Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Good, but could have been better) 『I began my Initial D experience with Live-Evil&Ideology's translation and reproduction of Fourth Stage. It was near flawless in my opinion. Every added subtitle and other translation (signs, etc) looked like it belonged there. I'm not sure who produced this version, but the placement of the subtitles is horrible at times, i.e. placed so that you can't read it, and acceptable at others. For example at the begining of a new episode when you see the Kanji title, the English title will often be right on top of it in the same color, so you can't read the title of the episode. The subtitles also look like they are written in a low grade font, the letters are not smooth at all and look like they were added afterwards instead of looking like part of the cartoon (i.e. Live-Evil's version).
This version of Second Stage is on two discs. The chapters are set up so that each chapter is an episode, as opposed to Tokyo Pop's versions which begin each chapter at a commercial break. It means that if you want to see a particular battle in some episode, you have to fast forward.
I love the story of Second Stage, and while the animation is of course dated, it is better than that of First Stage. Second Stage is short, having only 13 or 14 episodes, but the battles are memorable, and there is significant character development. For example, you see Takumi go from this kid who knows nothing about cars and isn't interested in them, to having his head under the hood working on the 86 at the end of the season.
Overall, I don't regret this purchase, and I still pop this DVD in to watch some of the better battles. Though, I really wish it was done better. I would pay twice what I paid for this season if I could get a version with none of the production flaws that this version has.』
(Great Series, Not Seen The Funimation Release though) 『I love the series. I'm a die hard anime fan and for a time was a street racer. So when I stumbled upon Initial D I was instantly intrested and once I started I couldnt stop. I bought each of the 14 disks Toyo Pop released of the series as they came out.
My only quesiton is does funimation have any more episodes in these sets than I have in my toyko pop dvd's? Someone please let me know.
Thanks』
(Like cars? Like anime? This is may the one for you...) 『Wow, I have not seen this one for more than ten years ago. Time sure flies. When I see this product in stores, I was a bit hesitating because I have seen the trailer in english dubbed and music changed. Once I have heard from friends who rented or owned it, they said the japanese versions were kept in tact. You know, they were right!. That made me happy. I tried to give english version a chance, but I cannot surpass the music, the new given names, and the new special effects during the race. It just not the same! Just to be fair, I will only review only the original japanese version. The picture and the sound are really clean for a TV series. The contents are kept intact. I do not recall any scenes have been edited out. It also include "Extra Stage" to complete the series. This is a surprising add on which I almost forgot about. I recommend who enjoys classic sport cars do battle and remind how good the cars in their time.』
(Great, but short.) 『I love initial D and drifting as a whole. This box set even has extra stage included. Second stage was good but it was too short compared to first stage. If you like the series or street racing in general check this out.』 『"In case you don't know Takumi or haven't heard of Initial D, where have you been? It's pratically the coolest thing since the Japanese discovered drifting." --- IGN.com
When Keisuke Takahashi of the infamous RedSuns racing team accidentally witnesses normal, everyday tofu delivery boy Takumi Fujiwara's expert drift technique, Takumi's life shifts into high gear. Keisuke challenges him to a racing battle and the race results in Takumi plunging headlights first into the white-knuckle, adrenalin-rushing world of underground mountain pass street racing.
price：$24.99
Adv Films
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Product Review: GetBackers Season 1 *Complete*) 『Everything that I wanted to really know was there except how far up the episodes go. For the people who wanted to know season one depicts the first 25 episodes. Awesome product!』
(Hard-Core Anime Fans, Stick With It) 『When I first watched Get Backers a while back, I found it almost impossible to get past the first couple episodes. The "powers" they have just seem a little TOO powerful (and the whole ultra-hypnosis power is just a little TOO hokey and can obviously be used by the writers whenever they write themselves into a corner...It was all a DREAM!). I forced myself to continue after a couple days break and surprisingly it started to get better - and KEPT getting better.
Ep. 3, where Ginji&Ban attempt to recover a box filled with 'platinum' is where the characters finally started to grow on me - and episode 4 "Transport service Vs recovery Service" is where the story really drew me in. Only 4 episodes in and already we begin to doubt the Get Backers powers as they butt heads with some VERY sinister nemeses. The last episode on Volume One culminates with the expected - and mandatory - battle that have become so cliched in anime since DBZ arrived in America. But as far as the whole 'good-guy vs bad-guy' battles go, this one was pretty darned good.
Subsequent volumes in season one are as good - if not better - and I really am glad I stuck with this one (The Violin episodes were only fair though). If you're a teenager, you'll probably love this show without hesitation due to the large number of fights and battles - but I also recommend this to the die-hard anime fans out there who cringe at the thought of collecting any 'mainstream' anime - at least rent the first volume and see how you feel after seeing the first five episodes.
One word of warning - unless you were just CAPTIVATED by the voicework in Captain Planet, make sure to watch it in Japanese with the subtitles. Shotaru Morikobu (Ginji) and something-Canna (Ban) are just great in their roles and are a large reason why the show became such a success, IMO. They're not just reading a script - they're ACTING.
(I have not seen season two yet so cannot comment on that box set. I know that Morikubo-san and Canna-san are recurring but don't know if they have the same director/producers/ or if the animation looks the same.)
(If you like the whole idea of having superpowers, but only using them sparingly in rare occasions AND enjoy romance in your anime, try out "Kimagure Orange Road", one of modern anime's founding fathers from the late 80's.)』
(Really amazing anime) 『You cannot stop watching until the end of the story. It is better to have season 1 and 2. Season 1 is just complete half the puzzle. Besides the fighting scene, the entire scene is skillfully written. The character design is so beautiful.』
(it's ok) 『This isn't a bad show, I was entartained throughout, which is what I look for most from a movie or series. The only real problem with the show is that it really doesn't explore the concept it embraces. Out of 25 episodes the Get Backers actually only get back 5 things. Most of the series follows the fight of the week style in which a one on one battle ensues between one of the 2 main characters (more join later, sort of) and someone from his past, all of whom have some type of extraordinary skill or power. The whole thing reminded me of a more grounded version of Dragonball or Yu Yu Hakusho. I like those shows well enough, but they were not what I expected when I purchased this. I would give it 3.5 if possible.』
(Release date late on Amazon) 『I bought this at a Barnes and Noble on October 7, 2006. Three days before it was released on Amazon. Mismanagement or late release date? Either way this is a great series and the discs are in the slim dvd cases and fairly slippery. The front of thebox has Hevn and Ginji while the back has Ban and Himiko. I paid $44 and change for it so it might be a better deal at Barnes and Noble. No offense to Amazon but at pre-release prices today it was $53 through them. So savings of seven bucks to spend on more anime. I only hope Season 2 comes out soon.』 『If it’s lost, they’ll get it back. Doesn’t sound difficult, but when you throw in strange mutant powers and back it up with one of the top manga franchises in North America, it’s easy to understand why Get Backers is such a fan favorite anime series!』
price：$6.99
Funimation Prod
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review ("Pumpkin Scissors" is one of those rare gems that flies under the radar. Definitely an anime series worth checking out!) 『In 2006, anime production studio GONZO and AIC adapted Ryotoro Iwanaga's manga "Pumpkin Scissors" to a 24-episode anime series.
The series would be directed by popular 80's anime director Katsuhito Akiyama ("Sol Bianca", "Thundercats", " Gall Force","Bubblegum Crisis"), screenplay by Yuuji Hosono ("Guyver: The Bioboosted Armor", "Ray" and "Trinity Blood"), series composition by Atsuhiro Tomioka ("Samurai 7, "Vandread", "Eat-Man" and "Berserk"), character designs by Chizuko Kusakabe ("Trouble Chocolate") and mechanical designs by Shuichi Hara ( who worked on "Armitage: Dual Matrix" and "Solty Rei").
"Pumpkin Scissors" takes place during a time where war has ravaged the country. But a ceasefire has ended the war between the Royal Empire and the Republic of Frost. But since the cease fire, the country is not in the best of shape. The Empire is now plagued with starvation, crime, pestilence and even the soldiers have become bandits.
With corruption also residing in the ranks of the military, a division called Imperial Army State Section III was created. Section III is also known as "Pumpkin Scissors". A name given to the group by 2nd Lt. Alice L. Mavin. As way of the pumpkin being the layers of corruptness being trimmed by the blade of a scissor.
The series focuses on the Section III team and their mission of helping people and eliminating the corruption in their own military but also helping the public in other areas who have suffered from corruption.
But within the Section III is a mysterious soldier named Corporal Oland who is a member of the secret anti-tank group known as "The Invisible 9 who seems to get them out of a jam when the going gets tough.
Section III consists of the following individuals:
Captain Hunks - The commanding officer who is rather calm, always smoking and gives out the orders to the team.
2nd Lt. Alice L. Mavin - Leads the team on their missions and also a member of the royal family. But is dedicated to her job and passionate about the goals of Section III. Always hot tempered when angered, she carries a short sword.
Corporal Randel Oland - The mysterious soldier known for his height and his facial scars. When things get tough for Section III, Oland turns on his blue lamp and becomes a member of the "Invisible 9. A man who is vicious in battle and gets the job done with his 13mm anti-tank gun. Able to take on massive hits and injuries while in this mode. A secret military group of individuals that took on tanks. Not much is known about the "Invisible 9 but there members of the Section III accept him without asking any questions about his past.
Warrant Officer Martis - Graduated on the top of the Academy but transferred to Section III to uncover corruptness in his former unit.
Warrant Officer Oreldo - The playboy who seems more interested in drinking and women but the cool, clever and resourceful member of the group.
Sergeant Major Lili Stecchin - An aid to Captain Hunks who works in the office and is responsible for the dog named Mercury (the messenger for Section III).
"Pumpkin Scissors - The Complete Series" features 24 episodes on 4 DVD's. Here is a spoiler-less summary of each episode:
DISC 1:
* Episode 1 - The Invisible 9 - it's merely an introduction to the characters but how many soldiers have turned corrupt and using tanks to hurt people. In this case, shooting a chemical weapon against the people in the village, leaving it to PUMPKIN SCISSORS to obtain the antidote. * Episode 2 - War Relief Unit - Episode 2 features a corrupt noble who is willing to give a lot of money to a resident who can survive a game of cat and mouse. In rough times, many villagers take part in the game to hopefully win the money but because the noble uses a tank to catch the villagers, no villager has survived the game. Section III is called to stop this man but instead, the team are forced to be part of the game as mouse. * Episode 3 - For That is a Precious Thing - Section III must convince a group of villagers to work on a tunnel. * Episode 4 - The Cracked Portrait - Martis is suspicious about Oland and does his own investigation on him. * Episode 5 - Shallow-Minded Men - Oreldo learns from Martis about his suspicions about Oland being a member of the "Invisible 9. * Episode 6 - A Fruitful Time - Oreldo finds an abandoned baby and Section III looks for the mother.
DISC 2:
* Episode 7 - The One Who Leads and the One Who Follows - Alice goes to meet her fiance, while the three go to look for squandered supplies. * Episode 8 - Burn in the Snowfields - Section III is given a mission to go out in a snow area to make a delivery. * Episode 9 - The Woman in the Morning Mist - Oreldo helps a woman deal with her fiance. * Episode 10 - Pumpkins and Scissors - Stecchin explains to Oland how Section III got their "Pumpkin Scissors" name. * Episode 11 - The Quiet Quickening - Alice is kidnapped and the kidnappers want her to publicize documents about a top secret military group known as "Invisible 9. * Episode 12 - Unseen Pain - Someone has taken the "Invisible 9 documents, now people are ending up dead and the Section III team are in the middle of all of it.
DISC 3:
* Episode 13 - Crude but Elegant - Martis must accompany a princess for the day and protect her. * Episode 14 - The Flame Still Burns - Section III takes on a group of drug dealers. * Episode 15 - Decisions Run Astray - While Section III takes on drug dealers, Oland confronts an enemy who may be part of the same mysterious group that he was once part of. * Episode 16 - The One Who Slashes - Section III continues their fight against the drug dealers but the military has sent out Section I. Leaving Alice to take them on alone while Oland and Martis go after Hans. * Episode 17 - The Darkness that Cannot Be Saved - Oland confronts Hans and Alice continues her fight against the Section I soldiers. * Episode 18 - A Small Military Power - Stecchin tries to finds a way to make Oland happy once again.
DISC 4:
* Episode 19 - A Sweet Trap - Section III distributes food to the homeless, while Alice attends a ball. But Section III doesn't know that the commoners have planned to murder the nobles at the ball. * Episode 20 - Enter the Performers - A furious crowd of commoners invade the ball that Alice has attended and want blood. * Episode 21 - The Puppet and the Idol - Alice challenges the Marquis bodyguard who is an expert with a machete, meanwhile Oland must take on the other. But with Oland out of it and doubting his role in Section III, he might wind up dead. * Episode 22 - Lonely Scales - Alice's duel begins but also having to be careful due to the angry mob wanting to interfere. * Episode 23 - And Then, An Alluring Trap - Everyone at the Ball watches Alice's duel against her opponent. * Episode 24 - The Military, The Commoners and the Nobility - Section I is planning to make an attack but Section III tries to find a peaceful solution and avoid bloodshed.
VIDEO&AUDIO:
"Pumpkin Scissors" is featured in 16×9 and for the most part, the animation and artistic backgrounds retain the quality you would expect from GONZO. For the most part, the animation is action-based and the artistic backgrounds tend to reveal the war-torn country. Character designs by Chizuko Kusakabe ("Trouble Chocolate") and mechanical designs by Shuichi Hara ( who worked on "Armitage: Dual Matrix" and "Solty Rei") are well-done and it's a series that focuses on a core group of characters but features a lot of characters as the group tends to visit villages that are in need of help.
So, you see a lot of anguish and fears in the face of the commoners and of course during battle, the fight scenes are also well-done and enjoyable to watch. But also striking are the violent imagery depicted on the animation and design of the characters of the "Invisible 9 group. Definitely cool character designs and artistic style.
As for audio, "Pumpkin Scissors" is presented in English 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound and Japanese stereo. Dialogue is clear and understandable through the front and center channels but with all the action, I was hoping to hear a more immersive soundtrack especially coming from the surrounds. But the series is primarily front and center-channel driven and felt that my best setting was to set my receiver to all channels on stereo.
As for the voice acting, I watched the series in both English and Japanese and both feature solid voice acting. The main difference is that the English version tends to change a few things in dialogue and also utilize more profanity and familiar Western terminology for the English dub. Also, Oland sounds a bit more oafish in the English dub but in a way it does make sense. But for the most part, I felt that the voice acting was well done and enjoyed both vocal tracks.
Subtitles are only in English.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"Pumpkin Scissors - The Complete Series" comes with very few special features on disc 3 and disc 4 containing trailers for upcoming releases:
DISC 3:
* Textless Opening and Ending Themes
JUDGMENT CALL:
"Pumpkin Scissors" is definitely an anime that people shouldn't judge by its DVD cover. Or even its name. I suppose I was a bit skeptical with the references to a pumpkin and scissors on the cover did not exactly generate any enthusiasm on my part but after watching the entire series, I can tell you that the series is definitely exciting, clever and for the most part, highly entertaining!
I enjoy the series because the "PUMPKIN SCISSORS" are always looked at as an underdog military/intelligence group that is not too important to the empire. But the group shows its strength by tackling corruption and accomplishing missions which are not easy by any means.
Lt. Alice L. Malvin is quite interesting because she is a daughter from a noble family but instead of living a life as a noble, she learns how fortunate she is to have food on her table but at the same time, because of her beliefs, she wants to see right with the people in the ravaged villages who feel that they have no voice when it comes to the Empire and Alice wants to be their voice and really wants to help people.
But what is interesting is that you see her character develop especially when you get to the final seven episodes. She's a changed person and her beliefs start to change.
"Pumpkin Scissors" also shows the side of post-war and how villages all over have been destroyed or people left to die by starvation and sickness. It was really good to see how animators captured the anguish of those who are suffering.
I did feel that the humor at times felt a bit kooky especially when you enjoy the violence and the action sequences for the series and some episodes go from dark but then you'll have a character like Oreldo flirting with a woman or cracking a joke.
But I really like the characters in the series. Anna has a pure heart of wanting to help the people, as does the corporal who despite seems to be lost because all he did was kill the enemies during the war and now that there is no war, trying to evaluate what peace is about and also trying to figure out his existence and his part of being in a group like Section III.
The show also does a great job in focusing on character development and granted there are not many characters on the Section III team, but you see each and every one of them overcome adversity someway and also with the help of each other.
An enjoyable series that is full of action, intrigue and suspense. A good balance of violence and a touch of zany and kooky humor. From start to finish, you'll find yourself feeling that "Pumpkin Scissors" is indeed a hidden gem amongst many anime titles being released right now. But it's a series that is worth checking out.
I highly recommend "Pumpkin Scissors - The Complete Series"!』
(Don't Let the Strange Name Throw You) 『Every now and then there comes along an anime title that makes even the most open-minded individual pause and think surely this one has to be a case of mistranslation. Such is the case with Pumpkin Scissors; a show with a title that seems made up of two completely unrelated nouns. I mean could have it worked just as well if it were called Zucchini Shears, Squash Clippers, or Cucumber Nose Hair Trimmers? Guess we'll never know but who cares? The fact is, as indicated by the insignias on the character's uniforms, Pumpkin Scissors was indeed an intentional collaboration of symbols used to identify a certain military brigade within a surprisingly rich tale.
This anime release represents but another gem created by Gonzo that Funimation wisely picked up in their collaborative deal with ADV Films. Labeling this specific release The Complete Series, it contains episodes 1-24 of the show across 4 dvds. Packaged within a pair of thin packs (each holding two discs) within a very nicely decorated cardboard sleeve, the total runtime comes in at 600 minutes-even.
The show wears an appropriate TV 14 rating due to its grandiose themes of violence and militaristic operatives. There is no nudity or particularly offensive language, and some sequences, though violent in nature, seem to avoid indulging in gore.
Language options consist of both the original Japanese dialog track (stereo) or English dub (Dolby 5.1 Surround) and the choice of English subtitles for either vocal track.
Extras are limited to texless songs and two crops of Funimation trailers.
The story goes something like this: We pick up at the conclusion of a long and grueling war between the Empire and the Republic. It's a period where a forced peace treaty struggles to find its footing and soldiers, who were accustomed to the thralls of battle, now find themselves on war relief duty in lands that have been ravaged by battle.
We follow the young female character Alice, an idealist heir to nobility and Second Lieutenant in Military Intelligence Section 3 (aka Pumpkin Scissors). While she's expected to obey commands and do things "by the book", our protagonist makes it her own personal mission to fight for what's right, even if it means taking out rogue soldiers who refuse to follow the peace treaty or exposing corrupt, power-abusing nobles.
The show is an interesting blend of action and strategy and its pacing makes no apologies for failing to favor one element over the other. The themes are quite ambitious, some might even say too ambitious, but the major story arc is broken up pretty evenly by the minor day to day trials and tribulations of the characters involved. Credit is definitely due to the show's artists and production teams for managing to combine bright, clean visuals and cutesy moments with an underlying sense of ominous that builds without drawing too much attention to itself. Comic relief is sprinkled about to break up the potential monotony of what boils down to a brash female soldier who decides to reveal the corruption of the power-crazed nobles who dictate her society.
In the end, a whole plethora of minor battles and grand conflicts serve as the catalyst to reveal the mysteries surrounding a covered-up super soldier program (kind of like a bunch of Captain Americas with eerie lanterns) known as the Invisible Nine.
This is one of few shows out there that can genuinely boast the ability to appeal to a pretty broad fan base. Some will find attraction to the military-themes, antiquated technology, and action sequences while others will just as successfully cling to the character development of the interesting and likable cast. Finally, there could just as likely be a devotion to the visual style and crisp animation presented here as it's definitely got the type of class that Gonzo seemed to be able to extract time and time again in their works.
The vocal tracks are just about equally solid in either language option. One would suspect that the depth of talent in the Japanese track would overshadow the efforts of the English dub but the fact is that each take of the script has its own merit. Occasionally it even sounds as though the English actors may have had a little more fun getting into the characters than their Japanese counterpart!
In all, Pumpkin Scissors could very well earn the award for the strangest anime title to reach our shores but the material itself is solid enough to warrant serious consideration. Some may argue that the pacing is just a tad bit inconsistent and sure, there are episodes that tend to drag on with little overall plot progression, but in the end a rich story is cleverly weaved here through a group of honest characters unwilling to accept a corrupt society. A majority of the bits and tangents that pop up along the way ultimately lead to a satisfying conclusion that's worth the effort of following along (even if little of what's happening makes sense at the time). Multiple viewings reveal subtle overlooked details that slipped past the first few times through. In all, a definite winner that will surely spend very little time collecting dust on a shelf.』 『Studio: Funimation Prod Inc Release Date: 08/25/2009 Run time: 600 minutes』
price：$9.00
Right Stuf
Usually ships in 2 to 3 days Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Cheeky, silly and fun) 『Really liked this series. Not too much Fan Service, but it was pretty good nonetheless. I would say worth the effort. May even be okay for kids. Although I would recommend screening it first.』
(No nonsense nonsense) 『I don't repeat the plots. This is a comedy with some romantic inclination. If you like bad jokes, a somewhat dirty sense of humor, and silly situations this is for you. If you liked Bobobo Bo-bobobo you might like this, but it may be a little less silly. Not by a lot. It is one definitely worth picking up if you like the comedy genre of anime films. There is a lot of tongue-in-cheek references to older anime and popular Japanese culture, so reading the Liner's notes in the included booklets is a good idea. There are also some art and other notes you may or may not find interesting, as well as a short Manga. With little fighting and no real bad-guys this is a series driven by characters and the situations they get into (or create). Sometimes the screen is "busy" with translations of what's on the screen in Japanese, it's usually worth pausing to read what they say. Some are informative, many are amusing. Overall I liked this series quite a lot.』
(The FUNNIEST Anime I have ever Seen!) 『Ninja Nonsense is just down right FUNNY! Off the wall they say, wacky, and in a suprise, Charming! I must say IMO this is one of the Best Dubs probably in the history of Dub Animes. Perfect Cast! Right Stuf did an AWESOME job. (They really seem to Dub Animes quite well.) ^_^ Back to the show, if you want to laugh buy it! Simple as that! Warning this Anime is quite nice looking very colorful but NOT for Kids. Second Warning don't eat or drink while watching this Anime you might choke, laughing so hard! =) Ninja Nonsense will go down as one of the FUNNIEST Animes in History! (I hope.) ^_^』 『NINJA NONSENSE COMPLETE COLLECTION LIMITED EDITION
This first-ever Ninja Nonsense collection features the complete series - with all of the video and print extras included during its initial release - and an art box to house the four DVD volumes. Plus, this limited edition will also include a special mini-manga by series creator Ryoichi Koga, an "Onsokumaru" squeeze toy and a ninja-trainee headband. The Complete Collection - Limited Edition includes a special mini-manga by creator Ryoichi Koga celebrating the box set release, an Onsokumaru squeeze toy and a ninja-trainee headband. DVD Features: Entire series in one complete collection with scene access, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for English and Japanese dialog, English subtitles and English on-screen translations. Plus: Reversible covers, character bios, interviews with the Japanese cast, TV spots 1-18, textless openings and closing, "Kurukururin" (closing) full-size video, original U.S. trailer and Right Stuf / Nozomi Entertainment trailers. Also: Four booklets featuring production journals, "Happy Doodles" from the Japanese staff, liner notes and more.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (It is the most enjoyable anime that I have.) 『I only have the VHS from Streamline/Orion Video. That story is the Immortals,the 1st half of the collection. One must remember how old this story is(the first 1/2 is 17 years old)so the "Anime" is what you should expect from that era. As for myself...It is the most enjoyable anime that I have. I am sure that numerous people would disagree with me. When I first started to watch it I just went...crap this is going to suck...yet after about 15 minutes I was drawn in and it did not let up from there on out. I am not a huge fan of anime but after coming across&watching 3x3 Eyes(which had sat in my closet for many,many years)I have recently gotten back into it. In my opinion it is far better than Akira. I have ordered the Collectors Edition and am looking forward to it. There is on thing that I wonder about....if the other two disc's that are sold seperately are the same story what makes this so expensive? I have read nothing about massive extras that come with the Collectors Edition. Is it all about the dubbing? Does anyone know?』
(Uneven quality and a little light on the plot) 『This set includes the two OVAs that were released on this series. The first four episodes contain the first arc and the remaining three the other one. It all begins with Pai and Yakumo. Pai the alter ego of a demon, called Sanjiyan, who wants to become human and is seeking a statue that will help her achieve this. As soon as she meets Yakumo, a high school student who likes to ride bikes, he gets into and "accident" and dies; therefore, Pai has to give him the "gift" of immortality by making him her Wu, which is a kind of servant bound to the Sanjiyan.
The journey takes Pai and Yakumo from Japan to China, and in the process they meet various friends and a myriad of foes. The latter are usually demons of various different kinds and abilities. There are a few things that I thought were over the top, especially how frequently Yakumo "dies" and how helpless he is during the first arc. I did not particularly enjoy the lack of continuity between the first and second story. With four years passing in the interim, it takes a while for the viewer to understand what is going on.
The graphics are decent, but since this series was created more than a decade ago, you will not find cutting edge animation. There is a fair amount of action, which in some cases may feel like a little too much. I would have liked the creators to have spent some more time building the story and less showing us monsters and demons. Overall, this is an OK series, but I think that there are several better options available. If you are looking for a series that includes demons and have no issues with a more mature storyline, I would recommend Berserk instead.』
(cheat on her for catch the bad man!) 『the girl did not know happen with the bad man have strong inside to beat on her and she get not remember the past with the guard guy but she love to him for good .. she did tell to him for real human with her life ... i did watch that before , what they talked about it.. because she have hard to save to her guard guy.. but he have strong "WA" on his forehead!』
(It all depends on what you are looking for) 『3 x 3 eyes may not have the slick sleek computer anime that has drawn many people to the genre, and they haven't re-released it digitized and re-done, which I think is just as well. While it is all drawn old school hand work, it's amazing the amount of expression that can be conveyed, even in just a simple screen still.
I originally caught the last half of the series on cable many years ago and have searched for it for some time. I'd not even seen the first part until I found a fan sub on the web, and decided the heck with it, I would sink the money to get it. I'm disabled and don't have much money, so this was actually a considerable investment for me.
There are plot holes and such, and i gather the manga was more complete and cleared all that, but the overall essense of the story can be easily followed, and as I said, it may be old school style animation, but some of the expression drawn into the art is more than worth it.
Very creative, and an intersting weaves of oountries, religions, and belief systems hooked into modern day era.
I will agree it's definitely not a series for younger kids to see, not so much for sex or nudity, but it's pretty gory. Yakumo gets dismembered, maimed, or barfs up enough blood for three people about every episode, but if you aren't particularly squeamish (which I'm not) the storyline, the hand art and series will hook you and draw you in, if you have appreciation for such things.』
(I didn't notice the dark tones.) 『Okay, so part one of the show doesn't have a conclusion. And part two only has half a conclusion. This collection, I am told, is not the real end of the series. Apparently, there are more episodes that just never made it to an american release.
However, thaaat doesn't matter even a little bit to me. This show is grreat *like kellog's corn flakes* and while I've only seen it dubbed (totalllly cheesy voice acting, especially laughter + screaming) it's one of my favorites. (Maybe I just like Yuzo Takada's work.)
As for violence, humans don't have as much blood as these character's seem to and I didn't notice any gloomy tones (as mentioned in other reviews.) I tend to focus of the romance, I guess. I mean, there's some angst n stuff, but what show about teenagers doesn't have angst?
p.s. I love the soundtrack, too.』 『Legends whisper about the ancient Sanijyan, poweful three-eyed demons that possessed the secret of immortality. Yet their fascination with humanity led to their slaughter by one of their strongest leaders, Lord Kaiyanwan... Today, humanity's blind arrogance has built a civilization that believes only in itself and we preserve our senses of security only by refusing to see the shadow-world lurking beneath the surface of our town... One man, Yakumo, will be forced to confront this hidden world and discover the curse of immortality. What he finds will force him to embrace the demon world to find not only its humanity, but also his own...』 『The two-disc Collector's Edition unites two linked stories, although the appearance of the characters and the style of direction change between them. Pai is the last Sanjiyan or holy demon: the rest were exterminated 300 years ago when their king, Kaiyanwang, turned to evil. She's spent the last three centuries trying to become human. In Japan, Pai meets Yakumo Fujii, whose scientist father discovered that transforming a Sanjiyan into a human requires the "Statue of Humanity." The evil creatures who hope to resurrect Kaiyanwang also want the Statue: Pai and Yakumo challenge them in a series of bloody battles. Pai turns Yakumo into a Wu, a spirit whose soul is bound to her own and who cannot be killed while she lives. Yakumo falls in love with her, although it's difficult to understand why.Immortalsends when Pai and Benares, Kaiyanwang's chief henchman, disappear in a violent explosion. Realizing that Pai must still be alive, Yakumo vows to search until he finds her again.
Divine Demonpicks up the story four years later: Pa-Bo Ayanokoji believes she's a typical high school girl who likes to hang out with her friends. Her world is shattered when Yakumo reveals she is not a human, but Pai. Kaiyanwang is about to rise again, and his servants are trying to kill Pai, who can challenge his power. Pai's memories of her life in the blessed realm of Kunlun have been blocked by a spell; Yakumo takes her to Tibet to break it. Along the way, he fights assorted villains led by the sniggering Choukai. Pai and Yakumo cross the barrier to Kunlun with the aid of treasure hunter Jake Macdonald. There they battle both Choukai and Benares. Both stories end on weak notes, with enough plot strings left hanging to form a fringe. InImmortals, the viewer never learns what becomes of the sinister Mrs. Wong, the Statue of Humanity, or Yakumo's group of friends. InDivine Demonthe expected confrontation between Pai and Kaiyanwang fails to materialize. Contains these episodes: 1. "Transmigration," 2. "Yakumo," 3. "Sacrifice," 4. "Straying," 5. "Descent," 6. "The Key," 7. "The Return." Rated 16+: considerable violence, minor profanity, and nudity.--Charles Solomon』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Return of the Griffin) 『The Patlabor team returns in this new adventure. It's the near end of 1999; however, Utsumi and Kurosaki has their evil plans to stop the Patlabors. Their team rebuilds the Griffin and has Bud as the pilot. All Bud cares about is finishing his unfinished battle with Noa and Alphonse. After the Griffin defeats division one, Goto knows that it's up to Noa to stop the Griffin. With the help from Goto's friend Matsui and Momoka the reporter, the team finds who's involved and plan to stop them. The other two dvds is all in Japanese with english subtitles. My favorite is the opening credits. Plus at the end of dvd 3, Asuma finally makes up with his dad from how it looks.』
(Vintage Patlabor; action, comedy and drama in 16 episodes) 『Patlabor is not your typical giant robot anime. Whole episodes go by where the characters do not use their mecha.
The "New Files" is the post-TV series follow-up, and takes Patlabor's characteristic comedy to a whole new level. Yet at the same time it contains one of the show's best set of action episodes and easily the three most touching and poignant moments of drama for the cast. Not bad for just 16 episodes.
The four episodes on Disc 1 are the only ones to have an audio track dubbed in English; Manga opted not to finish the dub process for the remaining twelve episodes, but instead to just get the thing released. Considering that the release of Patlabor DVDs began in 2001 and only just finished with the release of this set, I'm just happy they decided to release it at all. We had to wait long enough.
The first Disc can be thought of as the "Action" disc; its four episodes contain a single story arc where the Griffin -- the infamous "Black Labor" which starred in the TV series' longest connected story arc, spanning roughly five episodes -- returns for a rematch with Special Vehicles. But before it can fight the Ingrams of Division 2, it must get rid of Division 1 and it's new "Peacemaker" labors, based upon the Type Zero from Patlabor Movie 1 and the final episodes of the TV series.
The second Disc can be thought of as the "Comedy" disc; there is not a lot of action, but there are a lot of laughs. These six episodes are all one-shot stories, and frequently focus on cast members who did not get much screen time in the TV series. Whether it is "The Seven Days of Fire" which is focused on Shige and the Mechanics of SV2, or "Versus" which details battle of wits, philosophy, and drinking between officers Kumagami and Kanuka, or "The Black Trinary" which has the cast searching for a terrorist within the confines of a public bath house, all of these episodes are played for laughs, and they do a very good job of it.
The third disc could be thought of as the Drama disc. While it has its share of comedy as Division 2 takes another foray into the sewers under their base (which they previously did late in the TV series) and Asuma has a dream eerily reminiscent of Shige's fanficful CLAT episode from the TV series, the other four episodes exist for the characters, not the laughs. "Two in Karisawa" focuses exclusively on the never-before-explored relationship between Division 2's Captain Goto and Division 1's Captain Nagumo as they are stranded on the road by a typhoon, and stop for the night at the only place they can find -- a love motel. "Snow Rondo" focuses on Asuma and his romantic relationships, while "All Quiet at SV2" is a general 'feel-good' ending to the series; perhaps not with as much closure as fans would like, but with as much as is actually needed. It's also a rare episode where Asuma talkes about his family and Ota struts his stuff in a Labor -- without shooting anyone.
All in all, this collection has many of my favorite moments in Patlabor, and is a very welcome addition to my DVD library.』
(If you have Vol 1 already read this.) 『If you have already purchased Vol1 of the New Files and are a Dub fan you should be warned. Even though this volume contains all of the episodes for New Files only the first Volume (Same as the one that came out before this set) is dubed. The rest are only subed.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (This makes me cry. And not in a good way, like the game.) 『If this is the only animated show version of the series that exists, then I have seen it, and as someone who completely worships the games, this show version made me cringe. The events are completely out of order, people show up in scenes they're not supposed to be in, and things jump around and happen so fast that it makes the overall meaning of the story hard to follow. Some of the characters do things that conflict with their own personalities and/or motives, and it makes you wonder as a fan what exactly the show producers are going for; my favorite character, Albedo, for example, is shown doing things he would NEVER do in the game, partly because of his personality, and partly because it would conflict with his goals and completely waste his time. As he is a brilliant mastermind in the game, it completely ruins his character to show him doing petty, useless things in the show (and worse, they make him look like a pedophile, which he totally isn't if you fully understand the game's story). In a lot of ways it seems like they are going for dramatic shock value or something, because there are plenty of scenes in the game with long, involved, thought-provoking dialogues which would probably not grab the attention of many anime viewers, and which were thus left out of it. (I know this because I've actually read more than a few reviews of the game which criticize how drawn out the cutscenes are.) While Xenosaga explores several deep, philosophical themes, and many new popular anime shows do the same, for some reason this anime version seems more shallow and designed almost for children, it's sad to say. As far as the technical aspects, the animation/graphics are decent, and it is interesting to see the characters drawn in a different way physically, but the graphics in the game are far more attractive, and the game's soundtrack is so engrossing that it is not to be missed either, unlike the show's soundtrack. It's hard to tell how the voice acting/dialogue compares with the game, as the version of the show I've seen is in Japanese with subtitles, but the subtitles do seem to cut out a substantial amount of depth. And like I said, this show version is SHORT, compared to the cutscenes in the game. Any way you look at it, if you are a fan of the game, the anime series seems something of a disappointment, and I would definitely not recommend showing this to someone to try to get them involved in the series. If they were trying to showcase the game's story to a larger audience, this was not the way to do it. I really hate to say this too, because I desperately wanted to like it.』
(only for fans of the video game) 『I really wanted to like "Xenosaga." As sci-fi, the show has a fantastic post-earth premise. The art is well done and the characters are generally compelling. The Gnosis are the type of antagonists that you love to hate. Then comes KOS-MOS. While she may appear to be a vixen, KOS-MOS is really an android super hero who may be the only thing that can save the human race. The mysterious KOS-MOS immediately jumps the shark. For starters, she's an unsympathetic character. KOS-MOS' abilities are entirely unbelievable and her design is clearly a desperate attempt to appeal to the adolescent male demographic. While I could have made my peace with a smaller dose of KOS-MOS, she's a central figure. After watching the first disc, I decided that I couldn't go any further. In the spirit of disclosure, I never played the game so my review is entirely based on the merits of the show. Unless you're watching the show as an extension of your love of the video game, like minded anime fans should first check out something like "Starship Operators." "Xenosaga" has much going for it but in the end, there's better anime out there. 』
(Video game comes to life) 『I enjoyed this Anime collection very much. You can find other reviews that will tell you all you could want to know about the story and content. So in summation it was amusing and enjoyable. 』
(Game one wrapped up) 『I'd rather watch the games sequences in order from the first game, this is just the same with anime drawing style instead. The game was prettier. If you can't play a long game like』 『Studio: Funimation Prod Inc Release Date: 12/23/2008』
price：$4.99
Bandai
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Clamp at it's best!!) 『This colection of Clamp School Detectives only gets better with time, even if this story is not a deep or depressing story like X or Tokyo Babylon the hand of the Clamp writers is obviously here, from the amazing design of the story to the beloved characters created this stories are funny, sweet, romantic and full of adventure.
On of my favorite anime ever.』
(For Any Fans Of The Clamp Manga Universe) 『Like some viewers I checked this series out mostly because of my enjoyment of the Clamp series of both their manga and anime creations like X/1999, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles and Chobits and as expected the series isn't really hardcore or very dramatic it still is highly entertaining to watch close in its storyline action and basis to Cardcaptors almost. The series follows three young elementary school boys Nokoru Imonoyama the student body president who is also the popular ladies man who is the leader of their recently created detective agency, Suou Takamura the seemingly bodyguard of young Nokoru as well as assistant, and Akira Ijuuin the student body accountant and expert chef making elaborate deserts. All three come from the prestigious Clamp school a school that ranges from kindergarten all the way to college levels, the school is basically its own city with hospitals, banks, stores and anything else most cities would need on its personal ground all paid for by one powerful business conglomerate. The series is very light story-lined so while it has some action it's not really dramatic or hardcore to really be stressed about or to worry about what happens to the characters about(Ala Cardcaptors), if there's one complaint I would say that the dubbing was very poorly done coming from Bandai I expected a better cast for the series but except for maybe one or two of the dubbing voice cast the rest were just pathetic to hear so I say with this series just listen to it with the Japanese Voice cast instead. The extras are decent somewhat with the standard trailers, textless intro/ending songs but you'll get a day in the life at Clamp school act 1-13 as part of the extra which is a little enjoyable to see. So if you're a fan of the Card Captor series or just a fan of the Clamp Manga series here's another collection for your anime library to try out...』
(One of Clamp Legendary Animation) 『The kingdom of Clamp has been extremely well known in Japan. (I am not so sure if it is also well known internationally.) It is true that its present works make changes from its previous production. However, I doubt anyone, especially fans of Clamp would forget the original character designs (pointy eye lashes, facial profile, etc) in the early 90s (late 80s - early 90s). Clamp's reputation is not something that is granted. Its early animation developed a new trend of animation in Japan. Its fairy tales, characters' design are unforgettable. Talking about its early production, these 3 lovely and smart `' (little rich boys) are one of the icons in Clamp anime. It is very interesting to watch. The stories are relaxing. The characters are in children's bodies but with adults' characteristic. In addition, the production design is beautifully made.』 『Studio: Infinity Resources Inc Release Date: 02/03/2009 Run time: 650 minutes』
price：$6.00
Right Stuf
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Microsoft Sam) 『I really wish that the voice actors were better! The man that played Yuki literally sounded like Microsoft SAM! If you can get over the awful acting, then this is a really cute yaoi anime!』
(Really, really good.) 『First of all, I'm not a huge anime fan, but I started watching this on Anime Network (cable channel) and I was hooked from the first episode and actually bought my first anime DVD. Yes, the two main characters are gay and Yuki has some hokey lines, but it's more than made up for in the humor and the character development. Warning, it can be a little slapsticky -- with the former CIA agent manager, a fey idol with a toy rabbit, the lovelorn fiance and Shuichi's goofy antics -- but the ending seemed to make it all worth it. I only wished there was a sequel.』
(GRAVITATION IS VERY VERY...........) 『GRAVITATION IS VERY FUNNY, BEAUTIFULL, IT'S.......WOW!!!! WHEN YOU BEGIN TO WATCH DVD, LAUGHS ARE ASSURED. IT'S THE STORY BETWEEN A YOUNG SINGER AND A NOVELIST. SHUICHI LOVES TO SING AND HE FORMS A BAND CALLED BAD LUCK WITH HIS FRIEND HIRO, BUT HE NEED A LITTLE INSPIRATION TO FINISH THE LYRICS, SO HIS FRIEND TELLS HIM TO FIND A GIRLFRIEND. ONE NIGHT, WHILE HE'S WALKING IN A PARK, HIS LATEST LYRICS FLUTTER AWAY AND LAND AT FEET OF A YOUNG MAN. THAT NIGHT SHUICHI'S LIFE CHANGES. I LOVE MAIN CHARACTERS, SONO FAN-TAS-TI-CI.』
(Not something I normally like) 『I don't normally like this type of show but my friend made me watch it and I loved it, its so funny and Shuichi is hilarious and its a really good show it and the music is so cool its hard to sit still because all you want to do is dance』
(A Must-Have Series) 『If you are hesitating or are on the fence about buying this series, DON'T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE! Gravitation is the Platinum standard of shounen-ai and is a fantastic anime series period. While the manga is sensational and at times edge-of-your-seat suspenseful, the anime series is just as gripping, and the characters are rich, colorful, and beautiful. Seeing everyone's favorite sullen novelist Eiri Yuki in full color animation is well worth the purchase, but that's just the icing on a sweet, sweet cake.
The songs are great of course, and the English voice cast is actually more than just tolerable -- they do a really good job. The box itself makes for a beautiful display, and each of the 4 disc cases features a bold, colorful, sexy rendition of Shuichi and Eiri. The extra features are fun and informative, especially the liner notes which detail certain specific details in some episodes that may be missed or confusing.
The few love/kissing scenes are extremely tame -- hence the shounen-ai label and not yaoi -- but sweet nonetheless. There are mushy, "awwwww"-inspiring moments for those that like that, funny moments, guns, laughs, cries, and everything in-between. There's something for everyone. Even my hard-core action anime-loving friends enjoy Gravitation. There's just something about it that hooks you in and won't let go...
All in all, this is one of my favorite anime series of all times, and is one of the most beautiful dvd boxsets I've ever owned. While you may be able to find it less expensive on another site, BUY IT. You will NOT be disappointed. After all, It's...Gravitation...』 『Based on maki murakamis best-selling graphic novel series gravitation has been hailed as one of the best romantic titles of all time by anime insider and has been seen by tv audiences across the nation returns in a complete thinpak series containing all 13 episodes! Studio: Bayview/widowmaker Release Date: 10/31/2006 Run time: 325 minutes』
price：$5.99
Adv Films
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (UFo Ultramaiden Valkyrie Season 1&2) 『I personaly really enjoyed this series, theirs not alot i can say that hasnt been said already so i'll skip to the main points this is basically a comedy with some action throw in. Theirs some nudity so you may not want younger viewers watching this. Val the main char crashes on earth after she runs away from a marraige on her home planet in the process killin the young man runing the bath house their. She falls in love with him and restores him to life by giveing him half her soul wich in the process turns her into a 8 year old girl. When trouble comes around she can only get her power back by a kiss from the man she saved. Hydra her younger sister also follows her to earth to bring Val back to marry the guy she was in engauged with or she will be forced into the marriage and theirs where the humor starts. From their all kinds of stuff happens with all differnt kinds of people from Vals home planet and the people on earth. I no some people said not to spend alot for this series and personaly i wouldnt go over about 40$ (not including shipping) for it, but ya hafta remeber also you geting 2 seasons wich are 5 discs. the main reason i say not to spend over 40 for this series is mainly the way they package it, all 5 discs are stacked on top of eack other instead of being in seperate holders very cheap packageing. I will say if ya want a anime with humor and some action this is pretty decent for the price.』
(A Funny Anime Series) 『This is a great and funny anime if your into the more chibi, childish harem types. In a sense similar to Love Hina this has plenty of girls along with plenty of laughs. You get season 1 and 2 plus a couple of OVA's so it's actually a pretty good deal for your price. Although it is a romance anime, don't expect it to be very deep. It's more of a comedy type thing but don't let that stop you. And with season 3 and 4 coming out, this will surely be an anime to add to anyone's collection.』 『Studio: Adv Films Release Date: 04/28/2009 Run time: 670 minutes』
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