Xenosaga anime coming to US

by Ross Miller { Jun 21st 2007 at 2:53AM }

Our memories of playing Xenosaga was that it was one-third video game and two-thirds cinematic movie -- we didn't mind the lengthy cutscenes, but they were quite noticeable compared to other titles. The philosophically-minded RPG was unsurprisingly turned into an anime in 2005, and now ADV Film has announced (via IGN) that it is finally bringing the twelve-episode series to the US later this year.

The series will be split into three DVDs, presumably four episodes apiece, with the first one coming out September 11. No special features or other information is available at the time. Xenosaga: The Animation was produced by Toei Animation (Dragon Ball series).

Tags: adv film, AdvFilm, anime, cartoon, toei, toei animation, ToeiAnimation, xenosaga

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Eric @ Jun 21st 2007 3:07AM

If that's KOS-MOS, then the art's worse than the second game... The first is one of my favorite games. The second is an atrocity. I have no idea if the third is better since I've not yet suffered through the second... I mean, seriously, WTF did they do to Shion???

Kyouryuu @ Jun 21st 2007 3:28AM

The anime put me to sleep. Of course, I have the same opinion about the series that inspired it, but at least the games looked decent. This anime combines the same high-brow philosophical plot line with pitifully low-budget animation and surprisingly inaccurate character design. It lasted all of three months on Japanese television. There's probably a reason for that.

thecrimsonmoogle @ Jun 21st 2007 4:10AM

And in other news, Ludwig Kietzmann is taking maternity leave considering he shat out twins upon hearing the news.

Gavin @ Jun 21st 2007 5:33AM

But is it as boring and pretentious as the last couple of games in the series? Sounds like it is. I will never understand the appeal of these games. The first one was okay but ended up being extremely repetitive after a bit. When people joke about Square games being just "Press X over and over to win the game" this is just the type of game I think of. The combat system drove me crazy after doing the same crap again and again and again and again.

Matthew @ Jun 21st 2007 7:24AM

I have to agree with Eric...it doesn't look like the art style is as good as the first or third entries in the series. And yes, Episode 2 is definitely the weakest link in the series.

The third is a marked improvement over number 2. Eric...you should really play through to the end. I had the same problem with Ep. 2 and gave up on it until just before Ep. 3 came out, then I had to finish it before I played the last one. They clean things up nicely in the last one, and there's even a couple of twists that may surprise you.

Overall, I really enjoyed the series, but then again, I love a game that's half cutscenes with voice acting and half game.

Bdub? @ Jun 21st 2007 7:39AM

Why can't they just release them on the same dvd? The cashing in is ridiculous for anime.

captain_duck @ Jun 21st 2007 8:00AM

All this anime is is a retelling of the first game. Its a shame they didnt make an anime of the 2nd and 3rd game.

KirbyMeister @ Jun 21st 2007 8:17AM

>>6: That's because anime companies sell to obsessed kids and adults that demand to call themselves "otaku" and are willing to pay any price for DVDs, even though they already watched and downloaded a fansub about a year ago. Except it stopped at the last episode because someone licensed it, which puts all the translating otaku into a deleting frenzy.

'Cause they like being raped by copyright holders.n Sorry to be so inflammatory, but that's my experience with these people. Except some of them don't go into deleting frenzies. And some anime with pitiful dubs still are in fansub circulation.

Still my point is: Otaku will pay any price (and the highest price, if there are two editions) to get what they want.

James B @ Jun 21st 2007 8:43AM

I'm a fan of the games, although the anime wasnt very good. Don't buy it people.

sheppy @ Jun 21st 2007 9:23AM

"Why can't they just release them on the same dvd? The cashing in is ridiculous for anime."

Anime is traditionally released in "volumes" initially. However, since it IS being handled by ADV, you can expect a slimpack compilation release roughly 6-8 months after the final volume is out. Considering it's a 12 part series, I think Kino's Journey pricing is applicable so it will be between $30-$40 for the full series.

@KirbyMeister

Wow, rage much? Awwwwww, poor little baby had to wait to see the end of Full Metal Alchemist and hates paying for his anime.

Facing facts, kiddo, this is the traditional release style. But the rise of the "complete" packs has made a bit of a change in the way anime is handled. You can always have patience and wait for the slimpack release if this hurts your wallet so much.

It's what I've been doing. I also wait until a series goes on dramatic sale. Example? Samurai 7. Avoided the temptation until I saw the collectors editions at Best Buy had been reduced to $20 a pop. $20 to include storyboards and art notes? Hells ya.

Zsavior @ Jun 21st 2007 9:43AM

Whoa people who actually buy anime? I just ahem... yeah find it on something called the interwebz.

shivr @ Jun 21st 2007 10:31AM

It's probably a good idea to buy anime the same way it's probably a good idea to buy games... support the things you love.

@ sheppy

deng I didn't know slimpacks were selling for so cheap nowadays. I remember 5 years ago when I bought anime at it was 50$ for a box with one 3-4 episode containing dvd and a shirt :/ It's nice things are cheaper now :)

@ Kirby

Otaku are annoying, one only needs attend one convention to be assured of that, but if a group of people are providing you with a -free- service, and half of them aren't even otaku but just love anime and want to be nice or gain internet fame or whatever by fansubbing it, it's hard to complain :/

Tascar @ Jun 21st 2007 10:51AM

There's a reason anime is priced so ridiculously high and rarely in the sexy cheap season box sets that we are used to. It's because in Japan, the way TV shows like anime are sold, it's 2 episodes per DVD and the DVD itself is somewhere in the $25-35 dollar range. When these shows are licensed over to the United States, quite simply put, the Japanese are simply not willing to license them and allow for an American-styled release that they fear will result in Japanese customers importing the cheaper DVDs from the U.S. instead of buying their overpriced Japanese counterparts.

octoberasian @ Jun 21st 2007 10:57AM

I've seen the anime. The animation was quite odd and off in a few places. They also altered the story slightly. The ending to the anime is different than in the game. However, if you do not want to sit through 40 to 80 hours of playing the game and watching the cutscenes to know the story, then you can watch the anime instead. It's a bit easier to understand the anime than going through the game. But, I'd recommend playing the game over watching this anime, as you'll have a much more complete story instead.

sheppy @ Jun 21st 2007 11:00AM

Well, let's just say I have a hard time complaining about anime pricing. Most of the time (Pioneer... DROP THE FUCKING PRICE ON TRIGUN ALREADY SO I CAN BUY IT AND DITCH MY BOOTLEG).

Anime Legends series is quite nice. How you can get Outlaw Star & Angel Links for a combined total of $70-80

Full series and movie of Escaflowne $70

Gundam Wing Anime Legends, $80 for the full series.

Let's not forget this nifty bundles I snagged...

Kino's Journey $30
Boogiepop Phantom (with both soundtracks, cards, and pencil boards) $55
Lain $40

Aside from some of the more popular series, anime is easy to snag on the cheapside.

Otis Whitaker @ Jun 21st 2007 12:28PM

The anime is very dull....

Anywho, Xenosaga 1 is amazing.

The people who skipped out on XS3 because XS2 sucked, I suggest you don't.
XS3 is a very good game. VERY good. Especially if you loved XS1. In my opinion, it crosses the line, and becomes multiples better than even Xenogears or XenoSaga 1.

BPM @ Jun 21st 2007 1:11PM

Sheppy:
"[Now] you can get Outlaw Star & Angel Links for a combined total of $70-80"
Yeah, but you can save even more money by NOT buying Angel Links.
I picked up a volume of Angel Links from Big Lots for $4 (they sporaically carry DVDs from Bandai, Geneon, FUNimation). I was drawn by the fact it said it was in the Outlaw Star universe (Outlaw Star being one of my favorite shows)... But, dear Lord, was it awful!
Yeah. Buy only Outlaw Star. Avoid Angel Links, I say.
... But, that's just how I feel. You may have enjoyed it. And there's nothing wrong with it...

Hmm... Not sure why people are ragging on the artstyle of the Xenosaga anime. Looks exactly like the style of the first game, but in 2D, not 3D.
Other aspects of the anime... Well, I haven't watched it all, so I can't comment on the story and whatnot.

Wolf Ninja @ Jun 21st 2007 2:32PM

I loved the Xenosaga games (even the 2nd one), but the anime left a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, they took a game with a story huge enough that it had, what, 30 hours or so of cinematics alone, and they cut it down enough to become a 12-episode anime series (at 30 minutes an ep, that's 6 hours total). That's a scary amount of cutting, there, especially when you consider that the anime had to also use material you would've played in the game, and which therefore wasn't part of the cinematic hours.
Add to that the fact that amongst all this cutting, they added a completely unnecessary new character, and changed several plot elements for the worse, and you have something that stomped on what could've been great.
I will also agree that the animation quality for the anime wasn't very good, save for the excellent acrobatic sequence with KOS-MOS in the final battle.
In other words, if you want to experience Xenosaga, play the games--don't watch the anime.