Tentacle-Free Anime: "Mr. Stain on Junk Alley" (2003) Review
One thing I rather enjoy about anime is its endless charm. It can make you smile, cry, and making you feel something for the characters and story being told. There are quite a few series out there that embody that charm. It's even better when watching a new series (or old, but new to you) and discovering that charm all over again. Today, I discuss a series that embodies such charm, an older series from my childhood – but in a way it is still new to me.
Growing up, Mr. Stain was always something of an enigma to. Perhaps I just didn't appreciate the style back then, but I remember watching various FUNimation discs and seeing this bizarre, nearly silent CGI short in front of almost every show. I remembered never hating it, but never knowing what to think of it either. At one point I even forgot the name of this enigmatic series, but upon recently discovering the complete series DVD set at Vintage Stock I was re-opened to it, and finally given the chance to see it to completion. Whether it was worth the trip, only history would tell.
I know that sounds like a lot, and perhaps I am over-hyping the show a bit, but I will admit I found pure enjoyment in this show. I was entranced by the level of intellect put into this show – and it reminded me of a time in anime when pandering to the audience wasn't priority #1, a time when animators and storytellers would think “Hey, maybe these kids are smarter than we give them credit for. Let's give them something to make them think, and yet have fun at the same time.” Don't let the kids motif fool you though, there are plenty of adult situations in this series. Most of the danger stems from the level of hunger both Stain and Palvan share as hobos in Junk Alley, which generally puts other characters at risk of being eaten. There's also death, blood, and a scene where a Police Officer steps on and destroys a baby's soul (which floated out of the baby's body, after it died) – so yeah, dark stuff. Unfortunately, I can't call this series perfect in any way. The series finale is one of the weaker episodes in the show, and 30 minutes should've been more than enough time to tell its story, but it kind of falls flat. Also, some changes are made that are rather drastic, but only show up for that episode, and there are others that are just as drastic, but stick with Stain and co. for the rest of the series. I do wish that Masada would've kept a better continuity, and either gone all out with the changes that weren't kept or not made them at all. The animation, too, hasn't aged incredibly well. It's still pretty darn good for its time, but compared to today's standards I'm more than certain a lot of you will find it hard to sit through. Especially given the fact that the show is nearly silent – there's laughter, crying, and what not, but absolutely no dialogue. So this is a series you have to dedicate to watching. However, if you can get past the somewhat lackluster animation, the non-dialogue, and the loose canon, then I promise you you're in for one helluva fun and addicting ride. As a kid I had no idea what to think of Mr. Stain on Junk Alley, as an adult I fully appreciate the hard work that was put into it – and for that, I fully recommend checking it out. - This is also one of the few anime that features a black person as the main character. If you do find yourself wanting more Mr. Stain after watching it, there are a few CGI shorts that are even shorter than the regular episodes – they are titled thusly: Drawing; Stain vs. Palvan – Showdown; Her Scheme; Creator; Giant Cat in Tokyo. I recommend, however, watching these after you finish the series. Finally, there's no way I can end this review without mentioning the absolutely super catchy, super dancy ending song by Halcali. It's called 'Tandem', and it's basically the greatest thing. Final Score: 4 Hungry Hungry Hobos out of 5 Have you seen "Mr. Stain"? How did you like it? |
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