Momokyun Sword: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Momokyun Sword: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Momokyun Sword is an action-adventure fantasy. Momokyun Sword features animation production by project No.9 (Cute Executive Officer, A Girl & Her Guard Dog) and Tri-Slash. Momokyun Sword features theme song performances by Haruka Chisuga (OP) and Ayana Taketatsu (ED). Featruign the voices of Ayana Taketatsu as Momoko and Minami Tsuda as Onihime.

Momoko (Ayana Taketatsu) is no ordinary girl. For one thing, Momoko was born forth from an enormous peach. Momoko also has unique abilities and can share powers from merging with the monkey god, dog god, and pheasant god.

As an evil group of Oni begin to cause chaos alongside the feudal countryside, Momoko is enlisted to fight them by Celestial Goddesses. The Goddesses want to protect the land. Can Momoko be the hero needed to save the countryside? Born in a peach but with powers and skills that could set her apart as the hero everyone needs.

One of the interesting things about the Momoko character is the origin. The series concept begins with the tale of the girl born of a peach. This is a classic literary character and fable – one that has been told time and time again. The concept of the girl born of the peach is something that I always found to be compelling as a youth. I remember hearing this story as a child and feeling as though it was a quite fascinating fable. The story still holds intrigue to this day and this translates over to the anime and characterization of the lead character Momoko.

The character designs by Hiroshi Tomioka (Selector Spread Wixoss) are well-done. There was a lot of effort put into making the character designs compelling for the genre. The main character has an especially memorable and compelling character design. These elements played a noteworthy and relevant role in the production.

The series features worthwhile animation. Momokyun Sword features art direction by Chikako Shibata (Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky, Honey and Clover). The series animation style is both bold and creative. The animation looks crisp, colorful, and dynamic. There was a lot of effort put into the animation side of the production.

One thing I found compelling is that the animation for the peach girl introduction was kept traditional – as in line with the story and fable – while the animation for the production overall is radically different and with a style that is more modern. This contrast was compelling and something the animators clearly did intentionally to contrast the classic fable with the updated storyline of the anime. These elements are essential to the production.

The cinematography by Kōjirō Hayashi (Concrete Revolutio, High School Fleet) is one of the highlights of the series, too. The cinematography by Hayashi is quite compelling and beautiful overall. The series is robust looking and there is plenty to appreciate about the visuals by Hayashi. The colorful aesthetic reproduced well. The light and airy cinematography style given plenty of moments to shine.

The score composed by Yasunori Iwasaki (The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn, The Knight in the Area) is well-done and a good component of the series. The music plays a nice role in the production. The score is especially important in the action scenes. The music works as a good backdrop to these sequences. A good effort by Iwasaki.

Written by Tsuyoshi Tamai (Azumanga Daioh, Sakura Wars), Momokyun Sword is a decent anime series with a compelling concept rooted in a traditional fable. The classic fable turned anime is intriguing and adds to the series sense of fun. The lead character is compelling and the heroics of the storytelling is something that will keep audiences engaged.

Directed by Shinsuke Yanagi (Bottom-tier Character Tomozaki, The Ryuo's Work Is Never Done!), Momokyun Sword is worth checking out. Yanagi did a good job of showcasing the action scenes. Exploring the series from a more modern approach, Momokyun Sword focuses on modern anime sensibilities even while taking origin from a fable. The directing is action-oriented and there is a lot of fan-service in the anime, too. Fans of action-packed anime with a lot of fan-service will find this to be a anime worth consideration.

Momokyun Sword: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Sentai Filmworks, Momokyun Sword is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The high-definition visuals are well reproduced. The visuals look lush and beautiful on the release.

Colors pop and there is considerable depth to the image. The presentation provides plenty of wonderful looking visuals throughout and the encoding by Sentai capably showcases the action scenes in the series. The modern aesthetic given to the classic literary fable is also something showcased in the animation – the encoding capably reproducing the intended aesthetic.

One of the things interesting about Blu-ray is the encoding quality. The encoding quality can be consistent and provide a pleasing image consistently. Streaming video services fluctuate more – providing a more compressed image. Streaming video services tend to use lower video bit-rates.

Momokyun Sword: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles) sound presentation. The sound direction by Teruaki Sugawara (Beautiful Bones: Sakurako's Investigation, Harem in the Labyrinth of Another World) is capably preserved and reproduced on the release. The encoding is pleasing.

The release doesn't provide an English dubbed option. Fans of English dubbed options will be disappointed to learn that the release does not provide a new English dub. The release is also a reissue of an earlier edition that similarly didn't provide an English dubbed track.

The oversight of not producing a new English dub for the reissue seems like a missed opportunity. Fans of English dubbed versions may have felt even more compelling to double dip or pick up for the first time. English dubbing is important to some anime fans.

On the positive side, the lossless audio is well encoded. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The soundtrack is well reproduced. The action scenes are brought to life with good encoding by Sentai.

Blu-ray provides lossless audio encoding as a staple of the format while streaming video services only provide lossy (non-lossless) audio encoding. For home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles alike, the lossless audio encoding quality can make a noteworthy difference. There is a lot to appreciate about lossless encoding and what it can bring to the table.

Momokyun Sword: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes in a standard edition case. The release does not include any bonus packaging items or collectables. The Blu-ray release could have benefited from having a more premium package like a steelbook option.

On disc supplements include:

Clean Opening Animation (HD, 1:32)

Clean Closing Animation (HD, 1:32)

Unfortunately, the supplemental package on the release is lackluster. There is not much of interest on the release. The release could have used some audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, making-of documentaries, cast/crew interviews, roundtable discussions, convention panels, and similarly in-depth extras would have added to the release value. In the day and age of streaming, sometimes fans need a more in-depth supplemental package to help decide between a one-time stream and a purchase. Certain fans will take a lot of extra value in the release if it comes loaded with bonuses and this release is unfortunately close to barebones.

Momokyun Sword: Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Momokyun Sword is a compelling action-adventure fantasy anime adapted from a classic fable. The series receives a modern update to the classic tale of a "girl born from a peach" story that has been so famous in literature. Fans of action anime with plenty of fanservice will also be interested in Momokyun Sword. Momokyun Sword is worth checking out.

The Blu-ray release features a new presentation on two discs in high-definition, lossless audio encoding (though the release lacks an English dubbed option), and a small selection of bonus features. Fans of the series may wish to consider a purchase. Recommended.