Every year around the holidays we run a little giveaway for the reader to thank you all for checking in all year. This year we thought it would be nice to spice things up so this year we are adding an extra layer. To enter all you have to do is give us your best anime and manga related holiday wish. Would your eliminate moe?; Have Hayate as your personal butler?; or simply wish for an expanded figure budget? After the contest we will do an article about our own holiday wishes as well. Good luck and best wishes to you and yours for the new year.

CONTEST

All you have to do is leave a comment with your anime/manga related holiday wish.

Entries are due by Sunday, December 18th. The winner will be notified by Monday, December 19th.

*U.S. residents only please. Sorry our abroad buddies we just can’t afford it.

And the winner of the Win Nagi Sanzenin’s Money contest is John Kim who got them all right. I will send off their prize on Monday! The contest had 4 entries all together. There were 2 fully correct answer sheets but 1 was out of the US and was graciously entering just for fun. One entry got them all right except for number 10 that was a real stumper. With that one it helps to know Kenjiro Hata is a huge Nobuyuki Fukumoto fan. And the last entry could not identify Saber Lion. I shed a tear for that poor soul. I was amazed that everyone easily got number 4 but I guess everyone who entered was bringing their A game. Still It was very cool that we even 4 entries on such a hard contest and that our readers were high level otaku enough to do so well. I am curious. Would anyone want another contest this hard again?

For everyone else here is the answer sheet for the contest with links to the figures in question:

1. Madoka Kaname from Puella Magi Madoka Magica http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10146761

2. Mayuri Shiina from Steins;Gate http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10146015

3. Cirno from the Touhou Project http://ani-culture.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Last-Loot-6.jpg

4. Suruga Kanbaru from Bakemonogatari http://www.goodsmile.info/product/en/3074/Suruga+Kanbaru.html

5. Tsubasa Hanekawa from Bakemonogatari http://www.amazon.com/Bakemonogatari-Tsubasa-Hanekawa-Scale-Figure/dp/B004VCXLMM

6. Sayaka Miki from Puella Magi Madoka Magica http://www.figure-anime.com/images/stories/gallery/toys/figma-miki-sayaka-maxfactory-01.jpg

7. Saber Lion from Fate/Tiger Colosseum Upper http://www.papatoy.com/117-large/good-smile-nendoroid-saber-lion-figure-no50.jpg

8. Shinobu Oshino from Bakemonogatari http://otakufuel.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/large_20296_shinobu_oshino.jpg

9. Ruri Goko aka Kuroneko from My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute http://www.gundammodelkits.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Oreno-Imouto-18-Kuroneko-Figure-01.jpg

10. Kaiji Ito from Ultimate Survivor Kaiji http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10145596

In honor of the 7th anniversary of Hayate the Combat Butler we have decided to run a little contest. On the cover of Hayate chapter 343 there are ten anime figures. Can you name the ten anime characters represented on the picture? We circled and numbered the figures you have to identify. If you can name them all you have a chance to win the prize package below. In case no one gets all ten the prize will go to person who has the most correct answers. In case of a tie there will be a random drawing between the tied contestants. Just email us at reversethieves [at] gmail [dot] com with your name, address, and the ten characters in order with the subject “Win Nagi Sanzenin’s Money” before November, 11 2011. The winner will be announced on November, 12 2011. Have fun, good luck, and let us all wish Kenjiro Hata continued success!

*U.S. residents only please. Sorry our abroad buddies we just can’t afford it.

Also the prizes:

In the last year, we’ve reinstated the Manga of the Month; began the No Case Too Small and Otaku NYC series; our new Sunday links series All Points Bulletin premiered yesterday; we made our first attempt at episode blogging with Gosick; we started participating in Bonus Rounds on Anime3000; and we even started having guests on the Speakeasy.

Perhaps the biggest change in the last year was the upping of the monthly post count average thanks to the implementation of shorter solo posts in between our main stays on Mondays and Fridays. Since August we haven’t fallen below 18 posts a month, most hitting 20 or more! Also since then, and probably because of it, we’ve been averaging 10,000 hits a month for a consistent year.

In the upcoming year we also have some big plans. We are still trying to find a way to but together a Manga Secret Santa project that does not cause too many headaches for everyone involved. When we find a viable method we will let you know. We’re also going to start our next big project as was chosen by the readers: A look at woman in fandom. This project will probably be several smaller questionnaires that will each focus on a different aspect as opposed to mammoth survey that accompanied the Otaku Diaries. This will let women participate on in the sections that are applicable to them. All of this is just the tip of the ice burg. We can’t wait to see what surprises lie in wait in the future.

So of course we are giving away a great big box of goodies to celebrate this anniversary! Just leave a comment telling us what your favorite Reverse Thieves article has been this year.

Entries are due by Sunday, July 17th. The winner will be notified by Friday, July 22th.

*U.S. residents only please. Sorry our abroad buddies we just can’t afford it.

If you were a fan before the late-90′s, there is no need to introduce these ladies; it was pretty hard not to see at least one of the Dirty Pair titles that were released in the U.S during those days. Kei and Yuri were (and still are for some of us) the quintessential girls with guns. Or more to the point, they fit right in with what people wanted out of anime between explosions, space adventure, and fan-service there wasn’t much missing. And if you haven’t experienced it, you can win the first set right here!

The are some shows that define a genre. They are not necessarily the first show or even the best show in the category but for one reason or another they capture the imagination of the public and become intimately linked with the genre. Whenever you mention girls with guns anime most fans who have been in the hobby for a few years will undoubtedly bring up the Dirty Pair before any other title. Along with Gunsmith Cats it personifies the idea of a show where two beautiful ladies run around defeating nasty bad guys with cool weapons with a side order of humor and cheesecake. As a fan of the series I was always asking ADV when they were going to go back and license this iconic gem for its US fans. But in an unexpected twist of fate it turns out that the champion of the underdog titles Nozomi Entertainment picked it up instead much to my delight. The premiere babes with blasters show finally has made its way to the US and I could not be happier.

Kei and Yuri who work for an intergalactic trouble-shooter organization known as the 3WA. They are infamous for being able to solve any case they are assigned with comical amounts of collateral damage. So while technically they the are code-named the Lovely Angels their habit of accidentally destroying everything up to planets to get the job done have earned them the epithet the Dirty Pair. Every episode has the two trouble consultants in the middle of some planetary caper that only they can solve. They take on feuding gangs, rouge computers, super intelligent mice, evil professional wrestlers, and everything in between. The only guarantee is that anything and anyone in between these two ladies and completing their mission is in serious jeopardy.

Since this is an episodic series, that could literally just go on and on forever, there is a lot of variation in quality of episodes. These gals are always entertaining to watch, but whether an episode is going to stick out is a different story. This roulette (nod and wink to the opening) of writers and episode directors keeps things spry and assures you that nothing will become too bogged down in details. And that is exactly what I want from the Dirty Pair: fun. They travel the galaxy for missions which also keeps the cast changing and the scenery, they even stumble into an episode of Fist of the North Star (not literally). Some of the more stand out episodes include one appropriately named after the title song, “Hire Us! Better To Get Good-Looking Bodyguards,” “Love Is Everything, Betting Their Lives On Escape,” and “What! We’re The Brutal Kidnappers?”

Kei is the fiery redheaded tomboy that had the more loud and brash personality. Yuri is the quiet, studious, and more feminine jet-black haired counterpart to Kei but Yuri can be just as loud and destructive as her partner when pushed. Their sisterly but argumentative relationship is the keystone of the series. They may bicker constantly and even go out of their way  to one up the other but hey always have the other one’s back when push comes to shove. They have a casual banter that instantly shows you how long they have known each other and how deeply they care for one. They can be extremely girly with their minds focused on dating and looking good but when they buckle down for a job they are competent and skilled if a bit unprofessional. Backing them up are their long-suffering companions Mughi and Nammo. Mughi is a huge bear sized cat and Nammo is a small football shaped robot with feet. They both back up the Dirty Pair and are often tasked with the more unpleasant duties during their missions.  And of course as rouge officers they need someone to bang on a desk and complain how these two loose cannons are out of control. Chief Gooley fills this vital niche while chewing up the scenery.

I have to start by talking about my favorite . . . Mughi! Now granted I haven’t rewatched Dirty Pair in a while, but I don’t remember him being as prominent in other entries of the series as he is in the TV show. He adds plenty of comedy because, well, he is a giant space, cat thing but he also rescues them in some tight spots, too! There is really no explanation of where he comes from, but no matter. Now on to his supporting characters, Kei and Yuri. The Lovely Angels as one might imagine is not a very apt term for these two, despite their hemming and hawing. Kei is a tough and brash woman who never seems to have a problem getting a date. Yuri is more ditsy but can’t get a date to save her life. Their love lives, or lack thereof, are often a key factor to many of their exploits. Each of them have a most hilarious 80s wardrobe. Both know how to use their looks to their advantage but that isn’t the only weapon in their arsenal as they seem trained on just about everything. Kei and Yuri are complimentary to each other and are both charming as they traipse through space leaving paths of destruction in pursuit of justice and the occasional man. Once again, back story (though sometimes we run into old boyfriends) and character development aren’t priorities here.

My goodness this show is so obviously from the 80s. Everything about Kei and Yuri screams that they could only have come from 1985. Kei’s huge hair and almost always ever-present headband are a major signs but every outfit the two women wear as casual clothing ripped straight out of the worst of something like Growing Pains or Punky Brewster. Leg warmers, over sized tops, and neon everything. The character designs and animation is similarly dated but far more timeless. The art can be extremely detailed when they are not skimping on the budget and the mechanical design on the technology can be simply generous. Also the show has one of the catchiest opening themes you will ever hear. By the way whenever I mention the opening I always have to bring up the Italian version because it is frankly one of the funniest things you will ever hear.

This is a nice first set to bring back Dirty Pair to those who love them. The packaging is minimal but with nice artwork and a sturdy box. My only real complaint is quality control for spelling and consistency between what episodes are titled on the box and what they are titled in the actual episode, a minor point. If you’ve never seen the Dirty Pair, this is also a great way to start because you get such a variety of stories. Even though this isn’t new, it feels new because we’ve never gotten Dirty Pair TV here in the U.S. despite how much of fan base the gals had (and have). I’m looking forward to the second half due out at the beginning of February.

With the licensing and release of the Dirty Pair TV show I have noticed an odd phenomenon. Old fans of the series have generally been thrilled that the core of the franchise finally has a proper legitimate English release. We finally got the first animated episodes of the definitive versions of Kei and Yuri. But apparently there was the odd backlash of people who had been told that the Dirty Pair was the greatest thing since sliced bread and were disappointed with what they got. Therefore I would like to dispel this rumor for anyone who is reading this review in order to decide if they wish to watch this series. The Dirty Pair is yummy entertainment candy. It is a wonderful pick me up when you are in the mood but never mistake it for a full meal. If you are expecting some sort of substantial full-course meal like a Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex you will surely be left unsatisfied. But the series never pretends to have that depth. It is a wonderful popcorn anime that helps melt away the stress of a tiring day as it requires no effort but entertain immensely in return. If you have realistic expectations it is pure fun with some gorgeous eye candy to boot.

CONTEST

If you want to win this boxset of Dirty Pair TV Pt. 1, you must answer this age-old question. Kei or Yuri, who is your favorite Lovely Angel?

Entries are due by Friday, January 14th. The winner will be notified by Sunday, January 16th.

*U.S. residents only please. Sorry our abroad buddies we just can’t afford it.

This contest is over.

It’s that time of year again, the season of giving! We want to add to the holiday spirit with a great, big prize pack. And remember if you get any items that aren’t to your taste, spread some holiday cheer and pass the goodies along to your friends. All you need to do is leave us a comment telling us what anime or manga license you are hoping to see in 2011!

Entries are due by Saturday, December 25th. The winner will be notified by Friday, December 31st.

*U.S. residents only please. Sorry our abroad buddies we just can’t afford it.

This contest is over.

Every year Otaku no Video is used to kick off Otakon. It has had that spot on the programming schedule ever year since 1994 because it was one of the first and most well know anime that looks into the heart of otaku culture. It encapsulates the spirit of any anime convention and the otaku lifestyle. It simultaneously sings the praises of the otaku while hanging its head in shame at the same time. Otaku no Video does this dichotomy in storytelling with two different narratives taking place. One story is told with animation and one story is told through a live action mockumentary. Each path takes its own look at anime fandom and pushes past is logical extreme for comedic effect. In between these two extremes is where Gainax and maybe even anime fandom’s true opinion of itself lies.

Otaku no Video is a show that I remember from my early fandom. I don’t know how it is exactly, probably just the internet, but it seems as soon as you start watching anime, as soon as you enter fandom, you find out about the word “otaku.” It is like magically you just know this word and whether you use it right or wrong, and who says what the right and wrong is, becomes a part of your fandom. Nowadays you can find any number of shows featuring otaku, but when Otaku no Video hit the streets it wasn’t often otaku were main characters. But despite the prevalence of such things now, Otaku no Video is still a unique work without equal.

The first part of Otaku no Video is the Gundam Sousei version of the founding of Studio Gainax. It is an overly dramatic and comedic look at how a group of otaku took their diverse  passions and turned it into a company by otaku for otaku. We see how normal guy Ken Kubo is sucked into after a chance encounter with his old high school friend Tanaka. The two eventually decide to throw off the shackles of a convention a life an become otakings. They must overcome great deal hardship on both the financial front and personal front to form an otaku empire called Giant X. Along the way we get various insights into the inner workings of anime, manga, figure, military,  idol, and science fiction nerds along side pretty much every other type of nerd of the 1980s and 90s. We see people lining up to see Unico while ogling over design sketches from Macross: Do You Remember Love?. We see tape trading going on while a circle is working in shifts on doujinshi. We  cosplayer trading anime quotes while waiting in line all night for a promotional event. Every popular anime of the time is name dropped, cosplayed, quoted, and referenced throughout the OAVs. It is a celebration of the passion and drive that otaku can have in chasing their dreams.

The animated narrative is filled with positive energy. Despite the fact that Kubo, a non-otaku at the beginning, loses the path he was on, he gains something that gives him far greater pleasure. He has a passion, friends, and sense of justice that dictates the greater plot of the show: to create an otaku empire! But beyond that, there is a sense of belonging through both the hobbies the friends share and the ostracization they feel from the outside world. Though I always felt these outcast moments were more for realization than trying to press any lesson or prove a point. Kubo endures these moments, comes to a breaking point, and then vows to make his hobby into his purpose. Very much like nerd revenge on all those that looked down upon them. I also have a soft spot for stories where an underdog succeeds and hires all his friends, it is very uplifting. So while it is a very fictionalized account, the most important part still rings loud and clear: Boldly go after your dreams!

Cutting in between this fictionalized history of Gainax there are live action segments called Portrait of an Otaku. In these clips random otaku are interviewed about their hobbies. Everyone involved has their faces blurred out and their voices changed to protect their identities. They are asked a number of probing questions about their lives and lack thereof. Then the usually flash some statics and the end of the interview. It is obvious that these segments are staged but they still hold tremendous insight into the shameful feelings of the otaku. We start with a business man who obviously goes out of his way to hide his otaku nature, we then move on to lonely porn fans and visual novel fans who won’t stop what they are doing for the interview, crazy survivalist guns nuts, and even an animation cell thief. To prove their willingness to mock everyone there is even a total Japanophile American who is interviewed. These segments are played for laughs the message is clear. These people are sad individuals who exemplify all that is dark and base about the otaku.

It is a little hard to know how seriously to take the interspersed interviews with real-life otaku. Some moments are easily staged, like one of my favorites, when they are interviewing a guy about cosplay and then he happens to pull a Char helmet out of nowhere! However, even if it is joking around it certainly sets a contrast to the animated portions through the faked names, mosaiced faces, and voice changes. These people talk passionately about their hobbies, even looking nostalgically back of their youth clubs, but they come off as hiding their true selves. The narrator seems to reflect this fact, and by the way he seems to get more cynically between the first and second episode. Though I have to say, these real otaku from the early 90′s aren’t too different from the ones of today. I have to say, I kind of wonder if through the sheer fact that they are real-life people it takes on a different tone.

The real question is how do these two contradicting ideas exist side by side with each other. On one had we have a glorious celebration of why being an otaku is so grand and how you should be loud and proud about being a fan in the animated segments. At the same time we have a complete feeling of shame and a view that otaku are all pathetic losers who should hide away from society considering how horrible they are. I think that it is not only that the truth lies in the middle on this matter but that many otaku hold both concepts in their heads simultaneously. We often celebrate the positive and try to  hide away or make fun of the negative and believe both about ourselves and our fellow fans. I am sure that the staff at studio Gainax being who they are have seen the heights of both sides. Instead of mixing these feelings into one message like Genshiken did they decided to split these two feelings into their own paths.

What does one take away from Otaku no Video? An amusing time and a look at some history of otaku, albeit fictionalized and exaggerated. Whether you decide to take away some deeper meaning about the state of otakudom then or now is up to serious interpretation. It is a work that will always be remembered and has inadvertently now become a classic.

CONTEST

Want a DVD of Otaku no Video? All you have to do is leave a comment telling us about the moment you knew you were an otaku.

Entries are due by Wednesday, September 22nd. The winner will be notified by Friday, September 24th.

*U.S. residents only please. Sorry our abroad buddies we just can’t afford it.

This contest is over.

And so our 4th year of blogging begins! It is a bit hard to believe, it has gone by in a flash, and there are no plans to slow down. And instead of expecting gifts, we are giving a big pile of stuff away in celebration of our birthday! The site got a bit of a update to its look and layout, nothing too drastic but I wanted to do make it spiffy for the coming year.

The third year for the Reverse Thieves comes to a close which is apparently some sort of a milestone in the anime blogging community, the three year mark is a stabilizer. I’m always a little relieved whenever I cross one of those threshold dates. I use our birthday post as a chance to reflect on what we have done over the course of the year. The most significant project we accomplished was without a doubt the Otaku Diaries, 11 posts over the course of the year that were very well received by people in the community and I hope gave the some insight. We also also changed where we were hosted so the site is much more stable than it was before. The upside is we don’t have to worry about the site going down once a week. The downside is that I can’t install cute little WordPress plug-ins anymore. At the beginning of 2010, we started the Speakeasy podcast which now not only makes us anime and manga blogger but also anime and manga podcasters. That is like twice the otaku capital. All that is left is for one of us to get some sort of paid writing position for us to complete the hat trick. Another new addition in 2010 was putting manga of the month on hiatus which was apparently a slightly unpopular decision despite the fact that I never received any feedback on it until it was gone but our rants as part of the Final Denouement have gone over well enough to make up for that loss. I am glad to see the site continually changing for the better. I have enjoyed writing for the site more and more as the months have gone on and I hope you have all enjoyed reading it as much. Just remember people only with YOUR support can this become the #1 Saber and Galaxy Angel themed blog on the Internet.

CONTEST

All you have to do is leave a comment for us which includes a suggestion for an upcoming project/article/poll/whatever you’d like to see on Reverse Thieves.

Entries are due by Wednesday, July 7th. The winner will be notified by Friday, July 9th.

*U.S. residents only please. Sorry our abroad buddies we just can’t afford it.

This contest is over.

We have been meaning to review Trigun for some time but now the stars have aligned in a way to make this extremely relevant. Funimation has recently license rescued Trigun and is putting it out on Blu-Ray and DVD. Madhouse released a Trigun movie on April 4th and Yasuhiro Nightow is writing a new chapter of the manga in celebration. Since Trigun first appeared on Adult Swim it has a solid fan following in the U.S. despite not being that popular back in Japan. We will be looking at what made the Trigun so enticing to English speaking fans and how is the manga different from the anime that was such a hit in the US.

I remember Trigun fondly, the DVD was given to me at random and little did I know a little while later it would appear on the afore mentioned Adult Swim to then go on to be one of those shows that defined anime for new U.S. fans in the early-2000s. And seriously did any of us really think the Trigun movie was going to happen? More than 10 years after the television series ended a movie comes out for a franchise that seemed to be rather ignored in Japan. I don’t know how or why it all finally came together, but I am super happy about it. But anyway, this post isn’t about the movie but the manga!

On a desert planet Vash the Stampede is a wanted man with a sixty billion double dollar bounty on his head. Known as the Human Typhoon he is supposedly responsible for the destruction of the town of July. Hot on his trail are Milly and Meryl, two women from an insurance company tasked with dealing with him. Vash is also soon joined by a shady but charismatic preacher named Wolfwood and the two become fast friends. Vash and company travel the wastelands looking for the Gung-Ho Guns, a group of killers, who may be responsible for the tragedy of July but also have a score to settle with Vash. And Vash is looking for the mysterious figure called Knives.

Within these travels Milly and Meryl pop in and out of importance, and many other civilians and villains alike ebb and flow around Vash and Wolfwood. At the beginning many of the tales are one offs where Vash gets himself entangled in the problems of others he meets in town. As the story goes on more is revealed about just who Vash is, what his connection with July is, and why the Gung-Ho Guns have their sights set on him. We also start to learn about beings called Plants that are used for energy in the towns. Trigun combines the wildwest and science fiction in a tale woven about despair and hope, action and inaction, and destruction and redemption.

Vash is one of those extremely iconic characters. Anyone who has been to an anime convention in the last many years has almost certainly seen someone cosplaying him. A goofy and lighthearted man who seems harmless when people first meet him. As the manga digs deeper in we see a more complex and tortured character. We learn that he has had deep emotional and physical scarring that has created a powerful warrior. But despite all that has happened to him he remains cheerful and optimistic. He is always trying to help the people around him and fight for peace while maintaining his vow not to take life. This attempt to move beyond the past and remain committed to a bright future despite the darkness of the present and it is centerpiece in Vash’s story.

I couldn’t agree more about Vash’s iconic status. With a shock of blonde hair, a carefree attitude, and a 60 billion double dollar bounty on his head, Vash the Stampede sauntered into the hearts of many fans and has held a place there ever since. Vash is an interesting soul who happily, effortlessly, and quickly bonds with the people he meets on his journey. It becomes clear that Vash just can’t get enough of people, he has a blind optimism towards them even. As it goes on it becomes clear that Vash has something to prove and it comes with mixed results. There is also a struggle that goes on within his heart because he has no problems putting himself if harms way for those he meets, but at the same time knowing and meeting them is putting them in harm’s way because with Vash around something is bound to happen.

In contrast we have Wolfwood who seems to be a man much in the same mold as Vash. Wolfwood also seems to be cheerful, goofy, and harmless like his partner and much like Vash he has a scarred past but it has given Wolfwood a more cynical view of the world. Wolfwood does not hesitate to take a life if necessary being the most obvious sign that their fundamental philosophies and perceptions of humanity are quite different. Part of the friendship between Vash and Wolfwood involves the struggle for both men to reconcile their friend’s worldview with their own which makes their dynamic so memorable.

The bond between Vash and Wolfwood is central to Vash’s character because he absorbs people’s emotions to readily. Vash in turn wants to help them, to show them his way of doing things, and in many ways make them believe in goodness in the world. Wolfwood very much wants to make things right, to protect people, and like Vash never asks for the redemption he so clearly seeks but doesn’t believe he deserves. But Wolfwood has his own issues, path, and ideas about the way the world works. Wolfwood is the otherside of the coin from Vash, but not so lost as Vash’s enemies. At times Wolfwood wants to believe in Vash’s view, and there are moments where it seems Vash may break. Both of these men throw everything they’ve got into changing the other’s outlook, but it’s hard to say if they ever fully succeed. It’s a testament to their strong friendship and wills that they influence each other but still have a path making it a refreshing and memorable interaction.

Milly and Meryl start as sort of an introduction to getting to know Vash. When Wolfwood is introduced they fade slightly into the background sometimes dropping out for as much as a volume at a time but they are always return. They can be seen as Vash’s constant link to humanity and alternate with Wolfwood as someone for Vash to play off of. If the insurance girls represent humanity than the Gung-Ho Guns represent a greater inhumanity. Each member had joined the organization for their own reasons but had thrown away a piece of their existence. Some believe in the genocidal goal of the organization while others have their own agendas using the organization. Each member has some crazy gimmick fighting power and as in many fighting manga one of the joys is seeing what power the next person has. There is everything from killer jazz musicians to rollerblading swordsmen. It is important to note that as the manga goes on the personality and motivations of the  Gung-Ho Guns gets more divergent from the anime even if they stay mostly the same characters.

The Gung-Ho Guns are, for the most part, an incredibly insane and sadistic bunch of people epitomized by their surrogate leader Legato Bluesummers and the ever maniacal Knives. As their paths with Vash start to converge the pasts of each come out and we learn quite a lot about how they came to be. As more and more factions emerge it’s clear that humans, space, Plants and all of these people are interconnected. The goals ultimately are destruction and genocide with Knives eying the planet for his own purposes. The villains here have harsh and dark things they have to live with making their decisions deeply rooted and not easily swayed. Some of these moments along with a few fights throughout the series make Trigun border on horror at times. The violence and gritty nature increases as the story goes on following the path of its characters descent into an ever-growing deadly situation.

When the anime starts it is very faithful to the manga but since the anime ended long before the manga the last half slowly diverges in its own fashion. The main question people ask is if you have seen the anime is it worth reading the manga afterward. I would say that it is but you must be prepared that while there are major changes between them overall the end in very similar. It is just the road to the end that is different. The second question people ask is if you have not seen either which should you partake in. I would pick the manga but I think they both do different things very well but the manga wraps things up in a more epic manner. I also like the style of the Gung-Ho Gun they introduce in the manga. But there is much to be gained from seeing both.

With the anime more than a decade out some fans have fallen off but don’t think the love that still exists for Trigun is nostalgia, the manga is a wonderful full-force ride that gives all the way to the ending. An ending that seems informed by the anime or perhaps Nightow just knew very well where he was headed and advised the anime staff so. Either way both work have story and characters worthy of seeking out but upon viewing the anime I think you’ll want to read the manga and vice-versa. Even after both I am anxious for the movie and ever more so looking out for the coming manga chapters from Nightow.

Trigun’s greatest appeal in the U.S. is the manga’s mixture of western and eastern aesthetics. Yasuhiro Nightow has mentioned being influenced by any and all types of comics including American comics so while Trigun is unmistakably a manga it draws on many of the strengths and appeals of Western comics. This hybrid of styles gives Trigun both a familiar and exotic style which I think can be one of the biggest broad market appeals. The art especially in the fight scenes can be sometimes hard to follow but its detailed, frantic, and sometimes macabre style sets it apart. But the characters and the world keep fans interested.  I think that Trigun is and will continue to be an evergreen title in western fandom.

CONTEST

Look at all that lovely Trigun loot (*books in Japanese)! To win it, all you have to do is leave us a comment telling us what your power would be if YOU were one of the Gung-Ho Guns!

Entries are due by Sunday, May 2nd. The winner will be notified on Monday, May 3rd.

This contest is over.

Riding Bean has an fascinating back story. Although it might seem that Riding Bean is a spin off of Gunsmith Cats it turns out that Riding Bean was the original concept and Gunsmith Cats is the continuation of the project. But when various problems that I have never seen clearly stated occurred everything was canceled and Kenichi Sonoda took Bean’s side kick Irene Vincent and altered her a bit to create the Gunsmith Cats manga. Bean Bandit would later show up in Gunsmith Cats as a reoccurring guest star but sadly this is the only piece of animation showing off the Road Buster himself. But what a ride this one OAV is.

I remember vividly from my youth trying to rent this from the video store on multiple occasions. When I did finally get my hands on it, I was overwhelmed with joy at its lovely 80′s OVA-ness. I didn’t really have access to much information at the time, so I was in denial that there wasn’t anymore of the adventures of Bean and Rally. Much to my joy years later I learned of Bean’s appearance in the Gunsmith Cats manga, but still there is a little hole in my heart that Bean was relegated to just a side character.

Bean Bandit is an underground courier who takes all sorts of shady jobs including being a get away driver. He is infamous for being one of the best drivers around and having an amazingly tricked out car (bulletproof, variety of gimmicks in the wheels, hidden gun ports). Bean and partner Rally Vincent take a seemingly simple job of transporting a girl back to her rich father after she was rescued by kidnappers but soon discover that they have been set-up as part of a much bigger crime. While Bean is trying to get back at the people who have set him up, Detective Percy is trying to catch him in his own souped-up car.

It becomes quite obvious that Bean is a royal terror to the Chicago Police Department inspiring annoyance, fear, and awe out of those he comes in contact with. And rightfully so, I mean the man can punch through car doors and takes no damage from stun guns and bullets. Bean’s attitude is a mixture of rugged and kind of comical, like his voice always sounds very amused by things going on. However, cross him or take crap about his car and he will let you know that he isn’t playing around. I am glad he takes the creepy lesbian pedo lady to task for trying to set him up . . . and for being a creepy pedo. Speaking of though, there is a pretty skeeve scene at the beginning, but that happily is short and never happens again. As for Rally, she is one good-looking lady and probably the only one who knows how to tame Bean. She is smart and since Bean doesn’t carry a gun (that’s right the man just takes on everyone bare-handed or with a knife) the gunman and lookout, so really the all encompassing sidekick.

Bean Bandit is a man’s man. He eats like a man with good old red meat as a part of every meal and the fact that he uses a fighting knife as a utensil shouldn’t be ignored. He drives like a man in true Fast and the Furious style with the hottest car you have ever dreamed of. He fights like a man as he shrugs off bullets and being hit by a car like the were mere unpleasantries. He is also clearly a Han Solo style rouge doing any job that he gets but also shows he has a soft side as he refuses to hurt children. He is an iconic character that is hardly deep but he instantly likable and wicked cool. Fans of Rally Vincent from the Gunsmith Cats will see the groundwork for her here. She is much more his sidekick and personal assistant in Riding Bean but she is still highly capable and just as dangerous a crack shot. Had there been a full TV series they would have surely developed a romantic relationship but that is saved for Gunsmith Cats as well.

The story is not all that complex of one, but this is only 45-minutes long, and it atleast allows for a decent set-up and plenty of action. The mix of a little intrigue, multiple car chases, fights, and bits of comedy make it a well rounded and enjoyable watch. Riding Bean isn’t some life changing show, but watching Riding Bean is fun and that is what counts. Bean rocks and at the very least you will add him to the list of amazingly bad-ass dudes in anime.

Riding Bean is a fun OAV that gives you everything you could want in one delightfully easy to watch package. It has fast cars, hot women, and even hotter action. The well researched Chicago locations feel as authentic as the lovingly reproduced cars and guns. As with any Kenichi Sonoda production you do get a bit of the old loli creepiness but it is hardly anything that cannot be overlooked. The only real flaw might be that at only one episode you will be heartbroken they never made any more.

CONTEST

If you haven’t seen Bean Bandit in action, well then shame on you! Lucky for you we have a DVD to give away, all you have to do is leave us a comment telling us what job YOU would hire Bean Bandit for!

Entries are due by Sunday, March 28th. The winner will be notified on Monday, March 29th.

This contest has ended.

In the grand tradition of giving back to the community, we present our Holiday Giveaway. It’s chockfull of DVDs, books, CDs, a t-shirt, a bag, and other doo-dads. It’s a grab bag of stuff and think of it this way, if you get some thing you already have or aren’t into, then you can in turn give it away as well. There is no gimmick for winning this time other than reading this post so there is no reason not to enter.

CONTEST

All you have to do is e-mail us (reversethieves@gmail.com) with HAPPY HOLIDAYS as the subject and your name and a holiday greeting in the body.

Entries are due by Thursday, December 24th. The winner will be notified on Saturday, December 26th.

This contest has ended.

Year number two. I am impressed that we made it this far. It is hardly the most momentous anniversary. I am certainly going to save the major theatrics for atleast the 5 year anniversary.  Still I’m majorly overjoyed that we have made it this far. We have had a lot of major changes over 2008 and 2009. We started the Ongoing Investigations, which I like a lot. We shook up the current look of the site well. I know Narutaki wants to change to look of the site again but I don’t think he is in a major rush. We started participating on Twitter. This has not only grown interest in the blog but I have met a good deal of cool people thought it, too. We are steadily gaining more of a readership but I don’t think we will ever be cool enough to be in the top 10 anime blogs. On the other hand, as long as we continue we will always have a steady readership who likes what we bring to the table. We are also just getting better at doing the blog all the time. Back in the day it was many times a rush to get articles up on time. Now we have a good stockpile in advance. The fact that Narutaki can take a vacation and nothing appears to change is a major success. We also have a clearer voice and a better vision of what we want to do. The blog is a piece of art that is in constant revision. I am curious what we will add this year. I am personally hoping for more Saber and Galaxy Angel.

Happy birthday, us! Maybe two years is still a baby in blog years but it sure feels like an accomplishment to me. I have no intentions of stopping here. I have worked through anime burn out, writer’s block, sleep deprivation, and sickness. I am committed to this and the best part is I enjoy it! There have certainly been big changes over the year. I think the biggest has been our consistency of putting out blog posts, the schedule is really strict these days! Also we have stepped up to the plate and pursed events as press. We have even conducted some interviews! We conducted our first giveaway contest on the blog (and this is the second one!) We’ve also added guest writers, who appear infrequently, but always have something fun to add to the mix. Gosh, thinking on it now so much has happened, so many words have been written, and so much has been watched/read that it’s almost dizzying looking back! And by the way, I’m not planning on the changing the blog look anytime soon. As a designer I think I always play with the idea but I am pretty happy with the format at the moment even if I do have fits of creativity. I have no idea what is in store for the coming year, perhaps I just haven’t thought it over too much. Hopefully there are more toys!

CONTEST

The best part of any birthday party is presents! So we are giving you, our awesome readers, a chance to get some excellent gifts. We are giving away 3 prize packages all you have to do is e-mail us (reversethieves@gmail.com) your answer to this simple scenario:

You are a world famous thief, what was the caper that made you famous? Who is the rival that is always trying to foil your plans?

Entries are due by Sunday, July 5th. The winners will be announced on Friday, July 10th.

This contest has ended.

Vertical had mentioned the Shinjuku Shark books a couple of times at conventions and piqued my interest. After all, a detective story is what we have an affinity for around here! So the self-titled first book finally got a look see by both of us. The Shinjuku Shark strikes fear in all that know him and in many that don’t. He is somewhat of a rogue cop who the brass can’t stand. He has no partner to speak of as he prowls the streets of Shinjuku with little fear of the Yakuza and other gang types. While Samejima (The Shark) certainly has a hard-boiled feel, he is humanized through his relationships and by him actually having moments of fear when going up against the villains in these stories. Also after learning a little of his past in the force as well as the reason he has been permanently relegated to the Shinjuku streets he quickly becomes a character you want to follow. Some other notable people are Yabu the weapons expert on staff and Samejima’s boss Momoi who is nicknamed The Cadaver because of his stellar personality. Both of these guys help Samejima out once and a while, so you know not everyone is against him. They make a great team and certainly made me want to see them appear more. One of the things that struck me was some of the coincidences in this book. We aren’t looking at a small pool of suspects, we are talking about an entire city, but it is relatively obvious who is behind things about half way through. Also the final intended victim was rather convenient. However, if I accept these things the story has some well-paced and suspenseful moments.

I was interested in reading Shinjuku Shark due to a very unusual source, Super Gals! In the show the Odaiba Shark is a show that the main character’s whole family watches. The author, Arimasa Osawa, seems to be a huge fan of both American and Japanese detective literature, movies, and television. Due to a variety of indicators it is obvious that Osawa has ingested a great deal of detective media and then used that knowledge to create his own brand of detective fiction. There is even an sinisterly obsessive detective fan who appears throughout the book as a creepy reminder of how easy it is to get too wrapped up in something. The beginning of the book introduces who the Shark is, how he earned his infamous reputation and how he deals with people on the force and on the street of Shinjuku. Then one third into the story we learn about a serial killer who is killing police officers. For a book that bills itself as a detective novel, not much detective work goes on. The books strength lies more in the characters and the neighborhood they live and work in. If you like the Shark and want to know more about him then you will enjoy the book. The case is the framework to learn more about the protagonist. If you don’t connect to the Shark I have a feeling the book will come off as flat. Oh was I the only person who kept picturing the Shark’s girlfriend as a live action adaption of Priss from Bubblegum Crisis? On a side note of interest, Arimasa Osawa also did story of the 15 volume manga Koryu no Mimi.

I found myself more pulled into The Poison Ape from the get go. This may just be because I have a better feel for how things will play. Also I really enjoyed the passages by a hostess named Nami. Having a double story going on really enhanced the read. Though this basically took away any mystery about who the Poison Ape was. However, at the same time it actually made him a sympathetic villain. Also, Samejima teams up a bit with another detective and they kick up the bad-assness a notch. My qualm with these novels lies with the lack of actual mystery and only minor amounts of detective work. As the reader you either know who it is practically from the get go (as in The Poison Ape) or you know at the half way mark (as in Shinjuku Shark). This makes them much more like crime dramas where you wonder how The Shark will catch his prey. However, much to their credit they stay away from making it a procedural police novel. They are well-written and thrilling at moments, but I wish it was more of a mystery. 

Eden of the East also holds up as being one of the best series of the season so far. Saki and Akira’s relationship has stayed fresh and interesting. The dialog is very snappy and a maintains a good balance between comedy and drama. The episodes have been dealing with some weighty subjects in Japanese society but doing it in an entertaining fashion. I think everybody feels a little sad for Satoshi Osugi but everybody also knows that he does not have a chance. There have been one or two very trippy scenes. I assume they will be explained is some fashion but they are usually very visually striking so I forgive them despite being a bit odd. I did not think we were going to spend as much time with the Johnny Hunter as we have so far. I am a little confused how they are going to wrap it up. Unless they get rid of a bunch of Selecao very soon I can’t see how this is going to come to an end. There is suppose to be a theatrical movie but even then I am not sure they have enough time to wrap it all up.

Read D.Gray Man 13 and there was barely a breath to be taken! It was basically full-throttle the entire time. We ended the last volume with Lavi in an unknown state thanks to Road. Now it was battlin’ time! We also see a bit of Lavi’s inner workings. Once that is hashed out things start crumbling around them and then a bigger, badder, unknown enemy shows up! It is just one thing after another! THEN, a major player shows up who is totally bad-ass. A great installment! Also some of the extras include many characters favorite foods and a weird bit involving General Cross.

Yawara! winner, Michelle:

Even as an elderly woman, I would never project my interests forcefully onto my grandchild in a tortuously repetitive manner in order to live vicariously through them, no sir. This is only because I would never have children in the first place. But if I did for whatever reason have a grandchild, I would force them to share my persistent love for drawing stupid cartoons. Of course, this wouldn’t require any rigorous training like, say, judo. But it would still require quite a deal of practice, I assume! Perhaps the normal authority figure would be against their ward doodling all over their schoolwork, but I would push for it! I would allow them to go outside or have a social life, but I would rather they spend copious amounts of time practicing art and preparing for the various deadlines they will have to meet if they happen to get a job in the arts. And by ‘happen to,’ I really mean ‘certainly will.’ (They will be enslaved to the artist’s desk by a ball and chain if need be!) And I will prepare them for worst-case scenarios! So, in case there is a worldwide shortage of general art supplies, I will teach them how to use common objects in nature to create things. That stone? That leaf? That slug? Surely there must be some obscure use for them! I will teach them how to draw in the dark in case we go into a nuclear winter! That may make no sense, but by golly, I’ll be old and senile by then, so what will I care? I will make them do intense training exercises with their hands and fingers so that they have the ultimate strength to create whatever is my whim for them to! Of course, not enough to break them. That would be bad. In case something does happen to their precious hands, I will certainly pay ridiculous amounts of money to solve the problem. And boy, they’ll be sick of me, but they should know that it’s done out of love. Or perhaps just obsession. And how frustrating it shall be if they run off with some dorky man. :V

If you ask most manga fans about Naoki Urasawa the titles that will spring to mind are: Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto. Super cool people who are awesome will also know Master Keaton. Urasawa is famous in the States for his well-written mystery series that are equivalent to literature. In Japan he has the same reputation but people also have a fondness for his softer, earlier works. The most famous being Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl. Yawara! was Urasawa first break out hit. Decidedly lighter than his later works, it still shows his ability to make compelling characters that draw the reader in. The Yawara manga ran for 29 volumes and the anime for 124 episodes. In 1992, when Ryoko Tamura got the silver medal in Judo during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, she gained the nickname Yawara-chan that she still has today. The Yawara anime ran as a sister show to Ranma 1/2 and often got higher ratings. Sadly while Ranma 1/2 became a huge hit in America, Yawara is basically unknown. This is a real shame because Yawara is a really charming show that is both funny and filled with a good deal of heart.

I have only recently started reading Urasawa’s works such as Pluto and 20th Century Boys but they are certainly a very different story from A Fashionable Judo Girl. The title alone could probably tell you that. However, I don’t really have a clear opinion of Urasawa yet so I didn’t go into this show with an sort of expectation. All I really knew was that Yawara! was a rather popular sports comedy from the early 90′s. It is a rather long series, so here we have sampled the first 18 episodes to give you a taste of it.

Yawara Inokuma has very simple dreams: to have fun with her friends, go shopping for bargains, and get a handsome boyfriend. She would probably be living her dreams if not for one major obstacle: her grandfather Jigorou. Since she was born, he has been training her to be a Judo champion. He wants her to win the gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics since it will be the first time that women’s Judo will be a medal competition. Seeing Yawara’s lack of ambition Jigorou decides to recruit a rival named Sayaka Honami. After Sayaka is offhandedly defeated by Yawara she vows revenge trying to beat her in judo and love. At the same time the sports reporter Kosaku Matsuda has discovered Yawara’s immense talent and is convinced she will be a worldwide sensation.

Yawara packs a lot of hilarious moments into each episode, but don’t let that fool you. There is plenty of character and relationship development as well as the underlying story of Yawara’s family. Oh right, and there is also Judo. From the main description of the plot you might think it is at the forefront of what is going on. Well, it isn’t. Judo does occur in almost every episode but it is not crazy-over-the-top-go-out-and-learn-judo-right-now inducing. Though it does seem to have that affect on a lot of people who see Yawara throw people. People in this show, like everyone on the street, seems to love Judo with a passion!

Yawara will eventually go on to set the standard for Urasawa’s female protagonists. She is kind, generous, bold, and smart but also very headstrong and slightly naive. Yawara is an amazing Judo prodigy with a unbelievable amount of inborn genius. If this were a different series she would be claiming that her kung-fu is unbeatable. So far we have not seen anyone who poses a serious challenge to her. When she has difficulty it has been due to her not having her heart in the matches. Her toughest challenges and the drama does not come from Judo but in the area where everyone is weak: romance. Yawara is attractive and sweet but also romantically awkward due to bizarre upbringing. It does not help that she has several people doing their best to make sure Yawara does not get anywhere in her relationships. It might initially seems that Yawara is shallowly avoiding her amazing talent for Judo in favor of romance but as the series goes on we learn it is more complex.

To Yawara, Judo is an obstacle that prevents her from being “normal.” If the series wasn’t so heavily comedy based, you might find her constant mantra of wanting to be normal trying at best. However, the idea of normalcy is mostly played for laughs. Her life is a series of crazy incidents one after the other surrounding her love life and Judo. A boring day does not exist for Yawara. Yawara also feels completely unfeminine as a physically strong woman. However, it becomes increasingly apparent that she is the only one that feels that way when it involves her. She literally has a few suitors throwing themselves at her feet. What has led her to believe she cannot be both a woman and Judo champ is still unknown. Even so, there are moments you glimpse Yawara enjoying Judo. As a watcher, you always know that deep down she does have an affection for the sport. So therein lies Yawara’s biggest challenge: accepting and embracing her abilities while maintaining her simple dreams. She takes little steps to this. It is especially wonderful to see her get caught up with the boys Judo team at her school. While she takes a roundabout way to getting to things, we know and can see her changing even in just a few episodes.

One of Yawara’s biggest obstacles in her search for love is her grandfather. He keeps saying that love will only get in the way of her becoming a Judo champion. He insists that when she wins the gold she will be able to pick and choose her boyfriends but Yawara wants to hear none of that. Jigoro spends most of his time orchestrating amazingly obtuse plans to push Yawara to greatness. It’s fun to see him set up a phony race car set in the dojo to throw off nosy reporters or manipulate the boys judo team in an attempt to awaken Yawara’s passion. The only thing that equals his fanaticism for Judo is his lust for food. He is almost always snacking on something whenever we see him, even in the eye catches. He is extremely amusing but I know some people find him annoying. But seriously, how can you not like his appearances in the countdown to the Olympics at the end of each episode?

Jigoro is a sly old coot with an appetite the size of a small country. He is also a tiny little thing with a feisty attitude that makes all of his appearances comedy gold. The constant misunderstandings and miscommunications between Yawara and her grandfather make for some of the most hilarious moments in the series. Between Jigoro’s completely transparent ulterior motives and his incorrect assumptions about Yawara’s motives, things couldn’t get further entangled. Despite Jigoro being insane and overbearing, he truly believes Yawara is the greatest Judo youth in existence. He is her biggest fan even if Yawara would rather pretend not to know him. Simply put, no one, and certainly not Yawara, can convince him that she doesn’t have a passion for Judo that runs deep into her soul. And maybe he is right.

Sayaka Honami is the spoiled, rich girl. She starts the series bored since she has beaten anyone is any sport she participates in. Thanks to Jigoro, soon Sayaka sees Yawara as her rival in everything. At first she just wants to beat Yawara at Judo but when her handsome coach, Kazamatsuri, becomes involved with Yawara she feels she must beat her in love as well. It does not help that Kazamatsuri is a pretty playboy that attracts women like moths to a flame. Kazamatsuri was set to be one of the greatest Judo champions but due to horrific stage fright he was never able to talk to the press or participate in any major tournaments.  I must mention that there is something so very right about getting Akira Kamiya to do Kazamatsuri’s voice thanks to his role as Mendou in the past. In the other corner is Kosaku Matsuda a reporter from a third rate newspaper mostly assigned to the lowly duty of getting sports gossip. He becomes fascinated with Yawara after seeing her take down a mugger with a flawless Judo throw. In the process of trying to find who this amazing girl is, he begins to become more and more emotionally invested in helping her. As the series progresses Kosaku is not just interested in living out his dreams though Yawara but he also has romantic feelings for her. He is a delightfully goofy character who always tries his best to help Yawara even if it does not always work out correctly.

Sayaka immediately reminded me of Kodachi from Ranma 1/2 and then it sort of clicked why the two shows were played back to back during their original airing. Sayaka’s passion for sport and competition is 180 degrees from where Yawara stands. In fact, if you combined the two of them they would probably have the right amount of competitive spirit! Consequently, you would think there is little for them to fight over but Sayaka’s love for Kazamatsuri ensures that her and Yawara butt heads often both on and off the Judo mat. She is just the right amount of over-the-top for Yawara’s rival complete with perfect mocking laughter. I assume that other rivals will appear as the series goes on but it is hard to imagine one better. Yawara also has a bevy of suitors creating a fierce fighting spirit in some of them since she has only eyes for Kazamatsuri. And let me tell you, you will have no idea why. Kazamatsuri couldn’t be more gag-me material. He will make you roll your eyes and shock you as a plethora of women call him handsome. However, I truly believe he is there for the audience to laugh about. Clearly the guy to root for is Matsuda! He is a report who has a knack for showing up at interesting times sometimes leading to success but often leading to chaos. He is very passionate about Yawara’s Judo abilities and eventually becomes passionate about Yawara herself. His motives are unique and he really wants to help Yawara realize both the dream of being a pretty girl and that of being a Judo champ. Rounding out the boys is the school Judo team filled with colorful characters including the big, overly-emotional Hanazono and pervy street punk Sudoh. Jigoro sure has his work cut out for him!

The animation is solid. So far I can’t see any decline in quality but it clearly has the budget of a long haul, popular show. So most of the time the animation is good but never great. They adapt the characters quite well and they have a good sense of capturing the humor and action. It’s also worth noting the anime benefits from starting a couple of years after the manga. It took a book or two for Urasawa to settle on the character designs so everyone looks a bit different in later chapters. The opening and the ending are catchy but oh so very 80′s. The 1st opening is snappy and bright and set the mood for the comedy of the series although it tends to focus of the fashionable part of Yawara instead of the mostly ignored judo part. The 1st ending at first made me think Tears for Fears was going to start singing. The ending is more sentimental and reflective. These are all good reasons that if you have to choose either to watch the anime or read the manga I would watch the anime. Also there is no legitimate release of the manga as of this article going up so the choice should be clear.

Well, you certainly couldn’t convince anyone that this show isn’t from the early 90′s (which still feels like the 80′s). While the animation itself is decent, the character designs clearly show its era. This might be a strike against it for some (not me) and could be the reason a more stylized show like Ranma 1/2 found a loyal fanbase in the U.S. where Yawara missed out. But truly these things lend the show its charm and gives you some insight into why the show follows certain patterns and humor. Some of the more wonderful moments worth experiencing are the eye catches with Jigoro eating random things sporting the logo Jigoro with “…is a fantastic Judo boy” and his Olympics countdown at the completion of each episode. Actually anything involving Jigoro is most likely must-see viewing.

As always Animeigo does an amazingly comprehensive book of liner notes.  These liner notes are stunningly detailed and often go off on amusing tangents but never fail to full explain anything you might not be aware of in the series. We get brief bios of everyone involved. The judo section is well researched and detailed. Every phrase used in the show is given an indepth explanation and the general rules are explained so everything that goes on in the show is fully spelled out. The notes clearly make the boxset worth the price of admission.

I think the only thing that would could have been added to the handbook is a list of all the foods Jigoro consumes in each episode. I think that would be hilarious and informative, however that is neither here nor there. The packaging overall is very nicely done from the box, to the cases, to the discs themselves. Such great care was taken with series and it deserves it. There are certainly tons of shows that go unnoticed but Yawara! shouldn’t be another on that list. It is funny, easy paced, and has a bit of heart that makes you smile. The length of the series is a bit daunting but it’s the type of show you watch in conjunction with another show. Yawara! is great to plop down and watch a disc of and then come back to again and again.

I have heard Yawara! along with Happy! were heavily influenced by editors’ demands because of Urasawa being new on the scene. So, much like Master Keaton this is more of a collaborative work. It is a lighthearted, largely episodic work with an overall storyline moving forward towards a goal. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. You can’t go into this show expecting Urasawa’s gripping epic thrillers like Monster or his powerful stories from Master Keaton. It is a fun show to watch a few episodes at a time whenever you want. Sort of like Ranma 1/2 but with a stronger and more directed main plot which is why I assume they were paired together. It’s a fun blast from the past that can be enjoyed by open-minded modern day fans.

CONTEST

Win the first boxset of Yawara! by e-mailing us (reversethieves@gmail.com, subject: Yawara!) your answer to this simple scenario:

Yawara has her crazy grandfather pushing her to become a Judo champ. When you get crazy and old what are you going to mentor your young prodigy in? What crazy over the top training methods will you use?

Entries are due by Sunday, May 31th. The winner will be announced on Friday, June 5th.

This contest has ended.