Boogiepop Phantom - Boxed Set (Evolutions 1-4)

Rating:
Summary: This is great!
Review: This is a great anime if you like a challenge. When you watch the first few episodes, you'll probably scratch your head and say "What the hell is going on?" As time goes on, however, most of your questions will be answered. To fully understand the plot line, I've found that you must watch all of the episodes a few times and make some mental notes, such as what sounds or people were in the backround of certain scenes. This may help you figure out when an event occured. The series tends to jump around between the present, 5 years ago, and one month ago. It can sometimes be hard to tell when the scene is going on. Over all this gets a VERY good review from me. It's intriguing, mysterious, and creepy up to the very last episode. If you liked Serial Experiments: Lain, you'll LOVE this. Well, that's about all for now. I hope this was helpful to you!

Rating:
Summary: This is great!
Review: This is a great anime if you like a challenge. When you watch the first few episodes, you'll probably scratch your head and say "What the hell is going on?" As time goes on, however, most of your questions will be answered. To fully understand the plot line, I've found that you must watch all of the episodes a few times and make some mental notes, such as what sounds or people were in the backround of certain scenes. This may help you figure out when an event occured. The series tends to jump around between the present, 5 years ago, and one month ago. It can sometimes be hard to tell when the scene is going on. Over all this gets a VERY good review from me. It's intriguing, mysterious, and creepy up to the very last episode. If you liked Serial Experiments: Lain, you'll LOVE this. Well, that's about all for now. I hope this was helpful to you!

Rating:
Summary: A Very Good Series
Review: To say that this series is exceptional is not untrue, but it is not all encompassing either. Boogiepop Phantom is a fantastic horror/drama anime that recalls "LAIN" in terms of style. It is a thirteen part story that is told with frenetic pace and beautifully horrifying images, some of which are among the most imaginitive yet seen in modern anime. These images, many of which are extremely darkened or grainy due to stylistic choices (The series has a film noir visual feel) benefit greatly from the DVD medium. All this considered, the DVD and the show have a few minor flaws; flaws which prevent it from receiving a perfect score.
The show, while intentionally disjointed, becomes somewhat too incomprehensible, and even multiple viewings do not allow certain episodes to be linked to Boogiepop's central idea. In short, some episodes drag, and do so until they reach an ending not worthy of the trip. Keep in mind that my all-time favorite anime is "LAIN", and what that show successfully managed with random sounds/images/etc. Boogiepop is unable to do. It seems as if they drop the ball once or twice.
As for the DVD's sound quality, the first disc's english 5.1 track is marred by some drop-out, as well as some surround effects that are blatant and misplaced. Disc's 2,3, and 4 are fine, but the omission of a Japanese 5.1 track (as is the case on many anime DVD's) is unacceptable.
Well, there it is. Boogiepop is a fantastic show that suffers only minor problems, and while other shows are to be viewed first (Kenshin, Evangelion, Bebop, Berserk...) don't miss out on this one!