I'll start with this gem, No.6 since I just got the English release today in the mail. This review won't be as detailed since I mainly want to talk about the dub.
No.6
The story takes place in the "ideal" and perfect city known as "No.6". Shion, a boy raised in the elite and privileged environment of his home, gives shelter to another boy, who only gives his name as 'Nezumi' (meaning Mouse or Rat) on the former's 12th birthday. After spending a rainy night with his new friend, Shion discovers the next morning that Nezumi has disappeared without a trace. Shion receives information via a intercommunication bracelet, issued to all citizens, that there is a boy on the loose and that Shion is to report having seen the suspect or not. When he does not comply to demands, the government strips him of his privileged status and he moves to the ghettos of the city. Four years later, Shion experiences a spate of incidents around him in which a deadly infection by parasitic bees causes its victims to age rapidly and start to decompose at an alarming rate. Shion's co-worker is one of the victims and Shion is arrested on suspicion of insubordination to the city. While Shion is being transported to the Correctional Institute, Nezumi appears and rescues him. Shion begins to find out the hidden truth behind the ideal city No.6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._6
I watched No.6 quite some time ago and had been looking forward to a release here in America. As a fan I try to encourage and help the anime industry along as best I can by buying the merchandise and dvds whenever they release something an anime I like.
I had high hopes for No.6 like I do for just about everything from studio Bones,( the studio behind Wolf's Rain, Fullmetal Alchemist, Darker Than Black, RahXephon, Ouran Highschool Host Club and Eureka Seven) and I was not let down with No.6. The show is absolutely beautiful and extremely fluid. There is even a scrimmage scene in the first episode between Nezumi/Rat and Shion that rivals the liquid action of Fullmetal Alchemist.
While the show is ultimately about the mystery of No.6 and the secrets the city holds, the homoerotic subtext cannot be ignored. Its not something that the directors beat you over the head with so I would use the word yaoi (also known as Boys' Love, is a Japanese popular term for female-oriented fictional media that focus on homoerotic or homoromantic male sexual relationships, usually created by female authors.) loosely, if at all. The anime seems to be targeting older viewers since the story is not a love story. There is a love forming in the show (kissing is indicative of that fact, though it is unclear if they kiss because they love each other or if they kiss because they are friends who care about each other. Kissing is not always a sexual experience and is a very old practice between friends and men in many cultures), but ultimately the anime is about Shion's growth from a sheltered and privileged boy living inside the walls of the "utopia" of No.6 and his world view changing when he discovers the evil of the city.
The anime is incredibly written (i base this review solely off the anime since I have read neither the manga nor the novels) and each character is given ample time to develop. For a show that is only 11 episodes long it has incredible weight and substance and challenges the depth of male friendship and civil complacency. The characters are written wonderfully as well. Shion is shy and naive, having live in luxury his whole life, without being completely submissive and weak. He is shy and he knows that he is ignorant so he isn't afraid to ask questions or express his opinion and can loose control of his temper out at the drop of a dime. Nezumi/Rat is equally as multidimensional. When he originally appears he is abrasive, but as the story unfolds he is revealed to be a caring and deeply emotional character. And despite his being raised outside the prestige of No.6 he is quiet cultured and educated.
The Japanese cast was absolutely perfect for their roles. Each character had their own distinct style of speaking and the voices were very fitting. The performances were spectacular and even brought me to tears.
The dub was very disappointing.
While Greg Ayres is one of my favorite voice actors he was not the voice I imagined for Shion. However, despite this fact, his actual voice acting was great! I can always expect a great performance from him even if I disappointed in the casting choice. I will say that as the show went on, I did get used to his voice and eventually lost my initial feeling.
Kalob Martinez, however, was the exact opposite of Greg Ayres. While I disliked Greg's voice as Shion, I approved of Kalob's. His voice gave Nezumi/Rat the sex appeal that he was supposed to have and that was great, however, his actual performance was sub-par. During any dramatic scene he would lose all ability to act using just his voice and portray the emotions laid out for him by the Japanese or the character on screen. The script writer for the show, in my opinion did not do a very good job adapting Nezumi's speech patterns and character to match the flaps for an American audience. Nezumi's lines were horribly written in areas where the flaps didn't quiet match up they threw in the word "dude" to make up for it and it seemed completely out of character for Nezumi/Rat.
Dogkeeper/Inukashi was great. Luci Christian did a bang-up job, though I had no doubts that she would knock it out of the park as she has played numerous young boys and girls in her VA career.
Rikiga's voice actor Chris Hutchinson was a new voice for me, but his performance was sub-par as well. I like the direction the director went in by casting him, I just don't think the performance was believable.
All, in all, if you are a fan of the original Japanese version of this show, stick with it. The dub will only upset you. But dub aside, i recommend this anime to any anime fan worth his salt.
