Anime Rebirth

Review - Robin Hood no Daibouken

Review by Roriconfan

Prologue
This is a kiddy version of the story of Robin Hood. All the heroes are still little kids and there are several extras added in the normal myths, which make the show more epic-phantasy like.

Animation & Sound: 6
It took me some time to accept watching a famous European story with a lot younger characters and in anime style. After I got used to it, I can say the result is very mediocre. There is nothing too well or too bad made, so the final feeling you are left with, leaves you indifferent about the visuals and the sound. It’s as if the graphic artists in the show were planning to make something totally ordinary from the get-go. Too bad; there was plenty of room left in the phantasy department that could increase the atmosphere and the interest of the story.

Story & Characters: 6
The story begins like normal but quickly goes haywire and after a while only the names are left the same.

As normal, Robin seeks revenge for what John has done in England; Marion is a fugitive aristocrat and the robbers of Sherwood Forest steal from the rich and help the weak. All these are still 12 to 15 years old. Prince John, the Archbishop and priest Tuck are in their normal age and also act as normal.

The story differs in the way that the Sherwood Forest is filled with magical creatures and contains an ancient power John plans to acquire by using Marion’s locket and that the robbers and priest Tuck are using mechanical vehicles. Add a group of bishonen/bishojo warriors who obey John, although they are good-hearted and several magical/powerful secondary characters, used in filler episodes, which make England a very wacky place.

The story has several thematic undertones, from ecology (mentioning when John is destroying the Sherwood Forest, in order to find the power), to romance (all characters seem to be in love with someone, despite being only 12 years old), to obsession (John’s denial to stop being greedy, although he was given the choice).

But all these are still not convincing enough; because of the really mediocre way they are presented through the graphics and sound.

Value & Enjoyment: 6
It’s definitely not an average kiddy show (hell, there is nude and romance between 12 year olds!), but that damn mediocre presentation of the show really makes everything seem annoyingly unimportant and silly. This show deserved a lot better treatment during production.

Verdict
The accused is found … GUILTY! … of mediocrity.