Halo Legends Review

For series fans, the enduring wait for Halo: Reach may seem insufferable. Fortunately, Warner Bros. Pictures has come to the aid of expectant enthusiasts with the release of Halo Legends, a collection of shorts created by some of the most renowned anime artists. The disc is a surprisingly polished compilation, with enough craftsmanship to satisfy both franchise fanatics and animation aficionados.

The compendium commences with Studio 4C’s two-part prologue, Origins. The episode is meant as a primer for casual fans, and may not offer much for gamers familiar with the Halo Universe. While the pace is languid and the artistry is rudimentary in the first half of the installment, the second part picks up considerably. Considering the source material, Origins II is unexpectedly stirring, with references to Hiroshima, the space race, as well as an examination into mankind’s survivalist instincts.

From a visual standpoint, The Duel is the highlight of the disc. The chapter employs a distinct aesthetic that evokes the cloudy abstraction of a watercolor painting to tell the story of the Arbiter. Filled with minimalistic magnificence, this episode is clearly one of the more Eastern-influenced pieces, and worthy of multiple viewings. Fans of samurai films will certainly appreciate this short.

Each of the remaining episodes- Homecoming, Prototype, Odd Man Out, The Babysitter, and The Package are likely what fans would expect from an animated interpretation of Halo’s universe, as viewers follow a variety of Spartan soldiers. These four shorts contain the bulk of the disc’s action; each episode comes alive with the pulse of an assault rifle and the pound of exploding plasma grenade. Separately, the chapters manage to propel the Halo mythos in a variety of noteworthy and distinct directions.

Homecoming exhibits the intense training and emotional fortitude required for young Spartans. The episode is reminiscent of Ghost in the Shell, with a haunting, melancholic undertone. While Master Chief isn’t mentioned, the chapter inevitably causes players to wonder about the prominent protagonist’s backstory. Both Prototype and The Babysitter incorporate the Orbital Shock Drop Troopers (ODSTs) into the storyline, contrasting the fighters against the celebrated Spartans. Sadly, the conclusion of Babysitter may not offer the sense of closure that some viewers were hoping for.

Living up to its moniker, Odd Man Out brings a bit of absurdity into the Halo universe, to mixed results. Spartan 1337 accidently falls from his ship, landing on a planet occupied by a trio of formulaic anime children, a T-Rex, and a Covenant Brute. Your tolerance toward quirky Japanese humor will determine how much enjoyment will be derived from this chapter.

While each of the seven chapters are presented in a sumptuous Dolby 5.1 mix, the disc’s opening and closing credit revert to a 2.0 stereo, which may disappoint audiophiles. Fortunately, the Halo Legends picture is consistently flawless, with pixel-crisp moving objects, and no visible artifacting. CGI sequences look particularly immaculate, and will enchantment discerning viewers.  The disc’s extras- from ‘making of’ features for every animation chapter to a summation of the Halo storyline, are impressive and a step above the modest auxiliary material found on most discs.   

Although viewers are unlikely to appreciate every segment on the Halo Legends anthology, there’s enough quality content to ensure that most purchasers will be satisfied by the disc. With an engaging examination of the Halo mythology and a superior amount of supplemental content,  this compilation is a requisite purchase for series devotees.