[continued from previous message]
REAL BOUT HIGH SCHOOL: Your high school wasn't like this, I
guarantee it. The school has a K-Fight system where grudges and
challenge matches settle things. At the top of the rankings is Ryoko, a
rather busty Kendo Club student. Once she finds an amulet, her life
turns upside down. The amulet activates and she finds herself in
another dimension, with enemies that are beyond belief. Also of note,
the final enemy of the series is William Gates (Bill Gates, duh).
Released by TokyoPop in North America.
[Entry by Bill Martin]
RECORD OF LODOS WAR: There are now two series called RECORD OF
LODOS WAR: the original 13 episode OVA and a 27 episode TV series
called RECORD OF LODOSS WAR: CHRONICLES OF THE HEROIC KNIGHT. The OVA
based is on novels which in turn were baced on an D&D game with the
standard class and race types as the heroes (Fighter, Cleric, Wizard,
Thief, Elf, and Dwarf) and the clasic villians of orcs, wizards, and
drow elves. Due to time constraints the animaters shifted things
around a bit which creates some problems with the HEROIC KNIGHT series
which is set after episode 7 of the OVA but follows the novels far
more closely.
[Entry by Bruce Grubb]
REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA: see UTENA
RIDING BEAN: Ace driver Bean Bandit will deliver anything to
anywhere in Chicago for the right price, no questions asked. But when
he tries to deliver an escaped kidnap victim to her father, he gets
framed as the kidnapper! An action story written by Kenichi Sonoda.
Available from AnimEigo.
(Please note that this OAV *almost* qualifies for inclusion in the
Anime Hentai Primer, because of one scene that is inappropriate for
younger viewers.)
[Entry by Rob Kelk]
ROBOT CARNIVAL: 8 separate short pieces by different artists, some
serious, some comedy, almost all very well done. All involve a robot
somewhere - some more than others. Some comedy, some pathos. Artsy.
Streamline dub versions exist (only 2 segments had dialog, anyway.)
[Was available dubbed from Streamline Pictures when Streamline was
still in business. - Rob Kelk]
ROSE OF VERSAILLES: A historical fantasy based on the manga by
Riyoko Ideda, set in France in the years leading up to the French
Revolution, and including many real historical figures and events in
its story of romance and intrigue. The central character is Oscar
Francois de Jarjeyes, a fictional swordswoman who becomes the head of
Marie Antoinette's bodyguards. Raised as a man by her father, she
initially keeps her own feelings buried beneath a mask of duty and
honour. The series portrays Oscar's journey both personal, as she
strives to reconcile her upbringing with her own passionate nature,
and political, as she ultimately must choose between the good of the
country and her lifelong loyalities. Produced as a 40 episode TV
series in 1978, the animation may not be up to modern standards, but
this is easily compensated for by the beautiful artwork.
[Entry by David Simmons]
ROUJIN-Z: The very near future. A new fully automated healthcare
robot, integrated in a sickbed, starts taking way too much care of its
senile patient when it takes on the personality of the patient's
deceased wife. A silly cyberpunk parody with lots of punches about
the generation gap and the lack of interest in the problems of the
elderly. Senior citizens hacking into government computers from their
daycare facility! Strange humour that may not appeal to everybody,
though.
[Entry by Hanno Mueller]
ROYAL SPACE FORCE (a.k.a. WINGS OF HONNEAMISE): 1987 anime
blockbuster of all ages, which never busts anything, including the box
office. The first Studio GAINAX feature film, it is a story about the
first spaceman of some abstract planet (alternative Earth, because
Honneamise is much like Japan, and the Republic resembles the United
States very much). That astronaut, Colonel Shirotsugh Lhadatt, is a
complete loser all his life, and the staff of Honneamise space program
is a bunch of misfits and weirdos led by some space maniac, but
somehow they succeded in their goal, launching the rocket directly
from a battlefield, during a war! Despite all said above, it's a kind
and heartwarming story, with brilliant graphics and talented
direction. And box office? Who cares about it, especially after
1990, when it returned its budget.
Available from Manga Video.
[Entry by Andrew V. Tupkalo]
RUIN EXPLORERS (a.k.a. FAM AND IHRIE): Based on the original manga
by Kunihiko Tanaka, this is a light-hearted sword & sorcery series.
Somewhat reminiscent of Slayers in tone and basic plot, it stands
firmly on its own as a great story with characters that you can't help
but love, even if some of them are a bit cliche. The animation is
very good, although some of the fan-service is a little overdone at
times. The series opens with a scene of Fam & Ihrie in the middle of
exploring a dungeon, so don't think that you've mistakenly gotten a
later volume when you start watching. One of the funniest and cutest
aspects of the show is Ihrie's curse - she has a *little* problem with
casting spells. The one real complaint that most people have about
the series is that it is too short - four episodes for a total of
about two hours viewing time.
Released in North America by AD Vision, available on VHS in two
volumes either sub or dub, or as a single-volume hybrid DVD.
[Entry by Paul Lepant]
RUMIK WORLD: see FIRE TRIPPER, LAUGHING TARGET, MARIS THE CHOJO,
and MERMAID FOREST
RUPAN III: see LUPIN III
RUROUNI KENSHIN: The adventures of Himura Kenshin and his friends
in 1870's Japan, 10 years after the civil war. A former assassin,
Kenshin now uses a sakabattou (reverse-bladed sword) so as to protect
those the loves while keeping his promise to never kill again. This
long series hits its stride during the season long "Kyoto Arc" (eps
28-62), becoming darker and more serious than the previous season.
The OVA, made after the series but set before it, is much darker
and more violent than the series itself.
Commercially available through ADV (movie and OVA, as SAMURAI X)
and Anime Works (series)
[Entry by Catherine Johnson]
(continued in Part 4)
--
Rob Kelk robkelk -at- jksrv -dot- com
"I'm *not* a kid! Nyyyeaaah!" - Skuld (in "Oh My Goddess!" OAV #3)
"When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of
childishness and the desire to be very grown-up." - C.S. Lewis, 1947
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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