G.I. Joe: Sigma 6

Yeah, this was kind of GI Joe Anime wasn't it? It was GI Joe filtered through a manga lens and reflected back into a world that wasn't really GI Joe.

It was a little too science-fiction. It wasn't grounded enough. It was a little too high-tech.

Really, it left a bad taste in the mouth. It didn't feel like GI Joe.

I didn't grow up with G.I. Joe action figures, so I wouldn't know how this compares to the patriotism the originals carried. But this adaptation was indeed col. I mean, sure it was a 4Kids show, but the show had some really cool action scenes from really cool characters (I think my favorites are Long Range and Snake Eye), it had a cool story going on (I'm not going to mention the story), and the animation was extremely good for its time. Congrats, Gonzo (Gonzo is the animation studio)! Would I have liked different voice actors and music? Sure. Watching 4Kids shows, it's a little tiresome hearing the same kind of orchestra perform the same style (not the same compositions, but similar styles) that they use in other 4Kids shows. Plus, hearing voice actors like Veronica Taylor and Jason Griffith all the time can be tiresome. Still, it's good enough to watch.

Anyone who has grown up in the 80's will know G.I. Joe is probably one of the best cartoons ever produced. It gradually disappeared and in the recent decade, it's reputation has been tested over and over with brand new ideas and shows - which have ended up in failure. Sigma 6? It ain't a failure, but it ain't a hit either.

Like most of us have noticed, there is a huge lack of the actual Joes themselves. It's like watching Transformers Beast Wars and wondering why the hell there's only 12 transformers in total fighting each other.

You could understand however - kids nowadays are looking for fast paced cartoons that require little thinking and analyzing - they just want things to be blown up or the bad guys get their ass kicked. Because there's such a huge market now for action cartoons, everyone has to do something to stand out - so the more action, less thinking, the better.

Anime. Sigh. America is infested now way Anime-crazed kids who only want to watch anime-style shows. SO it makes sense that investors would decide to produce G.I. Joe in Anime style format. But it's tiring and has been done. Anything you see in G.I. Joe Sig 6, has been done in hundreds of others.

The style however is sharp, intense, and has several computer graphic animations that is very pleasing to the eye. The fighting scenes are gripping and essentially is the only thing that saves the show.

In Sigma 6, Snake Eyes has been the main focus in almost all the episodes - which is a smart move because he has always been the favourite of all G.I. Joe fans. No one can turn down a hand to hand ninja combat with his vengeful brother, Storm Shadow. However, each fight ends up with Storm Shadow either giving in, giving up, helping or just losing the fight, saying "I will destroy you for betraying our clan....um...some other day...brother." WTF. Just have a fight to the death and get it over with. Don't get me wrong - the fight scenes are amazing - but to no result.

Although in some episodes, they reveal tiny bits of Snake's past with Storm, and at times it is interesting to learn, Snake Eyes can't carry the entire show.

Die hard fans are questioning the plot behind the show - because it seems like there isn't any. We're not even really sure what Cobra wants to do with a zillion robots and nuclear warheads - other than to carry them around in the park - only to be intercepted by the Joes before he can think of something to do with them.

Overall, if you're looking for a meaningful plot in this mess of a cartoon, don't bother. But if you're looking for pure action and awesome ninja fights, and still manage to choke down dry-humor and a stupid plot, stick around for the next episode.

Personally, I wish Sgt. Slaughter would come back and teach them all a lesson.

The new version of GI JOE focuses on a small covert special missions force as opposed to the large army of the 80's. Cobra is even better than ever, taking away the cannon-fodder troops and replacing them with BAT robots. Cobra Commander is much braver than his coward counter part but he still is just as evil. Destro and Snake Eyes are Twice as awesome. The team is a little small, but it has a good feel. The tech has been upgraded for the 21st century, and new characters such as Scott Abernathy make it a new amazing feel.

Action: 5 Animation: 4 Coolness: 5

YO JOE!!!

I'm a product of the 80s generation and I've never seen anything that was so poorly conceived, poorly animated, and so poorly put together. This show is so bad that I don't even want to bother with the show or the toys. It's not the same as G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The lip sync is horrible and the jokes are even worse.

Safficed to say I am not very impressed with this latest incarnation of G.I. Joe. I was even less impressed with Sigma Six than I was with G.I. Joe Extreme and that isn't saying very much. I will be all too happy if 4KidsTV finally canceled Sigma Six in favor of something that's not a painfully obvious rip-off of the original G.I. Joe TV series.