Browse by Catagory:
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My Neighbor Totoro
Release Date: 1996-03-05
Sales rank: 2287
My Neighbor Totoro is that rare delight, a family film that appeals to children and adults alike. While their mother is in the hospital, 10-year-old Satsuki and 4-year-old Mei move into an old-fashioned house in the country with their professor father. At the foot of an enormous camphor tree, Mei discovers the nest of King Totoro, a giant forest spirit who resembles an enormous bunny rabbit. Mei and Satsuki learn that Totoro makes the trees grow, and when he flies over the countryside or roars in his thunderous voice, the winds blow. Totoro becomes the protector of the two sisters, watching over them when they wait for their father, and carrying them over the forests on an enchanted journey. When the children worry about their mother, Totoro sends them to visit her via a Catbus, a magical, multilegged creature with a grin the Cheshire Cat might envy. Unlike many cartoon children, Satsuki and Mei are neither smart-alecky nor cloyingly saccharine. They are credible kids: bright, energetic, silly, helpful, and occasionally impatient. Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki makes the viewer believe the two sisters love each other in a way no American feature has ever achieved. My Neighbor Totoro is enormously popular in Japan, and some of the character merchandise has begun to appear in America. The film has also inspired a Japanese environmental group to buy a Totoro Forest preserve in the Saitama Prefecture, where Miyazaki's film is set. --Charles Solomon |
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Sailor Moon R The Movie - The Promise of the Rose
Release Date: 2000-02-08
Sales rank: 768
Kisenian, traveling from a far away galaxy, disguised as a meteor, aims to gather all the "positive" energy from the Earth and plant the seeds of "negativity" leaving Earth full of hatred. Unable to do this on her own, Kisenian preys on the vulnerable heart of Darien's childhood friend, Fiore. Fiore, jealous of Sailor Moon and Darien's passionate friendship, joins Kisenian in her wicked endeavor to gather energy from every star and planet! This Japanese import featuring five teenagers with superhero powers may turn out to be for older girls what Pokémon is for the pee-wee set. The fantasy-action story lines of Sailor Moon (named for the leader) is typical anime fare--which means it's far more creative than anything you'll see on Saturday morning. And far more complex--the stories are intricate and flashback sequences feature wordless narrative. Then again, what high-spirited girl wouldn't love the magical makeup that transforms hip schoolgirls into butt-kicking heroines? In this one-hour feature, we meet a new foe, a mysterious childhood friend of Sailor Moon's boyfriend who returns--from deep space! His evil plan to rid the Earth of life includes flowers with awesome powers, vine-covered foes, and telekinetics. Quite the challenge for Sailors Moon, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter. Despite the action, the series certainly has a different feel and color scheme than most male-driven anime. The Japanese have two terms: shonen (for boys) and shojo (for girls), and if girls haven't had a chance to see the shojo anime, this is the starting point. This subtitled version is uncut from the original Japanese cartoon, and the reading crowd above 7 is the appropriate audience for the video's occasional spooky imagery. This unedited version was soaked up by kids in Japan, but the cultural differences might be questionable for American parents. There's a brief, nondescriptive conversation about homosexuality and ghostly naked figures (think Barbie doll) that are illustrated, although it's not nudity as much as the female form. The dubbed version has minor edits in action and dialogue, targeting a slightly younger crowd. --Doug Thomas |
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Kiki's Delivery Service
Release Date: 1998-09-01
Sales rank: 1078
In Hayao Miyazaki's magical Kiki's Delivery Service, a 13-year-old girl meets the world head on as she spends her first year soloing as an apprentice witch. Kiki (Kirsten Dunst) is still a little green and plenty headstrong, but also resourceful, imaginative, and determined. With her trusty wisp of a cat Jiji (a gently subdued Phil Hartman) by her side she's ready to take on the world, or at least the quaintly European seaside village she's chosen as her new home. Miyazaki's gentle rhythm and meandering narrative capture the easy pulse of real life (even if his subject is a girl flying high upon a broomstick) and charts the everyday struggles and growing pains of his plucky heroine with sensitivity and understanding. Beautifully detailed animation and the rich designs of the picture-postcard seaside town of red-tiled roofs and cobblestone streets only add to the sense of wonder. This charming animated fantasy is a wholesome, life-affirming picture that doesn't speak down to kids or up to adults. --Sean Axmaker |
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Hamtaro - A Ham-Ham Christmas (Vol. 4)
Release Date: 2002-12-03
Sales rank: 5608
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Sonic the Hedgehog: Movie (Dub)
Release Date: 1999-09-07
Sales rank: 8798
True to its Sega video-game roots, this futuristic 60-minute movie includes a lot of yelling, crashing, and exploding on the way to saving the world. Sonic and his sidekicks are determined to thwart a plan that would turn their Land of the Sky into the equivalent of The Land of Darkness, which lurks beneath the surface (and is obviously the former planet Earth). So they plow through to the center of the planet and the ancient city of Robotropolis (the former New York City?) to do righteous battle. The big question of the day is whether the usually evil Dr. Robotnik is telling the truth for once or sending the good guys into a trap. The tape's producers suggest viewers be at least 7 years old because of its violence, but the rudimentary nature of the animation will probably make it appealing only to hard-core action fans among the older-kid crowd. --Kimberly Heinrichs |
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Hello Kitty: Santa's Missing Hat
Release Date: 1995-09-05
Sales rank: 9888
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Sailor Moon: Scouts Unite!
Release Date: 1997-03-11
Sales rank: 6155
Two episodes of the phenomenally popular series are featured on this video: "Computer School Blues" and "An Uncharmed Life." Both offer up the introduction of two of the sailor-suited crime/alien fighters. The first, "Computer School Blues," presents Amy, a new girl who evolves into Sailor Mercury. Next up, "An Uncharmed Life" tells the tale of Sailor Moon's friendship with Raye, daughter of a temple caretaker, and how Raye turns into Sailor Mars. Both stories feature gripping and looming alien-demons (which evolve from "normal" looking humans) that may frighten younger viewers, but for fans who must have these first shows, it's a must. Like the ubiquitous Olsen Twins, this Japanese anime series has undeniable appeal. Fans of the series clamor for tapes in English as well as in the original Japanese, and know the cosmology of Sailor Moon with the fervor of any Star Trek Trekker. Five series, movies, video games, and merchandise fill the Sailor Moon catalogue. Sailor Moon, whose daytime alter ego is 14-year-old Serena (in the English version, which this tape is), is a nice, if not typical girl-power creation. She hates studying, loves comic books, has a tendency to whine, acts before she thinks, and is more than a little boy-crazy. Perhaps this is why she's so appealing: she's easier to relate to than some saintly superhero. (Ages 5 and up) --N.F. Mendoza |
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Sailor Moon S - Back from the Future (Vol. 5, TV Version)
Release Date: 2001-06-12
Sales rank: 5494
Double Trouble! Even though Kaorinite was defeated, the mysterious Witches 5 reveal Eugeal, a new villain pursuing the heart crystals, and a new series of battles begin. Yet, for Serena, her troubles with the Witches 5 are nothing compared with the return of Rini! How can the Moon Princess concentrate properly on Tuxedo Mask with distractions like these?! Sailor Moon S TV Series Vol. 5 - Back from the Future (3 edited, English dub episodes) Stickers: 1.) 13 Up Franchise Sell Points: 1.) Each volume features original artwork commissioned from Japan. 2.) Toonami (Edited Dubbed) versions and the DVD feature crimson and gold foil accents! |
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The Wizard of Oz
Release Date: 1998-01-01
Sales rank: 5648
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Sailor Moon S - Hotaru's Secret (Vol. 9, Uncut Version)
Release Date: 2001-10-09
Sales rank: 4837
Chibi-Usa's new best friend, Hotaru, has another personality with awesome powers! Unfortunately, her father, Professor Tomoe, is also part of the Death-Busters who are attempting to destroy the world. The Sailor Soldiers of the Outer Solar System, convinced that Hotaru is a threat, continue to fight against Sailor Moon, but will Hotaru's real secret bring the Sailor Scouts together or tear them apart?! |
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