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Vexille [2008] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
starring: Meisa Kuroki, Shosuke Tanihara, Yasuko Matsuyuki, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Tetsuya Kakihara
directed by: Fumihiko Sori

May 20, 2008
There's something appealing about being able to transform into an android. Too bad there's not a way to do it without harsh consequences. What madness to experiment on such a large scale. The use of advanced bio-tech made this topical even if I don't expect this kind of bio-tech to be appearing any time soon :-)

I didn't feel like an old man having to considering whether this film would only be enjoyable by young people [It's rated PG-13]. It was enjoyable for me. This Paul Oakenfold score was a big enhancement. Voices were excellent.

Was it predictable? Perhaps to some extent, certainly I had faith Vexille would succeed, but it moved along well and there were some significant surprises. I'd enjoy watching "Vexille" ... Read More:

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She- The Ultimate Weapon - Complete

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: She the Ultimate Weapon

March 26, 2007
She, the ultimate weapon or Saikano is a really fun to watch anime. it has it good sides and bad. the good is that the story line is like no other. It's heart warming and it makes you want to watch it over and over again.
bad side is that the animation was not as good. If they drew the faces etc more better. this anime would of made a hit. although it has. it could of done better. Also the box it came in. the box art was amazing. but the dvd cases in side the box was terrible. i got mine the first day and i could see they were cheap. also you can buy stronger dvd cases and just put the pictur into a new one.

4 stars for the boxing/animation.
5 stars for the act/storyline

She, the ultimate weapon/Saikano ... Read More:

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Akira - The Ultimate Collection [1991]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
starring: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyama, Tesshô Genda, Hiroshi Ôtake
directed by: Katsuhiro Ôtomo

June 23, 2003
not just the greatest manga of all time, but possibly the greatest animated feature of all time, its pure briliance is unrivalled by any cartoon ive ever seen, i never get bored of it, and its detailed characters and storylines, revealing every detail of neo tokyo and the characters disturbing pasts are handled and drawn brilliantly, this film is amazing so go watch it!

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Memories [1996]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
directed by: Koji Korimoto, Tensau Okamura, Katsuhiro Otomo

June 21, 2004
Even though I was not a huge fan of "Akira", I could see that the work Otomo did with the animation was outstanding. In this production, the legendary artist and director, delivers three stories (directed by others) that are not as spectacular in terms of the graphics, but that more than compensate for this with the quality of their plots.

In Magnetic Rose, a spaceship that is ready to return home after one of their typical and uneventful missions gets a distress signal and has to provide assistance. Upon arrival, they find a strange ship, inside what looks like an asteroid. Thus starts a wonderful story, that makes us use our brain throughout its duration and leaves us thinking afterwards. The beautiful Opera music brings an emotion to the action that ... Read More:

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Urotsukidoji - Legend Of The Overfiend / Legend Of The Demon Womb [1989]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
starring: Christopher Courage, Rebel Joy, Bill Timoney, Lucy Morales, Rose Palmer
directed by: Hideki Takayama

June 11, 2001
While the sex/violence is a bit uncomfortable at times, i think that anyone over 18 will appreciate the whole 'sex and death' link that recurs throughout this series. The story seems to make much less sense in this dubbed version and the constant reference to the 3 similar sounding worlds and all the characters having similar names gets quite confusing (Nagumo, Agumi, Megumi, Amano.... and more).

I saw the Japanese Audio version when i was younger, and wanted to see if it was as good as i remember it (not ghost in the shell 'good', ive got nothing better to watch 'good'). Overall id say this is worth seeing, but only as a reminder of where manga has come from, and where it is today, of course the japanese audio version would be a must see, but this dubbed version is quite boring/confusing ... Read More:

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Paniponi Dash Vol.4

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: Paniponi Dash

January 21, 2008
While the sex/violence is a bit uncomfortable at times, i think that anyone over 18 will appreciate the whole 'sex and death' link that recurs throughout this series. The story seems to make much less sense in this dubbed version and the constant reference to the 3 similar sounding worlds and all the characters having similar names gets quite confusing (Nagumo, Agumi, Megumi, Amano.... and more).

I saw the Japanese Audio version when i was younger, and wanted to see if it was as good as i remember it (not ghost in the shell 'good', ive got nothing better to watch 'good'). Overall id say this is worth seeing, but only as a reminder of where manga has come from, and where it is today, of course the japanese audio version would be a must see, but this dubbed version is quite boring/confusing ... Read More:

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Karas Part 1 & 2 Double Pack [2007]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: Karas

October 22, 2007
I bought this recently and thought kool ... lets give it a whirl and lil peek to see how it is ... mmm .... i fell asleep (seriously) about half way through the first one, the action was so on and off all the time and the story plot i found the first time through ... you were like ... what the hell .... if this is all about karas (who are the protectors of citys, each one has there own)then why the hell is a demon killing its own kind? ... and didn't karas just get its arms sliced off?!

Anyway the first one ... graphics pretty kool, action when there is some is great and as i said its a lil on off how you follow it through ... i've watched karas about three times since and the more i watch it the more i seem to like it but hey ... i'm just odd lmao

K Karas 2 rockz ... i mean this is ... Read More:

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Cowboy Bebop Collection Box 2

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: Cowboy Bebop

November 21, 2005
Quite simply how anime should be done but so often isn't. No over-emotional garbage, no cheap shortcuts, no lazy "It'll do" animation. Felt quite deflated when I'd seen every episode. Anyone interested in animation should check out this along with Shinichiro's other creation; Samurai Champloo. Oh and, don't be lazy, watch the subtitles version.

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Avatar - The Last Airbender - Book 1 - Water Vol.5

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: Avatar

May 26, 2008
This volume of the excellent Avatar series contains the final four episodes of the shows first season. Of the four episodes on this DVD the first is pretty much a stand alone episode that sees Aang and friends investigate reports of activity in the supposedly abandoned Northern Air Temple. What he finds there depresses and angers him but he is soon forced to put these thoughts aside in order to defend the temple from a fire nation attack. This is an okay episode and although it is really only a filler episode before the season finale, there are some suggestions of the future towards the end.

The other three episodes on this volume are really one extended story rather than distinct episodes in their own right. The first of these episodes sees the trio finally make it to the Northern Water Tribe ... Read More:

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My Neighbours The Yamadas

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
directed by: Isao Takahata

April 10, 2006
I really enjoyed this film, it is split into small comical sections. However if you are to watch this i would recommend to watch in two parts as i found myself wishing it to finish. Nevertheless, a worthwhile addition to the studio ghibli collection.