price：$89.99
Adv Films
Usually ships in 3 to 5 days Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Fun and cute what more do you need in an anime?) 『I have watched this show over and over. It's definitely not my favorite anime and it's no masterpiece but it's a lot of fun. The plot's interesting the characters are loveable. It's one of those shows you can watch over and over. The music is great you'll probably be listening to the soundtrack for a long time. Like me! If you're looking for light hearted fun I would highly recommend this.』
(Worth every penny!) 『This collection is great, it comes in english, and japanese audio (w/ english subs) it includes every episode, easy menu options, the cover art is great, including the ones in each of the 4 discs. The images are nice and clear, you can skip the intro and ending unlike most jap. imports that don't and have to fast forward, but it really is great and i recommend it for any DN Angel fan!』
(DNAngel) 『It was wonderful. Great quality and sound. The seller was great to work with. He let me know what was going on the whole time. I would recomend him to all!』
(A Nice Light-Hearted Mix Of Lupin The Third And Romance) 『I thought this was very entertaining and heart-warming series and while it does have a somewhat darker story in the series for the most part it is very light-hearted. The main character Daisuke Niwa is starting the new school year and is romantically interested in a girl named Risa Harada who has a twin named Riku and Riku is actually interested in Daisuke herself. What you find out in the series also is that Daisuke's mother and grandfather train him at home to become not just a great thief but to try and release a family secret it seems that in Daisuke's family that the male members carry a supernatural winged powerful thief entity named Dark who when released takes control of the male family members body for awhile. Dark is not evil but is somewhat mischievous and headstrong also it seems that the only way Dark can be released is when the male who's body he is dormant in starts to feel an a emotional strong feeling(Usually the emotion love)and that enables him to awaken and take control of the body for awhile. The series has episodes of the police and a special task force trying to capture Dark when he does his publicized thefts(The thefts when there going to happen and what time are usually told to the police in secret by Daisuke's family to both annoy and alarm the police.) The series also has of course a romantic agenda to for Daisuke and a certain someone put in as well. The series animation is clear and sharp and the Japanese and English audio were very good as well the set is pricey but sometimes it does go on sale or if you want try checking out the local video stores this series is worth getting...』
(A Great Show Often Overlooked) 『I love this show for its witty, unique style of comedy. The cat burgler style of the bulk of episodes is unique and fun. Dark gets involved in a lot of heists that seem to always spell extra trouble. The supporting cast is well fleshed and fun as well.
The overall love story aspect is wonderfully written and I for one was very happy to see the two 'true lovers' end up together. Packs a lot of nightime heist action with some supernatural elements and a lot of fun.
Pros: Fun, funny, interesting, great characters Cons: Cartoony at times, can be cheesy
Viewing preference: Japanese with English subtitles』 『Adapted from the international best-selling manga series by Yukiru Sugisaki, D•N•Angel is a romatic adventure with a fantastic premise. High School hottie Risa has two suitors: shy Daisuke and the magical thief Dark. But the twist is that Daisuke and Dark share the same body, and it's Daisuke's love for Risa that allows Dark to take over! The only way to resolve thisromantic disaster is for Daisuke to win the heart of his true love-but since she's only got eyes for Dark, that's not happening anytime soon!』 『The broadcast seriesDNAngelplays like a junior version ofXcrossed withSaint Tail. Daisuke Niwa is polite, well-intentioned, and talented, but he's also physically clumsy and socially maladroit. He can't bring himself to confess his love to his pretty classmate, Risa Harada. On his 14th birthday, his weird mother and grandfather tell Daisuke that a family genetic quirk will now manifest itself, and he will transform into the supernatural thief, Dark Mousy. His grandfather's rabbit-like pet With turns into the dark, feathered wings that are de rigueur for this type of anime character. Despite the unfortunate name, Dark Mousy is what Daisuke would like to be: a tall, dashingbishonen(beautiful boy). Risa falls for Dark like a bento box of rocks, but as Dark, Daisuke accidentally kisses her twin sister, Riku, creating an adolescent romantic triangle.
Having created a situation and several characters, the filmmakers don't seem to know what to do them. Many of Daisuke's adventures as Dark have little or nothing to do with his career as a supernatural thief, and the tone of the episodes shifts erratically from mawkish to silly to melodramatic. Although Daisuke supposedly transforms into Dark, the alter ego sometimes appears as an independent entity. Hard-corebishonenfans may enjoy Dark's sultry charms, but most viewers will grow impatient with the unfocused stories and poorly defined characters inDNAngel. (Rated TV PG, suitable for ages 10 and older: mild violence)--Charles Solomon』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Save time, buy the manga instead.) 『As an anime, it is alright. However, the manga is much better than the anime. I am not a "manga only" snob, but this anime in particular is fairly watered down compared to the manga, and there are two episodes out of 26 that are recap episodes. I cried at multiple points in the manga, but the anime didn't grab me quite as much because the backstory wasn't all there. I do have to say that the english voice acting is believable and acceptable though. If you liked the manga, it is worth checking out once, but I would suggest just watching the episode once online on one of the many websites that stream the episodes or just rent it or something.
It is nice to see Chii "alive" and it does have the cute factor, but it is lacking in depth. The manga however is my favorite of all time, so give it a shot!』
(the lolicom-persocom) 『This CLAMP movie plays the Lolicom card to the hilt: an excruciatingly cute-and-innocent woman-child is ...exposed to many not-so-innocent situations. Technically, you cannot call it Kidporn, since she is an android. Will her little cybernetic heart eventually find love and happiness from a clueless young yokel ? From the opening credits, we are led to expect a heartwarming - if kinky - love story, with a happy ending. Instead of that, we are treated to a dark and convoluted whodunit ("it" being the innocent cutie), along with somewhat uncomfortable allusions ( husbands neglecting their wives for computer "yummies" ). Some sequences also border on the supernatural genre. The conclusion is hard and sobering: humans and androids ( read: Japanese and Gaijin ) are indeed different -as men are from Mars and women from Venus. We can coexist only if we know what each can do and not do. Blind love only brings heartaches. Some will accept the differences and love anyway... An engrossing movie, with interesting definitions of love, but expect no sweetness other than eye candy.』
(A decent box set) 『This set collects the seven individually-released Chobits DVDs and puts them into one package. The set also includes a soundtrack CD (Chobits: Character Song Collection).
The extras on the DVDs were OK, but nothing overly spectacular. But compared to some anime DVDs I've seen recently, there's more in the way of special features on these discs than on DVD releases for other anime properties.
The Character Song Collection is a decent soundtrack CD, although I would recommend the two soundtrack CDs (one with a black cover, the other with a white cover) over this one, especially since the audio CD included here does not have the opening credits song.
If you're a fan of Chobits, this set is definitely worth it.』
(Cute anime!) 『Without spoiling it... There's some sexual undertones here, but there are balanced out by the "innocence" of the main male human character. However, sexuality is not trashy in this anime, in fact, it is something to be reserved for the right person ... the "one for me." And when any other person attempts to exploit sexuality, Chi (and Dark Chi) go into defense mode. Anyhow, it's the future and humans can have pers-o-com (sp?) companions, but Chi is different and more advanced.
Worth the watch = yes.』
(FANTASTIC.) 『TO MAKE THE LONG STORY SHORT, BUY THIS BOX SET AND BELIEVE ME YOU WON'T REGRET IT.』
price：$64.99
Image Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (beutiful things) 『if you like anime if ou like movies if you like hideako anno works if you like giant robots, aliens invasion in good sci fi setting if you like beautiful things there a big chance you ll like gunbuster i ve saw it on vhs( and youtube also) a great many times had always like it( sometimes love it) give it a try you ll hardly regret it』
(Video Quality) 『This is not a review of the show but of this DVD release. Bandai Visual USA essentially put zero effort into this "remastered" three disc-set.
There is a thick white line that always runs down the entire left side of the frame and there's a thin white line that sometimes runs down the right side of the frame. There's constant video noise that mars the image (not film grain, mind you, just video noise). Worst of all is the near constant frame judder. The video jumps constantly and almost never stops moving. It's extraordinarily distracting.
To sum it up, this release has the quality of a bootleg at best - only it's priced ridiculously high instead. What a waste of money.』
(Did I miss something?) 『After many recommendations from friends, and reading universal praise, I went into the "classic" 6 episode series with high hopes - hopes that developed leprosy and collapsed under the weight of their dead, jaundiced flesh by the end.
Gunbuster is wrought with 2D characterization, uninspired designs, awkward fan-service, and a hilariously incomprehensible plot - and not incomprehensible in an entertaining, mysterious sense - but in a pissed out sort of way that's explained in an embarrassing, 30 second, expository excretion. Anyone who says this show has depth must be weighed down by nostalgia for it, because I simply can't understand any other reason for it being praised. It boggles my mind. And if anyone recommends it with a disclaimer about it being made in the 80s, don't trust them - age does not excuse quality.
But does Gunbuster have redeeming qualities? Of course - it's very well animated. The drama with characters aging in space is novel. And...uh...hmm...sorry, I just remembered how tedious and head-punchingly bad this show was.
If I was forced to recommend this series, I would only for those who are interested in its historical value, to be watched more as research than entertainment. I would explain my reasoning further, but this brief moment of nerd-rage has subsided - and the less time spent with Gunbuster, the better.』
(A highly recommended mecha classic!) 『The directorial debut of acclaimed director Hideaki Anno, Gunbuster is a legendary anime fan favorite that casts pretty girls and giant robots into a moving epic of insterstellar naval war. Newly translated and re-mastered in HD 24P format, Gunbuster has never before been available on DVD in North America...until now!
2015: Earth's first faster-than-light ship, the Luxion, is lost, attacked by unidentified space monsters in the Perseus Arm. Six years later, Noriko Takaya, daughter of the Luxion's commander, enters the Okinawa girls' Space Pilot High School, vowing to be a pilot and follow her father's trail to the stars. But is she prepared for the intense training to become a member of the elite Top Squadron? Noriko's fight has just begun-and the fate of all humanity depends on her meeting the challenge!
It's hard to believe that it's been nearly 20 years when I first discovered "Gunbuster", the awesome mecha anime that has won the hearts for anime fans since its first release back in 1988.
The year was 1992 and I discovered this awesome series through an anime club meeting and I was just enamored by the series so much that I purchased the English subtitled VHS videos which contained two episodes for like $35 through Books Nippan. In fact, when the VHS was re-released in 1996 by another company, I had to buy that because the video tapes have been viewed too many times and started to lose its quality.
It's really interesting how many people I converted to anime fans through letting them borrow my video tapes. "Gunbuster" is one of the few rare series you will find where each episode is well written, gripping and you just can't stop after one episode. You just want to watch the whole series completely throughout.
What I really enjoyed is how the OAV series fluctuated between parodying other anime but also its attention to light speed travel, black holes and warp factor.
Of course, back in the 90's, not only did you have a knock out punch with beautiful animation, a well written storyline but you also had the top voice actresses from a popular anime series that was so big among American anime fans at that time. You had Hidaka Noriko as the main character Takaya Noriko (note: Hidaka is known for the voice talent of Akane from "Ranma 1/2), Sakuma Rei as Amano Kazumi (note: Sakuma was the voice talent of "Ranma 1/2" character Shampoo) and then you had the "Active Heart" theme song by then-pop idol Sakai Noriko.
The series would feature a lot of references and then at the end of each episode, fans were treated with "Science Lesson" episodes featuring chibi versions of the characters featuring even more references.
But as much as the anime references to other anime and scientists, "Gunbuster" also worked as a fun parody with its use of the title "Gunbuster! Top o Nerae" (Aim for the Top) which is a parody of the anime and manga tennis series "Ace wo Nerae!" and the hugely popular Western film "Top Gun".
Of course we know that director Hideaki Anno went on to be known for his creation of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and the "Science Lessons" director Tsurumaki Kazuya went on to direct "FLCL" and "Gunbuster 2".
Here we are 20 years since the original OAV's were released in Japan, six episodes all on DVD featuring Noriko as she pushes herself to become a formidable pilot, watching her as the weak girl who would cry a lot but push herself and train herself to become one of the best pilots from the squadron.
There is so much to love about the anime, not just about the oh-so-good feeling of an underdog showing everyone that she can do it and accomplish things and prove them wrong but also how science is used in this series. Each time they go light speed into space, each minute that goes by, three months has gone by in Earth.
So, what could be complex is actually well written and explained in the anime series as each time Noriko arrives back to Earth, her schoolmates are much older than her and have children.
I guess you can say that with each episode, you get much more than what you would expect. That's how I felt about "Gunbuster". Fulfilled, excited about the next episode and wanting more.
Also, for the guys wanting a little "H", "Gunbuster" does have it's share of nudity scenes.
As for the DVD, inside the box, you will find a folding case with three DVD's featuring artwork of the cast of "Gunbuster" and the "Gunbuster" mech itself.
Also included is a booklet featuring character information, "Gunbuster" Gainax behind-the-scenes information plus information on each episode
The episodes are presented in its full aspect ratio with the final episode being black and white and letterboxed. The animation looks awesome even for it being 20-years-old, I really enjoyed how this anime was remastered.
The sound is offered in Linear PCM 2.0 which is a higher bit rate for audio.
There is no English dub, all vocals are Japanese and for subtitles, you can choose to have it on or off or on with the signs translated as well.
The menus are clean with selections of each episode (two episodes per disc) and the Science Lesson Chapters.
As for extra features, there are a few.
Disc 1 features "Good Morning OGH!" which was the promotional trailer produced back in July 1988. This is featured in 2ch, 5.1ch and 5.1ch (dialogue off). There is a quic intro explanation how the trailers were saved on to a VHS tape to a super hi-8 tape and thus the quality is not great. But you start to see how the quality between the DVD versus a promo tape are.
Disc 2 features "Cosmic Battle Space" in 2ch or 5.1ch which features another perspective (from episode 4) of the fight between the squadron and the alien monsters.
Disc 3 features the "Sizzler Project" in 2ch or 5.1ch. This is a promotional trailer produced in 1989 and actually features character Jung Freud learning about the new Gunbuster mechas being created. This was very interesting to see and similar to the first promotional trailer.
"Gunbuster" has remained one of my top 3 anime that I will forever treasure in my heart. It's a series that shows guts, determination, happiness, sadness. It's literally an emotional rollercoaster that has made me smile, cry...
It's well written, features really awesome scenes and interaction between the characters. Well-acted, well-animated and just one of those rare treasures that have come along that you just don't see as much these days from a lot of anime.
Especially with a storyline managed to be complete in six episodes, I'm impressed.
I know that there is a region 0 disc that was released with a fourth disc that featured a rough episode five and unmatted episode six with a few other features but sure, as much as it would have been nice to have that in the US release, I'm not actually losing sleep over it either.
For a great price, you get all six episodes on DVD. For the boxset is the price I paid for one VHS back then. And I know for dub fans who don't like to read subtitles, it's going to be hard to recommend it to you to begin with.
But if you want quality anime that still looks very cool now as it did 20 years ago and also to watch one of the best, well written sci-fi/mecha anime OAV series ever released, then definitely check out "GUNBUSTER".
I highly recommend the "Gunbuster" anime DVD box set. You won't regret it.』
(fantasmic) 『what started out as a parody quickly turned into a true anime classic. great story telling, great animation, great conclusion, great series, nuff said.』 『The directorial debut of acclaimed creator Hideaki Anno, GUNBUSTER is a legendary anime fan favorite that casts pretty girls and giant robots into a moving epic of interstellar naval war. Newly translated and re-mastered in HD 24P format, Gunbuster has never before been available on DVD in North America...until now! 2015: Earth's first faster-than-light ship, the Luxion, is lost, attacked by unidentified space monsters in the Perseus Arm. Six years later, Noriko Takaya, daughter of the Luxion's commander, enters the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School, vowing to be a pilot and follow her father's trail to the stars. But is she prepared for the intense training to become a member of the elite Top Squadron? Noriko's fight has just begun and the fate of all humanity depends on her meeting the challenge!』 『The OAVGunbuster(a.k.a. "Aim for the Top") proved so popular it spawned a manga series, the sequelDiebuster(2004) and a theatrical feature (2006). When she was a child, Noriko Takaya's father was killed in humanity's first encounter with aliens from the core of the galaxy. Her desire to follow him into space leads Noriko to the Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School, where she meets her future partner Kazumi Amano and Coach Koichiro Ohta. Noriko displays little aptitude for steeringmecha, but Ohta sees the potential beneath the maladroit exterior. Soon Noriko is in space, piloting the experimental robot-suit Gunbuster and fighting aliens who look like the monsters in Gahan Wilson cartoons.Gunbusterplays like a mixture ofPatlabor,Star Wars, andRobotech, with a generous helping of fan service nudity. In the intervening years, Noriko's mixture of weepy ineptitude and I'll-do-my-best fire has become an anime archetype. And there's simply too much story for a six-part OAV: characters appear and disappear with little effect.
Gunbusterhas received a great deal of attention because it marked the first commercial success from the fledgling Gainax studio and the directorial debut ofNeon Genesis Evangelioncreator Hideaki Anno. It's hard to see much foreshadowing of Anno's later brilliance, except for the dramatic use of a black and white palate and still artwork in the last episode, set 12,000 years in the future. Spreading six episodes with minimal extras over three discs seems chintzy, as the material could easily fit on two or even one. (Rated 16 and older: violence, nudity, minor risqué humor)--Charles Solomon』
price：$5.00
Anime Works
Not yet released 『The year is 2087, and humanity is about to lose its position as the dominant life form on planet Earth. An endless swarm of biomechanical beings known as the Venomoids descend from space. Earth's Space Knights are no match for the Venemoid champions, the Teknomen. When the young pilots Ringo Richards and Star Summers find a wounded stranger named Blade, humanity gains one last hope. Blade is able to transform into a Teknoman, but he has no memories and fights to protect Earth. His opponents are not only the endless alien menace, but also the other Teknomen -who were once human, and his family and friends.』
price：$3.98
VIZ VIDEO
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (4 stars for episodes, missing the 5th for missing features) 『After looking forward to The Prince of Tennis second season, we were disappointed to find out that the Japanese opening/ending themes were the same that were included on the first two volumes (from first season; "Future" and "You Got Game", instead of second season's "Driving Myself" and "Keep Your Style" [and alternate end "Walk On"]). Actually, it's a bit disconcerting overall that even when you watch the Japanese version, the American (instrumental) opening/ending are shown as well as the English title screen, and the Japanese opening/closings are stuck in the Extras on Disc 3, and they're not even subtitled...not to mention that the Japanese promos on Volumes 2 and 3 are the same. Also, not sure why Volume 3 has only 12 episodes when the others each had 13. We LOVE The Prince of Tennis - please do a better job with Volume 4.』 『Ryoma and the Seigaku tennis team have reached the Metropolitan Tournament, the pinnacle of youth tennis. First up, the "golden pair" doubles team of Oishi and Kikumaru are forced to resort to the unusual Australian formation to throw off their opponents. Then Ryoma faces the "Lefty-Killer," who uses a dangerous and devastating twist spin. To fight back, the Prince of Tennis must resort to amazing acrobatics and outrageous innovation!』 『As theshonen(boys') sports seriesPrince of Tennisenters its second season, Ryoma Echizen and the rest of Seigaku team enter the Metropolitan Tournament, an important step toward their ultimate goal of the Nationals. The competition is intense--and underhanded. Hajime Mizuki, the student manager of rival St. Rudolph's has gathered data on the Seigaku athletes and instructed his teammates to play to their weak points. He's even willing to risk long-term injuries to his players for an immediate win. But his strategy backfires when Ryoma defeats their "Lefty-Killer" in an acrobatic match and "Tennis Genius" Shusuke Fuji mops up the court with Mizuki. The interscholastic rivalry is complicated by the friction between Shusuke and his younger brother Yuta, who transferred to St. Rudolph's to avoid being overshadowed. Having secured a spot in the semifinals, the Seigaku players train for their match against Ginka Middle School (although Ryoma has already beaten their entire team, one by one). The violent thug Akutsu makes Ginka more of a threat off the court than on. As Ryoma's icy personality continues to thaw,Prince of Tennisbecomes increasing enjoyable and the reasons for its enormous popularity become clearer. The original Japanese opening (included in the extras) features much snazzier graphics than the American version. (Rated A, suitable for ages 10 and older: minor violence, minor risqué humor, tobacco use)--Charles Solomon』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Ninja Scroll Series- Not as good as the original, but very close) 『I thought Ninja Scoll was the best Ninja anime that I have ever seen. When I heard there was a Ninja Scroll Series out on DVD, I had to get it. It was as good as I hoped it would be. Lots of fighting, and very brutal. You can get the entire series for dirt cheap. A definite must have, if you liked the original Ninja Scroll feature movie.』
(If you liked the movie, you will love the series!!!) 『These really are just a continuation of the Ninja Scroll original movie. They have the same types of characters with super powers that Jubei must contend with to help his new found friends. The anime quality is quite good and the voice acting isn't bad either. I recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the original movie or the Basilisk series.』
(Do I like Ninja Scroll? Jubeitcha) 『Ok dumb puns aside and cute character name usage discarded, this is a solid anime series if there ever was one and does what every series should do, leaves me wanting more. Is it perfect? No, but it's quite good. The formula for Ninja Scroll the series never varies much, plot moves along, Jubei meets enemies, you get chopped suei villains for breakfast lunch and dinner. Tons of innocents die so don't get too attached and there are quite a few surprise twists courtesy of Master Kibagami and friends. Characters are interesting although some are quite undeveloped, something quite common for some anime series including the still excellent Ninja Scroll movie. The artwork is excellent unlike some other series that felt rushed (Record of Lodoss War: Tales of the Heroic Knight). The fight scenes are excellent and you can't help but love the action even if the plot is not the most amazing. Regardless of its short comings, this is still excellent anime and if you want to check out something that isn't live acting and worth the price of admission, this is a fine fine choice.』
(good series, but not the movie) 『im a big fan of the ninja scroll movie. and so i thought i could buy the series and see wat its like. its a good series overall but dosent live up to the movie. the soundtrack and the animation are pretty good, and of course you have intresting and original cast of bad guys. but the ending leaves you hanging and Sucks really bad. it turned me off to the whole thing. i recommend renting this series instead, but if you really like ninja scroll then go for it.』
(Weird but good series.) 『Long story short, this is a weird series. Both in terms of plot and in terms of character design. But, in the end, it works. I did end up enjoying the series despite its obvious quirks...
The final ending seemed like a little bit of a cop-out, but in general, the series was pretty good. Animation was "current" and fluid, story was relatively interesting even if it did seem to start slowly...
So, I'd give it a thumbs up for anyone who likes anime. DVD features are decent. Video was good, sound was good. If you like this title, you'll probably also like Legend of Himiko Complete Collection, Ys Legacy, among others.』 『Four-disc set includes all three volumes of Ninja Scroll: The Series and a bonus disc loaded with extra features. The Bonus Disc includes audio commentary from the director and cast, a glimpse into the Mad House Animation Studio, trivia game, DVD-Rom features and more. Based on one of the best-selling anime films in U.S. history (Ninja Scroll, 1994). Production overseen by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (creator of Ninja Scroll and director of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust).』 『Ten years after his popular featureNinja Scroll(1993), Yoshiaki Kawajiri returned to the adventures of super-ninja Jubei Kibagami in a broadcast series. A wanderer who can cleave enemies in two with a single sword-stroke, Jubei gets drawn into a ghoulish war while trying to get a peaceful night's sleep. The Hiruko and Kimon ninja clans are fighting over the mysterious Dragon Stone, which confers extraordinary wealth and power. It's somehow linked to Shigure, a woman whom the ninjas call the Light Maiden. With some faltering help from thief Tsubute and Dakuan, an aged but powerful monk, Jubei sets out to deliver the magical Stone to Shigure. What follows is a repetitious gore-fest: Jubei splits, beheads, and skewers an endless array of bizarre-looking demons. At one point, a ship literally floats away on a sea of blood. Despite some simple computer animated effects,Ninja Scrolllooks more like a series from the mid-'80s than 2003. The designs of the characters, endless duels, and meandering storyline recallFist of the North Starand other early, blood-soaked epics.
The four-discUltimate Collectioncomes loaded with special features and extras, including interviews with the composers, directors, English language director, and principal English voice actors. There are storyboard/animation comparisons, still art galleries, a trivia game, and Weblinks--everything but character arcs and a coherent plot. (Unrated, suitable for ages 17 and older: graphic violence, violence against women, grotesque imagery, nudity, sexual situations, including suggested rape and lesbianism)--Charles Solomon』
price：$7.50
RIGHT STUF
Usually ships in 24 hours 『Akari, Aika and Alice continue to strive toward their goal of becoming Neo-Venezia s top gondoliers. But as their skills improve, they find themselves faced with new challenges. On their journey to become Primas, the three girls will have to paint a palina, serve as hostesses at the Festa del Redentore, and even learn how to be brave in the face of a dangerous passenger! Contains episodes 14-26 of the second ARIA television season. Based on Kozue Amano s best-selling ARIA manga, the ARIA anime consists of three television seasons ARIA The ANIMATION, ARIA The NATURAL and ARIA The ORIGINATION plus an OVA (original video animation). The entire anime adaptation features direction by Junichi Sato (Princess Tutu, Sgt. Frog, Sailor Moon/ Sailor Moon R) and animation by Hal Film Maker (Boys Be..., Pretear, Slayers Premium, Sketchbook). The ARIA The ANIMATION DVD Collection containing the franchise s complete 13-episode first season is currently available from Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment and was voted a Pick of the Week by the readers of AnimeOnDVD at Mania.com. Amano s 12-volume ARIA manga and its two-volume prequel, AQUA, are both published in North America by TOKYOPOP. In Japan, the ARIA manga was originally serialized in MAG Garden s Comic Blade magazine.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Kenshiro is back! and also something special for Gackt fans!) 『I remember over a decade ago, when I first watched the "Hokuto no Ken" (Fist of the Northstar) film. It was definitely one of the coolest, darkest and violent anime I have ever seen. And through reading the manga on "Shonen Jump", many of my friends during those old school days couldn't get enough of the series.
Definitely a staple in the history of Japanese anime and manga, the series has captivated audiences in different parts of the world.
In the early 1980's, the manga sold 60 million copies in five languages, worldwide.
The manga series created by Buronson (writer) and Hara Tetsuo (artists) spawned two hit television series, two animated feature films and one live action movie.
It's been a very long time but Kenshiro is back!
The series returns with a three volume original animation DVD release from ADV Films based on a novel by Buronson which takes place after the last series and films were done. Buronson wanted fans to know what has happened with Kenshiro since the TV/manga series.
In the first volume titled "The Cursed City", the focus is on the "Lost Land". Continuing the theme of a land devastated by war, water is very difficult to come by that many men trade their wives or daughters for water with Sanga, the merciless lord of the City of Lost Land.
Of course, there are a group who are rebellious against Sanga and his minions and they live in the "Village of Freedom".
This is where two of the lead characters are from. Tobi who sells information (like where to find good water) to villagers, always wonders if his little brother Bista ever survived the war and the woman he loves, Sara, the healer of the village uses pressure point techniques similar to Kenshiro's "Hokuto Shinken" techniques.
As for our main protagonist, Kenshiro, the heir of the The Fist of the North Star has had enough of Sanga and his minions and what they have done with the Lost Land by murdering, enslaving and causing fear to the villagers.
Let's just say that the last thing anyone wants to do is mess with Kenshiro, so to say the least, volume 1 of the new series makes up one exciting story line that leads up to an awesome battle between Kenshiro and Sanga.
For those familiar with the series, there is definitely enough violence and mayhem to definitely keep "Fist of the North Star" with its roots.
As for the voice acting, although there is a new Japanese voice actor for Kenshiro, the voice acting in my opinion is perfect. From Kenshiro's stoic voice to his trademark "yah-yah-yah-yah-yah".
For English dub fans, I can say that you won' t be disappointed because the voice acting is also very well done in this series.
As for sound, as always, the English track has a 5.1 mix but I was very stoked (and I must admit...a little shocked) to hear the Japanese track with a 5.1 mix. A definite plus for those who enjoy watching with the original Japanese dialogue. The audio and to hear explosions going from different directions via your home theater system is always a blast.
For J!-ENT fans, the special features include a treat for fans of Gackt.
The rock vocalist (former lead singer of visual kei band, Malice Mizer, now soloist) and popular television personality is featured in the press conference (along with Buronson and Hara) regarding his role as a voice actor of Seiji and singing the ending theme song for the anime series.
In interviews, Gackt is not exactly the most talkative, Japanese media knows that, so it's interesting how they try to extract as much from him as possible. Very interesting to say the least.
There is also an interview with the American dub voice actors regarding their feelings of the series and their characters.
Also, a very interesting addition to the special features is an interview with Relson Gracie of Jiu Jitsu Sensei regarding the martial arts of "New Fist of the North Star".
The martial arts pro discusses the usage of pressure points and a comparison with the anime and reality and answers questions such as "can pressure on those multiple pressure points cause someone's head to explode like in the anime?"
On the second volume titled "The Forbidden Fist" after what transpired on volume 1, the story continues with Lord Doha (Bista) who is near death and the only way to keep him alive is by getting a certain type of medication. Unfortunately, the only way to get that is going through the Clifflands, a land haunted by demons who practice a mysterious killing technique.
Only one man is tough enough to go through that challenge, so Kenshiro leaves the Lost Land while another mysterious man of power named Seiji tries to move in and take control.
This volume focuses on Kenshiro and the martial arts of Hokuto and Hokumen but also on Seiji and why he is such a bastard.
Obviously, this volume is the bridge setting up for the explosive final volume which leaves me highly anticipating a battle between Kenshiro and Seiji. I can't wait!
As for the special features on volume 2, fans will be happy to know that there is another interesting featurette at Gackt's first major voice acting role (Seiji) and the media's attempt to get him to talk about his role. And in case if you were wondering, they do succeed. Also, it was quite interesting to see Gackt go to the voice recording room with two bodyguards which prompted a question from media about that. Very interesting!
Also, a look at behind the scenes of the American voice actors during their recording and an interview with Michael Zang of Jai Yen Yen Street Combat&Self Defense System showing comparisons with the animation and reality.
Both volumes feature the character bios and ADV previews. The return of Kenshiro and the "Fist of the North Star" series was definitely a treat for many fans and so far, I have been enjoying the story line and the visuals of the anime.
You don't necessarily have to watch the previous TV series (released by Manga Entertainment), watch the animated or live version of the film or read the manga (released by Viz) to understand the story line of the new OAV's but if you did, it would help you understand Kenshiro's powers and also the scars on his chest. Also, I think you would enjoy this "New Fist of the North Star" even more. But on its own, without previous knowledge of the series, I have no doubt in my mind that you will enjoy the new series.
One thing I also want to bring up is that "New Fist of the North Star" is definitely not meant for youngsters and there are some gruesome fighting sequences as well as nude scenes, thus the 17+ rating.
As for those of you who were big fans of the original series or want to see watch a very well done anime action series, you won't be disappointed with "New Fist of the North Star".
A definite must have for the collection of anime action fans. It truly rocks!』
(Better Animation but bad story) 『The original didn't have the best animation or voice overs but at least it had an effective plot, original martial arts violence caught your attention, and it struck you with a deep philosophical premise- very Kurosawa- Put down the violence for a greater good. In this New version you find better animation and sequences such as fast moving camera shots and cleaner coloration and editing but the story is just flat out boring. You get Ken and we have all seen him in the first story die and rise with cool enemies like Shin and others. In this new one Volume 1- You get this big buff King who is just a big wuss- absolutely no match for him. The actual plot development is about as meaningless as it gets. The usual bad guy takes power and manipulates the public and kidnaps somebody, Ken must defeat him. Even the fighting is just what we've seen before- heads blowing up. Theres no deep philosophy about non-violence and its effective use in a greater good. The key for me in something new is the story, plot, or character development. There is nothing New in the New Fist of the North Star that you haven't seen before and the animation compared to some other films is just a joke. It really had to do with budget I'm sure I would advise people to check it out though if your a fan or go to the original.』
(Waist of time for eagar Kenshiro fans) 『When I first heard about the new Fist series I was so excited. That excitement turned into extreme disappointment after watching the first and second episodes. It seems that Tetuso Hara and Brunson had absolutely nothing to do with this series. The animation is devoid of the heavy lines and shadowed figures that silently conveyed a sense of danger and despair in the original series and the movie. The Story is pure garbage, with all of the different story lines available this anime makes one question why it was produced in the first place.
In the original you cheer for kenshiro as he dishes out just deserts. You know Fist of the North Star is unbeatable but when a new technique is used on villains you get your emotional rewards 10 fold.
I read somewhere that not one but TWO new Fist of the North Star movies are being made, I hope they don't follow the path of this anime!』
(The third chapter that should have never made it) 『I'm a huge fan of Hokuto no Ken series since the early 80's and I was very disappointed when I saw this series. Everything seems made to be a mere marketing operation. The 3D scenes don't always match match correctly with 2D, the animation is not so good, the plot is a bit boring and the new voice of Kenshiro is much worse than the original one by Akira Kamiya.』
(Not familiar but good) 『I bought this in Japan and am now enjoying the view. Yes I agree that it was much better in terms of it's animation than the original, but it was made in the Slam Dunk era so you really can't say that the original had terrible animation. For it's time it was cutting edge. It's a problem I've been having when I try to show the original to friends. The story however seems to have lost a little of it's appeal. I mean the making of justice while using force to stop force was kinda the point. I kinda knew from the beginning that Fist would never be popular enough in the US because the message makes no sense to many Western minds. I was raised on the original series so it's kinda steeped deep into my thinking. Two things need to be known about the voice acting. First and foremost it was a creative decision to change Ken's voice actor. The director thought that his voice needed a bit more maturity than previous. Second Gackt doing the voice of Seiji is important. He was brought into the series to increase the popularity right off the bat. If you don't know who Gackt is you can always do a google search or watch Moon Child. This was only meant to be something to chew on for now. When I say that I mean that the most popular series only continue MANY years after they have originally "died" Saint Seiya just finished recently. I think it's been 10 years. Hellsing is continuing soon but not until the comic is finished. #7 just came out here. There are supposed to be 10. So in reality it's just something small for us to use for now. In that sense I'm happy with it. It's well done for it's era and acceptable as an off path to the story. Perhaps someday Ken will become like his father Ryuken and fall victim to another chaotic time... but that's one of the things about the philosophy. The circle only continues with each step forward. Ryu will someday be the successor and maybe he will be like his father or maybe more like his uncles. In either case Hokuto Shinken will live on and so will the idea that the series can be made again and again. Just look at the blue sky series or any series on martial arts. They all borrow something from Fist. So in short this is for those who are fans of Anime only. Especially those who love the computer generation Anime Style of Ghost in the Shell and such. It's not a very good introduction to the world of Anime but pick your viewers wisely and you never know what might happen. BTW... This is not the continuation of the end of the US released original. For the rest of that you'll need to get a knockoff off of the usual sites. Watch that first and your appreciation for this one will appear. If you're willing to fork out the $150 that is. 』 『A twist to the classic favorite that begins in the aftermath of the great apocalypse, across a barren Earth, chaos is the rule, and order the exception with bandits and enterprising overlords terrorizing the survivors of the holocaust. Will a hero rise from the ashes and cut a swath of justice across the Earth's ruined landscape? In the aftermath of Kenshiro’s attack on the citadel of Last Land, the boy known as Lord Doha falls deathly ill. Sara’s prognosis is dire: only a few days before death takes him. The serum to save his life is a two days’ drive each way. When pressed by Kenshiro, Sara admits there is a shorter path… but it runs throughCliffland, a land haunted by demons who practice a mysterious killing technique. Fates collide as Kenshiro takes up the quest and departs for Cliffland. Suddenly, another mysterious martial artist arrives in Last Land, pursued by two of the dreaded Clifflanders. The fighter gives his name as Seijiand vows to take all that Sanga has owned. The balance of power is once again thrown into chaos as fist is pitted against fist in a struggle to see whose justice will prevail. Meanwhile, Sara anxiously waits for Kenshiro to return… if he returns at all.』 『Twenty years after the initial program debuted, a new team is continuing the long-running series,Fist of the North Star(Hokuto no Ken, literallyKen the Great Bear Fist, 1984). Except for the computer-generated motorcycles and special effects, the newFist of the North Staris very close to the original. Stallone look-alike Kenshiro, the heir to theHokuto Shinkenschool of martial arts, wanders the post-apocalyptic Earth, righting wrongs and making villains' heads explode. His new sidekicks are Tobi, an information dealer; Tobi's mute, amnesiac younger brother, Bista; and Sara, a woman who usesHokuto Shinkentechniques to heal the sick. Ken protects settlers from petty despots andMad Max-style gangs of motorcycle-riding bodybuilders: The world may have been devastated by a nuclear holocaust, but there are still ample supplies of gasoline, tires, and steroids. (Rated 17 and older: graphic violence, violence against women, grotesque imagery)--Charles Solomon』
price：$29.99
ANIME WORKS
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (surprisingly funny) 『Regarding the drawing it's quite nice to see. As for the story, it first looked quite surprising to me, but it turned out to be very funny! I particularly enjoyed ep.2, seeing this ex-boy trying to adapt to his (her) new condition, or rather his family and friends trying to adapt to him/her! At the beginning he kept acting like a boy, leading to some funny situations as you can expect ^^. But, with the help of his "girlfriends", he/she learns quickly how to behave properly (indeed he/she was rather effeminate before and this new situation doesn't seem to bother him/her that much). And this leads to the second comical aspect, where he/she behaves like a girl even more than his/her friends themselves (to their despair! looks like they have a new serious competitor! ^^). So this gender UFO ends up causing some trouble to both side, and I had lots of fun seeing them entangled in awkward situations. But then the end of the series is a little repetitive and kitsch. Still, I had a good time, I recommend it !』
(A yuri anime with no real lesbians!?) 『Note: There are some (mostly minor) spoilers included. Just a warning in case you plan on watching the series without knowing anything.
Kashimashi: 6.5/10
In the end, I got pretty much what I expected - a silly, simplistic series, complete with lesbians in school girl uniforms. It didn't amaze me, yet I didn't hate it.
Kashimashi is about a boy, Hazumu, who gets transformed into a girl in a very realistic manner. Once he's a girl(!?), he/she/it finds himself in a yuri love triangle with his tomboy childhood friend, Tomari, and the pretty girl, Yasuna, he was chasing after back when he only had two sexual openings (excluding his ears and nose, of course).
It could've been better if the reasoning behind certain aspects of the plot weren't quite so retarded. For example:
#1: Instead of having a spaceship crash into a boy and change his gender...somehow, why not throw in some extra originality and have him fall into some gender changing water? It still would've been daft but nowhere near as 'out there' as having a spaceship crash into a random person and remove his penis...somehow. It seemed to have been done just so some weird alien girl could exist and add "-puu" to the end of every sentence. Don't you just hate those characters whose only quirk is to add a meaningless suffix to the end of everything? It almost makes me believe it was a desperate attempt by the creator of the story to be original; creating a never used before suffix.
#2: Instead of avoiding doing something as terrible as adding depth by making Yasuna's fear of males realistic and giving her a sexual abuse back-story, why did they give her a stupid eye problem where she simply couldn't see males? 'Just go to bloody Specsavers!' came to the front of my mind. They even made the cure for her problem love - like waking sleeping beauty from her sleep with a kiss, which hasn't been repeated many times in various forms. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
There were a lot of things like the above that could've been changed for the better. Whoever came up with/copied the gender swapping story got a lot of the simple things wrong in what was an overly simple story. I should be asked to proof read all manga/anime stories in order to avoid blatant stupidity...
In terms of the love triangle, my biggest issue lies with which way Hazumu went when he decided which girl he wanted. Why, oh why, did he pick a plain pretty girl type instead of his childhood 'prince'? It made no sense whatsoever. *name removed* had always been there for him, where as *named removed 2* had turned Hazumu down before. Now, if I was picking my other half and they both looked hot, I'd go with the one who'd never betray me - that's just logical. But, of course, Hazumu thought differently. The only upside to Hazumu's 'final' choice was that the girl he turned down and himself spent most of the last episode hanging out, saying goodbye to each other in their own way.
Sadly, the love triangle mess only worsened after the finale of the TV series. In the OVA, the girl Hazumu picked decided she'd had enough of him/her after four months of him helping her, informing him she could stand on her own two feet and wanted to be alone. Basically, she made the entire TV series and Hazumu trying to pick between the two pointless - great stuff. The OVA ended with Hazumu going back to the girl he turned down since his first option was no longer available. It was awful and needless.
Like I said at the start, I did get some level of enjoyment out of it. It looked nice, it wasn't overly perverse - not including an 'Oh, I have an extra hole now! I'd best put three fingers in!!!' scene you'd (or, at least, I expected!) expect to see in a gender swapping story - and there were a few decent episodes. But it's far from a classic, and I advise only those with an interest in A) lesbians and/or B) school girls (all straight males, in short) to watch it. Anyone not interest in one of those two would probably hate Kashimashi.』
(A good story, but...) 『I originally read all the manga volumes of Kashimashi first and enjoyed it very much. When I saw the complete DVD collection I decided to buy it. As I expected, the general plot was the same as the maga, but the story line of the anime was just as great. That is until the last episode. The ending in the manga was very dramatic yet heart warming. The anime ending was rather hackneyed and disappointing. If your interested in this title, I recommend the manga more than this anime.』
(Tasteful and elegant yuri that is well worth watching) 『Kashimashi: Girl Meets Girl is a docile anime with a sensitive and cordial tone that any fan of romantic yuri will almost surely enjoy. The term simple elegance would not be an erroneous description for what is a very pleasant and pensive series.
For those not familiar with the plot, Kashimashi presents the plight of an effeminate young man who is transformed into a girl by otherworldly means. The 13-episode series (with OVA) then follows the charming, romantic and often saddening misadventures of the (girl) and her struggles to follow her heart in choosing either her dearest childhood friend, or the crush that had previously got away. The anime is very tasteful and although some Westerners might be disturbed or offended by the overly and intentionally creepy dad and his... enthusiastic attitude towards now having a daughter instead of a son, the anime does not even approach sex, has moderate fan service, and most of the more racy scenes (which are limited to begin with) are tasteful, appropriate and/or humorous. There is some slapstick, but it isn't really over the edge and doesn't get in the way of the drama like many other anime, and generally the show is quiet and placid.
Though the series is nothing groundbreaking and fans will be familiar with quite a bit presented here such as hot springs, haunted schools, quirky aliens, mysterious illnesses, karaoke, festivals with fireworks&kimonos and evening scenes highlighted by droves of fireflies, it still does have a thing or two going for it other than the obvious unique twists, and even on occasion pokes a bit of fun at some of these common conventions. The presentation and animation is pretty much top notch and includes bright, colorful, likable characters in flowery scenes sprinkled with delicate, heartfelt melodies played out gently on string instruments and piano with some occasional new age woven in. Picture dulcet, mellifluous classical strings&piano interwoven with The Album Leaf. The opening, ending&menu themes are soothing and pleasant and the music in general is truly beautiful and arguably one of the series' major strengths. It will stay with you long after the credits role. There are also some rather clever metaphors thrown in here and there... some subtle, some not so subtle, and many surprisingly meaningful. Generally, as far as presentation, if you appreciate nature you will appreciate the soft and pleasing settings&landscapes in this anime as most are filled with colorful plants, flowers, trees, and vegetable&fruit gardens with a lot of emphasis on the earth's natural beauty... with some thanks going to our horticulturally knowledgable lead character!
The low point is about 3/4 the way through. It can be somewhat aggravating to watch as the relationships just sort of tread water for a bit and you feel as if you are waiting for something to happen... which something does. I also would have liked to see more time spent exploring the comical challenges faced by our newly-female lead character in her adjustments to the change.
Fans of sparkles, painful cuteness and yuri will likely find this series to be worth their time and money. Kashimashi is overflowing with plenty of mystical glimmer, love&romance, invokes a wide range of emotions, and could charm just about anyone. The show keeps its promises and although the last OVA thrown in seems to go against the grain a bit and is more of an alternate fairytale ending than anything, it is nonetheless a joy to watch and is a rather satisfying conclusion... quite refreshing actually. I can't say the same for a lot of anime out there. Personally I preferred the original ending though, as it had much more of an impact on me. Either way, everything ties up very nicely and all of the small details throughout have meaning and purpose.
One more note about the DVD release... I purchased mine brand new at Best Buy for $14.99 and it is Japanese only with English subtitles. It comes in a box which contains 3 unique and artistic full size high quality DVD cases and comes with the usual textless opening/closing, trailers and interviews with the actors. I recommend (if you have the means available to you, of course) to visit your local Best Buy or perhaps give their site a look. If you like subtitles with original dialogue like me (and I should add voice actors are great and the captions contain only a few minor slip-ups and typos) you will not only find a cheaper release, but also one of higher quality. 』
(Girl Meets Girl Meets...Girl?) 『This is an anime that is basically a three pronged romance. A very girly guy ends up being turned into a woman by some aliens that are observing earthlings for their own purposes. The girls that had a crush on him have feelings that are not changed by his sudden gender switch. He was fairly femme-like to begin with anyway. So this turns into an ugly romance love triangle between the three girls - his childhood friend and the girl he was about to confess his feelings to. And that's what the entire series focuses on.
It has the usual festival, karaoke singing, haunted (school) house, beach and hot tub episodes. The animation is bright and the character designs are nice enough to look at, although they have a much younger look than even their age suggests.
There are some awkward moments, most notably with Huzumu's father, who is overly delighted to have his son become a girl. His attempts at getting her in the tub with him, taking naughty pictures and other unparental-like behavior is just disgusting. It was almost enough to turn me off of the show completely.
The OVA included here kind of turns the last episode on its head so you actually get to see how everything would conclude if it went either way. It's kind of a chickening out of what was established in the series closure.
For this release, you do get all three of the original discs in a flimsy little case. It's not a bad price, but the show is not particularly anything revolutionary. It's entertaining for a romance with a bit of a twist, and its fun seeing how this guy quickly adapts to becoming a girl, but not enough of the story is based around that, and the series quickly becomes a run-of-the-mill school romance.』 『On a warm, cloudy afternoon, Tomari bursts in on two girls from her class, Hazumu and Yasuna, sharing a tender first kiss. Her heart breaks... from jealousy. Hazumu was born a boy, but he certainly doesn't act it. He's sensitive, delicate, and loves gardening. Lucky for him, he grew up with the tomboy Tomari, who is always there to protect him. Despite her own feelings, she pushes Hazumu to confess his love to the elegant Yasuna. After Yasuna rejects him, he retreats into the mountains in despair. This begins the strange series of events that changes him into a her, and earns her the love of both Yasuna and Tomari.』
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 -- -
>,Cristina Valenzuela,Jennifer Alyx
