RahXephon Volume 1 Official Announced

[joshualane]

Here's the Press Release from ADV:



ADV'S MARCH 25 RELEASE ROCKETS THE MOST ANTICIPATED TITLE OF EARLY 2003 TO AMERICAN SHORES

HOUSTON, January 8, 2003-ADV Films today officially announced a March 25, 2003 release for RahXephon-Orchestration One: Threshold, first volume of the extraordinarily beautiful and complex anime series that captivated millions in Japan, and has had the U.S. anime audience waiting impatiently for nearly a year. ADV will release RahXephon-Orchestration One: Threshold as a DVD only, and in a special edition including a custom art box, sized to hold the entire series, and an exclusive t-shirt.

RahXephon was created and directed by Yutaka Izubuchi (Gasaraki, the Gundam franchise), and produced by Bones (Angelic Layer), Victor Entertainment (Noir) and Fuji TV (Astro Boy, Battle of the Planets). The RahXephon series debuted on Japanese TV earlier this year and became an immediate sensation, with fierce action and the multilayered complexity of the plot and characters drawing in viewers by the tens of thousands.

The city of Tokyo has been overthrown, taken over by the Mu, invaders who have devastated the rest of the planet. Within the domed walls of the city, however, time flows in a different path, and none of the citizens even know they've been conquered. Outside Tokyo, the remnants of the human race have fought a desperate 15-year war against the Mu, knowing only that the key to victory lies within the occupied city. But no one has been able to get into Tokyo-until Ayato Kamina, a young resident fleeing a horrifying attack on the city, unwittingly breaks out. An extraordinary mystery unfolds as Ayato confronts a world he has never known, and begins to learn the horrifying secrets of RahXephon, a humanoid super weapon which apparently only he can control.

RahXephon-Orchestration One: Threshold (SRP $29.98 DVD, $44.98 DVD w/ custom series art box and t-shirt) includes both English- and Japanese-language versions, with English subtitles. Orchestration One: Threshold includes the first five episodes of the title, and extras include clean opening and closing animation; a special trailer; production sketches; a printed insert with production notes; and ADV previews.

RAHXEPHON-ORCHESTRATION ONE: THRESHOLD
Running Time: 125 minutes
Street Date: 3/25/03
DVD SRP: $29.98
DVD + box/t-shirt: $44.98


Anyone getting excited about this release? I've never seen any of the episodes, but I've heard that it's lies somewhere between Escaflowne and Evangelion as far as the story goes. Of course, I'll be picking up the box/t-shirt version.

[Evil Dr. Reef]

I'm definetly anticipating this one. The OP is great, and the animation and story seem to be the same. March can't come quick enough.

[Proteus3]

I've seen the series on fansubs it is well worth watching and probably one of my favorite titles released in Japan in 2002. The animation is very well done and it has a great opening composed by Yoko Kanno and sung by Maaya Sakamoto. The series does have a complex plot, though you often get the feeling that the plot is complex for the pure sake of being complex, and it keeps most of it in the dark. It also features a large cast of characters, most of which are developed well.

[KingKoopa]

This interests me. It may replace Hellsing which ends later this month in my "anime budget", or Excel Saga which ends April 8.

[joerammstein]

Many people will notice similarities, and immediately declare it an Evangelion rip-off, but it really is a top-notch original series.

And it doesn't hurt that the animation is done by BONES, the folks responsible for Cowboy Bebop.

[VinceA]

I ordered it from FYE yesterday (big ADV sale going on right now)

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

"The city of Tokyo has been overthrown, taken over by the Mu, invaders who have devastated the rest of the planet. Within the domed walls of the city, however, time flows in a different path, and none of the citizens even know they've been conquered. Outside Tokyo, the remnants of the human race have fought a desperate 15-year war against the Mu, knowing only that the key to victory lies within the occupied city. But no one has been able to get into Tokyo-until Ayato Kamina, a young resident fleeing a horrifying attack on the city, unwittingly breaks out. An extraordinary mystery unfolds as Ayato confronts a world he has never known, and begins to learn the horrifying secrets of RahXephon, a humanoid super weapon which apparently only he can control. "

Now where have we heard something like this before?

[joerammstein]

That's a brutally banal synopsis. It's unfortunate they've chosen that paragraph to represent the initial foray into this story. Don't allow it to mislead you.

[Proteus3]

Studio BONES has quickly worked thei way to the top with this tile. Studio BONES also made the Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Angelic Layer, Escaflowne: A Girl in Gaea movie, and the new series released in Japan. All their movies or series seeem to have top notch animation. Angelic Layer has some great fight scenes. Rahxephon also has some great animation.

I was trying to avoid going into comparing this to Evangelion, but since joerammstein brought it up and the comparisons are inevitable. The first thing that people will compare this to is Evangelion, which is fair comparison because it is one of the few things similar to match it terms plot complexity and character analysis. However, Rahxephon easily stands on its own and has a plot and goals completely different from that of Evangelion. Rahxephon entertains the viewer by setting up a strong plot and with some good characters. Evangelion is much more philosophical and has a set of moral goals, in proving the value of life and other things. People who like smart mecha, but thought Evangelion was too pretentious might enjoy this series. Rahxephon also seems to be influenced off Megazone 23 moreso, while Evangelion is primarily influenced by Mobile Suit Gundam and Ideon. Rahxephon is also a more "polished" series, as it doesn't run into as nearly problems with budget and the last two episodes that Evangelion had. For people who like anime that stay consistantly good throughout, Rahxephon is also for them. However, this leaves the series with few "amazing" scenes that stick with the viewer forever. Evangelion, in my opinion, has many more of these types of scenes from episode 15-24 and End of Evangelion than all of Rahxephon.

[Sheamon]

Sounds good. I already have seen RahXephon but am looking forward to getting a high quality version and checking out the dub. :)


But no one has been able to get into Tokyo-until Ayato Kamina, a young resident fleeing a horrifying attack on the city, unwittingly breaks out.

LoL, someone sure didn't do their homework :p

As for Evangelion, RahXephon isn't a ripoff because Eva is not original, and hense can't be ripped off in the first place. The monster of the week nature of the show and the mysteries remind the viewer of Eva, but thats because they're super-robot style shows, shows that have used these things for decades. Not to mention that Rah outdid Eva in every way. :D

[The Drizzle]

Originally posted by VinceA
I ordered it from FYE yesterday (big ADV sale going on right now)

GREAT GHOST OF DOOKIE!

They have volume 1 at FYE.com (http://www.fye.com/catalog/moviesProduct.jhtml;jsessionid=UQTMGDEM114JSCIIAADAAAIJBAAAMAIA?itemId=10945626) for $17.96, and that includes a box and shirt!

RahXephon sounds pretty good to me so I'll probably check it out if I've got the cash.

[VinceA]

Be careful, FYE has the RahXephon stuff mixed up a bit.

Here are the links to the volume one stuff:
http://www.fye.com/catalog/moviesProduct.jhtml?itemId=10945627&SkuId=11131260 (Volume #1 with box & shirt) $26.96
http://www.fye.com/catalog/moviesProduct.jhtml?itemId=10945627&SkuId=11131259 (Volume #1 alone) $17.96

Plus use this coupon at checkout FYEAMEXSEASON for another 15% off

The cheap (17.96) item listed as the box & disc is actually volume #2 (check the sub description & release date) alone.

[Conekiller]

Originally posted by joerammstein
Many people will notice similarities, and immediately declare it an Evangelion rip-off, but it really is a top-notch original series.

And it doesn't hurt that the animation is done by BONES, the folks responsible for Cowboy Bebop.

I've heard this argument before and anxiously awaited to see some stuff about Rah. but then I saw the promo for it that came with Newtype. the fist thing that came to mind was " they're not trying AT ALL to dispell the EVA ripoff idea with this are they?"

I mean all I remeber seeing was the ad opening up with a boyish voice screaming in terror at the top of his lungs, then an close up of a grotesque eyeball, then some destruction then some angelic wings sprouting off the back of the main robot (which i'm assuming is RahXephon) .

I'm sorry, I agree with you, but his ad does absolutely nothing to make this show look cool on its own merits. I will give it a chnace, but really.

[joerammstein]

Holy crap, BONES did do Angelic Layer. That seems like such an atypical show for them to be involved with. Bizarre.

Anyway, I guess it's just the way ADV is handling RahXephon. Evangelion is probably one of the best things that's ever happened to them, so they're just trying to appeal to the same audience that made that series such a big hit in North America. Instead of downplaying the similarities, they're saying, "Hey, look! Another show with giant fighting angels and angst-ridden teens! You know you want it!"

But that's another thing -- I found the characters in RahXephon to be much, much less screwed up, and therefore more likable in my opinion.

[EscaflownePilot]

Umm...........
how do ya' pronounce that?

[joerammstein]

raw-zeh-fawn

[Proteus3]

I wouldn't be surprised if ADV is marketing like it is the next Evangelion. They did the same thing for Gasaraki and almost any other introspective mecha show they have. They just want to tap the vast EVA fanbase.

I myself prefer Evangelion to Rahxephon. I found EVA to be much more philosophical and personal. The both also have the same failings, such as plots that are overly complex and ambiguous just for the sake of being overly complex and a good portion of both series are monster of the week. Both are great shows however and Rahxephon still is one of my favorite titles from 2002.

[Evil Dr. Reef]

Originally posted by Mr_Vegeta
GREAT GHOST OF DOOKIE!

They have volume 1 at FYE.com for $17.96, and that includes a box and shirt!

RahXephon sounds pretty good to me so I'll probably check it out if I've got the cash.
Sweet deal! I just ordered the box set thingy. Hopefully, the shirt isn't medium... :p
BTW, thanks for the coupon, VinceA!