Movie:
Back in 1992, Devil Hunter Yohko was ADV's first release and its success helped pave the way for the company's exponential expansion over the last ten years. To help celebrate their ten-year anniversary, ADV has collected the first three OVAs from the series and released them in a double disc set, with the first OVA available in original and special edition versions. When it was first released stateside, Devil Hunter Yohko was different from most anime on the market here, as it was a fantasy/comedy with a mature side, rather than the giant mecha anime that was popular at the time.

At almost sixteen years old, Yohko discovers a long held family secret when her grandmother reveals that the women in her family are devil hunters! To make matters worse, Yohko has little time to train or develop her powers, as the Black Queen's return is imminent and demons have been sent to dispose of her. Now as the 108th Devil Hunter, Yohko must find a way to prevent the Black Queen's ritual of resurrection, or mankind - and her love life - is doomed!

When it was first released, Devil Hunter Yohko was both unique and distinctive in a genre mostly populated with mecha anime. Now, ten years later, Yohko doesn't seem as innovative, as its formula has been used in other anime and the genre itself has exploded into a variety of subgenres. OVA 1 is my favorite of the bunch, though it does slow down occasionally. The special edition contains extra humor that the original edition lacks, though both are noticeably darker in tone than the two sequels, which are more lighthearted and introduce a sidekick character, Azusa. While Devil Hunter Yohko is no longer as fresh as it once was, it certainly remains worth a look. It is important to note that Yohko was given a 17+ rating by ADV for the sexual innuendo, sexual situations, nudity, and violence.

Picture:
Devil Hunter Yohko is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The transfer for the original version of the first OVA fares the worst of the bunch, with a variety of source-related defects, like specks, marks, and small scratches. Grain and aliasing are also apparent. The print is also faded in areas, giving the colors a flat look. The special edition of the first OVA fares better, though it still has some specks and marks. The print seems less faded and generally more vibrant. For the other two OVAs, the transfers are in even better shape, with few specks, very little grain, and vibrant colors.

Sound:
Devil Hunter Yohko is presented in a variety of ways. The original version of the first OVA is in Japanese Dolby 2.0 Stereo with optional English subtitles and the special edition of the first OVA is presented in English Dolby 2.0 Stereo. The second and third OVAs are in Dolby 2.0 Stereo in English or Japanese, with optional English subtitles. The stereo mix makes use of the entire front soundstage with effects, music, and dialogue, though there is little in the way of directionality. Dialogue throughout is crisp and clean with no distortion.

Extras:
The main extra on the disc is a historical commentary with Matt Greenfield, David Williams, and Janice Williams, which runs the length of the original version of Devil Hunter Yohko. The three participants all reminisce about the early days of ADV and the trials and processes they went through to bring Devil Hunter Yohko to the US. They also discuss the differences between the original and special editions of Devil Hunter Yohko.

Also included are trailers for Devil Hunter Yohko, a music video, an artwork retrospective and ADV Previews. Previews are available for: Burn Up Excess, Kimera, Excel Saga, Steel Angel Kurumi, 801 T.T.S. Airbats, and Miyuki-Chan in Wonderland.

Summary:
Fans of Devil Hunter Yohko should be more than pleased with ADV's release, given the two separate versions of OVA 1 and the cool extras they packed on Disc 1, especially the historical commentary. Recommended.