Amazon.com

Martian Successor Nadesico (1996) was initially criticized in Japan formaking fun of both anime and fan culture, but its unbridled and ultimatelygood-natured silliness won over critics--and large audiences on both sides ofthe Pacific. It's 2195 A.D. and the "Jovian Lizards" are attacking Earth.Tired of the inept campaigns of the United Space Force, Nergal HeavyIndustries builds a super battleship, the Nadesico, which they staff with toppeople who have "slight personality problems." Ditsy Captain Yurika nurses acrush on the traumatized Akito--despite his skill as a robot pilot, he signson as a cook. He's won over by the irrepressible Gai Daigoji, a fanaticadmirer of Gekigangar 3, a hilarious spoof of '70s mecha series.The story reaches new heights of absurdity in "Let's Go with Hot-BloodedAnime": the casts of Nadesico and Gekigangar watch each other'sprograms, borrowing ideas and complaining about the plots.

In anotherepisode, the crew holds a "Geki Fest" that satirizes anime conventions,including booths selling special, "limited edition" merchandise. The warbecomes a struggle that pits the crew of the Nadesico against both theJovians and Nergal Industries. Although the conflict hinges on Akito'smysterious ability to move through space and time in a "boson jump," thepath to peace lies in Gekigangar 3 ("the thread that ties humanitytogether!"). In America, only Rocky and Bullwinkle and TheSimpsons have dared such outrageous self-parody. (Rated for ages 12 and older: Briefnudity, mildly risqué humor, cartoon violence) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (28)

All too complete
Providers seem to be getting the hint from the high sales of the Eva and Gasarki boxsets, so they've finally released the complete series of Nadesico. The plot we won't repeat, we're sure any fan site or other review will tell you more than you want to know - our advice is to buy without reading up on it.

The case itself is a bit of an enigma. Not just a box containing all of the dvds, this case composed of 3 double & 2 single cases moulded together. This makes a positive difference in terms of weight, space-saving and removes the worry that they'll fall out, but you do lose all that nice case art from the seperate dvds.

Without a doubt though, this is great deal taking the price into account. The quality is crisp and infinitely superior to vhs in terms of sound and picture. The one thing that we got annoyed over was Ruri's comment at the end of episode 26 "some of those questions will be answered in the inevitable sequel." But there is no sequel - just the Movie 'Prince of Darkness', which like most anime movies, only provides further questions.

Overview & My 2 cents
Overview: Aliens known as the Jovians destroyed earth's base on Mars, wiping out its space fleets. Only one ship stands between Earth and total annihilation - Nadesico. A private company, Nergal builts Nadesico, a space battle cruiser to provide "assistance" to earth's military. Free from the military control, they had the free reign to assemble the most unusual crew for the mission. With a ace pilot who is also the cook and the commander of Nadesico, an admirals's daughter, things gets complicated. This new starship is the most formidable fighting vehicle ever built. However, before Nadesco can wrestle with the Jovian invaders, the crew must defeat their fellow humans as they elude the military's attempt to seize the Nadesico.

My $0.02: It may seems like a typical space sci-fi action anime but this series provides a lot of hilarious moments with an unusual cast of characters. Also the story thickens as the crew of Nadesico learns more about their alien invaders and how it's ace pilot was mysteriously transported to earth from Mars just before it was obliterated.

I enjoyed this anime mainly because it's funny and I like animes like Robotech. You will like it too if you like sci-fi mecha type anime with comedy and some parody.

You Get To Burning - With This DVD Boxset!!!
There aren't many good sci-fi animes these days. But one I would recommend is Martian Successor Nadesico: The Complete Chronicles Collection Set. This anime series maybe in the 90s. But once you watch it, you can never get tired of watching it again & again.

With 26 episodes altogether, there are a dozen chracters you can remember. The epic tale of humans versus the jovians will surprise you with a twist. Then there is a craze anime within an anime that will bring forth the reason why the Jovians fight for. There is romance. There is comedy. And there is mecha fight scenes you will enjoy. Not to mention great music soundtrack that will keep you humming the tunes.

Cute, adorable, enjoyable by its own... this is a DVD Boxset you mustn't miss. Trust me, in my years on Robotech during the 80s... I never thought discovering Nadesico could be this addictive!

Not going to spoil any further... you just have to buy this boxset. My recommendation to any anime sci-fi fans out there.

Mobile Battleship Nadesico...
Fans of Robotech or even Starblazers might look at this collection and wonder if they should buy it. Do it. But be warned, it is also like Love Hina, Tenchi Muyo and the Excel Saga. Love between characters, war between almost everybody and humor, some of it even picking on anime, makes the 650 minutes worth any price. Plus tons of extras and WAY too many trailers.
The story is simple, at first. The Jovians launch a attack against Mars, destroying mankind's outposts and blasting the United Earth Forces right out of space. Mankind fights to defend the Earth and what they still control of the Earth's Moon, but the Jovians have a huge advantage in military technology.
The Nergal Corporation builts a super weapon in the form of Nadesico, crewed by wackos, misfits, anime fans and everybody who has the skills needed to run the ship. They plan to rerun to Mars, to liberate it.
Then things get complex. The Jovians MAY be on the RIGHT side, the Nergal Corporation is not interested in librating anybody and the Earth government seems to be trying to hide something.
The characters, from the super-intelligent Ruri Hoshino to the brilliant, if somewhat unbalanced, Commander Yurika, all have funny AND serious sides to their nature.
The series asks tons of questions, about right and wrong, love and friendship, peace and war. Even after 26 episodes, not everything is answered, but it does give you a lot to chew on. And laugh about.

Great Story!!
Martian Successor Nadesico is one of my favorite show of all time. After finish the whole series, i have to say there are some good sence with action and great garphic, however, there are some sence that is very bore and means nothing at all. But overall everything is great and i like the character's development and the humor within each characters. But it's too bad to see the ending ended in a unclear way... ... Read more

Amazon.com

The third broadcast season of Rumiko Takahashi's long-running transgender comedy was clearly one of the high points in the series: "Am I Pretty" may well rank as its funniest installment. When he insults her cooking yet again, Akane clobbers Ranma with an iron skillet--which somehow brings out the feminine side of his nature. The normally loutish Ranma suddenly becomes obsessed with frills, fine cooking, and extreme modesty (he blushes at the sight of his own jockey shorts). The results are hilariously incongruous. "Ryoga's Miracle," in which the geographically challenged Ryoga Hibiki finds a miraculous soap that seems to counteract the transforming spells of Jusenkyo, is only slightly less uproarious. The season begins with Ranma acquiring the last thing he needs or wants: another would-be fiancée, Ukyo, a champion okonomiyaki chef. The cross-dressing contretemps reach new heights of absurdity with the arrival of Ukyo's admirer, Tsubasa; soon no one knows who's who or what's what. Meanwhile, Chinese Amazon Shampoo serves pork buns laced with a love potion; Kuno banishes the long-suffering Sasuke, who takes refuge at the Tendo Dojo; and the entire cast competes to win a trip to China in the Miracle Martial Arts Obstacle Race. The set concludes with a no-holds-barred farce as Ranma attempts to change the past and keep himself from falling into the accursed spring at Jusenkyo. A must-have for Ranma fans. Unrated; suitable for ages 12 and up: Slapstick violence, nudity, mildly risqué humor. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Season Three Is For Me
This is it! The Hard Battle Box Set, marking the 3rd season of the hit anime Ranma 1/2. If you aren't quite up to date on what this show is about then I say..."WHERE AND THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN!?"....I also say, that I will not even attempt to say that which has already been said, far too many times. Ok, with that said, this box set includes some of the best episodes of the entire series. It even features a couple episodes VIZ released on a special tape featuring just that, the best episodes of the entire series(hows that for proof). It also finally finishes up the introduction of all the most major characters with Ranma's latest fiance, Ukyo.
Ranma has long been known for its quirky, unsophisticated, romantic, and entirely enjoyable brand of comedy. And this particular season truly shines with some classic moments.
So if you are a Ranma fan, then I definitely suggest you do yourself a favor and pick this up. If you are new to Ranma, well then it would be best if you start with first season. Or rent some tapes before buying this. As you will find yourself more confused than a Japanese tourist at a Lynard Skynard concert.(totally lost, wont know who or what your dealing with, along with plenty of cultural misunderstandings to boot) So take my advice when going into these convoluted and yes, oh so entertaining waters, take it one step at a time.
Either way, most people will have a blast with this series. Its fun for the whole family, if you don't mind a little casual nudity.(this goes back to that whole cultural misunderstanding thing) Enjoy = )

Farewell to Sarah Strange
Well, a major change happens in this season. We're introduced to Ukyo Kuonji, okonomiyaki master and yet another fiancee to Ranma. Personally, I can't stand her, but oh well. It does seem that Kelly Sheridan does a pretty good starting job for the anime, but then again, she did have some extra time to get Ukyo's voice right(she previously did her voice in a few Ranma OVAs and movies). Still, I do like Hitomi Tsuru a bit better(who's also Meryl in Trigun and Bulma in the Dragonball series) This also happens to be the only season that doesn't have any mutli-part episodes. Not one. The English cast finally seems to be mastering the voices, even Sarah Strange, which is a bit upsetting, since this was also the final season in which she did Ranma's English voice, as Richard Cox(Inu-Yasha, X-Men Evolution, Mobile Suit Gundam, Zoids) did the voice afterwards. I think this is the best season of Ranma yet, although season 6 is my personal favorite. It's definitely worth watching, but like other people said, watch out for the defective disk 5, which has English-dubbing only for the 22nd and 23rd episodes!

Caveat Emptor
I purchased this box set "Outta Control" on June 19, 2004 on Amazon.com, and, despite the fact that the defective fifth disc's audio track is supposed to have been corrected, mine is just as defective as can be. That being said, I would caution anyone against buying this barring some assurance that at the very least they will be able to obtain a satisfactory replacement for said disc if it is faulty. The recall offer ended, apparently, on June 30, 2003.

ranma1/2 rocks
This is by far the best show.If you want funny action this is what you need.These are some of the best episodes reoga & akane together for ever ,transform Akane the super duper girl,all it takes the kiss of love or the kiss of death,the last days of happosai,and ukyo's skirt !the girly girl gambit.BUT BE WARNED THERE IS NUDE.But it worth every last penney.

One of the worst
1. The animation is horrible! The first season had better animation than this one. There are many scenes where it looks like they just painted some manga scenes and tilted the screen a little (when Ukyo hits Ranma in episode 1).

2. Most of the episodes were rushed stories and pretty much the only episodes that were Manga episodes were the ones in the first two DVDs

Buy this DVD if you want to collect Ranma merchandise, but I don't suggest this to be your first box set (it was unfortunately mine). Buy the Random Rhaphsody set, its theme song is great (the name is Zettai part 2) and the made up episodes are funny. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The fourth broadcast season of this popular transgender comedy feels lessinspired than the third (collected in the Hard Battle set). Ranma'sduel with a feline specter in "My Fiancé, the Cat" plays like a retread of"You Really Do Hate Cats!" from the second season. In episode 17 Kasumi encounters achildhood friend after many years, but the reunion doesn'treally go anywhere. Although series creator Rumiko Takahashi says thethree-part "Ranma Gets Weak" story line is a personal favorite, it's not muchfun. A trick of Happosai's deprives Ranma of his strength, so everyonepounds him into mochi. Ranma is funny when he's undone despite hisstrength, not when he's just a punching bag. Another problem is that RichardIan Cox, who's taken over the voice of boy-type Ranma, sounds less like apetulant teenager than Sarah Strange did.

But the better moments in thiscollection are still great fun. In episodes 15 and 16, a Martial ArtsCalligraphy master leaves Ryoga with a pattern on his stomach that looks likeBetty Boop's face. This story reveals the grudging affection Ranma and Ryogashare, despite their ongoing rivalry. (Only the perpetually lost Ryoga coulddramatically bid everyone farewell--then set off on a loop trail.) Happosai'sincurable fetish for girls' underwear severs the student-teacher bond inepisode 10 and blights the old lecher's nascent romance with a prettypreschool teacher in episode 13. (Unrated; suitable for ages 12 and older: slapstickviolence, nudity, mildly risqué humor) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A bit less memorable than before
Ranma 1/2 is easily one of my favorite series. It's got great varying characters, a great Japanese voice cast, wonderful songs, good FITTING BGM, tons of comedy, and pure over-the-top fun. But for whatever reason, the quality seems to go down bit by bit as the series goes along, with much more mediocrity than before though still plenty of moments of greatness (much like The Simpsons became in later years). That's not to say it's bad though.

I think the reasons for this shift in quality is simple -- for whatever reason they decided to compress many of the manga-based stories into one episode, when they really should probably have been two. But not only that, they decided to take some elements of manga stories and use it in FUTURE episodes -- for instance, the 1st episode where the principal returns (the only haracter ntroduced in this season that appearas in more than two episodes), in the Manga there's a section about who he actually is (I won't spoil if you don't know), but they turn that section into a whole new episode in a later season.

Another things is a matter of sameness -- Happosai still glomps everyone all the time, Ryoga still blames Ranma all the time, etc etc. While yes characters have certain personalities, things tend to be a bit Ranma-centric (the manga is guilty of this too) than it really needed to be.

Still, there's plenty of good stuff to be found. For instance, there's the three part Moxibustion arc, where Happosai makes Ranma weak, which is Takahashi's favorite part, and there's the hilarious epsidoe where Azusa the cleptomaniac ice skater claims Kuno as her "Marrianne". And my favorite episode is the final one, with the return of Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung.

Now, as far as the DVDs themselves go, there's not much difference from seasons 2-4. Same type of so-called extras, 4 DVDs in 5-5-5-5-4, and nice box with Shampoo's picture (interesting becasue she's in so few episodes this season, another minus in my book). Really, to sum it up, it's good if you really love Ranma, but make sure to get the first two seasons, and season 3 is a BIT better than this one.

Pay atention to the other reviewers
The ones who say that this season isn't all that. They happen to be right. There are a few good episodes (written by takahashi) and a lot of bad episodes (written by amateurs) and a few should-have-been-good episodes written by takahashi that were butchered to fit in one episode.And the art/animation quality? Don't get me started. The few episodes where they flashback to the beginning of the series painfully demonstrate how far the series has degraded. In fact, if you really want to see how far this series falls short, watch 2-3 of the OVA's THEN watch this. They were producing this season on the cheap, that's for sure.I got it, because I intend to collect the whole series. Non-collectors should think twice. And if you're looking for a Ranma gift for someone, pick season one or two. They're better.

The Complete Fourth Season Boxed Set
how many DVD are in this movie {The Complete Fourth Season Boxed Set}

Not as Good as The Others but
Its not as bad as people have made it out too be. The only episode that I didn't care for was the first one. I don't see what the problem was with Richard Cox doing the voice. He's the closest that they can get without Sara Strange.

I LOVE Ranma!
Ranma does it again! The 4th season of the show is great! It's funny, crazy, and likeable! ^__^ There are some very good breakout eps for Ranma in this one. And some very funny and GREAT eps for Ranma and Ryoga fans! *I am one* But I often read at places this is the season where the show lost some of it's edge. I don't think so,Ranma 1/2 to me gets funnier as the seasons go on. I also know Ranma got a different voice-over. Well the first Ranma voice-over did a WONDERFUL job! But the guy taking over Ranma also to me does a WONDERFUL job as well. True it might sound different but it is still Ranma and to me the new voice-over is doing just fine ^__^ *And I don't say that for most people taking over a role* Anyway GREAT season for Ranma I'm truly glad I got this season. Now on too Season Five! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

TOO MUCH RECAPS AND STILLNESS...
The story and plot of "His and Her Circumstances" are excellent no doubt, but the anime had ruined everything. There are too much recaps and stillness in this anime that makes you wonder if the director gave any effort in it at all...

When I first watch the series I thought it was great and was excited to watch on. I didn't really expect it to go bad so fast.

First: There are recaps in practically every episodes. What is worse, as if we hadn't had enough, is that they didicate another episode and a half on recaps. No wonder they can't finish the ending and left us cliff hanging, is because they practically base it on RECRAPS...

Second: The series hold too much stillness in it. Most of the time they have the characters "PAUSED" while just their lips moving; or showing them in manga forms without much effort of movements. WHY NOT JUST READ THE MANGAS INSTEAD...

Third: The anime also base on sceneries too much. Who the heck want to see sceneries than their favorite characters...

Forth: Again, the story and plot are excellent but how the director developed the series, well, feels FAKE. I bet the manga feels more real than the series...

It could've been excellent; no thanks to the director. I do recommend you try this anime, but probably in manga books than in series...

Great Anime With A Crappy Ending
This was a great anime. It was funny, REALLY FUNNY, and I would've given it 5 stars, but . . . THE ENDING BITES. There better be another enstallment coming out, 'cause it ended too soon. I have the manga also, so I knew sorta what to expect, but when it ended I was like "WTF!?" How could it end like that? It really sucked. But, overall, this was a very good anime. It had a good storyline (2 overachievers fall in love with each other after discovering the other was a fake), it was really funny, the animation rocked, and I actually liked all of the main chracters. I don't regret buying this at all, despite it's ending. It's become one of my favorites animes.

Really, really funny
His and Her Circumstances is incredibly funny. Though the storytelling is very direct in the beginning, and character development pretty much done in the first few episodes, the whole series was very enjoyable to watch. This isn't a typical love story with all the backstabbing, exaggerated angst you'd find in a series like, say, fushigi yuugi. His And Her Circumstances, is almost an acquired taste since its niether fast paced nor full of plot turns. Some people whine about the whole still pictures with floating text thing, but it works well to give the story a subtle, reflective flavor to it that makes you think.

First love...
Two kids in high school, one a girl named Yukino Miyazawa who is a hard working student because she loves the praise and attention it gets her, and the other a boy, named Souichirou Arima,who comes along and takes it away from her, by being the perfect boy. Of course, this pisses her off and that's when the fun starts.
Yukino does all she can to plot her revenge, but what happens when he tells her he loves her? And what happens when she realizes she might love him too?
The story is somewhat realistic in the plot, there are no aliens or robots here, just love, hate, need and friendships. The artwork, and music, changes, depending on the inside thoughts of the characters and whose point of view we happen to be watching. Sometimes it looks like something out of a black and white film and other times it makes Southpark look like a classic! But it made me laugh and, a couple of times, almost made me cry. The characters are all flawed, yet sometimes very strong and very real. While they sometimes get confused, they don't act stupid nor do they just let things get worse while they whine. They charge ahead and try to change things for the better, even if things sometimes get really messy.
There are lots of recaps and flashbacks. Also, the reason I dropped a point was because there is no closure. There better be another anime series in the making, otherwise I'll have get the manga to figure out what happens next!
OK for males and females, so guys, buy it too!

Gainax does it again--as in, fails
Every time another Gainax title jumps into the fray, the same thing happens. Lots of hype. And it's no wonder; they start out extremely engaging and innovative. Then, like the doomed train wreck that any Gainax film is, it goes flying off the track and into oblivion.

His And Her Circumstances chronicles the romance between Yukino and Arima, two high school students striving to be the best for all the wrong reasons. The plot starts out sweet and engaging, with lots of humor. It becomes old pretty quickly, however, because of the mind-numbing angst employed. Remember all those random on-screen text inserts in "Evangelion"? Yep, they're back. With a vegeance. Yukino and Arima love to go off on these unrealistic tangents where they think about how wonderful or terrible everything is. Cue sappy violin music and lots of inner monologue. Repeat until you feel sick to your stomach. Really, Mr. Anno, this wasn't cool in Eva, and it's not cool now. Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou is up there with the greatest disappointments of anime. Do yourself a favor and check out the far more endearing "Marmalade Boy," which has all the ups and downs of a shaky relationship with a far smaller (if still a bit high) angst helping. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

So Great!
Beastmaster was/is such a fantastic show that I recommend everyone out there, whether they are interested in science fiction or not, to go out and buy these DVD sets. Even if you are not into the fantasy types of programs, the wonderful scripts will have you crying and laughing along with everyone else. There are so many different senarios that the show's main character, Dar, gets himself into, that there is certainly something there for everyone. Usually the first season of every show made is the best, because it is when you really get to know the characters and get to have your first impressions. This show, I believe, is no exception, but the second and thrid seasons are almost of the same quality. I initially began watching the show when there was nothing else on and I saw Daniel Goddard, who plays Dar, running around the jungle in a loin cloth and was instantly hooked. Definitely a must-have DVD set...

Much better than Hercules / Xena
If like me you hated how ignorant Hercules and Xena were, and want more serious fantasy like Lord of the rings. Beastmaster meets somewhere in the middle.
It of course does not have the big budget that rings did, but it still comes off very emotional and better written than Herc/Xena.
If you are an animal lover you may even tear up a few times while watching.
I'm glad that I finaly jumped in and bought the series.

excitement abounds
this is awesome that they decided to put this series on DVD so future fantasy fans can enjoy it and current ones who missed this hidden gem can see it, too. i was so caught up with this series when it came out that i couldn't wait until the next ep came out. none of the reviewers have commented on the fact that the star of the show, daniel goddard, is HOT. all of you female fantasy fans out there (there are more of us than you think) will appreciate every episode of bare-chested dan. pass the plate 'cause it is mmmmmmmm mmmmmmm good.

Wonderful series. Trekkies: Try this out
I was very sceptical when I bought the first series thinking I would hate a series based on a muscle bound Tarzan like man. I am an avid Trekkie and have watched every Star Trek episode made, up to and including the 2nd season of Enterprise. What could I possibly see in a Jungle based series with no scientific implements or space exploration.
The very first episode blew my mind with it fabulous cinematography and excellent sound effects. Once I got into the series it started to look very similar to the original Star trek. With Dar replacing Captain Kirk and Tao as his right hand man the thinker (Spok without the Vulcan ears). They are out to explore the world and right its wrongs. Amusingly the sourcerers even have their own version of the "Prime Directive" which prohibits them from interfering in human affairs.
The special effects are great, the costumes are wonderful and the setting absolutely spectacular.

Way to go ADV!
I am thrilled to see Beastmaster finally released on DVD. Out of the three seasons, the first, in my opinion, is the best. ADV-Films have chosen to release Beastmaster in season sets. The picture quality is what I'm beginning to expect from ADV. It's beautiful. ADV releases some of the best quality picture & sound ever. It is presented in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen, which makes it appear cinematic. The only extra features are all 22 of the episode previews and some ads for other ADV releases. Episode previews are something that I enjoy and want when TV series are released, so I am thankful that they at least added those. It would have been nice to have more extra features, but the show is being released more quickly than some other ADV series. (Mutant X, Farscape, & Andromeda for example.) Considering the price and the quality of this set, you should buy it today. ... Read more

Description

Magic Knight Rayearth continues. Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu are finally able to leave Cephiro, after they had killed the very person they were sent to rescue. Filled with regret, they returned to Tokyo. Now, the girls are summoned back to Cephiro by an unknown force, and must find a new Pillar before Cephiro disintegrates! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A beautifully packaged, wonderful series
This box set contains 29 episodes on 7 DVDs, which comprise the second (and last) season of Magic Knight Rayearth. The packaging is beautiful: a heavy box which opens in the front with artwork of the magic knights on the front and sides. This is by far the best box put out by an American anime company, and it puts the season 1 box to shame. Absent some spelling errors on the individual DVDs, the packaging is simply top notch.

As for the show, it is a fair bit different than the first season. An underlying current in the first season was that the show was something of a parody of Japanese RPGs (role-playing games). Here, the situation is more serious; somewhat unexpectedly, the show has more humor as well. The magic knights, three 14-year old girls from Tokyo, are summoned again to the world of Cephiro by an unknown force and find it crumbling. Cephiro is ruled by a pillar, one person whose will rules all; in the previous season, Cephiro lost its pillar, and it is now crumbling into nothingness. To make matters worse, three other worlds are invading it and a dark enemy has appeared from within. The show does start a little slow, and there are some saccharine moments--but those are to be expected if you saw the first season. On the other hand there's no concerns about nudity (although there is an innocent exchange reflecting a girl's anxiety about her chest) or language or graphic violence, so it's a fairly safe title for kids to see. Note that there is fighting, death, and occasional blood, so this is not a show for those who want to avoid all violence. If you've seen the first season and liked it, you'll like this: at once darker and funnier, with characters you came to like.

Second Season Magic Knight Box Set
The second season of Rayearth is really a must see if you liked the first season. As other reviewers have stated, it's considerably more serious then the first season, but it most certainly has its lighthearted moments.
There are a few downsides, of course...for example, Hikaru becomes the sole main character. In the manga, the relationship between the three Knights is much more balanced, with each girl getting about equal screen time. The animation in the show can get a bit off at times, but that's what happens with all anime at one point or another.
Honestly, I would reccommend the manga above the anime at any point in the Rayearth series. The manga art is breathtaking, the plot more intriguing, the story is faster-paced with fewer 'filler' episodes....and NO NOVA! And there was much feasting and rejoicing!
Of course...with the anime, you get Ogata Megumi as Eagle's Japanese voice actress (Yes, he's played by a girl, you got a problem with that?!). So that more then makes up for Eagle's fate. (IwillnotspoilIwillnotspoilIwillnotspoil...)
Overall, buy this if you're a Rayearth fan. But buy the manga first.

Once
Season 2 was good, but not great. I would recommend if you have a friend, to borrow it from them. It's not worth buying, but worth seeing. It is alot more serious than the first season and some parts don't quite make sense.

Major changes from the manga, good nonetheless
***Warning: contains spoilers!***
If you have watched season one of MKR, and most of you probably have, the second series has some major deviations from the manga (while the first season pretty much followed the manga). Overall, this season is darker and somewhat more violent than the first season, and the relationships between characters are examined more closely. Ok, now since I properly warned you in the beginning of this review that I am going to reveal important plot points, don't be angry or bitter if you feel all this spoils your precious MKR2 watching experience.
First of all, new characters were added, namely the villian characters of Nova and Lady Debonair. I thought these were interesting additions because of how these villians were created. Nova was inadvertantly created by Hikaru just before she left Cephiro after killing Zagato and Emeraude in the first season. Her intense negative emotions about killing Zagato and Emeraude created Nova. I thought bringing this character was an effective way to force Hikaru to deal with the conflict inside of her. Lady Debonair was created in a similar manner, although she was created by the fear and uncertainty of the people of Cephiro. Lady Debonair's character gave the different "factions" (Cephiro, Autozam, Chizeta, Fahren) an ultimate evil to unite against. Isn't that what we like to see, a showdown between the forces of good and evil?
While I thought the two aforementioned characters brought some interesting aspects to the series, I thought that it could seem a bit "cluttered" at times, jumping back and forth between what was going on with Nova and Debonair and Chizeta and Fahren and Autozam. The way they kept going back to Alcione was especially annoying to me, but I guess she provided a way for Debonair to invade Cephiro's castle. And Debonair's laughing was VERY annoying...
The second major change was the ..The third major change is the absence of any important function of Mokona. True, in the first season he guided Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu while they became Magic Knights. But in the second season he is reduced to just being cute and jumping around and saying his standard variations of the word "puu." ... In the anime however the role of The Creator is never mentioned and the Magic Knights summoned themselves to Cephiro. It was interesting to find out in the manga that Mokona had created Cephiro in response to humans on Earth. Unfortunately, all this was left out of the anime.
Also, as a stated in the intro, this season of MKR is darker and more violent. There are more battles and more blood ... But the battles and actions sequences were exciting.
The relationships between various characters are more pronounced in the anime than in the manga, it seems that everyone is in love with everyone else. ...Overall, I liked MKR2, despite the major changes. There were changes I thought were improvements but there were changes that I thought were steps backwards, but I love MKR and still loved the anime and thought it was wonderful. Decide for yourself if you can overlook the major changes. Happy watching!!!

^-^ MKR2
Yeah, I love MKR. Season 2 is good, but doesn't follow the Manga close enough...

I still like this. I find that Nova, Hikaru's...uh...shadow is an awesome character, but she wasn't in the manga...but hey! It is still an awesome series from CLAMP and is worth every penny.

Dvd boxset box looks MUCH better than the first season's did. Pretty...picture. (I'm obsessed with pictures, fyi.)

One of my most hated moments in this season. I'm sorry to say this if you haven't watched this is that different from the manga, Eagel dies, which I hate! Thus why this is my least favorite of the MKR collection.

My MK Rayearth rankings:
1: MKR Magna (Direct from CLAMP's minds, of course.)
2: MKR TV Season 1 (Yeah...it's BASED on the Manga by CLAMP)
3: Rayearth OVA (Screwed up; twisted revamp of the story. Still cool.)
4: MKR TV Season 2 (Yet again BASED on the Magna; THEY CHANGED IT TOO MUCH FROM THE MANGA!) ... Read more

Amazon.com

At the end of its seventh season, the Ranma 1/2 broadcastseriesconcluded with its 161st episode. Although the filmmakers' imaginations wereclearly flagging at times, this final collection offers very funny and oddlytouching moments. The gentler side of thecharacters emerges in "Run Away with Me,"as an old man revisits his lost youth with girl-type Ranma. "Meet You in theMilky Way" plays off the Asian sky myth of the Weaver Princess and theCowherd. Princess Ori and Kengyu the herder visit Earth as martial artists, althoughthe story may be a dream of Akane's. In "Mushroom Temple," Ranma and Akane inadvertently eat "love mushrooms"--anddecide to marry. The perpetually quarreling duo addressing each other as"pretty baby" and "honey" may set a new standard for improbable humor, althoughKuno, Ryoga, and Mousse turn their love feast into a free-for-all. More typical arethe slapstick incidents: ghost cat Mao Mo Lin busts up aseaside beauty pageant and falls for Tsubasa, not recognizing his true gender.Nabiki and Sasuke sell scandalous photographs of "the pigtailed girl" to Kuno.Ryoga discovers the "Lion Roar Blast" technique, which grows more powerful asthe practitioner grows more depressed, forcing him and Ranma to stage a miserycontest.Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 ranks among the undisputed classics ofanime, and few animated series can match the chaotic hilarity of its moreinspired moments. (Rated 13 and older: brief nudity, risqué humor, slapstickviolence) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Still a great series, but what's up with the interviews?!
Well, obviously if you've been collecting the entire Ranma 1/2 anime series up till now you'll no doubt buy this one. This is the last of the anime to be translated into English. (In chronological order, however, the movies come after this, then the O.A.V. series.) Anyway, the show itself maintains it's greatness, however there's one MAJOR problem, that being with the extras. They have interviews with the American voice actors, but it's in the same room where they're having the going-away party, and the backround noise is so loud it's harder than hell to hear a single word the actors are saying! Jeez, I mean, what's so hard about taking them aside into a seperate room so that the interviews can be conducted in quiet?! The whole reason I bought the Ranma Forever box set was for the voice actor interviews, and now I can barely hear what's being said! So I felt a tad bit jipped. It's because of this disapointing extra that I knock the overall rating down a star, although you do get to see what the actors (those that appear in the live-action extras, anyway,) look like. Well, anyway, that's all.

Ranma 1/2... still has it goin on!
I have to label myself as a Ranma fan. I have seasons 1-7, the OAV set, all three movies, and the entire manga series (in Italian thought, as far as I know vol. 38 hasn't come out in English!?). So I know a bit much about Ranma 1/2. this was probably one of the best seasons. The animation is top notch, much better than the fourth season, and even the dubbing is better. One of my favorite eps is definetely the mushroom temple, because it is hilarious to hear Ranma and Akane (who usually address each other as "uncute tomboy" and "stupid pervert") call each other "honey" and "darling". Another one of my favorites is when Ranma, to avenge akane's defeat, challenges a cheerleader to win KUNO'S love (!!).

In this series, Ranma and Akane seem to be getting along better, (LESS fighting and less insults).

One thing though- the ending to this series was definetely NOT SATISFACTORY. It ends with Ranma meeting his mother, who wants him to be MANLY or else... but it ends with Ranma and akane running to school like an ordinary day, and they say, Bye-bye! I was left with my mouth hanginig open in disgust. Read the manga for a REAL ending!

A must see for all Ranma fans!!!!

Ranma+Akane, together forever!

Exciting and . . . meet Ranma's Mom.
I am going to be short and concise on this one. Contained more exciting love battles to watch (as if you that didn't surprised you). This time, however, can Ranma be able to prove his love for KUNO! Yeah, you heard right! (Yak!)

Also, Ranma meets his mom. But his dad doesn't seem to be happy about it. I won't spoil it for you here. Let just say that she expects her son to be "A Man Among Men" . . . Or else . . . . ... Read more

Description

Let the forces of evil tremble in fear (along with wealthy merchants and inno cent bystanders)... THE SLAYERS ARE BACK! Join the not-so-heroic adventures of Lina Invers e--the super-cute sorceress who steals from the rich and keeps it for herself! Along with her sword-swinging (but dumber than dirt) sidekick, Gourry, her hyper-enthusiastic protégé , Amelia, and the tormented and overly-serious golem, Zelgadis, there's nothing Lina can'tdo! BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE: Video Interview with U.S. Actors, Character Sketches, Meet th e Characters, Comics, Sneak Peeks, Interactive Menus, Chapter Stops, Spoken language: Japa nese & English, English subtitles. DVD-ROM FEATURES INCLUDE: Art gallery (includes Japanes e packaging), Cast info, Scripts, Graphic Novel pages, Character Sketches, Reviews. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

It's No Secret....^_^
Slayers Next reunites us with favorite characters Lina Inverse and Gourry Gabriev, as well as justive obsessed Amelia and stoic and stony Zelgadis.
Our heroes are seeking the Claire Bible this time, a mystic artifact that holds the secrets to magic that surpasses even Lina's most powerful spell, the Dragon Slave.
They are not the only ones seeking the ancient tome. A sorceress named Martine is also seeking the sacred text, and she's got a personal score to settle with Lina.
Also on the trail is a mysterious man known as Xellos. I'd love to tell you what it is he's doing there, but I'm afraid that, to quote Xellos, "That is a secret."
Action, mayhem, swords and sorcery gone horribly awry, and a sorceress with a short fuse and an appetite that would put a restaraunt out of business. All the things that made the first season of Slayers great are here in the second.
There is a problem with the translation. In the Japanese version, there are a race of beings known as Mazoku, quite seperate from Monsters. However, in the English translation, and, unfortunately, subtitles, the term Mazoku is translated as Monster as well. It is, however, a small problem, and one that you can compensate for if you watch with the Japanese audio turned on.

If you haven't seen it, you're missing the best!
"What do you mean *You haven't watched Slayers*?!!! DRAGON SLA--" Heh...kidding. Anyway, this is, in my opinion, the best anime series out there, if you like comedy. The silly group of wandering sorcerers(ess's), swordsmen, and princesses is insane. Zelgadis must be my favorite character by far: a stony skined chimera with an *Eeyore-like* additude "Don't mind me..." Lina, the food-crazy, young sorceress has quite an additude...pick a fight with her, and you'll end up dead for sure. Gourry is the sterotypical dumb blonde muscleman, who often helps the story along by asking about things when the watcher may not understand. Then there's the justice-obsessed Amelia: She enjoys standing on high places and proclaiming about justice...but don't let THAT annoy you...keep your annoyance for Xellos...the "Mysterious Priest" who enjoys teasing our characters...don't you just want to hit him over the head? I prefer dubbed *ducks as several heavy objects are thrown at her* but that just might be because I'm not used to the japanese versions...I was told they are better, and that the subtitles actually explain more, but I just don't like japanese voices...*shrugs* If you enjoy this one, be sure to watch Slayers Try as well...worth the time! ^_^

Slayers next Is a great sequel to the original Slayers!
Just like the first season, Slayers next is hilarious, while still keeping a good story line and tons of action. Basically everything starts with Lina and the gang trying to find the Claire Bible manuscripts, artifacts which supposedly contain all the knowledge of the water dragon god before his death, and just maybe a way to help Zelgadis regain his human form.( if you remember the first series, one of those manuscripts was also used to resurrect zannafar) Of course, things aren't going to be all that simple, as the mysterious priest Xellos is also looking for the Claire bible. And that's just the beginning. The animation quality is a little lower in some of the episodes than it was in the first series, and some of the cg looks a little odd in a one or two scenes, ( the scene where part seyrrune lifts off sticks out most in my mind...) but unless you just had a Slayers marathon you'll hardly notice. Although I prefer the subtitled version, software sculptors also did an okay job for most of the main characters in the dubbed version, with the exception of Xellos and Sylphiel. ( who sound pretty horrible, as the voice completely changes their character.) And notice I said "Okay", and not, "good" or "great". Unfortunately, most of the side characters and monsters don't sound all that good... ( especially the two sisters.. yuck!) But then, I'm a dub hater anyway... For some versions of the box set there's supposed to be a sound problem in the Japanese sound track. Although mine didn't have any, so I assume software sculptors fixed the problem, there might still be a few "bad" copies out there. ( which SS are replacing btw.) As for the subtitles, as my Japanese is limited to, "yes" "no" and "bye-bye", I Really can't say much about how many liberties they take with the dialogue, but they read petty easily, although they are a little smaller than for some other animes out there. ( I think) The only major complaint I have is that you need a Dvd ROM drive to access most of the features on this set, ( which I don't). So aside from a few small things, the Slayers next Dvd set Is tons of fun, and I personaly can't wait for more to come out!

This is great but the sound is kinda bad.
I love Slayers!!! The story is great, the fighting is great, but i have one problem and that's the sound. For example their's a guy walking down a hall right while the foot steps sounds get their before the guy's feet touch the ground!!!! That's a bad thing people!!! And another thing is when Lina is talking her mouth this moving and she isn't talking!!!! But other than a few sound problems this's a fun box set.

Model middlebrow anime series w/ great cast. Amelia rules.
Slayers is a proven crowd-pleaser with a worldwide fan base. The franchise has extended to three full seasons of TV plus several films and OVA releases. By popular consensus, this second season is Slayers at its best. The show wins because of its enjoyable group of four central characters: Lina the mercurial and mercenary teenaged sorceress, Gourry her good-natured but thick-headed protector, Zelgadis the reserved and melancholic stone-skinned "chimera", and little Amelia the hyper-earnest and idealistic magic-using princess, who is my favorite character.

Some interesting relationships criss-cross the group. There's an awkward but acknowledged romantic attraction between Lina and Gourry (he's too good for her, in my view), and a quieter, but not entirely one-sided thing between Amelia and Zelgadis (cute couple; he'll come around sooner or later). To this mix, add Xelloss the enigmatic "priest" who follows the group around. A great character: amusing, yet the writers never let you forget his dangerous side. And Martina, the addled former princess who has a vendetta against Lina for blowing up her kingdom.

This is one tightly written season. Not everything the writers do is great (I'm not a fan of anime slapstick) but they always keep things moving, even in the comic "filler" episodes. The dramatic arc of the last seven episodes leading to the final showdown is compelling.

The voice cast is awesome! I mean the original Japanese cast; the English dub here is weak and not worth your time. What a difference good actors make. If you really squint and just pay attention to the character of Lina as scripted, she isn't all that likeable, though I admit she can be counted on to do the right thing in a crisis. The real reason so many fans love Lina, I think, is because of the exuberant portrayal given by Megumi Hayashibara, the most famous anime voice actress in Japan. (Hayashibara-san is the bomb. If you ever doubt just how versatile her talent is, reflect on this: Rei Ayanami from _Evangelion_ and Lina Inverse are the same person! And she sings. Just the other day I was enjoying her clever, limber-tongued single "Koibumi" from a recent anime series. If you hate Hollywood as I do, it's a comfort to be reminded that there are full-fledged stars out there in the world like M.H. who owe nothing to the U.S. media cabal.)

Speaking of singing, the Slayers Next opening song, "Give a Reason," ranks among the most rousing anime themes ever. I almost gave the series five stars purely based on the lift you get from hearing it before each episode. Hayashibara-san sings it and wrote the lyrics.

This series has some faults. The animation isn't any better than it needs to be, except for the last two episodes. It's very consistent, though, and the big-eyed "romantic comedy" style fits the series well. I already mentioned I'm no fan of the slapstick: maybe it's a cultural thing, but I don't think it's funny to watch people smack around their friends. But there's plenty of fun visual and verbal wackiness to make up for it, like the exaggerated "action sequences" that Amelia runs through when declaiming her latest imprecations against the enemies of righteousness! Some of the dialogue and reactions are also a little broad for my tastes; this is a middlebrow anime pitched at a wide audience.

Lina, finally, is just not quite as cool as the series and the Slayers fan base make her out to be, and occasionally gets on my nerves. But she's still pretty cool. And her three companions are great.

Well worth buying. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 33 episodes in theMeiji Era Premium Box conclude the popular 1996broadcast series Rurouni Kenshin, although the characters later appeared in a theatrical feature (1997), the Samurai X OVA (1999), and various compilation "specials." Usually referred to as "The Tales of the Meiji," these brief stories lack the sustained plotline and depth of characterization that distinguish the Legend of Kyoto narrative.

The most interesting story requires Kenshin to deal with the aftermath of the conflicts that produced the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Once the trusted lieutenant of the last Tokugawa shogun, Kaishu Katsu is attacked by renegade samurai who believe he betrayed their feudal lord. Kenshin must defend Katsu and his actions, which prevented wholesale slaughter in Tokyo. In a longer adventure, Yutaro, Yahiko's friend and rival from the first story arc (Rurouni Kenshin, Wandering Samurai Premium Collection), returns to Japan from Germany. His arrival precipitates a complicated plot involving a cabal of German knights and a miraculous elixir. The final story pits Kenshin and his friends against Chinese Feng Shui masters scheming to seize control of Japan. These supernatural tales feel like anime business as usual, and lack the compelling interior battles that make the Kyoto arc so powerful. Despite the weakness of the writing, few fans will be able to resist the last adventures of the well-loved Kenshin Himura, including his long-awaited marriage to "Miss Kaoru." (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Filler episodes.
This final season which is based on the meiji era are not actual episodes of the final season, the real last seaon was supposed to be The Jinchuu Arc a.k.a Revenge Arc which was based on the revenge of Enishi Kenshin's brother in law which was became with the marrage of Tomoe.

These filler episodes which was produced by sony are based on a religious time for Kenshin. For Kenshin has to face a group of Feug Sheui which want to take over Japan which also wants to take over ASIA. But thats later in the Meiji Era series there are really funny parts in it too but the the stories lack of a lot of stuff I mean what is the main problem I mean the sory for the Wnadering Samurai was just an introductory so it really didn't have a real story line that I can understand but this was just a real weird season. But even though it really isn't really worth the money I will get this seaon anyway because I am a real fan but unless you are a real fan of Rurouni Kenshin don't waste your money on this because Legend of Kyoto ended the right way and remember these are just filler episodes

Lackluster ending to a great series
Background: Up until this season, the TV show closely followed the storylines of the Kenshin manga in Shonen. When this series was being made, the final "Revenge" arc of the Manga which was as good (or better) than the Kyoto arc was still being written. So this season of filler episodes, not written by Watsuki Nobuhiro was put out, got canceled due to lousy ratings and we NEVER get to see the true end of Ruruoni Kenshin on TV (the Samurai X OAVs Trust+Betrayal present a condensed version of Revenge arc's flashbacks and fight with Enishi).

So how is this series? Well the stand-alone filler episodes are fine and some of the mini-arcs are OK but others (esp. the Christian rebellion) are plodding, without memorable opponents or battles and very little character maturation. It's like the writers wanted to wait for Watsuki to write the character developement for his protagonists so they ended up treading water for an entire season. They also make some forays into the supernatural, which seems contrary to everything in the series thus far (Wastuki always tooks pains to show there was no magic in his characters, only skill and a few tricks).
The final episode, which was never shown on TV seems to have been animated on the cheap. It is actually sort of poignant in a weird way but you may be dissapointed if you expected some kind of resolution.

Technically speaking: The discs are fine but don't have as many features as some of the earlier ones. The subs are excellent but the dubs are pretty bad and the background audio is muted a bit on the dubbed track. WAY too expensive! For the price of all three sets you can get a plane ticket to Hong Kong and get the 'questionable' box which puts 8 episodes per disc (which the domestic version could have easily done but then no one would pay $150.00 for a season on 4 discs...)

Rurouni Kenshin - Wandering Samurai Box (5 stars)
Legend of Kyoto Box (5 stars)
Tales of the Meiji (3 stars, plus maybe a half-star because I really liked the final opening/theme song)

Hopefully not the last.
Iam a real fan of rurouni kenshin from 2003-2004 and I'm glad its not short because I like collecting a lot of DVD's and to learn more about the series. This side of the story is called tales of the meiji era and it deals with a lot of religious stuff and hard to imagine why. There are alot of funny stuff like when an artist falls in love with Kaoru and other stuff like that. The only thing I don't like about this box set is that there are only 33 episodes in this which there were suppodes to be 34 in this side of the series. Either the creators are finnaly making the Jinchu Arc or they are just tryin to get you get pissed off and get the LAST DVD just for one DVD. I am not reccommending this unless you are a real rurouni kenshin fan Like I am. Get this if you want to I don't really care.

Kenshin is Amazing but Season 3 is a bit odd
In my opinion this third season was not at all needed. It has some amazing stories in it however many of them were not needed nor to the quality of the rest of Rurouni Kenshin.

I still think that this is worth the money, and don't be fooled by the 70-80 dollar Full boxed sets on Ebay, those are illegal boot legged copies. If you're into to supporting that kind of crap then go for it. But anyone who wants the real thins will be happy with the money spent on the Real version.

This is a good buy, however if you are into season 2 and stongly feel that it is the best season then you may want to invest in the OVA's at least Trust and Betrayl, AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT THE DIRECTORS CUT!! They kinda botched some things up. The Widescreem implimentation means that they simply cut off some of the top and bottom of the frame, because the OVA was drawn in Pan and Scan format.

The weird season.
I love rurouni kenshin I own the ova's I have the motion picture and I also have the wandering samurai premium box. I am saving up my money for the legend of kyoto premium box I might buy it next month. I know people been disin this season because the story was weird or it was just filler episodes but I don't care about them because I know the series have never let me down and this season doesn't make a different. Once I get the Legend of Kyoto premium box at suncoast later, I will get this premium box right after, altough this season is a bit confusing and weird I will get this anyway. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Trust
The four-episode Samurai X: Trust original animation video captures the mixture of swordplay and poetry that makes Japanese warrior culture so intriguing to viewers on both sides of the Pacific. The OAV series serves as a prequel to both Samurai X: The Movie and the more lighthearted TV series. The action unfolds in 1864, when a few clans began the revolt that would overthrow the military dictatorship of the Tokugawa Shogunate and return power to the Emperor in the Meiji Restoration of 1868. Shinta, a lonely orphan, is transformed by master swordsman Hiko into Kenshin Himura, an assassin in the service of Katsura, one of the revolutionary leaders. Kenshin kills whomever Katsura orders with consummate skill and unshatterable calm. He believes he is using his sword to bring about a better world, even as the intrigues and counter-intrigues escalate. But he becomes aware of unspoken doubts when he meets Tomoe, a mysterious girl whose beauty, like the iris, is seen to best advantage in cloudy weather. Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi choreographs the sword fights with a grace that infuses even scenes of extreme violence with an elegant sensuality: in one striking image, he focuses on the rain washing a spatter of blood from Tomoe's cheek. The dialogue in the English translation often sounds stilted, but the words are usually superfluous.

Betrayal
The peace that reigns over the remote mountain village of Otsu contrasts sharply with the rapid-fire violence of the previous episodes set in Kyoto. Working as a farmer, growing crops and savoring the passage of the seasons, Kenshin comes to terms with the discontent festering in his soul. He regrets the death and suffering he has caused, and hopes to find a better life--with the mysterious Tomoe. A conventional story would end on this note of self-discovery and moral growth. But Samurai X unfolds like a Kabuki tragedy: the desire for revenge remains strong, especially among the agents of the last Tokugawa Shogun, who are anxious to crush the nascent rebellion led by the Choshu clan. Kenshin was an important agent for the Choshu; Tomoe is just a pawn, but the outcome of a game may hinge on a strategically positioned pawn. Kenshin finally grasps the lessons his master, Hiko, attempted to teach him: the need for inner peace and the possibility of defending the weak without resorting to violence. The exquisitely detailed artwork evokes 19th century Japan, and director Kazuhiro Furuhashi depicts these understated inner conflicts as skillfully as the epic sword fights in the first episodes. Samurai X demonstrates the power of animation to present stories of great emotional depth, earning it a rightful place among the top anime series.

Reflection
The final OAV brings the long-running saga of master swordsman and assassin Kenshin Himura to its conclusion. The story is set in 1893, long after the bloody conflicts of the Meiji Restoration--and the events in the previous OAVs that culminated in the death of Kenshin's wife, Tomoe. With his devoted second wife, Kaoru, Kenshin seeks peace in trying to aid the helpless. But he cannot escape the karmic burden of the many deaths he caused: there is no peace for Kenshin in this world. The Japanese concept of the transitory nature of beauty permeates the two-part adventure. Director Kazuhiro Furuhashi ushers the narrative along at a deliberate pace, deftly inserting the many flashback sequences. The result is a properly elegiac farewell to one of most popular anime characters on both sides of the Pacific. (Rated 17 and older: violence, alcohol use, mature themes) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Samurai X
Hmmm. Well, Im a bit biased, since I live anime. Now that that is out of the way, I would like to tell you what I think of this. Rurouni Kenshin is my favorite anime. It is about a famous ex-assasin turned wanderer and his struggles involving his past, internal, as well as externally. When I first heard of Samurai X, I thought that it was just Rurouni Kenshin being released in US under a different name. However, I soon learned that it is the story of when he was still Hitokiri Battousai, the manslayer. While the title is appaling, since it has nothing to do with Kenshin, since he is not a samurai, nor is that an X on his cheek(cross), I think that this is a spectacular mini-series and a must own for any anime fan and especially Rurouni Kenshin fan. However, this is NOT one for the kids. Bloody, violent, and full of saki this anime is. I feel that hasnt seen an R rated flick should be kept away from this masterpiece. It may cause some emotional scarring ;). However, if you even like anime a little, and arent scared by some gore, then this is for you!

All you can ask for in a compact package!
From the groundbreaking work of Nobuhiro Watsuki, Rurouni Kenshin, comes the prequel and the sequels to this paramount anime series. The Trust and Betrayal (prequel) OAVs are unparallel to anything you have ever seen before. The darkness that surrounds the story of kenshin's old man-slayer days reflets his feelings at the time and adds greatly to the story. For all you thrill-seekers, the action in this movie is unmatched by any other. Also, there's a very complex love story intertwined masterfully into the blood and gore that was the transition period between the Tokugawa Era to the Meiji Era. These turbulent times were the perfect setting for this story to take place. The battles fought in the movie were actual historical battles at those exact locations. The names of the clans were also real (The "Imperialists" [Choushu clan] Mibu's wolves [Shinsengumi], etc). The plot is wonderful, the story reels you in and the animation and music is simply superb! The animation is sleek and you feel as if you're witnessing all the action first hand! The music is also a vital part of this series. The composer of all the great instrumentals in this movie is Taku Iwasaki. The music sets the mood for the movie. For example in the battle scenes when "One more Red Nightmare" comes on, it sets that dark killing mood into place that just compliments those scenes perfectly. "Shades of Revolution" also gives teh movie that mysterious touch, with the eerie wolf howls and violin pieces, it is again unparallel to any other music in any other anime series.

The same can be said of the Reflection OAV. This is the sad part of the story, how the whole story wraps up. Of course, not in the original plotline of what Nobuhiro Watsuki originally wrote, but it is indeed a good rendition. (Of course nothing compares to the original story in the Manga of Rurouni Kenshin, but that's another point.)

Not enough can be said about this, any anime fan HAS to experience the beutiful story of Rurouni Kenshin. There are not enough stars in this review to rate this, I would personally give it as many stars as possible.

samurai x ova
I have only seen this anime in the orijinal japanies as American voice work can be a bit lacking, that hasn't stopped me from being ingulfed in the kenshin univers, as with manny of the fine anime films and manga books no detail was left obscure, the series was full of purpose and uncluttered. I would suggest this series to any one, weather they watched anime or not, for this is one of the reasons i do.

Simply the Best
I love the anime series of Rurouni Kenshin, but the OVA's, especially Trust and Betrayal, are simply amazing! I loved seeing Kenshin as a young and serious hitokiri and later, as a happily married man.

One of the box collection extras are brief character analysis, including Kenshin, Tomoe, Hiko Seijuro, and Enishi. Kenshin's superiors are also included, something I thought was extremly helpful, as I kept confusing some of the leaders of the clans. Also, some historical background information is provided which further helped me understand what things were like during that time period.

Again, I LOVE Kenshin and would highly recommend the OVA collection to anyone who doesn't already own the OVA's.

Sadly, audio mastering spoils this wonderful anime
Samurai X (or Rurouni Kenshin) OVAs are among the best anime ever produced. The story, the art, the characters, everything just blew my mind away when I saw them for the first time, and still does. But, alas, something went awry, probably in the mastering phase of this release:

For some unknown reason there are very annoying problems in the audio, which heavily affect the watching experience. Every now and then, when there is music, speech and sound effects playing simultaneously, music drops about 10-20 db, and the sound effects control the whole soundscape. Then, after a few seconds, the music strengthens again as suddenly as it weakened.

Especially in this kind of story, where music plays a really big part in the atmosphere, these kinds of problems can't be forgiven. For me, it destroed the whole watching experience, which means that I'm forced to watch old digitized vhs-versions.

Shame on the guys who mastered this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Gasaraki blends high-quality animation with interesting mecha designs and a convoluted plot that borrows heavily from Evangelion. In the not-too-distant future, the robot-suits of the Gowa Corporation fight in a Middle Eastern conflict modeled on the Gulf War. That battle is linked to the Gowa family's attempts to unleash the Gasaraki, a powerful entity from another dimension, through a Noh dance by Yoshiro Gowa, the youngest of the brothers. Miharu, a young woman who shares a psychic bond with both Yoshiro and the Gasaraki, thwarts their efforts. While his older brother Kazukiyo plots with a fanatic right-wing cabal to "purify" Japan, Yoshiro and Mirahu embark on a voyage of self-discovery. They learn that the real Yushiro Gowa died eight years ago, and share a vision of a revolt in Heian Japan (794-1185) involving Kugai, huge mobile suits with faces modeled on Noh masks. When Yoshiro and Miharu block Kazukiyo's plot to resurrect the mysterious Gasaraki, they are carried into an Evangelion-like collage of still artwork, processed live action, drawn animation, and computer-generated imagery, overlaid with a pointillist vocal track. Toru Nozaki's screenplay leaves major plot threads dangling, including Yoshiro's death and replacement. Director Ryusuke Takahashi struggles to move the various subplots along, but the result is like watching a juggler trying to keep one ball too many in the air. Gasaraki divides viewers into fervent partisans and furious detractors. Rated 12+: Violence, tobacco use, brief nudity, occasional profanity, grotesque imagery. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (10)

no one ever reads titles, just the review...look below
The success of an anime series hinges on many factors, such as animation, plot, character development, etc., and Gasaraki does not fail to satisfy any of the demands any serious fan has. However, the plot is perhaps superfluously convoluted, which results in a somewhat boring and drawn out story which is used a fortiori to introduce the goals of Yushiro and to extend the series even further (thus leaving the plot open to even more expansion). It is certainly possible to start watching the series from the 13th episode, as it succintly summarizes and clarifies the previous 12. Although this is possible it is not recommended because it leaves out the details and, of course, the superlatively excellent animation. Contrary to popular belief, this series falls short of a mecha anime, as mecha battles are minimal, and personal problems and international disputes abound. Gasaraki should be viewed for the story and not for the action. Only one factor contributed to the four star rating which I so graciously conferred to this series, and it deals with the voice acting. Although many people prefer the original Japanese voice actors, the English actors presented on this series perform splendidly and do not fail to capture the emotions, or lack thereof in some instances, conveyed by the characters. However, the actor for one of the SSDF's captains (his name escapes me) annoyingly resembles Humphrey Bogart and the orangutan from the 1980s American cartoon show, Shirt Tails. His voice was completely unbefitting for the role, especially in such a serious series such as this. His voice exacerbated my already weary tensions that this series induced via volume 7, which notably has a narcoleptic aspect. Despite my somewhat harsh but compulsory criticism, I found Gasaraki quite enjoyable. The animation is by far among the best I have seen, and the story, as complex and elaborate as it was, had a magnetic quality that prevented me from leaving the television. I believe that fans of Japanese voice actors should watch this series in English without apprehension due to the superb job of the English actors (with exception to the orangutan). Additionally, Gasaraki is a rather pleasant alternative to the typical action, magic, mecha, etc. animes out there that most people should enjoy. (Although this series is shrouded in mysticism, the overall militaristic nature has a stronger hold on the viewer).

Slow-moving complex political drama in animation form
First off, Gasaraki is a series that requires a good deal of careful attention. Do not venture into this series if all you want is instant gratification - you won't get it. Don't even try marathoning it, you will be overloaded as there is quite a lot to digest.

Gasaraki is a slow-moving complex political drama with some excellent mecha action thrown into the mix. The series starts off right in the centre of a weapons development programme in Japan and goes on to develop a story about global political manoeuvring played on very high stakes. Adding to this heady mix is the incorporation of some mystical and supernatural elements coupled with traditional Japanese dance theatre to drive this complex political drama along.

Mecha fans should rejoice as this series features probably the most realistic depiction of a military mecha unit, so realistic that it could possibly be built in the very near future. Considerable thought has been put into how a real military mecha would be used, their strengths and weaknesses - e.g. a bipedal mecha unit in a sandstorm will suffer from having fine sand clogging the joints and actuators.

Not only is the mecha frightening realistic, some of the political events featured and how these are all presented (via cable and satelite news) are spookily like the real thing. The political manoeuvring is a delight to watch while the philosophies and thinking are quite interesting.

By now, you're probably asking whether the ending is satisfying in light of what some have written before. It all depends on how conclusive an ending you are looking for. All I can say is that I'm quite satisfied with the ending. Without giving out any spoilers, I can tell you the ending of the series will provide an explanation of what Gasaraki means which ties in with one of the overall themes of this series.

There is an unfortunate aspect to Gasaraki though, as given the amount of detail and depth of the story, something usually has to give and in Gasaraki's case, character development suffers. This is due to both insufficient time to properly realise the key characters as there are many things that are left unexplained, and the large number cast of secondary characters involved.

Considering that this is a relatively recent series, the animation quality throughout the series is very good. There is one very pleasant surprise though, the English dub for the series is excellent and is a match with the original Japanese track. This is most unlike quite a number of anime series out there where the English dub just doesn't match with the characters on-screen.

There are no special extras with the boxset (except that it, of course, comes with a box) as it is just a collection of all the 8 DVD volumes into one neat package held in a cardboard box. If you are ready to commit to the series, this Perfect Collection boxset is a cost-efficient way to pick it up.

Slow burner that's a thinker
Let me tell you. If your a trecky... or you like titles that build up... keep you guessing. This title might be for you. There's a lot of techno-bable at times but as I said if your a trecky you'll love it. This has GOT to be one of hte most realistic anime in terms of modern day robotic battles. Granted the plot hints that not everything was produced by humans though. Even I haven't seen the whole thing yet but I will say if your into the modern day combat with robotic platforms with a scifi twist of a "mysterous" force that will keep you guessing this could be the anime for you. If your still wondering rent the first DVD. It contain's 4 eps and will get you deep enough to determine if you want to keep going. The first four eps are a little slow, but the story really start's to pick up from there.

The reason I gave it four star's was due to the fact that it's in a small nitch of "thinking" anime's that doesn't quite lead you by the nose. It apeals to me but I'm an old school RPGer that likes to be forced to think and I know that not everyone like to be forced to think these days

A Great Idea Brought Down By Poor Execution
The Gasaraki premise is unique and intriguing: only two people--young Yoshiro Gowa and Miharu, both opposing "pilots"--are blessed with the ability as "kai" to summon the Gasaraki, a powerfuly, mysterious, but extremely destructive force. As kai, they are also endowed with wonderful physical abilities, such as extreme endurance, and the ability to raise and maintain their pulse rates at exceeding two to three hundred beats per minute, a quality that makes them ideal pilots of battle-ready robots thrown into the mix in a middle-eastern war.

A 3.5 star rating would be more appropriate for this series which seems to show so much promise. The art is of a newer sort that promises to be the medium in which all subsequent anime will follow: cleaner, flatter characters, drawn more thickly and with less of the lines that make some anime attractive. The main characters, Yoshiro and Miharu are extremely inviting and well-developed characters. The battle scenes are fluid, and the designs for the kugai (as the legend goes, the kai perform a Noh Dance to summon the Gasaraki, which takes or kills the kai, leaving a kugai--a primal, predator-looking giant robot in the Eva mode) are spectacular. The movie moves at a good consistent pace, with few slow spots, and the important section flashing back to the history of the kai in ancient Japan is extremely compelling, and could survive as a show on its own. Yet how does it fail?

The biggest culprit is in its ambition. The plot is extremely heavy and disorganized, loaded with plenty of philosophy, politics, legend, and politics. And politics. This would have been okay if it had the background story and character development to support it, but other than Yoshiro and Miharu, the characters are all given fluctuating levels of importance, with little or no exploration of who they are. There are so many characters anyway that doing that would be impossible. To better muddle through Gasaraki, separate characters into these groups before watching:
Yoshiro and Miharu, the kai/pilots; the Gowa corporation, Yoshiro's family, which basically rules Japan; the Symbol corporation, most noted by its CEO; Yoshiro's squad mates on Japan's battle mecha team; the US, Japan, and another Middle Eastern countries as separate entities; and a side group that includes Yoshiro's younger sister, mother, and Noh dance teacher.

Understanding that these groups exist and that they each have their own motivations will hopefully be helpful. It's a good watch, but requires plenty of patience. The ending is almost a side note to the climactic section on the kai flashbacks. It's an ending, but not a satisfying one.

A decent watch, and a questionable addition to your collection.

Great anime
First of all, be warned: this is a slow-moving, complex anime, not just some mindless action flick. If you don't think you had handle that, don't buy it.
It has a great story and animation, but is a slow-moving anime, and requires some patience when e=watching
Overall, I think this is a great buy. Definitaly worth every cent you pay. ... Read more