6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The girls of the Social Welfare Agency are the grizzly remains of man wreckage pieced back together with cybernetic implants and trained to kill by the government. The oldest, Triela, pursues her targets with a ferocious enthusiasm. Her mirror in this bloody stalemate is Pinocchio, a shell of a boy raised as an assassin by a terrorist faction at war with the SWA. These shattered souls have a brutal compulsion to be the last killer standing.
Starring: Atsuko Enomoto, Kana Akutsu, Risa Mizuno, Kana Hanazawa, Maaya SakamotoAnime | 100% |
Foreign | 93% |
Action | 40% |
Sci-Fi | 28% |
Teen | 9% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
Japanese: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (locked)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 0.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Following the success of the 2003 Gunslinger Girl anime series, a subsequent release was green-lit under the name Il Teatrino, with the Arthouse anime studio attached to the project. Unlike the initial season of the series, this new production was written and supervised by Yu Aida, the creator of the ongoing manga series, who adapted the three follow-up volumes in the manga story arch (continuing the plot from the first season) for this fifteen-episode tale. While I can’t say I enjoyed the second season more than the first, it diverts from the path of its predecessor in a way that presents a new set of wonderful attributes, making it different, but not necessarily better. Anime fans who appreciate the Gunslinger Girl franchise will likely debate the merits of each series until they’re blue in the face, but at the end of the day, both seasons emerge as a fine example of dense storytelling.
Henrietta's lethal with a pistol.
Presented in 1080i utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 21Mbps), Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino contains a surprisingly proficient visual experience despite the low-budget animation style. During the opening minutes of the first episode, I was thrown off by the dramatic visual shift of this series compared to the wonderful style of the Madhouse-produced original. However, once I grew accustomed to the lack of texture and shade gradients within the image, I developed at least a marginal appreciation for the animation quality. Since this isn't a highly detailed series in the first place, the visual upgrade in the transition to high-definition won't send anyone's jaw hurtling toward the floor. Instead, we're shown a subtle boost in line consistency (less stair-stepping), a slight increase in overall clarity, and a noticeable drop in digital anomalies. There are still occasional moments when aliasing, banding, or blocking make their presence known, but they rarely detract from the overall visual experience. Moving on to the coloring of the series, the new animation style courtesy of Artland anime studio incorporates a bold spectrum that's far different from the drab hues of the original series, though I never minded the muted spectrum chosen by Madhouse. Black levels offer excellent depth, but I found contrast a bit lacking, leaving many of the nighttime sequences without adequate shade differentiation. As a result, it becomes difficult to make out some of the details in darker backgrounds, which occasionally blend with certain elements in the foreground.
All things considered, most fans will find this new Blu-ray release an appreciable step up over the prior DVD edition, though my enthusiasm is slightly tempered by the presence of several minor flaws.
Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino sports dual 5.1 lossless tracks, featuring both the English dub and original Japanese language track. Switching back and forth between both options, I found no discernible difference in the overall proficiency of the audio experience, meaning fans of either option will walk away equally pleased. Getting down to the particulars, this is an audio experience that mirrors the first season in almost every way. Dialog takes a central role in the overall mix, coming across a bit more prominent than the musical score and sound effects. This isn't necessarily a problem given the toned-down nature of the series, but it does give the overall track a slight front-heavy feel. There's still wonderful spatial separation during a number of the action sequences, but the quieter moments of the series could use a subtle increase in the volume of environmental effects to boost the level of immersion. On a positive note, the second season maintains the same attention to detail in the musical score and soundtrack, enhancing the emotional tone of key moments in various episodes. Bottom line; if you loved the sound design of the original series, expect more of the same here.
The only extras included in the set are a collection of four textless songs from the series, and trailers for other FUNimation releases.
Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino is a far different beast than the original series, but it holds up just as well, if not better in comparison. The plot is deeper, the characters are more intriguing, and the continuity of the series simply flows better. I'd never discount the accomplishments of the original series, but anyone looking for an expansion on the original recipe should find a lot to like in the second season. Do yourself a favor and consider both seasons as worthy additions to your growing anime collection.
2003-2004
2010
Essentials
2007
Evangerion shin gekijôban: Jo
2007
Classics
2003
Essentials
2004
Anime Classics
2005
Essentials
2007
Anime Classics
2003-2004
Essentials
2008
レドライン
2009
Classics
2005
カウボーイビバップ 天国の扉
2001
Anime Classics / フルメタル·パニック!
2002
2009
Evangerion shin gekijôban: Ha
2009
トップをねらえ! 劇場版
2006
Kôkyô shihen Eureka Sebun: Poketto ga niji de ippai
2009
エンゼルコップ | Remastered Version
1989-1994
機動戦士ガンダ / Kido Senshi Gundam 1
1981