UPDATE: Bleach SOULs/Anime-themed Video Games/The End of Anime Insider

What up anidorks? I’m just checking in today, so no reviews. In all honesty, I haven’t really come across anything worthy of a review lately*, so rather than waste my time and yours enthusing about/savaging some nameless shonen action series, I’m just gonna ruminate on a few topics…

First off, devoted Bleach fans should do themselves a favor and pick up the Bleach SOULs. Official Character Book at their earliest convenience. It’s a great overview of the series present storyline up to Vol 21, as well as containing biographical info for all 80+ characters. Throw in an interview with Tite Kubo, glossary of terms, and a bunch of bonus manga and you’ve pretty much got a “must have” for Bleach heads (along with Kon-patterned underpants).

Secondly, the latest Anime Insider magazine is devoted a whole issue to “Video Games for Otakus”, a subject near and dear to my heart. In fact, they do a fine job of tabulating the “otaku quotient” (i.e. number of anime/Japanese culture – specific titles) for the current console systems. I’ve been struggling to find the system with the most otaku-friendly titles, and I guess it’s no surprise that (spoiler) the Nintendo DS wins out there. I’d suggest hot-footing down to the local newsstand to pick up a copy – not just because of the content, but because Anime Insider will be stopping publication as of this issue, #67. Another one bites the dust, sadly….

And speaking of anime-friendly video games, I’m dying to see a North American version of Sunday X Magazine: Taisen Action, Trigger Heart, a side-scrolling 2D fighter starring the characters from Japanese manga magazines Shonen Sunday and Shonen Magazine. The cast includes characters from Negima (awesome!), Fairy Tale, Air Gear, Cromartie High School, Inu-Yasha, Hayate the Combat Butler, and Kekkashi, as well as several other Japan-only series. If you simply must have a copy, its $60 and in Japanese…but I doubt that’ll stop some of you.

In any event, it’s a lovely spring day outside….and naturally, I plan to spend it indoors watching the original Tenchi Muyo OVA and playing Suikoden III (har har).

* with the notable exception of the awesomely funny (and disturbing gory) “magical girlfriend” parody series Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan, aka “Club-To-Death Angel Dokuro-chan”.

I forgot to mention....

...that Del Ray released Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei V.1: The Power of Negative Thinking on February 24th. You can get it from the usual retailers, and I highly, highly recommend this a purchase for any forward thinking manga or graphic novel fan. Joyce Aurino and Del Ray have done an excellent job of translating and adapting this Japanese Pop-Culture-centric series for western readers; the print version is a definite improvement over the fan-scans I’ve come across. Feel free to check out my gushing review from last June if the mood strikes you....

Manga/Anime Review - Princess Resurrection

What up anidorks? I’ve decided to spare you from the usual comedy series and instead take a look at supernatural action series Princess Resurrection.

In thanks for his attempt to save her from a fatal accident, Hime – daughter of the King of Monsters – has granted middle schooler Hiro the gift of eternal life, but on two conditions: First, Hiro must partake of Hime’s blood every few days lest he dies; and secondly, Hiro must remain her servant/bodyguard for eternity as payment. It’s apparent that Hime needs all the help she can get, as her numerous brothers and sisters are intent on killing her and each other to achieve the royal throne. Hime's cohorts - half-breed werewolf Liza, opportunistic vampire Reiki, and Hime’s robot servant Flandre - all have the power to fight of the rival siblings and vengeful monsters out for Hime’s blood, but what can young Hiro do to help protect the life of his new master?

Supernatural-based anime and manga has seen a renaissance as of late, and PR is a solid offering in this genre. Series creator Yasunori Mitsunaga deviates from the popular “vengeful spirits” theme common in contemporary anime and manga*, and instead draws on the “classic horror” of 1950’s drive-ins (ala vampires, werewolves, zombies, and creatures from the Black Lagoon…can the Blob be far behind?) to power this series. Although I do enjoy the more subtle and elegant vibe of traditional Japanese horror, the blood-and-guts, monster-on-monster action of PR is definitely appealing for those of us who grew up on Boris Karloff and not Lufcadio Hearn. Hiro’s persistent need for Hime’s blood adds a nice bit of nasty (and a subtle erotic undertone) to this relatively straight-forward and action based shonen manga series.

That having been said, those of you who are able to view the anime series via ADV or the Anime Network will notice how the series has been “cleaned up”, for lack of a better word – rather than sup on Hime’s blood, Hiro instead gets the gift of Hime’s “Life Flame” (yeesh). It’s a shame that this integral plot element was modified in such a way, but that’s show biz I guess. Along with the overall lower level of gore, I find that the anime also removes a fair amount of gothic creepiness that Mitsunaga was able to impart via his artwork.

Still, the anime is a pleasant enough diversion (particularly after dark!) and the manga series deserves a read from horror and action-lovers alike.

*xxxHolic and Mushi-shi, for example.