Review by: Faith McAdams

Publisher: VIZ Media
Author: Kiiro Yumi
Original Story: Hiro Arikawa
Genre: Graphic Novel (Shojo Beat Manga)
MSRP: $9.99 US
Rating: T+ (Older Teen)
Release Date: Now Available

Welcome to the future where you do not want to mess with these librarians.

Having witnessing the banning of books like “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” it felt as if the Media Betterment Committee had jumped out of the pages of Hiro Arikawa’s “Toshokan Senso” (Library Wars) and into real life so the series of light novels came at the right time. So imagine my delight to find that VIZ Media has brought us Volume 1 of Library Wars: Love & War.

If you’re not familiar with the books or the story, that’s Ok because mangaka Kiiro Yumi does a great job of introducing readers to the story that tips its hat to author Ray Bradbury. You see, in this future, the federal government has established the Media Betterment Committee (or MBC) to rid society of books deemed unsuitable for the public. They enforce the law by dropping in on bookstores in search of flagged books and authors and takes them away. Thankfully, an armed group protected by the Library Freedom Act has formed the Library Defense Force who can legally challenge the MBC.

The story focuses on one particular Library Defense Force cadet named Iku Kasahara who, when she was in High school, witnessed the Nazi-like forces of the MBC storm into a bookstore and snatch a fairy tale book she had been waiting months to read. From seemingly out of nowhere a young man not only keeps her from falling after being shoved but stands up against the MBC as a Sergeant for the Library Defense Force’s Kanto branch. It is that moment that not only made Iku want to join the Library Defense Force but to also find the mystery man who she saw has her “hero” and “prince.”

Life as a cadet is difficult but the tomboy in her drives Iku towards her goal to become a field agent and one day meet the hero who inspired her so one day she could be fighting against censorship alongside her mystery prince. Oh, but aside from the grueling training there’s Instructor Atsushi Dojo who she thinks is only picking on her and making her life as a trainee very miserable. Sure, he’s handsome but Iku finds the Sergeant-turned-instructor to be something of a short man with an even shorter fuse. During combat training, she is quick to get him angry and pays for it with a painful armlock.

Sergeant Dojo and fellow instructor Komaki see a lot of promise in the girl but she has a long way to go as we could see from one chapter where Iku gets to experience field work in a public library. Spotting a suspicious man head to the men’s room with a book, Iku follows and confronts the suspect only to leave her guard down and get Instructor Dojo hurt. When Dojo slaps her across the face, Iku spends the next days trying not to let the incident get to her but when she runs into Instructor Dojo in the lobby Iku lets her guard down and asks him why he gave her all the credit for catching the suspect in the men’s room. It is there that she finds some comfort in his friendly pat on the head.

History does tend to repeat itself and it does so again when Iku goes on a training assignment with Major Ryusuke Genda when Iku spots a few vans belonging to the MBC. What she encounters is a similar scene that mirrors her own past as Iku goes up against MBC officers searching for questionable books. Watching her take a stand makes the chapter a memorable one.

As her training is quickly coming to an end, we meet a young go-getter named Hikaru Tezuka who seems to despise from the very beginning and snubs our girl every chance he gets. Iku doesn’t warm up to him either, which is refreshingly understandable and she makes no real effort to befriend him like in other shoujo manga where the nice female lead tries to win over the class jerk. Both Iku and Tezuka do get a position in the Defense Force and Iku finds the actual job even more difficult than training.

It is in the library that Iku comes to see a different side of Sergeant Dojo who is a lot more accommodating and – even though he does get frustrated with her – helps her understand the clerical duties that even field officers must tend to when not confronting the MBC.

The series has plenty of lighthearted moments and some funny ones as well as Iku tries to keep up with the training and her job. It’s good to see a strong female lead make it in the predominantly male career track and even more so when she knows she’s not perfect but will do the job the best way she can until she does it right. As far as the romance side is concerned, it’s too early to tell how the Iku-Dojo relationship will go and, even though there are plenty of hints of Dojo liking his tall female subordinate, his frustration in her makes for some intriguing interactions between the two.

What is even more interesting, though, is the clashes between the MBC and the Library Defense Force that will most likely play a much bigger role in future volumes. It’s just too bad we don’t learn more about the MBC and the secondary characters – aside from Tezuka – aren’t given time in the spotlight to flesh them out a bit more.

Volume 1 of Library Wars: Love & War is an intriguing story that is actually even just as entertaining as the light novels and that’s a very good thing indeed. While it’s far from the perfect shoujo manga, there is a lot that shoujo fans will like and by the end of this volume you might even find yourself wanting to stick around for the next few volumes of this series. This one is well worth the read for sure.

MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN

STORY: A-
Having witnessed a Sergeant of the Library Defense Force stand up against the militant forces of the Media Betterment Committee, a young tomboy named Iku joins the fight to protect books from censorship in hopes of meeting her “hero” who inspired her. What Iku finds out that it isn’t easy being a female agent candidate and even more so with a handsome superior officer that’s always butting heads with her.

ART: B
While it doesn’t standout as anything truly amazing or original, Kiiro Yumi’s art is far from bad despite the characters don’t really stand out as well as they should. Still, there are some decent backgrounds and the action flows well enough.

OVERALL: A-
Shoujo fans will certainly get a kick out of this lighthearted and even entertaining series that doesn’t break any new ground but will keep you happily following the story down to the last page. Volume 1 of Library Wars has the right touch of comedic moments, intriguing futuristic setting and a promising tale worth more than just a peek.

Review copy provided by VIZ Media

Review by: Brenda Gregson

Publisher: NIS America
MSRP: $59.99 US
Running Time: 307 minutes
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Rating: Teen
Release Date: Available Now

A valuable lesson on not judging a book by its cover and recognizing that not all rumors are false.

NIS America is best known for their quality games and they do have an impressive background and lineup of titles so when we first heard that they planned on venturing into anime territory we weren’t really worried. Well, if titles like Toradora! are the quality of series we will be seeing from them, NIS America has a bright and wonderful future ahead of them that involve some very happy anime fans. The Premium Edition of Volume 1 of Toradora! is here and definitely belongs among your collection.

The series’ main protagonist is Ryuji Takasu, a young man who attends Ohashi High School, who just happens to be cursed with his father’s sadistic good-looks that make him look more like a dangerous thug. In reality, Ryuji is the sweetest guy you could ever meet and he would definitely be considered quite a catch seeing as he’s kind, considerate, cooks superbly and keeps his pad clan despite the fact that his sexy mom comes home at late hours working at a host club. Oh, he also happens to be in love with his classmate, Minori Kushieda who is cute, popular and outrageously zany.

While he just can’t bring himself to reveal his true feeling to Minori, fate smiles and curses him as Ryuji literally runs into Taiga Aisaka who is known throughout the school as the “Palm-Top Tiger” because she’s small but ferocious. While all the rumors about Ryuji being a juvenile delinquent are false, all the rumors about Taiga all happen to be true. She does have a short fuse and she does have violent outbursts as Ryuji comes to realize firsthand when the tiny girl knocks him down.

Then an incident in school has Ryuji encountering Taiga in his apartment late at night when the diminutive girl has come to retrieve a love letter she placed in Ryuji’s bag by accident. As it turns out, Taiga is in love with Ryuji’s best friend, Yusako Kitamura, who happens to be Student Council vice president and captain of the boy’s baseball team. So, swearing he would do anything – including becoming her servant – Ryuji teams up with Taiga to help each another be with the one they love. Of course, hanging out with a girl that treats you like her dog isn’t easy but Ryuji is the type of guy who is understanding and accepts the fact that Taiga might not be all bad.

Half the fun of this series is watching the unusual pair become each another’s wingman on their quest to try to win over the objects of their affection. Ryuji loves Minori’s high energy and the fact that she is Taiga’s friend is a plus but it isn’t easy to talk to a girl who seems like she’s running on a high-powered engine. Taiga finds it equally hard to talk to Kitamura because each time they talk she becomes clumsy and unable to carry on a normal conversation with him. It doesn’t take Ryuji too long to find out a most interesting bit of information about something that happened between Taiga and Kitamura a long while back.

While it’s hard to be comfortable with the ones they really love, how is it that Taiga and Ryuji are very comfortable around each another? Since they live near each another the pair are often seen together and their classmates begin to think that the two are dating. The truth is that they both begin to rely on each another with Taiga coming to an understanding that Ryuji is more important to him that anyone else. How can she not appreciate a guy who cooks her delicious meals, sews bosom-enhancing pads to her swimsuit or covers for her in the most crucial moments?

Just when we have these two figured out, though, a new arrival adds more fun to the situation. She is Ami Kawashima, a young model who is Kitamura’s childhood friend. While she comes off as sweet in front of others, her true nature is that of a selfish and mean girl. You better believe that Taiga and Ami become immediate enemies and even more so when she starts showing interest in Ryuji.

The fun rivalry between the two girls is one of the highlights of the later half of the 13-episode first volume and the two girls even compete on campus for Ryuji. What is more interesting, though, is watching Ami change from spoiled brat to a girl who isn’t as perfect as she might seem on the surface. What started as just a mean way of pissing of Taiga by attempting to seduce Ryuji turns into a real crush on the boy.

Another great element in the series is its sense of humor that has a number of laugh-out-loud moments scattered throughout and Minori is just so out there that she practically steals the show … especially in the episode where the group gets lost in a cave. Still, it’s the endearing moments in the series that really work such as Taiga’s reaction to Ryuji’s near drowning at the pool or the touching moment where she listens to Ryuji when he tells her to give her father – who has kicked her out of him home a long time ago – a second chance.

The series does rely on familiar anime elements at times as well but instead of doing what everyone else has done Toradora! tries to do things their own way. The series even makes fun of the usual school festival clichés and tries something interesting like the class putting on a wrestling show in stead of going the usual maid/cosplay café route. Premium Edition includes two bonus episodes about cooking and food, which is funny and animated differently than the main series and there’s a Episode Guide book that’s a nice addition.

The Premium Edition of Volume 1 of Toradora deserves to be among your collection and not just for the goodies includes but because the series is touching, intriguing and loads of fun to watching. There’s something meaningful in a series about people who aren’t what they seem and sometimes even a mean girl has a redeeming quality that reveals her true self. It’s also sincerely funny so giving this one a try is definitely recommended.

DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN

MOVIE/EPISODES: A-
Nice guy Ryuji has a major crush on his highly energetic tomboyish classmate Minori but the problem is that he’s known throughout school as a juvenile delinquent because of the way he looks and, on top of that, Taiga, the girl with the shortest fuse ever, makes Ryuji his obedient pet. Both Ryuji and Taiga work together to win the heart of the ones they love but when another girl comes into the picture the relationship between the odd pair changes.

VIDEO QUALITY: A
The series looks amazing on DVD with a crisp and colorful picture that looks even better seen on an HD setup. The animation is handled wonderfully throughout the series as well.

AUDIO QUALITY: B+
The original score is nice and upbeat and you have to love the catchy opening and closing theme songs to this series. The voice acting in the series is top notch as well with Junji Majima (Ryuji) and Yui Horie (Minori) being the voice actors that stand out in this series.

EXTRAS: A
The Premium Edition comes in a rather big and colorful box with the two-disc first volume that comes complete with two bonus episodes (Toradora SOS! Hurray for Gourmands) with cute super deformed versions of the main cast of characters. On top of that, though, there’s the hardcover Episode Guide book with interviews, character study and descriptions of each episode.

OVERALL: A-
A genuinely funny and sweet series with a lot of heart, Toradora! might feel like familiar anime fare but there’s just much to love about a series that drives home the feeling that sometimes people can surprise you. This Premium Edition is definitely a nice package well worth buying because, trust me, you will definitely become a fan of this series.

Review copy provided by NIS America

Review by: Clive Owen

Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Author: Hosana Tanaka
Genre: Graphic Novel
MSRP: $10.99 US
Rating: OT (16+)
Release Date: Available Now

This is how Ninja Girls play cupid.

The first volume of Ninja Girls was surprisingly funny and loaded with sexy female ninja action that proved that some harem manga could actually be different from other harem titles out there. As a result, the series is actually fun to read and – thankfully – the same can be said about the Volume 2 of Ninja Girls as the quartet attempt to revive the fallen Katana Clan by having the young Lord Raizo romance a noble. Things are about to get a lot more complicated, that’s for sure.

While Kagari’s plan to build Raizo’s castle was a big failure and Lord Seigan after her Shintaigo technique, the young Lord turns to the other plan brought up by his sharpshooter companion, Kisarabi. Her restoration plan is to restore the Katana Clan by having Raizo marry a noble with wealth and influence. That way the Katana Clan will make its return with financial and military backup. Having shown him a list of potential brides, the three shinobi follow their master to the Oumi Province where the first candidate for a potential bride – Habari-Hime – resides as a Princess for the people.

First, however, the traveling quartet run into a pint-sized kunoichi who – only a few minutes ago – was secretly consorting with Lord Seigan. She is Mizuchi and her love for money has her working for the enemy but when she was told to kill Kagari the young shinobi just cannot do that. You see, what she loves just as much as money is Kagari but seeing her idol reduced to a servant to the dorky Raizo makes the young ninja do the unthinkable … attempted murder. However, the girls quickly figure out Mizuchi’s plan and the younger kunoichi walks away. It’s clear that we will definitely see this young girl again.

In the meantime, the three shinobi hatch their plan to get close to the Princess by having Raizo “save” the Princess from a band of thugs in armor. With the girls in their disguises, the plan goes well and Raizo ends up not only being the hero but also getting offer a job as the Princess’ bodyguard by the Princess herself who turns out to be very beautiful and kind.

Raizo is immediately drawn by Habari-Hime’s kindness and her dedication to her people. She also has a long and demanding schedule but the Princess always has a smile for her people and even her army is touched by her gentle presence when she goes to see the men off. Of course, Raizo comes to the realization that while she might be all smiles at each function, the Princess really is exhausted and this worries the young Lord. So Raizo hatches his own plan to rescue the Princess from her schedule for a day or rest and fun with him. As it turns out, this is exactly what she needed.

Meanwhile, we can see that this courtship between her Lord and the Princess bothers Kagari. She clearly does not like the Princess and, in one chapter, even competes with her during what was suppose to be a friendly game. Watching how badly Kagari takes the news that Raizo might marry is the highlight of the volume and once again the ihai that represents Raizo’s mother lets her presence known throughout in the most comical way.

As it turns out, though, somebody is trying to kill the Princess. A botched attempt has the girls saving ambassadors during one event and, during a dinner with Raizo, somebody tries to poison the beautiful noble. Immediately, Raizo and his three shinobi are blamed and, after an interrogation leads to Raizo telling the truth about how he came to “save” the Princess, they are tossed in a cell by the real culprits. It is in the prison that they meet somebody who knows the real truth about what is going on in the province.

There are short battles in this volume but, more importantly, we learn a little more about Raizo including how deeply the pain of being an outcast (thanks to the horn on his head) has affected the young man. However, the aftermath of the battle and a surprising announcement in the end of the chapter finds Raizo and the girls on the run again but this time one person’s opinion of Raizo isn’t a negative one.

It’s good to see that this series’ sense of humor is still very much intact and, in Volume 2 of Ninja Girls, things get even more comical as Raizo attempts to revive his clan by marrying into nobility. While the plan seems to have worked, many things conspire against him and yes that means even more crazy ninja girl antics that made us love the first volume. Consider this another great volume in this already likeable series.

MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN

STORY: B+
Following Kisarabi’s original plan to have Raizo marry a noble whose influence and wealth will help restore the Katana Clan once again. Their target is a Princess from a nearby province and the three female shinobi hatch a plan to make Raizo look like a hero and gain the trust of the Princess. While the plan works, a sinister plot to assassinate the princess makes the four the most likely suspects.

ART: A-
The girls still look amazing in this series and there’s a lot less fan service in this second volume. The sight gags are still hilarious, though, especially when Raizo’s “mother” makes her presence known.

OVERALL: B+
Some action-comedy manga loses its steam and comedic chops by the second volume but that isn’t the case with Volume 2 of Ninja Girls that still remains refreshingly funny and still loads of fun to read. As Raizo follows Kisarabi’s restoration plan that involves marrying into nobility, everything seems to be going good until the truth ruins everything.

Review copy provided by Del Rey Manga

Review by: Ai Kano

Publisher: FUNimation Entertainment
MSRP: $59.98 US
Running Time: 270 minutes
Genre: Action
Rating: TV MA
Release Date: Available Now

You will never look at piercing the same way again.

After having watched the first episode of Rin – Daughters of Mnemosyne, it becomes clear that this isn’t just another anime series that just relies solely on displaying hot naked women as its main selling point. This story has a meaning and purpose that goes beyond its bloody violence, nudity and sex and, yes, it manages to be a disturbing but entertaining thrill ride. While it lasts only six episodes, The Complete Series Blu-ray set of this unique series shows us enough to keep more mature-minded anime fans glued to their HD screens for various reasons.

Then again, if you hated series like Speed Grapher, this series might not be for you because the series is not for the squeamish and those who have a problem with shameless displays of nudity and lots of sex then you will want to skip out on this one. Unfortunately, doing so will be a shame since there is a good story here with great characters that do stand out and scenes that are edgy without trying too hard.

The story revolves around a sexy young woman named Rin Asougi, a private investigator who looks good in a three-piece suit and glasses and out of said three-piece suit. When we first see her in Episode 1, she is running for a lone, redheaded female assassin who is gunning for her and – with a shotgun – turns Rin into hamburger meat. The next thing we know, Rin wakes up in her bedroom with no sign of injury. You see, Rin is an immortal who has been granted eternal life thanks to Time Fruits that seems to float from the mythical tree called Yggdrasil that only immortal women can see.

Rin works as a private investigator with her young immortal assistant named Mimi whose idea of bringing her boss water is bringing her a bottle of Vodka and feeding it to Rin by way of a kiss. During one job trying to locate a cat, Rin runs into a young man named Kouki Maeno who doesn’t seem to know who he really is and why a group of men in black suits want to take him away. Rin decides to help the young man, leading to a trip to a research lab where the truth about the young man is revealed. Even after being horribly tortured and maimed when the pair are captured, Rin stages a rescue and secures a friendship between her and Kouki.

Several years later, Rin and Mimi are looking into another case while a somewhat older Kouki (who works for Rin) meets a crying girl who is looking for an angel. As it turns out, angels do exist and – in the course of the case – Kouki discovers Rin’s immortal secret as well as another interesting tidbit. You see, only women can become immortal and men become angels but the twist is that immortal women are sexually drawn to angels who want nothing more than to become intimate with immortals and then kill them. Each time an angel appears, immortal women are unable to contain themselves and the angel they are tracking proves what happens when Rin and the angel are near each another.

As the years pass, Rin and Mimi do not age but Kouki does and we find the young man married and with a child as the three take on another case where an assassin is using explosives to take out targets. Rin, meanwhile, realizes that a foe named Apos might be behind the attacks and the new crop of angels that keep appearing. Rin and Kouki’s investigation leads to tragedy, though, and the loss haunts the two immortal women but years later another Maeno becomes involved with the two women as Kouki’s teenage son helps Rin.

However, in a battle against an android, Rin is torn to shreds in an exciting battle on an airplane and Rin is lost to the world until – several years later – Kouki’s granddaughter, Mishio, runs into a woman who bares a striking resemblance to Rin. As it turns out, it is Rin and she has no recollection of who she is until an event wakes her and has Rin fighting against Apos’ ultimate plan with her allies.

There are battles aplenty in this series and watching Rin go up against mindless drones in one episode, slay angels in another and go up against assassins such as the redhead Laura makes for some exciting fights. The action is bloody and Rin’s many deaths are extremely gruesome as is watching her body heal itself. On top of that, the nudity and sex scenes are rather graphic and excessive yet doesn’t fall in the sleazy category. It almost becomes comical at times, especially when Rin or Mimi “sleep” with their female informants, which is every episode.

Still, the series doesn’t sacrifice story and character development. Rin just isn’t a saucy babe who looks good fighting angels and assassins, you can practically feel the pain of her immortal curse and what it means to outlive friends. The series never takes itself too seriously as well and is unapologetic in its display of violence, sex and nudity. It’s like a Paul Verhoeven flick … only the flick is energetic and entertaining. Of course, it’s also a complex story that just gets even stranger at the end of the sixth and final episode. It’s a real kick to see the story move from the 1990s to a more futuristic era.

The Complete Series of Rin – Daughters of Mnemosyne is an occasionally disturbing yet deliciously tantalizing morsel on Blu-ray. Calling it a guilty pleasure would be more accurate if you can stomach the gore, sex and nudity. We’ve seen anime like this before but Rin manages to be entertaining and even exciting enough that you will be pulled in by the story and characters. This is definitely for the mature crowd so if you were looking for a more dark and adult anime.

BLU-RAY REVIEW BREAKDOWN

MOVIE/EPISODES: B+
Rin is a private investigator with a most unusual secret … she’s an immortal who finds herself in a conflict with a force who has dark plans for all immortal women like her. Together with her immortal assistant and a young man whose bloodline will continue aid her, Rin tries to makes sense of the mystery behind immortality as well as the one named Apos who has plan for Angels and Immortals alike.

VIDEO QUALITY: A+
It was certainly a great choice to bring this series to Blu-ray since the animation is simply stunning and many of the scenes will not fail to get a reaction out of the viewer. This is certainly a mature title for the strong violence, nudity and sexual situations found in all six episodes.

AUDIO QUALITY: A
The voice acting is top notch whether you like the Japanese cast or the English dub cast so whatever your preference is you are in for a treat. There’s also an amazing score attached to this series and the rocking tunes by GALNERYUS are awesome. Just be prepared for a lot of heavy breathing and moaning in this series.

EXTRAS: A
The Blu-ray release comes with all the extras that the DVD version includes so you’ll find an audio commentary track for Episode 2 with J. Michael Tatum (ADR Director), Colleen Clinkenbeard (Rin), Jamie Marchi (Mimi) and Robert McCollum (Kouki) who offer a hilarious view of the show’s juicy parts and language. There’s also a Japanese cast interview with Mamiko Noto, Rie Kugimiya, Sayaka Ohara and Rie Yamanobe that is worth watching. Aside from that there are clean opening and closing animation plus FUNimation trailers.

OVERALL: B+
A complex yet edge-of-your-seat exciting anime series that walks on the dark and mature side, Rin -Daughters of Mnemosyne is unforgettable and compelling enough to be that different kind of anime you should not ignore. While there are some truly twisted moments in this series, it doesn’t hide the fact that there’s a great story here.

Review copy provided by FUNimation Entertainment

Review by: Sophie Stevens

Publisher: Dark Horse Manga
Author: CLAMP Mokona
Genre: Graphic Novel (Nonfiction, Manga, Art Book)
MSRP: $12.99 US
Rating: N/A
Release Date: Available Now

Just about everything you ever wanted to know about kimonos but where afraid to ask.

Born and raised in England, there wasn’t much chance to try on a kimono where I lived but my inner fashion diva has always longed to wear one and wear it right. So you can imagine my delight in finding CLAMP Mokona’s Okimono Kimono, a book with just about everything you can ask for when it comes to advice on wearing a kimono with style. I mean, this is the talented artist that makes xxxHolic’s Yuko look good so how can you go wrong, right?

For those who don’t know them, CLAMP consists of four very amazing artists/manga-ka who – together – have an impressive lineup of manga titles that include Chobits, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, xxxHolic and Cardcaptor Sakura just to name a few favorites. Among them, of course, is Mokona who has had a deep fascination with kimonos for a long time. Okimono Kimono is an artistic testament to her love for traditional and non-traditional kimono, yukatas and the accessories that give the fashion ensemble a refreshing look for various occasions.

Make no mistake, this isn’t just a fashion book but rather an affectionate look at beauty that is the Japanese kimono and the artistry that goes into the patterns. More importantly, however, are the various ways you can make your look even better and Mokona covers just about everything. Mokona also includes her own kimono patterns and designs that have even shown up in her work. As we can see from some of her designs – via some beautiful photography with backgrounds drawn by CLAMP’s Nekoi Tsubaki and commentary by Mokona – that were inspired by xxxHolic’s most fashion-savvy character, Yuko Ichihara.

Using attractive models, the book has a chapter with photographs detailing the right type of kimono or yukata selection for the right occasion. She goes into intricate yet playful details of the look best suited for the various occasions that make each kimono feel in tune with the occasion and that includes design, color and accessories. Naturally, you don’t wear a kimono you wore at a wedding to a cherry blossom viewing event and you certainly don’t wear a kimono appropriate to rock concerts to a formal classical music concert.

Accessories also play a big hand in making a kimono look even more chic and Mokona has a chapter on that including pictures of a large variety of accessories that range from different hats to ornaments you would place on the obi (the sort of decorative sash that is tied around the waist). There are even her thoughts on the decorative collars that would go good with different kimono colors and patterns so you have to take that into consideration as well. Finally, there are different footwear such as various clogs and sandals and she even makes an interesting comment about the ways you can decorate the straps to fit your kimono’s look.

There’s also a playful interview with singer Onuki Ami of the popular Puffy AmiYumi who is not only a CLAMP fan but also an admirer of kimonos. Their conversation is actually sweet as the two women talk about their history wearing kimonos as well as what they think about the various styles that have changed over the years. Interestingly enough, Mokona also includes an interview with Yumioka Katsumi, owner of a kimono store called Ichinokura in Harajuko, who offers some extremely insightful tips on selecting the right kimono.

Mokona includes a photo diary as well that recounts various events she participated in from 2005-2006 and the kimonos she wore at them as well. Those who were in Los Angeles’ Anime Expo in 2006 will recall CLAMP’s first visit to L.A. as well as the lovely kimono she was wearing at the panel.

I also liked CLAMP’s Igarashi Satsuki’s essay “Chipmunk’s Paulownia Chest” and a short-yet-cute manga story by Nekoi Tsubaki of a little girl in her red kimono who asks her brother to make Horan for her just like he did for their father. Sure, it’s not a story about kimonos but it’s a beautiful story with some beautiful art.

Unfortunately, despite mentioning the fact that she has her own methods of putting on a kimono, she never shows us via pictures or her cute drawings how to put one on properly. Sure, we can look it up online or via another book but it would have been nice to have includes an in-depth “How-To” that includes how to properly wrap an obi around your waist on your own. This would have made this book a true asset especially to us Western readers who might be interested in buying or putting on a kimono.

CLAMP Mokona’s Okimono Kimono is a valuable book for anyone who is interested in kimonos and an artistic art book that is just what you would expect from such a talented artist. Filled with lovely photographs, enlightening information and plenty of helpful tips, Okimono Kimono is a book you need to own if fashion is your fancy. Sure, a big element was left out but – in the end – there’s more than enough here to make everyone happy.

MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN

STORY: A-
CLAMP’s Mokona has always had a fascination with kimonos and shares his marvelous gift for accessorizing and selecting the right kimono for right occasion. More importantly, she shares her own artistic designs that show up in her manga work. There’s also interviews with Onuki Ami of the musical duo Puffy AmiYuki as well as the owner of a kimono store. She also kept a picture diary of her wearing different kimonos to different events plus includes a short manga story.

ART: A+
With gorgeous photography and some artistic shots with Mokona’s lovely art as backgrounds, the visuals in this book are just as stylish as the kimonos and yukatas featured throughout. There’s also a short manga story drawn by CLAMP’s other talent, Nekoi Tsubaki.

OVERALL: A-
Just about everything you want to know about accessorizing and wearing the right kimono makes Okimono Kimono a real gem for anyone who has ever wanted to try on a kimono for fun. Sadly, she doesn’t include some How To info for us North American folk but with so much info and lovely examples you will find this book to be a valuable asset and the perfect coffee table book even for non manga readers.

Review copy provided by Dark Horse Manga

Review by: Brenda Gregson

Publisher: Media Blasters (Anime Works)
MSRP: $49.99 US
Running Time: 650 minutes
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Rating: N/A
Release Date: Available Now

Who thought the life of a Buddhist Priest could be this much fun or sexy?

Having been a fan of Love Hina and other harem-styled anime, I just had to review the Complete Collection of Ah, My Buddha. Sure, some series don’t surprise you with anything usually different and there are other series that are just by-the-number harem fare with plenty of fan service scattered throughout but some series do have some redeeming quality that makes it worth the watch. Ah, My Buddha follows the same familiar formula but that doesn’t mean you won’t have loads of fun watching this one.

Having been sent to the Saienji Temple that is looked after by the Chief Priestess, Jyotoku Kawahara (who also happens to be his grandmother), Ikkou Satonaka finds life as a priest-in-training rather arduous and strange. For starters, he has heavy cooking and cleaning duties and he has to learn complex sutras to cleanse the world of the spirits of those unable to move on to the afterlife. On top of that, he lives with six attractive young girls studying to become Buddhist nuns. One of them, a sexy redhead named Chitose Nanbu might even have a crush on him … when she’s not kicking him in the head and accusing him of being a filthy pervert.

While the boy is target of many a misunderstanding that involves him walking into the girls’ bathroom, walking in on them while they’re changing or accidentally yanking down their skimpy robes. Besides that, Ikkou has a most unusual power within him that allows him to cleanse all spirits around him. The problem, however, is that he must be in a state of, um, excitement that involves somebody disrobing or flashing their bosoms. On top of that there’s no controlling Ikkou so the only way to put an end to the pervert within is a swift kick, punch or supernatural flame to return the boy to his usual goofy self.

As Ikkou tries hard to make sense of his ability, he goes on a number of jobs for the temple and we get to know each girl a little better … although the majority of them aren’t given enough background to flesh them out. We know Sakura is the brainy one with glasses and Yuko is the tough tomboy of the group and yes there’s even a very bosomy one named Haruka. The ones we do get some background story on do actually stand out because of it.

In the first season of the series, we follow Ikkou and the girls as they take care of evil spirits and friendly spirits unable to cross over. In one episode they go up against a possessed doll during a Burning Ceremony and in another Ikkou and Chitose cleanse a haunted arcade of a group of boys that just want to spend all of eternity playing video games. We also meet the ghost of a young perverted panty-and-bra-stealing student in their High school who develops a crush for one of the girls named Sumi.

Of course, a series like this also brings out the familiar anime elements such as the sports festival and, yes, even a trip to a hot springs is in order. There isn’t anything we haven’t seen in other anime series featured in Ah, My Buddha but what makes this series fun are the little moments that make up the adolescent High school antics. In one episode we find that the tomboy of the group finds out she has an admirer and doesn’t know what to do about it or the episode dedicated to Chitose’s love for horror flicks.

In the second season, a new girl named Kazuki is added to Ikkou’s harem but this girl makes it clear that she is attracted to Ikkou as well as his power, which makes Chitose jealous. The first season introduced two mysterious monks trying to get Ikkou to unleash his power and this time they play a much bigger role in a conspiracy that involve other temples and a secret behind Ikkou’s power. The second season is also a lot more funnier than the first with Kazuki’s many attempts to seduce Ikkou (and failing) being one of the comedic highlights.

The Complete Collection set also includes the two OVA episodes, one for each season. While the fan service in the regular series isn’t too revealing, the opposite can be said about the bonus episodes so if nudity isn’t your thing then you might want to skip these episodes.

Despite its unoriginal elements and few weak plotlines, the Complete Collection of Ah, My Buddha still manages to be entertaining enough to be a series you should check out either way. The comedy is actually quite good in this series and there’s plenty of worthwhile moments found in both seasons of this set. Depending on your tastes, the fan service might be too much for some but if you’re able to overlook it you will find yourself liking the harem comedy.

DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN

MOVIE/EPISODES: B
A young priest-in-training named Ikkou joins the Saienji Temple run by his overbearing grandmother only to find lots of chores, strange rituals and a collection of very attractive priestesses living with him. It all sounds good but Ikkou has a power that can only be awakened be seeing female nudity. In the second season, a rival priestess will stop at nothing to seduce Ikkou.

VIDEO QUALITY: A
Media Blasters does the series justice with a crisp and colorful picture that makes the animation stand out nicely. While the character design isn’t unique, you can tell each character apart and – if you don’t mind it – the fan service can get overwhelmingly excessive. Only the OVA episodes display nudity.

AUDIO QUALITY: A
The original Japanese voices are handled beautifully thanks to a great cast with Mai Nakahara pulling double duty by voicing Chitose wonderfully but also singing the closing theme songs “Happy Days” and “Lonesome Traveler.” The English dub is excellent as well with talent that includes Tara Platt and Stephanie Sheh just to name a few. Even the original score a good, especially in the second series.

EXTRAS: B+
There are clean opening and closing theme songs to look forward to and each disc contains various different trailers as well. The best extras, however, come in two OVA episodes for each of the two seasons in the Complete Collection set.

OVERALL: B
While it might not be original, it is hard to overlook the good qualities and over-the-top hilarity of Ah, My Buddha and if you give this Complete Collection a try you will find yourself liking this quirky fan service-filled series. Still, you can’t help but think that this series could have been a lot better.

Review copy provided by Media Blasters/Anime Works

Review by: Sophie Stevens

Publisher: VIZ Media
Author: Karuho Shiina
Genre: Graphic Novel (Shojo Beat Manga)
MSRP: $9.99 US
Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: Available Now

Beware of girls with fake smiles.

There was a time that everyone in her class thought Sawako Kuronuma was a walking curse but, thanks to Kazehaya and his small group of friends, the girl who looked like she stepped out of a Japanese horror flick has learned to open up and trust those around her. All seemed to be going well until she met a popular girl who – in Volume 4 of Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You – is forcing our girl to reveal her true feeling for the boy who made her life so much better.

In the final chapter of Volume 3, a pretty girl named Kurumi who happens to not only be popular but also seen as the nicest girl in school “befriends” and asks Sawako to help her win the heart of Kazehaya who this girl had a major crush on since Junior High. While she likes the girl well enough, Sawako refuses to help her and things quickly turn sour as the seemingly sweet Kurumi shows her dark side. While she wants to come off as menacing, Kurumi becomes enraged when Sawako just doesn’t get that she’s angry with the oblivious girl.

So begins a most unusual rivalry with one party trying hard to get her way and the other still believing the other is a good friend. With the sports festival underway, Sawako surprises everyone including Kazehaya during girls soccer game. In a hilarious turn of events, Sawako loses a shoe during the match and as Kurumi is about to explode with anger that Sawako is speaking comfortably wit Kazehaya the shoe drops from the sky and smacks Kurumi over the head.

During her break, Sawako hangs out with Kurumi who has come to watch Kazehaya play baseball and is quick to insult Sawako and tells her to learn her place. Kurumi makes it clear that she feels she is the right person for Kazehaya and asks Sawako what he really means to her. Of course, Sawako isn’t able to give her an answer. What does Kazehaya mean to her? Is it more than just respect and gratitude for all he has done for her? Kurumi uses Sawako’s confusion against her and even more so when a wild pitch nearly hits Sawako but is grabbed by Ryo …. Kazehaya’s friend.

Pushing Sawako to thank Ryo for having saved her, Sawako learns a lot from the silent young man who tells her about feeling as well as a secret about the girl he has always loved. Meanwhile, Kurumi takes advantage of Sawako’s little meeting with Ryo by leading Kazehaya to the spot where the two are talking. Kazehaya had wanted to be the one that saved Sawako from the stray pitch and now she is talking to Ryo. This is too much for the young man as he grabs Sawako by the arm and runs away with her to Kurumi’s horror. There’s a nice little scene between Kazehaya and Sawako that makes it clear that Kazehaya is getting serious in what he wants out of his relationship with Sawako. It’s just too bad that our girl doesn’t get his meaning.

Meanwhile, after Yano confronted Kurumi and asked her about the person who spread rumors about her and Yoshida as well as some ugly rumors about Sawako, Yano and Yoshida begin their own little investigation to find proof that it was Kurumi behind the vicious lies that gave them all such bad reputations. Once again, Yano and Yoshida prove to be not only fascinating characters but also the highlight of this series. You just can’t help loving these two girls.

In the final chapter, the truth behind Kurumi is revealed. It’s certainly no secret at this point that she is a dastardly girl who has manipulated people and situations to obtain her ultimate goal of getting Kazehaya to like her. While she was successful in starting a campaign to keep all other girls away, she fails miserably (and comically) with Sawako who finally realizes something about her feeling towards Kazehaya. At one point, Kurumi’s attempt to get closer to Kazehaya is spoiled by the hilarious teacher the students call Pin who thinks Kurumi has a crush on him.

When Sawako joins Yano and Yoshida who reveals Kurumi’s plot, our girl still isn’t capable of hating the girl even though Kurumi isn’t going to let this go. While she loses this round, it looks like Kurumi will be around as Sawako’s enemy. Oh yeah, this is some great drama.

Volume 4 of Kimi ni Todoke finally injects some drama into this lighthearted story and the fact that it doesn’t lose its great sense of humor in the process makes this an even more endearing manga series. A rival capable of deceit and a hatred for Sawako adds something new to this series that continues to be way too much fun to read.

MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN

STORY: B+
Sawako refuses to help the attractive and very popular Kurumi win the heart of Kazehaya who she has been longing for since Junior High. Unfortunately, Kurumi sees Sawako as an obstacle as she sets up a plan to try to get the clueless girl out of her way by any means necessary. Meanwhile, Yoshida and Yano think that Kurumi isn’t as sweet as she seems.

ART: B+
The expressions on Sawako’s face still kill me every time and even more so when she fails to understand what’s going on and watching her rival seething with anger because of it will not fail to put a smile on your face.

OVERALL: B+
Sawako has come a long way in this series and even more so now in Volume 4 as she comes to terms with her feelings for the boy that changed her life. Kimi ni Todoke is just getting very interesting as the girl nobody wanted to talk to stands up for her true feeling against a rival who is actually quite devious in her attempt to get Kazehaya’s attention.

Review copy provided by VIZ Media

Review by: Kiki Van De Kamp

Publisher: FUNimation Entertainment
MSRP: $59.98 US
Running Time: 320 minutes
Genre: Action/Supernatural
Rating: TV 14
Release Date: July 27, 2010

Never mess with Lord Death.

It’s safe to say that it was love at first sight for us in this cozy little office when Part One of Soul Eater was released. It’s not every day that a freshly original and ultra cool anime series you can’t help but love thanks to a delightfully diverse cast of characters and a story that fun to watch as the unique animation. Part Four of Soul Eater brings the story to its final confrontation between two forces ready to lock horns with the Grim Reaper himself and all the students and faculty of the Death Weapon Meister Academy.

In Part Three, Death has begun to gather his most trusted associates (like Excalibur) and alumni who have come to lend Death a hand in preparing to recapture an old foe who finds himself in the hands of the dangerous Arachne. Oh, and Medusa – who finds herself inhabiting the body of a little girl – surrenders to the DWMA. In the first episode of Part Four, Medusa gets an audience with Death and makes a most unexpected deal that seems to benefit the DWMA and all she wants is to be set free.

As Medusa walks out of Death City, Death the Kid isn’t the only one questioning Death’s decisions because Maka can no longer of contain her disgust. While Medusa was imprisoned, Maka let her know how evil this woman is for having made her son, Chrona, suffer. Meanwhile, Chrona confesses to having taken part in poisoning Doctor Franken Stein with Madness. In his defense, the thought that he was the cause of Stein’s descent into Madness-induced insanity. The good Doctor finds himself seeing things that aren’t there as Medusa’s influence makes the Doctor leave Death City even after Sword tried to stop him.

Fortunately, Marie – who is now a new teacher and Dr. Stein’s close friend – convinces Death to allow her to take Chrona to find Doctor Stein. Chrona is determined to right his wrong even if it means facing his mother in order to save the man that had shown him kindness. In the meantime, Death has his own son pick up the final key to unlocking Brew – an ancient artifact created by his old friend called Eibon. Kid finds himself on a mission that places his life in danger when he leaves Patty and Liz behind.

As Kid continues his mission, Death sends students and faculty out on a mission to overtake Baba Yaga Castle where Arachne is holding the Kishin prisoner. Joining Black Star and Tsubaki, Maka and Soul decide to leave the action to Black Star in an effort to find and help Chrona and Marie. It’s a good thing they do because Marie and Chrona do manage to find Medusa and face off against her on one of the best scenes that has son going up against his own mother in battle. I won’t spoil what happens but know that the outcome is a jarring experience that makes it yet another epic confrontation for this series. You really do have to see it for yourself.

As the battle to find the Kishin continues outside the school, Black Star confronts his old adversary, the samurai Mifune, in their final battle. It’s clear that Black Star has improved greatly since he lost his battle with him and as the boy pushes him to his limits it reminds Mifune of an opponent related to Black Star. Unfortunately, Arachne releases the full power of her fortress but Kid arrives on time to help his father unlock Brew and the weapon that transforms Death City itself.

With the new weapon, Death manages to recapture the Kishin as his old foe that he knew as Asura clashes with Death in a battle between two Gods. We’ve seen Death at his most cute and hilarious but we see a side of him that is actually quite dark as the two fight. While that battle is unforgettable, the real epic battle occurs in the final episodes of the series as Kid, Maka, Black Star and his their Weapons fight Asura.

Oh yeah, the battle is simply too awesome to describe and doing so will ruin the ending of this anime series. I’ll just say that the finale is a fitting one for this series and it does not disappoint in the very least. Consider this the best ending to a great series as Maka makes a stand and Soul faces his inner demon. You can’t ask for a better finale.

Part Four of Soul Eater is exactly what you might expect from a series that has been refreshingly different and compulsively watch worthy from the very beginning. These final episodes really do push the action and characters in a final confrontation that just makes this an unforgettable finish to an original anime series that we will remember fondly.

DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN

MOVIE/EPISODES: A+
Medusa’s surrender to the Academy has Death and his closest associates striking a deal with her and setting up a plan that has Death the Kid suspicious of his own father. Meanwhile, students and faculty are sent on a mission to infiltrate Arachne’s castle. In a massive battle, Death unlocks the power of an ancient weapon as the forces of good fight a final battle with the Kishin.

VIDEO QUALITY: A+
Soul Eater will best be remembers for its wonderfully original animation and artwork true to the manga series. Even the minor characters stand out and the action sequences are epic so this series definitely gave us plenty of eye candy.

AUDIO QUALITY: A
The voice acting is still very much in top form for both the original Japanese and the English dub voices but it’s the original score that stands out in a very cinematic way. The opening and closing songs are just personal favorites here at the office because who doesn’t love the Abingdon Boys School?

EXTRAS: B+
Once again we get the Soul Eater Late Show and this time it features Excalibur and there’s audio commentary for Episode 44 with Colleen Clinkenbeard (Marie), Monica Rial (Tsubaki) and Maxey Whitehead (Chrona). Their commentary is actually all over the place but in the best possible way. On top of that there are trailers and clean opening and closing animation.

OVERALL: A+
A fitting end to a satisfyingly unique series that oozed cool out of every episode, Part Four of Soul Eater is nothing short of impressive. As the final confrontation between the Death’s supporters and the evil demi-God, the last episodes will keep you glued to your screen from beginning to end. It doesn’t get any better than this finale.

Review copy provided by FUNimation Entertainment

Review by: Clive Owen

Publisher: Del Rey Manga
Author: Hosana Tanaka
Genre: Graphic Novel
MSRP: $10.99 US
Rating: OT (16+)
Release Date: Available Now

Ninja girls just want to have fun.

One of the things we love about manga is that there’s a genre for just about every taste and for those who like a series with plenty of fan service and cute girls hanging on the arm of a regular Joe then we have yet another manga series for you. Interestingly enough, though, Ninja Girls might follow a familiar formula but as we can see from Volume 1 it isn’t afraid to be funny and occasionally sweet.

The story revolves around 15-year old Raizo, a boy who lives in a village that wants nothing to do with him because the boy happens to have a small horn sticking out of his head. It is because of this horn that the boy is an outcast and seen a demon child so Raizo – alone – has nobody to talk to except for his deceased mother’s ihai (a mortuary tablet that hilariously reacts to him). One day, he happens upon a beautiful young girl washed up on the shore of the river and rescues her.

It turns out, after digging through her belongings, that this busty girl is a kunoichi – a female ninja. When she wakes up, she introduces herself as Kagari who is looking for the last Lord of the Katana Clan. As it turns out, the Lords of the Katana Clan all have one distinguishing characteristic … they have a single horn sticking out of their head. It doesn’t take too long before another rival kunoichi comes to Raizo’s home and slashes away the rag he uses to conceal his horn. In an instant, Kagari realizes that Riazo is her Lord and she asks him to watch her … a requirement that activates her ninja ability called Shintaigo where her entire body becomes as hard as steel.

Kagari manages to defeat the enemy and it becomes clear to us that Shintaigo allows her to do impressive feats such as call up great strength and speed as she demonstrates when she builds an entire castle for her new Lord. However, the power has its limits. You see, Raizo has to be watching her for the power to work. It’s also clear that she likes her new Master who is kind and praises her. Oh, but Kagari isn’t the only kunoichi loyal to the Katana Clan because we are introduced to Kisarabi who is an expert markswoman. While Kagari is loopy and not too bright, Kisarabi is calm and intelligent to the point that she becomes the voice of reason. Kisarabi also wants Raizo to act like a Feudal Lord and scold the girls every now and then which is something the boy cannot do.

Seeing as Kagari’s poor choice of location for their new Master’s castle, the three journey away from the kingdom of the cruel Lord Seigan who wants to see Raizo, the illegitimate son of the Katana Clan’s last heir. Taking a break in an inn, Raizo is taken captive by what he thought was a traveling musician and is rescued by the third member of their group, a kunoichi named Himemaru. Hilariously enough, Raizo discovers that there’s something off about the very strange about the seemingly feminine Himemaru and the truth about this kunoichi is an interesting twist that adds something different to the harem theme.

While there are battles in this manga, the real fun comes in the interactions between Raizo and his loyal kunoichi who try desperately to win his approval. What’s even more fun is the in-fighting between each kunoichi and watching Kagari and Himemaru try (and fail) to win Raizo’s heart is hilarious. In one chapter, each character tries to do something for Raizo’s illness and ends up hurting him more than helping him. Then there’s Lord Seigan who disguises himself to find Raizo only to meet and be fascinated by Kagari.

As I mentioned before, the genre has seen stories like this before but Ninja Girls still manages to do its own thing and do it in an entertaining fashion. The art is also handled quite beautifully, although I must say that if you don’t care for excessive fan service and girls in a state of near undress then this manga might not appeal to you visually. Then again, you will be missing out on this series’ great sense of humor that has nothing to do with fan service.

Volume 1 of Ninja Girls is the kind of manga series that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is a fun read because of this and, on top of that, manages to keep you very entertained. Of course, we’ve seen stories like this before and with equal amounts of fan service as well but – thanks to the series’ great sense of humor, likeable characters and good writing – Ninja Girls is a series we definitely want to continue following.

MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN

STORY: B+
In a far-off village, a young boy named Raizo is shunned by everyone because he happens to have a horn sticking out of his head. One day he saves a beautiful young woman who happens to be a female ninja sworn to protect the last heir to the Katana Clan who just so happens to be Raizo. Escaping a Feudal Lord who wants Raizo dead, the pair meet another female warrior and a companion who isn’t quite the person Raizo expected.

ART: A-
Hosana Tanaka’s art is actually very striking with some visually pleasing backgrounds and more than decent character design. Certainly, more attention was places on the girls, particularly their – um – endowments that seem to want to pour out of their tight tops in nearly every panel.

OVERALL: B+
A manga series overflowing with over-the-top fan service and plenty of truly comical moments, Volume 1 of Ninja Girls is funny and well worth a read if you like a ninja story with cute girls and a boy who just doesn’t know what to do with them. Consider this one on our Highly Recommended list.

Review copy provided by Del Rey Manga

Review by: Brenda Gregson

Publisher: VIZ Media
MSRP: $59.98 US
Running Time: 300 minutes
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Rating: T+ (Older Teen)
Release Date: Available Now

If a heart breaks does it make a sound?

An office favorite even among the boys in this office, Chica Umino’s hilarious and deep manga series, Honey and Clover, is one of those series that deserves to have an anime version and you can imagine our delight when VIZ Media has brought us the first box set. The series continues with Box 2 of Honey and Clover as the focus falls on Mayama and Yamada’s relationship and Takemoto takes a journey of self-discovery in the more dramatic yet still funny second part.

After Morita got on a plane and disappeared from Hagu’s life, Takemoto begins to wonder if he would like the eccentric art genius to come back. He even asks Hagu if she would like the young man to come back and she gives him an answer Takemoto wasn’t expecting. It’s funny how, while absent, Morita’s presence still lingers and affects those around him. Should he feel happy that his rival in love is out of the picture?

Speaking of love, Yamada invites them all to a fireworks festival and thinks it might be cute to put on a yukata and even Hagu likes the idea but the truth is that she doesn’t get all dressed up for tradition’s sake but to impress Mayama who is still very much in love with Rika Harada despite not working with her anymore. Mayama works for a different design company with two very appealing co-workers (one of which owns a cute dog) and Nomiya … a young man Mayama looks up to in this business.

While he respects the man’s work ethics, Mayama does not like the fact that he has taken a keen interest in Yamada after a chance meeting during the fireworks festival. Nomiya is known to be a ladies man who loves them and leaves them and he clearly has eyes for the attractive young Yamada. So begins a sort of rivalry between Mayama and Nomiya, although Mayama seems only interested in protecting a friend. Nomiya, on the other hand, has a most interesting theory on who he wants to protect Yamada so intently.

Of course, it might not be easy to protect a girl who is so totally clueless and, after Nomiya hires Yamada for her pottery design, things get even more awkward now that the girl that loves him is now showing up at work. On top of that, Nomiya takes Yamada out for soba on a long-distance road trip together after having just met not too long ago. Little by little, Yamada’s heart begins to break and it starts to show by her constant drinking and that she kicks Mayama unconscious even more frequently now.

Things get even more complicated when the design company where he works – run but the outrageous twins Mario and Luigi – decides to break the company in half with one half working in Tokyo and the other in a different city. Mayama doesn’t accept being moves far from the woman who loves and decides to work with Rika-san again. In an interesting twist of events, Rika and Yamada meet for the first time as it comes to the younger woman attention that Mayama works alongside her.

Aside from the Mayama-Yamada-Rika love triangle, the series also focuses on Takemoto who is so busy working on his final project that he collapses under the heavy strain. In the hospital he is glad to find support from his stepfather and – in a surprising twist – Morita makes a return from America with a prestigious award for his artistic work in a Hollywood movie called “Space Titanic.”

Interestingly enough, though, the best part about Box 2 is Takemoto’s sudden inspiration to keep pedaling on with his bike with no real destination in mind. Everything quickly comes to the understanding that the young man when on a sudden journey of self-discovery and – in a way – Takemoto’s journey is an enlightening one as he comes across various people including a group of temple restorers who restore the young man’s faith in himself. When he returns to the school we can see the change the journey had on him.

While shifting to a more dramatic tone than the first 13 episodes, Box 2 isn’t without its livelier moments and its sense of humor hasn’t been lost in the serious mood of these episodes. Watching Yamada run from a group of potential suitors who have come to ask for her hand in marriage at the same time is a highlight and Morita – after having come back with his award – decides to give his mentor one last heart attack before he becomes some other teacher’s nightmare. At this point, Morita will never leave art school.

Box 2 of Honey and Clover is an emotional rollercoaster as the story reveals the even more complicated side of each love triangle and the desperation of two people trying to make sense of their lives. As Yamada tries to cling to her love for Mayama, it is Takemoto who tries to find meaning in his life and thus finds something about him that changes the young man’s life. We are so looking forward to Box 3 of this amazing series.

DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN

MOVIE/EPISODES: A-
The Mayama-Yamada relationship becomes more complicated when one of Mayama’s coworkers starts showing interest in Yamada. Meanwhile, a change in the design company where he works makes a change that forces him to quit and work with the woman he loves and you better believe this move crushes Yamada’s spirit. In the meantime, Takemoto’s problems begin to pile on so he gets on his bicycle and pedals off away in search for answers.

VIDEO QUALITY: A
The animation is still true to Chica Umino’s art with the cute and very comedic sight gags intact. This series definitely looks great on DVD so that also makes this worth the purchase price.

AUDIO QUALITY: B
The English dub voices aren’t bad at all but I still think Honey and Clover is best watched in its original Japanese language track. There’s just something about the Japanese actors that make Morita and Hagu sound true to the character.

EXTRAS: A
There are a number of extras here that outshine the first box set including a Episode 1 “screening tea party” media event with the director of the anime, the Japanese voice actor for Hagumi and Chica Umina herself (although her face is covered by her cute teddy bear persona from the manga). We also get a peek at the 2005 Tokyo International Anime Fair where some Honey and Clover cast and crew showed up. In another feature, personality Kiba-chan tries his hand at voice acting in the role of Midori (the poodle). There’s also production art, clean opening and closing theme songs and trailers aplenty.

OVERALL: A
While the first half of the series was on the verge of being beautiful and moving, it is Box 2 of Honey and Clover that steals the show with a deeply involving, complex and brilliant 13 episodes. This part of the series also showcases Chica Umino’s amazing writing and her power to convey actual emotions. Honey and Clover fans, this is one box set you do not want to miss.

Review copy provided by VIZ Media

Review by: Clive Owen

Publisher: WildStorm Productions (DC Comics)
Author: Jason Waltrip and John Waltrip
Story: Tommy Yune
Artist: Omar Dogan, Tommy Yune, Jason Waltrip and John Waltrip
Genre: Graphic Novel
MSRP: $17.99 US
Rating: N/A
Release Date: Now Available

This is the beginning of a new kind of Robotech war.

Looking back, I have to say that the person who really showed me how good anime was had to have been my older brother who – during the 1980s – introduced his then three-year old little brother to his favorite television series … the original Robotech. Thankfully, it took a complete box set of this series for me to truly appreciate what my brother was trying to show me and I have to say I can now see what made him love this series that might have been the first anime to really make an impact to kids growing up in the 80s.

Like other Robotech fans, I too wondered what happened to Rick Hunter and his compatriots after having seen this character go from an inexperienced kid to an admired hero of the Robotech War. Our questions have been answered in an animated film based on the Japanese anime series and, thanks to WildStorm, we now get an even deeper look into the events of the Shadow Chronicles film with Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles.

On an official manhunt for that traitor, General T.R. Edwards, a somewhat still youthful and slightly grizzled Admiral Rick Hunter and the crew of the Pioneer-class fortress known as the SDF-3 have finally located the man who has betrayed the human race. The Invid Regent has overtaken the city of Tiresia on the planet Tirol that was once the homeworld of the Robotech Masters. Rick and his troops manage to secure some of the area and make a shocking discovery … Minmei’s is in the city and taken captive by Edwards who murdered Minmei’s cousin. On top of that, during his escape, Edwards unleashes the power of an experimental technology that severely cripples the SDF-3 with Lisa Hunter onboard as commanding officer.

With the Robotech Expeditionary Force’s main flagship taken out, Rick is still determined to find and capture General Edwards. Unfortunately, the incident above Tirol has taken its toll on Lisa who – sadly – was so badly injured that she suffered two big emotional blows. Both Rick and Lisa have been through a lot in the past and the couple had pulled through but a year passes and we can see the incident has emotionally aged Rick considerably. His youthful appearance is replaced by a silver-haired Admiral whose resolve has not changed.

As it turns out, the SDF-3 has not only been repaired but has been retooled with technology that belongs to the alien allies who have aligned themselves with the humans to combat the Invid. It’s with this cooperation between different races and the Ambassadors who respect Admiral Hunter that the mission to capture General Edwards has begun again. This time, however, Hunter’s close friend Vincent Grant has taken command of a battleship that includes familiar faces such as Doctor Jean Grant.

Unfortunately, Captain Grant has a run-in with the Invid during the battleship’s search for Edwards and finds that the General has sided with the Invid King but during the space battle against Grant’s fighters, General Edwards’s true plan begins. He sets in motion his plan to control the Invid’s Hive Mind and thus snatches control from the King himself. Now in command of the Invid’s forces, Edwards launches an attack against the human battleship and forces the crew to abandon ship. Part two of his plan has him snatching the remaining survivors that include Captain Grant and Jean along with a few others.

It seems that General Edwards’s plans aren’t entirely about world and universe domination. There’s a noble cause behind his plan that has become twisted as a result of his growing madness and it could have been the plan that would have put an end to the enemy’s invasion if the General didn’t go about it in such a deranged fashion. It is clear that he has lost a lot to the enemy and I don’t mean the loss of his eye but it becomes clear to everyone that the General means to destroy the enemy by ways of their Shadow technology and an alien experiment called the Genesis Pit that rearranges DNA to make more Invid troops.

Luckily, Admiral Hunter arrives on time using the new technology of his flying fortress and stages a rescue mission in the Invid homeworld where they encounter General Edwards waiting for them. The inevitable confrontation, however, is the highlight of this graphic novel and the outcome leads to the events seen in the film including a new body for Janice M1. We also get a glimpse of a character who appears throughout the movie. I won’t spoil what happens at the end but know that things get really good.

Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles is, simply put, a prequel that actually outshines the animated feature film itself and its story will not fail to rekindle our love for all things Robotech. With some great writing from two very talented writers and some amazing art, you certainly can’t go wrong with this graphic novel. If you’re a long time Robotech fan, missing out on this would be a shame.

MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN

STORY: B+
Hot on the trail of General Edwards who has not only betrayed the human race by siding with the Invid but has also managed to take down the SDF-3, Admiral Rick Hunter turns to humanity’s only allies in the war against the oppressive invaders for help. Armed with new alien technology, Hunter and the others go up against Edwards in a massive battle that sets up the events of the feature film.

ART: A-
Despite the different artist on board, the art remains consistently the same throughout and this is a good thing seeing as Omar Dogan’s art is delightfully easy on the eyes. It also captures the look of the animated film perfectly so yes it’s Ok to drool at the artwork.

OVERALL: B+
An engaging prequel that‘s even more exciting than the animated film itself, Robotech: Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles is the perfect companion piece to the movie. Whether you’re a fan of the Sentinels series of the original Macross, Robotech fans will definitely get a kick out of this graphic novel that contains a wonderfully written story and great art.

Review copy provided by WildStorm Production/DC Comics

Review by: Kiki Van De Kamp

Publisher: FUNimation Entertainment
MSRP: $49.98 US
Running Time: 325 minutes
Genre: Action
Rating: TV 14
Release Date: Available Now

Leave your DS, this anime series can be just as entertaining as the game itself.

I have to say that, as a loyal anime fan and a hardcore gaming enthusiast, I have been both disappointed and occasionally even angry by the game-based anime titles available. I’ve seen mostly all of them and a part of me thought that there would probably never be a good one made in my lifetime. Then Sands of Destruction, The Complete Series, began to spin in my DVD player and I quickly changed my mind. At last, a series that’s actually as good as the gaming experience itself.

If you didn’t get a chance to play the Nintendo DS role-playing game by the good folks at SEGA, that’s Ok because it’s not really a requirement but for those who have you will be glad to see the universe come to life on a much bigger screen. Sands of Destruction takes place in the same universe where humans aren’t the dominant species but rather animals that have learned to talk, walk and think just like humans. This race is known as the Beastmen and they rule over humans in a world where oceans have turned to sand.

Seeing no peaceful coexistence between Beastman and human, a lone female warrior who carries a giant blade has become a wanted criminal and the leader of a one-person organization known as the World Destruction Committee. She is Morte, a girl on a mission to destroy the world and reduce it and its people to dust by way of a mysterious object called the Destruct Code that was passed down to her by her dead brother.

One day, Morte finds herself in quite a pickle in a local restaurant and when guards threat to catch her she takes what she thinks is a Beastman hostage. As it turns out, the young man she has chosen is wearing fake cat ears! He is Kyrie Illnis, a young human male working among the Beastmen and Morte and Kyrie run out of the town together. The pair of mismatched companions are joined by a cute little bear named Toppy who is actually a hero-for-hire who tracks the two down and decides to join them on their journey.

You see, Morte is hell-bent of destroying the world and Kyrie and Toppy find themselves hoping that they could convince her to back off. The trio quickly become wanted fugitives and become the World Destruction Committee so the Beastmen sends the World Salvation Committee to track them down. Strangely enough, this committee is made up of a beautiful dragon girl named Lia and a young man named Nadja.

Following the Destruct Code capabilities of showing where they should go, the three get into all sorts of trouble while trying to avoid the pair coming after them. In one episode, the three meet a smuggler named Agan (a character that shows up often throughout the series) who takes them aboard a “pleasure” cruise ship and in another episode the three are tossed in a prison work camp where they meet a Beastman who actually has genuine affection for a human girl who is whipped on an almost daily basis. In another episode, Morte and Kyrie are caught and tossed in a gladiator’s arena by a little bear that is similar to Toppy.

One of the best episodes has the three heading into a Beastman town where all the cherry trees have been chopped down except for one that is protected by a young man who has been waiting patiently everyday for the woman he loves. In yet another episode, the three travel through the desert and encounter a living community where Beastman and humans live in perfect harmony thanks to an elephant-like Beastman physician. In another episode, the three look into the case of another trio who claim they are World Destruction Committee and bullying people for free grub as well as antiques.

Things get a bit complicated in the later half of this 13-episode series as the three encounter their real threat that comes in the form of the Alligator Master and much later the Eagle Master who also wants to get his talons on the Destruct Code. There’s a great confrontation in the final four episodes as Morte, Toppy and Kyrie confront them and the two World Salvation Committee members as they all learn the startling truth about the Destruction Code.

The series is sincerely entertaining thanks to the cast of characters you will come to like and even their plight as we learn about Morte’s need to want to destroy the world. Each character has personality and Toppy is not only a super cute critter but also an extraordinary fighter and one of the coolest animal characters to come along in a long time. It’s just too bad the early fight scenes look like they were just slapped on or animated at the last moment. Good voice performances on both sides make the dialogue work and you have to love Kyrie’s panicky nature that comes off as truly comical.

An appealing first step in doing video game-inspired anime right, The Complete Series of Sands of Destruction is a fun romp that isn’t bad at all despite a few weaknesses. Still, the series has its really good moments and the characters are likeable enough to keep you interested in the story from beginning to end. If you enjoyed the game or have been looking for an anime series based on a video game that is actually good then you should really give this one a try.

DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN

MOVIE/EPISODES: B
In a world where humans are being oppressed by walking and talking Beastmen, a young human named Morte is the sole possessor of an artifact capable of destroying the world. She meets a young man named Kyrie and a cute-but-tough little bear named Toppy who joins her on her personal quest. Meanwhile, another organization is on their trail as the young trio learn about the world and themselves.

VIDEO QUALITY: B+
The animation isn’t bad at all but you can’t help but feel like you’ve seen it all before and some battles – particularly in the early episodes – have been lazily handled. Still, the visual affects can be very striking at times and the backgrounds look good.

AUDIO QUALITY: A-
There’s a solid voice acting cast as far as the English dub is concerned and the original Japanese voices are even better thanks to a great cast. The score is also brilliant and does bring to mind the game and the closing theme song by Aimmy is a new personal favorite of mine.

EXTRAS: B-
There are some fun extras that come in the form of four “interviews” with the characters like Toppy, Morte and Agan. These are actually quite cute in their own way, especially Morte and Lia’s bonus material feature animated to look as if somebody had given them a video camera to capture their “off-the-set” moments. There are also clean opening and closing theme songs plus a few trailers.

OVERALL: B
The Complete Series of Sands of Destruction is actually a very likeable, amusing and occasionally even endearing series that could have been even more amazing if some story elements and some animation choices were different. Still, it’s difficult to deny the appealing nature of this series and fans of the game will certainly not be disappointed. If only more game-based anime were like this.

Review copy provided by FUNimation Entertainment

Review by: Sophie Stevens

Publisher: Nozomi Entertainment/Right Stuf
MSRP: $49.99 US
Running Time: 325 minutes
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 13+
Release Date: Available Now

Sometimes dreams really do come true.

Anyone who has opened a volume of Kozue Amano’s manga or watched an episode or more of Sailor Moon will probably tell you what to expect from Aria: The Animation. They’ll probably throw around words like “beautiful” or “classic” until you finally cave in and pick up the box set of this first season and suddenly you see why this series has so many fans who simply adore it. Aria is just that good and if you think it’s just another anime about cute girls doing cute thing then you’re right but there’s a deeper meaning to this story that makes it a human story you will certainly come to love.

In the distant future, Mars has been colonized and has been terraformed in a way that it was transformed into a habitable water planet called Aqua. Somewhere in Aqua is a city called Neo-Venezia that is an exact duplicate of Venice, Italy complete with beautiful architecture, canals and even gondolas. Instead of burly men rowing said gondolas, however, there are young women called Undines who are your guides to Neo-Venezia.

One of the Undines is a trainee named Akari Mizunashi who works for the Aria Company (complete with a cute chubby cat called President Aria) in the Journeyman level. Akari dreams of being a Prima like Aria Company’s own “Great Water Fairy” named Alicia. One day, however, Akari gets her first customer that comes in the form of a little girl named Ai who wants to experience a gondola ride her older sister has been excited about since her honeymoon.

It is this one ride that changes everything for Akari as she meets a low-level Undine (from a rival company) that goes by the name of Aika. While their companies are rivals, Akari and Aika begin a friendship as the two begin to train together while putting up with strange weather phenomenon like Acqua Alta (when the water rises) as well as Aika’s annoyance with her superior named Akira who is one of the Three Great Water Fairies just like Alicia.

Things get interesting when they meet a younger Undine named Alice who seems distant at first and slowly comes to befriend both Akari and Aika. The trio not only start training together despite the fact that they all represent different companies but a true friendship is born as all three vow to become just as good as their predecessors. Despite their differing opinions and personalities, all three girls learn much about themselves.

While the series flows at a slow and very dream-like pace, that doesn’t mean the series is low on substance and the stories aren’t without their truly emotional moments. In one episode, President Aria leads Akari into an alley where she discovers a little girl who is desperate for somebody to deliver a letter to somebody she loves far from Neo-Venezia so off Akari goes with Woody the mail delivery guy to the locale only to make an interesting discovery. In another episode, the three girls and Akira take a young couple on their first gondola ride only to find themselves in a difficult position that inevitably teaches the girls a lesson.

The series is also fun with episodes that range from a cute look at what President Aria does all day to trip to the beach that turns out to become a training exercise concocted by Akira and Alicia. Of course, what anime isn’t complete without a day at the hot springs, right? There’s also the episode that introduces us to Athena Glory, Alice’s roommate and the last member of the Three Great Water Fairies, and an episode where the girls meet Aria Company’s founder and the best Prima Undine in the history of the profession.

And yes, the final three episodes did bring tears to my eyes as the series closed its chapter on a touching last note. By the last episode you will want to jump right to Season 2 of this series. I should note that Right Stuf/Nozomi Entertainment packaged this one just right with more than enough features (and a Guidebook) and extras to make this set feel complete.

A beautifully crafted story that is nearly perfect in every aspect, Aria is what you get when you mix genuine emotions, great characters and world that is like a waking dream. It’s also funny, cute and conveys the dreams and longing to become better as these girls go about their daily lives as Undines in a gorgeous world of water. Really, anime this good doesn’t come along very often so buying this set is very highly recommended.

DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN

MOVIE/EPISODES: A+
What was once known as Mars, the water planet of Aqua holds many wonders that include the city of Neo-Venezia where a group of girls called Prima Undine are your gondola guides to the city. We meet three young trainees from different companies that not only find friendship but learn a lot about themselves.

VIDEO QUALITY: A
The series looks really good on DVD and that is very good news seeing as this series has great animation that is colorful and nicely detailed … especially in its recreation of Venice. There’s a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance of Sergeant Keroro of Sgt. Frog as a puppet.

AUDIO QUALITY: A
The original score is beautiful and fit’s the series perfectly and you just have to love the opening and closing theme songs like “Undine” by Yui Makino. The voice acting is amazing as well thanks to some great performances by Erino Hazuki (Akari) and Junko Minagawa (Akira).

EXTRAS: A+
This is everything you can ask for in a collection seeing as each disc contains some great special features such as Apprentice Undines and Primas Interviews with the cast that makes for some fun conversations with the voice actors. On top of that there’s a video diary trip to Venice, Italy that Director Junichi Sato (Satojun) took for research. There are also plenty of trailers on each disc, clean opening and closing credits as well as commercials for the series. Oh, the 40-page Guidebook included is a great collectible.

OVERALL: A+
Aria: The Animation is simply one of the most heartwarming and endearing anime series to come along and with a cast of delightful characters and a meaningful story you cannot go wrong with Aria. This 13-episode series is short but sweet enough that you will be quickly hooked on this endearing and unforgettable series.

Review copy provided by Nozomi Entertainment/Right Stuf

Review by: Eduardo Zacarias

Publisher: VIZ Media
Author: Masashi Kishimoto
Genre: Graphic Novel (Shonen Jump Manga)
MSRP: $9.99 US
Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: Available Now

The Pain within and how to cope with it.

How do you measure the true strength of a natural-born leader?

Naruto answers this question in Volume 48 as he not only continues to walk the path that he himself has set for him but also do what is true to himself in order to protect the people and things that matter most. This volume says a lot about Naruto and how far he has come since the first volume as we witness one of the most monumental and surprisingly uplifting moments in the life of Naruto Uzumaki.

The battle against the Pains was not an easy one but with one good shot in it is Naruto who comes on top as the last Pain if finally taken down. This wasn’t a thrilling victory, not with so many of Leaf ninja dead and Konoha reduced to rubble. Naruto, well aware that there is a Pain Master who has been manipulating the other Pains out there and he uses a Chakra conductor to discover the location of the one pulling all the strings. At last, he will put an end to the attackers and face off against the ones responsible for his Master’s death.

Naruto makes it clear that he wants to confront the Pain Master on his own despite elders advising against it but the young ninja goes anyway and finds a tree made of Konan’s special paper. It is there that Naruto comes face-to-face with Nagato, the true Pain Master. Strapped to an unusual device, Nagato has been bringing his comrades back to life while Konan watched over him. He is the one who had helped slay Lord Jiraiya … the man who had trained him and his two closest friends. He is the one that Naruto had sworn to find and kill to avenge Jiraiya’s death.

Instead of carrying out his bloody revenge, Naruto wishes to hear Nagato’s side of the story. This request astounds Naruto’s foe who was expecting a fight but instead finds a boy who already realized the truth about revenge. You see, the path of revenge never really ends because it is nothing more than just a cycle of violence that will continue endlessly. That’s deep stuff and the fact that Naruto agrees and approaches this situation non-violently says a lot about him.

Nagato’s story is, incidentally, filled with pain and loss. He was orphaned during a time of war and was the witness to his parents’ deaths by the hands of Leaf shinobi. Alone, starving and with nowhere else to go, the boy named Nagato sound companionship in a pair of war orphans named Konan and Yahiko who took Nagato in as one of their own. It was Yahiko who filled Nagato and Konan’s head filled with dreams of obtaining power to bring peace to the world and to put a stop to the endless cycle of violence. It’s a noble dream but it was just that … a dream and nothing more.

Then a man came into their lives that changed everything. As we have seen a while back, it was Jiraiya who took the three under his wing and trained them Jiraiya saw the potential in Nagato who possessed the powerful ocular Jutsu called the Rinnegan. Unfortunately, after Master Jiraiya left them, the three became well known and then the target of betrayal. Tragedy twisted Nagato into something else altogether and it became clear that Jiraiya’s trust in him and the fight for peace were nothing more than just wishful thinking.

This leads us to now and after having heard Nagato’s tragic story it is Naruto who comes to a decision that changes everything. His words echo words that are familiar to Nagato because they belong to Master Jiraiya whose book, “Tales of a Gutsy Shinobi,” who reveals the Pervy Sage’s true inspiration for the book. In the end, Nagato comes to a realization that makes even him believe not only in Jiraiya but in Naruto enough that he does something that is too incredible that I just won’t mention here.

Let’s just say that the people we watched die during the encounter are back among the living such as Kakashi-sensei (who has a beautifully touching moment in the same chapter) and Naruto comes back a hero. After having seen him as the boy everyone thought would bring about the destruction of the village become the beloved hero it just doesn’t get any better than seeing the warm reception they give him.

Meanwhile, Lady Tsunade is in a comatose state and the village – what is left of it – is in need of leadership. The Council proposes their candidate that seems like the only option seeing as Orochimaru was evil and Lord Jiraiya is dead. However, another candidate surfaces and wins the election. It is none other than Danzo and as his first order he accepts the decree that was presented to him by three shinobi from the Cloud Village. The decree is an order for the elimination of none other than Sasuke Uchiha.

Word reaches Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi by way of Sai and before both Naruto and Sakura can go to confront the new Leaf Hokage, the three Cloud ninja confront them. It is then that they learn the awful truth about their once comrade. Sasuke is a member of the Akatsuki and he was the one captured their master … Eight-Tails. The sentence for such a crime is death and unknowingly to Sasuke, a change in plans sends the boy on a new mission.

Volume 48 of Naruto marks a new chapter as the boy who wants to be Hokage stands alone and makes a decision that changes everything. You know he has made the first step into become a grand leader when the enemy starts believing in him as well and, as such, we witness Naruto take a step closer to manhood. Meanwhile, a new Hokage opens up another major problem as Sasuke becomes the hunter and the hunted.

MANGA REVIEW BREAKDOWN

STORY: A+
In the final battle between Pain, Naruto seeks out the Pain Master who has been pulling all the strings all along and is the one responsible for the death of Lord Jiraiya. However, in an interesting twist of events, Naruto does the most unexpected thing … he listens to the enemy’s side of the story and makes an interesting decision. Meanwhile, with Lady Tsunade in a coma, a new Hokage is selected and gives his authorization to hunt down Sasuke Uchiha.

ART: A
Once again, Kishimoto-sensei continues to astonish us with his beautiful artwork and the emotion he conveys visuals says more than you can imagine.

OVERALL: A+
In a series with awesome Jutsu-filled ninja battles and bloody revenge-seeking characters, Volume 48 of Naruto shows us that Naruto has come a long way and takes yet another big step in the role of leader. It’s like witnessing a boy become a man right before your eyes as the young shinobi makes one of the most hardest yet interesting decisions of his life.

Review copy provided by VIZ Media

Review by: Clive Owen

Publisher: FUNimation Entertainment
MSRP: $49.98 US
Running Time: 320 minutes
Genre: Action
Rating: TV 14
Release Date: Available Now

A Princess stands tall and a villain makes his most dangerous and final move.

We have seen Princess Vivi lie her way into the ranks of Baroque Works and we have seen her pleading the Straw Hats to help her save the kingdom she loves. We have also seen her in moments of doubt, leading to a sudden physical confrontation with Monkey D. Luffy and we have seen her gather her strength to face off against the real enemy … a fiend called Sir Crocodile. In the Sixth Voyage of Season Two of One Piece, however, we see the Princess in her most glorious moment … putting her life in danger to save her people.

As the kingdom of Alabasta is engulfed in violent skirmishes, the Princess has finally made it to the Palace where her father, the King, is being held by Sir Crocodile and Ms. All-Sunday. Meanwhile, the Royal Army is clashing with the Rebel Forces led by Koza who is determined to reach the King as well. Oh, and the Straw Hats are not only trying to avoid the Marines who are giving chase but also confronting the deadly agents of Baroque Works.

With Usopp and Choppers battle against two agents finished and Sanji beating Mr. 2 Bon Clay in their strange battle, it is Nami who finds herself in trouble against the dangerous Ms. Doublefinger who has Spike Spike Devil Fruit powers that make her create lethal spikes throughout her body including her fingers. While Nami isn’t a fighter, she has asked Usopp before they landed on Alabasta to create a weapon and she pulls it out to fight her opponent only to realize that the Clima Takt baton looks to be nothing more than just a glorified party favor. Oh, but there’s more to this new toy than meets the eye and while Nami might not be combat-savvy, she does her best and it is nothing short of impressive.

Not too far away, Zoro runs into an even more deadlier member of Baroque Works … Mr. One. He’s a hardened swordsman just like Zoro but the only difference is that Mr. One’s blades are his limbs and even his torso. How do you cut through a person whose entire body is composed of steel blades? Zoro, never one to back down, tires anyway until he remembered a lesson his master one taught him when he was little. Yes, we’ve seen Zoro in plenty of swordfights before but none have been so epic in scope as this fight.

Back in the palace, Crocodile reveals his true intentions that involve a weapon known as the Pluton and it seems that Alabasta has an underground chamber that contains the means of locating this weapon that has the power of an atomic bomb. He also reveals that in only a few short minutes a cannon he has placed in an unknown location will fire a bomb that will complete destroy the palace plaza killing everything and everyone including his own men fighting below. Suddenly, the fight to reach Crocodile has become a race against time.

Oh but hope comes in the form of Luffy who has, in the Fifth Voyage, was taken out of the picture by Crocodile who told everyone he had killed Luffy in their last encounter. Well, it’s time for Round 2 and this time Luffy has an edge over Crocodile but even with the Croc’s weaknesses revealed the fight is not an easy one and Luffy is brought down while Croc and Ms. All-Sunday head out with the King who tells him that he will show them to the Poneglyph in an underground chamber that will show them the location of the Pluton.

As the fighting continues, though, Princess Vivi and the other Straw Hats reunite to locate the cannon that will shoot the bomb. It is the Princess who figures it out and in one of the most intense moments of this series, the Princess herself fights her way to the bomb. On the other end, Luffy returns to battle Croc again. Sacrifices are made along the way and there’s an interesting change of attitude by Captain Smoker that is unexpected.

The real surprises, however, come at the end of this set as a the Straw Hats become unofficial heroes and a villain who has a change of heart during Luffy and Crocodile’s battle asks to join the Straw Hats as a new member of the crew. Let’s just say, this person will come to replace Princess Vivi who is still considered very much a part of the Straw Hat family. You can believe that the new crewmate will add something unique to the Straw Hats.

The Sixth Voyage is one of the best moments in this series and a fitting conclusion to a long yet considerably gratifying story arc that has it all. There’s no wondering why this story was condensed into a feature-length film and the ending is just as unforgettable as the fight for Alabasta itself as the Straw Hats welcome a new member. With story lines like this we can see why One Piece is so popular.

DVD REVIEW BREAKDOWN

MOVIE/EPISODES: A+
With the clock ticking and an explosive about to decimate the palace with all the Rebels and Royal Army as well, the Straw Hats and Princess Vivi fight their way to Sir Crocodile who reveals his true plans that involve an ancient and deadly weapon. With the Marines in Alabasta as well, things are going to get very chaotic.

VIDEO QUALITY: A
The set still looks really good on DVD and the various battles scattered throughout are visually impressive and wonderfully dramatic.

AUDIO QUALITY: A
Like the Fifth Voyage, there are some great performances on both sides and you just have to love the English voices for showing even more emotion during the best parts of this story arc. Even the original score is more dramatic in this one.

EXTRAS: C
We get an audio commentary track for Episode 119 with ADR Director Scott Sager and voice actors Christopher R. Sabat (who voices Zoro) and Brett Weaver (who voices Mr. One) and it has some interesting viewpoints. Aside from that there are the usual assortment of extras such as clean opening and closing animation and some trailers.

OVERALL: A+
Without a doubt, the Alabasta storyline has been one of the most exciting moments in One Piece and its conclusion is one of the most riveting 14 episodes that will not fail to have you on the edge of your seat. It’s going to be very interesting to see how this series is going to top itself after that long but exciting story arc.

Review copy provided by FUNimation Entertainment

VIZ Media always has one of coolest panels ever with giveaways and an enthusiastic attitude when they start announcing their upcoming manga titles. While our own Faith McAdams is covering the anime end of their panel, I am following their manga releases that were announced at the show. First announcement though is for the readers of Shonen Jump Magazine, VIZ is going to lower the subscription price to $26.95.

Many of these manga titles have been announced before while a few other have yet to be seen. Here they are starting with the already established series and moving on to the new series.

ESTABLISHED SERIES

Black Lagoon, Volume 9 – Available July 13, 2010

Ultimo, Volume 2 – July 6, 2010 release

One Piece, Volume 54 – Available July 6, 2010

Kekkaishi, Volume 22 – Available July 6, 2010

Kekkaishi, Volume 23 – Available November 9, 2010

Bleach, Volume 32 – September 7, 2010

Vampire Knight, Volume 11 – Available December 7, 2010

Biomega, Volume 3 – Available August 10, 2010

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Volume 10 – September 7, 2010

NEW TITLES

BAKUMAN, Volume 1 – Available August 3, 2010 – Retail Price: $9.99 – A series from the writer and artist of Death Note.

Genkaku Picasso, Volume 1 – Available November 3, 2010 – Retail Price: $9.99 – A three-part manga series by Usamaru Furuya.

Color BLEACH +: Bleach Official Bootleg – Available August 10, 2010 – Retail Price: $14.99 – A companion that reveals all the juicy secrets of the lives of the Soul Reapers in the Soul Society.

Naruto Illustration Book – Available November 3, 2010 – Retail Price: $19.99 – A illustration book with beautiful art from Kishimoto-sensei concentration on Naruto’s latestchapter in the series.

Cross Game – 3 in 1 Omnibus – Available October 12, 2010 – Retail Price $19.99 – A cool-looking series sold in omnibus form.

Kuro Zakuro, Volume 1 – Available November 9, 2010 – Retail Price: $9.99

Hsuwaribito, Volume 1 – Available December 14, 2010 – Retail Price: $9.99

Vampire Knight Official Fan Book – Available October 19, 2010 – Retail Price: $14.99 – Made for true Vampire Knight fans.

Grand Guignol Orchestra, Volume 1 – Available October 5, 2010 – Retail Price: $9.99

Seito Boys High School!, Volume 1 – Available August 3, 2010 – Retail Price: $9.99

Story of Saiunkoko, Volume 1 – Available November 2, 2010 – Retail Price: $9.99

Kamisama Kiss, Volume 1 – Available December 7, 2010 – Retail Price: $9.99

House of Five Leaves, Volume 1 – Available September 21, 2010 – Retail Price: $12.99 – By author Natume Ono of “Ristorante Paradiso” fame.

March Story, Volume 1 – Available October 19, 2010 – Retail Price: $12.99 – A Mature-rated title by a Korean manga author and artist

2011 MANGA RELEASES

Mistress Fortune, Volume 1 – Available February 2011 – Retail Price: $9.99 – A one-shot manga by author Arina Tanemura.

Oresama Teacher, Volume 1 – Available March 2010 – Retail Price: $9.99

Sakura Hime Kaden: The Legend of Princess Sakura, Volume 1 – Available April 2011 – Retail Price: $9.99

Ai Ore, Volume 1 – Available May 2011 – Retail Price: $9.99

OVERALL OUTLOOK

With a number of new titles headed our way as well as our favorite series continuing this very year, VIZ Media’s lineup of titles are looking more than just promising … they’re looking like yet another reason our wallets will be looking thin. We are definitely looking forward to these new titles like Bakuman and Cross Game.

- Eduardo Zacarias

In the anime side of the VIZ Media panel, VIZ announced their new site called VIZAnime that streams episodes of your favorite VIZ Media titles from Bleach to Naruto and some unexpected favorites such as such as Strawberry 100%. The site is up now so log on to http://www.vizanime.com/.

Fans are already well aware of the release of the Vampire Knight anime series and during the panel we got to see the trailer for this series that looks amazing and even voice actor Vic Mignogna (who is the voice of Zero) was on hand in the convention center to sign copies. While the Volume 1 DVD is already available, the announcement came in for the second volume.

Vampire Knight, Vol. 1 features episodes 1-4 and is on sale now.

Vampire Knight, Vol. 2 features episodes 5-8 and will be available September 2010.

Just in case you didn’t know, you can watch episodes of the series that is streaming free at vizanime.com/vampire knight as well as on Hulu.com.

Bleach, Uncut Box Set Season 6 – Release Date: September 28, 2010 – Retail Price: $49.98

Naruto Shippuden Uncut Box Set 3 – Release Date: August 3, 2010 – Retail Price: $49.95, Special Edition: $69.97 (with a collectible Sasori mini-ninja)

Naruto Shippuden Uncut Box Set 4 – Release Date: October 19, 2010 – Retail Price: $49.95, Special Edition: $69.97 (with a collectable Sasuke mini-ninja)

Death Note Collection – Release Date: September 20, 2010 – A double feature collection of both live-action Death Note movies – Available on Blu-ray – Retail Price: $39.98

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan – Streaming on VIZAnime July 5, 2010 so check this series out because it looks really promising.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

As huge Vampire Knight fan I just have to say “Oh yeah, baby, this is what I have been waiting for since forever!” Plus, the Naruto Shippuden fan in me just loves the new box sets. Thank you, VIZ Media, for your delightful bounty we are about to receive.

- Faith McAdams

FUNimation Entertainment held their Sneak Peek Panel in the Platinum Ballroom of the JW Mariott that is across the Nokia Theater so it’s a short distance walk from the Convention Center but that didn’t stop the numerous anime fans from attending and I can safely say that FUNimation has a few juicy new titles that I am already wishing was here already.

The panel began with clips from their recent big titles such as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood as well as Dragon Ball Z Kai that already have their perspective Part 1 anime available now on both DVD and Blu-ray. You can certainly expect these two successful series to continue. Here are the official release dates for both:

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Part 2 – August 24, 2010

Dragon Ball Z Kai, Season One Part 2 – September 14, 2010

Of course, the highlights of the panel were the new offerings and there are some recognizable as well as interesting titles shown. Here is what we can expect from FUNimation in 2010:

My Bride is a Mermaid, Season One Part One – Release Date: July 20 – After having been saved by a mysterious girl who turns out to be a mermaid, a young man is in trouble with said mermaid’s yakuza father and the only way from stopping him from slicing him open is announcing that he plans to marry his daughter.

Oh! Edo Rocket – Release Date: November 12, 2010 – This one is a cute Edo Period comedy about a fireworks-maker and the people around him. It has a popular following in Japan and it will certainly win over anime fans this November.

Corpse Princess, Part One and Part Two – Release Date: September 14, 2010 – An intriguing series about the dead returning as fearsome foes and there’s one young girl who walks the path between living and dead who goes up against them.

Eden of the East, Complete Series – Release Date: September 28, 2010 – If a filmmaker had to pitch this to Hollywood producers it would be that this is the Bourne series mixed in with a heavy dose of smart political intrigue. It’s a cerebral series with a lot to offer.

Casshern Sins, Part One – Release Date: August 17, 2010 – This interesting series will be released on DVD and Blu-ray about a cybernetic assassin who is responsible for the ruin of a robotic race in a planet wasteland now known as the Ruin.

Master of Martial Hearts, Complete Series – Release Date: August 10, 2010 – A series in the same vein as Ikki Tousen so expect cute girls battling it out until their clothes are cut the shreds, leaving them with very little to the imagination. If this sounds like your kind of show then you need to check this one out.

Hetalia, Season 1 – Release Date: September 14, 2010 – Anyone who knows this one is cheering loudly that the first season set is headed our way very soon. A comedy with various country representatives, this series is very popular already. The English dub is nearly complete and the cast will be announced very soon so we will be sharing this news very soon.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

With so many cosplayers showing up this year dressed like the many characters, you can bet this will be a really big hit for FUNimation. On top of that there are more than enough interesting and fun titles to look forward to as well some great action-packed shows like Corpse Princess and Casshern Sins.

- Faith McAdams

Is 2010 and 2011 going to be the two best years from anime and manga fans. My Magic 8-Ball a reader named Queenie Keller gave me (with Japanese characters) points to YES! There’severything for everyone and a part of me cheered the fact that most of the fans at the panels cheered when they heard of new releases that I myself thought were rather obscure. This is why we love Otaku so much because you guys are so like us.

This being the last day we cover this 2010 event, I decided to join our Editor-in-Chief  at the VIZ Media panel and headed out to FUNimation Entertainment’s panel with a small army of Magical Girls … one of which was Nanoha (I so love our Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha). I have to say I loved what I saw – even more so than last year’s announcements.

VIZ certainly pulled out all the new stuff and announcements of series already available and I have to say that it made me drool. Even TOKYOPOP’s lineup sounded good.

Anyway, we had a real blast checking out all the panels, talking to fans of anime and manga who were very passionate about sharing their love for the this beautiful art form. I have to say that I enjoyed every second hanging out with readers and those who have just discovered us. Most importantly, I was happy to be among all of you who are strong supporters and keeping anime and manga thriving.

"This isn't the Otaku droid you're looking for."

 After all the amazing titles we got to see and all the cool people we got to meet, I could only say that if you did not go this year I strongly suggest you go next year. In the meantime, there’s new manga and new anime to look forward to and more than enough reason to save some money.

Much love to you.

- Faith McAdams

Right Stuf/Nozomi Entertainment CEO Shawne Kleckner did not disappoint last year at AX 2009 when he made a number of announcements for some great titles like Maria Watches Over Us, ARIA and Irresponsible Captain Tylor. As great as that announcement was, though, it pales in comparison to the great titles that are headed our way this very year as well as early 2011. Oh yeah, you just have to love Right Stuf/Nozomi.

Maria Watches Over Us, Season 4 – With a release date of July 6, 2010, this unique and genuinely touching human story deserves a Season 4 set and that’s exactly what we get here.

El-Hazard: The Wanderers – A September 7, 2010 release date of this remastered gem is looking good and believe when I say that you will definitely not want to miss this one.

Super GALS!: Complete Collection – The release date for this one is October 5, 2010 of this really irresistible series and with all the episodes in place this one looks to be a deal you will not want to miss.

Dirty Pair, Part 1 – Those who don’t remember this classic 1980s series missed out and it’s great news that the remastered series will be heading our way in Winter of 2010. This is the chance to introduce this ultra cool and fun series to new audiences or for those who want to revisit this classic.

Dirty Pair, Part 2 – The second part will be released in Spring of 2011.

Gravitation – The remastered complete collection will be available Winter 2011.

Antique Bakery – Based on the manga by Fumi Yoshinaga, this has all the appearances of a yaoi title and it is but there’s a deeper meaning to the story that should appeal to those who don’t even care for yaoi. This one is heading our way in 2011.

Junjo Romantica, Season 2 – Available in Spring 2011 for all those boy’s love fans

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

So Ra no Wo To – This series produced by A-1 Pictures and Aniplex is a gorgeous-looking series that is sure to become a new fan favorite. The single box set with extras will be available in 2011.

Revolutionary Girl Utena – Remastered and already looking awesome, this series is just anime gold and if you know it you will certainly agree. We are definitely looking forward to it in 2011.

OVERALL OUTLOOK

There are big announcements in this year’s panel as some great new titles are heading our way this year as well as the return of a classic like Dirty Pair. Really, there’s just everything for everyone this year and yaoi fans will not be disappointed. Thank you, Right Stuf/Nozomi, for bringing us Lost Universe and El-Hazard: The Wanderers. Also, the special announcements already have Animanga Nation very excited.

- Eduardo Zacarias