price：$3.49
Funimation Prod
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Teeny tiny Sherlock) 『It's a rough life being a teenage detective genius -- crimes happen everywhere, and strange people may shrink you into a small child. Such are the problems for Jimmy Kudo in "Case Closed: Season 1 ," a solid little mystery series with a healthy dollop of comic relief and romance -- the mysteries are a bit spotty, but promise to improve drastically. Just try not to have the Anglicized names annoy you.
Jimmy Kudo is a detecting genius, to the point where the police call him in all the times and he gets fanmail from girls. But at a trip to the amusement park with his childhood friend Rachel, he has to solve a gruesome beheading on a rollercoaster. And when he later witnesses a blackmail payoff, he's knocked unconscious and force-fed a poison by a pair of mysterious men in black. And they're not as nice as Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith.
When Jimmy wakes, he's horrified -- he's de-aged ten years. His old friend, kooky scientist Dr. Agasa, says that he must keep his true identity a secret to keep the MIBs from returning -- and he should live with Rachel and her dad until he can find the mysterious men, and have Agasa make an antidote. But while Rachel's dad Richard is a detective, he's a pretty inept one. So Jimmy -- now using the name "Conan Edogawa" -- must solve the cases through hints, dropped clues, and some James-Bondian gadgets (provided by Agasa).
But the cases he has to deal with are pretty hair-raising -- among his problems are gold-smuggling Mafioso, train bombs, kidnappings, a pop idol with a corpse in her apartment, a piano melody that heralds death, a man stabbed by a suit of armor, unbreakable alibis, a man poisoned seemingly by nothing, a poisoned bride, an amnesiac, a man impaled after a savage battle (which nobody heard), a department store infested with thieves, a disappearing dead body, and a cruise ship with a very hostile (and murderous) family on board.
"Case Closed Season 1" is the beginning of a very, very long anime series that still hasn't concluded over in Japan -- and while the first few episodes of the series introduce an overarcing plot, the rest of the season is essentially devoted to a series of standalone murder mysteries. Expect lots of tension, red herrings, obscure clues, and moderate outpourings of blood'n'gore (including a beheaded man's neck spewing blood... in the very first episode).
But it's also a pretty solidly-written mystery series, with a unique dilemma and some very odd crime-solving methods (dog-riding! Treasure maps!) as well as the usual clues and inconsistencies. Even more strikingly, many of the criminals aren't portrayed as just being bad, but are given realistic motives and often a sense of regret over their actions. There is also it a hefty dose of humor ("Little boy?!"), usually from the inept Richard. And there are some flickers of he-bugs-me-but-I-love-him romance between Rachael and Jimmy, which is somewhat hampered by his tiny prepubescent body.
What are its flaws? Well, all the names are Anglicized ("Shinichi" becomes "Jimmy," and so on), and his little preteen pals are kinda grating. It's hard to see why Jimmy puts up with their hyperactive idiocy in so many episodes.
Fortunately Jimmy himself is a pretty endearing character despite being a genius who is fully aware of that fact -- he's also kind, sharp-witted, and a massive detective geek who prattles endlessly about Sherlock Holmes. And he's understandably frustrated by his transformation, especially since it puts a damper on his burgeoning romance. Rachael seems too grumpy at first, she's soon fleshed out into a butt-kicking yet sensitive heroine, while her father Richard serves mainly as the comic relief (and Jimmy's ventriloquist's dummy).
"Case Closed Season 1" is a solid premiere season for this odd mystery series, and despite the annoying first-graders, it's a fast-paced and well-written collection of episodes.』
(Case Closed is the Greatest) 『Quick Plot Summary
The anime is about young Jimmy Kudo who is a very talented detective. One day while on a date with his girlfriend Rachel Moore he witnesses something shady happening and is attacked for hit. The men in black who attacked him then give him a poison that is supposed to kill him but it ends up turning him into a six year old child. Still alive Jimmy takes the alias of Conan Edagawa and moves in with Rachel and her idiot father Richard Moore who happens to be a detective. Using devices given to him by his friend, Dr. Edagawa, he solves all of Richard's cases in the hopes of discovering who the men in black are and getting back to his origonal age.
Case Closed is a very good anime. The comedy is awsome with the bubbling Richard Moore and the cases will have you racking your brain every second trying to figure out who did it before the reveal who did it. There are occasional episodes where Conan solves cases with a group of kids, Junior Detective League, from an elementary school that fill like filler episodes and the men in black are not mentioned again until later into the other seasons. For the most part though the first season of Case Closed is very well down and will keep you on your toes. It is a most have for any crime show fan and for any fan of anime.』 『Case Closed is the final verdict for mystery fans who enjoy wrapping their minds around a good, old-fashioned whodunit.
The criminal mind is a twisted place, and Jimmy Kudo knows the shady corridors of humanity better than any detective in the game. There ain’t a bad guy in town who can outsmart him, so they try to put the super sleuth down for a dirt nap. But instead of ending up in a shallow grave, Jimmy wakes up to find himself turned back into a kid. Utilizing his unlikely new persona and the latest in crime-fighting gadgetry, he tracks down his assailants as boy detective Conan Edogawa.
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Beautiful) 『A really beautifully done series. It starts off wonderfully, loses a bit in the middle, but ends on a strong note. This is pretty impressive since most of the time when an Anime series concludes before the Manga the ending is pretty bad. I still would not put the story telling in the same league as Kenshin's Kyoto arc, the art certainly makes up for it. It is a solid series and one of the few "newer" series I really enjoyed.』
(Two Futures - One Destiny) 『The world is in trouble. Through the course of fated destinies, a handful of trained warriors have been called to either protect humanity or to cleans the Earth, bringing about a rebirth to the land. Ironically, a double-edged sword - or twin sword, "X" is an epic adventure that builds characters that an audience can follow, a plot that is emotional, and animation that is so grandiose, that it would make Disney shed a tear. Alas, that isn't to say this series is without faults, but the central key moments are so developed, that one cannot help but jump from one episode to the next, eager to see what befalls our heroes and villains. This was my first full-length animated series (outside of "Serial: Lain") that I have experienced, and while it wasn't as powerful as my prior viewings, it was enough to keep my interest going in this genre. "X" is a series of powerful battles, engrossing story arcs, impressive sounds, and unexpected turns - so developed that even the amateur anime watcher will be captivated by this world. "X" requires dedication, it requires time, and it requires strength to remember who is interconnected with whom, but in the end, it pays off rewardingly.
Upon watching this series, one could easily jump to the finale to see the epic conclusion, but what makes "X" more than just your typical Saturday-morning cartoon epic is the characters that we literally get to understand (and at times fall for) within the twenty-four breathtaking episodes. The evil of Fuma, the depression of Subaru, and the love that Satsuki feels are just a few of the emotions that we are privy to throughout this series. Also within the twenty-four episodes, we see moments of fantasy, destruction, betrayal, love, death, and desire. What pulled me in from the opening episode of this series is the curvy path the director as well as the creators took me on. We aren't introduced to the heroine right away, we are mislead, shadowed throughout, and while small truths are revealed in each individual episode, "X" continues to leave question upon question unanswered, forcing us to look forward to the upcoming episode. Couple this with the outstanding, crisp animation, and "X" seems refreshing in the tub of overplayed and over-recycled American animation. There were certain scenes that just stood out in your mind (especially the final battle), backgrounds that were breathtaking, and battles that made you ask, "How did they do that?" The adult themes and blood-filled battles (unheard of in American animation), bring a sense of realism to this story that is not suitable for young children, but as an adult, I would rather kids watch this instead of what is currently programmed.
Alas, as mentioned earlier, "X" isn't perfect. It isn't a series that I could immediately reboot, but could suggest to friends. There is quite a bit of development towards a twin-sword in this series, and it likened me to what was impressive as well as disappointing in this series. As previously stated, each episode takes us closer to the truth; sometimes it was the pacing that draws us back. Twenty-four episodes are quite a bit to watch, and in the center episodes, as we develop further relationships and characters, there seems to be a lull in the momentum that was initially set. While battles do not seem to be in short supply, it is the introduction to characters that are impressive, but seem to be left behind as larger stories unfold. With some, they come and go quickly, almost as if our creators didn't really have a full plot for them to follow. This may be my only complaint about this series...one can only repeat the fact that the characters were bold, impressive, and invigorating, but their roles within the world of "X" were not as exciting as I wanted them to be. This was a story about technology, humanity, and nature, and, alas, these three elements were not explored as well as they could. My other small complaint is the lack of real-world complications. While our character's emotions were honest and believable, the battles seemed staged merely due to the barriers they were able to use to not cause damage to the surrounding city. No humans actually were privy to this battle, and I think that could have been explored further. We seemed to focus only on our main characters, and only within their flashbacks, did we see any other involvement with the real world. I wished to see who the people supported, and who they would rally behind in such an epic battle. The ending does mention that the public never would know about their future, but it seemed cheap to me.
Overall, this was a great series despite the picky critic flaws. I would recommend this series to anyone interested in an epic that involves a substantial storyline, amazing characters, and intense battle sequences. This would be a favorite to anyone who enjoys the "Final Fantasy" films or games.
Grade: *** out of ***** 』
(Misleading and unclear) 『Terrible item. The pictures show all 8 volumes, yet only recieved 4. Does not say anywhere that it only includes volumes 1-4. Furthermore, after very careful research, the 2nd box set says it only has 3 dics, implying that there is only 3 volumes in it, whereas there should be 4 discs, which are the remaining volumes 5-8.』
(Too Much Formulaic Action) 『This series starts out so entirely confusing that it takes three episodes to actually understand what is going on. Even then most of it doesn't make a lot of sense.
It has a lot of the flavor of a company putting out a product based on customer surveys instead of a well written story turned into a film.
Still, better than nothing even though you have a hard time identifying all of the various characters who all look the same. 』
(out of all the anime series out their this one has the most strangest name) 『Two groups of supernaturally powered warriors begin a prophetic battle to shape the future - a clash that will rock the foundations of the planet! The Seven Dragons of Earth swear to purge humanity from the world, while the Seven Dragons of Heaven are earths last hope.』
price：$8.00
RIGHT STUF
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A well done series.) 『To start with this Box Set itself is excellent. It is done in the same style as "Raxephon" Noir" "E's Otherwise"&Fullmetal Panic the only difference is that these are full size DVD cases and has a total of 6 with one DVD per case. Like the old "Kiddy Grade" set. It comes in a widescreen format and the sound moves from speaker to speaker depending on where the character is on screen..for the most part. Voices are well done and do not come across as hokey. As for the animation it ranges from average to above average with the exception of Episodes 13&23. Episode 13 looks like someone else drew the characters..you will see what I mean. There is CG in this and it execellently done...vehicle movement is fluid and they did an outstanding job with the AI battle, that was a thing of beauty. About the story..There are the Humans and then there are "The Third"..a mutation born with an Astral Eye. Yet they do not have the ability to reproduce, the third are born of human parents and they are the ruling class. Honoka was born with such an eye but was deemed to be defective by "The Third". Honoka never fit in with "The Third"&does not fit in with humanity so she lives a life of wandering in the desert. Taking odd jobs to pay the bills and maintain her AI tank, Bogey, whom is more like her Father..Teacher...mentor...than just an AI. A job lands in her lap and goes by the name Iks whom quickly hires Honoka to take him where ever he wants to go. How ever Iks is someone that "THe Third" are interested in. That is how the story starts and from that point on you follow Honoka and Iks on his journey of knowledge..a journey that puts them at odds "The Third" because there have placed restrictions on humanity. What kind of technology they are allowed to have...where they can go..etc. These are not self contained episodes...it plays as one continious story ...time may lapse in between but is explained. The story moves forward at solid pace and I did not notice any episodes where the story got bogged down. With the exception of a couple of Episodes there is not much blood yet there is a lot of fighting and this is due to the fact that most of the fighting is between Honoka and robotic enforcers. This was an enjoyable series and has good replay value. The type of series that I enjoy are "Black Blood Brothers"..Death Note.. Fate Stay Night...Last Exile..Trinity Blood..just to name a few. If you liked any of those you should find this worth your time.』
(Another Diamond Found In The Ocean Of Anime) 『I actually had never seen this series on t.v. but found it online while looking for another anime series, and I'm very happy that I did. The series has humanity living in a mostly desert world where almost everything is controlled by the powerful alien group called THE Third which puts a techno restriction on humanity, in other words they only allow humanity to attain a certain level of technology going father than that breaks the Third's law called 'Techno Taboo" which is punishable by imprisonment or death. The heroine Honoka a young girl with incredible fighting abilities who's a jack of all trades doing jobs from bodyguard to escorting is very endearing as the main character with her tomboyish way of dress and attitude, which hides a very caring heart for her fellow humans which is also the reason why that she will never kill human beings. Her partner is an A.I. named Bogie who takes care of Honoka and controls their home which is a massive tank as well as trying to make sure Honoka learns the way of the world. Along their journey they run into a mysterious young man named Iks who Honoka feels a unknown attraction towards. Of course you have to see the rest of the series to find out the rest but you'll be pleasantly surprised at how well the series truly is. The animation is good and clear no distortion and the music to the series is also very good, the fight scenes are great similar a little to series like Gundam or Naruto. The video is wide-screen 5.1 English audio, 2.0 English audio, or 2.0 Japaneses audio. The voice cast for both the Japanese and English actors did their jobs great so kudos to the people for getting the cast for this wonderful series. The price is little step but I figure for this set it's not to bad a price and I think you'll feel the same after watching this series too...』 『One Girl. One Tank. No Problem. In a devastated world overrun by monstrous bugs and ravaged by outlaws, there s only one person to call when you really need a job done right: Honoka. With a sixth sense for danger, sword skills that are second to none, and a smart-aleck A.I. tank by the name of Bogie, she s ready to tackle any job and solve any problem for her clients. But while crossing the desert one night, she finds a young man alone in the wasteland. It s the first step of a journey that will challenge even Honoka s amazing skills to their very limit! Contains the complete 24-episode TV series! DVD Features: Scene access, Dolby 5.1 mix for English dialogue, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for English and Japanese dialogue, English subtitles and English on-screen translations. PLUS: Reversible DVD covers, character bios (including some with commentary by Megumi Toyoguchi, the voice of Honoka ), Japanese voice actor interviews, music videos (including some with karaoke music tracks), U.S. series trailer, six color booklets, three exclusive pencil boards and Right Stuf/Nozomi Entertainment trailers.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Disappointed in this release) 『I can honestly say that I'm disappointed in this release. My only comfort is that it cost $13.99. Like many others I believe this is a great movie, my disappointment is in the quality related to the transfer to DVD. My biggest peeve is that it's not a true widescreen edition. The picture will not fill up your 16:9 television set. Instead it's 4:3 picture with bars at the top and bottom to make it "widescreen". It's basically the same as if you were watching a VHS tape on a SD television set.
Unlike others though, I feel the soundtrack for the English version is much better than the Japanese version. The music really makes a difference during the fight scenes. It's too bad the picture seems washed out as others have pointed out.
The Japanese version on the other hand is much more colorful but the fight scenes seem less intense due to the soundtrack.
If you just want a copy of this movie on DVD then I would recommend it, however if you want a good version on DVD, just wait and hope for something better in the future.』
(The real Street Fighter movie 8/10) 『Now this is how you do Street Fighter not an overseas conflict not a martial arts version of NCIS. The story is Bison needs Ryu's power to for terrorist activities because he seen how powerful Ryu is when he defeated Sagat he also left a big scar on him. We are introduced to Cammy she is brain washed&she works for Bison Cammy tries to kill a defense minister we go to Chun Li who is working the case on Shadoloo she says they will need military help next we are introduced to Guile he eventually agrees to help. Next we are introduced to Bison&h*l f***ing yeah that's what Bison should look like as well as Vega Balrog&Sagat. He wants Ryu for a Bio Weapon but he travels all over the world he's hard to find. So they learn about Ken Ryu's equal Ken runs a martial arts school in Seattle so he's easy to capture. Bison sends Vega to kill Chun Li this is how Chun Li vs Vega is done 3-5 minutes unlike Legend of Chun Li It's not perfect but as far as Street Fighter it's near perfect.』
(It's starting to show it's age.) 『First off this is the only thing of any value with the street fighter 2 license. That being said the more you see it you start to see more and more problems. The art for one thing there are series and OVAs that came out around the same time that still look good today e.g. Outlaw Star(1998, 2 years later, but still hand drawn), but this film and anime style doesn't hold up well. Second the film jumps around too much and this creates a lack of character development. It's called Street fighter, so why the focus on Ryu and Ken, while the other characters only pop in for a minute just to say hi. Third the music, okay you may like it if you like grunge rock as for other people its kind of grating. Even with all my issues with it , its still an alright movie just don't expect a lot of rewatchings.』
(Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie) 『This movie is a must have for Street Fighter fans around the world as their collection. The best ever movie Capcom has made for Street Fighter franchise.』
(Street Fighter II) 『Classic Anime featuring Characters from the Video Game. The intro between Ryu and Sagat was awesome.』 『More thrilling adventures of Colonel William Guile, a martial arts expert who travels the global competitive fighting circuit as cover for his top secret mission-he is leader of an elite group of international crime fighters known only as Street Fighter. Their code of honor: Discipline; Justice; Commitment. Packed with fierce fighting, ample thrills and a team of genuine heroes, Street Fighter is a proven winner.』 『Based on the video game,Street Fighter II: the Animated Movie(1994) is the first feature in the popular continuity that includes a second animated film, a TV series, an OAV, and a live-ction feature. With physiques that Mr. Olympia would envy and moves that would shame Bruce Lee, Ryu and Ken Masters rank as the world's greatest martial artists. They face a dire challenge when Vega (Bison in the English dub), the psychic master of the criminal syndicate Shadowloo (Shadowlaw), attempts to turn the world's top street fighters into his agents. The minimal plot exists only as a framework for the over-the-top martial arts battles. Director Gisaburo Sugii stages many of the fights at night in an effort to heighten the drama, but the results are so dark, it's difficult to see what's going on. Fans of the series complain--justifiably--that the English voices sound stiff and hokey, although the dialogue is hopelessly silly. The double-sided disc offers both the English and Japanese versions; the latter contains about two more minutes of violent fighting. (Rated PG-13, suitable for ages 17 and older: graphic violence, violence against women, nudity, alcohol use, profanity, ethnic stereotypes)--Charles Solomon』
price：$29.99
ANIME WORKS
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (The Pain of Eternity) 『It's hard to rate this series because it's a collection of five short stories. The only links the stories have is the Phoenix, and the immortal bird of legend tends not to play a huge role in any of the stories, often just being in the background watching the events unfold.
Some of the stories last for four episodes, others one. Some of the stories take place in the past, others in the future. Some of the stories involve battles between Gods, others focus on battles against nature. There's almost too much variation.
The first, four episode story is probably the best of the lot - it flowed well from episode to episode, despite there being a lot of twists. It started with a man washing ashore somewhere, getting captured by a tribe and needing to save the life of a woman to save himself from being executed. The focus then switched to an Apocalypto style raid on the tribe by another country. It then switched yet again, this time to a father and son type of story where one of the invaders raised one of the few survivors of the raid as his own. And, during all this, the story kept switching back to the man who washed ashore trying to survive with the woman from the tribe he saved at the start, with them ended up trapped in a cave and left to the mercy of nature.
Out of all of the stories, the was the most involving. I found myself struggling to care about a lot of the characters included in the series, with some taking drastic actions without any real development having occurred, but in the opening story it was easy to care about the 'father' and 'son' who tried to survive during times of war. My only real complaint about it is that the Phoenix might as well have not even been in this story at all. It did nothing other than get hunted on and off a few times. If the Phoenix had played a more important role, like it does in later stories, I could understand its involvement, but it was just there for no real reason. The messages of the first story are that death is a part life that must be accepted and that war is pointless, neither message needing the Phoenix to be expressed.
The second story occurs in space; on the moon. That's right - a jump from the ancient past to the far future.
The story takes place during a time where the Earth has died and the remnants of the human race have escaped to space. At some point after their escape, some humans on the moon discovered the Phoenix, which has the power to give life, and they managed to get one of its tail feathers. Research on the feather took place on the moon, and one of the men in charge was on the verge of understanding it when an 'accident' occurred, resulting in the destruction of the lab and the death of most in it. Right before the researcher died, he was attempting to save a female friend from falling to her death, her last words being "You traitor..."
After the opening described above, the story quickly caught my interest. The researcher who died had been revived after the 'accident', half of his brain having been replaced by a machine. When he awakened, he couldn't distinguish one human from another - they all looked like distorted monsters to him - and he had no memories of his past. However, he discovered shortly after awakening that robots appeared to be living organisms to him, with one robot in particular looking like a woman, resembling the woman who called him a traitor before his death. Shortly after discovering his new 'female' friend, he runs away from the humans with the robot, escaping to the lab that was destroyed at the start.
I liked the second story a lot. It wasn't as involving as the first, mainly because it only lasted for two episodes, but the story was fascinating. It was basically a story of redemption, where one man had to correct his past mistakes by living on. If there's one thing that's suggested a lot in each story included, it's that, rather than being a blessing, immortality is a curse; a punishment that must be endured.
What follows the above is the only one episode story in the entire series. Back in ancient times once more after the leap into the future of the second story, this time around the story was about a woman killing a healer in order to prevent the healer saving her father. As a punishment for killing the healer, the Phoenix forces the killer to take on the role of the healer she killed, trapping her and taking her back in time. In order to make amends, she must allow herself to be killed by herself and hope that, at some point, the the cycle of life and death stops. It was a decent story but, compared to what went before, it wasn't great and it didn't have the length required to make me care a great deal.
The next story switched back to the four episode formula the series opened up with. This time around, still somewhere in the past, a member of the royal family of some clan or another gets the face of wolf put on him after having his own face scalped. He awakens sometime afterwards to discover what has become of his face and, eventually, heads east to another country in order to try to get his old face back after being informed that his future will be brighter if he does so by an old woman who can predict such things.
I liked the fourth story but never really got into it. The back-story of "Dogface" is never explained in detail, and I was left mystified with regards to what exactly lead up to him getting captured and losing his face. Likewise, I didn't get how the wolves face became his own, mouth movements and all. The only thing that came across clear as day was the message of the story, the message being that no religion is right or wrong; only the people themselves are wrong. Despite it lasting for as long as a movie, I felt the story needed more time, or at the very least needed much better explanations.
What really bothered me was the love story aspect of the fourth story. One of the many 'Gods' of the nation in the east fell for Dogface at first sight, never even having a conversation with him before deciding to follow him. She also risked her life for him without much chatter between the two. Their relationship never came across as a real because not enough time was put into it by the author and/or the animation studio. And the end of the story made little sense, with her leaving Dogface randomly, Dogface randomly getting his face back and the two seemingly ending up back together, despite Dogface losing his memory for some reason.
Moving onto the final, two episode story, the story once again took place in the distant future, just like the second story did. In the future depicted in the last story, humans had moved under the surface of the Earth in an attempt to survive after life could no longer be lived above ground. One scientist (Saruta), however, stayed above ground in an attempt to solve of the mystery of life in order to save the earth. He tried and tried to create life, always falling short. When he was on the verge of giving up, the Phoenix appeared before him and told him that a miracle would occur. It turned out that the miracle would be a young man who arrived at Saruta's lab after escaping from the underground cities because his companion - an alien shapeshifter - wasn't allowed to exist. He ended up getting shot and killed by someone who followed him. The miracle occurred when the Phoenix allowed him to drink her blood and made him immortal.
Following these events, every other life on Earth died, leaving the young man alone. It was then that he realized the true pain of loneliness, with nothing to do and no-one to talk to. For billions of years he lived alone in a wasteland, unable to die. He was eventually rewarded by being able to see the rebirth of the world as it began anew and the cycle of life started over.
For me, the message of this final story wasn't very clear. Why wasn't the man simply allowed to die, instead being forced to suffer the pain of loneliness? If I had been in his shoes, seeing the world restart wouldn't have been enough to make up for billions of years of boredom. The main message of Phoenix - that immortality is a curse - came across well in the last story, but it still seemed a bit pointless compared to the earlier stories.
If you're still with me after reading the descriptions of all five stories and my thoughts, I'm sure you'll understand the difficulty of reviewing this title. On one hand, it's far more meaningful than most series out there and has none of the "moe" elements that plague anime based on a lot of the more recent stories. The mangaka clearly had some important messages about life he wanted to express and did so as best he could. But, on the other hand, the series is all over the place because of the variation between each story, and I wouldn't call any of the stories included polished. The stories were released in manga form a long time ago and, compared to the character development and the like in more recent anime, the age of some of of the stories shows. Depending on how you look at it, Phoenix is either very flawed or brilliant because it avoids the holes stories from our age fall into time and time again.
In terms of the visuals, Phoenix is very nice to look at. Someone on Amazon described the art/animation as being something he imagined Disney coming up with after "going on a bender", but I don't think that's an insult when we're talking about an anime TV series. The character designs are rather cartoony, with characters having HUGE noses and the like, but it looks very nice. It's different than most art nowadays, but not in a bad way. The worst thing you can say about the art is that the character designs of the characters in the five stories are mostly very similar, the recurring character Saruta always having the same big nose and stumpy look. The animation was pleasing, too - whenever there was action, it flowed pretty well. There were some nice fight sequences in the fourth story.
I can't really comment on the music because, honestly, I can only remember the orchestral opening. Since I've only just finished watching the series (well, last night...), that doesn't say a lot good about the soundtrack. But, although I can't remember any amazing tracks, I can't say I remember any bad music, so I suppose the soundtrack was simply good without being amazing.
To sum it up, I'm pleased I watched Phoenix, ignoring the fact it isn't highly rated and isn't a name known to many. It isn't like any of the other anime I've watched, and that's why I respect it. I've watched a ton of anime that have no messages; series that were made just to put something on TV - Phoenix isn't one of those series. And like an IGN reviewer is quoted as saying on the back of the box set, Phoenix has a quality that keeps viewers hooked, preventing them from leaving until the end. In an age where I'm used to constantly checking my DVD timer to see how much longer an episode has left to run, Phoenix was a breath of fresh air. It's far from perfect, and it isn't something I'm willing to score too highly, but it's definitely a series I'm proud to own on DVD, and one I'd recommend to those tired of all the "moe" rubbish going around.
Phoenix: 8.5/10
One last thing (honest!): I STRONGLY recommend you, the random reader who has somehow survived to this point, look into getting the box set. I imported the box set for a lowly sum of£13.99 from PlayUSA, and I'm sure Americans can get it for even less. The box set is made up of a thin box and three book-like cases, which are basically hardback book covers with plastic stuck on to hold the discs. For what is a budget set, getting these unique cases - which I haven't seen used before - is a major plus point. The case covers are even reflective, making the set appear even more expensive than it really is.』 『Throughout time, mankind has chased after the dream of immortality. The Phoenix, in the form of a bird of fire, is said to hold the key to eternal life. Great warriors, greedy princesses, ambitious scientists and ordinary people desire its power. Great wars are fought in a vain attempt to possess it and, as a result, civilizations rise and fall. Phoenix is a collection of five stories from the past, present and future. Many will perish because of their desires, and they are the lucky ones. True pain comes for those who find immortality and experience the burden of living forever.』
price：$24.99
Adv Films
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Entertaining and uplifting) 『Very entertaining and uplifting story of a young girl's effort to become a star in an acrobatic performance group. The animation is beautiful, the voice-acting superb, the story well-written and inspirational. Highly recommennded for everyone, but especially for families with girls ten and older. I suggest you get the two season box set, or the first season's package and then the second season set, since they follow in a logical sequence (and you'll want to view all 52 episodes, they're that good).』
(Kaleido Star Seasons 1 and 2) 『I did not actually purchase this boxed set of Season 1 and 2, because I purchased each individual DVD of the series as they originally became available in the US. This boxed set is a deal and then some for the price and the product! There is a total of 10 discs (I believe, possibly 12) in the series, so imagine speding anywhere from $10-20 per disc as opposed to just $50 or $60 for two whole seasons. Anyway, besides the great price, this series is about a girl named Sora who joins a circus/acrobatic show. It has drama, comedy, love, tragedy, sports, and really superb art. There is only one little cute animal sidekick, a seal, who gets into the act too! I really enjoy this series. I would recommend it for anyone who likes sporting anime, or anyone who likes anime period.』 『Studio: Adv Films Release Date: 10/14/2008 Run time: 1300 minutes』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Just a few things) 『I know I've enjoyed this anime for many years now and it is still one of my favorites. What's been said here is what I'm going to say so I will skip ahead to just cover some slight minute details. I remember the first time I bought the set it came with a mini manga with some great paperback art with the first chapter of the first manga inside which was a neat bonus. After watching it so much the discs were not repairable so I had to buy a new set, lol go me. It sadly didn't come with the booklet I mentioned above which makes me sad because mine got damaged by a friend which sucks. All in all I'll say what everybody else has said it's a great story. Great artwork, great story, decent music, and great character design this will keep you busy for a loooong time. By the way maybe it's just me but does it seem to anybody else that where season 2 ends they quit producing new episodes so the story seems incomplete? Also, if you have region 2 DVD player I recommend finding Steel Angel Kurumi Zero. It's an alternate storyline that dips into some of the other angels that weren't given any spotlight but I don;t recommend the live action series. I've not seen it myself yet but it just looks cheesy.』
(Cute characters, good art work, mediocre story) 『I originally bought this title because it looked very cute to me after watching a commercial for it on one of my other DVDs. I immediately enjoyed the artwork, and the characters were very cute in their own ways. However, I didn't find the story terribly gripping. The military comes looking for the main character in hopes of obtaining her heart because of the power it contains. It sounded interesting, but with each episode being 15 minutes, and 24 episodes in this part of the series, it doesn't cover much ground. I didn't find it very interesting until the end, which - for me - made it worth watching. After that you get 4 mini episodes which take place around the time frame of season 1 which are very cute. They don't really have any significant plot, but they aren't supposed to. They seem to just be there for fun, and I liked them. And finally we get to season two... When it comes to this one, I think I can only reiterate what many of the previous reviewers have already said: This season is complete and utter crap. You can watch it if you want to, I suppose, but you'll only find yourself wasting your time. But, on the whole, I'd say Steel Angel Kurumi (minus season 2) is fairly enjoyable, and would be good as a light hearted series. If you don't like slight indications of lesbianism, I wouldn't suggest this title. Otherwise, though, I'd say you're pretty much set』
(in my opinion) 『Well, dont trust the other reviews before you buy this if you want to watch a good anime that has above average details. THIS anime blew my mind... in a bad way. characters and animation are well done but the story of the characters pissed me off and arritated me. What i mean is that how can a little boy which seems to me like 4 to 6 years old kinda "become" like a teen or adult relationship with a android within the story. I mean his older brother should have been the person to awaken KURUMI but things started not to make sense.
If you want to buy this anime, i suggest watch some clips and parts of this movie before you want to buy it. Some parts of the story is entertaining without the main characters but overall, this killed it for me of the whole series.』
(Sequels No Good) 『Sequels never live up to their originals. I watched this anime and fell in love with it. I've seen a lot of animes so it takes a good one to grab me. Once I started watching I had to keep watching. Kurumi with her love for her master. Saki(also a girl) and her feelings for Kurumi (but not telling) and Karinka the young imature girl who had a crush on the main character as well and always fought over him with Kurumi. I'm not going to reveal much so as not to spoil. This was very cute, with action, comedy and very brief nudity. The characters are all lovable. The story is good a little predictable though, but still so good. Season 1 and the encore episodes were all great. Season 2 proves how bad sequels can be. Kurumi forgets about her master and everything else and everyone turns into lesbians. Now I've got nothing against lesbian or gays. Everyone live life as they choose, but one the best qualities of season 1 that grabbed me was the love that Kurumi had for her master and the love that he returned, now she forgets and falls in love with a girl 75 years later. Its almost like season 1 never happened. The story is so random and not well done. Basically its like the story started over and was a cheap ripoff of the first season. Not much makes sense at all. I only watched 2 episodes of season 2 before I got disapointed. It does keep its humor from season 1, but thats all. I bought this set, but if I had a choice I would have taken it without season 2. I rated it 5 out of 5 because of season 1 and the encore, but season 2 gets 1 out of 5. So if u have the money try to buy this series without season 2. In the end sequels are no good.』
(Give Me An Order Master!) 『Well, I must say that I ordered this series based on the reviews of everyone else and I am very pleased. The series starts off with the main character Nakahito Kagura (a 12-14 year old boy that has the power of a mystic) waking up the Steel Angel (this gets explained in depth in the series) Kurumi because of a dare from his friends (with friends like this, he won't need enemies). And the way he wakes this Steel Angel with...a kiss. And after that, let the laughs begin. To explain, Kurumi is basically the ultimate bodyguard but one of the most possessive women...and that's putting it mildly. Granted, she does mean well, but doesn't know how (or when) to restrain herself. The quickest example I can think of is when Nakahito Kagura "friends" come back around and ask him what did he discover in the house to where the military shows up? Well, his friends start making threats that they will beat it out of him...and then Kurumi shows to defend her master (this is Nakahito Kagura). In short, she would have really hurt Nakahito Kagura "friends", but he steps and saves their lives. So let me break down how the series is:
Season 1: 5 out 5-good series and pretty solid plot Encore: 5 out 5-kinda wraps up the season with Nakahito Kagura realizing his true feelings for Kurumi and the depth of respect he has for her. Season 2: 3 out of 5-this feels more like an add-on then an actual season.
In short, I would recommend this series to anyone who doesn't mind having a good laugh and getting away from the more serious anime.
price：$4.99
Bandai
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great series) 『You need to get all of the series, it is short but would make a good movie if put togather.』
(Yukikaze delivers) 『I'm not particularly interested in fancy aircraft, military jargon, or realistic air combat, so most everything that gets mentioned in the same breath as Yukikaze is not my cup of tea. Though, the plot is not especially unique, this anime has what alot of those in the same genre do not; loads of atmosphere, and dressed down, believable characters. Yukikaze is as much a character as Rei and Bukhar. The trippy down tempo soundscore definetely enhances the scenes rather than jar or distract the way that some anime's soundtracks do. There's not alot of high sounding retoric, or exposition. I can't sit through much of that. Instead it's all pretty straight forward, with a reasonable sequence of events and resolution. I'm sure the sci-fi, and aircraft enthusiasts will get even more out of it than I did. The anime legends collection is definetely worth checking out. 』
(If you like Robotech, you'll love YuKikaze) 『First, great price for a 3 DVD set.
YuKikaze has an incredible and top of the line animation. The flight action sequences are really intense and well designed. It reminds me of Macross Zero, another flawless animation like YuKikaze.』
(the Top Gun of Anime) 『This is about a group of jet fighter jocks. But instead of Migs here they are battling an alien enemy called the Jam on an alien planet. The main character's Jet has an on board A.I. (Artifical Intelligence) system that aids the pilot and weapons officer.』
(All in all, pretty good science fiction (4.5/5)) 『Yukikaze is the tale of a forgotten war on another planet, connected to Earth by an anvil-shaped cloud in Antarctica. Apparently around thirty years ago an alien race known as the JAM invaded via said cloud, but made little headway before being beaten back into their home territory. Currently the war is being fought by a number of rejects from across the world - and for one of them, Rei Fukai, the line between the JAM and humanity is increasingly blurred as he finds himself the target of a plane identical to his. There's also another problem - his onboard AI, Yukikaze, begins to exercise an almost hypnotic control over him. However, its seemingly crazed actions may be the only thing capable of winning the war.
Yukikaze's plot is deep, and there are several substories and additions that one may find quite interesting. As the characterization goes, I find it (as one other reviewer said) a tad effiminate regarding the two main characters, the main reason being the animation style they are drawn in. The eyes are sometimes too feminine, the hair at times appears too smooth/wavy, and for some reason the animators have an annoying penchant for drawing the legs TOO long and willowy. However, as these things go, they are minor complaints and don't detract too much from the overall product.
For, as one will perceive from both the limited edition and the normal box covers, Yukikaze is an action-laded anime, the centerpiece of which is the fighter jets. Being an avid fighter buff, this is the primary reason I bought the movie. I do realize that some would prefer the seamless CG integration to be used in fantasy genre endeavors instead of "pointless" jet fighters, but this is a ridiculous complaint (especially when considering that fantasy is the dominant form of anime nowadays and airplanes are a niche). The designs of the airplanes are very well done, with some resemblance to the F-35 and some experimental jets. The combat sequences, as some have already said, are masterpieces (I do have one gripe though - there's no music. WHY?). There are also several VERY memorable action scenes separate from the dogfights. This is a great effort on Gonzo's part.
There remains one error, though - the dubbing. I'm normally an opponent of rabid "subbers" as far as anime goes, having no problem with most dubbing jobs, but the work done here is undeniably sub-par. Some of the sentences are extremely convoluted, and the voice actors (in keeping with the dark feel, a little TOO much) are often monotonous. At times this effect is almost comedic, such as when Rei and his boss have a "party" of sorts, or when the latter says "no. I'm...happy..." in a borderline catatonic tone. However, the subbed version is always available.
Overall, Yukikaze is a great anime for any science fiction fan, and for the rest, very entertaining.』 『Unbeknownst to the general population, 33 years ago, an alien force, the JAM, opened an interdimensional gate in Antarctica to invade the Earth. In response to this threat, the unified forces of Earth formed a military unit to combat these aliens, successfully pushing them back to the planet codenamed: Fairy. Even now, the war still rages on. Rei Fukai, a pilot of the elite FAF unit of the Special Air Force (SAF), flies the Yukikaze, an advanced fighter with a near sentinent computer control system. However, the recent infiltration of human disguised-JAM agents has begun to blur the lines between friend and foe. As the SAF's own fighters begin to turn against their own forces, the Final Battle for the skies of Fairy and control of 'the Passageway' to Earth will rest in the hand of Rei, and the only thing he can trust: The Yukikaze. Genre: Action / Sci-Fi. From Studio Gonzo.』 『Thirty-three years ago, the mysterious aliens known as the JAM tried to invade Earth through an interdimensional passageway they established in Antarctica. The conflict has shifted to Fairy, the home planet of the JAM: deadly air battles rage almost continuously above its surface. Lt. Rei Fukai serves in the elite Special Air Force, whose mission is to collect data on the enemy. An alienated loner, Rei's only bonds emotionally with Major Jack Bukhar, his commander and friend (lover?), and Yukikaze, the super-sophisticated computer system his plane, the B-3. The narrative is often choppy and there's little character development in the first episodes. ButYukikazeboasts unusually snazzy special effects, including some skillfully directedTop Gun/Star Wars-style aerial dogfights. Director Masahiko Ohkura uses 3-D computer graphics with exceptional panache to create a flashy, exciting adaptation of Chouhei Kambayashi's novel. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol use)--Charles Solomon』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (My Girlfriend loves this...) 『Anime isn't one of my favorites I'm more of a sentia/Power Ranger guy my self...but my girlfriend loves these movies I couldn't have found a better Christmas gift. And the seller was awesome received it sooner then I thought I would and he was prompt on the shipping proccess as well...』
(the triple threat) 『I must say i am a little ocd about Sailor moon but I thought I would save some money and get all three at once. DON'T DO IT! The closing is cut short, credits are missing and the art work sucks. Buy them this way only if you are not a die hard fan. Or if you're poor. If this is for someone new to Sailor moon or you just want something to show the kids then ya I'm all over that idea! Get it. Everyone that says watch it subtitled to see the real version is right. Words are changed but not as bad as the episodes. You do get an english option if you want. ah lets see the set includes 'hearts on ice, sailor moon s' the three outer planet sailor scouts fight with the regular girls on this one and luna has a love interest (not artemis). An evil ice witch tries to rule the planet and so the fight is on. Promise of the rose, Sailor moon r involves an old friend of tuxedo mask's who wants to renew their friendship/relationship? Something kinky is going on there! this 'friend' goes crazy and wants to take out the sailor scouts and have tuxedo mask all to himself. Gives you knew insight on the whole rose thing though. And the battle begins! Black dream hole, Sailer moon super s is mostly about mini moon and is a good one for the kiddies. Once again an evil entity wants to control earth and the scouts must defend the earth and it's children.』
(Sailor Moon) 『Sailor Moon is my favorite anime. I think all three of the movies were very well made. I would definitely recommend this to a Sailor Moon fan!』
(A great movie collection) 『This case has a collection of three Sailor Moon movies hears my opinions and ratings of what I thought of each one of them.
[Sailor Moon R: (Promise of the Rose)] 10/10 - This is the best EVER Sailor Moon material I have ever seen and I have watched everything there is to watch about Sailor Moon and I think this takes the cake and in case your wondering, I am talking about the japanese version because I havent seen the english version but I am told alot of awesome great scenes were cut out.
[Sailor Moon S: (Hearts in Ice)] 8/10 - This is good, solid dose of typical Sailor Moon fun, with the appearance by the Outer Senshi, the smooth animation, and the sweet plotline revolving around Luna's love for an astronomer making this especially good. Kudos to the very slick music and the directing as well. Senshi die-hards need not hesitate, and for others, this is a very good way to sample some of the brilliant Sailor Moon series. My only regret is the manga version is streets ahead of this.
[Sailor Moon S: movie 3 (Black Dream Hole)] 9/10 - This is a decent film, my fav. before I saw movie R. The story is straight forward, but the action dominate the movie. That's not bad to me, but for others who want a good story line, see movie R or S. Anyway, I was hopping Sailor saturn was going to be in it, but sadly, she wasn't. Oh well. By the way the planets Uranus and Neptune in this drop hints on... you know... at a point. Devoted fans will know what I'm talking about. Overall, this is the best action movie.
Suggested to people 13 up for violence and brief nudity.』
(Uncut English Version So Stop Complaining) 『This is the best thing ever!! I'm so glad I bought it, even if I bought it elsewhere. My box set was the signature series one. But anyway...you get the original Japanese version it all it's glory, but you also get...the uncut English version!!!! Well, you still have to deal with the crappy English dialouge but all the edited scenes are put back in, including untouched transformations (Luna included)!!! If you are a REAL Sailor Moon fan, you'll stop complaining and get this boxset now!!!!!』 『Collect all three Sailor Moon movies (Sailor Moon R, Sailor Moon S and Sailor Moon Super S) packaged in a special box set. All DVDs are uncut and bilingual.』 『As theSailor MoonTV episodes tend to be repetitive, the sustained stories in the features allow the artists to explore the familiar characters in a little more depth. In all three films, Serena and her friends Amy, Raye, Lita, and Mina (Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako in Japanese), aided by Darren (Mamoru), fight off aliens bent on destroying the world. In theRmovie (1993), the villain is Fiore, who is held in thrall by the sinister Kisenian Flower. In theSmovie (1994), Kaguya wants to encase the Earth in ice; Badiyanu kidnaps children and uses their "dream energy" to create a planet-engulfing black hole inSuper S(1995). The two later films include "Outer Scouts" Michiru, Haruka, and Setsuna, a.k.a. Sailors Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto.Renjoys the best reputation among fans and has the most interesting story. Fiore treats Serena as a rival for Darren's affections, and the subtitles suggest the attachment is quite passionate; the dubbed version sounds tamer. A weird subplot in which Luna the cat falls in love with the kindhearted astronomer Kakeru throws theSmovie out of kilter.Super Soffers imaginative visuals, including elaborate CG effects and brightly colored backgrounds. All three films provide the broad humor, budding adolescent romance, magic, and affirmations of the power of friendship thatSailor Moonfans expect. Suggested 13 Up: Violence, brief nudity. The VHS editions are edited and are suitable for age 6 and up.--Charles Solomon』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (25 and still love Marmalade Boy) 『This is a response to the 1 negative review writing by a 19 year old who has probably forgotten what 1994 animation was actually like because she was too young to apriciate it.
Now, our parents didn't move in together and I found that a little odd when I first watched the anime and I didn't have a best friend who was in love with a teacher and I didn't first watch Marmalade Boy until last year. I actually related a little to what the main characters, Miki, and Yuu, were going through. I too met my husband as a child and began going steady at a real young age. We experienced all the same up's and downs as the characters in the story (except he never thought we were related).
When you are 8 years old you experience things more differently then you would at 19. For example, most kids hate broccoli at 8 but learn to like it by 19 see what I mean? Some thing that you loved as a child you wont nesesarily like as an adult. Marmalade Boy is by no means an anime for a child neither. As a child you had no idea what it meant when a teacher and a student kissed, you had no idea what real love is and how hard it is to maintain a long distance relationship.
The mangaka did a good job of making characters who are not only fictional but at the same time they are real. I have seen this anime at least 6 times in the past year and each time I see some thing different in the characters, I'm still not bored with it.
Fact is, cartoons and comics are made for kids, Anime and manga are made for the mid teenage/adult mind.
』
(Marmalade Boy) 『This is a great anime. If you like teen romance anime this is for you. I've personally watched it 3 times already just started to watch it the 4th time this weekend. 04-06-09』
(one more to go) 『just when you thought it might finaly end you have another season to go lol』
(Good anime) 『I was 17 when I first saw a few episodes of Marmalade Boy. At the time, I was turned off by a couple of things, namely the seemingly exaggerated romance and character design (I, like some reviewers before me, thought the characters were elongated). Also, I found the protagonist Miki to be annoying back then... And Yuu? Well, I didn't exactly find him to be special. To be frank, I didn't like this show at all when I was 17. I saw some random episodes and refused to watch any more of it. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I'd say I pretty much detested the show back then. I didn't understand why anyone would waste his/her time watching Marmalade Boy.
BUT, perhaps, I didn't know better when I was 17. I essentially judged Marmalade Boy on superficial factors and failed to notice what makes it truly appealing. In fact, when I saw this show in its entirety at 22, I finally came to appreciate it.
Where did the difference lie? Well, for me, it was clearly personal experience that changed my feelings toward Marmalade Boy. When I was 17, I didn't know what love was. I didn't understand how anyone could get so emotional over someone they like and things of the sort. However, at 22, I had experienced all the ups and downs of loving someone, and on seeing the show, I realized that I could relate exactly to what most of the characters were going through. In fact, I think Marmalade Boy's strongest point is the well-designed (and easy-to-relate to) characters. I know that some people have labeled Yuu as a "pansy" and so on just because he prefers to keep things to himself. However, I know a lot of guys in real life who do the same thing, and watching this show actually helped me understand how they feel (generally speaking, most guys of this personality type are really sweet and sentimental). Actually, I'd say that Marmalade Boy's characters are fairly realistic in terms of personality and emotions. Yuu's and Miki's parents are probably the only characters that are somewhat out of sync with reality, but hey, they excel at providing comic relief. ^^
All in all, Marmalade Boy was an emotional ride for me, and I loved every minute of its simplicity and sweetness. And no, I'm not a little girl, and last time I checked, my brain was full of things other than cherry blossom petals (in fact, it's overloaded with marketing concepts as that's my field of study). Anyway, I highly recommend this series to shoujo fans. However, for those of you who place heavy weight on animation quality and character design as I did when I was 17 (or are looking for a series with an intricate storyline), then this show probably isn't for you.』
(Marmalade Boy Still Rocks!!!) 『I decided to write a review for this item because I read a terrible review for it that was bashing every part of it. Everyone has different tastes and opinions and the fact that this "girl" was saying being 19 had something to do with her all of a sudden hating marmalade boy, really ticked me off. I'm 19 and I still Love Marmalade Boy to death, maybe it has something to do with staying young at heart and holding onto childhood dreams. Anyways, I haven't actually seen the third installment in the series but I have read the manga and seen the first two volumes of marmalade boy. As a Lover of all anime and manga, especially shoujo, I have to say that marmalade boy is one of my favorites. I guess this series IS for girls, probably young girls, but I think any girl should be able to identify with the main character. Miki's character is beautifully developed, the creator really gets inside a young girls head and portrays everything a girl worries about when facing issues of new love, conflicts with friends, and family issues. I love watching marmalade boy, most likely because I'm very much like Miki myself ^-^ ... But the main point of me writing this review is to tell YOU, the consumer, not to follow a review's opinion on an item, you have to experience something to be able to formulate a proper opinion of it. Haven't you ever had someone say your fave band sucks... or maybe they hate some of your fave foods... well anime is the same as everything else... you may end up loving something that no one else does, you just have to see for yourself. Being different is great... and I LOVE MARMALADE BOY WITH A PASSION!!!』 『Yuu and Miki are together, but can they stay that way? Meiko's got love problems, Miki has a few persistent admirers, Ginta and Arimi are on an emotional rollercoaster, and Yuu's been given the chance of a lifetime. With old friends, new rivals, disastrous holidays and studying abroad, will Miki and Yuu fall apart? That's just a taste of all the delicious drama! Contains 19 Episodes on 3 Discs』
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