Shadow Skill

In a war-torn world, a martial art called "Shadow Skill" exists, and you must fight to survive. Although interesting, pretty boring characters and a very hard-to-follow story line with several plot holes (I'm not kidding, and I fully understood "Akira"). However, the bit of story line that does make sense is pretty good, and the fight sequences are excellent.

Gau and his sister, Elle, set off in a journey to his parents' grave, as they have done each year for four years. However, it is in Elle's blood to fight, even if it isn't in Gau's. But Elle will teach Gau the ultimate art: the art of... "Shadow Skill"!

Shadow Skill looks like a rather strange short OVA by the modern standards of anime film making, short on plot, high on action and violence. Some would consider this to be a thing lacking in the anime industry by modern standards and if you are going to look at it solely on that, they're right. But this is so much more than just ultra violence, this kind of thing was the beginning of the Anime Boom in the West, where imported sub versions drove up the desire for people to do voice overs and the Western Dub scene began.

For a short OVA based on a Martial Arts story in a short panelled manga, this ova does a helluvalot with the source material, from the insane action and violence, to the simple yet elegant plot that weaves its story very well, piecing together the heroes journey they're on and the fulfilment of the titular Gau coming of age character.

This was one of the first things I saw of Anime, one of the best things I've seen in ultra violence and I honestly want to see more of it one day, when there's enough demand for true violent and gory anime that doesn't involve Yandere characters.

Shadow Skill has all that you want from a action anime: fight scenes, blood, gore, competent dialogue, if you think you relate to certain anime characters, this anime is for you. From the king of the moon, to Ella, to her younger brother Gal, you will be surprised as to how well this classic holds up compared to a more produced, or "polished" anime. I first watched it on the action channel, which no longer exists. It is truly one of those anime's you must watch, because it will be brought up some day in your future and you will look stupid for not having seen it!

All kidding aside, I recommend this movie to people age 13 and older, because despite the blood and gore, it will instill you with a sense of righteousness you never knew you had. If someone ever tells you that shadow skill is mediocre, they probably don't watch a lot of anime, because it does have its flaws. I believe the frame rate might be a little low or something, its actually been a while since I've seen it, so I just remember how awesome it was.

Shadow Skill, both the 80 minute prequel and 50 minute sequel (is there such a thing as a "quel"?), are more style than substance.

There's some decent animation, but it's marred by too many extended beauty shots and ropey translations (and idiotic scrolling subtitles for some written text). Also, the plot (such as it is) is a series of fragmented and appallingly cliched vignettes (oh look, a bar fight).

In fact, Shadow Skill looks like a bunch of Playstation beat-em-up game sequences strung together with some talking head conversations.

Hard to see why they bothered, really. If you must watch Shadow Skill, try the 50 minute sequel, not the inferior 80 minute prequel.

Shadow skill is a poor excuse for a film, let alone an anime. From the start it throws you into the thick of plot which is complex (but hey, a lot of good animes do have complex plots) ,slightly shoddy and has been used way to many times before. Where as some films throw you in the thick of a plot and let the viewer figure out the plot for themselves to the viewer's satisfactory, Shadow Skill is just a barrage of confusion from start to the very end (if you can last that long). Shadow Skill does have one strong point though; some of the fight scenes are are very good. After all, Shadow Skill is an action/adventure anime but the fights do not save it. The plot is just so darn bad!!! If you want a good action anime, try fist of the north star and don't let Shadow Skill ruin any good anime experiences for the future.