Movie:
The Awaking is the first volume of the Betterman anime series to arrive on DVD from Bandai. The disc collects the first five episodes, of twenty-six, in the series, each labeled as a night:

First Night: Darkness
Second Night: Voice
Third Night: Sky
Fourth Night: Awaken
Fifth Night: Hell

Keita Aono is an average teenager who suddenly finds himself in for a change when his childhood friend, Hinoki, arrives as a new student at his school. After class, Keita stumbles into the Bottom World amusement park, the site of a recent massacre by an entity known only as Algernon. To his surprise, he discovers Hinoki there, in a giant robo called a neuronoid, which was built in a joint venture by Mode Warp and Akamatsu Industries. Neuronoids require two dual kinds to pilot, and when they find themselves under attack, Hinoki asks Keita to get inside. To everyone's surprise, Keita is able to control the neuronoid with Hinoki, and with the help of the mysterious Betterman, they repel the attackers. However, with a betrayer in their midst, can they survive for long?

Betterman certainly owes quite a bit to Neon Genesis Evangelion, though manages to separate itself from that series with a darker atmosphere and the enigma of the Betterman. While I enjoyed these episodes, they do have a few problems. Hinoki frequently puts herself down, which might help establish the character the first few times, but it is quickly overdone. Keita's character is also a bit too extroverted to be as socially shunned as he is. Still, those looking for a darker, though still slightly comedic, anime series might want to give it a try.

Picture:
Betterman is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen. For a dark show, the transfer is quite murky and seems a bit faded, though I would imagine this is mostly intentional. Colors are good-looking throughout, but lack vibrancy.

Sound:
Betterman is presented in Dolby 2.0 Surround in English or Japanese. Optional subtitles are available in English. The tracks have quite a bit of directionality throughout the episodes and sound fantastic with no issues. The music is also terrific. Though I primarily listened to the Japanese track, I watched a fair amount with the English dub, and had no real problems. Some of the supporting characters were voiced a bit strangely, but the main characters were terrific. Optional subtitles are available in English.

Extras:
Extras include the non-credit opening, an art gallery, a seven-page text file on the Betterman titled "Mode Warp File #1," and trailers for four other Bandai releases. The DVD also features a reversible and holofoil cover.

Summary:
While Betterman will instantly bring to mind Neon Genesis Evangelion for fans of anime, the series is still worth checking out for those interested in darker/horror animation. With five episodes and a great audiovisual presentation, Betterman is hard to pass up for fans or newcomers. Recommended.