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Synopsis
Claus’s father was a unique nobleman, coming down to the land of Norikia, longing for the free sky. Soon after Claus’s family moved next door, he became close friends with Lavi’s father. They soon formed a vanship team of pilot and navi. From age one, Claus and Lavi spent their childhood together learning from their fathers the trade of vanship flying. However, this story ends in tragedy. The last time Lavi and Claus saw of their fathers was departing through the Grand Stream delivering a treaty of peace. The document never reacted its destination, and the war between the country of Dusis and Anatore continues to this day…

Review
Directed by Chiaki Koichi (Magic Knight Rayearth), Last Exile first aired April 6, 2003 and ended with episode 26 on September 29, 2003. Do not let the title fool you. Last Exile is not tied to any religious movement and is not a banishment of any kind (unless you count the expelling of the Guild from the world of Prestale). The Exile, the final weapon, refers to an ancient migration ship hidden in the Grand Stream. It is said that it was used by the beings that created the world. Now it is the last hope the people of Prestale have to change the world.

The Breakdown
An all-star cast of characters: Claus, Lavi, Sophia, Tatiana, Alex, Moran, Al, Alistia, Dio, and the crazy crew of mechanics.

Synopsis
Start with your balanced team of female adventurers: a resourceful and hard working treasure hunter, a dedicated priestess of Mylee with healing and holy magic, and an expert sword and hand to hand fighter. What’s missing? Blazing and powerful black magic! However, all the female magicians in Orphan are weak, unwilling to depart from their studies. The only available magician happens to be a hentai brawling MALE not to mention moron named Louie. Through a disastrous turn of events, their fates become intertwined for the better and for worse…

Review
Rune Soldier seems to be a misleading heading for the series. The japanese original is Mahou Senshi Riui (Louie). Rune alludes to a magical relic, charm, or instrument. Soldier, well, there technically are none except for the palace guards and king’s forces. The only person remotely close is Genie, possibly an ex-soldier but more of a mercenary now. Rune Soldier tries to describe Louie who has more befitting titles as: hero, adventurer, magician, swordsman, sluggard, and idiot. Nevertheless, Rune Soldier is can be considered a non-chibified version of the Welcome of Lodoss Island sub-series of Record of Lodoss War TV: Chronicles of the Heroic Knight. The jokes are better polished and not as corny.

The Breakdown
It may not have the widespread reputation in the anime community that Slayers and Record of Lodoss War have, but Rune Soldier definitely doesn’t lag behind with great animation and music. It packs enough humor to last not only the first time you watch it, but also every time after that.

Synopsis
At the end of each episode are the following narration:

‘In the Spooner continent, sorcerers ruled over the people. The government exploited the people and the people, powerless, could do nothing but let their tears roll. But those people had a single source of hope. This was the existence of a secret group. People called them the Sorcerer Hunters.’

Review
Sorcerer Hunters (Bakuretsu Hunters) is the story of five heroes who under the orders of Big Mama (you heard correctly) are dispatched across the continent of Spooner to dispense of sorcerers using Kinju, a type of destructive magic that has long been prohibited. The leader of the group, supposedly, is Carrot Glasse, the ‘messenger of love’ who has the insatiable habit of womanizing. Although he is weak and cannot cast a single spell, he has just one special power, zoantropy: the ability to absorb magic to transform into a giant horned beast. He is joined by his brother, Marron, a serious and contemplative mage. Definitely the most insightful of the group. Third is Gato, the muscular blond with all the attack power. Last are the two sisters, red headed Chocolate and pink haired Tira, Carrot’s lovers who keep him in check often through force.

The Breakdown
Sorcerer Hunters doesn’t quite have what it takes to be an outstanding series. The episodes fail to really retain one’s attention. By the time it does, you are at the end of the series.

Synopsis
Gaia is a mythical realm ruled by sword and sorcery and immersed in blood and violence. Thrust into a conflict she doesn’t quite understand, Hitomi helps aid the young Prince Van as they embark upon their journey of discovery. The battle over a legendary suit of dragon armor, Escaflowne, has begun.

Review
Escaflowne the Movie is the retelling of the hit TV series. Hitomi also known as the Wing goddess of Gaia was persuaded to go to Gaia by Faulken. The depressed Hitomi, who thought there was nothing to cherish in life anymore gets warped to Gaia and ends up inside Escaflowne as Van is trying to awaken the sleeping Guymelef.

The visuals of Escaflowne the Movie was well done. Although the ending was pretty much the same, the process of bringing the movie to the ending was very entertaining. In the show, it was more of a human battle than the guymelef battles we have experienced in the TV series. In the final battle, Escaflowne versus Alseides, the action was cool, after Escaflowne destroys Alseides. It turns black and reveals its’ true nature, ‘the destroyer of Gaia.’ Then after a few more scenes Van and Hitomi flies to Faulken’s castle and ‘What do you think?’

There were many additions to Escaflowne the Movie. One of the more noticeable was that the guymelefs were more organic. If you have seen the TV series, remember when Van pricked his finger and his blood dripped on the dragon’s heart? Well in the movie it is sort of different. In the control chamber of the guymelefs there are actually needle looking things that sucks the blood from the person controlling it. The blood then becomes the guymelef’s blood and enables it to move. That’s pretty cool huh?

The Breakdown
Escaflowne the movie is one of those retelling movies that doesn’t just put scenes of the TV series together and say that’s a movie. (This happens quite often at times to OVAs.) Nonetheless, this movie is a great retell and gives the viewers some fresh ideas that weren’t in the TV series.

Synopsis
From the golden pen of Ryo Mizuno, comes an all-new adventure set in the aftermath of the Lodoss Wars! Ashram, desperate to find a home for his people, is tricked into selling his soul. 300 years later, Pirotesse’s devotion to her king remains unshaken. In the sacred world of Crystania, amidst a civil war waged by shape-changing warriors, she searches for her beloved Ashram. She meets Redon, a young prince obsessed with avenging his murdered parents. Together, they confront Ashram’s captor, Barbas, who aspires to rule Crystania as “The Gods’ King.” Will they free Ashram’s soul… or will Redon’s innocence become the next sacrifice to Barbas’ emerging power?

Review
Lodoss war fans, gets a little more of the Lodoss taste as Ashram and Pirotesse is back. The first thing that strikes anyone is the title name. No longer is it Record of Lodoss War, but Legend of Crystania. I recall, Crystania was mentioned somewhere in Record of Lodoss War, but was never really developed for the fans. This show bored me for about fifteen minutes, but then as action and story kicked in, my system reacted by kicking in turbo.

The shape-changing warriors are interesting. Their transformation is based on which god ruled the region that they were born in. They can either go, full man, half man-half animal or full animal. Record of Lodoss War is known for its’ RPG style, Legend of Crystania brings that style back, of course not as good as Record of Lodoss War, but adequate. The show is now more violent than Record of Lodoss War. Soldiers get sliced in half with blood gashing all over. There was one scene where a lizard warrior had a whole chunk of neck bitten out. So… yeah, I hope you get the idea after the last example :P.

Record of Lodoss War fans should stick with Record of Lodoss War. Legend of Crystania is different from Lodoss War. The animation is not the same, the setting is not the same, and although the action and story can be entertaining at times. I do not see a reason why a fan of Lodoss War should go on to something that is not Lodoss War. Unless you are a fan of Ashram and Pirotesse then I can see the reason.

The Breakdown
Legend of Crystania is not something you would watch every two weeks or so. It is something you would watch once every two years or so. The re-watch value is just not up there.

Synopsis
A boy regains consciousness and finds himself lying on the sticky floor of what appears to be the insides of a monster. Dazed, a girl named Mimiru kindly greets him. Irritated, he suddenly teleports away from her, but more visitors, the Scarlet Knights, confront him. Claiming to be the guardians against evil, they question him about a cat-like character that has been seen around him. Evading them, only to meet Mimiru once again, he nonchalantly attempts to log out completely. Here is where it all goes wrong…

Review
The current generation of video games today applied to role playing are what are classified as MMORPG, standing for Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game.Instead of playing by yourself at home or occasionally if you have extra controllers with a couple of friends or relatives over, one is able to experience an environment amidst millions of other users, all interacting, all playing the same game from any country on the planet. It is dynamic in the sense that it a virtual recreation of the real world. You are able to talk to people, even develop to the extent of a relationship with fellow players. The feelings and personality of that person are reflected in the character that they play. But you must remember that it is all just a game, a form of entertainment. Now imagine being trapped in this virtual world where it is no longer a game. Every beating moment of it is real. The name of the boy described above is Tsukasa, and his situation is just that.

The Breakdown
A combination of the two best things in the world, anime and video games.

Synopsis
Set in medieval Japan, Miyazaki’s original story envisions a struggle between nature and man. The march of technology, embodied in the dark iron forges of the ambitious Tatara clan, threatens the natural forces explicit in the benevolent Great God of the Forest and the wide-eyed, spectral spirits he protects. When Ashitaka, a young warrior from a remote, and endangered, village clan, kills a ravenous, boar-like monster, he discovers the beast is in fact an infectious ‘demon god,’ transformed by human anger. Ashitaka’s quest to solve the beast’s fatal curse brings him into the midst of human political intrigues as well as the more crucial battle between man and nature.

Review
This epic, animated 1997 fantasy has already made history as the top-grossing domestic feature ever released in Japan, where its combination of mythic themes, mystical forces, and picturesqe visuals tapped deeply into cultural identity and contemporary, ecological anxieties.

Miyazaki’s slightly twisted fable is clearly not the stuff of kiddie flicks, nor is the often graphic violence depicted during the battles that ensue. If some younger viewers (or less attentive older ones) will wish for a diagram to sort out the players, Miyazaki’s amazing world and its lush visual design are reasons enough to watch.

I find the characters to be the most intriguing part of this expansive feature however. None of them are perfectly black and white. Ashitake may be seem to be a standard ‘good guy’, but he does have a demon living within him; Lady Eboshi is destroying the enviroment and killing off the forest gods, but she is suprisingly kind to the prostitutes and lepers that she has rescued from other cites, and they love her for that.

Princess Mononoke is not your standard ’style over substance’ anime. It not only looks magnificent, but has an intriguing story as well. A definate ‘must see’!

The Breakdown
Great movie, although I’d recommend it for kids 12 and up.

Synopsis
In fifteen hours and ten minutes of this world’s time, the moons of earth and the demon plane will align. A hole will be torn in the fabric between both worlds, bringing forth a time of endless night. It’s up to Yohko to stop the demons from shrouding the world in darkness and stop the black queen from holding dominion over all. She just doesn’t know it yet. Will the 108th Devil Hunter have what it takes to prevail against the demons? Find out in the next exciting episode!!!

Review
It’s me again, Stikz, with yet another old school review. ADV, celebrate their ten year anniversary (1992-2002) with the DVD release of their first localized anime, Devil Hunter Yohko.

This two disc set features vol.’s 1, 2, & 3 of the devil hunter saga and an extended version of episode 1. There’s a very insightful commentary about the beginning of AD Vision and their aquisition of Devil Hunter Yohko. I don’t know if this will catch on with those new to the anime scene, but if you were a fan from way back, you’ll find this enjoyable. While the first episode is substantially better than both 2 and 3, that ep. and the historical commentary alone are worth the purchase. A great DVD upgrade for those of us old enough to enjoy the VHS release and who have seen AD Vision grow from it’s infancy to where ADV Films stands now.

The Breakdown
Another reason for old school anime fans to rejoice. Pick it up if you want to reminisce or if your a new fan who wants to see some of the roots of titles done today. This is what it used to be like.

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
Five years past, a band of six adventurers defeated the conquering armies of Marmo, the dark island, and saved the accused island, LODOSS. Since that day, the survivors have been honored as heroes, and their deeds have become legends. But the darkness never perished… Now, a mad wizard threatens to raise an ancient evil — the goddess of destruction. Old heroes must heed the call to defend their homeland and new heroes are forged as the battle for LODOSS begins anew.

Review
After 5 years since the release of Record of Lodoss War OVA. This TV series was born. Although Parn is featured in this series, he’s not the main character this time.
Spark, a knight in training was sent out to retrieve the Soul Crystal ball, the stolen treasure of Flaim.

As he is on his journey with his team, the daughter of Slayn and Leylia, Neese was following them. She is the doorway to resurrecting Kardis the Destroyer. A lot goes on and more of Neese’s background is revealed.

Wagnard the Dark Wizard’s intentions were also shown. He wants to resurrect Kardis the Destroyer so that he can be a Necromancer and forever be the king of the dead Lodoss.

ROLW still kept that RPG formula. Action to story development and to action.

In this series, I really got what ROLW is about. When I saw the OVA series, I didn’t know what was going on. In conclusion, I enjoyed this series very much, and have my friend that lend me the box set to thank ^_^.

The Breakdown
Record of Lodoss War is an RPG based anime, magic, and sword fighting, this shows got it all in its genre.