AnimeTalk

October 2009 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Hi everyone! Happy fall! Or if you live in New England like I do and it's already been 30 degrees and snowy for a couple of days, happy freaking winter...um, anyways... It's October, which means that another month has gone by without an anime column! Things haven't been too crazy around here, but John and I have been working, working, and working on getting reviews out as much and as fast as possible. There's no real feature to speak of this time around, though, and we're going to keep it straightforward and simple.

This month we've tackled some old favorites, some interesting new shows, and ones that have been going on for a while now. WTK also has some more bargains just in time for Halloween and I'm sure there are some ghoulish series out there just itching to claw their way onto your shelves. Until next time, be happy, be safe, and try not to get attacked by hentai tentacle monsters.

First up today is a show that has more to do with the season than it does with anything else, at least with regards to its title. The awkwardly named Pumpkin Scissors was released ADV (now known as Section 23 by the way) a while ago and made its way onto a two-part collection by FUNimation when they picked up the license. Well, now the industry's leading publisher has released the complete series as a nice little boxed set. In case you missed it the first or second time around, Pumpkin Scissors takes place in an alternate war-torn world. The whole place is a mess following a massive war and a group known as Pumpkin Scissors is going around trying to aid with war relief. There's a certain amount of mysticism here, some fascinating characters, and a story that is unlike anything you've seen before really. It's a fun show with a lot of heart and deserves to be checked out!

Another re-issue we checked out was the complete series of Black Lagoon. In a word: Awesome. This is one of the most badass shows to come along in quite some time and it's definitely something that should be on your watch list. It all takes place in the near future where a group of mercenary smugglers runs a business in the seas of South Asia. Just check out the review, or even better, just run out and buy the set. You'll be glad you did!

A couple of other re-issues come in the form of Magikano and Heat Guy J. To put it bluntly, don't bother much with Magikano unless you absolutely LOVE harem anime. It's just too cliché and dry at times. Heat Guy J, however, is definitely a show worth owning. It's very original, stylized, and is full of personality. Oh, not to mention it's one of the better science fiction shows I've watched in a while!

We've been all over FUNimation's re-release of the Dragon Ball Z and GT series over the course of the past couple of years, but with those parts of the franchise out of the way it's time to focus on the grass roots of it all. Last month we saw the first season of the original Dragon Ball. This one brings us back to a point in time when Goku was just a kid and really gives us a nice glimpse at his coming of age. After sitting through Z it was a nice change of pace to go through this one, though I must admit that the atmosphere and tone are almost identical. It's easy to see how this one could be love or hate, just like the other parts of the franchise are.

One of the recently released shows I got to check out this past month was Nabari no Ou. The first half of the show landed in my lap and I have to say I was pretty stoked. The series started out kind of strange with a protagonist who was indifferent to everything. He hardly bats an eye when he finds out there are ninjas out to get him and he doesn't even give a second though to discovering that he possesses an ultra cool magic ninja scroll inside him. The show really kicks off when the ninja world envelops him and he has to figure out what he wants to do with his power. It's a solid show and I can't wait to see what the second part has in store for us!

Another new show we sat through this past month was Ghost Hunt. This one wasn't quite as compelling as Nabari no Ou was, but it was entertaining enough to warrant a recommendation. Basically it's a series about a group of people who track down ghosts and solve other paranormal riddles as they arise. The cast is fairly eclectic, though for the most part the characters wind up in one stereotype category or another, and the atmosphere is kept light with some silly humor. Ghost Hunt can be a little too formulaic for its own good, but there are enough stories within its 25 episodes that really stand out.

Do you remember Gunslinger Girl? You know, it was that show about young girls who happen to be implanted with cybernetic parts and work for the Italian government as assassins. If you aren't familiar with the show, then I bet that description isn't something you hear every day. The original series had a very "Professional" vibe to the whole thing, and I'm pleased to say that the sequel Il Teatrino does as well. This picks up the pieces that were left scattered at the end of the first series and tosses you right back into the same stylish atmosphere and fascinating background. Another 13 episodes of Gunslinger Girl is a good thing, and the sequel is definitely worth the wait!

You ever get to a point with a show that you're just sick of it and you want to move on? I'm not going to lie, I kind of got that way with the original Naruto series. There was simply too much filler to digest volume after volume, and over time that filler turned into light contempt. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed some episodes, but by and large the filler was more obnoxious than entertaining. Thankfully Shippuden has finally arrived! The first volume has been released and we once again see a story that has moved forward (this time by a few years). Check out the review for more information. All I'm going to say here is that the only thing that didn't sit well with this installment for me was the fact that it only had four episodes. We were used to three discs worth at a time with the original series, but for the sequel we only get one disc with four episodes? Come on VIZ! Get with the program!

FUNimation continues on their region one anime dominance with the release of a long running comedy series that is sure to have wide appeal here in the states. Sgt. Frog Season One Part One is a 13 episode set that brings an outrageously funny show to American shores. Filled with wacky and outrageous humor the show is entertaining to both adults and kids, with a good number of anime insider jokes thrown in for all the otaku. If the series continues to be this strong it looks like FUNimation will have another hit on its hands.

More anime is turning up on Blu-ray too. The latest addition is Burst Angel, a 24 episode TV show that FUNimation originally released on six DVDs back in 2005 and 2006. Created by the fine folks at Gonzo, the program is heavy on the action but doesn't leave characterization and plot by the wayside either. With a perfect melding of traditional and computer animation, the visuals are very appealing, and they really stand out in this fine looking Blu-ray set.

It's the first game of the season, and the newly formed baseball team from Nishiura High School is matched against last year's champions. Can Mihashi, the insecure star pitcher, handle the pressure? Can viewers keep their interest when this animated match lasts as long as a real baseball game (11 episodes)? Those are the questions we find ourselves asking going into the second, and final, volume or Big Windup.

A battle between two giants that have raged for 100 years, a villain who can shoot an unlimited amount of wax out of his arms, and the return of Coby and Helmeppo. Yep, the second season of One Piece is in full swing and Luffy and his crew start the first big story arc since arriving on the Grand Line. With a new crew member, some new villains and some very tall new friends the show hasn't lost any steam and is still going strong.

There are several anime shows that are just fun to watch. They might not be as deep or as dramatic as the some of the biggest anime titles, but they are the shows where you pop in a DVD, hit 'play', and the next thing you know you've sat through 4 or 5 episodes and are yearning for the next one. Bleach is one of those fun, light shows, and fans of the action series will want to pick up Bleach Season Three: The Rescue. In this collection of 22 episodes, Ichigo and his friends continue their storming of the Soul Society in order to rescue Rukia who is scheduled for execution. With some exciting battles along with a fair amount of character development this set is another winner.

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AnimeTalk

August September 2009 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Okay, so here we are... a month late. Sorry about that! My excuse? Life, work, and I was abducted by a militant group of cat-girls bent on world domination. I'm still getting the fur out of my black shirt! Anyways, so what's up!?

We've been busy, but not too busy here at DVD Talk. Some titles have come through since our last column, and there are still many reviews in the works. What we're featuring in this column is the wave of Blu-ray titles by FUNimation, the reemergence of ADV of late, and many other sets that were released recently. WTK has a nice collection of bargains, including some sweet deals from RightStuf, and we take a look at the tepid live-action Dragon Ball movie. I don't know why we're looking at that, but what the heck! With that being said this column is on like Donkey Kong and I promise that the next column will be timely (unless those pesky cat-girls come back again).

Viz has released the second and third volumes of Hunter X Hunter, an anime series based on a manga series created by Yoshiro Togashi, the man behind Yu Yu Hakusho. The third set brings the show up to the three quarters mark and it's hard to believe that there's only one more set of TV shows left. This anime is so much fun I'm surprised it didn't last longer. In these episodes Gon and his friends (well, most of them) have reached their goal of becoming licensed Hunters, but what to they do now? Just as fun and lively as the earlier sets, these shows enjoyable for otaku of all ages.

ADV is back! The one-time leader in the US anime market fell on hard times and it was looking that they might not survive. They sold many of the property rights they possessed to FUNimation and went a long time without releasing any anime. I was ready to right them off, but it looks like I was a bit premature. ADV has just released several boxed sets of earlier released series, all at bargain prices, and I for one couldn't be happier. The more companies that are releasing anime, the better for the US anime market and consumers. It's a win-win situation. One of their recent wave of series sets is Saiyuki, an amusing light tale of demons, magic, and the possible end of the world. Another is Orphen, or Sorcerous Stabber Orphen as it is known in Japan. This latest release includes both seasons of the show (labeled Orphen and Orphen Revenge,) a fun fantasy series will make a nice addition to any anime collection.

We're happy to see that Funimation has jumped on the Blu-ray bandwagon! They have previously released some Dragon Ball Z feature films, the series Shigurui, as well as some assorted other titles on Blu-ray, but now they're going through their back catalog and have scheduled several series for release in HD. The first of these is Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid. Though some might be surprised that they release the third season of a series before the first two1 it's not such a bad choice. The show stands by itself rather well, looks great in HD, and is an excellent program to boot.

While there are a lot of mecha, fantasy, and harem anime programs available in the US, there are only a handful of sports shows. That's too bad, because most of them are pretty good. While I'm not a sports fan, I really enjoyed shows like Princess Nine and Fighting Spirit, so I was looking forward to FUNimation's new release, Big Windup. The first set contains the first 13 episodes, half of the series, but the irritating main character makes this show a lot less enjoyable that it could have been.

FUNimation has rescued another ADV series from oblivion: Welcome to the NHK. The series was first released in individual volumes by ADV (and finished by FUNimation) then FUNi put out the show in two half season sets. Now they've combined those into a nice full series collection. That's good because this is an excellent show that's different from most anime that I've seen (and I've seen a lot) and deserves more attention. Welcome to the NHK is a slice-of-life drama that peeks into the life of a recluse, known in Japan as a hikikomori. Sato spends all of his life in his apartment, supported by his parents and only going out late at night for groceries. That is until Misaki knocks on his door one day. She wants to try to cure him of his problems and tries to get him to meet her every night at the nearby park for counseling. It's a simple story filled with genuine people who have real problems. The best aspect however is that it offers up no simple solutions.

We've talked about how FUNimation has resurrected so many shows from the grave. Both ADV and Geneon lost their pants, but thankfully they fit FUNimation just fine enough. One of the dead-now-back-to-life shows we've seen recently is ironically Gungrave, an anime about a guy who comes back from the dead. This one is based on an older video game license by SEGA and actually breaks the rule of game-to-anime projects sucking. Gungrave is rather straightforward, but there are some nice twists along the way to keep you on your toes. The action is pretty solid all around, and some of the characters are nicely developed. If you were a fan of the original game on the PlayStation 2 or are just looking for a decent anime, definitely give this one a spin.

Like Fullmetal Alchemist? Yeah, me too. Unfortunately the Premium OVA Collection isn't exactly as interesting as one might think. This disc contains a few short (very short) animated clips totaling about half an hour in runtime. They are entertaining for what they are, but what they are is bonus content that was only recently produced. It doesn't really deserve its own disc and probably should have been stored for a future release, or re-release of the series. If you're a diehard fan and find it for dirt cheap then you could do worse. Otherwise consider this one a rental.

Romeo x Juliet Collection Part 2 came out about a month ago, and this one saw the conclusion to the fascinating retelling of Shakespeare's beloved tale of tragic love. If you missed out on the first part, then you should know that this show puts its own spin on the story and houses plenty of surprises for you. Sure there are plenty of things that are still the same, but in the end it's a quality show that proved to be more refreshing than I thought it would. There were some things about the ending that I didn't particularly care for, though I suppose not every anime is perfect. Ultimately I'd highly recommend this series.

Another series that FUNimation rescued from ADV's licensing issues is Moeyo Ken: The Complete TV Series. In all fairness this is a show that has all the right components to be successful. It has a decent brand of humor, the premise is endearing enough, and the characters are fun and boisterous. Unfortunately it just doesn't all come together by the time all is said and done. Within its 13 episode run Moeyo Ken doesn't really get going until it's almost over and that's really a shame.

I must admit that when Grave of the Fireflies showed up on my doorstep I was kind of surprised. I wasn't expecting a re-release of this film and it was something I've always wanted to see. I always knew it was out there, but I never went out of my way to watch it for whatever reason. Wow, am I glad I did! Grave of the Fireflies is a masterpiece in almost every sense of the word. From the animation quality right down to the storytelling, everything comes together so perfectly and hauntingly that it will stick with you for a long, long time. This ADV release is highly recommended and should be in everyone's collection!

FUNimation continues their dominance of the Blu-ray market with their release of Devil May Cry's complete series. This is another one of those game-to-anime endeavors that didn't totally suck. While DMC is definitely not as sharp as Gungrave, it's definitely stylish, has balls, and loves to overload you on action. It's worth checking out if you're a fan of the game, and if you want to see some nice hi-def anime this is a great starter. Consider the set recommended, though the show isn't exactly a homerun.

If you're looking for a show that really does knock it out of the park, then look no further than Irresponsible Captain Tylor. This show released by RightStuf is awesome in just about every sense of the word. It's old-school anime with a great sense of personality, a lot of humor, plenty of action, and nice dramatic elements. In case you're unfamiliar with the show it's basically all about a guy named Tylor who is about as lazy as you can get. Deep down he's really a tactical genius who just wants to coast through life, and this show is all about his rise in rank to captain a starship and save humanity from its enemies. It's an unexpected show that will totally win you over.

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AnimeTalk

July 2009 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Welcome back to another installment of Anime Talk! So far this summer has been pretty good to anime fans. So many new titles are coming out and with the bevy of conventions in full swing there are no solicitations and licensing announcements all over the place. This is really a good thing and it's a sign that the market is still relatively healthy. I know there's talk about the market being saturated and whatnot, but the fact remains that without new titles there simply cannot be growth. I say bring it on baby! As much as you want! I can take it!

So what have we sat through in the past month? Well, a whole lot action. Complete series such as Gad Guard, Samurai Champloo, Karin, and Law of Ueki made their way into our DVD players. Other sets came in parts such as more One Piece, Naruto, Kenichi, Eureka Seven, and so many others. To say we've been busy would an understatement! When you're done seeing what shows you should check out, definitely give WTK's home on Anime Talk a look. With loads of deals from RightStuf and some other vendors from around the web there's sure to be something you want at a price you want to pay. Until next time have a great, safe summer and stay cool while watching some hot anime!

FUNimation rides to the rescue once again. They've completed The Law of Ueki, a show that was left hanging when Geneon abruptly pulled out of the US anime market. Geneon put out nine volumes of the wacky and bizarre show, but the remaining four volumes weren't available until now. The bad news: FUNimation is only releasing the last discs as part of the complete series set so if you've bought the previous discs, you'll have to buy them again to find out how the show wraps up. That's not too surprising or unexpected though, with today's anime market and the fact that this is a rather marginal series. The show, about a group of middle school students who are given superpowers and have to fight until one is left standing is definitely off-kilter. With creative and strange powers and equally absurd battle conditions this show is just the thing for someone looking for something a bit different and odd.

Death Note was a fantastic anime series that had a beginning, middle, and end. It was very good, and very successful. But what do you do when you have a popular series that has finished? Come up with some thing new to release, no matter how lame! That's what Death Note: Re-Light, Vol. 1 - Visions of a God is, a poor man's version of the acclaimed series. It's basically a spruced up clip show, telling the story of Light Yagami from the beginning, but this time from another character's point of view. The problems are that it crams a whole season's worth of events into a little over 2 hours, which means A LOT is cut out, and two it's a story fans are already familiar with. Fans of the series can feel safe giving this a pass.

Monkey D. Luffy, the man made of rubber who dreams of being King of the Pirates sails on into the second season of One Piece. Filled with all of the silly humor and colorful characters that made the first season so enjoyable, this set is just as fun as the ones that preceded it. So sit back, relax, and let Lufffy and crew take you (at last!) to the Grand Line.

VIZ recently sent us a nice little Naruto care package to catch us up to speed on the series. With volumes 13, 14, and 15 all coming around roughly the same time you can rest assured that we've had our fill of Naruto! These three volumes bring 14 episodes a piece, but sadly they don't bring much in the way of canon for the series. Considering these were all produced ahead of the point where the manga was the writers for the show had to make stuff up. Nothing is concrete here and the show really feels like it's floundering about, which is a shame. There are plenty of moments in each of the three volumes where the show offers laughs, some nice action, and solid moments between the characters, but they are few and far between. What you'll have is filler arcs, stand alone episodes, and a growing sense that the show has become stagnant. We'll see what kind of resolution comes about with the 16th installment soon enough, and of course we can all look forward to Shippuden!

Have you watched Eureka Seven yet? If you answered no, then what the heck are you waiting for!? This show has been around for a little while in the States. It enjoyed a nice run on Cartoon Network and garnered 12 volumes worth of episodes thanks to Bandai. Now the wait is over and we finally have the first part of an Anime Legends collection for the series. This show about a boy becoming a man while falling in love and forming a bond with a killing machine is quite riveting. It's one of the more unique spins on the mecha genre and after experiencing the first half of the show, the second can't get here soon enough in my opinion. Highly recommended!

"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" I'll tell you where he is, he's in FUNimation's latest grab, Romeo x Juliet. This twist on the classic Shakespearian tale sees the Montague and Capulet families in a very different setting. With flying horses, magic, and Shakespeare references aplenty, Romeo x Juliet is a vibrant and unique spin on the love story we all know quite well. Sure some of the events in the first half unfold predictably, but there are plenty of surprises as well. Check out the review for more information, but if you want to save yourself some time just consider the series highly recommended.

It's safe to say that Samurai and Champloo go together, like...well... Samurai Champloo. This high octain series comes from the mind of Shinichiro Watanabe, who was the man behind Cowboy Bebop. It's full of hip hop, it's irreverent, and it's incredibly fun to watch! Then again, by this point the show is pretty legendary due to the sheer popularity of it. If for any reason you haven't watched it yet then definitely pick up this FUNimation re-issue of the Geneon boxed set. You'll be glad you did!

Speaking of Geneon shows that FUNimation has saved recently. The publisher has released complete series of Karin and Gad Guard to the masses. In case you missed them the first time around these re-issues are a pretty solid bet to get a lot of good anime for not a lot of dollar. Karin is a series about a young vampire who is more human than undead and Gad Guard is about a boy in a downtrodden world who gets his hands on a powerful machine. Both are very entertaining in their own way and worth a look.

The first half of Kaze no Stigma has just arrived. This is one of the latest from Gonzo to come out in the States. What's it all about? Well, you see, there's this family of fire element users and they cast out one of their members when he doesn't perform as they'd hope he would. One day he comes back and a little war starts to brew between them. It's a little more complicated than that, but hey, I only have a paragraph! There are some highlights to the show, but it's very dry otherwise and probably worth a rental in the end.

Keeping along the lines of FUNimation and half seasons, they released a few second parts over the course of the past month. Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple, Heroic Age, and D.Gray-Man all got their second round of episodes. For D.Gray-Man and Kenichi they still have more to present, but Heroic Age came to a close. I wasn't too big on the ending, but the rest of the set was worthwhile with a lot of action. As far as the other shows are concerned Kenichi continues to be a lot of fun and D.Gray-Man steps up the action and level of intrigue. All three deserve to be picked up!

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AnimeTalk

June 2009 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Welcome back boys and girls! It's time for the June 2009 edition of Anime Talk!

This month we're once again supplying you with a bunch of reviews for shows you should (or should not) consider. The summer months are here and before you know it you'll be inside with the AC blasting looking for something to watch. How lucky for you that John and I have your back! Over the course of the past month we got the opportunity to check out some cool stuff such as Last Exile, Heroic Age, Murder Princess, Sword of the Stranger, and Black Lagoon.

If you scroll towards the bottom of the column you'll also see my impressions from Anime Boston 2009. Last time around I promised to bring you all kinds of feedback about the convention, though I am sad to report that I was unable to get to the interviews I was expecting to due to other obligations. There's always next year and other conventions though! Until then go ahead and read some of my notes from the convention floor and if you happen to have attended Anime Boston drop us a line. We'd love to hear about your experiences and thoughts as well!

And finally, we once again bring you the latest updates from RightStuf. There's some pretty sweet stuff up for grabs this week so be sure to check that out. Wen-Tsai also supplies even more anime bargains as well! Summer is heating up and there are some good deals out there!

All a movie needs to do to succeed is tell a simple story well. That's what Sword of the Stranger does. While it is set in ancient Japan during a time of war and strife, the movie's focus on a boy, his dog, and the wandering ronin that decides to protect them is straight forward and heartfelt. Everything else is just dressing and this film has a lot of that too. Released by Bandai, the Blu-ray presentation looks and sounds great and has a good number of bonus featurettes, something that anime often lacks.

The second season of Black Lagoon picks up where the first one left off, continuing the story of Rokuro, a Jaanese salaryman who ends up joining a small group of free-lance pirates. This second set of adventures is a little darker than the first, but there's still a lot of kick-ass action, excellent animation, and multi-layered stories that made the first season such a fun ride. If you enjoyed the earlier releases, The Second Barrage, as it is billed on the cover, is a no-brainer.

FUNimation continues to dominate the US anime market releasing a good number of shows, often in nice season sets. One of the latest such releases is Murder Princess, a short but sweet OVA series that deserved a longer run. The story focuses on a freelance mercenary and an exiled princess who happen to switch bodies. With a fair amount of humor and a lot of action, this six-episode program makes for a nice evening's entertainment.

The final set of dubbed Gurren Lagann episodes closes out the show with the last nine episodes. Though sometimes anime programs have a hard time wrapping things up, that wasn't the case with this show. It concludes just as strong as it started, making this one of the better releases of the year. Still filled with a lot of humor and some kick-ass mecha action this is one of the most enjoyable anime series to come around in a while.

Funimation continues their release of the Dragon Ball Z theatrical movies on Blu-ray with a triple feature featuring all three of the Broly movies: Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan, Broly: Second Coming, and Bio Broly. I've never been a big fan of the Dragon Ball movies, and while these are fun, sort of, they lack the charm and excitement of the TV series. This disc starts off with an okay feature, but it goes downhill from there.

Over the past month we've gone through yet more Dragon Ball Z titles and have finally reached an end. The ninth, and final, season of Dragon Ball Z has arrived and it brings a fitting close to the epic series. Likewise FUNimation has also issued another two-pack of movies, which brings that line to an end as well. What's in store for FUNimation's license now? Well, they really want to get their hands on Kai, there's no doubt about that, but until they do you'll just have to watch DBZ all over again!

Wallflower Complete Collection Part 1 was released earlier this year, and while John got the opportunity to check it out earlier, I was a little late to the game. I guess that's not necessarily a bad thing, since the show's not exactly the best. In case you're unfamiliar with the series it all comes from the mind of Shinichi Watanabe and features a trio of metrosexual boys trying to turn an ugly duckling of a girl into a proper young woman. That along is an entertaining premise and some of the humor really works, but there are just far too many instances where it doesn't. The show feels so stretched out it's not even funny and there are just far too many moments that leave you scratching your head. Some may appreciate this show and you might want to give it a rental to see if it's up your alley.

Boobs and anime go together like, well, boobs and anime. You're not going to get any argument out of me that fan service is something to appreciate now and then, but when a show is based entirely around it I can't help but tune out somewhat. Ikki Tousen has certainly been around for a while and chances are good you've seen the characters in one compromising pose or another. The show attempts to wrap a story about ancient Chinese warriors fighting a historical war around the bodies of lush, ripe teenage girls. Cleavage and panties fly in this oft ridiculous fighting series, though the fact that it never really takes itself too seriously works strongly in its favor. A rental is about as good as it gets though.

More FUNimation licenses saving heroics came about last month as the publisher rescued Last Exile from obscurity. This was an awesome move on their part because Last Exile is one of the most unique and groundbreaking series in recent memory. Produced by Gonzo the series takes place in another time and place and features two worlds tethered together by a tunnel of sorts. These worlds are in constant conflict and humans have developed technology that allows them to create nifty flying machines similar to planes. The whole show focuses on a quest for a ship called the Exile and a pair of kids is its lead stars. From start to finish I can't say enough good things about the show. Check out the review for more details, but if you want to cut out the middle man just go buy the set. You'll be glad you did!

One of the show's previewed at Anime Boston 2009 this year was Heroic Age. Imagine how nice it was to get home from the convention and have it waiting for me! This new property released by FUNimation takes place far into the future and features humanity on the brink of extinction and locked in a war with other alien Tribes. One day they happen across a boy named Hero who changes their fate. He possesses great power and provides humanity with hope again. This release contains the first half of the series and though it was clichéd, by the end I found myself looking forward to the second part.

What? You haven't heard about Wolf's Rain? Have you been living under a rock? Surely you jest! This series by Bandai has been around for quite some time in numerous forms. The show was broadcast on Cartoon Network and Bandai has released individual volumes plus at least two complete collections since they go the license. Well, here's your fifth chance to watch the show! Bandai just released a third complete collection a while ago and if you missed the series before, shame on you! This is a stunning and original anime that begs to be in just about everyone's collection.

And finally we close today with a look at Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete for Blu-ray. This marks the third time the film has been available in the States, but the first time on Blu-ray. This director's cut of the movie is undeniably made better by the additional 26 minutes of content, and what's not to love about near perfect picture and sound quality. To say the release presents a stunning display would be an understatement, but don't toss out that old version of the film just yet. The bonus features are rather scant here and the stuff on the Limited Edition isn't carried over unfortunately.

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AnimeTalk

May 2009 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Welcome to this month's installment of Anime Talk! So many exciting things are happening around in the industry, the country, and in our very own little corner of DVD Talk!

Starting with the changes in our neck of the woods, I'm pleased to announce that Right Stuf, Inc. has signed on as our official sponsor! They are without a doubt the premier anime store with great prices, a very wide selection of anime titles, and unparalleled customer service. We're excited to have them with us. Moving on to other things, what's going on in the industry? Well, FUNimation, Bandai, VIZ, Media Blasters, and ADV continue their release schedules with new title solicitations and repackaged collections. For this column we've pulled together some reviews of great shows such as Wolf's Rain, Moonlight Mile, D. Gray-Man, Gankutsuou, Shigurui: Death Frenzy, and so much more. Of note is the inclusion of some Blu-ray releases as well, so be sure to check it out if you're a high definition junkie.

Now, it's probably also worth noting that convention season is looming upon us! Sure there is almost always a convention being held somewhere, but once again we'll be attending Anime Boston this year. We'll be conducting interviews, hitting up industry related panels, drooling all over the dealer's room, and we'll probably check out some other things too. I'll be sure to put together a nice report when all is said and done, and I'm sure there will be plenty of pictures too!

Exciting times are ahead for sure, but by the time our next column roles around there may be some special updates as well. Until then, on with Anime Talk!

Shigurui: Death Frenzy is a violent and bloody anime that can be hard to watch at times. Based on the first chapter of a book by Norio Nanjo, it takes place in the 1600's in Japan, a very violent period, and the show doesn't flinch away from showing just how hard and demanding life could be. With CGI animation for some of the more gruesome sections, this show is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Like other anime shows (Gantz comes to mind) if you can get past the gore and spewing blood you'll find an excellent series that is well worth watching. This series is also the first time that FUNimation has released an anime show on DVD and Blu-ray concurrently. There's a kink or two present, but the splendid image and compelling story make up for the flaws.

Funimation continues their release of the Dragon Ball Z theatrical movies on Blu-ray with another double feature: Super Android 13 and Bojack Unbound. The DBZ films aren't as exciting as fun as the series itself, though they make nice diversions, and these two are good examples of that. Since they're really short they don't have any time to catch viewers up on what's going on, so if you're not familiar with the characters, stories, and background of the show you'll be totally lost. For fans of the show however, these are worth watching.

Anime shows are often outer space adventures involving huge mecha, galaxy-crossing spaceships, or system-sprawling empires. Those are fun and I enjoy them, but some of my favorite SF anime series are the ones that take a more realistic, near-future look at space travel. Shows like Planetes, which looked at the problem of man-made debris orbiting the earth, are easy to connect with. Another such show is Moonlight Mile, the story of two friends who are both trying to get into space. Gripping, beautiful, and unexpectedly engrossing this show has all of the adventure and excitement of a mecha series with the human face of a good drama. FUNimation has now released the entire first season in an attractive two disc set that will be a great addition to any anime library.

Another Dragon Ball Z movie release has hit standard definition as well. Rather than provide two films, this one includes three, and they all happen to revolve around a guy named Broly. In Broly: Legendary Super Saiyan, Broly Second Coming, and Bio Broly our heroes are put to the test once again. Naturally it's basically the end of the world and Broly is the big bad guy that has to be taken down. Lucky for the universe Goku comes back from the dead to put him down and the rest of the Z fighters are around to chip in as well. Of course there's more to the story for each film, but the same standard holds true that each is basically an extended episode and little more than that.

Project Blue Earth SOS rocks, and there's no question about it! This science fiction show has already been released by ADV, but FUNimation picked up the rights to the license along the way. In case you missed it the first time around, you should know that this is probably the best sci-fi anime you haven't watched. It's a throwback to science fiction shows from the 1950's and it pays so much homage to the genre it's not even funny. Sure it has the potential to be cliché, and yes it is a little over-the-top at times, but my goodness is it a fun show to watch!

Another volume of Darker than Black has made its way onto store shelves as well. This brooding futuristic series continues its march forward as more about the characters are revealed. We get another fine pair of storylines with four episodes here and we even learn a little more about Hei, and the world he lives in. The goals of the Syndicate still aren't quite clear, but as we edge ever closer to the truth this series is really being developed quite nicely.

Stylish, engaging, captivating, and original are all words I'd use to describe Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. This remake of the classic French tale takes place thousands of years into the future and depicts a possessed blue-skinned man seeking revenge against a specific Parisian noble family. This show has been around for a while and it used to be in Geneon's hands, so chances are good you may have already seen it due to the sheer amount of critical praise it received. Even though FUNimation has re-released it as a collection it's nice to know that praise still holds true. This show is incredible and it's undoubtedly one of GONZO's best works.

Want another incredible show that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final episode roles? Check out Wolf's Rain by Bandai Entertainment. Sure, like Gankutsuou, this show has been around for a while. It already has two other collections on the market and has been featured on Cartoon Network ad nauseam. But you know what? The attention is worth it. Few shows have such an original concept and bring together so many unique elements so seamlessly. Check out the review of the Perfect Collection to learn more, but needless to say if you haven't seen this show yet, it's an absolutely must.

Another release by Bandai, Ghost Slayers Ayashi, has recently had its second part come out. This package includes the third and fourth volumes and contains another ten episodes. The story about Yuki continues as he and other members of the Ayashi continue to track down the demonic Youi. These episodes do bring new understands about the characters to the surface, and they are definitely developed much better than they were in the first part. The tone of this show is still dreadfully glum, and the series is decidedly darker than others of this nature. That's not a bad thing, and it sets this show apart from the rest, but you definitely need to have an appreciation for moody anime in order to "get it".

Isn't it just a little ridiculous how popular many of Shonen Jump's series are? I mean, with titles such as Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach you simply can't argue the facts. Their latest effort, D.Gray-Man has recently made its way to the States and I'm pleased to say that it's every bit as worthy of the Shonen Jump moniker as those others. This show features a very different kind of hero, and rather than be gung-ho with confidence he comes from a troubled past and has been cursed to boot. This first part of the show is definitely a nice way to get introduced and I'm really interested to see where this one goes!

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AnimeTalk

April 2009 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Ok, so another month has come and gone. What has changed with the industry? Well, obviously there are still plenty of titles coming out. FUNimation, VIZ, Bandai, and even ADV have all been keeping otaku happy with plenty of releases to ring in the Spring. From individual volumes of ongoing series to new shows and complete collections, there have definitely been a lot of shows hitting the streets since our last column.

It's also interesting to note that FUNimation has been showing off current shows in Japan as well. Like Fullmetal Alchemist? Well, the remake "Brotherhood" just came out in Japan and FUNimation has been streaming it complete with English dubs. It's not even released on disc yet, but you can check them out http://www4.funimation.com/video/?page=show&b=280 here if you want. As far as what's been released in the States? Well, there's a big pile of words below that get into all of that. Just below those you'll find some anime bargains from our buddy WTK. Let's get on with the show!

Over the last year or so FUNimation has become the largest anime distributor in the US. It's easy to see why. They have a wide variety of titles, they're releasing anime in season and half season sets at a reasonable price, and they're still offering the choice of subtitles or dubs. A little over a year ago they started releasing the One Piece TV show, one of the most popular anime and manga (which the show is based on) titles in Japan. Released uncut in two disc, 13-episode sets John loved the first two sets and was excited to see that FUNimation was releasing one of the One Piece movies on Blu-ray. How cool is that? Well, not too cool actually. One Piece Movie 8: The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta ends up being a confusing mess, and looses a lot of the fun and charm that makes the show so enjoyable. It's hard to understand if you've seen the FUNimation releases, and if you haven't just give it up.

When Samurai 7 was first released in the US the series was met with rave reviews and DVDTalk even voted it one of the best anime series of 2005. John Finally was able to see the series when it arrived on Blu-ray and found that it was not good as most critics thought. It is a good solid anime show. If he had never seen the original Seven Samurai, he'd be raving about the themes and enticing story. As it is, this series doesn't live up to the original. Some of the added subplots weaken the main thrust of the show, and there are some anime clichés that work their way in that make it difficult to suspend your disbelief. (Jumping up and cleaving a 30 foot tall mecha in half for example.) Even so, this is a classic story and told with good animation and a respect for the original. It's exciting and engrossing and well worth checking out.

As with movies, there are a few anime series that get a lot of buzz and popular acclaim. More times than not however, the reality doesn't live up to the buzz. Sure, these over-hyped shows are often good, but not as spectacular and groundbreaking as one would hope. It was with that mindset that I started watching Fullmetal Alchemist. I was expecting a good show, one that was definitely above average, but I wasn't prepared for the all around excellent show that I saw. Filled with exciting stories, heart-felt moments, and surprising twists as well as being set in a unique universe that's complex and interesting, Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the better anime series out there. If you've managed to miss it so far, FUNimation has released the first season in an attractive package that's well worth picking up.

Although the first volume of Nerima Daikon Brothers that ADV released received mixed reviews, I was interested in seeing the show because of the director, Shinichi Watanabe. He was behind one of my favorite comedy animes, Excel Saga, where he had a role in the show as the show's director. (You'd have to see Excel to understand.) That first show was so outrageous and off the wall, I had to see how this musical comedy would fare. (Yes, you read right, this is a musical.) Turns out it is hilarious. With all the irreverent and bizarre occurrences that you'd expect from a Watanabe show and some wonderful catchy songs this show is a must-see.

The first half of Ouran High School Host Club was a cute, light comedy that made fun of traditional shojo and harem shows. The stories weren't very deep and played for mild laughs and it was fun to watch. The second half of the series [reviewed here]however is a bit of a different creature. Not content to rest on their laurels and finish the show off in a predictable way, the creators raised the drama up a notch by delving into the backgrounds of the club members and making them three dimensional characters. They haven't forgotten the humor however and the show is still just as funny, but much more interesting.

What if you could easily get revenge on someone who wronged you? Not just even the score, but make sure that they paid for their transgressions for eternity by burning in Hell? Would you do it? What if you had to pay a price for this vengeance that's nearly as high as the price that your victim is paying? That's the premise of Hell Girl a creepy and mysterious anime that FUNimation has recently released in a complete first season set. While the show starts off strong, after three or four episodes it gets very repetitive and even the introduction of a couple of new characters 1/3 of the way through the show can bring it out of its rut.

It's hard to translate comedy across cultures and languages, especially in anime. For every hilarious Japanese cartoon that crosses the Pacific, there are three that just fall flat. That's why I approached Pani Poni Dash with a bit of hesitancy. Was this going to be one of those shows that just didn't work? Luckily the answer was "no." The program is constantly amusing and sometimes hilarious, and while some of the humor was lost on this westerner, overall the show is good for some solid laughs.

Let's face it; there is a lot of mediocre anime out there. It seems like you have to sit thought a handful of so-so shows in order to discover one good one. So why do we otaku do it? Answer: in the hopes of discovering a show like Fullmetal Alchemist. It's the great shows that make it all worth while, and Fullmetal is definitely one of them. Filled with exciting battles, a convoluted yet not confusing plot and some truly touching drama this show is one of the better shows to come along. While the first season was excellent, the second is even better. Building off the earlier episodes this season expands the world of the Elric brothers and alos answers a lot of lingering questions, though they're not always the answers we want.

Even among anime fans there are only a couple of directors of Japanese animation who are well known. Of course Hayao Miyazaki, known as the Disney of Japanese animation, is the most famous anime director but if pressed to name another one the most popular answer would likely be Shinichi Watanabe. The hand behind hilarious Excel Saga and almost equally funny Nerima Daikon Brothers, Watanabe often inserts himself as a character into his shows, something that only adds to the wackiness of the programs. So when I heard that Shinichi directed another comedy The Wallflower, and that FUNimation was releasing the show in two half-series sets (another of the shows they acquired from ADV,) I was stoked. My excitement was short-lived however as the program wasn't as funny, unique, or zany as I was hoping.

One of the more interesting and thought-provoking anime shows to come along in a while wraps up with Death Note Vol. 9. It is the final showdown between Light and N and the future of world lies in the balance. It's a little sad that the show has come to an end, but it ended at just the right time. The show was still intriguing up to the last, though the cat-and-mouse games were getting a little tiring at the end.

The second set of dubbed Gurren Lagann episodes is just as a fun, funny, and hyper-kinetic as the first. The series moves fast, with several unexpected twists and turns keeping the interest level up and the narrative flowing along. Filled with a lot of humor and some kick-ass mecha action this is one of the most enjoyable anime series to come around in a while.

Yet another show that FUNimation saved when ADV went through some hard times, Save Me Lollipop is a light, mindless comedy series that's aimed at kids. When a 12-year-old school girl finds that she's the prize in a contest among candidate magicians from another dimension, the poor girl has to run for her life. Luckily two hunks lads, who are also part of the contest, come to her aid and protect her. With a lot of cross-dressing and maniacal action, the show is short on plot but long on loud brash humor that will entertain the younger crowd.

FUNimation continues their release of One Piece with the third and fourth set of episodes, and even though these collection takes us through episode 53, we're still not done with the first season. That's okay, because One Piece is one of the most popular and longest running anime series (currently at over 390 episodes.) This show is an irreverent and fun filled romp that's sure to please young and old viewers alike. In these set Luffy finds a cook for his crew, and meets his first villain from the Grand Line, gets a bounty put on his head, and meets an old villain. Though the extras are slim its the show that brings people back time and time agian and releasing this show in 14 episode chunks is just the way to go.

Continuing the theme of defunct ADV shows that FUNimation picked up the licensing for, some more boxed sets were released within the past month or so. One such series was Utawarerumono, a show that was thankfully more fun to watch than it is to say ten times fast. This series is based on an adult RPG and some of those elements show in the designs and structure of the series. However, it's nice to know that this fantasy outing contains an entertaining story and memorable characters. It doesn't do a lot of original things and it never tries to break the genre mold, but then again it doesn't really have to do so in order to be successful.

Much like Utawarerumono, Kurau Phantom Memory is one of those licenses saved by FUNimation. In case you're unfamiliar with it, Kurau is a unique sci-fi show that focuses on the life of a girl who happens to come into contact with a symbiotic alien life form. Soon enough she gains new powers, a cloned alien sibling, and is hunted by the very police force she used to be employed by. It's a fascinating concept and the show explores many of the possibilities that are proposed by the set up of the show. If you like your science fiction anime on the original side definitely give this one a spin.

Do you like your anime dark? How about depressing? Maybe a little drab? If you said yes to any of those questions then let me introduce you to Ghost Slayers Ayashi.. This new series by Bandai takes place in the 1840's and focuses on the adventures of a middle-aged man who is caught between this world and another. He possess powers that help him fight off monsters from the Other World known as Youi, but a lot of the series focuses on his development and history as well. There's a certain pattern to the storylines here, and the depressing historical era don't help matters, but regardless of those facts there's still plenty of quality to keep us interested for the next part.

Baccano! is one of the latest shows from FUNimation to capture the attention of many an otaku. This series has been lauded since its release in Japan and the hype machine has been building for it, but does it life up to it? The simple answer is yes! Since our last column two volumes of this enigmatic show have been released. It all centers around a series of events set in the early 1930s and slowly, but surely, the show is bringing together a large group of characters for a big reveal. It's definitely a show that's going places and it maintains a fantastic amount of balance in its plot, character development, and timeline.

Str.A.In stands for Strategic Armored Infantry, but it's also the name of an interesting new sci-fi/mech show from FUNimation that fans of the genre will want to check out. While there's not much new here the series comes from the guys who put together Gunbuster and it pays homage to several mecha genre elements. Basically it's about a girl who heads off to space to find her brother who has changed sides during an alien war, but there are many layers of depth that appear throughout its 13 episodes.

Are you a CLAMP fan? If so then you've probably been feeling the lack of School Detectives in your life. Well Bandai finally revisited the show and has resurrected it from the days of VHS tapes. Don't know what it's all about? It's basically your average school detective show (go figure, huh?) and features a group of friends who are out to help women in distress. It's fun and lighthearted though it does tend to get repetitive after a few episodes. It's still a well-produced and loveable series despite any of its shortcomings and deserves a chance by CLAMP fans and newcomers alike.

The much hyped D.Gray-Man has finally been released by FUNimation. This series ran for over 100 episodes when it was on the air and it's the latest example of Shonen Jump's dominance over a segment of the industry. It's simply amazing how many shows have started with SJ and when you stack this one up next to Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece you definitely have a strong showing. This one skews things a bit with a more tragic main character who leads a cursed life full of fighting demons. Of course there's much more to that, but you should check out the first part with 13 episodes to see for yourself.

Nozomi/Rightstuf! has released another chunk of the Aria story, so if you're a fan you'll want to pay attention. The sequel season entitled "The Natural" just came out and has been split into two parts. This follow up offers more of the same with gondoliers traveling around a watery planet. Akari is back along with all of her friends and once again this franchise proves to be a soothing experience. It's one of the most unique shows to come along in a while and though its deliberately slow pacing isn't for everyone, those with an open mind should consider watching it. Oh, and speaking of Rightstuf! they also released the second installment of Emma: A Victoria Romance not too long ago. This one picks up where the first season left off and sees Emma off serving another while she and William long for each other. It's a fascinating tale of love set in the Victorian era that brings about a worthy close to the franchise.

Harem fans will want to pay attention to the complete series release of Shuffle by FUNimation. This show plays all of the harem cards right and features a male protagonist caught in the middle of a pile of girls all seeking his affection. The twist here is that a God Princess and Demon Princess come to Earth looking for his love as well. Stuck between them and his lifelong friend, Rin just can't seem to catch a break. Shuffle is a funny and entertaining show, and though it's recommended it's important to keep in mind that it plays on genre clichés quite strongly.

On March 31st Funimation closed out a couple of their newer properties with some part 2 boxed sets. The first is Negima!? which brought about the conclusion to the popular harem comedy by Ken Akamatsu. This remake followed the manga a little more closely than the original series did and ultimately I felt it was a little more successful. The second boxed set was the final chapter of Tokyo Majin. The first season of this show was a fun action series with a group of kids out to save the world, but the second season messes things up. It throws a lot of leftfield twists into the show and just doesn't gel quite as well as the first part did.

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AnimeTalk

March 2009 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Welcome back everyone! It's time once again to mull over the pile of anime that has come our way and tell you what's worth while, and what's not. The past couple of months have been kind of quiet on the anime release front, but I'm sure that will all change once convention season starts rolling around again (You may spot us at Anime Boston this year!). As you're undoubtedly already aware that's when publishers come out to drop licensing bombs on the masses. I just hope the economic chill doesn't impact the industry too much this year with regards to its stability. Who knows, if things get really bad, maybe otaku can ask Congress for a bail-out? I kid, I kid.

So, what's going on right now? Well, FUNimation has actually been very busy with announcements such as Rin ~ Daughters of Mnemosyne, My Bride Is A Mermaid, El Cazador De La Bruja, Dragonaut, Tower of Druaga, Blassreiter, and Bamboo Blade. All of these titles have been announced since we last brought you the Anime Talk Column, so needless to say there is some awesome stuff on the horizon. As far as other publishers are concerned Bandai has the Lucky Star OVA coming out, and ADV is coming back with Clannad (Yay!).

While the economy may be unstable right now, it's always nice to know that there's at least some lights at the end of the tunnel. We'll see how long the recession lasts, but rest assured, once you're back on your feet there will be plenty of anime to pick up. Here's a little list of what John and I have gone through in the past month or so, a little bargain stimulus package from WTK, and a glowing review by Jeffrey Kauffman for the release of Akira on Blu-ray. Until next time stay warm, stay employed, and spend your free time watching anime!

Do you love Dragon Ball? Well, if you do then the past month or so has undoubtedly kept you really busy. The second installment of Dragon Ball GT, the eight season of Dragon Ball Z, and another pair of Dragon Ball Z movies has been released by FUNimation. While Dragon Ball GT may suck and the movies may be lightly plotted, and extended, episodes, it's nice to know that at least the eighth season of the classic is pretty damned good. Despite that fact, it's kind of late in the game to pick up a season of DBZ and run with it. If you're interested in the series you're better off starting over from the beginning, but understand that's a serious investment. You may just want to rent some stuff to see if it's your cup of tea before diving headfirst.

Keeping up with the FUNimation conversation is a list of titles that have come up which the publisher happened to pick up from its competition. ADV and Bandai both let licenses slide into the hands of FUNimation, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. From the ADV side of the coin we have Shattered Angels and 009-1. For my money 009-1 was by far the better of the two, since it felt more self-contained and had better structure (not to mention machine gun boobies). Shattered Angels was just a twisted amalgamation of ideas that just didn't gel well enough to get off the ground. As far as the title Bandai let go, Love Hina is one of the all-time classic harem series that should just be in everyone's collection.

Claymore continues to be a badass show, and thankfully its third volume helps to clear some things up as well as push the story forward a bit. This time around we get some more insight into Clare and learn a little more about the Claymore society, and how the world works. It's all incredibly cool and there's a high amount of action and violence as Awakened ones start appearing and the Yoma offer up their usual threats. If you enjoyed Berserk (which is also being re-released soon by the way), then you'll definitely want to check out Claymore if you haven't already. It's probably the best "new" show in FUNimation's lineup right now, and that's saying something.

Another FUNimation title that has been in the news is Darker Than Black. This futuristic show has plenty going for it as well, though it's not quite as polished, or interesting as Claymore. This has a lot to do with the lack of answers to several questions proposed by the series, and the fact that the protagonist is just too darned mysterious. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on behind the scenes here and what everyone's motivation is, but there's still plenty to take away from this show if you get into it. The second volume improved upon things, but I'm cautious to get too excited until I see more.

And finally, we once again have another FUNimation show to talk about. Glass Fleet has already been in circulation for quite some time, but the publisher just got around to releasing a complete collection of the 26 episode Gonzo series. It's basically an aristocratic rebellion in space with some funky art design and a seemingly androgynous lead character. There are many points during the show where most of its design and story work well, but these highlights are overshadowed by stiff pacing and ill-planned twist and focuses for the plot.

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Just in time for Christmas FUNimation has put out a pair of fun and lively OVAs from Ken Akamatsu, the creator of both Love, Hina and Negima. Itsudatte, My Santa! contains only two half hour shows but they both have so much Christmas-themed humor and wacky action that it's well worth picking up. The prefect Christmas gift for the anime lover on your list!

There are certain anime creators and groups that you can be certain will put out a solid product. Clamp is one, I'll sit through anything that collective puts out, and another is Gonzo. I've been a fan of theirs since I first saw Blue Submarine #6 when it first arrived on DVD years ago. (Has it really been that long?) Funimation has recently released another Gonzo series (original put out by ADV) in a two part season set and I had to take a look. As I expected, Pumpkin Scissors Set 1 is another good show that is a lot of fun watch.

Things take a surprising turn as new characters are introduced and some important people take their bow in the seventh volume of Death Note. This is one series that keeps viewers on their toes and this installment is no exception. The first big story arc concludes in an unexpected fashion (and much sooner than anyone was expecting) and the second story starts to unfold. A don't-miss volume of a great series.

The latest season set to be released by Nozomi and Right Stuf Internatiaonal is a bit unique. Maria Watches Over Us is a shoujo-ai show, a girl-love programs that's the feminine counterpart to shonen-ai anime (like Gakuen Heaven.) Revolving around the events at an all-girls school where tradition is very important, the show is slow-paced and tends to veer towards the melodramatic yet it's very good for what it is: a clam, slice-of-life show that takes place in a girl's school. While viewers will find themselves occasionally rolling their eyes at some contrived plot devices, this gentle character driven story is worth checking out

When John screened the first season of Sasami - Magical Girls Club, he was pretty underwhelmed. It wasn't a bad show, but it wasn't much different from all the other Magical Girl anime out there and aside from the names, it didn't tie into the various Tenchi series like he was hoping it would. The second season still suffers from those flaws, but it's a bit better over all. There's more continuity and the stories have a bit more drama to them, which is nice. If you enjoyed the first season, you'll definitely want to check out this one.

While I love the long, sprawling epic anime series like Dragonball Z and Naruto, there's something to be said for the short and sweet shows too. The 12-episode programs that have a simple story to tell, tell it, and then end. There aren't a lot of filler episodes in those shows and the action is pretty constant. That's why I enjoyed Coyote Ragtime so much. There's not a lot of wasted action. While it borrows from a lot of other shows, the program has a style all its own and some fun characters that make it worth watching.

Funimation has released the entire series of Black Blood Brothers in a nice, compact slipcased set. This vampires vs. humans story set in the future has some nice twists, a great protagonist, and features electrifying fight sequences that offer plenty of entertainment. It is a fun show that's over all too quickly. Moving at a fairly fast clip, the show feels rushed in parts, but that's a minor complaint at best. If you missed the series when it was originally released now's a great time to pick it up.

In the penultimate volume of Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time (volume eight for those keeping track) the story should be rushing to a climax. Unfortunately it really doesn't feel that way. With only six episodes left as the volume opens, the show is still taking its time to let the story unfold and the lack of urgency that Akane and her guardians feel to defeat the demon Akram and free the four gods is a little irritating. It makes me wonder if the show will actually be wrapped up in the last volume.

Within the past month we've had a little bit of catching up to do and some new installments have come out for ongoing series. Because of that we have seen two volumes of Tsubasa (volumes 9 and 10) as the second season continues its march. The series has remained entertaining and if you enjoyed any of the earlier volumes you'll appreciate what happens here. Unfortunately I personally have found that the series has grown repetitious on some levels. The formulaic and episodic nature simply doesn't allow for much in the way of innovative storytelling, but fortunately both of these volumes contain some interesting arcs and singular episodes. It's not quite enough to stave off the feeling of monotony, but it's good enough to keep CLAMP fans happy.

Two volumes of Naruto have also come our way and if you missed the tenth and eleventh installments you'll definitely want to get caught up. In the tenth collection the Sasuke arc comes to a head as his new powers brew in a barrel and he comes to the conclusion that the only way to kill his brother Itachi is to off Naruto for good. Naturally there's a lot of fighting with this volume and it arguably contains the best moments of the show. Unfortunately after the strong finish, the eleventh volume is disappointing and contains less appealing episodes as the show kind finds its footing again. It's still Naruto and there's still plenty to like, but overall the tenth uncut collection drastically outclasses the eleventh.

During the last month some new titles have hit the market and Darker Than Black is one of the more intriguing ones. It features a mysterious protagonist and a unique set up, but it's a show that keeps you in the dark. I appreciated the concept with its futuristic setting, people who have special powers, and connection to some big conspiracy. Sadly the fact that the show is so tightlipped about giving us details is a big turn-off. You're left to figure things out as you go and there is precious little explanation for another. Even so the action is slick, the animation is solid, the voice acting is spot-on, and each episode is easy enough to get into. Hopefully future volumes will clue us in more on what's going on, but until then you can consider the first installment a rental.

Over the past month or so there have been several complete collections released. Most of these are from FUNimation and are series that were saved from ADV's licensing nightmare. In case you missed these shows their first time around Guyver, Le Chevalier d'Eon, and Air Gear fell into this category. Guyver was cool, Le Chevalier d'Eon was great, and Air Gear was "eh". Other ADV titles are on the way so it will be interesting to see what the next month has in store for us.

If you consider yourself a connoisseur of anime then you undoubtedly already know that Death Note is one of the best damn shows to come along in a while. This heartwarming series about a boy who discovers a Death God's notebook and begins committing mass murder is memorable and haunting. It's a gripping tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat right up until, well the end isn't here yet but VIZ has released a boxed set with the first 20 episodes. Just read the review and check the show out. You'll be glad you did.

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AnimeTalk

a semi-weekly column by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Well, hello there! It sure has been a while hasn't it? Things have been relatively slow on the anime front, but we've amassed enough reviews to put together a good sized column. Granted it took about a month to do just that, but at least we've got something to show for it!

The anime industry is still operating at a relatively slow pace compared to how it was a couple of years ago. Then again, with the way the economy and business is going I suppose that's nothing surprising. Even so there are still plenty of great shows out there to buy, rent, and watch online. Stuff like Claymore and Ghost Hunt are just getting their feet wet, while other shoes such as Black Lagoon, xxxHolic, School Rumble, and Blood+ continue to please fans. WTK is back with his bargain section as well and this week we are featuring a guest review for the Blu-ray edition of Freedom.

With the demise of Geneon, several series were abandoned in mid-run, much to the dismay of otaku here in the states. Luckily FUNimation stepped up and obtained the rights to many of the orphaned series and is now finishing off these shows as well as making the earlier Geneon volumes available once again. One such orphaned series is Black Lagoon, a rip-roaring adventure show that is filled with deep characters and some kick-ass action. Volumes one, two and three are now available once again which is great news since this show is a real winner.

Speaking of FUNimation, they are really leading the way when it comes to marketing anime. For years fans have been clamoring for shows to be released in reasonably priced season sets and FUNimation is doing just that (nearly.) They've released a few shows in half-season sets, which is close enough for this otaku. Their latest half-season release is Ghost Hunt, a supernatural investigation show. While it's not nearly as scary as I was hoping, this program has some interesting characters with a nice mix of humor, mystery, and just a dash of romance.

Monkey D. Luffy, the boy made out of rubber, is back in One Piece - Season One Voyage Two from FUNimation. One of the most popular and longest running anime series (currently at over 370 episodes) One Piece is an irreverent and fun filled romp that's sure to please young and old viewers alike. In this set Luffy continues to fill out his pirate crew and starts one of the most enjoyable story arcs in the series: his search for a cook and his encounter with the Baratie restaurant.

Bandai Visual continues to release Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time in three episode volumes. In each of volume five, six, and seven, otaku get a trio of episodes that are mostly fun. Fun, but not great. The problem is that story just isn't as urgent or pressing as it should be, and it still has a generic fantasy anime feel to it. That's not a horrible thing, as fantasy anime can be quite enjoyable, but for the price that these discs are being marketed ($29.98), I was hoping for something really special. As it is, the show is an enjoyable, if fairly forgettable, look at another world where demons and gods dwell and fight.

While we're on the topic of Bandai Visual, the final volume of Super Robot Wars (Volume 9 for those keeping track) has arrived and with it the final battle with the alien Aerogaters. This concluding set of shows has a good amount of action and some nice resolution, but it ends up being too little too late. With a thin plot and a cast of over a dozen main characters and countless secondary ones, it's hard to really care about what happens to anyone.

The third volume of Blood+ has come and gone, and once again Sony's latest anime property offers up a fantastic installment. If you skipped on the complete season, then don't waste any time picking up the individual releases. This show is nonstop vampire action with loads of blood, tons of story, fascinating characters, and an all around sleek production. This latest volume brings Saya and her team closer to the trail of the Diva, and we finally see a glimpse of Saya's true form. I can't recommend this show enough!

On the subject of good shows on the market today, FUNimation has finally released the first volume of the long-anticipated Claymore. This new property offers up a finely developed fantasy world where demons masquerade as humans, and a group of women give up their humanity to become demon hybrids for purposes of hunting. This first volume introduces us to the characters and world of Claymore and in its final moments we get a nice glimpse at a boatload of character history. With lots of gore and a somber tone, this one feels very similar to Berserk, so if you enjoyed that anime you'll definitely want to check this one out.

Fan favorite Negima may be awaiting its second season here in the States, but the OVAs Spring and Summer were recently released by FUNimation. If you enjoyed the first season then you'll want to check these ones out, but since they are weaker episodes with no explanation of the franchise, newcomers will want to pass. Both of the episodes included in this release are entertaining for what they are, but they simply don't reach the levels that the original series itself did. In addition to continuing properties by FUNimation, School Rumble's second season hit store shelves recently as well. With two discs and 13 episodes, fans of the show will undoubtedly find themselves tickled pink.

Just before Geneon died, there were a few series that seemingly went the way of the dodo. Luckily the good folks at FUNimation did their part to save several of these series from anime obscurity. While some of the series are fantastic releases such as Hellsing and Black Lagoon, other shows such as Elemental Gelade made their way into the mix as well. This particular series is about as generic and redundant as anime can get, and while there are a few interesting elements, by and large the show is a disappointment. On the opposite end of that spectrum, however, is the fantastic science fiction piece, Ergo Proxy. This moody glimpse into the future captured audience when it was released thanks to its unique future gothic atmosphere. Both of these particular shows have been released recently in full collections.

More Dragon Ball Z is a good thing, right? FUNimation has just released two more films from the classic anime franchise and while they aren't exactly shining examples of the franchise at its best, they aren't bad. Both of the Cooler films bring Frieza's sibling into the fray as he tries to bring down Goku and get revenge for his brother. With a run time of about 45 minutes, both films are basically just extended episodes from the show. Because of that, this dual pack is for diehard Dragon Ball Z fans only.

If you appreciate original shows, then Jyu-Oh-Sei is definitely one to pay attention to. This short 11 episode series takes place in the distant future where man has colonized the stars. The story focuses on a pair of brothers as their parents are murdered and they are ushered off to a penal colony. The catch here is that the prison is a primitive planet, where it's kill or be killed. The tone is very Lord of the Flies in nature and the series itself takes place over the course of several years. I thoroughly enjoyed the show, but would say that for what it tries to do the run time is far too short. More time was needed to pull this one together and the robust universe definitely would have benefited from additional episodes.

xxxHolic's final volume has come out. Well, ok, it's not necessarily the "final" volume, but rather the end of the first season of the show. This is another decent installment for the show though it's not exactly the best that it has had to offer. The end for the season is fitting, despite the somewhat imbalanced nature of the included episodes. Fans will appreciate the final episode more than the others, and everything definitely leaves you hungry for the second season of the show.

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AnimeTalk

a semi-weekly column by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Well, summer is just about over and we hope you all had a fun time of it. There were a few nice months in between with plenty of anime to watch and conventions to attend (unless you're that guy who dresses up as Myspace). At any rate the Geneon titles from FUNimation have recently begun to roll out and some of the ADV titles are coming down the pike. Other publishers such as Bandai and VIZ have been chugging along as well though the rave this season has been about re-releasing old favorites and repacking current ones.

In the past month the amount of titles that have come our way has been kind of slow admittedly. Across the board publishers seem to be rethinking their business strategies and attempting to entice viewers with cheaper packages and more anime for your dollar. Is it working? In some ways yes, and in others no.

While it's nice to get older shows for bargain prices there needs to be more of a balance between the old and the new. Releases don't necessarily have to be flashy by any means but as long as you're acquiring the license for a good, solid title and treat it as such otaku will come. That's why this time around our column is full of series that have been released as a collection of sorts or are the continuing volumes of current favorites. There's very little in terms of new material from this past month which is a shame. On the bright side at least you can probably find a good bargain for an older show!

Anime distributors are going through a rough time with sales being down across the board. To combat this trend some companies are getting creative with the way they release their product. Several companies are putting out catalog titles in complete sets at a lower price point, but Bandai has decided not to wait to lower the price of a new series. They are putting out Toward the Terra in regular four episode DVDs, but with a retail price of only $29.98, about a third less than the typical release. Not only that but they have packaged together the first two volumes and released them as "Part One" for only $34.98 a good $5 savings over buying the individual volumes. Otaku have been complaining for years about the high price of anime, and it's good to see at least one release that has started moving the price in the right direction. That wouldn't be so important if the series was wretched, but it's actually a solid show that's worth watching.

The harem show Shuffle takes an unusual twist with volume five of the series. Starting out as a typical romantic comedy, the program becomes more serious as the story starts getting closer to reality. Rin wants to please all of the girls that like him, so he's friendly with all of them. Some of them start to think that he's just stringing them along, which is pretty much the case, and decide to make a play for the bashful guy, with disastrous results.

One of the most entertaining anime releases of 2007/08 has to be Death Note. This series concerning an ingenious high school student who finds a notebook that will let him kill anyone by just writing down their name while picturing their face is very well constructed and executed. With volume five things continue to change. With Light having lost all memory of the Death Note and his role with it, he and L set out to capture the person who is currently executing criminals. The show really kicks it up a notch with volume six however. As Light and L close in on the new killer, Light's plan becomes apparent and his Machiavellian scheme, beautiful in its design and execution, starts to unfold. An excellent series, this is a must-buy for anime fans.

Though I had watched a few anime shows on TV as a kid, if I had to pinpoint the one show that turned me into an otaku it would have to be Tenchi Muyo. Creative, funny, action filled, and with a fairly complex story, the original series is a classic. It has been re-imagined a few times, and while some series are better than others, they all have a certain amount of charm. The latest incarnation doesn't actually revolve around Tenchi, and isn't connected to the other series by anything other than the appearance and names of some of the characters. Sasami - Magical Girls Club is more of a typical juvenile magical girl series than a Tenchi spin off. It doesn't poke fun at itself the way Magical Girl Pretty Sasami did (which has no connections to this show) which is a shame. While this isn't a bad series, it's not as entertaining as most Tenchi shows.

Everyone's favorite ninja, Naruto, had a rather big summer when it comes right down to it. VIZ released the eighth and ninth uncut installments of the series as well as the second feature film Legend of the Stone of Gelel. As far as the show itself is concerned the two volumes here are great and cover quite a lot of ground. Tsunade has been appointed to Hokage, the Village of Leaf picks up the pieces, and Sasuke finally goes off the deep end with some of Orochimaru's thugs. If you have been following the series then you'll definitely appreciate what transpires here and neither volume really disappoints though I would say that the ninth is better all around. As far as the film is concerned it's basically just an extended and glorified episode. It has some fantastic animation and some fun moments but for the most part the thin story never titillates or makes you use your brain. If that doesn't bother you then by all means check it out.

The relationship between FUNimation and CLAMP titles continues to improve with the release of the fourth installment of xxxHolic and seventh of Tsubasa. In both cases the episodic nature of the programs hurts enjoyment overall but xxxHolic continues to be a much better effort. Tsubasa seems content to coast along with its concept while xxxHolic delves deeper into its characters and explores the meaning behind some of the plots featured in each episode. Both warrant being added to your anime lists and in all honesty CLAMP fans will probably appreciate both equally.

And finally FUNimation has released the first season of Case Closed in a convenient, space saving collection. If you have been buying into these releases then you undoubtedly already know how enjoyable the concept is. A young boy detective runs around with his buddies and solves crimes that baffle the professionals. There are some layers of depth to the show but the repetitive formula definitely disappoints if you watch too many episodes at once. Even so this is a great series that has been running in Japan for over twelve years and it's one that American audiences should easily be able to digest.

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AnimeTalk

a semi-weekly column by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

There's a lot going on with this week's Anime Talk column. First of all is the exciting news that FUNimation has signed agreements to release some ADV and Geneon titles. It looks like the consolidation of the industry is starting to happen as FUNimation gobbles up the competition. In some respects this is good news but there are negative side effects such as a lack of sufficient competition. At any rate it'll be interesting to see how this unfolds over the coming months as some of these releases begin to trickle on to store shelves.

In the meantime there's plenty to check out from a variety of publishers. For this column we crack open some great titles such as Gurren Lagann, Emma, and the classic Full Metal Panic. There's quite a diverse selection of titles on the market right now and a lot of shows to check out. Dig through our previous columns and see if you find anything you like! Also this week we have a look at Gotham Knight which ties into the Dark Knight release but comes from several anime production houses and Japanese directors so you may be interested in that. WTK once again gives your wallet some love with his selection of bargains!

The second volume of Oban Star Racers finishes off this 26 episode series with all of the excitement, flash, and drama that the first installment had. Things are heating up as the Earth team goes to Oban for the finals. This last set of races is different from the qualifying rounds however, and there are a few surprises in store for Molly and her teammates. This collaboration between Japanese and French animation companies looked like it would be a lame kiddie show like D.I.C.E. or Hot Wheels Acceleracers, but it turned out to be an excellent program that's easy to get caught up in.

The last story arc of the series begins in The Third Volume 5, and it's a pretty exciting adventure for Honoka, Bogie, and her associates. This time the sword dancer isn't up against a monster or common criminal, but a rouge member of The Third who has hijacked a weapon that could destroy the world. With an intriguing plot, some fun characters, and wildly entertaining battles, this show is ending on a high note.

The penultimate volume of Super Robot Wars: Divine Wars (Volume 8 for those keeping track) continues in the same vein as the previous installments. There're a lot of cool mecha battles, fights between giant robots and giant aliens, and many action sequences. The plot is pretty much an afterthought, and with a cast of over a dozen main characters and countless secondary ones, it's hard to really care about any of the cast.

Bandai-Visual has released the fourth volume of Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time and with this disc the series is starting to feel more and more like an average fantasy anime. That's not necessarily a bad thing, fantasy series are a lot of fun, but this show could have been more than that. As it is, this set of shows has Akane being pretty much in constant peril and finding yet another protector. Some of the subplots end up progressing nicely, but the main story seems to be stuck in a rut.

To summarize the following paragraph in its simplest terms: BUY THIS SERIES NOW! Bandai has recently released the first volume of Gurren Lagann and oh my God it's every bit as good as the hype said it would be. Seriously folks, if you buy into one anime this summer let it be this. With a wild cast of characters, over-the-top action, and a big helping of fantastic storytelling and animation there's no reason not to check out Gurren Lagann. If you want to know more about it check out the review. I just wanted to use this space to profess my love for this blast of a show.

On the opposite side of the coin don't bother with Aquarion. This dull, uninspired show comes from the mind of the guy that made Macross and Escaflowne but his imagination seemingly ran out. There's a little zest for life here but in all honesty the concept which features a team of humans in a giant robot fighting aliens for their survival has been beaten to death. To make matters worse the characters have no personality and the plot is a mess at times. This second installment doesn't improve matters and frankly it makes them worse. There are some nice designs and the action is decent but beyond that very little about this show is appealing.

If you want an example of the mecha genre done right then you need to look no further than Full Metal Panic. This series is an instant classic and the diehard following helps to prove its worth. Set in an alternative reality technology and the world are very different from what we know. There is a group of people born after an event who have inherited strange powers which pushes the boundaries of humanity's machines to their limits. Caught in between is a teenager sent on a mission to protect one such individual and from there his world goes to hell. He has plenty of skill on the battlefield and in combat but when you put him in a classroom he is most definitely a fish out of water. If you haven’t seen this one yet then ADV's re-re-re-release is something you should consider.

Chicks with guns are a lot of fun to watch and when you throw giant mechs into the mix then, well, you have a dish that's fit to serve. A while ago FUNimation released Burst Angel and the anime community took immediate interest for good reason. This show offers a fine style with loads of action, fun characters, and a relatively decent (if predictable) plot. There's a lot going on for this series and if you haven't seen it yet this is your third opportunity to pick it up. Granted this release is even cheaper than the rest so there's never been a better time!

Now here's a show that's different from what we're used to. Emma: A Victorian Romance stands out as something of a rarity in the anime world. Set in Victorian London it features a love story between two people from different class structures. The thing about this series that is so fascinating is that its characters are so well developed you really begin to care for them by the time the first half is over. I can't wait for RightStuf to release the second season of the show as the first ended with a note that promises to change the structure of the whole storyline.

What's a Norse God supposed to do when his father casts him down to Earth and strips him of his powers? Become a boy detective, that's what! Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok is not just a confounding title it's also an anime with mythological elements from Norse lore. The concept of the show does have some merit but the fact that the series boils down into a rip off of Case Closed simply doesn't help matters. Loki and company search for evil spirits in all the wrong places all the while Odin plots his son's death. The series offers a few highlights but it's suggested that you rent it first to see if it's your cup of tea.

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