price：$2.99
Funimation Prod
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review ("Love At First Bite") 『-Box Artwork- The box is slim and thin. Can be easily disformed if improperly stored.
-CD Cases- Contains only two very slim cases with two characters on the backside. The frontside features the phases (aka series) that are grouped by episodes. Opening these contain two disc with picture artwork inside the disc.
-Extra Features- Comes with advertisement of upcoming titles and a postcard to fill out to Funanimation. There are no special features on the disc except the 4th disc which are textless endings and openings, however it doesn't contain all the endings/openings. Boo.
-Languages- Contains both English and Japanese versions along with the option of subtitles.
---Music--- The music fits the scenes and mood of the show. There's a very nice soft-spoken song at the end credits that I would recommend listening to.
-Plot- A supernatural photographer comes across a mansion in which he sees a mysterious girl ontop of the roof. Her name is Hazuki and she has been imprisoned in the castle for many years, waiting for the day that her freedom would come. Now that "he's" here she'll be set free from the castle. But this seemingly 'innocent'-like girl has an spoiled attitude of her own and is determined that he will become her servant, whether he wants to or not. However, the Master and his servants are searching for Hazuki, to bring her back to the castle and convert her back to her 'proper' form permanently.
Good: -Humor, laughs, and frying pans? -Artwork is gorgeous and interesting at times -Vampire girl dresses as a cute kitty? -Fights are interesting/cool. The Count's ability to "change" from bending light is a interesting battle to see.
Bad: -May be turned off that the main character age difference. -Hazuki can appear to be 'seductive' at times. Again, may be turned off by this. -We never get to see the "Master" in this series. Maybe he'll be in the future? -Hazuki's voice is annoying in the dub. -*Spoiler* is Elfried's relative?!
A cute,eye-candy rewarding series to watch. Like vampire stories but don't like the intense overly-dark plots? (Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing? then moonphase is for you. Although moonphase does has humor it never looses sight of it's true objective and can be serious at times. A definite and recommended buy with a love factor thrown in the mist. 』
(Anime "Moonphase" box set.) 『Excellent blend of suspense with a lot of humor. Not one boring, or filler, episode! Great storyline and a hilarious last episode to wrap up the show!! Ann Z.』
(Dismiss the cover art, this collection is good.) 『The description's plot is a tad inaccurate, as the story revolves around Luna and "The Master" (not seen in the episodes*).
Hazuki, aka Luna (only when wearing the pendant on a full moon), is trapped in a castle. Kouhei is enlisted to help Hazuki break free of the castle's barrier, and "adopts" Hazuki into his family.
There are actually two stories within this series: Hazuki adapting to a world where people care about here after being left alone and "The Master"'s attempts at restoring Luna. The two stories intertwine nicely and the overall plot is well written.
Hazuki's character can be a bit annoying at times (especially whining about Kouhei being her slave). Monica Rial, who voiced Hazuki, does a good job but at the cost of a high-pitched whining little vampire. I wish she would have used Luna's voice instead, but such is life.
The additional characters, such as Grandfather, are a welcome addition to the story and actually offer substantial meaning to the plot. There are times when the show seems a bit dark, but is quickly brought back with the family style bickering between Kouhei and Kazuki.
It won't take long to feel for Kazuki despite her difficult transition into the real world, especially near the end of the series (no spoilers, sorry). In short, take advantage of the low cost of this collection and enjoy it.
This collection is tastefully done. While there are a few bathtub scenes, nudity isn't present, nor does it contain over-the-top sexual innuendos. However, some elements of darkness may not make this series suitable for those under the age of 13.
*Since we don't see "The Master" in this series, I would certainly hope a sequel is coming. I would love to see one.』
(A very fun series with a bit of edge) 『We really liked this series. Fun characters with a very unique story. The animation is very good and it has a wonderful mixture of cuteness and wit and edge as well.』
(Fanastic Vampire Anime) 『It's definitely not Vampire D or Trinity Blood but it's worth adding to your anime collection. I found this series to be quite entertaining and had me laughing a good deal of the time.
My only complaint about the series was that they never faced the head vampire (her father) and the last episode in my opinion was total crap ... I had to forced myself to watch it just because it was the last episode. Definitely not a good way to end a great anime series if you ask me (reminded me of the god awful ending to Neon Genesis Evangelion).
.... loved the cat ears and the ghetto cat costume for avoiding the sunlight ... good stuff.』 『The complete Gothic vampire series for a great low price!
Starring the cutest little bloodsucker you will ever set eyes upon, MoonPhase is a lighthearted yet deceptively entertaining tale. With a lineup of characters at once silly and endearing, this spunky series takes tongue-in-cheek comedy to a whole new level… Pointless frills and all!
While Kouhei ranks among the best in paranormal photography, he’s never actually seen a ghost. So when he fails to capture a hauntingly beautiful young girl on camera, curiosity drives him into the arms of a vampire and a world he cannot comprehend. Hazuki, having waited years for someone to finally set her free, proves unwilling to part with her unwitting hero and follows him home, promptly adopting his life as her own. And as the petite fanged wreaks her own flavor of havoc, mysterious forces conspire to reclaim what was lost. The truth could be one that none dare to face.
A story of forces both light and dark, of family curses and bonds stronger than blood. Some riddles are best left unsolved…
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Desert Punk FTW) 『Great purchase! Thats all I can really say I watched this series non-stop for 3 months because i loved it so much. I am happy that I purchased this set. The set comes in crappy little plastic cases, but that doesnt take away from the quaility of the show. Im not much for purchase presentation when it comes to movies, as long as the picture is high quality and the show rocks. which it does. This review probably wasnt very helpful, but i assume that anyone thinking about purchasing this collection has seen the show and is just debating wether or not to shell out the cash-do it!』
(The show is awsome, gonzo however not so much.) 『I watched this back a few years ago and loved it, put it on my wish list, and got it in the tin for xmas, downside is no disc one. Other then that great quality show, I just can't really re watch it with the first episodes MIA. Other then what I am hoping is a rare problem I highly recomend this tin box set.』
(Something a little different) 『Bought this as a gift for somebody who likes obscure anime. From my brief exposure to it, I would say it is very entertaining, combines some good sci-fi overtones, but is not an anime classic.』
(p.s.: your mother is a dirty whore......) 『when I was recommended this series from a friend. I dodnt know what to exspect. but I must say it was highly enjoyable. the characters were well written, the action scenes kicked ass, and it had one of the most interesting plot twists out there. If ya like post apocolyptic series like Trigun, this is your bag.』
(desert punk box set) 『I own a lot of anime and desert punk is in my top five.Very very funny plus a lot of guns,babes and the it facter!the it facter is a anime that makes you want more no matter the cost for the price it is now dont let this one on pass you by.』 『"a quirky futuristic post apocalyptic adventure focused around guns and boobs." ---Anime on DVD
This Collector Tin is packed with all 24 Desert Punk episodes.
The set includes :
All the original Japanese extras
Main character cast auditions
Textless songs
Art book featuring the Japanese DVD parody sleeves』
price：$2.46
Viz Video
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Easy to watch, will bring a smile) 『As long as you don't expect plot and great story you will find yourself enjoying the Ranma 1/2 series. I find myself watching them when I just want to relax and smile. It is an easy series to sit down and watch an episode or two.』
(The third season of Ranma 1/2) 『This set contains the twenty-four episodes that comprised the third season of Ranma 1/2, and also has five special features.
The first two extras are the textless opening and the textless ending. As expected, the textless opening and ending are just the opening and ending credits without the text. The third extra is a line art gallery, which has roughly fifteen pages of model sketches of characters and locations. Next is a cast list, which is a list of the English and Japanese voice actors for each character. The final extra are actor profiles, which are filmographies for the English voice actors.
Ranma 1/2 Hard Battle is a rather "low frills" DVD set, and the extras are rather similar to the ones on the Ranma 1/2 Anything-Goes Martial Arts set. While these features are better than what appeared as the extras on the first Ranma 1/2 box set, I still wish an effort had been made to track down some of the English voice actors and interview them to include as extras on the sets.
This season of Ranma 1/2 definitely has more of a focus on the supernatural in comparison to the first two seasons (including a cursed bra and magic mirror). While these stories are an enjoyable viewing, the episodes are definitely a little "stranger" than the episodes in the previous two seasons.
Ranma 1/2 Hard Battle tends to run between $40 and $50 at retail. While this could be considered a little high-priced for what you get, the episodes are still worth the cost (even with some of the "stranger" stories being told this season). The series is very enjoyable for an older audience (16 and up), and really should be in an anime fan's DVD collection.』
(Last GREAT SEASON, Awesome SALE PRICE =)) 『Ranma is a great series that no doubt anime fans will know. The series for some reason has been dubbed for years and seems to have finally come to a close when season 7 was released about 2 years ago. It's been over a decade worth of dubbing already. I've been watching the show since the 90's and it's nice that it's finally finished. Overall i am so pleased with my purchase. If you're looking 2 pick up the Ranma box sets, these are the ones to purchase. They are slimmer and more compact and designed really well. The re-releases are the exact same ones as the $120.00 versions but in a smaller package and at more reasonable and affordable price. I got mine form AMZ on sale and it was 44% off which came up to $1.00 per episode. I can't wait to add the episodes to my iPod. This is the last season with the male Ranma voice actor that we've all come to know and love. I wasn't too crazy when season 4 rolled around a new voice actor was cast. That was the only downfall of the remaining 4 seasons. On top of that the animation in season 3 gets pretty sloppy. I have no idea why this happened but it did. For the remaining few seasons the series characters get a slight make over to match their OAV counter parts. But even that wasn't enough to save it from the poor animation quality that was delivered. On top of that the story lines really get less then creative as the seasons go on. But out of each season you still get a few stellar episodes here and there. In season 3 you get introduced to Ukyo, another Ranma suitor and the rest of gang is back as well for more laughs and entertainment. Ranma really has a great cast when it comes to the voice actors and they balance the comedy very well. Overall, i am very pleased my purchase and for the price i can't complain. The shipping came pretty fast considering it was free. Getting this at $49.99 isn't worth it. But hold out as AMZ always has sales on these anime sets.』
(Great Series! Pricey though and shipped slow) 『The anime series is excellent and this particular season is quite good despite what others may have said about episode connection. The only reason it gets a 4 instead of a 5 is because of amazon. Great job!~』
(Where did the story arcs go?!?) 『The one thing that I was really enjoying about the first two seasons of Ranma½ is the fact that they both had a certain season long `theme' to each.
Also, I enjoyed the story arcs that were present in each season, although to be honest, I found that the arcs were getting smaller and smaller during season two.
So, here we have season three.
There were no story arcs to speak of. Pretty much each and every episode was a stand alone episode, with very little in common to the previous episodes of the season.
Although I do have to admit that if season three had any sort of common theme, it was the supernatural theme.
The episodes of this season delved far more into magic and the supernatural than any of the previous seasons. Some of the highlights of season three supernatural episodes included Ranma's female side being brought out of him, a bra that happens to contain the ghost of a vengeful witch, time travelling back almost three hundred years into the past, a soup that makes the person who imbues it super strong, a cursed kendo sword, and three versions of a love potion.
Whew!
Oh, and lets not forget that Ranma gets yet ANOTHER fiancée in this season, although she's now where near as obsessed in getting him to marry her as Shampoo or the black Rose.
Yes, there was plenty of humour to be certain in this season, but I am left to wonder, just how closely does the animated series follow the manga? Did the story arcs slow down in the manga as well? Somehow I doubt that happened.
Also, maybe it's just me, but I noticed a distinct drop in the amount of nudity on screen. That's not really a bad thing, after all, if you get too much nudity, the show risks becoming yet another Japanese Henti.
Man, does that make me sound prudish or what?
A couple of highlights from season three - first, Ranma getting conked on the head and having his female side take over. It was almost painful to watch him (her?) act so feminine! Then there was Kuno's ninja man servant leaving the Kuno estate after a particularly bad day of humiliation. And finally, my personal favourite, the episode where Ryoga finally got his wish and he was able to go on a date with Akane.
After having watched three full seasons of Ranma I have to say this... there are quite a few questions that keep popping up in my mind.
Why is Genma so dishonourable? He's obsessed with teaching his son Martial arts, and yet he's made numerous promises to people he's met (such as exchanging Ranma to be someone's fiancée for food. He's a very poor role model for Ranma, and it's surprising that Soun Tendo is his friend.
Truth be told, Soun isn't much better than Genma, but at least his heart's in the right place and he seems as baffled as Ranma at some of Genma's actions.
How did Cologne, shampoo's great, great grandmother get to be so short? And for that matter, how did she manage to live to be over three hundred years old? And how about Happosai? Since they happened to know one another from their youth how come he's so old as well?
Here's hoping that some of these questions will be answered in the later seasons.
Overall, it was quite enjoyable, but I have to admit that I'm getting a little bored with the stand alone episode format. I will be picking up the forth season soon enough, but I'm not holding any hope that this format of stand alone episodes that are only loosely tied together will be broken.
Oh, and the other downside to this DVD set is the fact that like the previous season, there were no special features present.
3.5 out of 5 』 『It's not easy being teenage martial artist Ranma Saotome, but it's even worse when your martial-artist father Genma takes you from home at an early age to go on a decade-long training mission. He doesn't speak a word of Chinese, and yet he insists upon bringing you to the cursed training ground known as Jusenkyo, where falling into one of the many springs there instantly turns you into whoever--or whatever--drowned there last. And then, the two of you have this little accident...
From now on, a splash of cold water will turn your father into a giant panda, while you...well, you turn into a red-haired (and problematically well-built) female version of yourself. Hot water will reverse the effect, but only until the next time. What's a half-guy, half-girl to do?』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (what a high quality bailey box) 『The two Kamuis family finally awaken! Kamui has chosen to be a Dragon of Heaven, forcing Fuma, Kamui's twin star, to become a Dragon of Earth. Those two will fight hard.』 『Contains X TV DVD Volumes 5-8 in a high-quality Bailey box!
The two Kamuis finally awaken! Kamui has chosen to be a Dragon of Heaven, forcing Fuma, Kamui's twin star, to become a Dragon of Earth. Battle between the two is inevitiable, but not while Kamui is still unconscious from the shock of Kotori's death. Subaru dives into Kamui's dream to save him, as Fuma contacts other members of the Dragons of Earth - Kakyo and Nataku!DVD Features: Reversible Covers.』
price：$2.99
Funimation Prod
Usually ships in 24 hours 『Case Closed is the final verdict for mystery fans who enjoy wrapping their minds around a good, old-fashioned whodunit.
The criminal mind is a twisted place, and Jimmy Kudo knows the shady corridors of humanity better than any detective in the game. There ain’t a bad guy in town who can outsmart him, so they try to put the super sleuth down for a dirt nap. But instead of ending up in a shallow grave, Jimmy wakes up to find himself turned back into a kid. Utilizing his unlikely new persona and the latest in crime-fighting gadgetry, he tracks down his assailants as boy detective Conan Edogawa.』
price：$17.49
Funimation Prod
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review ("Love At First Bite") 『-Box Artwork- The box is slim and thin. Can be easily disformed if improperly stored.
-CD Cases- Contains only two very slim cases with two characters on the backside. The frontside features the phases (aka series) that are grouped by episodes. Opening these contain two disc with picture artwork inside the disc.
-Extra Features- Comes with advertisement of upcoming titles and a postcard to fill out to Funanimation. There are no special features on the disc except the 4th disc which are textless endings and openings, however it doesn't contain all the endings/openings. Boo.
-Languages- Contains both English and Japanese versions along with the option of subtitles.
---Music--- The music fits the scenes and mood of the show. There's a very nice soft-spoken song at the end credits that I would recommend listening to.
-Plot- A supernatural photographer comes across a mansion in which he sees a mysterious girl ontop of the roof. Her name is Hazuki and she has been imprisoned in the castle for many years, waiting for the day that her freedom would come. Now that "he's" here she'll be set free from the castle. But this seemingly 'innocent'-like girl has an spoiled attitude of her own and is determined that he will become her servant, whether he wants to or not. However, the Master and his servants are searching for Hazuki, to bring her back to the castle and convert her back to her 'proper' form permanently.
Good: -Humor, laughs, and frying pans? -Artwork is gorgeous and interesting at times -Vampire girl dresses as a cute kitty? -Fights are interesting/cool. The Count's ability to "change" from bending light is a interesting battle to see.
Bad: -May be turned off that the main character age difference. -Hazuki can appear to be 'seductive' at times. Again, may be turned off by this. -We never get to see the "Master" in this series. Maybe he'll be in the future? -Hazuki's voice is annoying in the dub. -*Spoiler* is Elfried's relative?!
A cute,eye-candy rewarding series to watch. Like vampire stories but don't like the intense overly-dark plots? (Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing? then moonphase is for you. Although moonphase does has humor it never looses sight of it's true objective and can be serious at times. A definite and recommended buy with a love factor thrown in the mist. 』
(Anime "Moonphase" box set.) 『Excellent blend of suspense with a lot of humor. Not one boring, or filler, episode! Great storyline and a hilarious last episode to wrap up the show!! Ann Z.』
(Dismiss the cover art, this collection is good.) 『The description's plot is a tad inaccurate, as the story revolves around Luna and "The Master" (not seen in the episodes*).
Hazuki, aka Luna (only when wearing the pendant on a full moon), is trapped in a castle. Kouhei is enlisted to help Hazuki break free of the castle's barrier, and "adopts" Hazuki into his family.
There are actually two stories within this series: Hazuki adapting to a world where people care about here after being left alone and "The Master"'s attempts at restoring Luna. The two stories intertwine nicely and the overall plot is well written.
Hazuki's character can be a bit annoying at times (especially whining about Kouhei being her slave). Monica Rial, who voiced Hazuki, does a good job but at the cost of a high-pitched whining little vampire. I wish she would have used Luna's voice instead, but such is life.
The additional characters, such as Grandfather, are a welcome addition to the story and actually offer substantial meaning to the plot. There are times when the show seems a bit dark, but is quickly brought back with the family style bickering between Kouhei and Kazuki.
It won't take long to feel for Kazuki despite her difficult transition into the real world, especially near the end of the series (no spoilers, sorry). In short, take advantage of the low cost of this collection and enjoy it.
This collection is tastefully done. While there are a few bathtub scenes, nudity isn't present, nor does it contain over-the-top sexual innuendos. However, some elements of darkness may not make this series suitable for those under the age of 13.
*Since we don't see "The Master" in this series, I would certainly hope a sequel is coming. I would love to see one.』
(A very fun series with a bit of edge) 『We really liked this series. Fun characters with a very unique story. The animation is very good and it has a wonderful mixture of cuteness and wit and edge as well.』
(Fanastic Vampire Anime) 『It's definitely not Vampire D or Trinity Blood but it's worth adding to your anime collection. I found this series to be quite entertaining and had me laughing a good deal of the time.
My only complaint about the series was that they never faced the head vampire (her father) and the last episode in my opinion was total crap ... I had to forced myself to watch it just because it was the last episode. Definitely not a good way to end a great anime series if you ask me (reminded me of the god awful ending to Neon Genesis Evangelion).
.... loved the cat ears and the ghetto cat costume for avoiding the sunlight ... good stuff.』 『"The cutest bloodsucker you will ever see!" ---Anime Insider
While Kouhei ranks among the best in paranormal photography, he’s never actually seen a ghost! So when he fails to capture a hauntingly beautiful young girl on camera, he knows there must be an explanation. Driven by curiosity, his spiritual insensitivity proves a curse indeed as the young photographer crosses barriers best left alone, stumbling into the armsof a haughty vampire and a world he cannot comprehend.
The young vampire Hazuki, having waited years for someone to finally set her free, proves unwilling to part with her unwitting hero and follows him home, promptly adopting his life as her own. And as the adolescent vampire wreaks her own flavor of havoc, mysterious forces conspire to reclaim what was lost. Some riddles are best left unsolved…』
price：$6.99
Funimation Prod
Usually ships in 2 to 3 days Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (this was my first anime) 『i didn't like anime until i saw solty rei sens i got it six mounts ago i have bought 4 other anime so if you dont like anime git the first disk and you will fall i love with anime』
(S'ok..was not what I was expecting) 『Now don't get me wrong I loved the whole premise, the acting was excellant, and I loved the back stories. In fact it was a brilliant series...except for some details that noone mentioned in their reviews. In every episode, save for maybe 4, the creators for some stupid reason found it nessesary to show Solty, the female agents, and pretty much any FEMALE on the show showering, bathing, or changing, naked throughout save for some VERY strategically placed hair. It is completely unnessesary and if I had known that that was in there I would never of purchased this set, and after I watched it I brought it to my FYE and got rid of it. Not to mention that when I recieved it one part where the discs were held in was broken and wouldn't hold the 5th disc. So, no, I wouldn't reccomend this product to anyone.』
(I cried... I really cried.) 『 I started watching Solty Rei not knowing what to expect, it was a new Anime recently released from funimation. I must say the series dragged me in as soon as I heard the theme song. It was great, and got me excited to watch. Now I will be honest though, you probably won't hear much about Solty Rei because its english release is new and about a month old really, but the sub titled versions have been floating around for a while. However, Solty Rei is really one of the better Anime's out there.
The story starts of with a cute girl name Solty and a bitter bounty hunter named Roy. The two are complete opposites, but the way their characters bond together is amazing. The story is really beautiful and feels like a roller coaster with all its up and downs. I'm by no means a soft guy, but this Anime had me quite teary eyed throughout it. The characters and their emotions and the beatiful visual style in which it is displayed is beyond amazing. You really get a great feel of how the main characters think and act and why.
The only downside to Solty is that the main story is only 24 episodes long. Amazingly they manage to tie in so much that you don't feel like your missing much, but you just don't want it to end. The story of Solty Rei is full of plot twist and turns that you really just wouldn't expect or see comming at all. A lot of the story is shrouded in mystery and you find the answers along with the characters.
Over all this Anime is a must add to the collection and I certainly wouldn't skip out on this one!』
(This Series Is Good!!!!!) 『Well.....this sereis is pretty intertaining in every deparment. First the story is about a girl with super powers. As the story continues the girl falls and saves the life of a guy doing his job. the guy, called Roy, help the girl by letting her crash the night at his place, and the girl wakes up and she has no memory of anything. One thing leads to another they find out she is a cyborg/robot, but all-in-all the series was intertaining. the whole series had a serious tone/mood to it but it had its funny, sad, and screwed up parts in it as well. This series is a must buy for anyone even if your not an anime-junky ;)』
(Great story telling! Very Satisfying!) 『This is so good it makes me happy seeing it in my collection.
The story telling is top notch... Because of that you can easily believe that the events happening are meaningful even though they are rich with Sci-Fi energy.
The animation and character design is comparable to Burst Angel (The 3D work is just as excellent too). The characters in this are much more modestly dressed than they were in BA though.
The premise of the story is comparable to Elvin Lied or Chobits (Or many others.. for that matter...). Except the Male in the story is a grouchy old man, rather than a horny teen. The role of Solty ends up not being a sensual relationship but is still very loving.
The ending is deeply moving... I'd like to say more about it but I don't want to spoil the transformations that you see the characters go through. Suffice it to say: It is highly likely you will "FEEL" many emotions throughout this work.
I wish I could give it more stars...
The art is fantastic. The story is believable, even though it is way out in left field. It is semi cliche' but it is done well enough to overlook any of that. The 3D works very seamlessly into the 2D work. The Production quality is very high. Also, the story has three phases of endings... which closes the story any way you want it to close...
This was worth every penny spent.』 『It’s been twelve years since the Blast Fall, an unexplained disaster that left countless dead and many more maimed. Society is divided and every citizen feels the burn, most of all the Resembles – people whose mangled bodies have been rebuilt with high-tech prosthetic devices. Bounty hunter Roy Revant has seen it all, walking alone in this shattered city. That is, until the day a strange little girl named Solty falls from the sky straight into his heart. The search for family turns into a search for meaning and those that wield harsh power over society won’t go unnamed for long. Roy and Solty may seek different things… But who wants to search for truth alone?
Box Set contains the entire Solty Rei series - over 615 minutes of action!』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Beautiful) 『A really beautifully done series. It starts off wonderfully, loses a bit in the middle, but ends on a strong note. This is pretty impressive since most of the time when an Anime series concludes before the Manga the ending is pretty bad. I still would not put the story telling in the same league as Kenshin's Kyoto arc, the art certainly makes up for it. It is a solid series and one of the few "newer" series I really enjoyed.』
(Two Futures - One Destiny) 『The world is in trouble. Through the course of fated destinies, a handful of trained warriors have been called to either protect humanity or to cleans the Earth, bringing about a rebirth to the land. Ironically, a double-edged sword - or twin sword, "X" is an epic adventure that builds characters that an audience can follow, a plot that is emotional, and animation that is so grandiose, that it would make Disney shed a tear. Alas, that isn't to say this series is without faults, but the central key moments are so developed, that one cannot help but jump from one episode to the next, eager to see what befalls our heroes and villains. This was my first full-length animated series (outside of "Serial: Lain") that I have experienced, and while it wasn't as powerful as my prior viewings, it was enough to keep my interest going in this genre. "X" is a series of powerful battles, engrossing story arcs, impressive sounds, and unexpected turns - so developed that even the amateur anime watcher will be captivated by this world. "X" requires dedication, it requires time, and it requires strength to remember who is interconnected with whom, but in the end, it pays off rewardingly.
Upon watching this series, one could easily jump to the finale to see the epic conclusion, but what makes "X" more than just your typical Saturday-morning cartoon epic is the characters that we literally get to understand (and at times fall for) within the twenty-four breathtaking episodes. The evil of Fuma, the depression of Subaru, and the love that Satsuki feels are just a few of the emotions that we are privy to throughout this series. Also within the twenty-four episodes, we see moments of fantasy, destruction, betrayal, love, death, and desire. What pulled me in from the opening episode of this series is the curvy path the director as well as the creators took me on. We aren't introduced to the heroine right away, we are mislead, shadowed throughout, and while small truths are revealed in each individual episode, "X" continues to leave question upon question unanswered, forcing us to look forward to the upcoming episode. Couple this with the outstanding, crisp animation, and "X" seems refreshing in the tub of overplayed and over-recycled American animation. There were certain scenes that just stood out in your mind (especially the final battle), backgrounds that were breathtaking, and battles that made you ask, "How did they do that?" The adult themes and blood-filled battles (unheard of in American animation), bring a sense of realism to this story that is not suitable for young children, but as an adult, I would rather kids watch this instead of what is currently programmed.
Alas, as mentioned earlier, "X" isn't perfect. It isn't a series that I could immediately reboot, but could suggest to friends. There is quite a bit of development towards a twin-sword in this series, and it likened me to what was impressive as well as disappointing in this series. As previously stated, each episode takes us closer to the truth; sometimes it was the pacing that draws us back. Twenty-four episodes are quite a bit to watch, and in the center episodes, as we develop further relationships and characters, there seems to be a lull in the momentum that was initially set. While battles do not seem to be in short supply, it is the introduction to characters that are impressive, but seem to be left behind as larger stories unfold. With some, they come and go quickly, almost as if our creators didn't really have a full plot for them to follow. This may be my only complaint about this series...one can only repeat the fact that the characters were bold, impressive, and invigorating, but their roles within the world of "X" were not as exciting as I wanted them to be. This was a story about technology, humanity, and nature, and, alas, these three elements were not explored as well as they could. My other small complaint is the lack of real-world complications. While our character's emotions were honest and believable, the battles seemed staged merely due to the barriers they were able to use to not cause damage to the surrounding city. No humans actually were privy to this battle, and I think that could have been explored further. We seemed to focus only on our main characters, and only within their flashbacks, did we see any other involvement with the real world. I wished to see who the people supported, and who they would rally behind in such an epic battle. The ending does mention that the public never would know about their future, but it seemed cheap to me.
Overall, this was a great series despite the picky critic flaws. I would recommend this series to anyone interested in an epic that involves a substantial storyline, amazing characters, and intense battle sequences. This would be a favorite to anyone who enjoys the "Final Fantasy" films or games.
Grade: *** out of ***** 』
(Misleading and unclear) 『Terrible item. The pictures show all 8 volumes, yet only recieved 4. Does not say anywhere that it only includes volumes 1-4. Furthermore, after very careful research, the 2nd box set says it only has 3 dics, implying that there is only 3 volumes in it, whereas there should be 4 discs, which are the remaining volumes 5-8.』
(Too Much Formulaic Action) 『This series starts out so entirely confusing that it takes three episodes to actually understand what is going on. Even then most of it doesn't make a lot of sense.
It has a lot of the flavor of a company putting out a product based on customer surveys instead of a well written story turned into a film.
Still, better than nothing even though you have a hard time identifying all of the various characters who all look the same. 』
(out of all the anime series out their this one has the most strangest name) 『Two groups of supernaturally powered warriors begin a prophetic battle to shape the future - a clash that will rock the foundations of the planet! The Seven Dragons of Earth swear to purge humanity from the world, while the Seven Dragons of Heaven are earths last hope.』 『Contains X TV DVD Volumes 1-4 in a high-quality Bailey box!
Two Futures. Two Sides. One Choice. X.
Two groups of supernaturally powered warriors begin a prophetic battle to shape the future - a clash that will rock the foundations of the planet! The Seven Dragons of Earth swear to purge humanity from the world, while the Seven Dragons of Heaven are the last hope of all mankind. One young man holds the key to Earth's destiny - but to choose the side of good, he may spell doom for all creation.Spoken Languages: English, Japanese, English Subtitles.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Best reverse-harem anime I've ever seen.) 『It's a combination of Paradise Kiss, Ouran High School Host Club, Karin, Super Gals, Gokusen,&Hare + Guu.
The main character is a bipolar schizophrenic with Body Dysmorphia Disorder who switches back&forth between an emo goth&a stark raving b**ch. That alone was enough to get me to watch this. As a bonus, we get 3 beautiful men&one that looks like a chick...all of them are sorta terrified of her&her violent outbutst&her macabre interests. She is "ugly" to everyone in the show, only the audience sees her as beautiful...when she's not in chibi-form.
*SPOILERS AHOY!*
There's one boy obviously ment to play the love interest; the token idiot blonde. Rather than be her knight in shining armor, she ususally has to rescue him,&he gets kidnapped a lot. He also gets stalked&sexually harrassed by both men&women. On top of that, the other boys don't seem to have any romantic interest in her; two are already spoken for.
The boys' mission is to make their landlord's niece into a refined lady, so she's their pet project. Despite everything trying to force Sunako (the main girl)&Kyouhei (the dumb blonde) into coupledom, the two continue to barely tollerate eachother; a formula Kareshi Kanojo should have gone with.
In episode 14, she gets high on mushrooms&temporarily becomes a girly-girl. At first the boys are delighted because she's no longer creepy, she's sweet,&their landlady would grant them free rent. In less than a day, all of them, especially Kyouhei, realize that her bad cooking skills aren't the only thing they dislike about the new her&they try to get her back to her freaky old self.
In the end, the plan to make her into a refined lady is completely abandoned, everyone accepts her for the way she is,&Kyouhei&Sunako never hook up. He likes her as a friend, but she is too much like his mother, whom he swore he'd never see again. Sanako likes Kyouhei as a friend, but is uncomfortable with his attractiveness, more in a turned-off way.
So in the end, I would categorize this as antishoujo, antiharem, somewhat antiromance,&I totally recommend you try the other animes I mentioned in the first paragraph.』
(An Anime That Was Just Too Good To Pass Up) 『The Wallflower starts off with four bishounen boys that are living in a big mansion. One day, when their landlady requests of them to turn her niece into a lady for free rent, of course, they agree. But they didn't know that the niece, Sunako Nakahara, was obsessed with everything creepy and scary. Her best friend is an anatomical figure! Not only that, but she gets major nosebleeds whenever she sees anyone who is "dazzlingly bright". The boys have to deal with the scary Sunako while still trying to turn her into a lady. The problem with Sunako is that when she was in middle school, a boy she really like called her ugly. So she gave up trying to be girly and gave in to the darkness.
This anime is completely hilarious. The voice actors did an amazing job on expressing emotions through the voices, and the characters are so . . . real. Some of the episodes are just completely eccentric, like episode 15, where the group goes to an island where Sunako gets possessed by a ghost, and they all get hallucinations on what they really want to see. There's nothing like The Wallflower to make you feel better when you're feeling down, or when you have little self-confidence.
The only con is that this anime ended too soon for me. There should have been more to it than just 25 episodes. The manga goes way ahead of the anime, and it never says what ever happens to Sunako and Kyohei.』
(A fun and enjoyable anime series that I wanted to see more and more of after it was all done...) 『From the director of "Excel Saga" comes the anime "THE WALLFLOWER" aka "Yamatonadeshiko Shichihenge" which will satisfy every Bishonen/J-Rock fan out there.
The popular 25-episode anime is based on the manga series by Hayakawa Tomoko and serialized in "Bessatsu Friend" in Japan and by Del Rey Manga in the US and was originally released through ADV Films has its complete collection released on DVD courtesy of FUNimation Entertainment.
The story revolves around 4 guys - the dark haired Oda Takenaga, the short hair blonde Toyama Yuki, the red head flirt Morii Ranmaru and the leader of the group, the tough but handsome blonde Kyohei Takano.
The four men are pretty boys that the girls gush over and happen to live in a lavish mansion courtesy of the Landlady who has given the men a mission. The goal is to make the Landlady's niece, Sunako, to an elegant lady. If they managed to, they get free rent. If they don't, they will have to pay three times the amount to live there.
Of course, the guys want to make sure they succeed and feel that there should be no problem... that is until they meet Sunako. A girl who doesn't dress all that well. She wears a stained sweatshirt, amoeba-like design dress and bad tennis shoes. Her bangs are so long that it covers the face and she happens to be scary. In fact, she's so creepy that her friends are two anatomy demonstration dummies and a skeleton.
Why Sunako is like this stems from a past guy that she liked and told her straight out that he would never date someone so ugly. Being devastated, she has regressed for years and lives in her bedroom and pretty much has succumb to the darkness.
So, Sunako has become a recluse and totally into the weirdest things and her best friend is Hiroshi, anatomic model used to show the guts and innards of a human being. Adding to her creepiness, she digs really dark and scary things and she can't take how these radiant guys are trying to make her beautiful. In fact, she gets creepy thoughts of how to kill the guys but even the thought of them gives her a nosebleed.
The main characters of "The Wallflower" are:
* Sunako Nakahara - The creepy girl who has lived in darkness after being told by a guy she liked that he doesn't go for ugly girls. Since then, she has let herself go in darkness until her aunt has four radiant guys who will live with her to change her. Her best friends are anatomical dummies and a skeleton. She is often shown as this short creepy girl but there are times when her beautiful side is shown and she is as tall as the other guys. Talented in cooking but has low self-esteem and is anti-social. * Kyouhei Takano - The leader of the guys. Most popular, most attractive, most athletic and great at fighting and getting attention for his looks. And loves Sunako's cooking and is often the person who has reached out to Sunako, even kissing her. The blonde member of the group. * Takenaga Oda - Serious and intelligent and seems to be unphased by Sunako at times. Despite coming from a wealthy family, the pressure from his family has him living away from them and with the other guys. Has a relationship (which he has a hard time admitting to) with Noi. The black haired member of the group. * Ranmaru Morii - The playboy. Comes from a family of wealthy hotel owners and loves older women. Tries to use his charm to help Sunako. The red-haired member of the group. * Yukinojo "Yuki" Toyama - The youngest of the guys. Kind-hearted and always willing to help Sunako. But because he looks like effeminate, he hates that, especially when people think of him as a girl or weak. The short-haired blonde member of the group. * Naie "Noi" Kasahara - The often sixth member of the group. The most popular/beautiful girl in school who is in love with Takenga Oda and believes that she is his girlfriend. Because Takenaga is trying to help Sunako, she does the same and is always willing to help and defend Sunako and is seen trying to help the guys.
"The Wallflower - The Complete Series" features 25 episodes on 5 DVD's. Here are the following episodes with spoiler-less summaries:
DISC 1:
* EPISODE 1 - A Ray of Light in the Darkness - The introduction of the characters and the four bishounen who must train their landlady's niece. * EPISODE 2 - Pull Down the Iron Curtain! - The guys try to give Sunako a makeover. * EPISODE 3 - Oh, My Sweet Dark Youth - Four men try to recruit Kyohei in working at a host club. * EPISODE 4 - Sunako, You're Up! - Sunako's class recruit her to make a haunted house for a school festival. * EPISODE 5 - The Beautiful One's Banquet - A popular photographer of models wants Sunako to be a model for his next photo shoot. * EPISODE 6 - Dreamy Halloween - Sunako misses Halloween and is depressed. * EPISODE 7 - I Am Number One - A gang boss falls for Sunako and wants her to be his woman.
DISC 2
* EPISODE 8 - Winter Wonderland - The guys get a job at a fancy restaurant after wondering if they are taking advantage of Sunako's cooking for them. * EPISODE 9 - Rising Steam, Splattered Blood&The Rain of Love at the Hot Spring - Part 1 - Kyohei and Sunako share a moment together. * EPISODE 10 - Rising Steam, Splattered Blood&The Rain of Love at the Hot Spring - Part 2 - A hot springs manger has been attacked and Sunako wants to snoop around the crime scene. * EPISODE 11 - I'm Up To My Kisser in Study Materials - Sunako is failing in math and thus the guys tutor her. * EPISODE 12 - Oh, My Sweet Home! - The group spend their first Christmas together. * EPISODE 13 - Oui, Monsieur! - Something happens to Sunako after she eats a mushroom.
DISC 3
* EPISODE 14 - Sleeping Well-Bred Beauty - Ranmaru's parents have him arranged to a rich woman. * EPISODE 15 - Pirates of the Tres Bien - Sunako and the guys are invited to an island which may have treasure. * EPISODE 16 - Dream Comes True - It's time for the Mori High School Sports Festival. * EPISODE 17 - Girls Bravo!! - Noi, Ranmaru's fiancee and Sunago go to a spa. * EPISODE 18 - Dream/Mutual Love - The guys want Sunako to wear a dress. * EPISODE 19 - Battletastic Valentine - It's Valentine's Day! How will the group celebrate the day.
DISC 4
* EPISODE 20 - Love Trial - Someone has kidnapped Hiroshi. * EPISODE 21 - The Sepia Memories - Sunako's father comes to visit her. * EPISODE 22 - A Prince in Sheep's Clothing - Kyohei and Sunako are kidnapped. * EPISODE 23 - The Eye of the Storm Comes Home - Kyohei returns to his home and meets with his mother. * EPISODE 24 - The Eye of the Storm Strays - After a confrontation with Sunako, Kyohei leaves. * EPISODE 25 - The Road to Womanhood - In the final episode, the landlady comes back home to see if the guys have changed Sunako.
VIDEO&AUDIO QUALITY:
"The Wallflower" is presented in 4:3 format. The animation is pretty cool as it goes back and forth from serious to something humorous. For example, with Sunako, when she has this creep side to her, she's shown as a girl with no eyes, but then sometimes shown as a girl with beautiful eyes and then when she goes crazy over seeing Kyohei, she gets these "Crayon Shin Chan" looking eyes.
Another example shows the guys when they are creeped out about Sunako, they turn into white pale figures like ghosts. It's a very interesting take on how the series showcases the main characters in different situations.
I watched the series both in English and Japanese and both voice work are very cool and like both equally the same. The English dub is in English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound and the Japanese audio track is in stereo. But both soundtracks are well done. And it's one of the few anime series where I absolutely loved the English dialogue much more than the Japanese. Mainly because the English vocal talent give each character its own identity and Hannah Alcorn does a great Sunako!
Subtitles are only in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"The Wallflower - The Complete Series" comes with only the textless opening and ending animation plus FUNimation trailers.
JUDGMENT CALL:
All in all, I found "THE WALLFLOWER" to be stylishly vibrant, hilarious, stylishly cool and unique.
The characters are quite interesting and are different from the swashbuckling, adventurous Final Fantasy-esque pretty boys and I want to make it clear right away that this is not a gay anime. "The Wallflower" is an interesting take on the bishonen/J-Rock stylish guys. It's actually interesting because the high school, the girls are just so crazy over these guys and they just can't figure out why they hang out with such a creepy girl. It's hilarious to see how the guys react to Sunako but how caring they are towards her. And of course, how she behaves around them.
One of the coolest things about this anime is that the creator, Hayakawa Tomoko is a fan of J-Rock artist Kiyoharu (formerly of the band KUROYUME) and Kiyoharu sings the opening and ending theme for the series. As a fan of Japanese rock music and as a guy who happens to dig the style, I felt it was very cool to see an anime like this. It's very different and unique and quite humorous to watch because I have friends who are "pretty boys" who always try to remake their girlfriends or friends in general and try to make them stylish.
All in all, "THE WALLFLOWER" is not an anime that tries to showcase a quirkiness or take a dramatic turn ala "Hana Yori no Dango". If anything, the anime series is more on the humorous side and rarely becomes a drama. If anything, the series focuses on trying to help Sunako and we learn more about these five characters over the course of the series.
As mentioned, the series is well-acted and both English and Japanese audio tracks are well done. The English audio track is very good and again, this is coming from a guy who tends to prefer watching anime in Japanese. I absolutely dig the character designs and the animation and again, definitely one of those rare anime series out there.
So, I'm stoked to see something unique and different. Not sure if the casual anime fan, especially the guys would dig an anime about pretty boys and them trying their best to help out a creepy girl (who is not exactly creepy and when you see her normal, Sunako's actually quite cute and you realize how much of those negative thoughts are just in her head). But I think those who are used to watching bishonen men or fan of J-Rock or visual kei may take a high interest in an anime like "The Wallflower". It's actually a very entertaining series and for the most part, an entertaining and solid anime series!
Overall, "The Wallflower" is an anime series that is definitely worth recommending!』
(A Comedy With a Dark Side) 『Quick question- exactly what is a wallflower? Answer: One who does not participate in activity at a social event due to shyness, unpopularity or a combination of the two. The origin of this figurative sense dates way back to 1820 in reference to unpartnered women sitting along the wall at a dance in a work by Mrs. Campbell Praed entitled County Ball. Although originally used to describe women at dances, these days the term can just as easily be applied to men as well and used in situations beyond just a ballroom. That's a good thing because in this context, we're talking about a psychotic teenage chick and modern day ugly duckling saga. But before we get ahead of ourselves here, let's take a look at the hard facts.
Originally released by ADV Films, Funimation has recently acquired the rights to the show and has wasted little time in getting a Complete Series release out to the public. Coming in at a total runtime of 625 minutes, the Wallflower the Complete Series spans 4 discs (25 episodes) and comes packaged as a pair of thin packs within a cardboard slipcase.
The show wears an appropriate TV 14 rating thanks to some drug innuendos, a little disturbing imagery (hallucinations and supernatural), and young adult themes. Nudity, graphic violence, or obscene language is pretty much nonexistent here.
Language options are typical sub&dub meaning the option of original Japanese dialog track (stereo) or an English dub (5.1 Dolby Surround) and English subtitles available under either language choice.
Extras are limited to clean opening and closing themes and a host of Funimation trailers.
The story could best be summarized like this: Four handsome and popular teenage guys find themselves in a bit of a predicament: their landlord has agreed to allow them to live rent-free for life if they are willing to spend time with her slightly eschew niece Sunako, who is coming to live with them in the house, in effort to convert her into a "proper lady". The catch is that if they fail, their rent triples (be thankful this isn't legal here in the US).
Next thing the guys know, the exceedingly depressed, creepy, and antisocial Sunako shows up on the scene and makes it clear that she would rather brood in her bedroom than to have anything to do with the guys, who she calls "Creatures of Light".
Like you may have imagined, the poor girl has developed a wicked complex about being ugly and society's judgmental ways have forced her to retreat to the dark side, a slightly supernatural realm of reclusive-ness. Suffice to say, the guys have their hands full.
The pacing is brisk and clean with many opportunities to draw laughs. The guys already had full schedules thanks to the habit of women everywhere swooning to them but it's the goth-queen Sunako who steals the show. In addition to her overtones, wardrobe, and dialog, her favorite sidekick just so happens to be an anatomical dummy named Pedro. Comedic overreaction happens frequently early on but weans off in the later installments as the plots become more conflict-oriented.
Soundwork is pretty slick throughout with metal-inspired guitar riffs melding with upbeat jazzy numbers, and eerie low-tones when the situation calls for them. It may sound like a hodgepodge of musical styles but it works on the whole thanks to the ever-changing flavors of the story.
As has been the case with many of the ADV Films/ Funimation properties of late, the vocal work is tight in either incarnation. The English version is slightly less amusing as the original Japanese but the jokes are pretty universally appealing and hence aren't lost in translation.
In all this is but another unique anime title that would probably have been lost to the cracks of the industry if not for Funimation's rejuvenation/ decision to release the entire series as a single and complete collection. Best of all the price of the complete collection is actually a little less than each of the individual season sets were going for. It's tough not to get excited about that!』 『The Wallflower! After years of sponging off a fabulously wealthy older woman, four ridiculously beautiful boys are confronted with the most horrifying challenge ever: use their bishi skills to turn their benefactor's socially challenged niece into a beautiful young lady or start paying rent! And this isn't just any ugly duckling they're facing; she's a psycho, paranoid, neurotic horror movie obsessed goth chick with a fetish for anatomical dummies, bad skin and a total ignorance of all things feminine! (And those are her better points!) But hey, rent's expensive and job openings for pretty boys are scarce, so our poor heroes are going to have to suck it up and attempt the ultimate combined exorcism/spa/makeover from hell! It's a Queer Eye FTSG of doom as the infamous Nabeshin unleashes The Wallflower!』
price：$6.99
Funimation Prod
Usually ships in 2 to 3 days Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Air Gear) 『I watch this anime online, this anime is awesome. Lot of Bad language, Nudity and also little of boy on boy kissing. The anime is not for kids under 16』
(Just pure fun to watch! (and listen to)) 『This is a bunch of fun wrapped in awesome. Yes, it's dirty and rude but whatever! Very R rated, so no kids. I'm not gonna repeat the other reviews so... However, I do recommend this one just for it music.』
(Actually a great anime..really) 『When i watched the first episode online i thought "ugh another sport anime", but after some time I saw a bit of style in it. It's very comical, and call out on the anime special effects where people get noodle arms and such. This is definitely a guy anime, not just because of the nudity but because the humor hits home. This anime has a techno type style to it. The soundtrack also helps this style with some actually good beats that fit the situation and rarely repeat the same crap again and again. Lots of fan service, some good hard headed antics, and hilarious moments make this a great anime.』
(Juvenile and Entirely Formulaic) 『The reviews so far on here are misleading. This series is entirely formulaic and hardly deserving of 4 or 5 stars. At absolute best it's only a 3 star series.
It's basically extreme sports, loosely based off of rollerblading and skate-boarding, with some magic thrown in. The main character is a bit of a loser, gross at times, and almost always juvenile. As others have mentioned, it's not for kids as there are adult themes and nudity (which also usually comes across as juvenile). There's the usual "protagonist taps into his hidden energy to pull something amazing off" stuff, but it's just hard to take the protagonist seriously since he is so juvenile and portrayed as a loser more often than someone you would actually want to follow or could respect.
The series reminded me the most of Get Backers (out of the fight anime I have watched). Except Get Backers had interesting protagonists, interesting villains (e.g. Dr. Jackal) and broke out of the Fight Anime mold with episodes like recovering the Stradivarius, the one about famous artists, the really hilarious episode with Ginji in the hospital, etc. They also actually go the Limitless Fortress in both seasons.
AirGear is Get Backers without the interesting parts, without the interesting characters, and literally without any resolution -- the whole 8 kings story arc was clearly meant for season two, which never happened. So on top of all of the formulaic action, contrived plots, 1 dimensional characters, etc. you also don't even get a decent ending.
My advice: pick up Get Backers instead.』
(Great anime) 『If you like anime, you'll love this one. This was a great series, that had great potential. Wished that they would've kept it going. Pick this one up if you haven't already done so.』 『Welcome to the world of Storm Riders, where motor-powered inline skates called“Air Trecks” take extreme sports to a whole new level. Those who dare to ride with these high tech devices risk life and limb in a struggle for fame, power and wings to take to the sky. Enter Ikki Minami, the toughest fighter on the east side of town. He rules his school, takes on violent gangs single-handedly and lives with the Noyamanos: four sexy sisters with a surprising secret. And after a humiliating defeat by a terrifying gang of Storm Riders, the sisters welcome him to the world of Air Trecks, where his strength, speed and ambitions soar to brand new heights. Now, with powerfulnew wings, he must protect his friends, his school and his pride in fierce Air Treck battles known as “Parts Wars.” One mistake could cost him everything, but each victory brings him one step closer to becoming the king of the sky.』
The scallop of large satisfactory ! northern countries and - [ of how much ] botan shrimp are ! tightly.
getting to know the technique of motorbike expensive sale -- Ta -- if -- -
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