Weathering Continent

By: J.D. Trevath
Review Date: Sunday, September 14, 2003
Release Date: Tuesday, July 29, 2003



The Review!
There are few problems with the audio and video of Weathering Continent. It's pretty standard fare. The audio is mono, which works great for my setup, but those with better equipment shouldn't expect a whole lot. The video is very grainy, but I think it works well with this show, as the video and animation give it sort of an "old-timey" feel. WC is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1.

The packaging is very attractive, if you look at the cover horizontally instead of vertically. Good artwork, good colors, and good layout with the production credits at the bottom of the back cover, which also needs to be viewed horizontally. The main menu is just like the front cover and features some good layout. The sub menus work just as well. There isn't anything fancy to the menus, but they do get the job done, and that's all that matters.

There aren't any extras on this DVD, but I don't care too much about extra features on DVDs. Two bits that are disguised as extra features include the original Japanese trailer of Weathering Continent (subtitled, too!), and the original Japanese closing of the show. I have no idea why they changed the ending music for the show on this disk, especially considering the original end theme plays when the main menu is loaded! The new end theme is nothing spectacular, and unlike many anime theme songs featuring female vocalists, the original ending to Weathering Continent is very good.

The show itself is very entertaining. Surprising, considering it's a 60 minute movie, and those generally don't feature a whole lot to get excited about. But, perhaps the best two production studios collaborated on this project: Production I.G. and Kadokawa Shoten, who made awesome anime shows in the early 90s.
The setting is in a land where no hope remains and despair is being felt all across the land. As the title implies, the land is basically imploding, where few humans remain alive, and there is little food or water. Three travelers; Teeye, the ex-mercenary, Lakcee, the strong spirited young woman, and Bois, the pretty boy magician, stumble upon an unfortunate city of the dead, where there's lots of disturbed spirits and treasure-hunting bandits. All the three travelers wanted was a little water, but now they must fight for their lives.
The story gets a little convoluted at times, but there's not a heck of a lot to tell. The backstory regarding the three characters and the ancient lost city is probably understood fully only by reading the original story, which is not available in English at the present time. That's okay, though, because the situations the characters get involved in is intriguing, and while the three main characters are nothing original, their destinies unlock the plot as it unfolds. The pacing is perfect, and the show ends on a very satisfying note.


Media Blasters overpriced this DVD, for the show only lasts 60 minutes, and MB did not even give their best effort on this disk; the altering of the original ending is particularly disappointing. Regardless, WC is one of the most entertaining shows to be released this year, and because the quality of WC is higher than most new shows these days ever get, it's definitely worth purchasing at a discount price.

Review Equipment
Sony DNP-NS725P DVD Player, 19" Panasonic TV