國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
2. Japanese Netizens’ Reviews on Amazon jp TBF BD Sale Merchandise Pages
(Flak18, 2016)
(5 star) This Puppet Show Is Cool Flak18 2016/9/8 Volume 1
…If this work is an anime or it only applies CG (computer graphics) in the work, I don’t think it is special anyway. It is because this is a puppet show so that it makes me feel like I
am watching a live musical in the theater. Although the performance of puppets are a bit exaggerated, it suits them to a tee… I enjoy the fight scene where the male protagonist wields
the sword in episode 1. I have never seen this kind of sword fighting in previous puppet dramas. The story is interesting and the characters are lively and charming. These all impress
me. I don’t know the script writer, Gen Urobuchi but I am astonished by the performance of
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
puppets. I expect what will happen next. (Flak18, 2016)
(スター・ス・クリー・ム, 2016)
(5 star) Beautiful Fusion with Traditional Art and Modern Technique スター・ス・クリー・ム 2016/7/11 Volume 1
…Puppets are beautiful and can do any action swiftly. It makes me feel luxurious… The content is understandable so that it has enough impact on me as the first episode of animation. Although most people watch Thunderbolt Fantasy due to the fame of Gen Urobuchi, I still hope there will be more people to watch this puppetry work. It is very beautiful. It is also stunning that blood splash when puppets explode, split up or head be chopped off. I just cannot help but spit take while watching these scenes. It can perform in
this way because it is puppetry work. Also, the bloodiness shown in this work can be regarded as one of its features. (スター・ス・クリー・ム, 2016)
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
(商売は情報！, 2016)
(5 star) Memorable and Brand-New Worldview 商売は情報！ 2016/8/13 Volume 1
I have already expected Thunderbolt Fantasy due to the previews. After watching it, I am deeply moved. It is valuable to have such “dynamic” work. Motions of glove puppets are brand-new. It is impossible to find these movements on anime CG or a real person. I enjoy
this work so much because the story itself is charming. I appreciate TBF staff’s efforts on producing such splendid artwork. The story is classic and it is memorable but brand-new.
Japanese and dark atmosphere in this work is the type I love. I am fond of lines of big-hearted characters written by mister Gen Urobuchi with best voice actors’ performances. I also enjoy the theme song and passionate rhythm of the music composed by Mister Sawano Hiroyuki in Thunderbolt Fantasy. I appreciate their hard work. Thanks again, I want to visit Taiwan. (商
売は情報！, 2016)
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
(まーしあ, 2016)
(5 star) Fusion with CG and Puppet Show まーしあ 2016/8/21 Volume 1
I am deeply moved when I watch making, introduction to producing process, in previews.
First of all, I think the puppets are way too beautiful. Also, the staff creates powerful pictures by the bloodiness made by wielding puppets without hesitation. It is impossible for Bunraku to be presented in this way. I don’t think the puppeteers of Bunraku will do such thing either.
(^_^;)…The motions of puppets in Thunderbolt Fantasy are completely different from those
of Bunraku and marionette. It is worth watching! (まーしあ, 2016)
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
(テツ 104 号, 2016)
(5 star) Surpassing Shin Hakkenden テツ 104 号 2016/7/9 Volume 1
When I was a child, I watched Shin Hakkenden every day. However, as soon as I watch the first episode of Thunderbolt Fantasy, I think it totally surpasses Shin Hakkenden. I can’t take
off my eyes of this work due to the motions of puppets and CG inside. Story goes smoothly and I think no one will get tired of it. I finish watching the first episode unconsciously.
Although sometimes I can find the puppets tremble and vibrate slightly, the presentation of this puppet show is good enough so that I can ignore the flaws. I expect what will happen
next. (テツ 104 号, 2016)
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
Figure 38. Shin Hakkenden 新八犬伝 (yong_kiat, 2016)
(楽しいは, 2016)
(5 star) Meihokesatsu、It Is simply a Picaresque Novel 楽しいは 2016/11/30 Volume 3
All characters in Thunderbolt Fantasy practice the profoundness of wuxia. One of them, Setsu Mushou lives like a sharp “sword”. Protagonists also insist on their own spirit of
“wuxia”, especially the Sword Devil, Setsu Mushou shows the glamour of character adequately. It’s cool! (楽しいは, 2016)
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
(楽しいは, 2016)
(5 star) I Demand Local (Classic) Voice Acting of Glove Puppetry 楽しいは 2016/9/12 Volume 1
To be honest, if Gen Urobuchi doesn’t participate in this work, I won’t watch it. When I know this work will be a puppet show and wuxia genre, I feel like oh isn’t it better to produce the
anime or movie of Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer than this? However, I don’t think in this way anymore. The preview somehow makes me feel B-class. I am anxious but at the same time
look forward to watching the first episode of Thunderbolt Fantasy. I play the first episode
and indulge myself with it but it is still B-class eventually (smile)…It also involves the required elements in wuxia genre film…Analog (not presenting in digital) Puppets can do all
kinds of motions and it is stunning. Compared to first episode, the story pacing of rest of
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
drawback…It seems that some people decide not to watch this work due to its appearance (puppet show) but I hope those of you can watch at least one episode online…not the whole
episode but at least the first few minutes. Perhaps it is because the style of Thunderbolt
Fantasy is not mainstream so only some anime fans know this work (In fact, it aims at the
audience of anime fans). It is a pity. (楽しいは, 2016)
(ザク魂, 2016)
(5 star) Don’t Underestimate Thunderbolt Fantasy Because It Is a Puppet Show ザク魂 2016/8/8 Volume 1
What kind of anime is it? Huh? It is puppet show? Indeed, I think in this way in the beginning but I feel so cool after listening to the theme song which introduces the main characters in
Thunderbolt Fantasy sung by T.M. Revolution…No doubt it is a wuxia fantasy drama.
However, characters have witty conversations. I can’t help but give a knowing smile while
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
watching their talks. The moment the supporting roles are defeated is gorgeous. I associate Legend of the Galactic Heroes45 with strong cast of voice actors and poetry recital alike preview lines in Thunderbolt Fantasy. It is a shame that I have absolutely no regard for the puppet show. I haven’t watched such wonderful puppet show like Thunderbolt Fantasy since
I watched Bring Bring Story in childhood. (ザク魂, 2016)
Figure 39. Bring Bring Story プリンプリン物語 (yong_kiat, 2016)
45 Legend of the Galactic heroes (銀河英雄伝説) was adapted from a series of ten novels, published 1982–87,
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
(スペクター, 2016)
(5 star) Those Who Don’t Watch This Work スペクター 2016/11/14 Volume 1
I am not exaggerating. Those who don’t watch this work will get the short end of the stick.
Before I watch the first episode of Thunderbolt Fantasy, I was thinking: “I have no interest in this work because it is a Taiwan-Japan coproduction”. Not until one day I saw a comment did
I watch Thunderbolt Fantasy. A netizen commented: “You have to watch at least the first episode”. So, I bore to watch it…I was amazed by it as a result…indeed… It is a masterpiece
which infuses Japanese animation in to Taiwanese traditional culture. The end of the first season is way too cool. It is a must-watch work and is worth receiving more compliments.
(スペクター, 2016)
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
(masang00, 2016)
(3 star) It Is Brilliant But It Disappointed Me in Several Ways masang00 2016/8/28 Volume 1
In terms of glove puppetry, I have only watched the movie, “The Puppetmaster”46. All my knowledge of glove puppetry comes from this movie. After watching the Thunderbolt Fantasy, I realize that the simple folk art of Taiwan has evolved amazingly. I expect this work
every week because it is very interesting. However, it is not as splendid as previous wuxia genre films. I doubt if it is necessary to have Gen Urobuchi to write the script of this work,
pretending it is a Japanese production. I think actually it would be interesting to have Japanese dubbing on the original Taiwanese productions. It is also a pity that there is no Japanese subtitles and subtitles which specially explain the terms in Thunderbolt Fantasy to
46 The Puppetmaster (Si meng ren sheng 戲夢人生) was a film telling the life story of puppeteer Li Tian-lu (李
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
the audience. There are many terms including names of characters, weapons and attacking skills but it is hard to understand without explanation. For instance, this word「ゴインシ」
(“Goinshi”) appears most often without warning and subtitles. So, the word「ゴインシ」to me is simply the katakana of「ゴインシ」. I can’t fully understand the meaning of「ゴイン
シ」if I only watch the program. Indeed, you can check the word「ゴインシ」(「護印 師」) in Chinese in the official website of Thunderbolt Fantasy. Then, you’ll probably know
「ゴインシ」is someone like magician or someone who set up barriers but this kind of confusing term, which frequently appears in the work, bothers me a lot…No Japanese
subtitles is inconvenient and this is why I rate 3 star. (masang00, 2016)
(Amazon カスタマー, 2016)
(1 star) Although the First Episode Is Quite Briliant…
Amazon カスタマー 2016/9/7 Volume 1
As the story unfolds, it becomes simply cliché and serious. (Amazon カスタマー, 2016)
‧ 國
立 政 治 大 學
‧
N a tio na
l C h engchi U ni ve rs it y
(Amazon カスタマー, 2016)
(1 star) It Is Highly Praised so I Watch It But I Think It Doesn’t Worth It
Amazon カスタマー 2016/9/12 Volume 2
Although it is highly praised… It is a good idea to put the focus on puppet show indeed…
(Amazon カスタマー, 2016)