Main Feature
	Video	1080p High Definition 16:9
	Audio	Dolby TrueHD English 5.1 Dolby Digital Japanese 2.0
	Subtitle	English
	Rating	TV MA
	Running Time	275 minutes
	Released By: FUNimation Entertainment
	Release Date: March 10, 2009
	Review Date: June 24, 2009
	Reviewed By: Rommel Salandanan
	You have not seen “Shigurui: Death Frenzy” until you’ve seen it in High-Definition Rating:

Screenshots included

STORY IN A NUTSHELL:
Shigurui is the violent laden epic about samurai pathos. Two samurai meet in a duel before their lord and master. The anime series comprising twelve episodes is a shocking and gripping story about two young swordsmen and the choices they make when they meet and become the most bitter of rivals.
 
The anime takes you back from their final confronation on the dueling grounds to how they first met and how the arrogant and Machiavellian Irako plots to become the heir, stealing Fujiki’s position and standing away from him. The earnest Fujiki becomes obsessed with ruining Irako. When Irako’s betrayal is revealed, the brutality that occurs forever cements the path of destruction for both of these men. Obsession, vengeace and murder are only the beginning in this tale of cruelty, bloodshed and violence.
 
The anime is based on the ongoing manga series by Takayuki Yamaguchi. It is adapted from the first chapter of the well known and respected author Norio Nanjo’s famous historic novel Suruga Jo Gozen-Jiai (Contest in the Honorable Presence at a Castle in Suruga). The manga and anime are rich in historic versimillitude and actual facts while expanding and speculating in graphic fashion what drove these two samurai to their final moments.

REVIEW IN THE MATTER:
Shigurui Death Frenzy is an anime samurai series that covers every aspect of what a samurai should be. The samurai depicted in this fictional story based on actual events are noble to their cause yet brutal. The series will guide you to a world where you wouldn’t know who is the antagonist or protagonist, as both main characters have their own dark streak while serving as apprentices in a dojo with a deranged master that has an over-charged libido.

The overall feel for the series is somewhat slow at first, but the slow pace is only a prelude to what transcends at the beginning of the series: Irako and Fujiki stand toe to toe in a competition to the death. After that, the story shifts back to the past on how the two rivals met and became colleagues, and what fueled their hatred for one another. Once the overall plot has been established, the story picks up the pace by the sixth episode.

The anime is also laden with visual metaphors. One could guess what a particular visual is all about, but to the viewers who are familiar with the work of Takayuki Yamaguchi, the visual adds more depth to the story.
The series will also take you in depth into the fighting style, as the animation flashes which muscle group in the human body is used in a particular sword technique. Although I didn’t feel this was very necessary in the story, it sure added more effects to the animation. In addition, the stunning animation, combined with vicious visual scenes, will make your flinch but want for more.

As for mentioning what a samurai should be, the series also touched upon a particular characteristic of a samurai, which is known in history. Akira Kurasawa never mentioned or portrayed any of his samurai as this, however, this is the first anime series or for any live-action film, that shows samurai as bisexual.

IN TECHNICAL TERMS:
Since there is not a Blu-ray version available in Japan, FUNimation Entertainment manages to do a great job with the transfer from the original source to Blu-ray. Any grainy artifacts are actually part of the series to give its granular look. Colors are pale except for deep red that gives the effect of the profound traumatic sensation whenever blood splatters.

The English dubbing in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 is superb. Sword fights and sword clashing will utilize your sound system, and the overall sound is crisp and subtle.

The Japanese version is only Dolby Digital 2.0; however, this is due to the source that is available. As previously mentioned, there is not a Blu-ray version of Shigurui in Japan.

For the menu system, FUNimation, as always, uses a clear and concise menu system that is easy to use.

FEATURETTE:
The disc comes with a marathon play feature that enables the viewer to skip the opening and closing credits. Speaking of opening and closing credits, a textless opening and closing is also available.

Two audio commentaries are included. Episode 4 commentary is with Christopher Bevins (ADR Director/ Line Producer/ Co-Script Writer), Wendy Powell (Iku), and J. Michael Tatum (Irako). The second is Episode 10 with Christopher Bevins, and voice actors R. Bruce Elliot (Ushimata) and Jerry Russell (Kogan).

Production artwork contains characters and visual settings, and trailers.

CASE IN POINT:
Shocking, sadistic, vicious and yet artistically beautiful, what a samurai tale should be, and all captured in high-definition.