Flunky3k

While many might ridicule Chargeman Ken, it is clearly an exquisite celebration of ancient Japanese zoetrope animation.

Oddly centered around Western themed characters and futuristic childhood utopian visions, it never the less captures the indomitable spirit of Japan as they continuously crush their would be Juralian invaders.

Using savvy, endless reuse of simplistic animation cells, typically at 2 frames per second, the series captures the visceral excitement that early projection novelty shows must have incited.

Like a TikTok video, the pieces are short and self similar with disembodied voices. In that, we realize this show was oddly predictive of the future by way of rudimentary forms of the past.

Bravo to Crunchyroll for continuing the presentment and preservation of this important cinematic treasure.

Rohan

The movie, like this TV series, punches well above is budget for quality and enjoyment.

The simple and artful direction, camera work, costumes, and acting create an aesthetic that honors manga and artistic pursuit.

The actors interactions and dialog imbue the personalities of their characters and lift the writing to life. Patient dialog and camera shots bring a methodical presence to the mystery revealing plot.

One gets the sense the crew and cast love their work, as the creativity, detail and care is evident. While the budgets for special effects and sets are clearly limited, the careful use of locations, costumes, and visual aesthetic more than make up for it.

The gentle, and minimalist story telling results in a wonderfully pleasant experience. And I hope all involved are able to continue these stories.

Many of us enjoy a genuine effort to make a movie that results in a hot mess. Part of the sadistic joy is recognizing many diligent months if not years were poured into the work, only to fall gloriously short.

This movie flips the story. Luring you into the promise of a genuine Z movie, but instead is an extraordinarily lazy, pathetic, painful effort to pump out something straight to ignominious glory. This is not Birdemic. This is not the Miami Connection. It's just crap for crap's sake. Not worthy of dishonorable mention. Just indifference.