[US DVD] Kino's Journey Complete Collection (2009 Edition)

[Chris Beveridge]

http://cdn-www.mania.com/content_pics/000005/48/51/63fc522f49a5a374_thumb.jpgReview by Chris Beveridge (http://www.mania.com/kinos-journey-complete-collection_article_111441.html)

Mania Grade: A
* Audio Rating: B+
* Video Rating: B+
* Packaging Rating: C
* Menus Rating: B
* Extras Rating: N/A
* Age Rating: 13 and Up
* Region: 1 - North America
* Released By: ADV Films
* MSRP: 39.98
* Running time: 325
* Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
* Disc Resolution: 480i/p
* Disc Encoding: MPEG-2
* Series: Kino's Journey



In Summary:
Kino's Journey was a series that had left almost no impact on me from the first trailers I had seen of it. With little hype about it before its release and not many people talking about it, the series was like a thief in the night that captured my attention and held on tightly. With its deliberate pacing and ambiguous stories it's something that won't appeal to a lot of people. But for those looking for those rare shows that sits on the fringe and gets critical praise but doesn't make the move to everyone getting into it. That's unfortunate because I think this is one of those series that will appeal beyond the anime hard core crowd and into the casual market if pushed just right. For those that do get it, I hope they enjoy it as much as I did as this is a series that's left a mark on me.

[Shirou Emiya]

When was the 2009 Edition released to the U.S.?

(I need to know the month and day)

EDIT: Never mind, I found the release date on Anime News Network.

(February 03, 2009)

[Betenoire]

I love this series. I feel it is a gem in showing how the medium of animation can be used to weave a tale of wonder and exploration. And the storytellers do a wonderful job of crafting new characters and areas as Kino travels. It is a series that left an impact where a number of released around the same time series that were more highly touted have left a far lesser impression.

[Shirou Emiya]

Hmm, just curious, but is there any increase in visual and audio quality? (comparing the 2009 Edition to the Older Edition)

[joelgundam01]

Hmm, just curious, but is there any increase in visual and audio quality? (comparing the 2009 Edition to the Older Edition)

No difference! It's just another re-release of the series. The "2009 Edition" is just a label to differentiate between the other collections.

BTW, I also recommend this series. It's very unique and visually stunning.

[Prede]

Ah I really love this anime. It's a real gem. It's my 5th favorite anime of all time. Easily one of the deepest and most interesting anime series I've ever seen. Episode 2 for always sticks out in my mind, as having endless amounts of things to say, and still a good chilling story on it's own. This was a refreshing treat. it's very different then other series, that's for sure. And it was a very mature show. BTW I own the 2005 thinpack, so I won't be buying this verson.

And often that’s where I find shows that fascinate me the most, the ones that go off the beaten path a bit and avoid becoming mainstream pieces that fans fawn over endlessly.

I agree completely to that statement. Those tend to be the better shows, although it's not like I don't like the popular shows, it's just happens this way sometimes. I don't try and hate the popular shows, and like the less known ones, but I guess that's just my tastes sometimes... Anyway nice review ;) . I hope more people buy this, and get to see this masterpiece.

Oh and not to be anoying but there's something a little wrong in your review. Nothing major though...

Another city the Kino visits is going through something strange, where everything that he asks for his freely given to him, from food and boarding to weapons and ammunition. Apparently a preacher had found a text of prophesies and one of them talked about the end of the world. That time has apparently come according to the texts so everyone believes that the end is here, which means money means nothing and their time is just about over. Kino's not a believer of course, but he respects their traditions and goes along with it. When the sun comes up the next day and the world is still there, everyone goes into mild shock and then almost immediately picks up on a new tradition. The tradition of the city is to come up with a unique tradition to please each traveler that comes by, always reinventing, always coming up with something new.

I think your mixing two different episodes together. The episode where people change traditions is where they wear the weird hats and stuff. That episode is about the girl and her father, who had to write poems for the king, and his sad poem was written down and taken as a prophecy by some (IIRC) . Sorry to be anoying and a know-it-all, I'm not trying to be lol. I know it can be confuseing and after awhile all the stories merge into one. :relief:

Oh and one more thing. You keep calling Kino a guy, but she's a girl ;). Is that to avoid spoilers? I always thought she was a girl though, even without the backstory episode.

I highly recommend this series. But be warned it's slow paced, and it's from the director of Serial Experiments Lain , so it's very sureal. But much easyer to follow and understand then Lain was. Still fans of Lain would eat this up IMO. Also Kino reminds me of Lain for some reason...

[Betenoire]

Oh and one more thing. You keep calling Kino a guy, but she's a girl ;). Is that to avoid spoilers? I always thought she was a girl though, even without the backstory episode.

This has always been a problem for me when I want to recommend this series to someone as constantly saying "Kino" instead of "her" is rather difficult to do sometimes.

[Chris Beveridge]

When was the 2009 Edition released to the U.S.?

(I need to know the month and day)

EDIT: Never mind, I found the release date on Anime News Network.

(February 03, 2009)

For future reference, release dates are in EVERY review we post. You didn't need to go elsewhere to find it. It's right there in the review.

[Doom85]

I've had this in my backlog since I got it in March. This review has probably convinced me to hurry up and watch it already (though it isn't my oldest, I've had .hack/Sign since late 2007 and yet to watch it :blush1:), but it'll have to wait until my family vacation to Washington DC is over (6 days with no anime :().

Yeah, the fact that Kino is a girl was spoiled for me on ANN's Chicks on Anime when they were discussing a related subject. One of the "Chicks" actually apologized to me, but I told her it's cool, some of these are just so common-knowledge (guess what happens at the end of Cowboy Bebop?!) nowadays that these things just happen.

[Damius]

This is a really great series a unique one. Even today, I am surprise by it.

[parakiss]

It in my backlog. I will get around to it one day.

[Shirou Emiya]

Hmm, just curious, but is there any increase in visual and audio quality? (comparing the 2009 Edition to the Older Edition)

No difference! It's just another re-release of the series. The "2009 Edition" is just a label to differentiate between the other collections.

BTW, I also recommend this series. It's very unique and visually stunning.

Ah, I see. No need to get/watch the 2009 Edition then :).

When was the 2009 Edition released to the U.S.?

(I need to know the month and day)

EDIT: Never mind, I found the release date on Anime News Network.

(February 03, 2009)

For future reference, release dates are in EVERY review we post. You didn't need to go elsewhere to find it. It's right there in the review.

I assumed at first that that was the release date for the earlier versions, my bad.

[jojo_home]

I liked it on my initial viewing, but the artistic decision to have those little white horizontal lines throughout the show (making it feel look it was drawn on cardboard) became distracting and even annoying on later viewings. Take those out and I'd love the show.

[Doom85]

Please forgive the late bump, but I finally got around to watching the DVDs and am up to episode 8. I'm insanely impressed. The series has almost a child-like appearance yet the story is anything but. It's so unique, it's hard to describe it. I think the closest thing this reminds me of is Samurai Jack, though both are pretty different in their own way as well. The OP is also very relaxing. Definitely recommended and can't wait to finish it.