Hitorijime
My Hero (2017)/Made
In Abyss (2017/both
Sentai Complete Collection
Blu-rays)
Picture:
B+ Sound: B+ Extras: C/A* Main Programs: B+/A-
Now
for more Anime TV releases you should know about...
All
his life, Masahiro Setagawa has been bullied and forced to be a
gopher and expected to be other people's personal piggy bank. That
was until he was 'rescued' by the 'Bear Killer'. Now as he enter
high school, the 'Bear Killer' turns out to be his homeroom teacher
(as well as his best friend's older brother), Kousuke Ooshiba.
Kousuke continues to protect his students, but could Masahiro
feelings run deeper than just teacher and student?
In
Hitorijime
My Hero: Complete
Collection
(2017),
Masahiro Setagawa a weak person, easily pushed around and bullied and
is taken advantage by a local gang. He used to believe in heroes
until he discover his homeroom teacher is the one who beat up his
gang and freed him. Kousuke Ooshiba seems to be handsome/respectable
teacher by day, but at night he turns into the avenging 'Bear Killer'
who beats up those who take advantage of others. Masahiro best
friend is Kensuke who is a bit dense, but he discovers Asaya Hasekura
the most popular boy in school is in love with him. Kensuke and
Asaya become a couple, but at times Asaya is very possessive of
Kensuke and gets jealous when other Kensuke get close to others.
This
is what some people would call a yaoi or boys love. The series is
totally about the romance between to male characters. In this series
or case they go a step further in a romance between a teacher and
student. While it is your typical anime dramas, I would recommend
this series to those who are open minded. Extras include clean
opening and closing animations and trailers.
Episodes
include...
In
the Beginning, He Wouldn't Tell Me Anything
- Masahiro and Kensuke enter high school and discover the 'Bear
Killer'/Kensuke's older brother is their new homeroom teacher.
The
Days Go On, But There's More
- Kensuke is reunited with his childhood friend Asaya. But it turns
out he isn't interested in any girls; Asaya confesses his feeling to
him.
Like
a Teeny, Tiny Ray of Light
- Kensuke has to decide what his relationship with Asaya is. It is
obvious everyone knows how Kensuke feels about Asaya, only Kensuke
doesn't know.
A
Hunch, Hidden by Fragrant Smoke
- Now Kensuke and Asaya are a couple, Masahiro begins to question his
own feelings toward Kousuke, but Kousuke is giving mixed messages to
Masahiro.
A
Person Worthy of Love
- Kousuke get jealous when he see a girl gets close to Masahiro, and
then he forced a kiss on Masahiro at school. Both of them begin
begin to wonder...
My
Savior, Be Free
- Masahiro's old gang reappears, Masahiro distances himself from his
friends not wanting them to get involved ...but especially Kousuke.
The
High School Boy Howl
- Kousuke discovers Masahiro is being bullied by his old gang and
rescues him again. Masahiro's friends is glad he is back.
Inextinguishable
Emotions Push Me Forward
- Masahiro considers him to be Kousuke's lover ...but Kousuke
considers Masahiro as his secret 'wife'.
Where
My Feelings are Headed
- Masahiro and Kousuke makes out at school ...and their friends catch
them in the act and find out their relationship ...but can they
accept it?
Why
Is It So Hard To Be Happy?
- Kousuke continues to show PDA (public displays of affection).
Masahiro continues worry what would happen if more people saw and
found out about them.
That's
Why I Just Want You to Smile
- Kousuke becomes a full time teacher. Masahiro decides to break up
with Kousuke is better than them losing everything.
The
Kindest Place In the World
- Kousuke searches the town for Masahiro. Can Kousuke 'save'
Masahiro one more time?
The
Abyss, a mysterious gigantic bottomless hole in the earth which holds
countless priceless relics, treasures and lost technologies. It has
lured countless treasure hunters and seekers to discover it's
mysteries and secrets. The deeper you go the greater the treasure...
but so is the danger. Riko is a young 12-year-old girl with a
mysterious past, until one day she meets the robotic boy Reg,
together they descend into the Abyss as their adventure begins in
Made
In Abyss: Complete
Collection
(2017).
Riko
is a young seeker who is determined to follow in her mother's
footsteps and become a Legendary Seeker, but when she receives a
mysterious letter from the Abyss she decides to descend into the
Abyss to find her mother. Riko discovers Reg, a mysterious robot boy
who has no memory and he decides to join Riko to discover where he
came from. As they dive deeper into the Abyss, the various levels
changes ecosystems and becomes less habitable for humans. Humans who
descend further down have been known never to return, even rumors of
losing their sanity and even their bodies.
At
first it seems to be a 'cute' anime at first but as it progress it
gets more serious and has a mature themes, including death and
sacrifice. The series beautifully drawn and creates an imaginary
world full of wonder and dangers. Extras include clean opening and
closing animations, interview with Kevin Penkin, Jouei Event, Making
of the Abyss,
Music
of the Abyss
and trailers, butt a Premium
Box Set
has been issued with many more extras and is pictured above with this
review.
Episodes
include...
The
City of the Great Pit
- Riko discovers the robotic boy 'Reg'.
Resurrection
Festival
- Riko and her friends help Reg to join the orphanage where they
live.
Departure
- Riko and Reg plan to sneak into the Abyss, they prepare their
supplies, but the hardest part is to saying goodbye to their friends.
The
Edge of the Abyss
- Riko and Reg descend into the first layer of the Abyss, but someone
seems to be chasing after them.
Incinerator
- Riko and Reg reach the 2nd layer and Riko gets captured by monster,
they discover one of Reg's powers, a powerful weapon called the
'Incinerator'.
Seeker
Camp
- Riko and Reg meet Ozen the Unmoveable and learn more about the
Abyss.
The
Unmoveable Sovereign
- Riko and Reg learn of what happened to her mother and how she was
'born' ...and they are 'tested'.
Survival
Training
- Ozen trains Riko and Reg and warns them of the dangers even further
bellow.
The
Great Fault
- Riko and Reg descend further down the 3rd layer, the Great Shaft
...but here nothing is what it seems, and just when they think they
are safe ...they are not.
Poison
and the Curse
- Riko and Reg reaches the 4th layer, but they encounters a very
dangerous creature and Riko gets mortally wounded.
Nanachi
- A mysterious cute creature appears, Nanachi and saves Riko. Reg is
sent to find the ingredients to make the antidote for the poison.
The
True Nature of the Curse
- Reg learns of what the curse truly is and why no one returns from
the 6 layer.
The
Challengers
- Nanachi explains her past to Reg and asks a special favor from Reg.
As Riko recovers, Nanachi decides to join Riko and Reg's adventure.
Both
series are presented in 1080p 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image
transfers that are among the best, if not absolute best from Sentai
to date, still would be interesting in 4K presentations. Both
offer DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Stereo lossless sound with some
Pro Logic surrounds that are warm, rich and sound like the new
recordings they are and as expected to be good.
-
Ricky Chiang
