(continued from part 1)

ANGELIC LAYER: Mizaki Suzuhara is moving to Tokyo. Upon arriving
at the train station, she gets lost (it's her first time in Tokyo) and
wanders outside, where she witnesses a battle that wows her on a
gigantic screen. It turns out that the battle was part of Angelic
Layer, a game that's very popular. She gets drawn into the game and
goes on a wild adventure. This series has something for everyone,
from the comedic wiggly-squiggly Icchan, to more heart-felt moments,
and even intense battles. So go out now, and see the series that one
of the voice actresses calls "DRAGON BALL Z for Girls!" Available
from ADV films.
R1 official website: <http://www.angeliclayerdvd.com/main.php>
[Entry by Bill Martin]

AOZORA SHOUJOTAI: see 801 T.T.S. AIRBATS

ARIA: In Neo-Venezia, despite a backdrop of science fiction
technology, life has returned to simpler times. Akari Mizunashi has
lived on Neo-Venezia for half a year, employed as a 'Single' or
apprentice undine (gondolier). Together with her friends and fellow
trainees Aika and Alice, Akari spends her days training to become a
full-fleged undine, and experiencing the joys of life, love, and
friendship among the canals of Neo-Venezia.
ARIA is a laid-back, slice-of-life story that shows the "Magic of
everyday life" through Akari's eyes. Cooked from the same recipie as
YOKOHAMA KAIDASHI KIKOU, Aria's episodic pace and lovely background
music can best be described as relaxed. Warm and fuzzy feelings are
the order of the day for Aria.
ARIA spans two seasons of 13 episodes each (ARIA and ARIA THE
NATURAL), and is available fansubbed.
[Entry by Abraham Evangelista]

ARJUNA: see EARTH GIRL ARJUNA

ARMITAGE III: In the future, mankind has terraformed and settled
Mars. We've also developed a line of human-like androids with
designations of "first," "second" and "third". Ross Sylabus, a police
detective from Earth with an antipathy for androids, has transferred
to Mars. What he finds there is a political conspiracy that covers
two planets and involves his colleague, the child-like female
detective Armitage. Well drawn and animated, with moments of both
levity and action. Some violence. Four episodes, or one movie which
is the episodes edited together with some omissions. Subbed and
dubbed both available. From Geneon, and Madman in Australia.
[Entry by Ben Cantrick]
[There is also a sequel movie ARMITAGE III - DUAL-MATRIX, which
contains spoilers for the original ARMITAGE III story. - Rob Kelk]

ARSLAN SENKI (a.k.a. THE HEROIC LEGEND OF ARSLAN): 5 part OAV
running approximately 4 hours total. Slow paced historical fiction.
The kingdom of Pars is overrun by a neighboring kingdom, with inside
help. The king is imprisoned and it's up to the young prince and his
loyal retainers to win the kingdom back. The story is more sword and
political intrigue than it is sword and sorcery, not much fighting, no
comedy, full of shoujo-esque character designs, and is unfinished, the
remainder of the story is available in novel or manga form. Original
novels by the same author as LEGEND OF GALACTIC HEROES. DVD box set
includes all OAVs. By U.S. Manga Corps.
[Entry by MimiE]

ASH WINGS ALLIANCE: see HAIBANE RENMEI

ASTRO BOY (originally TETSUWAN ATOMU/MIGHTY ATOM): The first real
Japanese anime TV series aired in 1963, ASTRO BOY was made by the
anime "God" Osamu Tezuka. It is a story of a little robot boy, who
ages and becomes mature through the series. It was the first anime
which featured familiar things such as continuous story and plot for
the entire series, character development, and so on. And remember, it
was the first TV anime series!
(This description refers to the original series, not the later
remake.)
Licenced by The Right Stuf International in North America, and by
Madman in Australia.
[Entry by Andrew V. Tupkalo]

AURA BATTLER DUNBINE: Motorcycle racer Show Zama is pulled into an
alternate world where he is drafted as an Aura Battler. An Aura
Battler is a person from Upper Earth (our world) that has the aura
power to control the insect-like mechs this world uses to fight its
wars. While the natives can also drive these things they cannot do so
with the proficiency of Upper Earthers. Show finds himself involved
in a war of conquest led by Drake Luft and soon decides he's on the
wrong side. It's quite an epic from the man who gave the world
GUNDAM.
Licenced by ADV Films.
[Entry by Kyle Thomas Pope]

AZUMANGA DAIOH: Popular 26 episode comedy series which follows the
fortunes of seven girls, two teachers, and one dog through the three
years of senior high school. Much of the story centres on Chiyo-chan,
a ten year old genius who has been put in their class and whose
combination of cuteness and superior academic ability inspires
ambivalent feelings amongst her considerably older classmates. Each
character is sharply defined and a lot of the humour arises from our
anticipation of their inevitable behaviour, from the narcoleptic Osaka
who lives in a dream to the manic Tomo whose hijinks go a little too
far. The animation is minimal and at times repetitive, but the images
are beautifully drawn with a refreshing look and equally good
background music.
Available from ADV.
Note: the AZUMANGA DAIOH "Movie" (included on the sixth ADV DVD,
not included in the box set) is actually just a five minute widescreen
short which reworks a few scenes from the series.
R1 official website: <http://www25.advfilms.com/titles/azumanga/>
[Entry by Shez]

B

BAKUEN CAMPUS GUARDRESS (a.k.a. COMBUSTIBLE CAMPUS GUARDRESS or
CAMPUS GUARDRESS): Girl is sister to boy who is the reincarnation of
a man whom the girl's previous incarnation loved. He died last time
saving the world for evil monsters from another dimension who are bent
on world conquest. And now it's happening all over again. How will
the girl ever manage to save her brother and the world at the same
time, how will she deal with her incestful feelings for her brother,
and how can she deal with her mother making moves on her boy?
This is a bimodal show with characters and input from Hagiwara, the
author of BASTARD! DESTRUCTIVE GOD OF DARKNESS. As such, it is a
combination of the sublime and the profane in a very cute mix. The
attack names are a wonderful throwback to some of the spells in
BASTARD!, and have such names as "Thousand Slices of Radish Attack" or
"Puppy Dog Attack".
If you liked BASTARD!, you'll like this one.
[Entry by Anand Chelian]

BASTARD!: It was an age of lawlessness
Of disorder and Chaos
Blood and steel, flesh and bone
An age of Magic
The four kingdoms are under siege from the evil dark armies of
Chaos. The only one who can save them is the evil wizard who nearly
conquered the world 15 years ago.
BASTARD!!
A tale of sorcery and combat, of scantily clad maidens and a more
scantily clad hero.