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Ghost In The Shell - Stand Alone Complex - SAC 2nd GIG - Complete Collection [2005]

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

February 26, 2007
They really have done a wonderful job with this the Second season of GitS SAC. Everything that made the first series an excellent watch has been improved. The Animation, the Storytelling & the Music have all gotten even better.

The main plot arc is about the refugees and the island then inhabit, which has two acts: The Individual 11 and the Refugees hope for independences through a charismatic leader, while in the background there is a master of information manipulate pulling all the strings. One could almost call him a puppet master of sorts, by soft hacking peoples' minds through disinformation warfare; be they cyberised or not. More time is devoted to the main plot unlike season one's Laugh Man case. But there's still ... Read More:

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Naruto Unleashed - Complete Series 1

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: Naruto Unleashed

September 03, 2007
I don't mind anime with little story line, so long as the characters are interesting enough. Shows like Love Hina, or Noir may have little or a slow story, but it's the characters that make you watch. Naruto, thankfully has some very interesting ones.

If you were put off by the Anglicization of this show (as I was from showings on Jetix), the Japanese soundtrack is a lot more tolerable: Naruto comes across as the lovable, cheeky scamp he's meant to be, rather than a brash, annoying and grating idiot. This happens all to often in Japanese to English casting, but there's nothing you can do about it, save watch it in its original language. All the original scenes of blood, violence and other bad habits, have been restored, which goes some way to avoid ... Read More:

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Kiki's Delivery Service

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

February 27, 2006
Hayao Miyazaki animated feature of a 13-old year witch leaving his parents and settling in a new town to form a (broom-based) delivery service is irresistible. As in many of his movies, the protagonist here is a plucky heroine defying all odds. What I found most enjoyable about the movie - though - is its background details. Miyazaki loves European culture - and the movie is set in never land Europe - a fantasy Europe that never existed. A lot of the clothes and the technology suggests the 1950s and the 1960s - but filtered through Miyazaki's sensibility (there are a number of anachronistic details that suggest perhaps a mid-20th century Europe if World War II had never happened). Miyazaki uses a lot of different sources in his movies - and they not always coalesce. ... Read More:

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Tekkonkinkreet

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
directed by: Michael Arias

September 24, 2007
i purchased this film because i enjoyed paprika,but this is a superior movie on all points..the artwork is lush,the animation is really good,and the story is very interesting. It deals with relationships in a very adult
way so its not for the younger viewer.The style of the film is a little of the wall at times but youll find yourself actually caring about the characters by the end...a modern day masterpiece.

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Hellsing - The Collection

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: Hellsing

April 02, 2007
I ABSERLOUTLEY LOVE THIS COLLECTION ..... from the slightly phsycotic priest to the vampire himself, the anime is well presented, fast paced and the story lines are sure as hell very varied .... i bought this to have a look at after i had just been watching some of the new hellsing series from the states. Vampire against the world action? .... this is it .... from hand to hand and vampire to vampire building up to the whole spectral entity versus spectral entity type fights, you gotta see it to believe it.

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Ghost in the Shell - Solid State Society

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

August 20, 2007
this is the third film based off of the ghost in the shell series. set after the second GIG the year is 2034 and a new hacker has emerged known as the puppet master.after a series of suicides the team of section 9 are following leads as to weather they are all connected and when a large group of children mysteriously turn up at a hospital with large chunks of there memories missing the matter is further complicated.

as this is the 1st film based from the Tv Series my expectations were high when watching this film. the story itself is wonderful with some moments bringing surprise twists that i really didn't see coming.its gripping and still holds up the excitement and fast paced nature that the TV series had.

the music throughout the film is provided ... Read More:

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Pokemon Heroes

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
starring: Veronica Taylor, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart, Madeleine Blaustein
directed by: Jim Malone, Kunihiko Yuyama

June 06, 2005

All the action-packed excitement you experienced in the cinema comes home in this dazzling full-length motion picture that introduces Latios and Latias - two brand-new Pokémon stars who possess remarkable powers. Join them, along with all your favourite characters, on the greatest Pokémon adventure ever. In a magical water city of canals and mazes, Ash, Pikachu and the rest of the gang face off against a slick pair of thieves who plan to steal an awesome and dangerous jewel guarded by Latios and Latias. To save the city from total destruction, our heroes must defeat the evil duo and overcome impossible obstacles...but time is running out! Packed with nonstop thrills, awe-inspiring animation and extraordinary characters, "Pokémon Heroes" is a movie adventure you're sure to cheer!
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Naruto Unleashed - Series 4 Vol.2

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
by: Naruto Unleashed

October 20, 2008

All the action-packed excitement you experienced in the cinema comes home in this dazzling full-length motion picture that introduces Latios and Latias - two brand-new Pokémon stars who possess remarkable powers. Join them, along with all your favourite characters, on the greatest Pokémon adventure ever. In a magical water city of canals and mazes, Ash, Pikachu and the rest of the gang face off against a slick pair of thieves who plan to steal an awesome and dangerous jewel guarded by Latios and Latias. To save the city from total destruction, our heroes must defeat the evil duo and overcome impossible obstacles...but time is running out! Packed with nonstop thrills, awe-inspiring animation and extraordinary characters, "Pokémon Heroes" is a movie adventure you're sure to cheer!
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Millennium Actress

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
directed by: Satoshi Kon

September 26, 2005
Before a more detailed review, I'll state these things for the quick Amazon browser:

1. This film is beautiful. The backgrounds are fantastically painted, the characters look and show express far more realistically than most anime, and there is a great deal of visual variation due to the range of scenes represented.

2. It's a heart wrenching love story.

3. It has an astounding soundtrack.

4. There's even a ninja swordfight.

More detail:

Genya is obsessed with Chiyoko (the "Millennium Actress" of the title) and her films, and can't believe his luck at being able to finally interview the mysterious and reclusive actress. His cameraman - who I feel is a representation of the first time viewer - is not so sure of Chiyoko's magnificence, ... Read More:

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Porco Rosso

Childrens Toy Shop > DVD > Anime
directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

January 30, 2006
Probably my favourite Miyazaki film (for now!). The superb animation combined with a rather melancholic tone link it quite firmly with its more famous descendent "Spirited Away". However this film is more whimsical and has some great set pieces that inject a lot of energy. The backdrop of romantic 1930s adventure, the threat of Italian fascism and the trauma of war all underlie, as usual, an apparently mere 'cartoon' or children's tale.