Amazon.com

Disturbing, perplexing, sometimes infuriating, Ryutaro Nakamura's serial experiments lain covers some of the same themes as The X-Files and the films of David Lynch. When introverted 13-year-old Lain receives an e-mail from a dead classmate, she gains access to "the Wired," a virtual world that promises unlimited power to those who can exploit it. Gradually the borders between the real and the virtual blur, and Lain's own identity begins to fade and fragment. Her parents tell her that she is not really their child, her online self grows in power and independence, and shadowy organizations pursue her in both worlds. Finally she begins to realize that she is either reality's only hope, or its worst enemy.

Nakamura keeps the pace of serial experiments lain deliberately slow, imbuing the early episodes with a sense of mounting dread that pays off as the plot develops. The anime technique of panning across static images creates a meditative stillness that works perfectly, and the repetition of certain key images gives them a dreamlike significance. Viewers will either love or hate the complex plot, which seems intent on incorporating every possible paranoid conspiracy, from sinister nanotechnology to alien plots. However--unlike many other anime--it somehow hangs together, and frankly not understanding everything is part of the pleasure of this kind of story. Fans of action-heavy anime and people who like every loose end tied up should steer clear, but those who surrender themselves to the slowly unfolding mysteries of the plot will be amply rewarded. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (92)

"Hello, Navi."
How do I even begin reviewing a show like "Serial Experiments: Lain?"

To start with, this is one of the most visually amazing, compelling, twisted, sci-fi-ish, dramatic, different and confusing anime series I've ever seen. It all centers on Lain, who, in all respects, appears to be a normal, if not independent (read: loner) young girl. She doesn't have super powers, she isn't anime-style sexy, and she doesn't own or operate a giant mecha -- but she does wear the cutest little teddy bear outfit: ears, tail, and all.

The story begins with the suicide of one of her classmates. A short time later, she's emailed by this classmate, from "beyond the dead..." Lain, having likely never powered on her Navi (think future, voice activated Macintosh -- it even run's the "Copland OS"), clears off her desk and sets the machine up. And she's hooked. She asks her "Papa" for a new Navi, as her's is a little old and dated. With her wish granted, she's soon cruz'ing the Wired (the future Internet) in her brand new Navi. By chance (or is it?) she comes into posession of a Psyche Processor, and reads up on how to install it. That Processor is only the beginning, and soon her room is transformed into a dark cave of twisted wires and green, bubbling coolant.

The series, like I said, is confusing. If you had a hard time with "Eyes Wide Shut," you might pass on "Lain." It's difficult to review, because of everything that happens in it. True, there are only 13 episodes, but those episodes contain so much story line, that missing one is like missing two hours of a movie that's two hours and ten minutes long. Only until the last disc makes it into your DVD player do you begin to understand some of what's going on. And then, the story line changes on you again, and you're once again thinking, "Huh?"

If you've never seen "Lain," I wouldn't recommend this box set. I also can't recommend the purchase of just the first disc to "try it out," as the good, confusing stuff doesn't start happening until the next disc's episodes. You might want to try a rental store or friend, to give it a test drive. If you already own all the DVD's, there's really no reason to buy this box set, as all you'd be getting is a box (and, of course, a second copy of each DVD).

Repeated viewings of "Lain" are recommended. Personally, I think a little "viewer companion" for us American audiences would have been a nice touch. "Serial Experiments: Lain" should be watched by all anime fans, as it provides a different approach to anime, but some may come away feeling lost and dazed. Lain will do that to you.

Close This World
I happened upon Lain one day in a local comics store that rents anime and I was immediately drawn to the series by the art of the cover. Instead of your usual beautiful anime girl, Lain wasn't classically beautiful or sexy. Instead, she seemed sad, haunted almost. I rented the series and soon fell in love with it. I knew then, I had to buy the series.

Admitingly, this series can be confusing at times, but that's part of its appeal. On one hand, the plot seems simple; an introverted girl finds her way to the 'wired' and as she travels through this world, the lines between reality and imaginary began to blur. Sometimes, you find yourself not knowing whether what you are seeing is real or if you're just caught up in one of Lain's illusions.

I have seen the series about 5 times now and I still don't claim to understand all of it. Yet, every time I watch I find myself stumbling upon some idea I hadn't thought of previously. While Lain's main theme is that of reality within the 'wired' world, this series manages to question all basic human beliefs about life, death, religion, evolution, existance, etc. One second a character will make a statement that you'll immediately think is wrong but in the next second they'll say something you accept as a universal truth. The best way to watch this series is not trying to understand ever triviality, but journey with the characters as they search for the truth, yet it is up to the viewer to decide what this truth is.

To summarize, Lain is a beautiful, haunting series that asks everything yet explains little. It doesn't have a nice tight ending where all lose ends are tied up, but that would have ruined the series itself.

Disturbingly beautiful. Truly.
In the world of anime, for many people, Serial Experiments Lain holds the title as the most disturbing, most convaluted series of all time.

Quite frankly, I agree with them.

But there is also more to S. E. Lain than its mere "freakish-ness." Lain, like its fellow notoriously controversial self-analytical anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion, makes a point of taking typically over-played, over-used philisophical concepts and questions posed in many darker, psycho-analytical animes, and proposing them in a new light. Lain's analysis of the human condition and of human nature through the characters of the series is truly deserving of praise as well. As a matter of fact, when one watches Lain, they may get the feeling that the characters hold a purpose less as characters, and more plot devices used to embody and demonstrate the questions and concepts proposed by the series (as is especially evident with the character Alice/Arisu), as do many of the events that occur throughout the series as well. This is not neccessarily a bad thing, in that S. E. Lain is more a concept/analysis based than a plot based one. Yet, even in all of the "psycho-babble" that Lain is based on, the series sets itself apart from other animes in that it does not attempt to act as if it can truly answer all of the questions that it itself poses; as if there is some sort of absolute truth that everyone is bound by. All in all, the entire story serves as a metaphor. What that metaphor is, you must decide for yourself.

I would recommend watching the Neon Genesis Evangelion series before watching Lain, as the two share many common concepts, and having watched Evangelion adds a bit more intrigue to watching the series. In the end, Serial Experiments Lain is one ot those love-it-or-hate-it animes. Personally, I loved it. It's also one that you appreciate more and more every time you watch it over again. And you WILL end up watching it a good number of times before you can finally put it down. Trust me.

Very good animation and characters
The DVD is mainly about this game called the Wired. Lain, the main character, gets interested in this game. She startes to get obsest with the game and forces herself to get more and more into the game and becomes part of the internet. Her friend Alice, tries to her her, but after Alice tries, Lain (accidently) hurts her (not physically). Lain soon makes everyone's memory of her go away. I won't tell you what happend in the end because you have to find that out yourself, (Hee, hee.) The story is very dramatic and serius.

RATED 13 UP FOR sexual parts/language/blood scenes.

Darn you Jean Paul Sartre
I can't decide if I like this series or not. I oscillate between thinking it's boring and pretentious and thinking it's absolutley brilliant. It's very stylized and, well, experimental; about twenty percent of the first group of episodes consists of outdoor shots in which most of the background is whited out, and the only sound is the quietly menacing hum of power lines. Moments like these are very effective. I think the series is at its best when it's not trying very hard. The sense of foreboding and existential crisis is much more effectively communicated by the subtly wrong behavior of the characters, by the minor overheard conversations and the held static scenes, than it is by the moments when a disembodied voice asks the same ambiguous question over and over. Lain deals with themes which are somewhat overhashed (who am I? what am I? where do I end and you begin? what is the difference between the phenomenon as it exists and is experienced?), more now than ever, and its take on these themes isn't all that fresh. Its style, though, is incredible. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Producers at Harmony Gold combined the series Super Dimension Fortress:Macross, Genesis Climber Mospeada, and Super-dimensional CavalrySouthern Cross to create a sprawling space opera with a new plot:Robotech (1985), which helped to build an audience for anime in the U.S.The story begins in 1999, when a gigantic spaceship strikes the Earth. Tenyears later, Earth forces relaunch the ship as the alien Zentraedi attack,hoping to recapture it. The seesaw warfare is played against a vagueromantic triangle involving brash pilot Rick Hunter, straight-laced officerLisa Hayes, and aspiring singer Minmei. The Zentraedi have somehow lost thesecret of biological reproduction, but the two races are virtually identicalbiochemically. The similarity is sealed by the marriage of Earth pilot Maxand Zentraedi spy Miriya. Minmei's performances become a key element in theongoing war, as the Zentraedi consider her bubblegum pop songs a form of"psychological assault." (They have a point.) Although humanity emergesvictorious, much of the Earth is devastated. Lisa and Rick discover theirtrue feelings as the new threat of the Robotech Masters appears--which leadsinto the second continuity. Gen-X-ers who grew up on Robotech willdelight in retracing the coy romances and crude space battles; viewersaccustomed to the faster pacing, snazzier effects, and more dramatic conflictsof more recent anime will grow impatient with the endless shilly-shallying. It's aclassic of sorts. (Suitable for all ages; appropriate for ages 8 and up:mild violence restricted to spaceship and robot battles) --CharlesSolomon ... Read more

Reviews (27)

DVD quality, here's what to expect.
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I was hesitant in buying this due to the many similar reviews complaining about DVD quality. Here's what you will (or will not) expect from the Robotech DVDs:

1. Do not expect high quality DVD video or audio found in remastered movies like Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
2. It is a little grainy (but sharp) with a lot of artifacts (dust and such).
3. Color quality is somewhat "light", as if a little too bright.
4. Sound quality is TV quality.
5. In short, if you watched it on TV back in the 80s, then expect similar 1980s TV quality. In this aspect, it is similar to watching a VHS recording of your favorite prime time show.
6. If you have seen HK DVD bootlegs of 1980s anime (like Kimagure Orange Road -KOR), I'd say they are pretty much of the same audio-video quality.
7. Would I still have bought it? Now that I have seen it for myself?

YES SIREEE! Overall, the quality is still acceptable (to me at least): It is TV quality. Just imagine, you are watching a TV show as you were back in the 80s. It is still better than my old Robotech VHS from F.H.E.

One of the greatest action cartoons of the eighties
The box set contains 6 discs with all the episodes (48) of the macross saga of the robotech series. It also contains various previews for other anime movies of note. The picture quality on the dvds is not great for todays standards but still very watchable, the sound is also lacking but this is all secondary to the fact that the story line and the action on most of the episodes is ultra involving and is still fresh and original. Episodes like 'battle Hymn' are unforgetabble and will be watched again and again. I am a big fan of the series but still believe that even those who have not even heard of robotech would enjoy this dvd box set wich is one of the jewels of my DVD collection (expanding some 200 DVD)

Long time coming
I've only rewatched about a fourth of this series, after watching them for the first time twenty years ago. It's great fun to revisit these episodes. One thing that is slightly surprising is how well they've held up in my memory, which is a testament to how well written the series is and well executed each episode.

Picture quality is not important to me and I refuse to penalize a ground-breaking mid-80s anime for 'unsophisticated' animation or whatever. The animation is as thrilling now as it was then, but what's most important, the story is truly excellent. Excellent characterizations, excellent story development: the Zentraedi, the Veritech fighters, the SDF-1, are all introduced slowly and there was real care given to raising tension and building a universe. I admit I find the very same things annoying that I did so long ago: Minmei is very annoying, for example, and Lisa somewhat stuffy (though my 8-year old self had a crush on her), and some cheesy/ditzy moments.

But my excitement at finding this series on sale has been mightily met. This was a cartoon series that rose above what it had to be. It matches its epic scope with clear characterizations, including a surprisingly mature love triangle. Not to mention cool fighters and cool fights.

I never knew until now that the three parts of the Robotech saga were joined later by Carl Macek upon US entry. That was brilliant.

What a piece of rubbish
I can not understand why anybody likes the 1st saga of Robotech, it is complete garbage. I enjoyed both Masters and New Generation, but I cannot stand the first saga at all. The characters are very shallow, especially the protaganist Rick, he is a complete and total jerk, after the 1st few episodes I was hoping the Zentradi would blow him out of the sky. The mech designs themselves are really lacking, and the story itself is completely dull and boring. This series is just plain awful.

SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM...
With a stroke of success in the 80's, the Robotech: Macross series still has a place for many fans today and shares a strong cult following. Being a fan of the series as a kid, I decided to buy the whole Robotech: Macross series, but I came across the overwelming amount of editions to the series. I didn't know which to buy, so I watched them all. Here are the differences between to different boxsets (all offered through Amazon):

Robotech: the Complete Macross Series
One Boxset: 6 disc

Sells for around $60-$65
Nothing special, picture quality is not great, but bearable. Comes in one compact boxset with all the disc in it. Would not reccomend getting this edition unless you just want a copy of the series and want to spend the least possible amount of money.

Robotech: The Legacy Collection: Macross Saga (Collections 1-3)
Three Boxsets: with 3 disc in each
Sells for around $40 each boxset, entire set around $120-$130
Same picture quality as the above set, but with addtional features. Comes with the most extras out of any current sets, but even then, they are so-so. I would actually recommend getting the above edition as I was not impressed with the extras, some were interesting, but it definately didn't justify the price. Your paying almost twice the price.

Robotech Remastered: The Macross Saga (Volumes 1-3)
Three Boxsets: Two disc each boxset
Sells for around $25 each boxset, entire set around $75-$80
Remastered picture quality superior to both sets above, sound quality much improved. This is the set that I would recommend. The price is affordable and well worth the extra money compared to the first set. Also includes a few bonus footage.

Macross: Super Dimensional Fortress (Sets 1-3)
Three Boxsets: Three discs each boxset
Sells for around $60-$70 each boxset, entire series around $180-200
Macross is the original Japanese series of the Robotech: Macross Saga. The storyline is slightly different with different music and sounds. When it was brought to the US, Harmony Gold added the Macross material with two other Japanese series to make Robotech. Macross is more "mature" and includes several scenes taken out of Robotech. Picture quality is even more crisp than the Remastered Series. I would reccomend only to die-hard Robotech fans. It's pretty expensive and lacks really any real extra features. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on a line of robots from Takara that was licensed to Hasbro,Transformers sparked a craze for metamorphic toys in the mid-'80s. Eachrobot-character could be reconfigured to form a car, a tank, a plane, etc. TheTransformers series (Tatakae Cho Robot Seimetai Transformers or FightSuper Living Robots Transformers) was written in America, but animated inJapan. The 24 episodes in this collection, which ran between October 1985 andJanuary 1986, conclude the second season and lead up to Transformers2006. Each episode forms a self-contained story, with little in the way oflarger character arcs or plot developments tying them together. Although the casthas expanded, the Autobots remain the good guys who defeat the bad guyDecepticons, and no one expects anything else. Although the character designs andanimation are Japanese, the direction is pure American Saturday morning: insteadof creating effective transitions, the filmmakers just cut to a shot of thelogo--a standard practice in Hanna-Barbera kidvid. Web sites, role-playinggames, fan fiction, and a brisk commerce in the original toys have keptTransformers alive in the hearts of its fans. But like Robotech,Transformers will appeal most strongly to nostalgic adults who watched the show askids. (Unrated: suitable for ages 6 and older: robot vs. robot violence)--Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Transformers Season 2 Part 2
The God Gambit
The Core
Make Tracks
The Autobot Run
Golden Lagoon
Quest for Survival
The Secret of Omega Supreme
Child's Play
The Gambler
The Search for Alpha Trion
Auto-Bop
Prime Target
The Girl who Loved Powerglide
Triple Takeover
Sea Change
Hoist Goes Hollywood
The Key to Vector Sigma, parts 1 and 2
Aerial Assault
Masquerade
Trans-Europe Express
War Dawn

Cosmic Rust
Kremzeek!
Starscream's Brigade
The Revenge of Bruticus
B.O.T.

I must say I was a bit disappointed with Season 2 part one. The one episode was completely unwatchable because it kept freezing up so I ended up taking it back to exchange it only the store didnt have any copies so I am still without season two part one but will eventually buy it again. I am looking forward to season 2 part 2 even more because I loved the episode about Omega Supreme and he seems to be in more episodes here. I am a big Omega fan. Also the Key To Vector Sigma episodes have the introduction to the Aerialbots which are also among my favorite autobots.

Golden Lagoon is one of my favorite all-time episodes. It was just good fun but also with a good message. The animation during this season was fantastic. The first season was well animated but this season was awesome with Omega Supreme and some of my favorite autobots taking the spotlight. I wished the Transformers focused more on two of my favorite autobots Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.

Optimus Prime is of course my favorite and displayed his leadership abilities at all times. If you planned to buy only one season so far I recommend season one but if you planned to buy two I recommend season one and season two part 2.

I can't wait for future seasons though so I can see hot rod and rodimus prime on dvd. I highly recommend this season though. Enjoy!

I love Transformers season 2 part 2!!!
I Love Transformers Season 2 partv 2!!! This is the second half on the Transformers cartoon' second season. Many of the post-movie characters are still here like Optimus Prime, Megatron, Ironhide, Starscream,Prowl, Brawn, and Ratchet. I like this season because it's not the post-movie episodes after the movie. The episodes before the movie have good animation and story telling. (...) the episodes I like in this season are The Golden Laggon, The Secret of Omega Supreme, Kremseek!, Triple Takeover, Prime Target, The Search for Alpha Trion, The Girl Who Loved Powerglide, The Key to Vector Sigma parts 1 & 2,War Dawn, Cosmic Rust, Starscream's Brigade, Revenge of Bruitus, and Masquarade. Buy it! Highest Possible Recommendation!

Season 2 part 2
You know, this is just about nostalgia, and it's presented here at its best in the DVD format. Watching this 2nd part, has made me realize just how much I forgot, and just how cool some of these episodes really are. As a kid, I wasn't analyzing the stories and characters, now that I'm older it's taken on a different feel. Some episodes are great, well written and animated, others made me think they simply ran out of time, but in all its great stuff to watch.

The DVD presents the episodes as if they are brand new. Though, there arn't any good extra bonus features. I don't know where all the creators are for this great series, but they are either busy, dead or not interested. I'm surprised there isn't more behind the scenes or just more interviews about this epic. Perhaps Rhino just hasn't done its homework?? And though they attempt to add new sounds, it just doesn't work. It passes, sure, but it once again just alters the series. Heck, even the opening number isn't the original! You can actually hear the original on Hasbro's website dedicated to the transformers. Pretty lame. I don't know who said "Hey, lets' change the opening theme song, and add in a bunch of sound effects! They'll love it!" uh. . . no.

Nevertheless, its the series and you get a chunk of them per set, and that is nice. So pick it up, its great, worth the money for 5 DVD's, I loved them, and even now, my toddlers know all the names and love it too. Now if I could just find Thundercats on DVD!

SEASON 2 PART 2
SECOND HALF OF THE BEST TRANSFORMER SEASON EVER GO OUT AND GET THIS SEASON WHILE THEY STILL HAVE THEM. WE SEE THE AIERALBOTS JOIN THE AUTOBOTS AS WELL AS THE STUNTICONS JOIN THE BAD GUYS.

season 2 part 2
I really like season 2 part 2. The episodes got a lot more creative and had a lot more variety than the earlier ones. The "key to vector sigma", (the concept that explains how Transformers are created) are key episodes to the series and seeing female Tfs, as well as going to space to new found planets are very exciting and innovative. I personally think the new sound effects are cool. I really like season 3 a lot because it is so sci fi and epic, but season 2 has very entertaining interesting personalities. Possibly the most entertaining ones so far. More lighthearted than season 3 but with lots of cool storylines (I think child's play is brilliant). It's nice to also have characters introduced one at at time which the first half of season 2 part 2 does nicely. Transformers usually likes to introduce a 100 characters at once and one of the reasons that the characters are so much fun and more developed I think is because they're introduced on a slower basis. (that goes for the second half of season 2 part 1-if you follow me). Hoist, tracks, warpath, powerglide, seaspray, smokescreen and more each get their own episodes starring only them, with possibly another transformer. They have extreme and fun personalities. The smokescreen episode introduces Defcon a runaway autobot who fled cybertron only to end up on another planet other than earth. (defcon looks like a cross between kup and blurr, but maybe that's me). This is the best season to buy before the movie. It's the most developed and interesting.
I thought tf was animated in america. Any thoughts? what on earth happened to these characters from season 2 part 2 during the movie I have no idea. Some of them you never see again. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Dual
First of, and I must get this off my chest, this is an AWESOME series. It is a parody of Evangelion and Tenchi. A boy thats transferred to a parallel universe is forced to pilot a mecha and live in a house with many different girls. The way the story is presented is extremely hilarious, even in the midst of battle, I can't help but laugh. The villians aren't really that evil, or as serious as many villians in other animes are.

This series is all about having fun, while sticking with cool action, and out of this world physics. There isn't a great deal of romance, but of course the main character is very well "liked". My only gripe is that the ending leaves a few questions open, and the series seemed too short. Hopefully there will be a sequel in the works. Go and get this now, never have I enjoyed an anime this much.

Dual, the little series that could
I have just had the pleasure of seeing the Dual Series on Tech TV's Anime Unleashed (though, coincidently it doesn't have all THAT many series... oh well), and I can officially declare that it is BY FAR one of the best anime series that I have EVER, EVER seen.

It has a comedic value, but real issues at heart. Unlike the first review here, who claims that there is almost no romance in it, I disagree, I'd say its a big part of the show. However, it is not the driving force of this show by far, that is done by the characters. They are beautifully drawn and for once, well acted.

Though the romance IS central to the show, it does not become overbearing by a long shot. Instead, it just subtly enhances the show, and has you even picking your favorite girl and rooting for her.

As the first review on here says, it does seem to become a little bit fixed on the "Giant Robot Combat" aspect of the show, however this is not a major drawback from the series. Rather, it serves to make the series not JUST about romance, and give it some sort of action draw as well.

Fun blend of influences in a nice box
Years after releasing the individual discs of Dual, Pioneer finally got around to making a boxed set for one of my favorite anime series. First, the box: it's nice and sturdy, like most Pioneer boxes, and has an unusual clear plastic cover that slides over it, adding more images of the girls of the series. The main images on either side are D and Yayoi--somewhat odd choices, if you've seen the series, but very attractive images. Overall, a very nice box.

As to the show itself, Dual is a fun combination of Tenchi Muyo-style harem comedy (in which our hero, Kazuki, is surrounded by pretty girls who are all interested in him) with a parody of the overwrought Neon Genesis Evangelion (in which giant robots with mystical overtones battle one another). Despite being dismissed by some for being exactly this combination, rather than something original, Dual works because it is more enjoyable than either show it draws from.

On the harem comedy side, Dual has a more active hero--Kazuki actually decides to do things on his own, rather than the Tenchi-style passivity until the last minute. The girls are also interesting on their own terms, rather than just being foils for one another. On the giant robot side, Dual's parody of Evangelion works because you actually like Dual's characters--they are much more developed than those in many giant robot shows. The show blends these elements together well. Kazuki initially attracts the attention of the girls because of his visions of robots fighting and his surprising skill at piloting them; his piloting of robots is driven on by his concern for all of the girls. Throughout, Dual realizes it is a comedy, and remains so, even when the plot turns a little darker.

I highly recommend this series--I liked it enough that I bought this boxed set even though I've long since owned the individual discs (although admittedly, I will sell those off now). Dual is simply fun, and this is a great package.

Dual, what words may describe thee?
Dual is simply one of those unheard of DVDs. I know nobody that has seen or even heard about this short series. Well, I had the pleasure of watching it, and I think it's right up there with Trigun and Cowboy Bebop. It really is a pity that so few have seen it.

I'm not out to spoil anything, so I'll leave it up to anybody else out there that hasn't seen this amazing series yet to judge for themselves whether it's worth watching or not.

The only problem you'll likely have with Dual is that it is way too short. 14 episodes doesn't seem like much, but it's very much worth it for those that are looking for a funny story with a little (tiny, almost infinitesimal amount) of romance, and of course, plot twists right where you least expect plot twists.

Keep in mind though, this is a show that eventually begins to center around giant robots in combat, much like that of the ever-popular Gundam series. But even so, I think many people would be able to weather the fight parts and get their smiles from the countless other scenes.

Whether you're laughing over D's obsession with Kazuki, or chuckling over Mitsuki's confusing life, Dual is not an anime to be so easily overlooked. I ask all you anime fans out there that have yet to watch this, what have you been waiting for? The story is a little deep, and it becomes one of those shows you wanna bring over to your friend's house and put on for him, and be able to explain what happens here in Episode 8, or at that one part in Episode 11... Anyhow, I think I've gotten my point across amply enough!

So, why are you still here reading this? Go watch Dual!!

It's not Tenchi Muyo, but it's better?
I love the Tenchi Muyo series! With its girls-over-one-guy concept, unstoppable humor, and an emotional story, it is with these aspects is what makes me enjoy it very much. Now the creators of that series made 'Dual! Trouble Adventure' and, at first, I thought "how is this good like Tenchi Muyo?" After watching the whole series, all I can say is this is not only worthy of the creators' popular flagship anime, it's also one of the best comedy anime series I've seen so far.

I'm very impressed with how the story sets up; it's somewhat-unique. There are two worlds in which both are actually the same, but differ in environmental perspective: the real world that we all live in and the alternate world in which everyplace on its enriched soil is a battlefield for giant robots to take part in a battle royale and kick some metal rear. And a kid named Kazuki can see both of these worlds at once, and later a girl and her active yet science-literate father comes into his life and through technology sends him to the alternate world, leading him through wacky, mishap adventures while finding out how to get back to his unaltered cousin of a planet.

There's plenty of goodness going on with Dual!: robot-to-robot action, strong character development, and alot of ha-has to go around. It even has the girls-over-one-guy aspect that got me cracking my rib on Tenchi Muyo. It's great: A scientist's high-strung daughter/mech pilot, a non-expressional android/mech pilot, an out-going teacher/mech instructor/maid, and such characters are fighting over a teen-angst hero.

The presentation is very good. The characters look refined and beautiful, everything else, even the 3-D sequences, are top-notch. That goes the same with the english dubbing, the characters are chirpy, believable yet forced, but overall very impressive performances. If anything that peeve me about this anime, it's got to be the length; it's short. A great series like this should deserve more than 14 episodes, but this is just a minor setback.

Dual! Trouble Adventure has so much positive approaches that each of these episodes I've seen put a smile on my face; I hardly smile, so this is one of a few series that actually got me in a good mood. It may not reach to a larger audiance like Tenchi Muyo, but it has so much heart that's it hard not to recommend this. Dual! is a really great anime, check it out. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 1985 series Tatakae Cho Robot Seimetai Transformers ("Fight Super Living Robots Transformers") was a U.S.-Japanese coproduction, written in America and animated in Japan. Based on a line of robot toys from Takara--licensed to Hasbro in America--that could be reconfigured into cars, trucks, planes, etc., it spawned numerous sequels and a feature. Civil war rages on the planet Cybertron between the virtuous Autobots and the evil Decepticons. Both sides launch crews into space to find new energy sources, but the ships crash on Earth and are buried in lava. When the robots awaken four million years later, the Decepticons, led by the dictatorial Megatron, want to drain the planet of its resources, enslaving or destroying mankind. The Autobots ally with humanity and befriend oil-rig worker Spike Witwicky. The Saturday morning-style cheat of cutting to a logo, rather than animating transitions, and the frequent pauses for commercial breaks make for very choppy storytelling. The designs of the robots are interesting but lack the graphic sophistication of Yoshiyuki Tomino's Gundam Mobile Suits. The animation is very limited, and the choreography of the battle sequences lacks the panache of Tomino and other more talented directors. Like Robotech, Transformers will appeal most strongly to adults who watched the show as kids: it's remained popular through Web sites, role-playing games, fan fiction, and a lively trade in the original toys. Serious students of anime will find this early series of historic interest. Unrated; suitable for age 6 and up: Robot vs. robot violence. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (175)

A dream come true!!!!!!!!!
I've been waiting so long for this day to happen. The Transformers complete first season on DVD. This was the most amazing cartoon I had ever seen while growing up. I was nine years old when the Transformers debuted in 1984 on Saturday mornings. I had my mom set the alarm clock ten minutes before six o'clock to make sure I didn't miss the begining of it. I only wished I still had all my original toys. The entire story line is brilliantly written. The heroic Autobots, lead by there leader, Optimus Prime versus the evil Decepticons, lead by there leader, Megatron. It shows the true meaning of the phrase "It's good vs. evil". I'm hoping that they continue to release all the Transformers seasons on DVD until the very last episode. Just like the recently released Robotech series. The Transformers were, and still is, my favorite cartoon and toy ever!! I have never stop thinking about Transformers even to this day. It is a must have for everyone!! Buy this DVD!! It is MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE!!!!!!!!!!

THE classic 80s cartoon series! ...but over-remastered
PICTURE QUALITY (2/5 STARS)
The overall image quality has definetly been improved: brighter colours, sharp images and heavy remastering (scratch removal, ect.) but WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?? They really made some devastating mistakes! Some scenes are played in reverse (i.e. the infamous Ironhide transformation scene from 'Heavy Metal War'), some visual heat-, smoke- and fire-effects are just missing!! And there is this mistake-documentation which should show the people what errors the original film masters had and that they have been corrected... they found the errors, but forgot(?) to correct many of them.
Sharpness and colour of the image deserve 5 STARS, but in fact of the errors 2 STARS is the proper rating!

SOUND QUALITY (2/5 STARS)
Generally the sound is very clear and free of hiss/crackles but WHAT HAVE THEY DONE...AGAIN?? They have remixed the soundtrack to Dolby Digital 5.1, initially that sounds brilliant but to reach this goal Rhino added some really strange&stupid soundeffects. Ok, the explosions have a great *boom* but gunfire sounds like children toy guns.
The Dolby Stereo soundtrack is another mess, some episodes have the new 5.1 remix simply downmixed to stereo, but others have the original soundtrack with no added effects. I believe every fan of the series demands at least an option to hear the original sountrack!
First a disappointment then you (have to) get used to it. Nothing more and nothing less.

EXTRAS (5/5 STARS)
The extras is the real strenght of this set! I wonder why they have used so much from season 2 and 3. Can it be that they already have used up all their resources?

SPECIAL/UNIQUE ON THIS DVD RELEASE:
- all new transfer from the original 35mm negative
- Dolby Digital 5.1 remix & Dolby Stereo
- extras... more than meets the eye
- 2 limited-edition cels of Transformers characters (limited?? just to the availability of this boxset LOL!)

COMMENT:
I am a great fan of Transformers G1 and I would have loved to see the TFs in its original form, without remastering mistakes and additional soundeffects.
As a Transfan I also bought the UK boxset of season 1 which contains a lot of other worthy extras. The picture quality is not so sharp and brilliant but there are NO MISTAKES and errors. The soundtrack is the 5.1 remix from this US boxset. I highly recommend buying both editions or if you are not sure, just buy the UK Region 2 boxset if your DVD player is PAL-compatible!

Great transfer, but with a few errors
While not the best production to bear the Marvel Productions or Sunbow Productions banner (that would be Dungeons & Dragons and G.I. Joe, respectively), Transformers is by far the most popular Marvel/Sunbow series. So, of course, Rhino knew they'd make a mint by releasing the first season on DVD in its entirety (*and* uncut, unlike the original FHE releases).

Rhino did one better by restoring the series, going for the 35mm source, and the original vocal/sound effects tracks. While the sound is spot on (and actually better, as the "changes" reflect effects unearthed in the new mix), the 35mm masters are from the *first* take that Sunbow ordered. In essence, that source has errors that were corrected (or not, depending on the episode's budget) before airing. For the most part, Rhino has corrected these errors using alternative sources (including the suddenly very horrid-looking broadcast master), but they weren't perfect (and the bonus disc manages to catch them with their pants down)-there are additional moments where Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker are miscolored, for instance, and the disappearance of the Decepticon space cruiser in "More Than Meets the Eye", Part III. Rhino wanted the best quality possible, as evidenced by a few feats of digital editing where the 35mm master was only slighty "wrong".

However, most have noticed the big issues with "Heavy Metal War", which has a huge host of "new" errors, while still covering up a lot of problems with the 35mm master (the last minute or so of the ep has a good 4 cuts to the broadcast master in order to cover up missing animation, for instance). However, since the ep features the first appearance of the Constructicons (plus a major battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron), we notice the errors that much more. The fact that the three affected scenes are the ones featuring Megatron's challenge of Prime, the power transfer sequence (which Rhino would have been better served by just using the broadcast master for the entire scene, save the few shots that weren't fixed by Sunbow in 1984), and the battle between Prime and Megatron makes it almost unbearable on some level.

Rhino did a great job with the remastering process, even with their mistakes. Of course, Toei's mistakes in processing the animation (most of which are amazingly dumb, especially for such a high quality studio) and the lack of a 35mm master of the corrected episode don't make it any easier for Rhino. One not only hopes for an even better job from Rhino with season 2, one expects it, largely because the re-take budget dwindled to practically zero from that point on as Sunbow's workload increased almost sixfold (as evidenced by the whopping three distinct styles in the animation in Season 2). Regardless, if you like Transformers, you'll probably enjoy this box set.

Awesome
Ok, there are tons of reviews nit-picking every little detail in this box set. I am not going to do that. If you look for mistakes hard enough you will find them, hell you will spot them easily in this box set. But if you are looking to be entertained, as you were when you were a kid watching this series, then you will feel like a kid again seeing this series come to life again on DVD. This is not your kid's Beast Wars or Beast Machines or Transformers Armada, Energon or whatever other boring, bad-animation, rip-off that spun off of one of the greatest cartoons/toy-lines ever. No, this is the original and best.

From the introduction of the Transformers in the 3-part opening episodes "More Than Meets The Eye" to the introduction of Skyfire (Fire In The Sky) & Dinobots (S.O.S Dinobots & War Of The Dinobots) to the introduction of the Constructicons (Heavy Metal War) & the Insecticons (A Plague Of Insecticons). This first season is what started it all. None of us would be writing reviews, or caring about the Transformers all these years later, if not for this first season.

The 2nd season gets better with introductions of Omega Supreme, the Aerialbots and others.

The 4th disk is all Special Features with bumpers, Botcon special and oher extras and outtakes. The first Box Set is definately one of the best.

The animation and characters stand the test of time. This was long before they created Transformers with little or no character. Optimus Prime is one of the best leaders ever in a cartoon, cool characters like Sideswipe, Jazz, Bumblebee and many others in the first season left us fans wanting more and more.

The only problem I have with the Transformers cartoon continuity (not this box set but the overall series) is that there seems to be chunks of story cut out. For example, how did Teletran One get destroyed? What happened to the Ark? Where did Transformers from the Movie come from originally? Was Hot Rod built by the Autobots on Earth or was he a rebuilt Autobot from Cybertron? Same for Sky Lynx. Who created Autobot City aka Metroplex? What happened to Sparkplug (Spike's Dad)? If someone could answer some of these questions please feel free to email me at Joecool1@ptd.net

i love transformers no 1 !!!!
i love transformers long time since i was kid and my favorite love no1 is optimus prime the autobot leader he turn in semi truck and lot battle with megatron much times. and also my favorite 2nd is starscream too best than megatron. thanks i have two dvd of season 1 and 2pt1 thanks i will order more like season 2pt2,3 and season 3, 4 soon thanks very much i love it!!!!!!! thanks!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Star Blazers - Comet Empire -- better than the original
I bought the entire second Star Blazers series, Star Blazers - Comet Empire, on DVD back in December 2003, and I have lost count of how many times I've seen it.

If there's a classic Japanese animation series that's worthy of collecting on DVD, this is it! The stakes are far higher for the earth and the crew of the Argo this time.

The thing that has always been enjoyable about Star Blazers is its good-versus-evil view of the world. True heroes are identified, as are the true villains, although there is an exception as I will note below.

Prince Zordoff of the Comet Empire and Leader Desslok of the Gamalons are in league to conquer the human race and the crew of the Argo. Theirs is a pact of true evil that the humans must stand up to -- or fall into slavery or destruction. That is, until Desslok sees how misguided he was in his war against the human race and the Star Force. He has a revelation of biblical proportions when he sees Nova cuddling a wounded Wildstar during the battle on his ship.

I especially liked the pipe organ music, because that gives you a sense of despair as the Comet Empire shrieks through the universe.

When evil makes itself felt, rather than giving into darkness and despair, the Forces of Good stand up to it -- no matter the odds or the cost.

I think the other thing that is good and proper about the Star Blazers storyline is that it deals with death -- something that modern animated series like "G.I. Joe" and "Transformers" shied away from.

There are many scenes, such as Sgt. Knox on the planet Brumis, where the casualties of war are remembered and honoured. Then there's Captain Gideon and his fleet battling the Comet Empire and its fleet at Saturn. Many people die on both sides of this conflict, and the battles show the destruction.

It's not necessary or desirable to show mangled bodies -- I agree with this. Nor should war be glorified. But, it's important to show the tragic consequences of war, and the sacrifices that are made, and this story does both very well in that regard.

Perhaps the most enduring character in Star Blazers - Comet Empire is Trelana (SP?) of Telezart. How difficult a decision it would be for any of us to have to live with -- the thought that you or I had destroyed an entire civilization with a great mind energy, even though we didn't mean to do it. Then swearing never to use that power to harm another living being, only to be faced with an almost equal threat in the Comet Empire -- and the knowledge that other civilizations like earth's are faced with enslavement or extinction unless she stands up to the Comet Empire. What could be more ambiguous, and more heart-wrenching, than having to make these kinds of choices?

If there are any criticisms of Star Blazers - Comet Empire, they are minor. For instance, in one episode, the leader of earth is a prime minister. In the next, that person is a president. So, there were some minor flaws in the script writing for the English translation of this series.

There was also a problem with the planet Brumis. The Space Marines had to abandon it when the crew of the Argo rescues them. Then, when they return to pay homage to the dead military personnel there, the planet has been made into a huge Comet Empire base. I find it hard to believe that planet Brumis could have been made into a huge and secret base for the Comet Empire in that short a time.

However, these are minor flaws that I can overlook in an otherwise great storyline.

Overall, Star Blazers - Comet Empire is a great science fiction storyline. In fact, it's better than the original because the threat is much greater, and because of the expansion of the number of characters.

I can only hope that Star Blazers - Bolean Wars is equal to this one.

Star Blazers
I merber Star Blazers on TV back in 70's I watch what going to happen next. Now all the Star Blazers is on DVD. I going to buy the last of Star Blazers series.

"Target: The Comet Empire!!!"
When I was a kid I admit to giving the second series of "Star Blazers" a pass. I watched it once, then waited patiently for "The Quest for Iscandar" episodes to start again. I think I now understand why. While the first series gave me an emitonally nostalgic buzz, it is a fairly simple and straight-forward story filled with great ideas and outstanding concepts that are easier for kids to digest. But with "The Comet Empire" the characters are so well-developed and the plotting so intricate that when I was young it was simply too much information. Today, however, I prefer this series for a multitude of reasons. The most noticable difference is that the animation has improved ten-fold! There are many scenes throughout the series that rival current-day anime. While "The Quest for Iscandar" was loaded with great ideas, the plotting sometimes took a backseat to inspiration. But here the story is more fluid and diverse, with interesting sub-plots, and with even more great ideas. While the first series concentrated on introducing the main characters and developing depth of character, this second series expands on those characteristics while giving more screen-time to the rest of the cast. Sandor and Orion and Eager and Homer all get more attention, as do the newer characters, like the colorful Sgt. Knox and his Space Marines; the charming Leader Desslok makes his return, as well. As an adult, I enjoy "The Comet Empire" more for the simple fact that there is more going on. Aboard the war machine that is "The Comet Empire" there is devious behavior and political maneuvering, with certain individuals vying for the throne. While at Earth Headquarters, the actions of The Star Force are taken as mutiny at first, but later embraced as their last defense. The complexity of emotion and plot kept me interested all the way to the end. This wasn't the nostalgia-rush I got from the first series, but seriously, everything else here is an improvement. Although, I still gave "The Quest for Iscandar" 5 stars. This is easily one of the best animated series of all-time, and I highly recommend both series. "The Quest for Iscandar" for unbridled nostalgia, and "The Comet Empire" for an excellent adventure story.

Not just a "cartoon". Much, much more
Like everyone else who worships this series, I too lived and breathed Star Blazers in my youth. Right after school, at 3:30 on Channel 11 (but occasionally in the morning at 7:00), was my time to get lost in another world. In fact I vividly recall my mother, during the show's morning performances, waking me up for school by turning on my little black and white tv, and I would be roused from my slumber to the theme song: "We're off to outer space..." What a great way to start a day! I tear up just thinking about it. And of course my friends and I would discuss that day's episode at school. Unforgettable, irreplacable memories.
Growing up has not lessened the experience one iota, since Star Blazers contains all the drama and excitement of any adult tv show, without the language and nudity (though apparently some skin existed in the original Japanese version). The character development is staggering (due to the amazing voice actors); the frustration of loss and the elation of victory is palpable.
I prefer the Comet Empire Series only slightly more than the Iscandar series because the artwork is a little better, though neither of them have truly bad artwork. It's not the hi-tech modern anime that we're used to now, but rather the acorn from which it grew. The scene at the beginning of the series where the Star Force is gathered at Captain Avatar's Memorial and the new Andromeda battleship flies toward them covered in lights was quite an advanced piece of work for the time, but that sort of technique wasn't used often in the series.
The dvd extras with the original voice actors is too good to be true, and it's a shame they weren't used on the Bolar Wars series. I will not watch it due to that little detail. It just isn't the same. Wildstar, Venture, Nova, Sandor, Conroy, Orion, et al. are forever to be associated with the voices from the first 2 series.
Even though I realize the Argo should have been destroyed 100 times over with the damage it received (especially from the Comet Empire's "hidden" ship), I will not let that minor technicality sway my opinion of this remarkable, intelligent, moving story. The music is great, the voice actors make you truly feel close to the characters, and the drama and heroism is unmatched by any other "mere cartoon".

Another triumph
Those of you who've read my review of the first series know how I feel about Star Blazers. This series languished in my faded memory for 20 years before I found it on DVD. And then it exploded any expectations I had by being magnificent and beautiful -- one of the best sci-fi series .... heck, one of the best series period to ever hit the small screen.

The second season details the struggle against the awful Comet Empire. The peace and tranquility bought by the Argo's victory over Gamilon is shattered when a mysterious comet wends its way toward the solar system. At the same time, a garbled desperate message reaches Earth and the Star Force reunites to investigate and find out just what the threat to Earth is.

Once again, the talented writers have found the right balance of thinking big and writing small. The story is epic -- monumental. And yet they never lose sight of the human drama. Amidst the stunning battle at Saturn, the Star Force's desperate fight on the surface of Telezart and the final apocalyptic confrontation, we still get those little moments that make Star Blazers so amazing -- Wildstar's developement into a capable commander, the tension between him and Sergeant Knox and a touching tender love story between Trelaina and Mark Venture that brings tears to the eyes of the most cynical viewer.

I wish that someone had spent the time and money restoring the video and audio. The quality of the material is poor. The audio fades in and out, the video has flecks and spots and warps. The problem is the source material. No one imagined anyone would care about this series in 2003 and so no one bothered to preserve it.

But you know what? By episode 10, I didn't even notice. The story had swept me away and I could just ignore the poor quality of the audio/video and embrace the story with the same rapture I did at ten years of age.

The extras on the DVD are even better than last time. They include not only an overview of Earth, the Comet Empire and the weaponry, but interesting interview with the cast members. These people were struggling actors who did what seemed a throwaway job. And they're suprised and moved to find out how much the series meant to the viewers.

But again, this is just a bonus. The real flesh of this collection is the best animated series to hit the small screen. Once again, I advise you to jump in with both feet. You won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The sixth broadcast season of Ranma 1/2 includes some of the silliestentries in a continuity known for its silliness: a seaside resort isterrorized by a ceramic octopus trap, and upperclassman/school gasbag Kuno is strickenwith amnesia after a watermelon gets stuck on his head. But at times, thepremises feel decidedly thin. When Akane is kidnapped by a Minotaur-like monster (the adult version of ababy Happosai bathed in the most accursed spring at Jusenkyo--the one in which aYeti riding an ox carrying a crane carrying an eel drowned), Ranma and thegang discover there are worse fates than turning into a girl--or a monster.Director Junji Nishimura spoofs Japanese monster movies in "Scribbled Panda," as aKabuki-style spider and demon emerge from a Chinese scroll to attack acarnival. But the most horrible beast is an icky-cute little drawing who develops acrush on Ranma: it's like Hello Kitty on a rampage. Ranma's furiouswhen a newcomer who practices Martial Arts Calligraphy won't accept a challengebecause Ranma's handwriting is so atrocious. The filmmakers balance the slapstick by making kindness an element inthe way Ranma, Akane, and Ryoga defeat a Snow-Woman (Yuki-onna) and abizarre Abominable Snowman who threaten to turn Furinkan into an outdoor icebox.Telepathic boy Satori sums up the series when he visits the Tendo-Saotomihousehold and screams, "The people in this house are weird!" (Rated 13 and older: brief nudity, slapstick violence) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Ranma 1/2 is still going strong as ever!
I got Ranma 1/2 season 6 for Christmas and I was definitely not disappointed at all with this season. The animation was great and the voice acting was still good (I mostly hear the english dub). When I had bought the comics of Ranma 1/2, there were a lot of funny stories that I was hoping would get animated, and to my pleasure, I heard that the sixth season had the stories in my comics animated; so I was super excited about seeing my favoirte manga stories animated in front of my eyes. One of my favorites was "Gosunkugi's Paper Dolls of Love", it was hiliarious, at least to me it was. Still the season starts out slow and then really kicks it into high gear. Here are my reviews for each episode on a scale of 1-10.

Dear Daddy...Love Kodachi - 5
Enter Gosunkugi, The New Rival - 10
Ranma's Caligraphy Challenge - 4
The Secret Don of Furinkan High - 4
Back to the Way We Were Please - 6
Ryoga Inherits the Saotome School!? - 7
Tendo Family Goes to the Amusement Park! - 8

Case of the Furinkan Stalker - 9
The Date-Monster of Watermelon Island - 10
The Demon from Jusenkyo, Part 1 - 10
The Demon from Jusenkyo, Part 2 - 10
The Missing Matriach of Martial Arts Tea! - 7
A Xmas without Ranma - 9
A Cold Day in Furinkan - 10
Akane Goes to the Hospital! - 7
Curse of the Scribbling Panda - 10
Legend of the Lucky Panda - 9
Mystery of the Marauding Octopus Pot! - 8
Ukyo's Secret Sauce, Part 1 - 9
Ukyo's Secret Sauce, Part 2 - 9
A Teenage Ghost Story - 7

Gosunkugi's Paper Dolls of Love - 10
Akane's Unfathomable Heart - 6
Master and Student...Forever!? - 10

I named my Kool-aid after this series!
Unlike the other episodes in this series, this was the first season I saw where Akane and Ranma actually got along...for the most part. The episodes in this are definitely random. There are two, 2-part episodes, but the rest are clearly undefined amoungst one another.

The episodes are more based upon Akane and Ranma, as Ryoga, Ukyo, and Shampoo really didn't have much screen time (and I was hoping for Ryoga and Ukyo!). Of course, this isn't a bad thing. Some of the episodes are great, while others are "okay, that was dumb." But even those "dumb" ones are funny.

Akane and Ranma actually get along in a few episodes, something I was waiting SOOO long to see! Kuno makes more appearences than usual, being in about every other episode....but he is quite the character when he does! Definitely not eh serious Blue Thunder of FH as he was in the first season!

The last disk is the only one with special features, and they aren't too amazing. Just similar features other DVDs would have.

Some episodes are funny, while a few are just beautiful (cry). I recommend this for any fan. It isn't the most cohesive season, but it is definitely entertaining!

(Oh, and th eKool-aid we drank while watching it was an orange powder that turned green in water and tasted like strawberries. We call it Random Rhapsody now. Yeah!)

And more!
Hilariously funny! The beginning seemed a bit dry at first but it really kicked up bringing out more goofy episodes to laugh over! It's a great box set for all Ranma Lovers, but of course there will aways be a couple episodes where "ok, kind of stupid" but they always end up great anyway. The last episode leaves you hanging for more!

Good season for all Ranma lovers!
Although this season doesn't quite come close to the first season, it is a very funny one. It is way better than season 5 because of taro and hikaru, characters from the manga, coming in.

This season is perfect for all ranma collectors, although the newer peoplewill want to start from the beginning and work your way up here. Although there isn't as much character development as in the manga, ranma 1/2 season six will make you laugh again and again.

hilarious
ranma is still funny not as good as the 1 first but its worth the money get this box set if ur looking four laughs its the best ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Arigatou Gozaiiiiiiimasu
This is really one of the most charming anime series to come along in a great long while. The basic premise is; young punk ne'er do well (Yusuke Urameshi) does ONE good deed and dies in the process. The spirits are so flabbergasted by this, they decide to give him another chance. The first couple episodes are comedic gems as the disembodied Yusuke uses all his ghostly powers (suggestion,possession, etc.) to try and convince his alcoholic mother, would-be girlfriend, and schoolyard rival not to cremate his body. Okay, this is an ongoing series, so I don't think it'll ruin anything, but...

The real strength of this series is its characterizations. This set mostly introduces characters who will play a major role in the rest of the series, so you get a lot of first impressions, but they are good ones. The kids and even the demons are likable, and their enemies thoroughly evil (as they should be!). The interplay of the characters is at times very funny. This series has a wonderful sense of imagination and humor. Some of the jokes and language are a little adult at times, and there's a lot of violence (some of the fights stretch over two or more episodes), but overall its very lighthearted and fun.

Highly recommended.

Yu Yu Hakusho
The story is about Yusuke a boy "about 14-15" who is considered a huge thug. He is somewhat of a bully at the school though more of a thug. He is the strongest punk in the whole school and as such people treat him like a punk. The teachers hate him and the students fear him. However Yusuke gives his life for a little boy and such a courageous act as well as an unexpected one gives him the chance to be granted life once more.

This is a pretty good anime and while he seems immortal remember he loses his life once and almost twice and unlike such animes as DBZ they can't be brought back to life. When you lose in this game you die so I see no reason why the director would want Yusuke to be deleted from the series.

something for everyone
Well, YuYu Hakusho has something for every anime fan. Sweet Yusuke/Keiko moments, hilarious Kuwabara moments, for the female fans, the perfect guy. KURAMA!! (the red head above) People who like bad boys will love Hiei and his trademark 'Hn'. The animation isn't too good in some episodes, but the plotline more than makes up for that. The fights aren't overly dramatic or gory, and unlike DBZ, they don't drag on and on and on.....the character's rise in power is pretty believable, and over time you get really attached to the characters. (I cried when Genkai died it twas very sad) So, this series is neatly balanced, with sweet but not overly sweet moments, fighting, but not so much that it dominates the plotline, and comedy, but not so much that the series goes fluff.

Excellent
I bought this DVD for 49.99 a great discount, and it was great, its better than hanving to buy all 7 DVD's in the collection, and there is nice official art on the folds =D a must buy

Spirit Detective
Yu Yu Hakusho is a great series with a lot of cool character's such as Yusuke, Kuwabara, Heiei, Korama and a bunch more. This whole thing is about a 15 year old boy named Yusuke Urameshi who is wanted by a bunch of gangs around his neighborhood, he lives with his mom and skips school most of the time. Later he gets hit by a car and is dead but then his spirit is still alive and is met up by a girl named Botan and is taken into what is called the Spirit World. He has to go threw many tasks to come back alive, lucky he accompishes that and everything is back to normal but then Lord Koenma ruler of the spirit world shows up and gives Yuske a message he has to ba a spirit detective and that's when his adventure starts and meet's a bunch of new allies. This is a great sefries you should get this or you could the manga version which is also on shonen jump weekly. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Greatest cartoon series of all time.
OK, you can tell by the title of my review I'm a bit predisposed to like this set. Kimba The White Lion -needs- to be on DVD for a new generation to fall in love with. But... Is Kimba now in the Public Domain? The treatment the show received on these Rhino DVDs certainly suggests it. They used old films, just like any Public Domain company would do. Nothing has been remastered. And only 26 of the total 52 shows are here. Nowhere is there any word about when the rest of the series will be released. This show deserves much better treatment, and we deserve to see all of it!

more kimba, but please give us the other half....
I absolutely love Kimba and this boxed set is great, exactly as it was in my (australian) childhood...my only complaint is that we don't get every episode of Kimba...please release the other half of this boxed set...

Being Australian, I had to buy (another) DVD player, one that was multi-zoned...but when I heard and saw my first love, after all these years...aaawwwwww.....

Give us the second half of the series!
Kimba is simply my favorite TV show of all time. I know so many people who said it awakened in them a deep love for animals. For me, it was so great to see such deep truths shown on TV: that love never dies, and the need for a real understanding between people and animals if they're going to survive. Ecology, metaphysics, and love, all in a kids' cartoon along with silly jokes and a catchy theme song!

But this set only has the first half of the series! When will we get Kimba Box Set #2?

To dub or not to dub
Actually, I'm I big fan of Fred Ladd's dubbing team for Tezuka's series from this period (Gigantor and Astro Boy), so I'm not so upset at the lack of a Japanese track on this. In Ladd's interview to the Gigantor DVD set he talks about the fact that the episodes were mildly recut, so having English and Japanese as an option would not be possible, because they would not stay in synch.
I do wish more of an effort to find the English language version's negative had been made. These are merely serviceable DVDs --- not quite as awful as dvdreview.com's review indicates (the 1st episode starts out horribly, so perhaps the reviewer didn't keep watching to see the mild improvement!).
I think fans can proceed with caution as to the video quality, but ultimately live with it. Hopefully, as with Gigantor, a second volume will follow.

Nihongo Wa Dokoda?
What happened? The series finally gets its due on DVD in the US, and Rhino forgot the most important element of this classic Japanese series: THERE IS NO JAPANESE LANGUAGE OPTION!
How much more do we have to wait until Rhino will get this right?
People have already complained about the quality of the restoration on this boxset, but is it not even more disgraceful that they do not acknowlege the original dialogue? This is one of the most important and influencial animes ever to come on television. Can Rhino disgrace it even more? Let the people have what they have been waiting for. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If the fifth broadcast season of Ranma 1/2 doesn't quite match theconsistent inspiration of the third (Hard Battle), it's much better thanthe fourth (Outta Control), with more imaginative writing and fewer weakepisodes. A spoof of American Westerns, with Ryoga as the wandering hero whoconfronts the villain in a saloon-cum-ramen parlor, is simply hilarious, as isa spoof of Japanese historical dramas with Ranma in formal hakama. Anaphrodisiac-impregnated band-aid turns Ranma into a suave ladies' man; thecord binding his trademark pigtail turns out to be a charm that grows hair,something Happosai, Genma, and four characters with heads like bao rollsdesperately want. The entire cast brings the Anything Goes School of Martial Artsstyle to such improbable activities as men's rhythmic gymnastics,Japanese chess, Okonomiyaki cooking, Bath House-Fu, and the "Gourmet deFoie Gras" technique of fine dining. Ryoga sets new records for geographicalconfusion, getting lost in a three-legged race and inside a log cabin. Even moreimprobable is Sasuke's suggestion that Furinken High's pidgin-speakingPrincipal may be the long-lost father of Kuno and Kodachi.

A few gentle momentsprovide the needed balance to the insanity: Ranma apologizes--sincerely--to Akane in"Hot Springs Battle Royal" and admits he thinks she's cute in "Ranma theLady-Killer." Richard Cox, the voice of boy-type Ranma (and Inu-Yasha), has grownmore comfortable in the part, effectively conveying the sullen and likeablesides of Ranma's personality. (Rated 13 and older: slapstick violence, nudity,mildly risqué humor) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

dbz_sayen@hotmail.com
ranma 5th season is hilarias the episodes are so funny i watched the whole series 4 times this is a must buy four anime fans

Ranma 1/2 Forever Please
I don't know how anyone says everything went downhill with these episodes. I don't even know how anyone can stand to watch the English episodes, for starters they aren't very good voice actors. They lack something. I don't know, just my opinion. I love this anime so much, it has romance and humor. That's my 2 favorite things. And great twists, people turning into animals or in Ranma's case, a different gender, when hit with cold water. This is one anime I'll never evern tire of watching.

A surprisingly good followup
The fourth season was a step down, and I didn't have high hopes for this set, but I was pleasantly surprised and well-pleased with the purchase.

First, technical notes: the animation quality is much better than the previous season, more on par with the 1st/2nd season in quality and detail, although the evolution towards the OAV-style is obvious (and welcome). Copious line art is available on the fifth disc, along with the ever-present "naked" opening/closing, and good on-disc notes. Some new and playful incidental music appears in this season from Kenji Kawai that perhaps Viz will release on CD one day????

These are certainly some of the more bizarre and original offerings, including a Dragon's Whisker (holding Ranma's pigtail together) with strange effects on men pursued by murderous bean, curry, pizza and pork buns; the ghost cat from season 4 returns to possess Ryoga; a weird martial arts school with impossibly huge mouths gets their clutches on girl-Ranma; and the Principal's relationship to Kuno is revealed. Some are clinkers (the Tea Ceremony School is tedious at best), but they're definitely unlike anything you've seen before.

English notes: Richard Cox (boy-Ranma) has improved greatly since season 4, although in the first few episodes the English voices seem to have trouble with their lines flowing well (might be a dubbing artifact). Unfortunately, Teryl Rothery has been replaced as Kodachi, and her replacement sounds too much like Ukyo (lacking the shrill quality that made Rothery's voice perfect for the character). Also, while Nabiki is still Angela Costain, some of her later voice work is rather deep-sounding as if like she had a cold. Miriam Sirois is still fabulous as Akane, and Venus Terzo continues to be a superb girl-Ranma as well.

Quibbles aside, this box set does much to drag the series back on positive territory, and the episodes are in general good fun. Recommended for fans and even those just starting their journey to Ju-sen-kyo.

Ranma 1/2 Martial Mayhem
Yes, finally the last season of Ranma 1/2 to be released on DVD is in America. Now people say that when it hit the 4th season, everything went to hell, but they're wrong about that. In my opinion, Ranma 1/2 gets better and better. The season had me in stitches in almost every episode. Others just kept me interested enough to finish seeing them. Anyways, this box set is a true jewel. One problem I found with it was that on most of the episodes the opening credit title would be in Japanese instead of an English title. Towards the last two discs this problem is fixed, but I think it's like this because technically the fifth season is the rarest season and from what I've heard, not even all of the volumes (VHS) weren't even dubbed to begin with, so this can explain why the earlier episodes of this season are still in Japanese and the later ones were later fixed like all the other seasons. Also I noticed that Viz Video changed their logo now, it's now just Viz, I don't get why even in this picture it still has Viz Video; but that picture at the top of the screen is wrong. I own it and the logo is different, I even checked their web site and it's different. Anyway, here's my episode reviews.

Episode reviews (these are on a scale of 1-10):

"Gimme That Pigtail" - 6
"When a Guy's Pride and Joy is Gone" - 6
"Ryoga's Proposal" - 10
"Genma Takes a Walk" - 5
"The Gentle Art of Martial Tea Ceremony" - 5
"And the Challenger is...A Girl?! - 5
"Hot Springs Battle Royale!" - 8
"Me is Kuno's Daddy, Me is..." - 7
"The Matriarch Takes a Stand" - 4
"A Leotard is a Girl's Burden" - 6
"The Mixed-Bath Horror!" - 5
"The Frogman's Curse!" - 4
"Revenge! Raging Okonomiyaki!" - 4
"Ranma the Lady-Killer" - 10
"Shogi Showdown" - 6
"Sasuke's Mission Improbable" - 9
"Bonjour, Furinkan!" - 3
"Dinner at Ringside!" - 4
"Swimming with Psychos" - 5
"Ryoga, Run Into the Sunset" - 7
"Into the Darkness" - 8
"Nabiki, Ranma's New Fiancee!" - 9
"Case of the Missing Takoyaki!" - 7
"Ranma Versus Shadow Ranma!" - 10 ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Deep concept story
Because all staffs spent more than years, SAC has constructed with deep concept through the story. In SAC, there are couple of individual stories and continuous stories ("The Laughing Man")... you can recognize either one when you see the title. (Individual story described as "a stand alone episode", continuous stories described as "complex epsode"... "i" has been intentionally removed. It gives us a small hint to understand the whole concept of SAC.) I really love SAC because I can watch it over and over, and still can find something new.

Compair to the movie GITS, all voice actores and actresses are doing better job (especially, I admired Tachikoma's voice actress... she really did a good job to maintain Japanese version's attitude.)

I've already watched 26+4 (2nd gig) episodes, and have some DVDs (in Japanese). $40 is a kind of bargain for me! (In Japan, they sell 2 episodes for almost $60!!) I believe, from next volume, they sell a bit lower because this volume has included sound truck. I don't mind to pay this price ($40) for this edition, which comes with three discs. If you don't care about sound environment and original sound truck, I recommend to buy the regular version. However, I it's worth to listen the sound truck! (It's really cool music!)

Cool...but!....check this out!
Ill get to why i rated three stars, but first, some background

I was blown away by COwboy Bebop and it still remains my favorite being that it was the very first 26 episode series ive ever seen. GITSAC came along and it blew away every other anime ive ever seen. the animation is a work of genius, soundtrack is intoxicating, camera work is breathtaking, characters are thorough, and the storyline>>>WHOA!. there was so much and it was so detailed i absorbed every word of it and watched it over to make sure i got it all. This is the anime to beat. i havent met its equal.

as for waiting for it to get to the US, i really want the dvd collection, but i cannot waste 30 to 50 bux on only a few episodes. my problem with this is that they sell them in small volumes(3stars), then come out with the full 26 eps. version(5stars)for a lower price. then we're either all pissed off or shell out another 30 for it. ive seen it in bebop, trigun, beserk, noir. All have sold volumes, then move to a full 26 episode Perfect Collection, which is BY FAR the way to go(Noir has yet to come out with the perfect Collection) As long as it takes, im gonna wait until GITSAC comes out with one. It'll save me money, and although its probably the best anime ever, i am patient enough to wait for a full 26 for a lower price.

Anime at it's best
For those of you who like the manga and the movie you will love this series. It is based off the manga and supposedly it is before the movie happened. For me I don't think so, there is a reason I believe why it is called Stand Alone Complex. Now the character design and the story is more from the manga. So for those of you guys who liked the movie and that's all you know or like, you might not enjoy it right away. This series is what the creator(Masamune Shirow)intended it to look like. The movie is the change. This is a 26 episode series so there are a lot of stories and situations to come. I'm glad that finally they are also using DTS for the sound. Many of the Korean animes are in DTS and it's so nice to hear it like that. The only bad thing is that they are charging alot more and giving you the 5.1 disc as well(like you'd play it if you have DTS). The soundtrack that comes with this is excellent, done by Yokko Kano, which is done by the same person who did Cowboy Bebop. Her versatility amazes me. My only complaint is the price as I do not think the next volumes will come anything extra like the soundtrack so you are paying the extra $10 dollars for the 5.1 disc which you don't care about when you buy the DTS vesion.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Vol. 1 Review
The Ghost in the Shell name is best known for the animated movie released in Japan and the United States in the mid 1990s, based on the popular manga by Masamune Shirow. In 2002 Production I.G. started ambitious work on an evolutionary animated series heavily based on the manga, with more input from Shirow. In June 2004, the series will make its American debut on the Cartoon Network, followed by this DVD release in July.

Stand Alone Complex then is the title for the TV series, which takes place independently from the manga and theatrical movies. Crafted wonderfully, t