March 1, 2003
CRANK UP THE VCRS:
Twisted History: "Reign: The Conqueror" on Cartoon Network (Devin D. O'Leary, Albuquerque Weekly Alibi)With an attendant lack of publicity that borders on criminal, Cartoon Network has debuted what could be the most ambitious animated series ever put on television. "Reign: The Conqueror" is a very bizarre, highly imaginative sci-fi/fantasy retelling of the story of Alexander the Great, ruler of Macedonia and conqueror of the known world (circa 330 B.C. anyway). Mixing ancient Greek legend, Japanese anime-style art and full-blown Shakespearean tragedy, "Reign" is a complex and maddeningly original bit of postmodern mythmaking."Reign" starts with an impressive behind-the-scenes line-up. Character and concept designs come courtesy of Peter Chung (the mysterious creator behind MTV's cult hit "Aeon Flux"). The show is produced by anime master Rintaro (director of Astro Boy, Captain Harlock and Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis) and is brought to life courtesy of Madhouse Studios (the animators behind such classics as Trigun and Vampire Hunter D).
The show follows Prince Alexander's rise to the throne of Macedonia, amid the turmoil and backstabbing of a royal court filled with magic, treachery and much bloodshed. The show plays something like "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" crossed with "The Sopranos." (No, really!) Chung's distinctive designs leap immediately off of the screen. His elongated, El Greco-style figures and impossibly detailed backgrounds make for a unique world that is neither here nor there, neither then nor now. Magic exists alongside science, mechanical warriors stand side by side with porcupine-quilled assassins. As a bonus, everybody is very androgynous and wears lots of makeup. (Think Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie and you've got another element in this odd mix.) [...]
Those who become hooked are advised to keep glued to the TV sets or program their VCRs. There are only 13 episodes in the "Reign: The Conqueror" series. With Cartoon Network airing the show four nights a week during the Adult Swim block, the show will come to an end quickly...."Reign: The Conqueror" runs Monday-Thursday on Cartoon Network at 12 a.m. Eastern
Anyone seen it?
MORE:
Ancient history? Not on your life: Michael Wood follows Alexander to the Hindu Kush, Penguin Classic in hand (Michael Wood, February 26, 2003, The Times of London)
No but it will be interesting to see how they portray Alexander's atrocities etc.
If it's as good as Samurai Jack, I'll be tuning in regularly.
Aeon Flux. No one could every quite figure out what in heck was going on in that series. Used to be about the only reason I watched MTV, along with the other animated shorts.
Posted by: Whackadoodle at March 1, 2003 12:20 PMSaw one episode. Very reminiscent of Aeon Flux.
I'm not sure if it was original or just nonsensical. Striking, certainly.
OJ;
Just saw this on DVD at Best Buy
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AOG:
Cool! Stuff's on DVD before it has its first run?
OJ;
At the same time. There seems to have been a big shift toward simultaneous release. I notice that with, for instance, Dragon Ball. That comes out as shows on Toonami, DVD's and print (re-issued manga). All of these come out at roughly the same time. Perhaps they're moving to more of a music style, where a band tours and releases a CD at the same time?
AOG:
Pr have they already come out in Japan by the time they get here?
OJ;
It's all old stuff in Japan. Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z are the equivalent of Britcom's on PBS. It's decades old in some cases. The only thing new is the translation. Yet it wasn't all just dumped on the US market - it's been incrementally released. No new DB or DBZ has been produced since long before any of the recent Cartoon Network versions were released.