VIZ MEDIA DELIVERS NEW NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, VAMPIRE KNIGHT AND POKÉMON ANIME RELEASES

January 25, 2011 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment

San Francisco, CA, January 25, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced a trio of upcoming anime DVD releases set for release today that expand some of the company’s most potent properties including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, VAMPIRE KNIGHT and POKÉMON.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN BOX SET, Volume 5 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $71.99 CAN · Available Now!
Naruto is troubled by nightmares after his second failed attempt to bring Sasuke home. Kakashi, recovering in the hospital, suggests a new training regimen for Naruto that puts him in touch with his wind chakra nature. Naruto seeks advice from another wind type, the Leaf Jonin Asuma. Then, when Tsunade sends Team Kakashi on a mission to the Fire Temple, the truth about a shocking event involving Asuma and the Guardian Shinobi Twelve begins to unfold.
This latest NARUTO Box Set features Episodes 54-65.

For more information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, please visit www.Naruto.com

VAMPIRE KNIGHT THE COMPLETE SERIES · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · MSRP: $49.95 U.S. / $71.99 CAN · Available Now!
Ten years earlier, a Pureblood vampire, Kaname Kuran, saved Yuki Cross from another vampire’s attack. Now, Yuki is a Guardian at Cross Academy, where the Night Class and Day Class students live side by side in relative harmony—despite the fact that the Night Class students are all vampires! Yuki and her partner Zero keep watch over the Day Class and protect the Night Class’s secret. With Kaname’s help, a peaceful coexistence has been maintained so far, but a looming shadow is about to be cast over their world…

For more information on VAMPIRE KNIGHT, please visit: www.ShojoBeat.com

POKEMON ELEMENTS BOX SET, Volume 2 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages ·
MSRP: $29.92 U.S. / $42.99 CAN · Available Now!
The POKÉMON: ELEMENTS collection consists of the most important episodes commemorating the wide variety of Pokémon characters. Each disc showcases a specific Pokémon type in three all-time favorite episodes. This latest Box Set bundles POKÉMON ELEMENTS Vols. 6-10.

For more information POKÉMON and other VIZ Kids titles please visit www.VIZKids.com.

Filed Under: Anime Related News

Naruto Shippuden Box Set 3 – Season One: Original & Uncut (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

September 15, 2010 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

Wow! “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 3 – Season One: Original & Uncut” is another pulse-pounding, action-packed box set of “Naruto Shippuden”! The battle continues with the Akatsuki and a new mission for Naruto and Sakura along with new team leader Yamato and a mysterious new partner named Sai (who Naruto despises). Definitely recommended!

DVD TITLE: Naruto Shippuden Box Set 3 – Season One: Original & Uncut

DURATION: Episodes 27-39 (325 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: August 3, 2010

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

After fierce battles with the Akatsuki, Sakura, Granny Chiyo, Kakashi, and Naruto have finally retrieved Gaara from Deidara’s clutches. But is it all too late? Back in the Leaf Village, Kakashi’s on bed rest for overusing his Mangekyo Sharingan, and Naruto’s preparing to recruit some of his friends for Team Kakashi. But the village elders have beat him to it, and their choice of the unfeeling Sai has Naruto spitting mad!

This limited edition includes a collectible mininja of Sasori.

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.

Here we are now with “Naruto Shippuden” (Naruto: Hurricane Chronicles), a sequel to the “Naruto” series and the latest release of the first season via “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 3 – Season One: Original & Uncut” featuring episodes 27-39.

In the first volume, Team Kakashi which consists of Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura are dispatched to the sand village after news that the Akatsuki (a criminal organization which includes powerful ninjas who defected from their villages and a group which include Sasuke’s brother Itachi) members Deidara and Sasori have attacked the village and are after Gaara. While the three hurry to get to the sand village, Lady Tsunade sends out Team Guy to provide as support (consisting of Might Guy, Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga and Tenten).

With Gaara taken hostage by the Akatsuki, Gaara’s brother Kankuro tries to save him but is stopped by Sasori of the Red Sand who literally beats Kankuro and injects him with poison, so he can suffer and die within three days. Fortunately, Team Kakashi arrives and Sakura is there to use her medic skills to stop the poison but now they must go and save Gaara with the help of one of the elders of the Sand Village, Grandma Chiyo. Who happens to also be the grandmother of Sasori.

In volume 2, we watched as Sakura and Grandma Chiyo took on her evil grandson Sasori of the Akatsuki and Naruto along with Kakashi trailing Deidara of the Akatsuki while Team Guy are making their way to assist the two teams but run into a snafu as they find themselves going against clones of themselves.

In volume 3, the battles continue as the ninjas of the Leaf Village along with Grandma Chiyo take on Deidara and Sasori. Meanwhile, Naruto and Sakura are assigned a temporary partner and new team leader.

Here is a brief spoilerless summary of the episodes 27-39 for “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 3: Season One” included on three DVD’s:

Note: In Japan, Season two begins with episode 32.

DISC 7:

EPISODE 27 – Impossible Dream – The final episode in the battle between Sakura and Grandma Chiyo vs. Sasori.
EPISODE 28 – Beasts: Alive Again! – Team Guy continues to battle their clones and are unsure how they can beat themselves.
EPISODE 29 – Kakashi Enlightened! – Kakashi vs. Deidara and Kakashi reveals his Mangekyo Sharingan.
EPISODE 30 – Aesthetics of an Instant – Kakashi witnesses Naruto being consumed by the Nine-Tailed Fox’s chakra.

DISC 8:

EPISODE 31 – The Legacy – Grandma Chiyo makes a life ending decision to save another.
EPISODE 32 – Return of the Kazekage – We are introduced to Sai and the Leaf and Sand Ninja pays their respects to a friend that has departed.
EPISODE 33 – The New Target – As Kakashi continues to rest in the hospital, Sakura tells Lady Tsunade the information that Sasori gave her. Also, Naruto, Shikamaru and Choji are attacked by Sai.
EPISODE 34 – Formation! New Team Kakashi! – The village elders have their ideas of how to contain Naruto and prevent the Akatsuki in getting him. Meanwhile, the fight between Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji vs. Sai continues.

DISC 9:

EPISODE 35 – An Unecessary Addition – With the information that Sakura received from Sasori, she and Naruto are sent on a new mission but this time, to lead the team is Yamato and joining Naruto and Sakura is Sai (who Naruto despises).
EPISODE 36 – The Fake Smile - Sai gets on Sakura and Naruto’s bad side. Meanwhile, Sakura is shocked that Yamato knows how to use the wood style jutsu (the jutsu that the first Hokage only knew)
EPISODE 37 – Untitled – Meanwhile, the four go to the hot springs before going on their mission but Yamato uses it to analyze the mysterious Sai.
EPISODE 38 – Simulation – Yamato wants to arrange a simulation to practice what they are going to do on their mission.
EPISODE 39 – The Tenchi Bridge – Yamato uses his disguise to meet with the Akatsuki spy but the team is shocked by who the spy is.

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 to the action that takes place in the Sand Village is pretty cool.

For the most part, these episodes for this box set is focused on battles, so a lot of the background scenes take place in a cave, above cliff-like areas or a hill. So, there is more focus on the characters and the fighting sequences rather than overall setting. But for the most part, the action was captured quite well and fans should be happy.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

As for the audio, audio 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 Box Set 3 – Season One: Original & Uncut” comes with the following special features:

Voice Actor Featurette: New Faces of Naruto Shippuden - (13:55) Featuring director Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and the English voice talent for Deidara (Roger Craig Smith), Sasori (Johnny Yong Bosch), Sai (Benjamin Diskin) and Yamato (Troy Baker).
Relationship Chart: Sand Siblings – A text based feature showing the relationship of the Sand Siblings: Temari, Gaara and Kankuro.
Production Art – Using your remote, you can view 16 production art images.
Viz Media Trailers – Trailers for upcoming or current Viz Media releases.

EXTRAS:

“Naruto Shippuden Box Set 3 – Season One: Original & Uncut” comes with a slip case.

First, let me start out with how awesome “Naruto Shippuden” has been so far. No slowdown or any weak filler episodes, so far every episode since the first have been all action-packed and intense. “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 3 – Season One: Original & Uncut” continues with the battles against the Akatsuki.

But with this volume, Sakura fans will be happy with this latest volume as we see how much Sakura has grown up and how her training as a ninja has literally brought her power to new heights. Also, for Sand Village fans, you can’t help appreciate the episodes of this volume as we get to see a few emotional, heartbreaking episodes as the team pay their respects to a fallen friend.

Although episodes 32-39 are included as part of season 1, in Japan, these episodes are part of season 2 and the cool thing about this transition is unlike the original “Naruto” series, there would be a good number of filler episodes between missions but this time, after one major mission ends, we are treated with another intense mission and the uneasy alliance between Naruto, Sakura and this mysterious, repulsive and emotionless guy named Sai (a member of a rival Leaf Village faction known as the Foundation). Also, we are introduced to the new team leader Yamato who seems to have some mysterious side to his ninja abilities that Lady Tsunade, Jiraiya and Kakashi are aware of and Tsunade asks for him to spy on Sai.

Also, what I enjoyed about “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 3 – Season One: Original & Uncut” is to see more of Naruto’s friends who have also grown up, especially Team 8 and we get to see Kiba, Akamaru, Shino and Hinata. Also, we get to see Team 10 members Choji, Shikamaru and Ino as well. Although we don’t get to see Team 8 in action, we do get to see a little of Team 10 and I was amazed by the new powers of Choji, so I can’t wait to see both teams in action in future episodes.

As for the overall DVD, “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 3 – Season One: Original & Uncut” is a pretty cool set for those who want to save money and get three volumes included. Although these sets are not special features heavy, you do get a featurette on the new voice talent and a few other things as well.

Overall, this latest box set is action-packed and the storyline continues to get better and better with each volume and box set release. Once again, there are quite a bit of surprises, twists and turns in the episodes of this latest box set release but for the most part, another exciting, action-packed volume of “Naruto Shippuden”!

Definitely recommended!

Filed Under: Anime on DVD

Kicking it with Home Made Kazoku – a J!-ENT interview by Dennis A. Amith

September 8, 2010 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment

Japanese hip hop trio Home Made Kazoku (which means Home Made Family) performed in Baltimore, Maryland for an American audience of 5,000 people at Otakon.

The trio are known for their hit songs on Japanese animation series “Naruto” , “Bleach” and “Eureka Seven” which aired on the Cartoon Network and “Naruto Shippuden” which currently airs on the Disney XD.

J!-ENT’s Dennis A. Amith had the opportunity to interview MICRO, KURO and DJ U-ICHI of Home Made Kazoku after their performance in Baltimore.

Please downlaod the PDF of our interview here

Filed Under: Interviews and Articles

CRUNCHYROLL LAUNCHES BRAND NEW AND FREE EPISODES FOR USERS

July 27, 2010 by J!-ENT · Leave a Comment

Leading online anime and drama destination releases brand new episodes for
the week of July 25-31

San Francisco, Calif. (July 27, 2010) – This week Crunchyroll will release a
variety of brand new episodes, as well as free episodes, for its users this
week including recently acquired Mitsudomoe and a double header of
fan-favorite Naruto Shippuden.

New episodes from the week of July 25-31 are:

Sunday: Giant Killing episode 17 and Uraboku episode 16.
Monday: Fairy Tail episode 39 and Occult Academy 4.
Tuesday: Bleach episode 281, Tono to Issho episode 4.
Wednesday: Strike Witches 2, episode 4; Asobi ni Ikuyo episode 3; and Kaasan
– Mom’s Life episode 64.
Thursday: Heroman episode 18 and Naruto Shippuden episodes 170 and 171.
Friday: Mitsudomoe episode 5 and Reborn episode 195.
Saturday: Yumeiro Patisserie episode 43 and LilPri episode 18.

With the exception of Fairy Tail, the simulcasted episode from the week
prior for all series listed above are now available to all users for free.

Crunchyroll also released two new Korean drama series last week: SBS’s My
Sweet Seoul and MBC’s Secret. Both series are available in its entirety to
all drama and all-access premium members. For free users, 2 episodes of
Secret will be made available every Tuesday; while the first 10 episodes of
My Sweet Seoul are available right now, with 3 episodes rolling out every
Tuesday along with Secret.

Episodes can be accessed from Crunchyroll.com, tv.com, the free iPad and
iPhone application, the Boxee application and affiliate partners.

Crunchyroll premium members will have access to the largest anime and drama
selection, same-day access for simulcasted titles, no advertisements and can
be viewed in 480p-to-720p quality on selected titles. More information about
the Crunchyroll membership plan can be found at:

http://www.crunchyroll.com/freetrial/

Filed Under: Anime Related News

Naruto Shippuden Box Set 2 – Season One: Original & Uncut (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

April 22, 2010 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

Another pulse-pounding, action-packed volume of “Naruto Shippuden”! Sakura and Team Guy fans will definitely enjoy this latest volume! Definitely recommended!

DVD TITLE: Naruto Shippuden Box Set 2 – Season One: Original & Uncut

DURATION: Episodes 14-26 (325 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 20, 2010

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

Team Kakashi is joined by Team Guy in their pursuit of Gaara’s kidnappers, Deidara and Sasori, but their way to the Akatsuki hideout is fraught with familiar enemies and deadly traps. Once inside, Sakura and Granny Chiyo must take on Chiyo’s own grandson, the puppet master Sasori, whose complex tricks and genius puppetry demand every last ounce of Chiyo’s and Sakura’s strength and skill to counter. Meanwhile, Naruto and Kakashi take off after Deidara, who is once again on the run with Gaara in tow…

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

Here we are now with “Naruto Shippuden” (Naruto: Hurricane Chronicles), a sequel to the “Naruto” series and with the release of the second volume featuring episodes 14-26.

Here is a brief spoilerless summary of the episodes 14-26 for “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 2: Season One” included on three DVD’s:

DISC 4:

EPISODE 14 – Naruto’s Growth – The Akatsuki clan sends out Kisame to stop Team Guy while Itachi is sent to stop Team Kakashi.
EPISODE 15 – The Secret Weapon is Called… – The battle continues as the Konoha ninjas take on Kisame and Itachi.
EPISODE 16 – The Secret of Jinchuriki – Grandmother Chiyo reveals of what happens to Naruto and Gaara if their beasts are removed from them.
EPISODE 17 – The Death of Gaara! – Akatsuki seal Gaara’s beast which could be fatal for Gaara.

DISC 5:

EPISODE 18 – Charge Tactic! Button Hook Entry!! – Team Guy is dispatched to destroy the barrier around the Akatsuki hideout.
EPISODE 19 – Traps Activate! Team Guy’s Enemies – What was believed to be barrier seals ends up being a trap for Team Guy.
EPISODE 20 – Hiruko vs. Two Kunoichi! – Grandmother Chiyo briefs Sakura on Sasori and prepares her for battle.
EPISODE 21 – Sasori’s Real Face – Chiyo and Sakura vs. Sasori (who reveals his true form).

DISC 6:

EPISODE 22 – Chiyo’s Secret Skills – Chiyo has to resort to using new puppets against Sasori in battle.
EPISODE 23 – Father and Mother - Sasori unleashes his Iron Sand technique on Chiyo and Sakura.
EPISODE 24 – The Third Kazekage – Sasori uses the third Kazekage puppet against Sakura and Chiyo.
EPISODE 25 – Three Minutes Between Life and Death – The battle continues between Chiyo, Sakura versus Sasori and with Sakura using an antidote to stop the poison, she has only three minutes to defeat Sasori before the antidote wears off.
EPISODE 26 – Puppet fight: 10 vs. 100! – Chiyo uses her “Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu” versus Sasori’s “One Hundred Puppet Manipulation Jutsu”.

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” looks awesome. I really like how the characters look much older and the emotions on the character’s faces to the action that takes place in the Sand Village is pretty cool.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

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 Box Set 2 – Season One: Original & Uncut” comes with the following special features:

Voice Actor Featurette: Sand vs. Leaf – Interactive Quiz Show - A video-based quiz show with the voice talents of “Naruto Shippuden” all competing (viewer needs to choose the correct answer and will be awarded points for getting 100 points). Competing are Michael Lindsay (Kankuro), Liam O’Brien (Gaara), Tara Platt (Temari), Maile Flanagan (Naruto), Kate Higgins (Sakura), Dave Wittenberg (Kakashi) and a mystery host!
Relationship Chart: Team Guy – A text based feature showing the relationship of Team Guy: Might Guy, Rock Lee, Neji and Tenten.
Production Art – Using your remote, you can view 16 production art images.
Viz Media Trailers – Trailers for upcoming or current Viz Media releases.

EXTRAS:

“Naruto Shippuden Box Set 2 – Season One: Original & Uncut” comes with a slip case. It’s important to note that the limited edition box set contains a mini ninja Naruto and an exclusive art card.

First, let me start out with how awesome “Naruto Shippuden” has been so far. No slowdown or any weak filler episodes, so far every episode since the first have been all action-packed and intense. “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 2 – Season One: Original & Uncut” continues that as the Konoha Leaf Village ninjas take on members of the Akatsuki.

But with this volume, Sakura fans will be happy with this latest volume as we see how much Sakura has grown up and how her training as a ninja has literally brought her power to new heights. Not only is she a medical ninja, she is now among the most powerful members with her ability to evade but also her ability of massive strength. Never before have we seen Sakura put into a situation like this. She was always the ninja that stood behind Naruto or Sasuke but no more.

To watch Sakura and Grandmother Chiyo take on Sasori, this battle was action-packed, well-planned and it doesn’t end quickly, there is a good build up of episodes and the cliffhanger that you are left with at the end of volume six makes you wanting even more!

And also, it’s not just Sakura that gets the spotlight in this volume, but we also get to see Team Guy in battle. Especially Might Guy as he takes on Kisame Hoshigaki and seeing Rock Lee, Neji and Tenten get into it as well. So, for the most part, it was great to see the characters all fighting in this episode and it makes you wonder when we will see Team 8 in battle.

Overall, there are quite a bit of surprises, twists and turns but for the most part, another exciting, action-packed volume of “Naruto Shippuden”! Definitely recommended!

Filed Under: Anime on DVD

Naruto Shippuden Box Set 1 – Season One: Original & Uncut (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

March 21, 2010 by Dennis Amith · 1 Comment

The sequel to the popular “Naruto” series is here. Hilarious, fun and action-packed! “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 1″ features the first 13-episodes of the season. If you are a “Naruto” fan, this box set is highly recommended!

DVD TITLE: Naruto Shippuden Box Set 1 – Season One: Original & Uncut

DURATION: Episodes 1-13 (325 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: January 26, 2010

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

Naruto Uzumaki is back! After two and a half years of training on the road with Jiraiya of the Sannin, Naruto is back in the Village Hidden in the Leaves and he’s ready to show off his new skills. He and Sakura team up to take on their old master Kakashi, who’s pretty impressed with their progress. They’ll have plenty of opportunity to put it into action when news arrives from the Sand Village that Gaara, Naruto’s former rival and now Kazekage of the Sand, has been kidnapped! And the culprits are the very same group who are after Naruto – the Akatsuki!

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

Here we are now with “Naruto Shippuden” (Naruto: Hurricane Chronicles), a sequel to the “Naruto” series which began a month after the first series ended in Feb. 2007 and as of Feb. 25, 2010, “Naruto Shippuden” aired its 149th episode in Japan. The series has been streaming through Hulu.com a week after its airing in Japan with English subtitles but for fans who have wanted the English dub, the series began airing on Disney’s XD channel. The series has been released in individual volumes (with a total of four episodes) courtesy of Shonen Jump Home Video ala Viz Media and also the first 13 episodes in a box set featuring the original episodes, uncut.

In the sequel, Naruto arrives after his training and now he’s a little older, taller but still is the same naive and energetic kid that he was when he left. Many things have changed since Naruto has left. Sasuke is still gone. Sakura has been training under current Hokage Lady Tsunade, while in the sand village, Gaara has succeeded his father as Sunagakure’s Kazekage (the leader of the village).

This time the threat to the ninja clans are the Akatsuki, a criminal organization which includes powerful ninjas who defected from their villages and a group which include Sasuke’s brother Itachi. At this current time, not much is known of what the Akatsuki are planning but the ninja clans are all under alert trying to figure out what their next move will be.

Here is a brief spoilerless summary of the episodes included on three DVD’s:

DISC 1:

EPISODE 1 – Homecoming – Naruto arrives after his two and half year training with Jiraiya and learns of how things have changed a bit in the village.
EPISODE 2 – The Akatsuki Makes Its Move – The criminal organization Akatsuki makes its move against the Sand Ninja. Meanwhile, Naruto and Sakura must go against their sensei Kakashi in redoing one of their earlier test trials.
EPISODE 3 – The Results of Training – Kakashi learns how far Sakura and Naruto have become. Meanwhile, a traitor is revealed from the Sand Village.
EPISODE 4 – The Jinchuriki of the Sand – The conclusion to Naruto and Sakura’s test. Meanwhile, Gaara takes on Akatsuki’s Deidara.

DISC 2:

EPISODE 5 – The Kazekage Stands Tall – Gaara vs. Deidara above the Sand Village.
EPISODE 6 – Mission Cleared – Deidara unleashes a bomb on the village, can Gaara protect the village.
EPISODE 7 – Run, Kankuro – Deidara and Sasori capture Gaara and Kankuro goes after them.
EPISODE 8 – Team Kakashi, Deployed – Sanade sends Team Kakashi to aid the Sand Village.

DISC 3:

EPISODE 9 – The Jinchuriki’s Tear – Baki of the Sand Village goes to the village elder’s for their help.
EPISODE 10 – Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons – The Akatsuki begin to extract the One-Tailed Shukaku from Gara.
EPISODE 11 – The Medical Ninja’s Student – Team Kakashi arrives at the Sand Village and immediately, Sakura must do all she can to save Kankuro.
EPISODE 12 – The Retired Granny’s Determination – Team Kakashi and Granny Chiyo goes to find the Akatsuki hideout.
EPISODE 13 – A Meeting With Destiny – Team Guy vs. Kisame and Team Kakashi vs. Itachi.

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” looks awesome. I really like how the characters look much older and the emotions on the character’s faces to the action that takes place in the Leaf and Sand Village is pretty cool. For the most part, with the four episodes that I’ve watched, Studio Pierrot has done a pretty solid job with “Naruto Shippuden”.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

As for the audio, audio is pretty much Stereo 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. 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 Box Set 1 – Season One: Original & Uncut” comes with the following special features:

Voice Actor Featurette: Return of a Ninja - (14:35) A featurette with the ADR Director and voice talent of “Naruto Shippuden” as they talk about the series and what they enjoy about working on the series.
Relationship Chart: Team Kakashi – A text based feature showing the relationship of Team Kakashi: Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura.
Production Art – Using your remote, you can view 15 production art images.
Viz Media Trailers – Trailers for upcoming or current Viz Media releases.

EXTRAS:

“Naruto Shippuden Box Set 1 – Season One: Original & Uncut” comes with a slip case. It’s important to note that the limited edition box set contains a mini ninja Naruto and an exclusive art card.

What a wonderful start for “Naruto Shippuden”. So, many fans who have been watching the anime series since its release back in 2002 have grown with this series and watched every episode continuously for so many years and now, here we are with the sequel that is full of action and for the most part, seeing how these characters progressed as a ninja and also have grown older in terms of the way they look. As usual, there is a lot of action but there is a lot of humor in the series and to see him and Sakura together especially taking on Kakashi-sensei was so hilarious.

These uncut episodes do include the commercial bumpers in the beginning and end and also includes the short animated sequence which features the characters in super-deformed format or features a character teaching the viewer something about their village or special ability.

“Naruto Shippuden” is a great anime series and this first volume is definitely a great start for the sequel. But if you are planning to watch the series from beginning to end, you definitely will want to purchase the “Naruto Shippuden Box Set 1 – Season One: Original & Uncut” DVD box set vs. per volume for the better value and you get the first 13 episodes.

But overall, I’m really enjoying the series and seeing how much action is involved in the first 13 episodes and also seeing the other members of the Leaf Village again and them battling the Akatsuki. So, far the series have been enjoyable, action-packed and thrilling. “Naruto” fans, this DVD box set is definitely recommended!

Filed Under: Anime on DVD

Naruto Shippuden Vol. 1 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

February 23, 2010 by Dennis Amith · 2 Comments

The sequel to the popular “Naruto” series! Volume 1 features the first four episodes… and what a fun, action-packed series this has turned out to be!

DVD TITLE: Naruto Shippuden Vol. 1

DURATION: Episodes 1-4 (100 Minutes)

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

COMPANY: Shonen Jump/Viz Media

RATED: Rated T for Older Teen

Release Date: September 29, 2009

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

Naruto Uzumaki is back! After a long training journey with one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, Naruto has returned older, a little bit wiser, and a lot stronger! Sakura’s been studying under another of the Sannin, Tsunade, and is now an accomplished medic ninja with a few new battle skills of her own.

To show off their new skills, Naruto and Sakura team up to take on their old master, Kakashi. While the three battle it out, the Village Hidden in the Sand is infiltrated by the Akatsuki, who are after Naruto’s old rival and the newest Kazekage of the Sand – Gaara!

Contains episodes 1-4:
Homecoming
The Akatsuki Makes Its Move
The Results of Training
The Jinchuriki of the Sand

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

Here we are now with “Naruto Shippuden” (Naruto: Hurrican Chronicles), a sequel to the “Naruto” series which began a month after the first series ended in Feb. 2007 and as of Feb. 25, 2010, “Naruto Shippuden” aired its 149th episode in Japan. The series has been streaming through Hulu.com a week after its airing in Japan with English subtitles but for fans who have wanted the English dub, the series began airing on Disney’s XD channel. The series has been released in individual volumes (with a total of four episodes) courtesy of Shonen Jump Home Video ala Viz Media and also as complete season box sets.

Here is a brief spoilerless summary of the first four episodes.

EPISODE 1 – Homecoming – Naruto arrives after his two and half year training with Jiraiya and learns of how things have changed a bit in the village.

EPISODE 2 – The Akatsuki Makes Its Move – The criminal organization Akatsuki makes its move against the Sand Ninja. Meanwhile, Naruto and Sakura must go against their sensei Kakashi in redoing one of their earlier test trials.

EPISODE 3 – The Results of Training – Kakashi learns how far Sakura and Naruto have become. Meanwhile, a traitor is revealed from the Sand Village.

EPISODE 4 – The Jinchuriki of the Sand – The conclusion to Naruto and Sakura’s test. Meanwhile, Gaara takes on Akatsuki’s Deidara.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

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” looks very solid. I really like how the characters look much older and the emotions on the character’s faces to the action that takes place in the Leaf and Sand Village is pretty cool. For the most part, with the four episodes that I’ve watched, Studio Pierrot has done a pretty solid job with “Naruto Shippuden”.

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“Naruto Shippuden” doesn’t come with any special features but trailers.

Overall, “Naruto Shippuden” is a great anime series and this first volume is definitely a great start for the sequel. But if you are planning to watch the series from beginning to end, you may want to purchase the DVD box set 1 which contains the first 13 episodes, special features and a limited edition version of the complete season which comes with a mini ninja Naruto and an exclusive art card.

Filed Under: Anime on DVD

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