Random I-Tunes Song of The Moment: Un-Break My Heart By Toni Braxton

Products like this really give me a run for my money as a reviewer. They're tough to properly judge. Let's try to break it down together and discuss a few things.

• Product Quality
• Method Do-Ability
• Advertisement Integrity

Product Quality

The Anima gimmick is well made. It's concealed inside of what appears to be a automobile remote control that you might have on your key ring. It's well made, and I believe that with the proper care and handling it will last quite a long time. However, I will say that if you actually have it on your key chain, you'll be taking a risk that may cause the gimmick to break (more on this later). The matchbox that comes with the kit is also well made. It's been slightly modified, but done well.

Method Do-Ability

The modification on the matchbox is meant to allow it to work in conjunction with the Anima gimmick. The demo video looks great, but I could not get it to work. Often times when testing out a product, I may struggle getting it just right the first few times, but usually, I can "see" it working . . . in other words even though I haven't quite "got it down," I can see that with some practice it will do what the ad copy claimed. However, in this case, I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just could not get it to work at all.

Regarding the main effect, Al Baker's The Pack The Cuts Itself, I can appreciate the goals they wanted for an "improved" version of the effect. However, they only weakened the overall experience. The problem with the gimmick is that it is very awkward to work with. There is constant tension on the deck, and you never really get a squared deck look. Also, putting the cards in the deck after they're selected is tricky, especially the second card.

The 2 main points that they were trying to "overcome" were a constant hook up, and the ability to use a borrowed deck. There are methods for doing this with a borrowed deck that are much easier and way less awkward than this version. Second, the constantly hooked up thing . . .

To me, they went the wrong way. If you use the original Baker method, the hook up is just part of your wardrobe and very easy to access. It does not hinder anything at all during your performance. In fact, I don't think I've seen a variation where the hook up is a problem. However, in this case, you have dig into your pocket and set the gimmick up on your hand in an awkward way. It's so much easier to just have a piece of thread hanging down your coat than it is to get this gimmick to the ready position. Bottom line: this gimmick, though well made, only complicates the performance of this classic effect. I'm not saying it's not doable. I'm merely pointing out that it overly complicates the whole thing with really nothing gained by the complication.

Advertisement Integrity

The ad copy was pretty fair, I'd say. However, I do take issue with the claim that it's angle proof and lighting proof. It is not. In fact, on one of the performances, I clearly saw the gimmick which means that it was neither angle proof nor lighting proof. Further, you'll have the exact same lighting and angle issues here as you would with the original method. In fact, many of the modern handlings of the effect are much better with lighting and angles than this one is.

The ad copy claims that "you'll not be hooked up." Sure that's true, but you still have to have the gimmick in your pocket. It's either this gimmick in your pocket or a piece of thread (or hair) wrapped around a button on your coat. Either way, you have to have the gimmick with you and nothing is obscured by either this or the original hook up. The one advantage to this (if you can properly control the gimmick) is the fact that you can just stick this in your pocket and you're theoretically ready to go. However, that's not true either, because getting the gimmick ready for performance requires and awkward maneuver in your pocket. Again, the original method is much easier to get in the "ready" position.

Final Thoughts

This gimmick is well made, and may be useful for other applications. It's portable. However, you have to keep it in one pocket and your keys in another pocket, so you can't actually use its camouflaged concept. If you hook your keys up to it, you'll risk breaking the gimmick when you use it. Frankly if you're already doing The Pack That Cuts Itself, then your method is probably better. If you're not currently doing the effect, then you'd do better by looking elsewhere for a way to perform this effect.

Final Verdict:
2 Stars with a Stone Status of grubble (gem of a gimmick that may have other uses, but way too much rubble to recommend).