Amazon.com

Who and what is Vash the Stampede, a.k.a. "The Humanoid Typhoon"? To bounty hunters, he's an outlaw with 60,000,000,000 Double Dollars on his head. To Meryl Stryfe and Millie Thompson of the Bernardelli Insurance Society, he's a walking disaster area who's cost the company a fortune. To otaku, he's one of the most popular characters in anime. Based on Yasuhiro Nightow's manga, this comic adventure takes place in the distant future on a desert planet that looks like the American Old West. Vash wanders from town to town, unsuccessfully pursuing peace, doughnuts, and "the mayfly known as love." Meryl and Millie follow him, trying to minimize the destruction, but Vash's only real friend is the gun-totin' preacher Nicholas Wolfwood. Despite their grudging affection, Wolfwood articulates the other characters' thoughts when he tells Vash, "When you're around, things always seem to get worse!"

Anime heroes tend to be either cold-blooded warriors who kill for honor (the Gundam Wing pilots) or unlikely nerds who grow into the role of warrior when it's thrust upon them (Shinji Ikari in Evangelion). Sometimes comic and kooky, sometimes gentle and earnest, Vash reveres life and agonizes over the bloodshed he inadvertently causes. He'd rather eat than demonstrate his amazing marksmanship: he doesn't fire a shot until the fifth episode, although one of his arms is actually a gun. Voice actor Johnny Yong Bosh articulates both Vash's suffering and adolescent exuberance whenever he sees a pretty girl with exceptional panache. The runaway popularity of Trigun seems to have surprised the filmmakers. Although no plans have been announced for additional animation, a new manga series has appeared, Trigun Maximum. It seems unlikely that the artists would prematurely end the adventures of a figure with so much potential--and so many fans. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (146)

Classic Anime Series
Trigun, in my opinion, is THE best and most original anime series to date. It has a certain flair of action, adventure, comedy and even drama and romance. Its the story of Vash the Stampede, a man who the whole world fears. They call him the Humanoid Typhoon. Trouble lurks everywhere he goes and he doesnt know why. The story line for the series is addictive and captivating. I already have the whole series on the seperate DVD set that comes in 8 volumes, but i'm still willing to spend money to purchase the boxed set. Theres a lot to find out in the series, like why theres trouble lurking wherever he goes, why the show is called "TRIGUN" and just who is Vash the Stampede? So grab a couple 2-litter bottles of your favorite soda, grab a couple bags of chips and get ready to get stuck on your couch, glued to the tv, watching TRIGUN.

A silly, funny, serious sci-fi action flick.
Trigun is a complex piece of anime. It starts out as a lighthearted western comedy with sci-fi elements and slowly turns into a very serious science fiction story.
The story basically tells the story of Vash the Stampede, a gun sliging man with a 1 billion dollar price on his head.
It starts out silly, with two female insurance agents sent to find and convince Vash to stop destroying entire towns so that the insurance agency won't lose so much money from insuring towns. As those insurance agents discover, Vash is a complete goofball with a heart of gold.
As the unrelated stories unfold, the first few episodes introduce us to the characters and the desolated world that Vash and gang live in. As we move on, more of Vash's mysterious story is revealed and the story turns more and more serious.
The story owes alot to older silly/serious characters and anime series such as City Hunter. Overall the Trigun series is worth watching for its funny moments and action sequences. Athough its got an interesting story, the story gets too depressing and just drags on for too long at the end. The animation is also a mixed bag with some beautiful episodes and some which are just mediocre. Overall Id say give the series a shot and you'll come to love it.

TRIGUN's a masterpiece, unique & ultimately brilliant anime
I started to get the TRIGUN series of anime after reviews on the net and various other sources recommended it. After getting the first DVD entitled The $$60,000,000,000 Man, I was hooked. TRIGUN features some of the strongest characters I have seen in Japanese animation. The stories are individual but build into the entire development of each character and especially the strange hero, Vash the Stampede. I won't ruin it for you by revealing any of the plot. This series is absolutely brilliant, each story is carefully thoughout and contains an enormous amount of humour (sometimes adult in theme) but the hero himself is a beautiful character that is superbly drawn. This hero is a bit like Clint Eastwood's The Man With No Name from the Dollars Spaghetti westerns. He enters towns as a drifter and is the ultimate in cool, but what sets him aside from other heroes is he acts like an idiot and does some really crazy stuff along the way. I love the English dub to this series, one of the finest and carefully put together dubs ever and it is probably even better than the Japanese soundtrack because it is so funny. The producers couldn't have found a better voice actor for the hero. The music to this series is excellent, from spanish guitars to heavy metal guitars, it never ceases to be cool. A superb soundtrack with many interesting instruments and styles sets mood and emotions.

This series is the ultimate anime treat, I have started to collect the series on DVD but now I'm just going to get the DVD box set instead.

This series works on so many levels and is a highly intelligent, thought provoking series with a high level of comedy.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

So funny (and deep too)!
Some other reviewers have noted that Vash is an implausible(...); that he is un-heroic and the show lacks balance in the transition from funny to serious. This, of course, stems from a misunderstanding of what a hero is and how complex characters are developed.

The theme of the reluctant hero is rather common--it exists from the Christ (who wished not to die) to the "manslayer" (another hero that refuses to kill). Vash has tremendous power (as does Knives) but he chooses to use it for good. The first ten episodes of the show emphasis his childish nature and establishes his pacifist beliefs, his sense of justice and how he must reconcile the two.

Despite his constant heroics, people both hate and fear him, mistaking him for the villain and trying to cash in on the $60 billion on his head. And perhaps the key part of his character is missed by these reviewers; Vash suffers to save others (the "by his stripes we are healed" of Isaiah is literal-Vash is covered with scars from times he refused to kill). His is a "hunter of peace, chasing the elusive mayfly of love", trying to find his small piece of happiness and peace in a barren world.

So, in a sense, the other reviewers are right that Vash is weak in the sense that the Knight of the woeful countenance was crazy. The villains on the show certainly view him as such and one wonders which will crack first: Vash or them. The show heavily emphases Christian themes (even featuring a gun toting priest and two episodes: Diablo and Sin) especially redemption

And besides, this show is filled with humor, wild west/techno guitar music and awesome duels; the only trouble is the subtitling that is filled with errors. Trigun is one of the greatest Animes and Vash the humanoid typhoon is an ultra cool tragic hero.

Very Different Show
Having heard alot about this show I finally decided to buy it and was certainly not dissapointed.
Trigun is a very unusual show. One of the criticisms I have heard is about Vash being a pacifist. However there was something refreshing about it. It brought a totally different slant to fight scenes and made deaths seem all the more horrific when they occur.
This is a very philosophical show and really does force you to think about the right to take a life in any circumstance.
The Score is excellent, ranging from moving "film noir" style music" to sterotypical Cowboy music to Heavy Metal.
Plus it has big guns and cursing!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (687)

Mononoke a must for Fantasy Fans
This is an amazing anime feature reminding me a little of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Except that was Chinese Folklore). It has simplistic yet very professional and detailed animation by Hayao Miyazaki. Featuring a beautiful instrumental score rendered by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. This movie is set in isolationist Japan, and is filled with eastern/Japanese cultural elements for us westerners to attempt to understand. Along with a decent fantasy helping of personified animals and Gods. Be careful watching it if you can constitute a western audience member. This isn't a tree hugger movie like Fern Gully (me shudders). If you think this movie has contemporary western political motives then you are thinking too hard! I had to stop myself and just enjoy it. The story really has no antagonist because both sides in the story are equally guilty of one emotion (try and find the best line in the movie that sums up what I just said)...plus it smacks of Eastern values and mythology. And that's all I'm going to say about the story. If a devout conservative can love this movie...anyone can. Leave the soap box at home. Incidentally the english dub features the voices of American Hollywood stars such as Gillian Anderson (The X-Files)and Billy Bob Thorton (Armageddon, Pushing Tin, etc...)...But don't tell the real Anime buffs that I watched it dubbed...lol...I know only real anime fans watch subbed anime.

Excellent Display of how our world is!
I have experienced some of the things that Miyazaki has put in "Princess Mononoke". For example, i've had to step into fights and then get rejected by both sides. We ourselves are demons in a certain view. We hurt others when they're in the way of our dreams or whatever. For example, if I wanted to rule the world and my friend opposed me, I would hurt him. Miyazaki is clearly showing this and that's why I give "Princess Mononoke" a 5-stars rating.

Be literal, "artistic" metaphors are stupid!!
Don't listen to rhogen, he's not smart. So what if all the characters have human actions, this movie is full of dizzying contradictions and superstitious crap!! Those who think in a literal way are much smarter than those who don't. I'm not an Evangelist Christian from Mississippi who thinks Princess Mononoke is full of paganism, I'm a Soviet Marxist who thinks Princess Mononoke is full of anti-human new-age supersition and metaphors that are silly and nonsensical. Miyazaki screwed up and should keep his enviromental anti-human commentary in Japan, like killing people will help trees grow. Watch Akira (Streamline version), Ninja Scroll, and Ghost In The Shell. All of those anime have adult and provacative content, but don't have anti-human new-age spiritual crap, "artistic" metaphores, and they don't make you puke out your lunch.

Don't be so literal, this is artistic metaphor at its best
I have to respond to those who freak out about the "superstitions" of this film. Being a totally non-magical thinker myself I can understand the first-order reaction. But frankly, you need to see the metaphors. When the spirit gods express anger at "humans", this is metaphorically our own conscience questioning and evaluating what we are doing. It's that simple. If you can do that, you will be able to LOVE this film. SEMI-SPOILER: The first great thing about it is that there are no mustache-twirling villains. Everyone's motivations are human, they're doing what they think is best. That's just the appetizer. Great stuff!

VISUALLY SPECTACULAR, HOT-BUTTON MESSAGES, BUT..
The reviews for this typical Miyazaki blockbuster are so rabidly of the WOW mentality that you may expect something mind-blowing. 'Manage your expectations and enjoy the bloody ride' is my advice.

In terms of sheer execution this is one of the best anime capers you'll see, replete with beasts of mythic proportions, lush forests, sparkling waterfalls, and some mind-numbing inter-galactic slaughter. I could wager in a blink that this is what inspired Tarantino to do that little anime insert in Kill Bill Vol 1.

Plus, the film has some swank credentials under its belt: the Japanese voices are dubbed, not just subtitled, by big *American* stars -- Billy Bob Thornton, Minnie Driver, Claire Danes, Bill Crudup, etc -- who lend their laryx to a host of universally relevant issues such as the plight of indigenous people and nature in the face of unchecked business interests, the death of spirituality in the name of social progress, misogyny in its many variations, etc.

But I have my gripes. The film is violent. Very violent. Sometimes senselessly violent. I had to frequently turn my volume knob to the left. There are gigantic guns, and blood and guts splatter the landscape every minute. Most of this soon seems overdrawn (and the film is looooong) with all this supposedly cool action amounting to precious little in terms of any clear message about good versus evil. The underlying purpose is summed up brilliantly by a roadside beggar when he says something like the world is cursed, but we still find a reason to live.

I also found something lacking in the animation itself. While exquisitely vivid it seems to lag in its flair for capturing natural motion. Disney or Pixar movies pore over a sense of suppleness when an eye is raised or a muscle is twitched by a character. Miyazaki's animators on the other hand haven't penetrated beyond the skin, the moving creatures feel inarticulate and jerky, particularly when played against the very 2D painted backgrounds.

But that still doesn't stop me from recommending this powerful cult flick, a must if you're an anime acolyte. If not, then be prepared for a Tarantino x 100 and you'll do fine. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first animated work from Leiji Matsumoto, who would create the popular Captain Harlock saga, Star Blazers (Uchu Senkan Yamato or Space Cruiser Yamato, 1974) was a landmark program in Japan and America. When it aired in syndication in the U.S. in 1979, the character names were anglicized (Susumu Kodai became Derek Wildstar; Admiral Okita, Captain Avatar, etc.), the violence and drinking were heavily censored, and the World War II connections of the Yamato were tactfully downplayed. The Quest for Iscandar comprises the first 26-episode continuity; two additional TV series and several features would follow.In the year 2199, the war with the planet Gamilon has turned the Earth's surface into a radioactive desert. The radiation will penetrate the bedrock protecting humanity's underground cities in another year, destroying all remaining life. A message arrives from Queen Starsha of the planet Iscandar, offering a way to eliminate the deadly radiation and providing plans for an engine that can power a ship across the 148,000 light-year gap. Scientists convert the ruined shell of the battleship Yamato into a starship in a desperate attempt to save the planet, and the perilous voyage begins. The animation and character designs look very dated, but Gen-Xers who grew up watching it remember Star Blazers vividly. The bonus materials include a virtual tour of the Argo, an interactive map of the journey to Iscandar, and some footage deleted from the American broadcast version. Unrated; suitable for ages 8 and up: Violence largely restricted to spaceship and robot attacks. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Make Mine Manga!
If you were being packed off to school on innumerable mornings in the late 70s/early 80s, chances are you woke up extra early some mornings to the rousing tones of the "Star Blazers" theme:

"We're off to outer space,
Leaving Mother Earth,
To save the human race
Our Star Blazers!"

The half-hour cartoons which ensued were nothing short of miraculous to kids weaned on Looney Tunes: furiously intense little snippets of a small band of heroes in a tricked-out World War Two battleship in a desperate struggle against evil aliens.

This was no "G.I. Joe," folks---the stakes were high, and people got hurt. The captain of the Argo spent much of the trip battling radiation poisoning, the heroes were invariably placed in precarious situations and occasionally were lost. While the Star Force won most of the battles, these victories were dearly bought; many episodes ended with the ship limping along leaving enormous smoke trails in its wake.

Now "Star Blazers" has finally arrived on DVD.

I started watching the first episode, and wound up sitting in front of the TV oblivious to everything around me until I watched all 6 DVDs (about 12 hrs in all). Despite a transfer showing no improvement over the muddy images which danced across my 13" color screen all those years ago, this series STILL has the power to hook the unwary.

In addition to the 26 first series episodes, the DVD edition also includes a ton of nifty special features providing a wealth of background information. My particular favorite is the interactive mission map detailing the Argo's entire journey to Iscandar and back with episode-specific summaries of key events.

I've seen a lot of Japanese manga since "Star Blazers" first bombarded my eyeballs, but slick production and hard-boiled storylines pale in comparison to the ominous warning at the end of each episode: "Hurry, Star Force! Earth has only 256 days left!"

Buy this set. Consider it Cosmo-DNA for the soul.

We're Off to Outer Space!
I was tempted to give this a five star review, but that was probably just nostalgia. I grew up watching Star Blazers. It was my first exposure to anime (not that I knew what anime was back then).
Watching it again for the first time in nearly twenty years, I found myself still enjoying the story. It's human drama and an epic war story that spans the stars.
So why not a higher rating. Simplicity. These days, I do know what anime is, and I've had opportunity to see the original Space Battleship Yamato that this was translated from.
The deleted scenes are restored as extras on the discs. But the original japanese dialogue is not, and in some places the translation was kiddie-fied to make it more saturday morning friendly here in the U.S.
Still a great series, and a must if you're a fan of Leiji Matsumoto's epic form of storytelling.

Great Anime - Super Storyline - Great Color !
.
This is it, people, the Starblazers Series One set. It's the "Quest for Iscandar" storyline and its just as fun to watch now as it was when you were a kid.

Starblazers was a very popular series when shown in the United States in the 1970's. It's very colorfully drawn and importantly, it has a good story to tell.

Basically, the story is this - Earth is attacked and only has one year until it will be destroyed unless the Star Force can fly to a distant planet (Iscandar) and retrieve the machine necessary to removing deadly radiation.

Its just the kind of stuff you want to worry about when you're a kid watching cartoons, right? That's the wonderful thing about anime. It doesn't write "down" to its audience. It's as much adult entertainment as it is for the kids.

And this is a special series, because it also has the coolest opening title song ever - its impossible to get out of your head - and I know you're looking for the lyrics so here you go - sing along with the DVDs.

We're off to outer space, we're leaving Mother Earth
To save the human race. Our Star Blazers.
Searching for a distant star, heading off to Iscandar
Leaving all we love behind, who knows what dangers we'll find?
We must be strong and brave, our home we've got to save.
If we don't, in just one year, Mother Earth will disappear
Fighting with the Gamalons, we won't stop until we've won
Then we'll return, and when we arrive
The Earth will survive with our Star Blazers.

I highly recommend this set. Its a must have for any Anime fan.

Regards,
turtlex

Finally a clear Yamato/Argo
10 years ago, I bought the VHS versions of StarBlazers and was very disappointed by the lousy quality of the picture and sound.
With the DVD version, you have a crystal sharp picture. The sound, well you can only do so much with the sound, but for a 70's Anime series it's not bad.
If you spent the afternoons when you were a kid cheering for Wildstar, Nova, Venture, and Captain Avatar, this is a MUST HAVE. If your kids have never seen this, it's high time they were introduced to some real adventure from the land of the rising sun.
The special extras are great. I especially suggest check out disc 2's original trailer and scenes that never showed on US tv.
While the price may seem a bit steep, you will NOT be upset with the product.
And to my old friend Kenny, who gave me a copy of Be Forever Yamato almost 20 years ago, thank you. It is now joined be this wonderful series.

"Searching for a distant star..."
Now, for the actual DVDs. Let's be honest, some of the dated animation is quite frankly, laughable by today's standards...and I love it! What sets this show apart from all the shows of my youth is the simple fact that it doesn't sound like a kid's show. There are phrases like "tachyon particles" and words like "antiquated" in a kid's show? Not likely. Also, what propells this show are the absolutely great ideas for any science-fiction adventure story. George Lucas even took ideas from this series and slightly changed them for the first "Star Wars Trilogy." I noticed just the other episode that the "Star Force" salute is identical to the "Thermian" salute used in the film "Galaxy Quest." Coincidence? There are also many goofy, yet charming phrases strewn throughout, like: "dynamic do-all" and the always intimidating "ultra-menace missle." Some of the characters are also comically evil, like Lord Desslok, who sounds more like a demented Roddy Mcdowall on laughing gas than the leader of the Gamilons. Again, I love it! Then there are always the gross miscalculations of the crewmembers: "We went thousands of light-years in less than a minute!" Of course, Venture was referring to the distance between the Earth's moon and Mars. Even as a child I knew better than that! Anyway, this is a priceless piece of nostalgia for me, and for anyone who grew up loving the this series as a child. They certainly don't make them like this anymore...and that's too bad. ... Read more

Description

Collect all eight volumes of the Tenchi Universe TV series in a special boxed set.All DVDs are uncut and bilingual. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Cool series
INTRODUCTION:
Although the Tenchi Muyo anime series became a massive hit in its native Japan and other neighboring nations, it was never fortunate enough to gain that kind of success in the United States. That's a real shame, because this is one of the best anime series out there. It DID air briefly in America on the Cartoon Network, but it never really won the audiences over the way series like Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z did. But this series is every bit as good as the animes that DID achieve fame in America. Read on for my review of this set.

BASIC PLOT:
It's hard to describe this series because there are so many twists and turns in the plot, but I'll try my best. The story follows a young man named Tenchi Masaki, who has just returned to school from a long break. Soon enough, he meets up with a rather strange cast of characters, and discovers that he may be the last hope for saving the universe! To make things even more difficult for him, many of these strange characters he has met fall in love with him, and this creates some competition amongst them that results in some rather comical scenes.

SERIES OPINIONS:
Why is this series so underrated in America? This is one of the best animes out there. It combines the samurai-style action of Dragon Ball Z with the romance/slapstick humor stylings of Sailor Moon, and this creates a series that is universally appealing. And believe me, over time this series will grow on you.

THE DUB:
Surprisingly, the dub version of this series isn't that bad. A few scenes have been mistranslated or toned down for American audiences, but it's nothing major like with other animes. Here's a little tip, if you're curious about what has been changed - while you're watching the Japanese subtitled version of the DVD, hit the Audio button on your DVD remote and switch to the dub track. This way you can watch the English dub with the English subtitles for the Japanese version - there's no better way to see how different some of the translations are!

DVD:
Once again, DVDs featuring an uncut dub and an uncut sub have been released. This is great because you get both versions of the series. There are also some bonus features as well. There aren't a whole lot of bonuses, but at least there are some - a number of anime DVDs don't have any at all!

OVERALL:
Overall this is an excellent DVD set, and it's good to have all the episodes of this classic series on DVD at long last. Still, the DVDs could have been done a little better. If you're an anime fan, this is a strongly recommended release.

Hooray!
Easily the best of any of the Tenchi Series, Universe is a joy because they don't have twenty years to complete the series, nor the expectation of following a huge first hit. Every episode is a joy because they aren't in search of some cosmic plot. The characters develop without flooding the viewer with useless details about their past. And Ayeka and Ryoko actually cry over Tenchi. It's so sweet.
Episode 25 has to be one of the few perfect episodes in all of anime (like Pierrot LeFou in cowboy Bebop), because the characters all take their 15 minutes and leave. The whole of this series is presented in good taste, rich in drama, and quits while it's still ahead. A true staple of any collection. (We are also treated to a delicious satire of Sailor Moon. The writers are clever enough even to mock Jupiter's and Mercury's romantic relationship. Just one more reason to purchase this series.)

Volume 7 of the Tenchi Universe.
The first episode is a swimsuit episode, which is pretty normal for anime, so no surprises there. The plot is that, once again, the gang needs money. The ship needs some repair work done and the fastest way to make money, besides the jobs they've taken, is a swimsuit contest in which the winner gets one million Jurai dollars. Everybody decides to join. After all, with so many pretty women ONE of them has to win. Even Nagi joins the contest! The ending of this episode is no surprise, but it is kind of funny. I won't give it away.
The next episode is just as funny, even if it does bring us back on track to the main story arch. Tenchi and the gang need to get past the outer defenses of Jurai space. So they pretend to be a school group to get through the checkpoint, one of the many space stations that encircle that area of space. Tenchi even cross-dresses to be a girl! I don't want to give too much away, but the episode is not just funny, it shows us that not everybody is against our Heros.
The last episode is somewhat serious. While being chased they enter a sector of space that is forbidden, a sacred place to Jurai. The shock is that Katsuhito is the one that directed them to fly into it! He knew it was there and he has brought them to it for a reason. He has come to uncover two Knights of old, Knights who would awaken to help the Jurai Family in time of great need. So they land on a planet within the region to find the Knights. But things don't go as planned.

This last episode can be very confusing but it reveals alot about almost everybody! Who Katsuhito really is, how willing Sasami is to make friends, so on. This DVD is a must to understand and enjoy the last DVD in the series.

Good series
INTRODUCTION:
Although the Tenchi Muyo anime series became a massive hit in its native Japan and other neighboring nations, it was never fortunate enough to gain that kind of success in the United States. That's a real shame, because this is one of the best anime series out there. It DID air briefly in America on the Cartoon Network, but it never really won the audiences over the way series like Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z did. But this series is every bit as good as the animes that DID achieve fame in America. Read on for my review of this set.

BASIC PLOT:
It's hard to describe this series because there are so many twists and turns in the plot, but I'll try my best. The story follows a young man named Tenchi Masaki, who has just returned to school from a long break. Soon enough, he meets up with a rather strange cast of characters, and discovers that he may be the last hope for saving the universe! To make things even more difficult for him, many of these strange characters he has met fall in love with him, and this creates some competition amongst them that results in some rather comical scenes.

SERIES OPINIONS:
Why is this series so underrated in America? This is one of the best animes out there. It combines the samurai-style action of Dragon Ball Z with the romance/slapstick humor stylings of Sailor Moon, and this creates a series that is universally appealing. And believe me, over time this series will grow on you.

THE DUB:
Surprisingly, the dub version of this series isn't that bad. A few scenes have been mistranslated or toned down for American audiences, but it's nothing major like with other animes. Here's a little tip, if you're curious about what has been changed - while you're watching the Japanese subtitled version of the DVD, hit the Audio button on your DVD remote and switch to the dub track. This way you can watch the English dub with the English subtitles for the Japanese version - there's no better way to see how different some of the translations are!

DVD:
Once again, DVDs featuring an uncut dub and an uncut sub have been released. This is great because you get both versions of the series. There are also some bonus features as well. There aren't a whole lot of bonuses, but at least there are some - a number of anime DVDs don't have any at all!

OVERALL:
Overall this is an excellent DVD set, and it's good to have all the episodes of this classic series on DVD at long last. Still, the DVDs could have been done a little better. If you're an anime fan, this is a strongly recommended release.

What Can We Say, It's Tenchi!!!
Tenchi Muyo is one of the MOST popular series ever to be braught from Japan to America. (Pioneer dubbed and subbed it.) While I haven't been fortunate enought to see the OVA, I have seen all of these episodes, (and all of the movies and Tenchi in Tokyo), AND, as the BIGGEST anime fan EVER, must say that it is one of the best series ever created. The character design is brilliant, the animation techniques beautiful, and the storyline kicks serious blankety-blank. (Threw that in for all the Martian Successor Nadesico fans out there reading this! heh heh ;) ). Anyway, trust me on this one; Tenchi Muyo should not be missed. Ever. By anyone. If you are a true otaku, then you should seriously go for this one. Subbed or dubbed, whichever you happen to pick up, either will rock. ... Read more

Description

At the time, martial arts training hall or "dojo" owner Soun Tendo thought engaging one of his three daughters to Ranma - the son of longtime friend and training partner Genma Saotome - was a good idea, but that was before "he" turned out to be a "she"!Youngest Tendo daughter Akane (who's always claimed to "hate boys" anyway) is quickly nominated for bridal duty by her older sisters, while an unruly Ranma (who never wants to do anything his dad says on general principle) must come to grips with the mixed blessing of his/her own appeal... to both boys and girls.

The first season of Ranma1/2! Available for the first time on DVD! ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Saotome School of Anything Goes DVD
When I first heard of Ranma 1/2, the premise alone made me steer clear. A boy, cursed in an ancient Chinese spring, turns into a girl whenever splashed with cold water. Hot water undoes the curse, but only until the next time. I wanted nothing to do with this gender bender series billed as a martial arts sex comedy.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
A good friend made me watch it, and I was hooked. In a series that pokes fun at gender stereotypes, with martial arts hijinx, a mismatched marriage engagement between the hapless Ranma Saotome, cursed to become a girl in cold water, and the boy-hating Akane Tendo, who would sooner die than admit her feelings for Ranma, this is a hilarious series.
Season One introduces us to the amazing characters; Ranma, Akane and her sisters, Kasumi and Nabiki, and several rivals for both the hearts of Ranma and Akane. As we watch Ranma struggle to deal with not one, but two engagements, as the Chinese Amazon warrior Shampoo enters the scene. And marvel at the antics of the eternally lost boy, Ryoga Hibiki, Ranma's rival for Akane's heart, and bearer of a "dark secret".
Let me put it this way, if you want a great laugh that you know will always be around to treasure, then you can't go wrong getting Ranma 1/2 on DVD. Your sense of direction would have to be worse than Ryoga Hibiki's to pass this up.

Life is good...
Ranma 1/2, the gender switching comedy by Rumiko Takahashi, has long been a favorite of fans. Closer to Urusei Yatsura than Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi returns to a high school setting and ultimately a more episodic plot. This first season retains more of a continuous plot than any of the later seasons, and introduces most of the main characters. Though the series eventually becomes tedious, this season is fresh and fun. Anyone who calls him or herself an anime fan should definitely take a look. The Ranma dub is notorious among fans that suffered without subtitled versions for years. This DVD set solves this problem once and for all, including both Japanese with English subtitles, and the well-done English dub. Anyone who has never heard Megumi Hayashibara's Girl-type Ranma should watch it just for that.

The box is nice, but the DVDs are no frills. The Furinkan Gazettes, although no liner notes, would still have been a nice addition. Still, this is a great series and a good box set. I highly recommend it. Four stars.

I've been waiting a long time for this one.
Finally, the first season of Ranma 1/2 on DVD. There are three major reasons to get this:

(1) The first few episodes introduce the enchanted spring phenonema and establishes the Ranma/Akane relationship. Nowhere else in the series was this done adequately.

(2) The introduction of the Shampoo character. Rumiko's blend of Love, martial arts and gags reaches its zenith here. This is perhaps one of the best anime episodes ever produced.

(3) I really love this first season because this is where creator Rumiko Takahashi has creative control. There is a subtleness in the humor and relationships that was unfortunately lost in the later seasons. Rumiko's mastery lets you actually feel what the characters are feeling as the story progresses.

This is an all time classic for people who wish to collect the best of anime.

Caution: This series contains "comic nudity". It's not kinky stuff, but just illustrates how Ranma doesn't have modesty after getting transformed into a girl after contact with cold water. It's not a "sex comedy" but a "gender comedy" focusing on relationship and gender roles.

THIS IS THE GREATEST EVER!
There is no way of saying how much I thank Rumiko Takahashi for creating this amazing series. I reccomend this series to everyone! SO, if you want to spend your money on something worthwhile THEN SPEND IT ON THIS!

A Great Start to a Very Entertaining Series
Ranma 1/2 is by far the most entertaining anime series I have watched to date. Having watched Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Dragonball (Z), etc. I have to say that Ranma 1/2 is easily the most original and hilarious. Although there is plenty of martial arts action, it is also refreshing that no-one ever gets killed. The premise of the Ranma 1/2 series lies in the hilarious situations that occur due to the love interests of the many colorful characters. Needless to say Ranma is in the center of the whole convoluted scenario being the "unwilling" recipient of affections from both female and male suitors (while in his female form). The fact that Ranma is able to turn into a girl makes for some of the funniest situations imaginable.

I have now watched the first 4 seasons of Ranma 1/2 in chronological order and I think seasons 1 and 2 are the best. Season one introduces you to the main characters and sets the background for following episodes. Yet each episode is entertaining and usually adds a new character or interesting story element. Someone who is very familiar with the series may find some of the first few episodes "thin" because many of the main characters don't get introduced till later. However, for those who are relatively new, I think the build up in history and character development is perfect. Enough time is devoted to each new character introduced to give them some depth. In the season 1 set, the story line is relatively linear from episode to episode (each episode continues where the last left off). In seasons 3 and 4 this no longer occurs quite as much with the some episodes becoming almost completely "stand alone".

In conclusion this is a set that all Ranma fans should have and anime fans that haven't yet watched Ranma should definitely start here. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The second four-disc set of Fushigi Yûgi continues the adventures of Miaka and Yui, two Japanese middle-school girls drawn into an ancient Chinese book, The Universe of the Four Gods. The later episodes are darker in tone, marked by threats of rape, attempted rape, and the deaths of several secondary characters (some of whom die two or three times). Miaka and her friends, who fight in the name of the "beast-god" Suzaku, are pitted against the warriors of the rival deity, Seiryu: twins Amiboshi and Suboshi; werewolf Ashitare; lightning-wielding Soi; Miboshi, who looks like a tiny monk; Tomo, who dresses like a Peking Opera general; and the icily vicious Nagako. Nagako commands this troop in the name of Yui, who is waging a vendetta against Miaka. Despite the myriad plots, battles, and spells, director Hajime Kamegaki focuses on the romance between Miaka and martial artist Tamahome. Tamahome has lost the outlaw panache that initially made him attractive, and Miaka has grown no more prepossessing. She whines continuously, and every third episode seems to end with her either declaring she'll never forgive some evil or apologizing for not living up to someone's expectations. What does Tamahome see in her? Their endless proclamations of undying fidelity leave little time for the activities of the more colorful and interesting supporting characters--transvestite Nuriko, sorcerer-in-training Chichiri, and mountain bandit Tasuki. While Miaka and her friends slog on, her brother Keisuke and his friend Tetsuya are reading The Universe of the Four Gods and tracking its effects in the real world. The final battle that pits Tomahome against Nagako and Suzaku against Seiryu proves more anticlimactic than apocalyptic. Kamegaki has several key events occur off camera, including Yui's final wish to Seiryu and how Miaka escapes from the penalty customarily imposed on those who summon Suzaku. Fushigi Yûgi should be seen one or two episodes at a time: watching for more than an hour is like eating a box of bonbons in one sitting. Rated 13 and up for violence, nudity, and sexual situations, including suggestions of rape. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (54)

An Improvement over the 1st Half but.....
The second half was definitely better than the first but it still had a lot of problems (what else would you expect from Fushigi Yugi?). First the good things. The animation was better for the most part (there were a some poorly and lazily done episodes), but I guess they made up for it with the "Nuriko, the Eternal Farewell" episode. That was a fantastic episode. One of the best one in the entire series. Also, the episode where Tatara and Suzuno were reunited was fantastic. The music set the feeling of the moment perfectly resulting in one of the best moments of the series or of any anime series for that matter. The summoning of Seiryu was done very well also. The ending was great too with some nicely done animation. Great voice acting on the part of Seki Tomokazu, Touma Yumi, and Nuriko's seiyuu. Now onto the bad. In the second half I still had a problem with the main character Miaka who was still (except for the very end) a bad character in my opinion. In this second half of the series she was still running after Tamahome or away from (We can't be together I can't marry you bladdy blah blah) and saying stuff like that would be the best for Tamahome then running off which was complete [nonsense]. The creators of the anime must have been TRYING to make us not like Miaka. They succeded pretty well. Miaka's voice actress, Araki Kae, should stick to the little girls like Chibi Usa instead of doing 8th grade girls because she sounds horridly annoying in Miaka's role. Tamahome is not much better, all of his 2,000 love speeches to Miaka or about Miaka make me want to mute the TV even though it IS Modorikawa Hikaru doing Tamahome's voice. Thankfully there wasn't as much Hotohori scenes in the second half. The animation in the episode where something surprising happens involving Chiriko (I think you know what I'm talking about) was awful. That episode was the most screentime Chiriko had in the entire series, more than the amount of all his previous screentime put together. All the stuff about I want to know Tamahome's true feelings was annoying too. Did anybody notice after Miaka came out of Tomo's shin shell thing and it showed that up (sort of at an angle shot) of Miaka? It was riduculous. No human is that thin and certainly no human who eats as much as Miaka does is. Even Yui isn't shown as thin as that and she isn't obssessed with food. There was way too much Miaka fan service, half of the time she has no clothes on, partly because everybody else is always taking them off (Tamahome, Nakago, Tomo, Nuriko) and everyone's always trying to take away her virginity so she can't summon Suzaku, very annoying. I wish we had been able to see more of the Byakko Seven because they were all much more interesting than Miaka and Tamahome ever were to me. I loved Tatara and Suzuno especially. Fushigi Yugi has lots of ups and downs and it's your choice whether you want to invest the money for the whole thing.

Hmmm...
Well, I'm writing this under the assumption that all readers are considering buying/have bought and watched the first half of the Fushigi Yuugi series. I'll start right now by saying that I've only ever seen it in Japanese, so I can't give you a fair opinion on the English dub.

In brief, what I thought of Fushgi Yuugi in general- well, I really quite liked it. It's not a favourite of mine, and I don't think it ever will be, but its still incredibly cute and funny.

What I thought of this set:

Well, excuse me while I go bang my head against a wall. Don't get me wrong- the second half is definately not bad, and for the most part is very, very enjoyable. There are, however, certain aspects that have inspired within me the urge to hurt something.

1) The complete shifts in characters. Miyaka started out as a likeable character. Granted, she was a ditz, but the character had spirit and passion, and was done very well. By this point in the series though, her personality has shifted completely. Gone is the girl who was willing to fight a gang in an alley because she didn't have to worry about teachers yelling at her. (This was in episode 3, I believe.) Enter Miyaka, weak priestess, who wanders around wailing and blushing, waiting for people to cater to beck and call....

Tamahome suffered the same personality shift as Miyaka. Like her, I really loved Tamahome at the start of the series. His character was portrayed as being shallow with a good heart underneath it all. Like Miyaka, he was hilarious, and incredibly likeable. I shamelessly admit that I was cheering him on the whole time, hoping he'd 'get the girl'. By the time the second series rocked up though, he had Miyaka and had become a simpering mess. He was completely whipped, no longer the strong character I liked. It was extremely disappointing.

We get to see more insight into Yui, but not much into the Seiryuu Seven, which is vaguely disappointing, but can be forgiven. We see the Byakko Seven- well, three members- and slowly find out more and more in the dark past of 'The Universe of the Four Gods', which I have to say, is excellently done. Sadly though, there is very little Hotohori- in my opinion, a real shame, as his character was wonderful and his Japanese voice actor is one of my personal favourites.

The plot is still engaging. It doesn't focus on the other members of the Seven as much as I'd like, in favour of screams of 'Tamahome!' 'Miyaka!' but each character does get their brief spot in the limelight.

The drawings are still excellent, and the animation flows as well as the first season. When it's not trying too hard to be deep and meaningful, we see that wonderful Fushigi Yuugi humour, which was originally the first thing that caught my attention. There's still plenty of fanservice, which was kind of misplaced, considering this is a series that targets girls, but is still funny.

All in all, the second series is enjoyable, and is a nice way to round out the series. The ending leaves a bit to be desired, but that's what the OVAs are for. If you've seen the first half of Fushigi Yuugi (which was, to me, superior) this half is a necessity. I don't think that, on the whole, you'll be disappointed. Still, if you're anything like me, you'll wish that certain parts had been revised.

Fushigi Yugi
4 GODS, 2 WORLDS, 7 WARRIORS, 1 QUEST.

WARNING, MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS (okay it does)!!!

Hi it's me again!! You know from Fushigi Yugi Boxed Set 1.

If you haven't read it yet go and read it!!
Here are all the characters (with their powers) so far:
Susaku-Miaka-Priestess, Tamahome-Martial Arts, Hotohori-Sword, Nuriko-Strength, Tasuki-Harisen, Chichiri-Magic, Mitsukake-Healer, and Chriko-Intelligence.
Seiryu-Yui-Priestess, Nakago-Magic, sort of but much more powerful then Chichiri's, Amiboshi-Flute, Suboshi-His spinning balls (I forget what they are called), Soi-Lightening. The next three are Ashtaire, Tomo and Miboshi.(I won't tell you their powers

Okay. Now this DVD set begins with a show that reviews over all the characters. Starting with Tamahome, Hotohori, Nuriko, Tasuki, Chichiri, Mitsukake, and last but not least Chriko.
The last episode on the first Boxed Set was when Miaka and the Susaku 7 set off for Genbu on boat.
On the way there, there is a terrible storm caused by Soi of the Seiryu 7(who controls lightening). Tasuki gets washed of the ship and since he doesn't know how to swim Miaka jumps in to save him but she just ends up sinking faster then he does.
Tamahome, the hero, has to jump in to save her and Nuriko from the ship throws down a rope for Tasuki to grab on. Nuriko falls and goes down into the ocean along with Tamahome and Miaka and gets washed away. Miaka and Nuriko get onshore to a rock but Tamahome doesn't make it in time and gets eletrocuted in the water.Nuriko pulls him up to safety and they all rest in the cave. Lightening hits the cave and water is rushing in. Nuriko with her strength holds the walls up but Miaka falls into the water and Tamahome dives in to save her (oh yeah, he's all right now). The current pushes them away but Nuriko grabs them and pulls them out with his superstrength just before the lightening strkes the water.

That's just a preview of what happens, to find out the rest buy this excellent DVD set!!

Be brave: stick it out
I have to say that for a good portion of this half of the series, I was Less Than Impressed.

First of all, the writers seemed to forget about their WONDERFUL supporting cast (except, of course, for when they were killing them off, but I'll get to that) and focused a great deal of this half to JUST Miaka and Tamahome. While I can find it in my heart to stand Miaka, I hate her and Tamahome as a couple. Probably mainly because somebody forgot to give Tamahome a personality. There's a good ten episodes (the figure could be off; I never actually counted) where I seriously considered just giving up on the series all together; it got repetitive and annoying.

However, I stuck it out, and I'm really hoping that anybody else who spends any amount of time on this series will do the same. Except for the middle section, this half is a REAL emotional roller coaster. It has the same comedy as the first half (though in this half there were quite a few awkward gags that would have been better left out, and there might have actually been more fanservice in this half than in the first, which, if true, would really be saying something), but there are several episodes that will leave you in tears, even watching them a second or third (or more) time. There are deaths, and a lot of them; they increase in frequency the later in the series it gets, and for saps like me, the last few episodes will get really hard to watch. While these episodes are very dramatic, it's a shame some of the best characters are killed off as this leaves them unavailable to provide relief during the rocky middle section.

On the plus side, we also get to learn more about the history of the Universe of the Four Gods and the Priestesses who came before Miaka and Yui; this information was intriguing enough to keep me invested.

I got to the last three or four episodes thoroughly believing that no ending could really satisfy me, and I am VERY happy to say that I was proved wrong. While an attempt at garnering sympathy for Nakago failed and I still don't like Tamahome, I was otherwise blown away by the ending. It was wonderful, and I was very glad that I did stick with it. Take my advice on this one; I'm sure you won't regret it.

The Best Part of the Series...
... and really, the best part of all of Fushigi Yugi, including Eikoden (shudder) and Oni (though not including the manga). As I said in my previous review of Suzaku, I believe this series is under-rated, and, to repeat myself further, I was guilty of this as well. I really didn't like the first few episodes, but kept watching and grew to like it. Then I saw Seiryu, and it was all worth it. Seiryu has all of the characters we have grown to love, with a much deeper, darker message than Suzaku. We grow to understand why Yui has grown to hate Miaka so much (you would too if you ended up with a mind-f***er like Nakago). We really begin to feel for the characters and their heart-ache. And we begin to see Yu Watase's deeper messages: messages about life, love, friendship and war. When I first started Suzaku, I wondered how anyone (Gilles Poitras) could list Fushigi Yugi in their top 41 recommended titles. Seiryu made me see why. It's a great series, and once you make it through the first half, you can enjoy the wonderful second installment. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Each of the snazzy 25-minute installments from the most popular Japanese animated TV series of 1998 is a satisfying adventure tale about a futuristic hipster bounty hunter. This is an elegant action-comedy anime, with smoothly integrated CGI space-flight elements, gorgeous graphics, blues harmonica and sax riffs on the soundtrack, and a no-sweat post-Tarantino attitude. Despite occasional eruptions of gun-fu Asian-action violence, and some intimations of heavy-duty drug use (in the first of 26 episodes, one especially noxious narcotic is administered as an aerosol spray straight onto the user's eyeballs), the tone is surprisingly convivial. None of the generic tough elements are grim or mean-spirited. Lanky antihero Spike Spiegel is a planet-hopping freelance hunter with an ex-cop sidekick named Jet, a loopy fellow hunter named Faye, a teenage computer hack, and a genetically enhanced Welsh corgi assistant in tow. The emphasis is on clever twists of plot in an episodic short-story format with as many wisecracks as punches being thrown. --David Chute ... Read more

Reviews (336)

best anime ever
An interesting twist on traditional anime, Cowboy Bebop is at once fresh, original, and wildly entertaining. It injects new life into a classic genre.

I first discovered this series on Cartoon Network's adult swim late-night block, and quickly began to really like it. The fight scenes are beautifully animated, the 26 episodes (each of which stands on its own) are well written and perfectly paced.

Speaking of which, the episode structure is very unlike most anime, where you have to see every episode or you don't understand it at all. The episodes in Bebop are all tied together with a common theme: Spike Spiegel and company travel throughout space in the near future, looking for bounty, their own backstories unraveling bit by bit. This formula works very well.

Bebop also conveys an atmosphere that sometimes changes but is always well done with each episode. It is, for the most part, either gritty and violent (Episode 5: Ballad of Fallen Angels) or goofy and sometimes laugh out loud funny (Episode 12: Toys in the Attic). Director Watanabe is great at really drawing the viewer in so that often you forget about what else is happening around you.

Bebop is not without flaws, however. Sometimes the episodes seem to have filler or are WAY too slow paced. This is mainly only a problem with Episode 20: Boogie Woogie Feng Shui. Half the episode is almost all dialogue, with hardly any real movement. It just doesn't feel like the rest of the series.

That one very small shortcoming aside, however, Bebop is amazing, and well worth it whether you enjoy anime or not. This is something anyone can appreciate.

You've got to see this...
The future isn't always bright and happy, but at least its presented in a spectacular series like Cowboy Bebop. Following the crew of the Bebop, each episode takes on new challenges everytime and new feelings. Moods for each episode is never consistent, as they change from action-packed (Gateway Shuffle) to somber (Speak Like A Child) to sadistic (Pierrot La Fou) to comedic (Mushroom Samba). Each episode has its own unique flavor, which will satisfy all types of people.

The main character is Spike Spiegel, an ex-member of a crime syndicate and a bounty hunter. With his tall, lanky, slacker-look about him, he easily throws people off guard when they first meet him. His cool demenor and level-headedness are an excellent cover for a master of hand-to-hand and ranged combat, as well as being quite skilled in piloting his starship, Swordfish II.

The lead female character, Faye Valentine, is very similar in many respects to Spike, which causes some friction throughout the series as they both hunt for bounties. Although she may look like she is in her early 20s, Faye was suspended in a cryo-genic freeze for 54 years following a space accident. Her past is a mystery (Episodes 15, 18, and 24), but she keeps her cool and is confident and daring all at once. If Spike is ever in the middle of a fight, she'll usually wander in to help. While she is definitely a sexy woman, her charms tend to work on every man other than Spike and Jet. In addition, she has her own little starship, Redtail, which she uses to get herself out of whatever trouble she finds.

Jet Black is a former member of ISSP (InterStellar Space Police) on Ganymede, where he shortly retired after losing his left arm. He is partnered with Spike as a bounty hunter, and is the captain of the Bebop and his own personal ship, the Hammerhead. However, most of the time, Spike is on the frontlines while Jet provides support through information or backup.

Ed's real name is Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky 4th, but Ed is 13 year old female who is an expert computer hacker commonly known as "Radical Edward." Although she may sound serious, this couldn't be further from the truth. She may be extremely intelligent and a prodigy, but don't let her wacky antics and crazy talk fool you. She may not be able to take life too seriously quite yet, but she is a force with which to be reckoned.

Ein is a Welsh Corgi dog who was apart of an experiment at an early age. Consequently, he's smarter than the average dog now, and when Ed joins the crew of the Bebop, they're instant friends. Often times found eating, sleeping, or accompanying Ed, he's the one character that no one argues with (except for Faye).

The year is 2071 A.D., and mankind has spread throughout the Sol system after a tragic accident on Earth. The crew of the Bebop hunt down criminals for bounties, all the while, trying to survive the harshness of space. Spike and Jet are the original crew members of the Bebop, and while Ein, Faye, and Ed become apart of the "family," conflicting pasts and perspectives often times drive each of them away to solve their problems, but they always come back for one reason or another.

The plot? Excellent. The characters? Great. The animation? Great. The series? Flawless.

An additional note, I'm not positive, but I do believe that all of the music (with exception for the beginning and ending tracks) are never repeated. You'll watch TV and anime series, and often times, you'll find a particular piece of music being repeated for certain situations to help clue you into the mood for that scene. However, in Cowboy Bebop, that isn't so. For one episode, you'll have a unique set of music tracks that are never repeated throughout the rest of the series. For example, the music track "Ballad of a Fallen Angel" is never repeated outside of the cathedral scene in the episode "Ballad of Fallen Angels."

I can't think of anything else that I was more pleased with after buying than Cowboy Bebop. : )

Note- I'm reviewing the bootleg
Although it may be unAmerican, and surely it's a rip-off from potential money going to Bandai, (...)I was really worried about what I'd be receiving. The truth is, the package was awesome- the DVD quality if FANTASTIC (there's a little digital blurring during a ship-flight scene), and the dub is exactly the original American dub seen on Adult Swim (the English subtitles disagree somewhat). There are even a few special features, including music videos and such- nothing important really. I'm a little hesitant, as some may have had different experiences... I'll say that the copy I got is 3-CD, from Singapore, in a brown/gray cardboard-flip case that has Spike in a subway or something, standing next to a blonde woman. The inside has a bit of art as well. It's not the cover, with the black on top and bottom and all the characters, shown on Amazon.
Your experience my differ, and granted, this set isn't exactly perfect, with a little digital blurring. But for 30 dollars, my experience, at least, was an awesome deal.

The GREATEST anime series of all time
This is the best anime series I've ever seen and I've seen alot of them including movies. When it comes to anime there is a few names people know. Akira, Macross, Ghost In The Shell, Trigun, Ninja Scroll. Cowboy Bebop is right up there. I love this anime because it is real and it doesn't pull any punches. It is classic yet new age. It's a sci-fi space thing yet it's like a western yet like an epic. It is everything that is good. I own the Limited Edition Box and the 3 disc Hong Kong import. The story is based on 5 characters who all have their own interesting backgrounds and somehow life as it happens has these five come together. Spike Spiegel and Jet Black are bounty hunters using a commercial fishing ship(spaceship this is the future) as their mode of transportation. In this bounty hunting is very lucritive as there is even a tv show that updates them on new bounties. Along the way they meet three other characters that join the crew at Spike's displeasure and Jet's indifference. There is far too much for me write of in the epic of anime greatness. I really felt like I knew and shared in their journey by the end. All this and probably one of the best soundtracks ever produced. Eclectic is the word...it is a jazzy, blues inspired rock techno organism of music that plays well with the story. All I say is rent, buy or borrow and watch this is you are an anime fan and you have not yet, for some God awful reason, seen this. Now the nice collection you see with the entire series is not the Limited 7 disc set which includes the soundtrack...if you find the big box it will be at least $200 dollars but probably more than that as it is a limited numbered to 15,000. The 3 disc collection containing all 26 episodes is the import Hong Kong version which can be played here. This is usually around $30 dollars or so. It has great video and sound quality and doesn't suck compared to the U.S. releases as some would say. Either way it is a great series and all anime fans should have this one.

Pure Masterpiece...
Cowboy Bebop. The jazzy series that has anything I could possible want in an anime. This is the kind of thing you'd like to watch after you invite a few friends over to spend the night, play Nintendo, talk about boobs, indulge all the junk-food you have, and then watch this late at night. It's one of those movies like Young Frankenstein that is funny in a way that makes you think. Not like sooo much bubblegum-anime on the market today that just tries to be funny by making bad puns, and saying retarded things. I enjoy the factor that the cast of characters is such a dysfunctional motley assort of people. The story is as good as I expected it to be, I like every bit of the storyline and how it sometimes purposly went out of context.
I like how it went like a duality of two faces: Sweet, and Sorrow. First the Sweet lures you into the story and makes you happy. Then when your inside, The Sorrow stabs you with a knife making you sad.... (My analogies rock!). This anime is for everybody, even (some) adults like it! I'm going to buy the soundtrack when I get enough money, It's like Hellsing which has a kick-ass soundtrack! Jazzy and up-beat. Yet melodic and sadening. The ending ephisode is heart wrenching to me atleast.
This anime is for everyone and anyone! Get it, you won't be dissapointed! ... Read more

Reviews (598)

An incredible animated movie
"Spirited Away" won the Oscar for 2002's Best Animated Film. It richly deserved this award, for it is by far the best movie of its type in years. It may not be funny like 'Monsters Inc." or entertaining like "Shrek", but for sheer beauty and artistic integrity, it's almost impossible to top. Since words, like any other medium, have built-in limits, you will have to experience it for yourself to see what I am saying.

Imagine this: A little girl is riding in a car with her parents. They are headed to their new house. Dad makes a wrong turn, and they wind up traveling along a dirt road which ends at what appears to be a deserted train station. Dad decides that it's really the entrance to a failed amusement park. He and Mom decide to go exploring, and the little girl, filled with trepidation, has no choice but to go along. After awhile, the little family discovers a restaurant that is still operating. The parents gorge themselves until they are turned into pigs. Suddenly alone, the child finds herself in a place full of witches, ghosts, goblins and other assorted spirits. Aided only by an unearthly boy, she must now save her parents and find her way out of this surreal place.

The movie was made in Japan by animation master Hayao Miyazaki and his crew. It became the highest grossing movie of all time in that country. The people at Disney bought the American rights and lovingly added an excellent English soundtrack. The company's marketing department apparently was at a loss as to how to sell such an unusual animated movie. It was seen by relatively few Americans in theaters. I suspect that this masterpiece will find its audience here via video and DVD.

Hayao Miyazaki's Latest Masterpiece
From the legendary Studio Ghibli and anime director Hayao Miyazaki (of "Princess Mononoke," "Castle in the Sky," and "Kiki's Delivery Service," among others) comes a new favorite among otaku (anime fans) world-wide. "Spirited Away" is the story of a young Japanese girl named Chihiro (literally, "heroine") who is, as the title implies, taken from her normal life and deposited reluctantly in a small town built around a bathhouse for spirits. Chihiro overcomes fear and other obstacles, including a large, faceless monster and a black-hearted witch named Yubaba (literally, "old hag") to save her parents from a rather unpleasant fate. The story is exciting, well-paced, and thoughtful, with a good mix of humor, symbolism, emotion, traditional Japanese legend, and moral.

From an animation standpoint, "Spirited Away" is astounding. The sheer amount of movement and energy in Hayao Miyazaki's most recent work is quite impressive. Combined with the beautiful scenery (including several awe-inspiring and detailed shots of the bathhouse that can by themselves be regarded as masterpieces), and the realistic textures of the grass blowing in the wind, the flower gardens around the bathhouse, and the interior of the bathhouse, "Spirited Away" is truly a work of art.

The only flaw in the otherwise near-perfect film is the dialogue. A few lines sound a little forced, and some intended to be funny simply aren't. Fortunately, these slip-ups are few and far between.

Already, "Spirited Away" has earned several prestigous distinctions, including the 2003 Oscar award for Best Animated Feature. Also, "Spirited Away" was anime released in movie theaters, which is rare in the United States. Ever rarer, it became the top-grossing film in America for several weekends in a row. Not surprisingly, it was also popular in Japan, where it became the top-grossing film in that nation's history.

Most people I have talked to have been very impressed with the quality of "Spirited Away." Many of these have been adults, mislead by the films "Disney" tag. When they sat down to watch it with their kids, they simply expected another children's movie, but instead found a film they could enjoy and appreciate as well. On the face, the plot is simple enough for younger kids to understand, but the symbolism and artwork is so complicated and intricate that it can be enjoyed by adults and older kids as well. In other words, however cliché those words may be, this film really does have something for everyone, and is well worth your time and your twenty-five dollars.

A work of art!
First of all,don't listen to people who give this masterpiece bad reviews... they probably think disney movies are the only animations worth watching!
This anime is fantastic... Miyazaki is truly a genius. Everything about it blew me away, from the animation and characters to its storyline! The characters have depth, and they show real emotion, and unlike disney movies, there are no annoying sidekicks or crappy songs... in fact, the music is very beautiful and heightens the feel of the movie.Even the dub is pretty good(at least in my opinion), but of course the original japanese with subtitles is best(as always)!
I HIGHLY recommend this one to everyone, anime fan or not!This is definitely worth your money! Don't hesitate!

Simply Amazing
I must admit that if it weren't for my friends, I probably would have never even given this title a second look, but after I watched it, I was amazed. Miyazaki has managed to create one of the most beautiful, not to mention entertaining, movies I have ever seen. The characters (especially Chihiro) are very true to life. I highly recommend "Spirited Away" even if you aren't an anime fan or, like me, are an otaku (you know who you are). I also encourage you to check out Miyazaki's other works, two of my favorites being "Princess Mononoke" and "The Castle of Cagliostro."

6 stars
This movie feels like a dream. There are not many works of art that can do this, but with this one I distinctively got the feeling that watching this film was the same as a really sweet dream. I love it. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Although the title means something along the lines of "no need forTenchi," everyone wants the hapless hero of this popular series. These13 OAV episodes reunite the cast from the TV show, but with somechanges. Sasami is initially much younger and less domestic; grandfatherMasaki turns out to be Yosho, the long-lost Jurai prince who was betrothed toAyeka centuries ago; genius-in-residence Wasshu reveals an unexpected bondwith interstellar outlaw Ryoko. The tone is a little racier than thebroadcast version: Ryoko runs around naked and the attempts to seduce theterminally klutzy Tenchi are more pointed.

In the first adventure (episodes 1-7), Tenchi inadvertently wakes amummified demon who was imprisoned at the Masaki family shrine 700 yearsago--none other than space pirate extraordinaire Ryoko. The problems shecauses are dwarfed by the arrival of Jurai princesses Ayeka and Sasami,bubble-brained Galactic Police Agent Miyoshi--and interstellar criminalKagato. Assuming the role (and costume) of the Crown Prince of Jurai, Tenchidefeats the evil Kagato with a magic sword that resembles the lightsabers in Star Wars.

Unexpected arrivals keep the Masaki household in chaos in the later,shorter adventures (episodes 8-13), including a baby cousin of Tenchi's, ashape-shifting robot who impersonates Ryoko, and the Emperor and Empress of Jurai. The writers occasionally lose track of the plot, especially in episode 13, "Here Comes Jurai," but Tenchi has never been noted forits logic. Inall the episodes, the filmmakers manage to balance interplanetary threats,teenage romance, andbroad comedy with their usual aplomb.

The Tenchi Encyclopedia (powered by Wasshu OS) offers short biographiesof the main characters with clips and stills, pencil tests, digital comics, Japanese commercials, and full credits for the series. A must-have forTenchi fans. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (166)

No Need for Reviews
This is by far one of the best anime series. This OAV (direct to video) set started the Tenchi DVD universe. There are three different sets in the series Tenchi. First there is the Tenchi OAV (this), the Tenchi TV series (No Need for . . . titles), and then Tenchi in Tokyo. Follow these series are the three movies, however, THIS is the best of all of them. Also if you have seen Tenchi on Cartoon Network, this is the uncut version of it. There is brief nudity in this series.

The title, in English, means "No Need for Tenchi," however, anyone that knows the series knows that everyone needs Tenchi. The story starts when Ryoko (the best character out of the whole anime) is accidentally freed from the shrine that imprisoned her by Tenchi. Boy, does Tenchi regret that he did that for Ryoko decides to take revenge on Tenchi because it was Tenchi ancestor (grandfather) that impressed her in there 700 years ago (yes I said 700). Following Ryoko, other strange alien characters start to "fall" (and I do mean fall) into Tenchi's life.

The story arc was well done and neatly woven together. My only problem is that when the story ends, it doesn't seem complete. It seems like at the end of episode 13, the series is just getting warmed up and not ending. Nonetheless, I still give this series five stars because there are two other Tenchi series to watch, even though they are not a good or as well planed.

An Absolute Great Buy!
Simply put, this Tenchi Muyo! box set is well worth its pricey $100 price tag. I was very impressed with the DVD's unique packaging design that's striking and overall beautiful. The entire series is packed into 2 DVDs (400+ minutes) and includes a special features disc which includes character bios, trailers, and more. In a technical standpoint, I never had any trouble playing the discs and the sound quality is just fine. The picture quality had no problems either. The English voice-overs did a great job capturng the characters' essence and personality, however I did notice a couple of out-of-sync parts, but no harm. What's interesting is the fact taht there's two versions of the English subtitle: one for the direct Japaneese translation, and one for the hearing impaired, which translates the English dub. Pretty cool. But what makes Tenchi Muyo! (this box set) so great is the well-written, character-driven storyline. This is one of the few anime titles that don't depend on big fight scenes or cool robot mechs or slapstick. Tenchi Muyo! is well-balanced meaning it doesn't get too serious and doesn't get too silly. After watching the first episode, I got hooked. The characters are so well-written even the villanist bad guys are brilliant. If you're any type of anime fan, or want to get your first anime, I can't recommend anything better than the Tenchi Muyo! OVA Box Set.

tenchi at its best a uk fan
this anime is so funny im not going to wright a long review i just thought id say what i think. this is the funnyest anime i have ever seen it contains well drawn action sceans to.
well i started seing this show on toonami uk beacause its got its own seprate channle i the uk. but after christmas they stoped showing it as well as gundam wing. i was realy angry i emailed them at europe.turnerinfo.com and asked them why. they said that they had no plans to show them again. i was not happy

espeshally when they realaced them with samurai jack. so i desided to get the uncut version on dvd it was amazing ive watchted it like 8 times now. eney true tenchi fan will love this dvd.

Meet Tenchi Masaki...a normal teenager...
This 14-episode series, made from the First and Second OVA story-arches, is still the best of the Tenchi settings. In it Tenchi Masaki meets the legendary demoan, Ryoko, a galactic space pirate. He also meets a couple of Royal Princesses, Ayeka and Sasami, a Galaxy Police Detective, Mihoshi, an alien creature, the cute Ryo-Ohki, and the greatest scientific genius in the universe, WASHU! Mystery, space combat and comedy all in one.
Tenchi soon gets into a lot of trouble as he discovers the TRUE history of his family and about the power locked up in his blood.
This collection is the best, even with all the new volumes and improved collections that are now out. The first two DVDs have the first 13 episodes, plus the bonus 14th episode, and the third DVD is the Tenchi Encyclopedia with interviews, info files, trailers and more. This is the perfect way to caught up on the series without paying a lot of cash. Better do it soon, because the Third OVA should be available any day now!

Not to quibble, but . . .
. . . I'm going to quibble. In the editorial review above, the reviewer says that the Tenchi OVA reunites the cast of the TV show, but that's not so. The OVA was the original; the TV series "Tenchi Universe" and "Tenchi Tokyo" came afterward and made some radical changes in the plot lines, characters, and histories.

The original Tenchi OVAs are far superior to the different TV series, movies, and specials. OVA 1 is episodes 1-6, OVA 2 is episodes 6-13, and OVA 3 is slowly being released at the time of this writing.

The character relationships and backstory are far better in the OVA. The more that's revealed about the galaxy-wide civilizations that are hinted at in the series, and the more infomation that is revealed about earth's place in this scheme, the more fascinating this saga becomes. So much anime doesn't make you think and want to dig for detail. The Tenchi OVAs are so deep and complex that it seems that the stories should never end. ... 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