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Category:    Home > Reviews > Animé TV > Saiyuki Reload V.3 (Animé TV)

Saiyuki Reload – Volume 3 (Animé TV)

 

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

 

 

Though we join Saiyuki Reload in its third DVD release, it is one of the smarter, more amusing Animé TV series that is at least partly in the Fantasy genre.  Though ideas of “scripture” are a bit heavy-handed, we did look at the tenth volume of the original series before, impressed with its more serious approach.  This has more humor, and that actually helps it work a bit more.

 

This time, the rag tag gang that has come together by happenstance finds themselves in a semi-police state in episode 9, Invisible Castle.  Demon Genjyo Sanzo has one of the team become a deadly demon.  A Kind Visage asks about the need for parents, while Forest Of The Spirited Away is an amusing visit to an enchanted forest that is long overdue.

 

The full frame 1.33 X 1 color images are animated better than typical for TV Animé, but this is not as sharp or as clear as the best block style Animé DVDs, though it sometimes comes close.  The occasional whiting-out is annoying.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo surprisingly has no surrounds and is here in English and Japanese.  Extras include four gag “Ura-Sai” segments, three previews for other Geneon titles and “Commercial Collections (Sanzo Versions)” fans will get a kick out of, being only in Japanese.  A translucent animation-cel like pencil box art piece came with our copy and Saiyuki in general could be building up to a major franchise in the Animé field and if handled right, could make some kind of crossover.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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