AoD Review: Fantastic Children Vol. #5

[Chris Beveridge]

http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/fantasticchildren5.jpg

Review (http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/5759.php)

Released By: Bandai Entertainment
MSRP: $19.98
Running time: 100 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Resolution: 480i/p (mixed/unknown)
Encoded With: MPEG-2
Release Date: 11/28/2006
Review Date: 12/06/2006
Date Announced: 08/10/2006
Region: 1 - North America
Reviewed By: Chris Beveridge

In Summary:
Fantastic Children hits a number of high notes with this volume but that's been consistent with just about every volume in the series. There is a bit of a change of pace as this volume progresses though as the flashbacks are essentially coming to an end. This does give a few hints towards the present though and Thoma has the possibility of being something more than we already thought he was. Even when this show hits some of the standard clichés, so much of it still feels like it's fresh and new with plenty left unexplored. While most shows do manage to hold my attention, there are far fewer that have me so engaged in every nuance and detail as Fantastic Children does. Highly recommended.

[leongsh]

At this stage of the show, it's tough to post more than what has been hinted at in the review. The content section managed to sidestep a few matters for viewers discovery.

Wish more people would give this show a try. Considering how cheap Bandai has priced the R1 release and the discounts available via the net, it's quite a steal.

[Chris Beveridge]

I certainly don't want to give anything major away, which is always tough when you get to these last volumes of a show like this. But it's such a fascinating piece that there is plenty to talk about while neatly avoiding the truly big impact moments.

[leongsh]

I certainly don't want to give anything major away, which is always tough when you get to these last volumes of a show like this. But it's such a fascinating piece that there is plenty to talk about while neatly avoiding the truly big impact moments.
It definitely is a fascinating show. When I was following the show as it was broadcast, each episode was greeted with relish. With this batch of episodes in Volume 5, I liked how they did a mini recap of Helga's past lives with the opening song sung in a more melancholy tone accentuating the sadness that she felt for each of the persons she cared for that was close to each of her incarnations sacrificing themselves for her sake. After knowing what has happened in her past lives and what may amount to a fool's errand to eternally wait for a promise to be fullfilled, her acceptance of her fate displays an admirable stoicism that is hopeful and yet ultimately sad.

... and Thoma has the possibility of being something more than we already thought he was.
Oh? Really? ;)

I have already finished the show and it's in my opinion that the best couple of episodes of the show are coming up shortly. Roll on Volume 6 (the final 4 episodes)!

[The Pirate Queen]

This does give a few hints towards the present though and Thoma has the possibility of being something more than we already thought he was.

Heh, while I haven't finished this disc yet (it's in the player, waiting for me to have more time...), I thought that much has been blindingly obvious since the beginning of the flashback in the last disc.

Definitely a neat show.

[kit-kat]

I've only seen up to volume 3 and will be watching volume 4 this weekend, but Fantastic Children has been my surprise title of this year. It's pretty, uhh..., fantastic :P . I bought it blind, not knowing much about it, and have enjoyed every minute of it. Nice to read that it's still holding up.

[Chris Beveridge]

This does give a few hints towards the present though and Thoma has the possibility of being something more than we already thought he was.

Heh, while I haven't finished this disc yet (it's in the player, waiting for me to have more time...), I thought that much has been blindingly obvious since the beginning of the flashback in the last disc.

Definitely a neat show.

As obvious as it can be, an original show like this could still throw the viewer for a real curve ball so I don't place 100% in it. It's much firmer in this volume but still... if this was based off of a manga, it would have been obvious from the opening sequence ;)

[mifuneral2]

I only own the first two volumes of Fantastic Children but I'll play catch up in January when I get more money. This title got pushed to the side because of things like GITS, FMA, and Eureka 7, which caught my interest to a larger degree. Thanks for the review! :)

[Kikaroo]

I just received the first volume in the mail this week; ordered it based on the good word of mouth it's gotten. Definitely going to check it out, since it sounds interesting and well worth it. (So, I'm a bit behind!) Good to it still has so many people's interest at this stage of the show ^_^

[CuriouslySane]

I watched vol. 4 and 5 this evening and all I can say is that it's a darned good thing that vol. 6 is in the mail. This feels like compensation for every shallow, unrealized, and needlessly convoluted show I've seen lately. Truly fantastic.

I just wish that some of the powerful scoring in the last few episodes had made it onto the OST. Much of it is just variations on the OP, but it's still the kind of material I wish I could hear more of outside the show.

[leongsh]

I watched vol. 4 and 5 this evening and all I can say is that it's a darned good thing that vol. 6 is in the mail.
Volumes 4 and 5 in one evening and eagerly waiting for Volume 6? :D Yes, it is that good. Hope you get your Volume 6 in early. :)

This feels like compensation for every shallow, unrealized, and needlessly convoluted show I've seen lately. Truly fantastic.
I understand how you feel. The show is really a breath of fresh air.

I just wish that some of the powerful scoring in the last few episodes had made it onto the OST. Much of it is just variations on the OP, but it's still the kind of material I wish I could hear more of outside the show.
The "Strings version" of the OP was not released on Japanese CD, either album or single. The sung version of the OP used for the mini recap of Helga's past lives, "Voyage…ã‚�ã��る時ã�®ä¸*ã�§", is available on the CD single for "Voyage".

[CuriouslySane]

The "Strings version" of the OP was not released on Japanese CD, either album or single. The sung version of the OP used for the mini recap of Helga's past lives, "Voyage…ã‚�ã��る時ã�®ä¸*ã�§", is available on the CD single for "Voyage".
That's a shame. The instrumental version with the piano and cello is a striking piece of music.

[BluWacky]

The "Strings version" of the OP was not released on Japanese CD, either album or single. The sung version of the OP used for the mini recap of Helga's past lives, "Voyage…ã‚�ã��る時ã�®ä¸*ã�§", is available on the CD single for "Voyage".

Both versions of Voyage and Voyage...Meguru Toki no Naka de without vocals are available as ~300 yen downloads from Victor Entertainment (the publishers of the FChildren music) here (http://naah.jvcmusic.co.jp/artists/A019352.html). I can't remember what magic credit card mojo I worked but I bought the Meguru Toki no Naka de track a year or so ago from there.

(about when I bought the manga and GBA game, actually. Hoo boy, what bad ideas those were...)

Anyway, yes, yay Fantastic Children! Still. Hope Chris likes the ending...

[slerch666]

I actually just finished watching vol. 4-6 of Fantastic Children.

When the series began I wasn't sure what to make of it. It felt kind of slow, but there was something there that had my attention.

All I can say before you post a review of vol. 6, wait until you find out what Thoma turns out being. Wasn't what I was expecting and definitely something that'll throw you for a loop unless you're used to crazy plot twists or read about it on-line. Thankfully I didn't spoil it for myself and watched the show.

FC is a damn fine show. I'm glad I bought the SE of vol. 1 as I really like the soundtrack.

[Kikaroo]

It appears your spoiler didn't work; was that intentional? (Since it doesn't seem to have anything earth-shattering, I wasn't sure...)

[slerch666]

It appears your spoiler didn't work; was that intentional? (Since it doesn't seem to have anything earth-shattering, I wasn't sure...)
If it was broken it looks like it has been fixed. Not sure what happened.

It isn't a major spoiler, but I wanted to cover it just in case.

[christianlf]

It appears your spoiler didn't work; was that intentional? (Since it doesn't seem to have anything earth-shattering, I wasn't sure...)
If it was broken it looks like it has been fixed. Not sure what happened.

It isn't a major spoiler, but I wanted to cover it just in case.

You used the old tag [spoiler] instead of the new tag