Reviews

Witch Hunter Robin is an interesting show which has an X Files feel to it. It focuses more on characters and investigation than it does on high concept storytelling. Though it deals with cases on an episodic level, subplots dealing with the characters continue through out the series and it's not a good idea to watch the out of sequence.

That said it has great character design and storytelling and makes good use of limited animation. Pace is a little slow and the viewer is kept at a certain distance from the story, giving it a sort of detached but suspenseful atmosphere. Like Cowboy Bebop, which comes from the same studio, WHR is more like live action shows than animated cartoons.

It's a good show, I just wonder why it seems like it never got as big here as Cowboy Bebop or Evangelion, which have become household names. This show hit the US a little too late. Now that Western Countries have become Anime Saturated, shows like this only get noticed by lucky accident (as with me) or by word of mouth. And while it has its devoted fans, I think it deserves better recognition than it has.

It may not be for everyone, but it is definitely worth checking out.

Okay, so it's not Disney.

And in the age of computer animation, video games, and anime, these cartoons seem archaic, but I remember they were pretty watchable.

Peter O'Toole certainly has the voice for a good Holmes. It would have been cool to see him as the detective in a live action movie, but this is as close we're likely to get. We can only speculate what might have been.

There is something about the story, the casting, and the atmosphere that for me makes up for the rough animation. For kids they are a good introduction to Sherlock Holmes. Pity they are not likely to be released on DVD.

I love Conrad Veidt's performance in this movie. I would have never gotten to know how versatile this actor was if all I knew of him was his role as Major Strasse in Casablanca. It is also a great performance because he makes you hate the character. (Veidt was ardently anti-fascist by the way.)

As Gwynplaine, he inspires pathos and makes you genuinely care for this character. (Amazing that a picture of Veidt as Gwynplaine inspired the creation of the Batman's Joker).

For me it is Veidt's Gwynplaine that makes the picture touching and memorable. It is truly great acting even without words. It is all in his face and eyes which transmit what he's really feeling even though he is permanently smiling.

Definitely recommended.

(for Conrad Veidt's creepier side, see his performance in the CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI)