ANIME REVIEW: TEKKEN - BLOODLINE

3.5/5

Bloodline Maintenance.

6 Episodes. Starring: Isshin Chiba, Mamiko Noto, Taiten Kusunoki, Masanori Shinohara, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Maaya Sakamoto & Hōchū Ōtsuka. Director: Yoshikazu Miyao. 

Blood in. "What is it that haunts you? Whose eyes peer at you from the dark?" Commitment...just kidding! These are just jokes. Want to know how loyal I am? I still play a PSP like it's 2003, and I ain't talking about no Vita. As a matter of fact, the UMD that remains loaded up? 'Tekken: Dark Resurrection'. It's a regular fists of fury fight fixture on my train trips to Tokyo when my mobile battery can't handle Marvel's 'Contest Of Champions', which may have just jacked its style. And when the new Netflix anime adaptation 'Tekken: Bloodline' begins with the same words that started this piece, you know it's on like Donkey Kong. It feels like a video game setting, getting you ready for Bandai Namco battle, or like a 'Resurrection' of the title sequence of 2006's 'Tekken 5' that back then felt like Pixar, no pixelation. In the game like EA. Get ready for the next battle. 

Press start. Because its been a long time coming. Whether since the 2009 'Tekken' live-action movie. Or way back in 1997 for the 'Tekken 3' arcade game, this 'Bloodline' is based on in shared strands of DNA, before it became a Sony PlayStation game a calendar later. Directed by Yoshikazu Miyao, this new Netflix fighting game series can pit itself against the legendary likes of 'Baki', 'Record Of Ragnarok' (nothing to do with Thor) and 'Kengan Ashura' and we still don't know who would win a best of three in this big fight club. But we'd love you to talk about it over soap showers in an onsen, whereas much as you flex, you'll never have the arms of Jin Kazama and ojisan Heihachi Mishima for all your cult characters like a King who wears a leopard mask that will never change its signature spots. Still, we would have loved to have seen more 'Revenant' reverence for that grizzly bear. Even if he did get his ass handed to him by the Predator in Hulu's 'Prey'. 

Fireworks literally fly. Out of fists and outside domes like stunning spectacles do in Japan this time of summer giving way to the fall. And a class cast of voice actors (Isshin Chiba, Mamiko Noto, Taiten Kusunoki, Masanori Shinohara, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Maaya Sakamoto and Hōchū Ōtsuka) add more explosive notes to these names. They're all here for your player select. Paul Phoenix, Jun Kazama and the Ogre. All for this martial arts battle royale. With 3D animated anime that graphically looks as good as the last Tekken game from the groundbreaking franchise. Faithful to the source material like this revenge story is to family, this miniseries of six stellar episodes will sock it to you. Yet still take a bow like the gracious heart of a true champion. 

Finish this series! Sure, 'Spy x Family' may be THE anime series of the calendar across all the streams like Ghostbusters (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus too). You don't have to be a telepath like Anya to read that. But this one still takes the peanuts. And will have you ringside snacking on the best fights of fantasy since Ali or Jet Li. No need for some Logan or Jake Paul. Pulling no punches, but knowing when to let its opponent lie, this series would be sweet if it was a one and done. But fly me to the moon and give me another season to play amongst the video game stars. Because this has been the best move you've seen since you mashed your controller and powered up for a boss signature. In black and white and red eye lights. 

The inspired intro of (ominous music playing) 'Tekken: Bloodline' 1ups it all. Beginning atmospheric and like something out of 'Tron' for the legacy. We even see an arcade game for your consoling. Nostalgia has never been so nuanced in this world. Sure, we live in one that streams games these days like everything else, from music to movies. But this resurrection of the bloodline will have you dropping more coins into the machine than when Sonic runs over a set of spikes. Powering up with Japanese gaming folklore in this electronic arts of martial law. From dojos to shrines of ringside inspiration. And even the deer scaring (don't put one of these in Nara) Shishi Odoshi water feature (only the Japanese would make something to scare sound so sweet and peaceful) that will make you want to 'Kill Bill' like Uma Thurman. And then of course there's the trading card swapping fighter intros that trumps everything else in this top 'Tekken'. Both sets of three rounds. K.O. You know you want to continue like 9...8. Blood out. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Baki', 'Record Of Ragnarok', 'Tekken (2009)'.