[US DVD] Girls Bravo Complete Series Review

[Mark T.]

Review by Mark Thomas

Mania Grade: B
Audio Rating: B
Video Rating: A
Packaging Rating: B
Menus Rating: D
Extras Rating: NA
Age Rating: 16 and Up
Region: 1 - North America
Released By: FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.
MSRP: 49.98
Running time: 560
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Disc Resolution: 480i/p
Disc Encoding: MPEG-2
Series: Girls Bravo

In Summary:
Girls Bravo is another in a long line of generic harem comedies. The storyline and everybody involved in it have been seen before many times and will be seen again in later titles. But still, it was enjoyable. If you like harem comedies, you will likely enjoy Girls Bravo. Just do not expect it to blow you away. Recommended.

[davesimmons]

I thought it started off well enough for what it is, but went a bit downhill after the first few episodes. It's one like Love Hina and Ah My Buddha where you are supposed to enjoy the loser lead getting beat up almost every episode, and that just isn't my cup of tea.

I kept renting discs and watching it until the end, but it was a C+ or B- for me.

[Hayate Kurogane]

I'm surprised this got away with an "A" for the video grade since, minor FUNimation compression issues aside, it apparently uses the same set of masters that Geneon USA used for their release, which means the first eight episodes are composite-master-dot-crawl-tastic.

[E Nice]

It actually grew on me. It was ok at the very beginning but then the epsiodes got boring until the other Seiren characters arrived on Earth. I was actually falling asleep up until this point. It kinda went spastic in the second half but was entertaining. I'm impressed at how much superior the show turned out to be compared to its origins. They didn't have much to work with but I guess it left them free to expand upon.

[treatment]

Originally Posted by Hayate Kurogane

I'm surprised this got away with an "A" for the video grade since, minor FUNimation compression issues aside, it apparently uses the same set of masters that Geneon USA used for their release, which means the first eight episodes are composite-master-dot-crawl-tastic.

I'm shocked! SHOCKED, I tell ya!



srsly, tho. Kinda weird that Kadokawa still has not given the R1-companies the correct non-crappy masters for S1.

[cress2000]

B is about where I'd put this too. Although I didn't think there were any particularly weak or strong parts; I found it evenly entertaining throughout. The dub scriptwriting is pretty fun, but I think I read somewhere that the subtitle script is quite dull in comparison.

[railohio]

This is one instance where the show is far greater than the source material. I loved this show when it came out on DVD and still find it a good watch. There are some great one-liners in the dub, too.

[Hayate Kurogane]

Originally Posted by treatment

I'm shocked! SHOCKED, I tell ya!



srsly, tho. Kinda weird that Kadokawa still has not given the R1-companies the correct non-crappy masters for S1.

Well, what I was really hoping for was that somehow the Fumoffu result, among other things, indicated the logjam had been broken and that it was possible to get non-puposefully crippled masters from Kadokawa. I would've re-bought Girls Bravo from FUNimation, like times two or more, to show my support.

That being said, even if such masters were available, it may have been a case of more money being required and FUNimation (not unreasonably) not wanting to shell out since the whole point was to get a bargain on a license-rescue.

I'm still hoping for someone to license-rescue Scrapped Princess with something besides the awful composite masters that Kadokawa pooped out to give to Bandai. Unless Bandai really screwed the sales numbers and perceived viability of the title with the limited editions they released (which I appreciated, mind you, but still, those price points couldn't have helped, especially not when they just had a bunch of volume 1 LEs clearancing out on their own storefront for 50 cents apiece).

[tuffy]

On paper this seems like the most formulaic thing possible, yet AIC has a knack for making these shows into something enjoyable.

I remember wanting to throttle Kazuharu Fukuyama the first time watching it, though. Maybe he'll grow on my the next time through.

[Otakufan]

Originally Posted by davesimmons

......... It's one like Love Hina and Ah My Buddha where you are supposed to enjoy the loser lead getting beat up almost every episode, and that just isn't my cup of tea. ..............

But it is mine.

Just finishing up Girl's Bravo now and I thoroughly enjoyed it; liked it a lot better than Shuffle, for example. Not sure why.

I equally liked Love Hina, so I guess this is my type of genre. Lots of laughs interspersed with a few tender and serious spots. Definitely felt I got my money's worth.

Although I do agree with the video observations, some of the early episodes seemed to be a bit soft to me, but not enough to spoil my enjoyment.

J. A.