World Famous Comics: Jacques Toubon Dual - Trouble Adventure - Visions (Vol. 1)
Jacques Toubon Dual - Trouble Adventure - Visions (Vol. 1)
Starring: Jacques Toubon, Patrick Jarreau Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD Format: Animated, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC Label: Geneon [Pioneer] Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: September 26, 2000 Running Time: 100 minutes Theatrical Release Date: September 24, 1995
Description: Kazuki is plagued by visions of giant, destructive robots that no one else can see. But all of the years of ridicule are about to pay off! Before he knows what's happening, Kazuki gets ensnared by a pretty face, and then a mad scientist's experiment throws him into his world of visions! Now the danger is very real and his allies are twice as strange as he ever imagined! On the plus side, he gets to drive the robots! Includes episodes 1 - 4
Amazon.com: Although the packaging proclaims that this new series is from "the creators of Tenchi Muyo!", Dual! is closer in tone to a mecha version of El Hazard. Everyone at Naniyo Academy regards nerdy Kazuki Yotsuga as weird because he flinches and ducks for no apparent reason. But Kazuki sees visions of giant robots fighting in the city where he lives. When the pretty and popular Mitsuki Sanada learns about the visions, she takes him to her father, Ken, an eccentric scientist whose specializes in "dimensional physics." Kazuki's visions confirm Ken's belief in a parallel world--where he accidentally sends the two teenagers via an untested invention.
In the very different parallel world, Ken heads the Earth Defense Force, commanding the giant robots that engage in stylized battles against the troops of the fanatic scientist Rara. In the best anime tradition, Kazuki demonstrates an unheard of empathy with the huge mecha Hartzenan, winning a battle for its injured pilot. But all the other pilots are girls: to hide the existence of his new star warrior, Ken puts Kazuki in drag, which leads to new problems.
The results are agreeably silly, although Dual! lacks the warmth that gives the "Tenchi" series its offbeat charm. Rated for ages 13 and up for mild profanity, sexual humor, and robot vs. robot violence. --Charles Solomon
Fun, light-hearted series The story opens with Kasuki, a high school student who's being plagued by incredibly real "visions" of mecha units engaged in furious warfare. The visions are so realistic that he posts descriptions of them on his website as a fictional story, contributing to his reputation as being "really weird" from his classmates. Initially dismissing the visions as merely intense daydreams, he's understandably reluctant to talk about it to anyone-- including Mitsuki, the class beauty who has taken an interest in his stories.
While visiting Mitsuki's home, Kasuki is accidentally transported to a parallel world where he's shocked to discover that his "visions" of warfare are actually the reality of that world. And that he's very much alone.
Despite having borrowed plot elements from several other anime series, Parallel Dual successfully creates it's own unique universe. Refreshingly fun and light-hearted, the series has some surprisingly emotional moments, especially as the climax approaches. While none of the characters or plot lines will be nominated for the Emmy Awards, they're certainly developed enough for the viewer to appreciate many of the emotions that the characters feel throughout the series. Parallel Dual doesn't break any new ground in either technology or plot devices, but it does succeed in being highly entertaining.
As a side note, the series is strangely addictive. I found myself constantly feeding my DVD player until I had finished all four DVDs and then suddenly realized that eight hours had passed (much to my chagrin).
A Must Buy !! In the beginning when you're watching this series, you could play Evangelion on a tv set right next to the one you're watching and the two series would be identical. But that is completely fine because Dual! is simply a great series even though it obviously copied from Tenchi and Eva. It has the best sense of humor that keeps you wanting to see more and wishing that it wouldn't end (I still think Mitsuki Sanada deserved much mor...n/m). The characters are done well and keep things light yet intriguing and all guys out there should watch Dual! just to see the "shock absorbers" scene. I was ROFL!
Entertaining I ordered Dual without having seen it before. It had been recommended to me by some peopel I know. It was well worth the risk.
The animation is beautiful, the sound crisp and clean, the extra's well put together and overall was very impressive.
Content wise, the storyline strikes as a slightly less serious version of Neon Genesis Evangelion, whilst still retaining some thinking parts. The robots are very reminiscent of Evangelion, as are many of the characters. If you enjoyed Evangelion, I'd certainly recommend this.
I was so impressed with this disc that I immediately ordered the rest of the series - a definite vote winner here.
Great series, just gets better as it goes along Alright here is the deal, Dual! is a wonderful series, people may not like it because it takes so much from other series (Evangelion, El-Hazard, and Tenchi) but thats what makes the show so much fun. The first two disks are almost filler, but adding just enough to keep you interested. If you pick up the first two and are mildly interested, do yourself a favor and pick up the last two, they are much more story filled and dramatic. You are gonna love this one.
Fun Adventure; Not to be taken too seriously To sum it up, I would call this one "Evangelion - Light".
Basically, it is the story of a boy suddenly trapped in an alternate world were he must cope with piloting a giant battle robot (called Core Robot) in an ongoing war, while being in the middle of a love tug-of-war with three girls (a fourth one coming up on the 3rd DVD/VHS!).
Oddly, I feel the driving force of the story was not the large-scale robot battles, but the often-humorous burden of the main character of being the object of affection of several girls, all of who are or was a pilot of those Core Robots. And it shows that he is in it over his head!
As for the ending of the series, all I can say about it (without spoiling it) is that it is... odd.
A VERY subjective opinion here, for those who prefer the subtitled versions: I think the dubbing was excellent, never too often overdone. This is one of those rare anime shows where you would rather listen to it in dubbed English than subtitled. Again, this is my humble opinion.
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