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Synopsis
When I first heard about this title I thought it was a Ninja Scroll sequel. Since the main character’s names are the same “Jubei.” Turns out, this is one of the most horrendous Anime a person can see at the moment. Ok, I’ll give itsy bitsy credit to part one of the show, but what the hell happened in part two.

Review
Here goes…Guy kills mom and gets born, then mass destruction and it’s over. That is one of the crappiest stories I’ve ever seen. ADV films only released two parts to the series. After all the ending of this Anime is really strange, strange enough to make you think there’s another episode after. Well ADV didn’t release anything beyond episode two. And I just never heard of episode three either. Due to poor sales in the U.S. we don’t get an episode three (Thank You!!!). Anyway, this is absolute turn off for any fan that thinks this is related to Ninja Scroll. Stay away from Ninja Resurrection unless you want to rune the image of your beloved Jubei.

The Breakdown
Jerry Springer’s final thought: This show must have been made by the devil himself. Absolutely horrendous. Very, very bad. It’s a sin to even watch.

Synopsis
Meiji Era year 27- On his way homebound, Kenshin became shipwrecked on sea. Half a year has gone by since his sudden disappearance. Kaoru waits daily portside for her lover’s return recalling times past all the instances when Kenshin had come through for her. In the meantime, Kenji, the child of Kenshin and Kaoru, had left his Tokyo home to obtain greater strength with the sword, a strength that will surpass his father’s.

Review
Unlike the first OVA that took place prior to the anime series, Rurouni Kenshin Seisouhen OVA is set years after the anime series. Composed of two episodes with the second twice as long as the first drawn in the same animation style as the original four part OVA, Seisouhen gives a glimpse of the future of the Kenshin-gumi. The protagonists of the anime, Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sanosuke, have not been immune to change. Kenshin passes down the Sakabatou to Yahiko and decides to help the less fortunate, those who are ill, and those who are suffering from pain sort of like a missionary. Kaoru, now Kenshin’s wife, raises his son until she herself falls ill. Yahiko fulfills his dream of growing up to be a master swordsman just like Kenshin. Sanosuke, still wearing the white jacket with the letter “aku” on the back, apparently has not had a shave or hair cut for quite some time but is nevertheless as arrogant as ever.

In addition, Seisouhen has been criticized for covering the Revenge Arc so briefly, with a short fight scene between Kenshin and Enishi. It is more romanticized though comparing Kaoru’s love for Kenshin with Enishi’s love for his sister, Tomoe. The story of Kenji carries the theme of the prodigal son. The father he knew was not the idolized and legendary Hitokiri Battousai. Thus, he leaves for Kyoto to learn the strongest technique there is, Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. It is up to Yahiko to defeat the hardheaded youth and to show him the way once again. Seisouhen comes to an end with the symbolic reunion between Shinta and Kaoru.

The Breakdown
Rurouni Kenshin Seisouhen OVA concludes the Rurouni Kenshin saga. More serious like the first OVA, no “oros.” The only exception might be Sanosuke who maintains his charm. Another must see for all must Rurouni Kenshin fans.

Synopsis
1919 Tokyo, Japan, years after the Great Demon War, a global task force called the Imperial Floral Assault Unit is organizing to combat the return of the monsters. The latest in technological innovation, the Kubo Spirit Armor, designed by engineers of Kanzaki Industries, is still in its testing phase. Only ones with enough spiritual energy can pilot the steam-powered machines. Kohran, Maria, Iris, Kanna, Sumire, Sakura, and lastly Ichiro are summoned as Tokyo’s last line of defense.

Review
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The Breakdown
The OAV isn’t bad but seems to be a bit rushed. But since this is an OAV and not the TV series (Which hasn’t been released in the US) I guess it can be forgiven. I still wish this Sakura Wars OAV stood on it’s own better. A more complete story would have been great.

Synopsis
Years after the battle against the Tokugawa, there are those who still carry the stains of bloodshed. Shigure Takimi beheld the final moments of Gentatsu’s death by the hand of Hitokiri Battousai. Now, Shigure leads the second generation of Shougi Tai rebels to put an end to the corruptive forces of the Meiji government. One man is destined to confront him, Himura Kenshin. Will Kenshin be able to bring peace to their overlapping pasts, or will Shigure invoke another civil war?

Review
Rurouni Kenshin The Movie sets after the Kyoto Arc and the fight with Shishio, but centralizes around the death of Gentatsu. Graphics and music are drawn straight from the anime series providing a familiar feeling of watching an episode, only three times as long. Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, and even Saitou make their appearance. The fighting scenes are action packed as expected with Sanosuke’s Futae No Kiwami and street punk attitude, Saitou’s gatotsu and his Aku Soku Zan philosophy, climaxing in a dramatic finish between Kenshin’s Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu and Shigure’s Saiki Kanuma Ryu styles. Definitely a must see for all Rurouni Kenshin fans.

The Breakdown
The fighting scenes are action packed as expected with Sanosuke’s Futae No Kiwami and street punk attitude, Saitou’s gatotsu and his Aku Soku Zan philosophy, climaxing in a dramatic finish between Kenshin’s Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu and Shigure’s Saiki Kanuma Ryu styles. Definitely a must see for all Rurouni Kenshin fans.

Synopsis
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 is bubblelicious! I love this series. It’s a remake of the very successful classic… guess what it’s named? Bubblegum Crisis, silly! It’s about this underground group of girls know as the Knight Sabers, who fight these robots called ‘Boomers’ when they malfunction and go on a rampage like Godzilla looking for his next movie sequel. The Knight Sabers do this incognito, so they try and get things done before the police get there.

Review
The ‘Boomers’ have taken the place of the workers who do routine jobs and are basically everywhere in Tokyo. Priss (the main character) has heard about this underground organization on the web and will do anything to find out how to join them. I couldn’t believe that this series is so entertaining. Everything about it is great. The music (Neo Techno stuff) is excellent and fits the scenes perfectly. The voice acting is superb (except for Leon’s, It’s a little to gruff for me). The character design is great (but you can definitely see El- Hazard inspired designs in this series too. Boy, I didn’t think that series had such an impact on characters. It’s everywhere now).
The new designs for the exo-suits the Knight Sabers wear are extremely cool too. The effects used in BC 2040 are revolutionary. It’s one of the first times I’ve seen computer graphics seamlessly integrated into hand-drawn animation done right (the other time is in Serial Experiment’s Lain). On a down note, the series really losses it’s budget near the final chapters and the animation drops dramatically. What happened? The story started losing steam in the latter half of the series also. Even though BGC 2040’s bubble popped near it’s finale, I still recommend it.

The Breakdown
If you’ve seen the original BGC or not, this updated version is worth a viewing. One question though…Why is it called Bubblegum Crisis? Is it because they are in a sticky situation?

Synopsis
Team Warrior is Back! Ready, aim, and fire up for animated adventure with Team Warrior! Join rowdy Rio and her friends – the machine-gun maniac Maya, the lovely Lilica, tech talent Nanvel, guy Friday Yuji, and their boss Maki – as they take on four of their hottest cases ever!
Mechanical insects, firefighting jewel robbers, panty thieves, sexy shieks, and fawning fathers – there’s never a dull moment when the babes of Burn-Up Excess are on the job!

Review
After all that waiting ADV made us do. Finally the sequel to Burn-Up W is released. Boasting the one and only ADV jiggle counter for the perverts out there :P.

Burn-Up eXcess, takes off right where the OVA left off, after the hotel incident in the OVA, Team Warrior is back to deal with a tower incident in episode one. A terrorist group has taken control of the Neo Tokyo tower and demands their requests be made or else their little insect friends wouldn’t be too happy.

Now, who else to turn to other than Team W? Not much has yet to be revealed about the bad lady who’s in three episodes causing havoc out of four. Only that she is working for a group of unknowns.

Anyways, I liked Burn-Up from the first day so I enjoyed the ecchi humor and crazy action scenes that are really just crazy. Rio and the gang are back and are going to be waiting your local video store.

The Breakdown
It’s nice to see Team Warrior back for action, I’m surely glad they did!

Synopsis
“Excel Saga” contains the chronically over-challenged and understaffed secret ideological organization of ‘Across’ (total membership: 2), whose goal is to conquer the city of F. It contains your complete daily requirements of Martian princesses, afro-wearing action heroes, authors, androgynous prisoners in iron masks, annoying roommates, removable moustaches and a generous supply of adorably cute aliens bent on galactic domination. “Excel Saga” contains on emergency food supply/singing dog and one Excel, the most certifiably insane teenage girl to ever walk the face of the planet.

Review
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The Breakdown
I truly thank ADV for bring this series over to the U.S. Excel Saga will provide a lot of laughs (just what I’ve been looking for since Onegai Teacher.)

Synopsis
When the plan to conquer the city isn’t going well, Lord Ilpalazzo doesn’t get mad, he just gets ACROSS…his crack team of Excel and Hyatt, that is. Of course, maybe this is one crack team of special agents that might be doing better if they weren’t actually on crack. And now that there’s a rival secret organization whose goal is to protect the city, things are going to be tougher than ever. Especially since their opponents may actually have a competent agent on their side! There’s lots of totally pointless violence and senseless mayhem ahead as opposing forces collide in the second sense-numbing volume of Excel.

Review
Excel, Hyatt and the whole Excel Saga crew is back and this time; they’re loaded with even more fun and laughter.

In volume two, ACROSS is still trying to conquer city F, our heroines Excel and Hyatt of course carries out the missions that Lord Llpalazzo has ordered. From raging Snow Mountains to dirty sewers, this volume is packed with comedy. Menchi is still as kawaii has he’s been; having emotional moments as Excel and Hyatt threatens to eat him. This DVD is also very funny itself, just pop in the DVD and click around the menus. The Menchi advertisements have got to be the wackiest thing to happen in a DVD menu (Alpha - high fives ADV for doing a nice job on the menu and the overall product).

Also there is an episode where only females are allowed on screen (hehe, never saw that before in an Anime). Anyways, you must see how Hyatt swims, or does she? The story development is the same; just fun stuff thrown at you. Pedro on the other hand is heart broken, after he finally finds out the truth of his wife’s feelings. If you have the first volume, you might as well buy the second volume and keep continuing on. You might get the story at the end, who knows.

MATTE!!! I’m not done, not without introducing the new female character that works for the city. I’ll have to give her an appropriate introduction or wells something really bad can happen. I introduce to you anime fans the pretty Misaki Matsuya

Gender: Female Age: 22 Years old

Notes: She doesn’t like flattering and a quarter British

Hobbies: Traveling alone Family: Parents, younger brother

Uses “-kun” to scoundrels

Misaki: Alpha-kun?….

Alpha: Uh oh! I forgot something… NOOOOOOOOOO!

Note: Something has happened to Alpha, he won’t be back. Not anytime soon.

The Breakdown
Volume two wasn’t as confusing as volume one, more comedy, more Puchuus, and more Excel than you can ever handle. ^_^;;

Synopsis
Only one word can sum up this series…Astounding!
FMP isn’t named Anime of 2002 for nothing J. Sagara Sousuke (main character), along with a group of mercenaries named Mythril, are the protectors of people called Whispered. Whispered, has black technology information, which of course is something powerful. Then comes Kaname Chidori (female main and Whispered).

Review
I say this series is Amazing, because there’s action, comedy and story development per episode. Wait! I have to mention the important part… FMP is another GONZO work. Which means production values up the wazoo! (Oh boy, we all know how Alpha gets when he sees a GONZO production. How are we gonna get him away from the TV this time?

The Breakdown
The name Full Metal Panic might not sound so appealing, but believe me, be amazed at this baby, when ADV releases FMP, you better get your orders quick, because it’ll be sold out if you don’t.

Synopsis
Based on the video game bearing the same title and produced by Hideo Katsumata, Arc the Lad is the tale about Elk, a young bounty hunter, who has been blessed by the Spirit of Fire. Responding to a distress call on board a hijacked air ship, Elk rescues a mysterious girl, Lieza, and her wolf companion Pandit. The three uncover a series of government conspiracies where grotesque, chimera experiments are conducted on children with the powers of the Sacred Spirits, of which Elk had escaped from. In the middle of it all is Arc, whom Elk believes is responsible for the destruction of his village and parents.

Review
Arc the Lad takes place in a composite setting where you have traces of fantasy, rural towns, and ancient temples and palaces mixed with modern day cities and its slums. This theme is carried throughout the series. The forces of light are dressed in traditional attire with the fighters in armor, the women in robes, and Shu and Toshu as a ninja and samurai respectively. Arc, Elk, and Lieza wield strong magical powers. The Silver Noah, Arc’s airship, alludes to final fantasy. The forces of darkness employ a more present day outlook, for example Galuano, the mayor, riding in his limousine and communicating via cell phone. But, they too fly in airships, Clive and Andel cast dark magic, and have armies of monsters.
The series can be divided into four parts. Episodes 1-13 develop the character of Elk and resolve his past experiences at the “White House.” From 13 ending at 26 are the recapture of Smeria and Andel’s retreat, Elk’s silence, and finally the defeat of Clive. The first half of the series is distinguished plot wise in comparison to the later half with an exposition of Shu finding the famished Elk, ( ED. - well you gotta see it). The second half is not as dramatic and suspenseful as the first but nevertheless concludes the series. One thing to mention is that although the title may have been taken from the video game, it is not entirely appropriate for naming the anime series. It should have been labeled “Elk the Lad” or “Arc and the Lad” for we see through the eyes of Elk and side with him even at those moments when Elk goes out of control and is obsessed with revenge.

The Breakdown
The second half is not as dramatic and suspenseful as the first but nevertheless concludes the series.