I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

As a fan of Koroshiya 1 (or Ichi the Killer, as the English title is), the I knew this was going to rock. Unfourtanately I was wrong. The story is boring and predictable, it could have been something written in 10 minutes by some high school student Here's what else is wrong: 1. It's way too short, 40 minutes long, and Like ICHI-1 (which I also own and hated), does not advance the story well. Could have been an extra on the IchI The Killer Uncut DVD.2. Too many things in the plot you don't even care about, including pointless sex scenes (EG. Hajime's (Ichi) parents talking, then all of a sudden, random S&M scene!).3. Muddy animation 4. Voice acting is irritatingly terrible. I am an Anime fan, but the acting was stupid. Even the English voice acting sucked.5. Like one person said, It's like a stupid Ichi Fanfiction, just in anime form.6. The music sucks. Ergo, when Ichi accidentally kills the rabbit, instead of suspenseful music you just get lame techno music with some chick writhing as if she's having an orgasm.So avoid this at all costs. It's for your own good.

Do not be confused because ICHI THE KILLER: THE ANIMATION EPISODE 0 is not the prequel to Takashi Miike's 'live-action' version of Hideo Yamamoto's infamous manga, it is the prequel to Hideo Yamamoto's infamous manga.It's about Ichi when he was a student in high school and how he was bullied, what he was like when he was with his family and friends and how he became a twisted and sadistic assassin.This prequel is really cool: good animation, a well-written script and a hardcore soundtrack make this film worth a watch. Although some people may find this film too short or too much like a big music video. Other than that, it's worth watching, but read the comic book before watching it.

This anime was dreadful. Poor script, shockingly amateur animation and a bland and pointless story. It starts well, the DVD menu is colourful and music seems cool. But as soon as you start watching the film it becomes obvious how cheap it is. The plot is predictable; boy is bullied and his anger is suppressed, he eventually becomes a killer. Triggered by a few events, one including a pointless brutal sex scene. So badly done, that no emotions are stirred at all. You just couldn't care less about any of the characters.There are plenty better anime films out there. Watch anything by Studio Ghibli and you will never want to watch anything this bad ever again. 1 Star.

*Minor Spoilers Herein*This Japanese Anime begins during Kekihara and Ichi's duel from the film Ichi the Killer (Although i have a feeling that this is drawn in a way that is more similar to the Ichi the Killer Manga than the film...) before flashing back to explain how it was that Ichi became a killer.The story itself begins interesting enough, but the excessive use of nudity (Ichi's parents are big into S&M, as is apparently everyone in Ichi and Kekihara's world) and bizarre cell shading techniques gives this anime an almost childish feeling. The story comes across as rather forced and unrealistic (not unrealistic in the same way that the film was) with Ichi growing up in a school that is more like a prison, coming home to listen to the moans of his parents next door. The low budget is what really hurts this film,and more focus on actual story substance, rather than trying to 'shocking' would have helped this prequel. It's okay, and if you've seen Ichi the Killer you'll have to see this, but i expected a lot more. Hopefully more Ichi the Killer animation (with a bigger) budget will be released. Let's just hope it's better written and better directed.