Shadow Skill

Rating:
Summary: Shadow Skill
Review: Let me start off by saying this is not your typical anime. Throughout the whole movies I remember the fight scenes the most. Limbs getting chopped being regenerated and getting chopped off once again. Very nice designs of the monsters, one of such is the Moon Lord (I believe his name was close to that). Who oozes mystery and mythology. The fight scenes seem to go on for a long time, which makes me very happy.

The fun must end somewhere, however, the english voicing is horrible. The voices would speak normally one moment, and the next there is a twinge of an accent that I can't even describe. Also there is a very confusing and seemingly inconclusive plot. Anyways must buy, or rent, but don't pass this one up. Hopefully they will release something else in the future (or already has) to continue the story and tie of some of the questions I have.

Rating:
Summary: Shadow Skill
Review: Maximum of violence with a cute story...
This manga is a must...

Rating:
Summary: this movie is great
Review: this is a great action packed movie its bloody the fighting is awsome and the villans are cool looking

Rating:
Summary: Don't judge this anime by it's cover. It's actually, good!
Review: When I first saw the DVD cover, I said to myself...oh geez, not another "hentai" anime. Fortunately, I read about the anime and how popular voice actress - Hayashibara Megumi (Ranma, Video Girl Ai, Slayers, DNA^2, etc.) was doing the voice of Elle the main character and so, curiosity led me to check this anime out.

The anime is a fantasy meets martial arts type storyline. Elle is the master of the "SHADOW SKILL" (also, her nickname) which is a fighting style that female slaves learned with their feet because their arms were chained. Along the way she is joined by several friends, one is a young man named Gau who learns from Elle.

The action is fast paced and has its share of humor but it also has its fare share of violence and a lot of blood.

As for the series, "SHADOW SKILL" is an interesting one because it consists of an OAV series and TV episodes. The DVD features three OAV's combined to make one movie and the epilogue features two episodes from what I believe is from the TV series. You'll see a noticeable difference between the OAV and the TV episodes (and like most anime, most of the time the anime TV series and the OAV series are different).

The OAV features the adventures of Elle and friends and the epilogue spotlights on Elle and Gau and the relationship between teacher and the stubborn student.

The DVD quality is very nice and the audio sounds good via Digital 5.1 but I preferred to watch the Japanese audio track (2 CH) with English subtitles. From what I have heard from the English track, the voice acting was far off from the Japanese version and it wasn't in the same quality compared to other Manga Entertainment dubs.

As for special features, there is a character info. and photo gallery from the series. Also, a trailer and Palm/Manga Entertainment trailers are included.

All in all, "SHADOW SKILL" is a very entertaining anime. Despite it's hentai looking DVD cover, this anime is anything but. Think about it like Slayers, Bastard and a twist of Street Fighter. One can only hope that Manga Entertainment releases the TV series on DVD.

If you are into fighting and fantasy type anime, you may want to check out "SHADOW SKILL", you won't be disappointed.