Rikka Isurugi has spent her life training in the way of the ninja with her grandfather Hyoe while following in the footsteps of her father, the esteemed researcher Allen. His work has culminated in a set of cutting- edge drones equipped with artificial intelligence and incredible technical capabilities; although Allen plans to develop these drones for civilian use, there are others who have more sinister ideas in mind.
On Rikka's 16th birthday, things are forever changed when a paramilitary group raids the Isurugi house in search of the drone technology, killing Allen and Hyoe while Rikka manages to escape with the drones. Months pass, and Rikka is now an ordinary girl working as a private detective while sharing an apartment with another girl, Melissa. But when night falls, she dons her grandfather's fox mask and mercilessly hunts down those responsible for the attack. With the anger she felt that day driving her forward, Rikka will not rest until her family's killers receive the justice that they deserve.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Nenhum episódio encontrado.
Comentários
Skarvalin
How unoriginal can a movie be before it’s too much? At what point does it become just lazy writing? Black Fox is here to quench your thirst for an answer. I wouldn’t be surprised if they wrote down some cliche movie tropes and used that for the story. For what it showed me is that the staff had no inspiration for what it was going to be. It becomes very apparent from the premise alone how little effort was put into this. The family of Rikka Isurugi are assassinated by a super evil corporation that does super evil things. She then plans her revenge by becominga superhero who fights for justice! One of the most standard motives they could’ve gone with. This is far from the only trope they use. Take a sip each time you see a movie trope and you will go haywire likely within the first half. It’s a by the book story that’s been done plenty of time before and better.
Same can be said about the characters who all fit into your typical archetypes. That’s not in and of itself something that ruins the movie. But it’s short length hindered them from becoming the multilayered characters they needed to be. For that reason it’s hard to be invested in them. Rikka has at least understandable motivations, and the first act does a decent job at giving us a reason to care about it albeit on a very surface level. However the revenge story collides with a different one. Another girl archetype appears and the story shifts more focus on her. With the movie instead ending with her story's conclusion rather than Rikka’s. She doesn’t get her revenge on the people who killed her family, at least not the ones mainly responsible. The main villain was a generic mad scientist working for them.
The story was a severe letdown and the characters were not much better. But there was at least some effort put into the visuals. The character designs didn’t impress me much, and the backgrounds while decent were nothing extraordinary to look at. However, animation-wise it was very fluid and stylized in it’s fight scenes. Making for some solid eye candy. The budget constraints shines through at times and the CGI was taken right out of a PlayStation 2 game which didn’t blend well with it’s 2D counterpart.
The music is solid but like most things in this movie feels very uninspired and didn't leave any impressions. It is fittingly used for the emotions the scenes it's used in is trying to convey while not becoming distracting, but didn't add anything unique or memorable to the movie. With other words it’s as standard as you get.
The fact that the movie was so short didn't make it too unbearable but there is so much more you can use 90 minutes on that's not this. I would only recommend it if you want some good sakuga or have seen very few movies in your lifetime. For everyone else, go watch some paint dry. You will probably find more entertainment that way.
Kuroack
First off i would like to say that this movie feels like a really long introduction to a anime series which isnt a bad thing It starts off fleshing out the plot which is very movie like but it sets things up in a grander theme later As for what i thought off the movie, its great but very forgettable. The characters, sound and art are all great but its missing a wow factor. The plot moves pretty fast near the end and its a little cliche how its focussed on revenge Overall the movie was pretty good but forgettable would rate a 7.5 but that isntpossible so i gave it an 8 because of the character design
Treecky
Story: 6 It's straightforward, you don't really have to think to get into it. You do find that this idea is plagued with clichés that do not allow it to see its full potential. Art: 7 The quality is varies throughout the film. I wouldn't say it hinders the enjoyment. Fight scenes become somewhat blurry and uneasy to follow at times. Sound: 6 Nothing special. Music and sound both add to the experience. It does not feel like it is something that really come out on top compared to other movies. Character: 6 For a movie, this is something that could have been done better. This is mainly because of thechoices were made to introduce and develop each character. It seems as if it is unorganized, as it is confusing to understand the movie at times.
Enjoyment: 9
Scenes build up into the next, building towards the climax. Story and Art do not hinder enjoyment, as it contains quite exciting fight scenes that are somewhat well thought out.
Overall: 7
Many of the choices are questionable, but it does not stop it from becoming a movie that can have its moments. This movie could have improved with better direction and storytelling.
SanaeK10
In many ways BlackFox reminds me of Princess Principal. Its premise made it seem like a full one-shot story but instead ends up being some superhero origin story down the line. There are fun and interesting bits here and there, but nothing seems to be developed to its full potential, leaving much to be desired even as the end credits roll. By far the worst offender is the cliffhanger ending, which, as of this writing, has no confirmed continuation. Still, the movie is fine. My personal favourite bit is the last act where it turns into Symphogear (complete with hot blooded punching and villainous fakeouts),but as it stands, plotwise, BlackFox is just okay.
I wouldn't mind seeing episodic adventures if this ever gets turned into a TV Series, but my delusions of this being a serious/semi-serious plot-driven adventure type show has been shattered completely.
5/10
kinsley24
Honestly Its got all the typical shounen ticks but it is very enjoyable You can literally see this was meant to be a full TV show anime, some points it does feel fast paced you do not get a chance to get to know the characters. But in terms of artwork it was very clean and high production value i really liked that, the fight scenes really well done. one thing i also liked the character interaction between rikka and her friends (yeah they say so ). the OST also is really good overall it is very decent and watchable but forgettable
Scottfree__
The story isn't particularly original but that's not always a bad thing. My only real gripes would come from the choice in camera angles and pacing to fights, it felt as if the animation was a bit blurry during moments that could have sold the action. I think the characters were okay enough and fun even if they were all a bit one-note. The score and sound design helped to make for an enjoyable time. A long intro was welcomed here since the preview episode might have been missed, it was a solid way to introduce characters and set-up the overall narrative. The pacing of theplot was nice even though the runtime chased it to the finish line.
I wouldn't watch it again but I won't lie and say I didn't enjoy the end product, worth the watch.
Aikagi
1 More Moe Character Comes ♥️♥️ Love The Story it's Very Enjoyable Especially All The Character is Very Cute And Touching My Deepest Heart 💗 Also, Yep, The Character Reminds Me Of Princess Principal, It's Just Like Walk Through Over My Head That Looks Like I Already Seen Her Before 😅... Welp, For me, I 95% Rate Anime with 10 Score, Since It Has Cute Character in There And Really Good Story Which Make me Like Living in That World 🤣 😊 Ah... What a Life 😂 やばいですね Story : 10 Art : 10 Sound : 10 (+The ED is Very Cool!) Character : 10 (Yes, I Respect All of Them Especially ForCuteness) 😊
Enjoyment : 10
E-Kingmoney
Personally from what I seen from the reviews it not the best movie idea in some eyes, but regardless of that, I truly enjoy the movie from what the writers have come up with even if to other"s it a copy & paste lol. This site really wants me to go out of my way to write some long ass review 0-0. The voice acting cast did well in captivating their characters/flushing out how they felt in particular scenes such as :Mia apologizing to rikka knowing it was he fault her home got attack by the robo dogs her dad createdor when the recording rikka found in her fam basement where it gives her a decisive choice on how to live her life.
Meelis13
Story, setting & concept: Concept & setting of this movie are pretty interesting. Modern/futuristic ninja mixed with few other ideas make it really good and rather unique concept, especially how its made. It also definetly catches your interest as far as story goes and it is good, despite few basic tropes (which never get disturbing due to delivery). Blackfox also manages to pull some great foreshadowing if you pay attention to details. Main characters also tend to be very interesting. However, story sadly is its weakpoint as well- while story is very interesting, the movie format means that lot of things probably had to be cut from movieand it shows as some parts feel bit rushed or even have "wait, how does that even matter" feel to it.
All that said, it definetly feels like a pilot movie for the series, which i sincerely hope is the case as i definetly want to see more of this. Not to mention TV show format would definetly fit it better and would allow writers to explain things that were lacking in here. Story is also the reason i give it
Art, sound and animation
Blackfox manages to pull off some great animation and art is definetly top tier as well. Soundtrack of Blackfox needs special mention as lot of it really nicely supports what is going on on the screen without overwhelming it. That fully shows how much tought was put into sound design as that is quite difficult to pull off in any medium as even big names in anime dont quite have it down.
Enjoyment: 10/10
Despite shortcomings caused by format (it would have benefitted much more by TV show format instead of movie), it was extremely enjoyable. And i sincerely hope to see more of this
FateHero
One could probably make a pretty good argument for calling this movie "generic", and I wouldn't really be able to fault them for that assessment. But I will also say that for all the minor gripes I had while watching, there was not a moment where I was not entertained. The story moved at a nice, brisk pace that didn't get too far ahead of itself nor lag enough to feel slow; characters were interesting and motivations made sense all around. The soundtrack for this film was especially well done, and that's coming from a guy that doesn't typically take notice of soundtracks at all. From thefirst sinister beats in the film to the score for the final action scene, the music really managed to stand out and raise the bar for the whole movie.
Overall, this was a very pleasant experience and a good way to kill 90 minutes.
Akantor36
I enjoyed the movie, no regret in watching it. The story could have used more but I think the writer/director of the movie was given a time limit and sadly had to make it fit. The movie was really enjoyable and I’d love to see it as a series. Overall:8 3/4 (wasn’t quite a 9 but was better than an 8 so I gave it a 9) Explanation at bottom. Story:7 As I said above, it felt like it was enjoyable but would be much better had it of had more time. If it was given a series, I think it would be great and I’dlove to watch it. As for the events and how they unfolded, some say it predictable, while I can see that and would disagree, in story telling, the story usually follows a set path. You are introduced to the main character, given some background, then something happens which sets the MC on they’re journey. In this case it was similar to super heroes, more specifically DC comics, where it’s a tragedy that sets the character on their path. Overall I could see what they were going for and I enjoyed it. More time would have been better though.
Art:10
I really enjoyed the art. It was nice. Did it stand out and try to make a name for itself, no, but I didn’t have any problems with it. The art was nice and clean.
Sound:10
The music was good. It felt nice and like it belonged. Don’t remember if there was an opening as I started watching late at night and was too tired so I only watched 12 minutes before pausing it to pickup the next day. As for the ending song it was nice.
Character:8
As stated above, it felt like it should of been a series rather than movie. BUT, the way the characters acted didn’t seemed forced. It felt natural. The main character even is shown trying o figure out who she is. Does she want to be like her father or her grandfather. Both seemed to be a huge part of her upbringing. The white haired girl (forgot her name, this is embarrassing) while she doesn’t have tons of growth, her character makes sense. She holds onto hope for her father, despite clearly being a lunatic. Most people have a weakness for family and for her, it made sense as it seemed she didn’t get along with other kids. Overall the characters actions all made sense.
Enjoyment: 10
It had a nice pace to it. Honestly I wish it had more to it, not just because it would have been better as a series but also because I really enjoyed it. If this is given a series, or another movie, I would watch it.
Overall, the show is worth the watch. While I can understand some not liking the show as they’ve seen way more anime than I have, I will say that I enjoy a good story. Always have. If you’re looking for something to pass 90 minutes, I’d say give it a try. Or if you’re just looking for something to watch in general. I honestly believe it’s well worth the watch. Hopefully you’ll be able to find enjoyment in the show as well.
Creissonino
The problem with Black Fox is bcause it is an enjoyable well-polished anime that still lacks something. The story reminds me of some 90's OVA's, but with an updated aesthetic for our times and a softer tone, without all the gratuitous gore. Think about something close to Birdy the Mighty beat. The technical aspects of Black Fox are amazing, with gorgeous animation, but it somewhat lack its own style. You know, if Trigger were responsible for the movie, they would have made it unique and would receive critical acclaim. It still have a gorgeous animation, but still kinda generic, without its own identity. The charactersare kinda undeveloped, BUT IT'S A MOVIE AND IT'S OKAY TO NOT HAVE TIME TO DEVELOP MULTILAYERED CHARACTERS BECAUSE IT'S A MOVIE. The thing about it is that this movie is clearly made to be a setup for a proper series and I'm eager to see more of the girls and how their bond can develop with more screen time.
To be honest, this is a well-intentioned and unpretentious big anime episode. I've seen worse, actually bad stuff, being acclaimed for much less.
SlyShocks
I’m be real with you I can see why some people might hate and somme like it. Okay it’s 1am in my country right now so I need anime to watch since I can’t sleep I watched this movie the story plot isn’t that hard to follow quite easy plus ninja stuff yup got my attention anyway that twisted sob Mia dad even flames or torture wouldn’t be in enough what I do to him myself, we can all agree on that characters well there good but not amazing don’t get me wrong rikka has a got a brilliant charm smart about her butshe didn’t make me amazed but still had my attention rikka room mate was a bit interesting helpful friendly girl but much about her as for Mia I feel deeply sorry for her she wanted to live her have fun of course daddy f ked it up she had so much talent now rikka dad and grandpa loved them both imagine been able to choose bad ass lifestyle 1 smart or 1 cool badass o yeah the animals honestly perfect nothing wrong them.
Now animation 🤔 well studio 3hz did princess principal 1 of my favourites but this movie it great not amazing I mean just watch it 1 min nice colourful next blend not so good I can’t complain it’s not studio bones or madhouse but does the job nicely
Sound/OST 🤷♂️🤦♂️ o God I can barely remember any good OST yes I did watch it but I barely noticed any goood OST it wasn’t ear catching tbh you probably won’t notice so it’s a pass for me
Enjoyment there a lot of Q s still wasn’t answered in the movie but I loved it trust me if I hated I wouldn’t watch it to the end Just watch it without thinking too much you probably enjoy it more I don’t who to recommend someone who needs to something to past the time or a ninja lover
8/10
Wish it a anime or there was a manga I had so many Q s I would to know that’s how interested I was I wanted more it was very appealing but damn I loved it really it did have anything so I could read more
FYI if you see bad grammar or spelling mistakes it’s night I can barely concentrate
wisherfox
It's amazing how people don't hear themselves before writing a review or realizing they can have an ACTUAL opinion about something. The storytelling is simple, it is consistent and intriguing. You get to know a girl that since her childhood has been trained to become a proud successor of a family of samurais. Then you meet her father, a scientist that is in search of developing IA as a helping hand against different adversities, considering one of them the massive company that has to sneak his way to control a city without even letting their intentions be seen. This girl tries to fight his pastand future deciding which family path should she take while figuring out what she can be. I totally disagree with "it is a cliché". Little by little we are can spect BIG TOPICS to be assumed in movie, but changing a content setting does not mean that it can't be different from other titles of its genre. To me, the film is totally worth seen and never let anything unraveled.
Seriously, if you look at this as a cliché, then attack on titans' main tale of Eren's mather death and his willingness to fight titans is the cliché of every western movie about the main character getting over a relative died and that's totally unfair for describing the masterpiece of someone.
I know you like to just consume content and waste your useless time but pls if you can't realize you are ruining someone's effort to keep doing his/her work. Pls, remember who you are apart from an avatar and hate.
axxjazz
a beautiful masterpiece with a lacklustre story and that's really the only thing holding it back art and animation are top notch I don't know if its true but there seems to be a much more emphasis on hand drawn frames which really show's in the character expressions and there body movements and the fight scenes are very fast paced like something you would see in Naruto (the hand to hand scenes)and one of my favourite shots was a simple one just being an overhead shot of the dinner table with all the characters avoiding conversation its just something you don't see in anime alot is overhead shot's
sound seemed fine I'm not much of a sound guy but the music was good and the voice acting fine
character design was fine like I said the expressions and body movement really make them a lot more lively although I wasn't a fan of the final battle armour it just didn't look very practical and any anime that doesn't feel the need to through fan service at you get's bonus points from me the two main girls are very badass and you just want to see more of them
now the biggest issue the plot the plot is very cliché her father dies and she's out for revenge which isn't a problem the problem is it play's it too safe with her not wanting to kill anyone if it went for those darker tones like sword of the stranger or princess principle (I bring up those 2 because that's what people are comparing it too) it would be much more memorable and also that it's setting up for a sequel that will probably never happen
another disappointment was the final fight it was good looking there's just not a lot you can do when you have a ninja vs a psychic
overall a good looking movie that leaves a lot too be desired
SuperSquillid
Not a bad movie by any means, but nothing great either. It ends up being a kind of "superhero origin story" type narrative, which isn't bad but ultimately cannot overcome a lot of clichés. If I knew a second movie or tv series was going to follow up on the plot, I would watch it, since its conclusion is rather open-ended. In terms of the studio, Studio 3Hz, I found Flip Flappers and Gun Gale Online to have much better animation and aesthetic appeal than this movie. However, if you're looking for a little inspiration, you may find some here. Story 7/10 Average and full of clichés.Nothing you haven't seen before in anime. I liked how the main character Lily was conflicted between being like her ninja grandfather or her scientist father, and how she could be both. However, the movie moved a little too fast to really flesh this out and let you identify with the weight of any character's feelings.
Art style 7/10
Average quality of an anime tv series (even though it's a movie and was in theaters). Character designs are okay, but nothing stands out aside from Lily/ Black Fox. Colors and settings are kind of bland (the main visual is more colorful than the movie).
Animation 7/10
Average anime quality. Fight scenes are pretty good, 3D robots could be worse, but the 3D crowds are a bit jarring.
Music 7/10
Average. Does its job in setting the scene but doesn't stand out.
Editing 7/10
Average.
Voice Acting 8/10
Pretty good. No complaints.
ItIsIDio
This movie wasn't made for us. No, I don't mean this movie wasn't made for me. No, I don't mean this movie wasn't made specifically for you. What I mean is that the people that are likely to watch this movie and find information about it through this site, are not the people likely to enjoy this movie. Black Fox is a superhero origin story, about a girl that has been trained to be a ninja and has access to a lot of technological gadgets, whose appeal as a person is her kind nature. A budget teenage girl Batman if you will. I do thinkthat the movie did accomplish to imitate the exact same process other western movies have used, but not actually succeed in what those movies had
Now let me ask, have you ever seen a movie about a superhero origin story, that has had huge success in the western media? Your answer, if yes, is probably: yeah, I watched [insert random Marvel movie]. Well, this movie is a japanese attempt to cash in on that marketing strategy, by making a movie that employs the exact same style and structure. Given what I said, you probably know what to expect already if you were familiar with those, but even then, you might still be like: "Yeah, but it is Japan, this movie is still going to be anime as fuck, right?" Actually, that's what I would have expected too, but the answer is actually no. The only thing that is particularly anime about this, is that they are girls of high school age doing things they should not be physically capable. There's one part in the climax of the final fight that you might assume is anime as fuck, but honestly, that actually is how most final fights in Marvel movies are resolved too, so at best I'd call it overlap. It is genuinely faithful to that formula, and I'm sure it is just an attempt to see if it has any success outside the west, or it could be that someone enjoyed that formula so much they just wanted to test it out.
Now for those of you unfamiliar and not knowing what to expect, superhero origin stories are so frequent that they pretty much have a template they always follow. And Black Fox is no exception to this. They are often very predictable, and the template itself is not actually what sells the movie, it's just a tool to make the movie be sufficiently competent and present the character to both an audience that is familiar with them and one that is unfamiliar with them at the same time. If you go watch a superhero movie, you often already know entirely what it is about, since you are familiar with DC and Marvel. Black Fox however is something entirely unfamiliar to the audience, and the only way it relates to the viewer is whether or not they are aware of such content. It uses the structure and techniques of such movies but do they actually work in its favor?
My answer is that the only way it would work is if you were unfamiliar with that structure. The way Black Fox is structured imitates pretty much every movie of its type I am familiar with, to the point I could predict every single story beat as soon as it was set up. So, if familiar with these types of movies, you will see absolutely nothing new. It has no degree of subtlety and it continuously moves forward, by first presenting a setup (which can be as small as a tease) and next presenting its payoff. The thing is that makes the movie even more predictable since every single story beat presented on screen, is either there to set up something later down the line, be it a twist or to raise the impact a scene will have, 5 minutes later. It feels like every single thing presented is not presented to tell a story but rather to serve the structure used in the prior movies, like a template for success. The structure for such movies doesn’t simply work because the structure itself is a failsafe way to present a superhero origin, but rather they are a template to adapt one superhero origin people already have knowledge of and interest in.
To an audience that is unfamiliar with said structure, they may have some success but their actual reasons they sell in the western media are: brand recognition, (since it is something people are familiar with, the movie will pull its already existing fanbase, as well as their friends that are not familiar with that character) acting, (actors are capable of breathing even further life into the characters, and making them even more appealing based on their performance) solid source material, (in most cases, the template can work because the character has an already defined identity that is appealing to its audience, and they don't have to put much thought into presenting the story since the source material has already done so, and the story will already have plenty of bones and meat, allegedly) and accessibility. (comic books are not the most accessible media to consume, as most of the hero origins were released prior to content being digitized, and as a result they often end up rereleased with some modifications or redone from zero, to familiarize the audience. Movies are more accessible to a wider audience and they are easier to preserve and spread, since their content is digital, not physical. So, if anyone was genuinely interested in the concept of the comics, but they didn't have accessibility to the source material, now they have an easier way to access the content)
Black Fox has no brand recognition or source material, it is an original concept after all, it doesn't rely on acting, since its visual are carried across through animation and voice acting doesn't require the voice actor to project as much personality as a normal actor. They definitely do and can even do it better than the visuals in some cases, don't get me wrong, but they are not entirely relied on for that purpose usually, which is no exception here. But well, it might have plenty of accessibility and novelty to a japanese audience. That's why I said this movie was not made for us. We are likely going to have plenty of familiarity, be it direct or indirect, with pretty much everything Black Fox attempts to achieve as a movie and as a story. But since it is a superhero origin story in its most basic form, it might have success in japan, presenting more westernized story structures and concepts and see if they appeal to their audience, to people that wouldn't otherwise engage with them, in the medium they are familiar with.
As a result, I do think Black Fox is a test, to see if this story structure can be successful to a japanese audience. The movie pretty much put its entire focus on following this standard structure (beware that this might spoil you, there's no concrete plot details, just the average structure of such movies): Present the hero's life prior to starting their journey (in order to show who they are and how they are different from the average person) -> Define their motivations and future goal (Happens through one of the following three: a tragic event that redefines their life, a mission that is given to them because they are the only one who can accomplish it or an accidental event that grants them the ability to do exactly what they always wished for. In some cases, there is a certain degree of overlap and it is going to be a combination of those. If you read the series' synopsis you already know which of these it is. ) -> Have them prepare for their journey (This is either done through them training, or them undertaking their journey while not entirely prepared, with their actions acting as an experience that will prepare them for the future) -> Have them engage the antagonist but not be able to win straight up (This is to create tension and present in what ways the antagonist is a foil to them) -> Give them a moment of respite to reflect on their loss (used to reflect on what differentiates them from the antagonist and some self-reflection for their character arc) -> Reignite the conflict with even bigger stakes -> Have the character complete their character arc and learning from their past mistakes, helping them resolve the conflict -> Conclude with the foil being rejected and the hero identity finally being assumed -> Tease the sequel.
The biggest problem with Black Fox for someone familiar with the structure, is that it feels exactly like this:
Japan: Can I copy your homework?
America: Yes, just change it up a bit so it doesn't look obvious that it was copied.
Japan: Black Fox
Japan managed to copy the homework correctly, on a subject they don't really have a solid grasp of. As a result, its hero, doesn't feel heroic or like a genuinely good person. There's not really any point where the heroine here acts either heroically or outside their own self-interest. It hardly feels like someone conquering their demons to do good in the world, but more like a character wanting to do what is their self-interest, but what's morally good denying them of their desire, and them having to adjust. The main character is supposed to have as her appeal in her kindness, but they are not kind, they are just a brat. She's neither a compassionate or good person and she has operated entirely in their own self-interest the entire time. She hasn't done anything outright good, just things that aren't morally reprehensible, yet the story does praise them for their kindness. She can also appear quite weak-willed at times, since she sometimes does not fully pursue their goal or respects what she says and due to that appears undecisive. Truth be told, the qualities that would make her a hero are absent, but I guess that is somewhat acceptable, since she hasn't really been acknowledged as such. The only reason I take issue with these traits, is because the movie acts as if they are her virtues, but they are at best traits that are currently a work in progress and at worst non-existent.
The movie has every single thing executed correctly, it has the structure, the beats, the concept, the visuals, perhaps even the audience. But it lacks the substance. The appeal that has made the stories that were adapted attract the interest of various people around the world. It may have some passion and enjoyment of everything that has been made with this structure, but it is not its own thing.
As a result, I find it hard to recommend to someone familiar with this type of movie, since there is absolutely nothing new for you to see, and I also have a hard time to recommend it to someone unfamiliar, since there are so many better alternatives that use the very same structure and also present a character that has both charisma and is very admirable. Black Fox doesn't manage to capitalize on any of the qualities using the structure it has appealing, but it is an interesting enough experiment to watch. I'd recommend showing this show to an unsuspecting audience unfamiliar with this style of movie, if it's more accessible to them than a western superhero movie, and to gauge their reaction. Because that's who this movie was made for. And if continuously invested in, the success of the western superhero blockbusters can be replicated in anime form. Even though it might not be an interesting watch, it might the start for the pursuit of an interesting result. So, if you want to watch this movie as an informative way to observe their strategy, I fully support that, because that part of the movie is genuinely interesting, and that's what made me talk at length about it. I wish it had more substance to discuss the actual things it tried, but the only thing I could observe how hard it tries to imitate what it wishes it would've been. And by pursuing every single technical detail about it, it manages to entirely miss the point. That these movies are meant to present the best qualities humanity has to offer and demonstrate them. And that it doesn't.
O_T_T
When the final shot of the trailer is also the final shot of the movie, something has gone seriously wrong. Original projects are usually a lot more interesting and creative than established franchises, but there is a caveat that when one falters, it brings far more down than an adaptation would. Black Fox is a movie that feels like a draft screenplay of itself. The main plot and central characters have been planned out, and in a vacuum are decent, but everything else feels completely rushed. Be it up to me, I'd have asked for the whole movie to be given a serious once-over before release, lestit end up as mundane as it actually did.
----
The plot is two entwined; the first being a revenge story, and the second a superhero origin. These work together, and I'd argue are pulled off very well. Unfortunately, the movie stuck very close to its own tropes, to the degree that the story becomes consistently predictable. My only real complaint is a revelation during the epilogue that doesn't do anything for the story and was not foreshadowed at all save for a single, potentially missable background detail. This revelation did not add anything to the story, and under examination actually detracts from it.
All promotional material suggested three protagonists, Rikka, Mia and Melissa. Rikka is the main driving force, Mia is a foe turned ally, and Melissa the one who instigates this change. Rikka and Mia are reasonably good characters, with simple and somewhat parallel arcs, but just like the plot, have predictable conclusions, even though the portrayal is decent. Melissa, however, feels incomplete. Allying Mia is the only plot relevance she has, and her own character has no depth other than being an archetypal friend. She does come into play during the epilogue, but as stated it affects the story negatively.
The movie's two villains are another weak point. One is basically pulled out of events after the first act, and the other, the eventual final opponent of the movie, is a stock mad scientist. He doesn't quite have enough flair to be an exceptional one, but has pretty good moments, especially right before the final act. The first, though, never gets an opportunity to do anything other than grimace, leaving me apathetic.
Finally, there are Rikka's robot animals. Frankly, they're little more than macguffins with voices, and I'm still left amiss as to whether they had any more significance that I couldn't decipher. They do very little to actually further the plot, other than the bird flying Rikka away once or twice. For being breakthrough technology, they're not too impressive.
----
Every technical aspect is roughly average, including art, sound effects, animation, direction and editing. The most worthwhile thing is the theme song, which is excellent and what originally made me watch the movie. There is somewhat bad CGI integration, but this isn't something I personally have a problem with.
As for style, while the art isn't really unique, there are some designs i liked, such as Mia's original and Rikka's final combat outfits. The overall setting had some ideas behind it, I think with the combination of modern and historic elements, but there wasn't anything that really came of this. The tone was alright, but nothing that felt really significant. Some of the apparati where kinda neat, like Rikka's colour-changing jacket or ninja equipment, but that's icing rather than stylistic in my opinion.
----
In order to improve Black Fox, I would firstly cut the epilogue's reveal entirely, as it does taint the story a little. I think that Melissa and the animals should be reintegrated to be a lot more important, and with both put more emphasis on their relationships with Rikka, so that they have emotional significant to the protagonist rather than just being furnishing elements. The villains, particularly the original, could get a bit more depth and motivations, since they also felt sidelined by the script.
Overall, Black Fox was an acceptable premise but wasn't made as exciting as it could have been. With every good detail was a bad, leaving the movie essentially average. However, it does at least have the minimum of my attention, and if a sequel does come out, all of my complaints could feasibly be rectified within it, so I'd most likely still be interested.
zakthepower
I feel like the movie has so much potential, and the ending really made me think this was a prequel to an anime series. Sadly, it isn't. I think this would work better as a show. The pacing is weird; sometimes it's fast, sometimes slow, sometimes in the middle. The art and animation were good, but the CG felt out of place and didn't really work for me. I liked the characters, but I feel like Rikka's motivation is cliche. For most of the movie, I was just waiting for something exciting to happen, and that really hindered my enjoyment. I loved the idea oftechnology and tradition combining, and especially the animal robots. Overall, I wish this was a full series, and I hope to see some sort of sequel in the future.
