Naruto Shippuden DVD Set 10 – Original & Uncut (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

“Naruto Shippuden” vol. 10 features episodes featuring Sasuke plus the history of how Kakashi received the power of Sharingan is revealed!  This is one DVD release that Naruto fans will not want to miss!  Highly recommended!

Image courtesy of © 2002 Masashi Kishimoto/2008 Shippuden. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Naruto Shippuden DVD Set 9 – Original & Uncut

DURATION: Episodes 113-126 + 2 bonus episodes (350 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: 2.0 Stereo Surround Sound, Bilingual (Japanese & English), English Subtitles

COMPANY: Shonen Jump/Viz Media

RATED: Rated T for Older Teen

Release Date: April 10, 2012

Originally created by Masashi Kishimoto

Series Directed by Hayato Date

Produced by Tomoko Gushima, Ken Hagino

Series Coordinator by Junki Takegami, Satoru Nishizono

Character Design by Tetsuya Nishio, Hirofumi Suzuki

Music by Yasuharu Takanishi, Yaiba

Music Production by Aniplex

Anime Production by TV Tokyo, Pierrot

Featuring the following voice talent:

Junko Takeuchi/Maile Flanagan as Naruto Uzumaki

Chie Nakamura/Kate Higgins as Sakura Haruno

Noriaki Sugiyama/Yuri Lowenthal as Sasuke Uchiha

Akira Ishida/Liam O’Brien as Sabaku no Gaara (Gaara of the Desert)

Hideo Ishikawa/Crispin Freeman as Itachi Uchiha

Houchu Ohtsuka/David Lodge as Jiraiya

Kazuhiko Inoue/Dave Wittenberg as Hatake Kakashi

Kentarou Itou/Robbie Rist as Chouji Akimichi

Kenyuu Horiuchi/Troy Baker as Pain

Kouichi Toochika/Steve Staley as Neji Hyuuga

Kousuke Toriumi/Kyle Hebert as Kiba Inuzuka

Kujira/Steven Blum as Orochimaru

Masako Katsuki/Debi Mae West as Tsunade/Fifth Hokage

Nana Mizuki/Stephanie Sheh as Hinata Hyuuga

Nobutoshi Canna/Henry Dittman as Kabuto Yakushi

Rikiya Koyama/Troy Baker as Yamato

Romi Paku/Tara Platt as Temari

Ryoka Yuzuki/Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Ino Yamanaka

Satoshi Hino/Ben Diskin as Sai

Shinji Kawada/Derek Stephen Prince as Shino Aburame

Yasuyuki Kase/Michael Lindsay as Kankurou

Yoichi Masukawa/Brian Donovan as Rock Lee

Sasuke’s future hangs in the balance as Orochimaru prepares for reanimation. It’s been three years since Sasuke left the Leaf Village seeking the power Orochimaru promised him. Now it’s time to face his mentor. Who will master whom in the battle for their very existence?

Plus, take a step back in time to a turning point in the young Kakashi’s life, as he fights alongside his teammates under the guidance of the Fourth Hokage!

“Naruto Shippuden” vol. 10 features episodes featuring Sasuke plus the history of how Kakashi received the power of Sharingan is revealed!  This is one DVD release that Naruto fans will not want to miss! Highly recommended!

Since 1999, “Naruto” created by Masashi Kishimoto (“Karakuri”) has been one of the most popular anime and manga series in Japan and has easily become a favorite best selling anime/manga series among fans all over the world.

For the anime series, since 2002, “Naruto” lasted until 2007 with a total of 220 episodes. The series would follow the adventures of a boy named Naruto Uzamaki, who may not be the brightest ninja from the Konoha Village but he makes it up with heart and also tremendous power as the killer beast known as the nine-tailed fox has been sealed within him.

Earlier in the series, the anime series focused on Naruto and his team members Sasuke Uchida and Sakura Haruno as they would go on adventures and learn to become a team and also honing their ninja abilities. The series would then begin to introduce other young ninjas from the village who Naruto would be paired up with and the young ninjas would take on rival clans to helping people in need. But somehow as the series continued, Sasuke Uchida would then go off on his own personal mission to stop his brother Itaki Uchida, who murdered the whole Uchida clan and his family, only leaving Sasuke alive.

Within those six years, we have seen Naruto and his friends grow as friends and also in their abilities. For Naruto, all he has wanted is to become the next Hokage (the leader of the village) when he grows older and to help his friends accomplish missions. He knows that to be a good leader, he will need to get stronger so he can protect the village once he grows older. Of course, there is so much involved in the “Naruto” anime series and what makes its special is its humor, its action but also how well the series integrates so many characters but yet features a good number of character driven episodes that makes the viewer appreciate many of the characters in the series.

“Naruto”, the first series ended with the young ninja leaving to train with Jiraiya for two-and-a-half years.

In “Naruto Shippuden”, the storyline now features everyone a little grown up but the stakes are much higher. We learn that the Akatsuki including Orochimaru are looking for those who possess a jinchuriki. With this power, this will give too much power to evil and this can lead to the death of many people and the destruction of many villages.

In the past few volumes, the Leaf Village along with other villages have managed to defeat the Akatsuki, unfortunately the price paid was the death of Asuma and a few other members of the Leaf and Sand Ninja.

Now, Orochimaru using Kabuto, have their sites set on capturing the other jinchuriki, as do the Akatsuki who have been after Naruto.

In volume 10, featuring episodes 113-126 (which kicked off season 6 in Japan), we learn how Orochimaru became interested in “reanimation” and the “Sharingan” but leads to a fight to the death between Sasuke and Orochimaru.  We then get to learn more about the new team that Sasuke is putting together.  A team that will lead an assault on the Akatsuki and literally give Sasuke the revenge on his brother, Itachi (it was revealed in earlier episodes that Itachi was responsible for the Uchiha clan’s demise and the only person he kept alive was Sasuke), that he has been wanting for so long.

Sasuke is on a mission to find the following people to join his team: Suigetsu Hozuki (a former test subject of Orochimaru and has the power to turn into liquid form), Karin (Orochimaru’s former assistant and specializes in tracking) and the homicidal maniac, Jugo.

Meanwhile, as word gets around about Sasuke’s growing power and his new team, Lady Tsunade organizes a team from the leaf village (which includes Team Kakashi and Team Kurenai) to capture Itachi before Sasuke can get to him.  The Akatsuki send out Deidara and Tobi to go after Sasuke.

And just when you think these Sasuke episodes are awesome, included in this latest volume are the two “Kakashi Chronicles” episodes which reveals how Kakashi was able to obtain the power of the Sharingan.

All this and more in “Naruto Shippuden DVD Set 10 – Original & Uncut”!

VIDEO:

One thing I noticed when it came to “Naruto” is that the series has had its share of well-animated and well-painted artistic backgrounds but then for some of the filler episodes, has had a decrease in quality. Fortunately, “Naruto Shippuden” continues to look awesome. I really like how the characters look much older and the emotions on the character’s faces. For this volume, it does go back to a bit of monotonous landscapes. A lot of trees, a lake, underwater and mountains. Not much of the action is taken place anywhere else. But the storyline focuses on the action than location and as far as picture quality goes, it is good and what one can expect from DVD.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

As for the audio, the audio for “Naruto Shippuden DVD Set 10″ is pretty much Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 Bilingual (Japanese and English). Similar to a series like “Dragon Ball Z”, with “Naruto”, I have always enjoyed the voice acting of the English dub series. It’s well done and the voices fit the characters very well.

Especially Maile Flanagan’s Naruto Uzumaki. Personally, I didn’t think there would be a voice actor that could capture Junko Takeuchi’s Naruto vocals and sure enough, Flanagan does a great job. But I have watched the series in Japanese and English and for the most part, voice acting for both soundtracks are well-done.

Since the series is front channel driven, for those with a modern home theater receiver probably will enjoy a more immersive soundscape by selecting stereo on all channels.

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Naruto Shippuden DVD Set 10 – Original & Uncut” comes with the following special features on disc 3:

• More from Viz Media - Trailers for upcoming or current Viz Media releases.
• Clean Openings
• Clean Endings
• Kakashi Chronicles Trailer – (:31) The original trailer promoting “Kakashi Chronicles”.
• Production Art – Using your remote, you can view through ten pages of artwork.
• Omake – (6:05) All the omake ending portions (after the credits) from the episodes featured in DVD Set 10 of “Naruto Shippuden”.
• English Credits

After the last filler DVD volume of “Naruto Shippuden”, the storyline around Sasuke and the Akatsuki returns as this time, fans who have been wondering about Sasuke, finally get their wish with DVD set 10, as this this set is primarily about Sasuke.

From the previous episodes and the “Naruto Shippuden: Bonds” movie, we know that Sasuke has grown powerful.  More powerful than anyone can think of!

And you get to see his power in action as he takes on Orochimaru and also Deidara.  These are two powerhouses that even the leaf ninja have had problems fighting and sure enough, Sasuke is not afraid to go one-on-one against them.  And the results of each battle, it was a bit of a shocker!

Also, we get to see the formation of Sasuke’s new team and it’ll be interesting to see how these three new characters, Suigetsu, Karin and Jugo come into play in the upcoming episodes, especially since their main goal is to take down Itachi Uchiha.  And also, we get to see a little of the Akatsuki leader named Pain, who will be the primary antagonist for many episodes to come.

While, we see a lot of Sasuke, these episodes also feature Naruto and friends.  But possibly the most groundbreaking episodes  (outside of the Sasuke episodes) revolve around Kakashi.  The two episodes known as “Kakashi Chronices” are very important as we learn how Kakashi received the Sharingan power.  While only two episodes, it does give us insight to Kakashi’s past and as a Naruto fan, these two episodes, in fact, the entire episode in this season alone are worth watching.

As for the DVD set, you get a total of 13 episodes and a few special features such as storyboard, production art and the ending omake for each episode.

Overall, “Naruto Shippuden DVD Set 10 – Original & Uncut” is a fantastic DVD volume that I highly recommend for Naruto fans, especially those who have put in so much time watching these episodes for so long.  The history of Kakashi to the battles between Sasuke and Orochimaru and Sasuke vs. Deidara are fantastic!  These are episodes that you don’t want to miss out on!

 

Pokémon the Movie 14: Black – Victini & Reshiram / White – Victini & Zekrom (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

The 14th Pokémon film “Pokémon the Movie: Black – Victini & Reshiram / White – Victini & Zekrom” on DVD features two films, same plot but a different take on the featured legendary Pokémon.  A heartwarming family film full of action and fun that Pokémon fans of all ages will enjoy.  Definitely recommended!

DVD TITLE: Pokémon the Movie 14: Black – Victini & Reshiram / White – Victini & Zekrom

FILM RELEASE DATE: 2011

DURATION: 95 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Dolby Digital, English Stereo

COMPANY: Viz Media

RATED: A for All Ages

RELEASE DATE: April 3, 2012

Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama

Screenplay by Hideki Sonoda

Music by Shinji Miyazaki

Original Concept by Junichi Masuda, Ken Sugimori, Satoshi Tajiri

Character Design: Toshiya Yamada

Sound Director: Masafumi Mima

Director of Photography: Hisao Shirai

Executive Producer: Masakazu Kubo

Producer: Shigehiro Tanaka, Takemoto Mori

Anime Production: Oriental Light and Magic

Featuring the following voice talent:

Eileen Stevens as Iris

Ikue Ohtani as Pikachu

Jason Griffith as Cilan

Sarah Natochenny as Ash Ketchum

Nana Mizuki as Victini

Jimmy Zoppi as James, Meowth

Michele Knotz as Jessie

Rodger Parsons as Narrator

Alyson Leigh Rosenfield as Audino and Nurse Joy

Bill Rogers as Panpour, Pansear

Billy Bob Thompson as Burgh, Luke

Brittney Lee Hamilton as Georgia

Dan Green as Pierce

Darren Dunstan as Stephan

A Hero must choose: the Power of Ideals… or the Courage of Truth?

When Ash and his friends enter a battle competition in Eindoak Town, they meet the Mythical Pokemon Victini, who becomes their newest friend. But disaster strikes when the misguided wanderer Damon seizes Victini for his own plans! Can Ash prove himself a hero and earn the help of the Legendary Reshiram – or Zekrom – to rescue Victini and save Eindoak Town?

Two legends… and two versions of the story!

For those who are fans of “Pokémon”, especially when it comes to the video games, there are always simultaneous releases of the games.  While they appear similar in gameplay, there are often a change in Pokemon or setting.  But what if they treated the films the same way?

In July 2011, children and fans of “Pokémon” were treated to two different versions of the 14th “Pokémon” film.  One titled “Pokémon the Movie: Black – Victini and Reshiram” and the other “Pokémon the Movie: White – Victini and Zekrom”.  The plot of both film are the same, the major difference is one would focus more on the legendary dragon Pokémon, Reshiram or Zekrom.

While the film was a major success in the box office in Japan, in America, both films received a limited 2- day theatrical release in select theaters in December 2011 and it would be the first Pokémon animated film release since the 2002 film “Pokémon Heroes: The Movie”.  “Pokémon the Movie: White – Victini and Zekrom” would later air on the Cartoon Network in February 2012.

And now, both films will be released in a 2-DVD courtesy of Viz Media.

“Pokémon the Movie: Black – Victini and Reshiram” and “Pokemon the Movie: White – Victini and Zekrom” begin with either Reshiram or Zekrom, but the story begins with a man named Damon who had to save the village and called upon Reshiram or Zekrom (depending which version of the film was being viewed).

Meanwhile, Ash Ketchum and his friends Iris and Cilan arrive at the town of Eindoak Town.  The three spot two Deerling who are in danger of falling off a cliff and Ash goes to rescue both of them.  But while rescuing the two, Ash touches Victini and instead of falling off the cliff, somehow Ash was able to jump off the cliff to the other side, saving the Deerling.

Ash enters a cave and ends up inside the cellar of the town’s castle, the Sword of the Vale. And as Cilan provides Macaroons for Ash and Iris, unbeknown to Ash is that a hungry Victini is hiding and wanting some to eat as well.  And thus, taking his macaroons when he isn’t watching.

The group are escorted by Damon who brings them to the town’s festival and they meet Damon’s sister Carlita (who challenges Ash in a Pokemon battle) and their mother Juanita.  Meanwhile, the town sells merchandise of a legendary Pokémon known as Victini, but no one believes Victini exists anymore.   The trio are explained by Mayor Mannes that Victini is important tot he town as the legendary Pokemon once belonged to the king of the Kingdom of the Veil.  The kingdom was empowered by the Dragon Force, which brought harmony to the world.

But as the king’s sons were both bestowed each with Reshiram and Zekrom, the princes became enemies and thus a war took place between both sides, also pitting Reshiram and Zekrom against each other.  Both were wounded in combat and both legendary dragon Pokemon turned to stone in order to heal during a long sleep.

But the Dragon Force became unstable and destructive, so the king used the power of Victini to move the castle to its current spot in order to contain the Dragon Force energy and create a barrier.  Unfortunately, the King sacrificed his life and Victini was sealed inside the barrier to be protected.

And for Damon, his dream was to restore the dead kingdom’s valley using Victini’s powers and reunite the scattered People of the Veil, as it was his mother’s wish.  But while Victini has never been seen, Damon and Mayor Mannes have found one of the dragon Pokemon beneath the castle.

During a friendly battle between Ash and Carlita, somehow Ash is able to pull off some intriguing moves and Carlita wonders if Victini is actually helping Ash and sure enough, she sees Victini helping Ash’s Pokemon.

And eventually Ash and friends discover that Victini has been with them all that time and was responsible for eating the Macaroons and giving Ash and his Pokémon some of his power.  But Ash starts to learn that Victini has been all alone for hundreds of years and his dream is to go to the ocean, but unfortunately he is trapped due to the barrier.

So, Ash makes a promise to Victini that he will help it get to the ocean, but Damon also has his plans with Victini to use his power to restore the dead kingdom’s valley…but what Damon doesn’t know is that by doing so, it will once again unleash the destructive and unstable power of the Dragon Force.

Now it’s a race against time as Ash and friends must stop Damon from causing harm to Victini and the entire town.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Pokémon the Movie 14: Black – Victini & Reshiram / White – Victini & Zekrom” definitely improves in overall animation and CG with the latest film.   With each newer film, there is much better detail in the paintings and better use of CG.

If anything, more detail and vibrant colors, compared to the previous two Pokemon films, considering those the last two films, “Pokémon Movie 12: Arceus and the Jewel of Life and “Pokémon Movie 13: Zoroark – Master of Illusions” look fantastic.

Of course, with this being DVD, you are going to see mild artifacts and some banding but nothing to bothersome and I doubt the children will even care. It’s a beautiful looking film!

As for the audio, the audio is presented in 2.0 and 5.1 Dolby Digital. Dialogue is clear and understandable, special effects sound very good coming through the center and front channels. I don’t really recall hearing the surround channels being utilized all that much but for the most part, dialogue and music are quite clear.  It’s important to note that only the English dub is featured and the Japanese soundtrack is not included.

Subtitles are available in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Pokémon the Movie 14: Black – Victini & Reshiram / White – Victini & Zekrom” comes with trailer for both films.

As a father who has grown up with a child who enjoys “Pokémon” and having been in Japan during the time of the Pokemon merchandise explosion, it’s always intriguing for me to see how “Pokémon” remains innovative and how it manages to attract the attention of a new generation of young (and older) fans for over a decade.

And with the release of both “Pokémon” films, it’s another way to attract viewers to the films as “Pokémon Black/White” have done for those who purchased the Nintendo DS video game.  And considering the film made over $53 million in the box office, it goes to show that “Pokémon” is not slowing down any time soon and the momentum and excitement continues to thrive as it did many years ago.

While both films have the same story, the key difference is how it integrates Reshiram or Zekrom to the film.  Especially the activity of the character of Damon in trying to revive a world that is no longer there.  With that being said, for me, I enjoyed “Pokémon the Movie: Black – Victini and Reshiram” as it appeared to have a slightly different back story which I enjoyed more.  Once again, they are the same storyline, same ending but it’s different in terms of how Reshiram and Zekrom are incorporated into the film.

But what I enjoyed about the overall storyline is the character of Victini, definitely unlike other Pokemon who are great fighting Pokemon, if anything…Victini is just overall cute.  And it’s just fun to see how fun this Pokémon can be, may it be eating macaroons or helping Ash and his Pokemon.  But there is also an emotional side to this film as Victini was tragically left behind by its owner and he is stuck in town due to a barrier and you realize how lonely Victini has been all this time.  And you root for Ash and friends to help Victini, but at the same time knowing that Damon needs Victini in order to revive the town, and unfortunately it’s an ambition that can not only harm Victini but also the people that Damon wants to help.

As for parents who are considering buying this DVD for their child, there is really nothing violent about the storyline, while some younger children may find one scene where it looks like Ash got badly hurt (don’t worry, he was just exhausted).

As mentioned in the video quality section, the film looks absolutely vibrant and fantastic! I would not be surprised if “Pokémon the Movie 14: Black – Victini & Reshiram / White – Victini & Zekrom” someday receives a Blu-ray release because it looks so good… but as for the DVD itself, it does have its share of artifacts (as expected from a DVD) but nothing to disrupt viewing and for the most part, for the audience its intended for, I doubt they would even care. But this is the most beautiful Pokémon film by far and each year, the look of the films just continue to get better and better.

Overall, if you or your child (or if you are an adult fan) loves the Pokémon series whether on TV series, collectors cards or video games, I definitely recommend Pokémon the Movie 14: Black – Victini & Reshiram / White – Victini & Zekrom”.  You get both films in one release and for the most part, it’s a heartwarming family film worth watching and owning if you are a fan of “Pokémon”.

Definitely recommended!

 

Bleach DVD Set Twelve – Original and Uncut (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

Another action-packed volume of “Bleach”, featuring the conclusion of the Captain Amagai (season nine) storyline, “Bleach DVD Set Twelve – Original and Uncut” also includes the first four episodes of season 10 which reveals the true form of Arrancar Nel.  If you are a “Bleach” fan, this action-packed volume is worth watching!

Image courtesy of © Tite Kubo/Shueisha, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Pierrot. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Bleach: DVD Set Twelve – Original and Uncut

DURATION: Episodes 180-193 (326 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: 4:3, Bilingual Japanese & English, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: VIZ Media

RATED: 13+

Release Date: March 13, 2012

Originally created by Kubotite

Directed by Noriyuki Abe

Music by Shiro Sagisu

Character Design by Masashi Kudo

Art Director: Natsuko Suzuki, Sawako Takagi

Anime Production by TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Studio Pierrot

Featuring the following voice talent:

Fumiko Orikasa/Michelle Ruff as Rukia Kuchiki

Masakazu Morita/Johnny Yong Bosch as Ichigo Kurosaki

Hiroki Yasumoto/Jamieson Price as Sado “Chad” Yasutora

Kentarou Itou/Wally Wingert as Abarai Renji

Masakazu Morita/Johnny Yong Bosch as Hollow Ichigo

Noriaki Sugiyama/Derek Stephen Prince as Ishida Uryuu

Satsuki Yukino/Wendee Lee as Shihouin Yoruichi (human form)

Shinichiro Miki/Michael Lindsay as Urahara Kisuke

Yuki Matsuoka/Stephanie Sheh as Inoue Orihime

Kaya Matsutani/Megan Hollingshead as Rangiku Matsumoto

Nobuyuki Hiyama/Vic Mignogna as Ikkaku Madarame

Jun Fukuyama/Brian Beacock as Yumichika Ayasegawa

Romi Paku/Steve Staley as Toshiro Hitsugaya

In the wake of their battle with Kumoi’s assassins, Ichigo and Rukia follow Rurichiyo to the Soul Society to face the royal Kasumiohji Clan and stop Rurichiyo’s sham wedding. They manage to win the new captain of Squad Three, Shusuke Amagai, to their side, but finding Rurichiyo will be no easy task with all Thirteen Court Guard Squads after them!

Contains episodes 180-193.

The Soul Reapers must decide whether or not to pursue Ichigo Kurasaki and Rukia Kuchiki who are now wanted by the Soul Society.  As Soul Reapers are split to their loyalty to their job and their friendship to Ichigo and Rukia, will they try to stop them?

“Bleach” is one of those titles, alongside “Naruto” and “Dragon Ball Z” that has managed to capture the attention of anime fans and continues to reinvent itself with new sagas and characters. Created in 2001 by mangaka Tite Kubo, the manga has been published on Weekly Shonen Jump and the animated series has been airing on Japanese television since 2004.

The series has manged to grow its fandom worldwide, especially in the US as the series has aired on television on the Cartoon Network and the various video games for the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP have also been popular among the fans as well.

The manga series revolves around teenager Ichigo Kurosaki, who has the ability to see Soul Reapers (a military group that escorts the souls of the dead) and in this case, Ichigo has seen a female Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki. One day, a hollow (a monster that was once a human soul) has come to attack and when Rukia was injured, she transferred her spirit pressure to Ichigo in order for him to fight the hollow.

The series focused on Ichigo and Rukia’s friendship as somehow nearly all her spirit pressure had been transferred to Ichigo and stripping away her soul reaper power and thus Ichigo now has the power to take on the hollows while Rukia helps guide him through the battles with her knowledge. As Rukia temporarily lives with Ichigo, the two together battle hollows.

Throughout the series, Ichigo continues to get stronger, as does his friends Chad, Orihime, Uraharu and each develop significant skills to fight against the hollows and the powerful Arrancar.

While the last volumes have focused on the battle with the Arrancars, with the anime writers needing to time things with the manga release from Tite Kubo, before continuing the Arrancar storyline, for the anime series, we are given a satisfying 9th filler season that introduces new characters and a storyline about Third Division Captain Shusuke Amagai before continuing with the Arrancar storyline (season 10).

Volume 12 is a continuation of  the events which took place in the last volume, “Bleach DVD Set Eleven” (also known as Season 9 in Japan), the season introduced us to the Third Division meeting their new captain, Shusuke Amagai and Amagai trying to win the trust of his new squad.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Ichigo and friends meet a young princess of the Soul Society nobility named Rurichiyo Kasumioji and her Soul Reaper assistants Ryusei “Kenryu” Kenzaki and Ruzaburo “Enryu” Enkogawa who move next door to Ichigo’s home. They hope that Ichigo, Rukia and friends will be able to protect Rurichiyo from assassins, while she tries to maintain a normal life not knowing the threats that are being made against her.

For Ichigo, having to watch over a spoiled princess and having to deal with her bossy protectors is more than he needs in his life right now. Especially when they bring out so many hollows and leave them to Ichigo and friends to fight them all.

In “Bleach DVD Set Twelve”, Ichigo and Rukia have discovered a plot by Kumoi and the Kasumiohji Clan to kidnap Rurichiyo and that the marriage is a sham.  Because the Kasumiohji Clan is a clan that is literally “off-limits” to the Soul Society but their job is to make sure the wedding takes place, when Ichigo and Rukia try to stop the sham wedding they get themselves into major trouble as Ichigo has made a major violation and now Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, leader of the Soul Society has no choice but to send various divisions in capturing Ichigo and Rukia.

But those who know Ichigo know that if he was trying to stop a wedding, he doesn’t do it for the fun of it.  There must be a reason why he would do something lie this.  This leads to a split between those who know Ichigo and those who don’t to fight each other as Renji Abarai of the Sixth Division and Tetsuzaemon Iba of Seventh Division and Shuhei Hisagi of Ninth Division and Ikkaku Madarame of Eleventh Division fight against each other.

Meanwhile, Izuru Kira of Third Division has suspicions towards Third Division member, Makoto Kibune.   Having told his new captain Shusuke Amagai, Amagai decides to pursue after Ichigo and Rukia.

While “Bleach DVD Set Twelve” concludes the ninth season, we are also presented with the first four episodes of season 10 of “Bleach” as the Arrancar storyline from season 8 is continued as Uruhara and Renji take on Espada Szayel Aporro Granz, while a captured Orihime watches as Ichigo takes on Nnoltra Gilga, in which Ichigo can not even scratch him.

Meanwhile, Nnoltra who looks as Ichigo as a weak fighter turns his attention to Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and as he tries to kill her, Ichigo does all he can to protect her.  But unbeknown to Ichigo, there is more to little Nel than meets the eye!

The main characters of “Bleach” are:

• Ichigo Kurosaki – The main protagonist. A teenager who becomes a substitute soul reaper after absorbing Rukia’s powers. Accepting his new powers and wanting to protect everyone around him. Ichiro manages to grow in power with every battle he gets involved in.
• Rukia Kuchiki – A Soul Reaper who transferred her spiritual power to Ichigo.
• Orihime Inoue – A longtime classmate of Ichigo who is very caring and manages to develop her spiritual awareness and after her brother is killed by a hollow, she has managed to grow in power which is tied to a hairpin that her brother had given her.
• Yasutora “Chad” Sado – A friend of Ichigo and very quiet. Developed a sense of seeing hollows and eventually gaining a power of strength and a right arm that is literally a weapon to fight against hollows.
• Uryu Ishida - A classmate of Ichigo and a descendant of a priest group that hunted hollows known as Quincy. Earlier on, Uryu was a rival of Ichigo due to his hatred towards the Soul Reapers and eventually becomes friends with him.
• Kon – A modsoul who’s life soul is put into a stuffed lion. When Ichigo is a Soul Reaper, Kon takes over Ichigo’s body, so no one including Ichigo’s family knows that Ichiro is actually not there. Mostly a comedy-driven character known for his perverseness and always complaining about something.
• Kisuke Urahara – Owner of the Urahara shop and a former captain of the 12th Division in the Soul Society. He caught Aizen converting Soul Reapers to Visoreds but before he can save them, Aizen framed him for the crimes and Urahara fled to the real world.
• Yoruichi Shihoin – An old friend of Kisuke Urahara who can turn into a black cat. She is the former captain of the 2nd Division and former Commander in Chief of the Secret Mobile Corps.
• Renji Abarai – Lt. of the 6th Division in the Gotei 13 under Captain Byakuya Kuchiki.  Known to be cocky about his skills,  Renji cares deeply for Rukia and thus the reason why he is seen with Ichigo and friends.
• Shusuke Amagai – The Captain of the 3rd Division, he has a secret plan that will be revealed in season nine of “Bleach”.
• Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck – A young girl Arrancar that accompanies Ichigo and is constantly protected by him.  But there is more to Nel than meets the eye.

VIDEO:

If there is one thing that I’ve always enjoyed about “Bleach” is that for a TV series that is cranked out in Japan, the TV series features a good amount of detail in the background art. The series tends to really showcase quite a bit of locations and thus, not always reusing scenes.

Also, the character designs, despite not always being detailed, is shown great care by character designer Masashi Kudo who definitely respects the original illustrations of Tite Kubo. Some closeups are really well done and there is a good amount of focus on the actual animation during the battle sequences.

For a TV series, especially knowing how in Japan, many of these studios tend to crank them out because they have other deadlines taking on other series, “Bleach” continues to look very good.

As for picture quality, of course on DVD, you are going to see some banding and edge enhancement but for the most part, picture quality is very good.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

“Bleach” is presented in stereo English and Japanese. Both dialogue tracks are clear and understandable. For those with a modern receiver may want to set their setting to stereo on all channels for a more immersive soundtrack.

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Bleach: DVD Set Twelve – Original and Uncut” comes with the following special features:

DISC 1

• Production Art – Using your remote, you can view “Bleach” production art.
• Clean Ending – The clean ending theme.
• Omake – The ending omake for episodes 180-183.
• Sneak Peek – Sneek peak of VIZ related anime series on DVD.
• Manga Preview – A short preview of “Bleach” on manga.

DISC 2

• Production Art – Using your remote, you can view “Bleach” production art.
• Clean Ending – The clean ending theme.
• Omake – The ending omake for episodes 184-187.
• Sneak Peek – Sneek peak of VIZ related anime series on DVD.
• Manga Preview – A short preview of “Bleach” on manga.

DISC 3

• Production Art – Using your remote, you can view “Bleach” production art.
• Clean Ending – The clean ending theme.
• Omake – The ending omake from episodes 188-193.
• Sneak Peek – Sneek peak of VIZ related anime series on DVD.
• Manga Preview – A short preview of “Bleach” on manga.

While “Bleach DVD Set Twelve – Original and Uncut” may be a filler volume, fortunately the filler episode is actually quite intriguing as we see Soul Reapers divided in terms of their order to capture Ichigo and Rukia.  Those who know Ichigo and Rukia, know the two are incapable of committing a crime and whatever they are wanted for, there must be a reason for it.  While others who are dedicated to their jobs, know they must capture them…friend or foe.

But while these are filler episodes, fortunately the storyline especially involving Third Division Captain Amagai is rather intriguing, fans of “Bleach” have been wanting the continuation of the Arrancar storyline from season 8 and this volume includes the first four volumes of season 10 and this involves the character of Nel and the big reveal including her true identity.

Without spoiling too much of the first four episodes of season 10, there is no denying the popularity of Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck in her true form and suffice to say the popularity of this character can be seen at various anime conventions as many have cosplayed her character.

Needless to say, it was very smart of Viz Media to include these four episodes with this volume, because for Nel fans, this DVD volume is the one to get as it introduces viewers to her true form.

So, there is a lot going on, in terms of actions and the number of characters featured in “Bleach DVD Set Twelve” and the writers knew that if they were going to take on filler episodes, they needed to make it as exciting as possible and what best than to bring out many of the Soul Reapers from the Soul Society and show deception (once again) in the ranks!  But also for fans to see more of soul reaper Izuru Kira and the head man himself, leader Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto of First Division.

I know when it comes to longer series, there a fans who just don’t like filler episodes.  “Bleach” and “Naruto” are two series that have quite a bit of them as the anime series tends to catch up with the manga series and while certain series go on hiatus or writers come up with a whole new storyline different from the manga, for “Bleach”, writers have focused on new stories but instead of a new individual storyline for each episode, the writers have come up with a season revolving around a new captain of Third Division who has his own secrets unbeknown to the Soul Society and also a wedding that involves a mystery clan that the Soul Society has no jurisdiction and must keep away from their grounds.  And last, you do get the first four episodes of season 10 and the important episode involving the character Nel.

Overall, “Bleach DVD Set Twelve – Original and Uncut” is another action-packed and enjoyable volume for “Bleach” fans.  While those who choose to follow the storylines that are featured only in the manga, may not be interested in the filler episodes, the good news is that the Arrancar storyline (first four of season 10) is included with this set.  So, for those who have been waiting for the continuation of the Arrancar storyline since season 8, will definitely be interested in this latest volume.

Check it out!

 

Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte – Season 2 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

Funny, perverse and just all out crazy!  “Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte – Season 2″ is an anime series for fans who love harem anime (and a lot of boobage and panty shots) with a sci-fi element and a high dose of raunchiness.  If you want to spice up your anime Blu-ray collection, this anime series is for you!

Image courtesy of © 2012 FUNimation Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte – Season 2

ANIME RELEASE: 2010

DURATION: 12 Episodes (300 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: English 5.1 Surround, Japanese Stereo 2.0, Subtitles: English

COMPANY: FUNimation Entertainment

RATED: TV MA

RELEASED: April 17, 2012

Originally created by Suu Minazuki

Directed by Hisashi Saito

Series Composition by Yuuko Kakihara

Character Design by Yoshihiro Watanabe

Art Setting: Hiromasa Ogura, Hiroshi Gouroku

Anime Production: AIC A.S.T.A.

Featuring the following voice talent:

Saori Hayami/Brittney Karbowski as Ikaros

Souichiro Hoshi/Greg Ayres as Tomoki Sakurai

Ayahi Takagaki/Jamie Marchi as Mikako Satsukitane

Iori Nomizu/Kara Edwards as Nymph

Mina/Trina Nishimura as Sohara Mitsuki

Tatsuhisa Suzuki/Eric Vale as Eishirō Sugata

Kaori Fukuhara/Carli Mosier as Astrea

Aki Toyosaki as Chaos

Asuka Ogame as Daidalos

Shinichiro Miki/Christopher R. Sabat  as Master of the Sky (Zero)

The hormonal, heavenly hijinks continue in Heaven’s Lost Property: Forte! Tomoki’s life was normal until a wish-granting angelic android named Ikaros fell from the sky and started calling him master. Things got even crazier when Ikaros’s fellow android, Nymph, came fluttering down to join the fun. With the winged vixens adjusting to life on Earth, you’d think Tomoki’s dream of a peaceful existence might finally be coming true – but you’d be wrong! With his teenage impulses and dirty mind, Tomoki’s wishes are causing more chaos than ever before. Plus, there’s a curvy new android on the scene – Astraea. She definitely looks as angelic as Ikaros and Nymph, but there’s a chance the beautiful blonde newcomer is up to no good!

In 2007, mangaka Suu Minazuki created teh manga series “Sora no Otoshimono” (Heaven’s Lost Property) which was published in the manga magazine “Shonen Ace” and is still ongoing in Japan.

With the popularity of the manga series, an anime adaptation by AIC was produced and aired on television on Oct. through Dec. 2009, with a second season that continued in Winter 2010 and a film that was released in June 2011.

With the US release of “Sora no Otoshimono” last year, the sequel “Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte – Season 2″ will now be released on DVD in April 2012 (Note: In order to have this anime series released early, FUNimation Entertainment has opted to release it only on DVD and not on Blu-ray).

Directing the anime series is Hisashi Saito (“Bamboo Blade”, “Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai”), screenplay by Yuuko Kakihara (“Fairy Musketeers”, “Kage Kara Mamoru!, “Persona 4: The Animation”), character design by Yoshiro Watanabe (“Bamboo Blade”, “Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai”, “Onegai Teacher!”) and art setting by Hiromasa Ogura (“Jin-Roh – The Wolf Brigade”, “Ashita no Joe 2″, “Spirited Away”) and Hiroshi Gouroku.

For those not familiar with “Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property”, the series is a perverted mature-themed anime series along the lines of “Sekirei: Pure Engagement”, “Rosario+Vampire”, “B Gata H Kei: Yamada’s First Time” featuring a lot of perverse humor, fan service and sexual themes.

What “Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property” is about

“Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property” focuses on a young high school teenager named Tomoki Sakurai, a perverted young man (who was influenced by his equally perverted grandfather) who has panties and sexual things that are constantly on his mind.  And if there is one girl he occasionally likes to check out, it’s his neighbor and childhood friend Sohara Mitsuki.  Who is aware of Tomoki’s perverseness and is unafraid to give him her special karate shop and knock some sense into him.

Despite how she tends to dislike his perverseness and constantly beats him up, she knows deep inside that she is in love with him. Sohara is also aware that for some reason, Tomoki has had some unusual dreams involving an angel which tends to awaken him like a nightmare since he was young.

Meanwhile, with the start of a new school year… Tomoki meets Eishiro Sugata, a scientist who is trying to discover a “New World” and his friend Mikako Satsukitane, a buxom sadist who has a mafia background and is also the Student Body President.

One day, while Tomoki was outside, he sees something in the sky, a UMA (Unidentified Mysterious Animal) and she happens to crash land on Earth.  The UMA reveals herself as Ikaros, a “Pet-Class Angeloid, Type Alpha” and together, the two are bonded by an invisible chain and Tomoki becomes her master.

In the beginning, Ikaros is an emotionless individual and because she is bonded to him and goes wherever he goes, it becomes somewhat of an annoyance for Tomoki, but at the same time, he realizes that with her abilities, it can help him make his perverted dreams come true.

Eventually, Sohara, Eishiro and Mikako learn about Ikaros and the two young women try to help Ikaros learn about how humans behave, while Eishiro tries to learn more about her programming and why she was sent to Earth, especially why she chose Tomoki.  And in order to keep the activities of Ikaros private, they join Eishiro’s “New World Discovery Club” to see if Ikaros may have some tie to this new world of Angeloids and Synapse that Eishiro is currently researching.

Meanwhile, another Angeloid has appeared on Earth, and her name is Nymph, an “Electronic Warfare Angeloid, Type Beta” who can’t stand humans and is sent to Earth to confront Ikaros. But similar to Ikaros, the more time she spends with Tomoki and friends, she gets to learn about human-kindness and what a nice master that Ikaros has.  Unlike Nymph, her master  (Master of Synapse) is abusive, maniacal and evil…but because she is tied to him, she will do as he wishes.

It is then revealed after a confrontation between Ikaros and Nymph that she was sent by the sadistic leader “Master of Synapse” to possibly destroy human-kind, something Ikaros does not want to do…especially now that she has started to discover newfound emotions…love for Tomoki.  But not just Ikaros, but also Nymph as she wishes more and more each day that she had someone like Tomoki as her master.

And now…”Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte”

With “Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte”, the sequel continues a few months later, but this time, a new Angeloid has been sent to Earth to kill Tomoki.  Her name is Astraea, blond, well-endowed and is a close-combat Angeloid, Type Delta sent by Synapse to kill Tomoki, but despite her awesome power, she is very dumb.  So, no matter what she does to try to kill Tomoki, due to her ability to keep falling all the time, Tomoki uses those moments to feel her up.  And at first she is clueless and doesn’t like it but she starts to realize that she may be falling for Tomoki.

Meanwhile, Nymph shows Sugata that they can enter their own dreamworld.  But when Sugata ventures into Tomoki’s dreamworld, for some reason certain things that can only exist in the dreamworld is also existing in the real world.

And while Tomoki and friends try to deal with Astraea, a new Angeloid named Chaos is sent to destroy Tomoki’s friendly Angeloids.

VIDEO & AUDIO

“Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte – Season 2″ is presented in 1:78:1 and one has to remember that this is a TV series not an OVA or film, so production is standard for what you would expected for a television anime series.  But I have to admit that this series does offer a bit more when it comes to detail and shading.  The fact that there are so many locations featured, the characters are featured in various outfits, hanging out all over town and the artistic backgrounds are well-painted.  For the most part, this anime series is well-animated.  It’s unfortunate that the second season did not receive a Blu-ray release, because there is much more action and mecha design featured in this second season.

For the most part, AIC A.S.T.A. did a pretty good job with this series!

AUDIO:

“Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte – Season 2″ is presented in English Dolby Digital 5.1 and Japanese stereo 2.0.  It’s important to note that despite me typically watching anime series in Japanese, I chose to watch this series with an English dub, primarily for the dynamic range of the lossless 5.1 soundtrack but mostly because FUNimation Entertainment really enhanced the perverseness of the series through its dialogue.

The biggest difference is the Japanese version, while perverted is appropriate for Japanese television while the English dub really runs wild with mature themes and sexual perversion.  The voice talent in the audio commentary talk about why they enjoyed doing this series and its partly because they could let loose and have fun.

But it all comes down to preference.  Both versions are well-acted and I did watch it both in Japanese and English and enjoyed both voice acting, it’s just that the English version was much more perverted and the dialogue changes made the series quite fascinating and hilarious.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte” includes the following special features:

• Episode 4 Commentary – Featuring ADR Director Christopher Bevins, Greg Ayres (voice of Tomoki Sakurai) and Trina Nishimura (voice of Sohara Mitsuki)
  
• Episode 9 Commentary – Featuring ADR Director Christopher Bevins, Jami Marchi (voice of Mikako Satsukitane) and Carli Mosier (voice of Astraea)
  
• Textless Opening Songs – Ring My Bell (Tomoki Version), Haato no Kakuritsu
• Textless Closing Songs – Kaeru Kara, COSMOS, Kakemeguryu Seishun, Miracle Guy, ff (Fortissimo), Soldier in the Space, Kaerazaru Hi no Tame ni, Odoriko, Natsu no Ojousan, Bokyou no Tabi, Jidai Okure no Koibitotachi
• Heaven’s Lost Property Trailer
• Heaven’s Lost Property Forte Trailer
• Trailers – FUNimation Entertainment Trailer

If you enjoyed the first season and you are an anime fan who loves perverted harem anime with scantily clad women, boobs and panty shots, suffice to say, “Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte – Season 2″ is for you!

There is no doubt that  “Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte” is one of the most perverted anime series ever created that’s not a porno.  Granted, the most perverted TV series still is the “Ping Pong Club” anime series but this one still ranks high up there as the character of Tomoki is a teenage boy that just loves boobs, panties and it’s in his mind continuously, so much this season that he is trying his best to calm his willy down and not have periodic hard-ons.

But it doesn’t help that a new angeloid with huge breasts, who often keeps tripping and falling down, thus showing her panties to Tomoki nor does it help that Ikaros is often not wearing much.  So, for Tomoki…having these beautiful Angeloids around is not helping much.

But it’s not just Tomoki, you have Mitsuki Sohara, Tomoki’s childhood friend who acts very strict towards Tomoki, but in her dreams she can’t help but think about Tomoki being a pervert and fondling her breasts, while the gun happy Mikako has a thing about wanting to be naked in the hot springs all the time and like Tomoki, she’s also willing to partake in booby grabbing as well.

So, you get the picture…this is indeed one of those anime that lonely otaku guys will love but yet enough craziness and humor that makes it accessible to anime fans who love perverted anime.

Outside of Tomoki’s sexual fantasies, while the first season focused on Ikaros trying to become more human, this time around we see more emotion coming from Nymph as she struggles as an angeloid without wings and without a master.  While Tomoki prefers her to be free with no master, Nymph still struggles of not having one, especially since she cares for Tomoki so much.

The second season also features quite a bit of action!  The first half of the season focuses on Astraea, while the second season focuses on the group taking on Chaos.

So, make no doubt about it, this sci-fi harem anime series is perverted and full of sexual themes but its important to note that there is no full frontal nudity or intercourse or anything like that.  Private parts are covered by hair (or some cloud) and if anything, the series is more comedy-driven through Tomoki’s behavior and of course, the harem element as we know that Nohara, Ikaros, Nymph, Aestraea (and possible more) are falling for Tomoki.

As mentioned, the series does have some of that “Urusei Yatsura” craziness but also the “Chobits” style of an angeloid who acts almost like an emotionless android but overtime, her emotions start to come into play through more exposure to Tomoki and friends.  So, while the majority of the series does feature more lighthearted to crazy, wacky plots…it does has its serious and emotional elements, although the latter doesn’t last that long.

As for the DVD release, I know many anime fans wanted the second season on DVD but part of me wishes that FUNimation Entertainment would have released the Blu-ray and DVD like the first season.  But hopefully, it’s something that FUNimation Entertainment considers a Blu-ray release in the near future.

Overall, “Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte – Season 2″ was a fun, perverse anime series.  There is no doubt that this will surely entertain anime fans who enjoy harem anime series especially with that sci-fi element with a bit of raunchiness as well.

If you are into that… then “Sora no Otoshimono: Heaven’s Lost Property Forte – Season 2″ is for you!

 

Tales of the Abyss Vol. 4 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

The conclusion of “Tales of the Abyss”.  Will Luke & comrades be able to stop Van and his generals in time to save the world?  Find out in the final six episodes of “Tales of the Abyss” vol. 4!

Image courtesy of © 2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc./Sunrise, Bandai Visual, MBS. All Rights Reserved.

TITLE: Tales of the Abyss Vol. 4

ANIME RELEASE: 2008

DURATION: (Episodes 21-26) 150 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0, 1:78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, Full English Subtitles/Songs & Signs

COMPANY: Sunrise/Bandai Entertainment

RATED: Suggested 13 and Up

RELEASED: February 7, 2012

Directed by Kenji Kodama

Series Composition by Akemi Omode

Music by Motoi Sakuraba

Original Character Design by Yoshihito Hishinuma

Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda

Mechanical and Monster Design by Junya Ishigaki

Sound Director: Eriko Kimura

Director of Photography: Shigemi Ogawa

Anime Production by Bandai Visual/Namco/Sunrise

Featuring the following voice talent:

Chihiro Suzuki as Luke Fone Fabre

Yukana as Tear Grants

Halko Momoi as Anise Tatlin

Jouji Nakata as Van Grants

Michiko Neya as Natalia L. K. Lanvaldear

Miki Maruyama as Mieu

Sho Hayami as Lorelei

Takehito Koyasu as Jade Curtis

Yasunori Matsumoto as Guy Cecil

Yukana as Yulia Jue

For now, Luke and his comrades have saved the world. However, Van Grants and his six God-Generals are far from being dead yet. Poisonous Miasma has started spreading all over the planet. Humanity is on the verge of being obliterated again. The only hope is Luke’s hyper-resonance, but it’s hardly powerful enough to save the world!

It’s the final battle between Van and his generals.  Can Luke along with his comrades save the world before Van destroys it?

In Japan, one of the longest franchises for fantasy RPG is the “Tales” series from Namco Bandai games

The series began back in 1994 with “Tales of Phantasia” and as of 2011, the series currently on its 13th series with “Tales of Xillia”. But in 2005, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the series, Namco Bandai celebrated with “Tales of the Abyss”, a video game that was created for the Sony PlayStation 2.

While there has been anime adaptations primarily in OVA format, in 2008, a full 26-episode TV series was created and aired in Japan from Oct. 2008 through March 2009.

And now the third volume of the anime series has been released in the United States courtesy of Bandai Entertainment in Feb. 2012 featuring episodes 15-20.

A SUMMARY OF WHAT “TALES OF THE ABYSS” IS ALL ABOUT:

“Tales of the Abyss” the anime series begins with a prophecy made by a religious figure named Yulia Jue, a Seventh Fonist who is able to read the future. Yulia has written the future in scores that are documented in Fonstones. But something happened and the Fonstones were shattered and scattered around the world.

And this has led to infighting and long standing war between the nations of Kimlasca-Landvaldear and Malkuth who have been collecting the Fonstones in order to know about their future and finding out before the other nation does. Fortunately, there has been peace declared in the planet of Auldrant and the nations have ceased any war or battling for quite some time.

The series then focuses around the character Luke fon Fabre, the youngest son of Duke Fabre of the Kimlasca Kingdom. His Uncle has the family has literally kept Luke captive within the grounds of their home and has not been able to leave. All he looks forward to is learning to fight by his Master Van. But because of the royal duty of his parents, Luke rarely sees his father. So, his closest relationships are with the servants, Master Van, his good friend and swordsman Guy Cecil (who happens to be afraid of physical contact with women for some reason) and he is engaged to Princess Natalia of Kimlasca-Landvaldear. A promise that was made between both Luke and Natalia when they were younger.

The problem is that Luke has no such memory of what took place when he was younger. He was kidnapped by the Malkuth Empire and was found but have lost any memories prior to when he was a teenager.

Another problem that Luke faces is a recurring “hyperresonance” within him that makes him loses control of some unknown power or to give him visions of something he is not sure of yet. In fact, sometimes he is able to hear voices but has no idea where it’s coming from. These situations began not long after the kidnapping.

One day, as his Master Van is given orders to look for Fon Master Ion, the leader of the Order of Lorelei who is missing, Master Van promises Luke a good day of training before he leaves.

As the two are sparring, a mysterious woman named Tear Grants comes towards the home of the fon Fabres and she renders everyone to sleep through the use of Fonic Hymns. Her goal is to kill Master Van and as she begins to fight him, Luke quickly comes between them and blocs her strike.

But somehow Luke’s mysterious power and Tear’s mysterious power somehow combines and both are transported a long way from home to some unknown destination.

Now both Luke and Tear Grants, who is revealed to be a Locrian Sergeant of the Order of Lorelei’s Intelligence Division are in the middle of nowhere and must find a way to get back home.

As the two try to get a ride to the Capital city, they find out that they are headed to the capital of the Malkuth Empire not the capital of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. And because Luke is a fon Fabre, his presence in Malkuth can be seen as hostile (and reignite the war). Fortunately, Tear is nearby to watch over him but she is surprised of how sheltered he had been because being out in the wide open, he has never seen animals, the ocean or villages ever in his life.

But through his adventures with Tear Grants, he begins to meet other people who end up joining him on his mission to return home but also to make sure there is peace in the world. Joining him are Jade Curtiss, a colonel of the Malkiuth Empire and is known as the feared “Jade the Necromancer”, Fon Master Ion who is trying to keep the piece between the nations, his bodyguard Anise Tatlin, a guardian of the Order of Lorelei (who is 13-years-old and has fallen for Luke), Luke’s good friend Guy Curtiss and a Cheagle named Mieu.

But there is a lot of deceit and corruption going on in the world, for some reason, the God Generals are trying to create trouble and kidnap Fon Master Ion.

Meanwhile, according to a score written by Yulia, a red-head child would be born to save the world. Because of his hyperresonance, a few who are familiar with Luke’s power feel that Luke may be the red-head child as prophesied to save the world. But one day, when the group are trying to rescue Fon Master Ion who was captured by the God Generals, Luke encounters Asch the Bloody. A man who has the same hair and same face as Luke?

WHAT HAPPENED IN “TALES OF THE ABYSS”:

The adventures continue with Luke and friends arriving to the land of Akzeriuth. Because Van has pretty much built Luke’s ego up to thinking that he will be the hero that will rescue everyone on Akzeriuth, while everyone is out helping the survivors who are suffering from the miasma (a poisonous pink cloud), Luke wanders away in a bit of anger that his friends are not listening to him and rather tend to the injured.

While roaming alone, Luke sees Van and Van lies to Luke that in order to protect Akzeriuth, he just needs to destroy the Sephiroth with his hyper-resonance.

Meanwhile, Asch arrives and tries to prevent Luke from destroying the Sephiroth but Luke doesn’t want to listen and thinks that what his Master Van is telling him is the truth and that he will save the land of Akzeriuth. But when Luke destroys the resonance, Van reveals that Luke is nothing but a replica and Luke and Ion both collapse.

Asch, Tear and friends manage to arrive just in time to protect Luke and Ion but unfortunately, Akzeriuth is destroyed in the process and thousands are killed.

When Luke awakens, he is not sure what happens but he can tell by everyone’s face that they are upset with him. Luke learns that because he destroyed the Sephiroth, he was the person responsible for destroying Akzeriuth.

Also revealed is that humans live in an area called the outlands and their lands are being held up in the air by Sephiroths because the original land was consumed by the poisonous Miasma. And that the intent by Van is to take revenge on the destruction of homeland by destroying humanity on the outlands by destroying each Sephiroth.

Also revealed is why Luke and Asch have this special connection and that Asch is the original Luke Fon Fabre and Luke is nothing but a replica.

And now with his friends upset, a distraught Luke realizes that he has been a person who never lived his own life but was constantly listening to others of how he should live his life. And now, knowing the truth that he is only a replica, he wants to make things right once again and create his own destiny by starting anew.

And nowit is a race against time as Van is trying to destroy  the world. Obsessed of his homeland being destroyed and that everyone is trying to follow the words of the Fonstones, Van wants to to create a new world where Fonstones do not exist but also for all humanity to die and start over.

Luke and friends must stop Van, but Van sends out his six generals to confront the team.   So, far Luke and comrades have defeated two.

With four more generals trying to stop them, will Luke and team get to Van before the world is destroyed?

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Tales of the Abyss” is presented in 1:78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 with English subtitles. For those who are familiar with the video game, the character designs are pretty much spot-on and the mechanical and monster designs are as well. A good balance of animation and CG, “Tales of the Abyss” is an adventure-based series which brings the characters to various locations and featuring a variety of characters. So, one of the major plus about the series is the constant moving around and scenery is not re-used over and over again.

Colors are vibrant, art backgrounds are well-painted and rendered. Character designs are very complimentary to the video game and for the most part, fans of “Tales of the Abyss” will find the overall animation to be quite solid for a TV series.

As for audio, “Tales of Abyss” is only in Japanese, no English dub and comes with English subtitles.

For the most part, I did enjoy the voice acting for the series but when it came to translations, I noticed a few changes to appeal to a Western audience, for example, when Luke tells Guy “Urusai!” (which means “shut-up!”), the English translation given was “Kiss my butt!”. Also, there were some English subtitles that I wondered if it was translated to sound a bit old English (with Master Van’s character), but I noticed it only happening in episode 1 but not on any other episode after.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Tales of the Abyss Vol. 4″ includes the following special features:

• Textless Ending “Bouken Suisei” Version 2 & 3
  
• Trailers – Bandai Entertainment Trailers

The end of “Tales of the Abyss” is here as it is the final battle between Luke and his comrades vs. Van and his generals.  Who will live and who will die?  And will the world be saved or will it be destroyed?

As one would expect from an anime series such as “Tales of the Abyss”, most battles will end with the heroes saving the world.  But the question is how they are able to attain that and was it worthwhile?  So far, the good news is that “Tales of the Abyss” has managed to be a very entertaining series that make you care for the characters and for some, may even lead them to purchasing the various video games based on these characters.  But as for the final stretch of episodes, unfortunately “Tales of the Abyss” has run out of steam, or possibly time.

One of the most entertaining aspects of the series was the battles.  They were not too long, nor were they too short, this time around, they are too short.  The battle between Luke and his comrades vs. the generals hardly takes longer than a minute or two.  And this is shocking considering in past episodes, they have went longer.

With only 26 episodes, you can tell the writers needed to focus on resolving the Luke/Asch arc and the group saving the world, and these last six episodes do that well, the problem was incorporating the final battles between the team vs. the generals and there was no doubt that the writer had to choose….important story or battle and he went with the former.  While the shortened, quick battle does work, nevertheless you do feel that they were too short.

But the payoff of this series was seeing how things conclude and realizing Tear’s true feelings that she has been harboring inside.  That was rather touching, especially to see how the Luke/Asch storyline concluded.

As for the DVD, there are six episodes and they are all presented in Japanese only with English subtitles. There is only one special feature and while I wish there were more, but it all comes down to the anime series and its storyline. And as a big fan of the “Tales” video games, “Tales of the Abyss”, the anime series has been entertaining since the first episode and I can’t wait to see how this series ends.

Overall, “Tales of the Abyss” was an exciting and enjoyable series! I wish it could have ran a little longer, so the Akemi Omode could have tied things over a bit better for the conclusion but I suppose if you want immersion, that is where the video game comes in and those who love the characters can play the Nintendo 3DS game.

Still, the series was entertaining from beginning to end and if you are a “Tales of” fan, “Tales of the Abyss”, the anime series is worth watching.

 

Blue Exorcist Vol. 3 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

All-out action, humor and my favorite episodes in the series thus far!  The third volume of “Blue Exorcist” reveals Rin’s true identity to the True Cross Order and most of all, to his friends/classmates.  Will Rin be used as a weapon to fight Satan or will he be executed because he is the son of Satan?    “Blue Exorcist” Vol. 3 is highly recommended!

PLEASE PURCHASE THIS ANIME SERIES FROM RIGHTSTUF

Image courtesy of © 2009 by Kazue Kato/SHUEISHA, Blue Exorcist Committee, MBS. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Blue Exorcist Vol. 3

DURATION: Episodes 14-19 (150 minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0, 16:9 LB, Dolby Digital

COMPANY: Aniplex Inc.

RATED: Suggested 13 and Up

RELEASE DATE: April 17, 2011

Based on the manga by Kazue Kato

Directed by Tensai Okamura

Series Composition by Ryota Yamaguchi

Music by Hiroyuki Sawano

Character Design by Keigo Sasaki

Art Director: Masatoshi Kai

Chief Animation Director: Keigo Sasaki

Anime Production: A-1 Pictures

Featuring the following voice talent:

Jun Fukuyama as Yukio Okumura

Kana Hanazawa as Shiemi Moriyama

Kazuya Nakai as Ryūji Suguro

Nobuhiko Okamoto as Rin Okumura

Ayahi Takagaki as Kuro

Eri Kitamura as Izumo Kamiki

Hiroshi Kamiya as Mephisto Pheles

Keiji Fujiwara as Shirō Fujimoto

Koji Yusa as Renzō Shima

Rina Satou as Shura Kirigakure

Tetsuya Kakihara as Amaimon

Yuuki Kaji as Konekomaru Miw

“Assiah, the realm of humans, and Gehenna, the realm of demons. Normally, these two dimensions would never intersect, but having possessed all material substances, the demons are now intruding on the material world. But among the human race, there are those who can exorcise such demons.”
- the Exorcists.

During a 3-day drill to prepare Rin and fellow Ex-Wires for actual combat, Amaimon suddenly appears and takes Shiemi as a hostage to lure Rin. Angry, Rin fights Amaimon and he ends up going berserk! He regains control of himself only to be captured by the current Paladin, Angel, and sent to the Vatican for trial. As the hearing drags on, the Order finds itself unable to decide on Rin’s fate, as Mephisto has proclaimed him to be “a weapon for counter-attacking Satan.” Rin is now forced to obey the Vatican’s order or face execution!

It has been kept a secret to the True Cross Academy that Rin Okamura is the son of Satan.  But what happens when Rin’s friends and the Academy find out Rin’s true identity.  Will the Academy have him killed or will they believe Mephisto in hopes that Rin can be used as a weapon to defeat his evil father?

Find out in volume three of “Blue Exorcist”.

So, What is “Blue Exorcist”?

“Ao no Exorcist” (Blue Exorcist) is an anime adaptation of a manga series written and illustrated by Kazue Kato, a mangaka who won a Tenkaichi Manga Award back in 1999 at the age of 19 and won a Tezuka Award in 2000 for his manga “The Witch and the Rabbit”. Kato is also known for his 2006 manga series “Robot Usakichi” (Space Traveler Robo & Usakichi).

“Blue Exorcist” was serialized on Jump Square Magazine by Shueisha since April 2009 and is still an ongoing manga series (as of January 2012, there have been a total of 30 chapters released).

With the popularity of the manga series, an anime adaptation was produced by A-1 Pictures with Hitoshi Okamura as the producer. The series began back in April 2011 and 25-episodes have aired in Japan. And now the second volume of “Blue Exorcist” will be released on DVD courtesy of Aniplex.

The anime series revolves around a hotheaded teenager named Rin Okumura. Both he and his brother Yukio have been raised by Father Fujimoto at the Cross Academy Town – Southern Cross Boys Monastery. While Yuki shows great intelligence and is attending school at True Cross Academy to become a doctor, Rin is quite the opposite. He tends to get himself in trouble, fights a lot and is continually told by Father Fujimoto to find a job.

Unfortunately for Rin, finding and holding onto a job is difficult. But one day, while working at a supermarket, he sees a monster in a girl’s scarf. He tells Father Fujimoto of what he has seen and Father Fujimoto starts to fear that something is happening. One day, Rin encounters a group of thugs and its leader that he had beaten up earlier and suddenly sees him turn into a demon. The demon tells Rin that satan is waiting for him and immediately, Father Fujimoto is there to save him and exorcise the demon. Fortunately, Father Fujimoto is there to help but it is all revealed to Rin about why he can see monsters.

It’s the fact that he is not truly human. He is the son of a human woman and satan. And the monsters he have seen, it is explained to Rin that in the world, there is Assiah, the realm of humans, and Gehenna, the realm of demons. Both are not supposed to come in contact with each other but they have and as an exorcist, it is his duty to send the demons back to where they belong. And satan wants to reunite with his son.

To protect Rin, Father Fujimoto gives him the Kamkakushi key, so he can hide anything. And he is also given the Koma Sword, a magic sword passed down from generation to generation and a sword where Rin’s powers have been sealed since birth. Rin’s flame resides inside the sword and is sealed by the scabbard. If he draws it, he will assume his demonic nature and will never be able to live as a human again.

One day, he and Father Fujimoto try to prepare for an imminent attack and tells Rin that he must seek shelter where satan can’t get to him but Rin takes it as his father trying to get rid of him forever. In return, Rin said some hurtful things to Father Fujimoto and the pain that Father Fujimoto felt was enough for satan, the demon to possess him.

Satan shows up to claim his son and attacks Father Fujimoto. Satan reveals that he created Rin from a human woman in order to create a container that would be powerful enough to hold him.

But it’s something that Father Fujimoto will not let happen to the boy, he looked at as a son. In order to save Rin, Father Fujimoto risks his own life to keep satan away and is killed in the process.

Now Rin mourns for the one person he knew as his father and when Mephisto Pheles, a friend of Father Fujimoto comes to visit, he tells him that they represent the Knights of the True Cross and they exorcise demons. And Rin has two choices, they will kill him, or he kills the demons. Instead, Rin tells him that he could care less about being human or a demon, he wants to become an exorcist like Father Fujimoto and avenge him and that means defeating his own father.

So, from that point on, Rin must be trained to become an exorcist and will have to follow special rules (which includes not revealing his true nature). But the first thing that he will need to do is enroll at the same school that his brother Yukio attends. When Rin sees his brother, Yukio is in the top of the class and that he is a special leader that people follow at the school and he is no longer the scrawny younger brother he once knew.

As Rin is now a student at the Knights of the True Cross, many of the elders are not too thrilled because Rin is the son of Satan and because Rin tends to be more of a hothead, they are not too sure if he can fit into the Academy. But Rin is determined to make good on his promise to his deceased father and to protect people, but most of all, to kill satan.

With volume 2 of “Blue Exorcist”, the story continues as Rin continues to study along with his classmates and each are trying to be Esquires, in order to take on various missions. But others at the Academy and the higher ups want to test Rin and find out if he is a person that can be taught and eventually fight with the other exorcists in defeating demons and satan himself.

While people question a demon being an exorcist, for Rin, he makes a goal that one day, he will become a Paladin (highest level of exorcism) like his adoptive father, Father Shiro and prove that because he is satan’s son, that having a caring father like Shiro can make a big change in the life of a person, even if they are a demon.

And now in volume 3 of “Blue Exorcist”, with the Demon King of Earth, Amaimon making his attack against Rin and friends during training, there is no way Rin can hide his secret.  He will need to draw the Kurikara sword and turn into demon form in order to fight and defend his friends.  But by using this sword, Rin can lose control in a very bad way!

“Blue Exorcist” features the following characters:

• Rin Okamura – The main protagonist.  The son of Satan but born from a human mother.  He and his brother Yukio are twins but he inherited his father’s powers.  Rin’s power was sealed inside a sword by Mephisto Pheles, so he can live a human life.  Rin was raised by the priest Shiro Fujimoto as normal humans with compassion and love.  Despite getting into a lot of trouble and his abilities tend to be more of fighting or cooking, since discovering his power and identity, he vows to use his power to avenge his adoptive father Shiro Fujimoto’s death and defeat Satan.  He vows to attend True Cross Academy and do all it takes to become a Paladin and a “Meister” (Knight).  Rin also has taken in a dog demon (Cat Sith) which he names Kuro.
• Yukio Okamura – The son of Satan but born from a human mother.  Unlike Rin he did not inherit Satan’s powers.  Known as the intellectual person of the family, unbeknown to Rin was that he has been secretly trained to become an exorcist since the age of seven in order to protect his brother.  So, now he is an instructor at True Cross Academy and responsible for looking after his brother.  But he harbors a secret…dark spots are starting to appear on his body which Yukio has told no one about, despite being tested daily if Satan’s power is in him.
• Mephisto Pheles – The Chairman of True Cross Academy.  He and Shiro Fujimoto worked together in order to seal Rin’s power and make him human.  Mephisto is a powerful exorcist but because he is a demon, many do not believe him while others believe he has proven he is on the side to fight against Satan.
• Ryuji Suguro – Also known as “Bon” to his classmates.  He has a high temper and is often fighting and arguing with Rin.  But despite his attitude, he is the best student in the class and dedicated to his studies.  Part of his drive is because Satan destroyed his family temple.
• Shiemi Moriyama – The daughter of a woman who runs an exorcist-only shop.  She lacks confidence and she is quite sheltered (having lived with her grandmother and her only friends were plants) but when given the chance to meet and make friends at True Cross Academy, being in school gives her a new lease on life.   It appears that both Rin and Yukio may have feelings towards her.  Shiemi is a tamer and can summon a greenman spirit to produce herbs and barriers.
• Izumo Kamiki – She always has a cold attitude and known for her eyebrows.  The only friend she is close to is her best friend Paku but slowly (very slowly), she is starting to befriend her classmates.  She can summon two Baykko (foxes) to fight.
• Konkomaru Miwa – Very smart but very shy.  He is the strategist and is loyal to his best friend Ryuji and Renzo, since they grew up at the same temple that was destroyed.  His parents were killed by Satan.
• Renzo Shima – Carefee, loves to flirt with girls (especially Paku and Izumi) but has a major phobia of insects.  He also grew up with Ryuji and Konekomaru.  Renzo carries a K’rik staff to fight.
• Shura Kirigakure – The carefree, hardly wears anything, loves alcohol, upper first class exorcist who was asked by priest Shiro Fujimoto to train Rin and help him become a “Meister”.  She can draw a demon sword from her chest and  stomach and is an excellent fighter.
• Shiro Fujimoto – The priest of Southern Cross Monastery who raised both Yukio and Rin as a loving father.  He is a Paladin in the True Cross Order and was the strongest exorcist.  Was thought to be the only man who could not be possessed by Satan but after an argument with Rin (and Rin saying some hurtful things) which shocked Shiro, it was enough time for Satan to possess Shiro.  In order to protect himself from hurting Rin and Yukio, Shiro sacrificed himself.

“Blue Exorcist Vol. 3″ features episodes 14-19 on one DVD. Here is a spoiler-less summary of each episode:

• EPISODE 14 – A Fun Camping Trip - The Esquires are taken to the forest where they are to undergo through training by Yukio and Shura.
• EPISODE 15 – Act of Kindness – The students are attacked by Amaimon.  In order to protect the other students, Shura gives Rin the sword which transforms him into a demon to fight Amaimon.
• EPISODE 16 – The Wager – Rin is captured by Arthur Auguste Angel, a Paladin who wants Rin dead and Mephisto to be charged for keeping this secret from the Academy of Rin and Yukio’s true identity.  The Academy must decide whether to have Rin executed or to be used as a weapon to fight Satan.
• EPISODE 17 – Temptation – While the True Cross Academy is making their decision, Amaimon enters the True Cross Order HQ to continue his fight.  Meanwhile, Mephisto wants to show that Rin will fight for the True Cross.
• EPISODE 18 – Gufu – With Konekomaru shocked about Rin’s identity and that Rin’s father Satan was responsible for his parent’s death, he doesn’t know if he could be friends with him.  Meanwhile, a bird demon is trying to enter the school.  Meanwhile, Rin must go through special training to become an exorcist immediately.
• EPISODE 19 – An Ordinary Day – Shiemi and friends decide to have a surprise birthday party for Izumo.  Meanwhile, Izumo becomes suspicious of her classmates.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Blue Exorcist” is presented in 16:9 lb and Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 with English subtitles. The anime production is well-done. The surrounding environments are well-detailed, painted nicely, while the character designs are vibrant, clear and I wouldn’t be surprised if this series is given the Blu-ray treatment in the near future because it looks very good on DVD.

If anything, character designer Keigo Sasaki (“Night Raid 1931″, “Sengoku Basara”) does a great job of bringing the characters from Kazue Kato’s manga series to life, while art director Masatoshi Kai (“Akira”, “Dead Girls”, “Earthian”, “Red Garden”) did a wonderful job in bringing the series to life with the scenery and painted backgrounds.

I’m pretty impressed of how this anime looks visually.

As for audio, audio is clear coming from the front channels. I personally had my receiver set to stereo on all channels for a more immersive soundtrack. But dialogue is understandable and English subtitles are easy to read.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Blue Exorcist, Vol. 3″ features the following special features:

• URA-EX (Bonus Short Movies) – Featuring three short omake anime stories (about 1:20 per omake) that are shown after an episode is completed.
• Preview Web Version – Featuring the “next episode” previews voiced by various demon characters (about 17 seconds each).
• Textless OP#2 – Blue Exorcist opening theme without text.
• Textless ED#2 - Blue Exorcist ending theme without text.
  

EXTRAS:

“Blue Exorcist” Vol. 3 comes with a slipcover case, 2-sided reversible cover, exclusive 2-sided poster and an O-sleeve with key visual art.

Action-packed but also what you want to see from this second half of “Blue Exorcist”, all characters working as a team.

Now things become much more intriguing in “Blue Exorcist” as everyone now knows Rin’s true identity, meanwhile his brother Yukio is hiding the fact that the demon blood within him may be turning him into a demon.

Similar to the popularity of shows such as “Naruto” and “Bleach”, teamwork and the integration of other characters are part of the success of those series and in “Blue Exorcist” vol. 3, these episodes emphasize how Rin can not do it alone.  He will need to trust his friends.

And while these episodes are focused on Rin and his identity being revealed, the episodes also focus a lot on his friends trying to do what they can to help Rin, despite not trusting him (since he is the son of Satan).  But through Rin’s actions, he’ll need to prove that he is the same person, the same caring, goof-off that they knew before but his intention has not changed, he will defeat Satan.

There are plenty of action featured in these episodes as Amaimon is on the aggressive and is constantly attacking. But then you have your fun, lighthearted episode as the group tries to hae a surprise birthday party for Kamiki.  So, you get a good dose of action and humor like in previous episodes, but this time, the stakes are higher as Rin must go through aggressive training to become an exorcist in a short amount of time.

As for the overall series, the character designs are actually pretty cool, especially the costume designs for the characters. Also, the art backgrounds for this series is nicely detailed and range from pastels to really vibrant colors. Something you typically don’t see in a TV Series.

“Blue Exorcist” has a good balance of humor, action and an interesting concept in balance with awesome animation and beautiful art backgrounds. While the action may be it a bit too visual for younger anime viewers (as this is suggested for 13 and up), for fans of action-based series such as “Naruto” and “Bleach” will find “Blue Exorcist” to their liking.

As there is one more volume left of “Blue Exorcist”, I am looking forward to seeing how this season is concluded.  Kazue Kato really did a fantastic job in building the characters up slowly to this point and now, Rin must be trained to become the weapon the True Cross Order needs to defeat Satan but most importantly, for Rin to avenge his adoptive father, Shiro Fujimoto’s death.

Overall, an excellent volume 3 of “Blue Exorcist” and can’t wait for volume 4!

Definitely recommended!

PLEASE PURCHASE THIS ANIME SERIES FROM RIGHTSTUF or BANDAI ENT. ONLINE STORE

 

Someday’s Dreamers: Complete Collection (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

“Someday’s Dreamers” is an enjoyable, heartwarming anime series.  There is no storyline about magical battles or magical girls fighting magical villains, it’s a straightforward coming-of-age story of a 15-year-old learning more about her powers and her limits, but also how magic can help and also hurt people.   Recommended!

Image courtesy of © 2002 Norie YAMADA/KADOKAWA SHOTEN/Geneon Universal Entertainment/TV Asahi. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Someday’s Dreamers: Complete Collection

DURATION: Episode 1-12  (300 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: 4:3, English and Japanese 2.0, English subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: TV PG

Release Date: April 17, 2012

Originally created by Kumixhi Yoahiuki/Norie Yamada

Director: Masami Shimoda

Screenplay by Norie Yamada

Music by Takefumi Haketa

Character Design by Michinori Chiba

Art Director: Junichiro Nishikawa

Chief Animation Director: Keiko Kawashima

Animation Production by J.C. Staff/Viewworks

Featuring the following voice talent:

Aoi Miyazaki/Kaye Jensen as Yume Kikuchi

Junichi Suwabe/Otto Towne as Masami Oyamada

Akeno Watanabe/Shereen Hickman as Angela Charon Brooks

Akiko Hiramatsu/Stevie Bloch as Milinda

Sanae Kobayashi as Haru Kikuchi

Yuko Sasaki as Etsuko Kikuchi

When can flunking a spelling test cause major problems? When you’re learning how to use magic, of course! And that’s exactly the situation fifteen-year-old Yume Kikuchi finds herself in when she travels to Tokyo to begin her apprenticeship as a licensed magic user. Unfortunately, Yume’s a country girl in the big city for the first time and there are a lot of new-fangled ideas to get used to – like her new mentor, Oyamada, turning out to be a man instead of the expected woman! Add to that the fact that Yume’s not really very confident about her abilities to achieve her goal of a magic license and she might just jinx herself into failing!

It will take a lot of helping hands from her equally challenged fellow students and even more aid from her teachers if she’s going to succeed, but in the end, the most important lesson she’ll learn may not even be about spellcasting. The process of growing up and discovering what lies inside your own heart is the most wonderful magic of all.

In 2002, mangaka Norie Yamada and illustrator Kumichi Yoshizuki created their magical girl manga series “Someday’s Dreamers” (Mahotsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto), which was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten’s “Comic Dragon Magazine”. A year later, a 12-episode anime series was produced by J.C. Staff.

And now the anime series will have its US release in April 2012 courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

“Someday’s Dreamers” is a series set in present day Tokyo, during an age where humans and people who have powers known as mages co-exist. Mages are monitored by a government agency known as the Bureau of Magic and for each beginning mage, in order to use their power, they must train and become a certified mage.  And they can only use their magic with special permission, if they use it without permission, they can be penalized.

Yumi Kikuchi is from the country side and is temporarily moving to Tokyo in order to train and get her certification.  Because she lived in a small town in the countryside, she is not sure how things work in the city.  On her first day in Tokyo, a young man helps her walk across the street in the busy Tokyo streets and in return, Yumi uses her power to give him a huge amount of money.

Yumi then meets her teacher, Masami Oyamada.  Masami is not sure why a daughter of a well-known mage is training under him but he is willing to train Yumi and do all he can in order for her to pass her certification.  Masami is a kind-hearted teacher who also runs a salsa club/bar at night, but he also has a mysterious past that other higher mages are aware of.  And the reason why Yumi is paired with Masami was done for an important reason.

While training to become a certified mage, Yumi starts to learn quickly that having powers doesn’t mean everyone is going to be satisfied.  For example, the boy she gave the money to was quite upset that Yumi went overboard in giving money to him for helping her walk across the street.

Yumi is naive, but she has a pure heart and she wants to help everybody.  But her teacher Masami Oyamada reminds her that a mages job is to use their power once for that job and move on to the next job. A mage should not have any emotional connection to their client.  But can someone like Yumi do that?

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Someday’s Dreamers” is presented in 4:3 and in English and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles.  The anime series ranges from having one of the most beautifully detailed painted backgrounds of the city of Shimokitazawa and then at times having the most basic looking backgrounds in a series.  If anything, J.C. Staff and Viewworks made sure that whenever Yumi and friends venture out to the city, this is where we see the most detail.  While indoors, you may have just a wall with a simple gradient.   As for animation, the character designs are good, as we get a lot of closeups throughout the series.  If anything, the series is about capturing emotions and showcasing the emotions of the characters during their emotional time.  And this series has plenty of emotional moments.

As for audio, first I’ll discuss the music.  Composer Takefumi Haketa brought a English and Irish style of music for the soundtrack.  You also get a bit of salsa in the music soundtrack as well.  So, the musical soundtrack was quite intriguing to hear.  As for the voice acting, the Japanese voice acting was spectacular.  The emotional scenes by Aoi Miyazaki and Jun’ichi Suwabe and many others were done incredibly well.  As for the English dub, it was good but there are things that may be OK for some and not for others.  For example, because Yumi is from the countryside, whenever she is shown talking with her family members, she talks with an American southern drawl.   In Japan, dialects are mostly found in the words being used but not necessarily by accent.   In fact, there is another character who talks like she is from Boston or the Bronx. Personally, I didn’t think the accents were necessary but for others who are not familiar with Japanese culture, it may work for them.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Someday’s Dreamers” comes with the following special features:

DISC 2:

• Under the Blue Sky Music Video – (4:39) Featuring the music video of “Under the Blue Sky” by The Indigo.
• Interview with Aoi Miyazaki – (4:30) Voice actress Aoi Miyazaki is interviewed about playing Yumi and working on “Someday’s Dreamers”.
• Japanese TV Spots – (:50) The Japanese commercials for “Someday’s Dreamers”.
• Masataka Nakano Photo Session – (2:51) Research photos taken for location scenes for “Someday’s Dreamers”.
• Clean Opening Animation
• Clean Closing Animation

Many fans have waited a long time for “Someday’s Dreamers” to be released in the U.S.

After the manga series was released in 2006 in the U.S., the 2003 series was actually licensed by Geneon USA until the company closed down and Sentai Filmworks relicensed the title nearly ten years later after the anime series was shown in Japan.

“Someday’s Dreamers” is a series that distinguishes itself from other magical girl (mahou shojou) titles as the focus is not about sugary sweet characters in magical girl outfits.  In fact, the whole setting tries to capture realism but with the fantasy element of mages co-existing with humans in society.

Instead of a series about magical girls taking on magical villains, this is a straightforward story of a teenage girl training to become a certified mage but learning that special powers are not going to save or help everyone.  Also, that those who have been born with that power must adhere to the rules that no one can use these powers without permission.

For Yumi, a 15-year-old girl with a pure heart, she is always wanting to help everyone.  And it’s a big test for her to not use her powers and must abide by the rules.  For example, she discovers a kitten that is sick, she can try to use her magical power but she knows she can’t.   There are so many instances that she wants to use her power but that is part of her mage training, knowing that you can’t use it whenever you want.  And this becomes a big test for Yumi.

Also, learning that when she can use it by permission (ie. being hired by a client), that the result may work wonders one day, but it may not last the next.  One scene features Yumi helping a group of merchants who have had issues with scratches on their windows and using her magical power, she is able to clean it.  And for Yumi, she loves seeing the happiness in her clients.  But when she goes back to visit them and find out that vandals messed up their windows and once again, these shopkeepers are unhappy, she becomes depressed.

And it becomes a battle within Yumi as she is always wanting to please everyone with magic, but magic is not going to keep one happy all the time and her teacher tries to teach her that you can’t be emotionally connected with the clients after the job is done.  Yumi thinks her teacher is cold by thinking that way but she is put walls into depression when she starts to think what if her magic is not going to make people happy and instead make them hurt?  Maybe she is not cut out to be a mage afterall?

This is pretty much the premise of “Someday’s Dreamers”.  It’s a simple yet effective, coming-of-age storyline as a naive Yumi from the countryside learns about society, about people and the limits of her power.  Rarely do you see magical girl series go towards this direction of storytelling but in a way, it’s rather refreshing to have something different and not entirely banal.

As for the DVD, for a 2003 anime series, the animation holds up well, especially with the scenes of the beautifully painted surroundings around the city.  As mentioned with the audio, I was not too excited about the use of an American southern drawl to show that Yumi is from the countryside or another character talking like she is from the Bronx.  Unless an anime series is showcasing people from different countries, I don’t mind accents being used but in this case, I felt it was unnecessary.  But that’s just me being picky, it more than likely will be a non-issue for those who watch anime via English dub.  As for the Japanese voice acting, the performances were wonderful!  As there are many emotional moments, the voice talents did a magnificent job.   And you also get a good amount of special features included with “Someday’s Dreamers: Complete Collection” as well!

With the release of “Someday’s Dreamers” on DVD, having enjoyed this series…I can only hope that Sentai Filmworks considers licensing the 2008 anime series “Someday’s Dreamers: Summer Skies” on Blu-ray/DVD in the near future.

Overall, “Someday’s Dreamers” is an enjoyable, heartwarming anime series.  There is no storyline about magical battles or magical girls fighting magical villains, it’s a straightforward coming-of-age story of a 15-year-old learning more about her powers and her limits, but also how magic can help people.

“Someday’s Dreamers” is recommended!

 

Infinite Stratos: Complete Collection (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

Fantastic!  “Infinite Stratos: Complete Collection” is an anime series that combines sci-fi, mecha action with harem comedy, cool characters and a beautiful visual presentation plus a DVD release with plenty of special features plus a musical soundtrack.  A wonderful release from Sentai Filmworks and is highly recommended!

Image courtesy of © Yoshitaka/Houbunsha/”Dream Eater Merry” Production Committee. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Infinite Stratos: Complete Collection

DURATION: Episode 1-12 + OVA (325 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen, English and Japanese 2.0, English subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: TV 14 V

Release Date: March 27, 2012

Originally created by Izuru Yumizuru

Directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi

Series Composition by Fumihiko Shimo

Music by Hikaru Nanase

Original Character Design by okiura

Character Design by Tomoyasu Kurashima

Art Director: Shunichiro Yoshihara

Chief Animation Director: Tomoyasu Kurashima

Mechanical Design by Takeshi Takakura

Animation Production by 8-Bit

Featuring the following voice talent:

Kouki Uchiyama/Josh Grelle as Ichika Orimura

Yōko Hikasa/Monica Rial as Houki Shinonono

Asami Shimoda/Hilary Haag as Lin Yin Fang

Kana Hanazawa/Shannon Emerick as Charles Dunois

Makoto Yasumura/Chris Ayres as Dan Gotanda

Marina Inoue/Tiffany Grant as Laura Bodewig

Megumi Toyoguchi/Luci Christian as Chifuyu Orimura

Noriko Obata/Luci Christian as Ran Gotanda

Noriko Shitaya/Cynthia Martinez as Maya Yamada

Yukana/Brittney Karbowski as Cecila Alcott

Yukari Tamura/Allison Keith as Tabane Shinonono

Ten years ago, the development of the revolutionary Infinite Stratos powered exoskeleton changed the world’s balance of power overnight. Unfortunately, while the distribution of IS systems to every nation on Earth has ushered in a new era of peace, the fact that only women have thus far been able to pilot the Stratos systems has sent the relationship between the XX and XY-chromosomed halves of the human race into a spiraling tailspin!

When fifteen-year-old Ichika Orimura is suddenly discovered to be the first male with the ability to control an IS, whatever plans he might have had for his own future are tossed out the window even as he’s thrown to the wolves and enrolled at the otherwise entirely female Infinite Stratos Academy by order of the Japanese government!

In 2009, Izuru Yumizuru created the Japanese light novel series “IS <Infinite Stratos>” with illustrator Okiura.

The popularity of the light novel series would lead to a manga adaptation by Kenji Akahoshi and was serialized in the seinen magazine “Monthly Comic Alive” in May 2010.  An anime adaptation would air in January through March 2011 and an OVA which was released in December 2011.

The anime series is directed by Yasuhito Kikuchi (“Macross Frontier”, “Shadow”, “Noein”, “Aquarion”), series composition by Fumihiko Shimo (“Air, “Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Movie”, “Full Metal Panic!” series, “Clannad”), music by Hikaru Nanase (“Ichigo 100%”, “Gravion”, “Canaan”), character designs by Tomoyasu Kurashima (“Kakyusei 2″, “Magical Kanan”) and art direction by Shunichiro Yoshihara (“Ah! My Goddess: The Movie”, “Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas”, “Slayers Gorgeous”, “Star Ocean EX”).

And now the 12-episode anime series + the OVA and soundtrack will be released by the Criterion Collection in the United States on April 2012.

“Infinite Stratos” is set in the future during a time where Japanese engineers have created a powered exoskeleton known as “Infinite Stratos” or “IS”.  This technology is the most advanced combat weapon system in the planet and can easily destabilize the world.

The nations of the world have enacted the “Alaska Treaty” which states that IS can never be used for military combat and that IS technology must be equally distributed to all nations to prevent one nation from domination.

But the creation of IS has changed society, mainly because only women can operate IS and thus, women now dominate society over men.

But things have changed ten years since the creation of IS as one male, a 15-year-old from Japan named Ichika Orimura has the capability to operate an IS.  How is this possible?  No one knows but seeing the potential of this new development, the Japanese government has Ichika attending the prestigious Infinite Stratos Academy, where IS pilots from all over the world train.

And because he is the only male IS pilot, how will the female students treat him when he enters Infinite Stratos Academy?  And because he is considered a male and thus seen as weak, what will happen when he proves that he can be just as good as the female pilots and perhaps even better?

The “Infinite Stratos: Complete Collection” also includes an OVA which revolves around Charles coming to visit Ichika Orimura at his home (after he didn’t come back to their room).  Will Charle getting the opportunity to spend some alone time with Ichika?  Of course, in Ichika’s life…the other ladies also decide to stop by and check on Ichika.

The main characters of “Infinity Stratos” are:

• Ichika Orimura – The main protagonist of the series.  The only male who can pilot an IS and has entered as a first year student at the IS Academy.  His older sister is Chifuyu, the legendary IS pilot who has raised him.   He is completely oblivious that many of the female pilots are in love with him.
• Houki Shinonono – A first year student at the IS Academy and Ichika’s childhood friend who has liked him for a very long time.  She can get quite angry at him and beat him at times when she is jealous.
• Cecilia Alcott – A first year student at the IS Academy and an IS Cadet Representative of England and is part of the British Aristocracy.  She challenges Ichika on the first day of class in an IS battle and although she won the IS match, Ichika was actually defeating her and could have won had time not expired.  Because of the strength he exhibited in battle, Cecilia has fallen in love with Ichika.
• Huang Lingyin – A first year student at the IS Academy and IS Academy representative for China.  When Houki moved away from town, Huang Linyin became Ichika’s new childhood friend. Because Ichika protected her from bullies, she and Ichika made a promise that if she became an excellent cook, he would be her boyfriend.  But unfortunately, he has no recollection of their promise.
• Charlotte Dunois – A first year student at the IS Academy and IS Cadet Representative o France.  Her government forced her to pretend she was a male student named “Charles” and the second male “IS” pilot in order to spy on Ichika and learn how a male can pilot an IS and acquire data.  And because she was to be a male, she was made a roommate of Ichika.  But Charle ended up falling for Ichika while living with him and eventually Ichika finds out about her secret.
• Laura Bodewig – A first year student at the IS Academy and an IS Cadet Representative of Germany.  She joins the Academy in order to bring her teacher Chifuyu back to Germany and blames Ichika for taking her away.  But when she starts to learn more about Ichika’s strength, she declares Ichika as her wife (a misunderstanding between the meaning of “wife” and “husband”).
• Chifuyu Orimura – Ichika’s sister and instructor.  Despite Chifuyu having raised him and is his older sister, Chifuyu is very strict towards him and others.
• Maya Yamada – An instructor in charge of Ichiga’s class and the IS Representative Cade of Japan.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Infinite Stratos” is presented in 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen and in English and Japanese 2.0. It’s important to note that if you want the best picture and audio quality of this anime series, “Infinite Stratos: Complete Collection” will also be released on Blu-ray and is the version that fans will probably want to get if concerned for quality.

As for the DVD, for the most part, 8-bit studio has done a wonderful job in creating a sci-fi visual look for “Infinite Stratos”.  A good use of CG is utilized to create the surroundings, but the art backgrounds are beautifully painted as well and manages to capture sunsets and beautiful landscapes, especially the skies.  There is softness as one would expect from a DVD release, having not seen the Blu-ray version, I’m not sure how much of a difference there is in picture quality but for the DVD in general, the series does look good!

As for audio, both soundtracks are in stereo.  Voice acting for both soundtracks are well done.  I watched the series in Japanese and then in English and possibly the biggest different is more of the emotional scenes towards the end, as I felt the Japanese version was much more emotional.  But for the most part, both voice acting in Japanese or English are well-done!

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Infinite Stratos: Complete Collection” comes with the following special features:

DISC 1:

• Episode 4 Audio Commentary – Featuring Yoko Hikasa (voice of Houki Shinonono) and Asami Shimoda (voice of Lin Yin Fang)

DISC 2:

• Episode 7 Audio Commentary – Featuring Yoko Hikasa (voice of Houki Shinonono) and Kana Hanazawa (voice of Charles Dunois)
• Episode 12 Audio Commentary – Featuring Yoko Hikasa (voice of Houki Shinonono) and Yukana (voice of Cecila Alcott)

DISC 3:

• Infinite Stratos Behind the Scenes: An Interview with Director Yasuhito Kikuchi – (10:25) Kana Hanazawa (voice of Charles Dunois) visits 8-bit studios and see how “Infinite Stratos” is made and interviewing director Yasuhito Kikuchi.
• Radio IS – (41:08) Featuring Japanese voice actresses and radio hosts Yoko Hikasa (voice of Houki Shinonono), Asami Shimoda (voice of Lin Yin Fang) interviewing Yukana (voice of Cecila Alcott).
• Clean Opening Animations
• Clean Closing Animations

EXTRAS:

“Infinite Stratos: Complete Collection” comes with three DVD’s  including the OVA and special features plus a bonus soundtrack CD featuring the following tracks:

1. Akaku, Akaku (Houki Shinonono)
2. Super∞Stream (Houki Shinonono)
3. Noble Heart (Cecilia Alcott)
4. Super∞Stream (Cecilia Alcott)
5. Haochi Smile (Rinin Fan)
6. Super∞Stream (Rinin Fan)
7. Mon Chérie, Ma Chérie (Charlotte Dunois)
8. Super∞Stream (Charlotte Dunois)
9. An Die Freude (Laura Bodewig)
10. Super∞Stream (Laura Bodewig)

Are you an anime fan who loves sci-fi?  Loves mecha?  And loves harem anime storylines?

Well, if that is the case, you will no doubt fall in love with Izuru Yumizuru’s “Infinite Stratos”.   An anime series that takes comedy and fan service concept of other harem anime series but balances it with an intriguing sci-fi concept of a female dominated society and only women can pilot the mecha combat suits known as IS.

At first glance, I thought the series was going to be something similar along the lines of a “Gunbuster” type of series as a male pilot tries to prove himself in an all-female atmosphere.  But once you see one girl falling for the protagonist, then a second, you pretty much know where this series is going to be headed.

But while harem anime series tend to have its typical banality of all girls love one guy and one guy must watch his step at all times not to make the girls jealous, for “Infinite Stratos”, Yumizuru makes Ichika naive about the girl’s feelings towards him.  If anything, she tries to play off his strengths as a dedicated pilot and everything else, in terms of the harem storyline is just all comedy.

Possibly the most intriguing and almost perverted situation involves Ichika Orimura and the supposedly second male pilot Charles Dunois.  The viewer can tell this is a young woman trying to disguise himself as a young man, but it’s the slight naive teasing that we see from Ichika that is quite hilarious as he tries to get her to change in front of him (because they are both guys) and of course, when he does find out, he gets himself into situations that make him seem aggressive as he is mistaken as an aggressive pervert.

But this is what makes a harem anime series quite fun to watch and that is the miscommunication that occasionally happens as other girls compete in trying to gain his affections.  Of course, there is a mecha/action storyline that also is important.  While more important as the series progresses towards the end, the 12-episodes are good enough as it is in terms of character development and concluding the storyline for now.  The additional OVA is also fun to watch as we see the ladies compete for Ichika’s attention.

As for the DVD, I was quite surprised about the contents of this release.  You get audio commentary and additional Japanese featurettes (subtitled in English) plus the musical soundtrack as well.  For anyone who are anime fans know that its very rare these days to find an anime series with this much content. This really is a fantastic release but its important to note that if you want the best video and audio, the Blu-ray release is the version to go for!

“Infinite Stratos” was an entertaining sci-fi, harem anime series.  The characters are fun to watch, the storyline was quite hilarious and the animation and art backgrounds are well-produced.  And “Infinite Stratos: Complete Collection” is a fantastic DVD release because of the content that comes with this entire collection.

Overall, “Infinite Stratos: Complete Collection” is a set that anime fans will definitely want to pick up on Blu-ray or DVD.  Highly recommended!

 

Dream Eater Merry: Complete Collection (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

Any anime fan looking for a kick ass, action-packed series will definitely want to check out “Dream Eater Merry: Complete Collection”.    This is one addictive series that left me craving for more!  Definitely recommended!

Image courtesy of © Yoshitaka/Houbunsha/”Dream Eater Merry” Production Committee. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Dream Eater Merry: Complete Collection

DURATION: Episode 13 (325 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen, English and Japanese 2.0, English subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: TV PG V

Release Date: March 27, 2012

Originally created by Yoshitaka Ushiki

Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi

Series Composition: Hideki Shirane

Music by Keiichi Oku

Character Design: Masahiro Fujii

Art  Director: Kenji Matsumoto, Yuki Yukie

Anime Production by J.C. Staff

Featuring the following voice talent:

Ayane Sakura/Hilary Haag as Merry Nightmare

Nobuhiko Okamot/Blake Shepard as Yumeji Fujiwara

Ai Kayano/Brittney Karbowski as Isana Tachibana

Aya Endo/Shannon Emerick as Engi Three-Piece

Jouji Nakata/Chris Ayres as John Doe

Kana Ueda/Melissa Davis as Chizuru Kawanami

Keiji Fujiwara/Andrew Love as Tachibana no Oyassan (Old Man Tachibana)

Kenichi Suzumura/Vic Mignona as Ryōta Iijima

Mariya Ise/Shelley Calene-Black as Saki Kirishima

Natsumi Takamori/Emily Neves as Mei Hoshino

Sayuri Yahagi/Monica Rial as Mistilteinn

Shinji Kawada/Rob Mungle as Guricho

Shinnosuke Tachibana/Chris Patton as Takateru Akiyanagi

Takaya Kuroda/Jay Hickman as Lestion (Leon)

Tomoko Akiya/Luci Christian as Yui Kōnagi

Sometimes daydreaming can get you into trouble, but what do you do when it’s other people’s dreams that you have to watch out for? Yumeji Fujiwara has the unique ability to predict what kind of dreams other people will have, but lately, his own dreams have taken a bizarre turn in which he’s being pursued by armies of cats. Stranger yet, Yumeji learns that the leader of the dream cats needs his body to access the Real World.

Finally, the strange becomes downright weird when a beautiful girl suddenly drops on top of him and announces that she’s a Dream Demon looking for a way back to the Dream World! The fabric that separates reality and fantasy is torn to shreds, and Yumeji has a lot of sleepless nights ahead of him as he has to deal with both the dream stalking and a dream walking!

Two people from different worlds join forces in taking down dream demons.  But what happens when a few of the most powerful are on Earth, looking to unleash their havoc on innocent students?

This is the premise of “Dream Eater Merry”,  a 13-episode action/fantasy TV series based on the popular manga by Ushiki Yoshitaka.

Published in the magazine “Manga Time Kirara Forward” since 2008, the manga series is still ongoing in Japan.  The anime series is directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi (“Crying Freeman”, “Dragon Ball Z” and “Saint Seiya” films, “Xenosaga: The Animation”), series composition by Hideki Sirane (Aria the Scarlet Ammo”, “Girl’s High”, “Phantom ~Requiem for Phantom~”), music by Keiichi Oku (“Ojamajo Doremi”, “Peacemaker”, “Marmalade Boy”), character design by Masahiro Fujii (“Familizer of Zero”, “Zero no Tsukaima”) and art background by Kenji Matsumoto (“Stellvia”, “Taro the Dragon Boy”, “Air”, “Dragon Ball Z”).

“Dream Eater Merry” revolves around two people.  The first is Merry Nightmare, a dream demon fro the dreamworld who somehow was able to come out of it and live in Earth’s reality ten years ago.  No memory of what happened, Merry has been searching and defeating Dream Demons and sending them back home to the Dreamworld, in hopes that she will return back with them.

The other person is Yumeji Fujiwara, a high school student who has a special ability, by making his fingers form a circle and looking through them, he can see the aura of people and easily predict the dreams they are about to have. But for some reason, Yumeji is having these unusual nightmares of cats trying to capture him.

Meanwhile, Yumeji tries to live a normal life.  He hangs out with his childhood friend Isana, a shy girl who wants to become an artist and she absolutely adores Yumeji for helping her home after injuring herself at the playground when the two were young kids.  He hangs out with his friends from the writing club, Mei Hoshino (the leader of the writing club), Takateru Akiyanagi (the haiku writer) amd Saki Kirishima (who likes Takateru).

Yumeji’s dreams are starting to become a bit more hostile and we are introduced to leader of the cats named John Doe, who has an interest in Yumeji, for some reason.  One day, Merry Nightmare accidentally falls on top of him and loses her hat.  As she goes on to look for it, the world of reality suddenly changes to dreamtime and John Doe and his army of cats continue to chase Yumeji and immediately, Merry has entered the dream (to find her hat) and ends up fighting John Doe and saving Yumeji.

Eventually, Yumeji learns from Merry that she is trying to get back home and feels that if she sends these dream demons back, it would give her the chance to go back home to the Dream World but the problem is, she has been on Earth for ten years and finding one is not easy.  Yumeji feels he owes Merry for saving his life, so he offers to use his skill of detecting unusual auras including dream demons and promising Merry that he will do all he can to help her get back home.

For now,  Yumeji helps Merry by getting her a place to stay and also a part-time job, and while on Earth, Merry gets to learn about humans, human interactions and lifestyle but also emotion.

Meanwhile, for certain individuals that are communicating with dream demons, someone out there is killing their demon partners and erasing the dreams of students and making them live like walking zombies.

So now  Yumeji and Merry take on various dream demons, but also come across others who have different agendas and may affect Merry’s goal of going back home to the Dream World.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Dream Eater Merry” is presented in 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen and English/Japanese 2.0.  It’s important to note that if you want the best PQ and AQ possible, you will definitely want to go for the Blu-ray version, which will be released simultaneously on the same day of this DVD.

“Dream Eater Merry” is one of those series that is just beautiful to look at.  Featuring artistic art backgrounds that are beautifully painted and variety of colors that showcase warmth and darkness, the characters are well-shaded, while the art backgrounds are well-detailed and just breathtaking to look at.

I was able to test both voice acting during my viewing of the entire series and both voice acting in Japanese and English are very well-done.  The Japanese version definitely captures the more emotional side of the series but for the most part, anime fans, whether they prefer Japanese or English, should be satisfied by the overall quality of the voice acting.

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Dream Eater Merry: Complete Collection” features the Clean Opening and Closing Animation themes and Sentai Filmworks trailers.

During my viewing of “Dream Eater Merry”, one of the things that went on my head while watching the first episode was if this is going to be another “Kurokami” type series.  Two people from different worlds, it’s a banality you often see in anime series.

Fortunately, “Dream Eater Merry” features a captivating, action-packed storyline that has cool characters, cool artwork but most of all, it’s a fun series that unfortunately ends too quickly!

After watching “Dream Eater Merry”, I was hoping for more episodes.  This is an awesome anime series and one aspect that I love about it is the possibilities and potential because of the many “dream demons” that exist.  And of course, you have weak and strong dream demons, but then you have these few demons who are just on their own level as they are just too powerful and each have their own wicked, dark or crazy style.

And then you have the two protagonists, Merry and Yumeji.  The series features many characters but the series manages to weave character development through each episode and every characters ends up being likeable.  The problem is, some have big dreams and big dreams are what certain evil dream demons are after.  Dreams they can squash and leave people almost like mindless zombies.  So, when you see Merry and Yumeji, they don’t look like the powerhouse duo…but considering that Yumeji has had the special ability to see people’s dreams but also enter in a dream (day or night, whenever he wants) is quite intriguing.

Also, the character of Merry doesn’t look all too powerful.  She looks like a young teenage girl, but because she has amnesia and she has defied logic by being present in the real world (when dream demons can only be in dreams), needless to say, there is a lot that needs to be explored about her character and her abilities.

But overall, this first series for “Dream Eater Merry” was fantastic!  And as mentioned, too short.  Even in the final episode right after the big battle, you can tell that this series was one that could have probably needed another 11-13 episodes as there are quite a bit of questions of what will happen to various characters after this first major battle.  Needless to say, while the writers did all they can to wrap things up in the final minutes of the final episode, you are just left wanting more of “Dream Eater Merry”.

Considering that the manga series is ongoing, hopefully J.C. Staff is considering a second season.  But for now, any anime fan looking for a kick ass, action-packed series will definitely want to check out “Dream Eater Merry: Complete Collection”.  This is one addictive series that left me craving for more!  Definitely recommended!

 

Motto To Love RU – Complete Collection (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

If you enjoyed the first season, “Motto to Love RU” is much more wilder, crazier, perverted than ever.  Now featuring three crazy mini-stories per episode, “Motto to Love RU” ups the ante in perverted anime comedy TV series.  While not for everyone, if you are wanting something a bit more risque and perverted, this anime series is for you!

Image courtesy of © Kentaro Yabuki-Saki Hasemi/SHUEISHA, Toloveru Project. All Rights Reserved.

DVD TITLE: Motto To Love RU – Complete Collection

DURATION: Episode 12 (300 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen, Japanese 2.0, English subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATED: TV 14

Release Date: April 3, 2012

Originally created by Kentaro Yabuki, Saki Hasemi

Directed by Atsushi Ootsuki

Series Composition by Yasutomo Yamada

Music by Takeshi Watanabe

Character Design: Yuichi Ouka

Art Director: Yoshimi Umino

Anime Production by Xebec

Featuring the following voice talent:

Akeno Watanabe as Rito Yuki

Haruka tomatsu as Lala Satalin Deviluke

Ayako Kawasumi as Saki Tenjoin

Fuyuka Oura as Ren Elsie Jewelria

Kana Hanazawa as Mikan Yuki

Ryoka Yuzuki as Lisa Momioka

Misato Fukuen as Golden Darkness

Aki Toyosaki as Peke and Momo Belia Deviluke

Sayuri Yahagi as Haruna Sairenji

Takehito Koyasu as Zastin

The insanity that began when a very naked (and very female) alien teleported into Rito Yuki’s bathtub (while he was in it) continues. And even though Princess Lala has finally started to admit her true feelings for the young man she’s inexplicably engaged to marry (as a result of what happened in said bathtub and Develuke customs), her sometimes erratic technology and the snags and snarls of intergalatic politicse and intrigue are still causing major problems.

 

That transporter? Yeah, it still has the nasty habit of leaving the clothes behind. Alien bounty hunters? Yep, even more of them and they’re even more devious. Add body switches, alien skunks, a bathroom that changes size and shape, the inevitable sleepover that you just know it’s going to go horribly, horribly wrong (spoiler: it does). Worst of all, there’s Valentine’s Day, and even in space you’ll be able to hear Rito scream!

 

In 2006, the series “To Love Ru” (which in Japanese “Toraburu” can be read as in English “Trouble”) is a manga series by Saki Hasemi (“Moetan”, “Pinky:st”) and Kentaro Yabuki (“Black Cat”, “Yamato Gensouki”) was created and is currently featured in Weekly Shonen Jump. In the spring of 2008, Studio I.G. subsidiary Xebec, Inc. (known for working on “Love Hina” and “Martian Successor Nadesico”) released a 26-episode anime series which was followed by video game releases for the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.  The anime series has been released in the US courtesy of Sentai Filmworks in 2009-2010 in two DVD volumes.

In 2010, a second season titled “Motto To Love-RU”, a twelve episode series aired in Japan.  And now in 2012, the second season will be available on DVD courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

“Motto To Love RU” is produced by Xebec but features a new creative team.   The second season is directed by Atsushi Ootsuki  (“Kanokon: The Girl Who Cried Fox”, “Wagnaria!! Season Two”) and features a screenplay by Yasutomo Yamada (“Bakegyamon”, “Boys Be…”, “Potemayo”, “Venus Versus Virus”).  Character design is by Yuichi Ouka (“Softenni”, “Over Drive”), art direction by Yoshimi Umino (“DNA2″, “Ben-To”, “.hack” series) and music by Takeshi Watanabe (“Moetan”, “Saki”, “Ichigo Mashimaro”).

The second season also is different from the first.  In the original, each episode had a full storyline but now “Motto to Love RU” features episodes with three short stories about seven minutes long.

What is “To Love RU” all about?

“To Love RU” is about a teenager named Rito Yuki. A teenage boy who has always loved his classmate Haruna Sairenji. But somehow due to unusual circumstances, by trying to save a girl named Lala (who happens to be an alien princess) and now Lala believes that Rito is in love with her and because Rito has proposed to her in Deviluke tradition (grabbing the woman’s breast and telling her that he loves her), they are now officially engaged.

Lala has made her residence at Rito’s home and expects Rito to be her husband. But Rito is in love with Sairenji, not Lala…what is a powerless, teenage boy going to do? Rito has been trying to find ways to have the marriage dissolved but finds himself getting deeper and deeper in trouble that even Lala’s father, King Deviluke expects him to marry or else Earth will be destroyed.

Now Rito finds himself caring for both Haruna and Lala but what is this young teenager going to do?

What about “Motto To Love RU”?

The second season is much different than the original series.  More adult humor, more perverted and really doesn’t get into anything serious.  If anything, the harem storyline and love triangle still exists as Sairenji and Lala both want to be closer to Rito but Rito is not so much of a major factor in this season in terms of having to save Lala.  If anything, he is more of the comic character who is typically getting involved in the wrong situation against his will and has his butt kicked by the extra terrestrials.    While the emphasis are more on the female characters as they discuss their emotions and each other’s breasts, grabbing each other’s breasts and having fun, it is more evident that this series is targeted for more the lonely otaku who love tons of fan service.  And you definitely get it with “Motto To Love Ru”.

Because there are 12 half-hour episodes (3 mini-episodes each episode, thus 26 different episodes in all), here are a few storylines that are featured in “Motto to Love RU”.

• Yui and the discipline committee implement a demerit policy to ensure morality in school.
• What happens when Mikan’s teacher goes to visit her home to meet her and Rito’s father (a manga creator).  Since their family has been gone for a long time, Rito must pretend to be her father.  But because he is not good at lying, Lala gives him a drink to calm him down, but instead it makes him drunk.
• Yami wonders how it would be to wear Earth fashion, so the girls take her out on a shoppoing spree.
• It’s Valentine’s Day and Yui wants to make chocolate for Rio.
• What happens when Saki invites Rito and friends to her private beach.
• Yami is ill and Rito tries to get her some medical help.
• When Rito does poorly on his exam, Yami tries to help him.
• Haruna, Sairenji and Oshizu take part in an alien process to make their breasts larger.
• What happens when Momo accidentally transports Rito into Peke’s body.
• What happens when Celine drinks Cola.
• Nana and Momo get angry when she tries to sneak into Rito’s bed.
• Which girl will Rito pick at the end?

“Motto To Love RU” features the following main characters:

Rito Yuuki - A teenager who is deeply in love with Haruna Sairenji. Not a popular guy at his high school and quite shy until he meets Lala. After saving Lala and squeezing her breasts, now he is officially engaged to her. Now Rito wants nothing but to get out of this engagement but finds himself caring for both Haruna and Lala.

Lala Satalin Deviluke - The Princess of Deviluke who ran away from home (left her planet) because she did not want to marry any of the men that her father has chosen for her to marry but when she sees Rito fighting and defending her, she falls in love with him and after he grabs her breast, by Deviluke customs, she becomes engaged to him and moves in with him. She is complete oblivious to the fact that Rito cares about Haruna. Lala tends to not know about Earth’s customs and gets herself in trouble when she takes off her clothes off. She also is an inventor but her inventions tend to not work the way she wants at times.

Haruna Sairenji – Rito’s classmate who cares about Rito but keeps her emotions to herself due to Rito’s engagement with Lala. She cares for him and knows that he cares for her.  She often wonders if Rito cares for girls like Lala and girls with bigger breasts.  Often entangled in Lala’s inventions and she and Rito and gets caught up in unusual, nude circumstances.

Yami/Golden Darkness – An assassin hired by one of Lala’s suitors to kill Rito but is now more of a person who loves to read books and study Earth culture.  She is not sure why Rito is nice to her, despite her being his enemy and wanting to hurt him.  Often punishing Rito as he thinks he is always trying to look at her panties and see her nude.

Peke – Lala’s robot who can change to a weapon or the clothes that she wears. He tends to be the voice of reason when Lala is confused.

Ryoko Mikado – The school doctor of Sainan High School who also worked for a black market extraterrestrial organization. She uses her medical skills to help the students at the school but also aliens. Likes to wear slinky clothing and sometimes no clothing at all.

Kenichi Saruyama – Rito’s best friend who is a pervert. Never can get a girlfriend but with his friendship to Rito, he’s having a ball with meeting his new female friends.  He likes a girl but doesn’t know it was Rito who was changed into a girl due to Lala’s invention.

Yui Kotegawa – An uptight student who doesn’t like things that are unacceptable behavior and thinks Rito and Lala’s behavior towards each other is unacceptable. Dislikes delinquent behavior at her school and is now in charge of writing demerits for those who are mischievous.  Unfortunately, she gets caught up in getting groped by other girls.  She also wonders if she is falling for Rito.

Risa and Mio – Risa Momioka and Mio Sawada are Haruna’s and Lala’s friends. Risa has a tendency of groping other girls.

Nana Asta Deviuke -Lala’s younger sister and twin sister of Momo (has longer hair and a visible tooth).  She somewhat likes Rito but also has a breast complex because hers is so small.  Always trying to find ways to make her breasts big.

Momo Velia Deviluke – Lala’s younger sister and twin sister of Nana.  Has shorter hair, sweeter and has bigger breasts than her sister and likes to flaunt it around Nana.  Collector of plants.

Mikan Yuuki - The younger sister of Rito. She knows he got himself in deep trouble and that he cares for both Haruna and Lala and thus, tries to help him at times.

Saki Tenjouin – The popular girl at school who dislikes Lala because she is suddenly getting all the attention at school. Her friends Rin and Aya are loyal to her and do her dirty work.  Lately, Rito has been falling on her lately and landing on her breasts.

Ren/Run Elsie Jewelria – A childhood friend of Lala who changes from male to female when he/she sneezes. As Ren, he wants to marry Lala. As Run, she is secretly in love with Rito.  Run is also a extra terrestrial pop star.

Kyouko Kirisaki – A pop star who is also a half-Earthling/Half-Alien and can generate fire.  She is the star of “Magical Kyoko”.

Oshizu Murasame – A ghost at the school building who now has a prosthetic body created by Mikado-san that she can possess and attend school with the other girls.  She also has feelings for Rito.

Celine – A carnivorous plant given to Rito by Lala for his 16th birthday.  She has the appearance of a little girl (with a big flower on her head) and Rito takes her in as part of the family.

 

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“Motto To Love RU” is presented in 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen. For a television series, the series features a lot of colors and artistic backgrounds feature a good amount of backgrounds from school settings, shopping/city settings, Rito’s home, etc. Typically for a TV series from a smaller studio, I don’t expect to see so many backgrounds or an over utilization of artwork but XEBEC did a wonderful job in the animation and Yuichi Oka with the character designs. I don’t know how close his designs are actually to Kentaro Yabuki and Saki Hasemi’s original manga but overall, character design and art backgrounds are well done.

Audio is featured in Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Voice acting by the seiyuu are well done as Akeno Watanabe (Taruru of “Sgt. Frog”, Jo of “Burst Angel”, Chachamaru Kamakuri of “Negima”) does the voice of Rito. Haruka Tomatsu (Mileina of “Gundam 00″, Misao of “Asura Cryin’ 2″) does the voice of Lala and Sayuri Yahagi (Chisato of “Sola”, Hanaka of “Buso Renkin”) as Haruna. Anime is front channel driven but if you have a receiver that allows for stereo on all channels, that was my listening preference.

There is no English dub track in this DVD release of “To Love RU”.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Motto To Love RU – Complete Collection” features the Clean Opening and Closing Animation themes and Sentai Filmworks trailers.

Wilder, more perverted and more fan service than the previous season, “Motto to Love RU” will definitely appeal to those wanting more risque anime with tons of fan service and adult humor!

While watching “Motto to Love RU”, I have to admit that I was in one sense happy that the series was back, since I enjoyed the first season but also a tad bit disappointed that the full stories that were featured in each episode have now been replaced by three mini-episodes.   And the episodes were definitely made to be more wilder and perverted.

In the last season, it was basically dealing with the love triangle between Rito, Lala and Sairenji and of course, Rito having to defend his honor and the people he cares about.  There was a bit more action in the first season but this time around, Rito is more of the comic-centric character that is always in the wrong place at the wrong time (mainly caught for peeking up a girls skirt or in some situation that happened beyond his control) and getting punished for it.  If anything, this season focuses more on perverted comedy and a lot of fan service.

In some ways, it is reminiscent of mangaka Rumiko Takahashi’s “Urusei Yatsura” as a character ends up engaged to an alien. But in this case, Rito is nothing like Ataru (nor is he perverted). But “To Love RU” has its fair share of crazy antics, fan service and yes… nudity. Unlike Lum, Lala doesn’t know how Rito feels inside, even though family and friends know that he’s gotten himself into a mess. Also, similar to another Rumiko Takahashi anime series (Ranma 1/2), the character of Ren/Run able to change genders is quite interesting and makes me wonder if series creator Kentaro Yabuki was paying homage to Takahashi’s works.

But this second season definitely amps up the hijinks, the craziness, fan service and the perverted humor of the series.  And for those who enjoy this type of anime, “Motto to Love RU” is for you!  Do you need to watch the original anime series to understand this second.  Yes and no.  The first does explain why the aliens are living with Rito and of course, you get their introductions.  But the second series is created as mini-episodes with hijinks and fan-service that one can understand what is going on.

It’s only the final episode where you actually get something somewhat deep as the question of which girl Rito will pick comes to play.  But needless to say, I’m sure that the hijinks of these characters will continue, in the manga series or with more seasons of anime episodes.

As for the DVD release, I wished there were more special features than the clean opening and closing themes and I’m sure there are fans who wish there was an English dub included. The Japanese voice acting is still enjoyable and well-performed.

While the DVD is rated TV 14, it’s important to note that there is nudity and a lot of sexual humor and images, so this is not an anime series you want younger people to be watching.

Overall, “Motto To Love RU” is a hilarious anime series that was fun for me as I enjoyed the first season, but also a step back as it was not full-story episodes but an episode of three short, wild and crazy stories..

If you are looking for a series with adult, perverted humor and a lot of fan service, “Motto To Love RU” is the anime series you definitely want to watch! Recommended!

 

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