[DVD] Vandread Box Set

[Chris Beveridge]

Review by Chris Beveridge

Mania Grade: B+
* Audio Rating: B+
* Video Rating: B+
* Packaging Rating: B+
* Menus Rating: B
* Extras Rating: N/A
* Age Rating: 13 and Up
* Region: 1 - North America
* Released By: FUNimation Entertainment, Ltd.
* MSRP: 49.98
* Running time: 625
* Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen Letterbox
* Disc Resolution: 480i/p
* Disc Encoding: MPEG-2
* Series: Vandread

In Summary:
I sort of waffled on my feelings about Vandread back during its original release but at that time I wasn’t exactly a big Gonzo fan and I wasn’t a fan of the mixture of CG and anime that was sweeping so many shows then either. Time and distance has helped as well as watching it all in the space of a couple of days. It’s a light and fun show with plenty of pushed up angst and emotion at times set against a big space epic backdrop that’s not all that detailed or fleshed out in a way that makes it fully workable. But it is fun and I have to admit that I did like it this time around in a way that I don’t think I did before. FUNimation’s presentation of the show is solid throughout though I wish it retained some of the extras. Priced right, packaged right and essentially a good bit of early Gonzo fun, Vandread’s an easy pick-up if you don’t have it and are looking for something of this nature.

[The Great Bear]

I'm going off of memory, but that's pretty much how I remember it as well. While the larger story has pretensions of being about Life, the Universe, and Everything, the show is best in its comedic moments, with the characters interacting the way that they do.

For those who have not seen it yet, it's a fairly easy show to recommend, and at this budget price, it can be had for far less than what most of us paid for it back when it was out in singles.

[Betenoire]

I loved this show when I saw it in it's original release and probably watched each disk a number of times. I especially loved the first open. The review jives with my recollections.

It isn't a "change the way you look at anime as a whole" series, but is an entertaining piece with a few flaws. At the current price it should be easy enough for people to feel they are getting their money's worth.

[memyselfandi]

I watched Vandread last month after several people I know watched it and said they enjoyed it.

I found it to be better than I expected with enjoyable collection of characters and a fun plot. It's battle elements are well done and the section between them arn't a let down either.

[kakitamike]

I enjoyed the first season a little more then the second, but I find that a lot in these types of shows.

[joelgundam01]

I also enjoyed this title quite a bit. It has its flaws, but it's one of those titles that has a interesting concept and all it molds together pretty well.

[dragoon]

I loved the show back in the day, and still do to this day. It'll always be one of my favorite Geneon releases. As far as the dub, I thought the all-star cast definitely lived up to their veteran status. It's a splendid dub and one that I consider one of BangZoom's best.

[Damius]

Well, right now I want to watch this.

[Zalis]

We're also given a crash course on what women are, as they are currently en route to Tarak to pillage, plunder and to extract men's spines for their pleasure. The women are presented as the ultimate evil in the universe that must be vanquished...

Truly the best documentary ever made. Wait, it was fictional?

After seeing this series via other means last year, I immediately went and ordered the 8 singles from the Bargain Bin and other 2nd-hand sources. I'd liked other Gonzo series before, but Vandread made me a believer in what they could accomplish with their original works. It started out with pure fun and copious innuendo that the characters were completely oblivious to, but somehow managed to get serious and "epic" enough to rival Gurren Lagann in my book.

I don't see myself double-dipping on this, though. The 8-disc artbox may be more space-consuming than Funi's re-release, but it still looks cooler. Some questions about this release: did Funi do anything with the subtitles, like they did with the Love Hina and Slayers re-release? Specifically, the Geneon version didn't have a songs/signs only track, so I thought Funi might have added one.

[Buckeye]

It's a great series to watch, so you better check it out someday. I already have the Geneon 8-disc set, so there is no need to double-dip on this.