The Shrine To Underappreciated Anime

As it says, this is a shrine to anime that should be better known and isn't. Or, more precisely, anime that doesn't have webpages and ought to.


Saishu Kyoushi (The Ultimate Teacher)

Kekko Kamen

Akai Kiba Blue Sonnet


GoShogun: Toki no Etranger (The Time Étranger)

I've never seen the GoShogun TV series. But now I want to — even though it can’t possibly be as good as this movie — because I want to see more of these people.

Particularly Remy Shimada.

A woman who kicks ass in her own right and is NOT impossibly proportioned OR desperately in love with the hero or some other man. (That is, she might like Shingo or Killy or Bundle, but if she does she certainly isn't broadcasting it to all and sundry). A woman who never — EVER — gives up. A woman who casually trashes bank robbers while well into her old age.

This is a movie worth seeing.

And I would kill for the soundtrack. Or even the song "Warrior." MP3, .wav, .au, midi — I don’t care. I want that thing.
 

The Time Étranger is available in the United States from Central Park Media.


Shônan Bakusôzoku

Or, as my friends and family refer to it, "Teenage Student Samurai Bikers." As an introduction to the premise of the show, I cannot do better than quote AnimEigo's box blurb:
 
In Japan, the country that inspired the slogan "Born to be Mild," the blood of young men still runs hot. In the old days they'd go off into the country and hack each other up with swords, but these days, what with school, that isn't very practical. 

So some of them do something very un-Japanese. They strap on a big bike, roar around annoying people, and pound anyone they consider dishonorable. 

Now meet Eguchi Yoosuke, leader of a high-school Biker gang AND the school's handicrafts club. Which means he divides his time between fistfights and fancy needlework. 

And if you think he's weird, wait until you meet the rest of his gang... 

 

Indeed, between the gang, the girlfriends, the Romulan ramen-ya proprietor, the rivals, and the races, you have all the ingredients of a classic shounen manga — with its own special indescribable twist.

There are numerous OVAs to this — all of which I want to see — but due to a poor sales rate, the rest will probably be brought over here sometime well after the American voice-acting industry as a whole outstrips the Japanese one in characterization, talent, and marketing. However, the one available here, entitled in Japan "Nokosareta Hashiriyatachi," is well worth it.

The soundtrack is available from Columbia (COCC-12266) and contains ten tracks.

  1. Rainy Night, YOKOSUKA
  2. Mieroshi Hitsujinosuke: Sanjou!!
  3. Red Star Flag
  4. Moshikashitara, Koi
  5. Hey, Rolling Kids
  6. Jigoku no Gundan
  7. Shin Murasaki no Thema
  8. My Heart, Engine Beat
  9. Nokosareta Hashiriyatachi
  10. Ride on Dream ~ Hashiriyatachi no Thema ~
To my disappointment, it does not contain the theme song, "Shounan Bakusouzoku," sung by Eguchi Yousuke’s voice actor Shoo.