DVD Review: Darker than Black: the Complete First Season

Darker than Black: the Complete First Season

(Funimation, 625 minutes)

http://www.funimation.com/darkerthanblack/

In the not too distant future, a distortion in Earth’s atmosphere finds Tokyo surrounded by the mysterious Hell’s gate, while South America plays home to a similar Heaven’s gate. From these formations come puzzling events such as the disappearance of the stars as well as the birth of the contractors, humans endowed with unique powers. In exchange for their powers, contractors must separate themselves from all emotional reasoning and pay a specific price.

BK201, aka Hei, is arguably the most infamous of this new breed, wielding electro kinesis in his work for a suspicious group known as the Syndicate, eliminating both humans and contractors alike. Unlike other contractors, BK201’s power requires no cost nor was he forced to forsake his emotions. While his loyalty to the group appears to be absolute, his true motives are a secret to all, as he uses their influence to search for his sister.

Darker than Black is an arc-based series from Studio Bones, comprised of many multi-part episodes that range in quality, focusing on the various assignments given to Hei and his cohorts. Assisted by a group of fellow syndicate members Mao, a contractor capable of transferring his mind into other animals, Yin, a doll with empathic abilities, and Huang, an untrusting human, Hei carries out every mission with deadly accuracy while fending off an intuitive detective, determined to uncover the secrets behind the syndicate.

Created by Tensai Okamura with animation provided by Studio Bones, and featuring music from famed composer Yoko Kanno, Darker than Black certainly would appear to have a lot going for it. The series was awarded Best Original Anime of the Year by GOGO Magazine before being snatched up for US distribution by Funimation.

The series is action centric as Hei and other contractors are pitted against one another, giving way to beautifully animated scenes in which one power clashes with another. There is a good deal of violence to be had but not enough to be considered gory or extreme. Studio Bones is known for their superb animation, making full use of it here, using visually arresting techniques to spotlight the extensive use of the contractor’s powers. The characters themselves sport more slick and refined designs while the Tokyo landscape is given a more naturalistic atmosphere.

Unfortunately, Darker than Black does suffer from its fair share of flaws, the most notable of which is the varying degree in quality of episodes from arc to arc. While none ever reach the level of mediocrity, there are more than a few that could have used more attention to detail. Also of issue is the nonexistent ending, in which none of the mysteries behind the gate or the contractors is explained, leaving the possibility for a second season, which only recently aired in Japan.

This release sports a healthy dose of bonus features, with cast and crew commentaries on select episodes as well as production artwork and even cast auditions. There is of course the usual slate of textless songs to be had. It goes without saying, the extras presented here are of much higher variety than most anime releases and are greatly appreciated.

All in all, grievances aside, Darker than Black is still an exceptional series. The intoxicating action sequences combined with the over arching mysteries running rampant make for an engaging viewing experience that is not to be missed. While the climax is not nearly as great as it should have been, it presents a satisfying end to Hei’s search for his sister, wrapping the main plot point of the first season. Consider this release highly recommended.

Darker than Black: the Complete First Season - A

At Random: Blogging

For any who have noticed, maybe no one, the blog has been rather stagnant lately. This is due to having to write for so many other sites as well as living a life outside of writing. That said, I intend to change that, starting Wednesday. This is after all my blog and I want to keep it up to date and a pleasure to visit. Look for more updates on a regular basis.

-Thanks,
Chris

DVD Review: Rental Magica DVD Collection 1

Rental Magica DVD Collection 1

(Nozomi Entertainment,400 minutes)

www.rightstuf.com

Consisting of 24 episodes adapted from a series of light novels by Makoto Sanda, Rental Magica spins together just about every type of magic one can think of, as it follows the adventures of Astral, a company of magic users who employ their skills to service others. Itsuki Iba is a high school student who finds himself roped into accepting the position as president of the company despite having virtually no experience in the use of magic.

Unlike other series of this sort, the characters have no reason to hide their abilities as magic is a commonly accepted concept. Throughout the set, Itsuki and his employees confront various threats, as he tries to prove himself a competent boss. Though several others feel he lacks the credentials to do an efficient job, he is given a temporary trial period to build his experience and demonstrate his aptitude.

Competing with Astral for assignments is the much more refined, Goetia Company. Though they are considered rivals, Goetia’s heir, Adelecia continually involves herself in Astral’s matters due to her growing infatuation with Itsuki. Though the company doesn’t play a huge part in part 1, Adelecia does, often showing up to offer aid to Itsuki, though not without a fair share of gloating.

Other members of Astral include the witch Honami, Adelecia’s rival as well as Itsuki’s childhood friend, Nekoyashiki, a spiritualist with an obsession pertaining to cats, and Mikan, the company’s youngest member. Each one views their coworkers as an extended family, adding a certain charm to the series. Later on, they gain another member in the form of Manami, a ghost with powers of her own. Over the course of the series, she and Honami display flashes of affection for Itsuki, though Manami is more subdued of the two.

Despite having no magic to call upon, Itsuki does possess the ability of Glam Sight, a demon eye that can see through magic. Unfortunately for Itsuki, the power, though considerable, takes a heavy toll on its wielder. Every time he uses the eye, his body is weakened, often leaving him comatose.

Zecxs provided the animation for the show, giving it a fairly traditional style. The character designs are distinctive though unremarkable; however this is due more to the original designs of the light novels rather than the studio. That said, the animation is merely average considering its age.

Regardless of one’s thoughts on the show, Nozomi’s treatment is certainly worth mentioning. Collection 1 comes in a heavy box, with illustrations of the characters adorning the front and back. The subtitles are easily readable, without any spelling errors to be found. Extras are the standard fare, including promos, trailers, and textless opening and closings. Though this might seem meager, the real meat of the set lies in the 120 page book that includes character profiles, explanations of the magic featured, and voice actor interviews. There is a huge amount of information to dig through and greatly adds to the value of the set.

Because the series was shown out of order when it originally aired, there are two options for viewers to choose from including chronological order and the original broadcast order. For better clarity, first time viewers probably want to watch the episodes in chronological order, as the story flows better.

Rental Magica is far from perfect, but one can’t deny its entertainment value. The characters are all given time to develop, with everyone getting time to shine in the early episodes, setting up for the main story that gets going just as the set ends. The show’s unique use of the various magics employed coupled with Nozomi’s standout presentation makes it an excellent package for those looking for something different in the fantasy genre.

Rental Magica DVD Collection 1 - B

DVD Review: Soul Eater part 3

Soul Eater Part 3

(Funimation, 315 minutes)

http://www.funimation.com/souleater/

When it comes to delivering abundant doses of action and slapstick comedy, no anime can hold a candle to Soul Eater. The supernatural series about meisters and weapons working together at the “Death Weapon Meister Academy” to gather corrupt souls for the Grim Reaper has seen two previous releases of 13 episode installments, with part 3 being the most recent. Covering episodes 27-39, part 3 begins the final countdown toward the conclusion of the series.

Picking up where the previous release left off, the DWMA is recouping after the culmination of the battle with Medusa and the Asura. The group begins picking up a series of mysterious occurrences in a small town, sending Maka and newly recruited Crona to investigate. There they encounter a plot to revive the long thought dead witch, Arachne. 800 years prior to the current storyline, Arachne had been defeated by the Grim Reaper, separating her body into millions of spiders to escape death. Over the course of her exile, she has accumulated a handful of powerful allies as well as a legion of followers. This coupled with her ability to create “demon weapons” puts her in a class above Medusa.

Because of the impending danger, Doctor Stein decides it’s important for the students to prepare, teaching them to link their resonances with one another. Doing so has the potential to empower the group but only so long as they can get along, a fact Maka and Black Star discover the hard way. Elsewhere, Death the Kid is tasked with retrieving a magic weapon that Arachne’s group plan to steal, in the process discovering a conspiracy linking his father to the weapon’s creation.

Compounding matters further, Medusa revives herself from apparent death, taking on a new form. Proving you can’t keep a bad witch down, she picks up the threads of deceit she had previously planted, forcefully recruiting Crona as a spy and using Stein’s own friend Marie as a pawn expedite his increasing madness. Everything comes to a head as the three sides clash over the mysterious weapon “Brew”.

Much like the 26 episodes that have come before, this release sports some outstanding visuals. Studio Bones is known for their breathtaking animation and Soul Eater builds on that trend. As is per usual, Funimation offers another stellar dub that should warrant no complaints.

Extras offer a similar helping of what has come before, with a series of comedic shorts, a fairly lively commentary featuring the cast and crew, rounded out by the usual trailers for upcoming releases. Not a bad offering for an anime release.

From the first episode to the last, Soul Eater continues to be just an incredibly fun series. There’s no shortage of unique characters, each with their own creative traits and the premise continues to push the boundaries of the imagination. If you’re looking for a deep, thought provoking viewing experience, consider yourself out of luck. Soul Eater isn’t that kind of show.

However, if gorgeous animation and lively characters involved in amazingly detailed action is your thing, then consider Soul Eater the must see anime of the year. The fourth installment can’t arrive soon enough.

Soul Eater Part 3 - A

DVD Review: "Slayers Evolution-R"

Slayers Evolution-R

(Funimation,312 mintes)

http://www.funimation.com/slayers/

53 light novels and Slayers continues its run as one of the more impressive anime franchises in history with 5 anime seasons, 3 OVAs, 5 movies, games, and a few manga titles under its belt. The dungeon and sorcery parody series has done quite nicely for itself, establishing itself as a main stay in anime culture.

Originating as a series of novel series by Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizumi, Slayers follows the misadventures of Lina Inverse, a sorceress whose power is only matched by her domineering attitude. Throughout the series’ run, she found herself challenged by potent sorcerers, demons, and other would be world conquerors, with nothing less than the fate of the world at stake.

Over time, other strange characters began joining her on her quest such as the memory deficient swordsman Gourry Gabriev, a chimera sorcerer named Zelgadis Greywords, and the magically inclined princess Amelia Wir Tesla Seyruun. In the last set, the group encountered the magical imp Pokota, a displaced prince who has decided to tag along with them for the time being as they begin a new journey to resurrect Rezo the Red Priest, a former adversary who once nearly brought the world to the brink of destruction, in order to save Pokota’s people from a mysterious plague. Along the way, they encounter a magical suit of armor named Nama who, much like Pokota, finds itself on the wrong side of Lina’s temper before permanently joining the group on their adventure.

Along the way, Lina and the crew are forced to tangle with a mysterious assassin, a cavalcade of monsters, and a potentially apocalyptic struggle for the world. Not to mention the various conflicts that arises between each other.

While Evolution-R is billed as the fifth season, it would be more apt to describe it as the second half of season 4. Many of the dangling plot threads are picked up upon and given a satisfactory conclusion by season’s end.

Naturally, the series’ light hearted nature is still ever present with the non-stop barrage of jokes and the melodramatic one-off episodes woven in between the plot. There are some misses, but for the most part, the writers nail the humor. Lina is still overly arrogant, resulting in several battles, while Gourry and Amelia remain good natured but intellectually challenged as ever, with Zelgadis playing the straight man.

Like last season, there is a shift in tone halfway through, as the gang encounters the assassin Zuuma once again, leading to scenes of graphic violence intertwined with gruesome deaths. Naturally, the comedic aspects of the series are pushed into the background in favor of building the plot but never vanishes altogether as there are still several lighthearted moments to found spliced throughout.

Like the last season, anyone looking for bonus features will be sorely disappointed. Funimation went through the trouble of reuniting the original cast, so a commentary or a featurette spotlighting them would have been appreciated. As far as what is included here, textless openings and closings are all viewers are going to get.

Slayers Evolution-R isn’t a season new viewers want to start from. It’s reliance on the show’s continuity make it essential for dedicated fans to pick up. Newcomers would do better to start from the beginning if they want to get the most out of this release. For everyone already indoctrinated into the world of Slayers, Evolution-R is icing on the cake. The rollicking adventures and frenzied battles are what fans have come to expect and appreciate from the series. Couple that with the nostalgia of seeing several past faces, and this is a set no Slayers fan should be without.

Slayers Evolution-R - B

Video Game Review: Super Mario Galaxy 2

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Nintendo

Rated E

It’s not hard to imagine that when a franchise has been around as long as Mario has, the amount of hype and anticipation that can be generated by the release of a new game in the series. Following hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2 once again pits the heroic plumber against his nemesis Bowser, still supersized from the last game, this time taking their feud to the deepest reaches of space.

When one thinks of Mario, a couple things come to mind. First is the commitment on display by Nintendo to put out the best possible game they can for their proverbial star. The other would have to be the amount of creativity and variety packed into every grand adventure. By now it’s a given that Mario is the king of console games.

Last year’s New Super Mario Bros. Wii was a prime example of what a Mario game should be; a fun throwback to what makes video games so enjoyable. However, to many hardcore gamers, that was all it amounted to, a throwback. While the game increased focus was on the use of the wii-mote, aside from the updated graphics, many could say that they had been there, done that. For their next installment, Nintendo decided to go about a different route, instead giving gamers a sequel to the vastly different Super Mario Galaxy.

Super Mario Galaxy was a departure from the typical Mario game in that, it revamped the entire franchise from the ground up. Gone was the side scrolling adventure, as the familiar confines of the Mushroom Kingdom gave way to an entire Galaxy for Mario to explore. Gamers were treated to free-roaming 3D environments that still retained the distinct style that made Mario unique. Needless to say, even the most jaded of gamers was forced to stand up and take notice.

The game opens with Mushroom Kingdom once again under siege by Bowser, who also once again, kidnaps the Princess. From there, players are blasted into the galaxy, where they are introduced to the new control scheme, using the wii-mote and the nunchuk to guide Mario through each level. The controls are vastly different from those in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and are most likely going to catch a few people by surprise. While they’re easy enough to master, one can’t help but prefer the former’s controls.

Visually, it should come as no surprise that this game is stunning. The landscapes are picturesque and a wonder to behold. The 3D landscape is certainly a step above the usual 2D world Mario has been known to inhabit. At the very least, one can say this is the best looking Mario game in the series storied history.

The inclusion of Yoshi also brings new powers that can take a minute to get used to. Mario himself also receives new power-ups to assist him on his quest. Naturally, these are reflected by the environment to which he is exploring. Of course, Yoshi retains his usual abilities to hover in the air and tongue lash opponents, though this time the player must aim the wii-mote at his target. Levels requiring Yoshi are scattered throughout but for the most part, Mario takes on certain galaxies unassisted.

For players struggling to complete levels, there are a number a number of aids available. If you find yourself dying too many times, Rosalina, a character introduced in the original Super Mario Galaxy, will offer to play through the level for you. The downside is that the star you are required to collect is downgraded from gold to bronze. Players can also invite their friends to join in as Luigi if co-op makes for a more enjoyable experience.

Ultimately, Super Mario Galaxy 2 stands as a testament to what makes the franchise great. Every year, more and more titles are released, challenging Mario for the crown of gaming, and Nintendo manages to step up to the challenge every time. Super Mario Galaxy 2 exceeds all expectations, flawlessly incorporating the new controls of the wii with fantastic environments that will wow even the most experienced of gamers. The Mario franchise is the most well known and universally recognized. There is so much to explore that gamers will find themselves losing track of time for weeks on end. Consider this title among the franchise’s best.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 - A

DVD Review: Kenichi: the Mightiest Disciple season 2 part 2

Kenichi: the Mightiest Disciple Season 2 Part 2

(Funimation, 290 minutes)

http://www.funimation.com/kenichi/

Kenichi: the Mightiest Disciple isn’t a show that will wow audiences with its animation, nor will it stand out above the rest for having a deep involving story. Even so, what the series lacks in depth, it more than makes up for in fun martial arts combat.

Kenichi: the Mightiest Disciple first landed on the scene as a manga in 2002 spawning 38 volumes and counting. The series eventually made the leap into animation where it enjoyed a run of 50 episodes. Since then, the series about a young man wanting to learn martial arts to protect the girl he loves has arrived here in the States courtesy of Funimation, with two seasons and four releases under its belt.

The show stars the title character, Kenichi Shirahama, who wants to become a master of the martial arts to protect his crush Miu, who is a formidable fighter in her own right. The lengths Kenichi is willing to go to get the girl are pretty hysterical and usually result in him taking a beating.

Over the course of the series, Kenichi has evolved from a wimp to a more than descent martial arts master, learning skills and tackling other elite masters. Eventually, he landed himself in the sights of the rival group known as Ragnarok, presenting new and deadly challenges for the young disciple. Pretty soon the action began dominating the plot, and continues to do so in this final release. Of course, as with the bulk of the series, there is plenty of training left to do and plenty of rivals still to conquer.

The primary arc flowing through the set is Kenichi’s upcoming showdown with his ultimate foe Ryuto, who was at one point his childhood friend. Ryuto is leader of Ragnarok and a powerful warrior in his own right. Over the years, he has grown into a darker person, developing a vendetta against Kenichi. When Kenichi engages him in final battle, he does so hoping to save his former friend.

The animation in Kenichi: the Mightiest Disciple isn’t anything to write home about. There isn’t anything wrong with it; it can only be considered average. The final release comes in a pair of slim disc cases with full frame aspect ratio. Each disc houses 6 episodes a piece, leaving little room for extras.

All in all, viewers who have stuck with Kenichi through the finale of his journey, this set is a must have. If you’re new to the series, this is definitely not where you want to begin. Though there is little plot development to be found, the abundance of action coupled with the emotional final battle is sure to provide solid entertainment.
Kenichi: the Mightiest Disciple season 2 part 2 - B