AoD Review: Cromartie High School Vol. #1 (also w/box & manga)

[Chris Beveridge]

Review (http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/3793.php)

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In Summary:
All that said, I'm really feeling like the postcard artisan did about Pootan. Why is this popular? There are some funny moments in each of the episodes, but the overall nature of it just didn't strike me as being funny. There have been a few variants of this type of show done over the years, the oldest one I can think of that comes close is the old Shonan Bakusozuku that AnimEigo did in the mid-90's that was ahead of its time. Comedy is one of the hardest things to find a wide audience for because in order to appeal to as many people as possible it tends to be the most base and simple kind of humor and gags. Cromartie goes for a more select audience and a number of the key gags and verbal bits are very Japanese and language related that even if you understand it intellectually, it doesn't necessarily come across as funny in that it gets you laughing. Outright comedy series with anime seems to put people on either a love it or hate stance and I can see Cromartie falling in there easily, though I can't quite say I feel either way about it yet.

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[ooga]

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The show is blissfully free of women, there's no schoolgirls in their uniforms turning heads or older teachers causing problems.

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Now how can that possibly be a good thing??? /images/graemlins/depresse.gif

[Trey-Trey]

I watched the 2nd episode that came with March's issue of Newtype. I found it funny, but quirky funny. I haven't compared the dub and the sub yet so I can't tell you how much was changed but I found the dub funny. I'm not sure yet how much was changed for the dub (for cultural reference reasons or otherwise)... but I liked it.

It is a different kind of show though... reminds of the stuff that Cartoon Network would produce and show on Adult Swim.

[KatsuhikoJinnai]

I've seen about the first 5 short eps of this dubbed - and I was kind of on the edge... I liked it but it wasn't rip-roaringly funny like I'd hoped.

I think I'm gonna give it the benefit of the doubt though - the premise is so good... I can only imagine the humor picks up as the show gets into full swing.

[onigiri]

hmm...I watched it subbed and I found it funny. Sure there were some parts that I didn't like as much as others, but overall it was amusing. I love how the guy with the purple hair's <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>hair kept twitching and the sound it made.</span> /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif That cracked me up. And the fact that <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Freddie Mercury</span> is in it is so odd, but sooooo amusing. I give it a B and can't wait for the next volume.

[MalrocK]

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ooga said:
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The show is blissfully free of women, there's no schoolgirls in their uniforms turning heads or older teachers causing problems.

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Now how can that possibly be a good thing??? /images/graemlins/depresse.gif

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I know right /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif. It's the main reason that I put this show on the back burner. The only reason I picked up vol. 1 (haven't watched it yet) is because I wanted to hear Megumi Hayashibara

I watched the dub. I found five of the episodes on this disc to be laugh out loud funny, even watching it all by myself. Put me in the love it camp. Some stuff in there had me going. I find almost all of the characters funny in some way. Freddie makes me giggle every time he shows up.

The all male cast is refreshing. Don't get me wrong, I like boobie gags as much anyone else, but it's different to go through an entire dvd of anime comedy without boobie gags.

Edit after reading full review:

I agree that it's best to watch one or two episodes at a time. I watched my disc over the course of two days, sitting down for an episode or two in between doing other things. Found it a very funny diversion.

[Sugei]

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Outright comedy series with anime seems to put people on either a love it or hate stance and I can see Cromartie falling in there easily, though I can't quite say I feel either way about it yet.

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I've enjoyed other odd anime comedies such as Jubei Chan but after watching the first episode of this series thru Amazon.com I didn't find the first episode funny at all.

It had a few cute moments sure but not much else for me.

[rubyeye]

With the exception of making fun of iconic figures like "Freddy" <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Mercury of QUEEN</span>, why IS this show so popular. I remember it being announced at AKon last year and the entire room exploded in applause. And I was like, "I never heard of this show, what gives?"

[treatment]

so the hype is completely false, eh?

bummer.

/me continues waiting for r1-announcement of School Rumble instead.

[pumpkinsmoke]

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Chris Beveridge said:
Cromartie goes for a more select audience and a number of the key gags and verbal bits are very Japanese and language related that even if you understand it intellectually, it doesn't necessarily come across as funny in that it gets you laughing. Outright comedy series with anime seems to put people on either a love it or hate stance and I can see Cromartie falling in there easily, though I can't quite say I feel either way about it yet.

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I completely agree with you here. I just happen to be in the "love it" category. When I heard this was coming over I was psyched since I didn't expect it to be picked up. It does cater to a select group with the humor it has since Cromartie is more like Sexy Commando than something like FMP!Fumoffu (which seems to have more widespread appeal). If you watch the first volume and find it's not your type of humor I don't think it's going to get better for you.

[fractured78]

I always wonder, especially in a pure comedy, whether a show just isn't as funny in subs as in dubs. Given Chris's preferences I wish there was a full on dub review.

Personally it's rare that I find reading something nearly as funny as hearing it.

[chojinlocke]

I thought CHS was super ultra funny when I reviewed the manga for my column on CBR, and I think the anime is pretty darn close. I guess it is just the type of crazy humor I like, but was constantly laughing out loud. I can see that not everyone will "get it" or like it. It's a certain brand of humor that appeals to me. I dig the Tick cartoon, Flaming Carrot, and other weird non-sequitor stuff. All of it either works for people or doesn't. I recommended it to all my friends who dig this stuff and they enjoyed it. However, I can't say it is for everyone. Myself, I am in the camp of LOVE IT! But I can totally see where Chris is coming from as well. It's good to see a well crafted review of why the hype may not be for everyone, but I hope that fans of odd humor don't pass it up because of the C+ rating. Basically, I would recommend checking out the clip on Amazon, if you don't laugh at that you probably want to pass. If you dig it like I do, I’m told it gets even crazier and I can’t wait!!!!

[Nylock]

Everytime Chris gives a low mark to a comedy title I seem to always end up buying it as if to prove him wrong (Puni Puni Poemy and Eiken are recent examples) but end up agreeing with him every time. This time I'm just going to believe him and pass. My credit card will thank me for it.

[RommieSG]

I finally sat down and watched the first volume today. I found that it was a bit off-key compared to other comedies that I've seen, but I'm thinking perhaps some of it is more intellectual comedy. There are a few moments, especially with Mechazawa, that crack me up.

This isn't a Laugh Out Loud series to me, but it does make me laugh. So I'll be continuing the series. It's okay in my book. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

Rommie /images/graemlins/sweat000.gif

[FrostedFlake]

I love Cromartie. I love that it isn't just a series of "LOL BOOBS" and the same 10 or 12 jokes that other "comedy" series recycle over and over. It's not about some guy getting kicked in the balls or an oh-so-fresh-and-original "parody" of sentai shows or whatever. It's unique, it doesn't rely on parody (which is extremely rare in anime), and it's absolutely hilarious. Definitely "thinking" humor.

[MalrocK]

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FrostedFlake said:
Definitely "thinking" humor.

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personally I like to think about boobs /images/graemlins/happy.gif

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rubyeye said:
With the exception of making fun of iconic figures like "Freddy" <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Mercury of QUEEN</span>, why IS this show so popular. I remember it being announced at AKon last year and the entire room exploded in applause. And I was like, "I never heard of this show, what gives?"

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Because it's awesome. Anyone who does not like it has no sense of humor, or the wrong sense of humor.

This isn't debatable.

[Kat]

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fractured78 said:
I always wonder, especially in a pure comedy, whether a show just isn't as funny in subs as in dubs. Given Chris's preferences I wish there was a full on dub review.
Personally it's rare that I find reading something nearly as funny as hearing it.

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Yeah, I also prefer listening to reading when it comes to comedies. Cromartie was okay--a few giggles here and there, nothing earth-shattering--subbed, but I burst out laughing on several occasions after switching to English. This has one of the most wonderful dubs I've heard in a long time.

Needless to say, I really enjoyed this volume. The premise is great, and its episodic, half-episode setup works well. A few jokes fall flat (as is the case with most comedies), but so far it's batting well above .500. Also, the first volume of the manga was a nice extra--it definitely made those "GO READ THE MANGA" moments much less frustrating. /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[lilitu93]

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Super Rats said:
I agree that it's best to watch one or two episodes at a time. I watched my disc over the course of two days, sitting down for an episode or two in between doing other things. Found it a very funny diversion.

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I agree completely. When I was watching it (won't say how;)) I found that if I watched more than two episodes, it just wasn't funny any more. Even two was sometimes too many. But most of the time, one to two episodes at a time is the best way to watch it. The weirdness tends to go from weird and funny to just weird by the third episode in a row.

I'm definitely going to pick this up, though I might wait and see if the UK is getting it as well, to support ADV UK (and then get the manga separately). Or I might give in and get it anyway from the US.

[GanChan]

I think it boils down to whether one prefers comedy that makes sense or not. In college one of my friends had a favorite joke (told, of course, in the most deadpan way possible):

Q: What's reddish-brown and looks like powder?
A: Crushed brick.

I mean, it's not even a JOKE, and in a way, that's what made it so funny. Killed us every time because it was just so damn stupid. And to me, that's kind of what Cromartie is doing.

I like surrealist, non-sequiter humor, so I'm looking forward to buying it. But if ever a series merited a "try before you buy" warning, this would be it.

When Hare+Guu comes out, I would expect a similar, though perhaps lesser, polarization among the AoD gang.

[JimmyG]

I saw the first episode on Amazon and found the dub to be pretty funny. I ordered the first volume as a test to see whether or not it's worth buying it all. I am, however, not buying the box since it's one of the cheaper makes. :-/

[dlw]

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GanChan said:
Q: What's reddish-brown and looks like powder?
A: Crushed brick.


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Reminds me of Jessica Calvello's "chocolate milk" joke.

[Bibulb]

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dlw said:
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GanChan said:
Q: What's reddish-brown and looks like powder?
A: Crushed brick.


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Reminds me of Jessica Calvello's "chocolate milk" joke.

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Que es?

[dlw]

Really, you don't want to know... /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Brunnen-G]

whats brown and sticky

[fractured78]

Thanks for the review. I'll probably check out the show now since I already watched the first episode on Amazon and loved it.

[Mark]

I have found the guy version of Azumanga Daioh! This is a great series.

I usually don't care about packaging and menus, but this is one of ADV's best.
The box's texture and aged feel are amazing. Even the bottom of the box has just the kind of scuff marks you'd expect. The box and the dvd packaging blow away the aged feeling of the Cowboy Bebop best sessions disc.
As for the menus, it looks like a Nightjar production. Again, the aged look fits in so well.

I give my praise to the people who did such a great job on the show and the box in comes in.

I enjoyed this volume. The humor was much different than I expected, and worked more often than it didn't work. It's not really the sort of thing that I liked quite enough to watch over and over again, but it's quite unique and enjoyable, some good throwaway fun. This is exactly the kind of show that is exactly right for rental.

[balthier2012]

I loved this show Chris. Noticed you gave a C+ which is reasonable considering the type of humor has a limited audience, atleast I imagine.Unfortunately you're not one of the chosen ones that can enjoy this show /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

At first I thought "No way would I care for a series about ugly delinquints in highschool" Azu Dai was more my type of thing. After that amazon.com episode... wow I was laughing before the opening theme ended it was so great. One episode I didn't care for was the humming one (obviously) but I loved the rest.

And you gotta give it some credit for being so intelligent about how the show predicts the viewers reaction. Like how it predicted your reaction about the show Chris. Or in the second episode complained about fans that hate certain animation styles or bad dubs lol. (In the previous episode I was thinkin, these guys are animated pretty damn ugly, but that's the point)

I think it's just the dead-serious looks on these ugly delinquints faces as they do the stupidest things... kind of like a Napoleon Dynamite entertainment value, but better.

[balthier2012]

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rubyeye said:
With the exception of making fun of iconic figures like "Freddy" <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>Mercury of QUEEN</span>, why IS this show so popular. I remember it being announced at AKon last year and the entire room exploded in applause. And I was like, "I never heard of this show, what gives?"

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I watched the show and even found Freddie funny and i have never heard of Freddie Mercury in my life! No idea or clue what he is but after so many people mentioning it and saying the show is popular because of it... I found out.

The show isnt popular because of that. It's got a certain style of humor that will either be incredibly funny or plain stupid depending on what type of person you are.

As an aside, does anyone know what song that they were all humming but couldn't figure out the name of in episode 3?

[balthier2012]

At the end of the episode I think they showed the real life picture of the guy that made that song. No idea who he was, japanese tho.

[magus_darkstar]

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TheOnionPrince said:
As an aside, does anyone know what song that they were all humming but couldn't figure out the name of in episode 3?

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Ningen Nante by Yoshida Takurou

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MagusDarkstar said:
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TheOnionPrince said:
As an aside, does anyone know what song that they were all humming but couldn't figure out the name of in episode 3?

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Ningen Nante by Yoshida Takurou

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Cool. Thanks.