Zagidulin.net: Anime Log 2003

Ahh, watching it from the first episode is much better. Haunted Junction grows on you -- I'm starting to like it quite a lot.

This series does two things well: character design, and wickedly cool magical battle sequences, a bit more interesting than the usual "I blast you with a green magic ray, and then absorb your deadly blue energy blast" stuff. As for the plot... well, as one reviewer put it, the creators were of the "plot is more interesting if you make it needlessly mysteeeeeerious" school of thought, and subsequently recommend watching the last two episodes, first. I think we'll do that. Still, I'm curious enough about the series, and love its visuals.

I think at this point, we're watching the Southern Cross saga just out of perverse persistence, and because our friends own the DVD, so it doesn't have to go back to the video store. It's kind of hard to like a series where the setting is full of pointless inconsistencies (an entire feudal society has evolved in 15 years?? AND Earth Command had time to build all these armies and space stations? Busy 15 years!), the action sequences are terrible (the dogfighting skills of the earth robotech pilots has steadily gone downhill since the first series, to put it mildly), and the main character is painfully, murderously annoying (yes, even worse than Minmei). While I completely respect the fond memories many people have of this series, coming into it now, at this point, after the excellent first 36 episodes of the Robotech saga, is a bit of a letdown.

The tapes and boxes were switched by accident at the store, and as a result, episode 7 was our first exposure to Haunted Junction. The result was quite weird -- Haunted Junction is one of those over-the-top, silly and exaggerated shows, and to dive into it without introduction or leadup was jarring. Still, it was pleasant and light-hearted, and I think it'd be worthwhile to start from the beginning.

What a delightful series! I'm quite glad we watched it -- it was funny and fascinating at times, and the characters where surprisingly original. I only wish it was longer, and that they'd explained WHY in the world Mosquiton left his wife, Camille, and instead insisted on staying with the considerably annoying main character. Ah well, perhaps the manga will explain it.

We couldn't really stand to watch it. While it's perfectly drawn and executed (it's by the same guys who did Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Trigun, Ninja Scroll, and many others), just read the description of the story. Sad, damaged girls being brainwashed and retrofitted as cyborgs and forced to kill? Why would I want to watch this, again? I got my fill of this kind of thing watching Noir.

A promising start. Leila Ashley wins the award for least dialogue and most angsty stares, for a main character, beating out D from Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust by a long shot.