Ninja Kamui

7.5/10

In this new anime show available on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and Max, Joe Higan seeks revenge on his former ninja clan for killing his family. 

Can't say that this story is a ninja action anime story that breaks the mold. The basic plot feels derivative of previous works, but to the show's credit, it is a competently told story. Although, I feel that some of the backstory could've been introduced a bit earlier and a few more elements of what spurred the ninja clan to change its methods been added, overall Ninja Kamui is very well paced. None of the thirteen episodes feel wasted at all. It feels like there is just the right amount of characters and story in this that the show is neither too fast or too slow. 

The characters also, aren't the most unique or best written, but they mostly work. Higan makes for a capable and determined protagonist. Probably the best character is the FBI agent Mike Morris, he's the honest everyman who might be getting too old for this but won't back down, which is stuff we've seen before, but he does make for the most relatable character. (Also, props should be given to his voice actor Shawn Hamilton, who is hands down the best one in the dub.) Another strong point is that the head of the ninja clan makes for a solid antagonist. He is one who you don't agree with their methods, but you understand their point of view and how they are trying to do this for the greater good. He's also one of those smart antagonists, who don't fail by making mistakes. 

Be forewarned that one of the villains is the "really filthy-mouthed, raunchy one". He's just too much without any subtlety, but he doesn't dominate the entire show.

The animation in this is quite nice. I'm always impressed with when animators can go with more realistic-looking characters and make them move smoothly rather than when animators go with more simplistic designs because it's easier to animate. If you're looking for anime ninja action, this is fits the bill. I think this is one of those anime that was commissioned by Adult Swim, and fells specifically aimed towards American action lovers. The ninja's cyber suits, which are a combination of 2D and 3D, are neat.

Recommended. Ninja Kamui makes for a simple but well told story.  

May the 12th be with you

5/10

This is yet another Simpsons Disney-synergy special. In it, Marge Simpson (voiced by Julie Kravner) takes several Disney characters to the world of Star Wars in order to celebrate Mother's Day.

Yeah, this might be the weakest Simpsons Disney special yet. It's just a bunch of forced-in Disney cameos without much plot and only three jokes that work. To the show's credit, this does conclude better than some of the specials.

Not recommended. You'r not missing anything.

Unfrosted

7/10

Jerry Seinfeld is an interesting guy, after having one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, he's been limited in his output. The only major projects he's spearheaded afterwards are Comedians in Cars with Coffee and the animated children's film Bee Movie. And now he's co-written and directed a really fictional Netflix comedy account of Kellog's creation of the Pop-Tart and its competition with Post.

This is a throwback to films like Naked Gun or Airplane, movies that are just completely silly, wacky, and gag/schtick heavy. (The co-writers were the same guys who worked on Bee Movie, which may give a hint at the tone of this.) The film is the writers throwing a bunch of stuff at you. Not every bit or line is a winner (Seinfeld's got an interesting style of rapid-fire dialogue that may not work for everyone), but something that works will quickly come along afterward. If you're a fan of 60's nostalgia, Unfrosted is filled to the brim with humorous depictions of famous figures.

The movie is  a who's who of well known or at least experienced actors, usually comedic. Unfrosted is one of those works where you might want to tune in just to see who'll pop up next. Seinfeld and Melissa McCarthy, as the one's overseeing the creation of the Pop-Tart, and Jim Gaffigan as company owner Edsel Kellog III make for a solid trio that work well alongside each other. Unfortunately, there are way too many good performances to list in this. I think we have time to mention Hugh Grant, who's been doing more and more comical performances, but this is appears to be his first pure comedy that isn't also a hybrid film. Here he plays a thespian actor who also plays the Tony the Tiger mascot (seeing Grant in the costume alone is a delight).  Though admittedly he already played a full-of-himself actor in Paddington 2, I found this performance to be just different enough. He plays himself more faux serious and less pomp here. Grant is doing the most ridiculous stuff he's ever done in his career, and the famous actor is completely game for anything. 

A lot of credit should be given to the look of the film. It's very colorful, again evoking 60's nostalgia.

Recommended. I'm not saying this is the funniest movie of all time, but if you want something light that you want to turn your brain off for, then this may be for you.

Spy X Family Code: White

 

7/10

(Full disclosure: I did fall asleep for a small part of the film. I wasn't bored, I'd up my guanfacine dosage for my ADHD and was very tired.)

In this the first film for the anime Spy X Family, spy Loid Forger and his family head up to the northern country of Frigis in order to help adopted daughter Yor find the recipe for a dessert she intends to enter into a baking contest. On the way there, Yor accidentally gets herself involved in a secret military plot. 

This isn't one of those anime movies spun from a show, like the action ones, where you can coast and not worry too much about not seeing the original. Don't get me wrong, the movie does give newcomers a refresher on the basic plot, but the whole world and additional characters felt like a little too much for me (not enough detail). I think the biggest issue is that this is an imaginary, Cold War-esque world with its own helping heap of political backstory and international policy. (I do appreciate the world-building.)

But if you're already a fan of the show, I feel like this may be up your alley. I'm surmising that a main draw of this is the humorous situation the characters get into and the core characters themselves (this really feels a like a character piece for the family). That having been said, I as a newcomer did feel like a lot of the scenes of the family just hanging out went on too long.

There is action, but it mostly isn't till the end. Still, when it happens, the fight scenes are well handled enough. Also, the villain in this isn't too shabby. Since a lack of filler stories for ongoing anime stories can feel basic or lackluster, this guy at least had a bit of a personality to him. His design ain't too shabby, either.

This is one of those show-to-movie adaptations where basically it's television animation that looks a little better. This isn't a huge budget, but I'm not knocking it. The animators were clearly putting in the effort, and I particularly liked the amount of detail in the backgrounds.

Kinda recommended. I think the fans will be pleased, but this would probably be more of a 6/10 for newbies in a story that feels just okay without context.