Easter Reviews ho! Also, not on the list, but "Exo Squad, Season 1" came out on DVD last Tuesday. It's one of the first truly serious "American anime" to have ever come out - look it up!
-SomeGuy
Hopefully the Easter Bunny brought more than just Peeps and colored
eggs to everyone this past weekend... something like some great new
anime! While you're all coming down from that sugar rush you'll want
to check out our Review Round-Up where we checked out a bunch of the
newest anime releases from FUNimation and Geneon. No need to hunt for
your anime, we give you a spoiler-free heads up on what they are all
about. Did you think the DVD was a bountiful basket of joy or smelled
more like that Easter egg you missed finding last year? Let's hear it!
Please feel free to share your thoughts in the Comments on this review
and let other Otakuites hear your opinions!
Baccano - Volume 2: Demons, dames and dapper dandies.
Life and death on the down and dirty streets of the Big Apple is now
reaching out to sea. The men aboard the ship Advenna Avis want to live
forever. To reach this means they decide to summon of a demon, a
decision that may bring their plans for eternal life to an abrupt end.
The supernatural series set in the roaring twenties continues with
more adventures for every Dick and Jane. Containing four episodes,
Baccano was released March 24th and Rated MA. This release runs 100
minutes and contains the English 5.1 and Japanese with English
subtitles. Extras include actor commentary, textless songs and
trailers. MSRP $29.98 Rate: 3/5
Claymore - Volume 4: Still separated, Clare continues
searching for Rocky but finds trouble instead. Not only is she
avoiding other Claymores, she finds herself up against a foe far
stronger than any she has experienced before. Her journey takes her to
the far north to face an epic battle for survival. The separate story
lines in the adventure series begin to merge paths as Clare's search
for the awake being that took her mentor's life, Rocky's trek and her
work as a Claymore take her to the snowy north. Containing episodes 15
through 18, "Prey for Revenge" was released March 24th and Rated MA.
This release runs 95 minutes and contains the English 5.1 and Japanese
with English subtitles. Extras include an interview with Art Director
Manabu Otsuzuki (KUSANAGI), episode 16 commentary and textless songs.
MSRP $29.98 Rate: 4/5
Shigurui - The Complete Series: Blades, blood and
battles, beauty can be found in the battle. Two damaged warriors carry
more than physical scars as their long running rivalry brings them to
one final violent tournament. To satisfy the bloodlust of a cruel
tyrant overlord the two swords men will write the final chapter with
the other's blood. The complete series of 12 episodes is contained on
two DVD's in one space-saving box set. Bloody and violent, this is a
series best viewed by a mature audience. Released March 31st and Rated
MA, this series runs 275 minutes and contains the English 5.1 and
Japanese with English subtitles. Extras include 24 page Shigurui guide
book, audio commentaries, production artwork, textless songs and
trailers. MSRP $59.98 Rate: 3.5/5
D. Gray-Man - Season 1 Part 1: Akuma, demons born from
the sorrow of humans, plague the lands of 19th Century Europe. Using
the Akuma as puppets of destruction the evil Millennium Earl has only
one force standing in his way, the Exorcists of the Black Order. On
the front line is young Allen Walker and his special anti-Akuma
weapon. The race to collect all the scattered Innocence is a matter of
life and death. Action, drama and a cast of colorful characters makes
D. Gray-Man a fan favorite series. This release of the series contains
13 episodes. Released March 31st and Rated TV14, season one part one
runs 300 minutes and contains the English 5.1 and Japanese with
English subtitles. Extras include episode 2 commentary, textless songs
and trailers. MSRP $ Rate: 4/5
Tokyo Majin - Part 2: Martial Fist Chapter: The unique
students of Magami High finally get to enjoy some much deserved rest
and normalcy after putting to rest the Demonic Horde. But all good
things come to an end when something far more sinister comes to the
surface. The conclusion of Tokyo Majin may be the final chapter for
the students and all of Tokyo as they face off against an evil more
powerful than anything they have dealt with before. Failing this final
exam means the end of the world. Containing 12 episodes, Tokyo Majin
was released March 31st and Rated MA. This supernatural series runs
300 minutes and contains the English 5.1 and Japanese with English
subtitles. Extras include the clean opening and closing animations and
trailers. MSRP $59.98 Rate: 3/5
The Wallflower - Complete Collection, Part 2: Kyohei
and the boys still haven't turned Sunako into a lovely lady. In fact,
they aren't even close. The Road to Womanhood has been plagued with
pirate adventures, kidnappings and one weird cult. It's only then that
everyone can finally see that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time, The Wallflower is a
great series that is much more than just a pretty face. With Excel
Saga's Shinichi Watanabe (aka Nabeshin) directing, anime otaku know
it's going to be a wild ride. The comedy series contains episodes 14
through 25 on two discs. This is a great series well worth the watch,
just be prepared for plenty of yelling and screaming. Released March
31st and Rated TV14, this series runs 325 minutes and contains the
English 5.1 and Japanese with English subtitles. Extras include the
clean opening and closing animation and trailers. MSRP $59.98 Rate:
4/5
Dragonball Z - Triple Feature: Remastered in high
definition and digitally restored, this triple feature is triple the
Broly action. The movie collection contains Broly The Legendary Super
Saiyan, Broly Second Coming and Bio Broly. Back and deadlier than
ever, Broly is ready to brawl in three action packed movies to
entertain DBZ fans. Released March 31st and Rated PG, movies 8, 9 and
10 run 165 minutes and contains the English voice track with original
Japanese music 5.1, English voice track with US music 5.1 and Japanese
with original music (mono) with English subtitles. MSRP $29.98
Rate: 3/5
Negima!? - Season 2 Part 2: Ken Akamatsu's (Love Hina)
tale of magic and mayhem continues in this re-imagined and uncut
release. Things for the pint-sized professor Negi Springfield have been
anything but easy. A classroom filled with cute girls and the
pressures of being a wizard is only the beginning. The Star Crystal
has been stolen, the Black Rose Baron is driving the girls crazy and
Negi gets turned into a Chupacabra! The release contains fan service
filled episodes 14 though 26. Released March 31st and Rated MA, this
series runs 315 minutes and contains the English and Japanese with
English subtitles. Extras include Notes from the Classroom, Go Mahora
Rangers!, Episode 19 commentary, textless songs and trailers. MSRP
$59.98 Rate: 2.5/5
One Piece - Season One, Four Voyage: Yo ho ho! The
Straw Hat Crew continues its adventures on the high seas. After a
tiff with the Marines, Luffy and Zoro find themselves on the wanted
list. Soon an angry armada of adversaries are on their tails. On their
way to Logue Town, the resting place of the legendary Gold Roger, can
the crew leave their troubles in their wake? Containing episodes 40
through 53 on 2 DVD's the release is presented uncut and unedited.
Released March 31st and Rated TV14, this series release runs 320
minutes and contains the English 5.1 and Japanese with English
subtitles. Extras include a marathon play special feature and staff
commentary. MSRP $49.98 Rate: 3.5/5
Shuffle - The Complete Series: Rin is the envy of
every guy in town. He has a bevy of beautiful girls vying for his
affections and attentions. From his childhood friend whom he lives
with, two gorgeous girls from a supernatural realm or the girls next
door... they all want Rin for themselves. With emotions running high
there is going to be plenty of laughter and tears. Containing all 24
episodes on 4 discs, Shuffle contains a bit of fan service, comedy and
plenty of intense drama. Released March 31st and Rated MA, this series
runs 575 minutes and contains the English and Japanese with English
subtitles. MSRP $69.98 Rate: 3/5
Vandred - The Complete Series: The battle of the sexes
has gone into deep space. In a space colony far away from Earth the
battle has turned into full blown war. Separated for decades, men and
women aren't just tossing angry words to each other, they are tossing
bombs. Caught in the middle is stowaway named Hibiki. Looking for
adventure he sneaks aboard a top secret mech made to destroy the
fairer sex. Through it all, men and women soon discover there is
something far more to their fight for survival when a deadly common
foe comes to light. The series Containing twenty-six episodes,
Released April 7th and Rated TV14, this sci-fi fan service series runs
600 minutes and contains the English and Japanese with English
subtitles. MSRP $49.98 Rate: 2.5/5
