Floozy Speak!

During the days of ADV we were offered all kinds of product. Bad shows, good shows, concept shows etc. I remember one screening of a new show coming out of Korea (which is not usually as good as something out of japan, anime wise) called Alexander. It was a new series featuring character designs from Peter Chung of Aeon Flux fame. I loved Aeon Flux so I was into Alexander by default.

Alexander, told of the story of the great Alexander but in a fast foward futuristic kind of way. Overall it didn't impress my boss at the time so he passed on it. It could of been anything, too much, quality sub par though we didnt usually care about quality that much, if the story was decent go with it. Hell most of the stuff we did back then didnt have a story. So in the end, i dont know why ADV passed on Alexander. Course this was a good 3-4 years ago.

Now TokyoPop has picked up the license of Alexander and redubbed it Reign. I can understand redubbing a flim called Kiaitaftogya De gfoegfo! but Alexander? I mean, its english already, just keep the name. Especially when the lead character, Alex himself has this really cool stylized A tattoo on his chest and its like the frickin symbol of the whole series, and yes its meant to be that way so that you play off it in packaging etc.... BUT nooo TokyoPop threw that out the door and redubbed the show Reign! RAIN!

Alexander itself is a pretty cool series. You wont find Peter Chung's Aeon Flux style in just the characters, its in everything. It might as well be a Chung complete work. Theres elements of 3d as well but most of it is 2d. As expected the Japanese language is fine.. sounds good, and characters hit the mark on delivering. The english dub however is.. so so. Aristole voice on the english dub. least for the first 4 episodes is the same voice as the "bad guy" character in Aeon Flux, an actor I dont have the info at the moment, but who sounds PERFECT for Aristole. Its rare to come across an english dub voice that just works. In fact, you start to think in Aeon Flux, was that guy just a twisted version of Aristole? They had simmilar passions. The rest of the dub is typical lameness, they even try to rip off a yoda voice for one of the characters later on in the series. Like anyone smart and short should talk like yoda, i mean its expected right?

The action is cool, looks of mystical badness etc however the TokyoPop transfer of the film on DVD seems washed out. I doesnt come across sharp at all. Thats a bummer, cause i remember the vibrant sharp edged version of this at ADV. Another thing TokyoPop did, and I dont know why, for the life of me, they did. Maybe it was to increase running time. We did that at ADV all the time. Tack on trailers to make a 30min a 45min theatrical! But TokyoPop did it the wrong way. Before every episode theres a 3min music video that doesnt change, its the same frickin thing. But its connected to the episode like its the intro to what yer about to see or actually part of the epsiode. It doesnt come across natural at all, like the creators planned for this cheesy 3-hell probably 4-5 min music video. Now that I think about it, all the piece does is hit home to you that yer watching REIGN and not Alexander. They really wanted to cut out the original logo animation for Alexander but liked it so much, they tacked on this 5min music video with some gal screaming REIGN, REIGN, and then they had the nerve to fade into the original logo.. BUT!! they darkened the letters of Alexnader so you cant see it very welll, as it zooms off and thus we have it folks.. Classic cluster @#!$ action from a new startup in anime, TokyoPop!

(sure we did the same thing at ADV mind you, but at least we were clever about it)

Still given the strikes against Alexander I enjoyed the show alot.