Anime Abandon: Tokyo Babylon

[@IceQueen975]

"This is getting too complicated, even for a CLAMP anime!" AHAHAAH!!! You haven't read Tsubasa have you?

[@godzillasaurbuttersworth3176]

You say his homosexuality is never brought up but that sleeveless latex onesie begs to differ.

[@anjetto1]

Excellent job

[@Destinystrike]

So back when Tokyo Babylon first came out, I was a little kid obsessed with drawing. I got the vhs of both movies and I spent night after night tracing over my TV to learn better. Now to put this in perspective, this was before the term Weeaboo even existed, let alone really good internet. X and Tokyo Babylon were my obsession. I was drawing Bishounen constantly... which means I got exposed to the plot of these things pretty heavily. So i'm going to actually go out on a limb and explain some of the crap I saw as a kid. So, one. X the movie sucked balls because it tried to condense a GIGANTIC MANGA SERIES into one movie. The series X2 would later come out and actually do the manga justice. But X, as it stood, was a hot mess of a flick. As for Tokyo Babylon, it was actually getting spaced out decent enough, but didn't have that much in common with its Manga counterpart. Still, here are some tidbits that Bennet didn't catch. That goofball who's super lucky has supernatural superluck. Its so super and awesome that it can't be un-lucked. So when this amatuer chick uses her crazy dog curse to kill him, the guys super luck basically goes. "well whats the opposite of dying from this? OH I KNOW. ABSORBING IT" and thats where that comes from. As for why they're having a lovers spat by the time X comes out, it's because the vet kills the medium's sister. He just flat up murders the fuck out of her. So that's why they're duking it out in the start of X. I have no idea why I wrote all this, just figured it'd be an amusing read for some.

[@N1CK0FDEST1NY]

Isn't it great when you look back on your childhood and find schlock?

[@Destinystrike]

+N1CK0FDEST1NY Not half as nice as it is to meet someone else that knows what the weird schlock means.

[@N1CK0FDEST1NY]

Eh, I guess I always preferred straight forward schlock, like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, or Battlefield Earth.

[@joshuascott2864]

It's nice to find someone else who was obsessed with drawing as much as I am. I spend hours of my time writing my manga, and I don't care what others say about me, I'll just keep working. I have a lot of support from friends, and I've blown people away with the stuff I draw now. I hope you keep it up, and good luck to you. I store my art on this website: teamgogun.webs.com

[@juliagoodwin9510]

And this is why luck powers usually tend to be BS.

[@eggmug562]

Once again, the Gabe scene is the best scene in the review.

[@sothedain5801]

I miss em terribly

[@pyrotornado108]

18:28 .... Mr. Kinomoto, what are you doing in this anime?

[@FullmetalNinja25]

The part where Gabe dances in a Unitard will haunt my dreams tonight.

[@swolie]

TheFullmetalNinja25 I think would be able to sleep seeing that I might still be giggling at that point

[@NickRowler]

TheFullmetalNinja25 I thought it was sexy :3

[@freddyironworks]

Did he really lose and eye lol

[@laststrike4411]

How do I respond to that?

[@TheDrwho92]

freddyironworks no he just likes Bowie

[@kirkholland6253]

YES! Danse Forever Gabe!

[@DollyBelladonna]

Kirk Holland He has a nice ass

[@komori88]

that bit about corpses under the cherry blossom trees is actual folklore in japan

[@retroanimemike]

I didn't know I needed Gabe dancing in my life but you live and learn! Expressive!

[@TheLoneSmoker]

Gabe's interpretative dance was very emotional. I'm touched.

[@Kooljupiter]

Man i miss these classic art and animation styles

[@dankbudew4830]

The thing about kind-hearted, sweet innocent boy protagonists in series like these.....I ENJOY WATCHING HIM SUFFER......

[@nicholasrodinos4701]

4:03 Geez that's one hell of an exposition dump. I'm honestly surprised she didn't go into her family's history including graphic details about the sex they had, and boring anecdotes about the food they ate.

[@Ohnonoki]

I wasn't ready for that. Nobody was.

[@KazuyaMithra]

godammit.

[@cidevant002]

Misaka Mikoto I was expecting for this all my life.

[@PollyGlodd]

Misaka Mikoto ''What? No!''

[@halifaxsteppenwulf7980]

Misaka Mikoto Why are you on all my videos? Are you me? Am I even real?

[@94unclechuck]

The title sounds like a shin megami tensei game

[@averystar16]

94unclechuck The dvd cover reminds me of Raidou Kuzunoha

[@TheRezro]

94unclechuck Most likely because of Tokyo Revelation OVA..

[@V4Now]

For all those who might be wondering. The Japanese love Oasis which might be why the singer sounds like Gallagher.

[@amandaholland7446]

gabe's dance is my new favorite thing. the eyepatch was a nice touch, too. give him my kudos for being such a good sport XD

[@SoulReaperSango]

God, when that one scene with little Subaru and Seichiro came up and their talking about cherry blossoms. When Sage said creepy, I totally thought something different would happen, so when it was just dead bodies its like 'phew! dead bodies that's the only creepy thing in this scene'. Obviously...I've been exposed to too much shonen-ai with that 'one' particular element....

[@LunarSpiral1127]

10:11 Was that the real song added in the anime? Because good god it just didn't fit with the scenery that was shown. The singer's singing about wanting someone to kiss him. It didn't help when Sage started laughing. Got me laughing too. XD

[@owlcake]

LunarSpiral1127 Yes, very much so yes. It was super unfitting and just made 17 year old me even more frustrated about taking out all the homosexual plot.

[@toomanythingstoomanygames1565]

***** ...I don't understand how some music sucking = THE ENTIRE SHOW SUCKS!, but whatevs >.> Opinions don't have to make a lick of sense

[@Fyrsiel]

I'VE GOTTA BELIEVE IN YOUR EYYYES, SO PLEASE DON'T SAY LOVE EEZ BLIIIIIIIIIND~

[@Ziko577]

Same here but the problem with X is that it was so rushed at times.

[@seraphlai9664]

***** Fabulous~

[@tHeWasTeDYouTh]

How come only two episodes of Tokyo Babylon got made, if more got made and SHOWED how Seishirō straight up breaks Subaru's arm and tortures the shit out of him and THEN KILLS HIS SISTER then he could understand why they both fight at the start of the X movie!!!!

[@josephglatz25]

3:55 And the award for the most ham-fisted and forced exposition ever goes to you, Tokyo Babylon. I hope you are proud of yourself.

[@CaptainMarvel4Ever]

Perfect timing, I was just thinking about how much I'd love to watch a new episode.

[@seanomalley6507]

3:50 There is an exposition dump, and then there is a solid minute anvil to the skull breathless synopsis of the plot.

[@ZeraLuminariam]

7:32 damn Gab got Moves! XD Great Review Sage can't wait for your next one!

[@TheeKorovaMilkBar]

Today, Bennett could probably keep up with Gabe in Sprockets.

[@KaiHonsou]

Gabe blew me away with the dance. It spoke to me on so many emotional levels.

[@possitivelyinsane]

Imagine how confused I was at age 12 picking this and X up at a video store being assured it was "Amazing!" and "A great starter anime!" and watching it at home.

[@Atomic_Mousetrap]

The Sprockets gag has GOT to go into your top moments. That was awesome.

[@_Snowflame]

Sexmaniacs sounds like the Warner Bros. show that Warner Bros. doesn't want you to know about.

[@SunnyAznable]

Billboard amazes me! Does he in fact have a giant torso or just the smallest head ever? I'm getting flashbacks to the Mario Brothers movie each time he appears!

[@whoisyouranime]

You should watch X: The Series. It's way better than X: The Movie and Tokyo Babylon.

[@toomanythingstoomanygames1565]

TheHardMode Despite my love of CLAMP, X: The Movie is really what dented it. X/1999 is one of my fav CLAMP works, but that movie did not do the series justice ~.~ Not to mention, completely eliminated several crucial characters, which pissed me off X/

[@bulaluigi]

TheHardMode If only X TV had the same animation quality as X the movie :(

[@Fyrsiel]

You did Tokyo Babylon, Sage, I'm going to cry. This OVA changed my life, man. This was the OVA that ushered me into the dark abyss. After this, it was X/1999 and all downhill from there. I want to watch this now and cringe at all of the riffing while crying into my pillow with great nostalgia for the sub and contemptible hate for the dub. But alas, I must wait until the weekend when I can finally devote half an hour to this joyous occasion.

[@ignacionadeo1306]

Rainbows are straighter than Subaru.

[@josephstevens3942]

Man that song is equivilant of "Would you like a dance? DAAAAAAANCE.... Any body want a DAAAAAAANCE"

[@JoaqMan]

When your main character's name is the name of the company that makes every other car in Portland Oregon you know your anime is easy to mock.

[@projectmessiah]

But Subaru is a nice sounding name

[@alanisstrife345]

Am I the only one who would like to see Sage review "Pet Shop of Horrors"?

[@xxromanovaxx6682]

Alanis Strife I was thinking the exact same thing.

[@pathfindersavant3988]

Be careful Bennet, we don't want you to break your back climbing that mountain.

[@angelsgameplayer2132]

whats frustrating with the second story is that The Killers Motivation is Completely changed in the english dub, the reason he kills Women in the riginal is that they are in 'his seat' A legitimate killer Obsession brought on by a cumpulsive need for a specific scenario, IE sitting in that seat. Thats why the detective Knew Where to go to find the man and set the bait but it's compleatly blown in the dub and for no reason I've been able to figure out.

[@salokin3087]

Damn, Gabe really lost his eye... But he lost his dignity a LONG time ago...

[@Green-Raccoon777]

I heard he also lost his fertility a few years ago too.

[@Raktus]

Hokuto, the voice that's being complained about, is credited to Jenny Baker. Jenny Baker is actually Julia Braams. Contrary to what Sage says, she's gone on to do plenty more jobs after this and before it. Not such a sane world after all, eh? Also, I like her voice!

[@jojothebard6687]

That dance...was... ...Magnificent...

[@__RD14533]

7:47 Lol omg someone please make a .gif of that!

[@frydaddy1535]

Ok, the onesy dance just made my top 3 anime abandon moments

[@jasonjimerson7046]

Sprockets! I remember that SNL bit. Nice eye patch and a good review.

[@SubakratheForsaken]

Now I have to finish this manga, in the hopes that it might be better. Also, Gabe's dancing amused me.

[@shawnrobin3434]

OMG Sage bless your heart! Always liked your honest opinions on retro anime in general (inc. Tokyo Babylon and Prj A-Ko) but thank you SO MUCH for choosing FAKE! This is the best BL OVA ever so I hope you won't be disappointed!!

[@Alhelir]

It puts the anime criticism on the KZbins or it gets the hose again.

[@ShadowWolfRising]

Aldo Hernández 'claps'

[@MrGMoney1944]

ShadowWolfRising Claps one second longer.

[@evice]

*claps slower*

[@MrGMoney1944]

evice Clap

[@evice]

MrGMoney1944 Moar clapping.

[@orestria]

This is one of two manga that I really like that got OVAs so bad it retroactively made me like the manga less. The other being Angel Sanctuary

[@projectmessiah]

How can a poor anime adaptation make you enjoy the manga less

[@puppymolly123]

Now that I’m watching the X tv series I think that Sage would be much happier with the film if he knew the REAL reason that they were fighting on that roof.

[@kellychuang8373]

Used to see this back in the early 2000's. It was on Encore Action channel back when channels like this had things good like anime. Though maybe not always that good. Like I said before you took what you can get.

[@tunatallica]

A plus for the Sprocketts reference

[@jetpackman01]

I recognized the Kraftwerk song when Gabe was dancing. Don't think for a second that shit slipped under my radar.

[@morrisl123]

Ha! nice continuity with Gabe and the eye patch

[@blackmercury48]

hope you feel better sage

[@6Kubik]

it would be nice if they would made a new anime about the whole tokyo babylon manga.

[@georgies6623]

It would also be nice if it was produced by a studio other than, say, GoHands.

[@projectmessiah]

@@georgies6623 Well it has been handed over to another studio

[@anonblond3563]

Gabe's dance is the best!

[@akba666]

Those lyrics hit me like a stun grenade. I just sat there and a whole minute passed when I snapped out of it.

[@IllusionistsBane]

You should review Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. The most incomprehensible manga/anime EVER MADE. Also yeah, it's CLAMP.

[@V4Now]

Gabe went all Squidward on us! XD

[@ZeldaEd123]

20:55 From what I've heard from my sisters and my Mom (They hated The Notebook), I think that would be a good thing.

[@RippahRooJizah]

For some reason I thought Sage reviewed this already until previous episode. This is one of the few anime I've seen that he reviewed, actually. As was X, which... wow, I had no clue that was a sequel movie.

[@KrazyChibi]

Love the Sprockets reference. XD

[@SickleYield]

I need Dancing Gabriel as a gif.

[@GaleSilverwind]

+SickleYield makeagif.com/aSkGkv

[@SickleYield]

+Naruga Kuruga Oh, that is beautiful. :D Thanks!

[@GaleSilverwind]

SickleYield No prob :3

[@CornishCreamtea07]

8:12 I haven't been as happy to find out that a VA never worked in Anime again since I learned that Sarah Strange. never did another role in Anime after Ranma 1/2

[@Goleon]

CornishCreamtea07 Who did she voice?

[@CornishCreamtea07]

Male Ranma

[@Goleon]

CornishCreamtea07 I did the looking and she was Male Ranma for the first three seasons, movies and oavs. Richard Ian Cox who would go on to do InuYasha among other voice work did the voice for Male Ranma from seasons 4 to 7 and frankly that dub voice wasn't that bad. I've heard worst and the fact that it took till now for me to find out a female did Male Ranma's voice really says a lot for the va as I could not tell that it wasn't a guy.

[@CornishCreamtea07]

I could, but then I have heard a lot of male characters voiced by females, and even the convincing ones have tells. To me she made him sound like some butch lesbian, and the way she strained her characters names, especially the way she said Akane, was painful to the ears.

[@Goleon]

CornishCreamtea07 I never noticed.

[@Ko700el]

Gabe..what have you done... :O and whats with the music you're dancing burned in my head

[@GTONeko]

koel700 Electric Cafe by Kraftwork (sp?), also used from Saturday Night Live for the skit "Sprockets".

[@KGWvoice]

Dear future me, when you return to this video to re-watch Gabe's Dance , you should know that part of the video starts at 7:29.

[@Lithiel]

I was waiting and hoping you'd mention that horrible song. It's a real gem >w> THANKyou

[@Kerwarsh]

Tokyo Babylon and X (X/1999) were pretty popular manga's but, they more take place in the same universe separated by a couple of years rather than being direct sequals/prequels to each other. The OVA and movie weren't very good adaptations of their respective and Dense source materials.

[@KumoriGurasu]

I was worried Gabe losing an eye was a one-off joke and wouldn't be a thing for him. He looks kick-ass with an eyepatch, although I got Dead Or Alive vibes.

[@RandoChrisYT]

Because having the Mark Wahlberg reaction is always appropriate in any story!

[@nicholasrodinos4701]

13:11 And it refuses to suck in a good way.

[@wretneck]

"Don't be stepping on Gab's magic dancing, Sage! It's the least you can do after taking the son of a gun's best eye!!"

[@DarthRalek]

Had hoped Sage was going to hold up Nightwalker Midnight Detective. Oh well.

[@thealchemist51]

***** I remember that I owned them a long time ago they were ok I do wish he would review them

[@cidevant002]

***** Oh, man, that would have been awesome. That was my first anime shounen-ai ever. I would keep myself awake late at night to see repetions on TV. You know, before internet.

[@delcirose]

That would be hilarious

[@DarthRalek]

Well it would also be funny since the person who voiced Shiro also did some voice work in X. Muwhahahaha

[@mzpurplemist]

+Darth Ralek OMG, yes!

[@fodxp]

Love you Gabe!

[@NekoValtz]

7:27 because I needed a timestamp for this moment

[@aceotaku]

the interesting thing about the guy in glasses(forget his name) is that he's not just the subaru's lover, he's actually the main antagonist and is in actually a total and complete homicidl sociopath who, if memory serves correctly, ends up murdering subaru's sister and family. So yeah, that's why they try to kill each other: subaru is trying to make him pay for his crimees, while glasses guy wants to help destroy the earth and kill people.

[@seraphlai9664]

aceotaku Endless and never-stop killing for love in the Fanciest way, that is how Clamp made up its reputation.

[@hunnykun101]

18:15 CardCaptor Sakura's dad O_O

[@wretneck]

That musical break is how the main protagonist dresses... (And my original joke I feared would only offend the wrong people)

[@sarcasticsugar4466]

The Tokyo Babylon OVA is a joke. But the MANGA (which you SHOULD read) is truly thought provoking and a masterpiece. THEN follow it up with the X manga which is also great. All the anime adaptions of these mangas are CRAP. They DO NOT do the manga justice.

[@nightmarefanatic1819]

You didn't finish the song clip and skipped the most cringe inducing part! "Please, please, kiss kiss Like Strawberry covered dreams." AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Was a classic thing to laugh at when I was a kid.

[@angbandsbane]

"Subaru is strong, but I am stronger." Ah, he must be a Chevy.

[@VieVentar]

*Watches Gabe dancing on a loop while listening to "Fade to Grey" by Visage.*

[@Castr8erForHire]

You have to read the manga to figure out why Subaru and Seishiro hate each other. And then watch the X anime, because it's way better than the rushed movie considering it actually develops the characters and makes the fights actually matter. You don't even have to watch Tokyo Babylon, the X anime not only says their names, but also why they're fighting.

[@David315842]

Just wait till you review X the series. 14:09 = Foreshadowing.

[@Zefo_No]

That Kiss Me song was and, will forever be, the cheesiest song ever recorded. I like Tokyo Babylon quite a lot, but it was highly entertaining seeing you tear it a new one.

[@OrcOrcImAOrc]

1:46 oh GOD that art. That guy as a bigger frame then Marcus Phoenix

[@flyonthewall8290]

"Japanese Liam Gallagher" had me in tears lol

[@alanisstrife345]

@3:41- 4:06 "Exposition, Exposition! Rush it out A~S-A-P~!"

[@urahara64360]

Tyoko Babylon was one of my first manga series I never knew there was an anime adaptation

[@CrashThompson]

Sprockets reference. Noice!

[@HawooAwoo]

10:11 You know, you need to emphasis that stuff like this is unedited... I had trouble comprehending that that scene was straight from the OVA....

[@KageRyuu6]

That dance was hilarious.

[@Shades14]

9:54 I laughed so hard I couldn't stop. But I feel terrible about laughing now.

[@Shades14]

Why on Earth did I feel terrible? It's hilarious!

[@ZeroSpawn47]

i remember watching that last episode in anime club when i was in highschool. i thought everything about it was boring, annoying, and all around horrible. it was a very uncomfortable experience.

[@TheV8maverick]

An uncomfortable experience in an anime club, shocking

[@ZeroSpawn47]

NeoPraetorian ha! but honestly, mine wasn't that bad. the only real cringe moments was when we watched terrible anime like tokyo babylon.

[@TheV8maverick]

***** That's surprising, but I guess my assumptions are pretty baseless. I've never been in an anime club

[@fangiresaga]

Sage is Gabe wearing an eyepatch because of last episode or is something really wrong?

[@MRDLT00]

That four tenths cookie reference, I got it. XD

[@mellojoe9421]

gabe is so wonderful!!!

[@capmar-vell92returns20]

That guy with the red uniform looks like Yasunori Kato from Teito Monogatari.

[@coriolisky]

Yes! Glad someone caught this. It's an intentional inspiration for Tokyo Babylon.

[@yyhlover]

Is there a Nuts and Bolts of this episode? I would love to hear the explanation for Gabe dancing.

[@Eerie0Innocence]

As someone who reads and watches CLAMP, I've gotta tell ya (aside from the fact that this OVA is a terrible adaptation) I'm not to disappointed that the gay subplot of Subaru and Seishirou isn't in this OVA. Their subplot is less romantic and more...creepy. Mostly because one of those two wants to kill the other and won't because of the idea that it's more fun to torture your prey than to just kill. Yeah, one of them does fall for the other, but it's unrequited love at best and emotional abuse at worst. It's certainly interesting, don't get me wrong, but it's not something I'd fangirl over. What really grinds my gears about this OVA is the writing (and awful dub casting) for Hokuto, Subaru's sister. She's a supportive person in Subaru's life, and here she's a berating nuisance and a walking exposition machine. While she basically becomes a "woman in the fridge" character at the end of the story, what happens to her carries weight because she's at least a character that the audience couldn't really hate (even if there are fans that DO hate her, and I'll never understand why) and is important to Subaru's growth (we could get in the somewhat mysoginist writing on that plot point but not today) not just as a person but as a medium. Whether your a fan of CLAMP or not, this OVA still sucks.