The Big O

"The Big O" returns with all-new episodes on August 31, 2003. In the meantime, you can enjoy re-runs of Season 1, now showing on Cartoon Network. It's gonna be a long, hot summer; let "The Big O" cool you down! Check your local listings.

I was up watching Cartoon Network late one night and came across this show. I've been hooked ever since! It comes on EXTREMELY late where I am, but it is definitely worth me getting up at 5 am to watch, take another 1 hour nap and get up for work. I'm not a big Anime person, I'm a 33 year old professional female with no kids, yet the characters are extremely engaging and I love the ending credit song. I've been trying to find out how to actually get it on my Ipod. I don't know much about the difference between the version from Japan and that in America, yet whatever I have been watching in the US has been excellent! I hope everyone tunes to Cartoon Network to watch!!!

I am a fan of the Cartoon Network anime lineup, and by far this is the best show out of them all.

Unlike the other, more 'famous' anime shows (hence the Dragonball series), this show actually has realism in it. It isn't all action-packed. The show mostly surrounds negotiator Roger Smith uncovering information related to the jobs that his clients often give him or uncovering deep secrets about the forgotten past, in which an event forty years ago erased everyones' memory. It's pretty much talk, but it's interesting talk, because the talk that goes on throughout the show really relates to real-life situations--political corruption, the love for lost ones, and the desire to know the truth. Though this would bore an adrenaline-junkie, it would catch interest to those that I'd like to call 'down-to-Earthers', especially with the most wonderful music that is just too good to be put in a cartoon series.

But that doesn't mean that there isn't action. The battles that premiere in the series have enough action to supply that adrenaline junkie with all the sweat he needs (and all within just about five minutes, too).

Big O is by far the most successful amongst the dying robot-themed shows. Though the Transformers series seems to be long-lasting, it too is dying out as animators grow tired of constantly putting in the details of machinery and head to using computers as a way to 'build' the robots and give them movement. This type of animation doesn't blend in with the rest of the animation, thus fails (as seen in Transformers Energon).

Which brings up another point. Notice how the animation throughout the entire series remains constant. Sure the lighting changed, but the animation overall has remained the same. It shows that the people who drew up the series were determined to have the animation remain constant and nearly flawless (unlike in the Dragonball series when different animators draw separate episodes). This (especially when having giant robots battling) requires a lot of patience and loyalty.

And let me assure you that they have not gone unappreciated for their loyalty to the animation. Kudos, animators!

Overall: life-like characters that grow throughout the series; life-like situations; incredible animation; dazzling battles; and (most importantly), the most wonderful music for a cartoon ever.

Rating: 10 out of 10. The battle music still makes my neck hair stand up...

The Big O. An anime series that has appeal to those that don't like anime. But don't be fooled! The series can be appreciated by anyone that has half a brain. I will give you three reasons to see The Big O for yourself: #1: The characters. Each one unique, and they all interact with each other very well. The voice actors for the English version are superb. It is hard to believe that the series was originally in Japanese.

#2. The depth. The series is as deep as any I have seen which makes it good for second and third viewings. There are subtle nuances that really set this series apart. The depth you will find in The Big O is impressive, but it is a show that you can enjoy completely on the surface as well.

#3. The music. The soundtrack for this series is simply breathtaking. Of course there are some tracks that are a little silly, but they fit the scenes well. The main tracks are ones that will rope you into the series even if you don't like the story. Finding music of this quality is not common at all.

The only thing I regret about this series is that more people haven't seen it. I would love it if this series was one that all people at least tried out. Then maybe the producers would make additional acts for our viewing pleasure. The story is left open for additional seasons to be added, let's hope that they do.

The Big O is one of the most creative efforts to ever come out of Japan. Combining the rather dark style of Batman: The Animated Series in animation, the giant robot action of yesteryear, and combining some really surrealistic elements, it manages to entertain such people. It is not your fast paced show with action at every minute, but it has rather impressive fight sequences with cleverly designed mechs I might add. Then you add the rather interesting characters that somehow develop during it's 13 episode run, and you've got a rather impressive series.

It's not for everybody, but I'd recommend Big O to even the most avid fan of animation.

The only bad part is that it's only 13 episodes and it stops rather abruptly, so let's hope it can get more soon.