Anime DVD

The follow-up to the popular Gundam Seed (2002), Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny (2004) takes place two years later, in year 73 of the Cosmic Era. Hot-headed Shin Asuka, whose family was killed during the previous war, becomes the pilot of the Impulse, the latest and most complex Gundam, which assembles itself in midair. Athrun Zala, the hero of Gundam Seed, has given up combat duty, but by the end of Episode #5, he’s back where he belongs: in the cockpit of the aptly named Gundam Savior. The conflict between the Naturals and the genetically enhanced Coordinators remains the underlying cause of the political conflicts. Renegade Coordinators disturb the orbit of the asteroid Junius 7, positioning it to strike the Earth. Shin, Athrun and other Mobile Suit pilots destroy as much of Junius as they can, saving the world from complete destruction. But the enormous devastation precipitates a declaration of war from the Earth Alliance against ZAFT and the satellite worlds of the PLANTs. Characters and mecha from Gundam Seed join the new cast in a complicated series of political and military maneuvers, highlighted by the rip-roaring Mobile Suit battles. Director Mitsuo Fukuda skillfully blends CG and traditional animation to give the fights in space, under water, and on land their maximum pizzazz. The endless flashbacks and the clips from Gundam Seed occupy so much time that when Shin and the ZAFT forces find the secret biological lab where children were mutated into the cyborg pilots Sting, Auel, and Stella, it feels like an afterthought, rather than the climax of the first half of the story. Gundam Seed Destiny reflects contemporary political issue more clearly than any other entry in the long-running Gundam continuity. The revolt of the indigenous people of Western Eurasia against the Earth Alliance Forces; the mounting chorus to purge Coordinators from “our pure and blue world;” and ZAFT Chairman Durandal’s lengthy denunciation of defense contractors who foment wars to increase profits have a disquietingly familiar ring. (Rated 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, brief nudity, minor risqué humor, alcohol use) –Charles Solomon (1. Angry Eyes, 2. Those Who Call for War, Those Who Call for War, 3. Warning Shots, 4. Stardust Battlefield, 5. Scars that Won’t Heal, 6. The End of the World, 7. Land of Confusion, 8. Junction, 9. Bared Fangs, 10. A Father’s Spell, 11. The Chosen Path, 12. Blood in the Water, 13. Resurrected Wings, 14. Flight to Tomorrow, 15. Return to the Battlefield, 16. Struggle in the Indian Ocean, 17. The Soldier’s Life, 18. Attack the Lohengrin, 19. The Hidden Truth, 20. Past, 21. Wandering Eyes, 22. Sword of the Blue Skies, 23. The Shadows of War, 24. Differing Views, 25. The Place of Sin, 26. The Promise)

Studio: Infinity Resources Inc Release Date: 01/13/2009

This 13-part TV series takes place in the year 0083 of the Universal Century, between the end of the original Gundam and the sequel Gundam Z. When Zeon rebels strike a Federation base, stealing a prototype Gundam suit armed with a nuclear warhead, young ensign Kou Uraki has to battle the Zeon hero of the One Year War, Anavel Gato, a.k.a. “the Nightmare of Solomon.” Although he demonstrates remarkable piloting skills, Kuo is searching for something to believe in and/or a mentor, although he gets unexpected support from systems engineer Nina Purpleton. Fighting against the Zeon is preferable to fighting beside the obnoxious Lieutenant Bernard Monsha, the leader of the senior Federation pilots. Kuo is a less complex and compelling character than Lieutenant Shiro Amada in 08th MS Team, but he displays more depth than the typical mecha jockey. Contains the first four episodes. Suggested 13 Up: Violence, profanity, risqué humor, alcohol use. –Charles Solomon

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects–and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal¿or his life?

Artist, Takeshi Obata made his debut in 1989 with Cyborg Ji-Chan

G

. The runner-up recipient of the 30th Annual Tezuka Award, Obata’s major

works include Chikarabito Densetsu and Mashin Boukentan Lamp-Lamp.

Light is chafing under L’s extreme surveillance, but even 64 microphones and cameras hidden in his room aren’t enough to stop Light. He steps up the game, but before the battle of wits can really begin, a family emergency distracts him. But even though Light isn’t using the Death Note right now, someone else is! Who’s the new ‘Kira’ in town?

Artist, Takeshi Obata made his debut in 1989 with Cyborg Ji-Chan

G

. The runner-up recipient of the 30th Annual Tezuka Award, Obata’s major

works include Chikarabito Densetsu and Mashin Boukentan Lamp-Lamp.

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects – and bored out of his mind! But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, and notebook dropped by a rougue shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal… or his life?

– Over 2.8 Million copies sold to date in Japan. – Characters from Death Note also seen in Japense Video Game Jump Superstars!

Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He’s got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to be the world’s greatest ninja! R to L (Japanese Style). N/A Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, sealed within him, a strange, formidable power. His antics amuse his instructor Kakashi and irritate his teammates, intense Sasuke and witty Sakura, but Naruto is serious about becoming the greatest ninja in the village of Konohagakure!

Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. After spending time in art college, he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his manga Karakuri (”Mechanism”). Kishimoto decided to base his next story on traditional Japanese culture. His first version of Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in Japan.

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/22/2009 Run time: 375 minutes

Naruto is a young shinobi with an incorrigible knack for mischief. He’s got a wild sense of humor, but Naruto is completely serious about his mission to be the world’s greatest ninja! R to L (Japanese Style). N/A Naruto is a ninja-in-training with a need for attention, a knack for mischief and, sealed within him, a strange, formidable power. His antics amuse his instructor Kakashi and irritate his teammates, intense Sasuke and witty Sakura, but Naruto is serious about becoming the greatest ninja in the village of Konohagakure!

Author/artist Masashi Kishimoto was born in 1974 in rural Okayama Prefecture, Japan. After spending time in art college, he won the Hop Step Award for new manga artists with his manga Karakuri (”Mechanism”). Kishimoto decided to base his next story on traditional Japanese culture. His first version of Naruto, drawn in 1997, was a one-shot story about fox spirits; his final version, which debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, quickly became the most popular ninja manga in Japan.