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| Overall | Art | Animation | Character Design | Music | Series Story | Episode Story | Reviewer | |
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| Rent | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
 Ggultra2764
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[series:303#1552] |
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Orphen proved to be a solid watch for a shounen fantasy series. The titular character of the series isn't your typical peace-loving, clueless and reckless hero from within a shounen series as he is level-headed most of the time with his actions during heated moments and can lose his temper at times when dealing with his situation involving Bloody August and members of the Fang Tower. The series does do a solid job of slowly unveiling the events leading Orphen to learn magic at the Fang Tower and why he deserted the school thus you know of the differing motivations behind Orphen and the sorcerers of the Fang Tower connected to Bloody August. Some of Orphen's former comrades in the Fang Tower even get their focus as they are just as conflicted over how to handle the situation as he is, with some fun comedy tossed in on occasion from Hartia's ridiculous disguise as the Black Tiger. The visuals for the series are decent in its designs of the scenery and characters with a good amount of defined detail, though animation shortcuts are apparent in a number of action sequences. On the other end though, much of the comedic delivery in Orphen was a bit hit-or-miss for me and I was annoyed with the frequent appearances of Volkan and Dortia as the show's obnoxious comedic relief. Some shallow characters (a few prominent members of Fang Tower) and a somewhat contrived ending also dampened the quality of the series to an extent for me. Still though, this was a solid fantasy-adventure series that offered enough depth to its plot and prominent characters to stick out enough from many of the conventional cliches I would expect out of shounen titles. Last updated Sunday, March 25 2012. Created Sunday, March 25 2012. | ||||||||
| Buy |
 Jan-Chan
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[series:303#967] | ||||||
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I should actually chime in on this title ... I mean... I DO OWN the boxed set. If you are a sword-n-sorcery fan, then this is a MUST SEE title. With a good mix of humor and dark adventure, this series ranks up there with Louie and Lodoss War. And the main character of Orphen is a classic of a narcissistic and ego-maniacal wizard, reminiscent of that bastard of a Dark Schneider. So together with an innocent and naive apprentice, a spoiled cute heiress of a traveling companion and two comedic trolls, the story weaves a tale of intrigue and dark magic as to the secret of a dangerous and destructive black dragon called the Bloody August. Last updated Friday, July 03 2009. Created Sunday, February 22 2009. | ||||||||
| Buy |
 Forbin
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[series:303#1573] | ||||||
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Drama : Med Comedy : Med Action : Med SciFi : High Ecchi : Med / High (No Definition though) I loved this! Thanks Jan-Chan for recommending this. It's Slayers with a more serious note. Orphen is NOT Lina, He's more like a Kazuma from  Scryed. He's got a serious ego and a very weird attitude that just speaks of hubris.Very Good, the ending of the first series was wonderful! Last updated Thursday, July 07 2005. Created Thursday, July 07 2005. | ||||||||
| Buy | 9 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 10 |
 adiree
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[series:303#1804] | |
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one word: fuuuuuuunnnnnnyyyyyy! i don't think i've ever laughed so hard over an anime before! i watched the dubbed version rather than subbed, and was terribly impressed with the cast - cleo's voice actor was an absolute dream! and it was funny! funny, funny, funny... okay a bit dramatic i know, but i was so impressed with the humour because it completely knocked off guard when the humour disappeared and the story took it's dangerous toll... the characters were superb - including the spoiled heiress cleo (and i normally don't like the spoiled characters so, that says a lot), to the trolls, to the young apprentice (who even though he was always bubbly, i still liked him), and the driven wizard... i think the one thing that sets this apart from some of the other animes i've seen is that the main character, orphen - though he is driven and single-minded in purpose, though he does have a temper and seems to be the bad-a**, he doesn't making a show of keeping up that face, which is nice.... and the story itself is incredible - the last episode absolutely phenomenal! i knew what was going to happen, or at least i thought i did - i was pretty sure, but i was thrown for quite a loop at the end! there were a lot of things i didn't expect in the end, a lot of little twists that i enjoyed quite a bit, but that last episode - wow! one of the best endings to an anime series i've seen...the story was well done even without the last episode - the angst was not overinflated; the 'romance' not overdone - everything was on an even keel, and the episode stories keep you very interested in the series as a whole - lots of little lessons thrown in here and there without being overwhelming or preachy, and again, most of the episodes had me laughin so hard i had to pause the video so i could keep watching without missing anything... the animation was well done - especially the animation dealing with the heavenly one's magics - there was some beautiful stuff in there! i wasn't too much for the music, but then again, i'm not one for the music, so, don't really keep my opinion that one... i haven't watched the subbed yet, but i do think the english voice cast did a magnificent job.... but, yes, do watch, do buy! great series! and you must get to that last episode! Last updated Monday, February 07 2005. Created Monday, February 07 2005. | ||||||||
| Buy | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
 MarX
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[series:303#1033] | |
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Wow, Sorcerous Stabber Orphen.. I have this series in my collection (Though it has been awhile since I last had a chance to view it once again) I have to say it is one of my best series and I have no regrets in buying it.. I liked the character design and the way the characters had presented themselves. I liked the dubbed version better from the subbed.. (Though, I usually like to listen instead of reading my anime.. That's what manga is for..) Then there is the story itself.. I liked the way the characters had grown closer together through the adventure.. Orphen is a kick ass character by himself, but hey a side kick is all ways a must for some like Orphen.. Like I said, it has been awhile since I saw the series, and I still have a lot more series to go through before I can start watching my old series over again.. Though I can't wait till Sorcerous Stabber Orphen Revenge (Orphen 2 in other words) comes out in box set form.. (Box set or bust for me...) Last updated Wednesday, January 07 2004. Created Wednesday, January 07 2004. | ||||||||
| Rent | 6 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
 Tom
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[series:303#1086] | |
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Orphen was another anime that let me down. It started out strong, but lost steam about half-way into. I liked the first few episodes because of the serious nature and cool spells (they don't just say the spell names in the subtitled version, they actually cast spells which is really tight), even if the animation was choppy. But when we get to the killing doll part 2 episode, everything goes down hill. The animation becomes so inconsistant it's actually painful (like when Orphen's nose somehow becomes twice it's size while he's talking to Cleo), and the action is very cliche, don't make me mention the mindless episodes that have very little to do with the actuall plot. The actual story is interesting, but this anime does not do it justice. You may like it, just watch the whole series before you decide to buy (I was dumb and bought the whole series after seeing the first three episodes). Last updated Sunday, November 30 2003. Created Sunday, November 30 2003. | ||||||||
| Buy | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
 MizuKagami
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[series:303#670] |
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Well...I just thought that I should start off with the review for now. I first bought the third DVD in the Orphen series by accident...after watching it both in Japanese and English, I just fell in love with it..and not just because of Orphen..he's sooo good looking, and has an attitude that I love! Plauged by the transformation of the woman he loved when he was a child, he leaves his home in the Tower of Fang, changes his name, and goes on a quest all to return her to her former state. Orphen is an awesome anime, I didnt like the changes in the dub though...it seemed that they changed a lot of important things that are CRITICAL to the show...but David Matranga did an awesome job...the others..I liked them..but man, they could have found someone who could have sounded relatively to what their ages would be...Cleao sounded like she was 20 something instead of the chipper, young 17 year old that I so loved in the Japanese. I dont like the fact that they didnt add in the spells in the English either..they are very critical in the series..even if they do sound a little corny, they would have been a lot better than just rambling on about nothing! Really, dont rent this! BUY it! I have the whole series, except for the OAV, and it is great...the characters are awesome, and the music...oh I love the music. Orphen is sooo hott! To see my review of the first episode, just click the 1 link at the top. Also, the DVD's are loaded with extras, including Clean Openings and Closings, Previews from ADV, Character sketches, and even hidden Outtakes, which are hilarous. Last updated Thursday, May 01 2003. Created Thursday, May 01 2003. | ||||||||
| Buy | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
 Buggie
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[series:303#592] | |
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I have yet to finish this series (I'll update this review when I do) but I had some time on my hands. This is a definite buy! I was very impressed by how nice the shonen animation was. In the appropriate places it was almost as delicate as many of the shoujo manga I've read. But yet again, during the fight scenes, it was great! Not flowery at all, as it should be. The story is a wonderful tale. I can't wait to see what happens next. The gal I'm borrowing this off of has yet to give me the next set of DVDs (grr...) You spend the first couple of DVDs wondering just exactly who Bloody August/Azile really is (If you don't know what I mean with "dragon/woman's name" that's good. Now go and buy the anime and settle your curiosity.) Beware the dub, though. It changes many scenes from the original, though not the story, as far as I have seen. The main problem with the dub is that they lost the spells! Wow, this was a long review! Closing statement: BUY this anime! Last updated Thursday, April 17 2003. Created Thursday, April 17 2003. | ||||||||
| Buy | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 24 |
 D-chan
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[series:303#547] |
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I've seen a huge variety of reviews for this anime, from really bad to raving excellent. After watching the entire series, I'd have to lean a bit closer to "raving excellent"-- Though not quite, as I have a few details I like to pick at. The first thing that got me was, of course, Orphen. The characters are designed very nicely, matching very nicely (if not more beautiful) with their manga counterparts. This first series of Orphen follows one of the earlier, short-chaptered arcs. The art ranges from amazing to poorer than Weiss Kreuz. Luckily, the bad fluctuations are few and far between (and is it just me, or do they mostly occur when the episode centers on Majik?). The characters are interesting. Orphen is amazingly cool, simply put. You can relate to some of his pain, and he has so many levels to his personality that one word can't sum up his entirety. Majik was very cute and always kept me entertained. Cleao was promising at first, but her character tended to sag as the series went on, and she barely managed to redeem it in the end. The music was a bit bland, but suiting as well. It was more like the kind of music you'd find on an RPG soundtrack, yet a bit more lively so that you knew you were watching anime. The seiyuus were amazing, and played out the characters very well. The two most noticable would have to be Hartia (Okiayu Ryoutarou) and Flameheart (Takehito Koyasu). However, the main characters had excellently chosen voices as well. Morikubo Shoutarou has the perfect voice for Orphen that constantly sent chills down my spine, and Omi Minami made a VERY cute Majik, always making me smile with the sweet lilting, "Oshou-sama~!" Cleao, played by Iizuka Mayumi, was well-done; annoying at times, but not overly so. The dub cast was decent, much better than some I've seen. David Matranga plays a decent Orphen, though I did miss the spell chants (something to blame on the scriptwriters) and he sounded so exaggerated in the more dramatic scenes that I couldn't help but laugh. Spike Spencer, as Majik, did well for the lines he was given, but he did tend to sound a bit annoying compared to Omi Minami. Shelly Callene-Black (Cleao) was just plain irritating. The best dub voice actor had to be Randy Sparks (Hartia). He could go from soft and gentle to outragious and silly in a matter of seconds. I could rant forever on this anime. All in all, it's fantastic, with (mostly) beautiful art, slow but realistic character developement, an interesting mix of fantasy, medieval, modern, angst, drama, and even with light touches of comedy that rarely seem out of place. I'd suggest you rent it first, but overall I'd buy it. It's that great a series. Last updated Sunday, April 06 2003. Created Friday, February 21 2003. | ||||||||
| Buy | 8 | 8 | 9 |
 Black Panther
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[series:303#142] | |||
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I really am enjoying this anime. Orphan has such an attitude ~.^, but you got to love him! The series is really unfolding nicely, and with a very interesting and captivating plot. I rate it as a definite BUY! I will keep you updated!
Last updated Friday, January 25 2002. Created Friday, January 25 2002. | ||||||||
| Buy | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
 V-babe
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[series:303#237] |
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WOW!! This was a great anime. The opening and closing segments are beautiful and I like the music. The characters are interesting and the show leaves you begging for more. I've watched the whole first season, and I love it!! ADV picked up the next season, but as far as I know, they haven't done anything with it, so we'll see what happens. I thought the dub voices were pretty good. But, then, I'm one of those people who are too lazy to read subtitles all the time and actually prefer dub. David Matranga was excellent, and I liked that they got rid of the calling out of the spells. I've always thought that was really corny anyways. All of the characters were very well dubbed, and this is one of the best dubbing jobs I've seen. The ONE problem I have with the anime is that there are some annoying plot twists and pointless episodes, but in my opinion, they aren't bad enough to keep you away from this anime. There is also a little BRIEF and inexplicit nudity. I don't like nudity in the anime I watch, but it wasn't so horrendus that you shouldn't get the anime. Last updated Sunday, April 13 2003. Created Sunday, November 11 2001. | ||||||||
| Buy | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
 The Coyote
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[series:303#64] | |
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This is a very enjoyable series so far I started out thinking I might not like Orpen but he has really grown on me and the story line has me anticipateing the next release so that makes it at least a successful anime. if not a great one.
Last updated Monday, October 15 2001. Created Monday, October 15 2001. | ||||||||
| Buy | 8 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
 CatWoman
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[series:303#65] | ||
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Well I have only seen the first tape, but so far it looks like a great series! Clean, funny and a the promise of a bet of dramatics! Orphen is cute, but cocky, will his apprentice is smart and has a great voice! :D (same voice as Aketo) the girl is a bet of a brat but I think she is one that you grow to love! It is definitely has potential! Check it out!
Last updated Thursday, July 12 2001. Created Thursday, July 12 2001. | ||||||||
