Rumiko Takahashi Anthology – Happy Disaster

(Volume 2/Animé TV)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Episodes: B-

 

 

We have not had a good Horror anthology series in well over a decade, so to have one in the world of Animé is intriguing.  Rumiko Takahashi Anthology – Happy Disaster (2003) is the second volume of episodes that offers a variety of amazing stories better than Steven Spielberg’s disappointing live-action Amazing Stories from the 1980s.  The shows here are:

 

4) In The Pot

5) Aberrant Family F

6) As Long As You Are Here

 

 

The first two shows have to do with a little girl’s imagination running wild, expecting Horror movie scenarios in her life at every turn.  The latter is about the horrors of fast food work.  Because this is an anthology, the series cannot rely as heavily on formulas and conventions Animé is known for.  Since Animé is still bringing in the big bucks, that formula will not change.  The nice thing about this series is that it takes Animé into a new direction.  This kind of narrative offering is long overdue and if the rest of the volumes are as good as this one, Rumiko Takahashi Anthology is easily one of the better Animé TV shows to date.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image reproduces well, but is more diverse since the stories are different.  Episode 4 is softer than 5 or 6, but this is nicely drawn just the same.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no serious surround information of any kind, unfortunately, but is well recorded and allows you to hear the smarter-than-usual teleplays.  Extras include three previews for other Geneon Animé DVD titles, art gallery and end-titles without text.  More than just about any Animé to date, I look forward to the next installments of Rumiko Takahashi Anthology.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo