What They Say:
Marvelous’ Samurai Jam -Bakumatsu Rock- game gets an anime adaptation! The story is set n the Bakumatsu Era, at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate’s rule over Japan. The government has been using “Heaven’s Song” played by the top idols in the Shinsengumi to brainwash its citizens. Writing or singing any other song is considered a crime. Ryoma Sakamoto and the other rockers, want to start a revolution against the shogunate using their rock’n’roll for freedom and justice.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
First of all, I need to offer up two corrections to the review of Episode 1 posted on Monday. First of all I said the show took place in Edo, when in fact it takes place in Kyoto. Second of all, I called Ryoma’s ability a “Peace Sign” when it’s actually called a “Peace Soul”. I apologize and the correct terminology will be used from here on out. In any case, on with the review.
The episode begins an undisclosed amount of time after Ryoma learned of the power of Rock and gained use of his Peace Soul. While his music now has direction, he still finds himself lacking in the fan department. The tension between Ryoma and Shinsaku still has not entirely cooled yet, and the two once again butt heads. An “old man” watching the concert points out the band’s flaws, Ryoma has soul, but no talent and Ryoma is the opposite. He leaves the concert hall, inviting them to check out a Shinsengumi concert.
The next day Ryoma’s swamped at the restaurant, causing his new companions to help out and land jobs there as well. Talk turns back to Shoji, the shaggy teacher that binds the three of them together and the Peace Souls are explained. When someone hits the peak of their talent they transform into an Ultra Soul, and that splits into five Peace Souls. Shinsaku is revealed to have one, and another is revealed to be at the disposal of the Shogun.
To our protagonist’s dismay, the closest Shinsengumi concert is sold out and we learn Shinsaku has a deep hatred for the government for claiming the life of the man who raised him when his parents were killed. Ryoma’s companion digs deep and scores a trio of tickets at great personal cost. At the concert, Ryoma is at first enamored with how the Shinsengumi idols are able to stay in unison with one another, but when he realizes their music is passionless and hollow he crashes the stage. This draws the ire of Soji Okita, the leader of the idol group who opts to kill him on the spot. But instead the battle becomes one of song and willpower, with the power of Rock clashing directly against that of the Heaven’s Song. Kogoro joins Ryoma on the drums, but the two are quickly overpowered until Shinsaku is able to draw upon his Peace Soul and turn the tables. Isami Kondo, the old man from before is revealed to have orchestrated the battle from the beginning to observe the power of the Peace Soul for himself, but in the end it freed Soji and fellow band member Toshizo Hijikata from the Heaven’s Song’s influence, if for only a moment. And as our protagonists reflect on their day, a mysterious youth observes from a distance, noting that another Peace Soul has activated.
While our protagonists (and even some antagonists) offer up plenty of beefcake for the bishonen buffet, once again ugly CG gets in the way of the pretty decent battle of the bands sequence at the end of the episode. It almost seems as if scenes from the PSP game are being directly juxtaposed into the animation, and the result couldn’t be any more jarring. The music is still pretty catchy though, and there are some genuinely funny moments scattered here and there.
In Summary:
Overall, the series remains junk food, something that can distract from hunger but at the same time offer nothing more substantial. The music is great, character interactions never get too dull, but the series just can’t seem to escape from poor visuals that divert attention from an otherwise decent series. We’re now starting to get into the meat of the story, so hopefully it’ll offer something more than it’s already delivering.
Grade: C
Streamed By: Crunchyroll
Review Equipment:
27” 720p LCD Vizio VW-26L, Xbox 360
