After being offered in simulcast, when it was released, finally select Vision has put the anime series on sale Appear-Ranman! this past March in two editions, Blu-ray Collectors A4 (which is the one we are going to review in these lines) and DVD. Now is, if you haven’t already, the time to sign up for the race of the century.
PA Works (Angel-Beast, Another, kuromukuro). signs the production of this anime series that mixes the idea of the Japan of the samurai with the races type Crazy cars in a fast-paced and successful way that we now have the opportunity to enjoy in our collection.
Table of Contents
Synopsis
An asocial genius and a cowardly samurai are forced to participate in a crazy steam car race in the Wild West to return home to Japan.
The curtain of the nineteenth century is about to fall to open again and usher in the twentieth century… Appare Sorano is an engineering genius, but completely inept in social interactions. Kosame Isshiki is a brilliant but cowardly samurai. Due to an unfortunate incident, both end up drifting from Japan to the United States. Penniless, the chosen method of returning home is to participate in the Trans-American Race. The start is the west coast of Los Angeles, the goal is New York. They must traverse the Wild West in a self-built steam car and race against crazy rivals while protecting themselves from outlaws and natural phenomena. Will they manage to win the race, get the prize money and return to Japan?
Crazy races with a lot of crumb
At first sight, Appear-Ranman! it feels like a rushed amalgamation of previously successful work but actually uses those influences. to create a rich and credible world with its own personality that makes it a fast-paced plot development that leaves the viewer hooked.
In fact, it intends to go one step further from the approach that may seem to us to be the classic series of wacky carssince it shows the idea of cars driven by the force of history, with a magnificent and careful staging that takes us to a transcontinental race where we are going to find the most varied panel of characters with their respective cars with which let’s enjoy from minute one.
Kosame and Appare represent the warring “old versus new” lifestyles of the early Meiji era and influence on the lawless Wild West, combined with costumes reflecting dueling ideals, with period pieces such as Kosame’s kimono and Xia Lian’s Victorian-style boots that exist alongside modern clothing such as Appare’s skinny overalls and the rest of Xia Lian’s outfit.
The characters are also very well developed. Appare, in particular, displays a much greater emotional range and the genuine friendships that form between the racers help them play to each other’s strengths.
Smooth animation and crazy setting
Undoubtedly, the animation work in such a fast-paced series where the races need it is a job done by the production company that is outstanding. His art style is as dynamic as it is on point, spiced with a well-placed sense of humor when it comes to matching up racers and his racers make for a crazy and magnificent setting.
If we add, in addition to a good story, a fast-paced soundtrack, which fits perfectly into this puzzle, we have all the ingredients to engage and, yes, the series would have given a little more for it, the 13 episodes are short and perhaps the ending is pretty rushed.
The edition
The Blu-ray collectors edition collects in the A4 box the complete series on 2 BDs and all the physical extras:
– APPARE RANMAN BIG JOURNAL: The BIG Journal magazine, compiled in this 30-page booklet where we find participant files, vehicles, manga, team interviews and much more.
– EXCLUSIVE PRINTS: 6 exclusive sheets printed on special paper, A4 size and full color with the best designs of the characters.
– WILD TRANS-AMERICAN RACE FLYER: Recreation of the flyer to participate in the wildest race.
– COLLECTION OF PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS
– ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK ON TWO DISCS.
In addition, the careful aspect of the edition in 1080p HD and dubbing DTS-HD 2.0 Spanish and Japanese, with subtitles in Spanish.
We can say that the Castilian dubbing casting is very successful, highlighting the voices of the protagonists that marry perfectly with the crazy characters in this story.
In conclusion
Appear-Ranman! is a cheerful and refreshingly unique anime. It makes you connect with this fast-paced, fun cast… that makes the viewer hooked and immersed in this crazy approach, being a fresh and different way of contributing a good story to a series in which racing is the plot axis of history
