meant what age group is this aimed at? Seem to be elements there meant for young kids, and elements for adults, but in a way that is mutually exclusive.

I don't know if it's a matter of who has better engineers designing the toys, better materials, or just part of designing for a smaller market.

We were discussing this in another variable bike thread. I told you what happened with my issues with Yamato, and how great they were about fixing things. I figure you should hear back from them tomorrow. Let us know when you do.

I've been looking for this everywhere, with absolutely no luck. I'm obsessed with transforming bikes, and the old animated Prowl is one of my favorite toys.

Ok, I REALLY can't wait to see this.

No idea, have to take a look at mine when I get home tonight, but I feel pretty certain they'll find some way to fix the problem for you. I just wish these things we love were loved in higher quantities. I look at my son's $15 Transformer, with solid parts, good connections, proper fits and posability, and can be dropped on the floor and still be fine... Then I look at one of my $150 transforming toys from any of a number of Anime, that are fidgety, don't hold poses well, are no fun to transform, and break just from being transformed, never mind dropped...

Almost have enough space freed up to start downloading... so close... So, from what you said, this is sounding more and more like Megazone 23.

Soon as I free up some space on my laptop, I'm going to download an episode or two. See if it's any good before I go buying a boxed set. EDIT: Considering the Akira lineage, I'm surprised more people haven't heard of it.

Apparently it's been out for a good year now, but I had never heard of it. Anyone here familiar with "Freedom?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rEGMe-uniU...player_embedded Here is what I found about it: Anime: Freedom. picts via: Neotype Freedom Project is a Japanese promotional project by Nissin Cup Noodles for their 35th anniversary in 2006. As part of the project, the 7-part OVA series, titled Freedom, was commissioned with Katsuhiro Otomo of Akira serving as the character and mecha designer. The series openly flaunts product placement of the corporate sponsor in numerous scenes where characters are shown consuming Nissin Cup Noodles. In the year 2041, mankind created their first space colony on the moon. But after a freak cataclysm devastated human civilisation on Earth, the republic of the moon built a domed megalopolis known as Eden. Now in the year 2267, a boy called Takeru spends his time engaging in illegal motorcycle races against rival street gangs, unaware that he is about to embark in the journey of unearthing Eden's origin.

Ok, just watched episode 1. A few comments: 1) So far, it's really not my thing. Generally not a fan of kind of silly characters. However, I'll give it 2 more episodes and then see if a story starts developing that I'm interested in. This can take a while with me. 2) Just not feeling the hook for this sport yet (and I do enjoy basketball, and love mecha). I appreciate shows that kind of create their own sport. When I saw the first 3 or 4 episodes of RideBack, with the whole club scene built around Ridebacks and the races, I really felt the passion for it that was meant to be there, and wish they were real. So far, with admittedly only one episode watched so far, I'm just not really feeling anything for the Big Foot Basketball, or what it does to enhance the sport, other than, you know, there being tall mecha around. 3) Who the heck is the target audience here?!?! It looks and feels like a kids show, but there were a TON of sexual references (and lots of closeup boob shots, even if they are animated boobs). I really don't know if I want to let my 10 year old watch this.