The pilot episode of any show, live or otherwise, is crucial to anyone hoping to form an approximation on the matter. Indeed, subsequent tapes hinge on the reception of said pilot. If it is enjoyable to enough people (critics, sorry), then its chances of further release are good. However, if it gets a rather cold reception, its chances are slim. This came in through my mind while writing the review for King of Bandits Jing, apparently a comedy following the exploits of the eponymous lead. It is a peculiar show, not only because of its strange inclusion of an ostrich with shades and bandanna, but also due to the fact that it has its charms and faults, but an objective review is somewhat difficult to compose in regards to it.

As mentioned before, it is all about first impressions. Judging by this first episode alone, our far-from-impecunious friend is in for a rough journey. The story (which is more like an episodic plot than anything) is only told in this brief fragment: Jing, being the duly-titled King of Bandits, is both feared and respected in the world of bandits, outlaws and other miscellaneous riffraff. His first business trip is paid to Cognac, the maniacal ruler of the Babel-like City of Thieves, inhabited by those ruffians who (unsuccessfully) attempted to purloin his half of the coveted Double Mermaids relic. The "double" in the description can indicate anything, from clones to close relatives, but the mystery is not revealed until Jing makes his grand entrance into Cognac's chamber near the top of the stone tower dominating the city.

This episode does have its strengths, I'll grant it that; the humor, although somewhat coarse (especially in regards to the scene with several stark-naked men in a balloon composed of their own clothes), is effective. The same can be applied to the animation, which complements the on-screen action quite well. Occasionally, the animation becomes a strain on the eyes (indicative of the rather sketchy design of the characters prevalent in practically every anime series to date, which is getting better), but nevertheless the work is a pleasant thing to watch, aesthetically speaking.

However, it is the story and other important factors that seriously hamper this review. As far as music is concerned, I can't remember a single instance where the score (even the theme song) was anything spectacular; it was mediocre at best. The story is nothing innovative, which is a tad disappointing for a country known to anime fans (and mild enthusiasts such as myself) for being particularly adept at fashioning brilliant works of plot and surprise. You've seen practically everything displayed in Jing, from the caustic and sarcastic familiar (in this case, a parrot-like bird with a face only Gilbert Gottlieb could love) to the traditional bar scene derived from Westerns, space operas and others in a strange mix of the sublime and jarring. This essence of familiarity can be seen in several shows, such as Nadia, which makes good with many references to other anime shows. This is not to say that Jing has a truly horrible plot, however; it could've been better done, in my opinion.

Overall, my initial impression of Jing has been a bit short of amazed; I was more bemused at the result. While definitely not a classic by any means (it is about as forgettable as, say, any given episode of Dragonball), it gets much-deserved points for a remarkable effort. Overall Rating: C