Chris Beveridge
05-01-2008, 07:49 AM
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%"><tr><table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellspacing="1" bordercolor="#E7E7DE" width="100%" bordercolorlight="#E7E7DE" bordercolordark="#E7E7DE" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/beastkinggolion1.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Beast King GoLion Vol. #1</b><BR>Media Blasters<br>Price: 34.99<BR>Running Time: 396 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: From days of long ago... from uncharted regions of the universe... comes a legend... The legend of Golion, the original Japanese show that started it all in the world of Voltron. The five pilots may look the same, but their names and the events that occur are galaxies apart from the series you think you know. Were people evacuated safely? Do robots die? And what really happened to a certain main character?
Revisit the Voltron series as you've never experienced it before, and see what really happened in this newly restored and uncut version.
Contains episodes 1-18.<P><B>How We See It</b>: As the Voltron releases have shown, there's a great deal of nostalgia and love for some of these old shows that many of us grew up with. Whether it's there for the uncut original versions is a bit less certain but Media Blasters is giving it a whirl with this first collection featuring eighteen episodes of the series in one very sweetly priced set. This is the kind of collection you check out even if you're not a mecha fan or an old school fan just so you can support the idea of such releases for shows you do want and to see the genesis of what many of today's shows work off of.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=11192">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/dbzseason5.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Dragon Ball Z Season 5</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 49.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: The Z-Fighters gather their forces in an effort to combat the Android menace that has been set loose upon the planet. But they are about to discover that the Androids are the least of their worries. An even greater threat has risen from the shadows: Dr. Gero's most lethal creation, Cell!
Born from the genetic material of the greatest warriors ever to walk the Earth, Cell is Dr. Gero's ultimate weapon, a perfect fighting machine capable of duplicating all of the Z-Fighters' most powerful attacks. Now, after years of waiting, Cell has begun to unleash his terrifying powers, wiping out entire cities as he gathers the energy he needs to fulfill his creator's grand design.
Time is short! The Z-Fighters must find a way to stop this monstrous foe before he completes his quest to absorb the other Androids and achieves his invincible Perfect Form!
Contains the complete Imperfect and Perfect Cell Sagas (26 episodes).
<P><B>How We See It</b>: Bringing together the Imperfect and Perfect Cell Sagas, the fifth "season" of Dragon Ball Z in its widescreen form hits for the fans that have been grabbing the previous four seasons. While it may be an abberation in the eyes of some, FUNimation is certainly putting these out at a decent speed and giving that audience what it wants by also including the marathon play feature that skips the numerous openins, endings and recap sections. Controversial at first, the season sets now just continue to come out for that willing and waiting audience.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=14">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/fmptsrboxset.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid Box Set</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 59.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: It's tough to keep your grades up without having to take off at a moment's notice to save the world. But for Sousuke Sagara, undercover high school student and member of the mercenary group Mithril, life in Tokyo seemed the same as always. But underneath the promising exterior spin the wheels of a conspiracy that threaten to destroy the peace. A new threat has arisen: Amalgam.
An unknown element with advanced mech technology, this mysterious organization has been running things from behind the scenes. As dissension spreads throughout the ranks of Mithril, Sousuke faces his own internal struggle. Spread thin between schoolwork and war, the powers that be have decided to lighten his load... beginning with Kaname!
Life and death hang in the balance as the clash between good and evil scale new heights. When the smoke clears, Sousuke's path will be the one that he forges for himself.
Includes all 13 episodes plus episode 000 and the OVA "Tessa's Eventful Day."<P><B>How We See It</b>: After a successful run with ADV Films with the first two seasons, the Second Raid ended up in an interesting situation where it's actually "licensed" by Kadokawa Pictures with production and dub work by ADV Films and distributed by FUNimation. It's been about a year since the series finished out in single form which makes it ripe for a collection to fit in beside the existing sets that are out there. With its shorter run it doesn't pack quite the impact of the original nor the outright silliness of the Fumoffu?! run, but it hits things right down the middle to please most sides, especially Tessa fans.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10206">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/kiramekiprojectcomplete2.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Kirameki Project Collection</b><BR>Media Blasters<br>Price: 19.99<BR>Running Time: 150 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: On the Mediterranean Sea, there lies the beautiful kingdom of Genes. It is ruled by three lovely, mostly innocent princesses and the power of technology. The surrounding kingdoms all fall one by one to a mysterious Giant Robot (TM). Worse yet, the robot is under the control of several decidedly unattractive Old Guys. When they set their sights on Genes, the Fate of the World (also TM), rests on the maid-outfit-clad shoulders of Kana, the second princess. Born with a special knack for robot technology, Kana and her android companion Rincle are the last line of defense for Genes.
Contains all five episodes!<P><B>How We See It</b>: Collecting the two volumes of the five part OVA series that was released in 2006, it's almost like getting two for the price of one but with some seriously good fanservice artwork for the cover. Kirameki Project is a difficult show for even some of the more hardcore giant robot fans simply because it has so much pink but also because the CG cel shading used for it is very... distinct. With it all in one collection and at a low price however it's worth taking a risk on if you're looking for something that's definitely Japanese.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10679">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/mirageofblazeworldcollection.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Mirage of Blaze - World of DVD Collection</b><BR>Media Blasters<br>Price: 34.99<BR>Running Time: 415 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: Includes the OVA: Rebels of the Rivers Edge, for a total of 5 discs.
Takaya Oogi is a street smart high school student, dedicated to protecting his best friend Yuzuru Narita. The two are wrapped up in an ancient war of darkness and tragedy, begun during Japan's chaotic Warring States Period. The psychic powers of long ago find new life in the hearts of Takaya and Yuzuru, but rival clansmen seek to destroy them. <P><B>How We See It</b>: While two box sets have been released previously, this is the first one to include the OVA release that came out in 2005 from Media Blasters. One of the earlier releases from the company that played up the boys love angle to some extent, Mirage of Blaze deals with dark supernatural material and the bonds that the characters share across time. It may not be the tightest series out there with its pacing or plotting, but it is one of those forefront shows that has earned a good following over the years. This is the definitive collection to get if you've been holding off and want to see it all in one complete package.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10106">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/nerimadaikonbrothersthinpak.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Nerima Daikon Brothers Complete Collection</b><BR>ADV Films<br>Price: 45.98<BR>Running Time: 300 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: What's a band to do with no fame, and especially no sold-out arena to perform in? How can they grab the cash they need to build the Concert Dome of their DREAMS?! Well, they can't. But the NERIMA DAIKON BROTHERS sure as hell are going to try!
WATCH - as Hideki, Ichiro, and Mako (yeah, one of them's a chick!) farm daikon by day, and battle slimy record producers, pachinko-mad hags, monstrous nurses, flatulent hospital administrators, and hot police babes, by night.
LISTEN - as the band AND the evil villains sing hilarious songs, all along the bumpy, daikon-studded road!
TUNE IN AND SEE!!! - (What's daikon? Is it a vegetable? Is it a fruit? A weapon? A girl's best friend? All of the above?!)
<P><B>How We See It</b>: Nabeshin's comedies are definitely acquired tastes, and even then they're not always guaranteed to be a hit. Nerima Daikon Brothers takes him to some new ground where it's a musical comedy, something that isn't done all that often in most media. While the show has its predictability factor in the pacing and general layout of the script, it has some positively hilarious moments and a real flair for fun and style. It also has a fantastic dub that kept us very entertained and loving every performance for the risks that were taken. Unfortuantely, the set has no extras which means no vidnotes that are pretty much crucial to a lot of the jokes along the way.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=11022">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/onepieceseason1.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>One Piece: Season 1 Part 1</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 49.98<BR>Running Time: 320 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: As the Pirate King Gold Roger was executed he revealed that his treasure, known as "One Piece," was hidden somewhere on the Grand Line. Monkey D. Luffy dreams of finding the legendary treasure and becoming the Pirate King, and after eating the devil's fruit he gains the power to do so. But first he must find a crew...
Contains episodes 1-13.
<P><B>How We See It</b>: After months of torturing fans by not knowing which season the series would start with, One Piece fans can finally breathe easy as they start from the beginning with this thirteen episode set that features the new dub and proper names and story elements. While more episodes would have been appealing as it will take awhile to get caught up, FUNimation is certainly appearing to be doing things right by the series and its fans with how this looks. A look at the old 4Kids plans only reminds us of how lucky One Piece fans are to even see this in proper form. Definitely a show worth supporting if you're got an inkling of interest in it.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10831">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/pokemonorangeislandbox.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Pokemon Season 1 Box Set 4: Orange Islands</b><BR>Viz Media<br>Price: 39.98<BR>Running Time: 760 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: After a stop in Pallet Town, Ash, Misty and Brock set out to find a rare and mysterious Pokeball for Professor Oak. Their quest leads them to the Orange Islands, where Ash decides to battle in the Orange League Tournament. With new friends to meet, new Pokemon to discover, and tough new trainers to challenge them, the adventures never end for Ash and his friends!
Contains 36 episodes!<P><B>How We See It</b>: On the opposite end of popular TV shows getting a DVD release, Pokemon hauls out its fourth season set by dropping in <i>thirty six</i> episodes for a low price that are dub only. If only Viz had done this from the start they likely would have kept people interested in it for much longer. At this point though it's just for folks who want to get rid of their singles (donate them to your local library!) and regain some shelf space. Or they want to expose the show to the next generation of fans that are watching the newer seasons on TV.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10261">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/shinchanseason1.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Shin-Chan Season 1 Part 1</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 39.99<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: He's rude, he's crude, and adults tremble whenever he's around. His inappropriate comments and obsession with body parts and bodily functions make life stressful for his struggling parents. No one is safe from Shinchan's verbal outbursts... and now, neither are you!<P><B>How We See It</b>: Originally solicited and talked about as a bilingual release, the actual release is a dub only affair of the first block of episodes. Appealing almost entirely to the Adult Swim crowd because of that, the show loses a lot of its appeal for those that wanted to at long last get a glimpse at the original series to see what made it so huge in Japan. With it being dub only, this is the kind of release that should be priced even cheaper since it's trying to appeal to the mainstream audience alongside other [as] shows. For a lot of people, the enthusiasm for the release disappeared once the specs were known, which again frustrates since FUNimation rarely sends out any solicitation information to sites about what their releases will really be like.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=11182">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/sdgundamforcecollection.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Superior Defender Gundam Force Anime Legends Collection</b><BR>Bandai Entertainment<br>Price: 49.98<BR>Running Time: 650 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: With peace restored to Neotopia, Shute and the Gundam Force decide to travel to the lands of gallant knights and Samurai warriors in order to finish their battle against the forces of Dark Axis. Using the teleportation power of the newly restored Magna Musai, now christened the Gundamusai, the SD Force travels from dimension to dimension in a flurry of fights, fun and new adventures. Using an awesome array of new powers the Gundam Force may finally be able to free their worlds from the terror of the Dark Axis once and for all!<P><B>How We See It</b>: Originally hoped to be the next big thing for Gundam in temrs of mainstream appeal, Superior Defender Gundam Force fell flat pretty hard even after it ended up showing some interesting signs of promise after awhile. The cel shaded CG show was definitely kids oriented and I know my kids loved it, but it felt like a slap in the face for many older Gundam fans who were craving something more after getting other shows out on TV. This collection is however long overdue since it was originally released on nine single volumes but it's still a hard recommendation unless you can snag it for a good discount. Not for the hardcore audience, but one that's good to gradually expose kids to the world of Gundam.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10319">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/teknomancomplete.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Teknoman Complete Collection</b><BR>Media Blasters<br>Price: 19.99<BR>Running Time: 1100 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: The year is 2087, and humanity is about to lose its position as the dominant life form on planet Earth. An endless swarm of biomechanical beings known as the Venomoids descend from space. Earth's Space Knights are no match for the Venemoid champions, the Teknomen.
When the young pilots Ringo Richards and Star Summers find a wounded stranger named Blade, humanity gains one last hope. Blade is able to transform into a Teknoman, but he has no memories and fights to protect Earth. His opponents are not only the endless alien menace, but also the other Teknomen - who were once human, and his family and friends.
Contains all 43 episodes!<P><B>How We See It</b>: Encompassing the entire series as it was released back in 2006, the Teknoman Complete Collection is an immense bang for your buck with 1100 minutes of the international dub cut of the series that can be had for about 10 bucks or so via discounts. This is aimed purely at the mainstream audience who has some nostalgia for the show during its run in the early 90's but dub fans in general who like science fiction action will want to check this out simply because of its great value.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10663">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<tr> <TD><h2><center>Re-releases for the Month</center></h2>
<table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellspacing="1" bordercolor="#E7E7DE" width="98%" bordercolorlight="#E7E7DE" bordercolordark="#E7E7DE" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/dbzmoviessteelbook.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Dragon Ball Z Movies: Dead Zone/World's Strongest</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 29.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: The Dead Zone
Gohan has been kidnapped! To make matters worse, the evil Garlic Jr. is gathering the Dragonballs to wish for immortality. Only then will Garlic Jr. be able to take over the Earth in order to gain revenge for the death of his father.
Goku rushes to save Gohan, but arrives at the fortress just as Garlic Jr. summons the Eternal Dragon! Krillin and Piccolo try to help Goku, but their combined powers are no match for Garlic Jr., who creates a "Dead Zone" to suck the heroes into oblivion! Suddenly, Goku begins to show his hidden power, but will it be enough?
The World's Strongest
The sinister Dr. Wheelo has been freed from his icy tomb! With his dedicated and devious assistant Dr. Kochin, these mad scientists are plotting to unleash their fearsome biotechnology and take over the world! Of course there's one hitch in the plan... Dr. Wheelo exists only as a brain in a jar!
The evil doctor must seek out a body on Earth that is as strong as his mind is amazing! Dr. Kochin and his android henchmen kidnap Piccolo and Master Roshi to determine who is the most powerful fighter on Earth!
Goku, Gohan and Krillin rush into action to save their friends, but Dr. Wheelo's minions are more than a match for them in battle. It looks grim when Piccolo falls under the disembodied villain's control, and Wheelo's next target for mental domination? Goku! Will our
<P><B>How We See It</b>: After the popularity of some of the other steelcase releases for the specials of the Dragon Ball Z universe, it's little surprise to see FUNimation providing the same for some of the earlier movies as well. While the out or order nature of their releases are incredibly frustrating, this is one show that certainly could use a bit more shine and polish for a new audience. These first two movies may not be as cheaply priced in a collection as they should be, but if they're done to a similar level as the previous steelcase releases, it'll be worthwhile.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=14">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/bdboxart/dbzdeadzonebd.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Dragon Ball Z Movies: Dead Zone/World's Strongest</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 34.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: The Dead Zone
Gohan has been kidnapped! To make matters worse, the evil Garlic Jr. is gathering the Dragonballs to wish for immortality. Only then will Garlic Jr. be able to take over the Earth in order to gain revenge for the death of his father.
Goku rushes to save Gohan, but arrives at the fortress just as Garlic Jr. summons the Eternal Dragon! Krillin and Piccolo try to help Goku, but their combined powers are no match for Garlic Jr., who creates a "Dead Zone" to suck the heroes into oblivion! Suddenly, Goku begins to show his hidden power, but will it be enough?
The World's Strongest
The sinister Dr. Wheelo has been freed from his icy tomb! With his dedicated and devious assistant Dr. Kochin, these mad scientists are plotting to unleash their fearsome biotechnology and take over the world! Of course there's one hitch in the plan... Dr. Wheelo exists only as a brain in a jar!
The evil doctor must seek out a body on Earth that is as strong as his mind is amazing! Dr. Kochin and his android henchmen kidnap Piccolo and Master Roshi to determine who is the most powerful fighter on Earth!
Goku, Gohan and Krillin rush into action to save their friends, but Dr. Wheelo's minions are more than a match for them in battle. It looks grim when Piccolo falls under the disembodied villain's control, and Wheelo's next target for mental domination? Goku! Will our
<P><B>How We See It</b>: It's on Blu-ray, it's all good. Essentially, all that we say about the DVD release applies here as well plus we should be getting a version that's better able to utilize the source material and hopefully some high resolution audience. While their first Blu-ray DBZ release wasn't an out of the park hit, it was one that showed there is some serious life to be breathed into this classic franchise in this format.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=14">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/parasitedollsadpolice.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Parasite Dolls / AD Police Double Features</b><BR>ADV Films<br>Price: 24.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: Contains both releases in one low priced double set!<P><B>How We See It</b>: This is the epitome of a bargain as this double pack set contains the original releases for Parasite Dolls and the AD Police TV series for a price less than either of thesee originally came out for. For AD Police, it's a welcome release considering the original is nearly six years old at this point and it was never popular to begin with which has made it difficult to find at times. While not every show merits a re-release, the pairing of two shows set in the same universe is one worth getting out there eventually. The shows aren't for the core audience that loves Bubblegum Crisis though but rather those that want something a bit more police oriented and not quite as flashy.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10064">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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Revisit the Voltron series as you've never experienced it before, and see what really happened in this newly restored and uncut version.
Contains episodes 1-18.<P><B>How We See It</b>: As the Voltron releases have shown, there's a great deal of nostalgia and love for some of these old shows that many of us grew up with. Whether it's there for the uncut original versions is a bit less certain but Media Blasters is giving it a whirl with this first collection featuring eighteen episodes of the series in one very sweetly priced set. This is the kind of collection you check out even if you're not a mecha fan or an old school fan just so you can support the idea of such releases for shows you do want and to see the genesis of what many of today's shows work off of.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=11192">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/dbzseason5.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Dragon Ball Z Season 5</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 49.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: The Z-Fighters gather their forces in an effort to combat the Android menace that has been set loose upon the planet. But they are about to discover that the Androids are the least of their worries. An even greater threat has risen from the shadows: Dr. Gero's most lethal creation, Cell!
Born from the genetic material of the greatest warriors ever to walk the Earth, Cell is Dr. Gero's ultimate weapon, a perfect fighting machine capable of duplicating all of the Z-Fighters' most powerful attacks. Now, after years of waiting, Cell has begun to unleash his terrifying powers, wiping out entire cities as he gathers the energy he needs to fulfill his creator's grand design.
Time is short! The Z-Fighters must find a way to stop this monstrous foe before he completes his quest to absorb the other Androids and achieves his invincible Perfect Form!
Contains the complete Imperfect and Perfect Cell Sagas (26 episodes).
<P><B>How We See It</b>: Bringing together the Imperfect and Perfect Cell Sagas, the fifth "season" of Dragon Ball Z in its widescreen form hits for the fans that have been grabbing the previous four seasons. While it may be an abberation in the eyes of some, FUNimation is certainly putting these out at a decent speed and giving that audience what it wants by also including the marathon play feature that skips the numerous openins, endings and recap sections. Controversial at first, the season sets now just continue to come out for that willing and waiting audience.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=14">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/fmptsrboxset.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid Box Set</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 59.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: It's tough to keep your grades up without having to take off at a moment's notice to save the world. But for Sousuke Sagara, undercover high school student and member of the mercenary group Mithril, life in Tokyo seemed the same as always. But underneath the promising exterior spin the wheels of a conspiracy that threaten to destroy the peace. A new threat has arisen: Amalgam.
An unknown element with advanced mech technology, this mysterious organization has been running things from behind the scenes. As dissension spreads throughout the ranks of Mithril, Sousuke faces his own internal struggle. Spread thin between schoolwork and war, the powers that be have decided to lighten his load... beginning with Kaname!
Life and death hang in the balance as the clash between good and evil scale new heights. When the smoke clears, Sousuke's path will be the one that he forges for himself.
Includes all 13 episodes plus episode 000 and the OVA "Tessa's Eventful Day."<P><B>How We See It</b>: After a successful run with ADV Films with the first two seasons, the Second Raid ended up in an interesting situation where it's actually "licensed" by Kadokawa Pictures with production and dub work by ADV Films and distributed by FUNimation. It's been about a year since the series finished out in single form which makes it ripe for a collection to fit in beside the existing sets that are out there. With its shorter run it doesn't pack quite the impact of the original nor the outright silliness of the Fumoffu?! run, but it hits things right down the middle to please most sides, especially Tessa fans.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10206">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/kiramekiprojectcomplete2.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Kirameki Project Collection</b><BR>Media Blasters<br>Price: 19.99<BR>Running Time: 150 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: On the Mediterranean Sea, there lies the beautiful kingdom of Genes. It is ruled by three lovely, mostly innocent princesses and the power of technology. The surrounding kingdoms all fall one by one to a mysterious Giant Robot (TM). Worse yet, the robot is under the control of several decidedly unattractive Old Guys. When they set their sights on Genes, the Fate of the World (also TM), rests on the maid-outfit-clad shoulders of Kana, the second princess. Born with a special knack for robot technology, Kana and her android companion Rincle are the last line of defense for Genes.
Contains all five episodes!<P><B>How We See It</b>: Collecting the two volumes of the five part OVA series that was released in 2006, it's almost like getting two for the price of one but with some seriously good fanservice artwork for the cover. Kirameki Project is a difficult show for even some of the more hardcore giant robot fans simply because it has so much pink but also because the CG cel shading used for it is very... distinct. With it all in one collection and at a low price however it's worth taking a risk on if you're looking for something that's definitely Japanese.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10679">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/mirageofblazeworldcollection.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Mirage of Blaze - World of DVD Collection</b><BR>Media Blasters<br>Price: 34.99<BR>Running Time: 415 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: Includes the OVA: Rebels of the Rivers Edge, for a total of 5 discs.
Takaya Oogi is a street smart high school student, dedicated to protecting his best friend Yuzuru Narita. The two are wrapped up in an ancient war of darkness and tragedy, begun during Japan's chaotic Warring States Period. The psychic powers of long ago find new life in the hearts of Takaya and Yuzuru, but rival clansmen seek to destroy them. <P><B>How We See It</b>: While two box sets have been released previously, this is the first one to include the OVA release that came out in 2005 from Media Blasters. One of the earlier releases from the company that played up the boys love angle to some extent, Mirage of Blaze deals with dark supernatural material and the bonds that the characters share across time. It may not be the tightest series out there with its pacing or plotting, but it is one of those forefront shows that has earned a good following over the years. This is the definitive collection to get if you've been holding off and want to see it all in one complete package.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10106">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/nerimadaikonbrothersthinpak.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Nerima Daikon Brothers Complete Collection</b><BR>ADV Films<br>Price: 45.98<BR>Running Time: 300 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: What's a band to do with no fame, and especially no sold-out arena to perform in? How can they grab the cash they need to build the Concert Dome of their DREAMS?! Well, they can't. But the NERIMA DAIKON BROTHERS sure as hell are going to try!
WATCH - as Hideki, Ichiro, and Mako (yeah, one of them's a chick!) farm daikon by day, and battle slimy record producers, pachinko-mad hags, monstrous nurses, flatulent hospital administrators, and hot police babes, by night.
LISTEN - as the band AND the evil villains sing hilarious songs, all along the bumpy, daikon-studded road!
TUNE IN AND SEE!!! - (What's daikon? Is it a vegetable? Is it a fruit? A weapon? A girl's best friend? All of the above?!)
<P><B>How We See It</b>: Nabeshin's comedies are definitely acquired tastes, and even then they're not always guaranteed to be a hit. Nerima Daikon Brothers takes him to some new ground where it's a musical comedy, something that isn't done all that often in most media. While the show has its predictability factor in the pacing and general layout of the script, it has some positively hilarious moments and a real flair for fun and style. It also has a fantastic dub that kept us very entertained and loving every performance for the risks that were taken. Unfortuantely, the set has no extras which means no vidnotes that are pretty much crucial to a lot of the jokes along the way.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=11022">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/onepieceseason1.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>One Piece: Season 1 Part 1</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 49.98<BR>Running Time: 320 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: As the Pirate King Gold Roger was executed he revealed that his treasure, known as "One Piece," was hidden somewhere on the Grand Line. Monkey D. Luffy dreams of finding the legendary treasure and becoming the Pirate King, and after eating the devil's fruit he gains the power to do so. But first he must find a crew...
Contains episodes 1-13.
<P><B>How We See It</b>: After months of torturing fans by not knowing which season the series would start with, One Piece fans can finally breathe easy as they start from the beginning with this thirteen episode set that features the new dub and proper names and story elements. While more episodes would have been appealing as it will take awhile to get caught up, FUNimation is certainly appearing to be doing things right by the series and its fans with how this looks. A look at the old 4Kids plans only reminds us of how lucky One Piece fans are to even see this in proper form. Definitely a show worth supporting if you're got an inkling of interest in it.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10831">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/pokemonorangeislandbox.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Pokemon Season 1 Box Set 4: Orange Islands</b><BR>Viz Media<br>Price: 39.98<BR>Running Time: 760 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: After a stop in Pallet Town, Ash, Misty and Brock set out to find a rare and mysterious Pokeball for Professor Oak. Their quest leads them to the Orange Islands, where Ash decides to battle in the Orange League Tournament. With new friends to meet, new Pokemon to discover, and tough new trainers to challenge them, the adventures never end for Ash and his friends!
Contains 36 episodes!<P><B>How We See It</b>: On the opposite end of popular TV shows getting a DVD release, Pokemon hauls out its fourth season set by dropping in <i>thirty six</i> episodes for a low price that are dub only. If only Viz had done this from the start they likely would have kept people interested in it for much longer. At this point though it's just for folks who want to get rid of their singles (donate them to your local library!) and regain some shelf space. Or they want to expose the show to the next generation of fans that are watching the newer seasons on TV.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10261">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/shinchanseason1.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Shin-Chan Season 1 Part 1</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 39.99<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: He's rude, he's crude, and adults tremble whenever he's around. His inappropriate comments and obsession with body parts and bodily functions make life stressful for his struggling parents. No one is safe from Shinchan's verbal outbursts... and now, neither are you!<P><B>How We See It</b>: Originally solicited and talked about as a bilingual release, the actual release is a dub only affair of the first block of episodes. Appealing almost entirely to the Adult Swim crowd because of that, the show loses a lot of its appeal for those that wanted to at long last get a glimpse at the original series to see what made it so huge in Japan. With it being dub only, this is the kind of release that should be priced even cheaper since it's trying to appeal to the mainstream audience alongside other [as] shows. For a lot of people, the enthusiasm for the release disappeared once the specs were known, which again frustrates since FUNimation rarely sends out any solicitation information to sites about what their releases will really be like.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=11182">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/sdgundamforcecollection.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Superior Defender Gundam Force Anime Legends Collection</b><BR>Bandai Entertainment<br>Price: 49.98<BR>Running Time: 650 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: With peace restored to Neotopia, Shute and the Gundam Force decide to travel to the lands of gallant knights and Samurai warriors in order to finish their battle against the forces of Dark Axis. Using the teleportation power of the newly restored Magna Musai, now christened the Gundamusai, the SD Force travels from dimension to dimension in a flurry of fights, fun and new adventures. Using an awesome array of new powers the Gundam Force may finally be able to free their worlds from the terror of the Dark Axis once and for all!<P><B>How We See It</b>: Originally hoped to be the next big thing for Gundam in temrs of mainstream appeal, Superior Defender Gundam Force fell flat pretty hard even after it ended up showing some interesting signs of promise after awhile. The cel shaded CG show was definitely kids oriented and I know my kids loved it, but it felt like a slap in the face for many older Gundam fans who were craving something more after getting other shows out on TV. This collection is however long overdue since it was originally released on nine single volumes but it's still a hard recommendation unless you can snag it for a good discount. Not for the hardcore audience, but one that's good to gradually expose kids to the world of Gundam.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10319">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/teknomancomplete.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Teknoman Complete Collection</b><BR>Media Blasters<br>Price: 19.99<BR>Running Time: 1100 minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: The year is 2087, and humanity is about to lose its position as the dominant life form on planet Earth. An endless swarm of biomechanical beings known as the Venomoids descend from space. Earth's Space Knights are no match for the Venemoid champions, the Teknomen.
When the young pilots Ringo Richards and Star Summers find a wounded stranger named Blade, humanity gains one last hope. Blade is able to transform into a Teknoman, but he has no memories and fights to protect Earth. His opponents are not only the endless alien menace, but also the other Teknomen - who were once human, and his family and friends.
Contains all 43 episodes!<P><B>How We See It</b>: Encompassing the entire series as it was released back in 2006, the Teknoman Complete Collection is an immense bang for your buck with 1100 minutes of the international dub cut of the series that can be had for about 10 bucks or so via discounts. This is aimed purely at the mainstream audience who has some nostalgia for the show during its run in the early 90's but dub fans in general who like science fiction action will want to check this out simply because of its great value.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10663">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<tr> <TD><h2><center>Re-releases for the Month</center></h2>
<table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellspacing="1" bordercolor="#E7E7DE" width="98%" bordercolorlight="#E7E7DE" bordercolordark="#E7E7DE" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/dbzmoviessteelbook.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Dragon Ball Z Movies: Dead Zone/World's Strongest</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 29.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: The Dead Zone
Gohan has been kidnapped! To make matters worse, the evil Garlic Jr. is gathering the Dragonballs to wish for immortality. Only then will Garlic Jr. be able to take over the Earth in order to gain revenge for the death of his father.
Goku rushes to save Gohan, but arrives at the fortress just as Garlic Jr. summons the Eternal Dragon! Krillin and Piccolo try to help Goku, but their combined powers are no match for Garlic Jr., who creates a "Dead Zone" to suck the heroes into oblivion! Suddenly, Goku begins to show his hidden power, but will it be enough?
The World's Strongest
The sinister Dr. Wheelo has been freed from his icy tomb! With his dedicated and devious assistant Dr. Kochin, these mad scientists are plotting to unleash their fearsome biotechnology and take over the world! Of course there's one hitch in the plan... Dr. Wheelo exists only as a brain in a jar!
The evil doctor must seek out a body on Earth that is as strong as his mind is amazing! Dr. Kochin and his android henchmen kidnap Piccolo and Master Roshi to determine who is the most powerful fighter on Earth!
Goku, Gohan and Krillin rush into action to save their friends, but Dr. Wheelo's minions are more than a match for them in battle. It looks grim when Piccolo falls under the disembodied villain's control, and Wheelo's next target for mental domination? Goku! Will our
<P><B>How We See It</b>: After the popularity of some of the other steelcase releases for the specials of the Dragon Ball Z universe, it's little surprise to see FUNimation providing the same for some of the earlier movies as well. While the out or order nature of their releases are incredibly frustrating, this is one show that certainly could use a bit more shine and polish for a new audience. These first two movies may not be as cheaply priced in a collection as they should be, but if they're done to a similar level as the previous steelcase releases, it'll be worthwhile.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=14">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/bdboxart/dbzdeadzonebd.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Dragon Ball Z Movies: Dead Zone/World's Strongest</b><BR>FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.<br>Price: 34.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: The Dead Zone
Gohan has been kidnapped! To make matters worse, the evil Garlic Jr. is gathering the Dragonballs to wish for immortality. Only then will Garlic Jr. be able to take over the Earth in order to gain revenge for the death of his father.
Goku rushes to save Gohan, but arrives at the fortress just as Garlic Jr. summons the Eternal Dragon! Krillin and Piccolo try to help Goku, but their combined powers are no match for Garlic Jr., who creates a "Dead Zone" to suck the heroes into oblivion! Suddenly, Goku begins to show his hidden power, but will it be enough?
The World's Strongest
The sinister Dr. Wheelo has been freed from his icy tomb! With his dedicated and devious assistant Dr. Kochin, these mad scientists are plotting to unleash their fearsome biotechnology and take over the world! Of course there's one hitch in the plan... Dr. Wheelo exists only as a brain in a jar!
The evil doctor must seek out a body on Earth that is as strong as his mind is amazing! Dr. Kochin and his android henchmen kidnap Piccolo and Master Roshi to determine who is the most powerful fighter on Earth!
Goku, Gohan and Krillin rush into action to save their friends, but Dr. Wheelo's minions are more than a match for them in battle. It looks grim when Piccolo falls under the disembodied villain's control, and Wheelo's next target for mental domination? Goku! Will our
<P><B>How We See It</b>: It's on Blu-ray, it's all good. Essentially, all that we say about the DVD release applies here as well plus we should be getting a version that's better able to utilize the source material and hopefully some high resolution audience. While their first Blu-ray DBZ release wasn't an out of the park hit, it was one that showed there is some serious life to be breathed into this classic franchise in this format.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=14">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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<td width="100%" bgcolor="#E7E7DE"><P> </p><hr width="50%"><img src="http://www.animeondvd.com/images/boxart/parasitedollsadpolice.jpg" align="left" border="1"><B>Parasite Dolls / AD Police Double Features</b><BR>ADV Films<br>Price: 24.98<BR>Running Time: minutes<P><B>How They're Selling it</b>: Contains both releases in one low priced double set!<P><B>How We See It</b>: This is the epitome of a bargain as this double pack set contains the original releases for Parasite Dolls and the AD Police TV series for a price less than either of thesee originally came out for. For AD Police, it's a welcome release considering the original is nearly six years old at this point and it was never popular to begin with which has made it difficult to find at times. While not every show merits a re-release, the pairing of two shows set in the same universe is one worth getting out there eventually. The shows aren't for the core audience that loves Bubblegum Crisis though but rather those that want something a bit more police oriented and not quite as flashy.<P>See the original releases <a href="http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews/seriespage.php?series=10064">here</a> and other related releases.</td>
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