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Customer Reviews of The Big O (Collector's Edition Set)

This DVD set is a compilatiion of all 13 first-season episodes, which was brought fourth due the show's new beginning. Big O tells the story of Roger Smith, also known as "The Negotiator." He lives in a large mansion accompanied by his butler Norman, who aids not only in housekeeping, but also in keeping Roger prepared for action. He resides in the mysterious Paradigm City, a city where all of its citizens lost their memories 40 years ago. In addition to being Paradigm's best negotiator, he is the owner of the Big O, a gigantic robot, which he uses the protect the city from various threats. However, through his adventures, Roger is digging ever deeper into Paradigm's dark history.

The Big O is a stylish show which mixes noir style and mecha action, with a Batman-like hero all while presenting a mystery into human existance that resembles the Matrix in some ways. The Big O has a visual style that is more American in nature, but is well animated. The voice acting is excellent, coming from the people who dubbed Cowboy Bebop. The music is good, accompanying the noir slyle and action scenes well. The mech fight scenes are not particularly amazing, but they still manage to excite you and hold interest well. Big O is a modern work of art that will interest you to no end with an exciting story and style to match.

Big O gets a big 5
I have had a similar experience with Big O as some people. When it aired on Toonami on Cartoon Network, I wasn't really intrested and thought it was just another kid anime with huge robots. But when Cartoon Network started airing it on Adult Swim, I became intrigued and started to watch. It truly is a fascinating series with a deep and complex plot. Watching and waiting and wanting to know where Roger Smith goes and what clues he finds to what might of happen 40 years when everybody lost their memories is what made me record the show every night it was on. The series really picks up in the 2nd season and anyone who likes anime should give it shot and watch.

Part Batman, Part Bond, Part Giant City-Smashing Robot...
That quote from the previews on Cartoon Network pretty much sums it up, but really there's much more to it than that. Whereas other cartoon shows and anime have explored the whole futuristic film-noir thing before, The Big O is absolutely DRENCHED in film-noir atmosphere. And the similarities to Batman are quite understandable, as this show is brought to you by some of the same people who created Batman Beyond. Unfortunately, some of the weaknesses of that show carry over as well. Some episodes have a tendancy to just be an excuse for Rodger to fight yet ANOTHER enemy with his giant robot (much as some episodes of Batman Beyond were just another excuse for Batman to fight yet ANOTHER monster). In my opinion, the best episodes are the ones that focus more on the characters and their development, with less emphasis on fights.

One episode in particular is my favorite episode of any television show I have yet seen. In the episode "Winter Night Phantom", one of the side-characters of the show finds that a spree of mad bombings he is investigating has some strange link to a reoccurring dream he has (one which shows the final scene from a movie where the two characters remind him of himself, and someone else that keeps seeing) , and as he comes closer to catching the person involved, he finds that his memories may indeed be predicting or causing his own future. That episode can be taken completely on it's own (almost like a short film) and carries out it's concept so flawlessly that it leaves me awestruck every time I see it.

Most people who watch this show for more than a few minutes cannot help but be taken in by it. The reasons why should be obvious. There is the aforementioned film-noir atmosphere, gorgeous artwork, and some VERY snappy dialogue. More than that, the English voice actors really pour their heart and soul into this one (with the voice actors who portray Roger Smith and Dorothy being truly sublime). The music suits the atmosphere and mood perfectly, and really gets you into the drama. Sadly though, the music is reused over and over (and Roger's introductory comments at the beginning of each episode are quite similar as well). Some people might think of this as a weakness, but personally I like the way that each and every episode is self-contained and self-explanatory, while still building on previous episode subtly.

The action sequences in this show don't disappoint, and are all done with a slick sense of style. There is some comedy in this show, but it's often subtle, building on the characters and their behaviors.

The plot to this show is frustrating to some and deeply involving to others. Those going into the show expecting to get answers to all their questions are in for disappointment, while those who like a show that raises more questions as it goes along will probably get into this one.

At the end of the day, this show is about a few things more than anything else. It's about great characters, a cool story, and style, style, style. Heck, after I got into this show, I bought a black suit just so I'd look more like Rodger. If you love classic anime, give this one a try. "It's show time!"