Rating: 
Summary: One of the best anime series in recent memory
Review: It's been a while since I've seen an anime whit as much depth as RahXephon. Although many people have compared it to Neon Genesis Evangelion this is really not a correct comparison. Although they share similar themes their stories and the way the plot unfolds are total different. While in Neon Genesis Evangelion the anime revolves around the mecha and the pilot's reaction to them and through them, in RahXephon the mecha is just a means to an end. The story is more about the main character, Ayato Kamina come to terms whit him self and the two worlds he is a part of. In Evangrlion the story was forced on the characters. In RahXephon the characters actions force the plot. There is no predicted dooms day approaching and there is never any feeling that he is the only hope for mankind. He is just a kid whit a talent and the world will not end just because something happens to him. This allows for a more realistic character that's easy to relate to. The Artwork and CG is some of the best that I have seen in anime. They blended the two together so well that in many scenes it becomes hard to tell what is CG and what is drawn. The music very well done, it is predictable enough that it easily brings out the proper emotion for the scene but also surprising and strong enough to be remarkable and memorable.
Rating:
Summary: ... non eva comparison free
Review: It's not that bad reviewers can't help comparing this title to Evangelion it's just that it should be compared to it because it borrows so much from it. As far as I can tell the production crew that does Rahxephon has much to do with Cowboy Bebop and to me Rahxephon comes off as a mix between Eva and Bebop. The main character Ayato almost looks like a cross between Spike and Shinji, call me crazy. Ayato will come off as confident and assertive at times like Spike. In more dire situations, he will act stubborn and childish like Shinji. There are a vast amount of parallels that I will go into later. Regardless of it's borrowing, Rahxephon has great production values. The animation is seamless and incredible expecially during battle sequences. The first time Allegretto made an appearance it blew me away. The mech designs rival Eva and I love Unit-01's design while the character designs are almost as good. It is beautiful, enough said. The music is good but I refrain from judging on that until I see the entire series. The plot seems extremely confusing at first but slows down after the first two episodes. The first DVD is very interesting and yes, many questions are left unanswered. If you're a person that dosen't like that then why do you even like anime? And as much as I HATED ADV's treatment of Evangelion they did a great job with RahXephon. The box art is wonderful and the booklet inserted is really neat. The English voice acting while not near as good as Bebop's(the best) is not near as horrible as Evangelion's(oh god my ear's hurt). Still I watch it in Japanese. Needless to say, I have high hopes for this series.
ONTO THE COMPARISON
Okay where do I start, the only weakness of Rahxephon is it's many smilarities and borrowed ideas from Evangelion. I'll say this, if you like Eva then you'll probably like this even though I haven't seen but the first DVD. Fire away. Okay the first episode is much like Eva's because the main character is trapped in a city at war. The dolems stink of "angel". Reika is very mysterious and quiet like a certain blue haired Eva pilot. Haruka is too much like Misato in fact Ayato ends up in a situation with her and her cute little sister much like Shinji did with Misato(trying to hint not spoil). A drop of water falls into a pool of water just like in Eva. When Rahxephon is activated in one of the episodes it's eyes roll around creepily like Unit-01's when it's headcasing came off. The imagery is what really gets it. In the 4th episode of Rahxephon a dolem attacks at sea and the whole occurence is way too much like the Eva episode where Asuka is introduced. Regardless Rahxephon has a lot of unique things going for it. What sets RahXephon apart is the character's are not as [messed] up as Eva's are which gives it a different flavor. Hopefully, it will pull away and leave us with the same impression Eva did. I want it to succeed. And lots of times great art tends to borrow.
Rating: 
Summary: Evangelion for the New Millenium?
Review: Many people have commented on the similarities of Rahxephon to the seminal anime classic Neon Genesis Evangelion, and having viewed both in their entirety its easy to see why. Rahxephon borrows heavily from Evangelion (henceforth Eva) for both its premise and narrative. Nearly every major character in Eva has an analogous counterpart in Rahxephon, and if you swap out Eva's Christian symbolism for Rahxephon's musical references the overall plots are strikingly similar. Yet to simply dismiss Rahxephon as an Eva knockoff is to dismiss one of the best made anime series of the past few years.
The most immediately noticable aspect of Rahxephon is the stellar production values. The animation is simply gorgeous, made all the more beautiful by a flawless DVD transfer. The characters and mechs more with a convincing grace and fluidity not always present in anime TV series, and the amount of detail in the backgrounds is stunning. Also of note is the entire look of the show. The characters are realistically proportioned while still retaining that anime flaire (ie big eyes, spiky hair, etc.). The mechs are among to more interesting designs seen as of late, which like the characters are convincing yet stylized. The other mechanical aspects of the show, such as tanks, fighters, and ships, are all realistically detailed and help to sell the not-too-distant future setting.
This volume introduces a bevy of characters, yet they are all uniquely designed so that keeping track of who's who isn't a problem at all. You may not be able to keep all the Japanese names straight (it certainly took me a while), but you'll never have trouble recognizing a face. And for once in an anime, the characters go through realistic costume changes instead of wearing the same outfit all the time. We also get a lot of solid character development in this volume, although of course there's plenty more the come.
Then there's the narrative. Although it does bear several strong resemblances to Eva, there's more than enough that's different to distinguish the two series. For instance, the plot twist that occurs midway through this volume is completely unexpected and helps to keep things fresh. Rahxephon also spends a lot of time on the details, slowly trickling information to the viewer one juicy detail at a time. I'm currently rewatching the series a second time, and I'm amazed at how much more there is to this show than I picked up on the first time around. Rahxephon is a show that rewards repeat viewings.
Although outwardly similar, anyone who gives Rahxephon a chance will see its not really like Evangelion at all. Rahxephon is a smart, high-concept anime that is executed wonderfully. The show steadily guides the audience along without being too obvious about anything. If you're looking for a show to make you think, Rahxephon is definitely worth picking up. And after all, one can only watch Eva so many times.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent anime, but you may want to skip the box
Review: RahXephon has a lot to live up to, being created by the same studio that brought us the Cowboy Bebop movie, and directed by the director of Gasaraki. Thankfully, I can say (based on this first disc) that it is fulfilling that promise. RahXephon's plot is likely to hook you quickly, and set up a sense of intrigue and mystery that will keep you wanting more. Though many have scornfully compared this series to Neon Genesis Evangelion, RahXephon is not a series to be dismissed as an "Eva clone." While there are many similarities, it could easily be said that RahXephon pays homage to the earlier anime classic, while maintaining its own story and style. Some may even find it easier to digest than the symbolic and didactic Evangelion. Now for my only criticism: You'll notice that I still gave this disc a five star rating, because a show should not be judged on the quality of its box. However, I should point out that the box is flimsy, and likely to be bent or creased by the time it arrives in your hands. Also, there are many reports of security tabs being applied directly to the inside surface of the box, necessitating slightly ripping the colored surface in order to remove it. This was a very poor packaging design decision. Finally, the t-shirt that comes with it is poor quality and made of cheap material. The design on the shirt is too small, and obviously cheaply printed in only two colors. This is not a shirt you would be proud to wear... in fact, it looks worse than most bootleg anime goods. So my advice is, definitely buy the series, but pass on the box. It's one of the worst boxes ADV has put out in a long time. It, and its godawful shirt, are not worth the extra money. The series on the other hand, is a joy to watch... so don't let your enjoyment be spoiled by poor excuses for "collectors items."
Rating:
Summary: Must-have for a sci-fi fan
Review: RahXephon is a sci-fi anime with an intriguing story. Editorial review and description does a good job for summarizing the overall scenerio, so there is no need to lengthen my review. RahXephon resembles Neon Genesis Evangelion in many respects but it doesn't have the drawbacks of Evangelion that I mentioned in my review of its complete set. If you enjoy science-fiction books or movies having interesting and intriguing subjects, you will enjoy RahXephon as much as I do. If you need an example from anime to make your decision, I can say that the ones liked Gasaraki will probably like RahXephon, too. Video and audio quality of this DVD edition is very good. Most anime fans dislike dubbing and prefer to watch Japanese sound with English subtitles. However, subtitles are not that good. I found out that listening an important conversation, which you couldn't understand it at first, for a second time is much more efficient than figuring out what happened from subtitles. You should notice that there are actually two English subtitles. First subtitle is the regular one and the second one is similar to the "Pill" option of Akira, it only translates Japanese words on the video and background conversation on scenes such as a news heard from a TV. This second English subtitle is benefical to turn on. Leaflets on DVD's are very welcome and useful. There are fully coloured drawings of mechas and persons together with a brief information. The leaflet of this first volume also includes short interviews with Japanese cast. Other extras in this DVD are :
- Clean opening animation : Animation is very good but the music is spectacular. I really love this opening music, even though I mostly listen to metal music. You can watch the animation and particularly listen to the music over and over again.
- Clean closing animation : Closing music is boring for me, but you may want to watch it as the words are closely tied to the overall story.
- Special Japanese promo trailer : This is fine, too but not that much important.
- Production sketches : These are clearly drawn in full color and the fantastic opening music accompanies them.
- ADV previews : No ADV disc can be without them. They are welcome for me, this is easier than searching the Net for them. The first volume of RahXephon includes the first five episodes. You can use this first volume to make your decision about whether you will want to see the other volumes or not. The story is not concluded in currently available four volumes I bought but I strongly believe that the series will keep up with the good pace I saw so far. I, as a science fiction fan, give five stars to this volume as well as the other three and I am looking forward for the rest.
Rating:
Summary: Best Mecha Anime since Neon Genesis Evangelion
Review: Rahxephon is the best Anime that I have seen in a long time. This is one Anime that does everything right! This show has some of the most detailed and original mech designs I've ever seen. With it's interesting and well developed characters and it's incredible animation and music, Rahxephon is sure to please all fans of Mecha Anime. Rahxephon is truly the next Evangelion!
Rating:
Summary: Anime to sleep to ...
Review: The Bones crew drifted off of the splendid Cowboy Bebop and tried their hands at giant robot anime... and you get RahXephon? Beautifully drawn, beautifully animated, beautifully designed. But it is so derivitive of Evangelion and Dual! AND comes so late on the heels of those shows that it seems like a third time around the same old block. I've only seen the first DVD, and really took a mental snooze trying to find something other then fancy art and rehashed situations to keep me entertained. The characters, while beautifully drawn, are very tepid and their interplay isn't as fascinating as the better anime from which the crew and idea came. Most problems in anime come from writing, and the ability to hook a viewer and provide them with vexing situations, alluring stucture of beats and engaging subtext. RahXephon, sadly, has all those faults. The crafty film work of top level anime is also absent- they tend to choose average shots to tell the story through camera placement and movement. Aside from that, it's a masterpiece of art and design. If this is your FIRST 'giant robot suits battle aliens in the middle of a city' anime, then this is AWESOME. But, if you've seen the slew of typical series having all the hallmarks of an Evangelion homage/influence... , RahXephon could bore you. It bored me so far. I'll buy the art books, and forget the series. Pity. I really, really want to get 100 percent behind ANYTHING Bones does, but I can't lie to you, the consumer, about how I feel. There are enough wild eyed fanboys writing reviews saying Rah! Rah! RahXephon!
Rating:
Summary: The World Infused with Sound
Review: The concept of this series is what caught and held my attention. The story starts with Ayata (the main male character) going about his daily life thinking nothing is wrong with the world and quickly the story strips him of everything he thought he new. The story deals with a lot of emotional themes with isolation from everything you knew or loved being (in my opinion) the strongest in the first five episodes. The great thing about this series is that even though this is about as far from reality as "The Matrix" is, the themes are universal in that most people can relate to the characters as they try in a very human way to deal with each situation as it arises.
I mention "The Matrix" because there are a lot of points that almost seem to be taken from the movie if you watch for them.
The question at this point is what is the Forbidden Song and who is Reika (and how come she doesn't have a reflection).
The Robots (dolems, etc) are the focus in a almost secondary way so far and shouldn't be compared to other Anime that has robots or mechs. The RahXephon doesn't carry any guns or missiles and uses light and sound (and fists) as its primary weapons.
This coupled with great art and good music make this a must.
Rating: 
Summary: Been there. Done that.
Review: The music is good, especially the theme by Maaya Sakamoto, the art is good, and SOME of the mecha designs are very good. The series starts off strong with some powerful visuals and impressive animation. However, I just can't get around the fact that the main mecha has stupid-looking wings on its head! The series starts off strong but swiftly becomes derivative and predictable. I'd consider this series the poor man's alternative to EVA and Blue Sub Number Six. But if you're a poor man, stop blowing all your money on anime. :)
Rating:
Summary: "What can I do?"
Review: This has become a very promising year for US releases of anime. Most of the new issues are at least interesting, and a select few are serious contenders. RahXephon is one of the latter, combining some tried and true story lines with enough original thinking to seem fresh and original. Sometimes I think Evangelion is the most borrowed from anime ever produced. Many of the results are unsatisfactory because the original set such a high standard that failures are glaring. Not so the case with RahXephon - rather than borrow, it echoes the old themes in an original context. Sure enough, a teen-aged boy (Ayato) finds himself in the middle of an attack on Tokyo and is led to the mystical temple where a giant egg contains RahXephon, who is a very aesthetic combination of EVA 01 and Gundam Wing. And giant space creatures (Dolems) appear in the skies for RahXephon to conquer. But for each similarity, there are differences. Ayato is a much more vivid character than Shinji. After the first battle, Ayato and the robot catapult outside of the 'hidden' Tokyo. Where Ayato discovers that the city he though was all that was left of the world was really the last stronghold of the alien Mu, who plan the earth. They have locked themselves behind a time barrier in what is now called Tokyo Jupiter. Ayato's friends have echoes as well - the reticent Reika Mishima who links him with RahXephon, Haruka Shitow - part special agent and part softie. And there is also the stern head of TERRA operations, Jin Kunugi. But despite the parallels, they these new efforts have different and richer personalities than their precursors. And there are many others to fill out the cast. It is clear that relationships will play as important a part in the story as the combat scenes, where 'song' is a weapon. If the first five installments are any indication, the artwork and character design are outstanding. And true to a series where sound is a weapon, the music (by Khiko Hashimoto) is memorable. The story is carefully paced, but the viewer is treated to an active and often beautiful film surface. Mecha and mystical are mixed together seamlessly. This is a work that stands on its own quite well, but I think that Evangelion fans will be especially pleased. I am not as excited with the set box and t-shirt, though. I like gimmicks, but while the packaging is pretty, it is not as solid as it should be. And the t-shirt is a bit average. Be warned that, if you are not a collector, the DVD alone is probably a better purchase.
|
