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ANIME REVIEWS

Copyright © 1994 Sotsu Agency - Tatsunoko Productions
Released by Urban Vision
Volume 1
60 minutes
English Dubbed
UV1024
$19.95



—by Charles McCarter

This series takes place after the first TEKKAMAN series (which was shown on UPN Kids several years ago as TEKNOMAN). Some things have changed, and some haven't. After gaining the Tekkaman technology, there are now a lot of Tekkamen, and a lot of people who carry the potential to be Tekkaman.
  The war with the Radam continues, and there is an all-new team of Space Knights who are chosen to defend Earth against this alien menace. Unfortunately for Earth, this is one of the most inept, dysfunctional teams in history. David seems disinterested in his work and more interested in chasing women; he doesn't really appear to be a team player. Natasha is the opposite of him—totally devoted to her work. She is also confident to the point of arrogance and not very tolerant of those she sees as less skilled.
  The third and final member of this team is the young and airheaded Yumi, who has a lot of good intentions and very little actual skill. When Yumi is announced as the final member of the Space Knights, Natasha flies into a rage. However, that rage is nothing compared to the fury that erupts when a power surge during the Tekkaman transfer process gives Yumi the Voltekker Reactor. Originally destined for Natasha, the Voltekker Reactor is a very powerful weapon that requires precise mental control. Needless to say, no one thinks that Yumi is up to the task, least of all Yumi.
  With this dysfunctional team, it's not surprising that their first attempt at battle is less than victorious. The three Tekkamen must learn to work together, but that's not an easy task. This kind of friction between the team members is not uncommon in team anime, but in TEKKAMAN BLADE II it seems to have reached almost soap operatic proportions. As a result, few of the characters are immediately likable. Perhaps that's why they try so hard to make Yumi seem genuine and kind, so that we care about at least one of the Tekkaman team.
  There are lighter moments in the series as well; the series tries to incorporate some comedy to defuse the more "intense" plot points, with mixed results. After all, the "guy feeling embarrassed about seeing the girl change" routine has been done. A lot.
  The animation in this series is equal to its predecessor, which means that it's good. Some of the scenes are animated very well, while in others the shortcuts taken are evident. The armor designs are pretty cool, however and fans of the sci-fi genre will likely enjoy the futuristic designs of the ships and enemies as well.
  The dubbing is average for dubbed anime these days. Although the dialog and delivery is good, sometimes it seems that they are trying to cram too much dialog and exposition into certain scenes. Especially noteworthy is the voice of the Chief, who turns in a cool and even performance. Yumi is a little screechy but I suspect that's a function of the character's personality rather than a flaw in the voice actor's performance.
  TEKKAMAN BLADE II has a lot to offer fans of the sci-fi genre: cool armored warriors defending the earth from invasion, internal conflict, interpersonal strife, and the mystery of the Tekkaman technology as well. Can the Space Knights defeat the Radam? Can the Space Knights learn to work together? Can they overcome their individual difficulties? And what is the secret of the Tekkaman power? While it's not intense, it can be fun.


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