ADV Films presents

Getter Robo: Armageddon #4: Salvation (1998)

"Suffer! Suffer more, and die in agony!" Dr. Saotome Kei (Nerumi Hikada)- Dr. Saotome (Nerumi Hikada)

Stars: Nerumi Hikada, Yasunori Matsumoto, Tomokazu Seki, Muguhito
Other Stars: Shozo Iizuka, Naoya Yuchida, Shinpachi Tsuji, Yotsuaki Suzuki
Director: Yutaka Sato

Manufacturer: IFPI
MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (15+ for mature situations, animated violence)
Run Time: 01h:12m:26s
Release Date: 2001-12-04
Genre: anime

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
A	A	A-	A	B-

 

DVD Review

Errraaaaghhhh!!! We come to the concluding disc of ADV's Shin Getter Robo series, and if you thought the intensity would let up in the final installment, you couldn't be further from the truth. The scope and levels of mayhem and destruction seen in the previous discs make them look like a family show compared to this one. These last three episodes are one hell of a ride!

In the last installments, Dr. Saotome had concentrated all the invader forces behind his Shin Dragon, which was about to reawaken more powerful than ever as it absorbed the Getter Rays. With Go in a coma, the rest of the Getter Robo team prepares for a final showdown with the forces of the Shin Dragon, whose evolution has made it a force unlike any they have ever seen before. Some familiar faces make a reappearance, as the true nature of the Shin Dragon is realized, in a bloody, unrelenting conflict that will shape the destiny of mankind. What will follow is a battle of monstrous proportions, but can the Getter team survive the onslaught intact?

To say that Getter Robo is exhilarating is the understatement of the year. The pace is furious, and the action never stops. Just when you thought you'd seen it all everything steps up another notch, the stakes get higher, and the outcome more uncertain. The carnage continues with lots of gut spilling, appendage severing, robot crushing and monster dicing. We get an all new array of Getter machines to add to the battling, and the theater expands to galactic proportions. With a number of elements introduced early on in the series, we also now find out how these pieces fit into the picture. There is plenty of suspense, and no end to the destruction.

The style is still impressive, with in your face action and highly emotional voice acting, which is bound to get the adrenaline flowing. Visuals are still vibrant and graphic and extremely violent. The use of multiple animation styles is also interesting, switching to line art or freeze frame in places. The story arc is brought to a satisfying if somewhat open ended conclusion, but not before we witness a number of battles to end all battles. If you are looking for a high intensity, action packed series with lots of cool robots, Getter Robo: Armageddon fits the bill to a "T." Highly recommended!

Rating for Style: A
Rating for Substance: A

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	no

Image Transfer Review: This series still looks great, with vivid color, and good contrast. Black levels are right on except for one or two shots where they are weak. A small amount of interlace aliasing is all that detracts from a perfect presentation.

Image Transfer Grade: A-
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
DS 2.0	Japanese, English	yes

Audio Transfer Review: Despite all the screaming and explosions, the Japanese audio track still comes off clean, with good directionality and frequency response. The musical score definitely adds to the effect, and is also well represented, though perhaps not as "big" sounding as I would prefer. Still, the transfer is top notch here. The English dub is also available, which is comparable to the Japanese track in terms of dynamics, though is a little more present and enhances the stereo width a bit more. Getter Robo rocks.

Audio Transfer Grade: A 

Disc Extras

Full Motion menu with music
Scene Access with 14 cues and remote access
Subtitles/Captions in English with remote access
6 Other Trailer(s)Packaging: Scanavo
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extra Extras:

1. Clean opening and closing credits
2. Behind the scenes
3. Original LD insert materials

Extras Review: Another thriteen screens featuring the contents of the laserdisc inserts, which conclude the notes from the production and publicity departments, another serialized comic strip, and lots more quotes from three of the Japanese voice actors for the series finale. Great stuff here. Clean opening and closing credits are included again.

The behind-the-scenes section features three more of the English voice actors; Bill Wise (Hyato) and Martine Burke (Yoshida), who are shown in both interview and session footage, in clips running in the six-and-a-half minute range, while a one minute segment shows David R. Jarrott (Dr. Shikishima) dubbing his part.

Most menu actions again feature animated transitions between screens, though on my player these took longer than usual.

Like disc three, the trailer collection includes New Cutey Honey, Soul Taker, Sorcerer on the Rocks, Gasaraki, Evangelion, and Dai-Guard.

As the spine art police chief, the series looks great on the shelf, aside from a larger title font on the first disc.

Extras Grade: B-
 

Final Comments

With its conclusion, Getter Robo joins the recommended list for its high adrenaline anime action. The storyline is complex and interesting, and the drama never ceases. The level of extreme violence makes this one parents will want to be cautious with, but it is a very entertaining series that will rid you of any need of caffeine if viewed first thing in the morning. This gets a Getter recommendation, now bring on the originals!

Jeff Ulmer 2001-12-19