Sometimes,(ie when the mood strikes me,) I will post reviews of anime, manga and other stuff on here.  The following criteria are how I try to judge anime, or any DVD for that matter in a fair and consistent manner.

     When writing a review one must offer both subjective and objective assements of whatever it is that you are reviewing.  So I have worked out for myself a system to do just that.  When posting a review I will follow a standard format that gives a grade for various elements of the work, and along with my opinions about the work to allow for both objective and subjective measures. 

They are;

Sound Quality = maximum 10 points

Image and Transfer Quality = max 10 points

Art Quality and Continuity= max 10 points

Dub Quality = 10 point max

Sub Quality = 10 point max

Story and Script = 10 point max

Pacing = 10 point max

Freebies (ie shirts, OSTs etc) = 5 point max

Other (subject matter, controversty etc) = 5 point max

Price = 10 point max

DVD Extras = 10 point max

     The max possible score would be 100 points, but amy disc that scores a zero in freebies will automatically get two points in other as a weight tp help those discs where you geta DVD and case and that is it.  So what is my gold standard DVD, well that is hard to say, the melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Vol. 1 Special edition comes awful close, as does the Special edition of Eureka Seven Vol. 1

Haruhi scores as follows

Sound=10, Image and Transfer =10, Art and Continuity = 10, Dub quality = 10, Sub quality = 7 (for clunky translations, acurate perhaps but clunky), Story = 10, Pacing = 10, Freebies = 5 (Art Box, OST, Cosplay ribbon, Iron on, Pencil board), Packaging = 10 (possibly the nicest Art Box ever), Fanservice = 5 (bunny costumes and maid outfits , Price = 10 (all that for less than fifty bucks), DVD extras =10 (quantity and quality), Other = 5(for being a phenomenon)

     For a total Score of 97, let down only by a good but not great subtitling job

Eureka Seven Volume 1 SE scores a 95

Sound = 10, Image and Transfer = 10, Art and Continuity =10, Dub Quality =10, Sub Quality = 10, Story 10, Pacing = 8, Freebies = 10 (art Box, Manga, OST {2 Disc}, T-shirt) Packaging = 10, Fanservice =2, Price = 10,  DVD Extras = 10, Other = 5 (for compelling story and simply breath taking art). 

      Eureka seven is hurt by the somewhat slow pacing of episodes one and two, and the fact that it lacks gobs of fanservice, it scores a two for Talho's outfit and giant robot action.

     Now I recognize that reasonable people will often disagree over what is good and bad.  I expect that  most controversy will stem from how I or any one else rates things like story, pacing and art.  If you can't connect with the story or art style it probably won't matter how technically acomplished the show may be.  The AppleSeed movie is a great example, I can never get into the story because I can't get past the funky semi CG art style.  It may be great, but I wouldn't know since I can't watch more than ten minutes of it before turning it off.  So that's how I plan on doing it.  In actual reviews I will spell out in greater detail what I like and dislike about a particular show, but remember, it is just one self aware armored vehicle's opinion.

Posted by: raging tachikoma at 10:33 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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