Overall: 6
A steaming, healthy portion of anime cliché served on a bed of bland premise, seasoned toward the end of the six-episode disc.
Story/Character Development: 7
This could have very well been the fate of Tantalus as any slobbering pre-teen always anticipates the great booby score only to get shot down by the family rating on this anime offering. However, the seeds of some dynamic character development have been planted in the last two episodes that could carry this series into more profound terrain.
Art/Animation: 6
A skeleton dragon and some fish-men mark the high points of an otherwise tepid display of artistic agility.
Translation/Acting: 6
Lip flap synchronicity is of little concern. Though some of the acting is good, so much screaming makes depth of character nearly impossible.
MPAA Equivalent: PG-13
"You little bitch," voiced by an already borderline misogynist Junpei and the ribald tone of the show make it inappropriate for the kiddies. Allusions to doggy style, masturbation, etc. up the risqué quality, but not as much as the creators perhaps hoped.
Format: 7
The DVD has style if not a lot of substance. The menus are fluid and graphically impressive. Character sketches, a clean opening and ADV previews is all this thing has, but at least it navigates well.
X-Factors
Fetish Factor: 10
I can't say I was immediately affected by this anime, but I did rush to the costume store for some false pointed ears in the hopes that I may eventually meet a woman who wouldn't mind putting them on. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Say no whore, say no whore.
Equal Opportunity Sexualizing Factor: 9
For every nubile elven tease that flashes her hip in this undeniably sexist offering, a hunky, pectoral-protruding elven male must also present his portion to the foreigners. "I can't tell if it's a spell fragment or a freckle," quoth Airi, about to show everyone what kinds of movies she really makes in Hollywood.
