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After a mysterious column of light rises over a city in Japan, strange thingsbegin occurring: a rash of serial killings and suicides, kids developingweird powers, and the appearance of the Angel of Death as "BoogiepopPhantom." Based on the novels of Kohei Kadono, this gothic sci-fi adventureapes the visual style of Serial Experiments Lain, but its fragmentedstory is both confused and confusing. There are lots of grisly visuals: one boysees "spiders" on people's hearts, captures them, and devours them; a childdressed as the Pied Piper lures unhappy teenagers into killing themselves; adisappointed musician slashes her wrists at the piano. But there's littlecoherent plot to support these events. The weird manifestations are theproduct of biomedical experiments into the future of human evolution and amysterious creature referred to as "the Manticore." The hokey dialoguepanders to teen-age angst with such self-conscious pseudo-profundities as"Why are we all alive? We all die." Director Takashi Watanabe abandons therollicking comedy of Slayers for derivative monochromatic artwork,sepia-toned imagery (often so dark it's difficult to see what's going on),processed live-action footage and actions repeated four or five times in asingle episode. As the fragmented story stumbles along to its indecisiveconclusion, the flashy editing and artsy visuals become more and more aboutless and less. (Rated 15 and older: considerable violence, grotesque imagery,minor profanity) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Amazing Set for an Amazing Show
Do you believe in urban legends? Did you ever feel like someone was following you, or something big was going on around you and you couldn't figure out what it is? If so, this is really the show for you.

This show is not for small children. It is a horror show and features some very grotesque scenes of violence. Of course, all of the violence is used appropriately. If there ever was a show that proved that all "cartoons" are not just for children, this is the one.

Boogiepop Phantom is an anime based on a series of novels in Japan. The story is told in a fractured way, each of the 12 episodes features a character and how the events that have happened have affected them. This can be good and bad. The way the story is told forces you to focus on one character at a time and keeps your attention. However soon you will start noticing characters from previous episodes interacting with the ones in later episodes, and you'll start to notice some very evident things going on. Boogiepop Phantom (the character) makes appearances in most of the episodes, but her motives are never given until the end of the series.

One of the most interesting things about this show is that most of the events happening during the series are taking place after a battle between a student and the Manticore. This battle is only shown in flashback for a few seconds twice. You never really see the whole thing, just flashes of it (and you have to pause your DVD to really see what's going on).

There have been many comparisons between this show and Serial Experiments: Lain, but they are two seperate entities. Both shows are very in-depth and require the viewer to think about things in a different perspective, but really that's all there is between them. Lain tells the story of one girl who is learning who she is (more or less), and Boogiepop Phantom is telling more of a traditional story (if you can call it that).

As for technical aspects, this DVD set is nearly flawless. Each disc has a beautiful video transfer, and there were no video problems that I could see. The audio is given as English 5.1, Japanese 5.1 and a dubbing director's commentary. The English 5.1 channel soundtrack is the best one I've ever heard. Sound effects, voices and music all make use of the 5 speakers and it's haunting how good this set sounds. For instance, each next episode preview features random lines of dialogue from the coming episode. The both 5.1 soundtracks have the a different voice coming out of each speaker, layering over one another until you don't know where to turn because there are voices all around you. The English dub of this show is very good, and I think it captures the original Japanese track very well.

All in all, this is an amazing DVD set, and an amazing series. It deserves all 5 stars that I have given it, and more.

This is great!
This is a great anime if you like a challenge. When you watch the first few episodes, you'll probably scratch your head and say "What the hell is going on?" As time goes on, however, most of your questions will be answered. To fully understand the plot line, I've found that you must watch all of the episodes a few times and make some mental notes, such as what sounds or people were in the backround of certain scenes. This may help you figure out when an event occured. The series tends to jump around between the present, 5 years ago, and one month ago. It can sometimes be hard to tell when the scene is going on. Over all this gets a VERY good review from me. It's intriguing, mysterious, and creepy up to the very last episode. If you liked Serial Experiments: Lain, you'll LOVE this. Well, that's about all for now. I hope this was helpful to you!

You won't want to stop.
Boogiepop Phantom is an anime that begins as a series of short story-style tales. Filmed with sepia filters for 11 of the 12 episodes, it creates a world that is dark and haunting throughout. What makes Boogiepop Phantom so incredible to watch, though, is the way its story is slowly unfolded across the tableau of episodes. You get the first hints of this when the second episode utilizes a scene from the first - and it only becomes more haunting when you realize what it implies.

The individual episodes are wrapped around a handful of incredible events. The way the show lets time flow around each episode is magnificent, and its impact as you slowly realize some of what is going on is always stunning. Every time you watch Boogiepop Phantom, you will understand more of its subtleties - don't get me wrong, it is *very* interesting on first viewing, but it's absolutely amazing to see an anime that you want to keep watching again and again to pick up on more small, but well-rendered, threads of its plot. The characters are all intriguing, and each episode usually provides a very penetrating analysis of at least one of the show's figures. The way it constructs its story (which has some horrifying moments that make what gore there is on-screen completely necessary - it actually strikes just the right note with each bit of weirdness) is marvelous.

It's kinda on the short side, but if you're of the right mindset to enjoy it, you will not regret picking up Boogiepop Phantom. You'll probably get a lot of great viewings out of it. It's a lot of fun to watch with others and compare theories; even more fun is showing people the series for the first time and watch them go through this fascinating mental maze. Give it a shot.

Boogiepop Phantom- Worth it!
I bought this because it was so inexpensive, and it was worth every penny and much more! Great gothic, urban stetting and supernatural storyline. Don't miss it!

This is my new favorite series!!!
I find myself saying that a lot as I dive deeper into the world of anime. But this series has something that draws you in. When I was at a store, which I will not mention, HACK,COUGH (best buy) this DVD set was almost screaming at me to buy it. The cover art was nothing special the title cought my intrest and I had heard good things about it. When I got it home I riped off the packaging and watched, this is where the actual review begins.

I was hooked from the first episode!! I even neglectied my homework, well you know "Don't do today, what you can do the next morning 5 mins. before it's due". The art, OH the art! It was spectacular, and the hepa filtersthat they filmed it with really gave it a dark and creepy feel even in the day time.

The characters are wonderfully developed, even though most of them only appear in one episode. And I love that fact that all of the episodes intertwine! A seen from episode one appears in episode 3 or something like that. The only thing I can dock it for is it's sudden ending I thought there could have been more!

BUY THIS ITEM!!!!!! ... Read more

Description

Five years ago, a string of grisly murders shook the city to its core andnow the rumors have begun once more. Boogiepop ... Everyone knows about Boogiepop:meet her one darknight and you are taken. People tell each other the stories and laugh:no one believes that she can possibly exist in this day and age.

Still, strange things appear to be going on just and the darkness is taking on many forms.Something is out there. Are you safe?

Contains episodes 1-3. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

A Well - Crafted, Mind boggling, Horrifying Piece of Art
If there's one anime out there that defines ingenuity, exemplifies great directing, and has one of the most original and intriguing plots ever it would definitely be the horrifying masterpiece Boogiepop Phantom. Boogiepop Phantom's story line takes place in Japan and is based around a mysterious beam of light that has occurred there recently. Sound simple enough? Hardly; not only does Boogiepop?s brilliance shine with one of the most complex plots ever seen but also in how the series ties a host of original concepts together into one unbelievable story line.
One of the best turn - ons of Boogiepop is how amazing well its plot pulls you in with its creativity. It successfully does this by taking a path very different and having its plot go backwards and the time frame flip back and forth between the present and the past of five years prior to the events. Another thing great about Boogiepop is that does something completely new and creative for a large portion of the episodes. That is, it does episodes based solely on one seemingly unimportant person and their involvement with the story. Then, in the following episode, shocks you by revealing how valuable these irrelevant people really are to the story. Also, the most amazing thing presented in the series was the extraordinary directing. Directing this impossible story and making it mix it to perfect consistency with the shows great character development, plot, and all the craziness that encompasses Boogiepop is purely ingenious. This alone deserves kudos for being pulled off so well when faced with such a mixed - up story. Still, although the show may have these wonderful points, it is not without flaw.
Although great, Boogiepop Phantom is still far from perfect. A major problem in the series is the amount of time it may take to pull you into the story. Much of this is probably due to the fact the first episodes may seem a bit gory and excessively crazy (which are a problems on there own) for most people?s tastes. The only other big problem is the difficulty it may take to adjust to the way the story is presented.
All things said, though, Boogiepop is an extremely original, well - done anime. It intrigues, wows, and will have you guessing to the very end. If you are looking for an incredible anime to engross yourself in, then Boogiepop Phantom will surely rock your world in more ways than one.

I WILL Buy this!!!
I have not heard much of this series at all. BUt if people say that those who like Lain will LOVE this, I AM GOING TO BUY THIS DVD as soon as my other dvd's come in the mail!!! Serial Experiments Lain was a huge brain teaser!!! Its one of those series that you can continue to spend days no months having intellectual conversations about. To the fellow who didn't appreciate Lain, all i can say is that im sorry. Lain isnt for everyone, but as a Lain follower i must defend my all-time fav. series. But i guess you just need the mental capacity to appreciate Lain, let alone understand it. Lain is true anime as an artform. While i dont disagree with you about Akira(the movie), akira pales in comparison to Lain. I'm sorry but if you honestly think that Akira had better storytelling and script than Lain, your taste in anime is extremely shallow. But enough about Lain, i cant wait to watch Boogiepop Phantom!!!

The Boogiepop Doesn't Smile
This series is amazing. Although it starts off a bit confusing with these first three episodes, it doesn't drag a bit. The storyline is so in depth that you will probably be revisisting past episodes just to catch what you might have missed. While some people have compared it to Serial Experiments Lain, they really can't be compared to each other...both are good in their own right, but at least this series answers more questions than Lain. By the end of Lain more questions are brought up than there were to begin with, but with Boogiepop a fair amount of questions are actually answered; you just have to pay attention. I would recommend watching this in English first and then Japanese simply because you have to pay attention to so much that is going on that reading subtitles and trying to make sense of the sometimes cryptic quotes becomes overwhelming in addition to watching the animation. The animation in itself is very good. All the scenes are relatively dark even if it takes place in daylight. A lot of the scenes are a bit disturbing (think a boy making a cat explode), but that isn't just for the benefit of blood and gore. Everything that happens in this anime happens for a reason. The story is told in an out of order way. This is for the effect of not revealing too much about the story until the 'right' time. The series is basically about a group of kids who have been affected by a beam of light that mysteriously appears in the first episode. These kids become gifted with powers and are then taken by Boogiepop, a 'grim-reaper' of sorts. Boogiepop is basically a dark superhero trying to protect the town from the Manticore; a man-eating monster than has taken a human form. To truly understand this series, Boogiepop & Others (the live action Japanese film) should be viewed in addition to the series. If you can get your hands on a copy, it would be well worth it, as the film goes more into what the light is, whereas the series only touches on that briefly in one of the later episodes. Overall, this gothic/horror series is very enjoyable if you can handle a little blood and a confusing story.

Prepare for mystery, horror, and an awesome story!
5 stars isn't enough for this incredible anime...

Not recommended for kids under 15, but everyone else should be able to handle it.

Boogiepop never laughs
If this series were real.... your worst fear would probably be named Boogiepop. The angel of death or Hades` equivalent. Boogiepop Phantom is one of the very few anime that will get you to really think about the meaning of life and why we are here. It shows exactly how imperfect the human mind really is. If you're looking for gore, violence, scifi and all-around darkness...(withmore than the occasional bucket of blood), this is it. Perfect. Children under the age of 10 should not watch Boogiepop Phantom. Young children beware......This series is not for the light of heart.

Great dvd
this is one of the best anime i have seen in a long time. this series make you think about life and the meaning of it. not many animes i own make me think about it. Buy bUY BUY NOW NOW NOW ... Read more

Description

The cold dead of night is a dangerous time to be near the Shinyo Academy. Girls have begun to mysteriously disappear without a trace, and the school is alive with rumors. Some say the girls are just runaways, but with each new disappearance, a lingering fear grows ever stronger - fear that a shinigami... the very spirit of death... is prowling through the streets of the city. They say you never see it coming... a lone whistle splits the dark silence, and it suddenly appears behind you to steal your soul... However, Nagi Kirima has never feared the darkness. She's determined to uncover the truth, but there aren't many clues to follow. A mysterious new drug that's appeared on the streets... A homeless man who's more than he seems... A girl still haunted by a serial killer who died five years ago... Nagi must take every fragment and piece together the entire story, before more students end up missing... or dead. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

IS BOOGIEPOP ON OUR SIDE?
Strange things are afoot at Shinyo Academy. Students have started to disappear, a potent drug that turns its users into pliant slaves has been making the rounds, and of course, it's rumored that Boogiepop, the spirit of death is mixed up in all these happenings. As the movie opens, we see a cute looking female high school student licking a corpse's eyeball. And after that, things get really weird!! Well, not really. Boogiepop and Others is pretty much a prelude to the 4 volume Boogiepop Phantom anime, the difference being that this DVD is a live-action movie with some of the same characters.

Like the anime, this film throws linear storytelling out the window and instead opts for a more fragmentary style. Its like threads of spiderwebs all being weaved towards the center in which all the characters come together into one narrative. UNlike the anime, the movie is less confusing because it focuses on less characters. Keiji and Miyashita like each other, but Miyashita, like Clark Kent, leads a double life. The cute and demure girl is actually Boogiepop, a sorta pseudo-superhero, that fights against evil. And then you have Naoko, a free spirit who seems to have a stable of lovers but never seems to find company. Twisted Saotome, the figure of evil in the anime, is here shown as a dejected lover who switches his feelings to a monster. The best role in this film version has to be that of Nagi Kirima, played by the beautiful but powerful Maya Kurosu. Nagi seems to be the only person at the school that senses that something is wrong. So she takes it upon herself to find out what hidden force is abducting and killing her classmates.

The cast of young Japanese actors in Boogiepop do a great job, perfectly conveying the isolation and longing for love that is at the heart of the movie and the anime. Beneath all the monsters and spirits of Death is the tragic fact that none of the teenagers realize that they are all going through the same events. If only the characters could have connected. The complaint I have about this movie is the special effects. What little there are seem very primitive. They seem to be done by back projection, and are on a level with 1970s technology. The film screams out cheapness when, for example, a student is killed, and you just see an arm flash out, and hear a sound effect, instead of showing anything. I guess the positive thing about there not being any visual effects is that the director really had to focus on the characters and their relationships. It's like what would happen if George Lucas had to make Star Wars with 5 minutes of spaceship footage. I don't understand why a popular series like this got such a cheap budget. American TV series have much better effects that this. Another positive about the movie is that the score is great, by the same composer that did the anime Noir.

There are a ton of extras on this DVD. A long making of documentary with behind the scenes footage and interviews with the actors. Also has some good text menus with a history of the Boogiepop phenomenon and cast and crew info. Many TV and theatrical trailers, footage of the director and star at a film festival, and a director's comment and storyboards.

I would highly recommend viewing this movie before watching the Boogiepop Phantom anime. After all this is a prequel to that series, and prepares you for what is a confusing but ultimately masterful storyline. Having said that, this film is what would be labeled a B-movie in America. But if you can get beyond the sparse visual effects you can really enjoy Boogiepop and others. ... Read more

Description

The world of Boogiepop takes a turn into something completelyunexpected with the appearance of the fragile and childlike Poom-Poom. His quest seemsan innocent one: make friends with people and play throughout eternity in Paisley Park.

Traveling throughout the city with Manaka, even Poom-Poom seems to have anappointment with the Angel of Death. Now in the final volume of the series, the pieces ofthe puzzle fall into place. The time has come for the fates of our varied characters andeven that of the city itself to meet their ultimate conclusion... The questions are nowanswered.

Contains episodes 10-12. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

To Everything, a Conclusion
When ideology is spent on the young, the world wears a different mask than it does as they grow brittle and ingest experiences that changes their perception. Here, existence is something encased in purity and thusfar unsoiled, not yet hardened by the mental torments that come with the passing of years. Instead of a lack of beauty, there is only childlike innocence within the formations that answer the wandering gazes of youth. The need to hold onto things left behind, the feeling we come to know as regret, hasn't yet haunted the mind like an eerie spectralization that will, over time, make itself known.

When the light erupts in the midst of that silent night, many things seem to changed almost immediately. Now, the world is plagued by people exhibiting strange powers and something stalks the landscape claiming lives. Within this surreally terrifying world, one girl with a horrific past that is given another chance to exist outside those boundaries. Out of it she creates something seemingly fabulous, bringing out the youth within people that will come and visit her. Still, these phantoms are merely monstrosities, and the reasoning behind who she is and what she has cause invites BoogiePop, the angel of death, to come and visit. Why is it like this, though, and why does the angel of death find this return to innocence a transgression? That, and a conclusion to the pulsing skies, is what this piece offers.

The last DVD in the series is almost as important as the third in the explanation of what has transpired within those skies and how the girl with the butterflies has come to be. While going through the motions of introducing her and the life she has led, the episodes place many more of the tiles into their given spots. This places the remaining keys into their homes and unlocks many doors that were still barred, leaving a few questions here and there but answering mostly all of them. With it, the child known as Poom-Poom is explained as well, and closure is brought to the series at the end, when the BoogiePop Phantom is revealed as a person and the person behind the mask is one that has been noticed on several occasions. All of this takes place with the usual darkness that seems to stretch throughout the horizon of sights and sounds, with thunderous moments of terror playing hand in hand with explanations of what exactly is going on.

For anyone that has yet to look into the series, this is something that you should take in stride and in order, letting it build properly so that it makes sense. Otherwise, terms like "echoes" and "the manticore" will mean nothing to you and you'll simply wonder exactly what horror is taking those child one by one. If you've already invested the time into watching the others and have liked them thusfar, then this is a piece that you won't want to leave out because it finishes the tasks at hand. To me, I thought that this piece was as essential as the first three in its own right, following through with the completed painting made by twelve separate entities.

Wow....
Ok, a review without spoilers....
The artwork is a bit simple, but still good. It's sort of a "minimalist-anime" style. Unfortunately, there is some jpeg granularity in the DVD, but I found that easy to ignore.
The art has an interesting fishbowl effect. In the first DVD, I thought this would be annoying. It was not. The art also has strong sepia and earthy coloration until the last episode.
The music is good, and the music on the last DVD is great. (the song for the last scene in episode 10 was beautiful and fit perfectly.)
The nonlinear story used up to this point takes a bit of getting used to. In DVD 4, the chronological order of events is held to a bit more strongly than the previous DVD's (meaning: "a bit more than very little"), but there are still many flashbacks.
The dialogue is very sharp. If you do not read quickly or speak fluent Japanese, watch it at least once in English. (You *will* watch it more than once.) The script is quite good.
On watching it again, due to the nonlinear story arc, a nice thing about this series is that if you want to go back and watch a previous episode, it seems to fit in well enough at any point (up to the last DVD). Re-watching episodes doesn't break the continuity of the story; sometimes it actually helps you pick up on things.
Specific to the last DVD (Evolution 4), the story really ends with episodes 10 & 11. The final episode wraps up a few loose ends, but it's the typical Japanese "see how life goes on" ending. Episodes 10&11, however, can be seen as one long episode, whereas most other episodes stand on their own. Much is resolved, and with so much dialogue about "loosing and regaining what is really important," I think it's interesting to see what the authors considered important enough to resolve in these two episodes.
(As a side note, I think the entire "What a terrible Pied Piper you are," scene at the end of episode 10 absolutely rocked, and the music is beautiful.)
Note that there are many things left unresolved. Apparently, the series is based on a Japanese book series, which explains and resolves more. You can figure out just about everything, but it requires paying attention and listening to what's said.
Requisite comparison to "Lain": Since I'm not a cyber-child, Lain didn't have as strong an emotional or personal impact as Boogiepop. Having finished both, I prefer Boogiepop. ... Read more

Description

Mamaro was never like other guys. Violent and merciless, he showslittle love even to those in his family. Now Mamaro is about to discover he has less incommon withother humans than he thought... Nagi Kirima goes through life with asingle purpose: root out and destroy the evil that lurks in the darkness. A pursuit thatwillfinally bring her face to face with the Manticore... Saki is a gifted pianist. Popular andtalented, she is being manipulated to become something that she never will be. Torn andconfused, she's unsure what to do.

In the park late at night, though, there is rumored to be someone who brings a resolutionto life's little problems...

Contains episodes 7-9. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

When the Sky Becomes a Pulsing Loom
In the beginning, all things were as normal as normal could possibly be. People were operating as individuals were expected to function, some in stranger ways than others but still serving a purpose nonetheless, and then the events began occurring. First, the bright flash of light could be seen funneling into the sky, turning the heavens a rainbowesque coloration that was no rainbow at all, and was followed by the phenomena that began occurring within a number of hosts. Some people found themselves inflicted by something akin to having the most disturbing sort of powers, noted as a step in the next evolution of mankind by those that hunt them, and then kids from high schools began disappearing from all over. That's when the rumors of the angel of death, BoogiePop, began to surface and things really began to taking odd byways through life.

Within the 3rd DVD, many things are explained to the viewer for the first time, which is something of a welcome relief to those of us watching the show one DVD at a time. The entity known as the Manticore is showcased in a way that explains its mysterious existence, BoogiePop is shown to be something that is, in a sense, a messenger fulfilling its purpose, the person trying to stop BoogiePop is looked into a bit, and the light in the sky is looked at closely for the first time. into a bit more. We also are granted a look at the composite humans that have been shown in little detail while they've gone about "visiting" the gifted children of this electromagnetic world, and we get to see more of the people that have found themselves with abilities that surfaced on that night. What's more, we found out how long this is expected to plague the city, although we have no idea what will happen when everything reaches a climax.

This series is remarkable in the way that it can piece together events that seem unrelated in one story and evolve them in the next, constantly keeping you looking for more in each and every frame. This makes a puzzle that is actually twelve individual pieces interconnecting into one complete piece, letting each stand alone and yet seem more and more fulfilling each time you find out a little more of equation. The music in the series is also done really well, with the sound effects accenting the darkness in many of the scenes, setting a tempo that seems foreboding and menacing. Then there's the storyline itself, something that is melodic and paced but that is dark and beautiful at the same time, hooking the mind and making you want more.

If you've yet to check out the series, I would suggest watching them in order to understand exactly who people are and what's going on. Taking them any other way makes them confusing in many rights, and I'm not certain much of the tale would make sense if you deviate from the episode order. You should also be aware that some of it is a bit graphic and the tales are the happiest of sorts, which makes them all the more likable in my book. Recommended highly.

Utterly bizzaare
"Like Lain, but dark and creepy."
Each episode is essentially an independant vignette, all of which interweve into one story. The story arc is not told linerally. Most of the arc is in episode 1. After that, the story is developed by adding layers, and flashbacks to develop the past.
Boogiepop has many truly strange elements where fantasy and desire become reality. However, they make it work *so* well. I'm eagerly awaiting DVD 4. Having just finished Lain, I can see the influence in characters and art (but Boogiepop appeals to me a bit more). ... Read more

Description

On the other side of the door is danger. Up in the skies is a rainbow thatisn't.You are kept company only by your own fear... Boogiepop. Few even believe that Boogiepop exists in this enlightened age; it's usually more like an urban myth used tofrighten the ignorant. Five years ago a serial killer held the city in fear, slashing andmurdering seemingly at random. Then, without ever catching the killer, the murdersended. Then came the flash of light in the darkness...

A momentary glitch. For some, panic and death stalked the streets again. The shadow hada face. Boogiepop ... But she is not the only one..

Contains episodes 4-6. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

What Lurks in the Skins of Men
BoogiePop Phantom was something I felt a bit unsure about at first, placing much of my judgment in the namesake and nothing more. Still, after viewing the first disk, I found myself intrigued by the darkness involved in the series and how every face seemed to be important in some regard as the worlds of rumor and disappearance began to merge together as one. Viewing the first BoogiePop Phantom disk left many questions within my mind, however, including the exact nature of people shown in the backgrounds and seemed a bit inconsequential, not to mention the serial killer that was prowling the streets in search of prey. Still, you could see a noose tightening around the lives of the people that were on display, closing in more and more on something akin to a purpose to the "angel of death" and the reasons she had made High School kids her victims of choice. Well, this continues onward now.

Within this installation there are a few notable that are introduced, including a certain madman seen screaming on the streets while two girls walked past him, the little girl that created the strange butterflies from the second, a major player in the events that have been transpiring throughout the last few pieces, as well as a drove of other ideas that are set into motion as the bodies continue to amass and nobody seems to understand why. They simply blame the beast they call the BoggiePop Phantom, the proverbial "angel of Death," and try to go on with their fixations and their lives. Luckily some of the explanation is given as to why things are happening in the way that they begun taking place, plus there are a few more people alluding to the fact that the strange light in the sky might have had something to do with it.

While not as strange as the first installation, it is something that is notable because of its ability to develop the notions involved into a streamlined idealism and because the effects it gives the viewer through sound and visual oddities presses it forward in such a commendable way. In many ways it reminds me of some of the other notable pieces of surrealistic horror anime and yet it pushes down its own path as well, giving it a feeling all its own. Granted, you have to like things that moved at an almost planned pace and that look into what the characters see with depths that leave few stones unturned, and you have to like the fact that all the individuals paint a picture as a whole. Still, if you are accepting of these portions and want something that keeps the eyes pressed and wondering what will happen next, then this is a worthy recommendation.

Disturbing, Deep and Engaging
In this second volume of Boogiepop Phantom, we are given a look at three major characters along with a multitude of minor characters. It's a puzzle, and it can be difficult to piece together yourself. Fortunately, the director and cast members enjoyed the show so much that they decided to put a running commentary on for each episode. However, this should not be used until the whole series is viewed.

Can't figure it out just wait!
This second disc to the BPP series brings thing around full circle. The animation is great and the story line thickens. A must buy series for anifanatics! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Released already and out of print
This set is Amazing! The set comes with the full series, some lobby cards and a three cd soundtrack which is PRETTY awesome in itself! I listen to the soundtrack quite a bit! The story here is told brilliantly as it is a gothic/horror fantasy. The story is told in flashbacks , bits and pieces. the more you watch the more is pieced together to reveal who the boogiepop phantom is! The story is very intricate and beautifully told! If you like gothic horror fantasy type stories this is THE set to get, if you want something different also give this a try!

Good packaging, good show.
[the set] comes with the four DVDs, a set of still-frame cards, and two of the soundtracks.

As for the series, I can mostly say - if you liked Serial Experiments: Lain, or if you enjoyed the more theoretical and metaphysical aspects to Evangelion, you may very well enjoy Boogiepop Phantom.

It is hard to go into the plot line without actually giving away much, but the story mostly deals with a set of homocides that happened five years before the "present" time in most of the show, and with "special children", and of course Boogiepop, who is a suprise in herself.

The anime may leave some people disappointed, if they found that the questions still left unanswered by the series really bothered them in such shows like Lain, but if you are up for a very dark show that has stints of philosophy, exsistential concepts, and an odd and somewhat disturbing storyline, I would suggest picking this up.

Already released
I picked this up at Best buy in Omaha, and I think it was the only one there. Very good packaging--comes with a three-disc soundtrack, a set of long cards, two excellant pencil boards, and the entire four disc series in individual packaging. ... Read more