"Time Bokan: The Three Villains Strike Back" review: Will the nostalgic villains' new challenge be successful?

Time Bokan: The Three Villains Strike Back

overview

"Time Bokan: The Three Villains Strike Back" is a TV anime series produced by Tatsunoko Productions that aired on Nippon Television from October 7, 2017 to March 24, 2018. The series is part of Tatsunoko Productions' popular series "Time Bokan," and follows traditional elements of the series while introducing new storylines and characters. It has 24 episodes, each 30 minutes long, and was directed by Inagaki Takayuki.

story

The story of "Time Bokan: The Three Villains Strike Back" depicts the "Three Villains", the iconic characters of the Time Bokan series, as the protagonists. The Three Villains are Dokurobee, Boyacky, and Maruko, who have always appeared as villains in previous series. However, in this work, they become the main characters and go on an adventure to change history using the time machine "Time Bokan".

The story is set in the future, in the year 2050. In the world of the Time Bokan series, time machines are commonplace and time travel is commonplace. In order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, the three villains aim to change history and build a future in which they can succeed. Their goal is to manipulate important historical events and create a world in which they are celebrated as heroes.

However, their plans are always thwarted. Time Patrol members Jun and Setsuko monitor their actions and try to prevent them from changing history. Jun and Setsuko follow the traditional heroine image of the Time Bokan series, but are portrayed as characters with new charm. Thanks to their actions, the plans of the three villains end in failure one after another, but this in turn emphasizes the comedic elements and entertains the viewers.

character

The Three Villains

• Dokurobee - The leader of the three villains, he has a skull-like face. He has a calm and calculating personality, but sometimes shows a comical side.
• Boyacky - A mechanic and a talented inventor. He is a joker and often fails, but his failures are an important factor in generating laughs.
• Maruko - The only female among the three villains, she is beautiful but strong-willed. She teams up with Boyacky and carries out various schemes, but her tsukkomi adds excitement to the story.

Time Patrol

• Jun - The leader of the Time Patrol, a brave and righteous woman. Together with Setsuko, she monitors the actions of the three villains and struggles to prevent the rewriting of history.
• Setsuko - Jun's partner, a calm and intelligent woman. Although her personality is the polar opposite of Jun's, the two work together to fight against the three villains.

Animation and performance

The animation of "Time Bokan: The Three Villains Strike Back" follows the traditional style of Tatsunoko Productions while incorporating modern elements. The character design has been refined while retaining the iconic visuals of the series. The design of the three villains in particular brings out new charm while still evoking nostalgia for fans of the past series.

In terms of directing, various devices are used to emphasize the comedic elements. For example, exaggerated animation and sound effects are used in the scenes where the three villains fail, enhancing the audience's laughter. Also, in scenes depicting historical events, the realistic backgrounds are contrasted with the comical movements of the characters, bringing out visual interest.

music

The music follows the traditional theme songs of the Time Bokan series, but with new arrangements. The opening theme, "The Three Villains Strike Back," is based on the series' iconic melody, but with modern beats and lyrics that will capture the hearts of viewers. The ending theme, "Time Bokan Ondo," features lyrics that look back on the series' history and a festival-like rhythm that will delight viewers.

The music in the film is also well-crafted to enhance the atmosphere of each scene. Comical sound effects and music are used in scenes where the three villains fail, making the audience laugh. In scenes depicting historical events, music appropriate to the era is used to further enhance the visual interest.

Evaluation and acceptance

"Time Bokan: The Three Villains Strike Back" was highly praised by fans of the Time Bokan series. In particular, the new attempt to portray the three villains as the main characters brought out new appeal to the series and entertained viewers. In addition, the story development, which emphasized comedy elements, provided viewers with laughs and allowed them to spend a relaxing time.

On the other hand, some long-time fans of the series felt that there were fewer new elements compared to previous series, but overall it was seen as a new step for the Time Bokan series and was well received by many viewers.

Recommendations and related works

For viewers who enjoyed "Time Bokan: The Three Villains Strike Back," we recommend other works in the Time Bokan series. In particular, the original "Time Bokan," and the subsequent series "Yatterman" and "Zendaman" are worth watching to gain a deeper understanding of the appeal of the Time Bokan series. In addition, "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman" and "Casshan," also produced by Tatsunoko Productions, are also recommended for enjoying other works by Tatsunoko Productions.

Other recommended anime works with the theme of time travel include Stein's Gate and Zero kara Hajimeru Mahou no Sho. These works have stories and characters that delve deeply into the theme of time travel, and will be enjoyed by fans of the Time Bokan series.

Conclusion

"Time Bokan: The Three Villains Strike Back" was enjoyed by many viewers as a new step in the Time Bokan series. The new attempt to portray the three villains as the main characters brought out new appeal in the series, and the storyline, which emphasized comedic elements, provided laughs for viewers. The animation and music also followed the traditional style of the series while incorporating modern elements, entertaining viewers. This work is recommended not only for fans of the Time Bokan series, but also for viewers who want to enjoy an anime work with a time travel theme.