Cage of Eden, Volume 1 – Manga Review October 29, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Manga Reviews.2 comments
Review by: Brenda Gregson
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Author: Yoshinobu Yamada
Genre: Graphic Novel
MSRP: $10.99 US
Rating: OT (Ages 16+)
Release Date: Available Now
Well, at least there’s no black mist monster or the Others on this island.
School excursions … it’s but one of many big moments in a Japanese student’s life where bonds are strengthened between classmates, romance occasionally blossoms and wonderful memories are made. For one class, however, a jaunt to an exotic locale turns into a nightmarish struggle for survival for one group of students in a most unusual island in Volume 1 of Cage of Eden.
We meet Akira Sengoku, a 15-year old student who delays the plane that holds all his classmates by arriving late during boarding. Nobody seems surprised at all seeing as they all know him to be something of a slacker with no real prospects. Still, he is a big part of the class that had traveled from Japan to Guam on a pleasant school excursion that – judging by the class pervert’s video footage – was composed of fun in the sun. Akira’s actually quite a popular guy seeing as his friends include the hottest guy in the class by the name of Arita Kohei and the hottest girl in the school who is a childhood friend who goes by the name of Akagami Rion.
The flight starts off peaceful enough for us to see the interaction between Rion and Akira is on the friendly side but Rion clearly sees the boy in a different light. Meanwhile, we meet the class brain, a boy named Mariya Shiro, and a new flight attendant named Ohmori Kanako. However, the peace is suddenly and violently disturbed when the plane suddenly takes a dip as all instruments begin to fail in the cockpit. Then all hell breaks lose in the cabin as Akira attempts to find Rion who moved out of her seat when an unusual anomaly appears before the boy.
The next thing we know, Akira opens his eyes to see that he is on a strange island rather inside an airplane. He thinks the plane might have crashed and he was thrown out somehow but if that was true where is the wreckage? On top of that, he sees unusual animals in this island such as tiny horses and an odd beaver-like creature. When he hears something that sounded like a voice he realizes he has come face-to-face with a huge man-eating bird that has attacked the class smart kid Mariya and the Ohmori, the flight attendant. Akira manages to lead the bird away in order to regroup with the only two survivors.
Thanks to the fact that Mariya managed to somehow fall out of the plane with his laptop, the brainy kid looks through an encyclopedia only to find out that all the creatures they have seen so far – including the giant man-eating bird called a Diatryma have all be instinct for millions of years now. Since they see no wreckage, Mariya also assumes that only ones that survived. Of course, all of this doesn’t sit well with the attractive and busty Ohmori.
Somehow, Akira manages to keep both his companions composed enough to keep searching anyway. It isn’t until Ohmori decides to take a bath in a stream that she notices a water bottle from the airplane that they realize that the plane has crashed somewhere and there might be survivors like them. When they manage to locate the plane, they also find the class pervert’s video camera that seems to have new footage.
Unfortunately, things get even more terrifying when a carnivorous creature with a huge maw kills a few students and forced them all back into the plane. It is Rion who tried her best to keep everyone calm before things turned badly back inside the plane. What they see on the camera is actually very disturbing as they watch what happened to the survivors on the airplane and how the pilot ended up murdered with a knife stuck into his stomach. Panic takes hold of his classmates that turns into something even more shocking.
Still, Akira manages to be reunited with Rion after figuring out what happened to her and the group tries to make sense of all that has happened so far. The four still don’t know what happened to the others since the camera doesn’t show where everyone went after they all became a panicky mess. As the others take on duties they are capable of carrying out, Akira feels useless. When he goes outside the plane, he is attacked by a person in a mask.
Cage of Eden has an intriguing setup and the “Lost” meets “Jurassic Park” vibe offers a number of interesting possibilities. Still, the series isn’t without its few problems that make some things seem so farfetched. Mariya’s laptop not being broken is one of them and just how did somebody smuggle a switchblade on board? Some might even have a problem with the fan service as well that has detailed panty shots from Rion (that seems out of place) and a nude bathing scene with the buxom Ohmori that seems tacked on just for the sake of adding nudity.
Still, it’s hard not to ignore its good qualities such as the decent characters and the fact that the survivors are going up against extinct animals that include saber-toothed tigers. Then, to add to the intrigue, there’s a maniac with a hockey mask on the loose.
Volume 1 of Cage of Eden has numerous possibilities that make for an interesting and fun read that – hopefully – will become stranger and even more exciting in future volumes. The characters and the island itself are fun to follow but despite a few issues I have with some elements I feel that it could have been a lot better. Still, there’s more than enough good here to make it worth picking up in hopes it gets even more fascinating.
MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN
STORY: B
After a fun excursion in Guam, a class trip turns into a terrifying ordeal as the airplane crash lands on a most unusual island. Soon, student Akira finds himself, a fellow classmate and a surviving flight attendant discover that the island is filled with animals that have long been considered extinct. When they manage to locate their crashed plane, they find out that something terrible has happened as their struggle for survival is just beginning.
ART: A-
The artwork in the series is the kind we’ve seen before but, thanks to Yoshinobu Yamada’s attention to detail, you’ll find yourself appreciating the setting and the character design. Then there’s the fan service that can be a bit out of place at times a little too detailed for some, which is why the rating is appropriate for this title.
OVERALL: B
An intriguing survival story with plenty of mystery to boot, Volume 1 of Cage of Eden is off to a good start despite a few weak spots that hold it back from being a truly extraordinary story. Still, there’s plenty of potential in this first volume and, despite its flaws, Cage of Eden is actually a very entertaining read. This is certainly one worth checking out.
Review copy provided by Kodansha Comics
Ray: The Animation, Complete Collection – DVD Review October 27, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Anime Reviews.add a comment
Review by: Kiki Van de Kamp
Publisher: Maiden Japan
MSRP: $49.98 US
Running Time: 325 minutes
Genre: Drama
Rating: TV 14
Release Date: Available Now
Why can’t all medical dramas on TV have a hospital director that’s a pirate?
If you’re one of those who are familiar with the unusual renegade surgeon named Black Jack then you probably already know what to expect from a series that is connected to the good doctor’s world filled with mystery both medical and personal. In the Complete Collection of Ray: The Animation, however, Black Jack sits this one out as we are introduced to another surgeon who searches for the truth about her past and those connected to her in a unique kind of medical drama.
Several years ago, Black Jack plucked a little girl named Ray out of a secret hospital that the good doctor believes was raising children simply to harvest their organs. He tells Ray that she is free and that her future is entirely up to her since she has been given a unique gift. You see, Ray’s own eyes were surgically removed but Black Jack gave her special ocular implants that allow her to see through solid objects. So, the little girl named Ray Kusugano grows up to become a talented and beautiful surgeon who puts her special eyes to good use performing extremely complicated procedures with ease.
When we meet Ray again she performs emergency surgery on a woman who is caught in a gas leak explosion as she is aided by a young nurse named Misato who just so happened to be not far from the explosion. To Misato’s surprise, she discovers that Ray is the new surgeon in the hospital where she works. Ray comes off as a straight-to-business kind of woman who immediately takes an interest in a boy named Kenji who not only has a major medical problem that has him quarantined behind glass but has a special ability of his own.
The hospital, it seems, is the right place for Ray since the staff also includes slacker named Shinoyama who has a talent for creating medical equipment and implants as well as a trio of nurses who can handle themselves in the way of medicine and karate. I mean, who wouldn’t want to work in a hospital where the director (a man they all call Director Sawa) is something of a pirate complete with eye patch and a peg leg)? At one point, the nursing staff and Director Sawa physically takes down a group of gangsters looking to silence a patient that Ray is working on in another room.
We follow Ray as she takes on some extreme cases where her steady hand and special eyes are needed such as the case they see in an ocean-side theme park where a patient is being kept underwater in a tank to keep the tumors from spreading so Ray must perform an operation underwater. In another case, a girl needs a transplant and asks her own big sister to sacrifice herself in order to stay alive. Then there’s an unusual case where a girl who seems to be possessed has a very unusual growth inside her that needs to be removed.
Aside from performing her duties, however, Ray continues to search for clues about her past as well as find out more about the mysterious group calling itself simply the Organization. It isn’t until Ray and Shinoyama meet a girl named Red Ribbon who Ray remembers was one of the children the Organization had raised alongside her. Red Ribbon’s sudden appearance also brings with it contact with the “Man with the H Ring” who Ray believes was the man responsible for what happened to her and all the other children.
In looking back at her fragmented memories, Ray recalls a boy named Koichi that she fell in love with during her long stay in the hospital. Of course, Ray never forgot the boy but comes to realize that she might actually have feeling for Shinoyama who is willing to follow Ray into dangerous situations. Even though Shinoyama won’t admit it, his feeling for Ray has him turn down a childhood friend who comes into their lives.
While the first part of the series covers Ray’s life as a surgeon as well as the friendships she forms while working in the hospital, the second half unravels the mystery behind Ray and the other children. In fact, it’s where the series really gets interesting as Ray comes closer to the truth about herself as well as what led the elusive mystery man to do what he did. Believe me when I say that it all leads up to a shocking and well-conceived finale. That’s actually quite impressive seeing as the series only lasts 13-episodes.
The great thing is that the series handles the drama superbly, only slowing the pace for the unusual medical procedures that Ray takes on in the early episodes. There are well-placed comedic moments as well, although it’s a bid strange to find the staff and the hospital director taking on an action role like their appearance in Episode 12. Still, it’s hard to complain about a series that has the perfect balance of drama, romance and humor throughout the series.
The Complete Collection of Ray: The Animation is a surprising and wonderfully conceived anime drama that rarely gets to be seen and that is a shame considering the fact that this series has it all. Pacing issues aside, everything from the characters to the main story come together perfectly as the truth is slowly revealed to us. Make no mistake, this isn’t your usual medical drama and that alone should make this a series you should definitely check out.
DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN
MOVIE/EPISODES: B+
Saved from a mysterious hospital by master surgeon Black Jack, a girl named Ray gains special eye implants and grows up to become a surgeon herself. While she performs surgeries that save lives, she continues her quest to discover the truth about the Organization – the group that raised her and other children. What experiments were they running and who is the Man with the H Ring?
VIDEO QUALITY: A
The series sports some excellent animation but the unusual procedures and ailments look appropriately gruesome and one episode will have you cringing at the sight of the spores. The CG mixed in to animation doesn’t look awkward either, which is a really good thing.
AUDIO QUALITY: A-
The opening and closing theme songs are actually really good and the original score by Masami Okui with God Speed makes those nail-biting moments really intense. The voice cast is strictly reserved for the original Japanese language track but you won’t complain with decent performances from the likes of Hiroki Takahashi (as Shinoyama) and Sakura Nogawa (who voices Ray) just to name a few of the talented seiyuu.
EXTRAS: D
Just about the only extras you will find here are the clean opening and closing theme songs and a trio of Maiden Japan trailers.
OVERALL: B+
Even if you’re not a big fan of medical dramas, the Complete Collection of Ray: The Animation will not disappoint or fail to hook you into its suspenseful 13-episodes. It’s good to jump back into the world of Black Jack again but Ray just makes for an even more interesting mystery that unravels before us an interesting manner. Plus, who doesn’t like karate nurses?
Review copy provided by Maiden Japan
Shin Chan, Season 3 Part 1 – DVD Review October 23, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Anime Reviews.add a comment
Review by: Felicia Day
Publisher: FUNimation Entertainment
MSRP: $39.98 US
Running Time: 325 minutes
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV MA
Release Date: Available Now
It’s the summer of Shin.
It’s been two years since the last Shin Chan release and boy did we miss the antics of this little boy obsessed with hotties, Action Bastard and his own big bubble butt. If you’re new to Shin Chan, it’s one of those shows that inject its own brand of below-the-belt humor that made it one of Adult Swim’s more poplar animated comedies with good reason. Sure, it’s been a long while but as we can see from Part 1 of Season 3 of Shin Chan; it was definitely worth the wait.
In Part 1 of this third season, Shin finds himself enjoying the summer break as he spends a hot summer day at the beach with his family where adult film stars have Shin’s dad, Hiro, walking on eggshells hoping not to piss Mitzi off. Then Mitzi takes Shin to meet up with their friends at the movies to see “Bowel’s Moving Castle” that takes a jab at Miyazaki and Christian Bale’s meltdown.
In other lazy summer days, Shin and his friends are invited to the Musby-White Country Club where their friend Georgie’s mother invited them to a day at the pool where Shin embarrasses everyone. Speaking of embarrassing others, Shin embarrasses Georgie who tries to go on a date with a Republican girl. Shin even hangs out in school just to check on the faculty like Principle Ench and the female teachers who are having trouble finding love and – in the case of Miss Polly – finding way too much of it. Oh yeah, they’re a dysfunctional bunch.
It isn’t easy being Mitzi either as she finds herself pushing Shin to get rid of his old toys and Hiro to throw out his immense collection of nudie magazines. She’s also a good sport, role-playing in a sexy femme fatale dress as she plays spies versus Nazis with Shin and Hima. When her neighbor gives her a mushroom (the psychedelic kind) to share with Hiro, it is Shin who trips the light fantastic when he accidentally eats it with rice. Mitzi even gets a makeover to compete with the hot young moms in the park that Shin likes to hang out with when they go for walks.
When Shin goes back to school, he finds that Principle Ench hires a new physical education coach who happens to be a shy young man that – unfortunately – falls victim to Miss Polly’s vicious other self and ends up quitting. The result is a new coach that Shin meets in the park who believes he is an evolved life form who calls himself The Flamer. Meanwhile, the kids hold an intervention for Miss Polly while Miss Katz gets drunk in Shin’s house.
The Flamer isn’t the only new face in the series as we are introduced to Mitzi’s younger and more out-of-control sister named Bitzi who comes to visit and is immediately arrested by the police following a misunderstanding between her and Shin. Bitzi tries to loosen Mitzi up a little but only comes off as unstable and pretty darn funny.
While Shin obviously steals the show throughout the series, it’s good to see the other characters get the spotlight such as Boo who feels his hanging snot is an asset rather than something gross. Georgie who suffers through the bad economy by not only bashing President Obama and Nancy Pelosi (referring to her as a Nazi) but also revealing his love for a rich magical girl named Yaz. Even Penny and Ai get to shine, as they put on a play complete with an expensive set and wardrobe.
The humor in Season Three is less gross-out and more razor-sharp witty with plenty of great jokes that bring pop culture phenomenon like “True Blood” when Shin goes on a skiing trip with Hottie Nanako and a guy he suspects is a vampire. There are plenty of jabs at Republicans thanks to Georgie and sly sexual references all add up to a hilarious season.
As it turns out, Part 1 of Season 3 of Shin Chan was not only well worth the wait but it just happens to be an over-the-top hysterical and overwhelmingly witty season. With more than enough laughs and humorous short segments, the season just goes back to what made us fall in love with it in the first place. If you’re not a Shin Chan fan now, this first part of the third season will definitely do the trick.
DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN
MOVIE/EPISODES: A+
It’s the summer break and Shin, his friends and family keep busy by going to the country club, checking in on the school staff and going to the movies. When they finally go back to school, Shin must deal with the faculty’s problems with their own lives as well as dealing with two new coaches. Meanwhile, Mitzi’s sister, Bitzi, pays them a visit and arrests are made.
VIDEO QUALITY: B
The animation is as crude as the humor but it works and the sight gags make for plenty of laughs as well. This is good stuff, indeed.
AUDIO QUALITY: A+
The voice cast is topnotch and the performances will not fail to make all the jokes work beautifully. Laura Bailey is still awesome as Shin and the jokes – that poke fun at everything from Obama to the Tea Party – will not fail to make you laugh out loud.
EXTRAS: D
There are no real extras to speak of except for a few FUNimation trailers and all the trailers for previous seasons of Shin Chan that are all funny to watch.
OVERALL: A+
Shin Chan is back and Part 1 of Season 3 immediately jumps right back into all the things we loved about the first two seasons of an animated comedy that keeps pushing the envelop in a deliciously crude and absolutely hilarious manner. Just about the only complaint I have is that we had to wait two years for this third season that will have you laughing from gut-busting beginning to pants-soaking end.
Review copy provided by FUNimation Entertainment
SECTION23 FILMS ANNOUNCES JANUARY SLATE October 18, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Anime News.add a comment
THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS Available on January 24th
HOUSTON, October 18, 2011 – Home video distributor Section23 Films today announced its January slate of releases; including THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS, The devilishly fun anime will be released on both DVD & Blu-Ray by Section23 client, Sentai Filmworks.
Product details follow, in order of release
Coming January 2012
Title: AND YET THE TOWN MOVES COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 1/3/2012
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: Hotori Arashiyama loves mysteries, but there’s one she just can’t solve: Why does the solution to one problem inevitably seem to lead to another? Like how when Hotori has to start working at the Seaside Maid Café after school to pay off a debt and her friend Toshiko fortunately knows exactly how a Maid Café should be run. Which is fortunate since Hotori has no clue. Except that, unfortunately, Toshiko has no interest in working at the café, UNTIL she discovers that Hotori’s childhood friend Hiroyuki is a regular. Which SEEMS fortunate. Except that Hotori doesn’t know that, while Toshiko likes Hiroyuki, Hiroyuki secretly likes Hotori, while Hotori secretly has a crush on… No, no more spoilers! But if that’s not enough drama, there’s work, angst with a certain math teacher, table tennis between her classmates, her younger brother versus the school’s bad girl… And yet, even though everything seems like it’s going to crash at any moment, somehow Hotori’s life keeps going hilariously forward in AND YET THE TOWN MOVES!
Title: AKIKAN! COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 350 min.
Street Date: 1/10/2012
Format: DVD
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: Hobbies are often a great way of meeting new people, but how could Kakeru Diachi, who collects rare juice cans, have ever suspected that he’d meet a fascinating new girl when he attempted to DRINK her? Naming her Melon, because she’s got great melon… soda, Kakeru quickly learns that she’s an Akikan – a beautiful girl who’s also a special can created to fight other Akikans in a strange experiment to determine what kind of container is better: steel or aluminum! Will becoming involved in this ridiculously twisted research project gone amuck complicate Kakeru’s life incredibly? Of course it will, but because Melon’s steel body needs carbon dioxide to breathe, he’s now stuck with her since she’s too CO2 dependent! And when his wealthy, attractive, best childhood friend Najimi gets HER own aluminum Akikan, the trouble really begins! For once, it’s not what’s inside that counts as battling beverage containers run wild in AKIKAN – The Complete Series!
Title: PRINCESS RESURRECTION COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 650 min.
Street Date: 1/17/2012
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: She’s a hot Goth vixen with a love-jones for swords, chainsaws and mace balls. And it’s a good thing she’s handy at using them all because every zombie, vampire, mummy and demon spawn is gunning for her. But weapons aren’t the only thing Princess Resurrection has going for her. She’s got a team of ass-kicking darksiders right beside her-a pint-sized android maid, a half-werewolf hottie, a sexy high school vampire, a wicked-cute little sister and a young boy she brought back from the dead. Fighting evil was never this sexy. Or this much fun! All new dub featuring the voices of Shelley Calene-Black and Blake Shepard!
Title: THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 1/24/2012
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: Keima is a dating sim champion. Cute girls are rendered powerless by his irresistible game playing techniques. Too bad things aren’t that way in the real world. That is, until his tempting game playing causes a real live-and very bubbly-cute-demon hunter named Elsie to materialize! Now Elsie wants Keima to help her free hot girls from sneaky demons who secretly possess them. Rack up the love points with the devilishly fun anime The World God Only Knows!
Title: THE WORLD GOD ONLY KNOWS COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 1/24/2012
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: Keima is a dating sim champion. Cute girls are rendered powerless by his irresistible game playing techniques. Too bad things aren’t that way in the real world. That is, until his tempting game playing causes a real live-and very bubbly-cute-demon hunter named Elsie to materialize! Now Elsie wants Keima to help her free hot girls from sneaky demons who secretly possess them. Rack up the love points with the devilishly fun anime The World God Only Knows!
Title: EF ~ A TALE OF MEMORIES COMPLETE COLLECTION
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 1/31/2012
Format: DVD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $59.98
SYNOPSIS: One Christmas Eve, Hiro Hirono helps Miyako, the victim of a purse snatching, and discovers that she goes to the same school he does. To the dismay of his childhood friend, Kei, Hiro starts hanging out with Miyako. But Kei is not about to let a new girl in Hiro’s life take him away from her, and sets out to prove that she’s the only one for him. When Renji Asou meets Chihiro Shindou at an abandoned train station, he doesn’t notice anything unusual at first. But he soon discovers that she suffers from a rare form of amnesia and can only remember things for thirteen hours. Chihiro dreams of writing a novel, but her amnesia has made it an impossible task.Now, however, Renji is determined to help her fulfill her dream. Emotionally charged, beautifully animated and now available for the first time with an all-star English cast. Don’t miss one of anime’s masterpieces: ef ~ A Tale of Memories!
Title: EF ~ A TALE OF MEMORIES COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY
Published by: Sentai Filmworks
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Run Time: 300 min.
Street Date: 1/31/2012
Format: BD
Language: English & Japanese with English Subtitles
SRP: $69.98
SYNOPSIS: One Christmas Eve, Hiro Hirono helps Miyako, the victim of a purse snatching, and discovers that she goes to the same school he does. To the dismay of his childhood friend, Kei, Hiro starts hanging out with Miyako. But Kei is not about to let a new girl in Hiro’s life take him away from her, and sets out to prove that she’s the only one for him. When Renji Asou meets Chihiro Shindou at an abandoned train station, he doesn’t notice anything unusual at first. But he soon discovers that she suffers from a rare form of amnesia and can only remember things for thirteen hours. Chihiro dreams of writing a novel, but her amnesia has made it an impossible task.Now, however, Renji is determined to help her fulfill her dream. Emotionally charged, beautifully animated and now available for the first time with an all-star English cast. Don’t miss one of anime’s masterpieces: ef ~ A Tale of Memories!
About Section23 Films:
Section23 Films provides home video marketing and distribution services for a variety of companies, including Sentai Filmworks, Switchblade Pictures, Maiden Japan and AEsir Holdings. With its special focus on genre entertainment, Section23 Films distributes some of the very best anime, martial arts, and horror titles on the market today.
Amagami SS, Collection 1 – DVD Review October 14, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Anime Reviews.add a comment
Review by: Brenda Gregson
Publisher: Sentai Filmworks
MSRP: $49.98 US
Running Time: 300 minutes
Genre: Romance
Rating: TV PG
Release Date: Available Now
Welcome to the three different alternate reality romances of one boy.
A single human life can see a hundred different people pass them by and many of which a person never really gets to meet. However, what if there are multiple universes and thousands of worlds where we and everyone know exists within them? Imagine that girl you met briefly in high school became your sweetheart in one universe while, in another similar world, you totally ignore her instead and romance a childhood friend. This is the alternate lives and loves of one boy as we witness three different “What if?” moments that make up a multi-verse in Collection 1 of Amagami SS. Things are about to get cosmically interesting in a good way.
There is something all three multi-verses – that make up Collection 1 of the series – have in common and that is young high school student Junichi Tachibana has been stood up on Christmas by a nameless/faceless girl he really liked. As a result, Junichi finds himself wondering what he did or said wrong two years after the incident as he lays depressed inside his closet he set up to look like the galaxy. Would he ever find love again? Would he even attempt to fall in love? Those are question he continuously asks himself.
However, in the first story arc, he discovers that he’s very fond of an upperclassman named Haruka Morishima who is seen by his classmates as the school’s idol. Although she sees the girl as unapproachable thanks to the fact that she’s very popular, Junichi and Haruka have a chance meeting that makes him realize that he is completely smitten with Haruka. The more they hang out together the more he realizes that he is falling in love with the beautiful and sweet girl who has a puppy obsession.
Junichi is so in love with Haruka that he finally confesses his love for her and is rejected right on the spot. Fortunately for him, however, Haruka would still like to hang out with him and Junichi sees this as a sign that he still has a chance with her. Despite the fact that she had shot down many guys, Junichi tries again and makes a second confession that gets a very different reaction from Haruka who sees this as a first time a guy would put his heart on the line by risking rejection a second time. Could it be that she might actually be falling in love with him?
In the second story arc, Junichi doesn’t think he could ever find love two years after he was stood up so, instead, he find solace and companionship with his two childhood friends, Masayoshi and the lively and beautiful Kaoru Tanamachi. As fate would have it, though, Junichi and Kaoru spend more time together as their friendship suddenly starts getting a wee bit awkward. It becomes clear – when Junichi wants to see Kaoru in her cute waitress uniform – that their friendship is evolving to that of mutual attraction. When they accidentally kiss, things really change.
Oh, it gets a bit kinky too when Junichi is dared into kissing her naval as the two close friends start considering the possibility of becoming a couple. It’s not an easy thing considering their past history but Junichi has fallen in love with Kaoru who does not want to lose a beautiful friendship yet wants more from her relationship with Junichi.
Then, in the third story arc, this Junichi doesn’t want to risk getting hurt ever again so he dismisses love altogether to just simply enjoy his school activities. Then he gets an eyeful of an extremely shy yet busty underclassman named Sae Nakata who just so happens to be a transfer student who befriends Junichi’s sister, Miya. Once again, fate has these two meet but despite thinking how cute she is this Junichi really doesn’t see anything remotely romantic in his interest in Sae.
Out of pure friendship and the fact that Junichi is a nice guy, the young man and his sister help Sae overcome her shyness and help her get a job as a waitress. It is Junichi who becomes her coach as he gets her to speak a little louder and become more confident in herself. As a result of his oftentimes hilarious and unusual methods, Sae is the one who falls in love with an oblivious Junichi. It isn’t until she makes it clear to him that she does not want him to see her as another little sister that he slowly comes to realize that she likes him and that he might actually like her too.
Amagami SS interestingly weaves each story arc together so we can see just how easy it is to dismiss the numerous possibilities that life throws at us. In the second story arc, for instance, Haruka is just but a familiar face and nothing else just as Kaoru was in the first story arc. We can also see that there are other girls that Junichi comes across in all three story arcs that could eventually end up as love interests.
The series handles the romance well enough; sometimes the story takes its sweet time taking us through the motions of Junichi’s romance with all three girls. Personally, I felt the ending of the first story arc was more fulfilling than the others. There’s also fan service in the series with Kaoru’s mentioned naval kiss and Sae’s bountiful bosoms standing out. Junichi is actually a pretty cool guy and watching him stumble through each romance is a blast.
It is these things that make Collection 1 of Amagami SS a worthwhile and utterly entertaining romance anime series that makes this a fun series to watch if you’re into the genre. Each of the three story arcs offers their own highlights and, in the end, we get alternate endings that are as unique as the girls Junichi romances. Still, despite a few slow moments, Amagami SS proves to be a great first half. We definitely will look forward to Collection 2.
DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN
MOVIE/EPISODES: B+
High school student Junichi’s heart was broken when he was stood up on a date on Christmas, however, he discovers that there is room in his heart to fall in love again … in three different alternate realities. In the first reality, he falls for his senior who happens to be the hottest girl in school. In another alternate universe, Junichi finds love with his childhood friend. Finally, in yet another reality, he finds love while helping a cute underclassman.
VIDEO QUALITY: B+
The animation in the series isn’t bad at all and the overall visual design is handled beautifully enough despite the fact that the girls could have looked a lot cuter. There fan service that ranges from light nudity to some kinky moments but nothing too outrageous.
AUDIO QUALITY: A-
While the soundtrack feels like it comes straight out of an old-school Japanese dating sim, it’s the excellent voice cast that more than makes up for it with Tomoaki Maeno as Junichi pulling off a standout performance. The opening and closing theme songs are actually really cute as well.
EXTRAS: D
Each of the three girls get their individual DVD but only two of the DVDs contain slim extras such clean opening and closing animation plus a few trailers. That’s all there is in terms of extras.
OVERALL: B+
While not all of the three romance stories are perfect, there’s a lot to like about each of them that ultimately makes Collection 1 of Amagami SS a very delightful treat for those who love the genre. Sure, there are moments where each story takes it too slow but when things get interesting they do so with enough charm and humor to keep shoujo fans happy.
Review copy provided by Sentai Filmworks
Gon, Volume 1 – Manga Review October 13, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Manga Reviews.1 comment so far
Review by: Eduardo Zacarias
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Author: Masashi Tanaka
Genre: Graphic Novel
MSRP: $10.99 US
Rating: T (Ages 10+)
Release Date: Available Now
The story of a little dinosaur who dishes out the hurt on the animal kingdom’s jerks.
Gon is a name that a few people in our side of the shore might know seeing as he’s been around in Japan for a long while now to the point that he even makes an appearance as an unlockable character in one of the Tekken games. If you’re familiar with a dinosaur who has managed to survive the cruelty of the Ice Age to defy the extinction of his kind then you are in for a treat because Kodansha Comics brings us Volume 1 of Gon and he will not fail to put a smile on your face.
First, here’s an interesting fact about Volume 1 of Gon: there are no word or thought balloons to be found nor are there captions with any text at all. Masashi Tanaka tells a story using solely his artwork and that’s more than sufficient seeing as his art is expressive enough to convey emotion from his non-human characters. Through Gon’s actions, we know all we need to about this little yet mighty dinosaur.
In the first chapter of the first volume, we get to see just how might he is as the tiny reptile sleeps so soundly that he doesn’t even feel the field mouse that happened to have landed on his belly. Nor does he wake when a leopard curiously swats at him with his powerful paw and suddenly decides to take a bite with disastrous results for the leopard’s teeth. He doesn’t even wake when a rhino comes charging in and smacks the pint-sized terror across the land. Gon wakes up on his own wondering just how in the world he got so far away from this original resting place.
In another chapter, which takes place a day after Gon’s first birthday, a young American Black Bear stumbles upon a stream filled with delicious Sockeye Salmon going downstream. It manages to catch one and is about to take a much-deserved bite when an older and more aggressive Black Bear shows up. The older bear shows his dominance quite clearly to the point that the younger bear has no choice but to flee and leave his delicious bounty behind.
Then Gon shows up and the older Black Bear tries to show him who is the bigger critter only Gon doesn’t even flinch. The little dinosaur snubs the aggressive bear and totally ignores him as he makes his way to the tasty fish. You better believe the bear won’t stand for this outrage but before it could even think of attacking, Gon head butts the bear and sends the older creature flying back across the stream and breaking a few trees along the way. Oh, the humiliation doesn’t stop there for the bear as it realizes that sometimes age and size do not matter.
In the next chapter, the peace and tranquility of the Serengeti is disturbed as an older lion decides to lunge towards a herd of Blue Wildbeasts. It races after them as the herd scatters and they prove to be faster than the lion who is clearly being too lazy to want to continue giving chase. Then Gon shows up and bites the lion’s head and manages to climb on its back as if he were riding a horse. Yanking the lion’s mane, Gon forces the lion to give chase after a Wildbeast and pushing the poor lion to his limits as it has no choice but to play the part of the dinosaur’s ride.
Then, a busy beaver is in the process of making his dam and is looking mighty proud of his handiwork thus far when the tiny dinosaur shows up and starts construction of his own dam as well. Suddenly, a small competition between beaver and dinosaur heats up as Gon uses his great strength and the fact that he doesn’t care about anyone else. In the end, the beaver makes his damn but Gon’s dam comes at a hilarious price.
Finally, Gon finds himself in the comforting warmth of a Golden Eagle nest as it awaits mama eagle just as eagerly as the babies all around him. Imagine the mother’s surprise when she not only has an extra mouth to feed but the mouth belongs to something that clearly did not come from her. Still, despite the obvious inconvenience, Gon’s presence is suddenly seen as a good thing since a determined bobcat managed to climb up to try and snatch a baby eagle away.
Instead of finding a tasty, defenseless meal, however, the bobcat’s attempt is thwarted by Gon himself who manages to save the babies from it but also ends up giving the bobcat a nightmarish scare and quite a beating as Gon joins a flock of angry Golden Eagles in dishing out the hurt. And so, Gon finds himself an honorary member of mama’s own flock.
As I said, the story of Gon is a visual one and works brilliantly seeing as the animals’ reactions say it all. In fact, it’s the animal reactions are comedy gold and will not fail to make you laugh. The American Black Bear Gon puts in his place is so frightened of Gon after he was sent flying that he much rather play dead than face the little guy. Masashi Tanaka’s art is really something to behold.
Volume 1 of Gon is nothing short of hilarious and absolutely exceptional in ways that make it one of those rarities in manga. Using nothing but gorgeous visuals to tell the story, Tanaka is able to showcase a series of encounters that will make you smile and laugh aloud at the antics of a very likeable little dinosaur. In other words, if you’re looking for a manga series that is actually very funny then this is a series you will certainly need to buy.
MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN
STORY: A+
Meet Gon, the last living dinosaur who somehow survived the Ice Age and walk his own path as he adapts to a different kind of environment in his scrappy manner. Still, despite his short stature, Gon is a mighty little dinosaur who jumps into the circle of life with the strength of a T-Rex as he turns the king of the jungle into his personal ride, beats a beaver in making his own dam and defends a nest of baby golden eagles from a bobcat.
ART: A+
Relying solely on the visuals is quite a feat and a risk but Masashi Tanaka manages to say more with one panel than other authors do with two word balloons. His artwork is not only expressive and amazingly well detailed but the reactions from the animals will not fail to make you really laugh aloud. Really, this is a case of not judging a book by its weak cover.
OVERALL: A+
A brilliant and gorgeous visual feast that will not fail to make you laugh, Volume 1 of Gon is one of those rare gems that uses no words but is still able to convey emotion and hilarity just as easily. On top of that, Gon is a likeably little bugger who unintentionally does what’s right. If you like something different and genuinely funny, give this little dinosaur a try.
Review copy provided by Kodansha Comics
Dragon Ball Z Kai, Part Six – Blu-ray Review October 11, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Anime Reviews.add a comment
Review by: Clive Owen
Publisher: FUNimation Entertainment
MSRP: $34.98 US (Blu-ray), $29.98 US (DVD)
Running Time: 300 minutes
Genre: Action
Rating: TV PG
Release Date: Available Now
There are fights and then there are Super smack downs.
The original Dragon Ball Z alone stands as a true classic in every sense but I have to admit that Dragon Ball Z Kai is starting to become my favorite way of viewing this series mainly because it removed the filler that got in the way of the more exciting moments in the series. Still, there are still some quiet moments like the calm before a monster storm and Part Six of Dragon Ball Z Kai begins softly and ends in a way that will have you begging for more.
In the fifth part of the saga, we were introduced to Doctor Gero’s most dangerous creations that were so unpredictable that they coldheartedly killed their creator to follow their own path of destruction. Androids 17 and 18 are joined by the hulking and silent Android 16 who – despite the murder of his creator – is still determined to carry out Gero’s orders to kill Goku. While the “brother-sister” team go on a rampage just for the fun of it, Android 16 reacts only when needed and even then he’s more interested in the birds that seem to be interested in him.
Meanwhile, with Goku in a coma-like slumber, the others wonder what to do next when Piccolo makes an interesting comment that involves the older Namekian named Kami who is watching all the action from afar. It seems that both Namekian warriors have the power to merge as one being to the point of becoming a Super Namekian. Of course, this also means that Kami and Piccolo would cease to exist as we know them.
As Kami is thinking on what to do, Krillin decides to take Goku away from his home in case the androids know where he lives. They load the sleeping Saiyan aboard their ship to take to Master Roshi’s island when Bulma calls with some news that should be of interest to older Trunks … her son from the future. It seems that her Capsule employees discovered a ship much like the one Trucks traveled across time in but this ship seems to have been here on Earth for years. Investigating the ship, Trunks and the others find what looks to be some kind of hatched egg and the remains of some humanoid-reptile skin.
Coincidentally, a news report comes in that the people of a city known as Gingertown have all disappeared. From above, Kami sees what cause behind the mass disappearances and decides to merge with Piccolo who accepts the other Namekian’s power. While it makes him incredibly strong, fast and powerful, Piccolo finds that the creature that turned Gingertown into a ghost town is even more powerful. On top of that, it seems to know him as well as a certain move that Goku has mastered.
Meet Cell, a creature whose origin is revealed as the two powerhouses battle and yes this freakish thing with a tail that is capable of draining people of their Ki is lethal. Piccolo is clearly no match for Cell and takes off before the thing could kill him. Cell, in the meantime, means to fulfill the first part of his mission and that is to drain and use the power of Androids 17 and 18.
Goku, in the meantime, finally wakes up and wants to become powerful in order to take on the Androids and now this new threat. Of course, he comes to the realization that he’s not up to the task just yet and knows of one way that could do the trick. You see, he knows a way to accelerate a year’s worth of training into one day and that is by way of a chamber he has used before when he was Gohan’s age. Despite Chi-Chi’s protest, Goku decides to take his son with him as well as Vegeta and his son from the future to partake in the training as well.
Unfortunately, the androids finally come close to finding Goku only to learn that the Saiyan has gone off for training. Piccolo decides to take the androids on to stall for some time as Vegeta and Trunks use the chamber to discover their true form. With the new power he possesses, Piccolo is able to go toe-to-toe with his challenger, Android 17, who is surprised by Piccolo’s new power.
It’s just too bad that Cell finally senses the android from far away and finds them. Knowing that if Cell were to absorb the androids he would become unstoppable, Piccolo defends Android 17. Suddenly, the three androids are fighting alongside Piccolo against an enemy that means the death of all of them. The battle that ensues us nothing short of breathtaking and surprising as Cell suddenly gains the upper hand in an unexpected way. Even Tien, who sees no choice, steps into the fight as well as Android 16 who realizes something good about himself.
In the finale, Android 18 sees no choice but to run as Cell is on the hunt for the remaining android. At the same time, Vegeta and Trunks finally steps out of the chamber leaving it to Goku and his son to train. Vegeta manages to show up for an even bigger battle that will eventually lead to one hell of a brawl. Oh yeah, Dragon Ball Z Kai fans, it’s that big a fight.
Part Six of Dragon Ball Z Kai has a slow buildup that leads up to one of the more exciting encounters the series has thrown at Goku and the others. Sure, it takes its time getting to the heart of the matter but when it reaches the main event it does so with just the right impact that will have Dragon Ball Z fans sitting up in their seats. Without a doubt, we are so looking forward to the next set and so will you, believe me.
BLU-RAY REVIEW BREAKDOWN
MOVIE/EPISODES: A-
With the powerful Androids searching for Goku who has yet to wake up, the others rush to be by his side while Piccolo makes a very difficult decision involving Kami. However, the three Androids are but part of the problem when a new enemy from the future makes an appearance and he’s even more dangerous that all three Androids combined. Meanwhile, a newly awakened Goku and son decided to take Vegeta and his future son Trunks to train for their upcoming battle with their enemies that are closing in fast.
VIDEO QUALITY: A+
There are a number of impressive battles in this sixth set as even the enemies turn on each another and Piccolo’s newly powerful form makes for some intense visuals. On top of that, there’s nothing quite as drool-worthy as watching Dragon Ball Z Kai on Blu-ray.
AUDIO QUALITY: A
The voice acting in the newly dubbed English track is handled beautifully enough but I still have a soft spot for the Japanese cast and the original music that still gives me goose bumps. If you have a good sound system hooked up, crank that sucker up.
EXTRAS: D
No special extras aside from the textless opening and closing animation will disappoint Dragon Ball Z fans but at least there are a few trailers and the thought that it’s on Blu-ray is a pretty big deal.
OVERALL: A-
As the pace slows down a little, Part Six’s biggest strength comes in the later half of this set as things heat up to the point of making us remember why we fell in love with Dragon Ball Z Kai. As Goku’s friends struggle with enemies that exceed their own strength, a new combatant steps in to make things more dangerous for them and really exciting for us. We officially cannot wait for Part Seven.
Review copy provided by FUNimation Entertainment
Oreimo, Limited Edition Complete Box Set – DVD Review October 7, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Anime Reviews.add a comment
Review by: Ai Kano
Publisher: Aniplex of America
MSRP: $74.99 US
Running Time: 400 minutes
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: 13+
Release Date: October 18, 2011
This is not your typical otaku love story.
Rare is the anime series that not only manages to tap into the genuine feelings that an otaku feels for their hobby but also – for some – touches on themes that hit close to home. The thing is that we’ve seen anime like it before but Oreimo tells the story its own way and does it with enough humor thus making this Limited Edition Complete Box Set yet another reason wallets and purses will get a lot thinner. Oh yeah, Oreimo is just that good.
The Complete Box Set takes us through all 12 of the televised episodes including 4 extra episodes that can only be seen on this DVD release and I must say that the story is intriguing and likeable from the very beginning. We are introduced to high school student Kyousuke Kousaka and his sister Kirino who don’t exactly have a very loving brother-sister relationship. In fact, Kyou feels that his younger sister doesn’t even like him to the point that she simply ignores him to live her fabulous fashion model and school’s track star life. Meanwhile, he looks for sisterly love with a childhood friend named Minami Tamura.
Then something happens that changes everything when, one evening, Kyou crashes into Kirino in their home’s hallway. You see, the beautiful girl drops a rated 18+ PC game of the eroge (erotic) variety. He confronts his angry sister and she has no choice but to come clean. You see, Kirino is a closet otaku with a love for anime, manga and eroge featuring little sisters. She’s a big fan of a magical girl anime series called Stardust Witch Meruru and has a hidden closet filled with Meruru merchandise she’s been collecting.
Interestingly enough, after revealing her secret Kirino asks Kyou if her hobby is too weird and when he says no she asks for his help. Suddenly, the two siblings that weren’t talking to each another are slowly building something of relationship as Kyou – understanding of how most people treat otaku – suggests that she make friend with other otaku like her. So, looking online, Kirino gets invited to tea party in Akihabara by the community leader of a group called the Gather Otaku Girls club.
It is thanks to meeting the club’s leader named Saori Vageena and a Lolita-goth girl named Kuroneko who become her good friends and it is with them that Kirino grows comfortable talking about their shared hobby. Kirino even enjoys her verbal sparring with Kuroneko as they debate about whose favorite anime series is better – Kuroneko’s darker series or Kirino’s child-like magical girl series. At last, Kirino has found people she could debate, talk and enjoy the things she loves about anime and games.
It is because of this that Kirino and Kyou’s life begin to change and as Kyou becomes involved in her sister’s hobby he very slowly becomes closer to his sister. However, two incidents force Kirino’s hobby to come out into the open and the incidents speaks volumes of how others react to otaku. It is Kirino’s father who discovers his daughters love for anime and eroge and is against both for no real reason. Meanwhile, during a fun trip to Summerket, Kirino’s fellow fashion model and best friend named Ayase runs into Kirino with a bad filled with dojinshi. Ayase’s reaction is that of disgust that is brought on by negative opinions based on an article that Kyou proves is without merit.
In the wake of these problems, it is Kyou who helps settle the matter with their father as well as Ayase. Doing so makes his sister come to become just a tad more approachable but she still holds something of an underlying dislike for his brother’s relationship with his childhood friend who so obviously likes Kyou. Still, there’s no creepy brother-sister love thing going since the girl still punches his brother out on numerous occasions and – at one point – decides to walk away from home and her brother.
And this is my problem with Oreimo, she does come to appreciate the things her brother has done for her since revealing her secret but does she still have to slap him around? Still, this is but a minor blemish on an otherwise beautiful face since Oreimo doesn’t fall back on any clichés or turn to fanservice to keep things interesting. Instead, the series relies on great storytelling and an even greater sense of humor. The series is actually really funny without resorting to slapstick antics and, yes, even most of the characters are awesome.
Better yet are the OVA episodes that include an alternate ending that leads up to episodes where the likeable Kuroneko becomes a freshman in Kyou’s high school. Kyou could see how his friend could not fit in so he suggest she joins the Game Research club and ends up entering a game idea she herself designs. There’s a funny rivalry between Kuroneko and a girl named Sena Akagi who is a closet yaoi fan.
Oreimo is a comedic and endearing gem is beautifully written and funny enough that you will find yourself loving every second of it. As I mentioned, it never resorts to the familiar elements shows like this usually rely on and that alone makes this a series that does its own thing and does it well enough that you can’t help but appreciate what it has to offer. In other words, the Complete Box Set of Oreimo is definitely a Must Have for anyone who loves anime as much as the main character.
DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN
MOVIE/EPISODES: A+
Kyou never quite got along with his beautiful sister, Kirino, until the day he collided with her and discovered the secret she tried hard to hide. Now, Kirino asks for her brother’s help to keep her otaku nature a secret from friends and family only to find herself becoming more involved in her hobby that she will not give up for anyone or anything. In the process, Kyou finds himself growing closer to his sister and her new otaku friends.
VIDEO QUALITY: A
Oreimo sports some of the most colorful and gorgeous animation to come from Aniplex and you’ll love the detailed backdrops that make familiar spots such as Akihabara come to life. The series looks amazing on DVD but would be perfect on Blu-ray so here’s hoping for a Blu-ray release soon.
AUDIO QUALITY: A+
The Japanese voice cast do not disappoint in the very least when it comes to some truly memorable and standout performances. Sorry, no English dub here but you won’t complain with Ayana Taketatsu and Yuichi Nakamura handing the role of Kirino and Kyou. Then there’s Satoru Kosaki’s lively score that fits in well with the opening theme song “irony” by ClariS. The fact that the series has 15 different closing theme songs (all great, by the way) is simply brilliant.
EXTRAS: A+
The Limited Edition set contains an awesome collectible 24-page booklet with character design, different covers and other artwork taken from magazine covers. It also includes a two-sided poster that’s downright cute and 16 postcards that feature artwork from the endings of all 16 episodes. These are definitely wonderful collectibles.
However, the best part is that there’s a third disc with four bonus episodes that were never aired on TV and episodes – revolving around Kuroneko as well as an alternate ending to the main series – are so worth watching. The second disc contains extras such as the textless opening animation but also all 16 textless closing animations as well along with some Aniplex trailers.
OVERALL: A+
A touching and relevant nod to the otaku culture as well as a funny and beautiful story of two siblings accepting each another, The Limited Edition Complete Box Set of Oreimo is a delightful anime series that you can’t help but fall in love with from the very start. There are genuinely funny and endearing moments that make this series one you shouldn’t miss if you love anime as much as we do.
Review copy provided by Aniplex of America
GLASS MAIDEN COMPLETE COLLECTION ON SALE TODAY October 4, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Anime News.add a comment
HOUSTON, October 4th, 2011 – Section23 Films is pleased to announce the release of the exciting sci-fi meets private eye series, GLASS MAIDEN. The complete collection of 12 episodes will be released on DVD, and is on sale today!
Title: GLASS MAIDEN COMPLETE COLLECTION
Running Time: 300 min.
Age Rating: TV 14 (V,)
Language: Japanese with English Subtitles
CAT: MJ-0161
UPC: 814131016119
Published by: Maiden Japan
Distributed by: Section23 Films
Street Date: 10/4/2011
Format: DVD
SRP: $49.98
SYNOPSIS: Shu’s a detective, the brooding, enigmatic type with an eye for the ladies. Together with his kid brother Akira, and ‘the girls’ Manami and Ayaka, he runs an investigative agency that takes on the odd case here and there. Okay, odder than usual, given that their main broker is a cross-dresser and their closest associate’s a doctor with a ‘thing’ about cosplay. And then the oddest case of all comes through: a ‘package’ intended for ‘delivery’ that turns out to be a lot more trouble than expected. You see, Shu’s always considered himself a quick study (he can see through most lies in a second) but when he goes head on with a girl who doesn’t even know who she is, he’ll be seeing through more than he ever imagined seeing through. Unfortunately, there are other people who want Sara back and they know a lot more about who, and what, she actually is than she does! Old fashioned detective work meets the latest in modern weapons technology as sci-fi meets private eye in GLASS MAIDEN – THE COMPLETE COLLECTION!
About Section23 Films:
Section23 Films provides home video marketing and distribution services for a variety of companies, including Sentai Filmworks, Switchblade Pictures, Maiden Japan and AEsir Holdings. With its special focus on genre entertainment, Section23 Films distributes some of the very best anime, martial arts, and horror titles on the market today.
Dragon Ball Z Kai, Part Five – DVD Review October 4, 2011
Posted by psfrontline in Anime Reviews.add a comment
Review by: Faith McAdams
Publisher: FUNimation Entertainment
MSRP: $29.98 US (DVD), $34.98 US (Blu-ray)
Running Time: 325 minutes
Genre: Action
Rating: TV PG
Release Date: Available Now
As one foe falls another rises.
You just have to love the Dragon Ball Z Kai series since it jumps straight into the heart of the story without padding it was filler and the result is an even more exciting series that is as delightfully frenzied as series of punches thrown by a Super Saiyan. In Part Five of Dragon Ball Z Kai, however, there’s a calm before the next storm and when it hits it hits with an impressive impact that makes this series such a classic epic. Oh yeah, we’re talking Androids, time travelers and a very unusual alliance.
When we last left Goku in Part Four, he was in the fight of his life against Frieza as Planet Namek’s core has become too unstable to the point that both combatants resort to fighting in the skies above. However, Goku proves to be an even stronger opponent than Frieza had anticipated and – in the end – a wrong move slices Frieza in half. However, as we can see from Part Five, Planet Namek is about to explode and the only means of escape is Frieza’s barely functioning ship. On top of that, a dying Frieza asks Goku for mercy only to try to stab him in the back. It does not end well.
Meanwhile, the surviving Namekians have safely been transported to Earth where Bulma – thanks to her family’s wealthy Capsule empire – has given them a place to temporarily live and escape the prying eyes of other humans in exchange for using the Namekian Dragon Balls to bring back their friends from the dead. Then the Namekian Grand Elder senses the death of their planet and, as a result, passes on. With the planet destroyed, everyone assumes the worst about Goku.
Oh yeah, Vegeta comes to live with the others as well as he becomes something of an ally to group that were once his enemies. Even funnier is the Super Saiyan’s reaction to Bulma who takes a very obvious interest in the cold-hearted Saiyan.
The truth about whether Goku survived or escaped becomes clear when Bulma and the others use the Dragon Balls to bring back fallen friends such as Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Tien and Krillin. However, when the wish to bring back Goku from the dead is denied it could only mean one thing. It’s good news, indeed, and one that has everyone coming to the conclusion that some serious training is going on somewhere far away. Just about the only one who can’t stand that thought is Vegeta who steals a Capsule ship and heads off into space to search for the Saiyan only to come back to Earth disappointed.
In space, however, the remains of Frieza are discovered by none other than King Cold who also happens to be connected to Frieza in a surprising way. Gathering the remains, King Cold has Frieza put together using metal parts and thus turning the villain into an even more threatening cyborg. Determined to get his revenge, Frieza has King Cold take him to Earth to confront Goku only to find the others waiting to battle the fiend one last time.
Interestingly enough, a mysterious young man appears on the scene to battle Frieza and King Cold. As Vegeta and Gohan discover, the young warrior who wields a sword also happens to be a Saiyan, which is impossible seeing as Goku, Vegeta and Gohan are the only Saiyans left. Without a doubt, this young warrior’s fight with Frieza and King Cold is shocking … enough that it takes a surprised Goku who, after having explained his absence, is a witness to the outcome of the battle.
However, the most surprising part about meeting the Saiyan named Trunks is the fact that he comes from the future and he has come with some serious news. It seems that Earth will soon find itself in danger again and this time the threat comes from a group of androids connected to the Red Ribbon Army that Goku destroyed. The news is bad, to say the least, but not as bad as Trunk’s warning that Goku will die by the hands of a virus that attacks the heart. Oh yeah, Trunks also reveals who his parents are and this is also a major surprise.
Once again, Earth’s mightiest warriors begin training to prepare for their battle against the androids. Years pass and the days of peace end as two androids arrive on the very day that Trunks said they would arrive. As Yamcha quickly finds out, both androids are too powerful. One of the androids, it seems, happens to be a very familiar face as Bulma identifies the attacker. Meanwhile, Goku’s arrival is good timing but things turn grim when the virus starts attacking his heart as predicted. Sure, they have the medicine from the future to save his life but will it work?
With Vegeta stepping up to the plate and Trunks by his side, they manage to take down one of the androids only to find out that the second one activated two of the most unpredictable and dangerous androids capable of doing the most damage. They are Android 17 and Android 18 who turn on their master and continue on their mission to kill Goku who is in bed being tended to by his family. Things are definitely looking grim for Earth’s heroes.
Part Five of Dragon Ball Z Kai switches gears as times of peace are interrupted by a newer and even deadlier threat that makes this yet another stellar release Dragon Ball Z fans must not be without. There are calm moments in this part of the story but believe me when I say that when things pick up they do so with enough excitement to keep up fans happy and certainly looking forward to Part Six.
DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN
MOVIE/EPISODES: A
Planet Namek has become way too unstable as Goku finally ends his battle with Frieza and the result has Goku’s friends and family believing he’s dead until they start making wishes with the Namekian Dragon Balls. However, a visit from a mysterious stranger from the future tells them of a threat that could spell the destruction of Earth by the hands of powerful androids. Once again, Earth’s most powerful fighters band together to take on their new adversaries that proves to be even more power than expected and more so with Goku out of the fight.
VIDEO QUALITY: A
The series looks amazing on Blu-ray but the DVD version still looks good enough that the episodes stand out even more beautifully than it did when it first came out. There are a number of truly awesome battles in this one.
AUDIO QUALITY: A
Once again, the new English dub cast does a great job with the characters and its great to hear the original Japanese cast as well as the original soundtrack as well. After all these years, we still love the opening theme song.
EXTRAS: D
There are a few FUNimation trailers to be found on the second disc as well as the clean opening and closing theme songs and that’s about it, Dragon Ball Z fans. We would definitely not mind some audio commentary tracks for this series.
OVERALL: A
With a less chaotic change of pace and the introduction of a new threat, Part Five of Dragon Ball Z Kai still maintains the excitement that continues to make this series such an epic masterpiece. With Frieza comes an even bigger problem as Goku and his friends find themselves in another fight of their lives and you’ll love every second of it.
Review copy provided by FUNimation Entertainment
