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Feature Presentation:
Special thanks to Geneon Entertainment for sending a copy for a review for this site. Here is another Anime movie for the PSP, the second one actually. Sakura Wars is a very popular Anime series, not to mention the games as well. Now, the first movie is release, pack with action, lovable characters, cool mecha, demons, magics & even swords battles that you see throughout the Sakura Wars franchise. I have yet to see the series myself, but you don't have to see it to watch this movie, but it's recommended so you get to know the characters. Set in Tokyo, around 1920, steam power is the soruce of all engines. With Tokyo is economically growing quickly, defending Tokyo from demons is getting harder. The Dosglas-Steward Company is selling advance fighting machine & might make the Imperical Fighting Troupe's Flower Division obsolite. As always, Sakura & her friends must protect Tokyo from a new threat: being disbanded & replace by the new unman these advance fighting machine with a deadly secret. The animation is really awesome, mix with traditional Anime art with CGI. I love the introduction when all the Flower Division puts on a show. It's really catchy. The battle music in the end of the movie makes you feel you want to kick some butt, too.
Video:
Geneon Entertainment did a very great job. Since most of the animeation is CGI, it's almost perfect. All & runing smoothly. There is also no touch up, they kept all the original Japanese credits for both the introduction & ending. However, the English credit list was added at the very end of the movie. The movie is feature on Widescreen format, so it fits right on the spot on your PSP screen. I do note that you can skip all those warnings & logos when you first load the UMD by just selection the "Menu" on your PSP. There is already a DVD out already, if you wish you see it on your TV!
Dubbing: English:
Geneon Entertainment totally used a new English dubbing cast for this movie. Very well done. The only thing that didn't make sense, because they dubbed it as close to the original Japanese dialogue, is when Sakura meets Lachette for the first time & try to speak English to her. Well, I can understand why they did it that way, but English dub pretending to speak in English is a little too much. It's about 85% of the original Japanese.
Audio 01: English 2.0:
No problem found. Recommended listening via headphones or an external speaker system.
Audio 02: Japanese 2.0:
No problem found. Recommended listening via headphones or an external speaker system.
Subtitle:
Geneon Entertainment have selected a great font, very easy to read, but as always, since the PSP has a small screen, you might have trouble reading it without looking closely. Of course, it varies from person to person. White is the prefer color for the regular subtitling & Japanese signs & text. There is only one subtitling track, which is for the Japanese dialogue, so if you want to see the translation for the vocals or the introduction credits, you must turn the subtitle on.
Menu Option:
The menu is also in widescreen format, fits right on the PSP screen. The menu is like you're in one of the Flower Division's fighting machines, with moving parts & a viewing screen that plays with clips from the movie. I might be mistaking, but the menu is made from actual mechanical parts, not animated. There is the "Play", "Audio Setup", "Subtitle Setup" & "Previews". The background music is one of the battle music.
UMD Extras:
Even there is a section for extras, there isn't really any extras, just trailers for other Anime releases. This might be due that, well, UMD discs have a limited space, so you're pretty much stuck with none.
Packaging:
The dsign is almost the same as the DVD release. On the cover, you see Sakura & Lachette, as well the Imperial Fighting Troupe Theater in the background. There is also Sakura's Koubu-Kai & another one in the back, but I won't tell you what it is, don't want to spoiled your curiousity. You see in the movie where this scenes cames from. In the back, you get 8 screenshots, with, I think, a original drawing of the transporting tunnels. The insert is simple, but there is an chapter list & all you new to your PSP, there is instructions how to work an UMD disc! On the UMD disc itself, I think it's a symbol, I'm not sure where it's from. Since the UMD disc case is a clear one, a nice group artwork of the characters.
Overall UMD Rating:
If you're a Sakura Wars fan, this movie will be a great addition. I forgot to mention this, this movie is also set during the holiday season, so if you're in the mood for some action during the holiday season, this one might suit it! By now, most of you have seen the DVD version, so if you love that movie enough, this is perfect to bring along with your PSP to watch during long trip! For all who have not, this is a perfect addition to your UMD collection!
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