Tezuka In English Discussion Forums

This spring's new season of Anime marked a new series, Black Jack 21, which seems to be a direct continuation of the earlier Black Jack TV series. It seems likely we can look forward to the same merits and flaws - both the same rich cast of recurring characters and beautiful animation, and the same tendency to sugar-coat BJ by changing sad endings to happy ones.

Only the first episode has been fansubbed at this point, but for those who have seen it, any thoughts on what we can expect from yet more BJ?

Actually, Black Jack 21 doesn't give happy endings like the first TV series did. BJ21 takes everything BJ did, but raises the stakes and darkens the tone.

I do think there is a bit of sugar-coating--I mean, it is in the slot before Detective Conan, but it has taken on a lot more somber tone in the four episodes that have aired so far.

It seems like Tezuka Productions can't find a middle ground--the OVAs and movie were too extreme with the gore and violence (and sex?!), while the TV series is a little "kiddyfied."