DOGS: stray dogs howling in the dark
(also entitled DOGS: Bullets & Carnage)
Based off of the Japanese manga series by Shirow Miwa, Dogs is set in a world where violence, crime, genetic manipulation and other cruel scientific experiments have become common. The story focuses on four main characters who, through a series of coincidences, meet as they search for answers to their individual past.
Type: OVA | Episodes: 4 | Aired: May 19, 2009 to Jul 17, 2009 | Genres: Action, Drama
Producer: David Production | Main Cast: Sakurai Takahiro (Heine), Ishida Akira (Badou), Ohtsuka Akio (Mihai), Itou Shizuka (Naoto)
Director: Tatsuya Abe | Original Creator: Shirow Miwa | Series Composition: Kiyoko Yoshimura | Character Design: Kumi Ishii
Producer: David Production | Main Cast: Sakurai Takahiro (Heine), Ishida Akira (Badou), Ohtsuka Akio (Mihai), Itou Shizuka (Naoto)
Director: Tatsuya Abe | Original Creator: Shirow Miwa | Series Composition: Kiyoko Yoshimura | Character Design: Kumi Ishii
[ OVERALL IMPRESSIONS ]
(I give the manga a 4.75 though)
(I give the manga a 4.75 though)
It's the anime adaptation of one of my top favorite manga! I was looking forward to it very much, especially after hearing the nice voice work on the drama cd adaptation!
It actually turned out well! Especially the first three episodes! I like the anime additionals to fill in the timeslot because the manga chapters they're based on didn't have that much pages. Those anime additions made the stories of the main characters more connected (especially with Naoto!) There were also interesting additions that the manga wasn't able to add. I'm very pleased~ However, with the fourth episode, instead of additions, some scenes weren't included because of the lack of time (that story was based on chapters, while the others were based on only one for each). It's understandable but I didn't like some of the changes . . . because it also changed the character's personality! And that is totally not a good thing.
But on the story themselves, they were basically character introductions. We get to learn more of the past (with Mihai and Naoto) and their interesting characterstics (with Badou and Haine) of the main characters. They each have a story to tell, and all have been tragic and it had been interesting to know how they had struggled and managed to survive. It had also been intriguing to know that the characters aren't exactly what they seem (especially with Badou). There's something twisted about them, and it makes them awesome and freaky at the same time (especially with Haine). This isn't just about tragic pasts or complex personalities or a bunch of gunfights; there's some genetic engineering involvement. It shows that there's something even deeper in its main story. We are yet to find out that part though until we read its sequel, which starts all four of them together.
As for the animation, it looked good but honestly not good enough to make my jaw drop fom amazement. It had cool action scenes (especially with Naoto) but not all had been really great. But I really like the animation directing on some scenes. They looked fantastic. Especially the last part!
I also think the anime adaptation did a pretty good job on dramatic and tragic scenes. They were very very very sad. I'm not that impressed with the voice acting though. The drama cd version had been much better! But it's the same seiyuu cast so it's weird. Does it have something to do with the voice acting director? As for the same music, it was okay, not no track had been catchy. The ED theme honestly bored me to death. Seeing the characters sleeping is the only thing that made me somehow entertained by it. Haha!
Overall, the series had not been as amazing as its manga and drama cd counterparts, in my opinion, but it's still satisfying. Hopefully, since the production company thought of making an anime of the introductory volume, they would continue it as a series as well! However, chapters of its current manga series have been too short, so if ever David Production has any plans on continuing DOGS, it won't be anytime soon.
I recommend this series but I recommend the manga more. They're the same but the manga really left a better impression on me. So if you're into mafia and genetic beings stuff, this would be something interesting to try~ It has mature themes though, and yeah, there's no censorship on sensitive stuff and there's some bloodshed and gore as well. So if you can't handle that, then I don't sugest you to even think about taking a peek at its episodes.
It actually turned out well! Especially the first three episodes! I like the anime additionals to fill in the timeslot because the manga chapters they're based on didn't have that much pages. Those anime additions made the stories of the main characters more connected (especially with Naoto!) There were also interesting additions that the manga wasn't able to add. I'm very pleased~ However, with the fourth episode, instead of additions, some scenes weren't included because of the lack of time (that story was based on chapters, while the others were based on only one for each). It's understandable but I didn't like some of the changes . . . because it also changed the character's personality! And that is totally not a good thing.
But on the story themselves, they were basically character introductions. We get to learn more of the past (with Mihai and Naoto) and their interesting characterstics (with Badou and Haine) of the main characters. They each have a story to tell, and all have been tragic and it had been interesting to know how they had struggled and managed to survive. It had also been intriguing to know that the characters aren't exactly what they seem (especially with Badou). There's something twisted about them, and it makes them awesome and freaky at the same time (especially with Haine). This isn't just about tragic pasts or complex personalities or a bunch of gunfights; there's some genetic engineering involvement. It shows that there's something even deeper in its main story. We are yet to find out that part though until we read its sequel, which starts all four of them together.
As for the animation, it looked good but honestly not good enough to make my jaw drop fom amazement. It had cool action scenes (especially with Naoto) but not all had been really great. But I really like the animation directing on some scenes. They looked fantastic. Especially the last part!
I also think the anime adaptation did a pretty good job on dramatic and tragic scenes. They were very very very sad. I'm not that impressed with the voice acting though. The drama cd version had been much better! But it's the same seiyuu cast so it's weird. Does it have something to do with the voice acting director? As for the same music, it was okay, not no track had been catchy. The ED theme honestly bored me to death. Seeing the characters sleeping is the only thing that made me somehow entertained by it. Haha!
Overall, the series had not been as amazing as its manga and drama cd counterparts, in my opinion, but it's still satisfying. Hopefully, since the production company thought of making an anime of the introductory volume, they would continue it as a series as well! However, chapters of its current manga series have been too short, so if ever David Production has any plans on continuing DOGS, it won't be anytime soon.
I recommend this series but I recommend the manga more. They're the same but the manga really left a better impression on me. So if you're into mafia and genetic beings stuff, this would be something interesting to try~ It has mature themes though, and yeah, there's no censorship on sensitive stuff and there's some bloodshed and gore as well. So if you can't handle that, then I don't sugest you to even think about taking a peek at its episodes.
