Good concept, poorly executed.

Boring

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

How about an anime with a difference? This one comes in at over twenty-six episodes, has transformation sequences involving humans and mecha, and has very little in the way of sexual gratuity and fan service. The whole point is to tell the tale of a haunted male, a group of individuals bent on saving the Earth, and the trials the species must undergo due to an enemy invading force. Sounds simple, but it spans in at close to fifty episodes total.Teknoman – Tekkaman Blade in Japan – came out at an odd time in US television. When the UPN (United Paramount Network) was formed, it was best known for delivering the "Star Trek Voyager" and "Star Trek Deep Space Nine" science-fiction programs at different times during the week; the network was also a complement of other similar programs such as 'Seven Days' and 'Hackers'. Not exactly cyberpunk, but many of their programs involved a dark future with a science fiction style atmosphere. Like many networks, UPN also featured a cartoon block; but being a rebel put it on Sunday instead of Saturday; arguably a good maneuver so as not to compete with other networks. One of the programs in their lineup was this anime.At the time, it was fairly obvious that Teknoman was different than other anime. It was namely darker, futuristic, and had many adult themes in it. The series takes place towards the end of the twenty-first century as an enemy invading force sets their sights on Earth. One of there methods includes an invasion force consisting of mutant spider crabs; these things are ruthless and conventional firepower cannot take them down. The other is a type of organic pod that captures alien lifeforms and turns them into slaves for the invading force. These slaves are endowed with super powers that turn them into mechanical warriors known as technomen. Technomen have the ability to puddle-jump from a planet and its moons, they have blade weapons endowed with quantum energy, along with the ability to fire off massive beam blasts that can obliterate most obstacles in their path. These pods play a central point to the series; because the enemy invading force is merely biding time while these things infect the Earth until they can convert -EVERY- living thing on Earth into a Venemoid warrior loyal to the invaders cause.Sometimes the transformation sequence is avoided in full; either because someone is forcibly removed, leaves the pod by choice willingly and early, or simply because they are rejected when they are not strong enough to serve the Venemoids' purposes. Either way, the central hero, Blade, is one such example and he is practically the only thing stopping the Venemoids from taking over. While the series does focus heavily on Blade, it also focuses on key plot points involving his family which are now his enemies; the military plays a central role, but the main secondary focus of almost all episodes is the go-between – a group called the 'Space Knights' are there to stop Darkon (the enemy warlord) and his minions. There is plot progression as time goes on and a conclusion; there are many plot elements that take place and many attempts fail to stop Darkon, but he does ultimately lose. The problem is, many of the characters do die. This is unprecedented in an anime for the time, but it did happen. Many of the elements between the family members are very akin to the premise of the relationship between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker from Star Wars.Acting between characters is that of a prime time drama; it is not natural, but is as natural as acting can get. This is okay, because it helps push the series along. However, as far as acting is concerned, it is not necessarily obvious (at first) that this series is a dub. It looks more like a science fiction series with an anime style. The Japanese anime influence here, save for the art-style, is very minimal – and the creators of the series did a wonderful job here. There is almost no rehashing of scenes save for the transformation sequences; there was probably a high budget for this series while it was being produced. The American acting probably has a few tweaks along the way, but it seems to otherwise go with the overall plot as the series progresses. The moments there are jokes seem to progress with the original Japanese scenes; so I am lead to believe that the series does not otherwise butcher the original plot all that much. This series also features at least one fanservice shot, one ongoing romance, and otherwise features the trademark 'magical transformation sequence', but rather than blotted out nudity it is shown in its full glory. Characters do appear in the nude at times, but it is entirely due to circumstances and nothing else.Lastly, despite the series having many clichés as the basis, along with many of the token characters associated with anime (they are pretty generic); Blade does have one stark contrast compared to many heroes – he is has a mullet, it is messy and still manages to maintain a realistic look as far as anime is concerned with the more traditional spiky hair and all. That's pretty cool if you ask me.The series does have two down points; much like American cartoons spread out over time, the series' animation either changes between episodes or in key scenes or suffers depending on the quality of the art use at the time. The other is that later on, the teknomen become more expendable as Darkon's desperation increases. One would thing the mutant spidercrabs would take center stage here, but at best they are fodder throughout the entire series.Originally posted to Orion Age (http://www.orionphysics.com/?p=9144).

When I watch this:When I first started watching this series on television,I have to say that this show was awesome. I got to see some of the episodes,and they were great. I was disappointed when they took the show off the air.I had to watch it again. But when I learned that Media Blasters was going to release it on DVD.I had to get my hands on it,and I did. But when I bought this series on DVD,it had the same episodes that were seen on television.Characters:The characters that I liked in the show are:Blade,Shara,Balzac,and Teknobot aka Pegus,and Ringo.Another thing I want to mention that in the TV Version of Teknoman,the main character who becomes Teknoman was named Slade. But it was cool to have the main character being named Blade,instead of Slade. Another character that had a different name in the show was Dagger.In the TV Version,he was known as Gunner. But Dagger is a better name in the DVD version. Another thing about the series,is the character in the TV version of Teknoman have the same lines as the DVD version.Quotes: Another thing that I liked about this show are the lines that the characters say,and here are some that will make you laugh,(Friend or Foe episode)STAR:I THINK ID RATHER MARRY A SPIDERCRAB! RINGO:YA..WELL THE NEXT TIME I RUN INTO ONE OF THEM,ALL ASK IT TO SEND OVER SOME CANDY AND FLOWERS.OH WELL...SO MUCH FOR THE GARDEN OF EDEN IDEA.YOUR LOSS!(Bold Soldier boy episode) BLADE: Pegas, attack mode. I'm glad you're named after a flying horse. PEGAS: Why? BLADE: You talk as well as you fly. They could have named you Mr. Ed. (Axe Trap Episode) Maggie: Hey, great hunter. It's obvious we should have been on foot from the very beginning. Ringo: Why didn't you suggest it, then? Balzac: Now, now children. Stop arguing and I'll buy you some ice cream. Maggie: Oh, goody goody goody. (Sword Strike Episode) Ringo: Eighth floor, notions and lingerie. Star: Ringo, put a cork in it. (Beginning of the End Episode)Balzac: Did you pack us a lunch? Mac: Silly me, I forgot. Tina: Your Teknosuits and counter-flux polarizer are on board. Ringo: Right. Balzac: A grilled cheese sandwich and crackers would have been nice, you know, some little thing we could nibble on. I'm starving. Jamison: I'll have a big juicy steak waiting for you when you get back. Meanwhile, the fate of the world is a bit more important that your stomach, so get to work. Sad part: I think the most saddest parts in the series was the death of Blade's Sister,Shara. It was a shame that we only get to see her in some of the episodes,and it was sad to see her die after being killed by Saber. And I also feel sad to see Balzac taking his own life to kill Teknoman Sword. The voice cast: The series features the great voice talents of Barbara Goodson,Bob Bergen,Kerrigan Mahan,Tom Wyner,Julie Maddalena,Michael Forest, Michael McConnohie (famous for Transformers,and Vampire Hunter D), Michael Reynolds,Richard Epcar (famous for Fushigi Yugi),Simon Prescott,Wendee Lee ,and others.So in closing ,if you like the series,and plan to collect it.Then this is the one. You will see what I mean,and then see Tekkaman Blade II.

OK, this was a sequel, a really bad sequel, if you have the chance to see the first one, go see it, it's 10 times better .Please do not watch the first one if you are into anime that has good graphics, because the first one does not. What makes it a classic is that it shows human nature like no other anime has.The first one shows an 18 years old, who is put into the unfortunate fate of having to hurt everything he wanted to protect, father, older brother, and the younger brother and sister whom he deeply loves.Personally, this anime has touched me more than any other shows that has been on TV in the past 20 years.

I saw the version of this show aired on UPN years ago; I was young and into science fiction like that. However years later I purchased the Japanese DVD collection as well as the sequel OVA.Having watched the entire series subtitled. I can honestly say a lot of emotional impact was lost when brought over to the USA. However this show has a pretty decent plot set up and generally propels you into a drama that has action to spare.The story takes place at the end of the 22nd century in the Japanese version. And centers around an invasion by an alien race that first takes over an orbital space ring. This ring has solved many of the problems caused by manufacturing on earth (pollution woes being one of them). And enabled mankind to set forth for the stars.A mystery man appears battling on the space ring one day using weaponry that is not Earth manufactured and eventually becomes key to winning the war against the alien invaders.This series is worth the time spent getting into it. Though the animation is of the quality one would expect from when it was released over a decade ago. If you like action series with character motivation that is believable, then this show is for you.