Search - Shingu - Secret of the Stellar Wars (Vol. 1) + Series Box on DVD

Great show for young and old

Antony Chow | NY, NY USA | 04/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This show was somewhat of a mystery. Based on the title, it sounded like a sci-fi show, which it is. But it is more than just a sci-fi show. It presents a vision of a future (year 2070) that looks. . . very much like the present, with minor adjustments here and there.

The basic theme for Shingu is to explore the world around you. And the episodes in this first disc does just that. The show revolves around an inquisitive Japanese high school student named Hajime Murata, who seems like a typical nerd; he wears glasses, looks weak, and is the class representative. Like the rest of the cast (people in school), Hajime is more than what he appears to be.

This show seems to have it all: student rivalry, fights involving superhuman powers, robot-like entities, and alien intrigue worthy of a typical episode of the X-Files. Shingu presents a very interesting view of the future, and you will get drawn into it as much as Hajime will.

The Right Stuf International did a fantastic job with the packaging on this release. The dvd itself has a nifty blue and white imprint on it, and there is also a 12 pages COLORED production notes booklet that explains cultural references within the show, along with some production sketches of the school. The dvd cover is reversible (one side in Japanese, the other side in English). Sound is in Dolby Digital. Unfortunately, the video is in 4:3. There are five episodes included in the first disc.

The boxed edition of Shingu comes with a VERY thick, sturdy box to hold all five volumes in the series. It also comes with a light grey, XL sized cotton t-shirt.

This series is rated for ages 7 and up, and I find that it is indeed suitable for young kids. At the same time, Shingu also appeals to older audiences, including adults."

Quirky and fun

George L. Bush | Colorado Springs, CO USA | 06/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a story about the people of a small town and aliens. The aliens look like humans, but act just differently enough where something doesn't seem quite right. It really works and makes their different mental outlook really apparent. Mystery abounds and things are not as they seem. A great deal of effort is made by the whole town to make things seem normal like some sort of unspoken secret shared and ignored. The main character's calm acceptance of thing as they are, not as he expects, is a welcome change to the normal over-reactions I have seen. Of the many series coming out, I am most excited to see new episodes of this one."

Biloxi blues in japan with giant robots and psionic aliens

Matic | Florida | 11/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just watched this title again after a long time and was reminded how fun and engaging it is. There is an interesting pacing where small town school events like a sports festival take equal importance to the fate of the world as a small group of psionic middle school kids deal with the burden of protecting the planet. In this series the universe is filled with many species of aliens, and earth is in a kind of political coventry, bring denied a place on the Galactic Federation - and yet taking a unique role as guardians of an extreme power which is coveted by many alien species. These are not the usual mindless ravening bugs from space so common in anime... you have some aliens who are diplomats, others who are spies, others who are covert invaders, and a few who try to help earth behind the scenes, and even political refugees... all set to a small town Japan which has just realized that aliens do exist. A lot going on. Yet the overall mood is peaceful and lazy, I keep being reminded of "Biloxie |Blues." If studio ghibli was to come out with a film about intrigues with aliens, it might turn out something like this. A fun and unique title, try it and see."