Huh? That was not at all boring! Are you mad. That was a great start to the series in my opinion. I heard this show was slow, but so far it’s pretty fast paced if you ask me. Then again I read the first volume of the manga so I knew what to look out for ;). I stopped after the first volume though, as I’d rather watch the show.
Anyway I thought it was very interesting, lots of DRAMA, especially around the parts where Tenma doesn’t operate on the Mayor, but instead on the little boy Johan. Also Tenma is such a good character, you gata like the guy. He’s a lot like Keaton, such an admiral person. His fiance, Eva, however is such a total evil person. I’m not sure there are people out there who would atucally say the things she said outloud (“people are not equal”) But I sure as hell know there are people who beleive in that. Her father is not much better either, only worried about money and the hospital doing well. Screw the little boy, screw the turkish man (fyi Germany really has a minority of Turks living there among the over 90% ethnic Germans so this is very realistic), all that matters is the hosptial doing good. Selfish Pr*ck! He kinda got what was coming to him. Lots of morals are being thrown around, but not in a condisening way, nor is the plot suffering because of it. I think I get why everyone praises Urasawa now.
As for the animation and artwork. One word, PERFECT. I love this style, I LOVE the character designs, the color pallete is so rich, and the background are incredbly well detailed. How do they keep it like this for 74 episodes? Madhouse just rules. The illusion of debth is great as well. As for the music, it’s very conservative so far. Not really in your face or anything. I think this could have really used some epic Death Note like tracks thrown in there. But what is there is very nice, and helps hold the drama. I do like it, but I feel there’s not enough of it, and it’s not pronounced enough. The dub however is amazing, top notch. I had one or two very minor problems with it, but I really love it. Liam O’Brien is kicking all sorts of ass. Although I still think Kirk Thornton might have been a good choice for Tenma as well. Still O’Brien fits for the dark thrillers, he did an amazing job in Ergo Proxy, and he’s amazing me again here. Eva (played by Tara Platt, I only slighly rememebr her now as the older girl in Kite Liberator, ah no wonder why I liked that voice) is also very well cast, and is really impressing me along with her Father (not sure who plays him). The detective is great, and so is Dr. Becker (Mike McFarland ?? Really??). Although the voice playing Becker is not anything like I imagined he’d sound like, after listening to him for awhile, I think he is doing a great job and very well cast. Seems like they knew what they were doign with this dub, as I am liking that voice now, it makes sense. Also great Patrick Seitz (director of the dub) cameos as the TV reporter and a random doctor. The dub is VERY fresh, despite having a veteran cast. I am really likeing this so far.
