Usuzumizakura: Garo

After the abyssal performance that is the main Guren no Tsuki (Crimson Moon) series, I was somewhat hesitant about picking up this movie. However, I’m glad that I did give it a chance after all because Usuzumizakura is actually pretty good and is on par with the Divine Flame movie.

The plot isn’t anything much to write home about, just your usual encounters as per the typical Garo episode but it being a movie with limited time means it cannot afford to drag things out like in the series. The pace is much tighter and you also do not need to put up with Ashiya ... Douman wasting screentime every week just to repeat the same few phrases about DARKNESS. Most important of all, they really put the movie resources to good use and made sure to actually throw in plenty of cool, well animated fight scenes which the TV series lacks on a depressing level. Seimei is entertaining, her character design is gorgeous as ever and Romi Park is fantastic in her role as usual. The antagonist is voiced by Tanaka Atsuko - yet another veteran - so that's another plus point.

Anyway, if you have given up hope because of the TV series, I’d like to urge you to give the movie a chance. And if you just want a simple, engaging action anime, consider giving this a go as well – it’s fairly standalone so you don’t even need to have watched the TV series.

Talk about incredibly disappointed. I waited 3 years to finally watch this just to be let down. It starts off well enough, and the animation is great, but when you realize it's essentially Edo Mecha and how weak the storyline is, you start to check out. None of what came to be was necessary for the desired results. Absolutely none of it. The characters had so much potential, but it felt like there was enough creativity left to give them a fitting story.

Sometimes, I'll say still watch it for the animation, but there are plenty of other great anime with stellar animation to watch that ... are much more worthy of your time. Don't waste it here.