SOURCE: Saishin Anime Joho / activeAnime

STORY IN A NUTSHELL:
After a global war, humanity has pushed itself to the brink of extinction. Hope rests with Olympus, a utopian city that balances harmony and peace through bioroid, artificial life forms that mimic every human aspect except for emotions and reproduction, but others don’t like this idea of coexistence. Standing in their way is Deunan, a woman raised as a soldier who now must confront her past in order to save the future of humanity and a race that may be their only hope of not destroying themselves completely.

REVIEW:
Appleseed was the latest reimagining based on the graphic novels by famed master of science fiction, Shirow Masamune (Ghost in the Shell). Set before Appleseed Ex Machina, but done well after the original 1988 OVA, Appleseed reinvents the tale of Deunan and Briareos, her cyborg partner, and their fight to save Olympus. It opens on a gunfight at night in ruins as Deunan battles against guns, androids, and tanks. She is taken by ES.W.A.T where she is shown a new peaceful world in a city of largesse and tranquility. However even the peaceful need a warrior and Deunan is their first pick. She is paired with Briareos, her former comrade in arms now cyborg. Her flashbacks serve as a dramatic and poignant subplot underlining the emotional tension between these two reunited people.

Her transition is an eye opener in many respects. She is shown a world where half the population is made of Bioroids. They are there to help and live in harmony with humans. Ruling the world is the super computer Gaia, with a prime minister named Athena and a council of Elders assisting in the ruling and supervising of Olympus. However the peaceful city is attacked by terrorists that are intent on the genocide of all Bioroids. With her Bioroid friend dying, and the remaining Bioroids about to face annihilation, it is up to Deunan to unlock the secrets hidden in her tragic past in order to find the key that will save the future of two races.  Yet it is one laced with betrayal. There are those who fight to destroy the Bioroids and then there are others who have plotted with Machiavellian depth to end all of humanity. Deunan is all that stands in their way…

Appleseed is a suspenseful and taut science fiction action film. It confronts questions regarding the destructive nature of humanity, its hope, its gifts such as the ability to love, and its great weakness within our ability to give in to fear, anger, and hate. It has, in hallmark Shirow storytelling fashion, hit on questions about sentience, the power of love, the nature of humanity, and the political ramifications of all of the above set in an insular society.  It is excellent science fiction. Thanks to the amazing 3DCG animation the film is also a visceral and mesmerizing feature to immerse one’s self in. The action scenes are done with dramatic effect and no attention to detail was neglected. The cityscapes are astonishing in their visuals. The fight scenes are incredible with their dramatic imagery. Particularly impressive out of a film of constant captivating CG animation are the airships.

The film was directed by Shinji Aramaki who has worked on acclaimed and cult and international hits like Bubblegum Crisis, Gasaraki, and the new Halo Legends. The production was done by Fumihiko Shori whose work includes the live action and award winning Ping Pong and Ichi, as well as applauded CG anime films like Vexille. The animation is accentuated by a kick ass score provided by the likes of Japanese electronic music duo Boom Boom Satellites, along with Paul Oakenfold, and Basement Jaxx. The rock and techno fusion mixes it up with subtle scores to provide a movie that is both dramatic and action driven while providing a strong cerebral plot as well.

TECHNICAL TERMS:
The video has been upconverted to high-definition, and the transition showed a few gradient effects in the beginning parts of the movie, especially in dark scenes, however, that digital effect eventually disappears during the course of the film. From there, it is pure visual enjoyment.

While the original English dub is included, the primary selling point of this rerelease is the new English dub. Although the original still stands out due to its DTS 5.1 audio, the new English dub breathes new life to this film since it has the same cast as Appleseed: Ex Machina that have revisited the origins of their characters, and thus establishing a continuation with both movies.

FEATURETTE:
The disc also features the same special features that came with the original release, and it is comprised with an audio commentary by Director Shinji Aramaki and Producer Fuhimiko Sori (Vexille, Ping Pong, Ichi), the making of the anime (The Birth of the 3D Live Anime), staff  profiles, disc credits, and in this disc it also has the Alternate English Dub.

CASE IN POINT:
Appleseed is a captivating and serious science fiction filled with action, suspense, and jaw dropping imagery throughout, and this rerelease in high-definition brings it along the same tier as Ex Machina.

SOURCE: AV WATCH IMPRESS 

SOURCE: AV WATCH IMPRESS

THE STORY IN A NUTSHELL:
A true and noble heart holds much power, stronger than the hardest fist and mightier than the most potent magic. Four disparate travelers begin an epic journey - their goals different, their destiny the same. Along the way, the past will meet the future in the present. Of all the paths of every life, mingling in the dimension between dimensions where a foe has the face of an ally, and an ally the face of a monster.

At the center of this heroic undertaking, Syaoran: A young man called upon to save his fated, the princess Sakura. Her memory has been shattered, the very essence of her soul sent adrift across the universe. Feather’s float down on strange lands, torn asunder if only to prove the power of love. With fellow travelers Kurogane and Fai, a warrior and a wizard, an epic quest begins. One of danger and mystery – a quest with endless possibilities.

The story of this anime is captivating from start to finish. It is full of fantasy and adventure, and we could all use more of that in the stories we get from our anime. It is fairly close to the original manga work done by Clamp who wrote many popular stories such as Magic Knight Rayearth, Angel Links, Chobits, X, and xxxholic just to name a few. It’s nice to see a work stay true to the original manga when possible – it can be annoying and unwanted by fans more often than not when an anime totally changes what a manga was originally about in story, plot, and character development. Tsubasa’s story is by far one of Clamp’s best works, and especially because of the superior writing. It has many characters in it that are from other stories, and it’s fun to see them back again for a very different set of scenery and plot devices. Tsubasa stays true to the original, and it’s for the best – this is a highly involving story, just like that of the manga.

REVIEW IN THE MATTER:
The shojo series Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle offers new adventures for the characters from the Clamp Studio’s popular Cardcaptor Sakura. If you liked Cardcaptor Sakura, it’s all the more likely that you will fully enjoy Tsubasa. It’s a really neat idea to collect together a number of characters from a whole other series, and throw them into a fairly different world and set of events. It’s almost like the anime characters have become actors and actresses, and you get to see them “act” in something different. That’s the best way I can describe the feeling – it’s honestly kind of cool - and especially so if you like Clamp’s other work.

So who are the characters this time around? Sakura is now the princess of the Kingdom of Clow, and Syaoran is the dedicated son of an archaeologist. When a mysterious power seizes Sakura in an ancient temple, her spirit appears as a pair of graceful white wings that shatter, sending the feathers of her memories flying through time and space. Syaoran must recapture them or Sakura will die. It’s a straight-forward concept on the surface, and gives the viewer an idea to hold onto that makes sense – but beyond that simplicity is a story that is leaps and bounds above normal, and will surely entertain viewers to no end.

It gets even better when the filmmakers start to suggest that Sakura, Syaoran, and their friends may just be pawns in a greater struggle between Yuko and the mysterious Fei Wang and his assistant Xing Huo as the story evolves. Even still, the plot never gets to crazy or off-base – it stays grounded enough to remain believable and avoids becoming cliché. Tsubasa is a picaresque tale that plays more like an anime like Fullmetal Alchemist than Cardcaptor Sakura (the former being more mature, and with more depth than the latter by most people’s standards), but Clamp fans will enjoy the mixture of enchantment, romance, adventure, and self-sacrifice. It’s a fantastic mix of fantasy storytelling, time travel, inter-dimensional chaos, and more. Amazingly enough though, it never tries to be so smart that it becomes confusing or annoying to watch – in no way does it try to be misleading or too artsy to the point that it’s just trying to cover up something that is wrong with it plot wise, or some other issue that so many TV shows and movies have to cover up for these days. Tsubasa is just good, and it doesn’t have to do anymore than what it does to prove otherwise. It’s a straight shooter, and viewers should appreciate this immensely in a market crowded with all those anime that leave us with mixed feelings.

IN TECHNICAL TERMS:
When it comes down to the technical aspects of this anime and its visuals, the main question on everyone’s mind is whether it is worth having on Blu-ray versus DVD. For an anime this fantastic, featuring locations and characters this developed, I would certainly say yes. This is doubled if you are a Clamp fan – there is no better way to see Clamp’s work come to life than to see it on Blu-Ray. The rich colors and the details of the artwork and animation truly come to life on this new format. Anyone who has had some experience with Blu-Ray, and especially that relating to animation, knows full well how much of a difference Blu-Ray can make on an animated piece. Trying to describe it in words is somewhat difficult, but you just have to believe that it “pops” off the screen, and breathes a much different, more exciting “life” into the animation. A part of the point of good animation is to make our minds believe that thousands of drawings in sequence is actually creatings something “real” – so a higher level of technical presentation (ie: the Blu-Ray format and its qualities) will always help the viewer to more appreciate what they are watching, and receive more value from the experience.

The enhanced color and clarity of the Blu-ray process showcases the imaginative visuals in Tsubasa in a way that DVD just never could, because it’s nowhere near as good. This is much to do with the 1080p high definition rendering of the visuals, making this the most technically advanced Tsubasa experience you can get – and why not have the best if you’re going to take the time to watch 26 episodes of it? Some other examples of what makes the Blu-Ray format so required for a full experience include visual effects that wouldn’t be the same without Blu-Ray. When Kurogane blindfolds Syaoran to teach him to rely not on his vision but on his inner senses when fighting with a sword, the artists suggest his sightless world with reversed colors and compelling music. In one striking sequence, a character uses a Feather to cause the world of Outo to implode, revealing it’s just a virtual reality game. These scenes would be okay on DVD, but the technical differences that Blu-Ray makes to improve such experiences goes without saying. Blu-Ray improves the visual aspects of the is anime, as well as the sound, and especially the music. Fans looking for the most technically advanced experience possible from their anime should certainly purchase the Blu-Ray format over the lesser DVD format.

FEATURETTE:
The Tsubasa Season One Blu-Ray set does not contain a “featurette” per say, but it does  however contain multiple smaller features that are worth mentioning. This set includes some great actor commentary, cast auditions, a character guide, a world guide, “Faces in the Crowd” feature, textless songs, and even Funimation trailers to show you what else is available from the company for purchase. All of these features really add to the experience, and take you one step farther into the world of Tsubasa if you want to see something more about it once you are done watching the series itself. It also gives the viewer a look into a world they might otherwise not get to see or experience in relation to the voice-overs and the voice acting itself. It’s neat to see some of the people behind the voices at work and understand what they go through to bring the characters to life with their acting talent. Features like this add a lot of dimension to an anime, and an understanding about the technical aspects of production that we as fans would otherwise be oblivious of – it’s quite enjoyable and eye-opening!

CASE IN POINT:
Tsubasa is a highly involving anime with a lot of its roots firmly planted in fantasy, but it also has much more than that to give to its viewers. It is simple enough to be understandable and enjoyable, but has enough depth to keep you coming back for more after each episode. Because it is such a great anime, created by such a talented team of people, it only makes sense to watch it on Blu-Ray format where the technical aspects of the visuals and audio track can truly shine their brightest. This is an anime that makes a lot of sense to own on Blu-Ray – Funimation has done a great job bringing it to us in this format, and should continue to do so with the anime it is releasing in North America.

SOURCE: AV WATCH IMPRESS

SOURCE: AV WATCH IMPRESS

SYNOPSIS:  A nuclear holocaust has robbed the world of its order, and now warring factions fight for every square inch of desert, spilling buckets of blood to gain control. But legends tell of one great warrior who will become King, using his powerful fists and an awesome rage to rise to his rightful place. That warrior is Raoh, a giant hulking fighter with the ability to vanquish his enemies in the bloodiest way possible. But other warriors will not relinquish their kingdoms so easily. Because in this world, no one gives up without a fight! Join in the adventure with one of the most exciting animated warriors ever!

Title:                 LEGENDS OF THE DARK KING COMPLETE COLLECTION BLU-RAY EDITION

Published by:    Sentai Filmworks

Distributed by:  Section23 Films

Run Time:         325 min.

Street Date:      7/20/2010

Format:             BD

SRP:                $69.98

• Running Time: 600 Minutes (main feature 300 minutes / special features 300 minutes)
• 1080i 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen / Linear PCM Stereo (Japanese) / 4 dual-layer disc (2 main feature + 2 special features) / MPEG-4 AVC
• Special Box Container with Horiuchi Osamu Illustration
• Location Scouting Episode 1 - 6
• TV Commercial Spots and Promotional Videos
• Ga-rei Zero The Live Movie
• Audio Commntary Colleciton (6 Episodes)

SOURCE: Saishin Anime Joho