I’m not sure if Catblue: Dynamite meets the strictest definitions of “anime”, considering the vector styled graphics and the English dialogue, with Japanese subtitles. However, one look at Catblue and the Japanese populated credit list, this show is anime enough for me. The vector animation gives the show a heavy CG feel. The animation in regular scenes runs smoothly enough, but in action sequences the frames per second really ramps up along with active perspective panning, assuring that cool action scenes will be pleasing to the eyes. The voice acting, well, at times it’s slightly unnatural and forced, so it sounds like the voice actors are reading from a script. But consider these lines:
(Catblue tortures a ghost, invisible to Robert and Bill)
Robert: “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Bill: “You’re not seeing anything.”
—
Bill: “Wait for me! My brotha!”
Robert: “I ain’t your fucking brother yet!”
—
Lady M: “What’s your name?”
Catblue: “Blue. Catblue. Cool huh?”
Heh heh, this is only a few examples of the dialogue. The lines are so tongue-in-cheek that you’ll probably be too busy grinning and forgive the script-like voice acting. And this is the tone of the show, thankfully, as Catblue: Dynamite’s campiness offsets the very cheesy writing. Or perhaps cheesiness comes with campiness. All in all, the show has its moments of style and hilarity, and was exactly what I expected. Maybe that is why I enjoyed it so. If you don’t mind a short campy anime-like action flick set in the seventies, there’s Catblue: Dynamite.
