Ignoring the strange title, I found myself doubting what this anime might hold when I prepared to watch the first episode of BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad. I remember thinking, "Hmm...what a strange name for an anime classified as 'slice of life,'" and then I remembered Lucky Star, and I told myself I'm an idiot and to shut up. Whatever strange, quirky title it had, I watched the first episode, and now I can now see how this show was considered as "Other": it wasn't like anything I've thought anime could be, period.
BECK's story is a typical rock band-drama. It follows a high-school kid named Yukio (nicknamed Koiyuki), who comes across a strange looking dog that attacked him while walking home one night. Once the owner of the dog, Ryûsuke, guitarist of the up-and-coming band Animal Mother, calls it down, he and Koiyuki form a strange friendship due to their similar taste in music. Soon, Koiyuki learns that Animal Mother has disbanded, and everyone went their separate ways. This leads to a problem I have with the series. While it has a great, original plot, the fact that it lacks any character action or rising conflicts in each episode could be a turn off for some. Most of the early episodes only provide information relevant to the plot in the last 5 minutes or so.
While the overarching plot is paper-thin (boy starts band, band tries to become famous), it could not have been executed better. Even though it could have just as easily been a live-action series, the fact that this is an anime that does NOT try and fictionalize anything is very impressive, and would just not have been as great had it been a J-Drama. The show itself features little action, and heavily focuses on dialogue between the band members and the problems that unfold.
The execution of this anime requires a very unique approach to how anime should be seen. Since it relies so much on talking and interacting, FUNimation knew that a great voice cast had to be on board. Who they ended up with was way beyond the quality I would expect for a typical dub. While the actors themselves have not had any previously huge roles, you can tell that the producers went on the look-out for very talented actors, rather than big names, with the notable exception of Johnny Yong Bosch. Koiyuki's voice is usually suited just right, it can be annoying at times. Ryûsuke's voice also fits the role perfectly, and Chiba's voice is spot on... which is a bad thing, seeing as though it's the most obnoxious sound I've ever heard, though there is no fault in being purposely irritating.
There is a huge focus on music in BECK, and it doesn't disappoint. There are obvious references and tributes to guitar idols, like Johnny Rotten, Iggy Pop, Joey Ramone, John Lennon, and others. On top of that, singing is extremely well done. With this being a translated Dub, these voice actors really had pipes! If anything, I say watch the English dub… mainly because the original one has probably some of the worst examples of “Engrish” this side of “It’s a Gundam!”.
On the topic of presentation, the animation and art style is pretty polished. Everything is proportioned correctly, as it should be, and there are really no glaring problems. Animation is great, especially when shots of the characters playing the guitar are shown, and the hand moves fluidly up and down, picking at the strings. BECK is really good at little details like that.
With a mix of American-Rock influence and Japanese anime drama, there is never a dull moment in BECK. Each episode just gives and gives, with no real filler, but without too many strong moments, either. It's like a documentary of Koiyuki's and Ryûsuke's band, and its rise into stardom. From BECK's opening gig to its closing solo, this is such a creatively made anime that soon you'll be asking for an encore.
- Marcus Speer
BECK's story is a typical rock band-drama. It follows a high-school kid named Yukio (nicknamed Koiyuki), who comes across a strange looking dog that attacked him while walking home one night. Once the owner of the dog, Ryûsuke, guitarist of the up-and-coming band Animal Mother, calls it down, he and Koiyuki form a strange friendship due to their similar taste in music. Soon, Koiyuki learns that Animal Mother has disbanded, and everyone went their separate ways. This leads to a problem I have with the series. While it has a great, original plot, the fact that it lacks any character action or rising conflicts in each episode could be a turn off for some. Most of the early episodes only provide information relevant to the plot in the last 5 minutes or so.
While the overarching plot is paper-thin (boy starts band, band tries to become famous), it could not have been executed better. Even though it could have just as easily been a live-action series, the fact that this is an anime that does NOT try and fictionalize anything is very impressive, and would just not have been as great had it been a J-Drama. The show itself features little action, and heavily focuses on dialogue between the band members and the problems that unfold.
The execution of this anime requires a very unique approach to how anime should be seen. Since it relies so much on talking and interacting, FUNimation knew that a great voice cast had to be on board. Who they ended up with was way beyond the quality I would expect for a typical dub. While the actors themselves have not had any previously huge roles, you can tell that the producers went on the look-out for very talented actors, rather than big names, with the notable exception of Johnny Yong Bosch. Koiyuki's voice is usually suited just right, it can be annoying at times. Ryûsuke's voice also fits the role perfectly, and Chiba's voice is spot on... which is a bad thing, seeing as though it's the most obnoxious sound I've ever heard, though there is no fault in being purposely irritating.
There is a huge focus on music in BECK, and it doesn't disappoint. There are obvious references and tributes to guitar idols, like Johnny Rotten, Iggy Pop, Joey Ramone, John Lennon, and others. On top of that, singing is extremely well done. With this being a translated Dub, these voice actors really had pipes! If anything, I say watch the English dub… mainly because the original one has probably some of the worst examples of “Engrish” this side of “It’s a Gundam!”.
On the topic of presentation, the animation and art style is pretty polished. Everything is proportioned correctly, as it should be, and there are really no glaring problems. Animation is great, especially when shots of the characters playing the guitar are shown, and the hand moves fluidly up and down, picking at the strings. BECK is really good at little details like that.
With a mix of American-Rock influence and Japanese anime drama, there is never a dull moment in BECK. Each episode just gives and gives, with no real filler, but without too many strong moments, either. It's like a documentary of Koiyuki's and Ryûsuke's band, and its rise into stardom. From BECK's opening gig to its closing solo, this is such a creatively made anime that soon you'll be asking for an encore.
- Marcus Speer
