So, watching the new Sailor Moon Crystal. And all I can say is wow.
The new art and animation is nice. A good update on a very dated series that was starting not to hold up well at all. The new animation seems to flow really well into the next scene and I don't have any major complaints at the moment. But, the characters... oh man the characters. Just as annoying as ever.
I will admit I was never a fan of the original. It's always hard to be a fan of a series that was not aimed at you in the American market. I found the Japanese versions though much easier to watch. Crystal seems to know who's gonna watch it and not interested in pulling much in from others. Even the Japanese version (which is the only I can view right now) seems to pander to the audience. While I can only appreciate the version that is presented, I can also add that I am not much interested in the product.
The voicing is over acted. Perhaps this is because those acting know about the old series and are fans. But, I am more inclined to think that it was bad directing that told them to play up the characters. There's a few differences in staging, which is nice, but with the characters playing over inflated versions of themselves, it's lost on me how the characters even came to this present state. It really kinda ticks me off. While the Serena character has never been high on my list, this new version is just intolerable.
And that is just the start of the series problems. Everyone is playing up to a new level. They could've gone a real new direction and made it much more serious. Giving the characters a darker look, a more fierce competitiveness, and (as the industry calls it) "edgy" attitude. But, instead, let's just amp up everything about them that makes you not like the characters. Why not? It's easy enough for those who don't like the old series to hate the new one.
And that is really the downfall of the thing. It hurts to think that they could go that direction. Even with the stellar animation it is painful to watch the new characters in their present state and think anything positive of them. And I do mean anything. I wanted to like it. I really did. Like I said I was a fan of the Japanese original and not the American. Crystal plays out just like the American original and that is just sad. It's like they aren't even trying to give their old audience, who is now grown up, a chance to like the new one.
Not unless you like having all the characters blown up in your face. The transformation was awesome. Followed by... well... radar balls... God I wish I was making that up. But the literal blinking of the ruby's in her hair like a fucking radar... Yea.
Yea.
Let's move on.
The fight wasn't even good. The baddie looked like a tack on. Maybe if the show had been an hour long, maybe it would've been better, but this was just all around fail. All around. Thanks Tuxedo Mask for cleaning up the mess...
Now if you could, could the series be about you. Maybe then it could be good.
END
(oh, at least my favourite made an appearance at the end. run girl, run from this for your life.)
