Review - Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad I
Reviewed by Mikey Dowling on 8.28.2007.
Score: 9/10
Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad is not your typical anime. You won't find fighting vixens, giant mechas, or space bounty hunters here. Instead, the story of Beck follows Yukio Tanaka (known by his nickname Koyuki), a 14 year-old student who just can't seem to find where he belongs in the world. Then one day he saves a dog with odd stitches who belongs to guitarist Ryusuke Minami. From that point on, the two begin an unlikely friendship that leads them to pretty fantastic things.
The first episode is very much a setup episode that introduces some of the key characters in the show. We learn that, growing up, Koyuki's only real friend was a girl by the name of Izumi Ishiguro (who in fact gave him the nickname Koyuki). They hadn't talked in a few years, but through an interesting chance encounter are reconnected and start to hang out again. While out they get hassled by some foreigners and Ryusuke ends up saving them, repaying Koyuki for helping his dog, Beck, earlier in the episode. The episode ends with Koyuki and Izumi going to hang out at Ryusuke's house. You can tell that Izumi is smitten with Ryusuke due to his connection to fictional band Dying Breed and their lead guitar player; so the start of what could be a love triangle is already blooming.
The next episode has Koyuki and Izumi finishing up their day at Ryusuke's house and then being invited by Ryusuke to see his band play a show that weekend. When going to the show, Izumi has Koyuki listen to Dying Breed on her MP3 player and you immediately get the impression that Koyuki has discovered something new and amazing. Yet upon arriving at the live house, Koyuki walks in on Ryusuke having an argument with one of his band members, Eiji, that nearly ends up in a fist fight.
Yet upon entering the actual live house, Koyuki is treated to a vision on the stage: a girl singing a Sly and the Family Stone-esque song. It turns out that it's Ryusuke's kid sister, Maho. Once her band is done, Ryusuke and Eiji's band, Serial Mama, goes onstage. They get the crowd pumped yet end up having technical problems... which doesn't lead to a desirable conversation between Eiji and Ryusuke at the end of the show, and Serial Mama is disbanded. Before walking away from each other, both Eiji and Ryusuke vow to make the best band, and that is what pretty much sets up the premise for the show.
Within the last three episodes of the disc quite a bit happens. Ryusuke takes Koyuki to a show so he can hear the bass player that he wants to get for his band. We are also introduced to the man who will be the lead singer of Ryusuke's band, Chiba. He's a bit crazy, but a fun character nonetheless. Ryusuke then later gives Koyuki a guitar with which Koyuki starts practicing every day. Along the way he starts to take not only guitar lessons but swim lessons from a man named Saito. Koyuki also starts to hang out with Maho more and she discovers that he can sing quite well. In fact, when Koyuki is supposed to play in a show with Saito on the last episode of the disc, Maho is able to coax him into singing and they really impress the crowd. Afterward, they end up going skinny dipping together (with only a minimal in the fan service department happening) and together they sing one of the shows most beautiful songs, "Moon On the Water." And that is where the volume ends.
Beck isn't a show for everyone. There aren't elaborate fight scenes, or over-dramatic plot twists. It's about kids putting together a band and what gets them there. For musicians, or anyone who is in the music scene, this is an anime that can't be passed up. Here's hoping that volume two can keep up the same amount of entertainment value.
Dub Quality
FUNimation continues to be one of the most impressive domestic anime companies when it comes to dubbing their anime. Everyone so far has done a good job of capturing the same feeling that their Japanese counterpart had. Plus, they redid all of the songs, so those with English lyrics are better understood and lose their Engrish qualities (which can admittedly go either way depending on how you prefer your anime).
Either way, the dub won't make you cringe, and that's an important thing. Though, there is something to be said about watching the original Japanese track and having Ryusuke and Maho slip into English to cuss someone out.
Special Features
· "A Day in the Life" Director Commentary
· "A Life on the Road" Music Video
· Exclusive Guitar Pick
· Textless Songs
· Trailers
