Amazon.com

Although the subsequent television series, theatrical features, novelizations, manga, and merchandise have made it one of the most popular properties in film history, Yoshiyuki Tomino's landmark mecha series Kido Senshi Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam) was not a success when it aired in Japan in 1979. But when the series was recut with new animation into three theatrical features in 1981 and 1982, it connected with audiences, sparking a craze that climaxed with near-riots in Japanese toy stores over Gundam merchandise. Inspired by George Lucas's Star Wars trilogy, George Pal's Destination Moon, and the films of Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu, Tomino set out to create a universe that would enable him to go beyond the standard duels and battles to explore politics, mysticism, ecology, and social prejudices. The robots in earlier science fiction adventures were generally remote-controlled machines owned by boys who treated them almost like pets. Beginning with the Mobile Suit RX-78, the Gundam robots resembled outsized space suits that could function as one-man space ships. Kunio Okawara's anthropomorphic designs blended the flamboyance of traditional samurai armor with high-tech angularity. The eye-catching results added to the visual power of Tomino's well-choreographed sword fights and wrestling matches on Earth and in space. The Gundam features ushered in a new era of mecha adventures--and anime fandom: decades later, their influence can be seen in countless other animated sci-fi epics. This collection belongs in the library of every serious anime fan. Rated 13 Up: Brief nudity, minor profanity, and violence. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (32)

An excellent movie for Tomino fans
First of all, this movie has nothing to do with the recently popular series Gundam Wing. Gundam Wing is set in an alternate reality to Mobile Suit Gundam. Once you get past that premise, it is an excellent movie. From the acclaimed creator of Gundam Wing, Aura Battler Dunbine, and Garzey's Wing comes a memorable story of action, adventure, and intrigue. The Dutchy of Zeon has broken free from the Earth Federation, and the only things standing in the way of thier Mobile Suits are the crew of the warship White Base and its trio of mobile suits: the RX-78-2 Gundam, the RX-77 Guncannon, and the RX-75 Guntank. This movie trilogy was compiled from a 42 episode Japanese TV show, so many of the great battles of the original anime have been removed to shorten the film. However, if you have already seen the TV show, see the movies anyway, because 30% of the material in the second movie and 70% of the material in the third movie is new. If you aren't going to be upset because the movies have nothing to do with Gundam Wing, make this anime yours!

The ancestor of modern Japanese anime finally comes to video
I can't say enough about these tapes. Originally produced and aired in Japan in 1979, the series Mobile Suit Gundam, was a flop. However, the television series was recut into three theatrical movies. These made Gundam a hit and renewed interest in the series. Ever since, Gundam has ruled Japanese animation as king. It is as popular or more popular in Japan as Star Wars is in the US. The series was produced by Nippon Sunrise, comprised of disgruntled animators from the Toho studios. They broke the barriers of the stereotypical Super hero Robot cartoons of the early seventies.

With Gundam, they took the concept of the invincible Super Robot and converted it into a realistic depiction of future war, portraying the robot (mobile suit) as a grimy machine of war. The series revolves around and develops the characters within the conflict. Good and Evil are not so cut and dry. The characters and conflict are very believeable. The animation was revolutionary for it's time, using detailed animations of the gundam and zaku mobile suits in action. It is still interesting today, even in the face of new titles like Evangelion.

This series set the standard for the next two decades of Japanese animation. The story is gripping and believeable, detailing the futuristic conflict between earth and her rebel colonies. If you've ever read the book Starship Troopers enjoyed it, you will like the Gundam movies. Don't use the movie Starship Troopers as a reference, it has little in common with the book.

I personally loved the three movies, but I am biased. I waited over 15 years to finally see these. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

GUNDAM.
This is the original gundam that is worth the money I watch the whole thing and this is the real deal. Get this instead of the series with I don't know 4 or 5 episodes in it because it is better like this even though it is 2hour in each and you might get bored some of the time but good. This is one of the original mech series if you really like robotic anime get gundam or robotech/macross plus because those are great anime. This is better then some of the other gundam series like gundam wing or g gundam,THEY REALLY SUCK. Get these which I am gonna list.
Gundam 08th Moible Suit team
Gundam 0080 war in the pocket
Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory
Gundam Char's Counterattack
If you like this you will like these as well.

Good intro into Gundam
I had to review when I saw that this has gotten some negative reviews. For shame, people, for shame.

Anyway, this is the original Mobile Suit Gundam; well, condensed into a 7 hour movie trilogy anyway. I'm going to be honest and say that sitting down and watching this for 7 hours does get pretty long, even for a diehard Gundam fan like myself. However, the animation is crisp and the voice actors are the original Japanese, as opposed to the cheap TV series and its even cheaper dub. So, whenever I want to watch MSG, not just a specific episode or moment from it, I choose the movies over the TV series.

Anyway, this anime has it all: war, politics, battles, romance, drama, even comedy. I am a teenage girl who by all rights should love Wing, but instead loves MSG. The characters are incredible; well-developed and totally realistic. And may I say that MSG's romances tend to be subtle, but they are simply awesome.

This was my first taste of the original Gundam, and after watching it I could not understand why people would say that it's good, but only a small taste of it. And after watching the TV series, I realized how right they were. Honestly, I enjoyed the TV series so much, and it covers a lot more than the movie does. So, if you want to be "hardcore" UC Gundam, I recommend watching the TV series. Try and stomach the dub.

But if you just want a nice amount of background information or even just a glimpse of what UC Gundam has to offer, this is an excellent source to tap. The animation may be from the 70's, but the story is a masterpiece.

Gundam as it SHOULD BE
M.S. Gundam is awesome! Heres the lowdown: Mankind has traveled to space and set up space colonies surrounding Earth. One set of colonies, Side 3, declare themselves the principality of Zeon and war on the Earth Federation Forces. The Zeon build Mobile Suits to gain an advantage. After a long stalemate, the Federation begins Operation V, its own M.S. developement program, the strongest being the prototype Gundam RX-78. While being transported at Side 7, the Zeon attack, and a civilian named Amuro Rey saves Side 7 w/ the Gundam.
These 3 movies basically follow from here, going throughout the One Year War. These movies are great. A lot of the scenes have been reanimated just for the movies, and the sound is very good. Among other things, this is the embodiment of the beginning of Gundam: the focus on Newtypes in place of the battles of the series. If you can't afford the series, this is a great substitute. It leaves out many things, like the G-Armor ship and Gundam Hammer, but weaves the original story together. Great movies, if you don't mind Japanese only audio w/ subtitles. Great for any fan of the Gundam Universe! ^_^ ... Read more

Description

Four-disc set includes all three volumes of Ninja Scroll: The Series and a bonus disc loaded with extra features.The Bonus Disc includes audio commentary from the director and cast, a glimpse into the Mad House Animation Studio, trivia game, DVD-Rom features and more.Based on one of the best-selling anime films in U.S. history (Ninja Scroll, 1994).Production overseen by Yoshiaki Kawajiri (creator ofNinja Scroll and director of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust). ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Anime Paydirt!
I have been waiting a very long time to get my hands on this series and it was worth every minute of the wait time!

A tale of loyalty, trust, and the ultimate betrayal, Gungrave is a seriously driven character story with enough action to keep you on the edge of your seat.

In the opening episode, Beyond the Grave awakens to seriously kick the ass of a multitude of undead creatures. From his stylish attire to his awesome display of firepower, Grave is the type of guy who shoots first and makes damn sure no one is left to answer any questions. Grave makes Vash the Stampede look like a rank amateur when it comes down to serious gunplay.

Later in the volume, we meet Brandon and Harry, a couple of young street punks trying to make it along with their small gang on the tough streets of their town. Through a series of fights and shoot-outs with the local crime boss and rival gangs, we see Harry and Brandon as they step into the world of organized crime.

I would almost say that this tale would be akin to a cross between Hellsing and Trigun, only much better.

Grab your guns and extra ammo, kiddies. It looks like Gungrave will be a hell of a ride.

P.S. As a parent, I would NOT recommend this for younger children. The anime is rated for 16 and up. There are sexual innuendoes, brief nudity, and graphic violence. Purchase this based on your child's maturity level. (I let my 12 and 13 year old watch this and they are still raving about how good the story is!)

Gungrave, best tittle of its genre.
Brandon and Harry are best friends since the times they were in the orphanage. But after seeing the tragic dead of their friends they decide to change their way of living. Harry wants to rise to the top, and from above watch everything he has accomplished. Brandon wants to be close to Maria, his girlfriend, who after her dad's dead was taken in by her father's old friend, Big Daddy, the boss of Millenium. Millenium is the mafia that controls the city. In order for Harry to rise to the top he needs to enter that Mafia and form part of the ring of friends of Big Daddy ("the family"). Harry wants Brandon to come with him, after all they are duo. Brandon accepts, but only because in that way, he'll be able to see Maria.
Both are facing to the sky, running towards the top, chasing their dreams. But in Millenium there is only one rule, it's called the Iron Law, "To protect is to never betray", whoever fails to follow that rule, will be considered a traitor and consequently eliminated.

Gungrave is definitely the best tittle of its genre, forget about Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, and Noir (this latter one is my favorite anime by the way), none of the them can rival the excellent storyline, the amazing characterization and the blending of both. Don't be fooled by the guy on the cover of the first dvd, "Beyond the Grave", he only appears in the first episode, and doesn't come back till the second half of the series. And don't worry about the first episode sucking really bad. Because the people who have already watched this anime will agree with me, that this first episode is one of the worst in anime history, but also, don't worry, that episode is only a brief and bad introduction to what will happen later in the series, the same episode is remade in the second half of the series, and that time is done well. From episode two and on is when the story begins. Two young punks experiencing the hardships of living in a tough city with no one to support them, they can only steal and sell what they rob in order to live. But that's to change when they decide to enter the local Mafia, Millenium.
The story is like no other, and the character development is superbly done. This you won't regret buying. A real action-drama with a small sci-fi twist, great animation, and an excellent soundtrack.
From the creator of Trigun, an anime with the feeling of Berserk, the style of Noir, and the looks of Cowboy Bebop. I highly reccomend it.

Wow. If only the DVD was released before the game.
If it had I think that the game, a game which I thought was vastly underated, would have sold a lot better than it did. Also in terms of the Amazon.com editor saying that the character of Beyond The Grave, or Brandon if you will, being too stoic, and uninteresting. Those who played game already knew that this particualar character is definantly no Vash the Stampede. He is a killing machine pure and simple, and while This DVD may have arrived to late to boost the last game I hope it will provide a nice lift for Gungrave OD.

Gritty
This isn't your average anime with its flipant use of coined anime images.( such as sweat drops ect)... This is a gritty story about 2 friends attempting to pull themselves up by their boot straps. And so far its been amazing.... Anyone who enjoys great characters, deep story and beautiful animation should check out Gungrave.

Maybe Vol. 2 will be better...
Maybe it's just me, but when I see an ad for an Anime DVD with a big gun-toting badass on the cover, I expect to see him in more than one out of four episodes on the DVD.
Gungrave Vol. 1 'Beyond the Grave' would have been more aptly titled 'BEFORE the Grave' since it only involves one episode of 'Gungrave action' and three episodes of young Brandon Heat fist fighting in the streets of...wherever.
Don't get me wrong, the Anime looked good. The dialog was decent, with the exception of the main character who didn't have any. It was a quality DVD, just not what I was hoping for after reading the back of the box.
Perhaps Vol. 2, due at the end of Sept., will get back to the Brandon After Death (or B.A.D.) character that all of the ads are talking about...but I doubt it. At the end of the fourth episode, prospects of getting out of the character history flashback did not look good. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

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.

Definitely worth it
The crispness of the visuals is beyond anything I could imagine. I never realized how deteriorated the Robotech visuals were until I saw this DVD. Remember the scene in the second episode where a Gerwalk flies into rubble, the pod can't see him, and suddenly the Battroid appears and blasts the pod? Well in Robotech I couldn't distinguish where the suit was. IN this version it was so crisp I finally figured out where the Battroid was. The subtitles are great. I like the original Macross story better then the Robotech edit. Since Harmony Gold funded this you know that this will definitely be repackaged and dubbed for their upcoming Robotech Remastered Series. I will admit that I actually prefer some of the Robotech music and its placement compared to the Macross soundtrack. There were a lot of places that didn't have background music in Macross that did in Robotech. I think the music added more to the scenes. Some of the Macross soundtrack sounded cheesey to me. Another amazing fact is that I really loved the talking voice of Minmay in the original Macross unlike the whiny annoying bimbo voice Minmay has in Robotech. Her voice is actually nice to listen to. It almost has a sultry quality, but not slutty sounding.

Incredible!
I must say I was leery at first to buy this series.
#1. Im a HUGE Robotech fan and was worried that it would change my outlook on the Robotech show.
#2. wouldn't be much of a difference.

well I was completely wrong, the price tag is a little bit on the high end but it is worth it let me tell you! If you LOVE Robotech like I do you should get this because its the original show uncut and in its original form. The show takes on a more "serious" tinge opposed to Robotech the silly dubbing is removed and the orginal Japanese is present with pretty well done subtitles! the subs take a bit of getting used to but dont really ruin the experience. I did notice the animation clean up..it is VERY crisp and vibrant as opposed to Robotech! now, most of the extra stuff is just tidbits of sides stuff, ie.. you see more of the hangar in one episode and men loading things in the docks etc... and in epidode 4 you see minmay's bare bum as she bathes with water that is gushing from a pipe that Hikaru(Rick to Robotech fans) struck and broke in order to have water to drink. There is also some expletives and more serious adult humor. This show is for the more serious fan of the series where Robotech was aimed at the kiddies. I was a kiddie when it aired back in 1985 and find that both series are worth owning. The box is nifty looking with three separate dvd cases inside. the liner notes are typical Animeigo which are tabs with some pretty good info! If you are an old Robotech fan or a new one to either Macross or Robotech this is a MUST have! don't forget to pick up Box #2 and #3 also!

Finally, a chance to see what I've been missing!
Like most American folks (and more'n a few non-American folks to be sure) who grew up watching 80s-era 'toonage, my first look at the Macross series was in the form of the first chapter of Robotech. And even though I still hold a certain degree of sentimental nostalgia for the latter show, I gotta admit I like the original uncut Japanese version a fair bit more. Well, except for the background score-- the music used for Robotech seemed a better fit in my opinion, and wasn't quite as melodramatic as the original score. I'm sorry if this revelation offends you anime purists out there, but-- no wait, actually I'm not the least bit sorry. I could give less than two doots what'cha all think. Bite me!

Naturally, the biggest attraction of the original Macross show is the chance to see all the stuff that Harmony Gold (the show's North American producers) changed and edited out of the series to conform to the various kidvid standards of the day. Stuff like excess violence, naughty bits, slightly coarse language, a few mature situations here & there, and stuff that might not have translated well to audiences on the opposite side of the Pacific and elsewhere. I saw a smattering of such moments and scenes (Minmay's bare tush and a few lascivious leers by Roy Focker for example), but they made up a rather miniscule part of the "restored" bits. The vast majority of no-longer-missing moments were rather innocuous (mostly incidental or "slice-of-life"-type scenes), and led me to wonder why they'd been shortened or removed from Robotech in the first place. Probably to help the networks airing the series cram in another toy commercial or two between the mid-show eyecatches...

I was also curious to see the results of AnimEigo's extensive restoration efforts that I'd been reading about so much on Robotech.com and other anime news sites for months before its DVD debut. Although I still saw a few ever-so-slight flaws here 'n' there, I thought they did a really good job making the show as clean and pristine as it likely was when it first hit the broadcast airwaves over twenty years ago. Just compare any of the restored eppies to their Robotech counterparts, and you'll see a fairly significant difference between the two in terms of picture clarity!

Although the platters in this set lack any real special bonus features aside from show production and restoration credits, the liner notes-- which resemble mini file folders complete with subject tabs-- come close to making up for it:

- Disc one's mini-file discusses the production evolution of the show's first twelve episodes, as well as the various in-gags one can find in each show, if he looks hard enough.

- Disc two's little dossier is the lyric sheet to the Macross theme song, and five of Lynn Minmay's tunes. Both the English translation and the anglicized Japanese pronunciation of each song's lyrics are given.

- The third platter includes brief character profiles of Ichijo Hikaru ("Rick Hunter" to all you Robotech freakos out there), Lynn Minmay, Milia Fallyna Jenius (Miriya), Hayase Misa (Lisa Hayes), Maximillian Jenius (Max Sterling) and Roy Focker (hee hee, that name's almost naughty). The basic info given for each character includes age, height and weight (in metric measurements, natch), occupation, bust-waist-hips measurements for the ladies, the episode each debuted in, the person who voiced the character, and... blood type? Hey, that's kinda personal don'cha think? Seriously though, I've never understood the deal with anime characters having blood types (shouldn't it be ink types? Heh, get it? Hee hee...). But then, I never really delved into the technical world of anime-- or the culture it reflects-- all that much. And why the heck does almost every Japanese anime character I've ever seen not look even remotely Japanese? What's up with all the honky-envy in animeland??? If you can explain these bits o' strangeness to me, drop me an e-mail, willya? Thanks...

The only real disappointment I have with this collection is that they weren't able to put Macross and Robotech together into an all-in-one presentation, like Harmony Gold did a few years back when they put out the Robotech: Perfect Collection VHS series, featuring two Robotech eppies and their corresponding Japanese (Macross, Southern Cross, Mospeada) counterparts. It would've been nice to have something that appealed to both the 'Techie and the anime purist in me, without havin' to take up quite as much shelf space in my video cabinet. No such luck, I'm afear'd; the licensing & rights situations just didn't pan out between the companies involved in the show's production & distribution. Them's the breaks in life...

'Late ... Read more

Reviews (3)

HOLY S##T IT'S GIGANTOR
I remember when I was 7 years old. Everyday I would run home after school to catch Gigantor on TV.Then one day POW it's gone, no word, no rhyme, no reason, just... gone.Needless to say how depressed I was, wondering., Did I just imagine this great show? Then about 25 years later I spot in the discount video tape bin (Will the real Gigantor stand up?) A bad copy but it served two purposes. One it confirmed that the show did exist and two it alleviated my suppressed depression. Then recently, more like Dec 2002 I'm in an electronics store that carries DVDs and I spot the 1st season Gigantor. Without thinking I yell out with a childlike joy "HOLY S##T IT'S GIGANTOR!" I"m sure everyone around heard me but no one knew what I was talking about. It seems no one in this world is my age.They're either too old to have ever been interested in such things or too young or not yet born to know of such things. I attempted to purchase it on the spot, but I was 42 cents short and the store associate wouldn't budge.I received it as a Christmas gift. 2 months later Feb 2003 they released season 2. I bought that one. I can deal with many shows in black & white, classic comedies, classic horrors, early 60s sit-coms, but for some reason I really believe this show deserves to be in color.I agree with the viewer that said the series does go out with more of a whimper than a bang, but it's a great series overall so enjoy.I hope they release the New Gigantor they showed on SCI FI channel back in the 90s.At first I wanted nothing to do with it because it wasn't the original, but now that I have them I can deal with the new version.

Gigantor Is Ready For His Next Exciting Adventure!
I admit I am old enough to remember watching Gigantor back in the day, so watching this Boxed Set brings back lots of fond memories. Sure Gigantor has crude black & white animation, a few unflattering stereotypes & some politically incorrect behavior--smoking, lots of gunplay & in one episode Gigantor fishes for whales!!--but unlike more recent anime, does this series MOVE.

Jimmy Sparks, Gigantor's owner, is one of the most amazing cartoon characters ever. A 12 yr old boy who not only controls the World's Most Powerful Robot, but also drives a car, flies jetfighters, scuba dives, solves crime & regularly consults with Inspector Blooper & various Heads of State! And he does these things without the second-guessing & psychological torment which plague more modern characters (think Shinji Ikari of EVANGELION). Different times back then.

Gigantor's battles with his arch-nemesis, Magnaman highlights this series. Whoever possessed his secret codebook controlled Magnaman by shouting those codes. Yes, it's goofy but like so much about Gigantor, that was part of the series' appeal.

If I could buy only one Gigantor Boxed set, my choice is the first set. The Extras are better (tho' not by much) and the stories remain at a higher quality overall than Boxed Set 2. After Magnaman is sent packing back home, it appears the Gigantor series lost momentum, and the final episodes are really weak. The animation is cruder than ever and none of Gigantor's later adversaries--Big Fang, Ironton, Brainy, Dinosaur Robots--really stand out.

Despite that, Gigantor is one of the greatest cartoons ever and it's nothing short of a miracle to have all 52 US episodes on DVD. For one reason or another, ASTROBOY & KIMBA weren't as lucky. Kudos to Fred Ladd & Rhino.

Old school for a new wave!
This is Gigantor, a 1900's B&W Anime show, this was a great show, Even though I've never saw the show itself I like the commercials and Cartoon Network is bringing back "Gi-Gan-Tor" on DVD, so even your parents might remember this show. This is suitable for all ages! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Thuggish, alienated high school student Kei Kurono and his childhood friend Masuru Kato are killed rescuing a wino who's fallen on the subway tracks. They wake up in a room dominated by Gantz, a black sphere that sends them and other newly dead people to kill aliens hiding on Earth. The senseless plot is little more than an excuse to show all the blood, gore, and nudity the filmmakers can pack into a 22-minute program. Gantz was heavily edited when it was broadcast in Japan in 2004, but these uncut episodes seem less like the focus of the battle over censorship director Ichiroh Itano describes in his interview than a cheesy exercise in gratuitous violence. Including only two episodes on a disc would usually feel chintzy, but where Gantz is concerned, less really is more. (Unrated, suitable for ages 17 and older: nudity, sexual humor, graphic violence, grotesque imagery, profanity, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Why why the negative reviews!? This show is everything!
Well I love it! The show and everything about it. The story is very intersting and the scenes are very unpredictable. The animation is top quality. The characters are great. There is nothing wrong with this show it is definietly the most unique anime show I ever saw too! Get it it's great and forget the paranoia you have if the negative reviews are pulling you away. Just trust me and get it this show deserves 2 be popular!

In Defense of `Gantz'
Ask any anime fan today what the best current anime is, and you'll hear, "Full Metal Alchemist, and Ghost In the Shell: Stand Alone Complex." I've never heard such a unanimous answer in all of anime history. Everyone agrees these are the two best current anime. This tells me that not enough people have been watching `Gantz' otherwise it'd be on their list.

The plot: I'mnot sure a description of the plot will really persuade you to buy `Gantz' but here it is. A perverted teenage boy is killed and finds himself along with other recently deceased being forced by a machine Gantz to assassinate aliens living in Tokyo's slums.

It's not so much the plot of `Gantz' but its characters that make it work. Our hero is a high school nerd; he's worried more about bullies and having enough money for porn than he is about aliens. His goal is sex, not protection of the human race. As you might guess this leads to laugh out loud scenes.

Yes `Gantz' has TONS of sex, violence, and profanity, but it really does have context. We care very deeply for our hero, even if his biggest adventure of the day is buying porn.

I can't really compare `Gantz' to any other anime except in terms of production quality. THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN! And yes I've seen them all, yes even better than `Last Exile' or `Ghost In the Shell' or `Night Shift Nurses'.

The only reason I can think of as to why so few of my fellow anime fans on Amazon are giving `Gantz' a low rating is that they've never seen or just don't care for R rated or boarder line X-rated anime like `Gantz'.

NEWCOMERS NOTE: Volume 1 is not the best volume to start `Gantz' because as with all stories there's an introduction. Start with volume 3, you can catch up and trust me! After the first five minutes of volume 3, you'll be ordering every volume of `Gantz' there is.

Gantz Vol.1- Violence & Sexuality not necessarily gratuitous
Other reviews have indicated that Gantz is merely a mindless vehicle for gratuitous violence & sexuality. I don't agree. The extreme violence and sexuality were clearly intended to set the tone and give insight into the characters.
It is an intriguing and original concept, but clearly not for the squeamish. Definitely only for people who like darker anime with Edge.

In this initial volume Gantz sets a group of random individuals into a bizarre and extreme situation. It is reminiscent of the concept of movies such as "The Cube" and "Battle Royale".This volume is not about plot.. it's about setting up a bizarre situation and introducing a group of characters trapped in it.

I was immensely impressed with the excellent characterization of the major characters.The internal monologues are very 'real-life' and the actions and dialogue of the characters give you insight into exactly who they are and where they are coming from. The extreme violence and sexuality are designed to provoke realistic reactions which give you insight into the characters.It doesn't mean that you'll like the reactions, but they are 'real'. Observation of character under extreme stress is inherently interesting.
Gratuitous nudity without purpose is watching some female anime character take a shower.The sexuality in Gantz cuts directly to the moral and ethical character (or lack thereof) of these people.
Overall, I think Gantz is intriguing and has great potential. Of course, they could easily blow it and descend into absolute pointlessness, but based on the first volume I would definitely recommend picking this up.
Yes. 2 epsisodes per DVD is legalized crime. But you gotta be willing to pay for a good story.

Sold out..
This series sold out on what the creators probably thought would sell DVDs.I don't mind watching a good anime with cussing, violence and some nudity.But that's all this series is.The plot is weak.2 episodes per DVD is nothing to be happy about either.(Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Comples has 4 per DVD) The animation quality is decent.While watching this DVD, I could almost see a worthwhile story underneath the useless swearing, but it appears the creators decided to focus more on weak battles scenes and (..) than on a quality story line.This just left a bad taste in my mouth.

I Expected It To Stink
The reviews are all right this is a very unique show and even know I'm late since vol.2 is already out I still feel the need to help Gantz out. First I'm glad that I didn't review this after the first episode this is a show that doesn't exactly get off slow but It's on a whole other level of weird you might either want to see more and see where It's going or turn it off but you have to give it time because the second episode is what hooks you on to this series and makes you realize It's going to get more exciting and addictive.The best part about Gantz is the animation and the story plot, the animation is on point showing you every stitch and detail of every scene and character in the view almost like your their with these characters.There are so many suprises and laughs going on here I'm sad I doubted it, To conclude there's a lot of sexual references going on in these first two episodes that may effect some people but It's not enough to band it from your collection and the only way I could low grade these episodes is if it was just episode 1 and not two, the first is more of a three stars but after you see the vision and whats going on you can't wait for the next two.I would of been mad if the characters couldn't fight at all and the whole show was based on some kid and how good he could out run and dodge aliens. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The plot starts here
After the cliff hanger that ended the last boxset, we find Domon and Rain still in Shinjuku. The Devil Gundam is nearby and continues to attack with it's Death Army, which Domon and Master Asia are easily able to beat. However, an interesting twist occurs when George, Chibodee, Sai and Argo appear fighting against Domon as minions of the Devil Gundam and as Rain finds out someone else is working for it...someone Domon will find it hard to lose.
After the development and setting of box one, this second boxset gets into the meat of the story as Domon faces the Devil Gundam, loses allies and gains new ones. Most of this boxset is based around Domon retiring to the Guyana Highlands in South America to train to control his Super Mode. The mysterious and wise Schwarz Bruder of Neo-Germany manages to show Domon that he is not yet ready to take on the Devil Gundam and its minions. The same is true for Domon's new Shuffle Alliance allies and Schwarz arranges for them all to end up training in the same place. Here we get development of the other cast members and their crews. This leads into the final disc of this set where the full force of the Death Army is used against our heroes. Fans of the more classic military idea of Gundam will be pleased to know that this involves the Shuffle Alliance employing military strategy. Following this we get an intense duel between the Shining Gundam and the Master Gundam. At the end, only one will remain standing... Whilst I love G Gundam as a whole, this second boxset is a big improvement of the first one as we get into the real plot of the show. A note of warning to first time viewers- stay away from the G-File on Round 5. It contains a spoiler about Schwarz Bruder.

I Want More Mobile Fighter G Gundam Episodes
This volume set is great. It makes you need to know what happens next. I already pre-ordered the next rounds. Can't wait to see who ends up being Gundam of all Gundams.

The best G Gundam boxed set
This is the better of the 2 boxed sets currently available and will probably be better than the one that is coming out in April. I love this one the most cause so much happens in these episodes. The characters that were introduced in the 1st boxed set are developed more and you understand what is going on more and more. Plus it comes to a very satisfying end and sets up the next set of DVDs quite well. Though dont listen to me just go and buy this right now! You wont be sorry. Though buy the other boxed set too, so you will understand what is going on.

Not just a normal Box set
As I watched these episodes on toonami when it was on, I just said they were my fav episodes! I just love Domon and Rain together!!! They look sooo! CUTE!!! Yes, it is a little sad and I do have some questions about it. But in like wise it's really good!! I like this one better than the first box set. If you have never seen G Gundam I suggest you get the first box set so you know how it all happend and who the characters are.

dvd's you must see
Some people may think that this would be just a waste of money, but have you ever even seen 1 episode? Not to give out too much but, This set is a "must see" one. after watching this i got to be more intrested. For mecha fans who haven't seen this one, I am telling you to get this. It may be a bit costly, but it's worth it! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Didnt see it...did you?
I'm considering purchasing this DVD but I wanted to know what you guys thought of it first. Well, is it worth buying? ... Read more

Reviews (75)

Awesome packaging, slow story
First, I'll admit, .hack//SIGN is getting some of the best limited edition treatment I've ever seen. This box and its load of extras is sure to be highly coveted by anime fans and DVD collectors. In particular, I think the soundtrack is a great extra, as .hack has excellent music.

Now the bad news... Unfortunately, these episodes failed to hook me on the series. I haven't seen the whole series yet, so I don't know if the pace of the story improves later on; but right now it seems a bit tedious. It's also possible that the series is a little less accessible to people who don't play online RPG games. I've ventured into online RPGs only briefly, and found the format not to my liking. Though I've heard from people who do play them regularly, that the interactions in .hack//SIGN are fairly typical of that genre.

So far, the series seems heavy on the dialogue, and the characters spend a lot of time wandering around the game world conversing, theorizing, spreading rumors, etc... It's obvious that some pains are being taken to set up a mystery that will (hopefully) define the plot as the series progresses. Though, unfortunately, it currently lacks the sense of intrigue that makes mystery so exciting.

On the positive note, I agree with everyone who praised the character design and animation quality. It is excellent, and it makes .hack good entertainment, even if it's not the most accessible story.

If you're weighing whether or not to purchase this series, I'll admit, it is tempting--especially for the limited edition extras. However, not knowing how well it develops, there are enough caveats here that you may want to spend your anime budget elswhere. Personally, I would recommend Serial Experiments Lain, if you want something computer/internet themed; or Berserk if you want serious fantasy with strong intrigue.

Slow. Original. Relaxing. Excellent. Addicting.
A friend told me to watch .Hack because I love online roleplaying games and enjoy anime style art which pretty much sums .Hack up. You watch characters in a roleplaying fantasy game interact with a mysterous new character Tsukasa who can't logout. It's a slow, and relaxing, beautifully drawn anime without the normal violence, adult stuff, and heavy action that you usually expect however, be warned that if you NEED action, you most likely will not enjoy this. It has a very nice soundtrack and the DVD offers you the option of watching the shows in English, Japanese, or just music with no words. It is a very very slow moving plot..but somehow that's alright with me even though im not a soap-opera person. Somehow the slowness and beautiful drawings grabbed my attention..it's a show about character development and a mystery inside the game...i love it and recommend it to people with a love for anime artwork!

Classic Anime at its best!
Have you ever wondered what it was like to be Mario's world? To be able to live in the game for awhile? Add more people and this would describe what dotHack has to offer. The name of the game is "The World" and they are able to act just like it was a real world. But, something disturbing has happened. Tsukasa, having an extra ordinary gift, is causing confusion and chaos among the top players and the administrators. However, the only thing Tsukasa is worried about is trying to log out of the game.

The story is given the five stars, because it has some amazing twists. I was very surprised when I first watched the movie.

To rate the DVD itself, I would give it four stars. The music over powers a lot of the movie and it is hard to hear some of the dialog. This shouldn't stop you from buying it. It just took me to turn up my TV on some parts.

Conclusion. If you like anime, played an Massive Multilayer Game Online, like video games, or curious about the whole plot, then this DVD is for you.

Cool ^^
If you're a real big .hack//SIGN fan, you need this thing. Just be careful. If you don't choose and look carefully, you'll get some DVD set with none of the cool stuff with it. One more thing, the .hack//SIGN series moves very very slowly and can be difficult to follow sometimes. If you don't speak Japanese, leave the subtitles on for some of the later episodes, or else you'll be totally confused, and won't get the actual meaning of some of the words that appear. It's really worth it to try and follow the series. I found myself almost crying when I watched episode 28, which is the last of them. So, if you're willing to stick with it, and try to understand the series, you'll probably really love it.

Not worth the money....
I bought this at the recommendations of many of my friends and after reading several reviews. This is purely a character-driven story and only has one or two fights that are actually worth watching. All in all not up to the standards of a all-around good anime... ... Read more

Amazon.com

The engaging characters and rambunctious charm of Real Bout High willappeal to fans of Generator Gawl, Outlaw Star, and othercomedy-adventures. Ryoko Mitsurugi is the reigning champion of the K-fight,an anything goes/any time/anywhere martial arts battle that is the signatureevent of Daimon High. One day, Ryoko checks her locker and finds a mysteriouspendant that transports her to the alternate world of Solvania, where shebattles a dragon-like "demon beast." Convinced it's all just a dream, shereturns to the more pressing concern of her rivalry with Azumi for theattentions of Tatsuya, the soft-spoken captain of the kendo team.

As shetravels between the Earth and Solvania, Ryoko forges a grudging alliance withbrash ex K-Fight champion Shizuma "Nagi" Kusanagi. Daimon High School beginsto feel like Furinken High in Ranma 1/2 when Azumi's Secret FlowerArrangement Club attacks Ryoko using multi-pointed flower holders as ninjaweapons. Ryoko dresses up as Magical Waitress Oyster Lulu, a hilarious spoofof Sailor Moon ("In the name of oysters, I'll teach you alesson!")--with Nagi joining her in drag as Lobster Coco. Unfortunately, AyaMatsui's script fails to explain who the villains are or how the worlds ofEarth and Solvania relate. The over-the-top final battle wrecks the schoolplay, but it doesn't really resolve anything. The misadventures of the nuttycast are entertaining, even when they don't make much sense, buttheconclusion leaves the viewer unsatisfied. (Rated 13 and older: violence,minor profanity) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Please read the books instead!
This was a waste of money for me. I read and loved the graphic novels, so I figured that I would like this just as much. NOT! This was a major disappointment.

The storyline of the manga was fast-paced, humorous, and very entertaining. Although it occasionally became difficult to distinguish what was going on, on the whole it was a lot of fun to read.

Unfortunately, that same fun storyline was mangled and then dropped by the anime writers. Now, instead of centering on the K-Fights and high school life, it focuses on an interdimensional adventure that doesn't play out. Ryoko is perfect as a fighter, but it is difficult to see the slightly conceited, sword-wielding samurai beauty as fighting dragons and talking to princesses. And there is not even any background given on why this dimension and its ruler need her help.

Then another new character comes in, and OF COURSE he knows all about this other dimension, the fight with the dragon, and the talk with the princess. I have one question--who is he, and how does he know all that? The fight with the dragon was a private affair with Ryoko, the dragon, and the princess. So where was he? *sighs* This is yet another thing in this new storyline that doesn't mesh.

On the other hand, the characters are wonderful. Ryoko is my favorite, with her rival Azumi following in an extremely close second. Both girls are awesome fighters, and really fun characters. Shizuma didn't get much of a chance to shine here, but from what I can tell he is exactly the same as he was in the manga. The reporter is still a creepy little stalker with a thing for Ryoko, although his English voice actor is the person who played Tai from Digimon (its impossible for me to watch RBHS without thinking--"Hey, that's Tai!") And just like in the manga, Ryoko's best friend is kicked out of the picture by the arrival of Shizuma.

The art is beautiful. Colors are bright and easy to look at, and the movement could not be smoother. The fight scenes are the only reason I watch this dvd anymore--those scenes are wicked cool! So there is one redeeming factor.

The voice acting is great in both versions. I think the English is better. The girls are not high and squeaky, and there is a wider range of emotions. In fact, I find their voices rather soothing.

I feel I should mention that my computer's dvd player has a problem with this dvd, making the soundtrack skip and jump. This is very disconcerting for a dvd.

Although I like the voices, the art, and the characters, I still don't like this anime, mainly because of the warped storyline. It has been more than a year since I have watched this, and I don't think I'll be watching it again anytime soon.

Read the manga - don't watch the DVD
I think my problem with the series is that I read the Graphic Novels first. The graphic novels are top notch with great art and a great story that has a lot of action and flows really well. The G.N.'s also manage a wide emotional range that is not diminished by the humor.

The animation seems childish by comparison. It starts I guess in the middle of the graphic novels and doesn't even bother to follow the story line. It goes its own way with people from other dimensions and battle with dragons and such. The characters are 2 dimensional (pardon the pun) with no real emotional depth being created. Most of the events seem to be directed at a younger crowd (like kids).

The artwork fails to live up to expectations. The story line falls apart. Character development is nill.
The Manga is your best bet. These DVD's are not.

The music wasn't bad. In fact I would recommend the soundtrack. It has about 40 songs so the average length is pretty short per song (one track being a 10 second sound bite).

Real Bout High School box set
Real Bout High school is a delightful comedy with all the fight to back it up.
The story follows a young girl named Ryoko Mitsurugi who is destined in her heart to be a samurai. One day she finds an amulet in her locker that changes her life forever. Being transported to another relm called Solvania to battle demons Ryoko relaizes her destiny to save the world from Gates a ruthful god of destuction, and to make sure she still reighns as the champ. The story however in itself is not all macbre. With delightful charcters such as the tenacious but stupid Shizumaa Kusanagi who is always out for a good fight(mainly with our little samurai girl Ryoko) and beautiful but deadly Azumi Kiribiyashi Real Bout High is in for hours of pantyshots,killer fights,screams, and laughs.

Not good - by comparison
I think my problem with the series is that I read the Graphic Novels first. The graphic novels are top notch with great art and a great story that has a lot of action and flows really well. The G.N.'s also manage a wide emotional range that is not diminished by the humor.

The animation seems childish by comparison. It starts I guess in the middle of the graphic novels and doesn't even bother to follow the story line. It goes its own way with people from other dimensions and battle with dragons and such. The characters are 2 dimensional (pardon the pun) with no real emotional depth being created. Most of the events seem to be directed at a younger crowd (like kids).

As I recall the music wasn't bad.

Good Enough.
I borrowed this DVD from my friend, and I thought it seemed cute and a little bit gratuitous.
I expected large breasts, needless panty shots, the high-pitched squeals of girls screaming, and plenty of cool sword fights, and Real Bout High School delivers in each of those categories. The DVD menus are laid out in an amusing way, like a fighting game, and the extras are also quite charming. The animation is fluid for the most part and the cels are extremely clean and clear.
The plot seems to revolve around two girls, a "Samurai Drama Otaku" named Mitsurugi Ryoko and Onizuka Miyuki, a rudely mute shrine priestess who ignores everybody. Her rude personality is apparently supposed to show that she is in inner-turmoil, but it just makes me want to slap her.
Anyway, Ryoko is very charming as the "Samurai Drama Otaku," who, despite being a total dork, is immensely popular at her school, which places tons of focus on physical education and almost none on academia. Her rival, Kusanagi, is a very funny character, because he seems to be a parody of Kusanagi Kyo of the King of Fighters series, as he has an insatiable appetite for street fights and even uses flames in his fighting (honoo no tora - the flaming tiger) (and he has shares the name, Kusanagi).
Unfortunately, there are a few problems as well. The voice-acting is a little stereotypical and inappropriate for some situations, and most of the characters speak ridiculously fast or over-act (or both), most likely as an attempt to be endearing or "cutesy," like so many of those for-boys shows out there (By the way, this is with regards to the original Japanese dialogue; the dub is not even worth considering).
Also of dissapointing noteworthiness is the translation. Oftentimes, I found that the translation was off or even wrong, and the translators seemed confused as to who was talking to whom. Multiple colors used to seperate things being said simultaneously would help tremendously. Also, I noticed many spelling and grammatical errors in both the english translation and the japanese song lyrics that are unacceptable in a professional-quality release such as this.
Despite the problems I had, Real Bout High School is nevertheless a charming and fun, albeit immature and poorly-localized, anime. Fans of girl-get anime such as Tenchi Muyo!, Love Hina and Chobits and fans of good action-oriented anime (as well as sailor-uniformed school girl fetishists) will probably enjoy this very much. But remember, you could be buying something a lot better. ... Read more

Description

This set of made-for-videotape (OVA) releases made shortly after the "Irresponsible Captain Tylor" TV series concluded production, and is sometimes known by fans as "Tylor's War". They deal with events that occur about six months after the conclusion of the Raalgon war. Contains three DVDs: "An Exceptional Episode," "Sidestory Collection," and "From Here to Eternity." ... Read more

Reviews (4)

NOT the TV series
I absolutely loved the Captain Tylor TV series, and I couldn't wait to see the OVAs. Unfortunately, I was badly disappointed. There is a plot, but half of the series is taken up by side stories about various characters that do nothing to further the main action. Moreover, Captian Tylor just wasn't the same hilarious, happy-go-lucky guy I had come to know and love. Though he hides it well...to me, it almost seemed like the Irresponsible Captian had become...responsible.

Go ahead and watch the OVAs, if you want. They're not horrible. Just don't expect them to be like the TV series.

Captain Tylor ...........its still GREAT!!!
I watched this a little worried. I had heard that the OVA collection was not as good as the original series. I am writing this to say that what I heard was totally WRONG!!!!
This series is just as good, its different but it's still Tylor at its finest.
The First DVD in the 3 DVD set is the same style and humor of the original series, it almost feels like "the lost episodes." After the first DVD the other two DVDs change to a different style of animation and the series changes a little but not for the worse.
The one problem that I kept hearing was that there was a more serious tone in this series. This is true for 4 of the side story episodes, but its serious for the very reason that Tylor is not really in them. He makes small cameos but other then that the stories focus on other members of the Soyokaze while they are on ground time. Without Tylor the other characters WOULD act this way. I appreciate the fact that I got to see them in action without Tylor because it made me appreciate them a little more, as well as the humor and liveliness Tylor brought to their lives and to the story.
I do not want to spoil anything detailing the story or the series so let me just say that this series is a wonderful series to watch, its a little shorter then the original but its still worth your time.

Great!
I think that this series is as good as the original box set. It is a little more complex plot structure but still presents the most attractive aspects of the original series. I cannot recommend this enough. A real winner.

if you've seen the TV series, but not the OVA's
WARNING: This is not the Tylor that you’re used to. A lot of people in my anime club were lost by the OAV series. It’s focused heavily on the peripheral characters, the story does NOT go the direction that most of the TV series fans had hoped it would, and it is 100% serious. The clever/silly humor from the TV series was dropped for a serious story line in the OAV.

Now that you have this warning, you’re ready to approach these DVD’s. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen the fan-subs of the Tylor OAVs, but the DVD quality will be far better than the 10th generation tapes that I have. As I said above, the story is told in a different style from the TV series, but that doesn’t mean that it’s bad. Taken on their own, I really enjoy them. The story is good, and as always, the animation is improved from the TV series. I just thought I should write this brief warning because, as I said, many fans of the TV series were very disappointed when the characters’ motives and actions changed in the OVA. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

One of my favorite sagas.
What are we to do when goku isnt around. Garlic Jr has invaded kamis look out once again, but this time has won. He's taken the black water mist and spread it through the earth. Whats even worse is that goku isnt around and piccolo has been controlled as well. Gohan, and Krillin must stop him before all of the world is taken over by it. The box set is my favorite because gohan is the one that gets to save the day this time. A must have for all gohan fans.

This is an awsome saga
If you are a BIG dbz fan you need to see this saga!!!! It is a really short saga, but it has a lot of action! I don't own this saga, but I am saving up for it with my allowance. There's nothing negative to say about this saga. Don't spend your money on anything else! Get this saga first!!!!!!!!!

Not bad.
Firstly, do not confuse this item with the first Dragon Ball Z movie. The Garlic Jr. saga was a filler series released on the TV airwaves in Japan, after the Frieza saga and before the Trunks/Android sagas.

On to the product:

The box itself is pretty nice, as the pictures are glossy and nice to look at. The structure is small enough to fit exactly three DVDs in, yet without them it would easily be bent due to its flimsiness.

Each of the three DVDs have a total of three episodes on one disc, save the last (Garlic Jr - Vanquished) which contains four. Cover art for the DVDs are simple screenshots of various episodes within the saga (not always accurate to the episodes which they contain), not eye candy by any means. Back of the case summarizes each of the episodes briefly and contains the ratings and various other info.

When you place your disc (which is decorated with the same screenshot as the cover art for the DVD) you'll be greeted with a tinny, hissy backround tune, and the menu has the same image as your box cover. Your options are "Play All [episodes]", "Episodes", "Languages", and "Extras" (the menus in these options have much better backround tunes).

The extras are no biggie: action figure commercials, next episode eyecatch, and various other previews. You also have the option to play the episodes in Japanese (subtitles or no). Though, be warned, when played in Japanese the audio is not stereo, but mono, unlike the English version.

The episodes themselves are fun. Much of the North American audience tend to avoid this saga due to the fact that it is a filler, plus the mediocre dub work, and edits; but this disk reveals the Garlic series as it was meant to be seen-uncut, in all of its non-Goku glory. For a filler, it's a fine job, and I would recommend it only to those who would go out of the way to find the DVDs complete with Japanese dialogue.

I am rating this 3 stars, not because of the episodes, but because of the rather sloppy menus and lack of extras and effort put in to the DVDs.

No.
Behold- the biggest waste of time in the anime world. Then again, everything DBZ after they take out Freiza is a waste. This Garlic Jr. set has no direct effect on the series. You can skip this entire thing and not get lost in any episode after it.

Fun fact- Akira Toriyama had nothing to do with this little Garlic Jr. thing. It's anime only, and not in the manga.

It starts out without warning. Somehow, Garlic Jr. has come back thanks to some stupid red star that they never give you much information about. He also has some henchmen that are somehow stronger than Freiza...already. He starts emptying this dark mist on Earth which causes anyone that breathes it to turn into a zombie. Well it happens to everyone, including most of the DBZ main guys. So it's up to Gohan and Krillin (whoop dee doo) to go to Kami's Tower and stop Garlic + restore everyone back to their regular state.

That's it. There's nothing else that happens. You get 3 DVDs with like 4 episodes on each that just drags on and on. You can watch the first and last episodes of this and save a lot of time that you could've used to like cutting your nails or something useful. It amazes me that DBZ is so popular when they just drag on things for so long. It's always either an episode of powering up or just watching them grunt every single time they throw a punch. And they take that power up and use it for 5 episodes.

Once Freiza was beat, they should've just had a few more episodes showing that Goku lived. Then it should've ended there. Here Freiza was supposed to be the "strongest in the universe" then the Androids, Cell, Majin Buu, and a few others come out of nowhere and are 10 times stronger. Please people, go spend your money on good anime. It's out there, just look around.

Dragonball Z's weakest saga, but still fairly entertaining
[I'm a huge DBZ fan, that's why I'm being so critical on this saga.]

INTRODUCTION: The Garlic Jr. Saga is a ten-episode saga of Dragonball Z that occurs after the defeat of Frieza on Namek, but before he comes to earth in his robotic body. During this time, Goku is still somewhere out in space and Vegeta has gone out looking for him. That leaves Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, Yamcha, and Yajirobe to keep the planet safe.

Here's how the story goes. While he's out on a study break, Gohan finds Krillin, who introduces him to Maron, his new girlfriend (Maron looks EXACTLY THE SAME as Bulma and many confuse the two.) He tells Gohan there will be a get-together at Master Roshi's island, but Chi Chi forbids him to go. Gohan ignores this and rides his dragon to Master Roshi's island. Unfortunately for our heroes, not all is well. The Makyo Star has entered a planetary alignment achieved only once every ten thousand years. Through the added strength this gave him, Garlic Jr. was able to escape from the Dead Zone (See the movie Dead Zone if you want the whole story.) Garlic Jr. releases an evil mist over the world that turns everyone evil, except for Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin, Maron, and Kami and Popo (because Garlic Jr. imprisoned them in glass jars.) The Z Fighters who weren't turned evil go to the lookout to put an end to Garlic Jr.'s scheme.

This is an entertaining saga, but it's PURE FILLER. It could NEVER have happened for the following reasons:
-It's a continuation to DBZ movie 1, Dead Zone, which COULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.
-Where'd Garlic Jr. get those new henchmen?
-There's an alternate universe for dead guardians of the earth in Kami's lookout?
-Gohan's dragon appears. He got it in Tree Of Might, a movie that never could have happened.
-It sure is a fancy coincidence Garlic Jr. and his henchmen's power levels are in the same range of the Z Fighters levels

If you must see this saga, YOU NEED TO SEE THE UNCUT SUB. The version on Cartoon Network made several edits. These include, but are not limited to the following:
-The word "Hell"
-Maron's swimsuit. In the original version it is MUCH more revealing. In all of DBZ, this is probably the most skin you'll see on an adult female character.
-A scene where Master Roshi grabs Maron's breast (I'm not making this up)
-A scene where Yajirobe looks up an opening in Maron's dress
-A scene where the camera is focused directly on Maron's butt
-Numerous dialogue changes, mostly to make it seem more American

It's good to have a DVD set that includes this entire saga, but unfortunately the DVDs themselves are lacking extras (but this is to be expected from FUNimation.)

The Garlic Jr. Saga is more like a mini-series than an actual saga (it even aired as such on Cartoon Network.) Because of the plotholes and flaws of this series, I recommend it only to TRUE fans of DBZ. This isn't a terrible saga, but it is, hands down, the WORST SAGA OF DBZ. ... Read more

Reviews (311)

retro
Ok,Ok. Pretentious in my book. Check out the original Heavy Metal. Alot more interesting and fun and, who knows, possibly one of the inspirations for Animatrix.

Not nearly as significant as the first movie
The Animatrix is worth a watch, something no hardcore Matrix fan should go without. The animation is original and gives you that strange sense of unease and suspense, as a collaborative effort of different artists from different countries. However, it's not exactly something you'd want to watch again, unlike the first movie (maybe the second movie). In the style of "The Matrix Reloaded," most of the Animatrix short films have no solid story - as many have said about "Reloaded," "they try to cover up a bad plot [or no plot] by confusing you." As much as you'd like to convince yourself that you're watching a deep and thought-provoking short film with great animation, it's impossible. Though the random images and slick beats are pleasant enough to watch, there's not a whole lot else to the Animatrix.

Must Have
For those of you that didnt like "World Record" its because it is the only short that requires abstract thought. Go back and watch it again. Im not going to spoil it for others, watch it again, it makes perfect sense.

Animatrix is DA BOMB!!!
This movie is great for people that like to have all of their questions answered about the Matrix. This is a masterpeice. 9 short films are all or pretty much all depressing, but if you think about it the Matrix itself is a depressing story. So there is a lack of happy endings in the 9 short films. But there is a story in particular that is called World Record, which is in fact the most emotional gripping story. I'm not going to ruin the story for you, but if you get this DVD then you will check it out for yourself and probably even agree with me. I love this DVD, compiled of 9 short films.

Can words describe it?!!
This DVD is incredible!! An absolute must for the Matrix fan, anime fan, or just plain fun fan!! Everyone who comes over gets a taste of Final Flight of the Osiris on the big screen, surround sound. Even people who haven't even seen the Matrix sat in awe as the episode's roller coaster ride swept them away. Along with the extras and other awesome episodes, this is one of the great DVDs in my collection! ... Read more