Iron Man
Wait, there's an Iron Man anime?!
Yeah, that's what most of you guys said just now. There's no need to cover that up; you’re not alone. Naturally, I'm not among you, having watched it on TV during its initial release in 2010. I acknowledge that I am a baby boomer; however, this is the current state of affairs. So, with Marvel building up the hype with the upcoming Avengers and the Doctor Doom surprise having taken over the world not that long ago, it's no wonder that we want to see the man, the myth, the legend, Anthony Stark or Tony Stark more and more.
We've seen him in everything, but an anime series is new for most of you, right? We're going to introduce you to the Marvel anime, which, despite featuring Iron Man, didn't receive the hype and attention it deserved, especially given the current popularity of Marvel. So just sit back, relax, and let's see what this show is all about!
A dream realized quickly turns into a nightmare.
Powerhouse studio Madhouse is spearheading an incredibly promising Iron Man anime on paper. Especially in 2024, when studios known for their signature shows are abandoning them and allowing others to ruin them to their hearts' content, the prospect of an Iron Man anime from Madhouse seems almost unreal. Still, Madhouse isn't a name that requires any introductions or crossed fingers, so one would expect an Iron Man anime done by them to top the charts in no time at all.
However, you'll understand why it didn't happen after watching the first three episodes or so. We're all familiar with the story behind the man in that iron suit. He has been the creative force behind these comic books for decades now. It's only logical that he would want to travel to Japan to assist with a new project that generates excess energy for the benefit of the rising sun, right? Well, it's also right around this time that Iron Man decides that enough is enough, and it's about time I enjoy the retirement life for once.
But he's not going to leave the world to the mercy of the evil guys, either. With an army of Iron Men ready to combat evil, it appears that the long-awaited respite is finally becoming a reality, Mr. Stark. But you know how it goes with these superhero stories. During his address, the Zodiac unexpectedly attacks, initiating a new chapter in which Iron Man must once again battle a foe that none of us truly care about.
We’re here to talk to the suit, aren’t we?
I believe this is my primary issue with the story as a whole. It's almost too generic and bland for viewers to care, to be honest. The stereotypical good guy fighting the evil guy isn't done well either, and the show's slow pacing only manages to add fuel to the fire and ruin the experience for almost everyone out there. Even halfway through the show, you can't help but question its direction, which isn't exactly a marvelous experience.
The Japan blend was a disastrous idea.
Limiting Japan to the location where the entire story or anime takes place would have been a fantastic idea. A few Japanese characters in the series don't fit the theme. I would liken it to the imposition of cartoons onto anime, or vice versa. This crossover, despite both mediums being entirely different and possessing unique elements that propel them to the finish line and beyond, lacks execution.
It's somewhat ironic that the mere notion of such a crossover in today's world would instantly captivate many, yet it also serves as a poignant reminder that not everything that shines is truly gold. At times, Ota Nanami and Chika Tanaka would undoubtedly captivate many of you. However, the situation worsens when, later in the series, events begin to unfold involving the two characters, a development that completely defies logic.
Furthermore, who came up with the idea of reducing the legendary Iron Man to a mere punching bag just as the series was about to reach its conclusion? If you ask me, that's just dirtying up the legendary hero. I think some of these guys like War Machine a lot more!
Decent fights!!
Everyone's heard of Gundam. It's been airing since the 1970s, and even if you aren't a fan of the mecha genre, you've seen these big hunks of metal fighting around on the internet. Considering that Madhouse is not solely focused on mecha like Sunrise, it is clear that even they would have had a challenging time botching the robot battles and designs.
However, there are moments when the execution of the enemy robots' animation feels a little off. I cannot really complain, as Iron Man still looks good in those shots. After all, I came to see him! However, the action is pretty decent, and it gets even better during the latter half of the show, even when our beloved hero is getting thrashed around like crazy.
The series also features Wolverine, even though Marvel made Madhouse commit the heinous crime of ruining him in his own series. But that's a topic for another day. We'll give Logan the roasts he truly deserves.
Not your beloved Tony Stark.
Similarity to previous Iron Man versions is not a negative thing. Tony Stark, on the other hand, defies comparison. He appears to be a hybrid of Kaiji and Jojo, who unexpectedly found themselves on a different planet. I think Logan looks a lot better than him, and I'm pretty sure you'll all agree with me on that. Also, what's with these shiny faces? It looks like they all just arrived from a pool party. Only that the pool was full of baby oil and human wax.
We expect the Iron Man anime to heavily draw inspiration from American superhero shows, but this isn't the case. Anime series are known for their unique use of color and character shading, which can blend in with certain shows while appearing completely out of place in others. Regrettably, the Iron Man anime falls into the latter category. However, this doesn't become a significant issue after the first few episodes, primarily because your eyes adjust to the overall anime style.
One thing that really took me aback was the music. The music is pretty decent, and it truly brings the whole American super hero vibe to the show, which I’m sure a lot of fans would appreciate. The show's music is one of its strengths, so I recommend seeing it for yourself. The opening and ending themes also showcase exceptional execution. In my opinion, the conclusion surpasses the opening without diminishing the quality of the former.
The Iron Man anime marked Marvel's first foray into the anime world. Three other series followed, but none achieved the expected level of popularity and hype, even more so in the present day. The anime's slow pacing and poor story writing and execution make it challenging to watch without succumbing to the flaws this adaptation struggles to overcome. If you're a Marvel universe fan and wouldn't stop at anything when it comes to consuming media with an M on it, then by all means watch this show.
We'd love to hear an expert's opinion to make sure we aren't the odd ones out here. Surprisingly, the anime doesn’t look that dated despite having come out nearly 15 years ago. That’s similar to Robert Downey Jr. He seems to never age, regardless of the circumstances.
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