shananza
a very chubby dumpling
So I've been getting into writing (poetry, plays, reviews and stories) and I've been thinking about writing plays since i'm going to do a degree in Drama and then aim for a First or First with honours so that I can do a masters degree in playwriting. However, I like writing poetry too if it's on something that i'm passionate about and writing reviews since I like to voice my take on things. But i'm not sure how good I am, since I haven't had feedback from people who aren't friends or relatives. ._.
I wrote a review ages ago on the anime adaption of the video game Corpse Party, which in itself was a good game. I wrote it minutes after watching it before the subtitles were released, and well since I don't have much to do with it anymore after it's been stored on my laptop for so long, I thought about posting it here and seeing how it goes. (Since I've seen/commented on the anime posts that float around on the forum here and there.)
Feel free to comment/criticise it, I might write a review on Rosen Maiden 2013 which I recently watched if this turns out well.
So, here it is. My review on Corpse Party: Tortured Souls. (Note: This has major spoilers, so brace yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you.)
"After watching Corpse Party: Tortured Souls, I wasn?t entirely sure what to make of it. After being anticipated for a while by many fans of the game, Corpse Party?s anime release came as an OVA consisting of four episodes that were just under 25 minutes each and was created by the same group who made Mirai Nikki and Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (aka Future Diary). I?m going to go through what I thought of it as an anime, but then, I?m going to compare it to the game and talk about what I liked/disliked about certain changes that the story took. (note: some things I wont mention because I?m not sure on how to comment, Ive watched it without subs; feel free to comment on aspects I haven?t mentioned and I?ll be happy to reply! ^-^)
Now, as an anime, the art work was fantastic. To be honest, I thought it was going to look too cutsey but I was definitely proven wrong by how ghosts were portrayed, how the building was shown, on the whole, I loved it. I could say the gore was over the top, but then again it is a ?corpse party? so I can?t complain about that. However, there was one small thing that bugged me. That was, the unnessecary panty shots. Now I know there are some of you that will either say to me ?well duh, it?s Japan? or that other gory anime shows also feature this kind of service. Higurashi, Elfen Lied and High School of the Dead are examples. But these are meant to, they add comical humor. For Corpse Party, they added nothing, especially when added in inappropriate moments (e.g. Mayu getting dragged and spaltted against the wall. In my opinion, it was truly unneeded. If the game could survive without them, then the anime definitely could?ve too.
Now for the comparison. The majority of the anime was rushed, possibly due to the amount of episodes. I would?ve thought that because there were 5 chapters in the game, there was going to be around at least 5 or 6 episodes. There were many differences in the anime and the game, however, the anime was able to keep some elements the same and this worked pretty well giving eager fans something new to look forward to.
Two deaths remained the same, Seiko?s and Mayu?s. Both were portrayed accurately and pretty well. The rest of them were fitted in nicely apart from two (which I?ll get to in a few minutes). Morishige dies after getting stabbed in the neck by Kizami after going insane with a crow bar, which was unexpected, but worked pretty well. Yuka?s death was emotional and could?ve been expected by some, but again it was pulled off pretty well. Yoshiki died after trying to protect Yuka, keeping his bad boy attitude we knew of from the game, and again, although it was shocking, it was pretty good. As for Sachiko, fantastic. She was pulled off pretty well and as for her exit, it was emotional and just plain heart warming. Now for the ranting.
The two that didn?t exactly float my boat were? Well, I?ll start with the one that annoyed me; Ms. Yui?s death. Now, since she was one of my favourite characters, I expected a tearful ending just like the one in the game, whilst also showing her character as the kind and caring teacher she was. If you were expecting this, tough luck; she barely gets any screen time and her death is cut so short after her head randomly being sliced off from the ceiling. Why. I know she?s not a student, but for goodness sake she was a good character and could?ve gotten otaku?s all over the world to rejoice in how anime teaches you to be a decent person. This made me wonder whether the anime should have had another episode or two, it would?ve benefitted many, who cares if it would?ve taken another few months, I could wait knowing I was getting something amazing.
Now, the final death, and the most unexpected; Satoshi?s. After Naomi, Ayumi and Satoshi escape, something unexpected happens. Ayumi and Naomi arrive at the school? with Satoshi?s arms. I?ll say that again; Satoshi?s, arms. Now I get how Naomi and Ayumi continue into Book of Shadows, but again?it wasn?t needed. I liked the awkward/shocking/omg ending, but at the same time? I don?t know, I have no idea what to make of it. Watch it yourself and see what you make of it, because I feel slightly confused about where the rest of him is right now.
After all of the ranting, I do admit, Corpse Party: Tortures Souls is a pretty cool anime for the otaku?s of the horror/gore genre and for anyone who loves to be shocked. I might even re-watch it a few times. However, if you want more depth and a bit more understanding, stick to the video game."
I wrote a review ages ago on the anime adaption of the video game Corpse Party, which in itself was a good game. I wrote it minutes after watching it before the subtitles were released, and well since I don't have much to do with it anymore after it's been stored on my laptop for so long, I thought about posting it here and seeing how it goes. (Since I've seen/commented on the anime posts that float around on the forum here and there.)
Feel free to comment/criticise it, I might write a review on Rosen Maiden 2013 which I recently watched if this turns out well.
So, here it is. My review on Corpse Party: Tortured Souls. (Note: This has major spoilers, so brace yourself. Don't say I didn't warn you.)
"After watching Corpse Party: Tortured Souls, I wasn?t entirely sure what to make of it. After being anticipated for a while by many fans of the game, Corpse Party?s anime release came as an OVA consisting of four episodes that were just under 25 minutes each and was created by the same group who made Mirai Nikki and Umineko no Naku Koro Ni (aka Future Diary). I?m going to go through what I thought of it as an anime, but then, I?m going to compare it to the game and talk about what I liked/disliked about certain changes that the story took. (note: some things I wont mention because I?m not sure on how to comment, Ive watched it without subs; feel free to comment on aspects I haven?t mentioned and I?ll be happy to reply! ^-^)
Now, as an anime, the art work was fantastic. To be honest, I thought it was going to look too cutsey but I was definitely proven wrong by how ghosts were portrayed, how the building was shown, on the whole, I loved it. I could say the gore was over the top, but then again it is a ?corpse party? so I can?t complain about that. However, there was one small thing that bugged me. That was, the unnessecary panty shots. Now I know there are some of you that will either say to me ?well duh, it?s Japan? or that other gory anime shows also feature this kind of service. Higurashi, Elfen Lied and High School of the Dead are examples. But these are meant to, they add comical humor. For Corpse Party, they added nothing, especially when added in inappropriate moments (e.g. Mayu getting dragged and spaltted against the wall. In my opinion, it was truly unneeded. If the game could survive without them, then the anime definitely could?ve too.
Now for the comparison. The majority of the anime was rushed, possibly due to the amount of episodes. I would?ve thought that because there were 5 chapters in the game, there was going to be around at least 5 or 6 episodes. There were many differences in the anime and the game, however, the anime was able to keep some elements the same and this worked pretty well giving eager fans something new to look forward to.
Two deaths remained the same, Seiko?s and Mayu?s. Both were portrayed accurately and pretty well. The rest of them were fitted in nicely apart from two (which I?ll get to in a few minutes). Morishige dies after getting stabbed in the neck by Kizami after going insane with a crow bar, which was unexpected, but worked pretty well. Yuka?s death was emotional and could?ve been expected by some, but again it was pulled off pretty well. Yoshiki died after trying to protect Yuka, keeping his bad boy attitude we knew of from the game, and again, although it was shocking, it was pretty good. As for Sachiko, fantastic. She was pulled off pretty well and as for her exit, it was emotional and just plain heart warming. Now for the ranting.
The two that didn?t exactly float my boat were? Well, I?ll start with the one that annoyed me; Ms. Yui?s death. Now, since she was one of my favourite characters, I expected a tearful ending just like the one in the game, whilst also showing her character as the kind and caring teacher she was. If you were expecting this, tough luck; she barely gets any screen time and her death is cut so short after her head randomly being sliced off from the ceiling. Why. I know she?s not a student, but for goodness sake she was a good character and could?ve gotten otaku?s all over the world to rejoice in how anime teaches you to be a decent person. This made me wonder whether the anime should have had another episode or two, it would?ve benefitted many, who cares if it would?ve taken another few months, I could wait knowing I was getting something amazing.
Now, the final death, and the most unexpected; Satoshi?s. After Naomi, Ayumi and Satoshi escape, something unexpected happens. Ayumi and Naomi arrive at the school? with Satoshi?s arms. I?ll say that again; Satoshi?s, arms. Now I get how Naomi and Ayumi continue into Book of Shadows, but again?it wasn?t needed. I liked the awkward/shocking/omg ending, but at the same time? I don?t know, I have no idea what to make of it. Watch it yourself and see what you make of it, because I feel slightly confused about where the rest of him is right now.
After all of the ranting, I do admit, Corpse Party: Tortures Souls is a pretty cool anime for the otaku?s of the horror/gore genre and for anyone who loves to be shocked. I might even re-watch it a few times. However, if you want more depth and a bit more understanding, stick to the video game."
