Anime DVD

The Minerva docks at a ZAFT base, where they are met by Chairman Durandal. Over a quiet dinner, he talks with Athrun, Shinn and other members of the crew. This conversation leads Shinn to reflect on the past, and the events that brought them to where they are now. But understanding does not bring peace, and after another argument with some of his shipmates, Shinn heads ashore to clear his head. There he meets a beautiful girl, and watches her fall into the ocean. He dives in to rescue her, and in turn then must wait to be rescued. Meanwhile, the Alliance Forces gather, along with their Orb Allies, to launch an attack on ZAFT. The Minerva scrambles and prepares for battle. But unknown to either side, far beneath the waves, another group is going to try to put an end to the fighting.

This three-part OAV adventure picks up one year after the conclusion of the Gundam Wing series. Earth and the Space Colonies have joined to form the Earth Sphere Unified Nation; after a brief reign as Queen of Earth, Relena Peacecraft/Darlian has abdicated and is serving as a government minister. The giant Gundams (the large, robotic armor suits) have been hidden or sent hurtling into the sun. This fragile peace is shattered when the sinister Dekim Barton initiates a revolt to make Mariemeia, the daughter of former Oz chief Treize Khushrenada, absolute ruler of the new world-state. She describes the change as part of History’s Endless Waltz of “peace, war, and revolution.” If Earth refuses to accept the new regime, Barton will crash one of the orbiting colonies into the planet’s surface. Only the Gundam pilots can resolve this crisis–with a little help from their friends and former enemies; writer Katsuyuki Sumisawa uses the lulls in the action to explore their early lives in flashbacks. This special-edition DVD includes both the three-part OAV series and the compilation feature, which contains about eight minutes of additional animation. The extras include a “Mobile Suit Encyclopedia” with information about the five Gundams and the Tallgeese. The OVA episodes are: 1. “Silent Orbit,” 2. “Operation Meteor,” 3. “Return to Eternity.” Rated 13 Up for violence, largely restricted to machines attacking each other. The regular edition is suitable for television play. –Charles Solomon

Although it reprises events from episodes 31 to 43 of Yoshiyuki Tomino’s landmark TV series Mobile Suit Gundam (1979), Encounters in Space contains almost 70 percent new animation. Amuro’s “NewType” psychic powers come to the fore as he meets Lalah, a lovely NewType whose powerful abilities are exploited by Zeon captain Char Aznable. The struggles between the space-based Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation, the internecine quarrels of the Zeon rulers, and the duel between Amuro and Char Aznable reach their climax in the epic battle of A Baoa Qu, a Zeon asteroid base. The artists didn’t have access to computer graphics when the film was made in 1982, and Encounters in Space lacks the flashy three-dimensional imagery of later mecha adventures. But the superior editing, camera work, and direction more than compensate for any technical limitations. Rated 13 Up: Brief nudity, minor profanity, and violence. –Charles Solomon

The epic conclusion to the fiction classic! Amuro and Char meet on the battlefield yet again, and the tide of battle begins to turn. Treachery, deception, and death lie in wait. But at the end of the battle, who will be left standing? Can Amuro and his Gundam protect the people he cares about and bring an end to the war?

The first of three theatrical features, Naruto Shippuden–the Movie (2007) provides a visually striking, action-packed introduction to the second series of adventures of ninja-in-training Naruto Uzumaki. Sinister ninja use black magic medical jutsu to raise the spirit of the long-imprisoned demon Moryo. If Moryo’s body is also resurrected, he will establish a Thousand Year Kingdom that will mean the end of life on Earth as humans know it. Only Shion, the priestess of the Land of Ogres, can stop Moryo by keeping his body sealed within a hidden temple. A special squad from the Village Hidden in the Leaves–Neji, Sakura, Rock Lee, and Naruto–is assigned to protect Shion on her journey there. Director Hajime Kamegaki uses CG to create a terracotta army copied from the celebrated figures from Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb in Xian. The scenes of marching clay automatons, impervious to ordinary weapons, pack a real punch, although they don’t always blend with the drawn characters. Kamegaki balances these dire threats with plenty of physical comedy: Naruto boasts and blunders and stumbles; Rock Lee defeats his foe after eating a liquor-filled chocolate, re-creating his version of Jackie Chan’s “drunken fist” technique in the “Chase for Sasuke” story arc. For Naruto fans, the movie is a must-have. (Rated Teen+ Older Teen, but suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, brief nudity, alcohol use) –Charles Solomon

A powerful spirit that once threatened to destroy the world is back! Naruto’s mission is to protect a priestess named Shion, who is the only once with the power to seal away the monster. She also has the uncanny ability to predict someone’s fate. Her latest prediction: Naruto will soon die. Naruto’s only hope is to abandon Shion, but that’s not Naruto’s style. He decides to face her fatal prediction head-on—and die!

The Note Book measures approximately 6 x 8 and is the actual size of the book in the anime show.

It’s just another day at the Tendo Anything-Goes Martial Arts Training Hall – that is, until a strange girl named Lychee and her giant elephant Jasmine arrive to settle a score with lecherous martial arts master Happosai. Apparently, a very long time ago, Happosai gave Lychee’s great-grandmother half of a legendary scroll guaranteed to bring happiness to whoever was holding it. The women of Lychee’s family have been waiting for three generations now, and the prince STILL hasn’t come – but of course, the moment Lychee lets the scroll out of her hands, the prince finally appears. Only now it’s Ranma’s reluctant fiancée Akane that’s holding the scroll, and the long-awaited prince is only too ready to sweep his lucky bride off her feet. Now Ranma & Co. have no choice but to follow Prince Kirin’s majestic flying barge all the way to Nekonron, China, where they find themselves in a showdown with the Seven Lucky Gods of martial arts!

Studio: Funimation Prod Inc Release Date: 02/04/2003 Run time: 60 minutes