Halo Legends DVD and English Dub Review

Halo Legends DVD and English Dub Review

Halo is a name that needs no introduction, even for myself - a non-FPS gamer, where the games are most-often just something at the distant periphery of my interests. However, even within the anime community, its reach and renown has been pervasive; the sci-fi video game juggernaut has sold tens of millions and has become a driving force for Microsoft’s Xbox platform. Hopping on the Animatrix and Batman Gotham Knight bandwagon last summer, Microsoft generated a great deal of buzz with the announcement of Halo Legends - an anthology of seven short films created by some of Japan’s most acclaimed studios and talents, which include industry legends Shinji Aramaki (Appleseed) and Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell).

With different studios and talents involved, the anthology doesn’t have a singular focus or broad arc; each of the stories stand-alone for the most part, each with its own unique perspective about certain aspects within the Halo universe. The anthology tries to reach a wider audience with a more accessible story, in part, due to the different presentation modes with both the visuals and the narrative. A varied mix of drama, action, and canon material provides a little something for everyone.

Origins I and II

Halo Legends starts off with Studio 4°C’s Origins I and II, the studio recognized for Animatrix and Batman Gotham Knight. Unfortunately, it doesn’t start off with its best foot forward in terms of aesthetics; the sparse, line-oriented Moebius-style of Origins I comes off too austere and somewhat reminiscent of avant-garde early 90s animation. Origins II changes gears with a more anime-centric style that is sure to be more palatable for anime fans. In these first two chapters, novices are brought up to speed by Cortana's thorough detailing of Halo Universe’s complex mythos – everything from the Forerunners, to the wars, to the activation of the Halos. This chapter does a great job in conveying the themes of war, while also presenting the maze-like storyline in a condensed and straightforward manner. The story is well handled, though the overall presentation leaves something to be desired.

The Duel

Following Origins is The Duel – produced by Production I.G (with creative supervision by Mamoru Oshii), the acclaimed studio known for Ghost in The Shell. This, along with The Package have generated the most buzz, especially due to the early Xbox Waypoint premiere - rightfully so, as the production is dazzling and stylish. There’s no pretention in the storyline here, just a well executed samurai-tinged theme that details the origination of the Arbiter, of honor, sacrifice and revenge. The watercolor-like look is striking, but equally beautiful are the new scores produced to help immerse viewers with traditional Japanese instrumentation and motifs. The Duel raises the drama and tension, coupled with the inventive visuals, it’s perhaps the zenith of the entire production.

Homecoming

Homecoming is next; it’s a co-production between Bee Train (.hack//sign, Noir) and Production I.G. The story revolves around the tragic origins of the Spartans via a personal experience, as well as the emotional burdens they must carry as tools of war. It is a surprisingly poignant backstory exposition. Along with themes of war, the theme of sacrifice is at the forefront of this episode – the sacrifice of one’s self and the sacrifice of one’s family creates a compelling narrative. As is typical of Bee Train, it’s a bit of a mixed bag in the production department: the backgrounds, vistas and some of the overall designs during the story scenes are vibrant and colorful; but unfortunately, some of the animation in the action scenes are clunky and not as exciting as they could have been. All told, Homecoming is one of the stronger and more moving entries in the anthology.

Odd One Out

Following that is the non-canon and appropriately titled, Odd One Out, from Toei Animation, the studio behind Dragon Ball. The chapter follows Spartan 1337 who ends up stranded on a planet occupied with dinosaurs where silly misadventures await. Fusing elements of both Halo and Dragon Ball results in traditional Toei-fare with a lot of over-the-top slapstick comedy. This is clearly an episode that targets younger viewers, as well as Dragon Ball fans; I don’t fit either category, and as such, it didn’t work for me on any level – the comedy was flat, and I felt it was the weakest episode comparatively.

Prototype

After that exception, the action and tension ramp up again with Prototype from Bones; the studio tied to notable series like Eureka Seven, Fullmetal Alchemist and RahXephon. The story revolves around a marine sergeant whose reputation and detachment has earned him the nickname Ghost. Haunted by the events of the past, there’s an internal and external struggle for that most elusive of traits during war -- humanity. The action climaxes as Ghost disregards mission orders by piloting the prototype armor suit in order to distract enemy forces while buying time for his group to evacuate. Visually, at times it is exquisite, especially during the Eureka Seven-like aerial action sequences where bombastic explosions grace the screen to great spectacle. Charged mecha action is this episode’s standout feature, but the more quiet and emotional segments of contrast are equally compelling, notably with the aid of a melancholic and lush string score - it’s one of the stronger entries of the anthology.

The Babysitter

Studio 4°C returns for an encore with The Babysitter. Four ODSTs (Orbital Drop Shock Troopers) are on an assassination mission with a Spartan designated as the sharp-shooter. Most of this segment circles around the ODST and Spartan rivalry. It’s a decent enough episode, with enough of a surprise twist at the end to elevate it from forgettable status.

The Package

The anthology concludes fittingly with a crescendo in what should be the Halo favorite, Casio Entertainment and Shinji Aramaki’s, The Package. The Package is a Halo prequel story which thrusts Master Chief and a squad of Spartans on a mission to retrieve a valuable package deep within a Covenant fleet. Between the space combat elements, Master Chief blasting through the ship, and homage elements; there’s a lot in here to thrill Halo fans. The graphical beauty certainly does impress as well - with the Spartans darting around space through grand fleets, lasers blasting from every direction - it looks like a quality 3D CG cutscene from a video game. This final segment excels at demonstrating quintessential Halo, as well as giving fans what fans want: the chance to see Master Chief looking cool while performing all sorts of breathtaking maneuvers.

English Dub

Seraphim Digital (the studio which formerly handled adaptation for ADV Films releases) re-enters the scene with a professional production effort. In many ways it feels and sounds like a distant sibling of Appleseed Ex Machina, which is no surprise, given the similar roster of talents behind the production. The performances for the most part are quite good and have a video-game-anime hybrid sounding sensibility that works very well in this context - at worst instances, I found the performances acceptable. However, in some cases, there is a certain reserve and restraint in the dub – it’s not as lively or as ranging as some of Seraphim Digital and Steven Foster’s in-house dub productions. On the positive side, Steven Foster’s signature is identifiable and visible; the casting is great, the dub is fresh sounding with a mix of veteran fan-favorites and newer voices.

David Wald steps in for the iconic role of Master Chief, in a bubble, it’s a fine effort – but given the high profile of the role, the issue of continuity is sure to raise eyebrows amongst franchise fans. Another in the recast category is Shelley Calene-Black’s, her seductive voice hits all the right notes for the roles of Cortana and Halsey. John Gremillion’s authoritative tone is a standout and a great match for the role of Fal in The Duel; it is quite reminiscent of his performance for an equally stalwart and honorable character in Utawarerumono. David Matranga and Luci Christian shine in Prototype. It’s classic Matranga, a performance full of serious temperament, sounding like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, while Luci Christian’s performance serves as a touching counterpoint - quite reminiscent of her role in Welcome to the NHK- and evokes a sense of delicate and emotional fragility suited for the material. Though her role is limited, Emily Neves’ voice sparkles with future-potential. Chris Ayres surprises with an inventive dual performance of Covenant characters in The Package, especially in the case of the primary role with a commanding and muscular tone that we aren’t used to hearing often from him. In The Babysitter and The Package, veterans like James Faulker and Andy McAvin round out a capable cast that is sure to win sentimental favor.

Overall

Halo Legends is an undeniable gateway with enticing action, sharp presentation, and an appealing science fiction setting. It does have shortcomings, the story isn’t as developed due to the anthology-approach and time constraints - as such, the drama's emotional gravity and the ability to connect with the characters is limited in this format. Furthermore, appreciation of some episodes versus others depends greatly on personal taste and the quality of each episode isn’t as consistent as it could have been. Three of the seven stories standout: The Duel, The Package and Prototype. The edge goes to The Duel due to the out of box presentation and approach, as well as the certain level of authenticity in the way it successfully melds Japanese cultural trademarks with aspects of the Halo saga - but by any measure, The Package is certainly right up there. Both The Duel and The Package episodes alone, are worth the price of admission in my book. On the whole, Halo Legends is a mostly entertaining experience that should satisfy Halo diehards and casual anime fans.

Grade: B-