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Ninja Scroll
Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse collection 2

Ceres, Celestial Legend Complete TV Series DVD
Eastern Star - 580 min - Hyb - MSRP $44.95
Currently cheapest at: $27.44 Rakuten
Synopsis: Fraternal twins Aya and Aki Mikage visit their grandfather's home on their sixteenth birthday. There, Aya learns that she is the reincarnation of a celestial maiden named Ceres, which also gives her enormous and destructive powers. However, according to legend, Ceres will kill the entire Mikage family, which soon has Aya fleeing for her life. As she learns to control her new-found powers, she's dismayed to learn that Aki has become host to the vengeful spirit of Mikage, the original ancestor who wronged Ceres by stealing her celestial robe.

Thoughts: Based on a manga penned by Fushigi Yuugi's Yuu Watase, this series was first released in North America back in 2001. I remember liking it when I first saw it, and gave it a series of favorable reviews. It'll be interesting to see how well it holds up after all these years. Those interested in reading the original manga can buy it in eManga format from Viz.

Darker Than Black Complete First Season BD (Premium Edition)
Funimation - 625 min - Hyb - MSRP $99.98
Currently cheapest at: $66.99 Right Stuf
Synopsis: Due to the unexplained appearance of "Hell's Gate" in Tokyo a decade ago, people with special powers called Contractors began appearing around the world. Each Contractor has unique powers, but in order to use them, the user must fulfill specific actions, which ranges from eating hair to self-mutilation. Among them is a man named Hei, code named BK201, who works with a mysterious organization to carry out various missions and uncover the truth behind Hell's Gate.

Thoughts: One of my biggest hangups in watching Darker Than Black was my inability to take the Contractors seriously, but I did enjoy the fight scenes quite a bit! You can check out Theron and Carl's thoughts on the series with their reviews for volumes 1, 2, 3, and 4 through 6. The series is streaming subbed and dubbed on Funimation.com and Hulu.

In Solitude Where We Are Least Alone Complete Collection DVD
Media Blasters - 300 min - Sub - MSRP $29.98
Currently cheapest at: $19.99 Amazon
Synopsis: After the unexpected deaths of their parents, Haruka and his twin sister Sora move to the countryside to live with their grandparents. Life in their new home is peaceful, but Haruka eventually stumbles upon a forbidden love that will shock the town.

Thoughts: Adapted from an adult visual novel, the anime series was directed by Takeo Takahashi, who has helmed a number of well-regarded titles like Maoyu and Spice and Wolf. The back of the cover is vague about the "forbidden love" in the series, but the first episode makes it pretty clear that Haruka and Sora share a physical relationship. Since it traces its roots to an adult VN, there is also a plethora of attractive ladies, should that swing anyone's decision. For what it's worth, of the five reviewers who watched the first episode for the 2010 Fall Preview, the average score was 1.6, but first impressions aren't everything. Has anyone else seen Yosuga no Sora? What did you think?

InuYasha: The Final Act - Complete Series BD, DVD
Viz Media - 630 min - Hyb - MSRP $54.97|44.82
Currently cheapest at: $39.19 Amazon|$27.63 Rakuten
Synopsis: Hakudoshi, Kagura, and Goryomaru are intent on rebelling against Naraku, but it's proving much more difficult than they planned. In the meantime, Inuyasha is trying to master a new power for his sword, while Sesshomaru is trying to master a technique that will allow him to open a portal to the Underworld. While Naraku is keeping everyone on guard, Kagome has other things she also needs to worry about, like her upcoming high school entrance exams.

Thoughts: InuYasha: The Final Act was previously released in two parts, and you can check out Theron's reviews of them here and here. If you're feeling ambitious this summer, you can marathon the entire InuYasha series on Viz, as well as The Final Act. Both the first series and The Final Act are also available on Hulu. It's also currently running on Adult Swim on The Cartoon Network.

Magi - The Kingdom of Magic volume 2 DVD
Aniplex of America - 300 min - Hyb - MSRP $74.98
Currently cheapest at: $59.98 Right Stuf
Synopsis: Aladdin, Titus, and Sphintus are now allowed to venture outside of the Academy campus, but they're shocked to learn about the racial inequalities that exist beyond the school's walls. Later, the Leam Empire declares war after learning that Titus has defected to Magnoshutatt, but beyond just the conflict between nations, something much darker is brewing.

Thoughts: This set contains episodes 14-25 of the series. You can check out Carl's review of episodes 13-25 here. If you'd rather check the series out for yourself, you can watch both seasons of Magi online at Aniplex Channel, Hulu, and Crunchyroll.

Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact! Complete Series DVD
Eastern Star - 630 min - Sub - MSRP $49.95
Currently cheapest at: $29.99 Right Stuf
Synopsis: The world's energy problems may finally be solved for good, thanks to one brilliant scientist's ability to harness the power of Japanium to produce Photon Energy. However, not everyone wants to use this technology for good, including Dr. Hell, who is intent on using this new energy to power his evil Mechanical Beasts. There's only one person who can stop this new threat - normal high school boy Kouji Kabuto, the grandson of Photon Energy's inventor. He's given a powerful new ally - Mazinger Z - a fighting robot that can crush Dr. Hell and his goons. Meanwhile, Kouji wants to uncover the real truth behind Japanium, Photon Energy, and the fate of his parents.

Thoughts: In case you haven't been keeping up with your mech news, Mazinger Edition Z: The Impact! is actually relatively new. It only premiered in 2009, and was conceived as a loose reimagination of 1970s Mazinger Z lore. The series was written and directed by Yasuhiro Imagawa, whose name will be recognizable to mecha fans as the director behind titles like Giant Robo, Tetsujin 28th, and others, as well as Seven of Seven and Chance Pop Session.

Nisekoi: False Love Vol. 4 BD
Aniplex of America - 125 min - Sub - MSRP $64.98
Currently cheapest at: $49.98 Right Stuf
Synopsis: Raku helps out at Kosaki's family restaurant, but a typhoon strands him there overnight. Later, the group heads to the beach, where Kosaki decides to finally confess her feelings to Raku. Their relationship heats up even more when school starts up again, and Raku and Kosaki are nominated to play Romeo and Juliet in their class play.

Thoughts: Theron and I have both been following Nisekoi pretty faithfully up until this point; you can check out his reviews of volumes 1, 2, and 3; as well as my reviews of volumes 1, 2, and 3. We'll have reviews of this volume up for you soon! In the meantime, have you been watching Nisekoi? What do you think? If you haven't seen it yet, you can catch it streaming online at Crunchyroll and Hulu.

SoniAni: Super Sonico Complete Collection BD, DVD
Sentai - 300 min - Hyb - MSRP $69.98|$59.98
Currently cheapest at: $40.89 Rakuten|$35.04 Rakuten
Synopsis: Sonico is a college student with a very busy life - when she's not helping out at her grandmother's restaurant, she's also a successful model. She's also in a band with her friends Fuuri and Suzu, where she plays guitar and sings the lead vocals. The only thing she can't do is wake up in the mornings.

Thoughts: Inspired by Nitroplus' mascot for their annual live music festival, Super Sonico the Animation is surprisingly tame, given how erotic much of the Sonico merchandise out there tends to be. I liked it okay, but thought it was a little on the boring side. As a bonus, fans of cosplayer Jessica Nigri can witness her debut dub performance as the lead character. If you just want to check out the series subtitled, you can catch it streaming on The Anime Network, Hulu, and Crunchyroll.

Student Council's Discretion Lv. 2 BD, DVD
Sentai - 275 min - Sub - MSRP $59.98|$49.98
Currently cheapest at: $35.04 Rakuten|$29.20 Rakuten
Synopsis: The second season of Student Council's Discretion keeps things going with a trip to the hot springs, more banter, a boy's love subplot, and more.

Thoughts: Focusing a little more on Sugisaki and his relationship with the girls, the second season gets 11 episodes, and a new director. At the wheel is Kenichi Imaizumi, whose other recent credits include directing Brynhildr in the Darkness. You can check out Paul's review of the first season here, or watch both seasons online at The Anime Network, Crunchyroll, and Hulu.

Fun fact: I'd never seen Ninja Scroll before this review. I got into anime with Naruto around 2004, and that's a thoroughly kid-friendly version of Ninja Scroll's ultraviolent Japanese exoticism. This is a part of Western anime fandom's history that I wasn't around for, and I was excited to find out how well it'd hold up to a new viewer. The answer: plenty, if they can stomach some exploitative elements. Ninja Scroll is a relic from when anime was thoroughly subcultural and illicit. While that time is over, it lives up to its legendary reputation as just a perfectly paced action film, a lush work with few equals in terms of artistry.

There aren't really any scrolls in this film, but there are plenty of ninjas. Jubei is a wandering swordsman who gets roped into hunting down a cabal of demonic ninjas known as the Eight Devils of Kimon. Their ranks include a giant stone golem, a hunchback who is also a beehive, and a woman whose body is covered in living snake tattoos. Their leader, Genma, is Jubei's old enemy, the man who forced him to kill his teammates years ago. He's also immortal, possessing mastery of his body down to individual cells. Jubei fights alongside Kagero, a lady ninja with a poisonous body. Together they get into crazy ninja fights and spout rad one-liners.

It's by no means a great story, but it was better than I had been led to expect. Jubei and Kagero are likeable characters and their tragic romance works well enough. The Eight Devils of Kimon are all memorable baddies. There's even a fairly complicated tale of political corruption underlying Jubei's ninja crucible. Its mechanics are clear without ever distracting. It's an effective script that gets you just invested enough in the characters while dodging common action film pratfalls such as overplotting and the resultant dull stretches – like Kurosawa with none of the greater meaning or pathos.

But people don't watch Ninja Scroll for the story. They show up for Yoshiaki Kawajiri's killer direction and animation. That holds up – it feels like a moving painting in that characters feel conjoined with their backgrounds. Character designs never stagnate into one recognizable stylistic template, and faces are carved out like landscapes. Every frame is a feast for the eyes. Ninja Scroll is an exploitation film, yes, but not in a way that particularly offends me. Stamp a huge trigger warning on it for blood and sexual violence, but otherwise it's not even particularly unique in its crassness. Mostly it's sexy/gross ladies and people spouting ketchup from open wounds. Even if television anime can't be as lovingly explicit in how it renders blood, there are freakier grindhouse ideas on display in, say, Kill La Kill. However, this relative tameness is most likely rooted in my familiarity with anime as well as various stripes of “adult” filmmaking. I can't unwatch Elfen Lied. (No matter how much I want to.) Ninja Scroll has spent the past twenty years digesting in our cultural consciousness, and I can't access the rush of being a fourteen-year-old boy spotting cartoon breasts for the first time. The closest modern relative to this sort of anime flick is Redline. Both are trashy genre pieces redeemed by some of the most lush and imaginative visuals in animation.

This review isn't for people who experienced Ninja Scroll in this way. They know whether they want to own it on Blu-Ray, and probably do already – it was first released by Sentai Filmworks back in 2012. This is a straight re-release with upgraded packaging. The disc is sparse on extras, but includes the narmtastic 1995 English dub and a Japanese commentary track featuring Kawajiri and the character designer, Yutaka Minawa. It's in the preferred 4:3 format (previous releases have been black-boxed to 16:9). English-sound is in surround sound Master Audio 5.1, while Japanese sound is in 2.0. If you're a recent (relatively speaking) convert to anime who enjoys fare like Kill La Kill and Redline, Ninja Scroll is worth a watch. Currently priced under $20, Sentai's release is an attractive and cost-effective way of viewing this classic film.
- Gabriella[TOP]

Rounding out the week is Paul's look at the second half of Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse.

Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse was one of the first shows I reviewed as a Shelf Life contributor, and it will always hold a special place in my heart as a result. However, that doesn't change the fact that the second half of this series is really, really not good. The first half was hardly a flawless gem, but it wasn't nearly as weak as this animated cluster bomb.

The second collection picks up right where the show left off by wrapping up the battle over the Russian supply base. It's a brutal and bloody affair, with expendable characters getting killed off left and right. The series then proceeds to make a swift change in tone for the next story arc, pitting the main characters against other elite pilots in a series of training exercises. Just when it seems like Total Eclipse is dead set on turning into a harem comedy, terrorists attack the Alaska base and kick off a fresh round of people screaming and dying. It all builds to a half-baked, “our battle is just beginning” conclusion that would've made me angry if I hadn't stopped caring several hours earlier.

I gave the first half of Total Eclipse some well-deserved credit for putting genuine thought into its battle scenes, but that attention to detail is nowhere to be found here. The detailed strategies and tactics are thrown out the window in favor of vague discussions over who gets to fight which bad guy. More often than not, the battles are as simple as having a couple of major characters pick up giant robot swords and pound on the biggest enemy they can find. It's almost as though the person in charge of making the action sequences seem believable quit after the first dozen episodes. It sounds odd to be calling for realism in a show about giant robots fighting space bugs, but that extra level of detail went a long way towards keeping the series interesting.

The sudden and violent swings between comedy and drama might be an attempt to make up for the uninspired action scenes, but they're too poorly executed to actually work. If you're going to have naked girls cavorting in a hot spring, you'd better have one heck of a transition lined up before you start having terrorists shoot people in the face. Even if Total Eclipse had been able to make that shift successfully, none of the story arcs here are good enough to be worth the effort. A fresh shipment of new characters only serves to drown out the charm of the core cast, and I'd expect a more coherent depiction of global politics from a high school history paper. The plot is a preachy mess from top to bottom, and the writing somehow manages to intensify the first half's issues with character development.

By the time the terrorists reveal their nefarious plan, it no longer matters that the whole thing feels like it was penned in a late night brainstorming session. Who is the scheming mastermind pulling the baddies' strings? It doesn't matter because he never interacts with the main characters in any way. What's up with the Soviet plot to assassinate Yui? It doesn't matter because it's tossed in at the last minute and has no bearing on the rest of the story. Why were the American special forces really participating in the training battles? The world may never know. There are a staggering number of loose ends left unaddressed, and not a single one of them appears to be worth pursuing.

The second half of Total Eclipse abandons the good points of an uneven series while cranking up the volume on some of its worst habits. The action is uninspired, the comedy is weak and predictable, and the drama amounts to little more than a pile of dead expendables. Even if the first dozen episodes caught your interest, don't waste your time here.
- Paul[TOP]

That's it for this week. See you next time!

This week's shelves are from Jordan B., who wrote the following:

"Hi my name is Jordan B. I've been collecting manga for about two years now, but I only recently started collecting anime DVDs. My entire collection has already outgrown a bookshelf, but at least double stacking is better than in piles on the floor. I like to read new stuff that gets released, so a lot of my collection is incomplete series that I'm hoping to fill in eventually. "

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Double-stacking is a time-honored otaku tradition! The collection looks great!

Want to show off your stuff? Send your jpgs to [email protected], or I'll start posting pictures of organic vegan cheese platters. Thanks for reading!