Anime Reviews 2010 Vol.I

Submitted by dreddcucumber on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 17:05.

Welcome to our Anime review section. In this section our reviews are reviewed by our resident Anime Columnist Man in Black. You can check out his monthly Anime Column HERE. You can win many of the titles reviewed HERE

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You can view previous 2009 Anime Reviews 1 2 3 4 5 6

Rozen Maiden Vol 1 (Episode 1-6)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 147 minutes

Jun Sakurada is a schoolboy hikikimori, holed up indoors as a result of a traumatic experience at school. Instead he spends all day on the Internet ordering quirky items which he sends back before the trial period runs out, much to the annoyance of his older but caring sister Nori. One day Jun discovers a letter that simply asks “Do you wind?” or “Don’t wind?” then instructs him to place the letter in his second desk drawer which he does. Moments later following a delivery of more frivolous goods, a mysterious case appears in his room, which Jun opens discovering a life like doll inside. Only this is no ordinary doll as Jun quickly learns.

Since Harem comedies are ten-a-penny in Anime, female Manga duo Peach-Pit have taken the initiative to put a new spin on an old concept with their fantasy series Rozen Maiden. In this instance the bothersome beauties that are set to plague poor Jun’s life are mystical dolls. The first to be introduced to Jun following his response to the letter is Shinku, the fifth of the Rozen Maidens. She immediately assumes the position of superior, considering Jun her servant which he is loathe to comply with. When a killer clown doll appears, Jun has no option to enter into a covenant with Shinku to save his life, the catch being that Shinku draws her power from Jun, who has become her “medium”. Now he is stuck with a bossy uptight doll which his sister just adores.

Before this first volume is through we are introduced to three more of the Maidens: the exceptionally immature and irritating Hina-Ichigo, the duplicitous Suiseiseki and the dangerous Suigintou. The former two end up living with Jun and Nori while the latter appears when she feels like it with the intention of causing trouble. There is a tournament of sorts that the dolls take part in called the Alice Game. The prize, as such, is unknown for the moment but it has something to do with a higher power known as “Father”. When Shinku and Hina-Ichigo first meet in the second episode - where Hina-Ichigo becomes restless because her medium Tomoe doesn’t have the time to play with her - they enter into a battle which Shinku prevails, breaking the bond between Hina-Ichigo and Tomoe and placing the loser under Shinku’s command. Jun is not happy having a second doll living under his roof.

His doll problems are about to get worse when a third case suddenly and unexpectedly crashes though his window containing the meek and scared Suiseiseki, a gardening expert who also has a strong dislike for humans. However this supposedly timid doll – with one red eye and one green eye – is actually a crafty and devious little tyke. In the obligatory comic relief episode, Suiseiseki steals the strawberry from Hina-Ichigo’s cake (“Ichigo” is Japanese for “strawberry” – geddit?) which leads to a split household in lieu of an apology and admission of guilt from Suiseiseki. Quite. Taking into account the darker veneer and occasionally metaphysical content of other episodes, this outing is diametric opposition to the max.

Beneath the selling point of these moe Gothic Lolita mannequins lies a much deeper story or self worth and belonging. Whatever caused Jun to remove himself from school is as yet undisclosed but clearly bad enough to dent the lad’s confidence and alter his personality. In one episode he forces himself out of the house to get away from Hina-Ichigo (good move – she is VERY annoying: imagine Jedward mixed with the bloke from the Go Compare adverts in Gothic Loli chibi form and you’re halfway there) whilst also going in search of her favourite food, a gesture that is not just magnanimous but a personal step forward for the lad. The dolls all slowly becoming close to Jun is a development that was never in doubt since it is a given in Harem shows, but here there is a strong sense that the dolls were possibly fated to be with Jun in order to help him break out of his self-imposed funk.

There are six episodes on this disc and the first thing one notices is the exquisite artwork and animation that has been afforded to the show. Well, almost. By the third episode it seems the budget had been blown on the first episode as the quality unfortunately drops considerably. This would probably explain the drastic tone change from serious to comedic since the usual comic affectations require little detail by the artists. It is worth noting though that if one has a low tolerance for high pitched cutesy Japanese girls’ voices then this is a series you should avoid as all the females speak with this migraine inducing helium shrill. You have been warned.

At the risk of alienating any female readers, Rozen Maiden is a show that is more for you than for us blokes – unless you’re a male with a huge moe Gothic-Lolicon fetish. There is a touch of intelligence and depth to the story which has yet to fully surface but for now this is pure shoujo fare. Ending on a cliffhanger that suggest a more cohesive focus on the story may be on the horizon, the second volume has a lot of work to do to win over this reviewer and indeed anyone with a hint of testosterone within them.

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English Language

Japanese Language

English Subtitles

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Death Note Relight 2 – L’s Successors

1 Disc (Distributor: Manga Entertainment) Running time: 93 minutes

As the title suggests, this second special reworking of the mighty Death Note saga focuses on the part following the death of master detective L, who had finally met his match in the formidable Light Yagami, aka Kira.

But fear not L fans – the man returns from beyond the grave to introduce this remixed retelling of Near and Mello’s picking up the mantle of trying to bring Kira to justice. Well, Near anyway - Mello barely features in this version out side of a few key scenes: just one of the many changes to be found here as opposed to the first special which was almost verbatim to the original show. Also sitting on the cutting room floor is the entire Mafia connected storyline and the presence of Light’s father Chief Yagami and his now grown up sister Saya, both of whom were involved in a pivotal plotline.

We are briefly introduced to growing Kira-mania that griped the world in the wake of L’s death and the rise to prominence of Kira’s official media conduit and Light’s secret flame Kiyomi Takada. Misa Amane fans will also be pleased to see their favourite gothic Lolita idol return here although again her role is paltry and she is not portrayed in the best light as she confronts her love rival Kiyomi. Don’t expect to see much of Ryuk here either.

Much like the first special the condensing of such an intense, intricate and involved story robs the viewer of so much of its genius. L may admit in the 10 minutes introduction that this is a show for new viewers to the story but that doesn’t necessarily mean that everything will make sense here. Unlike its predecessor, this special does contain more new footage: from Near and Mello’s days in L’s funded orphanage to the terrifying killing spree by the latest incarnation of Kira. It’s not that difficult to get the gist of what is going on but the absence of the cat and mouse interplay between Light and Near (like L and Light before them) – one of the key strengths of the entire Death Note story – denies everyone of the tensions, drama and intrinsic intellectual quality the show is built on.

Much like before, it is hard to recommend this title since it is not easy to determine who the target audience is. New fans will get a fine taster of this excellent series and maybe it will encourage them to seek out the entire series get the full Death Note experience. This is not a bad thing by any means, but the disjointed feeling of these re-workings may also be off putting. Existing fans will find little new here, the exclusive material not being of any huge relevance to the original story to make this an essential purchase. Since there was no alternative perspective or personal narrative to differentiate this from the original series, the question “Why bother?” is sadly a valid one.

While the content can’t be completely faulted since the source material is one of the most innovative, gripping and sublime Anime series to hit the scene in the past ten years, this second Death Note Relight special, like the first, has not earned a five star review. If you haven’t discovered this remarkable franchise check out the entire TV series instead and get the full experience - you won’t regret it.

Extras:

English 2.0 Stereo

Japanese 2.0 Stereo

English Subtitles

Trailers

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Romeo X Juliet Vol 2 (Episode 7-12)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 142 minutes

When we left the thought-to-be-dead-but-recently-revealed-to-be-very-much-alive Juliet Capulet last time she was under threat by Lord Montague’s hired assassins. Thankfully intervention appeared in the form of a mysterious stranger named Tybalt giving Juliet and Co. a chance to live another day.

As this volume progresses Juliet learns that Tybalt is part of an underground renegade group with his own personal yet currently undisclosed vendetta against Lord Montague. Believing Juliet to be the jewel in his campaigns’ crown, Tybalt tries to test Juliet’s resolve by revealing the corrupt nature of the priest Juliet once trusted. With the Capulet family sword now in her possession and the knowledge she has loyal people behind her, Juliet is in full vengeful warrior chick mode – yet she just can’t bring herself to kill.

Amidst the duplicity and political machinations surrounding Lord Montague’s reign of terror over Neo Verona, there is still a love story to be told here. At the Flower Festival Romeo stands up his betrothed Hermione to seek out Juliet who is present at the festival under her disguise of Odin which Romeo sees through. When they catch up, emotions run wild and under the firework filled night sky our two tragic lovers share their first kiss. Awwww. With Juliet later on the run after Montague cottons on to her existence, she and Romeo meet up again when Juliet runs off and passes out in the street where Romeo’s mother Lady Portia finds her and takes her in. The pair take off for a romantic day out ending up in a deserted village only to be drawn out again when they learn the Carabinieri are terrorising the local town in their hunt for Romeo.

A mixed bag in terms of content make up this second volume of what is a drastically different but still engrossing adaptation of Shakespeare’s most famous romantic drama. Many liberties have been taken with the storyline but the essential theme obviously remains, worked around a story of political intrigue and vengeance. Even with such bespoke additions as Dragonhorses and masked vigilantes they do manage to pay some direct homage to the Bard’s original text, with an interesting and cute take on the iconic balcony where Romeo denounces his Montague name for Juliet’s sake.

This being Anime, there is always one esoteric twist to be found and this comes in the form of the mystical Escalus tree. Montague has one secretly growing in an underground chamber in his castle and is concerned when it starts shedding its leaves. The keeper of the tree is a woman named Ophelia who warns Montague that the tree is dying because it is separated from its twin. This twin would be the same tree that Romeo and Juliet encounter in the forest on their day out. For those who don’t know, Escalus was the “voice of reason” in the original play so while it is apparent that the Escalus in this version will have an important role to play, quite what that is and who that manifests itself will be interesting to see.

Even with a fair chunk of the episodes being based around the two lovers getting to know each other – and thankfully never getting too sentimental or slushy either - the story continues to progress nicely with fresh layers of intrigue added with each step. The introduction of Tybalt, who admits to his deep rooted hatred for Montague, provides the show with its testosterone to counter Romeo’s more noble objections to his father’s tyranny. Another understated development is with Hermione, who harbours ill feelings towards the woman who has stolen Romeo’s heart, despite her outwardly understanding and acceptance of the situation. And will Romeo’s pal Mercutio play a part in all of this, since he too is not all he seems?

Successfully combining light and dark, this second volume of Romeo X Juliet continues to breathe new life into a well worn classic. Beautifully animated and with a strong cast of characters and equal measures of romance, drama and action, it should appeal to both male and female fans. A charming treat.

Extras:

English 5.1 Surround

Japanese 2.0 Stereo

English Subtitles

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Fate/Stay Night Vol 3 – Night Of The Rider (Episode 9-12)

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

As the participants in the legendary Holy Grail Wars begin to reveal themselves, it would appear that rookie Magus Shiro Emiya and his Servant Saber are still at odds as to how best handle the situations as they present themselves.

Following on from the last volume, Saber takes it upon herself to seek out the latest Servant to emerge at a nearby shrine and take the fight right to them, despite Shiro’s insistence to stay back. As it turns out Shiro was right as Saber found herself on the losing end of her fight with the powerful servant and aptly named Assassin, and if it wasn’t for the presence of a third Servant and Shiro’s timely appearance at the scene, our feisty heroine may have been toast. In order to pacify the situation, Shiro agrees to training so he can fight alongside Saber, although the noble but clueless young man has a long way to go.

Meanwhile Shiro’s friend Shinji, master to the Servant Rider, has already has his suggestion of an alliance turned down by Shiro and tries his luck with, who also rebuffs the offer since she is tutoring Shiro. This sends Shinji over the edge and he wreaks havoc at the school, luring Shiro into a fight. Of course of hero is not ready yet by a long shot but his chivalrous intentions to not see Saber get hurt forces his hand and he confronts Shinji, with near fatal consequences. Thank God for loyal Servants eh? The pair agree to another compromise about how to handle battles with Shiro promising to let Saber take the lead and Shiro remaining as support.

Now its Rin’s turn and she decides Shiro needs a different approach to his training and forces him to swallow a magical gem that allows him to awaken his Magus powers. In the meantime Shinji’s anger has consumed him and he stages a second assault on Shiro and co. resulting a showdown of the Servants Saber and Rider while the two former friends square off once and for all.

Since a key factor to Fate/Stay Night is the relationship between Shiro and Saber which defies the conventions of the usual Master and Servant pairing that Saber is used to, and indeed expects, this makes up a fair part of the plot in this set of episodes. Thankfully nothing is rushed as is often the case in Anime, instead we get the slow burn treatment with neither really being aware of how they feel about the other. Shiro is largely being the noble male, not wanting to see Saber get hurt because she is a woman, caring not for the fact she is a weapon first and a woman second. This is how Saber sees herself so Shiro’s attempts at chivalry merely bemuse and annoy Saber. In one scene, she even fails to understand why Shiro can’t look at her naked while Shiro looks away, desperately trying not to enter nose bleed mode. But later when Saber’s clothes have been laundered and Rin questions why she is attached to such dowdy attire, Saber replies it’s because Shiro said she looked good in them.

In between the mystical battles and philosophical ramblings, the subtle Harem elements continue to appear, with hints that Rin has a soft spot for Shiro as well as his adoring friend Sakura. And now the dangerous Loli Magus Illya makes her return in the second episode on this disc, but this time she is a playful little imp who spends a pleasant day conversing with Shiro, seemingly trying to form a friendship with him despite previous attempts to kill him. Not the best basis to build a friendship upon I’m sure you’ll agree.

As alluded to earlier, the action quota is increased in this latest volume with a battle in almost every episode. We are also introduced to a special power the Servants possess known as a Noble Phantasm – their equivalent of a finishing move or attack. And with Shiro beginning to make some headway (or rather baby steps) in his magical training, look for more bespoke supernatural and mystical vocabulary to appear in future episodes.

Fate/Stay Night is an inoffensive enough series that seems on the cusp of its potential which may prove a little frustrating for some viewers. Perhaps the best is yet to come but for now, things are moving along nicely enough and this is a decent halfway stage volume in this series.

Extras:

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Opening Song Music Video

Closing Song Music Video

Rider’s Diary

Trailers

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Bleach Series 4 Part 2 (Episodes 72-79)

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

The Bount are continuing their reign of terror over the residence of Karakura Town. Following the run in with the Bount Udagawa, Ishida is in hospital and receives a visit from Ichigo and friends. While there, a single dripping tap leads to full scale flood but this is no waterworks malfunction – twin Bount Ban and Ho whose power is to control water, are trying to take out our heroes, utilising the hospitals water supply and their Dolls Gunter and Ghoul. Even when the gang manage to escape the hospital, the battle is still against their favour as it is raining outside. During the resulting showdown, a sickly Ishida wanders off, picked up again by reformed Bount Yoshino who takes Ishida in. After opening her heart to Ishida the pair are attacked and kidnapped by lead Bount Jin Kariya’s lackeys and taken to Kariya’s mansion. Ichigo and Co. aren’t far behind, with Rukia leading the rescue party for Ishida while Ichigo takes on the Bount.

This dreaded filler arc that has proven to be the bane for many loyal Bleach fans rolls on with its own pre-Twilight induced hysteria take on the vampire legend – except the Bount don’t suck blood, they feed on the souls of dead humans. For all its earnest attempts to bring something new and different to the Bleach universe there is still something missing from this arc that prevents this from feeling like authentic Bleach. It may be that the enemy are not supernatural creatures in the same vein as Hollows and their human appearances deny any real sense of threat. It may also be the huge info-dump that makes up a bulk of this story, with the antagonists getting to reflect on their pasts and the backstory for their current campaign. It’s a bit too early for some of this exposition to appear and frankly, a lot of it is quite dull.

What we have learned so far about the mysterious Kariya is that he appears to offer salvation to his fellow Bount or those in need. He came to Yoshino’s aid after she become ostracised by her peers when they all aged and she didn’t due to the Bount suffering from immortality. Another person he saved was former Soul Reaper Maki Ichinose, who quit the 11th Division after his captain lost his position after a fight with current captain Kenpachi Zaraki. Believed to be dead, Ichinose was found by Kariya and agreed to join his cause. Even with their individual character designs and bespoke Dolls to fight on their behalf, the Bount just don’t seem that interesting.

Along with the modified souls Kon, Lirin, Noda and Kurōdo, two faces from the past return with the apparent raison d`etre to provide some comic relief top the proceedings. Meek medical man Hanataro and loud bomb expert Ganju Shiba show up to help out but do little else but cause chaos at the convenience store they work out or for the latter, cause more headaches for Ichigo. Unfortunately the level of humour on display here falls short of the occasional wit and esoteric daftness of original writer Tite Kubo and instead seems to go for the easy laughs – read: childish, loud and predictable – and missing the mark completely. The presence of conflicted Bount Yoshino provides this arc with some emotional drama and an implicit subtext of Ishida perhaps having a cougar crush but in all honesty, it feels slightly incongruous in the world of Bleach.

The eight episodes on these latest two discs aren’t hideously bad but within the context of the Bleach we all know and love it’s easy to see why this current filler arc has failed to impress many long term fans. Credit to the writers for their bravery in trying to keep the series going in a style the fans are accustomed to but the shoes of Mangaka Tite Kubo are way to big to fill. The less fussy among us will no doubt be glad to get their latest Bleach fix from this current material, but really this is Bleach in spirit but not completely in execution.

Extras:

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Textless Closing

Production Artwork

Trailers

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Aquarion Vol 4 (Episode 21-26)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 145 minutes

The Shadow Angels of Atlandia are now ready to up the ante and play their trump card in their war with the Wingless Ones on Earth. With the young Deava pilots all suffering from unusual dreams they are feeling very vulnerable, the most affected being Sirius, who is wracked with guilt over the death of the youngest Shadow Angel Futaba in the previous encounter between the two sides.

After much levity and pointless solo shots on the previous volume, this final outing wastes no time in getting back into the swing of things regarding this huge battle of good vs evil. Sirius and Sylvia have been hiding their true identities as Shadow Angels from everyone (expect Apollo who found out a while back) something that lead antagonist Toma is keen to exploit for his own cause. Since Sirius has ahead full of doubts he is easy prey for Toma’s manipulation – the end result seeing Sirius jump sides since he doesn’t consider himself human in the first place. This leaves younger sister Sylvia with divided loyalties since she adores her older sibling yet has bonded with the rest of the Deava crew and abhors the actions and manifesto of the Shadow Angels. With Sirius now onside, Deava are now more vulnerable than ever before to devious attacks by the enemy, be they physical or emotional.

Which side will prevail – those fighting for the good of mankind or those intent on destroying it?

There are many accusations one will no doubt throw at Aquarion – derivative, clichéd, drawn out, sometimes too indulgent for its own good - but it cannot be denied that it was an earnest project from the start and with this last volume, it clearly decided to go out with an almighty bang. Amidst the occasional tendency to drift off into moments of philosophical and metaphysical ramblings the bulk of the episodes are choc full of Mecha action that gives us a strong impression that the policy for this series was to leave the best until last.

Sirius betraying the Deava crew was more than just a personal coup for Toma as Sirius took Vector Mars with him, giving the Shadow Angels an opportunity to evolve the Cherubims into their own Aquarion. Deava however are not so slow to retaliate when a secret project is revealed at a crucial point of a new Aquarion piloted by an old face that has huge ramifications for downbeat pilot Reika. Granted this means we wander into realms of confusion when similar looking Mecha are all clashing with each other, making it difficult to determine who is who – not that is exclusive to this series since this is something that has blighted almost every Mecha show at one time or another.

Central to the story, however, is the relationship between the characters as much as well as the relationship of the elements as they pertain to the planet. As the story is brought to a close feelings are revealed and the power of love proves to be the strongest of all in inspiring and motivating our heroes and seeking solutions to the problems they face. But fear not, this is not as soppy as it sounds, instead providing some much needed heart to this otherwise decidedly sterile show. It has to be said however, that the build up to the climax veers off into some very esoteric directions in order to create a profound and idealistic premise on which to warp up this tale, so be warned for some flowery but well meaning verbiage, as creator Shoji Kawamori indulges his ecological concerns.

Since Aquarion is a Mecha show, one pretty much has an idea of what to expect, since the foundation of angsty teen pilots saving the earth is a well worn one. Perhaps without the decidedly flabby middle part of the season and some of the extraneous levity, this could have been a decent enough show with half the episode count. As it is, Aquarion has a lot to offer the Anime fan although it offers nothing too essential it’s certainly worth a watch on a rainy day.

Extras:

English Language 5.1 Surround

Japanese Language Stereo

English Subtitles

Music Videos

Manga Style Silent Movie

Trailers

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X Vol 5 (Episode 17-20)

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

Here come the girls. Stepping up to make an accounting for themselves in the war between the Dragons of Earth, the Seven Angels and Dragons of Heaven, the Seven Seals are three of the female members of the Angels. 14 year-old schoolgirl Nekoi Yuzuriha finds herself getting all warm and fuzzy over hulking military man Major Shiyū Kusanagi (no relation) unaware that he is one of her mortal enemies in this great war. After being confounded during a confrontation with the computer empathetic Seal Yatōji Satsuki over the moral question of whether one can kill humans or not, Nekoi is dealt a further blow when he loyal dog Inuki sacrifices himself for her. As if Nekoi’s day couldn’t get any worse, she is next on the hit list of the recently converted Seal and “other Kamui” Fuma Monou.

Next we see the return of pyro practioner and “hostess” (wink wink) Karen Kasumi. A quick dip into her past reveals how her devout mother cursed young Karen as a devil for being able to manipulate fire leading to her mother’s demise. The lonely Karen discovers that fellow Angel, nice guy salaryman Seiichirō Aoki is to fight the dangerous Angel Yūto Kigai and offers to take his place since no-one will miss her if she dies - a theme that is prevalent throughout this volume. However at the arranged battleground, Karen discovers the androgynous and emotionless Nataku waiting there instead.

Finally uptight Arashi Kishū takes centre stage, showing signs that the interest shown towards her by fellow Seal Sorata Arisugawa is no longer one sided. A quick dip into her history shows that Arashi is another victim of a loveless and tragic childhood, so expressing her feelings is as difficult for her as is to get Lady GaGa to wear some sensible clothing. When she and Neiko are partnered on a mission while Sorata and Kamui are across town, the girls are confronted by Fuma and easily bested. Sorata’s attempts to help out take a lot out of him, resulting in a hospital stay and Arashi finally coming to terms with her feelings. With this new found resolve, Arashi is now on the warpath and in full ass kicking mode.

As reluctant as this reviewer is to be repetitive it is difficult not to discuss this title without mentioning just how lethargic and erratic the pacing of this show is. This volume in particular is something of a drag since the first episode will give everyone a sense of Deja-vu: yes, it’s the dreaded mid way recap episode. Not only that but it takes the exact same form as the prelude episode 0 (which was featured at the very beginning of the first disc) with Nekoi’s invasion into dreamseer Kakyō Kuzuki dreams leading to a potted history of the story so far.

We do get more action in this volume than we have seen before and very well animated it is too, but it is often too brief which for show supposedly based around a brutal war to prevent the apocalypse seems a trifle odd – a bit like an adult film with no nookie. Maybe they really are saving the best till last but the tease is already proving to be quite difficult to bear. Since X is essentially a shoujo series with a heavy shonen slant to it, perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that the focus is largely on the philosophical and ethereal than the explosive violence we’ve only had tasters of.

With one volume left, this series has to deliver a huge and satisfying finale and one hell of a climactic battle between Good vs Evil to make this emotional but rather laborious but visually arresting journey worth it. The cliffhanger ending we are left on certainly suggests that could finally be the case.

Extras:

English Language 5.1

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Screen Shot Gallery

Trailers

Main Feature:

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D.Gray-Man Series 1 Part 1 (Episodes 1-13)

2 Discs (Distributor: Manga Entertainment) Running time: 297 minutes

In an alternate late 19th century 15 year-old Allen Walker is an Exorcist on a mission to destroy Akuma, mechanical monsters which are souls of the dead that have taken over the bodies of humans. Akuma are the soldiers of the evil Millennium Earl who intends to destroy humanity. With a left arm that turns into a weapon and his Cursed Eye, which can detect Akuma beneath their human façade, Allen - along with a group of Exorcists known as The Black Order - must prevent the Millennium Earl from collecting all the remaining pieces of the mythical substance Innocence and prevent the destruction of the human race.

Spanning 103 episodes, D.Gray-Man is the brainchild of mangaka Katsura Hoshino, who claims to have found inspiration for her stories after falling asleep in the bath for six hours. That certainly explains the sprawling and often meditative approach to the stories and the general inventiveness that is pervasive throughout.

Following an introductory episode which sees Allen as the prime suspect for the murder of a police officer despite saving the deceased officer’s partner from an Akuma, our hero arrives at the HQ of the Black Order only to be mistaken for an Akuma by the people there. Two major characters make their debut here: Lenalee Lee - no doubt potential love interest for Allen - and aloof swordsman Yu Kanda who takes a dislike to Allen almost immediately but then again, he seems to dislike everybody. The first disc features two extended stories. The first sees Allen and Kanda paired up to retrieve some Innocence from a desolate town in Southern Italy named Mater, which is also said to be haunted by a ghost that kills anyone who enters. On the way back to the Black Order HQ, Allen meets a young lad named Jean, who is the son of a scientist at the Black Order, and is interested in becoming an Exorcist with his friend Leo. When the Millennium Earl makes an appearance, Allen is forced to face his past.

After a frivolous one shot episode featuring a robot which runs amok around the Black Order HQ (which annoyingly is admittedly rather amusing), disc two focuses on Allen and Lenalee being sent to investigate a town which is caught in a “Groundhog Day” type time loop which only one resident, the unlucky and clumsy Miranda Lotto, is aware of the endless repetition. Allen and Lenalee soon discover that Innocence plays a part in this peculiar phenomenon. This story arc plays host to the debut of the Noah Clan, the twisted family of the Millennium Earl who are humans infused with the DNA of the apostle Noah. The first Clan member to make her mark is the mischievous yet despicable Road Kamelot, a spiky haired girl who seems to have taken a liking to Allen.

It’s fair to say that you get plenty of bang for your buck with this debut volume of D.Gray-Man with thirteen episodes across two discs of supernatural gothic action and silly humour. To be frank the latter is quite jarring taking into account how dark the tone of the show actually is, and the episodes that are largely comic fodder feel more like pointless fillers than productive contributions. That is not to say that there is no room for levity in otherwise dark or serious shows like this, but, in this reviewer’s opinion, it works much better if handled more subtly without the chibi faces, sweatdrops and other comedic affectations employed in Anime. Case in point is the Rewinding Town story arc in which Miranda Lotto’s actions are largely comedic which doesn’t suit the depth and occasional existentialist tone of the story, especially as it reaches its conclusion.

On a more positive note, the animation and overall designs are fairly well done and quite imaginative. Allen’s Akuma slaying weapon manifests itself by turning his left hand into a giant claw and when he is really in trouble, it turns into a large gun. Llenalee’s Innocence fuelled weapon is in her feet which enable her with impressive leaping and running abilities and of course the power to literally kick the holy hell out of an Akuma! The most interesting character design is that of the Millennium Earl: a large rotund figure sporting a top hat with a huge fixed grin on his face, reminiscent of something from the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine film from 1968.

Katsura Hoshino has managed to create a well-developed character in Allen Walker. For someone so young he is quite mature – a result of a turbulent upbringing thanks to his gift of Innocence and his early exposure to the Millennium Earl. When his adopted father is killed, the Earl offers Allen the chance to bring him back to life only to turn him into an Akuma. However the father saves Allen but not after slashing his face which gave Allen the Cursed Eye. Allen then is taken in by Exorcist Cross Marion and his path for the future is set. Where Allen differs from other Exorcist is his pledge to only kill Akuma and not the human souls within. Of course, this creates conflict for Allen in one situation which causes him to rethink his role as an Exorcist. It would also appear that Allen is not the only major character with a complicated past as we get a brief insight into Lenalee’s history. While nothing has been suggested thus far, a romance between her and Allen must surely factor somewhere during the course of the series.

D.Gray-Man clearly has a long way to go and a lot of ground to cover but the thirteen episodes featured here are a very promising taster for what is come over the next ninety chapters. With a unique look and deep and intelligent storylines, this looks set to be one of the most talked about and successful titles of 2010 in this country.

Extras:

English 5.1 Surround

Japanese 2.0 Stereo

English Subtitles

Audio commentary for Episode 2

Textless Opening – Innocent Sorrow

Textless Closing- Snow Kiss

Main Feature:

Extras:

Romeo X Juliet Vol 1 (Episode 1-6)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 142 minutes

It had to happen sooner or later: the Bard gets the Anime treatment - with a couple of minor liberties taken with the story, so Shakespeare purists may want to look away now.

Still reading? Okay then: Set in the city of Neo Verona, the power mad Lord Montague has staged a mutiny, slaying the incumbent ruler Lord Capulet and ending the many years of peace and prosperity for the city. Fourteen years have passed and under the new regime, tyranny and poverty befall the citizens while the now Lord Montague lives in luxury and splendour, ruling the city with an iron fist. The lone defender of justice for the common people is the masked Red Whirlwind, a hero to the citizens but a thorn in the side of Lord Montague. Only a very close knit group of people know that the identity of the Red Whirlwind is a young lad named Odin - yet even fewer know that Odin is in fact a young girl in disguise, a girl named Juliet Capulet.

Juliet’s close friend Emilia invites Odin to the Rose Ball being held at the Montague castle, thinking she has more chance with the men if she goes with a boy disguised as a girl. Oh the irony. Juliet goes as herself where she bumps into Montague’s son Romeo. The pair feel an instant attraction, with Romeo not allowing the small matter of his recent forced betrothal to noble lass Hermione to get in the way. More fateful meetings ensue with neither knowing the other’s identity: they even manage to bond while Juliet is disguised as Odin and as the Red Whirlwind. On her 16th birthday, Juliet is finally told the truth of her lineage and that she has a loyal group of followers ready to fight Montague to restore the city under Capulet rule. Then Juliet discovers the family name of the young man Romeo she has become infatuated with.

I did warn you that the story was a little different from the one we all know and love. But at least the basic theme of the two star crossed lovers from feuding families remains firmly in tact. Well, you can hardly have Romeo & Juliet without it, right? Gonzo’s interpretation is a bold but well animated update of this classic romance given that unique Anime twist, although be warned, some suspension of disbelief is required: we have to accept that everyone believes the Red Whirlwind is to a man and not a 15 year-old girl; the same also applying to Odin. Or Romeo failing to recognise Juliet’s face regardless of the short wig she is wearing. And later on when a male does adopt the role of the Red Whirlwind, nobody notices the obvious physical differences.

Okay that is arguably nitpicking; the truth is that there is a lot to like about this series from the gorgeous visuals to the well laid out story. With their tongue firmly in their cheek, Gonzo have opted to name a number of characters after those found in other Shakespeare plays. For example, there’s a Cordelia, Conrad, Francisco, Portia, Titus and Curio to name but a few; not to mention the flamboyant playwright whose small theatre Juliet and her friends live under, a chap by the name of William no less, who will look strangely familiar to keen eyed viewers. Another neat bespoke addition to this version are the dragon horses, winged equines flown by Romeo and his friend Benvolio (not Romeo’s cousin as in the original play) to represent the steam punk aspect of this series. Despite the modern sounding name of Neo Verona, the city is very much designed in the style of the “ye olde worlde” period of the original play, as are the costume and character designs. Anything too anachronistic would frankly ruin the charming ambience created by the fantastic artwork.

The soundtrack deserves a mention with its emotive orchestral score – unfortunately the choice of credit music leaves a lot to be desired. The closing theme in particular is a raucous rock track that clashes with the gentle melodies of the main programme and seemingly bears no relation to the show at all. As rare as it is for this reviewer to discuss the English dub, it bears noting that the some of the US cast adopted their best English accents here which for a story set in Italy is a little bemusing, but credit to the US script writers who at least threw in some “Shakespeare-esque” dialogue – a few “pray tells” and the like appear here and there - to maintain the feel of the Bard’s original text.

There are six episodes on this opening volume of Romeo X Juliet and very enjoyable they are too. The action is well executed and the romance aspect is never cheesy or soppy so there is plenty here to appeal to a wide audience. It may be Shakespeare but not as we know it but don’t let that put you off. The cliffhanger ending is not the only reason to anticipate the next volume which I’m sure you all will after this volume has ended. The first pleasant surprise of 2010 without question.

Extras:

English 5.1 Surround

Japanese 2.0 Stereo

English Subtitles

The Making of Romeo X Juliet

Textless Opening – You Raise Me Up

Textless Closing – Cyclone

Art Gallery

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

Fate/Stay Night Vol 2 (Episode 5-8)

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

Unwitting and powerless rookie Magus Shiro Emiya is still trying to get to grips with being suddenly thrust into the Holy Grail Wars and the addition to his life of his sword wielding Servant Saber.

The second volume of this fantasy yarn focuses more on the relationship between the main characters than the magical exploits of the Magus and the Holy Grail Wars. Feeling a little uncomfortable at treating Saber like a mere servant, Shiro introduces her to his adoring friend Sakura Matō and his highly strung teacher and guardian Taiga Fujimura, although Saber fails to understand the good intentions of this gesture, since she has accepted her role as a Servant and a warrior. Since neither Shiro nor Saber can reveal the truth about Saber’s presence, misunderstandings about them sharing a house together is the immediate reaction of Sakura and Taiga. But it’s about to get even more crowded at Chez Shiro.

At school, having ordered Saber to stay at home unless she is summoned, Shiro is attacked by classmate and fellow Magus Rin Tohsaka, also competing in the Holy Grail Wars. Their confrontation is interrupted by the discovery of a girl who had been attacked. While Rin tended to the girl, Shiro went in search of the attacker, only to be the next target of a Servant named Rider until Rin saves the day. This forces a temporary truce between Rin and Shiro with the latter moving herself in to Shiro’s home. So what started out as a supernatural action show is now a harem comedy. I hope you are all keeping track of this.

Meanwhile Shiro discovers the identity of Rider’s Master, who suggests an alliance with Shiro. He refuses despite the pair having much in common. Shiro learns about another Magus, a witch who has taken residence in the local shrine, whose Servant is suspected of the mystery attacks at the school.

After an action packed start Fate/Stay Night takes a slight detour to further establish the characters and the interaction between them. While this results in more yakking and less attacking, the good news is that the story doesn’t grind to a halt as happens so often in Anime. The key development is how Shiro is a magnet for the female leads, all of whom have his welfare as their main concern, albeit demonstrated in their own unique ways. The wildcard for now is Rin since she has already attacked Shiro so we know they will face off again before the series concludes, it is just a matter of when. The introduction of Rider’s Master also shines a light on one cast member who initially appeared to be a mere peripheral character but now, that person maybe more important than we first thought. Watch this space.

The obvious relationship that is central to the story is that of Shiro and Saber which already appears to differ from the other Master and Servant pairings due to Shrio’s good nature. Never one to take Saber for granted, Shiro treats her like a human being, befuddling the stoic slayer since she has been born and bred to serve and fight. Naturally this results in some conflict of opinion especially when it comes to dealing with fellow Servants. During the school fight with Rin and later Rider, Shiro resolutely refuses to summon Saber to help him despite her insisting he do so, because he didn’t want her injured again whilst recuperating. The outcome is arguably predictable as to how this relationship will ultimately turn out, but one never knows – the writers may swerve us on this one. Looks like we’ll have to wait and see.

These four episodes may be light on action but they are not totally bereft of a few bloody supernatural scrapes, and the pacing of the first volume has not been compromised by the focus shifting away from the fighting, which will no doubt be rectified as the Holy Grail Wars must surely intensify with the arrival of another Magus. However the absence of Lolicon Magus Illya and her monstrous Servant Berserker was a glaring omission since her impactful debut at the end of the first volume.

As we approach the half way mark Fate/Stay Night has done a decent enough job of laying the foundations for what is to come, which bodes well for future instalments, and judging by how this volume ended, we should see things step up a notch in the next outing.

Extras:

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Textless Opening

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

Death Note Relight Vol 1 – Visions Of A God

1 Disc (Distributor: Manga Entertainment) Running time: 130 minutes

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the size of Simon Cowell’s ego the story of the brilliant student Light Yagami, master detective L and the supernatural killer notebook should be very familiar by now. As is the case with any successful franchise milking it for all it is worth is not uncommon and Death Note is no exception. It was decided that a retelling of the story was necessary and was advertised as being told from the perspective of Shinigami Ryuk with new material thrown in for good measure. Well, that is what was advertised anyway…

Up in the realm of the Shinigami, a curious reaper approaches Ryuk and asks him about his time in the human world. Ryuk obliges and thus we get a protracted and near verbatim recap of the first twenty five episodes of thirty seven – from the beginning to the death of L - crammed into a 130 minute opus. So much for the alternative perspective. With much material understandably omitted – save for the occasional snippet shoehorned into a scene for exposition purposes – the flow of the story is erratic and the pace rushed. Newcomers to the story will no doubt find themselves a little lost by some of the drastic jumps in progression. As for the new material aside from the bookends set in the Shinigami World, there is very little to brag about aside from two scenes, one which totally rewrites the initially meeting between Light and L and the other exclusive to this production which is actually quite a powerful and scene that would have worked quite well in the original series.

So, for all the promises of an alternative look at this involved and twisting tale, it is fair to say this is a disappointment. Anyone viewing this for the first time will get a decent taster of what this franchise is about but with only half the story told and so much of the nuanced and intense material left out, that is all they will get from this. Long time fans on the other hand will feel frustrated at sitting through all too familiar action with no real reward due to the paucity of anything fresh. Therefore this really is something of a redundant project and – truth be told – is quite a slog to sit through in one sitting what is such a sprawling and detailed story. This epic tale was made for an episodic interpretation which gave it the power and intensity which enthralled and captivated viewers - and indeed Manga readers - in the first place. With that in mind, it does raise the question exactly who this is aimed at, since newer fans aren’t going to get the full Death Note experience while established fans are short changed with what amounts to a shameless retread in a not shiny new package.

It’s quite a hard thing to do to something that is part of such a groundbreaking and unique franchise but this Relight disc cannot be recommended wholeheartedly unless you are an ϋber-fan and you absolutely must have this in your collection of Death Note merchandise – which frankly you don’t. Sorry but no five star rating this time.

Extras:

English 2.0 Stereo

Japanese 2.0 Stereo

English Subtitles

Death Note rewritten with Japanese Cast & Crew

Original Japanese Promos

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

Naruto Unleashed Series 8 Vol 2 (Episodes 196-208)

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

After concluding the story that was left hanging from the previous volume involving Might Guy and the faux student, Naruto and friends head into another multi episode adventure to kick off this latest release.

Naruto befriends an old man named Gennou, who is working in the Hidden leaf village as a jobbing carpenter – accept his credentials and behaviour are shrouded in mystery. Following the theft of some important documents and the subsequent disappearance of Gennou which leads to his apparent suicide, Naruto and the entire Konoha Genin, lead by Shikamaru are enlisted to investigate, uncovering a 30 year-old grudge which has potentially fatal ramifications for the village. But the further into the unravelling of the plan they go, Naruto and friends discover that something quite different lies behind Gennou’s motives

A brief respite from the drama appears in the form of a compilation episode of top Naruto fights before business returns to normal. Naruto meets a mysterious young lady named Yakumo who has the bizarre ability to cause destruction and chaos through her paintings. Sensei Kurenai Yuhi suddenly resigns as head of 8th squad since she has a prior obligation to Yakumo but reveals this to no-one. As ever Naruto can’t keep his nose out of anything and decides to investigate and follows Kurenai to Yakumo’s mansion. The truth behind Kurenai and Yakumo’s relationship is slowly revealed, as is a heartbreaking tale of betrayal and sacrifice.

It has to be said that this volume of Naruto contains two of the stronger story arcs seen since the filler episodes started. The “Paper Bomb” story is a deft exploration of the powers of deduction and teamwork to try to solve a spiralling mystery that throws up more questions than answers with every turn. When the big reveal arrives as to why Gennou did what he died, there is a palpable hint of pathos that does little to detract from the preceding drama. The second story featuring Yakumo and her destructive paintings is very much a darker affair that also delivers highly on the drama stakes. The paintings are in fact the manifestation of an evil power that has been sealed with Yakumo for her own good, which is trying to resurface to wreak its revenge. Throw in a subplot involving the Third Hokage and his part in the deaths of Yakumo’s parents and you have the recipe for another emotional denouement.

Since this is the close of the eighth season, the final episode on this disc is a standalone adventures which sees Naruto and Kiba assigned to escort a man with a valuable artefact called the Beauty Of Nature. Even with the positive message behind the story, it is a bit of an anti-climactic way to end the season. Thankfully the two longer stories more than compensate for this.

Long term fans will be pleased to see that the writers of the filler material have finally remembered that Sakura is one of the main characters of the Naruto universe as she resurfaces for some substantial screen time in the two extended stories and hosts the one off special. Since Sakura had been mostly relegated to occasional comic foil for Naruto’s mishaps since the filler’s began, it is something of a relief to see her back in the mix, if only to break the monotony of the same partners being paired up with Naruto. Sakura was also the only logical choice for co-host for the one off special that saw her and Naruto break the fourth wall to present the top five fights of the Naruto franchise thus far. The episode may seem like a time waster to us but in Japan it was designed to remind viewers that the show was moving to a new time slot, so it served to act as a productive yet disposable way to bring an end to that particular era of Naruto history.

With season eight now in the history there are just the twelve episodes that make up season nine before we take the great leap forward to the next stage of the Naruto franchise. For now though, this is a very strong set to keep Naruto fans occupied until then.

Extras:

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Trailers (Disc 1 only)

Main Feature:

Extras:

X Vol 4 (Episode 13-16)

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

In the war between the Dragons of Earth, the Seven Angels and Dragons of Heaven, the Seven Seals over the future of mankind Kamui Shirō has finally made his decision: he will fight for the Dragons of Heaven. However, as the prophecy has stated, his Twin Star has been awakened and automatically chose the opposite path. Further still, this “second Kamui” is none other than Kamui’s best friend Fuma Monou, who demonstrates his allegiance to his new cause by killing his own sister.

Volume four opens up with Kamui having fallen into a deep coma after being injured by Fuma and witnessing the death of Kotori. It is only through a selfless but draining act by fellow Seal Subaru Sumeragi that Kamui is awoken. With the Seven Seals all gathered together, they seek counsel with Princess Hinoto, the dreamseer who can see the future. She admits to Kamui that she knew Kotori would die whichever path Kamui took but it could not be prevented from happening as it was destiny. A defiant Kamui vows to make his own destiny. Now that all Seven Seals have been united and Fuma has aligned himself with the other Angels, the war begins.

Having dragged its heels for the previous three volumes one had hoped that the pace would have picked up for this latest instalment. Unfortunately we are still being teased with a methodical almost languorous unravelling of this supernatural tale. There is arguably more action in the last two episodes on this disc than in the last two volumes combined but the focus remains on the ethereal explorations of the characters’ personae and background than on the action. This therefore creates a rare case where the end of the world can’t come soon enough after all this dawdling. Granted this affords the viewer greater insight into the inner struggles of our main protagonist Kamui and offers a sense of personal gravity to the other cast members but since we have passed the half way stage, it should be all about the battle at this point.

That said, things kick off in earnest with an initial confrontation between a weakened Kamui and a far healthier Fuma resulting in our first fatality of the war. The second battle sees Subaru face off against his former mentor turned nemesis Seishirō Sakurazuka in a bloody battle of the Sakurazukamori. The fight scenes are disappointingly kept brief due to the deep rooted personal nature of the rivalries involved but the emotional essence ensures the viewer cares about who wins and whether old scores are settled. Despite the clearly marked differences in philosophy and allegiances between the two sides, there is something of a tragic subtext hidden beneath the magical powers and bloodshed, with each death cutting deep into the hearts and psyche of both factions.

No-one can fault the animation of this show and the aesthetics remain very much in the trademark CLAMP style, but one slight handicap that is exposed in this volume is how much most of the male characters look to much alike each other, making it quite difficult to determine who one was watching and which side he represented. Not particularly helpful for a multi-cast series like this. Thankfully this doesn’t apply too much to the female characters – a first for Anime surely?

At the risk of sounding like a scratched record, X really needs to pick up the pace a lot more now we are edging closer to the final stages. Perhaps it is wishful thinking to expect more action in volume five, but one suspects the template adhered to thus far is the one that will remain in use until the very end. Again, there is nothing bad to be found here just that shot of adrenaline to kick it into first gear, otherwise this is arguably the most progressive volume to date of this mystical series.

Extras:

English Language 5.1

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Japanese Cover Gallery

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

Aquarion Vol 3 (Episode 14-20)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 168 minutes

The young Deava pilots of the Vectors which in turn merge to form the mighty Mecha Aquarion still can’t seem to get along despite the common goal of defending the Earth against the Shadow Angels of Atlandia. Volume three of this series takes a slight detour from the head to head action in order to explore the team building activities of our disparate protagonists which take in drama and frivolous comedy in equal measures.

The situations range from Sylvia having odd dreams where she is Apollo with the lad himself suddenly regaining some memories of his past life as the legendary warrior Apollonius. While this comes in handy for a later showdown with a Cherubim the two still can’t get along – or rather still refuse to acknowledge the obvious spark between them. Ladies man Pierre has his heart broken when he learns his first love is marrying his brother, so a mission to his homeland to prevent an attack from a Cherubim is somewhat bad timing for our lovesick lothario.

It’s supernatural silliness next when resident mystic Rena Rune is possessed by a vampire despite all evidence pointing to her actually being one; then the females of the team suffer from weight complexes and decide they should all diet even though they are all perfectly proportioned Anime babes. Not a very positive message being sent to young female viewer there. More frolics ensue when Commander Gen demands that the team indulge in some cosplay (not that sort) in order to understand their fellow pilots and has them dressing up and living as each other. Much hilarity ensues (well, that would appear to be the intention anyway) but it does serve a purpose come mission time.

Finally the mischievous antics of the youngest Shadow Angel Futaba take centre stage for the closing episodes on this disc. The first sees him transport Apollo, Sirius, Sylvia and Reiko into a surreal world where they become badly drawn cartoon characters. In the second the young lad pushes his luck a bit too far having removed a feather from the wings of Apollonius and uses it to torment our heroes. It backfires spectacularly and the fallout suggests the Shadow Angels are now about to get serious in their campaign to destroy the human race.

The content on this third disc can very easily be described as a mixed bag in both quality and in terms of storyline advancement. As opined in previous reviews, Aquarion is screaming out for an episodic plot and not a collection of standalone adventures that ignore the main themes. Occasionally certain elements of the shows central story resurface but there are nowhere near prominent enough to remind the viewer of the original premise that got them hooked in the first place. The main antagonists the Shadow Angels make mostly cameo appearances on this disc, aside from a couple of new faces popping up to try their luck against Team Deava. The Apollo, Sirius and Silvia love triangle - or whatever it is purporting to be – rarely gets a mention and the fight over who is the true Solar Wing is all but forgotten.

While it is nice that some of the other characters get some air time and a chance to prove their worth, the absence of any ongoing storyline crisis for them to work through relegates them to “minor distraction” status and not true headlining material. Aside from individual personality quirks, they are basically supporting cast members and little more. Still, each episode does have its fair share of Mecha fight scenes so action fans should be appeased a little as they are just as spectacular and fluidly animated as before.

Traditionally in Anime things start to pick up at the halfway mark en route to the finale, but for some reason Aquarion differs and devotes it mid season block to the character studies and light hearted diversions that normally occupy the earlier episodes. Not that there is anything bad about this volume, rather it is largely a transitional one at best. With just one volume left, let’s hope the best has been saved till last and the story gets back on track with a satisfying climax this series – and the audience - deserves.

Extras:

English Language 5.1 Surround

Japanese Language Stereo

English Subtitles

Audio commentary for Episode 15

Creation and Development of the Series

2005 Stage Drama

Main Feature:

Extras:

Fate/Stay Night Vol 1 (Episode 1-4)

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

For the past two centuries the legendary Holy Grail has selected seven powerful Magus (users of magic) to take part in the Holy Grail Wars to find the one worthy of holding this mythical trophy: the prize is to have their deepest wish granted. Each Magus assumes the role of Master and has a spiritual weapon known as a Servant who fights on their behalf, and are the only ones who can physically touch the Grail. Four wars have taken place already, the fifth is about to start. For unwitting schoolboy Shiro Emiya this battle is about to change his life for ever.

Kicking off 2010, Fate/Stay Night - based on an adult visual novel game and brought to life by Studio Deen – presents us with another epic shonen adventure with a cast of supernatural beings doing battle for a life changing grand prize.

Our main protagonist, orphan and wannabe mechanic Shiro maybe the adopted son of a Magus thus obviously wouldn’t have inherited any of those magical powers despite wanting to fulfil his wish of being a Defender of Justice. Staying behind at school one night Shiro witnesses a battle between two Servants, Archer and Lancer, which he wasn’t supposed to. Lancer addresses this faux pas by stabbing Shiro and leaving him for dead. Fortunately Archer’s Master, Shiro’s schoolmate Rin Tohsaka uses some of her magic to revive Shiro, saving him from death. Shiro makes it home but Lancer follows, wanting to finish the job. The fight ends up in Shiro’s storage shed, and just before Lancer can deliver the fatal blow an armour clad beauty appears from nowhere and sends Lancer packing.

The swordswoman introduces herself as Saber (sic) and is now Shiro’s Servant –much to Shiro’s surprise. The poor lad hasn’t a clue what is going on so Rin takes it upon herself to enlighten Shiro as to exactly what he has stumbled into. Unsurprisingly Shiro has some latent magical power within him which manifests itself in stigmata on his hand (that suddenly appeared from nowhere – more on this later) but since Shiro is a total novice with his magic Saber is unable to revert to her spiritual form and has to remain in human form. After a (rather protracted) history lesson from Rin and the overseer of this Grail War, Shiro decides to fight but only to prevent a repeat of the previous War from a decade earlier where an unworthy Master got hold the Grail.

The plot certainly carries an air of familiarity about it and seasoned Anime fans will be able to guess how it will play out, but even so, there is a lot of promise on offer here – providing the pace picks up in the next volume. Much of the events outlined above actually take place in the latter half of the disc as the first episode concentrates on introducing Shiro and Rin to the viewers. Saber doesn’t even appear until the end of the second episode and much of the backstory of the Grail Wars and other salient revelations take up most of the next two episodes. Even with a lot of ground covered here, the pacing feels slow and erratic, unusual for an opening volume. Then, almost paradoxically, other elements are thrown in from nowhere – such as the aforementioned stigmata on Shiro’s hands which remained unnoticed even by the lad himself; or the huge transmutation circle that Saber suddenly appeared from – presumably summoned by the same Shiro who not only knew nothing about his magical powers but about being a Master either! Perhaps we are not supposed to notice such glaring anomalies…

Another participant in the Grail Wars introduced at the end of episode three is evil lolicon Illyasviel von Einzbern - Illya for short. Her Servant is the mammoth and seemingly indestructible Berserker. Making up the cast for the subplots are the meek Sakura Matō who is Shiro’s unofficial housekeeper, always there to cook and tend to him with possible suppressed romantic intentions, and the excitable school teacher Taiga Fujimura. She is the apparent comic relief but her antics are completely over the top and resplendent with the usual Anime effects to express this, which this reviewer finds as unnecessary and very jarring in contrast with the darker mood of the rest of the show.

Animation and character design wise this is standard Shonen fare but still totally acceptable and well done. Aside from Berserker, the Servants haven’t been too outlandish yet but we still have another three to meet. Since they are based on historical figures (Berserk for instance is supposed to Hercules) one can’t expect anything too extravagant from the designs which may save this show from becoming a parody in that respect.

As far as opening salvos go, Fate/Stay Night has offered something of a mixed bag – the story has great potential with plenty of scope for drama, electrifying action and intriguing characters but the somewhat subdued and talk heavy episodes presented here undermine that. Hopefully since the explanations are now out of the way this earlier, the real story can begin in earnest starting with the next volume.

Extras:

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Textless Opening

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

Solty Rei Vol 6 (Episode 23-26)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 90 minutes

With the city on the brink of destruction and the mercy of the supercomputer Eunomia and the maniacal Ashley Lynx, bounty hunter Roy Revant and his adopted cyborg daughter Solty have a fight against time to prevent this annalistic plan from reaching fruition.

Bringing this series to its conclusion, we are treated to a brief flashback of Ashley and a woman named Illumina, on board a colonial spacecraft overlooking the earth. Back to present day and we rejoin the story with Ashley holding Roy at gun point as he puts the final stages of his plan into operation. Ashley reveals the reasons behind his actions, his part in the Blast Fall disaster and his relationship with Illumina. Solty and Rose Anderson arrive just as Ashley bonds with Eunomia and holds the two girls captive forcing Roy to choose which one lives.

Suffice to say, our gruff hero finds away to avoid making this terrible choice and with a concerted effort from Solty, the destruction of the city is adverted with Ashley paying the ultimate price. Everything is back to normal and everyone lives happily ever after. Except of course for the small matter of Solty communicating with Eunomia and learning that Eirene – the second of the three core computers of the colonial crafts – is heading for the city to destroy it. The only thing that can stop Eirene is the third core computer Dike – Solty’s true identity – and this time, it is a fight where survival is no guarantee.

With two episodes left to go to wrap up the series, Solty Rei draws viewers into a false sense of security with its premature happy ending and onscreen celebration in the penultimate episode. Even knowing that there was one more episode to go, it still comes as something of a surprise. Built largely around the idea that Solty is heading towards her death in the ultimate act of sacrifice to save her loved ones and the city, the final episode is infused with melancholy and high emotion that thankfully doesn’t get too overly sentimental. The climactic battle is somewhat rushed – much like the hasty introduction of Eirene, who hitherto remained unmentioned until the closing moments of the penultimate episode – and the rationale behind her motives are too similar to those of Ashley’s, giving this a tacked on feel to it. However the animation and execution is very well done and you’ll have to stick with things until after the credits roll for the true conclusion.

Then we are treated to two bonus episodes that have been edited together into one 45 minute piece that takes place earlier in the story, shortly after Rose had moved in with Roy and Solty. It’s time for the annual Appreciation Day celebration and Solty is having trouble understanding the concept of happiness. Though the exploits of a job Roy takes on to help bring together an estranged mother and daughter with an unusual ploy which coincidentally the daughter is planning on executing with the help of Rose, Solty and Rose’s brother Andy. Meanwhile Kasha Maverick, the adopted daughter of Roy’s boss and landlady Miranda, learns that her uncle and his wife have put in a request to adopt the girl, throwing the youngster into a confusing emotional state as she tries to figure out where she truly belongs.

Whatever faults this series has – from its shaky start without any real storyline focus to its occasional straying into generic territory – it has always had plenty of heart, nevermore so demonstrated than in the bonus episode. It is gradually throughout the course of the series that many of the families are not bound by blood. Roy and Solty are the prime example with Miranda and Kasha being another as explained later on. In the final episode of the main series we see a bond form between a street urchin and fruit seller that eventually evolves into a father-daughter relationship and a key member of the RUC’s PROCEED unit also reveals she too is adopted – ironically to the couple wishing to adopt Kasha. It seems the writers of this show had a high opinion on the premise of adoption and wanted to share with everyone that a parent/child bond needn’t always be one born through genetic ties and such a love can exist despite this missing element. And get that message across they did, again sparing us any undue slushiness in the process.

Persistence spears to be a key theme in Solty Rei, since it was through this that the relationships between the main characters are formed. It is also the best way to approach this series, as, once you get past the aimless, standalone fare of the early episodes there is a decent sci-fi action tale to be enjoyed here. It may never hit the dizzying heights of classic status but it offer something highly enjoyable and endearing. Arguably, the sleeper hit of the past year.

Extras:

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Textless Opening and Closing

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

Aquarion Vol 2 (Episode 7-13)

1 Disc (Distributor: MVM) Running Time: 168 minutes

The battle between the Shadow Angels of Atlandia and the “Wingless Ones” of earth continues in this second volume of Shoji Kawamori’s Mecha series.

Told largely through stand alone episodes, the central themes of just who is the reincarnation of the legendary Shadow Angel “Solar Wing” Apollonius and the relationships between the disparate members of the earth defence group Deava remain a constant throughout. While the main focus is on the bickering between feral street urchin Apollo and the siblings of nobility Sirius and Silvia over who is the true Solar Wing (my money is on the former, the clue being in the name) the other characters are given a moment in the spotlight here.

First up are young computer nerds Jun and Tsugumi who are the only two Elements - people equipped to pilot Mecha known as “Vectors” that when combined become Aquarion - yet to have experienced a “merge”, the combining of the Vectors which appears to have something of an orgasmic effect on the participants. Naturally, being worried they both seek advice from their elders about their “first time”: cue much hilarity as the elders think they are being asked about something entirely different. Also getting an episode to herself is Reika, the sad figure who believes she brings misfortune to everyone around her and has yet to have a successful merge since a former male partner was horrifically injured during a mission in Aquarion. Feeling too much of a burden Reika opts to leave Deava for good but a strange presence in a nearby lake and the spectral visions of a group of school children trapped in a schoolbus at the bottom of the lake serve as a conduit for Reika to put her misery behind her.

Back to the main theme and the trio of Apollo, Sirius and Silvia spend the majority of the time sniping at each other, even during dangerous missions when they should be in concert with one another. While the siblings are resolute in their belief that Siriuis is the next Solar Wing, Apollo enjoys rubbing it in that he is an equally qualified candidate, with a number of revelations that appear throughout the seven episodes here to substantiate his claim. In one situation, a feather is found sealed in some amber and when touched it reveals secrets from one’s past. Apollo and Silvia break a rule to seek out the feather and find themselves whisked back to their past loves in their previous incarnations of Apollonius and his human lover Seliane respectively, allowing us to understand further the situation between the Shadow Angels and the humans. Despite having a disturbingly unhealthy affection for her elder brother, Silvia it seems is being primed to find herself falling for Apollo, who appears to quietly want to reciprocate but his stubbornness won’t allow him to. Watch this space, romance lovers.

The single shot format in this volume allows the writers to throw out as many different ideas for the Shadow Angles attack as possible without harming the continuity. One episode sees out antagonists stealing the souls of young children while they sleep, forcing Deava to try to fight the enemy though the power of slumber. Suffice to say, the female villain in this instance is far more pleasing to the eye than Freddy Krueger. It is only the last two episodes on this disc that run together when lead villain Toma invades Deava and makes contact with Apollo, making a startling revelation about two of his colleagues in the process.

While not exactly groundbreaking the content on this volume is entertaining enough if a little by the numbers in places. There are a couple of instance where things get a little too “Evangelion” in tone with the angst and personal torment of some of the characters, but nothing that is as emotionally punishing as the aforementioned classic. The action is very well animated as before and demonstrates how 3D CGI and 2D animation can successfully blend together. There is even room for some silly humour – check out how Silvia enters herself into the land of nod in the dream episode!

Aquarion probably could benefit from an overreaching story arc instead of the individual shots we have on this volume, but with MVM cramming seven episodes on this disc, having the opportunity to take a break without fear of losing one’s place is quite welcome. That said there is enough progress made with the main storyline to keep things moving along nicely. As we are now at the mid-series point, expect the pace and the drama to pick up as we move closer to what should be a thrilling finale.

Extras:

English Language 5.1 Surround

Japanese Language Stereo

English Subtitles

Main Feature:

Extras:

The Slayers Try Vol 4 (Episode 73-78)

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

The search for the final weapon of the monster overlord Dark Star takes our intrepid heroine Lina Inverse and friends to the snowy wastelands which are home to the temple of the Ancient Dragons. Hot on their tail however are Xellos and fellow monsters Siriuis and Erulogos in tow, whose motives for finding the final weapon appear to be less altruistic than Lina’s.

The final volume of the third original Slayers series starts in a rather downbeat mood as Dragon Princess Filia learns the shocking truth behind the creation of the final Dark Star weapon and how it pertains to her race and the Ancient Dragons. To Filia’s surprise the Golden Dragon Supreme Elder appears ahead of the final barrier, warning that the weapon, named Galvayra, is far too powerful and destructive to be used. This however does little to quash the nefarious ambitions of Xellos and his duplicity comes to forefront as he, Siriuis and Erulogos not only betray Lina and the others but Almayce too. Now, with this almighty power in his possession, Xellos seeks to put his grand plan into action but there are still more surprises up his sleeve. With further betrayals and unforeseen alliances to come can Lina and co. prevent the end of the world?

The sombre atmosphere of the opening episode is a complete departure for this series but suits the emotional and empathetic nature of Filia, upon whom the burden of this mission seems to have been taken to heart far more then the others involved. Since she always tries to see the best in people, Filia resolutely refuses to believe the accusations by the late monster Valgaav that the Golden Dragons wiped out his race but when the Supreme Elder reveals the truth, Filia finds herself lost for a reason to support any cause on behalf of her race. Naturally though, the surrounding circumstances make sure she errs on the side of the good even if that isn’t exactly clear which side it is.

From the next episode onwards though, the manic Slayers antics we’ve all come to know and love resume in full force yet infused with a strong sense of drama and moral examination as the story twists and turns towards the explosive – or should that be EXPLOSIVE – finale.

Where the conclusion of this series differs from the previous ones is the beating our heroes take is more of emotional than a physical as the end of the world is in the hands of the powerful Dark Star and a surprise conduit, whose motive for destroying the world is not for spite but to cleanse it of the evil, in this case the ones who have done him wrong in the past, with the hope it can rebuild itself into a better place. With an act of vengeance that appears to be based on an almost philanthropic desire Lina and co. find themselves sympathising with their aggrieved foe but clearly not supportive of his method of reconciling his feelings. This leaves them with the moral dilemma of justifying their attack: are they saving the world from destruction or ruining the chance of purification in order for a better new start? Decisions, decisions…

Don’t be fooled by Lina and crew heading into the big showdown a few episodes before the end: it doesn’t turn out the way you think it will. To be frank it does feel a little protracted getting to there, with an air of procrastination and some pointless detours, but ultimately it is worth it, and the series is wrapped up in a satisfactory but typical Slayers fashion.

But fear not Lina fans - that is not the end of this franchise. Japanese fans had to wait eleven whole years for the show to return to TV with 1998’s comeback story which was split into two series: Slayers Revolution and Slayers Evolution R. Thanks to the good people at MVM we Brits won’t have to wait so long.

For now enjoy this final entry of the original run of this classic series which hopefully has ingrained itself into the hearts of the UK anime fandom after far too long in the wilderness.

Extras:

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Main Feature:

Extras:

Desert Punk Vol 6 (Episode 21-24)

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

If you’ve been following this series up until now, you will be very aware of the shocking climax to the previous volume. If not there is a huge spoiler coming your way that shapes the events of this volume: Kanto Mizuno aka Sunabōzu is no more. He is an ex-desert handyman, shuffled off his mortal coil, gone to join the choir invisible, etc etc. So, Sunabōzu’s loyal apprentice Taiko Kosuna has adopted the Desert Punk II persona and plans to continue the legacy and fulfil her dream of becoming the most skilled beauty in the Kanto Desert.

With her own apprentice in the form of a young boy Mitsuru, shows off all that she has learned from her late master – including some of his brash personality traits - in taking on the mighty Kawazu Gang, which yields some very surprising results indeed. Returning to a previous storyline, the reverse Handyman’s Guild plot to topple the despotic Oasis Government who are killing off the citizens and head to Skeleton City where they run into some old faces – some more unexpected than others…

It should be evident to anyone familiar with Desert Punk that the prurient tone of the show is dramatically toned down- nay practically non-existent – in this final volume due to the absence of the titular star (outside of the opening credits that is). Only this show could get away with killing off the main character mid-flow (okay, maybe Death Note as well) and still continue without missing a beat or losing any of its quality. For those who may miss the perverted antics of Sunabōzu should fear not as the quality of the story telling and whacky humour is still firmly in place. The approach may have less of sexual overtone to it but this is still very much keeping with the traditions of the previous, with inventive battle scenes aplenty. As for the story twist at the end of the third episode, it shouldn’t come as any real surprise since this show lives by the motto “expect the unexpected”.

Kosuna’s promotion if you will from apprentice to master provides some interesting character development for our teenage heroine, unaware that she has absorbed far more than knowledge from Sunabōzu, as demonstrated by the occasional heavy handed brow beatings she metes out to young Mitsuru. Yet Kosuna – always the voice of reason in the partnership beforehand – still approaches each situation with a maturity and compassion her master lacked, bringing a fresh perspective to the proceedings.

It is worth repeating that while the central premise and apparent appeal of Desert Punk is with the fan service and shameless, politically incorrect antics of Sunabōzu, beneath this near the knuckle façade is an inventive and witty show that holds its own against any action series you can name. Whether people can set their tolerance level high enough to withstand the onslaught of Sunabōzu’s (and indeed the creator’s) boob fascination and other lascivious intentions will remain subjective while others will no doubt lap it up. Ultimately this is a serious that is more than the sum of its parts despite all appearances to the contrary and deserves kudos for defying conventions in such a way.

Desert Punk will never see its name up there with the Evangelions, Akiras, Ghost In The Shells of the world nor be spoken of with the same reverence of Studio Ghibli, but it is one of the most unique and perversely (pun intended) enjoyable shows to arrive on the scene in a long time.

Extras:

English Language 5.1

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Director Commentary on Episode 24

Textless Opening and Closing

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

Samurai Deeper Kyo Vol 4 (Episode 21-26)

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

Entering into the final volume of this historical series, the legendary Demon Eye Kyo finds his quest to reclaim his body hampered once again by outside forces, this time from the dangerous Mibu Clan, of whom Kyo’s other self Kyoshiro Mibu was a member. While Kyo and his merry band of followers are being distracted by members of the Goyōsei (Five Shining Stars) - in this case the White Sisters Saisei and Saishi who are specialists in resurrection (and inexplicably dressed as modern day nurses – rather anachronistic for a show set in 1603!!), the Mibu Clan finally resurrect the legendary Nobunaga Oda using the body of Kyo as a vessel and the power of Sakuya. Before the showdown between the resurrected daimyo and Kyo can take place, our titular protagonist must first fend off the challenge of his former follower Hotaru.

If you have followed this series from the start then chances are you may be feeling a sense of relief that it finally comes to and end. That may sound disingenuous but Samurai Deeper Kyo is quite a mess of show insofar as reaching beyond its means. The premise is intriguing enough and at the beginning there were signs of promise for the future. But as it progressed, it was a case of information overload and a cast of characters far too big for a twenty-six episode series. Throw in some convoluted sub-plots and you have a show that lacks any kind of real coherence and tangible flow. Part of that lies with the original Manga being an epic work which the Anime producers took snapshots of then worked in their own storylines to fit into the one series. There are numerous characters that didn’t even make it to this adaptation which is quite the prospect to imagine when you consider it is already overloaded on the cast front.

In this concluding set, we learn the truth behind the creation of Demon Eyes Kyo, which is every bit as fantastic and utterly bewildering as you would expect based on the creativity of the show thus far. As we edge ever closer to the grand finale, more secrets are revealed, friendships are broken and restored, alliances are formed by the least likely of parties and the path of history hangs in the balance. Yet with so much action to be enjoyed, the show still manages to allot some time for exposition and protracted flashbacks, and on occasional, the stories are revealed simultaneously across two different situations. The remarkable thing is that for a series this long there ahs actually been little in the way of character development outside of predictable and token changes such as Yuya falling for Kyo and the apparent vice versa. Possibly Benitora seems to have accepted his fate in life as a future feudal lord judging by the closing wrap up but other than that, its business as usual. Then again there has been little exploration into the supporting characters so maybe this is not so surprising after all.

Perhaps if the show had been made after the Manga had finished or at least later down the line things would have been sufficiently different enough to have made this adaptation more successful that it is. The bespoke ending presented here is satisfying enough and wraps up plenty of lose ends and puts everything back in it place, but getting there was quite a slog and an often confusing, laborious one at that. Samurai tales aren’t that easy to tell without resorting to clichés or standard plot lines so fair play to creator Akimine Kamijyo for trying something different – it’s just that the maladroit handling of the tale for this show robbed it of the potential it clearly had.

While it has its fair share of Bleach-esque fight scenes and fits in well with the standard Anime conventions, there is nothing truly outstanding that makes this title a “must see” series. Ultimately it is fair to say that Samurai Deeper Kyo reached for the moon but only got as far as Middlesborough.

Extras:

English Language

Japanese Language

English Subtitles

Message for fans

Outtakes

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

X Vol 3 (Episode 9-12)

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

The end of the world is still fast approaching and Kamui Shirō is about to make the most important choice of his life: to fight and save the earth or fight to change the earth. Having learned that he has a Twin Star who will automatically choose the opposite path, Kamui finds that making that decision even less easy than he first imagined, with the ramifications of his decision affecting those closest to him in the deepest manner imaginable.

All sounds very exciting right? Well, here’s the bad news: everything summarised above takes place in the final ten minutes of the last episode on this disc. The preceding three and a half episodes are spent running through the histories of some of the main characters involved in this epic battle of good vs evil or indulging in some surreal procrastination before getting back to the core storyline. It was apparent from the get go that X was a series that was content with moving along at a mild pace but this volume really suggests that if it moves any faster it will stop.

Back stories are not necessarily a bad thing and often help make a character more sympathetic or easier to understand. For instance we get some much needed insight into the early days of main protagonist Kamui as he struggled to come to terms with his extraordinary powers and his mother’s somewhat cryptic and perhaps too laid back prophecies on how Kamui would one day hold the fate of the world in his hands. Since Kamui is the central figure to the story, this was a welcome flashback. However one can argue that we perhaps did not need further elaboration on the handicap Nekoi Yuzuriha has of people being unable to see her dog Inuki. Since this was discussed in the previous volume a whole episode of a junior Nekoi trying to convince her friend that Inuki exists along with a hitherto unseen waterfall in the mountains was somewhat surfeit to the story. The opening episode on this volume sees Sorata Arisugawa and his would-be (in his mind only) lady love Arashi Kishū in search of a fellow Seal Subaru Sumeragi, in one of the more truly mind bending twenty minutes one will ever spend.

So, three volumes in and the story has barely progressed much from the first due to the bulk of the twelve episodes thus far dwelling more on the characters than the plot. Again, it is useful to flesh the characters out but in this instance it is a case of overkill which is bringing the plot to standstill. Much of what we have seen could have been shortened or dropped completely to allow the story to move forward, unless these revelations do have a significant impact on the conclusion. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem too likely at the moment and it is more likely that the patience of the viewer may have been tested too much by this dawdling approach for them to stick it out to the end. Fans of the Manga may be in their element seeing this all unfold on screen but for others without that prior familiarity the translation is not a successful one.

At the risk of flogging a dead horse, the show is saved by its sumptuous visuals and animation courtesy of Madhouse and what they do deliver is enjoyable enough; but since impending Armageddon is usually a pressing issue, one would think the majority of the show’s focus would be on that instead of the constant and random detours to relate a story that may ultimately have little bearing on the outcome. But, in what is a case of “a little too late” when the action picks up again, it does so with fervour and alacrity leaving us hanging with a shocking denouement which hopefully denotes a welcome change of pace and focus come the next instalment.

X isn’t a bad show, just a frustrating one considering the high standard set by its creators, the prolific CLAMP. If the previous volumes have yet to find their way into your DVD player then there is little here that is likely to peak your interest enough or encourage you to seek them out. If one has followed the series up until now, be prepared for a bit of a wait until the story takes off again – if you have the patience. But you’d probably know that already from experience.

Extras:

English Language 5.1

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Textless Opening & closing

Trailers

Main Feature:

Extras:

Darker Than Black Vols 5&6 (Episodes 19-26)

2 Discs (Distributor: Manga Entertainment) Running time: 192 minutes

Tokyo is still living in the austere shadow of the ominous Hell’s Gate and the supernatural power blessed assassins known as Contractors continue to wage war on society and each other. Continuing with the two part story format, the opening adventure for Hei aka BK 201 - the Black Reaper, finds him ordered to infiltrate a religious cult and kill the leader, a self-professed prophet named Alma. Hei is assisted by an insider named Shihoko, a fellow contractor and one time love of Hei’s grumpy older partner Haung – a revelation that threatens to jeopardise the entire operation.

Whilst still working within the two episode framework, we enter into a continuous arc to close the series. Renegade Contractor group Evening Primrose (aka EPR), headed by Hei’s former partner Amber, kidnap a scientist from the UN founded research centre PANDORA who has a great knowledge of Hell’s Gate upon learning of a plan to destroy Hell’s Gate which will in turn wipe out all contractors. Since the EPR are enemies of the Syndicate, Amber finds herself opposing her erstwhile partner. Meanwhile Foreign Affairs Division 4, lead by Section-Chief Misaki Kirihara, are investigating attacks made against the US Embassy and in turn finds herself falling fowl of PANDORA and uncovering a web of lies, deceit and subterfuge involving members of the Syndicate, PANDORA and MI6.

After a promising start to the series which was followed by a rather lack lustre middle portion, Darker Than Black pulls itself back from the brink of ennui and confusion to resume the inventive and energetic antics of the first volumes. Even with the peripheral sub plots featuring hapless detective Gai Kurosawa and Kikko that surface every now and then, the focus remains largely on building towards the big finale and arguably makes for a much more entertaining product. That is not to say this hasn’t been an entertaining show thus far, rather it needed a central storyline to fully exploit the world of Hell’s Gate and the contractors and the ramifications of their existence, and to give greater purpose to characters such as Misaki Kirihara.

The final batch of episodes explores the backstory of Hei more deeply as the existence of all contractors is under threat and how big a part he actually plays in preventing their impending extinction. With questions outstanding from his past, most notably the fate of his sister Pei, Hei knows that Amber is the only one who can answer them – but with external forces always ready to interfere at any time, getting those answers may not be so easy. From the syndicate to the EPR to PNDORA to the authorities, Hei is feeling the pressure from all sides – and to complicate matters further Kirihara seems to have developed a fondness for Hei’s every day alter ego Li Shun Sheng, naturally unaware that he is the BK 201 she is investigating.

Closing off this disc is a bonus episode that didn’t air on TV in Japan, a stand alone effort that is played mostly for laughs. It revolves largely around Mayu Otsuka, one of Kirihara’s underlings who is also a writer of Manga related online fiction. She posts a story which she believed was inspired by a dream she had of a masked man and a talking cat. Of course this was no dream and some of the content of the story Mayu recalled is very important to a situation Hei is involved in. And to fulfil the comedy quota, we learn why spring is a trying time to be a cat…

While the series comes to an explosive conclusion with some loose ends tied up – and others unfortunately left hanging – one issue remains unexplained: Hell’s Gate. We know that it is a global entity and its existence is directly relative to that of the contractors but, despite the presence of the research unit in this volume, little else has been revealed about it. Perhaps this is being saved for the sequel which recently finished its run in Japan. Hopefully we won’t the same two year wait for its release over here as the Japanese fans did.

With so many shonen action series on the market, it is difficult for a series to stand out but Darker Than Black manages to do just that. Despite being a little flabby in the middle, this is a strong series that delivers on the action front with some fluid and sumptuous looking animation from acclaimed studio Bones and a killer soundtrack from the legendary Yoko Kanno. What more could you want?

Extras:

English 5.1

Japanese 2.0 Stereo

English Subtitles

Disc 1:

Audio Commentary for Episode 22

Character Bios

Settings Gallery

Textless Opening – Howling

Textless Closing – Tsukiakari

Disc 2:

Audio Commentary for Episode 26

Character Bios

Settings Gallery

Textless Opening – Howling

Textless Closing – Tsukiakari

Main Feature:

Extras:

Naruto Unleashed Series 8 Vol 1 (Episodes 183-195)

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

This latest entry into the seemingly endless saga of the hyperactive ninja Naruto Uzumaki begins with the conclusion to the story that left us hanging at the end of the previous volume. To round off the first disc we are treated to some one shot adventures that sees Kiba Inuzuka's dog Akamaru going through an alarming transformation after being infected with a deadly bacteria during a mission. Naruto then finds himself surrogate parent to a baby hairy monster called an Onbaa. Finally Naruto has to play chief mourner at a very unusual funeral where if he laughs the son of the deceased forfeits his inheritance.

The second disc comprises of a five episode story arc that sees Naruto, Hinata and Choji assigned to escorting a group of merchants from the Land Of Greens, unaware that a group called The Three Criminal Brothers have taken over the land and are after one of the merchants. Following a attack against the group which results to a fatality, it is revealed that the targeted merchant is in fact Princess Haruna, the rightful heiress to the Land Of Greens who was on the run from the Brothers. However Haruna’s selfish attitude towards those who lay their life down for her makes it difficult for Naruto and co. to work for her wholeheartedly – until they too get caught up in the dispute and their very lives are also under threat.

Closing out this volume it is back to the stand alone stories which are played more for laughs than drama. First Ino Yamanaka is sent to the Land of Candy where she is pose as Princess Fuku on her first date with her arranged husband, an obese Elvis look-a-like. Ino may be Fuku’s double but for one very palpable difference. Next up Rock Lee has set up how own dojo and is waiting for his first challenger. The good intentions of Naruto and Might Guy are spoiled by a ninja spy with the ability to clone others. The trio of Naruto, Hinata and Kiba are sent to track down a missing party at an infamous haunted castle in the next story while to close this volume, Rock Lee finds himself usurped by a trainee student in the eyes of Might Guy when Lee is injured during a sparring session. When it transpires the student is an impostor Guy finds himself in a spot of bother.

Even with the content being exclusively filler material, these latest volumes of Naruto have fallen into a comfortable formula of comedic single shot stories followed by one long story arc and back to the individual episodes again. Unfortunately what this latest batch of stories demonstrates is that no matter how earnest the writers are, they can’t match the creativity of original Manga creator Masashi Kishimoto. The repetition of themes and plots on this volume alone does little to support the case for fillers keeping a show alive instead of taking a break to allow the Manga to get sufficiently ahead. Two stories (and both involving Rock Lee and Might Guy) feature impostors infiltrating the Hidden Leaf village – although one admittedly is played solely for laughs. The extended story featuring Princess Haruna follows the well worn plot of Naruto being unable to connect with his client because of their haughty attitude only to win them over and become friends by the end. It’s a tried and tested formula but the scope of possibilities for a shonen fantasy show like Naruto should be a lot wider than suggested by some of these stories.

Ironically two of the one off stories – the transformation of Akamaru and the haunted castle – both had potential to last a lot longer then the single shot they got. The former had the emotional aspect of Kiba protecting the pet he loves and defying the law of the Hokage Tsuande in the process, which could have been explored in depth for maximum sentimental impact with the viewer. Meanwhile the latter plot, involving a spirit that posses a castle by order of a deceased and wronged daimyo was already rife with inventive ways to menace Naruto and friends which over more time could have been fully exploited and let the creative floodgates open as well as exploring the backstory behind the whole premise. Sadly this was not to be.

Not long now until the Manga adaptations resume but for now, Naruto have this fine but admittedly rather dry bone to chew on until then.

Extras:

English Language 2.0

Japanese Language 2.0

English Subtitles

Trailers (Disc 1 only)

Main Feature:

Extras:

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Anime Reviews 2010 Vol.I

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