Tsukasa has been captured by the Crimson Knights! Subaru talks with him and tries to understand his plight, but the unbalanced Sora stages a jailbreak and disrupts everything! Confusion mounts within the group as Mimiru confronts BT about her betrayal. Mimiru decides to give it all up, but after a chance encounter with another player, she changes her mind. As the clues unfold, everything points to a powerful legendary item called 'The Key of the Twilight'. Could this be the source of all the trouble in ‘The World’? Everyone seems to think so. Alliances are formed and plots are hatched as all eyes fall towards uncovering the whereabouts to this new item.

Based on a popular PlayStation2 game, the fantasy-adventure .hack//Sign is set in the world within an online game. Tsukasa, a powerful Wave Master, finds himself lost in the cyberworld, with little memory of how he got there. More significantly, he's unable to log out of the game and is apparently immune to many of its restrictions. He may be the focus of an impending crisis linked to the mysterious Key of the Twilight. As he wanders through different realms, Tsukasa meets spunky girl warrior Mimiru; earnest soldier Bear; the Crimson Knights, who maintain order in the game-world; and genially heroic Crim, a Heavy Spear wielder. Tsukasa also encounters a potent but unseen entity who promises to protect him—and does. Handsomely designed, nicely animated, intriguingly scripted, and refreshingly free of unnecessary dialogue, .hack//Sign looks like a winner. (Rated 13 and older: violence) —Charles Solomon

Tsukasa has been captured by the Crimson Knights! Subaru talks with him and tries to understand his plight, but the unbalanced Sora stages a jailbreak and disrupts everything! Confusion mounts within the group as Mimiru confronts BT about her betrayal. Mimiru decides to give it all up, but after a chance encounter with another player, she changes her mind. As the clues unfold, everything points to a powerful legendary item called "The Key of the Twilight". Could this be the source of all the trouble in "The World"? Everyone seems to think so. Alliances are formed and plots are hatched as all eyes fall towards uncovering the whereabouts to this new item.

Howard E. Baker Her extensive list of skills includes assassination, seduction, domination, and modeling. She is a leather-clad mercenary and a deadly double agent, known for her erratic behavior patterns and ability to dispatch villains with a kick of her shapely leg. She's Aeon Flux, the dazzling dominatrix from the popular animated series on MTV, a colorful hybrid of Japanese animation and Heavy Metal graphics. This digital video disc combines several complete episodes with selected shorts as they originally appeared on the popular music video channel. Aeon Flux is teasing treat for libidinous teens and grown-up guys with teenage tastes. —Jeff Shannon

Katsuhiro Ôtomo In 1988, the landmark Anime film AKIRA, by director Katsuhiro Otomo, defined the cutting edge of Anime around the world. By today's standards, Akira remains the pinnacle of cel animation and retains the explosive impact of its highly detailed animation and its intensely violent saga of power and corruption. Neo-Tokyo has risen from the ashes of World War III to become a dark and dangerous megalopolis infested with gangs and terrorists. The government seethes with corruption and only maintains a token control over the powerful military that prevents total chaos and hides the secrets of the past. Childhood friends Tetsuo and Kaneda plunge into Neo-Tokyo's darkest secret when their motorcycle gang encounters a military operation to retrieve an escaped experimental subject. Tetsuo, captured by the military, is subjected to experiments that make him a powerful psychic, but, unfortunately for Neo-Tokyo, Tetsuo's powers rage out of control and he lashes out at the world that has oppressed him! Nothing can stop the destructive forces that Tetsuo wields except possibly the last boy to destroy Tokyo. Insert: 1) Black BRC response card (regular version).

2) Todd McFarlane Toy Insert (limited to 300,000 total inserts) * Anime masterpiece first time ever on DVD for North American release! * Created and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo. Special Features: * Digitally re-mastered including High Definition film transfer, High Definition restoration. * THX Certified * New English dialogue, new 5.1 mix (on the English audio only), scene access and more. * Disc 2 contains supplementary materials including "Akira" Production Report, "Sound Clip," director's interview, trailers, production materials, Restoration of "Akria", and "Akria" glossary. * Widescreen format (1:78) and enhanced for widescreen TV's (anamorphic). Akria The Special Edition (DVD9, 2 discs)

Andy Jones, Kôji Morimoto, Mahiro Maeda, Peter Chung, Shinichirô Watanabe From the creators of The Matrix trilogy, this groundbreaking collection of nine short films from seven of the world's leading anime directors provides a visionary fusion of CG-Animatrion and Japanese anime.

DVD Features:
Biographies
DVD ROM Features
Documentaries
Interactive Menus
Interviews

For over 100 years the great armies of chuder & midland have clashed upon bloodstained battlefields. Only the impenetrable stronghold of doldery keeps the empire of chuder afloat as the storm of war rages around them. Studio: Media Blasters Inc. Release Date: 11/19/2002 Run time: 100 minutes

Naohito Takahashi When Guts first joined Griffith and the Band of the Hawk, the wheels of fate were set in motion. Since that time, Guts has learned the lessons of the battlefield and embraced his own path. Griffith has tasted ultimate victory and ultimate defeat. Caska has cast away her dead dreams and found new ones. Now all of the pawns are in place, and the Great Eclipse draws near. The terrible truth behind Griffith's destiny is revealed as the sun turns to sackcloth and the seas to blood.

Naohito Takahashi Griffith stands at the peak of victory. The remaining opposition attempts one final act of treachery and for that they will burn. Guts fights as griffiths right hand till the very end and now that the status of the hawks has reached its peak he has decided to take his leave and find a new path. Studio: Media Blasters Inc. Release Date: 03/25/2003 Run time: 100 minutes

Naohito Takahashi Studio: Media Blasters Inc. Release Date: 05/28/2002 Run time: 125 minutes

Studio: Media Blasters Inc. Release Date: 09/24/2002 Run time: 100 minutes

Hiroyuki Kitakubo As Japan's first fully-digital-animated-feature film, Blood: The Last Vampire is unlike anime features of the past. While the character designs and backgrounds were created using traditional drawing techniques, these elements were painted, compiled and filmed using computer technology. The process was enhanced by the inclusion of digital lighting effects and revolutionary computer generated models, plus a variety of innovative camera techniques. The highly technical standards used in the film also extended into the musical score and sound effects which were mixed in Hollywood, CA. A 'first-time' for an anime film, Blood: The Last Vampire features a number of American characters with more than ninety percent of the film's dialogue written and spoken in the English language. The leading role of Saya is voice acted by Youki Kodoh (Snow Falling on Cedars). The cooperative planning behind Blood: The Last Vampire was supervised under the direction of the acclaimed Japanese animation director Mamoru Oshii. Under a study group called 'Team Oshii', the majority of the creative staff where the same artists instrumental in the development and production of the smash Japanese animation masterpiece Ghost in the Shell. The film was directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo who startend later, alternate versions of two of his classics, Baseball and Football and A Place for My Stuff.

Hiroyuki Okiura, Shinichirô Watanabe Mars. Days before Halloween 2071. Villains blow up a tanker truck on Highway One releasing a deadly virus that kills hundreds. Fearing a bigger even more devastating biochemical attack an astronomical reward is offered for the arrest and capture of the person behind the destruction. On the space ship "Bebop" Spike Spiegel and his crew of bounty hunters (Jet Black Faye Valentine Ed and Ein) are bored and short of cash. But with the news of the reward everything changes. Based on the wildly popular TV series "Cowboy Bebop" the big screen smash COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE pits Spike and Co. against their deadliest adversary ever. Featuring stunning state-of-the-art animation this action-packed sci-fi adventure builds to a breath-taking nail-biting climax guaranteed to keep you hanging on the edge of your seat.DVD FeaturesThe Making of Cowboy Bebop: 6 Behind-the-Scenes featurettesMusic video for "Ask DNA" and "Gotta Knock a Little Harder"Conceptual Art GalleriesStoryboard ComparisonsIn-Depth Character ProfilesWidescreen PresentationDigitally Mastered Audio & Anamorphic VideoAudio: Original Japanese Theatrical Version and English 5.1 (Dolby Digital) FrenchSubtitles: English FrenchTheatrical TrailersAnimated MenusSystem Requirements:Running Time 114 MinsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ANIMATION/ADULT SWIM Rating: R UPC: 043396090552 Manufacturer No: 09055

Tim Squyres, Ang Lee An epic set against the breathtaking landscapes of ancient China, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, combines the exhilarating martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo-Pind (The Matrix) with the sensitivity and classical storytelling of an Ang Lee film. The result is something truly unexpected: romantic, emotionally powerful entertainment.

Junichi Watanabe

Junichi Watanabe

Katsuhisa Yamada This silly three-part adventure plays like a nudie version of Sailor Moon. When Yohko Mano turns 16, her grandmother explains that she must assume her role as a "Devil Hunter," continuing a family tradition that has lasted 107 generations. And not a moment too soon: The sadistic high school principal is plotting to resurrect the queen of the demons in a ritual that involves the blood of Hideki, the guy Yohko nurtures a crush on. With the help of a magic ring and sword, Yohko dispatches the baddies and assumes her new career. In episodes 2 and 3, Yohko's best friend, Chi, becomes her "manager," and she acquires an apprentice, Azusa Kanzaki. In all three, Yohko tackles a variety of demons while losing the top of her outfit and/or flashing her panties. The plots are riddled with more holes than Yohko's costumes. Grandma Madoka explains a Devil Hunter has to be a virgin, yet she's still offing evil spirits; after Yohko saves her adored Hideki's life by killing the demons in episode 1, he simply evaporates and is never heard of again. For otaku seeking "fan service" only. Rated 17 Up: Violence, nudity, sexual situations, risqué humor, profanity. —Charles Solomon

Katsuhisa Yamada This silly three-part adventure plays like a nudie version of Sailor Moon. When Yohko Mano turns 16, her grandmother explains that she must assume her role as a "Devil Hunter," continuing a family tradition that has lasted 107 generations. And not a moment too soon: The sadistic high school principal is plotting to resurrect the queen of the demons in a ritual that involves the blood of Hideki, the guy Yohko nurtures a crush on. With the help of a magic ring and sword, Yohko dispatches the baddies and assumes her new career. In episodes 2 and 3, Yohko's best friend, Chi, becomes her "manager," and she acquires an apprentice, Azusa Kanzaki. In all three, Yohko tackles a variety of demons while losing the top of her outfit and/or flashing her panties. The plots are riddled with more holes than Yohko's costumes. Grandma Madoka explains a Devil Hunter has to be a virgin, yet she's still offing evil spirits; after Yohko saves her adored Hideki's life by killing the demons in episode 1, he simply evaporates and is never heard of again. For otaku seeking "fan service" only. Rated 17 Up: Violence, nudity, sexual situations, risqué humor, profanity. —Charles Solomon

Katsuhisa Yamada This silly three-part adventure plays like a nudie version of Sailor Moon. When Yohko Mano turns 16, her grandmother explains that she must assume her role as a "Devil Hunter," continuing a family tradition that has lasted 107 generations. And not a moment too soon: The sadistic high school principal is plotting to resurrect the queen of the demons in a ritual that involves the blood of Hideki, the guy Yohko nurtures a crush on. With the help of a magic ring and sword, Yohko dispatches the baddies and assumes her new career. In episodes 2 and 3, Yohko's best friend, Chi, becomes her "manager," and she acquires an apprentice, Azusa Kanzaki. In all three, Yohko tackles a variety of demons while losing the top of her outfit and/or flashing her panties. The plots are riddled with more holes than Yohko's costumes. Grandma Madoka explains a Devil Hunter has to be a virgin, yet she's still offing evil spirits; after Yohko saves her adored Hideki's life by killing the demons in episode 1, he simply evaporates and is never heard of again. For otaku seeking "fan service" only. Rated 17 Up: Violence, nudity, sexual situations, risqué humor, profanity. —Charles Solomon

Katsuyoshi Yatabe, Tomomi Mochizuki, Tsukasa Sunaga

Katsuyoshi Yatabe, Tomomi Mochizuki, Tsukasa Sunaga

Keiichi Uraoka, Akio Jissoji The four-part OAV Doomed Megalopolis (1991) is more notable for its misogynistic violence than for its coherent storytelling or skillful animation. In 1908 the ghost-demon-sorcerer Kato tries to resurrect Masakado, a historical figure who has become the unofficial guardian deity of Tokyo, by offering Yukari as a human sacrifice. Masakado rejects Kato's offering, but the evil sorcerer keeps trying, tormenting Yukari and her daughter, Yukiko (whose father is Yukari's brother Tatsumi). Kato causes the devastating 1923 Tokyo earthquake at the end of episode 2, after which the plot simply collapses. Violent imagery—collapsing buildings, the repeated rape and torture of Yukari—alternate with stretches of leaden dialogue, long Morris-the-Explainer scenes, and pretentious narration. The animation is crude at best: the characters change appearance from scene to scene, and the artists try unsuccessfully to draw the human figure from weird angles. The most striking feature of this jejune gorefest is designer Masayuki's flamboyantly bizarre use of color. (Rated 17 and older, but unsuitable for viewers under 18: graphic violence, violence against women, rape, incest, nudity, grotesque imagery, profanity, tobacco use) —Charles Solomon

"This is one anime series you can’t afford do miss"" –Chris Johnston, NewtypeUSA The Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric, is given his first assignment. He is to inspect the coalmines of Youswell, a task he believes to be Mustang’s attempt to deter his search for the Philosopher’s Stone. Ignoring direct orders Ed and Al take a detour to a popular tourist town hoping to uncover the smallest fragment of truth behind the Stone’s growing legend. Includes 4 episodes and 20 page art booklet. Approximate Running Time: 105 minutes.

Al has been kidnapped! With time as the enemy, Major Armstrong must win one of the deadliest battles of his life and Ed is forced into a showdown with Greed to save Al. But nothing has prepared either Elric brother for what they'll find should they get out alive.

Roland Emmerich As "gigantic monster reptile attacks New York" movies go, you've got to admit that Godzilla delivers the goods, although its critical drubbing and box-office disappointment were arguably deserved. It's a shameless, uninspired crowd pleaser that's content to serve up familiar action with the advantage of really fantastic special effects, and if you expect nothing more you'll be one among millions of satisfied customers. There's really no other way to approach it—you just have to accept the fact that Independence Day creators Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin are unapologetic plagiarists, incapable of anything more than mindless spectacle that can play in any cinema in the world without dubbing or subtitles. The whole movie plays out like a series of highlights stolen from previous blockbusters of the 1990s; it's little more than a rehash of the Jurassic Park movies. The derivative script is so trivial that it's unworthy of comment, apart from a few choice laughs and the casting of Michael Lerner as New York's mayor, whose name is Ebert and who closely resembles a certain well-known movie critic. Perhaps that's a clever hint that this movie's essentially critic-proof. It's stupid but it's fun, and for most audiences that's a fitting definition of mainstream Hollywood entertainment. —Jeff Shannon

El Superbeasto aka “Beasto” is an unstoppable superhero masked wrestler, Producer/Director/Star of BeastoWorld Enterprises—and world-famous man of action! In his first full-length animated adventure based on the comic book created by Rob Zombie, Beasto and his super-sexy sister Suzi X must stop the unholy marriage of foul-mouthed stripper Velvet Von Black and diabolical Dr. Satan, or unleash all the sudsy powers of Hell! Welcome to a depraved domain of outrageous comedy, non-stop ultra-violence and bad-ass theme songs! Featuring a horde of Nazi zombie bikers, seven original songs by Hard ‘n Phirm and the voice talents of Tom Papa, Sheri Moon Zombie, Rosario Dawson, Brian Posehn and Paul Giamatti as Dr. Satan in THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO!

Umanosuke Iida, Yasunori Urata The vampire-turned-hunter saga Hellsing owes a lot to both the original and remake of Vampire Hunter D. In Britain, vampires that were artificially created by implanting chips in their necks are attacking people. Dispatching them is the job of the Royal Order of Religious Knights, headed by the icy (and apparently female) Sir Integra Hellsinger. Her chief agent, the red-clad Arucard, destroys one vampire, then turns police woman Victoria into a servant-vampire, bound to him. The outré story violates the rules of the traditional legends: vampires wear crosses, enter churches, and pose as priests; Hellsinger's mortal enemy is the Vatican's Iscariot Organization. The animation is very static, and the design style changes from character to character. Despite grotesque imagery borrowed from Night of the Living Dead, the result is more silly than scary, and the series suffers from underdeveloped characters, a plot that is sketchy at best, a surfeit of pointless violence, and inadvertently hilarious dialogue.

In subsequent episodes, Luke and Jan, the Valentine Brothers, lay siege to the headquarters of the Hellsing organization, the Royal Order of Religious Knights. After numerous humans have been killed and eaten by an army of ghouls, Sir Integra Hellsinger, Arucard, and Seras must hunt down the perpetrators. Not surprisingly, the finale is elaborate, violent, and inconclusive. The closing titles announce that the search for the creators of the artificial vampires continues, so a sequel may be in the works. (Rated 16 and older, but unsuitable for viewers younger than 18: graphic violence, profanity, gore, violence against women) —Charles Solomon

Yimou Zhang Master filmmaker Quentin Tarantino presents HERO — starring martial arts legend Jet Li in a visually stunning martial arts epic where a fearless warrior rises up to defy an empire and unite a nation! With supernatural skill ... and no fear ... a nameless soldier (Jet Li) embarks on a mission of revenge against the fearsome army that massacred his people. Now, to achieve the justice he seeks, he must take on the empire's most ruthless assassins and reach the enemy he has sworn to defeat! Acclaimed by critics and honored with numerous awards, HERO was nominated for both an Oscar® (2002 Best Foreign Language Film)and Golden Globe!

Hayao Miyazaki In Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated masterpiece, journey beyond imagination and enter a "breathtaking fantasy world" (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) filled with adventure, humor and heart. Sophie, a quiet girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. The vain and vengeful Witch of the Waste, jealous of their friendship, puts a spell on Sophie. In a life-changing adventure, Sophie climbs aboard Howl's magnificent flying castle and enters a magical world on a quest to break the spell. Featuring the voice talents of Jean Simmons, Christian Bale, Lauren Bacall, Blythe Danner, and Billy Crystal, Miyazaki's artistry comes to life on DVD with inventive characters, unique storytelling and richly detailed animation. (c) 2004 Nibariki • GNDDDT

Kazuyoshi Yokota Based on a manga by Kazuma Kodaka, this 1996 OAV is a bloody hodgepodge of gothic images and anime sci-fi clichés. A spaceship crashes on Earth, carrying three weirdly dissimilar creatures that are half human, half alien. The aliens need humans to reproduce and continue their species. Cereal salesman Osamu is strangely drawn to the androgynous Kimera. After rescuing her from a research facility where illicit experiments are being performed by a corrupt scientist, Osamu confronts the other two aliens in a violent face-off in a ruined church. He and Kimera escape together, hoping for a future together. A jejune, violent recycling of old themes and images, Kimera falls just short of "tentacle porn." Rated 17 Up: Violence, cannibalism, nudity, profanity, sexual situations, grotesque imagery. —Charles Solomon

Raymond Leung, Teresa Woo

Brian De Palma A flashy, splashy summer-movie blockbuster that's fun and exciting without being mindless? That's the impossible mission accomplished by director Brian De Palma, star-coproducer Tom Cruise, and the crack team of Mission: Impossible. Based on the '60s TV show and an almost impenetrably complex (but nonetheless thrilling) original story by David Koepp (Jurassic Park) and Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List), with a screenplay by Koepp and Robert Towne (Chinatown, Shampoo), Mission: Impossible begins with veteran agent Jim Phelps (Jon Voight) and his expert crew embarking on a mission that goes horribly, horribly wrong. But nothing is what it seems. The nail-biting set piece—always a signature of director De Palma (Carrie, The Untouchables)—in which Cruise is lowered from the ceiling to retrieve information from a computer in a high-security vault—is an instant classic. But perhaps even more impressive, at least in retrospect, is a flashback sequence in which two characters attempt to reconstruct a series of events from multiple points of view. It's pretty daring and sophisticated stuff for a big-budget spy movie, but brains were always what put the Mission: Impossible team ahead of the competition, anyway, no? —Jim Emerson

Hayao Miyazaki Critically acclaimed as one of the most delightful and charming family films ever, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is a stunning animated treat full of magical adventure from Hayao Miyazaki. Follow the adventures of Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei when they move into a new home in the countryside. To their delight, they discover that their new neighbor is a mysterious forest spirit called Totoro, who can be seen only through the eyes of a child. Totoro introduces them to extraordinary characters — including a cat that doubles as a bus! — and takes them on an incredible journey. Full of wonder and heart, this spectacular 2-disc set features the voice talents of Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is a magical experience for the whole family! © 1988 Nibariki • G

Square Enix Nothing is as it seems in Square Enix's latest action adventure game, set in a crumbling world plagued by disease and dark, unrecognizable creatures. Players assume the role of the unyielding protagonist, NIER, resolute in his quest to discover a cure for his daughter, who is infected with the Black Scrawl virus. With powerful allies and a mysterious book, NIER encounters things that will confound even the mightiest of warriors. With NIER, experience seamless in-battle cinematics and explore hauntingly familiar lands, intense action-packed battles, and storytelling like only Square Enix can do.

Kevin Seymour, Yoshiaki Kawajiri Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 02/23/1999 Run time: 90 minutes

Episode 5 "Diamond Child" Meet Tatsunosuke, a young thief with a special gift and nothing to lose. Matched against Tsubute, which thief will come out with the Dragon Stone in his pocket? Faced with the opportunity to join the Kimon, will Tatsunosuke take the chance, and pay for it with his life? Episode 6 "Shelter From the Rain" Apart from the others, Jubei finds himself poisoned in battle with Nenmu, a ninja who can use the bodies of people. Caught in a rainstorm, with the help of a woman and her young son, Jubei slowly recuperates from the poison. But with Nenmu’s ability to manipulate anybody, who can tell a friend from the enemy? Will Jubei’s newfound allies turn against him? Episode 7 "Blossom" Azami is back, and after the half of Dragon Stone she could not get the first time, determined not to lose it to the Kimon clan. Meanwhile, Jubei learns the truth about the Dragon Stone and the treasure of the Lost Dynasty, and he’s slowly figuring out just how precarious of a position they are all in. Episode 8 "The Fate of Rengoku" Rengoku has her mission – to get the other half of the Dragon Stone from Jubei. This is also her chance to avenge the death of her beloved brother, but at what cost? With revenge on her mind, what will Rengoku sacrifice for the ability to kill Jubei?

Studio: Urban Vision Release Date: 06/29/2004

Chang Cheh (Action/Comedy) A young woman marries a dying senior member of a martial arts family in order to protect her family’s fortunes, leading to a duel with a greedy relative.

Hayao Miyazaki Claire Danes (THE MOD SQUAD), Minnie Driver (GOOD WILL HUNTING), and Billy Bob Thornton (ARMAGEDDON, SLING BLADE) head a cast of hot Hollywood stars who lend their talents to this exquisitely animated, overwhelmingly acclaimed adventure epic! Inflicted with a deadly curse, a young warrior named Ashitaka (Billy Crudup — WITHOUT LIMITS) sets out for the forests of the west in search of the cure that will save his life. Once there, he becomes inextricably entangled in a bitter battle that matches Lady Eboshi (Driver) and a proud clan of humans against the forest's animal gods, who are led by the brave Princess Mononoke (Danes), a young woman raised by wolves! Also starring Gillian Anderson (THE X-FILES) and Jada Pinkett Smith (SCREAM 2), this monumental struggle between man and nature will have you transfixed as stunning artistry blends with epic storytelling to create a uniquely entertaining motion picture!

Amanda Winn Lee, Kouji Masunari Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 05/27/2003

Christopher Bevins It Only Hurts Forever....

Rin Asogi is an immortal private detective with a thirst for vodka and a talent for attracting things that go bump in the night. In a series of nightmarish vignettes spanning sixty-five years, Rin’s lush body is sadistically pierced, blown up, and mulched to a bloody pulp. The fiend behind her tortured existence is Apos, an eternal being obsessed with sacrificing Rin to Yggdrasil, the tree of all life. While Rin struggles to unravel the secrets of her endless agony, Apos lurks in the shadows, eager to tear into her ripe body and devour the memories of her countless lives. Rin’s no stranger to the realm of the dead, but her next visit could last forever.

Futoshi Higashide, Hiroyuki Okuno, Makoto Sokuza, Mitsuo Kusakabe, Shunsuke Tada Kikuchiyo has been foolishly captured by the Bandits, and the samurai must leave the caverns to rescue him. When daylight approaches, the towering machines plan to ambush them. Clearly a traitor is in ther midst. Kambei knows legions of Nobuseri will be searching for them soon and decides to the group must get to Kanna, though the team of seven is invomplete. To survive the trek, new bonds of trust must be forged. As their journey begins, the samurai must confront an even more dangersious deception: betrayal from the farmers who hired them.

Futoshi Higashide, Hiroyuki Okuno, Makoto Sokuza, Mitsuo Kusakabe, Shunsuke Tada Last minute preparations have been made as the impending battle for Kanna draws near. When the Nobuseri arrive without notice, the training implemented by the samurai will prove the village's fate. While Kathsushiro and Kirara struggle with their feelings for eath other, Kyozo confirms just how fearless a samurai can be - embarking on a solo mission into the heart of the enemy camp. Deploying waves of attack from every direction - from ninja-like foot soldiers to the giant Benigumo machines - the Nobuseri will not stop unitl Kanna is completely annihilated. In the furious climax, not all of the Samurai will survive. There is no turning back.

Futoshi Higashide, Hiroyuki Okuno, Makoto Sokuza, Mitsuo Kusakabe, Shunsuke Tada The once impenetrable band of seven, now diminished to six, was forced to come to terms with the inevitable when Gorobei risked his life to save his brethren. With sword in hand Kambei is determined to find answers. Leaving the surviving samurai behind, Kambei departs on a solitary trek with an even more perilous mission in mind. Based on the legendary Akira Kurosawa classic epic feature film, Seven Samurai.

Futoshi Higashide, Hiroyuki Okuno, Makoto Sokuza, Mitsuo Kusakabe, Shunsuke Tada The rescue team has escaped death, but the struggle has just begun. Kambei's fate looks grim, Sanae and Mizuki's freedom is in dire straights and a mutiny within the Samurai is rising. At this, the worst possible time, UKyo's plan is unveiled…burn Kanna to the ground.

Futoshi Higashide, Hiroyuki Okuno, Makoto Sokuza, Mitsuo Kusakabe, Shunsuke Tada Facing impossible odds and unavoidable sacrifice, the samurai know this battle will determine the fate of not only Kanna Village, but that of an entire nation. The final battle has arrived. It ends here.

Futoshi Higashide, Hiroyuki Okuno, Makoto Sokuza, Mitsuo Kusakabe, Shunsuke Tada After the mysterious murder of the Imperial Envoy in the Magistrate's home-with a bloody sword as the only clue-a citywide hunt for all samurai begins. With a high price suddenly on their heads, the band of a samurai must quickly escape the city.

Futoshi Higashide, Hiroyuki Okuno, Makoto Sokuza, Mitsuo Kusakabe, Shunsuke Tada Based on the legendary Akira Kurosawa classic epic feature film, Seven Samurai. A futuristic war-ravaged country on the brink of collapse. The once powerful samurai are coming to the end of their rule. Bandits roam the coutryside with savage intent. A powerless village hires 7 ronin, a samurai with no master, to defend their way of life. One group seeks protection, the other, seeks one last chance for victory in the battlefield.

Soichi Masui The broadcast series Scrapped Princess (2003) gives new meaning to the term "anti-hero." Pacifica Cassul was born under a baleful star: according to the prophecy she's the poison that will cause the end of the world on her 16th birthday. As the fatal day approaches, she's on the lam with her older brother and sister, Shannon and Raquel. They're charged with protecting her from worshippers of the god Mauser, who believe in the prophecy. Pacifica isn't the most likable character: she fusses and whines and sticks her siblings with all the work. The filmmakers try to balance her petulance with mawkish scenes of doubt and self-pity. The villains multiply in Ichiro Sakaki's story until it's not clear just who's out to get Pacifica. Despite its shortcomings, Scrapped Princess scored a big hit in Japan and may well prove popular in America. (Rated 13 and older: violence, brief nudity) —Charles Solomon

Soichi Masui The journey continues as they successfully evade the forces of Mauser. But a bounty on Pacifica's head is now set and a bounty hunter aims to collect using poison to end her life. Raquel and Leo must now set out on a dangerous journey to try and find an antidote before it is too late. Powerful beings called the "Peacemakers", who claim it is their destiny to rule humanity can no longer wait and observe as time is running out and as prophecy predicts, "the world will be destroyed when the Princess turns 16."

Soichi Masui Pacifica and her siblings are captured by Senes, the Beast Princess! As Senes and her troops explain the true history of humanity, the Peacemakers attack! It's now up to Pacifica to give them the power to fight back! Character Designs by Takahiro Komori (Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, Wolf's Rain and The Vision of Escaflowne). Genre: Anime/Sci-Fi/Action/Fantasy.

Soichi Masui Pacifica and her siblings are determined to return to Leinwan to prevent the loss of any more lives. The Generals fear an invasion and launch an offensive spell. When the dust settles, Pacifica has been separated from the others and her memory lost! As she now lives a normal life, how long can she keep that up until she is recognized as the Scrapped Princess? Character Designs by Takahiro Komori. Genre: Sci-Fi/Action/Fantasy.

Soichi Masui Because of Pacifica's amnesia, when Raquel finds her she explains who she really is. A military official spots her and she is forced to flee before being reunited with her siblings. Raquel and Shannon continue to search for her unaware that she has been captured. The King has ordered her execution. If there was ever a good time for a rescue, it would be now! Character Designs by Takahiro. Genre: Sci-Fi / Action / Fantasy.

Hoping to become a great employee like his late father Hiroya Matsumoto joins a top trading company. He ends up recruited for duty in the special combat unit, Shinesman, a group of five colorfully armored heroes who have been chosen to be both businessmen and defenders of Earth. Go, go, corporate raiders!

Hiroshi Watanabe

Studio: Adv Films Release Date: 02/17/2004 Run time: 60 minutes

Justin Nordell Lawrence, a traveling merchant searching for profit, finds a naked girl with the ears and tail of a wolf asleep in his cart. Her name is Holo – a harvest goddess with an untamed beast lurking inside who longs to return to her beloved northern home. Armed with his street smarts and her animal instincts, a simple peddler and a forgotten deity begin a journey through the wild countryside. Along their path, the riches of happiness shall be reaped, even as the bankruptcy which dwells in the human heart is exposed.

Stills from Spice and Wolf: Season One (Click for larger image)

LeVar Burton, James Cromwell, Michael Dorn, Alice Krige Even-numbered Star Trek movies tend to be better, and First Contact (#8 in the popular movie series) is no exception—an intelligently handled plot involving the galaxy-conquering Borg and their attempt to invade Earth's past, alter history, and "assimilate" the entire human race. Time travel, a dazzling new Enterprise, and capable direction by Next Generation alumnus Jonathan Frakes makes this one rank with the best of the bunch. Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his able crew travel back in time to Earth in the year 2063, where they hope to ensure that the inventor of warp drive (played by James Cromwell) will successfully carry out his pioneering warp-drive flight and precipitate Earth's "first contact" with an alien race. A seductive Borg queen (Alice Krige) holds Lt. Data (Brent Spiner) hostage in an effort to sabotage the Federation's preservation of history, and the captive android finds himself tempted by the queen's tantalizing sins of the flesh! Sharply conceived to fit snugly into the burgeoning Star Trek chronology, First Contact leads to a surprise revelation that marks an important historical chapter in the ongoing mission "to boldly go where no one has gone before." —Jeff Shannon

Art Vitello Attention evil-doers! The Tick is here, and he's wearing the blue tights of justice! Together with his trusty moth-costumed sidekick Arthur, The Tick keeps the streets of The City safe from a rogue's gallery of hilariously malevolent villains. So grab a snack, put your feet up, and get ready to laugh and cheer as everyone's favorite brawny hero swats evil on the snout with the rolled-up newspaper of goodness!

Hank Tucker Evil-doers, check your rear-view mirror because justice is closer than it appears! Everyone’s favorite big blue hero, along with his trusty moth sidekick Arthur, is back for more hilarious adventures in THE TICK VS. SEASON TWO. With a heart as big as the moon and as warm as bathwater, The Tick flexes the muscle of goodness to keep the citizens of The City safe from the strangest collection of villains yet. Season Two brings the return of über-villains El Seed and Brainchild, our heroes make their reality TV debuts and The Tick whittles himself a new sidekick when a woman comes between him and his old chum Arthur. With a cornucopia of laughs and thrills stuffed onto three shiny discs, THE TICK VS. SEASON TWO delivers a one-two punch of goodness straight to your home entertainment center.

Tony Scott Jingoism, beefcake, military hardware, and a Giorgio Moroder rock score reign supreme over taste and logic in this Tony Scott film about a maverick trainee pilot (Tom Cruise) who can't follow the rules at a Navy aviation training facility. The dogfight sequences between American and Soviet jets at the end are absolutely mechanical, though audiences loved it at the time. The love story between Cruise's character and that of Kelly McGillis is like flipping through pages of advertising in a glossy magazine. This designer action movie from 1986 would be all the more appalling were it not for the canny casting of good actors in dumb parts. Standouts include Anthony Edwards—who makes a nice impression as Cruise's average-Joe pal—and the relatively unknown Meg Ryan in a small but memorable appearance. —Tom Keogh

Mike McFarland Trinity Blood for the first time in blu-ray!

Two races, Terran and Methuselah, human and vampire, are locked in a struggle for existence, trembling on the brink of war. Some seek the path to a peaceful coexistence, while others pursue a dangerous shift in the balance of power… And the world’s enemy, Contra Mundi, is starting to move. Cooperation and goodwill between the two races may be their only chance for survival.

Abel Nightroad, a touring priest for the Vatican, walks calmly where others fear to tread. A member of the formidable AX, tasked with the protection of the fragile equilibrium. Neither human nor vampire, with an awkward yet optimistic nature, this Father is a force wholly his own. When the greater threat emerges, the enemy of my enemy is my friend… And Abel Nightroad seeks a safe path for all.

Jack Fletcher, Tai Kit Mak, Yoshiaki Kawajiri Studio: Urban Vision Release Date: 02/12/2002

Jack Fletcher, Tai Kit Mak, Yoshiaki Kawajiri Based on a series of fantasy novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust is a bloody anime adventure. Set in the distant future, the story focuses on D (voice by Andrew Philpot), the son of a vampire and a mortal who has dedicated his life to exterminating vampires. D is pursuing Charlotte (Wendee Lee), who has been carried off by vampire Meier Link (John Rafter Lee). The bounty-hunting Markus brothers and tough-talking Leila (Pamela Segall) are also on the trail. A long, violent chase brings them to the Castle of Carmila the Bloody Countess (Julia Fletcher), where the narrative founders in a series of confusing illusions that lead to an inconclusive ending. Bloodlust looks better in still images that evoke Yoshitaka Amano's intricate illustrations than it does in motion. The very limited drawn animation clashes visually with the more fluid computer-generated imagery—D's cape billows dramatically, but his expression rarely changes. Fans of such violent anime features as Sword for Truth and Ninja Resurrection will enjoy the no-holds-barred action sequences, but more squeamish viewers will be put off by the beheadings, impalements, disembowelments, etc. Vampire Hunter D, an earlier, more modest feature based on the same material, is a better adaptation. —Charles Solomon

Kazuo Yamazaki This sci-fi road journey is set in the near future (1999—six years after the film was initially released). Human civilization has been devastated by a mysterious wind that erased everyone's memories—even the basics of language and self-care that real amnesia doesn't affect. Their minds wiped clean, the survivors haunt the ruined cities, scavenging for food. Wateru ("traveler" in Japanese), whose mind was laboriously restored by a survivor at a government research facility, wanders through America in a jeep, trying to bring knowledge to people. In San Francisco, he meets Sophia, a mysterious woman with unexplained powers; she joins him on a journey to New York that turns into a transcontinental escape from a murderous and seemingly indestructible robot. Along the way, they encounter the members of a cult that worships an enormous wrecking machine, and two puppetlike survivors in an fully mechanized city. Wateru struggles to fulfill his mission to start people on the long journey back to civilization, but he often has to rely on Sophia's extraordinary powers of communication. A Wind Called Amnesia is more thoughtful and less violent than most anime features; unfortunately, it ends on a weak, unsatisfying note. Rating: 16 and older for animated sex and some violence. —Charles Solomon

Studio: Infinity Resources Inc Release Date: 04/27/2004

Being a Witch Hunter is anything but normal. Robin has begun settling into her new life at the STNJ practicing with her supernatural powers and making some extraordinary progress. The arrival of her beloved Vespa has given Robin independence, and freedom as the hunt for witches continue. While there may not be any one single type of witch - Robin and the STNJ will face them all: witches who kill out of vengeance; a witch who takes a life so that another may be spared. And this time around, one of the STNJ’s targets will be someone very close to them... KEY SALES POINT

* From the creators of 'Cowboy Bebop' and 'Argentosoma'
* Part of the NEW Bandai Entertainment Platinum Edition line
* An excellent mix between 'La Femme Nikita" Meets "X-Files"

Genre: Action/Suspense Creative Staff: Director - Shukou Murase (Character Designer for Gundam Wing and Argentosoma) Composer - Taku Iwasaki ('Read or Die', 'Now and then Here and There', Samurai X: Reflection)
Character Design - Yukio Iwata DVD Features: Interactive Animated Menus
English/Japanese Language
English subtitles option
Dolby Digital Surround Sound DVD Extras: STNJ Equipment Files
Liner Notes
Reversible Cover

Studio: Infinity Resources Inc Release Date: 04/20/2004

Studio: Infinity Resources Inc Release Date: 08/10/2004

Yoshimitsu Ôhashi Enter the Cloneblades!

Twisted reflections of Masane’s alter ego, the Cloneblades stand at the very pinnacle of bioengineering and shattered corporate alliances. A breed of frightful warriors, confrontation is inevitable when so many share the same desire: The Witchblade. The quest for control of history’s ultimate power will pave the streets with innocent blood, and the threats to Masane are without count. As the past creeps into the present to haunt them all, relationships between unsteady foes lie revealed, old scars explained but never forgotten. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust… Not even the bearer proves immortal.

Witchblade Volume Two-2 contains episodes 5-8: Search, Change, Past and Reciprocity.

Yoshimitsu Ohashi To Kill, To Live, To Love, To Die...

The destiny of the Witchblade continues...

Based on the popular comic book by Top Cow Productions.

Masane Amaha is a woman on the fringe of society, but her strange destiny was written ages past. She has been chosen from the anonymous depths of history, a fresh host for the coveted artifact known as the Witchblade.

The raw power of conquering armies courses through her veins, the taste of death sweet on her lips. Naked aggression with brutal birth in the fires of eternal lust for battle.

Struggling to build a life her daughter, with no memory of the past and no clue as to her future, Masane Amaha will be forever scarred by her salvation...

And many will step forward to see it.

DVD Covers Featuring Top Cow Productions Artists
Volume 1 DVD Art by Mike Choi

DVD Extras:
-A Tour of Top Cow Studios with Marc Silvestri
-Japanese Cast Interview - Voice of Masane Amaha (Mamiko Noto)
-Promotional Video
-Textless Songs (Opening: XTC, Closing: Ashitano-te)
-Easter Egg (can you find it?)

Rintaro Tokyo is the city where the final battle between the Dragon of Earth and the Dragon of Heaven will take place in the Japanese anime film X, directed by Rintaro (a.k.a. Tarô Rin; Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion) and written by the all-woman writing team Clamp. The Dragon of Earth wants to wipe out humankind because of the damage people have inflicted on the Earth, while the Dragon of Heaven is fighting to protect civilization. At the center of all this is Kamui, the chosen one, who must pick a dragon to fight for.

Full of dreams and flashbacks that pop up out of nowhere, the structure of X could be considered confusing and needlessly complex—if the story weren't so simple. Obviously, we're supposed to root for the Dragon of Heaven to win and save mankind, but the funny thing is, the Dragon of Earth has the better argument. If it were a debate, humanity would lose. But it's not a debate, it's an action film, and many of Tokyo's most famous buildings get destroyed in the battles. As with most anime, the women are either girlishly cute or slutty, but luckily in X, there are no graphic rapes; the love interest is merely crucified three or four times. It may not be the greatest anime film out there, but at least it's never boring. —Andy Spletzer

Stills from xxxHOLIC: The Complete Series Box Set (Click for larger image)