Gundam is BACK. In 2015, Sunrise will start to release (through RightStuf distribution) the entirety of the Gundam franchise.

Welcome back, space cowboys! (Anyone else notice that Cowboy Bebop is finally on Blu-ray?) It's been a while since we last had an Anime Talk column but we have a new compilation ready for everyone to see a sampling of reviews and news over the latest in anime. Find out what we considered to be the best in anime releases in 2014 and what anime releases there are to look forward to in 2015. Also see our breakdown of the latest and most notable anime reviews as featured on DVDTalk.com. (It'll help when deciding on what titles are the best new ones on DVD and Blu-ray for you all to check out).

As per usual, we hope you have fun with the latest Anime Talk! In the words of Vash the Stampede... PEACE!

Selected by Neil Lumbard

   

The long awaited arrival of more of the classic and beloved Studio Ghibli films on Blu-ray is a cause for celebration. Whether you import from the Japanese Studio Ghibli line of releases or choose from Disney's domestic stateside releases, bringing more of the awe-inspiring anime masterstrokes from maestro Hayao Miyazaki into a anime collection is surely an easy pick (which one can't be too surprised by!) for a list of the best of the year in anime.

Disney has at last released three of Miyazaki's feature-films to Blu-ray in North American and each one proves to be essential: Princess Mononoke, his Japanese folklore epic, the charming Kiki's Delivery Service, and the bittersweet feature film end to his brilliant career, The Wind Rises.

Subtitle perfectionists should take note that both Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service use dub-based subtitles, and not subtitles based on Hayao Miyazaki's scripts. This means the dub written for Princess Mononoke by the acclaimed Neil Gaiman is included, which some might actually consider a worthy inclusion for the disc, but unfortunately Disney has not included multiple viewing options with two sets of subtitles so that a authentic subtitle option is also provided. The Wind Rises, luckily, is fully preserved with an accurate subtitle translation.

Studio Ghibli of Japan also issued a mammoth set in 2014 containing each of the eleven feature films directed by Hayao Miyazaki across his career: Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, and The Wind Rises.

Each film is presented with a top of the line encoding which is superior to previously released editions worldwide. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind has even been color corrected to the original artwork that was done by the animators who worked on Nausicaa. As previous home media releases included a red off-color tint which was part of the affected source, which had formerly been color-graded incorrectly), this marks the best presentation worldwide.

 In order to make the most of the film presentations on this special set, the on-disc supplements were dropped (which were not subtitled anyway) and the bit-rates were greatly expanded. The set also contains the early short film by Miyazaki, Yuki's Sun, which served as his directorial debut and which was previously unavailable in any home media release worldwide. Lastly, the set includes 2 rare episodes of the anime program Akado Suzunosuke: both were completely storyboarded by a young Miyazaki.

Regardless of which Blu-ray edition one picks (or perhaps one will even go for multiple editions), bringing more Miyazaki and Ghibli into a home entertainment collection is a significant and splendid thing, indeed.

 

2) Cowboy Bebop - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

Anime fans like to discuss what productions one might consider to be amongst the top echelon of creations. One thing almost all fans of the medium share in common is the feeling that Shinichirô Watanabe's masterpiece Cowboy Bebop ranks amongst the greatest creations in the history of the filmmaking medium.

The series follows bounty hunters Spike, Faye, Jet, Edward, and their lovable doggie Ein as they traverse across the galaxy on their "Cowboy" missions. This series manages to be that rare show that has it all: heart, intelligence, comedy, genius, action, adventure, mystery, intrigue, suspense, breathtaking animation, and the greatest soundtrack to any anime series (beautifully composed by the brilliant Yoko Kanno). This is one anime series that all fans should make sure to pick up on Blu-ray High Definition. Cowboy Bebop is the most essential anime series ever made and a anime collection missing this gem is certainly incomplete.

Whether series fans went with ordering the Standard Edition, the Funimation.com exclusive with vinyl-like packaging and artcards, or the Amazon.com Exclusive featuring a color and black-and-white artbook and clamshell artbox), Cowboy Bebop remains an essential.

3) Cardcaptor Sakura - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

One of the most beloved of all Shojo anime series is the brilliant and family-friendly Cardcaptor Sakura. This gem of a magical-girl series is one of the most beloved of its genre and also one of the most creatively made: featuring wonderful animation and a great story. Join Sakura and the rest as they go on their journey to collect the mystical Clow Cards and help to save the world from bigger threats. (Plus, the series contains a memorable theme song with music by Maaya Sakamoto... which for myself, is another big plus for an already impressive series).

 


   
January 2015 Edition

4) More One Piece Collections & Voyage Sets (DVD) and Film Z (Blu-ray/DVD)

One of the most successful long-form anime series is indisputably One Piece. Though the series hasn't been around as long as The Simpsons has been in America, one can't help but feel that it might become the longest running animated program of all time eventually. The series has had 17 seasons and over 600 episodes (in fact, almost 700 to date). This beloved series is one of the most successful anime series of all time. For the manga publication, the saga has even rivaled in popularity (and sometimes surpassed) Harry Potter for spots on the Japanese all-time bestsellers chart.

If long-form anime is your thing and you haven't started One Piece yet, there's no better time to than now with the One Piece collection sets offering an affordable and convenient means to experiencing this amazing anime creation. There's also some upcoming mega One Piece Collection box-sets with even more episodes to enjoy!  

Fans who have been sticking with it longer can enjoy the equally exciting One Piece Voyage sets and get new dubbed episodes even faster than before as Funimation's commitment to One Pieces continues to impress in 2014. 2014 also saw the release of the One Piece: Film Z feature-film, adding another of the theatrical productions to the North American line-up. This was a great year for the quirky action-packed and comedic epic extravaganza known as One Piece, with plenty of adventures ahead with Luffy and co. to keep things entertaining in 2015 and beyond.

Fairy Tail shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon. Funimation has been busy keeping the release of the show consistent as well. With plenty of episodes becoming newly dubbed for the saga's highly dedicated fan-base to enjoy. Whether fans collect the "Part" sets (which are more frequently released) or the re-released collections Fairy Tail will be a blast. 2014 has seen the release of several new Part sets and 2015 promises both Part sets and the continuation of the Collection line.  That sounds like a cause for celebration.

Looking for a sampling of some of the best recent anime releases? Look no further. The DVD Talk writing team has put together a list of some of our favorite titles to recently be released on DVD and/or Blu-ray. Take a look below.

(Note: Click on a link for a full review to read.) 

Cowboy Bebop: The Complete Series
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Kyle Mills

Cowboy Bebop is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It literally has everything you could possibly want in a show; Amazing storytelling, excellent episodic stories that are the best of it's kind, a breathtaking soundtrack, layered, nuanced and well developed characters, it has possibly the best anime dub of all time, and an extremely satisfying conclusion. Cowboy Bebop for me, transcends animation, it's its own genre. There's nothing negative to say about this show, it's one of the best experiences I've ever had watching a show. This deserves no other rating than the DVD Talk Collector's Series.

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Sailor Moon: Season 1, Part 1 (Collector's Edition)
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Neil Lumbard

Sailor Moon is a classic: it remains one of the greatest anime creations of all time. It's a wonderful show for anime fans of all ages and it's filled to the brim with great action, adventure, and characters. Anyone who considers themselves an anime fan should see this amazing series. While the presentation of the Blu-ray suffers by having poor video quality the set's new English dub, a translation effort that is more accurate, and the remastered Japanese audio are all impressive attributes of the release.

Considering the series is finally going to be made available in the United States in a complete form (season five will become available for the first time in North America), the release also feels worth recommending just based on those merits and because of the strength of the series itself. Even though this is a flawed release, the series is worth recommending and for some potential buyers the positive aspects of the set will outweigh the negatives. Consider both elements and decide on a purchase accordingly.

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The Wind Rises
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Matt Hinrichs

Beautiful. If indeed The Wind Rises winds up being Hayao Miyazaki's final film (as the animation legend insists), he will have gone out on a graceful, high note.

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Kiki's Delivery Service
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Reviews by Thomas Spurlin

Kiki's Delivery Service is a simple story told extremely well, a story of realization and determination that, though about a young witch, is about as grounded and non-magic in a literal sense as you'll see from Hayao Miyazaki. Charming characters adorn the story of Kiki's ups and down in discovering herself, giving the story a rich backdrop as it sweeps us along with her broomstick rides across a gloriously animated landscape. Disney's new Blu-ray presentation of Kiki's Delivery Service casts quite a spell in high-definition, soaring far beyond the flawed DVDs in accurate audiovisual prowess while retaining most of the supplemental goodies from the re-released package, including the storyboard version of the film and several interviews with Miyazaki and his creative team.

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Princess Mononoke
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Randy Miller III

Princess Mononoke is a visually stunning, accessible, and thought-provoking slice of Japanese animation that remains in the genre's top tier more than 15 years after its original release. It's a sprawling and epic adventure loaded with intrigue, mysticism, and a few potent bursts of grisly action, all framed by some of the finest hand-drawn animation in recent memory. Disney's Blu-ray is unfortunately something of a missed opportunity: the "dubtitles" are a half-step backwards for anyone who favors the original Japanese audio, but an impressive A/V upgrade definitely softens the blow a bit (and we even get a few international extras this time around!). Unless you plan on importing a copy from another region, this is still a safe bet...providing the dubtitles aren't a deal-breaker, of course.

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Welcome to the Space Show
Blu-ray

Review by Tyler Foster

Although it's got a fair share of shortcomings, fans of animation will want to check out Welcome to the Space Show just to see the sheer volume of visual and conceptual creativity on hand, which bursts from this film like a jack-in-the-box. The film can be overwhelming at times, but even the slight sickness of taking in so much cinematic sugar won't dampen the overall experience.

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A Letter to Momo
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Kyle Mills

A Letter to Momo down to it's foundation is a breathtaking achievement in animation that doesn't come around very often. The visuals are stunning, it has a beautiful story, well rounded characters, and a great resolution that will leave you satisfied and maybe a little teary eyed.

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Patema Inverted
Blu-ray

Review by Randy Miller III

Like many sci-fi and fantasy films before it (animated or otherwise), Patema Inverted takes a rather conventional story and simply places it in a new and unusual environment. Unfortunately, the lack of an interesting villain and a deflated third act almost spoil the party, but the film's interesting premise and fantastic visuals manage to save what's left. With that said, I could definitely see Patema Inverted as an accessible "gateway drug" for those relatively new to anime, despite some of the film's fundamental shortcomings. Cinedigm's Blu-ray package is slightly above average with a few thoughtful touches, including two high quality audio tracks and separate subtitles for each one, as well as a handful of appropriate bonus features.

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Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Kyle Mills

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods is one hell of a fun flick. For any fan of the Dragon Ball franchise, you need to check it out. The brand new film takes all of the best elements of both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, combines them and the result is a film full of nostalgia, fun characters, some legitimate laugh out loud moments (although a lot do fall flat at the same time), and slick action sequences. It's a film that showcases perfectly why the Dragon Ball franchise has such long lasting popularity.

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Ghost in the Shell: 25th Anniversary Edition
Blu-ray

Review by Randy Miller III

Without question, Ghost in the Shell is a unique and highly influential slice of Japanese animation that, in almost every regard, has aged quite well during the last 19 years. It's definitely a little overstuffed (even at less than 90 minutes), but the film's twisting plot and mind-bending technology---combined with the film's ambitious visual effects---make this a sporadically satisfying feast for the eyes, ears, and brain, though the sensory experience largely overshadows most of its overcooked dialogue. Anchor Bay's "25th Anniversary" Blu-ray, unfortunately, falls a little short: the A/V is passable with mild reservations, but the lack of new and vintage extras is a total disappointment and almost a deal-breaker. Still, I'd imagine that die-hard fans of Ghost in the Shell will just be happy to have the original "non-2.0" version in 1080p...so if $20 sounds like a fair price for 83 minutes of game-changing animation, it probably is.

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One Piece: Film Z
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Kyle Mills

One Piece: Film Z is a solid film. No where near the quality of Strong World but still a good entry. The usual charming cast of characters, a somewhat decent villain, fantastic dub, and the excellent action carry this film.

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Cardcaptor Sakura: Complete Collection (Premium Edition)
Blu-ray

Review by Neil Lumbard

Cardcaptor Sakura has been one of the most discussed titles regarding the question of whether or not the series would ever get to receive a domestic Blu-ray release. NIS America has done fans of this classic series a solid with the license rescue and release of the entire show in high definition in one swoop with this deluxe premium edition set. I once dreamed that a complete Blu-ray set of Cardcaptor Sakura would be released -- and that it would be released stateside from NIS America, as one of the best anime companies around -- and I am thrilled that this dream came true.

While it's not a set that's absolutely perfect in every regard, this is still undeniably one of the best releases of the entire year. Even having this beloved classic anime series license rescued is great news and a huge deal. It's wonderful that NIS America has made such a strong effort to bring to North America the Japanese Blu-ray presentation of Cardcaptor Sakura. With all 70 episodes of the series (with its three season run), the best presentation of Cardcaptor Sakura to date, a solid lossless Japanese audio presentation, the most complete English dub made, and a gorgeously designed art-box and artbook containing a complete episode guide to the entire series, NIS America's Cardcaptor Sakura - Complete Series (Premium Edition) set is a must own for dedicated anime collector's and fans of the show. 

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Hal
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Kyle Mills

Hal is a beautifully done story from start to finish, with characters you can really connect to from your emotional core. At only 56 minutes in length, it's a bit short, but it will tug at your heart strings nonetheless. It has well fleshed out characters and a love story that rivals any you've seen in a anime film prior. This is a film I'd recommend to anyone.

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Toradora! Complete Series (Premium Edition)
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Kyle Mills

If I were to recommend only one Slice of life/Romantic comedy anime title to someone, it would be Toradora! While it did execute some clichés throughout the series, the writers would cleverly put a spin on them and use them to their advantage perfectly. I was glued to the screen by the end of the first episode and it didn't let me go until the last screenshot faded away of the OVA episode. The series was filled with amazing characters, character development, funny moments and a fantastic love story. Toradora! is simply a masterpiece in the romantic comedy genre. THIS is how you do a love story correctly.

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Attack on Titan: Part 1 & Part 2
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Reviews by John Sinnott

While I won't go so far as to say that Attack on Titan is the best anime ever, it is the best that I've seen in a while. Filled with some very frantic action, an intense story, and some truly surprising twists, it's a show that anime fans should not miss.

Though this second set doesn't quite pack the wallop that the first one did, it's still a pretty decent show. The lack of resolution will disappoint some viewers but even with that the program gives you quite a ride.

Wolf Children is a touching coming of age story that will pull at your heartstrings. The story expands over 13 years, but the show's pace never seems slow. My attention was kept from beginning to end. I found myself laughing and crying with the family throughout the whole movie. I strongly recommend this title!


 #2 Rose of Versailles:

Riyoko Ikeda's classic series finally has come to America! Set in the days leading up to the tumultuous French Revolution, this story follows Oscar François de Jarjayes, a woman raised to live as a man, and the struggles she faces as Marie Antoinette's guard and confidante. As the story progresses, Oscar soon finds that the French Royal Court is a dangerous place, especially for someone as young and naïve as Marie. I particularly loved the faithfulness to history The Rose of Versailles has, and I often found myself reading up on the history of the actual people as I progressed through the show.


 #3 Say, "I Love You":

Say, "I Love You" is a breath of fresh air compared to all the other romance shows out there right now. You don't have to wait until the 9th episode before something happens in Mei and Yamato's relationship. I enjoyed watching each character grow and overcome their past hardships in order to move forward. I thought the show was very relatable and would strongly recommend this title.


 #4 Good Luck Girl! Binbogami ga!:

Good Luck Girl! Binbogami ga! is an outrageously funny series. You can't help, but wonder what crazy situation the characters are going to get themselves into next. While the story is simple, the viewers are able to learn a valuable lesson from the show. If you're looking for a pick me up this holiday season Good Luck Girl! Binbogami ga! is the way to go.


#5 Accel World:

Accel World is a very interesting show. It takes on the challenge of addressing how technology has influenced people's lives both positively and negatively. The negative side is shown by the main characters desire to escape reality. It also demonstrates how people can become addicted to technology. Overall the show has a great storyline and enough action to keep you entertained.


So there you have it, Jessica's picks for 2013 Q4 top anime releases! Stay tuned for more picks from RightStuf.com coming soon.

]]> 2014-01-21T17:56:12-08:00 http://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/holiday_edition.html Anime Talk December 2012 December 2012 Edition by Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai Welcome back... and enjoy the latest news and anime reviews this Holiday Season! The Anime Talk Introduction It’s time for another installment of DVDTalk.com’s Anime... 12198@http://www.dvdtalk.com/anime/

December 2012 Edition
by Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai




Welcome back... and enjoy the latest news and anime reviews this Holiday Season!

The Anime Talk Introduction

It’s time for another installment of DVDTalk.com’s Anime Talk column! We have compiled an excellent group of reviews to share with our readers this month. We compiled more reviews in an effort to bring you a sampling of the best new anime releases around. This month we bring to you the latest tidings of anime goodness on the horizon, our list of the best anime releases of 2012, an interesting sampling of the latest and best reviewed anime titles, and a post-holiday shopping guide to cure any post-holiday gift blues for those presents you really wanted but somehow didn't manage to receive. So sad.

As reviewers, we often find ourselves watching loads of anime to find the special series worth remembering. We watch both awful and awesome anime series to find you the series that are actually worth our readership’s time, investment, and hard earned moolah. In other words, remember to look to our column as an indication of the best titles available on the anime marketplace. You can find information here about the best titles newly released in home incarnations on DVD and Blu-ray.

The DVDTalk.com Anime Talk column is a bi-monthly offering with information on some of the latest anime releases.There have been a number of notable new releases over the past two months. Please check reviews in the section indicated below to find a sampling of the best discs arriving in our reviewing quarters (not that we actually all sit together in the same office, divided into a fraction while watching anime 24/7). Have fun, readers!

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WTK's December 2012 Tidbits
Presented by Wen-Tsai King

Leading off toward 2013, FUNimation Entertainment will be releasing a pair of new licenses that may be of interest for horror and shonen fans. BLOOD-C (TV) from Prudction I.G and CLAMP will be released on Blu-ray / DVD combo pack. The first set of Toriko will be released on DVD. The series is still ongoing and simulcasted on FUNimation.com.

From Sentai Filmworks, the Mardock Scramble film trilgoy continues with The Second Combustion on DVD and Blu-ray.

Other noteworthy upcoming early 2013 collections include: RightStuf/Lucky Penny's Sweet Blue Flowers (Aoi Hana), New Video Group's Digimon - Digimon Monsters (Season 2), and Viz Media's Tiger & Bunny (first half on DVD and Blu-ray).

Viz Media has also made a wonderful new annoucement for the release of InuYasha The Movie: The Complete Collection, will will contain all four InuYasha films in a two-disc Blu-ray set to be released in March next year. It's already available for pre-order!

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WTK's Shopping Guide
Presented by Wen-Tsai King



Didn't receive every gift you were hoping for this Holiday season?
Here is a guide of releases to gift to yourself in the post-holiday season...
 if you haven't received these wonderful and overlooked anime gems of 2012!

● anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day | Review | A group of childhood friends become estranged due to a tragic accident. How would they confront the events of the past, present, and the future? This moving and surprisingly touching series is simply one of the best anime that NIS America has to offer.

● Infinite Stratos | Review | If you are looking for a harem series released in 2012, this Sentai Filmworks series could definitely fit the bill. While the layout of the series feel episodic, the element of weaponized combat sport and action fighting scenes make it even more entertaining. And the nice addition to this release is the inclusion of a bonus music CD.

● Panda! Go, Panda! | Review | Studio Ghibli fans, this is one movie release that you would want to check out. It's a family movie involving a young girl and her panda family. It's also one of the earlier works from Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. It's a definitely a recommended release for the younger children.

● Redline | A racing tournment based movie, can it work? I think it can. While the story may not feel that deep, the animation style and design/environment is fantastic especially on high-definition. This is just a highly entertaining movie that can capture your attention. It's definitely worth checking out.

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DVDTalk.com Presents: The Best Anime Releases of 2012

As Selected by Neil Lumbard

1) Tenchi Muyo OVA & Tenchi Muyo Theatrical Films (Blu-ray)

This is the best anime release of the entire year. Yes, that statement is for both the OVA and theatrical film releases. Tenchi is one of the staples of anime and these newly released box-sets containing the entire OVA and theatrical films from our favorite harem-comedy series is one of the best values and highest quality Blu-ray presentations of the entire year.  It’s sure to delight anyone who considers themselves a massive fan of the Tenchi saga. 

 

2) Castle in the Sky/Whisper of the Heart/ The Secret World of Arrietty/Grave of the Fireflies (Blu-ray)

We couldn’t pick just one of these excellent Studio Ghibli Blu-ray releases. All four of these feature films (Castle in the Sky, Whisper of the Heart, The Secret World of Arrietty, and Grave of the Fireflies) are all essential cinematic experiments and classics in anime. These are four of the greatest anime films of all time and each release is worth adding to any anime fan’s collection.

3) Kimi ni Todoke V.1-V.3 Premium Editions (Blu-ray)

Kimi ni Todoke is the most romantic, sweepingly beautiful, and heartfelt anime series released in the past year and these three excellent premium edition releases by NIS America offer a tremendously satisfying presentation for one of the best anime series we’ve ever seen.

4) One Piece Collections & Voyage Sets (DVD)

One Piece is one of our favorite anime series and it’s one that we call always count on for some great comedy, action, and adventure on the high seas (and beyond). We were thrilled to find the rerelease “collection” sets become available for One Piece fans and we are excited by the continuation of the Voyage sets. We enjoy the journey so much and are sure that anime fans will either want to jump onboard the series (at last!) or continue this wonderful saga.

           

5) Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (Blu-ray)

This is easily one of the most ambitious anime series produced in the past few years and anyone who hasn’t seen the series yet and considers themselves an anime fan will at least want to give it a chance, because there’s a good possibility that it could wind up a series favorite. The Blu-ray collections from Funimation offer a tremendous value to fans. 

6) K-On: Season 2 (Blu-ray)

K-On is one of the most charming, entertaining, and “fun” series we reviewed in 2012. Combine that with the beautiful video/audio on the Sentai Filmworks Blu-ray releases and we had one of our top favorites of the year overall.

 

7) Bunny Drop Premium Edition (Blu-ray)

Bunny Drop is one of those rare anime series that is near-perfection from beginning to end. It beautifully combines heartfelt storytelling with strong characterization and some of the best animation around. The NIS America set is a gorgeous release that will delight all series fans.

 

8) Fairy Tail Part 4 (Blu-ray)

Fairy Tail is one of our favorite new(ish) series and we were sad to reach the end of the fourth part released by Funimation. We are anticipating future set releases and hope that the dub continues production. This series has a fun dub: it’s a great series and a high quality presentation overall.

 

9) Panda Go Panda (DVD)

One of the early pre-Ghibli creations that is often overlooked but that is just as brilliant as any future creations from Miyazaki and Takahata. These short two-episode specials are a clear precursor to the creation of My Neighbor Totoro and it is a classic tale that will delight anime viewers of all ages. The rerelease brings the classic back into print for future generations to enjoy time and time again.

 

10) Digimon Season 1 (DVD)

One of the best anime series produced for children in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Digimon was an entertaining, exciting, and complex series with greater storytelling than most children’s fare. This is easily one of the best releases of the year. Fans have anticipated a release for years and it’s nice to finally have an official product available now. This set is wonderful for fans.

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For the readers looking for the Anime Bargains section, please check out the monthly Official- ANIME Bargains! - Thread at the DVDTalk.com forums.

Looking for a sampling of some of the best recent anime releases? Look no further. The DVD Talk writing team has put together a list of some of our favorite titles to recently be released on DVD and/or Blu-ray. Take a look below.

(Note: Click on a link for a full review to read.) 

Steins;Gate: Complete Series, Part One
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by John Sinnott

This is an unexpectedly good series.  The first episode felt like it was being strange for the sake of being strange, but after that the story quickly got rolling and sucked me in.  Before I knew it, I had to get up and change discs, then the next thing I knew the first half was over, leaving me (at least metaphorically) on my knees, fists raised to sky, screaming that life was unfair.  I can't wait until the second set is released.  Check this one out.

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Shakugan no Shana: Season One Box Set
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Todd Douglass Jr.

Sporadic in its pacing, mildly generic (by anime standards) in its execution, and too drawn out for its own good, Shakugan no Shana is definitely a show with some flaws. It is, however, a series with great characters that evolve and develop and the story is good enough to carry it along for 24 episodes (and them some as evident by future series and other projects).

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Spice & Wolf: Complete Series
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by John Sinnott

A slow paced but enjoyable show, Spice and Wolf is a unique anime series where making a profit by trading from town to town takes the center stage over fights and action.  If you're willing to give it the time to unravel at its own pace, you'll find a nice show.

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Hellsing Ultimate: Volumes 1-4 & Volumes 5-8 Collections
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Reviews by Michael Zupan

Hellsing Ultimate is unquestionably the faithful manga translation we've all hoped for. The original Hellsing series was a lot of fun, but these OVA's overshadow it in every perceivable way. Sure, there's an excessive amount of gratuitously violent fan service, but the improved plot, character backgrounds and atmosphere finally add some layering and depth to the mix, so Ultimate is likely to appeal to a wide variety of anime fans.

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Martian Successor Nadesico: Complete Collection (Remastered)
DVD

Review by Neil Lumbard

Anime fans looking to watch a series now considered a "classic" of the art-form will be pleased to know that the series contains many interesting genre elements, while the longtime, devoted fandom for Nadesico will be thrilled to own the series and feature film in this DVD collection containing both with gloriously remastered prints and a generous selection of supplements. It might be worth renting first for newcomers to the show, but if you can enjoy a few episodes, there's a good chance you'll want this set in your anime collection. This is a stellar Nozomi Entertainment re-release of a popular and much loved anime creation.

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Maria Watches Over Us: Season 1
DVD

Review by John Sinnott

This show is a hard one to rate. It is very good for what it is: a clam, slice-of-life show that takes place in a girl's school. The only problem is that I didn't care for shoujo-ai too much. Taking that into account, I did enjoy many of the episodes in this set, while I would occasionally roll my eyes at some contrived plot devices. In any case I can't say that this gentle character driven story isn't worth checking out, so I'll recommend it, especially to fans of shoujo-ai programs. They shouldn't miss this one.

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Tenchi Universe
DVD

Review by Neil Lumbard

Tenchi Universe is one of the best series to exist out of the Tenchi saga and it is one of the most essential anime productions ever made. The artwork isn't truly on par with the earlier OVAs but the writing, comedy, and characters are some of the absolute best you will ever find in the genre. If you love character-based and original stories this is one show that manages to interweave both aspects, even despite the fact that it is an alternate-universe telling of the original Tenchi OVA's storyline. Simply put, Tenchi Universe is outta this world, and a genuine must own DVD release (in one form or another) by all serious anime connoisseurs.

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Tenchi in Tokyo
DVD

Review by Neil Lumbard

Tenchi in Tokyo might not be the most respected Tenchi outing, but it has more than enough creativity and originality to keep viewers interested in seeing where the story will go. It also ended on a decidedly high note that wrapped up the series in a way that was intriguing and satisfactory. I enjoyed the show and would recommend it any Tenchi fan as a fun anime diversion.  Just don’t expect to find a series that is on par with the original or Universe.

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Boogiepop Phantom Complete TV Series
DVD

Review by Michael Zupan

After the first couple of episodes, I feared that Boogiepop Phantom would have been a full pasta bowl of loose ends. Fortunately, the series is all business - the violence isn't gratuitous, and absolutely zero time is wasted on racy skin or undergarment shots - and things are tied up nicely after all is said and done. It's hard to describe exactly what Boogiepop Phantom is, but whatever it is, it's good. It's a dark and atmospheric nightmare that rivals the palpable uneasiness in earlier seasons of The X-Files, and it's an experience that drops its puzzle pieces at such a magnificent pace, that you won't be able to see the full picture until the final episode has concluded, and that's a large part of what makes this series so hauntingly captivating. If you're looking for some anime with substance, something that will play with your mind and present many dark, but not entirely unrealistic thematic ideas, then Boogiepop Phantom is exactly what you've been waiting for (not that the series is new or anything). The series alone is worth a high recommendation, but a lackluster A/V presentation and unimaginative extras keep a good release from being a great one.

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One Piece: Collection 8
DVD

Review by Neil Lumbard

One Piece is one of the grandest anime adventures. This series manages to stay around as a fun ride with great characters and it does so with epic story-arcs and amusing side-stories. This set contains a sampling of both elements with the conclusion of the Skypiea arc and the beginning (and most of) the G-8 side storyline. I loved these episodes, and consider myself to be a huge fan.

The only downside to this release is that the set represents the last collection from Funimation for the time being. We are likely over a year away from seeing any more collection sets because the Voyage sets are still being released and it takes time for the series to be dubbed in English. Still, the wait will be worth it if you have been collecting One Piece Collection sets. These collection releases represent some of the best value for your money in the entire anime on DVD market.

Newcomers should start at the beginning, but for those of you who are already collecting these One Piece sets, you can now enjoy another must-have DVD release of one of the best anime series around.

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K-On Season 2, Collection 2
Blu-ray

Review by Neil Lumbard

K-ON! is an awesome, rock-tastic series. If you enjoy rock music, friendship, and good humor it will be a series that appeals to you and your brand of enjoyable coolness. While K-ON! is aimed more at girls than boys it is a series that should appeal to both genders and a wide variety of ages too. Tales of friendship are timeless, and K-ON! is one of the more exciting ones to come out the past few years.

<>This set contains the second half of season two (episodes 14 through 27) and fans will be thrilled with the top-quality nature of these episodes. I was immensely pleased, but saddened that this was the last batch of K-ON! episodes ever. It's a Blu-ray set that shouldn't be missed by fans. K-ON! will remain as a true gem of a show that is worth purchasing and cherishing by devoted anime lovers everywhere.

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C: Control the Money and Soul of Possibility
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Randy Miller III

As an infrequent follower of anime, I can't say with authority that C: Control is a purely original series; perhaps it's just a notch above average, compared to all the wacky stuff I've missed in recent years. Either way, the ambitious visuals and interesting stories overshadow some of its more clichéd elements, so those looking for a swift kick in the occipital lobe should enjoy what C: Control brings to the table. FUNimation's Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack is decent but expensive, pairing a great A/V presentation with only a handful of modest bonus features. A rental might be in order for the budget-conscious, but its perceived replay value makes C: Control a worthy investment for anime fans.

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Serial Experiments Lain: Complete Collection
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Neil Lumbard

Serial Experiments Lain is one of the weirdest anime series of all time. It sounds a lot like a big hyperbole to begin with that kind of statement, but I don't consider it one. This is genuinely an incredibly odd and offbeat series with a twisty sci-fi narrative that questions the path of human existence, the role of technology in society, and many philosophical questions about people in general. This isn't a cookie-cutter anime series or even a massively plot-driven one. It's a big, weird, and fascinating experience in thought-provoking anime. It inspired the creation of The Matrix. It redefined the way many anime fans thought about the genre as a whole.

As long as you can call yourself a fan of the show, the Blu-ray set is absolutely one worthy of a place in your collection. The transfers aren't perfect - but a huge part of that is because of the way this series was originally made in the first place. I wouldn't expect a better release of the series to ever be released. Essentially, this is a definitive collection. The PQ has a few minor issues, but the presentation of the packaging and all of the notable inclusions here (along with transfers that are still significantly better than the prior DVD editions) is something to consider when deciding on a purchase. Personally, I still find the series a bit more convoluted than most and wouldn't necessarily consider it a "must own" show.  However, I know that any fan that is serious about owning Serial Experiments Lain will want to have it on Blu-ray in this jazzy, fun, and well-made edition.

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Natsume's Book of Friends: Seasons 1 and 2 - Premium Edition
DVD

Review by Neil Lumbard

Natsume's Book of Friends is an entertaining series that is worth checking out for anime fans, and this premium edition DVD release from NIS America is a real winner despite the lack of many on-disc extras. The quality of the presentation is good and the packaging is amazing. It definitely is a release that deserves consideration.  For fans of the anime, this will be an easy purchase.  The set is well worth owning.

September 2012 Edition
by Neil Lumbard, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai



Welcome back... and enjoy the latest news and anime reviews!

It’s time for another installment of DVDTalk.com’s Anime Talk column! We have compiled an excellent group of reviews to share with our readers this month. We compiled more reviews in an effort to bring you a sampling of the best new anime releases around.

As reviewers, we often find ourselves watching loads of anime to find the special series worth remembering. We watch both awful and awesome anime series to find you the series that are actually worth our readership’s time, investment, and hard earned moolah. In other words, remember to look to our column as an indication of the best titles available on the anime marketplace. You can find information here about the best titles newly released in home incarnations on DVD and Blu-ray.

The DVDTalk.com Anime Talk column is a bi-monthly offering with information on some of the latest anime releases. This means that a brand new column release can now be expected to fall every two months. Not twice a month. Clarification seemed necessary because it could be interpreted either way, but we decided to go forward using the two month format.

There have been a number of notable new releases over the past two months. Please check reviews in the section indicated below to find a sampling of the best discs arriving in our reviewing quarters (not that we actually all sit together in the same office, divided into a fraction). Have fun, readers!

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WTK's September 2012 Tidbits
Presented by Wen-Tsai King

Anime collectors: time to open up your wallets! Aniplex of America has prepped two Blu-ray collections this fall. It includes Durarara!! (with a collectible lunchbox) and Bakemonogatari. Both collections are currently available for pre-order at RightStuf.com at $149.98 each.

Bandai Entertainment announced on August 31st that they will be discontinuing all titles available through home video publishing and distribution effective March 1, 2013. It's a wake up call to purchase any remaining anime catalog titles that you still want from them. Select releases could go out of print at any time. There is no 100% certainty of which series will be license rescued.

Continuing where the summer left off, FUNimation Entertainment has even more former Geneon Entertainment US series coming back in-print and already scheduled for the rest of this year. It includes series like Haibane Renmei, Fafner TV, Tenchi Universe, Hellsing Ultimate (OVA 1 - 4), Black Lagoon Seasons 1 & 2, Hellsing TV, Serial Experiments Lain, Tenchi in Tokyo, Tenchi Muyo! OVA Series, and Tenchi Muyo! movies. Many of the these releases will also get Blu-ray / DVD combo treatments. The Serial Experiments Lain combo release will be remastered in native HD and include a 320 page artbook + 24 page restoration booklet. The Tenchi OVA and theatircal releases are also known to be from the HD transfers previously used on the Japanese Blu-ray editions.

A couple of highly anticpated movie releases are scheduled for later this fall from Sentai Filmworks. These releases include: Makoto Shinkai’s Children Who Chase Lost Voices (DVD and Blu-ray) and Isao Takahata's Grave of the Fireflies on Blu-ray for the first time. Other notable releases (DVD, Blu-ray) include Ninja Scroll: The Motion Picture and the first collection of Penguin Drum.

In other news, VIZ Media's 24/7 PS3 streaming anime station named "Neon Alley" will launch on Tuesday, October 2nd. The channel is entirely devoted to dubbed anime. The selection of shows available on the new streaming channel is limited at this time, but new episodes of dubbed One Piece will be one highlighted show available through VIZ's partnership with Funimation.

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For the readers looking for the Anime Bargains section, please check out the monthly Official- ANIME Bargains! - Thread at the DVDTalk.com forums.

Crunchyroll Streaming: Service Review
Taking a Look at PS3 Streaming Anime

Review by Neil Lumbard

Despite our love for physically-pressed anime media, we wanted to spend a moment to talk Crunchyroll. It’s arguably the best streaming anime service available and with the new and exciting availability of premium membership subscription service for playback on any PS3 system in North America it’s even more downright cool than ever before.

We’ve decided to compile a run-down of the service’s pros and cons for users looking to use service with the PS3 playback mode.

Pros:
 

• Episodes are added regularly: Weekly for most series. Newly airing in Japan shows become available less than 24 hours later in subtitled form.

• Availability of content. Crunchyroll many not have all of the series you would ever want. However, it does have an increasingly huge selection of shows and will please even the most intensely dedicated anime fans. This service includes anime favorites like  Naruto, Bleach, Gundam (various incarnations), and classic series like Galaxy Express 999 to Sherlock Hound (a series that involved Hayao Miyazaki and which is currently OOP within the US).

• Price. At only $6.95 a month, it’s not a bad deal.  You get a lot of anime to watch for little moolah. We think it’s a good deal for a streaming service. There are also no ads littering the service for premium members. (Free subscribers can watch online, but it becomes somewhat limited as a service and it cannot be accessed through the PS3 if subscribed to the premium service option).

Cons:

• Streaming quality isn’t in High Definition yet. This could be a deal-breaker for some. Certainly, it’s something which makes us consider the value of the service to become dampened somewhat. Once the high definition viewing options become implemented with Crunchyroll’s PS3 service it should be able to earn a few extra brownie points in regards to streaming quality. High Def playback is supposed to roll-out later this year.

• Things have been a bit buggy so far and we don’t know when the system will work 100% of the time on all models of the PS3 system. Certain PS3 owners have had more playback issues than other subscribers. Recently, an update what applied to the software that fixed many of the issues. However, I still experienced some occasionally “off” motions on the video quality playback. Keep in mind that this has already been tinkered with, improved, and that the service quality is decent but still in need of some added support and updates.

• It needs an easier navigation system. Browsing through the catalog of shows with the currently setup of left to right or right to left browsing is a bit tedious without it being organized as efficiently (or in as many categorizations) as it could be. It’s simple and sleek looking but it could use some added options and tweaks.

Looking for a sampling of some of the best recent anime releases? Look no further. The DVD Talk writing team has put together a list of some of our favorite titles to recently be released on DVD and/or Blu-ray. Take a look below.

(Note: Click on a link for a full review to read.)

 

Lupin the 3^rd: The Complete First Television Series (Seasons One and Two)
DVD

Review by Neil Lumbard

Lupin is one of the greatest anime characters of all time. The early episodes directed by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata are fantastic to behold. If you consider yourself an anime fan this special DVD collection of the first two seasons (the original Lupin episodes) is a must watch. Fans of The Castle of Cagliostro will love this collection. Consider it a worthwhile purchase.

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Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day (Premium Edition)
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by John Sinnott

This is an excellent show and one of the top anime series that I've seen in years.  Though only 11-episodes in length, the program puts enough character development and plot in for a show 4 times as long.  Sweet, touching, and more than a little tear-jerking, anohana:  The Flower We Saw That Day comes very highly recommendation.

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Bunny Drop: The Complete Series (Premium Edition)
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Neil Lumbard

Bunny Drop is one of the most unique anime series I have had the opportunity to see. It reminded me of something that might be found broadcast on PBS, besides the fact that it is definitely an "anime series"; a genre that PBS doesn't produce. This would be an excellent series to watch with family members of any age. The story is compellingly told and here is a series which is capable of being something different from your typical anime TV series. It is a show for the entire family and that certainly makes it an interesting experience. Bunny Drop is a quality television program worth seeking out and purchasing because of NIS America's excellent release.

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Kimi ni Todoke: Volume 3 (Premium Edition)
Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Review by Neil Lumbard

<>I know some might not feel inclined to give the show a reasonable chance because of the lack of an English dub and because of the fact that this is a romantic anime. Guys especially might worry that it's a show only for girls. I find that idea silly.
<> This is one of the best anime series I have seen over the past several years. This isn't a series that is going to appeal to everyone, of course, but if you are even remotely a fan of anime you owe it to yourself to check out this show and soon.

I think that a wide range of people would love this series. It is one of the best in it's genre. The story is heartwarming, the animation stellar, and the presentation is first rate. It's entirely worthwhile and a necessary purchase for fans of the show. 

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Panda! Go, Panda!
DVD

Review by Jamie S. Rich

Panda! Go, Panda! is a cute early effort from Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. The two short cartoons about a young girl and her panda family are made for younger viewers, but are fun enough that most adults will like them, too--especially the Ghibli fans. Though not as good as My Neighbor Totoro, you can definitely see how these sweet little films eventually led the filmmakers to make that classic animated feature.

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K-On! Season 2, Part 1
Blu-ray

Review by Neil Lumbard

K-ON! is an awesome, rock-tastic series. If you enjoy rock music, friendship, and good humor it will be a series that appeals to you and your brand of enjoyable coolness. While K-ON! is aimed more at girls than boys it is a series that should appeal to both genders and a wide variety of ages too. Tales of friendship are timeless, and K-ON! is one of the more exciting ones to come out the past few years.

This set contains the first thirteen episodes of season two (which is half of the season) and it also offers a better value than the Bandai released single-volume releases made available on Blu-ray for the show's first season. Given the significantly lower cost and the high quality of the series, viewers should enjoy adding this excellent anime release to their collections.  It is well worth purchasing.

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Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season Two & Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season Three
Blu-ray

Review by Michael Zupan

I've been a fan of Dragon Ball Z for well over a decade, and I've seen all 291 episodes multiple times in both English and Japanese. This unfortunately gave me a negative bias towards Dragon Ball Z Kai, but now that I really can't justify sitting down to watch that much television over a reasonable amount of time, the option of Kai was looking pretty good. I'm man enough to admit when I was wrong, and, well, I was wrong. The new script, editing and splicing really served the second season better than I ever could have imagined. Surprisingly, none of the main story or character arcs seemed to suffer in the least. There were hardly any instances where the editing failed to be seamless, and the newly recorded dialogue is the best yet.

I would advise those uninitiated with the series to try to get their hands on all 291 episodes so they don't rob themselves of what's probably the more rewarding experience, but if you just can't justify setting aside that much time or money, Dragon Ball Z Kai is perfect for vets and newcomers alike.

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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!

AnimeTalk

January 2011 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, Neil Lumbard and Wen-Tsai

Welcome to the new year! 2010 was a blast and there was tons of fantastic anime that hit Japanese airwaves and US DVD shelves. 2011 promises to be a good year as well with upcoming Stateside releases such as Red Line, Summer Wars, and Evangelion 2.0. As far as what's come through within the past month we've yet again wrapped up our reviews for your convenience in this column. Before we get going too far ahead, let's introduce Neil! He's the latest member of our Anime Talk panel and will be joining us for reviews and columns. Welcome sir!

Some great stuff pass through our hands this month such as Black Butler, another installment of Fullmetal Alchemist, and Kaleido Star. There was also some not-so-great stuff, but that's the same every month it seems. This time around we also have a figure review from Dance in the Vampire Bund courtesy of folks at Kotobukiya, and there's a selection of manga reviews here as well! As always WTK provides some great bargains for all you thrifty otaku. It may be cold outside, but there's plenty to do indoors!

The third installment of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has arrived on Blu-ray. There are few shows where each volume cranks the intensity up a notch. With climaxes aplenty, Fullmetal Alchemist continues to impress and it has kept me on the edge of the seat since the story arc diverged from the original series. In this latest installment Ed and Al head north to a wintery fortress, an interesting new character is introduced, events with Scar take an unexpected turn, and two new homunculi are featured. This is a show that is constantly packed with action and awesome storytelling and I absolutely can't wait until part four comes out!

Speaking of continuing volumes of shows on Blu-ray, Dragon Ball Z: Kai's third installment came out recently as well. If you've seen Dragon Ball Z then you already know what's going on in Kai. This reimagining of the original sees Frieza and his cronies launching an attack on Planet Namek. The difference this time around is the storytelling is more streamline and the action sequences feel sharper as a result. Fans of Dragon Ball will definitely want to invest in Kai if they haven't already.

Tsubasa: The OVA Collection is an enticing release for fans of the show. This single disc release features five OVA episodes that offer two different storylines. The nice thing about these episodes is that canon in the sense that they feature main villains of the show and continue to offer adventures with Syaoran and the gang. It's nothing groundbreaking by any means, but if you're looking for more CLAMP and more Tsubasa, you simply can't go wrong here!

Romance of the Three Kingdoms and boobs go together like...well, nothing really. Koihime Musou has been released by Sentai Filmworks/Section23 and it's not exactly what you'd call a great success. The show features a bevy of busty babes traveling the countryside in China defeating bandits and whatnot. There's plenty of opportunities for fan-service, since this is an ecchi show based on an eroge PC title, after all. Ultimately it's episodic and slightly charming at points, but hardly anything to get super excited about.

One show that is worth getting at least a little excited over is Black Butler. Though episodic in its own right, Black Butler provides plenty of dark mystery, supernatural action, and fun storylines. The show takes place in Victorian era London and features a young boy who just so happens to be the head of a major estate. He's joined by a mysterious and deadly butler that may or may not be a devil in disguise. This first installment was good enough to keep me intrigued until the last episode!

Gravitation is a surprisingly enjoyable show. It's primarily a shounen-ai romance and yet that doesn't prevent it from having a number of humorous moments spread throughout. It's quirky characters keep things interesting while it's entertaining writing and direction help it to succeed at a unique level for the genre. It's newly released DVD thin-pack may be light on extras, but the show itself is worth taking a chance on.

Have you ever had a dream that you wished to pursue? We will assume that the answer is a resounding 'YES!'. As long as that is indeed correct (and how could it not be?!) Kaleido Star: Season One would make an excellent addition to the growing library of any anime fan. The series found within Funimation's newly released DVD box-set reveals to audiences one of the most optimistic and uplifting stories ever told in the art form. It will also have you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. If your anime collection does not contain this season set you surely overlooked the series in the past. Now would be the perfect time to introduce yourself to Kaleido Star. Highly Recommended!

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies would be an important title for any Dragon Ball fan to have. This DVD release represents the realization of what longtime Dragon Ball fans have hoped to see happen for years. Funimation at last presents the first Dragon Ball feature film UNCUT and with a brand spankin' new English Dub. Don't miss your opportunity to revisit this fun and entertaining classic entry in the Dragon Ball saga.

I bet you've never seen a vampire that looks like this before. Mina Tepes from Dance in the Vampire Bund is one of Kotobukiya's latest figures and it stands out for several reasons. Not the least of which is the loli design of the character.

Dance in the Vampire Bund has made headlines here in the States even though the series has yet to be released on DVD (though you can catch it online via streaming if you want to check it out). The series is controversial in a way since little Miss Mina is decidedly young in appearance. Those who have seen the show know that's nowhere near the case, since she's actually a princess in the vampire world and is hundreds of years old, but I digress. Mina has a naughty streak and her prepubescent appearance is pretty much just a mask.

Kotobukiya's version of Mina isn't shy about exploiting both sides of the character. For starters the figure is decidedly loli by design, but the naughty bits come into focus thanks to a seductive pose and lingerie. This is one vampire you might not mind being bitten by; loli fan or not (and for the record I'm not; I just happen to like the character in the show).

For starters, this Mina Tepes is different from most other anime figures out there thanks to her pose. She's lounging on a chair and not standing up, which is definitely a nice change of pace, even though it presents some problems. There is a chair that acts as a base and a piece of red velvet-textured cloth that sits on top. Once that's set up Mina rests on the chair as one might expect, however, the material of the cloth and the PVC of the figure don't exactly work well together. While they may be visually appealing as an aesthetic, in practicality the figure slides off too easily. It can be frustrating getting the figure to sit correctly because of this and it requires lots of experimenting. Just hope your figure shelf doesn't shake too much or you'll find yourself placing Mina back on her perch. This isn't a crippling flaw, but until you get the figure set correctly you should expect some frustration.

As far as the design is concerned, from top to bottom Mina is packed with details that outshine the display technicalities.

Her hair is long, flowing and golden with lots of details, curves, and spot on color control. There's no real split at the top of the head, which is a common figure problem, and her lengthy pigtails are tied off via ribbons on each side of her head. As you can tell from the photos, her face is rather whimsical and seductive. She's looking ever so slightly to the side with her red-tinted eyes and licking her white gloved hand in the process. It's a nice look that really captures the soul of the character.

Moving down the character there's a lace collar around her neck, which matches the details on the rest of her outfit. Her bodice, which is a deep red/purple is trimmed with ribbons and white lace, her leggings are trimmed with the same lace and elastic band, and there's a latex-like shine to the nylons and gloves. I liked the way the paint captured surrounding light and reflected it with a glossy texture.

Contrasting the stark red base, richly colored lingerie, and pure white accessories is Mina's pale complexion. You can tell his character is a vampire just from the "I haven't seen the sun in a couple hundred years" skin tone. It adds to the allure of the figure and definitely tips the scale in the quality control department. The pain job as a whole on this figure is fantastic and there really wasn't a flaw to speak of on my copy.

This figure will look stunning in anyone's collection, but it will be something Dance in the Vampire Bund fans will appreciate most. If you don't know the character you're probably going to be turned off by the loli with sex appeal kind of thing, but it's a look that works for Mina and Mina alone. Consider this figure strongly recommended for anyone interested in the show. I can't wait for FUNimation to release the DVDs, and just hope they come uncensored whenever that happens. For larger resolution images, please check out the original review for this figure here.

Mina Tepes from Kotobukiya is made of high quality PVC and measures 1/6 in scale, which is roughly 7 inches from head to toe. Sitting on the base I'd say she's roughly 4 inches to the top. The figure is currently available, as she was released in November 2010, and can be found at the following retailers:

Hobby Search AmiAmi HLJ BigBadToyStore

Manhwa is a popular sub-section in the graphic novel industry. These books from Korean creators have the properties of manga, but often view the subject matter and cultural references differently. In my opinion they totally stand apart from manga, for good and bad reason. Yen Press is the main purveyor of manhwa here in the States and over the past couple of months they've released several titles. Link to Article.

Zany kendo comedy goodness awaits readers in the latest installment of Bamboo Blade. The release from Yen Press continues to move forward and at this point the manga is really starts to heat up. I just put down the seventh volume of the Bamboo Blade manga, and I dare say I really like where things are headed. Link to Article.

Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning is a long-running manga series that has been turned into an anime. 15 volumes of the book have been released in Japan, and in the States Yen Press has had the license for a while. Volume 13 showed up recently and I just finished going through the book cover to cover. Link to Article.

Ever heard of GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class? Well, maybe you have, but I haven't. The series, created by Satoko Kiyuduki, was originally released in 2004. Yen Press sent over the third volume of this yonkoma and I just gave it a shot today. What did I think? Link to Article.

One thing I've discovered from the deluge of manga titles every month is that invariably there's a great amount of exposure to a gamut of titles. Some first volumes come out, but for the most part we're looking at continuations of ongoing series. As a review it's rather difficult to just jump in feet first into a show already a decent click into its run, but it's kind of fun as well. With that in mind I jump into Black God's eleventh volume. Link to Article.

I don't know about you, but I'm kind of burnt out on the zombie. I mean, I love a good zombie story just like everyone else, but the motif is getting so long in tooth it's not even funny. Games, comics, books, TV, movies, and anime; they all have tackled the living dead at some point or another. The latest attempt, at least in the animated sense, was High School of the Dead. Link to Article.

Not long ago I had a manhwa review wrap-up, but for some reason Jack Frost volume four didn't make its way there. I just checked out this book by Jinho Ko. What's it all about? Link to Article.

Hey, what do you know? It's another volume of Spiral: The Bonds of Reasoning! This long running release licensed in the States by Yen Press continues to pump out the volumes. Only one volume remains, and I still don't really know 100% what's going on....Link to Article.

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!
 
 

AnimeTalk

December 2010 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, and Wen-Tsai

Hello and welcome to the December Anime Talk column! I don't think we need to mention that the Holidays are just around the corner and winter is pretty much here to stay for the next couple of months. What does all this mean? Well, I'm sure your wallets are taking a hit like ours are, but it also means that hopefully there's some downtime as well. I think you can figure out how we're going to spend our downtime: watching anime!

A few titles have come our way over the past month or so and we've tackled as many as possible. We also have some manga reviewed this time around and a figure review has been included as well. WTK has been keeping an eye on bargains aplenty as well, and though most of the Black Friday deals have come and gone, there are still some sweet savings out there.

On a business note, if you're reading this and are interested in joining DVDTalk's staff as a reviewer, now's the time! We're looking for a person to join our Anime Talk panel and review team. Feel free to head over to the Anime forum for more details! Without further ado, let's get on with the column!

The Straw Hat Pirates go looking for a fabled city of gold and end up fighting a god in FUNimation's One Piece Season Three Voyage Three. Their time in Skypeia has been interesting, to say the least, but when Luffy's crew has to face down the god of the cloud islands, it's unclear whether they'll be able to defeat the immensely powerful being... even though they have a god on their side too. It's another fun and wacky set of show that are sure to please fans.

Birdy the Mighty: Decode has come out, and it's downright awesome by many standards. The show takes place on Earth, but features aliens living among us. A super powerful weapon has been brought to our world and it threatens to destroy every living thing on Earth. The only thing standing in the way is Birdy, an intergalactic agent sent to recover the weapon. Unfortunately she accidentally kills a teenage boy while on the job, and in an effort to save his life, she takes his consciousness into her body. What happens after that point is an action oriented romp that is kind of a sci-fi version of Ranma 1/2. The first part is better than the second, but the franchise as a whole is pretty damn good.

Sekirei, however, isn't nearly as good as Birdy. This show also has sci-fi elements and features lots of action, but the show focuses more on breasts than anything else. That's right, Sekirei is yet another girls fighting girls kind of show where breasts are bared and panties are shot. Fan-service is the name of the game, and this one has it in spades. The show basically follows a young boy who can't find a girlfriend, but one day a busty lady happens to fall into his lap. The rest is generic history as they fall for each other. The show is dry, and sparsely entertaining.

And speaking of fan-service being used to a degree that it is actually detrimental to a show, we also looked at Girls Bravo. This one has been around the block a few times, but FUNimation has gotten their hands on the franchise and released a collection. Yay. This show is just plain and simply not good. It's about a guy whose bathtub is a portal to a world populated by 90% women. He accidentally visits it and they all want him. The only problem is he's allergic to the fairer sex. Fortunately for him one girl in particular, who isn't afraid to bare herself, takes a liking to him AND he's not allergic to her. What could go wrong with that?

Along those lines Nyan Koi is a show that's rather perplexing in its execution. On one hand the series is about a guy that is allergic to cats, and finds himself being cursed by a cat spirit. This means he can hear cats talk and has to do odd-jobs for them. On the other hand the show is a harem comedy with fan-service in the form of boobs and panty shots. The two concepts don't really jive well, but somehow it squeaks by. This one was far more entertaining than Sekirei and Girls Bravo put together.

Emo ninjas and bromance await those who check out Nabari no Ou, but then again if you've been reading the manga or have watched the show then you already know that. Yen Press has been releasing the book and I just so happen to have the fifth installment sitting right next to me. What's going on in this volume?

The back of the manga reads the following:

"Stripped of her sword Kurogamon by her traitorous elder brother, the hospitalized Raimei is forced to face up to the demons brought on by the battle with Raikou. Still, Raimei is not one to take life's blows lying down, and she decides to confront her brother once more. Standing in her way, however, is another member of the Grey Wolves! But instead of instigating another fight, this enemy has a story to tell...a story that will shatter the truth to which Raimei has been clinging for all these years..."

This installment is pretty slick for several reasons, though the most prominent is what happens at the beginning. Yoite decides to visit Miharu, but he chooses a rather inopportune time. Tobari is in the middle of scolding Miharu about the Shinra Banshou powers when Hanai interrupts them to tell them there's a boy collapsed at the street. Naturally Yoite's dangerous atmosphere plays into effect here, but he and Miharu have some quiet time to hang out and they are spoken to about happiness in life by Hanai. It puts an interesting twist on their relationship and the snippet of conversation fleshes out Yoite in a lot of ways.

Raimei spends some time recovering from her confrontation with her brother, and this volume brings the two back together again, though that happens much later on in the book. The stuff that fills the middle mostly focuses on Raikou and his past. Needless to say things aren't exactly the way Raimei's perspective remembered them and Raikou isn't as much a bad guy as he's played up to be. He's still a badass, don't get me wrong, but he's a little misunderstood. I did appreciate the focus on the Grey Wolves ninja this time around as well. If I remember correctly this should be the turning point in their involvement with Miharu, but I'm sure the anime differs largely from the manga.

The thing I like about this volume of Nabari no Ou is the direction is sends the storyline and characters. Events turn things around on their head and what was established up to this point is totally flipped. The last line of the book also leaves the door open for some crazy stuff in the next volume, and I'm sure it will leave fans on the edge of their seats.

If you're new to the franchise Nabari no Ou is a satisfying and cool ninja manga that really pushes the envelope. This installment brings about a lot of change and really sets up the path of things to come.

Highly Recommended

The sixth installment of Sumomomo, Momomo has hit store shelves. Fans of the series will want to check it out, but by this point newcomers will most likely pass the title over. Is the series worth going back to the original five volumes to check it out?

Sumomomo, Momomo features a story that takes place in a kind of fantasy world that's not too dissimilar from our own in some ways. It revolves around the life of a young girl named Momoko, who is a fierce warrior from the Kuzuryuu clan. She's got some crazy skill, but her sexist father feels that a woman can never reach a man's potential. The only way Momoko will become relevant is by marrying a guy who can help sire the future generations of the Kuzuryuu bloodline. Nice, huh? Well, Momoko winds up betrothed to Koushi from the Inuzuka clan, but the kink in this plan is that Koushi is definitely not the warrior type. He's apathetic and weak, which probably goes against what Momoko's father had in mind.

It's entertaining enough of a concept to keep a series going in my opinion, but this is the first volume I've read so I can't speak to the quality of the other volumes. One of the most difficult things about reviewing manga is coming into a series late in the game. As I haven't read the other installments, I naturally only gleaned so much from this book.

The details on the back of this volume are as follows:

"With three of the four antidote compounds in hand, Momoko and Koushi move on to face their most fearsome opponent yet -- Tenga Koganei! As the poison creeps ever closer to her heart, Momoko falls to the fierce leader of the Tiger Clan. Recognizing that there is little glory in defeating a weakened warrior, Tenga willingly hands over the final ingredient of the concoction that will save Koushi and Momoko. But there's a catch: There is only enough antidote to save one of them!"

The volume begins in the middle of some argument between Momoko and a girl in a Chinese dress. Apparently the girl took it upon herself to trash Momoko's relationship and generally speaking that doesn't go over too well with those of the fairer persuasion. Eventually some giant jackass named Tenga shows up and challenges Momoko. She's put to the test in this fight and to be perfectly honest their confrontation lasts for most of this installment. It's a little drawn out and over-the-top, but then again most big scale anime battles are like that and it hammers home some of Momoko's strengths (and Koushi's weaknesses).

Throughout the volume there's a plotline revolving around Koushi being poisoned in some fashion and there's an antidote out there that could save him. I'm not entirely clear on the details, but this plotline does play into effect in the latter parts of the volume. The Tenga storyline gets resolved by the volume's end, and the book sets up the next leg of the journey.

At the end of the day I enjoyed reading this installment of Sumomomo, Momomo, though much of it was lost on me since I haven't read the rest of the series. The characters seem lively enough and the plot is intriguing, so from my one volume examination the manga is good enough to warrant a recommendation. However, I do have to say that the sexist undertones don't really do the book justice. But then again maybe I'm just reading too much into that aspect.

Recommended

I freaking LOVE Yotsuba&!! This manga has been a little slice of joy and I borderline get giddy every time a new volume comes out. The ninth has hit store shelves, so what's in store for everyone's favorite five year old this time?

For some information on the series and a recap of the last volume, please check out my review for the eighth installment.

This time around Yotsuba's adventures through childhood continue with some exciting adventures. For starters there's a new addition to the family...Juralumin! Koiwai takes Yotsuba to a teddy bear shop and buys her a new friend. The bear tags along with Yotsuba basically wherever she goes for a while and it's quite entertaining to see her play with her new friend.

Other stuff in this volume includes Koiwai getting a new coffee maker, Yotsuba and her father's friends going out to dinner, and Yotsuba learning what a schedule is and how to make one. Towards the end of the volume Koiwai, Yotsuba, and their neighbors go to see hot air balloons in action. There are little things inside such as Yotsuba learning what a yoga ball is and the neighbors getting a grand tour of Koiwai's house, but that's pretty much it.

I realize that the above description doesn't exactly sound thrilling, but it's so ridiculously charming it's not even funny. This slice of life manga has more personality than you can shake a teddy bear at and Yotsuba is arguably one of the cutest characters ever put into print. Every panel has something to smile about and the book does a marvelous job of getting the childlike sense of wonder through to you as you read. If you've read the book then you know what I'm talking about.

This is a book for everyone, though really I think adults will appreciate its content more. There's something that strikes a cord within you while you read the book. It's funny, charming, and reminiscent of what it means to be a child. The world is a big place full of exciting things, and experiencing them through the eyes of Yotsuba makes everything feel special. This series is an instant classic and is an absolute must buy. I would start with the first volume, however, so that none of Yotsuba's antics are missed.

A Must Buy

A few months ago I reviewed a Kotobukiya Bakemonogatari figure. The figure was nicely designed, as are most Kotobukiya efforts, and really brought a lot of personality to the table. The publisher's follow-up release for the series keeps the charm going with loads of detailing and quirkiness.

Kotobukiya's Hachikuji Mayoi from Bakemonogatari was recently released just this past month. For those of you that haven't seen the show and don't know who Mayoi is, I think it's pretty clear from the pictures I've taken that she's got the kawaii thing down pat. Much like Hitagi was the embodiment of the spirit of the crab, Mayoi's spirit is that of a snail. With the dynamic pose and liveliness of the figure, one wouldn't presume such a thing.

From top to bottom Mayoi is loaded with detail. Her hair is designed in such a way that the pigtails look as though they are whipping through the air. They are connected by some sharp green ribbons and the part in her hair, as is typically a fault in PVC figures, is covered by a white headband. Her bangs also have the same feeling of movement and it remains instep with the rest of the figure. Her face is quite charming with bright red colored eyes and a mischievous smile.

Moving down the figure her arms are positioned in such a way to show strength as she's carrying a large backpack off of junk. Her posture is bent slightly under its weight, but she's hardly skipping a beat. In fact she's positioned on one leg and seems to be hopping along without a care in the world. Her skirt is creased nicely and comes complete with buttons and a cherry design on the front. Her right foot is jutting out to the side as though she's about to come in for a landing, while her left (which features a bandage on the knee) is firmly attached to part of the base.

The base is clear plastic and comes with a removable snail design. Fans of the series will appreciate the subtle character accent to the figure, though the design aesthetic works well whether it's there or not. The build of the base and fact that her foot is screwed into an attachment means Mayoi isn't going anywhere. She's perfectly balanced and firmly rooted. It's too bad because I like displaying my characters without bases whenever possible, though that simply wouldn't work with this kind of pose; and I love the pose!

Now, to the backpack there's a lot going on. For starters it's designed to look like a big, fat, pink bird. The right side of the pack has a grey teddy bear with a tear stuck in the pock, while the left features a rabbit, heart-covered pouch, and label with some kanji on it. Jutting out of the top of the backpack is a giant claw, which adds an air of mystery. Just what is Mayoi hiding inside this thing!?

I'm sure you can see most of these details in the pictures I took of her. I can't stress enough how whimsical this character is in person. There's a certain charm to Mayoi that comes from the design by Koei Matsumoto. The details are flawless on this figure and there's nary a missed opportunity with coloring and production.

Kotobukiya's Hachikuji Mayoi measures at 1/8th scale (she stands about 7 inches) and is constructed of quality PVC. The figure is currently available at Hobby Search, AmiAmi, and RightStuf!

My verdict: Highly Recommended

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!
 
 

AnimeTalk

November 2010 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, Bobby Cooper, and Wen-Tsai

Hello and welcome to Anime Talk once again! We've been busy this past month with reviews of anime and manga and hey, we thought we'd share them with you! Granted we don't have too many anime titles to feature this time around, but we compensate for that with plenty of manga reviews. In this column you'll find some sweet new stuff and classic titles as well. On the classic front we have the likes of Trigun and Dirty Pair to feature and on the new side of that coin we saw another Hetalia and Canaan as well.

Here you'll also find some of our suggestions for holiday shopping. 'Tis the season after all. To that end, WTK is here to help you by sharing some really good bargains. He's basically your ticket out of a coal-full of stocking. Be nice to him, not Santa, and I'm sure some awesome anime will appear under your tree this year!

We were able to look at the latest Naruto Shippuden collections this past month. First off, Naruto and the Leaf Village ninja are hot on the trail of the group that kidnapped Gaara in Naruto Shippuden Box Set 2 from Viz. The group the abducted the Sand ninja have something they want to do with the powerful warrior, and they just need to delay his rescuers for a little while in order to drain all of his energy. Will Team Kakashi and Taem Guy arrive in time? And even if they do, what then? In the third boxed set of Naruto Shippuden a lot events happen including: the introduction of a couple of new characters, one of whom may be a spy, trouble for the Tsunade, the fifth Hokage, and a new mission that may turn into a solid lead on where Sasuke is being kept.

You don't have to be a gear-head to enjoy the intense racing action in Initial D: First Stage, Part One. The story centers on Takumi, a prodigal drift racer who speeds down mountain roads while delivering tofu for his father's store. The only problem is that Takumi does not enjoy racing and barely knows more about cars than the average Joe who frequents Jiffy Lube every 3,000 miles. As the series progresses, Takumi develops a passion and competitive spirit that he never knew existed within him. This older series is surprisingly entertaining and will capture your imagination, regardless of your automobile IQ.

Anime series like Eden of the East do not come around very often, so if you haven't seen it yet, stop reading and find this set. On a graduation trip to Washington D.C., Saki Morimi meets Akira, a strange man her own age with no recollection of his past. Oh, and he's running around the national monuments naked. They head back to Japan where Akira discovers that he is an unwilling participant in a bizarre game where the goal is to save Japan. To divulge any more of the story rather than let you experience it would be an unforgiveable sin. This series has it all: likeable characters, an intricately crafted plot, tons of action, and more laughs than you might expect. Not a moment is wasted in this deep and mysterious story that never stops building until the very end and leaves you pining for more. The ending does not wrap things nicely--the story stops more than it ends. Thankfully, there are two movies being released that should clear up any remaining loose ends. Eden of the East is one those rare series that will appeal even to non-anime fans and should fit comfortably on everyone's Must-See list.

If you simply love watching hot anime babes shoot guns, then you might dig Canaan. Be warned, if you are able to make it through the latter half of the series fully conscious, the story devolves into an unsatisfying, introspective, melodramatic mush. Maria Osawa is a magazine photographer deployed to Shangai, China to cover an international anti-terror conference. She quickly finds herself the target of an assassination attempt by strange masked men whose heads pop like a giant zit when they are unmasked. A quiet, superpowered heroine named Canaan from Maria's past saves her from certain doom. The story follows Canaan's efforts to stop a terrorist group known as Snake from committing any further bioterrorism atrocities with the supposedly incurable Ua virus. This series sets itself up as a brilliant mystery/thriller and an audio/visual treat. Unfortunately, the forgettable characters and muddled ending fail to live up to expectations.

The next classic show on our plate this month was Dirty Pair, released by Nozomi Entertainment/RightStuf!. This classic series has definitely been around the block a few times in its 25 year existence, but every once in a while it's nice to get back to basics and explore the roots of anime fandom. This was one of those early shows that really grabbed my attention and drew me into the industry, but then again by the time I saw it I was a teenager. You do the math. Two girls running around in their underwear fighting crime. Yeah, it's not rocket science. But it's fun and that's what counts!

And finally, we have the other new show that's making headlines, Hetalia: Axis Powers. This twisted little show has been tearing up the charts and with good reason. Take the nations of the world and present them in the form of a single character. Now put those characters in the situation of world history and events like World War II, and you have endless possibilities. Whacky humor, insane personality, and a whole bunch of charm are crammed into this series and the second season keeps being awesome.

The first volume of Saving Life from Tokyopop introduces us to Haruhiko, who is living in a hovel with hardly a dime to his name. He pinches his pennies every month and takes extra precautions to do whatever necessary to keep his utility bills down. He goes hungry sometimes just to pay the rent. Given the fact that he's in such a state and living on his own, it's surprising to learn that he's actually the son of an ultra-rich family. Instead of living in the lap of luxury something snapped inside Haruhiko and he decided it would be a good idea to live the life of a regular person, scraping by to earn a living.

One thing keeping Haruhiko going is the fact that he just landed another part-time job at a café. It doesn't bring in much money, but it's enough to get by. This also gives us the opportunity to meet Jun-chan, a tsundere character archetype with an explosive attitude and distaste for men in general. Lucky for our protagonist he has a childhood friend, Yuriko, who tags along to help, and one of the maids, Nanako, from his mansion even comes to live with and take care of him. See a pattern developing here?

The first volume of the manga goes through the motions of introducing all the main players and giving readers plenty of opportunity to see the female cast in skimpy garb. Panty shots, lingerie picks, wet t-shirts, and plenty of provocative poses are used as gimmicks here. Many of these stem from Haruhiko's fantasies, but some come from stereotypical situations such as the guy walking in on the girl, accidentally grabbing her chest, or catching a glimpse of undergarments.

The bits that are supposed to be funny generally are in terms of what's unique to the series. Seeing Haruhiko go to lengths to save loose change is kind of amusing, and seeing Nanako piece together haphazard quick fixes is definitely a highlight. Really the main draw for the book at this point is the awkward situations its protagonist finds himself in and the nicely drawn fan-service by Kaneda.

At this point the series doesn't offer a hook. The characters are entertaining, but there's a stereotypical element to their relationships. The fan-service gags never feel fresh and even then what's here is relatively tame, even in comparison to Girls Bravo. Fans of that series will want to pick this up because the tone of the book is fairly similar, however, anyone looking for true laughs or something original will be left wanting.

For now I'm going with a very light recommendation for this one, and would go as far as to say you're probably better off checking it out in a bookstore before blind buying it.

Familiar in plot and execution, yet fresh with its approach to its subject matter and characters, Summoner Girl's first volume is set to come out in a few days. This title is one of Tokyopop's latest and comes from creator Hiroshi Kubota. Like magical girls, cute animals, and a can-do attitude? This is a book for you!

Set in an alternate timeline where Ayakami (powerful spirits) plague the land, there exists an underground collection of exorcists who utilize shikigami (other spirits) to protect the world. It's a straightforward and familiar concept that has been applied before in both manga and anime. In the case of Summoner Girl, however, Kubota has infused the magical girl element as well.

Hibiki is a fourth grade girl who has risen in rank among exorcists, mostly thanks to some assistants from her militant grandmother. She has been bestowed with five shikigami, who each represent various elements in the world, and has been charged with tracking down six magical jewels named Rikutou. Along the way the book introduces Kenta Oda, a young boy from a nearby temple, and a rival for Hibiki who is big on personality, but is yet unnamed.

The pacing for this first volume is rather formulaic with three chapters featuring three different stories. In each Hibiki comes into a situation and has to use her shikigami to get out of it. Rather than use brute strength, however, she looks for a peaceful solution and often attempts to win her opponents over rather than conquer them. This gives the series a lighthearted feeling that fits in with the cute artwork quite nicely. Even better is the overall sense of humor and style.

Summoner Girl's first volume was a fun read. Hibiki is a charmer if there ever was one, though it does leave her feeling a little generic. The shikigami really take the center stage as they each bring their outlandish personalities to play during each and every conversation. They also speak through Hibiki when they possess her and the intermixing of personalities is quite interesting. Hibiki's grandmother is a nutcase and Kenta's energetic ignorance provides plenty of laughs.

Ultimately this is a series that looks like it's going to be quite entertaining. I'm not certain how many volumes of the manga are released in Japan at this point, but it's got the set up for a long run. With that being said it also looks like the kind of book that could grow a little stale after a while. The formulaic storylines and generic plot disappoint, though the personality far outweighs any drawbacks.

This first volume is recommended.

Released by Yen Press the K-On! manga is set to take the American manga world by fire when it comes out later this year. Originally created by the mastermind manga-ka Kakifly, K-On!'s anime is soon to be released by Bandai. If you've been on a little thing called the internet within the past year or so (how else would you be reading this?) you've undoubtedly seen a hysterical fan-base erupt over the franchise. You can't go anywhere where anime fans go without hearing about K-On!. It's simply everywhere.

Bearing that in mind, there's undoubtedly a few of you out there that don't know anything about the series. After all, it still isn't "officially" released in America yet so there's a good chance many of you don't know about it.

Basically, all you need to know is that it's a manga about nothing, essentially. It's the moe anime equivalent to Seinfeld where hardly anything happens in each chapter. The manga follows the story of a group of school girls who go on to form a pop music club. They become friends, learn how to play instruments, and well...that's basically it. The story here really is just about the girls and their relationships.

The characters are Tsumugi (also known as Mugi), Ritsu, Mio (my personal favorite), and Yui. Ritsu is the go-getter and the driving force for much of the manga's antics. Mio is a close second and is often portrayed as the reserved quiet one. Mugi is arguably the most adorable and Yui is virtually drafted into the club against her will.

The manga gets started quickly with the introduction of all the characters and the building of the club. The 4-koma does a great job in each panel of setting up the punch line and delivering on the laughs. Every one of the 121 pages of this manga is loaded with laugh out loud of kawaii moments that will win you over. Whether it's watching Yui get accustomed to owning a guitar, seeing Mio dolled up in a maid outfit, or witnessing the girl's first performance; this book is a charmer.

Yen Press has a hit on their hands and I'd heartily recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It's funny, charming, and so damn adorable. This franchise has already shown it has staying power, and from my first taste it's easy to see why. I loved every bit of it and absolutely can't wait for the second installment!

Highly Recommended

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I freaking love Spice & Wolf. The manga and the anime. The franchise has such a unique story, memorable characters, and a charm unlike any other. I've highly recommended everything revolving around the series before, so do I consider the third volume of the manga the same?

If you're unfamiliar with Spice & Wolf please feel free to visit my reviews of the first and second manga before reading through this review for the third installment. There may/will be some spoiler material ahead for those of you who are new to the series. I'm also going to direct you to those reviews as a way to provide background on the series, rather than recapping or reposting information. With that in mind, let's get on with the review of the third manga, shall we?

This installment picks up with Holo and Lawrence on the run from the Medio Company and the Church. If you recall, the pair got caught up in a scheme to introduce a new form of currency that would devalue what was currently on the market. This was enough to put a price on their head. Making matters worse was the fact that the Church wanted to get its hands on Holo because she was considered to be a demon. Well, after a daring rescue Lawrence and Holo flee beneath the city into a maze of ancient tunnels and aqueducts.

At every turn they bump into their pursuers and eventually they are left cornered with nowhere to run. Lawrence is wounded and losing a lot of blood, and the only hope for their escape is for Holo to reveal her true form and kick some ass. This creates something of a rift in their relationship, but it's also the opportunity for a new beginning. It's around the halfway point where things start to get interesting after their flight, but I won't divulge how things transpire. All I'm going to say as far as details of the book are concerned is that in the latter half a shepherd named Norah is introduced. This was a nice addition to the anime when it occurred and I look forward to reliving it through the manga as well.

The third volume of Spice & Wolf continues to charm. The action in the first half is fast paced with some outstanding moments and a nice climax at the end of that particular storyline. From that point the book slips into its talk of economics and business for a while before building upon the characters even further.

The artwork continues to be amazing and the translation of the text is appropriately diverse and flowery. The manner with which the characters speak has been a real draw for me, and I'm pleased to see that it is a tradition that continues. The book has miniscule course language and some light nudity (oh, that Holo), but really it's nothing graphic or adult. I suppose I should say don't let the "M" rating fool you. It's not ecchi or something like Queen's Blade, but rather the content is handled with class.

It's all good in my opinion and I continue to be infatuated with this series. I can't get enough of Spice & Wolf and once you let Holo sink her teeth into you, you'll be hooked as well!

Highly Recommended

From the mind of author, James Patterson, comes a swashbuckling, sci-fi adventure about a high school student who must protect the Earth from alien invasions. James Patterson is a hugely successful American author who has a record, 56 titles appearing on the New York Times Bestsellers List. He's probably best known as the author of the Alex Cross novels. Daniel X is James Patterson's foray into the teen sci-fi/superhero arena and his second trek into manga--the first being Maximum Ride. Korean artist, Seung-Hui Kye, transforms James Patterson's prose into beautiful comic art in this fun, action packed, sci-fi tale with some surprising twists.

Daniel X is not your average, ordinary high school student. His parents were alien hunters who were slaughtered right in front of him when he was just three-years-old. Not unlike Batman, this event inspires Daniel to someday avenge his parents. The story skips to where where he is 15-years-old and following in his parents' footsteps by actively protecting Earth from aliens who want to conquer our planet.

Not much about Daniel X is original. Daniel's powers such as telepathy, transformation, and creation are described as his ability to manipulate the universal force. I suppose when you are deriving from an idea as embedded in pop-culture as The Force from Star Wars, there's no real point in shying away from it. Patterson's main storyline about aliens living among us, actively trying to conquer Earth, only to be held in check by secret "Alien Hunters" is obviously inspired by the Men In Black movies.

Daniel can somehow manipulate subatomic particles and create things and even people. The solitary teenager creates a family of his own as well as a group of four close friends. The individuals that Daniel creates each, presumably, have their own personality and free will. In a strange twist, one of his creations, Dana, is his dream girl.

Daniel eventually receives instructions to pack his things and head for Malibu, California--he's on a hunt for Seth, the #6 bad guy on the Top 10 Deadliest Aliens on Earth list. Upon reaching his destination, Daniel attends a local high school where he meets Phoebe, a cute, shy-ish new girl who is actually interested in him. Daniel uses his telepathic abilities to get a bead on how to talk to her and suddenly he finds himself questioning whether he should focus his attention on a real girl or stay on Dana. From here, Daniel must investigate the whereabouts of Seth and find a way to rescue the children that he has kidnapped.

Seung-Hui Kye's artwork in Daniel X is exceptional, featuring fine detail where appropriate. Daniel's facial expressions and body language exude goodness with the type of loneliness that would lead someone to create friends and family. Daniel's clique of manufactured friends, outside of Dana, are artistically uninspired. However, the other characters, especially the villains, look fantastic. Kye's action scenes are easy to follow and page-turning fun. The final battle between Daniel and Seth is an exciting, well-imagined conclusion.

Daniel X is a highly derivative sci-fi work with some manga hallmarks thrown in for good measure, but that doesn't mean it's worthless. The story of a high school student that must save the planet is hardly new to the world of anime/manga. The tight execution of the Daniel X's story, however, separates it from manga's crowded sci-fi subgenre. The plot seems rather ordinary at first, setting the stage for a "monster of the week" series. That is, until, Daniel is taken prisoner and transported to another planet where some loose plot threads begin to come together. The people he meets and the events that occur on this planet imply that the Daniel X universe is vast and brimming with a rich and fascinating history. I have never read James Patterson's Daniel X novels, but this manga book had me entertaining the thought of picking up a book or two just to see where this is heading.

Daniel X is a little Star Wars, a lot of Men In Black, a dash of Batman, and a few sprinkles of any number of manga stories Shake N' Baked to juicy perfection. The result is not wholly original or unique, but still somehow delicious. If derivative works offend you, then Daniel X will have you cursing James Patterson's very existence. But if you can just kick back and enjoy a well produced sci-fi tale, then this first volume of Daniel X is worth a shot. I'll definitely come back for seconds and hopefully thirds with this series.

How To Draw Shojo Manga is a bit of a misnomer. This book doesn't really focus on how to draw, but instead dives into the whole process of producing a manga comic, from start to finish. Some drawing instruction is included, but do not expect an exhaustive treatment of proportion, perspective, and poses.

Editors from various shojo magazines contribute to this beginner's manual to drawing manga. I'm not sure where this book fits on an artist's bookshelf. The chapters touch on actual drawing so briefly that the authors must assume you have received extensive art instruction from other sources. The authors could not possibly expect an artist to learn from instructions that basically say, "Here's how a face looks. Practice makes perfect!" How to Draw Shojo Manga briefly touches on topics such as perspective, storyboarding, paneling, layout, inking, dialogue, lettering and even how to handle criticism. There is also a very useful, short, bonus chapter for producing manga digitally that gives some pointers on using scanners, tablets, and Manga Studio. While the chapters are almost laughably short, the book includes excellent listings of materials to buy for producing both traditional and digital manga art. There are a few tidbits here and there, such as font sizes to use while lettering, panel styles, and camera angles, that are useful and easy to locate within the small book.

It is useful for new artists to see all the steps involved in creating a manga comic from inception to final product. Along with the instruction, the book includes a small side-story about Ena, an aspiring mangaka whose mission in life is to submit an entry for a manga contest. The sequences showing her frustrations as she learns the technique discussed in the chapter, messes up, crumbles her sheet of paper and starts over again are amusing; these scenes keep the book light in tone while emphasizing the take-home points. Ena's progress as an artist is nothing short of miraculous. She goes from a complete newb to rendering a beautiful shojo contest submission with only 132 pages of light instruction. If only I were as talented as Ena.

The writers of this book encourage young artists to simply keep drawing. As time progresses, they claim, you will eventually improve to a professional level. That method may very well work for some. However, the writers fail to stress that there is no sure path to become a mangaka; simply drawing manga endlessly, without instruction or critique, is a perfect recipe to introduce bad habits that are difficult to break. Think Rob Liefeld, the infamous American comic artist who somehow achieved success in the 1990's, but still to this day cannot draw a foot.

The advice in this book reminds me of many workshops at anime conventions where young artists bitterly grumble about their art teachers who do not respect manga as an art form or help them learn to draw comics. While some art teachers' condescending attitudes towards sequential art may be unfortunate, they are probably not out to dash your dreams; instead they simply want to help you become a better artist. Their argument is to learn to draw first. Learn how to draw what you see. Then, learn how to draw the human body in any pose and from any angle with proper proportions, expressions, and shading. Once you have the fundamentals down, use that knowledge to branch off into your own unique style. Young mangaka still perfecting their craft may want to seek materials that will help them actually learn to draw, such as the invaluable Vilppu Drawing Manuals, rather than drawing that one same, quarter-turned, manga-style face 1,000 times over. Learn to draw and don't be Rob Liefeld. I'm just here to help.

How to Draw Shojo Manga is a high-level survey about producing a manga comic. Entire books have been written on many of the topics that just briefly mentioned on single pages. This book is aimed at teenage aspiring artists that are interested in creating manga, but have no idea where to start and what steps are involved. Many useful tidbits are scattered throughout the book, but this is an entry-level pamphlet for aspiring artists to outline what topics they will need to study further. Look at the chapter or "step" listing and plan on purchasing good, in-depth books on each one.

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AnimeTalk

October 2010 Edition

by Todd Douglass, John Sinnott, Bobby Cooper, and Wen-Tsai

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and the Christmas shopping season will be here before you know it! Now is the time to start thinking about what shows you want to add to your wish list, and this month we have a column full of anime worth adding to your collection. Coincidence? I think not!

Big name shows such as Sengoku Basara, Eden of the East, Corpse Princess, and El Hazard: The Wanderers were all released since our last column. Several other fan favorites such as Dragon Ball Z and One Piece received volumes as well. What's worth picking up? Read on for synopses and review linkage. WTK also has some bargains to cause your wallet some pain and we have another Shining Wind anime figure review. Let's get this column going before those darned Trick or Treaters show up!

The hilarious story of Sun and Nagasumi's life as students sworn to marry each other concludes in My Bride Is A Mermaid: Season One, Part Two. Sun is a mermaid who revealed her true form to save Nagasumi from drowning. Mermaid Law dictated that, as a result of a human seeing her true form, they must both be killed or marry. So, Sun moves in with Nagasumi's family and her own family, which is also a Yakuza gang, tags along. My Bride is a Mermaid features a crazy huge cast and focuses on the secondary characters in the final 13 episodes. This maniacal series keeps the laughs coming with its joke-a-minute script. Some of the gags fall flat, but more often than not, otaku with a sense of humor about their anime will find a lot to love here. Go ahead, try to hate it. I did and laughed out of spite until I admitted it's really funny.

El Hazard: The Wanderers is a complete remake of the classic OVA series, The Magnificent World. High school students, Makoto, Nanami, Jinnai, and their teacher, Fujisawa are transported to a new dimension when Makoto's science project goes haywire one day thanks to Jinnai's sabotage. In a new world known as El Hazard, the four split up and make their own way--Makoto and Fujisawa seek a way out, Nanami wants to make a fortune, and Jinnai wants to conquer and enslave the world. In this harem series, Makoto and Fujisawa meet several priestesses and princesses, causing most of the women to fawn over them. The Wanderers is a diluted version of the original OVA; the plot was simplified, some characters were changed, and much of the sexual content was either dialed down a few notches or wiped out completely. It's still a decent series, but there is no reason for anybody to see this instead of the far superior OVA series. This set is for hardcore, El Hazard competionist fans only.

The great experiment of remixing and remastering the beloved anime classic, Dragon Ball Z, continues with Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season One, Part Two. The first set ended with Goku and Vegeta in an epic clash--really, are Dragon Ball Z fights ever not epic? Following this battle, most of the key players in the cast make their way to Piccolo's home world, Namek, to collect the seven more Dragon Balls for various reasons. This set introduces the villain of dubious gender, Freiza, and sets up Vegeta as his enemy. Meanwhile, Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma are on the planet and vastly outmatched by both villains. Goku eventually heals up from his battle wounds and makes his way to Namek to help out his friends. This series continues to be an awesome remix of the classic and is a great spot for Dragon Ball newbies to jump in.

Monkey D. Luffy returns with his band of eccentric and off beat pirates in FUNimation's One Piece Season Three Voyage Two. In the past Luffy has had to battle super powered pirate, evolved sharks, and even a government's army, among other things. This time he's setting out to face his most powerful foe yet, a living god. If you've enjoyed the earlier releases, these 13 episodes will sure to please. The show is still as funny and offbeat as ever.

Naruto Season Three Volume One from Viz collects another 29 episodes of the ninja anime on six DVDs that are certain to entertain fans. This set starts the next big story arc in the saga, where Sasuke mysteriously leaves the Leaf Village in order to join Orochimaru, the villain who killed the third Hokage. Naruto and his friends aren't sure if the young ninja has been kidnapped or what, but they intend to bring him back, even if it kills them. A lot of fun, ninja action, and some heart-warming vignettes are contained in this enjoyable collection.

We get to the 100th episode, and beyond, in Bleach - Season 5: The Assault from Viz. This collection has Ichigo and his allies traveling to the Soul Society once more to protect it from the Bounts, being of incredible power who are plotting to destroy the Sereitei. The storyline is wrapped up in this collection and not a moment too soon.

A prison break, flying leeches, a samurai ghost and really spicy curry; Naruto Season Three Set Two has it all! After the chase for Sasuke that encompassed the previous collection, this set of shows consists of shorter stories that are over in a couple of episodes. Lighter in tone than the long story arcs, these installments are a lot of fun to watch.

It's here at last: The definitive edition of the most exciting saga in the world's most famous anime series. The Dragon Ball Z Dragon Box Volume 4 presents 42 more episodes in the classic series including the wrap up of the Android Saga which segues nicely into the appearance of arguably the series greatest villain, Cell.

Rental Magica, Parts 1 & 2 were released a while ago, though they recent made their way to our doorstep. The show received a lot of hype when it was airing and the complete series has been released by RightStuf/Nozomi. What's it all about? Well, it takes place in a world where magic is very much real, but not just one type of magic; all types. There exists here a form of magical contamination and it's up to a special group of magic users to clear things up. The only problem? The series is woefully generic to the point it's boring. Some of the action is lively and the characters are fun, but the story really falls flat for a majority of the run.

FUNimation's Corpse Princess features a dead girl coming back to life and fighting other dead people. Known as Shikabane, these dead beings aren't merely zombies or vampires. They have thought and can use their supernatural powers for whatever their lifeless hearts desire. It's up to a Shikabane Hime, "corpse princess" if you will, to stop them. They don't act independently, however, and they must team up with a monk handler. The series comes with Parts 1 and 2, and both sides of the coin are arguably different. Fun, packed with insane action, and offering plenty of fan-service, Corpse Princess is worth picking up.

Recently released on Blu-ray thanks to Sentai Filmworks/Section23, XAM'd Collection 1 brings the first 13 episodes and presents them on two discs. The show takes place in an alternate timeline slightly in the future where organic technology and mysterious flying machines are pervasive. Events follow a boy named Akiyuki who is chosen to be the host of a parasitic life-form named XAM'd. His future and very life depend on how he learns to live with the beast inside of him and with the backdrop of a war in the works, things get complicated quickly. Intense action and gorgeous art serve as compliments to this interesting story.

The second part of Dragon Ball Z: Kai has come out on Blu-ray. Once again we get a gorgeous glimpse at the reinvented classic. This installment finishes off the fight with Vegeta and brings Frieza into the fold. Tighter storytelling and edited footage really make Kai something special. For anyone who felt Dragon Ball Z was bloated and obnoxious, this is the version to check since it allows you to read between the lines.

The nations of the world get together as a cast of characters in the bizarrely charming Hetalia: Axis Powers. Really, any description of the show is too hard to put into words. Read the review for more detail, but all you really need to know is that this series is truly unique and unlike anything ever seen before. Oh, and it's pretty funny too!

Full Metal Panic the original season has been re-released on Blu-ray thanks to FUNimation. The series has also been remastered to improve the experience a bit. The show is a classic that really needs no introduction and it hasn't really looked better than it does here. Check out the review for more details.

Speaking of FUNimation Blu-ray releases, Slayers Seasons 4 and 5 have come along as well. The universe of Lina Inverse is a blast no matter how you slice it. Part fantasy, part action, and part comedy, the components collide with an explosive force. These newer seasons match the insane personality of the original to the letter and even introduce new characters into the fold. Totally worth checking out for fans of the original!

Eden of the East is one of the higher profile anime titles to come along in the past couple of months. This eleven episode series generated a lot of buzz from its initial Japanese release and the Region 1 audience will gobble it up for sure. It centers around events that take place roughly a year into the future where Japan has been hit with missile strikes by an unknown enemy. To make a long story short the show ties this event in with an amnesiac named Takizawa who is unwittingly taking part in a game of life and death. Equipped with a cell phone loaded with 8.2 billion yen, Takizawa is charged with saving Japan. Should he fail in his mission he will meet an unfortunate end and if he spends all the money, he'll suffer the same fate. It's a rock and a hard place in this mysterious and dramatic series that really draws you in. Eden is available on DVD and Blu-ray.

And finally we have an anime that was derived from a CAPCOM video game franchise. Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings is an over-the-top, explosive series with crazy production values from Production I.G. The show takes place in the Sengoku Period of Japan and features warlords clashing with each other. Featured in these battles are key personalities who stand out due to their larger than life personalities and proficiency with weapons. Come to this show looking for more action than substance and you won't be disappointed. Sengoku Basara is also available on DVD and Blu-ray.