Anime of the Year 1991-IV Fall - Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi

Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi is not as spectacular as Sangokushi movies, but I was interested in learning the roots of the story so much that I enjoyed it substantially nevertheless. 

1. Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken (TV) ドラゴンクエスト・ダイの大冒険  [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/46) Tags: Shounen Martial Arts, Mythology Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy After the defeat of the demon lord Hadlar all of the monsters were unleashed from his evil will and moved to the island of Delmurin to live in peace. Dai is the only human living on the island. Having been raised by the kindly monster Brass, Dai's dream is to grow up to be a hero. He gets to become one when Hadlar is resurrected and the previous hero, Avan, comes to train Dai to help in the battle. But Hadlar, announcing that he now works for an even more powerful demon lord, comes to kill Avan. To save his students Avan uses a Self-Sacrifice spell to attack, but is unable to defeat Hadlar. When it seems that Dai and Avan's other student Pop are doomed a mark appears on Dai's forehead and he suddenly gains super powers and is able to fend off Hadlar. The two students then go off on a journey to avenge Avan and bring peace back to the world. Actually, a decent shounen. Logical and easy to watch. In the end it still equals to a kid fighting monsters, so not exactly for me, but it has quite some charm. But there's a remake now, so I'd rather watch remake tbh.   Overall Rating: 6/10

2. Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi 横山光輝 三国志 [Enoki Films, Dai Nippon Printing] (Finished 47/47) Tags: Historical Action, Adventure Around 1800 years ago in China, the ruling power of the Han dynasty became weakened and the flames of war spread throughout the land. Liu Bei was a young, poor straw-mat seller from the countryside of Hebai Hsing. After pledging eternal brotherhood with the two heroes, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Liu began building his idea of a righteous kingdom that would aid citizens who suffered from persecution. After first two movies I had to watch this prequel in full. It starts when there is one empire and with some small Yellow Turban rebellion of riffraff. We get to know initial positions and development of everyone, even the red mare, lol. In 35 episode timeline synchs with the first movie as in this episode Liu Bei comes to Liang Kongming and asks to be his advisor. Last 47 episode finishes with naval battle that is the end of first Sangokushi movie. So I do not recommend watching it beyond 34 episode as movies are more beautiful and spectacular in every way. I still enjoyed it somewhat and it was nice to know everyone's story.   Overall Rating: 7/10

3. Moero! Top Striker Top Striker 燃えろ! トップストライカー [Nippon Animation] (Finished 1/49) Tags: Shounen Action, Sports Hikaru Kicker is a 13-year-old boy who loves football. He has grown up playing with a football at all times ever since his father's friend gave him one when he was still only a baby. Hikaru goes to Italy to learn the sport. He first joins a strong team at Genova, but soon quits this team to join an extremely weak team named "Columbus" with his female friend Anna. Experiencing many hardships and difficulties, their team gradually becomes stronger and stronger, and finally they defeat Margerita, one of the strongest soccer teams in Genova. Soon Hikaru hears that Genova will stage its first soccer tournament. Throughout the tournament, Hikaru and his teammates confront many rivals and develop increasing maturity. Can Hikaru score a goal and which team will win the championship? Only one episode seems to be translated. Captain Tsubasa was 11 years old, and Hukaru is 13 years old, but looks younger than the first one. I'm not the one to judge spokons, but this one looks quite generic with the distinguishing feature being initial start in Italy. Everyone is kinda normal and kind, and only grandmother opposes chosen career... for like 2 minutes, lol. Totally average.   Overall Rating: 5/10

4. Kinnikuman: Kinnikusei Oui Soudatsu-hen キン肉マン　キン肉星王位争奪編  [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/46) Tags: Shounen Action, Comedy, Sports Kinnikuman has proven himself worthy to be crowned the next king of Planet Kinniku. But at the ceremony, five other Kinnikuman's arrive, all claiming to be the true prince of Planet Kinniku. Now, a Royal Survivor Tournament is being held to decide the true successor to the throne, and with the help and support of his friends and with his recently acquired knowledge of the Ultimate Technique (The Muscle Spark), Kinnikuman fights for what is rightfully his. It's a sequel rather than some alteration, so you know everything already. Those who finished original series won't need  feedback, those who did not should not expect anything different, maybe only slightly better humor.   Overall Rating: 6/10

5. Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume wo Dakishimete Magical Princess Minky Momo: Hold on to Your Dreams 魔法のプリンセス　ミンキーモモ（夢を抱きしめて） [Production Reed] (Finished 3/62) Tags: Mahou Shoujo After the events of the 1st series, Fenarinarsa continues to drift from Earth, so the King asks for help from the kingdom, Marinarsa, to send their daughter, Momo (Who is identical to the 1st one) to Earth to regain humanity's faith in their dreams. Not translated. Momo is one of the youngest magical girls, so it's for younger girls as well. All kinds of cute plushies and animals accompany her. I just can't take her seriously.   Overall Rating: 5/10

6. Genji Tsuushin Agedama ゲンジ通信あげだま [Gallop] (Finished 3/51) Tags: Parody Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi Agedama is a small boy going to elementary school and having the usual problems for a boy of his age. He is also secretly a superhero-in-training (called "Agedaman"). Along with Wapuro, his floating computer companion, he fights against a criminal organization who can turn humans into monsters of various types. Not translated. Such plot is a commonplace since 1960s. Young protagonist and elementary comedy make it instantly forgettable.   Overall Rating: 5/10

7. Reporter Blues レポーターブルース [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 3/52) Tags: Comedy, Mystery  The intelligent Antoinette, known to her friends as Tony, moves to Paris where she takes a job as a reporter for the newspaper ""La Voix de Paris." Together with the photographer Alain and the artist Bricolage she solves unsolved crimes and often crosses the path of the crook Madame Lapin. Not translated (if not counting French). Reporter witnesses different crimes, sometimes helps somewhat. Plots are linked to Paris places of interest a lot, so this title can be considered promo material for France.   Overall Rating: 4/10

8. Chie-chan Funsenki: Jarinko Chie チエちゃん奮戦記 じゃりン子チエ [Tokyo Movie Shinsha] (Finished 3/39) Tags: Seinen Comedy, Drama An adaptation of the first series, with different characters and an alternate setting. Not translated. It's actually a normal second season, only some voice actors have changed which is natural with 10 years pause. Very nice as usual, but I'm not sure I'll live up to the moment it gets a translation.   Overall Rating: 6/10

9. Marude Dameo 丸出だめ夫 [Pierrot] (Finished 2/47) Tags: Shounen Comedy, Sci-Fi The series stars an elementary school boy named Dameo Marude, who has little success with anything he tries, and a robot named Borot, which is good with housekeeping. Not translated. Yet another Doraemon clone, this time with some cute small robot as mascott. Another kids anime not marked properly.   Overall Rating: 4/10

10. Koko wa Green Wood Here is Greenwood ここはグリーン・ウッド [Pierrot, Ajia-Do] (Finished 6/6) Tags: Shoujo Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural Hasukawa Kazuya is in a terrible bind. His brother's new wife is also the woman that Kazuya secretly loves. Determined to avoid them both, Kazuya leaves home to live in the student dorm called Greenwood. There, he hopes to find peace of mind. Unfortunately for Kazuya, stability and peace are the last things one might find at Greenwood - home of the weirdest characters on campus. Boys school dormitory SOL comedy with a solid manga source. Above average overall with ok humor including references to RPG, but demographic is Shoujo, so probably just not for me as I don't get why would I want to watch a boys school dormitory SOL with cross-dressing.   Overall Rating: 6/10

11. Kyoushoku Soukou Guyver II The Guyver: Bio-Booster Armor 強殖装甲ガイバー II [Visual 80] (Finished 6/6) Tags: Action, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi Sho and his friend Tetsurou stumble upon an odd alien artifact while walking through the woods. Then, the alien artifact breaks free of its metallic bonds and enters Sho's body, turning him into the Guyver. With this new power, Sho must do battle with the evil Chronos corporation and their genetically enhanced Zoanoids, who seek to get the Guyver back into their labs. No one close to Sho is safe from Chronos. He must fight. Original had freshness effect, Moreover, only final two episodes bear plot value, the first ones are just enemies thrown at protagonists to fight. But I can't argue that action and thrill are on above average level.   Overall Rating: 6/10

12. Dark Cat ダークキャット [Agent 21] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Mythology, Super Power Action, Horror, Supernatural Hyoi and Ryoi, two brothers with the power to take the form of cats, must unravel the mystery of a creeping, tentacled, demon plague before it consumes them and their classmates. Ultimately, they must confront their old Dark Cat master Jukokubo, though whether they can put an end to the evil he has released remains a mystery. Well, another infamously bad anime. Three weird stories developing aimlessly and ending randomly.   Overall Rating: 3/10

13. Ninja Ryuukenden 忍者龍剣伝 [Studio Junio] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Mythology Action, Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Suspense On a dark, late night in New York City, Ryu is chased and attacked by assassins. After disposing of them, he finds an I.D. card for the Friedman Company. The next day, it is announced that Dr. Ned Friedman has discovered a cure for cancer. But after providing no information at his press conference, a reporter named Sarah decides to investigate with the help of her friends Robert and Jeff. When passing by Dr. Friedman's house one day, Ryu hears the voice of a young girl calling for help. When Sarah and her entourage investigate the house as well, they run into their colleague, Ryu. Upon that, they discover Dr. Friedman has been conducting experiments on live humans using biotechnology, and that it may have something to do with the power of the Evil Gods, whom Ryu had defeated in the past. But when Ryu's friend, Irene, is kidnapped, he must dawn his role as a Dragon Ninja once again to defeat this new enemy and save her. Game themed anime could be a lot worse, but it manages to stay a trashy average action that even has some charm.   Overall Rating: 5/10

14. Gall Force: New Era ガルフォース新世紀編 [AIC] (Finished 2/2) Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Action, Sci-Fi The year is 2291, and the citizens live a peaceful existence after the catastrophic war between the humans and the Yuman. This quiet life is about to be shattered, the leader of the Yuman is not convinced the war is over, and now plans to renew hostilities! Gall Force series was always about survival on the brink of destruction. This one starts in a peaceful environment and continues as chasing a hacker. I'm not impressed, lackluster ending is another downer.   Overall Rating: 5/10

15. Monkey Punch no Sekai: Alice モンキー・パンチの世界　アリス [Takahashi Studio] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Action, Comedy, Ecchi Released in 1991, this OVA revolves around a mad scientist and the woman that betrayed him. Her unfaithfulness causes the scientist to turn her into a bionic sex machine that desires to please her man completely. However, she still remains unfaithful, and it is up to the scientist`s son to track her down and exact revenge. Trashy, but more funny than Lupin for sure.   Overall Rating: 6/10

16. Kyuukyoku Choujin R The Ultimate Esper "R" 究極超人あ～る [Studio Coa] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Comedy, Sci-Fi  The plot featured R and the Camera Club going on a stamp tour throughout Japan, with the threat of their club being closed down unless they can collect all the stamps by 6:00 PM. The whole travel part leaves me indifferent, but humor saves it.   Overall Rating: 6/10

17. Eiyuu Gaiden Mozaicka 英雄凱伝モザイカ [Studio Deen] (Finished 4/4) Tags: Fantasy  From Ryosuke Takahashi and Norio Shioyama, the creative minds behind great animes such as Armored Trooper VOTOMs and Panzer World Galient, comes an epic tale of swords and sorcery! On the eternal planet of Mozaika, the formerly benevolent King Sazara has been possessed by an evil priest and has begun a bloody path of conquest all across the world! Mozaika's only hope is the young warrior U-Taruma, son of U-Dante, one of Sazara's victims. If you like fantasy, or classic Norio Shioyama character designs, you can't miss this 4-episode OVA! Never thought fantasy could be so boring... like Votoms, really. Even protagonist is a total douchebag. Everything is horrible here, but mostly poor drawing, dark colors, monotonous pace, uninspiring characters.   Overall Rating: 5/10

18. 1-gatsu ni wa Christmas Christmas in January 1月にはChristmas [Magic Bus] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Drama, Romance Nobumasa is a boy who works part-time in a shoe store, where he meets Mizuki, a girl whose abusive family life has left her unable to trust other people. Meanwhile, Nobumasa is unaware that another girl, Seiko, has a crush on him but is unable to express her feelings. I never encountered a really funny or interesting Christmas story. Boredom as usual.   Overall Rating: 5/10

19. Fuuma no Kojirou: Fuuma Hanran-hen 風魔の小次郎～風魔反乱篇～ [animate Film] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Shounen Martial Arts Action, Fantasy After the Chaos war, Kojiro and Ryouma return to earth only to find their clan members killing off each other. I never rated prequels high, don't see it regaining senses in this OVA either - same pretentious ninja anime.   Overall Rating: 5/10

20. Tomoe ga Yuku! 巴がゆく! [animate Film] (Finished 2/2) Tags: Shoujo Action, Drama, Romance, Suspense The title character of Tomoe ga Yuku! (Tomoe Will Go!) is gutsy enough to roller skate down freeways for thrills. After losing a friend in a roller skating accident, Tomoe joins a stunt group called Green Ship. Although still mourning her friend's death, Tomoe has no reservations about embracing a relationship with the group's leader, Kazusa. Soon she discovers Green Ship is a front for an assassin training camp. She must flee her new life and love and rekindle her fiery spirit in order to fight against the organization which wants her dead. Skater vs assassins epic battle! Synopsis is too ridiculous already, scene of skater getting away from cars while being showered by hundreds of bullets can only irritate me. All the shoujo suspense thing does not help, either. If you are ok with that, it can be a good action with some mystery. If not, it remains one more trashy average action.   Overall Rating: 5/10

21. Tsuki ga Noboru made ni 月がのぼるまでに [OB Planning, Grouper Productions] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Historical Drama A father and daughter in Japan climb to the top of a ridge to watch the moonrise. As they wail, an old man tells them his story. An adaptation of Tetsuya Takeda's story about the relationship between a Japanese child and an American soldier. Wonder why it's a story about telling a story? Because length is slightly over 40 minutes, and it would be even less without. I struggle to remember a single war-themed anime with Americans are portrayed normally, so such anime is helpful in this regard. It's especially funny how all Americans have demon faces as if wearing oni masks from the start, but it changes overtime. There's not enough material or complexity to be treated seriously, but it's enough to be called a decent one.   Overall Rating: 6/10

22. Otohime Connection Princess Connection 乙姫CONNECTION [Production I.G, animate Film] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Shoujo Drama, Mystery, Romance, Slice of Life Special based on the manga by Ooya Kazumi, published in Betsukomi Flower Comics. An all-male pop group doubles as a detective agency. The cute girl member of the agency is kidnapped when one of the men's past returns to trouble them all in the present. Cute boys from pop group fight over one girl with bad guys... cute boys win, the end. This is the very essence of averageness in my view.   Overall Rating: 5/10

23. Gekkou no Pierce: Yumemi to Gin no Bara no Kishidan Moonlight Pierce 月光のピアス―ユメミと銀のバラ騎士団 [Pierrot] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Shoujo Fantasy, Mystery, Romance Because of a mysterious earring, Yumemi a young japanese student, becomes involved in a mysterious story. She must go to Germany, where she learns that the spirit of an evil prince is haunting her earring... Another kind girl with loose hair interacts with a lot of cute guys and deals with their problems and opposes evil prince spirit in a castle. So many banalities in one place that I might explode. A new challenger for the title of the most average shoujo ever.   Overall Rating: 5/10

24. Inferious Wakusei Senshi Gaiden Condition Green インフェリウス惑星戦史外伝 CONDITION GREEN [Hero Communication] (Finished 6/6) Tags: Action, Sci-Fi  Keith, George, Edward, Yang and Shaw are Platoon #801, the five-man team formed to protect their homeworld in the Inferious galaxy from alien invasion. Gazaria's evil emperor Vince conquers the neighbor worlds of Kal and Granad, and suddenly only Platoon #801, also known as Condition Green, stands between him and the conquest of Emerald Earth. Military defending from spacecrafts is a rare sight in anime, but there has been rather similar in concept Gall Force: Earth Chapter. Its main problem is that is starts down to Earth and progresses as more and more space chaotic random weird stuff .   Overall Rating: 5/10

25. Ore no Sora Keiji-hen 俺の空 刑事篇 [APPP] (Finished 2/2) Tags: Detective Action, Drama Yasuda Ippei (Shonozaki Ken) is the son of Yasuda Seijiro (Osugi Ren), the head of Yasuda Group, Japan's biggest business conglomerate. Although he is the son of a distinguished family, he has absolutely no disagreeable areas and is liked by everyone. His academic achievements are exceptional. He completed his entire high school programme in 2 years and qualified for Tokyo University's Faculty of Law without studying for the exams. In order to establish his own concept of justice, Yasuda leaves his position as the heir to the Yasuda Group to attend the police academy. He becomes a detective at Kyobashi Police Precinct and bravely faces great evil. Not translated. Looked like a pretty ordinary detective to me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

26. Nyuuin Bokki Monogatari: Odaijini! 入院ボッキ物語 おだいじに! [Tokyo Kids] (Finished 2/2) Tags: Seinen Comedy, Ecchi Yamashita and Negishi end up in the hospital with broken legs and arms. It's summer vacation and they are very bored, so they start picking on the cute nurse Miyuki. Ecchi (even hentai) is the focus , so story does not have individual value.   Overall Rating: 4/10

27. Ucchare Goshogawara うっちゃれ五所瓦 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 0/1) Tags: Shounen Martial Arts, School Sports Musashi Mountain High School third grade Goshogawara is the only member of his school's sumo club. In order to take part in competitions, he tries to attract more members, and thanks to his enthusiasm and sincerity four more people join the club: judo team captain Kaoru Kiyokawa; pro wrestler Takayuki Kannai; skinny thug wannabe Nanno Ippei; and Raiden Goro, a giant guy but a very shy person who also happens to be an expert Go player. The five train together and later take part in a competition against a professional sumo club. Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

28. Jingi 仁義 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 2/2) Tags: Detective, Organized Crime Adventure, Drama In a case of mistaken identity, a low-level gangster shoots an innocent man, thinking he's a rival crime boss. Realizing his mistake, he nurses the man to health. When he learns his victim is a former banker who lost his job and is disillusioned with "the system", they decide to partner up and get rich running a stock investment scam. The rival boss is still around, however, and the pair's sudden success attracts his attention. Not translated. Second anime related to stock exchange, it must have enjoyed a real boom back then. There's a big focus on H, women and children, so it's not just violence or detective. Resembles former yakuza shows, but with proper suits instead of flashy loose yakuza outfits. Don't know what to say - only average.   Overall Rating: 5/10

29. Choubakumatsu Shounen Seiki Takamaru 超幕末少年世紀タカマル [J.C.Staff] (Finished 2/2) Tags: Action, Comedy, Fantasy This is a tale of friendship and courage set in the world of the Champion Kingdom, an imaginary island whose inhabitants follow a traditional samurai lifestyle. Not translated. Another Dragon Ball imitator, but surprisingly funny and absurdist comedy with fighting.    Overall Rating: 6/10

30. Miracle Psychicer Seizan ミラクル・サイキッカーセイザン [Pierrot] (Finished 0/5) Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy - Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

31. Ranma ½: Chuugoku Nekonron Daikessen! Okite Yaburi no Gekitou-hen!! Ranma ½: Big Trouble in Nekonron, China らんま 1/2 中国寝崑崙大決戦! 掟やぶりの激闘編!! [Studio Deen] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Shounen Magical Sex Shift Adventure, Comedy All is well at the Tendo residence when from out of nowhere, a Chinese girl named Lychee appears, seeking revenge on Happosai for a broken promise made since her birth. Things get worse when Kirin and the Seven Lucky Gods appear and abduct Akane to take as his wife. Ranma and the gang must travel to Nekonron, China, and save Akane from getting married to Kirin. I felt like I was watching Urusei Yatsura Movie 7, really, due to the constant spree of running and fighting. Moreover, Ranma usually plays as male and there is a sort of tomboy heroine resembling Lum . It looks like smaller episode can focus on humor and transformation , but when it comes to longer stories it does not go that far from Urusei Yatsura, feels tiresome .   Overall Rating: 5/10

32. Adachi-ga Hara 安達が原 [Tezuka Productions] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Sci-Fi  This is a story of an astronaut who is sent to a penal colony planet, and there meets an old woman who shows him the truth of life and love. Originally a short Manga in "The Lion Books," it was made into an animated series. The chief character, Jess, fights to bring down the dictator of the federation of the Earth and other planets, but is arrested by the federal authorities and sent to a penal colony planet. The story focuses on him, using Japanese Noh drama "Kurozuka" as a motif. A nice little story with space tyranny and cannibalism, but it's only 30 minutes, so there's a top score it can't surpass.   Overall Rating: 6/10

33. Bakabon Osomatsu no Karee wo Tazunete Sansenri バカボン・おそ松のカレーをたずねて三千里 [Pierrot] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Comedy - It's a crossover of normal genius Bakabon with Heisei Bakabon in Heisei era... Well, it's one loosely connected story, but first two 10-minute parts can be treated as separate ones. Everything is well known and expected here, lot of absurd gags with some mythology characters like Son Goku.   Overall Rating: 6/10

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