Search - Dual - Trouble Adventure - Boxed Set on DVD

Fun blend of influences in a nice box

Steven Myers | SF Bay Area | 10/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Years after releasing the individual discs of Dual, Pioneer finally got around to making a boxed set for one of my favorite anime series. First, the box: it's nice and sturdy, like most Pioneer boxes, and has an unusual clear plastic cover that slides over it, adding more images of the girls of the series. The main images on either side are D and Yayoi--somewhat odd choices, if you've seen the series, but very attractive images. Overall, a very nice box.As to the show itself, Dual is a fun combination of Tenchi Muyo-style harem comedy (in which our hero, Kazuki, is surrounded by pretty girls who are all interested in him) with a parody of the overwrought Neon Genesis Evangelion (in which giant robots with mystical overtones battle one another). Despite being dismissed by some for being exactly this combination, rather than something original, Dual works because it is more enjoyable than either show it draws from.On the harem comedy side, Dual has a more active hero--Kazuki actually decides to do things on his own, rather than the Tenchi-style passivity until the last minute. The girls are also interesting on their own terms, rather than just being foils for one another. On the giant robot side, Dual's parody of Evangelion works because you actually like Dual's characters--they are much more developed than those in many giant robot shows. The show blends these elements together well. Kazuki initially attracts the attention of the girls because of his visions of robots fighting and his surprising skill at piloting them; his piloting of robots is driven on by his concern for all of the girls. Throughout, Dual realizes it is a comedy, and remains so, even when the plot turns a little darker.I highly recommend this series--I liked it enough that I bought this boxed set even though I've long since owned the individual discs (although admittedly, I will sell those off now). Dual is simply fun, and this is a great package."

It's not Tenchi Muyo, but it's better?

Del Keyes | In the middle of the Sunshine | 10/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love the Tenchi Muyo series! With its girls-over-one-guy concept, unstoppable humor, and an emotional story, it is with these aspects is what makes me enjoy it very much. Now the creators of that series made 'Dual! Trouble Adventure' and, at first, I thought "how is this good like Tenchi Muyo?" After watching the whole series, all I can say is this is not only worthy of the creators' popular flagship anime, it's also one of the best comedy anime series I've seen so far.I'm very impressed with how the story sets up; it's somewhat-unique. There are two worlds in which both are actually the same, but differ in environmental perspective: the real world that we all live in and the alternate world in which everyplace on its enriched soil is a battlefield for giant robots to take part in a battle royale and kick some metal rear. And a kid named Kazuki can see both of these worlds at once, and later a girl and her active yet science-literate father comes into his life and through technology sends him to the alternate world, leading him through wacky, mishap adventures while finding out how to get back to his unaltered cousin of a planet.There's plenty of goodness going on with Dual!: robot-to-robot action, strong character development, and alot of ha-has to go around. It even has the girls-over-one-guy aspect that got me cracking my rib on Tenchi Muyo. It's great: A scientist's high-strung daughter/mech pilot, a non-expressional android/mech pilot, an out-going teacher/mech instructor/maid, and such characters are fighting over a teen-angst hero.The presentation is very good. The characters look refined and beautiful, everything else, even the 3-D sequences, are top-notch. That goes the same with the english dubbing, the characters are chirpy, believable yet forced, but overall very impressive performances. If anything that peeve me about this anime, it's got to be the length; it's short. A great series like this should deserve more than 14 episodes, but this is just a minor setback. Dual! Trouble Adventure has so much positive approaches that each of these episodes I've seen put a smile on my face; I hardly smile, so this is one of a few series that actually got me in a good mood. It may not reach to a larger audiance like Tenchi Muyo, but it has so much heart that's it hard not to recommend this. Dual! is a really great anime, check it out."

Trouble Aplenty in a Parallel World

Strategos | In Space above Planet Earth | 11/02/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Here we have another parody of the giant robot anime genre (mostly making fun of Evangelion). The basic plot is that a teenage guy sees giant city-smashing robots where no one else does, a mad scientist is convinced that this is evidence of a parallel universe, and the mad scientist sends the guy (along with the mad scientist's daughter) to the parallel universe where (surprise) the guy gets to pilot the giant robots.

This series doesn't take itself too seriously, or try to get into the deeper questions of the meaning of life or anything, but instead tries to tell a simple adventure story (in the format of the typical teen-age guy gets chased around by every girl in sight) of a boy and his giant mecha. The show is only 13 episodes long, but this length suits it well, as to make the series go on longer would just reduce half of the show to filler. The 13 episode format keeps things tight. As far as pioneer animation shows go, this is one of the better ones (my favorite still being Battle Athletes Victory). The animation and character designs are good, and the CGI and traditional animation melds well (for the most part). The action sequences aren't really mind-blowing (except perhaps for some of the early ones in the show {like the one where our protagonist jumps into a fallen Mecha and saves its pilot by destroying the enemy attacking her}).

The music isn't too bad, except for when it's not there (maybe it's supposed to be dramatic or atmospheric, but a few times I found myself getting bored). The characters are all pretty likable (and especially the alternate Mitsaki, one of the nicest, cutest, sweetest, most attractive girls in all of anime), and some of the dialog and situations are pretty funny (although on the whole I'd say that the comedy was largely hit-and-miss).

If you're a fan of Mecha, and particularly Mecha comedies, you should probably give this one a rent at the least. If you like its style it's probably worth a purchase.
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Dual, the little series that could

Greg M | 02/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have just had the pleasure of seeing the Dual Series on Tech TV's Anime Unleashed (though, coincidently it doesn't have all THAT many series... oh well), and I can officially declare that it is BY FAR one of the best anime series that I have EVER, EVER seen.It has a comedic value, but real issues at heart. Unlike the first review here, who claims that there is almost no romance in it, I disagree, I'd say its a big part of the show. However, it is not the driving force of this show by far, that is done by the characters. They are beautifully drawn and for once, well acted.Though the romance IS central to the show, it does not become overbearing by a long shot. Instead, it just subtly enhances the show, and has you even picking your favorite girl and rooting for her.As the first review on here says, it does seem to become a little bit fixed on the "Giant Robot Combat" aspect of the show, however this is not a major drawback from the series. Rather, it serves to make the series not JUST about romance, and give it some sort of action draw as well."