ANIME REVIEW: GAMERA - REBIRTH

3.5/5

Teenager's Mutant Kaiju Turtle.

6 Episodes. Starring: Hisako Kanemoto, Aki Toyosaki, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Subaru Kimura, Kazuya Nakai, Mamoru Miyano, Saori Hayami, Marie Ōi & Wataru Hatano. Director: Hiroyuki Seshita. On: Netflix. 

Godzilla isn't the only Japanese kaiju with electric fire in his belly. Laying waste to the metropolis of Tokyo like Marvel's Avengers do every time it's the end of the world as we know it, and world-famous landmarks like those in the battle of New York serve as their scrimmaging backdrops. And now Netflix is expanding their Monster universe from many 'Godzilla' anime adaptations to the 'Skull Island' where the chest beater lives, it's time they unveiled a whole new monster series to this streaming mash. 'Gamera, The Monster' has already made his big-screen debut, before the days of CGI when blockbusters were made play believe with little toys. But now in his small and smartphone screen 'Rebirth', he's given a half-dozen series of episodes around the three quarters of an hour mark that will really rock you like the opening and closing themes.

Featuring the Japanese vocal talents of Hisako Kanemoto, Aki Toyosaki, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Subaru Kimura, Kazuya Nakai, Mamoru Miyano, Saori Hayami, Marie Ōi and Wataru Hatano as humans that are more than just fodder, but compelling characters. Hiroyuki Seshita's amazing anime on ONA (Original Net Animation) looks the big-screen battle part over a skyline of skyscrapers. Even if the digital effect sometimes makes some of the more human moves robotic. Only at times, mind. Otherwise, this is a perfectly captured and created story like the paper cranes one soldier makes in the turret of his tank, every time his lid is lifted, and he's visited with a mission report. Impossible as it may seem to get some originality out of the almost superhero like saturated monster meat market, this 'Rebirth' does exactly that.

Gamera may look like Godzilla needs to lay off those Ghidora and moths, but this tubby big little planet turtle breathes great balls of fire. Goodness gracious, he can also regenerate lost limbs quicker than those gross brothers off Netflix Japan's 'Super Crooks' antidote to the Marvel malaise of hallmark heroes (for the record I still love and can't get enough of the M.C.U., but you know what people are like). Gamera, despite the soggy mid-section, can also fly like Dumbo, without the Will Smith hearing aids. Spinning through the sky like the top hat Odd Job holds. He's going to need all the force he can get with a random task of kaijus forced against him. Ones that look like flying dinosaurs from 'Jurassic World' that you just have to run away with both of your margaritas in hand for. And others that move like a switch-blade on the chef's table below deck in a stormy shipwreck. As for the God himself? Hold your kaijus and pray for another series, and you never know. You might see him. But this is Gamera's moment. Rebooting the brave like a singular point. And born again, even King Kong ain't got s### on him. Turtle power. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Godzilla: Planet Of The Monsters', 'Skull Island', 'Gamera, The Monster'.