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Reviewer: Rich (Webmaster)
Based
on: Full Anime
UK Distributor:
Manga Entertainment (VHS
Only)
This is only the third
anime I saw (after Laputa and
Akira)
and I was massively impressed at the time (I was about 14 mind you), but due to
it being shown at 3am on a Sunday night/Monday morning I fell asleep before the
last episode and had to wait several years to find out how it finished…
I will not lie – I do really like 3x3 Eyes. The five part ‘series’ that makes up
the anime is for the most part excellent, the characters are well realised and
it’s hugely enjoyable. The animation is very good particularly in the first 2
episodes and the voice cast (for the Japanese dub) is mostly excellent –
especially Megumi Hayashibara as Pai and the Sanjiyan. The story is very good
with some great moments and you really want to know what will happen next.
However, it is flawed. The first two episodes have a much more cinematic feel to
them whereas the final episodes seem a bit too rushed and made-for-TV for my
liking. This is apparently due to the company that produced the first parts
going bust and the final half being done later with a smaller budget. This
causes a lack of continuity as the final parts seem less serious than the start
and although the drawing and animation is clearer in the final episodes (due to
the long storage period of the master tapes of the first parts) it just doesn’t
seem to fit.
Another bugbear is that several volumes of the manga have been condensed and
many situations have changed – in places these changes affect the story as the
lack of explanation of some things cause confusion, it has also dated badly – in
places it is painfully obvious it’s an ‘80’s cartoon.
The main problem though is the ending as it makes very
little sense, even with repeated viewings, and is pretty unsatisfying - a
massive disappointment after waiting several years to find out the conclusion.
The ending is also different on the VHS to the DVD, although neither of them make sense.
Also the most recent English dub (recorded for the US DVD set) is unbelievably
poor, with the original dub (found on the UK VHS release) being far superior.
This isn’t to say the original dub was that great either, but it was better for
some voices than even the Japanese one (in particular the voice of the Gesu).
However, this doesn’t mean the series is awful – it isn’t – and even the weaker
final episodes have a couple of great moments (the Sanjiyan’s awakening being
one) and the earlier episodes are excellent. It is a bit of a game of two
halves, but I would still recommend it. Best Bit:
Mei Shin's possession in part 3. Worst Bit: The
slightly cheesy and highly impenetrable ending.
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