Anime Reviews 2009 - Page 6

Naruto The Movie 3 – Guardians Of The Crescennt Moon

1 Disc (Distributor: Manga Entertainment) Running time: 95 minutes

In this third feature length outing for the headstrong trainee Ninja Naruto Uzumaki our hero, along with Sakura, Rock Lee and Sensei Kakashi, has been assigned the task of escorting the rich and pompous Prince Michiru and his equally spoiled son Hikaru through the desert and back to their home, the Land of the Crescent Moon. Having lived privileged lives since birth, the regal pairing think noting of common folk nor have any concept of value, believing wealth is the only key to happiness – as demonstrated by Michiru buying a travelling circus on a whim because Hikaru liked the sabre tooth tiger, Chamu. However the royals are in for a big shock when they finally arrive home – the king has been declared dead and the rights to the throne has been usurped by evil nobleman Shabadaba with the help of three deadly Ninjas.

By now Naruto is the Anime equivalent of a pair of comfy slippers – you know exactly what you are getting into every time. This is the third spin-off film from the first series of this seemingly unstoppable franchise and to be frank, offers nothing new to the established fan. Usually big screen adventures see the producers pull out all the stops to make the most of the extended format and deliver a spectacle outside of the conventions of the regular TV show, but in the instance of Guardians Of The Crescent Moon that effort just doesn’t appear to have been made, and this could have easily have been one or two mini arcs in the current filler episodes of the TV show.

Much of the core themes that make up Naruto are present here: friendship, honour, loyalty, fighting for the right cause and personal growth – all well and good but here it feels more like a retread rather than a offering a fresh perspective on an old premise. The nonchalant attitude towards money coupled with the superiority complex the two royals possess, rubs Naruto up the wrong way – especially young Hikaru. The two become enemies almost immediately but even after Naruto saves Hikaru from trouble and they bury the hatchet, the young lad still fails to understand the basic values of friendship and how to treat people.

Michiru is even worse and a visit to his ex-wife and Hikaru’s mother does not end with the reconciliation Michiru had hoped for, receiving instead a lecture on the obese prince’s inability to understand what matters the most in life. Michiru’s answer? He’ll buy her a new palace. Cue a smack in the head for the portly prince. It is not until they arrive back at the palace to learn of the treacherous actions of greedy and power mad Shabadaba and the hardships they endure as a result that Michiru and Hikaru are forced to re-evaluate their attitudes and, with the support of Naruto and friends, aim to make a change.

As alluded to earlier, there appears to have been less effort put into this film than the previous big screen outing for Naruto. The animation and artwork is nowhere as spectacular as it usually is given the increased budget and the character designs for the new cast members show little imagination. Aside from the rather devastating stone jutsu that one of the evil Ninjas Ishidate possesses, there is little to make them stand out from earlier foes of our spiky haired protagonist. One aspect where the film does deserve some praise however is in two very poignant scenes, where the temptation to flood the background with a tear jerking symphonic musical score was thankfully resisted and the dead silence allowed the gravitas and tragedy to permeate through to the viewer, allowing them to absorb the atmosphere for themselves.

Ultimately, this is one for the die-hard Naruto fan and while it offers nothing new or groundbreaking it passes the time in an amiable if unspectacular fashion. Newer fans to the franchise need not be worried about being left behind continuity wise as this is a stand-alone piece that requires only the most fundamental knowledge of the show’s history to follow it, and even then a quick introduction is given at the start of the film.

Guardians Of The Crescent Moon may not be Naruto’s finest hour but it fits in well enough with the extensive canon and for sheer, non-cerebral, light hearted fare it should keep the fans happy enough.
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

The Story Of Naruto - Growing Up A Ninja

Teamwork - The Art Of Group Recording

Shooting For The Moon – Interview with the Producers

Trailers
 

Main Feature:

Extras:

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Gunparade March Vol 3 (Episode 9-12)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 93 minutes

The saga of the young HWT pilots of the 5121st Platoon draws to a conclusion with this volume, which opens inexplicably with a quick character guide – some eight episodes too late. Aside from main protagonists Atsushi Hayami and Mai Shibamura, we finally get to learn a little about the rest of the cast but for most this is largely for nothing as the focus abruptly returns to the “will they, won’t they?” angle for our two leads.

Clumsy Tanabe gets to share the spotlight in the second episode where the perpetually ill-fated girl appears to be experiencing a run of good luck for a chance, to the point of being cast as the princess in the academy’s festival play. Trust those pesky Genjyu then to ruin this for her with another ill-times invasion just as he curtain is about to rise. The remaining two episodes see the platoon pulling together to ensure that the hapless duo of Atsushi and Mai get over their mutual shyness towards each other and get it on – with the usual calamitous results.

Gunparade March promotes it self as a Mecha series and is based on an award winning computer game in Japan. If this anime adaptation is to win any awards then it should be for “The Mecha Series With The Least Amount of Mecha Action In It” trophy. No joke – this volume contains a grand total of about sixty seconds of Mecha action in episode two. Whilst the need to explore the lives and personalities of the main characters is crucial to any story, for one that sells itself as part of a traditionally more action based genre, this is simply not going to satiate the tastes of hardened Mecha fans at all. Those more enthralled by romantic shoujo affairs might get more out of this volume, although the procrastination of cementing the central relationship is so painfully drawn out that one finds themselves no longer caring if they get together or not.

For whatever reason, this series was blessed with all the right tools for a decent enough show yet squandered the chance to do anything substantial with it. Granted the Mecha genre post-Evangelion is one that tends to follow a fairly rigid template but as recent mega hits Code Geass – Lelouch Of The Rebellion and Gurren Lagann have proven, it is possibly to divert from the norm and come up with something original. This show it seems just didn’t have the confidence or indeed the inclination to even try to defy the set conventions; or perhaps maybe it did by focusing on the relationships of the platoon rather than the action aspect but chose the wrong avenue to pursue this ideal. Some of the characters showed some potential to evolve due to their unique circumstance: the irritating loli character Nonomi for example was revealed in the last volume to be a genetic wunderkind whose abilities made her role imperative to the platoons missions, the handicap being she was trapped inside the mind and body of a child. Absolutely no attempts were made to follow up to this revelation at all, which is one wasted opportunity to make this show interesting.

Visually there are no complaints as the animation is and has been consistently top notch through out but this is not a case of style over substance. The story is earnest enough but while lacking in drama and depth, it does at least carry its weight a not rely on the visuals to dominate the show. Even with the fairly satisfactory if slightly sneaky ending that appears to wrap everything up, the finale is less of a bang, more of a whimpering damp squib. 

It’s a shame to be so harsh but while Gunparade March is an amiable and well meaning enough series it is sadly limp and uninspired. Mecha fans will find it unfulfilling while shoujo fans may find it too plodding at times. Passes the time, but honestly it’s probably best to wait for the box set when it’s at bargain price if you want to get this series.
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Japanese TV commercials

Trailers
 

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

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Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol 3 (Episode 14-20)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 171 minutes

Feared samurai Demon Eyes Kyo, whose soul is trapped inside the body of his erstwhile nemesis Kyoshiro, has arrived in the Sea Of Trees where he has learned it the location of his own body. It seems that Kyo is not the only one interested in retrieving this cadaver sine a number of other eager parties have also descended upon the forest.

Picking up where the last disc left off and buxom bounty hunter Yuya Shiina has been kidnapped by members of the Jūnishinshō (The Twelve Gods), the loyal followers of the mysterious figure known as the Lord who plans to resurrect himself using Kyo’s old body. Benitora rushes off to save the unrequited object of his desires only to fall foul of another of the Jūnishinshō. Meanwhile an injured Kyo comes face to face with the Lord in his latest temporary body for a return match from the two previous bouts that saw Kyo victorious. Remarkably it isn’t Kyo who is victorious this time round, as Kyoshiro’s personality breaks through and becomes the dominant one, the memories of his former samurai life now fully restored.

It’s been a while since we last saw Kyoshiro (way back in volume one to be precise) so his return brings a welcome change since the central premise of this tale is the two warring souls inside the one body. Since many of the current characters only knew the mild, pacifistic medicine seller Kyoshiro, this new hardened version comes as something as a shock to them, not the least as he appears to be more powerful than the feared Kyo. Unfortunately Kyoshiro’s return is short lived thanks to Kyo’s suppressed feelings for Yuya forcing him back out, following Kyo’s former student Akira’s act of betrayal against his master in which he claims to have killed Yuya.

Duplicity appears to be a focal point for the episodes on this disc as revelations about the true intent and loyalties of major characters come to the fore while allegiances seem to change like the weather, to the point it is hard to keep track of which side everyone is on. And with the introduction of new characters representing new factions the plot gets deeper and the viewer’s comprehension of what is happening ebbs away. The identity of The Lord is finally revealed (hint – it’s a famous real life figure from the Sengoku period of Japanese history) but it is also explained that the Mibu clan – of whom Kyoshiro is a part of – are the ones pulling the strings since The Lord features heavily in their plans for – you guessed it – total domination of Japan. 

For anyone who finds things hard to follow of have forgotten what the whole point was in the first place, we are treated to a “story so far” recap via Yuya in episode 17 – although much of this goes out the window once we return to the regular plot with its latest cast of supernatural warriors and their various manifestos. And it doesn’t help that the congestion of secondary characters are too similar in design to help ease the confusion. The animation more so than before relies too heavily on still shots but at least the bright colour palette is somewhat pleasing to the eye. 

Since MVM are intent on UK fans being able to complete the entire series in the least amount of releases, seven episodes have been crammed onto this disc and to be truthful, it’s a bit of slog to get through. There is a lot to take in but the haphazard way it is delivered doesn’t help much. The best way to get through this is in multiple settings although one runs the risk of getting lost in the plot a result. The cause of this appears to be the show’s producers deciding to fit as much as possible into the 26 episodes, dipping into the original Manga while adding their own material. It’s all too much; there is never just one thing happening at one time and these multiple events are a key contributor to the inevitable confusion.

Samurai Deeper Kyo isn’t necessarily a bad show, just one that is trying to hard to accomplish too much in one go, resulting in it tripping over its own feet. If ever the ethos of “less is more” was in dire need of being adhered to then it is for this show. With the final volume looming one wonders if we will get a satisfying and coherent conclusion of something cluttered and convoluted that tries to be too clever for its own good. 
 
 

Extras: 

English Language

Japanese Language

English Subtitles

Producer Interview

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

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The Slayers Try Vol 3 (Episode 66-72)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 170 minutes

Having cornered Valgaav at the source of the Pillar of Light, Lina Inverse and friends, along with Overground monster Almayce, think they have the upper hand and can prevent the rising of the Evil Lord Dark Star. Valgaav however begs to differ and summons Dark Star anyway. Arriving at the nick of time, two fellow monsters appear with their light weapons to spoil this moment, resulting in a huge explosion that our heroes are caught in. They awake scattered across the land, alone and confused. Well, no-one ever said that saving the world was going to be easy.

The third instalment of this madcap series takes a slightly different turn as the bulk of the episodes focus on the individual efforts of the main cast – although this detour from the central plot does yell “filler” at Lina-esque volume. This is actually remarked upon by Zelgadis in the fourth of the seven episodes presented here, so the producers must have known this change of direction would be rather obvious to loyal fans. And while the quality of the stories and the antics are quite random and esoteric even for this show (and that is saying something) it’s still unmistakably Slayers at heart.

Naturally Lina’s plight is first for documentation as she awakens on a beach dressed in a blue dress with a white pinnie – akin to the attire of a certain Alice as she journeyed through Wonderland. What follows is an equally surreal tale the ending of which sees Lina meeting up with Zelgadis and Filia. Amelia fares little better in the bizarre stakes when she wakes up to find that she was saved a fish person (a huge fish body with human limbs)! This young female fish however has a human boyfriend she is seeing behind her disapproving father’s back and Amelia, as an ambassador for justice, tries to make the old man understand their love. As luck would have it, Gourry washed up ashore not far from Amelia and their reunion meant an extra pair of hands in coaxing a fish monster out from the sea so its jewel can be used to turn the fish girl into a human. Unfortunately for Gourry, his role in this is not quite what he expected.

Keeping the zaniness factor going, Amelia and Gourry wander upon the Village of Justice where a group of masked heroes fight for justice. However, as there haven’t been any acts of injustice for a while, they are all pensioners, with two on their death bed. Since the arrival of a troublesome demon in the village, our well meaning duo is roped in to replace the moribund pair. And you’ll never guess who that troublesome demon turned out to be… Thankfully the story returns to normal (much to the openly expressed relief of Zelgadis) when the two comrades of Almayce, Siriuis and Erulogos, cut a swathe through the land in search for the final weapon of Dark Star. Lina, of course, has to take issue with their somewhat heavy handed and destructive approach (normally her forte) and once again, this volume bows out on a thrilling note that leaves us poor viewers dangling in anticipation for the next release!

It’s rare to say this about a Slayers title but the truth is that, aside from the book end episodes, the bulk of this volume is largely skippable from a storyline perspective. The diversion from the plot does provide entertaining enough antics to keep the fans happy in the interim, but the show works best when there is at least an overall goal for the characters to aim towards. These episodes simply don’t have that air of necessity about them and therefore ultimately do more harm then good, for wanting a better term, in the grand scheme of things.

With the end in sight, the two previous Slayers have at least taught us that a huge climax is forthcoming so this slight bump in the road should not deter anyone from looking forward to the final volume of this great series from this brilliant and enduring franchise.
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

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X Vol 2 (Episode 5-8)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 94 minutes

Volume two is here and the apocalypse known as The Promised Day is still nigh unless aloof high schoolboy Kamui Shirō decides which side he will join: the Seven Seals or the Seven Angels. Instead he is more interested in wielding the Divine Sword which thus far has eluded his possession. Kamui is granted an audience with the mystic Princess Hinoto, who is intent on persuading Kamui in supporting the cause of the Seven Seals by showing him a vision of the future should he choose the other side. Not easily won over, the meeting is interrupted by Hinoto’s younger sister Kanoe, representing the Seven Angels demanding that Hinoto show Kamui the vision of the future from her side of the dispute. Kamui, in typical fashion, finds this sibling squabble a nuisance and walks away refusing to commit to either side.

As far as plot progression goes that is about the size of it for this incredibly slow moving saga. The only other major development concerns Kamui’s long time friend Fuma Monou, brother of Kamui’s apparent de facto love interest Kotori. As they father takes his final breath, he reveals a life changing secret to his son which changes the entire outlook of the imminent conflict and indeed for this established friendship.

CLAMP are known for their lengthy stories that build piece by piece but so far, X is really dragging its feet – although some of that may be due to the producers of the Anime having to alter the script with some of their own material as the original source Manga was (and still is) unfinished at the time. Therefore much of the content of the four episodes on this disc revolves largely around introducing new characters and revealing the histories of others. First up is perky 14 year-old schoolgirl Nekoi Yuzuriha who is accompanied at all times by her shape-shifting dog Inuki, who can only be seen by people with supernatural powers. Naturally people therefore think Nekoi is a bit of a loony for talking to and patting an invisible pet. She also has a sweet tooth with her favourite snack being the otaku’s staple Rocky (and not Pocky for obvious legal reasons).

While Nekoi is one of the Seven Seals, one character getting some dedicated air time is Yatōji Satsuki, an incredibly gifted young woman with a close affinity for computers – so close in fact that she can physically interact with them via cables that plug directly into her body. To that end, Yatōji has little tolerance for humans and their limitations, none more so than the scientists from the lab she first exploited her gift with as a girl, who are persistent in bringing her back into their fold. It was during one getaway as a young girl that Yatōji met Kanoe who introduced her to a bespoke supercomputer called The Beast, which puts Yatōji in her element as it enables her to interact and control any kind of technology across Tokyo.

Another new character Karen Kasumi, briefly appears in the fourth episode, but so far little is known about her except that she is a devout catholic, can manipulate fire and her “work clothes” in which she is often seen dressed in consists of skimpy and sexy lingerie. Somehow, I think she may prove to be one of the more popular characters in this series with a certain segment of the audience.

As much as the above makes it sound like a lot of ground has been covered in this volume, the reality is that it hasn’t and the main story appears to have been sacrificed for extensive exposition and rather pointless incidental sub plots. Unless seeing Fuma sweating it out on the basketball court or Kamui’s appointed guardian Sorata Arisugawa fruitlessly trying to woo fellow Seal Arashi Kishū by saying he has chosen to die for her, one’s patience is likely to wear thin while waiting for something significant to happen. The action we do get is well animated - as expected from Madhouse - but is simply to few and far between, doing little to lift the energy pace of the series above “lethargic”.

X has a great story and a diverse bunch of characters with some appeal, but the slow burn approach is simply not working. Hopefully now that the extended introductions are largely dealt with, the pace will pick up and the focus will return to the story with the next volume. 
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 5.1

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Interview with Director Yoshiaki Kawajiri

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

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Aquarion Vol 1 (Episode 1-6)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 127 minutes
 

Eleven years after a global disaster known only as “The Great Catastrophe” devastated most of the earth, winged beings called Shadow Angels from the world of Atlandia who have awoken from a twelve thousand year slumber following defeat at the hands of the legendary Solar Wing Apollonius. The Shadow Angels feed on the “prana” (life forces) of humans – or as they refer to them “wingless ones” – harvesting them like cattle which they also use to nourish the Tree Of Life. The harvesting is carried out by Cherubim Soldiers, large robotic creatures against which regular human weapons are useless. Fortunately an organisation called Deava have piloted craft called Vectors which, when combined, formed the Mecha called Aquarion.

Think there is enough Mecha anime already? Clearly Shouji Kawamori the creator behind Aquarion disagree, bringing us this homage of sorts to the Mecha shows of the past – with nods to such obvious classics as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Getter Robo and Gundam, as well as his own renowned works Vision Of Escaflowne and Macross Plus – while dipping their toes into the pools of other popular Anime genres and elements. But before dismissing this series out of hand let’s explore what it has to offer.

The three Vectors - Luna, Mars and Sol – require special pilots known as “Element Users” who can bond with the Vectors and, when working in concert with their fellow pilots, turn Aquarion into an unstoppable weapon. Aquarion benefits from the numerous combinations of the various skills and strengths of all the pilots to suit different combat situations. Deava’s Element School nurtures the abilities of future pilots and already at the school are the principle cast: feisty Silvia de Alisia, a girl from a noble background; her elder brother Sirius upon whom she dotes a bit too much; insecure Reika who believes anyone who gets close to her will suffer misfortune and Pierre Vieira, cocky football player and delusional ladies man. Deava however are anticipating the appearance of the reincarnation of Apollonius; Silvia believes that her brother Sirius is the true reincarnation of Solar Wing as she is the reincarnation of Apollonius’s human lover Celiane (which goes some way to explaining the unhealthy clinginess she exhibits) but this does not appear to be the case. 

Enter our nominal lead protagonist Apollo, a fifteen year old orphan living rough on the streets, displaying almost animal like characteristics. Silvia and Pierre first find Apollo in the streets prior to another harvest by the Cherubims, and suffice to say they don’t exactly hit it off. When Aquarion is employed Reika suffers another panic attack and has to be withdrawn. Apollo inexplicably finds himself drawn to the empty cockpit and not only is capable of piloting the craft but also successfully merges with his co-pilots leading Aquarion to victory. Arriving at Deava, Apollo does little to ingratiate himself with the people there – least of all Silvia – his only concern being to save his friend Baron from the Shadow Angels. Eventually he is persuaded to stay and begin training by Rena Rune, the blind wheelchair bound mystic who may also be vampire. Throw in computer nerd/otaku Jun Lee, equally nerdy engineer Tsugumi Rosenmeier and all powerful but heavy handed Deava supreme commander Gen Fudoh and you have just about every possible Anime trope covered. 

The Mecha genre appears to offer the least scope for original ideas - or so we are to believe since Aquarion is the latest in a long line of shows where the viewer can play “spot the influence” as they watch. Whether this is a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” on the part of Kawamori is something that remains to be seen although he does get a pass since it is some of his own works that begat this series. It does however suggest there is a checklist of required elements that have to be featured in every Mecha series: large robots that can only be piloted by troubled teens, evil aliens trying to destroy earth, implied ill-advised romances, giant robots that look the same as the ones in every other series – all present and correct. 

To be fair, unlike the majority of these shows, we do actually get to see the antagonists and learn the reasons behind their actions. Heading the Shadow Angels is Toma, who placed himself in suspended animation for twelve thousand years in order to gain revenge on the reincarnated Apollonius for the previous defeat. Toma’s plan is to revive the Tree of Life, wipe out the human race and start again with Shadow Angels populating the earth. To do this he needs Aquarion to utilise the full power of Solar Wings, meaning all of the current attacks are mere foreplay to help prepare Apollo and exploit his latent powers ready for Toma’s own use. 

What this show lacks in total originality it compensates for in the presentation. The artwork is of a high standard as is the animation, with the bonus of CG to create fluid and intense battle scenes. Occasionally the CG clashes with the traditional 2D images and backgrounds but not enough to cause any real upset. The pacing is brisk enough but with so much crammed into the six episodes on this disc it does feel as though little in the way of progress has been made. This may be due to the inclusion of at least one Mecha fight per episode smack in the middle of a training session or personal moment between two characters but this does serve to explore the various possible combinations of Vector pilots that will form Aquarion’s next successful defence campaign. Back stories are light on the ground so far with most characters having their personalities and individual traits established within the first five seconds of their debut to get the point across with all due haste. With twenty episodes remaining, one has to hope the pace eases up a little so the viewer can connect with the characters much more solidly.

Aquarion is a series that wears its influences on its sleeve and does so with pride, which may be its undoing for some. It is, however, extremely earnest and tries to cater for all tastes while remaining true to its roots. Creating something truly original these days is proving to be something of a hefty task, especially in the Mecha genre but Aquarion has the benefit of coming with some pedigree to its name and, at least for now, makes the effort to wear some clean shoes whilst treading on well worn ground. 
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 5.1 Surround

Japanese Language Stereo

English Subtitles

Interview with director Shoji Kawamori

Tokyo International Anime 2005 Talk Show

Tsugumi’s “All About CGI” featurettes x 4

Textless Opening and Closing

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

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Bleach Series 4 Vol 1 (Episodes 64-71)

2 Discs (Distributor: Manga Entertainment) Running time: 201 minutes

Having returned from the Soul Society Ichigo Kurosaki and friends are glad to be back to their regular routine in the Land of the Living, as a new school term begins. Everything is back to normal for our intrepid heroes – until a strangely familiar brash voice is heard calling for Ichigo outside their classroom window. Renji Abari has been sent by the Soul Society to keep an eye on Karakura Town, which is just as well as later that night, Orihime Inoue is visited by what she believes to be her late brother only to be whisked away through a large ominous looking gate. So much for a return to normality. With Chad and Ishida by their side, Ichigo and Renji find themselves playing a number of games set up by the mysterious kidnappers in order to secure Orihime’s return. But when Chad and the rest of Ichigo’s classmates get taken too, the stakes are raised even higher.

It’s a new dawn for Ichigo and friends in more ways than one as the end of the Soul Society adventure marks a break in the adaptation of Tite Kubo’s original Manga and the start of the dreaded filler episodes. Much like Manga Entertainment stable mate Naruto the incredible popularity of Bleach means no off season so the producers keep the show running with their own material while the original source material is plentiful again. And just like Naruto opinion on them has divided fans. Fear not, the opening episodes are not that bad, with a return to the levity of the earlier episodes of the show but the drop in quality on the creativity aspect of the more supernatural elements is noticeable.

With the games having been played and the identity and motives of the mischievous trio behind them revealed we segue into the infamous Bount Arc. A group of humans with vampiric tendencies have arrived in Karakura Town, but they suck the souls from the dead just before they pass on and not human blood. However an overambitious Bount named Jin Kariya has decided to break the cardinal rule to never absorb the soul of a living person which gives them immortality and extreme powers – but this is just part of his master plan. His true intention is to open a gateway to the World of the Dead and for that he needs the power of a Quincy – and Ishida is the only left.

The Bount arc sounds quite exciting on paper but somehow in execution it doesn’t quite feel like a true Bleach story. It’s difficult to pinpoint where the failing lies but there is something lacking from this arc. It may be that the main antagonists are human in form thus steering things away from the supernatural villains Ichigo is more used to dealing with, although the Bount do possess unique servants known as Dolls; Yoshino, a female Bount, commands a fire monster named Goethe while sinister male Bount Udagawa has a large snake that can transform anything else into a snake. The writing doesn’t seem to have the usual bite or wit of the Tite Kubo penned material, and too much activity appears to be crammed into each episode, leaving certain situations up in the air. But it is early days yet so maybe it will pick up over time.

Ironically the shining beacon of this set of episodes is in fact modified soul Kon whose antics are often quite hilarious, displaying some neat subtle and almost overlooked distractions from the main happenings. Most of Kon’s best moments occur in the opening episodes of this set as he threatens to be overshadowed by some new arrivals in the Bount arc.

One has to wonder if Bleach has already hit its peak after viewing this volume or if the fact that these filler episodes simply can’t hold a candle to Tite Kubo’s original works is a sign that taking a break while he continues with the Manga is a sensible idea. This is probably the only occasion where Naruto has one over Bleach as the filler episodes in the latter are not so bad. That said if you’re not a fussy Bleach fan then the first five episodes in this set will entertain you enough for now.
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Textless Closing

Production Art

Trailers
 

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

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Solty Rei Vol 5 (Episode 19-22)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 94 minutes

We rejoin bounty hunter Roy Revant and his adopted cyborg daughter Solty as they discover for the first time that Rose Anderson, Roy’s estranged daughter whom they believed was dead was in fact still alive and working for the government agency R.U.C. The reunion is short lived as Rose quickly disappears but Roy is in hot pursuit. He follows rose to the R.U.C headquarters and tries to persuade Rose to return with him, a plea that falls on deaf ears and earns Roy a place in the bad books of R.U.C leader Ashley Lynx. 

As we head ever closer to the series finale the story continues to pile on the intrigue as intentions are declared, alliances are questioned and – not unsurprisingly for a Sci-fi action series – the existence of the world is at stake. Once again titular heroine Solty finds that moniker to be something of a nominal one for her as Rose Anderson and the two erstwhile PROCEED members and wanted fugitives Warrick dominate these episodes.

Keen to clear their name and avenge their former partners, Integra and Accela both launch campaigns to infiltrate the R.U.C headquarters with differing results. Accela has the most success as she has the benefit of team Roy behind her, which is now bolstered by the addition of former R.U.C scientist Joseph who provides Roy with a vital weapon to help bring down Lynx and the R.U.C. Meanwhile it seems that Rose has fallen under Lynx’s influence and has won herself his trust to be allowed to share in his master plan involving the Eunomia computer that controls the entire city. All it needs is a powerful Proceed – a genetically enhanced human being - to combat and override it and having shown her ability, Rose is the top candidate.

The four previous volumes of Solty Rei have only flirted with the sci-fi aspect of the show, entering more into cyberpunk territory than anything. That changes with this volume as the futuristic visions take over in earnest with the introduction of the super computer Eunomia and the giant Mecha Hilga that Accela steals during her raid on the R.U.C. And if that wasn’t enough, just in time for Halloween, we’re treated to zombies in the form of Resembles (artificially repaired humans) manipulated by the Eunomia in retaliation of Lynx’s plans to destroy it. Yes, this is one packed set of episodes although one can’t help but feel they’ve left it a little too late to introduce some of these story elements which could have helped the story along had they appeared earlier in the run.

An air of mystery arrives when Lynx confronts Solty whilst out of a shopping errand and refers to her by her real name of “Dike”. When we next see Solty she is unconscious in a rubbish skip her power system and memory completely wiped out. Thankfully Joseph is on hand to restore the energy system but not the memory. But, in keeping with this late spurt of drama, this amnesia which had the potential to create a nice conflict for the story is resolved almost immediately. Oh well. Still we do get a cool “battle of the cyber babes” as Solty and Rose fight it out high above the city landscapes over whose ideals are the more manageable and profitable to the future of the world while Accela has her finger on the all important red button that is ready to unleash total destruction on the city.

As expressed in previous reviews Solty Rei is quite a frustrating series in that it the potential is there for a great series but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Had the earlier episodes spent less time with standalone shots that did little to advance anything be it concept or character development and focused more on the story, there wouldn’t be such a rush to towards the finishing line. With just two episodes left and a supplementary special OVA to wrap things up too much has been crammed into these episodes to have any real impact other than to effectively bludgeon the viewer with too much information. Some story elements - such as the class divide between the “registered” and “unregistered” citizens - reappear in the penultimate episode on this disc after having last been referenced a couple of volumes ago. And with the two month spaces between releases no-one can be blamed for forgetting much of what happened in the past.

And while Solty Rei borrows heavily from other Anime series it at least has a certain charm of its own that endears itself to the viewer, making it a title worth looking into for a slice of non-demanding entertainment.
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Textless Opening and Closing

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

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The Slayers Try Vol 2 (Episode 59-65)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 171 minutes

Saving the world is no easy task – just ask Lina Inverse! Following on from the first volume in this third series of The Slayers franchise, Lina and fiends have arrived at the Kingdom of the Golden Dragons - home of newest team member Filia - in grand fashion, destroying their temple in the process. 

The kingdom is rocked by the unwanted presence of the Monster Almayce from the Overground who is still seeking the remaining two weapons of Dark Star, with Gourry’s Sword Of Light fixed in his sights. In a slight change of procedure for Lina, talk prevails over violence and Almayce reveals his reasons for procuring the weapons – so he can use them to summon the Evil Lord Dark Star. 

In order to spare more hardship for the kingdoms across the land, Lina and co. agree to find the final missing weapon for Almayce, their first port of call being a land called Alto. At first this quiet and peaceful place seems idyllic until the strike of noon when they embark on an exchange of canon fire against their neighbouring enemy Baritone. During the melee the group get split up with Lina, Gourry and Filia left in Alto while Amelia, Zelgadis and Xellos end up in Baritone. Both parties learn that the dispute is over two magical vessels that when brought together wield great power. Both parties also receive requests from the land’s respective prince and princess who are deeply in love to help steal the vessels to end the dispute and bring the two young (very young in fact) lovers together. But as this is Slayers, don’t expect a happy ending or indeed for this to remain incident free. Business as usual then.

Like most quest based storylines the twists and turns in the seven episodes featured in this second volume of Slayers Try take the show into unexpected directions, creating new alliances and delivering shocking revelations. The initial premise of preventing the prophecy Filia presented to Lina and friends remains but takes on a new lease of life thanks to the greater role Almayce plays in these episodes. Not only does he influence the actions of Lina and her trusted friends, Almayce acts as the catalyst for the change of heart for more than one character. A disgruntled Valgaav has been brooding silently since Almayce refused to allow him to kill Lina and stick to finding the weapons. He finally snaps and interrupts the discussion at the dragon kingdom, declaring his independence from Almayce, underlining his statement of intent with violence. 

One interesting, but not totally unsurprising, development is hinted at when the group are drawn to a mysterious temple of the Gods whilst searching for the final weapon. The temple guide (Jillas in disguise) insists that they can only enter the temple in pairs best matched to each other by the lots drawn by the Gods. In a change to the usual divisions Lina and Zelgadis are paired off while Amelia and Gourry are deemed a suitable couple. The reaction to these changes from the two women is interesting to say the least, not so much bemoaning an upset of a comfortable alliance rather subtly suggesting that a more emotional attachment has been toyed with. The guys of course are oblivious to this – despite Lina and Gourry sharing a tender moment together at the end of Slayers Next. 

Awash with the familiar madcap antics we’ve come to expect from this series, there is a much darker tone to some of the episodes in this set and some serious themes are explored, such as loyalty and friendship along with a few sly digs at political pettiness. The overall premise of Lina preventing the end of the world is standard fantasy fare but there is a sense of depth and maturity to the way the story is playing out in this series that works surprisingly well within the Slayers milieu. 

Ending on a cliffhanger that demands interest in volume three, Slayers Try volume two is another must have instalment for fans of this fantastic franchise. 
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

 

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Desert Punk Vol 5 (Episode 17-20)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 97 minutes
 

Volume five of this bawdy desert based romp opens with our unpleasant anti-hero Kanto Mizuno aka Sunabōzu do a good deed for an old enemy. No really – although it should come as little surprise that the old enemy is busty babe Junko Asagiri. It would appear that Sunabōzu is not the only man unable to resist the Desert Vixen’s charms as Junko seduced accompany worker named Tanigawa to obtain some confidential information regarding the new technology involved in a new desert suit being developed. The poor chap became besotted with Junko and asked her to run away with him after he sold a disc with the data to a rival company but naturally this wasn’t on Junko’s agenda so she took the data, leaving Tanigawa to hunt Junko down to reclaim the data and make her his wife. Clearly Sunabōzu isn’t going to stand for that.

The next mission Sunabōzu and his ever loyal apprentice Kosuna find themselves taking on is to search for the missing soldier hired to protect a team on an excavation dig. Arriving on site gunshots are fired at our heroes with the culprit revealed to be the Machine Gun Brothers, who are searching for their missing sister Natsuko Kawaguchi following her disappearance on a mission – and as luck would have it, Natsuko the same person that Sunabōzu was hired to find. Since many hands make light work (and a buxom babe is involved) Sunabōzu agrees to team with the Machine Gun Brothers but as the search intensifies, the team find themselves embroiled in something far deeper.

It’s difficult to proceed further with the episode discussion without revealing a huge spoiler that is both brave and bewildering, and will have a mammoth effect on the direction of the final volume of this series. If one lesson has been learned from the previous volumes of Desert Punk it’s “expect the unexpected” although this may not fully prepare us for what happens next. 

After the initial fun based frolics of the opening episodes things take a slightly darker turn with the second story. Since this series is set in the future following a huge global catastrophe that left the planet as a huge desert, the narrative gets a little serious incorporating a reflective commentary on the state of the world as we know it today. The group discover an underground city that holds some clues to the “dark age” and what may have happened to cause the aforementioned disaster. This diversion from the usual levity Desert Punk is known for continues when the group uncover an anti-government conspiracy lead by a surprise participant to throw the whole plotline off kilter. 

The shocking denouement to this volume serves as a mouth watering appetiser to urge the viewer to invest in the final volume, not only to see how things play out vis-à-vis the direction of the show but how it can offer a satisfactory conclusion to the series as a whole. And with a just four episode left is this actually possible? We’ll just have to wait and see. Yes, even for a show based largely around one man’s obsession with big boobs there is a room for an intelligent and thoughtful storylines and a smart deviation from the norm to keep the viewer guessing. But fear not, the zany prurience upon which this series has built its reputation is still in ample supply. 

Desert Punk is a show that has refused to follow the pack and has carved its own niche in the vast field of Anime, with this penultimate volume being the perfect example of that dogmatic resolve. One can only imagine what is in store for us in the closing instalment.
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 5.1

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Yuka Special Interview

Desert Punk Radio – Final Show Taping

Textless Opening and Closing

Trailers
 

Main Feature:

Extras:

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Naruto Unleashed Series 7 Vol 2 (Episodes 170-182)

3 Discs (Distributor: Manga Entertainment) Running time: 301 minutes

The first disc in the latest set is dedicated to concluding the Demon of The Sea mini arc started at the end of the previous volume. Naruto was knocked unconscious only to be saved from drowning by shy bandaged clad girl Isaribi. When Naruto comes to and reveals the purpose of his mission, Isaribi turns cold and tells him to leave. Naruto sees that Isaribi is the target of abuse from the other villagers who accuse her of being a monster. Naruto soon learns that there is an element of truth to this but it runs a lot deeper than first expected.

Moving on to the second disc and the curse of the lame fillers rears its ugly head as Naruto is caught up in some single and double shot adventures that see our orange clad hero being forced to play ninja with a (literal) snotty nosed spoiled brat, fall foul of a group of impostors and try his hand at short story writing, leading to a postal mishap that has the potential to start a war between two opposing clans vying for peace.

Things get back on track with another multi-episode story involving a mission to the Star Village for Naruto, Neji, Rock Lee and Tenten. This tiny village has been using a powerful star that came from meteorite to help train their junior ninja – although this practice was prohibited by the recently deceased Hoshikage due to the number of injuries incurred from the overwhelming effects the star has on the trainee’s chakra. The substitute Hoshikage, Akahoshi wants the Star Village to become one of the Five Hidden Villages but fears the star is under threat of being stolen, which is exactly what happens. When Naruto and friends investigate they uncover a dastardly plot involving duplicity, secrets and fractured family ties.

Another mixed bag of hijinks from Anime’s most popular orange clad ninja, where the clear strengths lie in the multi-episode arcs. The single shot deals absolutely scream filler and pretty much justify the scorn poured on them by hardcore fans wishing to follow the Manga storylines. 

Interestingly, the two part story involving the clones had the potential to be a decent mini arc had a bit more time been invested into it. Naruto, Hinata and Kiba were sent initially to retrieve some lost treasure but in the process were attacked by three masked people who then perform a clone jutsu, successfully duplicating not just the looks and voices of Naruto and co, but their smells and chakra. With the trio tied up and trapped in an underground cave, the clones – headed by the very man who requested the mission – head back to the Hidden Leaf Village with the intent of destroying it. While the doppelganger principle was used to some effect – largely for comic purposes - the scope of possibilities available was sadly not explored to its full potential, leaving us a rushed denouement. A real wasted opportunity.

The Star Village arc meanwhile feels a little drawn out with the first five of six episodes included in this set, but it is arguably one of the more melancholic and sentimental stories seen in this show for a while. One of the villagers is Sumaru whose parents died when he was young and since has been training with the star. However he ends up being a pawn in the dispute between Akahoshi and the star’s thief, never fully understanding why until Naruto discovers the identity of the thief, the implications of which change the entire complex of the situation for Sumaru. It is thanks to this emotional connection that fans are guaranteed to check out the next volume for the conclusion, left as we are with a cliffhanger ending.

While it is easy to see why some fans have reservations about the filler content in a long running show such as Naruto, the truth is that it is not always that bad and there are instances where some attempt at maintaining continuity with the main storylines is made. For those who can’t get enough of the spiky haired ninja in the orange jumpsuit, then this latest wallet friendly three disc set is just the ticket. For the complainers, there’s not long to go now before normal service is resumed.
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Trailers (Disc 1 only)
 

Main Feature:

Extras:

.
 

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Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol 2 (Episode 8-13)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 146 minutes

The second volume of this historical fantasy series featuring the soul of a dangerous samurai Demon Eyes Kyo trapped in the body of amnesiac Kyoshiro, begins with the conclusion of the tournament devised by the reigning Shogunate Ieyasu Tokugawa. No surprises that it turns out to be a façade for the possessed Shogunate to use the bodies of the tournament losers to be resurrected as kenyou (mutants) but the plan fails to bear fruit thanks to the interference of Benitora, Tokugawa’s son who is forced to step up and accept his fate as the next Shogunate while making a huge sacrifice in the process. 

As per his promise, the androgynous Lord Yukimura informs Kyo as to the whereabouts of his old body, deep within the Sea Of Trees. However there are other parties interested in claiming this well hidden and well preserved corpse, most notably the evil being known as “The Lord” – a former victim of Kyo’s whose current incarnation is that of a tree and whose resurrection is forthcoming. The Lord has sent his loyal followers the Jūnishinshō (The Twelve Gods) to wipe out Kyo.

Samurai Deeper Kyo continues to sally forward on its seemingly aimless journey with the sense that the modus operandi of the producers was to throw everything but the kitchen sink into the mix then worry about the story later. In the six episodes on this disc, the bulk of it is taken up with the random introductions of various new characters – most of whom barely last longer than one episode – along with some backstory to explanation their presence. However, since these new faces are just thrown out there without warning and often with any true relevance, there is little reason for the viewer to care about them. For instance, an episode devoted to Benitora’s battle with a fellow ex-pupil from his martial arts training days Mekira (he of the ridiculously huge top knot). Mekira arrived completely out of the blue and whilst the exposition was nice the fact the whole deal was so sudden and concluded within the one episode, there was no reason to feel any sense of danger or import on the part of Benitora.

When we finally meet the Jūnishinshō, they make up the usual fantasy Anime tropes in their human forms - from the muscle bound behemoth to the booming sly warrior; to the devious masked young lad to the annoying Loli girl. Naturally they are dealt with in short shrift by Kyo and his extensive band of travelling companions, which now includes the young ninja from the Sanada Jūyūshi, Sasuke Sarutobi as well as stalwarts Benitora, female bounty hunter Yuya and glamorous informer Lady Okuni. Sadly, when the Jūnishinshō are forced to adopt their true forms to face Kyo, the designs are also fairly typical of the grotesque monster features in other Anime so any scares are as redundant as the Jūnishinshō’s attempts at defeating Kyo.

Aside from any lack of character development, the cack handed approach to the storytelling is quite frustrating indeed. Yuya’s purpose in the series (yes, there actually is one seeing as she does very little else otherwise) is to hunt down and extract revenge against the man who killed her brother - the man with the cross shaped scar on his back. This was already revealed to be Kyo (in his old life) on the first disc yet Yuya somehow remained ignorant of this fact until she was told again in this volume, this time finally seeing the scar on Kyo’s back. So what does she do? Aside from one gun shot from her nifty triple barrelled pistol, not a lot - in fact she’s more resolute in staying by Kyo’s side than anything. Some revenge…

Another key plot device that has failed to be expanded upon is the dual personality of Kyo/Kyoshiro. The idea initially was that one Kyo would only appear when Kyoshiro was in danger (a bit like the Hulk) but Kyo has been the principle personality for the six or seven episodes. One would expect that to inject some serious drama and peril into the story that this be played upon far more frequently rather than the near permanent Kyo slaying everyone and everything without battling an eyelid. Alas, so far, this is not to be.

Since it has already been noted that the producers of this adaptation have taken monumental liberties with the story, fans of the original Manga may find this show to be a frustrating disappointment. For the uninitiated, it delivers the sort of fantasy action akin to such popular shows as Bleach, Naruto with a touch of Ninja Scroll thrown in for good measure and should please the less demanding fan out there. Whilst there is seldom a dull moment to be found here and in spite of the many complaints against the show it has its moments – Kyo is a suitably great bad ass character - the occasionally lazy animation and askew handling of the story puts it behind the eight ball in need of a miracle to score big with its next shot. Perhaps the cliffhanger ending to this disc will be the catalyst for that.

An ambitious but flawed series that fails to capitalise on the vast potential of the main plotline, Samurai Deeper Kyo is a series that provides plenty of action but story wise appears to be unable to find its footing.
 
 

Extras: 

English Language

Japanese Language

English Subtitles

Character Designer Interview
 

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

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Claymore Vols 5&6 (Episodes 19-26)

2 Discs (Distributor: Manga Entertainment) Running time: 183 minutes

Picking up from where the last volume left off, the titular Claymore are embroiled in a fierce battle in the wintry landscapes of the town of Pietra against a group of very dangerous Awakened Beings. Twenty three of these plucky half Yoma half human female warriors have been despatched to deal with these grotesque brutes but even that is not enough as the injuries and fatalities begin to pile up. Yet to the surprise of everyone it is the lowest ranking Claymore, the featured heroine Clare who proves to be the most effective and successful fighter of them all. The fact she has the right arm of the formidable former Claymore Ilena is a clue.

With the first three Awakened Beings finally despatched, albeit at the cost of a number of Claymore, what is left of the group are now besieged but a supremely powerful and seemingly invincible Awakened Being named Rigaldo, who wipes out four of the highest ranking captains in short order. With Clare’s own awakening already at its limit she pushes herself harder than before in order to defeat Rigaldo, a task that is proving to be quite insurmountable.

Meanwhile Clare’s estranged travelling partner the feeble but well meaning Raki is himself heading north to find Clare. On his way he finds a young girl lying in the road of a deserted snowy town. The girl takes a liking to Raki and reveals that she has a travelling companion and Raki is happy to tag along with them as they appear to be heading in the same direction as him. One wonders if Raki would have made the same decision if he knew that the man named Ilsey was in fact none other than Ilsey the Abyssal One and the cute helpless little girl was a reincarnated Priscilla, the erstwhile Claymore who killed Clare’s mentor Teresa (albeit with no recollection of her past life)?

And so at last we come to the conclusion of this epic fantasy series which has redefined the role of women in Anime, allowing them to provide the testosterone and the ass kicking instead of assuming the same old role of the simpering, cutesy sidekick. More than just a selling pint this has been one of the greatest strengths of this show providing a breath of fresh air for jaded Anime fans. However, what has been a stellar and action packed ride thus far ends on something of a controversial note.

Many Anime series fall foul to the old inconvenience of the source material – usually a Manga – running out before the show has run its allotted course. Claymore is no exception. The series went into production while the Manga was in full swing (and is still running today) but caught up quite quickly having covered all the material of then published eleven volumes. Even by stretching out the latter story arcs – the battle of the Northern Kingdom is eked out over six of the eight episodes in this set – time was running out so an alternate ending was written exclusively for the Anime’s final two episodes. 

It’s not that they are particularly bad per se – they feature the same impressive animation and brutal action as witnessed throughout the rest of the episodes and the conclusion is somewhat logical based on the events and history of the story up until this point. The problem is largely to do with the script, which is pretty repetitive, lacking in any real substance and tries to add its own resolutions to the loose ends and unfortunately leaves too many questions remain unanswered. Since the writers were trying to finish something created by someone else, the final two episodes unfortunately feel tacked on to wrap things up rather than a naturally flowing conclusion.

For those fans who have not read the Manga then perhaps this will go unnoticed but others with a keen eye may sense a decidedly marked difference between the first two episodes on the second disc and the final two. Since this series started off with much promise and arguably delivered on that for the most part, it is sad to see it stumble at the final hurdle. And since there have been no overtures towards a second season it would appear that we’re stuck with his ending rather than experiencing the continuing adventures as depicted in the Manga. Again it’s not such a poor effort on the part of the Anime production team rather a sense that the ending should have offered something a bit more substantial. 

Ultimately Claymore as a whole is a great Shonen series that adds a nice twist to a well worn concept of half human half monster slayers by making them strong females with equally strong and believable characters for the viewer to get behind. Despite faltering at the end it is an easy series to recommend and a welcome addition to any Anime collection.
 
 

Extras: 

English 5.1 Surround

Japanese 2.0 Stereo

English Subtitles

Disc 1:
 

Interview with art settings director Nobuhito Sue (Kusanagi)

Audio Commentary for Episode 19

Textless Opening – Raison d`etre

Textless Closing – Danzai no Hana ~Guilty Sky~

Disc 2: 

Audio Commentary for Episode 26

Original TV Commercials

Production Art Gallery

Textless Opening

Textless Closing
 

Main Feature:

Extras:

 

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The Slayers Try Vol 1 (Episode 53-58)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 146 minutes

The oppressive Monster Barrier has been destroyed which allows people of the world to journey outside of the seclusion they’ve hitherto been living in. Excitement is in the air as a delegation of nobility and royalty plan to set sail to discover the world outside the barrier. However not everyone is in such a festive mood. Filia, a Priestess of the Fire Dragon King, brings news of a prophecy that for tells the arrival of a demonic overlord Dark Star Dugradigdu who seeks to wreak havoc and destruction upon the world. In this type of situation there is really only one person to turn to in order to thwart this oncoming Armageddon: Lina Inverse.

The Slayers franchise keeps rolling with this third series and is another fun packed, hijinks heavy entry into the canon. And the great thing? It still feels fresh as it did when first setting eyes on Lina Inverse two series ago. 

They say there is no rest for the wicked but there seems to be even less rest for the teenage sorceress and her merry band of companions Gourry, Zelgadis and Amelia. Slayers Try sees our feisty heroine tackle her most high stakes job to date: saving the entire world. Much to Lina’s chagrin however, it transpires she was in fact the second choice for this task but the first pick turned it down as she couldn’t be bothered and was too busy with her part time waitressing job! It’s hard to imagine anyone getting away with such flippancy but since this person is none other than Lina’s older sister Luna, of whom Lina is deathly afraid, she gets a pass. A letter from Luna which simply reads “Shut up and do it” provokes arguably the greatest reaction ever seen in Anime.

As if preventing the destruction of the world wasn’t enough, the gang are also forced to contend with being pursued for Gourry Sword Of Light by the minions of the evil Monster boss Almayce who is looking to complete his collection, currently possessing three of the five Swords Of Light. Heading this campaign is the last loyal vassal of Dragon King Gaav, Valgaav who is seeking revenge against Lina for the death of Gaav. Offering their fair share of laughs are the antics of the two Monsters charged with retrieving Gourry’s sword. This inept duo of a bomb making fox and a large green ogre excel in slapstick mirth as much as they fail at fulfilling their missions and are welcome comic foils for Lina’s manic brand of anarchic exploits. 

Also joining the cast in this series is the aforementioned Filia, a golden dragon with high morals and a sense of duty. Not overly aggressive she will swing her mace if pushed which is quite often when hanging around with Lina and co. She can transform into a huge dragon but doesn’t like to as it means getting naked in front of strangers. If he enemies show her the courtesy of turning their backs first then that is okay. Unfortunately, Filia threatens to upset the team dynamic as she has a pathological hatred for occasional Team Inverse member Xellos, since he is a Monster responsible for many deaths of her kinfolk in the Monster Wars a thousand years earlier. And the sparks do indeed fly between these two, pushing the normally unflappable demeanour of Xellos to its limit. 

The zany Slayers format we’ve all come to love is in full effect here and while the animation occasionally seems to be a slight notch below what we have seen in the previous two series, it doesn’t matter a jot. The enjoyment factor provided by Slayers Try remains on the same level as before so there is really little to complain about.  

The Slayers may Try according to the title but they succeed in delivering another excellent slice of Anime goodness as only they can.
 
 

Extras: 

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Behind The Scenes

Bonus Footage

Image gallery

Production Sketches

Main Feature:

Extras: