Welcome to the last Anime Talk of 2005.  It's been a very good year for anime, and we start off this installment with a look at the Top Ten Anime discs of 2005.  There were a lot of good titles that didn't quite make the cut, and editor Sinnott was sorely tempted to play with the results so that Cromartie High School earned a spot, but in the end he resisted.  There are some titles you'd expect to see, as well as a few surprises.  We also have reviews of the 1982 Astro Boy series, a collection of Makoto Shinkai's work, and the R2 version of Howl's Moving Castle, the newest Hayao Miyazaki film.  Holly has some more bargains to help stretch you anime dollar this holiday season, and Chris Tribbey has an early look at Viewtiful Joe, another video game that's been turned into an anime series.

All of us at Anime Talk would like to wish our readers a happy and safe holiday season.  See you next year!

It's been a great year for anime, with a lot of excellent shows being released and many older shows getting second lives with bargain priced boxed sets.  It was hard narrowing the field down to just 10 titles that deserved recognition, but eventually we all reached consensus on these titles.  We did have a few ground rules to help us out though.  Any show that was on last year's list was ineligible, as were re-releases (including boxed sets).  This way we'd focus on the new titles that were released.  So, without any further ado, here's the Top Ten Anime Titles of 2005, as selected by the staff of Anime Talk:

1)  Samurai 7:  Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai from 1954 has inspired many story tellers with its tale of courage, honor and sacrifice. The most recent incarnation of this concept is FUNimation and Gonzo's Samurai 7. With a run of 26 episodes and each costing roughly $300,000 a pop, this is one of the most expensive series to date. While only three volumes may have been released so far, you can tell that this show is a labor of love because every detail has been painstakingly covered. The animation and sound quality is second to none and the overall style, sense of adventure and outlandish characters bring the anime to life. If you haven't been sucked in by Samurai 7 yet, you owe it to yourself to be. This is undoubtedly the best new series to be released in 2005 and may very well be the best title in FUNimation's catalog.

2)  Ghost in the Shell: SAC (2nd Gig):  The first season of Ghost in the Shell:  Stand Alone Complex made our top ten list for 2004, and the second season is just as good.  Like the first series, there is a good amount of action in this season, but the story gets more complex and textured too.  Exploring the politics of the future Japan 2nd Gig is filled with a myriad of sub-plots, many of which seem to be related.  But then again, maybe they aren't.  The intracate story has a good mixture of humor and drama too.  With the excellent animation and stellar sound that fans have come to expect from this show, this is a not-to-be-missed series.

3)  Fullmetal Alchemist: With every volume that has been released, Fullmetal Alchemist keeps proving itself to be a highly entertaining, well thought out and action-oriented anime. Everything from the animation production to presentation and voice work all impress with the feeling that the team behind the show loved their product. You may have seen the anime on Cartoon Network or even played the PlayStation 2 games, but sitting down to watch batches of episodes is the best way to experience it. The adventures of the Elric brothers should be on your "must have" list and if you haven't started already, what are you waiting for?

4)  Planetes:  Space based anime shows are nothing new.  From Robotech to Gundam, many very good anime programs deal with life in space, but not many of them deal with it in a realistic fashion.  They often blatantly ignore the rules of physics in order to make the show more exciting.  Planetes is an anime show that doesn't bend the rules though.  As a matter of fact, a lot of the tension and suspense comes from the fact that physics does still work in space.  Dealing with the lives of blue collar workers who are charged with cleaning up the seemingly endless debris that orbits the Earth, this show not only explores the difficulties of working in space, but also how people may live and thrive there.  With excellent animation and extra packed discs, Planetes is a very welcome relief from the mecha battles and buxom babes that usually fills space based anime. 

5)  Samurai Champloo:  If you don't know Mugen, Jin and Fuu by now, you're really missing out.  Samurai Champloo may be lower on the DVDTalk Top 10 Anime list, but for many fans it's the No. 1 samurai anime of 2005. Mixing action, humor, a touch of romance and sadness, and a whole lot of hip-hop (yes, hip-hop), Samurai Champloo is a unique and well-written road trip anime, following two rogue swordsmen as they uphold their vow to help a cute girl find a "samurai who smells of sunflowers." Along their road, our always hungry trio finds adventure, laughs, and more than one attractive member of the opposite sex. When they aren't looking for the mysterious samurai, they're searching for inventive ways to earn money, often pitting themselves against one another. Furious animation, a killer soundtrack, and a whole heap of attitude combine for one of the best anime series ever released by Geneon.

6)  Hayao Miyazaki films - Porco Rosso and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind:  A fitting (and totally random) tie at No. 6 on DVDTalk's Top 10 Anime List, Porco (Italian, womanizing, airplane-flying pig learns how to care) and Nausicaa (adventurous girl headlines epic, high-flying, post-apocolyptic adventure) were wonderful DVDs, some of the best yet to come out of the Disney-Studio Ghibli partnership. Both are Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) offerings, and both represent some of his best work. Porco Rosso is a light-hearted tale of a freelance air pilot in the post-World War I Mediterranean. This pig with wings story is cute and touching as Porco is fundamentally changed by the love and fierceness of a young girl.

A thousand years after mankind has been nearly exterminated is the setting for Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, a grand and thoughtful journey of discovery and sadness. Mother Nature is reclaiming Earth, as a deadly poisinous forest threatens the last remnants of society, but mankind still hasn't learned the error of its ways: instead of banding together, the different factions are still killing each other. It's up to a young, feisty girl to save us from the world, and ourselves.
Both of these two-DVD sets were technically solid, and the second DVD for each includes a feature-length storyboard presentation of the film. Michael Keeton, Patrick Stewart, Edward James Olmos, and Cary Elwes all contributed to outstanding English dubs.

These DVDs were some of the best anime had to offer in 2005, and should be among the first shown to people who are on the fence about anime.

7)  Appleseed:  So often we snicker at style over substance, but where would anime fans be without Final Fantasy 7, Place Promised in our Early Days, and Malice@Doll? Appleseed wins the 2005 "woah" award for an anime feature that didn't have the greatest story, but sure had awesome visuals. Done completely in 3D CGI, Appleseed was an incredible visual feat, with impressive detail, wonderful settings, fantastic mecha, and jaw-dropping character designs. Action is ever-present in a so-so tale about a beautiful World War III veteran, who suddenly finds the war over for her. Taken to the last, greatest human civilization on Earth, she's forced back into action when the builders of the city - a human clone race called bioroids - are threatened with extinction. Soon the entire human race is in jeapordy. She finds help and hope in the form of her former lover, one of the most distinct robot-human characters in anime, Briareos. Appleseed is a remake of an (ugly) 1988 manga-based anime of the same name, and this feature has inspired John Woo to do a sequel for 2006. Any one of the three DVD editions makes an excellent addition to your collection.

8)  Gankutsuou -The Count of Monte Cristo:  In an update to the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, director Mahiro Maeda sets the story in the far flung future at a time when young Albert is just spreading his wings to get out from under his wealthy family. Befriended by a mysterious nobleman known as the Count of Monte Cristo, he soon finds himself involved in the middle of intrigue that his newfound acquaintance provides, all handled with some of the most interesting visuals that modern animation has to offer. For an attention to quality on all levels, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo is one of our favorites for the year for more than just the great story, standing head and shoulders above most offerings of the year.

9)  Gunslinger Girl:  Although one of the most controversial of this year’s picks, Gunslinger Girl was more than just a combination of The Six Million Dollar Man and La Femme Nikita as it focused on a young girl named Henrietta, given a second chance at life after a tragic accident, only to find her life measured in how well she can learn to kill for her adoptive organization; The Social Welfare Agency. The series looks at her fellow assassins, their handlers, and herself as they face numerous challenges in the unforgiving world of espionage. The music and visuals were so well handled that even the critics upset over the idea of killer kids were forced to admit the series was something special.

10)  Area 88:  Area 88 is almost over but has developed quite a following based on the buzz it has generated. The story is about a group of fighter jockey mercenaries, Shin Kazama in particular, who risk their lives acting as mercenaries to protect a Middle Eastern kingdom from rebel forces. While most are there voluntarily, Shin is the victim of treachery and survives each day in order to return home to the woman he loves. There have been other attempts at bringing this manga to life over the years but this version is superior and pays great homage to the quality of the source material about the horrors of war.

Proving that you can't keep a good robot down, Rhino has released the second Astro Boy series.  Originally airing in 1982 and the first series in color, this series tells the story of a boy-shaped robot who comes equiped with some powerful weapons and a pacifist personality.  Not that he won't open up a can of whoop-ass if he has to though, and he usually does.  This is a kid's show, but it still has a lot of charm.  When watching three or four episodes in one sitting, as I did, the show does start to feel a little formalistic and tiresome, but I'm sure this wouldn't be the case if you spread the series out over more time.

Creator Makoto Shinkai has only been working in anime for a short time but has built up a small but impressive body of work.  Now the previously released DVD that contain all of his work have been collect into a two disc set:  The Shinkai Collection.  In addition to his early short She and Her Cat, it has the featurette Voices of a Distant Star and the full length movie The Place Promised in Our Early Days.  Overall, this is a mixed bag.  Voices, though short, is a powerful comment on early love, isolation and loneliness.  It works quite well and quickly ensnares the viewers in the relationship between the two middle school students who are separated but circumstance.  The Place Promised in Our Early Days has the same themes and treats them in much the same way, but this movie doesn't work nearly as well.  While Voices was a simple and touching story, Early Days tries to be deep and meaningful but just comes across as being pretentious.  In both cases though, the images are beautiful and striking and there is no doubt that Makoto Shinkai is a major talent.  This set comes recommended on the strength of the first movie and the images of the second.

Another recommended title is the boxed set of D. N. Angel: Complete Collection. The story is about a teenager, Daisuke Niwa, who finds himself the victim of a family curse on the eve of his 14th birthday that forces him to share his body with a master thief called, appropriately enough, Phantom Dark. The only way to cure the affliction is to find true happiness with the one he loves but of course she develops a crush for his alter ego, further complicating matters as the two set forth to protect their interests from an opposing family with a similar set of circumstances. The price was right and the quality of the show was better than I expected for this type of show, making this version of the show a solid value.

Animeigo has released the five episode Oh My Goddess OVA on two DVDs.  (Reviews of Volume One and Volume Two.)  Released in 2001, the video quality on these discs leaves a little to be desired, but the content is very good.  The story involves Morisato Keiichi a college freshman who one day accidently dials the Goddess Hotline while trying to order some dinner. The next thing he knows a beautiful girl, Belldandy, is standing in his room and offers him a wish.  Keiichi is sure that this is a joke that his dorm mates are playing on him, so he tells the apparition that his deepest desire is to have her as his girlfriend forever.  Belldandy's not a joke of course, but a real goddess.  The 'ultimate force' lets her grant his wish, and he becomes stuck with her, like it or not.  This show has a lot of humor in it and the romance never gets sappy, making it a nice show for guys and gals to watch.

One of the better series of the year has a new volume out this week with Daphne in the Brilliant Blue 5. The background is a future where the ice caps have melted and humanity relies on limited government to solve its problems, using the assistance of companies like the Nereides when the official branch of the government, the Ocean Agency, cannot provide help in a timely manner. This leads protagonist Maia into a new career as something of a bounty hunter as she seeks out her lost past, hoping to find clues about her memory loss and eventually get hired by the prestigious governmental agency before she ends up a victim of her own coworkers excessive violence.

FUNimation continues with their releases of the unedited versions of the first Dragon Ball Z storyline with the Vegetta Saga Volume 6. Though it's not a bad volume, this is one where not a lot happens, and the stories just aren't as engaging as they usually are.  The first two episodes are stand alone stories that, while entertaining, don't advance the plot much.  In the final episode on this disc though, Goku finally makes it to the end of Snake Way and meets King Kai.  While this disc is still recommended, it is one of the weaker ones in the series.

Almost finding its stride in the second volume of the series, Yumeria: Tossing and Turning, showed that Tomokazu Mikuri could be more than a slacker surrounded by a group of adoring women, he could also lead the charge to save Earth from the powerful Faydooms threatening to destroy the planet once they cross over from the dream world into his plane of existence. Getting a glimpse into an uncertain future by one of his team helps in this regard but he finds himself at a crossroads with few choices left to make as they begin attacking en masse. With a little bit of tweaking, this one could work out after all.

People who are region free will definitely want to check out the latest film from Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki, the amazing Howl's Moving Castle.  This region 2 DVD presents the film with the original soundtrack and an English dub that is very good.  On par with Spirited Away, this magical film is about a young girl who is turned into an old woman by a curse.  Looking for a cure she encounters the magicain Howl, and gets trapped between two sides in a war.  Filled with Miyazaki's creative images and a having a touching story, this is shows that "Japan's Walt Disney" hasn't lost his touch.

Be sure to take a look at recommendations by DVDTalk’s twisted cast of reviewers in their Best Of Anime 2003 and Best Of Anime 2004 articles.

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A fat old hero, a cocky new one, and an assortment of strange villains make up Geneon's lunatic anime Viewtiful Joe, where a young boy and his girlfriend are transported into the movies.

Joe is a selfish and annoying young man, who convinces his adoring girl Silvia to watch a classic movie featuring Joe's favorite hero, Captain Blue. But while alone in the theater, Blue is unbelievably defeated, a big bad guy reaches into the real world and kidnaps the girl, and Joe rides a giant mecha into the screen to rescue her.

From there, it's one battle after another, as Joe takes advice from the overweight Blue, and goes after the bad guys in search of his girl. No rules exist in this celluloid world, as Joe makes up powers as he goes along ("Super Slow!" "Mach Speed!"). Running a predictable course, the bad guys turn out to be little match for Joe.

Joe is a pretty sad hero, oblivious to his girlfriend's advances and focused solely on his own selfish interests. Even when he's thrown into the middle of danger, he's using Gen. X sayings and asking for his hero's autograph. Joe just isn't that bright and is hard to root for. Heck, the big, green dragon fighter he runs up against has a less vile personality ("You talk so much, you should call yourself Super Mouth!"). Joe is like a "duh" talking surfer boy you want to bonk upside the head.

Character designs are just strange: in most cases, the giant heads of "normal" characters are disproportional to their bulbous, out-of-whack bodies. The more odd characters (a bat-man, a shark-dude, etc.) are really original and strange. Comic book style (and almost lazy) backgrounds are used to highlight comic book style characters. All that's missing is the bubbles for dialogue.

Anime's version of The Last Action Hero is a little funny, a little adventurous, and, thanks to a carefree English dub, really, really moronic. Viewtiful Joe earns a Rent It rating for this first volume, and let's hope it evolves into something closer to Sonic the Hedgehog and not Megaman NT Warrior.

What do you think about the column?  Like what you see?  Don't like it?  Have a comment or suggestion?  Drop us an e-mail and let us know!
 
 

As the holidays approach, more and more boxed sets are being released.  This week we have a look at a few more collections including excellent Last Exile, the amusing Happy Lesson set, and interesting Chrono Crusade.  Other reviews include the latest volume of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig volume 2, Kodocha volume 3, and another volume of the "boobs and robots" series Godannar.  Chris Tribbey has an early look at Divergence Eve: The Misaki Chronicles which is more entertaining than the original series (though that's not really saying much.)  The column is rounded out with Holly's Anime Bargains and our table of upcoming titles.  Be sure to be back here in two weeks for the last column of 2005.  We'll have our end of the year look at the best anime disc of the year, and there might be a surprise or two on the list.  

Clearly one of the highlights of the week, Last Exile: The Murata Range Complete Set brought together the entire suspense filled set from Geneon's vaults. The well written story featured a couple of teenage couriers, Claus and Lavie, as they get mixed up in an age old war between two groups of humanity with a mysterious race of aliens interfering from time to time. The anime style itself employed liberal amounts of CGI but did so in a manner that worked with the more traditional presentation and the value of having the entire set put together was nothing short of exceptional. If you're into retro-future wars and intrigue, you'll be well advised to pick this one up.

Another winner was the concluding volume of another war story, Shingu: Secret of the Stellar War V5. All the major threads, save one, are capably handled with the quality writing the show has offered up since day one. With one last showdown and a judgment by an age old hero unveiled, Hajime and Muryou attempt to stave off a battle between the Alliance and Federation as each vies for the Earth to join their cause. Nayuta is pressed to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save her family and friends as the truth behind her power finally comes out. For those who've been paying attention, the series ended on a bang and you won't want to miss it.

On a lighter note, Happy Lesson: Teacher's Pet Collection takes a look at the life of slacker Chitose as he deals with five hot boarders in his family home. Unlike the typical harem show though, they are all his teachers at school and trying to become his surrogate mothers as they drive him harder than he can stand with their loving devotion and drive. The light hearted manner in which the set poked fun at a number of anime clichés and itself all added up to make it one of the better boxed sets of recent months.

In a boxed set that provided a different glimpse of war, Peace Maker: Complete Series, a young man named Tetsu seeks revenge on a clan of evil ninja that slew his parents, only to find that those he joined weren't much better. Set in medieval Japan during the endless civil wars, the story provided more than a little humor and drama as Tetsu figured out what his path was and how he should pursue it. The endless bloodshed might be a bit much for the younger audience in the crowd so keep that in mind if it's to become a Christmas present.

In one of the weirder tales of the past week, Princess Tutu v2 offered up a look at the exploits of a girl wanting to become a ballerina as well as rescue the boy she loves from an emotionally draining nightmare. We started this series midstream so some of the details weren't quite clear but the girl, Ahiru, seems willing to risk her safety to find the pieces of Mythos' heart and restore them, regardless of the potential pain he may find and the danger she is confronted with by those who are quite willing to let him stay an emotional cripple. The various aspects of the show appeared to be above average so check out our review and see if this one's for you.

The final half of the remastered Sakura Diaries: Love & Kisses was the object of one of our rental suggestions this week. The love triangle between Urara, Touma, and Mieko came to a conclusion with these last six episodes, this time accompanies by a pair of silly audio commentaries by the lead cast members. It was definitely for fans of love and loss as the majority of threads were resolved in this classic show.

The immortal Yuta and Mana Mermaid Forest: Unquenchable Thirst was the latest installment of the tale of two survivors looking for an end to a blessing turned curse as they walk the land to solve the riddle of their dilemma. They had each eaten the mythical mermaid flesh that provides a handful of people with immortality but most with a cursed life, however short. There were only three episodes and two stories this time so it also warranted a rating of rental but fans of darker anime and gore might appreciate it more than we did.

The third volume of the series, Fafner: Human Force, was a bit of a letdown for us as the story took some sharp turns away from the beaten path it had started out on. Kazuki, the unwilling pilot of the advanced mechanized robot, is captured and his replacement seems more than a little dangerous to those around the island as much as the attacking Festum. The overall themes were not handled as well this time but they will hopefully be turned around by the next volume, given the potential the series initially showed. The sophomore slump can effect even the best series so our fingers are crossed for an upswing.

The third volume of Kodocha is just as wild and wacky as the previous installments. This sleeper hit just keeps going strong. This kinetic show about an 11-year-old TV star and her trials and tribulations at work and school just seems to get funnier as it goes along.  This is the best anime show that no one is watching.

Another sleeper show that is very good is Fighting Spirit.  This week John Sinnott reviews volumes six and eight (volume seven was reviewed earlier) and really enjoys them both.  In volume six Ippo is in the final round of the Eastern Japan Rookie Championship tournament and he's facing a tough opponent; Mashiba and his "flicker jabs".   Since it's the middle of the series, the fight could really go either way, which makes for an exciting disc.  In volume eight Ippo sets his sights on a new goal, and his one time rival, Miyata, is having a tough time fighting in Thailand.  A really fun series that comes highly recommended.

Speaking of highly recommended series,  Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig definitely fits into that category.  The second volume hits the ground running with an assassination threat against the Japanese Prime Minister and it doesn't stop to look back. Along with a good amount of action, the story gets more complex and textured in this volume too.  Various sub-plots crop up many of which seem to be related, but then again, maybe they aren't.  With the excellent animation and stellar sound that fans have come to expect from this show, this is a not-to-be-missed series.

Weather Report Girl started out as a manga series written and illustrated by Tetsu Adachi. A two part OVA series was released in 1994, but the series really gained cult status with the 1996 live action movie, Weather Woman, staring Kei Mizutani. Weather Woman is a great exploitation flick, but this earlier version isn't nearly as wild and outrageous as the live action film.  It still has it's moments.  Some of the tricks that are played are hilariously cruel, and the light sex action works well in the context of the show. It's nice to see a hentai anime where they actually try to work on the story and humor instead of just stringing together a lot of fetish scenes. While this won't be everyone's cup of tea, if you have a keen sense of the bizarre, check this out.

FUNimation continues with their releases of the unedited versions of the first Dragon Ball Z saga with Saiyan Showdown Volume 6.  Though it's not a bad volume, this is one where not a lot happens, and the stories just aren't as engaging as they usually are.

The original Dirty Pair TV series was a fairly big hit in the early days of anime.  Though they might not have been the first, Yuri and Kei soon became the poster children for the girls-with-guns genre, and their success allowed for other similar shows to come over to the US.  Now ADV has collected the girl's theatrical movie (Project EDEN) and two OVA features (Affair of Nolandia and Flight 005 Conspiracy) all in one nice boxed set.  Billed as the Original Dirty Pair Movie Collection, these three features are a mixed bag, but still enjoyable for those who like old school anime.

If you've got a fetish for nuns with guns and some sweet buns, then Chrono Crusade is right up your alley. The show takes place during the 1920s and features a group of holy warriors known as the Magdalene Order eradicating devils and such. Rosette is the up and coming destructive force that causes more problems for her superiors than she actually solves. She is partnered up with a devil named Chrono which puts an interesting spin on storylines that develop as the show progresses. This series struggled for a bit to find its voice but the ending left me stunned and it was well worth going from point A to point B.

Even though it came out in the late 90s, the Shadow Skill TV series is finally being released on DVD thanks to ADV. The show is full of fighting in a fantasy environment and really comes across like a cross between Baki the Grappler and Slayers. There's a rich sense of humor to the series, even though it tends to revolve around Elle getting drunk and destroying things. The first volume starts out a little slow but there are quite a few good moments. At this point it's hard to tell how the series is going to shape up, so you may want to rent it before you buy it unless you loved the original OVA.

Ah, Fullmetal Alchemist. This is easily one of the most endearing, action packed and heartfelt shows to come along in quite a while. It's no wonder why the anime has become so popular thanks to its wild characters and cool story. The sixth volume is no different than the last in terms of quality. This time around the Elric brothers butt heads and the Homunculus get some more fleshing out, as it were. Everything about this show impresses and if you haven't checked it out yet, you're missing out big time.

That darn Freesia sure did a number on Jiyu in the previous volume of Jubei Chan 2. Fortunately for our heroine, Ayunosuke is there to take care of her and nurse her back to health. Sadly she is still rejecting the lovely eye-patch and this leads to a gut wrenching scene with her little caretaker. Bon recovers from his wounds as well and we get a little more background story surrounding his character. This volume is short on action but big on development with a lot of emotion, and of course the famed cracked-out sense of humor.

Boobs and robots seem to go together like peanut butter and chocolate. Or at least that's the impression that Godannar is giving out. The show continues to entertain with some gaudy fanservice, giant robots, lots of explosions and tons of humor. More mimetic beasts pop up that need to be taken care of and a ghost from Goh's past appears. The group also has to take care of Max who apparently has turned into something not quite human.

Be sure to take a look at recommendations by DVDTalk's twisted cast of reviewers in their Best Of Anime 2003 and Best Of Anime 2004 articles.

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DVDTalk reviewer John Sinnott had it right about Divergence Eve, the fan service-reliant "no one can hear you jiggle in space, no one can decipher this plot" anime that ADV Films released in three volumes, concluding in August. The anime was pretty, the girls were busty, and those were the only redeeming points of a confusing and disjointed show about four female cadets with giant chests fighting monsters called Ghouls in space. In this future, interstellar travel takes place through a series of "inflation gates" which pass through a parallel universe. The Ghouls are trying to invade our universe via these gates, and it's up to the soldiers stationed at a distant space outpost called Watcher's Nest to stop them.

Misaki Chronicles fills in the blanks before Divergence Eve, taking us back to Misaki's childhood (when she wasn't so busty) and to her days as a training space cadet. We see Misaki and her equally chesty companions Luxandra, Kiri and Suzanna as they train, and we see the top officers plan on how they're going to use Misaki for their own designs.

Sometimes we delve back into the long-winded techno babble that weighed down Divergence Eve so much, but most of the three episodes on this DVD are enjoyable, a good mix of action and emotion. The story bounces around in time a bit too much (as do some of the characters; suddenly we're in the 1500s at one point), but if you don't spend too much time dwelling on the connections to the original series, you'll find yourself enjoying the simple gunfights, the somewhat interesting characters, and the musings of our heroine. Misaki knows she weighs down her teammates (better with a frying pan than a gun, in her own words), yet she tries hard to be useful (or to get out of the way). She's like dozens of other clumsy anime girls you've met before, yet cute in her unassuming way.

On its own, Misaki Chronicles is a Recommended DVD, because while the breasts are still unnaturally huge and Misaki is still unnaturally unqualified as a member of the armed forces, the story is marginally improved, the soundtrack is pretty good, and the animation is above average. A must-own for those few Divergence Eve die-hards out there, and worth a rental for those who felt burned by the original series.

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