Encyclopedia

Manga - U

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei GN 4
This series looks at what makes us human, and finds something far greater than warmth, or wonder, or madness, or despair. It finds laughter.

Spice and Wolf DVD
A wolf goddess who no longer feels needed takes on humanoid form to accompany a traveling merchant in this surprisingly mature, and very different, fantasy series. The naked wolf girl might get your attention, but the wonderful character dynamics and unique plots will keep you coming back.

Sgt. Frog DVD Season 1 Part 2
Other than a waning of the first set's novelty, nothing has changed. Which is a good thing. Energetic and occasionally gut-knottingly funny, not to mention basically harmless, this is five hours of guilt-free fun.

Gundam 00 DVD Season 1 Part 3
Doesn't rectify its shortcomings so much as it steamrolls them with brute narrative force. A propulsive ending to an often uneven first season.

Bamboo Blade DVD part 1
Despite a shaky start, the first half of this light-hearted series about the building of a high school girl's kendo team soon becomes a fun and astonishingly endearing look at the passion that sports can induce in its participants. Familiarity with, or interest in, kendo is hardly necessary.

Clannad After Story Sub.DVD 2
Tomoya and Nagisa start formally building their lives and family together, but tragedy awaits, as this Key/Visual Art's title concludes. Though generally well-written and very emotionally powerful, the series pushes its drama too far and too hard, requiring a cop-out ending that will disappoint some.

Naruto Shippūden DVD 1
Gets the ball moving again after the filler of the first series, returning to the machinations of the Akatsuki and pushing its characters up a couple of levels power-wise. Slow moving, but at least it moves.

Dragon Ball DVD Season 2 Uncut Set
Here the series is in balance: an action-packed tale told with rare humor and something even rarer—a genuine sense of adventure.

What a Wonderful World! GN 2
In the long run, Asano says, we are what we choose to make of ourselves—and it is that idea, more than any particular character or storyline, that permeates this entire series.

Shonen Onmyouji DVD Boxset
Yes, it is exactly about a boy who must use his amazing powers to save the world, but such a clichéd description doesn't begin to explain the surprising layers of depth in this historical adventure.

Super Robot Wars OG Divine Wars Sub.DVD 4
If you can walk away from the preposterous spectacle of the opening without a smile on your face and a spring in your step, then you probably aren't susceptible to the series' peculiar brand of muscle-headed magic.