Shadow Skill (1996)

Overall/Enjoyment: This was alright. A little slow, but enough to maybe get you interested in watching the TV series. Since this is a fighting show, you have to take it for what it is. The thing I probably like most about Shadow Skill is how the fights take place. I like the use of (Shinto?) card magic in this series, particularly the fact that they give little speeches of their abilities, almost as if they are actual partners. The special techniques (i.e. Shadow Skills) used are similarly interesting. Story: A very rough image of the world is painted and the conflicts and situations are certainly more involved/interesting.A common problem with shonen shows like this however is that they seem to have some trouble developing the non-action segments. Exposition usually comes in the form of inexplicably detailed dialogue, often with strangers, sometimes while fighting, and/or as some kind of inner monologue. This can be a bit annoying (and silly), especially if what is being said is uninteresting or uninformative. Characters: You do get a better sense of the characters and their friends in this one. Some of the characters names are pretty silly though. Art: The art in this one is different than the previous OVA. It's more solid, colorful and fluid, but also uses some really thick lines and pretty strange designs. Of course it still retains that same weird, old, "perpetually hazy," look. Sound: The music was ok I guess. I don't remember it evoking too much of a sense of excitement, certainly not very often. The dubbing on the other hand is comically terrible. So much so you may enjoy this show more if you find that kind of thing funny, and have the stomach to sit through some of the worst voice acting possible.