Burst Angel
Publisher
Funimation / MVM
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
24 episodes / 24 minutes
Year
2004
Burst Angel Volume 4: Hired Gun
By otaku_kei
13th Jul 06  "To The Rhythm..." And with a bang Burst Angel is back on our screens. Jo, Meg, Sei & Amy return with big guns, big explosions, and skimpy, teeny bathing costumes. But did you expect any different? When we last left this quartet of femme fatales (well not so much femme fatales for Meg & Amy, it just doesn't fit...), they were caught in a life or death struggle to save Osaka from a rampaging giant robot bent on the utter destruction and subjugation of the independent spirit of that city. But this show has more to it than comely women, and big explosions... no, actually it doesn't. But who cares, that's a damn fine combo! The conclusion to the Osaka story is a great way to kick off this latest volume. At the close of the last volume, the future was not looking to rosy for our heroines, but that has never stopped Jo yet and as she winds herself into butt kicking action we get treated to some fantastic action set-pieces. But this episode is a great example of everything that is wrong with Burst Angel. Here we have the fourth volume of seven and yet we are still getting stand alone stories that have little impact in any story arc. Yes, we now have enough pieces of the puzzle to know that RAFT police units are less than honest and well-meaning. But time is quickly running out on establishing any reason why this group is so evil, what is driving the men behind this organisation, as well as the secret histories of the girls that we are following. Perhaps this show can turn around this seeming lack of plot like Kiddy Grade did, but at the moment that is looking rather doubtful. The other episodes on this disc are a bit of a mixed bag. We do get a flashback to Jo and Meg's first meeting, which at the very least starts to fill in some of the unknowns about the enigmatic Jo. But still this episode provides little to the plot, even if it does make for an exciting watch as Jo faces off against an almost unstoppable cyborg bounty hunter. Still these episodes are fun to watch and deliver the excitement that we have come to expect from Burst Angel. Can this show continue to maintain the audience interest though, when it offers very little plot development? As to be expected with a Gonzo Studios show, this is a very pretty show to watch. The character designs, and animation throughout are lush. The movement is fluid, and the colours are bright and stunning, with the characters really standing out against the generally desolate backgrounds. The main issue with the animation that I have though would be the 3D CGI rendering of the mecha units. These stand out against the rest of the animation, and can unfortunately break the mood of the whole show, as they jar against the otherwise pretty visuals. With only a few volumes left of this show, Burst Angel has a lot to deliver if it wishes to be remembered as anything more than a nice-looking, fun diversion. The characters remain mostly two dimensional, and the plot is instantly forgettable, but perhaps these faults can be overcome in the final half of the show. I have to say that I am still enjoying this show, but this is going to be hard pressed to end up in anyone's favourites, or must-see anime lists. I hope I'm wrong though, and that this show is about to blossom!
R2 DVD Notes
Features: English Language 5.1; Japanese Language 2.0; English Language Subtitles; 'Showdown In Osaka' Episode Commentary; Radio Drama; Textless Opening & Closing; MVM Trailers
Release information: OUT NOW
Notes: Another fantastic release in this series, where MVM provide great A/V quality, easy to navigate menus, and a wealth of extras. Once again the addition of commentary tracks onto any release I find id a real boon.
-- otaku_kei 13th Jul 06
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