Anyachan

Most who're interested in this film have interest because it contains images from Oshii's surreal masterpiece "Tenshi no Tamago." With Tenshi no Tamago lacking a proper release abroad, one may feel tempted to pick up a copy of "In the Aftermath" just to view the plundered footage. Do not do it! The acting is awful, the direction is pointless and cheesy, and the special effects could have been better done with equipment found lying about the house. It's a third-rate film with a fourth-rate production. The usage of the footage from Tenshi no Tamago, a true art film, is shameful and unacceptable. Fans of campy science fiction would do better to pick up an arm-full of TROMA flicks from the video store.

Curse of the Yoma is an excellant anime, and deserves more recognition than it's given. The animation is very nicely done, and the quality of the artwork on each individual frame stays consistantly pleasant for the duration. Also, the "Yoma Counting Song" is one of the loveliest, and most haunting, pieces of music I've encountered in a movie, animated or non. It seems there was more story to be told than could be fit into the short (two segment) run, nevertheless, I feel that through a good use of imagery and psuedo-poetic elements, the story manages to unfold in lucid fashion. The film loses points for what I perceived as being gratuitous action sequences, which are well done, but seem to fill too much of the running time. Also, the ending theme is just plain bad. Still, with its solid production, atmospheric imagery, and thought-provoking theme, Yoma is anime worthy of the 'classic' status.

I call this an "undiscovered anime" because I have yet to talk to anyone who's seen it. This is really quite a good show! Ryosuke Takahashi really does a wonderful job on most every aspect here. The storyline itself is engaging. Intricate political machinations form the back drop, and they're bigger than any of the characters, who seem swept along by cruel currents beyond their control. Some viewers may well relate to Chiriko's plight as a man out of place in the world, hunted, haunted, and longing for something he doesn't understand. The animation is limited, but not at all bad considering the time it was made. The background score was, at least to my ears, very unique and appealing. Plus, the mecha of VOTOMS are easily the most beleivable in all of anime, rivaled only by those of Gasaraki, which is incidently also conceived and directed by Ryosuke Takahashi.