Ninja Scroll - The Series (Vol. 1) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)Since the 1996 release of the original "Ninja Scroll" feature, fans have suffered from misleading sub-par efforts such as "Ninja Resurrection" and "Jubei-chan, Ninja Girl." With the 13-episode "Dragon Gem" TV series, "Scroll" fanatics finally have something to latch on to, a series that fearlessly tries to live up to the standard set by one of the most important movies in anime history.
Easygoing, morally sincere, ninja-for-hire Jubei Kibagami is once again the focus of the series, alternately called "The Dragon Stone Treasure" or "The Jade Dragon." Jubei is based in fact on a character of the same name from feudal Japan, the Paul Bunyan or Wong Fei Hong legend for that country. "Dragon Gem" opens with a masked ninja named Rouga fleeing after stealing the precious Dragon Gem of the Hiroku, a ninja clan "destined to live in darkness," and protect the gem. The first fight scenes are a pretty good indicator of what is to come: an overwhelming amount of multi-skilled ninjas, some dispatched with ease, others getting a several-episode lifespan. Rouga is cornered by Hiroku's Migai, a spider-man-type guy, as well as two ninjas from the Kimon clan, who want the gem as well (you'll remember the Kimon as the clan that produced the Eight Devils Jubei fought in the movie). One is a swordsman with a flying bike/lance contraption, the other a woman who can produce ... gremlins. Jubei interferes, simply because they've disturbed his nap, and unleashes a new skill (in addition to his swordsmanship, Wolverine-like recovery ability, and the sturdy string attached to the sword): a sword slash that projects through the air (similar to Raijuta's Izuni in "Rurouni Kenshin"). Rouga offers to team up, but Jubei refuses, arbitrarily because he "doesn't trust people in masks," and because he wants to finish his nap and his dream.
The second part of the setup involves Shigure, a teenager kept from the outside world her whole life, and unknowingly being guarded by an entire village of ninjas. Her world is shattered when the Kimon attack; she also finds out that she is somehow the "Witch of Light" (or Maiden of Light in other translations). Rouga buys her some time to escape at the cost of his life; as he dies, begs Jubei to deliver the gem to Shigure. Jubei agrees, an important fact seeing as the only thing more important than justice and money to Jubei is his word.
So goes the series, with the Kimon and Hiroku clans sending their minions after Jubei and Shigure, who are joined by Dakuan, the Tokugawa government spy from the movie, and Tsubute, an athletic teen thief, and a slightly annoying character. Apparently, the union of the Witch of Light and the Dragon Gem can either lead to the Hiroku treasure, or unleash a hidden horror for the Kimon. The array of characters ranges from uber-cool, to unoriginally [weak]. Two characters borrow heavily from the wasp-hive devil from the movie: one controls a swarm of moths, the other a swarm of bats. There are the cooler characters such as Rengoku, a re-animator who can re-attach body parts to others or herself, and is a sort of twisted Inspector Gadget; or Anden Yamidron, the Kimon's No. 2, who can crystalize and destroy things by touch.
Don't expect 13 episodes with the same quality as the movie. Would you expect a "Ghost In The Shell" TV series to seriously maintain that level of animation for even more than five episodes? Obviously not. That said, the pilot four episodes are of a significantly better level of art than the rest of the series. The TV Jubei is drawn with the movie Jubei in mind--same raggedy brown clothes and split Raiden hat--but has slightly thicker eyebrows, less slanty eyes, and a thicker lower lip: not huge differences, but enough to be noticeable. The art, direction and movement in this volume are by no means comparable to the movie, but far above average for a TV series. The fight sequence between Jubei and Jashi, a ninja with a hollow eye socket that, among other things, can use a dead person's eyeball as a sort of DVD to play back their final moments, is beautifully crafted, with the quick cuts from close-up, to far away, to just the sounds of swords clashing, to images of their shadows battling at the speed of light. The shocking level of gore from the movie is also toned down in this series, as is the [physcial] content, although it doesn't shy from implicit [abuse] scenes. The characters are semi-modern, much like those in "Wild, Wild West" (yes, the Will Smith movie), probably owing to the character designs of Takahiro Yoshimatsu, of "Trigun" fame.
You may have to re-watch Vol. 1 after getting through the second volume just to better understand what's going on, with so many characters being introduced, and with bad guys fighting not only the good guys, but each other (think three-way battle). Thankfully, the series maintains the idea that these demons still exhibit human failings: a female villain embittered by [abuse]; the aptly-named Rengoku, whose desire for revenge many times blinds her to the original mission of [physcial] desire or pride or loneliness.
It should've been a five-star series; the major, but not horrendous, drop-off in quality from the first four episodes to the rest of the series is a little bit of a turn-off, as is the over-emphasis on fights, which affects the plot development, and the story behind the gem. It's a good series that benefits from having a great movie to work off of, but may suffer from the extremely high expectations fans may put on it.

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Trigun - The Complete Boxed Set (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)He's prone to whining, crying and throwing tantrums, but Vash still manages to get the job done! Since I was introduced to Cowboy Bebop a little over a year ago, I've seen many different Anime, and I have to say flat out that Trigun is my favorite. Ironic, considering that Vash the Stampede is the epitome of everything I couldn't stand about Anime before I became a fan, but I actually find Vash to be completely hysterical, and one my favorite anime characters.
Its Wild West meets futuristic Sci-Fi in this anime about a man with names like 'The Humanoid Typhoon' and 'The 60 Billion Double Dollar Man'. Beleived to be the cause of mass destruction wherever he goes, Vash is actually a misunderstood, friendly and peace-loving individual...who is armed to the teeth, with superhuman strength and speed, the sharpest eye on the planet, and a 60 Billion Double Dollar bounty on his head that many are just itching to get their hands on. He hates violence and won't bring himself to kill anyone...and he has his reasons.
The overall plot of the show is great, but only loosely follows the Manga, since the anime is very different towards the end. Every episode is a continuation in the overall story. The first few episodes are mostly comical, but as the series progresses, Vash's true enemies reveal themselves and the show begins taking a darker tone. Many revelations about Vash's mysterious origins are revealed, and at about the middle of the show there is an origin episode that explains it a bit moe. That said, this anime is both completely hysterical and filled with great action. Vash's ridiculous behavior, stupid facial expressions and whining and screaming add a whole dimension to the character. Half the time when I watched this show, I was laughing. Sometimes it was so funny I was doubled over and tearing from the comedy aspect.
Side characters Meryl and Millie are also good characters...Millie's rather stupid but resourceful personality make her one of the funniest characters on the show (and one of my favorites). A gun-toting priest priest known as Nicholas D. Wolfwood shows up, inadvertantly forming a friendship and partnership with Vash, which leads to more hysterical situations. When the main cast of villains begin to get introduced to the show, it really takes off. Some of these villains, namely Legato Bluesummers (one of my all time favorite anime characters), are among the most sinister and evil characters I've seen yet in Anime.
Trigun happens to be my favorite Anime. The overall series has its fair share of comedy, alot of action, but also alot of emotion, particularly towards the end of the show. Combined with great character development, excellent animation, and a very good soundtrack, Trigun stands as one of the best anime to come out in recent years. As the second anime I got into after Bebop, I found it to be very entertaining and easy to get into. While the manga differs a bit from the anime, Trigun is definitely a great show and is worth the watch for any anime fan. Chances are that if you liked Bebop, you'll like Trigun.

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The wild gun-crazy action of Trigun gets collected in a new eight-volume DVD boxed set featuring 26 episodes of brand-new art from Takahiro Yoshimatsu, the character designer of Trigun.

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Kakurenbo - Hide & Seek (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)Kakurenbo, like Makoto Shinkai's Voices of a Distant Star, was created by only a few people yet stands a cut above a lot of anime of the same type. It presents unique ideas that would never have been tried by any of the more mass marketed anime. While the emphasis of Kakurenbo is the horror story, it still has plenty to offer outside of that, like stunning visuals, plenty of atmosphere, and a haunting soundtrack that plays well as the story unravels.
Kakurenbo is about eight children who dare each other into playing a game of hide and seek (Kakurenbo) in a city that's become a kind of urban myth among the children. Following specific rules, including following road signs, wearing fox masks, and going in with seven children, will trigger the city into life, or so the myth goes. The children follow these rules down to one, and that is they actually go in with eight. But the city comes to life anyways, and their game turns into a struggle, and all the while one boy attempts to find his lost sister who played the game before him.
The creatures that come to life in this short anime are drawn from Japanese mythology, and are made to fit into a more modern world, giving them a unique appearance that's successfully terrifying. When placed in the dark setting, these monstrosities do their job. And with relish. By the end, once all the monsters, or demons, are revealed, and twists play themselves out, you should be left with a disturbed feeling of horror in you stomach, especially when you realize what lights the city....
This is one of those films that just don't compare that easily with others. It's too different. Yet it's still great and worth the money. The DVD contains more special features than most anime DVDs have, and this makes up for the shortness of the film. Plus, had the film been longer, the effect would have been lost, I think. I'd recommend this to hardcore anime fans who don't mind a little difference from anime to anime.

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In this beautiful mixture of cutting-edge CGI and traditional animation, a young boy joins a game of hide-and-seek to find his missing sister. Along the way, he encounters grotesque demons and a terrifying fight for his very soul.

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Final Fantasy Unlimited - The Complete Collection (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'd have to say I was disappointed when I first saw the first episodes of Unlimited. It was named Final Fantasy, but very little linked it to the incredible video game series of the same name. The story seemed immature and generic and not interwoven with many character driven side stories; only the Final Fantasy mascots appeared (Chocobo, for one); and the music didn't reflect the classical style that went with the games. So, needless to say, I didn't bother buying anymore of the DVDs in the series.
Then the box set came out, and I admitted to myself that I was at least curious about how this series would end, plus I had learned that Gonzo made Unlimited, and Gonzo has yet to fail me in any of my anime endeavors. I bought it, and I watched the first episodes again. I cringed, because suddenly I felt the same way and even found a few more things I disliked about it. But I didn't stop, and continued to watch, and found that, slowly, this series evolved. It became emotionally driven, with a lot of elements that made Final Fantasy great. There were mascots galore (the stated chocobo, cactuar, moogles, summons, and Cid). Some of the music heard can be heard in previous games (the opening song--not the title song--and the battle victory).
Still, it wasn't as Final Fantasy as its namesake, but I found that in watching the anime the entire way through that that was okay. Though it isn't a good chapter in Final Fantasy, it's a great stand-alone anime nonetheless. It has great animation, a strange style that seems both classical and cutting edge (Astroboy with CG). The story deepens as the two main characters search for their parents, and other story lines reveal themselves as well, such as Kaze's story, the main character in charge of a powerful gun capable of summoning creatures into battle, and Lisa, a martial artist with the power to control elements. The antagonists also turn into something more than they had been in the beginning. A deeper, more sinister foe appears later, one that adds a sense of dread to the story that wasn't there previously. All in all, it adds up to one decent anime. And the value itself can't be beaten. Twenty-five episodes of anime for less than fifty-bucks.
It's difficult, however, to recommend this anime. I'd only recommend this to Final Fantasy fans who don't take the game too serious. If you do, you'll be disappointed with this anime. I'd also recommend it for anyone who enjoys experimentation in their animation. If you enjoyed Kid's Story in the Animatrix, you'll enjoy this.

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The gateway to another world appears suddenly one day and with its coming awakens two mysterious beasts of astonishing power. When the monsters appear to destroy each other, they vanish –leaving behind only the inexplicable pillar of darkness and the unanswered questions of the natural world. 12 years later, the twin children of two scientists who disappeared on the so-called Day of Conjunction go on a hazardous quest in search of their lost parents. Boarding a phantom subway, Ai and Yu travel to Wonderland, a chaotic world of amazing beauty and thrilling danger. Accompanied by Lisa, an enigmatic woman they meet on the train, and Kaze, a brooding stranger with a demon-summoning gun, the twins begin an incredible journey that will lead to the mysterious heart of Wonderland. • The entire 25 episode Final Fantasy: Unlimited series in one thin-pak boxset! • Set in the fantastical world popularized in the Final Fantasy games! • Produced by GONZO Digimation (Full Metal Panic!, Gantz, Peacemaker). • Directed by Mahiro Maeda (Second Renaissance – Animatrix, Blue Sub #6) • Epic adventure of stunning visuals and fast-paced action and lovable Chocobos

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Escaflowne: Anime Legends Complete Collection (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)When it comes to the great classics of anime history, there are a few that stand out. Anime like Gundam and Macross, the genre known as Mecha. These shows are known for their drama, romance, intrigue, beautiful animation, classic musical scores, and giant humanoid robots who's pilots fight heroically against a seemingly unstoppable force of evil. Shoji Kawamori's classic Macross is really required viewing for anyone who enjoys Mecha sagas, delivering all the required elements in huge way. Shoji Kawamori is a genius, whose incredible robot designs have been used in many anime classics. Why do I mention this? Because in addition to Macross he created Escaflowne...
What is Escaflowne? It is quite frankly, the greatest television show I have ever seen in my life. It is the classic story of the hero with a thousand faces told from the perspective of the goddess/protector. It is a science-fiction fantasy epic set in a world that's a cross between Medieval Europe and the Asian/Middle Eastern regions. It is a story of an ordinary girl named Hitomi who travels to another world and finds herself its possible savior, her destiny intertwined with its heros. It is the story of small warring kingdoms that must unite in order to stop an evil Empire seemingly bent on nothing less than world conquest and destruction. It is the tale of a bold and chivalrous knight, a young king bent on revenge for the destruction of his kingdom, a cute cat-girl, princesses, merchants, villains with noble causes and villains who are monsters. And of course, the giant stone Mecha that could save the world...or perhaps destroy it...
If there exists such a thing in this universe as a perfectly balanced show, THIS is it. There is character development (like the perfect knight who has a hidden past, or the long-lost brother who works for the enemy but desperately wants to save his brother), an incredible plot (the lost people of Atlantis, an engine which can alter fate, and an evil emperor whos ultimate goal is to create a world-wide utopia of perfect happiness), super-cool technology (like the coolest Mecha I have ever seen ANYWHERE, the Guymelefs), heart-warming (or is it heart-wrenching?) romance (complete with love triangles that will keep you guessing), action sequences to die for (giant stone mechs fighting with broadswords!!! Invisible giant robots with liquid-metal tentacle weapons! Dragons!!!), and characters that are very deep indeed (Hitomi goes through an enormous transformation emotionally through the course of the story).
Although many people prefer Japanese to English in their anime, this show features one of the finest dubs in any anime you will ever watch, with great performances all-around. The standout though, is probably the voice of Folken [played to perfection by Paul Dobson] (the way he said some of the lines left me awestruck, and one scene had me ready to cry). The animation and art is also quite glorious, featuring a gorgeous watercolor style slightly reminiscent of Gundam Wing, but with better use of color and FAR more complex and beautiful backgrounds. I must say that the soundtrack of Escaflowne is one of the finest soundtracks to anything ever crafted. I currently have 3 CDs of the music (and I plan to buy the others one day), and I listen to it A LOT. Yoko Kanno's score for this anime could best be likened to some of John William's best (as it has hints of John Williams' influence through the use of horns to denote action and strings to show emotion, as well as choral chants for key moments). Take the piece "Dance of Curse" for instance. It reminds one a lot of "Duel of the Fates", but it came out first, and personally I think it's better. Played only twice during the entire show, it's one of the most thrilling pieces of music ever crafted. And I havne't even mentioned the awesome opening song or the INCREDIBLE theme that ends the last episode. In the end, Escaflowne completely transcends its genre to become a true classic. It's directed as well (or better) than the best movies of Hollywood history (using dramatic angles and the like), and doubtless fans will be eager to return to its world again and again. One of the few negative points I can think of for this series are that the main character and the cat-girl Merle can be a little annoying at times (especially toward the beginning of the series). But by the end of the series, I don't think there was a single character that I didn't love. I also really hate the song that plays at the end of every episode "mystic eyes". It doesn't go with the whole theme of the series, and after a few listens it really started to grate on my ears.
Believe it or not, for all its glorious ideas and execution, this show also has NO FILLER! Originally, it was to be a 36 episode show like Macross. So when it was cut down to 26 episodes, the filler had to go or there would be no time for the huge story that's told. And ultimately, it's the story that matters most. As I watched this show for the first time I found myself addicted to its world, in love with its characters, awestruck with it's beauty, and enraptured with its music. The ideas though, were what made me decide this is the greatest TV show I have ever seen. In this show you will see fate altered, armies nuked, people who are half animal, creatures that can shape-shift, and even an incredible sequence where Hitomi travels into the mind of a character to stop his journey into death and bring him back to the mortal realm. When I had finished Escaflowne my mind was full of questions. What if people and events were attracted to each other and fate was something you could measure and manipulate? Does the pursuit of a perfect world justify any means? And what of the Escaflowne Guymelef? Why was it built? Just how powerful could it ultimately become? To this day I am fascinated by the transformation that Van goes through, and I keep asking myself if the Escalfowne itself was a living thing capable of turning its master to evil. Maybe someday I'll know. Until then I'll have to satisfy myself with...Escaflowne.


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Hitomi Kanzaki is a typical high school girl, with typical high school problems. But when a vision of a young man battling a dragon becomes a reality, her life changes forever. Drawn into a strange vortex with the swordsman, Van, Hitomi is thrust into the strange world of Gaea. Entangled in a struggle over life and death, Van must learn to master the suit of armor, Escaflowne. Chased by the Empire of Azibach, Van and Hitomi will encounter both allies and enemies in an effort to unlock the secrets within Escaflowne. Hitomi's heart is stirred by love and adventure, but at times aches with sorrow. The entire 26 episode epic series in one package. Genre: Action/Romance/Fantasy

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Inuyasha - Down the Well (Vol. 1) (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)Rumiko Takahashi is one of the, if not the, most famous female manga artist in the world. With titles such as "Ranma" and "Maison Ikokku" in her resume, she has established a worldwide following and has garnered a reputation as the Queen of Romantic Comedy. Her latest undertaking, "Inu-Yasha", has already gained a cult following in the US and, like her other manga series, has been made into a successful anime series that has just a strong following in America. American publisher Viz, having already published twelve volumes in the US, now brings us the anime.
At first glance, "Inu-Yasha" seems like a typical anime series. Kagome, a Japanese high school girl, is transported to the feudal age of Japan through a magical well, where she unwittingly awakens a cocky, imprisoned half-demon called Inu-Yasha. You see, Inu-Yasha was after the Shikon no Tama, a powerful jewel that could grant him his wish to become full demon, but a village priestess called Kikyo stopped him with a mystical arrow. Suffering from untreatable wounds, Kikyo decides to die and take with her to her grave the Shikon no Tama. But get this: Kagome is apparently Kikyo's reincarnation, and she just so happens to have the Shikon no Tama with her! Then, through a bizarre set of circumstances, the jewel ends up shattering and scattering all over Japan, and now Inu-Yasha and Kagome have to team up and find these pieces.
Typical, huh?
Not quite.
You see, "Inu-Yasha" is a lot deeper than the first set of episodes will have you believe. Sure, it looks like something you'd find in just about every other fantasy anime series out there, but truthfully, the meat of the series is found in later episodes, when Takahashi demonstrates her true (if not bizarre) genius. But even with this in mind, the first three episodes found on this DVD do a really good job of starting the series and drawing you in. The characters are likable and three-dimensional, and the plot is executed at a reasonable pace. And with Takahashi's unique sense of humor spread all over, you know this series is over-the-top as well as dark and intriguing. Overall, the first three episodes are well done and should give the viewer a general idea of what to look forward to, even though Takahashi's plot twists are completely unexpected.
Visually, "Inu-Yasha" is one of the cleanest series around. The artwork isn't as clean as, say, that of "X: TV", but it's definately sharp and crisp enough to make an average viewer go "wow!". Character models present marvelous representations of their manga counterparts, backgrounds are vibrant and fully detailed, and movement is smooth and fluid. In short, "Inu-Yasha" is a beautiful series that does justice to its source material.
Sound wise, the music is a beautiful compliment to the visuals. It's not the most memorable of soundtracks, but Kaoru Wada's melodies are beautiful and wistful and can get emotional when they need to be. The one complaint I have, however, is that the songs tend to repeat themselves quite often and some songs are often nothing more than variations of other songs. But overall, the series' soundtrack has no real complaints. And the opening and ending...well, the ending song is really haunting and ends each episode on a perfect note, but who's idea was it to use a Korean boy-band song as the opening?
As for the English dub...to put it simply, the dub is above average. It does have its problems, but overall it's enjoyable. Richard Cox does a marvelous job as the half-demon Inu-Yasha, bringing the cocky anti-hero to life wonderfully. Monica Stori, unfortunately, stumbles at the beginning as the heroine Kagome. Many complain about her sounding too young, but I feel her biggest problem was that at first she didn't feel comfortable with her role. In later episodes she improves remarkably, but starting out she sounds somewhat stale and flat. Pam Hyatt does a respectable job as Kaede, but she can sometimes sound unenthusiastic and it's somewhat weird that she speaks in Old English and no one else does...
...which brings me to the dub's biggest problem: the script, written by Trish Ledoux, who also wrote the script for "Ranma". Trish has an annoying habit of using "Trishisms," which are cliches and catchphrases, in her scripts and it's these Trishisms that bring the dub down. Adding in her own "touches" such as the phrase, "Toto, I don't think we're in Tokyo anymore" makes the script feel dumbed down. Granted, the script doesn't drastically alter the story in any way, but these Trishisms are the biggest thing holding the quality of the English track back.
So in general, for die-hard fans of the show, the dub will be debatable because they associate the characters so much with the original Japanese voices and thus anything that doesn't fit will render the dub a travesty; nitpicking and complaints such as "they pronounce names differently" or "this voice sounds off" or "Kagome says, 'Sit, boy!'" will definately be popping up in many reviews to come. But for casual anime fans who won't have to go into the show with this kind of baggage for an incredibly popular series, the dub should satisfy.
Overall, the first volume of "Inu-Yasha" is a solid release. The only complaint I have about the show is that the content of the series was toned down from the manga to meet television standards (no full frontal nudity, not as much violence, etc.), but that's only a minor complaint. Many will complain about the episode count per DVD, but just remember that the Japanese got only two episodes on the first disc and you may feel better (maybe). But if you're still unsure as to whether you'll like this series or not, you can catch it on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block in a very, very lightly edited format. And since the show gets better as the series progresses over its 90+ episodes (it's still running in Japan, by the way), there will be plenty more "Inu-Yasha" to get excited about in the future.

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Rune Soldier - Complete Collection (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)Ok, people this is my humble opinion about the specific anime. So you may ask why this guy gave the show 5 stars...
To begin with and to get out of the way the most obvious matter, I bought the shows when they came out separately and had to pay much-much more than the amount that people will have to pay for the complete collection.
To the story, it is mainly about three women - one a mercenary, one a priest and sort of white magician and one is a thief - and of course the main character Louie and his female friend. The previous mentioned women are adventurers but in order to succeed they need a powerful magician by their side. Well, imagine who this one will be, exactly no other than Louie. Well, the problem with this magician is that a) instead of studying magic he prefers to drink beer, b) instead of using magic he prefers his fists and kicks -especially when they encounter monsters for the first time I was laughing so much that I had started to cry, c) When he opens his mouth he is full of s..., what will make the viewer crack laughing with what comes out of his mouth...
However, as clumsy as he may appear at the beginning - the main reason why the three other women will "hate" him (during the first episodes, something that changes later on); but are forced to stick with him for the above mentioned reason - proofs itself to be as if the creator of the shows wanted to mislead us. Why am I saying this: Because there will be occasions (especially in the first episodes) when Louie says from time to time something so mature, and his magic from time-to-time proofs to be seriously strong, that the viewer will ask himself/herself, is there something more behind his, in many times, ridiculous and funny behaviour? The answer is yes, as it happened with Vash of Trigun... And as the story evolves Louie becomes better and better all the time, in many aspects and ends up to ... the world...
(And are not fouled because, the story is not only about adventures but it deals with other aspects that become more clear later on, the adventures are basically something like the starting point of the story...)
To conclude, the story is funny, in other worlds people will crack laughing with what is Louie able to do or not to do, very enjoyable, has action, romance, and the storyline is not so bad (of course, please do not compare it with the philosophical meanings of Evangelion but for its genre as it is...)
Is it worth buying it? Yes, I can honestly recommend this show... Enjoy it...


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Armed with Merrill's cunning, Genie's strength, and Melissa's prayers, this all-female band has no trouble raiding ancient ruins, unless a magic seals blocks the way.They set out to hire a magician, but all the magicians they meet prefer ereading to raiding-except Louie, a brash novice who seems to do better with his fists than his spells!

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Knights of the Zodiac - Battle of the Bronze Knights (Vol. 1) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)As a Saint Seiya fan, I am utterly disgusted with what DIC did to the Saint Seiya/Knights of the Zodiac series. Not only is the original music cut, but the English dubbing is simply horrible. The voice-actors are mediocre but the dubbed script was unacceptably bad. If DIC insist on a English dub, at least they can put more effort in making a decent script.

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Astro Boy - The Complete Series (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)PLEASE, stop complaining that this isn't the original Astro Boy series. This has to be the most absurd basis for a review I've ever read. It's like yelling at a waiter for bringing you EXACTLY WHAT YOU ORDERED even though in your mind you really wanted something else. It's insane. You're not even reviewing the DVD set that this section is reserved for. You're just mad because you weren't paying attention. It's not like Amazon fooled you. If you had bothered to read the DVD specs in the first place, you would have realized that this set is from the 2003 TV series (which is beautiful and true to the "original" 1963-66 Japanese series). So, open your eyes next time. Don't bash it before you've seen it.
Any "true" Astro Boy fan will be happy to own this collection.

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Hellsing (Complete Boxed Set) (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Japanese seem to find the western version of the Vampire myth quite appealing, and the expression of that fascination reaching a peak with the anime series Hellsing.
Set in modern-day Great Britain, Hellsing focuses on the effots of a powerful private enterprise headquartered in Great Britain and dedicated to defending "God, Queen, and Country" from the ravages of vampires. Led by Dr. van Helsing descendent Sir Integra Hellsing (an icy-cool, determined woman) with the aide of her vampire minion Alucard--the coolest and toughest anime hero to come along in many a day, the Hellsing Organization faces an onslaught of man-made "freak" vampires and ghouls plus the dangerous Iscariot Organization of the Vatican and their knife-wielding human regenerator.
If you enjoy bloody anime, this series is for you. It's not nearly as gruesome as many out there but does have more blood and violence than any of the stuff shown on Cartoon Network today. If you like vampire anime, then this series is also for you; it's a neat take and breath of fresh air in a genre well-exercised in Japan.
The animation itself is done really well in terms of visual quality, with a blend of CG and hand-drawn cel work; however, it is somewhat more static in nature than much contemporary anime, comparable to that done for the Record of Lodoss War series.
The audio, though presented only in stereo sound, features a soundtrack you'll want to hunt down like a freak after fresh blood. Surprisingly, the english dubbing is quite good, featuring British-accented voice actors far superior to the average anime dub.
Hellsing is an excellent addition to any anime fan's library and a must-watch for vampire lovers everywhere.

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The worst enemy of the night - is one of its own…A secret war brews in the night - a war where humanity is only a pawn. The Hellsing Organization deploys in the shadows to protect the mortal world. But now, artificially spawned vampires have appeared, forcing Hellsing to call in their ultimate weapon - the rogue vampire, Arucard! After he transforms the dying Seras Victoria into a vampire, they join forces to combat the undead army, as well as her own newfound hunger!

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Inuyasha - Season 1 (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all for those writing negative reviwes shame on you!! This is a review on the ENTIRE season not on a few episodes you watched!! You cant get a good perspective that way....please readers...pay those bias remarks no mind and take head of a real review like the one in the spotlight and my own.
This season is awesome!! At first i was unsure of Inu Yasha having only seen a few episodes and not sure what it was about but then having gotten more experiance with it and seeing more episodes i fell in love and got this boxset of the first season. It is a wonderful series filled with what all amimes should have...action, comedy, romance, and great edge of your seat battels!! No one battels as fine as inu yasha and no characters are more deep than what you find in this series. Each character posses a flaw that contributes to the series and their character making it a fantastic anime.
If you are a fan of the works of Rumiko Takehashi then you are sure to fall in love. Inu Yasha i s a series you cannot go wrong with! I have watched A LOT of anime and Inu Yasha is definatly a favorite of mine.
What is alos great about this set that it comes in the original japanese with the english subtitles which are very accurate in their translation. VIZ is def. a well renowed translator and ditributor of goood anime. You can def. trust thier translations. If you dont like japanese then you can watch it in good ol' english and laugh away as Inu Yasha tries to clobber shippo or tries to understand Kagome. There are no too many special features but you can watch the beginning and ending with out the text which is pretty cool and you get a cast and relationship chart.
This season is great!! Do not listen to those bias twits! They havent seen enough to truly love the series! Before the the ones on this page this box set had a perfect review with 5 stars! Read more reviews if you still need convincing...buut believe me....Inu Yasha is good....no doubt about it.

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Kagome Higurashi, an average ninth grader, gets pulled into an ancient well by a demon, bringing her 500 years in the past to the feudal era. There, she meets Inuyasha, a half-demon who seeks the Shikon Jewel to make himself a full-fledged demon. With Inuyasha and new friends, Kagome's search for the Jewel of Four Souls begins...

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Naruto Uncut Boxed Set, Volume 5 (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)Let's start with an episode list for each disc:
DISC 1:
53. Long Time NO See: Jiraiya Returns!
54. The Summoning Jutsu: Wisdom of the Toad Sage!
55. A Feeling of Yearning, A Flower Full of Hope
56. Live or die: Risk it All to Win it All!
DISC 2:
57. He Flies! He Jumps! He Lurks! Chief Toad Appears!
58. Hospital Besieged: The Evil Hand Revealed!
59. The Final Rounds: Rush to the Battle Arena!
60. Byakugan vs. Shadow Clone Jutsu
DISC 3:
61: Ultimate Defense: Zero Blind Spot!
62. A Failure's True Power
63. Hit it or Quit it: The Final Rounds Get Complicated
64. Zero Motivation: The Guy with Cloud Envy!
65. Dancing Leaf, Squiming Sand
-----------DISC 3: Special Features-------------
-Storyboard Booklet over episode 58
-Production Art
-English Credits
-Volume 6 Preview
-Advertisements for some other shows
-Option for Japanese with English subtitles, or the option to watch in EnglishAlright that's what is on all the discs. As I generally do, I liked the graphics on the fold open container for the discs-nice pictures. As I already said, you can watch in English or Japanese with subtitles.
This picks up right where the last box left off, starting with Naruto beginning to train withthe Toad Sage Jiraiya. By episode 57, his training with the Sage is done--for now--and it spends an episode at the hospital with the previously injured ninja--such as Lee--. Then episode 59 has Naruto rushing to get to the arena on time because the final rounds are about to start and his match against Neji is first. Needless to say-of course he gets there-and the next 3 episodes cover his fight with Neji-I won't tell you who wins, just watch and find out. Then the remaining 3 episodes cover the matches of the other finalist, leading up to Sasuke's match with Garra.
It leaves you wishing you had the next box--unless you've already seen the episodes somewhere else. But you'll hvae to wait for box 6 to come out, unless you want to read about hem or watch them over the internet. Or, if it is playing on tv currently wherever you live, as it is where I live-though it is already way past this-, then you can watch what happens next on tv. There are plenty of places to watch for free, or read episode summaries, or to read the manga on which the show is based.
If you would like recommendations on where to go, leave a comment and I'll try to make sure I check it regularly to reply back.
As I always say, there are lots of episodes. Currently out--in Japan anyways, though I've been watching with subs over the internet--there are 256 episodes, and the manga is a good ways past that. I'm pretty sure the episodes will definitely hit the 300 mark and keep going from there, so we are looking at a LOT of boxed sets. There was an average of 13 episodes to a box, though the last two have had 14. But that is over 20 boxes, either way. So I highly recommend you buy them when they are on sale, and not at full price. Because you're looking at dishing out a lot of cash. Over time, yes. But still a lot.

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*3 DVD box set with 14 episodes. Featuring original and uncut episodes.*Includes original audio tracks and original series soundtrack.*English dubbed / Japanese (with optional English subtitles).*Collectible Naruto storyboards bookletFrom sketch to screen - Storyboard to animation comparison*Volume 6 Sneak Preview.With the final round of the Chunin Exam only a month away, Naruto receives some special training from Jiraiya, one of the three legendary Sannin, to summon and master the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit within him. Can Naruto turn this dangerous force into a strength and overcome the odds, against the formidable Neji?! Meanwhile, a dark plan that affects the fate of the Hidden Leaf Village begins to reveal itself as the much-anticipated match between Sasuke and Gaara draws near!

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Ah My Goddess - Season 1 Complete Collection (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This set includes all 6 discs from season 1. It's the same thing as the preimium box set except all the discs come in one case instead of 6, and it's alot less expenisve to buy this way.
As for the show, its very good. I'm surprised more people don't know about this anime because its one of the best ive ever seen.

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Item Name: Ah! My Goddess - Season 1 Complete Collection; Studio:ANIME WORKS

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Rurouni Kenshin - TV Series Season Two (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)I finally got around to purchasing and watching Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend of Kyoto. I was expecting it to be as good as the first set (Wandering Samurai) but I got a whole lot more than I bargined for. The "Legend of Kyoto" set is superb! The english voice cast was wonderful! The voice actors that were particularly impressive include Richard Hayworth as Kenshin (Fantastic job! This man has talent!), David Lucas as Mokoto Shishio (Beautifully performed! He really makes you want to hate him by the end of the series.), Sparky Thornton as Hajime Saito (Very well done! The "Wolf of Mibu" indeed!) and of course, one of the best known english voice actors in anime, Wendee Lee as Yumi (She's a seasoned pro. Nothing short of excellence in her performance.)
In these episodes much is revealed about Kenshin's past, as well as that of many of the other central characters that will appear in this series. The character development is excellent. There is no useless information, and it never becomes dull or confusing. The animation is beautiful, and the swordfight scenes are executed magnificently. There are no repeating frames or sloppy drawings in any of the battles. The music is wonderful and helps to emphasize many of the intense moments in the "Kyoto" series. I especially adore the opening theme "Half" by Makoto Kawamoto, and I love the closing themes, "Heart of the Sword - Before Daybreak" performed by L'Arc-en-Ciel, and "Let it Rain" by Bonnie Pink. And finally there is the story.
Kenshin Himura, commonly known as "Battousai: The Manslayer," was the strongest fighter in the Revolution 10 years ago. But since then he has opened his eyes to the sins of his past and decided to become a wanderer, never to kill again. He is now a kind, gentle, wise, and sometimes goofy, young man who always captures the hearts of the people he aids. Instead, he uses his unique reverse-blade sword to protect his loved ones and anyone who is in need of protection.
In the "Legend of Kyoto" series Kenshin is asked by one of the top men in the Meiji government to go to Kyoto and stop Makoto Shishio from trying to take over Japan. This is no simple task because Shishio, like Kenshin, was also a Manslayer. In fact, Shishio inherited the title from Kenshin after he became a wanderer. Kenshin makes the most painful decision of his life and leaves his friends and his new home to go back to Kyoto, the place where he became a manslayer. Kenshin joins forces with ultra-cool, and equally dangerous Hajime Saito, who now works for the police force, but was once a manslayer of skill equal to that of Kenshin. However, Kenshin's friends are not about to sit idly by and watch their beloved friend go to Kyoto and fight alone. Kaoru, Sanosuke and Yahiko will all travel to Kyoto to help Kenshin.
Aoshi Shinamori, an old rival and leader of the Oniwaban group returns with a vengence seeking a rematch with Kenshin, and the remaining members of the Oniwaban group are met by Kenshin and his friends in Kyoto. Also, Shishio has a lethal group of warriors known as the Juppongatana who each have their own reasons for working with Shishio. And finally, we get to see the man responsible for training Kenshin in the Hitten Mitsurugi Ryu, Seijuro Hiko the 13th (My favourite character. I love this guy!). Hiko is a tall, handsome, menacing-looking man with unmatched skill and knowledge in the Hitten Mitsurugi Ryu. He is very wise, intelligent, and incredibly arrogant (Or he has extremely high self-confidence, depending on how you look at it), and he has a relentless love for saki. Kenshin visits his master and asks him to teach him the ultimate technique of the Hitten Mitsurugi Ryu. He goes from wanderer to pupil once more for the sake of defeating Shishio. How Hiko and Kenshin met is revealed along with some funny and touching flashbacks from when Kenshin was under Seijuro's training when he was younger.
The "Legend of Kyoto" set is, without a doubt, the most powerful set of episodes in the entire Rurouni Kenshin series. Here, it is emphasized that a fighting style cannot rely on mere strength alone, but requires a strong spirit and extensive skill that can only be acheived by years of intense training. In other words, it's not mindless fighting that holds no meaning. The mood of the series becomes much darker and more serious than in the first set. But it also contains several genuinly funny moments. Kenshin continues to teach others that killing is never the answer to anything, and that living your life peacefully may be difficult, but is what will ultimately bring peace to your heart. The "Legend of Kyoto" episodes of the Rurouni Kenshin series have become the best set of anime episodes I have ever watched. Nothing is sacrificed here. This series is beautiful, touching and, in my opinion, a masterpiece onto itself. Buy this box set and see for yourself why this series is one of the greatest ever made!

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RUROUNI KENSHIN TV SERIES:SEASON 2 - DVD Movie

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Bleach - Season One Box Set (Original and Uncut) (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)Every seller has this item at $100 to $250. don't get ripped off. You can buy this product at walmart RIGHT NOW for around $35.. I just saw it there lastnight.

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Special Collector's Item "Chain of Fate" Wallet Included!For as long as he can remember, Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see ghosts. But when he meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who battles evil spirits known as Hollows, he finds his life is changed forever. Now, with a newfound wealth of spiritual energy, Ichigo discovers his true calling: to protect the living and the dead from evil. And when he vows to defend Rukia from the ruthless justice of the Soul Society, he and his friends must cross over and do battle in the spirit world...5 Disc Set with 20 Episodes!Bilingual (Japanese & English)English Subtitles

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Lupin the 3rd Episode 0: First Contact (2002) Review

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(More customer reviews)For over forty years now, Monkey Punch's Arsene Lupin III has been one of Japan's most treasured anime and manga
characters. He has appeared in a highly successful series of movies (one of which, "Castle of Cagliostro", was directed
by future auteur Hayao Miyazaki), three TV anime series, and over twenty movie-length TV specials, which are a
celebrated yearly event among fans in Japan. But for the longest time, diehard Lupin followers have never been really
clear on the origins of their beloved thief, nor the origins of his accomplices. "Episode 0: First Contact", the
fourteenth TV special (yes, America is THAT behind), sets out to answer the frequently speculated-on start of
Lupin, his best friend Jigen, et al.
When a TV reporter asks Jigen, Lupin's closest friend and longtime partner, how he became involved with Lupin, Jigen and femme
fatale Fujiko, he begins to relay a tale of his younger days. Many years ago, a millionaire assigned him to protect
a giant cylinder said to be made of unbreakable metal. It just so happened that it was that very cylinder that Lupin
and Fujiko, along with another thief named Brad, picked as their next heist. As one can expect, the events that follow their
meeting meet the levels of frantic lunacy that we've come to expect from the franchise. There are chases, gun fights, and
most importantly, the very first face-off between longtime rivals Lupin and Inspector Zenigata. Any of the franchise will
feel right at home here, and it will also provide some insight into the beginnings of all the characters.
With a jazzy soundtrack, great animation, and nonstop exhilaration, "The First Contact" is one of the Lupin specials
that doesn't disappoint on any level. It is without a doubt one of the best that has been produced thus far, even
topping the excellent "The Secret of Twilight Gemini", which is one of my personal favorites. This is Arsene at his
most mischievous, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you're a longtime fan, or a "Lupin III" virgin, this is a special that you owe it to yourself to watch; the former
party will enjoy the much-needed backstory for the characters, and the latter will get to experience the series everybody's
been talking about at it's very finest. This franchise is an unbreakable pillar in the anime world, and this excellent
outing proves it's staying power even 40-odd years later.
Now, if only we could get the "Lupin III vs Detective Conan" special on DVD over here...

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Lupin is after mafia boss Galvez's single most precious treasure: a treasure within a treasure. Jigen is Galvez's hired gun who fails to kill cat-burglar Lupin in his first attempt on the treasure and seeks revenge. Fujiko is the girlfriend of Lupin's rival, Brad. Zenigata travels from Japan to America to find and arrest Fujiko. Goemon seeks the almighty sword that cuts steel, Zantetsuken. This sword is mysteriously connected to the treasure in Galvez's vault.... After a series of twists and turns, these complete strangers become acquainted in their "First Contact," an epic adventure!

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Lupin the 3rd - Enchanted Lupin (TV Series, Vol. 10) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)The five episodes on this DVD are the final episodes of Season 4 of Lupin III Part II: The Red Jacket Series. What a great way to end a great season! The episodes on this DVD are (translated titles, but the ones on the DVD will be different):
48. Lupin Laughs While the Alarm Bell Rings
49. A Pretty Woman Has Venom
50. Lupin, Whom I Loved (Part 1)
51. Lupin, Whom I Loved (Part 2)
52. Emmanuelle Is an Angel's Whisper
Lots of excellent adventures on this volume. Episodes 50, 51, and 52 are exceptionally good, but episodes 48 and 49 are good as well. It's one of the better ones overall, but Vol. 11, which comes out on July 12, is even better. I highly recommend this DVD to anyone who enjoys a good mix of action and comedy!

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Lupin's next target is the Kentucky Derby's prize money at the Metropolitan Bank. It sounds like an easy project, with one exception-he has to get past its perfect alarm system.For his next little job, Lupin develops an intimate relationship with a wealthy widow to get his hands on her jewelsbut forgets the fact that every beautiful woman has a poisonous thorn. And then, an ordinary scheme turns out to be the most extraordinary incident when Lupin's old girlfriend-who had supposedly died years ago-turns up! In order to uncover what really happened back then, he investigates a secret research lab and is trapped by the ex-Nazi scientist who uses it to turn the dead into zombies. Finally, a 3-way fight erupts when Lupin, Fujiko and the cat-like Emmanuelle Poirot all travel to Thailand to find the scripture of immortality. Will Lupin be able to escape this kitty's deadly claws?

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