ANIME REVIEW . Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad VI

by Greg   ⋅   February 2, 2008   ⋅   Comment now   ⋅    RSS

Greg is back with another anime review. This time out, he’s tackling Beck volume 6. And really, who better to review a musical anime than an actual musician? Read on for his review.

So I admit that I’ve come to this party a little late in the game. It appears that this is the 6th and final disc of the rock and roll anime Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad. Beck is about a band of young Japanese kids and their trials and tribulations on the way to the top. Of course it isn’t all about music and as with any band, it’s about 5 hugely different personalities and how while their diversity is what makes the band special, it is also what ultimately will probably be their downfall. Koyuki is the wide eyed optimist lead singer and guitar player, Ryuusuke is the serious, moody, and weird lead guitarist with a lisp who has developed a special bond with the blues. Chiba is the wild rapper with the afro, Taira, the elder statesman of the group and bass player with loads of talent, and Saku, the funky and dependable drummer.

I would have to say that to get the full effect, this anime should be watched in Japanese because the full effect of Japanese kids speaking English (Especially Maho) is a big part of the charm but the voice acting is not bad.

The episodes found on this disc (Spoilers ahead!) focus on the culmination of the events of the last five, a huge outdoor music festival called Grateful Sound 5 in which the band is playing. The show could give them great exposure, but even as they are about to take the stage, various problems threaten to ruin their big shot. There are members of the band who are nowhere to be found, members getting in fights, and even a shady organization that threatens physical violence to the band (I missed the earlier episodes so exactly what is going on with this was a little puzzling). The festival looks as if it is going to be rained out and group morale is at an all time low. Before this can happen Koyuki takes a chance and gets up on stage with his guitar and sings a sweet and heartfelt song, marking the start of a legendary set that ingrains Beck’s place in history. The members slowly join him on stage in a surefire “lighters in the air” moment that you can’t help but smile to.

The music in the series is a lot of fun and has a nice range from folky ballads to high energy rap rock hybrids to all sorts of pop punk and J-rock as well as some straight up hip-hop and sappy pop. There is a ton of music throughout the first three episodes of the disc. Fans of these styles and Japanese rock in general should find a lot to enjoy on this disc.

Beck is a thoroughly enjoyable anime and one of these days I’ll have to check out the first 5 discs. Recommended to fans of anime who love Japanese music and would find band politics interesting. It has a sweet and quirky feel and could quickly become one of your faves, and plus, how cool is the name Mongolian Chop Squad?!

The DVD and Extras

There’s a very nice looking menu set up like an amp. The various menu items all have different music and have a rock and roll scrapbook feel. There is a section of commentary on the music of Beck as well as a music video for “A Life on the Road” and the opening and closing themes without text. There are also trailers for new releases of Funimation of the popular animes (Fullmetal Alchemist, Dragon Ball Z, Witchblade, and One Piece) as well as some I’ve not heard of but look interesting (Clamp Double Feature - Tsubasa: Princess in the Birdcage and XXXholic: a midsummer night’s dream, Aquarion) and one that looks right up Chris’s alley (Shuffle).

About the Author:

Gregory Masaki Jenkins is in a few bands himself and knows all about the politics that go along with it — but very little about the fame. He would like to think of one of his bands as the Greek folk music equivalent of “The Band”. His favorite anime is currently Bleach and is known to enjoy a little bit of J-Rock in his spare time.

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