After six long volumes of the worst anime I’ve had to review to date, Glass Fleet has finally ended! Is Volume Six as bad as the previous five? Or is it the saving grace of the lot?

plot summary

Cleo must convince the nobles to side with him in order save the galaxy from being pulled by the Black Cross to its doom. He convinces Michel to speak on his behalf to the nobles of the galaxy so they may fight for his new cause. Michel works hard to gather new supporters to Cleo’s cause, and succeeds admirably.

Vetti still desires to unify the galaxy, but his desire to do so is not altruistic. Too late, Vetti’s aims are revealed, and none move to stop him. Except for Cleo. Two swordsmen must fight and only one will win. Only one will unify the galaxy, and only one will save it from it’s doom.

Review

Volume Six was confusing and bad, in other words, exactly in keeping with the rest of the series. The convoluted plot twists were far more confusing than they were intricate, which is what they were supposed to be. It made my head hurt to watch the cheap drama of the finale, and made it almost impossible to describe out loud. I knew what I was seeing but I couldn’t put it into words as to why I was seeing it.

Yet, as bad as Volume Six was, it was actually better than the other volumes, for many reasons- yet was still bad- but for reasons other than why previous volumes were bad. Yes, the finale was as loopy as that statement.

Six didn’t blow as hard as other volumes because it paid attention to all the loose ends. All the tiny bits, attached to the series by the thinnest of threads, were accounted for and given a “decent” finish. It was hard to believe this series, which couldn’t even tell you where it’d been, had taken everything that made NO sense, and made it make sense, albeit a slipshod, dodgy, nonsensical sense. Everything came together in its own way, but was too little too late for something that never had a snowball’s chance in hell to begin with.

The concepts were still beyond ridiculous and contradictory. Ideas kept cropping up which had no logic, but were somehow tied into the rest of the story. Glass Fleet did a fair job making the ludicrousness mesh, but still didn’t cancel out the lameness of the ideas. Lameness relating to other lameness remains lame. It’s like zero (lameness) multiplied by any number is still zero (lame). Basic math.

Character Design

Another reason this volume was better than the rest was the omission of any new, gawdawful character designs. No new overt insults to the fashion world were given, only snide looks. Anything that was already bad, was still there, but no gasoline was poured onto the blazing inferno of Horrific Character Designs. This was so welcome, it actually made the rest of the anime “look” better.

Animation

The animation continued its shifty workmanship, ever changing in style and quality. As the end drew near, the animation grew a bit better and took on a shonen feel. The outlines were heavier and darker, and action lines nudged the style further into shonen.

There was even a shot, right at the end, which was good. G-o-o-d. It was perfectly framed, the faces were appropriately emotional and the action wasn’t stilted or cheap. The shot in question was two seconds long. Out of the entire anime, all nine hours of it, there were two seconds of good animation, and it was at the end of the anime. Better late than never,eh?

Volume Six Conclusion

Volume Six of Glass Fleet really had no chance of turning this series around. It did its best, and was actually better than the rest of the DVDs, but still failed to make any difference in the overall quality of the anime. Maybe if the third or fourth volume had started to come around, the series may have been better. But I can’t lay the fault of the wretchedness of all six volumes at the feet the the final DVD.

Volume Six Rating

Glass Fleet, Volume Six gets 2 outta 4 Hammies!

Series Conclusion

To say Glass Fleet was bad would be an understatement. The entire concept from start to finish was horrible. However, if Glass Fleet adhered to its own rules and its own world, it would have been passable. Not good, though. Never good. As it is, the contradictions, absurdities and forced stereotypes make this series one to avoid. This melange of badness dooms Glass Fleet to the bottom of the anime barrel, hopefully never to see the light of day again.

Series Rating

Glass Fleet gets 1 outta 4 Hammies!

Retail Info

• Publisher: Funimation
• Release Date:May 6, 2008
• Retail Price: $26.99
• Number of discs:1
• Episodes:23-36
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Rating: TV-PG
• Language: English, Japanese
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Whoo-hoo! Volume Five means there’s only one more volume of Glass Fleet to review!

plot summary

After their escape from prison, Cleo and his new friends fight their way to freedom through Vetti’s fleet. Cleo is then at last reunited with Michel, and the two discuss the future of the People’s Army’s future.

But burdened with the knowledge the galaxy is slowly being sucked into the phenomena known as the Black Cross, Cleo is determined to save it, no matter the cost. He must now convince his friends and allies to band together to help him with his new purpose. Cleo must find stronger allies, than these though, and Michel is worried where, and who, Cleo’s dangerous new thoughts will lead them.

review

Glass Fleet has resumed plummeting to its doom thanks to this volume. Volume Five isn’t the worst volume of the bunch (that’d be One) but it’s regained the momentum of suckdom Volume Four managed to shake.

The story has once again become ludicrous and out of focus. The laughability of the “plot” has multiplied, again. And the laws of physics are once again blatantly flouted by a freefall jump into the vacuum of space by Cleo. It takes a really bad piece of work to break the laws of physics, FYI.

We’re supposed to swallow the hastily wired together idea that Cleo is now the galaxy’s savior, not it’s future King. The series shifted gears so fast, I think it stripped something. If this is what the anime was about all along, what the hell was I watching to begin with? Where was the foreshadowing? Why did I have to see the Revolution Army fight four volumes worth of war, only to have the entire idea of nobles and war swatted aside as being inconsequential?

The studio could have easily switched ideas towards the beginning of the series and still introduced Michel as a rebel leader and all that her history entails. They wasted the entire series, thus far, flying around, shooting canon balls in space and looking like a bunch of Fashion Week nightmares. It turns out, none of the previous plot matters, although it was built up as being meaningful and purposeful.

Only about one quarter of what was told prior to this volume has any impact on the new focus. That means I watched 75% pure filler junk. I say filler junk because none of what I saw built character development or provoked any connection. The ideas were put together in such a craphazard way, they didn’t further the story in the least.

Character Development

The last episode had actual story, but the story wasn’t attached to the plot. It was a tale about the pilot, Elmer. The episode was slightly entertaining, but still bad.

Rachel is turning into a psycho wife-leech who needs Vetti in order to define herself. What a difference a marriage to a nut job tyrant can make….

Character Design

It’d be too much to ask for the character designs not to continue to be an affront to the senses. The designs kept right on being tasteless and freakish and even upped the ante in the last episode. I think phallic gate posts win most tasteless design this volume round.

Animation

It really truly feels as if a different group of people animated each volume, even episodes, of Glass Fleet, the animation feels so inconsistent. One shot is detailed and passable, the next is mechanical and grainy. The animation is beyond sub par. Gonzo should have at least had the decency to keep the shots bad throughout.

Conclusion

Joyous is the day I watch Volume Six of Glass Fleet. For only then will my punishment will be over and the gods of anime will truly have forgiven whatever slight caused them to curse me with this series in the first place.

Rating

Glass Fleet, Volume Five gets .5 outta 4 Hammies!

Retail Info

• Publisher: Funimation
• Release Date:March 25, 2008
• Retail Price: $29.98
• Number of discs:1
• Episodes:19-22
• Run Time: 125 minutes
• Rating: TV-PG
• Language: English, Japanese
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

<h4>Winners</h4>

1. Caitlin

44. Debaser

10. Momo83

Winners have seven days to claim their prizes or a new winner will be drawn!

This is Round Five of The Anime Blog’s Garage Sale Giveaway and we have even more goodies this time around! For those new to our Garage Sale Giveaways, please read the the original post!

The contest is simple:

1. You must register with the site
2. Log in with your user name and password, then choose an item from our list of loot
3. List the item you want in the comments section
4. Your comment will be given a number. If your number is chosen from our random drawing, you’ll win the item you listed!

Additional Details

This giveaway has a 70 entry comment limit. When we reach 70, we’ll randomly draw a number between 1 and 70. If your comment number is drawn, you’ll be the proud owner of whatever listed! For example:

22. Smitty says:
April 30th, 2008 at 7:15 am
I sure would love a copy of Karas: The Revelation!!! ^_^

If we draw number 22 and your user name is Smitty, then you’ve just won a copy of Karas: The Revelation.

List of Loot

Anime DVDs

1. Tetsujin 28, Volume 1
2. Beck, Mongolian Chop Squad, Volume 3
3. Black Cat, Volume 6
4. Karas: The Revelation
5. Glass Fleet, Volumes 1-2
6. Glass Fleet, Volumes 3-4
7. Ikkitousen, Volumes 1-2, 4
8. Nerima Daikon Brothers, Volumes 1-2
9. Ah, My Goddess! Volume 1
10. Peach Girl, Volume 4
11. Red Garden, Volume 1
12. Witchblade, Volume 1
13. Witchblade Volume 2
14. Venus, Versus Virus, Volume 1
15. Vision of Escaflowne: Volumes 2-3
16. Vision of Escaflowne: Volumes 4-5
17. Vision of Escaflowne: Volumes 7-8
18. Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Volume 1
19. Samurai X: Trust
20. Sentimental Journey: Disc 1
21. Speed Grapher, Volumes 1-2
22. Strawberry Marshmallow, Complete Series
23. Yu Yu Hakusho, Volumes 5-6

Manga

1. Mars: Volumes 1-5
2. Mars: Volumes 7-8
3. Mars: Volumes: 11-15
4. Blade of the Immortal: Volume 3
5. Descendants of Darkness: Volume 1
6. Crimson Hero: Volume 1

Remember, you must register to enter. After you’ve registered, check out the loot and comment below!

Contest Rules

• All entrants must be a registered user to win.
• You must post a comment with the name of one of the articles being given away. If you do not list an item in your comment and your number is chosen, you’ll receive the prize of our choice.
• Limit one post and one item request per registered user.
• Flooding the board with multiple posts will result in deletion of your entry.
• If you’ve won in the past four months, you are not eligible to win. We appreciate your participation, but we want everyone to have a chance.
• All entrants must live in the continental United States. Sorry international friends – shipping is expensive these days!

Deadline:

• The winner will be randomly drawn when 70 unique entries have been posted. Any entrant posting after the 70 comment mark is not eligible to win, even if comments are still open.

Winner:

• The winner’s user name (but not your email address) will be posted on the site. We will notify you by e-mail.

If you have any questions about registering, please read our privacy policy. Good luck and don’t forget to tell your friends! The more comments we get, the faster you can win!

This is Round Four of The Anime Blog’s Garage Sale Giveaway! There’s even more goodies this time around so take the time to look the list over! For those new to our Garage Sale Giveaways, please read the original post!

The contest is simple: You choose one item or group of items from our pile of loot, and post one comment declaring your desire to be owner of said loot. When we reach sixty comments, I’ll randomly draw a number between one and sixty. If I draw your comment number, you’re now the proud owner of whatever you declared you liked within your comment. For example:

1. Anime Fan
I sure would like me Karas: The Revelation!

If I draw “1″ and your username is “Anime Fan”, then you win Karas: The Revelation, savvy?

One thing to please remember when entering is that you MUST register with the site to enter! Why? Because it makes it easier to contact you if you win, i.e. search the registry for your contact info.

There have been numerous instances when someone lost a prize solely because they did not register. Don’t be “that” guy! Register and actually be eligible to win! If you have any reservations about registering, please read our privacy policy and know we never sell your info nor contact you unless you’ve won.

After you’ve registered, check out the loot and comment below!

*Note: Please read the rules under “To Enter” carefully!!!

To Enter:

• All entrants must live in the continental U.S.
• All entrants must be a registered user to win.
• Post a comment in the comment board below with the name of one of the articles being given away.
• You must list an item in your comment or the comment will be deleted. Saying, “I want to win”, or “I want so and so to win”, will also result in deletion of the comment.
• One post and one item only per registered user. Flooding the board with multiple posts will result in deletion of ALL said user’s posts.

Deadline:

• Deadline is numerical: 60 unique comments (minimum). The winner will be randomly drawn when 60 comments have been posted.

Winner:

• Winner’s user name will be posted on the site and notified by e-mail!

Good luck and don’t forget to tell your friends! The more comments we get, the faster you can win!

Manga

1. Mars: Volumes 1-5
2. Mars: Volumes 7-8
3. Mars: Volumes: 11-15
4. Blade of the Immortal: Volume 3
5. Descendants of Darkness: Volume 1
6. Crimson Hero: Volume 1

Anime DVDs

1. Tetsujin 28, Volume 1
2. Beck, Mongolian Chop Squad, Volume 3
3. Black Cat, Volume 6
4. Karas: The Revelation
5. Glass Fleet, Volumes 1-2
6. Ikkitousen, Volume 2
7. Ikkitousen, Volume 4
8. Nerima Daikon Brothers, Volumes 1-2
9. Ah, My Goddess! Volume 1
10. Red Garden, Volume 1
11. Witchblade, Volume 1
12. Witchblade Volume 2
13. Venus, Versus Virus, Volume 1
14. Vision of Escaflowne: Volumes 2-3
15. Vision of Escaflowne: Volumes 4-5
16. Vision of Escaflowne: Volumes 7-8
17. Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Volume 1
18. Solty Rei, Volume 4
19. Samurai X: Trust
20. Sentimental Journey: Disc 1
21. Strawberry Marshmallow, Complete Series
22. Yu Yu Hakusho, Volumes 5-6