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Synopsis
In this disc Spike, the suave jazz loving bounty hunter, meets up with an old friend, Vicious, who, if you couldn’t tell by the name, turns out not to be so friendly. Various adventures insue. Also a new (and much hated by me) character is added to the series.

Review
The main session on this disc is the two-part adventure ‘Jupiter Jazz,’ which offers hints about the mostly unknown past of hero Spike Spiegel. Spike returns to his old haunts on Callisto in search of a mysterious woman, and comes into conflict with his former underworld associates: the icy Vicious, apprentice mobster Lin, and transgender barroom musician Gren. It all makes for good stuff.

However, the other two sessions on this disc (’Toys in the Attic’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’) are really disappointing.

‘Toys’ is a rather dismal attempt at a mystery, and it is the first clue that Ed should have never been added to the series.

In ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ the crew of the Bebop find themselves pitted against a programming genius who designed a high-tech transportation system-and hid a flaw in the software. But he also concealed clues in chess pieces, setting up a (semi-boring) battle of wits.

The Breakdown
I reccomend getting this DVD just for ‘Jupiter Jazz’
Contains nudity, violence, and adult situations

Synopsis
Minawa (aka Android 370), ‘The feeling of loving someone…’Android 369, ‘I wished for my heart to beat just once. To be able to laugh because I was so happy. I wanted to have a heart. That’s why you have to stay alive…One of these days please get a heart…promise me…’

Review
Pioneer continues Mahoromatic with another season, something more beautiful and indeed it is much so. Here we are introduced to another female fighting robot, Minawa, who becomes the adopted sister of Mahoro and once again accepted into Suguru’s inner circle of friends of which Hamaji-san takes a particular interest to. Although shy, quiet, and a bit clumsy, Minawa learns what it is to live life as a human.

The anime still centers about the relationship between Suguru and Mahoro. The anime answers more of the questions that arose in Season 1, what will happen to Mahoro as the days approach zero, how will Mahoro tell Suguru the truth about his father’s death, and we see at least some glimpse of Matthew. Of course there are the same gags such as Mahoro’s ‘Ecchi is wrong!’ line, Chizu bursting at the taste of Mahoro’s dishes, and Shikijou-sensei still fantasizing of having Suguru in bed with her.

The Breakdown
14 episodes plus a New Year’s Special (summary of the series similar to the Vandread OVAs).

Synopsis
I should say the beginning of this anime is more confusing than my entire home theatre’s wiring. I was at times impressed with the animation and at times I despised it. Some scenes with the church theme had the stained glass effect but there was color change also, which caused me to get dizzy and sick. Blaaaah! ^_^ Now, to the anime.

Review
This anime is set in the future. The main character, Kyosuke Date, has the power to mutate and become a powerful mutant. He sets out to find his long lost sister, at the same time, there are ‘Flickers’ that he is destined to save. The ‘Flickers’ are soul fragments of his sister. If he finds them all, they will lead him to his sister (Runa Date). Episode one is really cruel, I felt really bad for the first ‘Flicker’ (Maya). You’ll see why when you watch.
Animation on the other hand is very nice. The mutant codenamed ‘The SoulTaker’ has one of the best designs I’ve seen. (After all he is the main character ^_^) The action scenes featured a lot of guns and explosions, via satellite bomb or what ever that was, and some other advanced technologies.

The series got better as it progressed to episode three. I will continue investing in this series, simply because I don’t leave my series uncompleted.

The Breakdown
Hmm… I think Pioneer knew that volume one will confusing the hell out of us so they released the limited edition encyclopedia with volume one just to clear things up. While you may be impressed with animation and sound, you will not like how the story develops.

Synopsis
THE BLACK GATE
The Shadow commandeers the Tokyo Tower and broadcast paranormal frequencies at 10,000 times the normal strength! The AEGIS commander scrambles the Gate Keepers to deal with the threat but Ruriko and Megumi remain missing. Unfortunately, the Gate Keepers are unable to stop the awakening of sleeper Invaders from all over Japan and the Shadow seizes control of the government! The fate of Japan rests on the shoulders of AEGIS, but even the HQ has been compromised. Only surprising revelations can provide the glimmer of hope necessary for survival!

Review
Gate Keepers, 24 episodes, spanning through 8 DVDs has finally come to an end. Pioneer Animation sure made us pay a lot for Gate Keepers, but I’d say it was worth it. Anyways, Ruriko was captured since last volume, but in this finale, Megumi uses her Gate powers to alter Ruriko’s Gate of Life into the Gate of Massacre! Shadow on the other hand is in complete control of the Invaders; even those 2 leader types that lost their body earlier in the series as a result from a fight with Ukiya and the Gate Robot.

In this volume, we see Shadow’s background. He’s had some rough times when he was a kid. Because of his Gate ability, he was able to predict the future. After his father died for not listening to him, he became an orphan, a homeless kid running around being harassed by adults; saying he was a jinx and kids didn’t want to play with him because they didn’t want him to read their minds. Things like this can really mess up a kids mind so parents please be aware! :P

Everything is revealed, the real reason why Ukiya’s father died and who’s love feelings to who. It’s all-cool in the mix, oh and how can we forget Bancho. He has some Gate power that’s similar to another Gate Keeper. Can you guess who? Finally, Gate Keepers did came to a good end and next up is Gate Keepers 21 OVA. It is completely different from the series.

The Breakdown
Great ending, I’m really looking forward to the OVA. Gate Keepers 21, based on a more modern time period (2000’s) and a whole new story, but Yukino is still there……..

Synopsis
The Hellsing Organization’s war against the undead intensifies! The organization suffers major losses in battle and Arucard must confront the deadly Paladin Alexander from Iscariot again! Then, the stakes are raised as the prepares to face one of the original undead - and Integra fights for her life against her own sister?!

Review
Hellsing keeps surprising me with more action, excitement and story development. In this installment of Hellsing, volume 3, a cool fighting scene occurs between Arucard and the Vatican father guy (sorry didn’t catch his name). After all the action, we find out more about the chips that created ‘freaks’ or artificial vampires. A person from the MI-5 by the name of Harry Anders finds Seras, and talks her into going with him to visit Helena’s house.

Helena is a young vampire girl, but don’t let the looks fool you, because she’s been living for quite some time. Helena tells Seras and Harry that, without an original there can’t be replicas or artificials. What Helena said led up to episode 9 where we meet the original vampire, Incognito. Arucard battles with Incognito as Integra’s little sister does the freaky on her. Before the volume comes to a close, Integra suicides and is on the floor ‘dead’ I put quotes, because who knows if she’s really dead.

The Breakdown
In my opinion nothing can compare to Hellsing right now in the vampire genre. And just 4 DVDs. Hey, that’s a pretty good deal!

Synopsis
The shocking appearance of an alien version of the Nirvana crushes the Nirvana’s attack on an alien mother ship! As the battle continues, severe injuries to key personnel cause tempers to flare as the humans become more desperate. Then a valiant sacrifice inspires the crew’s resolve to challenge the aliens and leads to a new Vandread evolution! Meanwhile, the male-female tension continues to provide distractions and entertainment that helps the crew cope with their stressful situation.

Review
In volume two, Sacrifice, we get a lot of action from the Vandread crew. Episode five and six gives the background of Gascogne, a character that is sometimes neglected. As the crew was going through their normal routines, suddenly the enemy attacks and the fighters dispatch. After being dominated, they retreat back to the Nirvana for some talks. With Jura hurt, and everyone sad, Barnette questions Gascogne, then blames Hibiki, and Meia comes in and gives her mind to Hibiki.

Finally the enemy catches up with the Nirvana and attacks, with the crew sulking, they decide that they are going to fight back. With some success they continue, but Barnette gets into a little trouble, Gascogne, the stagehand saves her and then tries to take out the Vandread-Dita replica. Sacrificing herself, she takes it to the enemy’s mother ship. AHH!!! So many climatic moments, the crew, back in the Nirvana desperately tries to find Gascogne’s signal, but they could not detect anything.

The crew finally plans something out and uses Pyoro to do the job. After a few more scenes, we are introduced to Super Vandread or all the dreads combined with the vanguard. Overall volume two is good, it gives background of Gascogne and spices it up with action and dramatic moments. And when you are getting tired of all the action, we get a dose of a fun episode where Misty chases Hibiki around and Dita showing her emotions to Hibiki, but also at the same time the last episode of this volume shows why Misty do things she do and Hibiki’s feelings towards Dita! WoooHooo!

The Breakdown
Vandread: Turbulence is out now in Japan, check it out at CD Japan! I heard it was limited!

Synopsis
The latest Patlabor installment is the third theatrical feature in the extremely popular animated movie series. The movie was directed by Fumihiko Takayama (Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket). Screenplay by Tori-Miki, the cult Manga artist, and the animation part was produced by studio Madhouse, with Yu Debuchi overseeing the whole production. Set in Tokyo in the year 2000, the sci-fi show centers on a human drama against the backdrop of the worst Labor-related crime in history. -CDJapan

Review
Patlabor, Patlabor, Patlabor, it certainly has been a while, has it not? Ever since 1993, when the theatrical release of Patlabor 2: The Movie. Now you come back with WX III: Patlabor The Movie 3. Anyways, the story behind this movie is, a new terror is in town, and it was the work of a human. This monster (WX III - Wasted thirteen) is made up of cancer cells and a substance called ‘Nishiwakitrophin.’ The creator used cancer cells, because they grow rapidly, why the NishiwakitrophinEno idea, did not catch it when they mentioned it or something.

Now that the monster has run loose (as always). It is destroying property, eating people and sea creatures. Who does everyone turn to? Not to the labors. The labors played a small roll, but still they looked amazing. The Ingram was there!!! I love the Ingram. Moving right along, we have a lot of dialogues, enough to put you to sleep (Putting me to sleep is pretty difficult, I got what they call ‘Animensomia.’ The animation was very impressive; at one scene of the movie there was a landscape that looked photo realistic! There were some 3D CGs used, and it made the movie more interesting, but still WX III lacked action, which in my opinion ‘killed’ it. The story was definitely there, after all, there was dialogues after another, which helped the viewers, understand the movie.

WX III is not something that you would want to watch out of the blue. It certainly will be a must for Patlabor fans. There are few action scenes in between dialogues, but the main focused action scene was the last one where, the labors were brought into the show for the first time in the movie! Now, why name it Patlabor The Movie 3 if the labors are going to star for the final 10 minutes? ^_^;;

The Breakdown
Whoa! A R2 DVD from Japan has English subtitles? That is a first for me. The price is pretty high. 7800 Yen (US$ 63.49) for the Regular edition and 12800 Yen (US$ 104.19) for the Special edition.
WX III is licensed by Pioneer Animation in the U.S. and will be hitting streets in R1 format on April 8, 2003 in both Regular and Special editions.

Synopsis
When a mysterious energy field is found on the planet of Milocinia, a survey party is dispatched to investigate. Upon landing, Claude and the rest of the party discover a gigantic dome-shaped building. The interior of the dome appears to have been devastated by enormous explosions. All that remains inside are pieces of broken equipment and a mysterious device. While Ronixis, Claude’s father, and the rest of the survey team cautiously attempt to examine the object from afar, Claude becomes impatient and approaches the object. Suddenly, a powerful force takes hold of Claude. A blinding flash fills the room. When it subsides, Claude is nowhere to be found…

Review
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The Breakdown
A must see for anyone who played the game. The anime is just as if you had the controller in your hand playing the RPG, going from town to town recruiting people.

Synopsis
Two groups of supernaturally powered warriors begin a prophetic battle to shape the future- a clash that will rock the foundations of the planet! The Dragons of Earth swear to purge humanity from the world, while the Dragons of Heaven are the last hope of all mankind. One young man holds the key to Earth’s destiny.

Review
I give all the credit I can to the all female group, CLAMP, their works are some of the most impressive. The anime titled X has always been a mystery to me, ever since the earlier release of X the movie. I had doubts on X the TV series, because of X the movie. That was a while ago. And the title X has once again appeared, this time a TV series that’d surely rock your telebi (television).

The moment you put this DVD on your disc tray and in the DVD player. Prepare yourself for one hell of a ride. Episode 0: An Omen is an introduction to what’s about to happen in the future of X. After seeing just volume one, I began to finally acknowledge the world of X. The characters’ background are revealed, which definitely helped me in understanding the story and Episode 0 kind of explained the situation so it’s hard to not understand X anymore :P. Anyways, in volume one we have the main character Kamui who hasn’t been awaken yet. Although he has the powers he doesn’t know what his destiny is. Then we have his other self, which will be Fuma Monou, an old friend of Kamui’s. He of course will be his nemesis later on the show.

The Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth fight for what they believe in. The Dragons of Heaven believe in that the world they live in now shouldn’t be altered in anyway, because it’s the world where the inhabitants and their loved ones live. The Dragons of Earth however believe the complete opposite, which is the world isn’t ideal. In order to make an ideal world, they will destroy the current and start a new one. I don’t think I was paying much attention when I was watching X the movie. How can I not catch the two clan’s intentions! And that must have lead to my dislike of X the movie.

So far X TV is pretty interesting. The characters, the story and the action were all very well done. CLAMP CLAMP CLAMP, looks like CLAMP has done it again!

The Breakdown
I love CLAMP! ^_^;; Had nothing much more to type out after all that you’ve read hehe

Synopsis
In the distant future… On a desert planet… There is a legendary gunman. His name is… Vash the Stampede. A gunslinger so dangerous, a $$60,000,000,000 reward has been placed on his head! Vash, also known as the Humanoid Typhoon, has been credited with the destruction of several towns, but miraculously, there is no record of him ever taking a life. However, only two things ever happen to those who catch up to Vash, they either crawl away wounded (mostly from self-inflicted damage), or they stagger away in disbelief that such a dork could possibly be the man they are looking for!

Review
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The Breakdown
Trigun is an 8 DVD series, which is very costly, if you plan on buying this series do so on www.dvdplanet.com or www.dvdpricesearch.com, find a good place to order from. My recommendation goes to DVDPlanet though.