Mongolian Chop Squad - Box Set S.A.V.E.

Very interesting. Showed the hard work dedicated to making big in the music industry.

One of my favorite genres in film, television, and even books is the coming of age story; the main reason I fell in love with Mongolian Chop Squad is how elegantly it handles this classic story. Most anime you watch has some angsty teenager develop some crazy power that they use to fight some bad guy on a regular basis, and maybe they have some wacky sidekicks team up with them every now and then. But this show has nothing to do with the supernatural; it's a grounded story of a young man who comes to befriend some aspiring rock and rollers, even becoming one himself. This is a story in which a down on his luck kid finds friends and fame as a musician; it may be a cartoon but when you get down to it, this story feels unmistakably real.Our main protagonist is one Yukio Tanaka, known to his friends as "Koyuki." He's 14 at the start of the series, and he deals with the issues many of us dealt with at that age; bullies, academic pressure, not quite fitting in, etc. However, his life changes for the better when he meets Ryusuke Minami, an aspiring rock musician who has returned to Japan after spending most of his childhood in New York City. Koyuki also develops a crush on Ryusuke's younger sister Maho; the two share a chemistry and rapport that feels genuine, something you can't say for too many anime couples. Koyuki comes to discover he is a talented singer and guitarist, so Ryusuke recruits him for his fledgling rock band "Beck". (In case you're wondering, they change the name to Mongolian Chop Squad when they come to the States because of a well known recording artist of the same name.)The show focuses largely on music (they are in a band) and I must say, much of it is pretty damn awesome. From the opening track to the closing song and everything in between, the many songs performed in the show suck you in and keep you entertained. I was pleasantly surprised that many of the dub voice actors are quite pleasant to hear sing; the first thing I heard Greg Ayres in was Deadman Wonderland, and I had no idea he could pull off some of these vocals. The soul of this show lies in its music, and it most definitely doesn't disappoint.But while the music is good, I think most people can agree with me that an anime's true strength lies in its story and characters, and I'm happy to report that Mongolian Chop Squad delivers on both fronts. Koyuki is sympathetic and easy to relate to, especially for those of us that weren't at the top of the social hierarchy in high school; he's an anxious yet determined young man who does his best not to sweat the small stuff, and his friends are there to back him up when he can't handle something alone. The band members also have a unique charm in each of their personalities, and I couldn't help but smile at how genuine their friendships seem; they laugh together, they argue, they back each other up in a fight, it just feels real. You want to keep watching because you hope this all turns out okay for them in the end; becoming a popular band is pretty hard work (especially if you're not in America), but you root for these guys because you feel like they truly deserve it.In terms of visuals, everything looks great, if simple. Remember that this a realistic portrayal of a band trying their hardest to make it big; there are no Super Saiyans or Soul Reapers running around in this one.I got to say it; this show is not to be missed. If you want to watch an anime that does a great job of depicting the teenage outcast turned hero, look no further. Koyuki's story is one that I feel doesn't receive much attention in the wider anime audience, but it should. It really should.

Great price for a classic anime. Interesting characters and even better music. It is a shame that there wasn't a second season since you'll always wonder what happened to the band on the next stage of their journey...

This anime is rare. It’s rare because there aren’t too many anime series about a kid and his friends aspiring to be rock stars who want to tour America. This is a DVD set which contains 4 discs and has the entire animated series. You get every single episode of Beck Mongolian Chop Squad for an excellent price. You can watch as the main character transforms from a shy kid into an amazing rhythm guitarist and vocalist. You’ll also get to enjoy the awesome songs from the series. If you love rock music, playing guitar and anime then this is perfect for you.

Beck is legitimately my favorite anime, after my first set’s disc cracked from a bad player I took to Amazon to find a replacement. The discs came all perfectly intact and in a speedy time. Definitely get this if you love music and anime.

My #1 favorite Anime! It's better in English (included). The essence of being one who truly rocks is refined when the language barriers are graciously removed by the dubbing team. (IMH [American] O).So this is the story of a 14 yr old boy who is introverted breaking out of his shell with the help of fateful human encounters, which become lasting connections, throughout the journey of expressing himself using music. It's the story of what true music means! This anime truly rocks!Sometimes you buy an anime cause you saw it on tv and it thrilled you and good times deserve a token of nastalgia. This anime could be that, but more importantly, it can change your life as surely as Koyuki's in this story! You may not see life or the world or music in the same way again. On top of everything else, the animation is beautiful! It demonstartes the directors understanding of subtle human expression and psychology! And this isn't just a sequence of events and interactions, the animation takes time for the art! Something that people hardly take the time for these days.