Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi Volume 4 (DVD) - Anime Reviews

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- Commentary with voice actresses Luci Christian and Jessica Boone

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- Outtakes

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Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi Volume 4 (DVD)

The amazing and hilarious Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi series comes to a close. With a total of 13 episodes, it’s an amazingly controlled series considering that each episode takes place in a different reality. It’s actually for the best that the series didn’t run over that number trying to stretch the concept – it’s a good demonstration of the story driving the situation, instead of the other way around.

The trio of episodes on this disc are possibly the strongest of the series. It starts with a war-filled episode; the Turtle Bath and the Grill Pelican have reduced most of the shopping arcade to rubble and Arumi and Sasshi are thrown into the middle of it. There are tons of references to war movies and traditions surrounding the military (USO anyone?), but PC gamers will especially like the climatic battle. Mune-mune goes “Rambo” on her opponents in what may will feel is a nod toward Red Alert’s Agent Tanya. While this might not be the case, the similarities are undeniable.

The middle episode goes flat-out with movie references.

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Sasshi and Arumi find themselves in a massive movie set, which is rife with movie references. Here are just a few of the movies referred to: North by Northwest, Back to the Future, Terminator (1 and 2), Die Hard, Indiana Jones, The Thing, Titanic and Robocop (with nipples, no less). There’s also an explosive reference to Jaws that had me close to tears. The transitions between the references make no real sense, but that doesn’t matter – it’s simply in good fun. The episode closes on a more serious note and establishes the tone of the final episode.

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All the secrets and various plots finally all come together, highlighted by Mune-mune in some skimpy lingerie arguing with Sasshi. (Be absolutely sure to watch the outtakes!) It’s a weird existentialist-type argument but it’s really just the start of some pretty wild revelations. I can only say that Sasshi is still trying to find a way to return to a world where Grandpa Masa hasn’t fallen off the roof and died. If you read the included liner material some of the surprises are revealed, as an extremely useful Relationship Chart is included. It shows how everyone is connected and it cleared up at least one stumbling point for me.

The Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi series as a whole should be high on the list of “must watch” anime. From episode to episode, as the series lampoons itself and everything else, there are laughs to be had while telling a story of betrayal, friendship and love. (All this time you thought it was just another wild and crazy anime.)

And one final note, don’t bother buying just one disc of Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi – buy all four, particularly if you’re into anime and play lots of video games.

- Omni

(July 29, 2004)


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