Search - Angelic Layer - The Complete Collection on DVD

You're so LUCKY! This is the BEST!

Kim H. | somewhere | 09/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow, I can't believe that this is actually becoming a complete collection! I bought this whole series one dvd at a time, so I spent A LOT more money on it. A smart person like you would buy this dvd right NOW! You know you want to..

Angelic layer is about a middle school girl named Misaki Suzuhara (misaki-chi) who just moved to tokyo from a small town. Imedietly after her arrival she sees two "people" fighting on a screen. There is a person dressed in white and green who is small, facing a big stronger looking opponent. Misaki, watching intently, suddenly thinks that the little person would lose to the big person. She's small as well. Misaki asks two little kids watching the fight "what's going on?" The answer was "ANGELIC LAYER!" Angelic layer is actually the game where you make your own "angel" or your very own doll. The thing is that this "doll" can be customized to fit your liking. It can be fast or strong, big or little, red hair, blond hair, you get my point. These "dolls" or angels battle each other and it's a very popular sport. The owner or "deus" controls the angel with a head set and whatever the deus thinks the angel does. Misaki makes two new friends at school and a LOT more from playing angelic layer including a famous popstar singer, Ringo, and Ojiro who owns the magical angel Wizard!

There is also a weird person named Icchan who meets Misaki at the subway station. Icchan, the MAKER of angelic layer, offers to teacher her how to play. She fights her way up to the top 4 of the regional championship game and if she wins, goes on to the nationals! Misaki moved to tokyo in the first place to see her mom again whom she hasn't seen in years. Will she find her mother? Does angelic layer have any connection to her? Who exactly is Icchan? Ojiro? It's a REALLY great series by clamp (the four wonderful ladies who changed lives everywhere with their fabulous manga turned anime)

* the manga is somewhat different from the anime because the graphics aren't as good, but it's more detailed storywise. There is also another fight with mao's sister (one of misaki's previous opponents) that isn't in the anime."

A Gem Everyone Should Own

Ada Montgomery | Houston, Texas, USA | 11/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Angelic Layer has never been my favorite CLAMP series, and while the manga is ok it will never make my list of favorites. When I saw that Angelic Layer had been made into an anime series, I instantly thought 'pass'. But when I came across The Complete Collection for under $40, I thought 'hey, why not?'

While my taste in anime is usually for an intense series with a ton of depth (and usually lots of violence), Angelic Layer was a refreshing change and now it's one I recommend to everyone. Angelic Layer delivers a main character (Misaki) who you can't help but root for throughout the entire series. And yes, it can be predictable, but you'll never find yourself bored or tired of the story. I won't explain the plot here since others have already done so but I will note that if you are familiar with the manga, the anime is different- in a good way.

The animation is pretty good with vibrant coloring that suits the mood well and the character designs transfer from manga to anime well. The music is pretty good as well with a good 'makes you wanna dance' opening theme and while the first ending song is alright, the second is beautiful and always brings tears to my eyes (I don't even know why). I haven't listened to the dub (I never do), but the Japanese cast was great.

Along with Chobits, Angelic Layer is easily one of the better CLAMP-manga to anime series available. If your looking for a wonderful anime sure to make you laugh, cry, smile, and one that you won't regret buying, look no further then Angelic Layer. While younger audiences will be sure to enjoy this series, I personally think older audiences could take even more away from it. While the fight scenes are done very well and are exciting to watch, it was the background stories of the competitors that really got me. Every single side character is well developed and I bet everyone can find at least one they can identify with.

On a side note: even though the collection is rated 'TV PG' with parental guidence suggested for animated violence, I don't think parents should shy away from introducing their children to this series. There is no fighting between people- only the 'battle doll' Angels, and we are constantly reminded that it is only a game everyone is playing. Plus, important themes such as age/height don't determine a person's greatness are stressed throughout.

The series consists of 26 episodes on 5 discs which come in thin-pack cases held in an attractive box that features Misaki and Hikaru on one side and Hatoko and Suzuka on the other. Here is a list of the episodes:

1. How Do You Do? My Very Own Angel
2. Do Your Best Hikaru! It's Your First Fight!!
3. Who Are You? Misaki's Nervous Lesson
4. The Day an Angel Flew Down
5. I Don't Want to Lose! I'm Beliving in Hikaru

6. Suzuka, the Speed of Light! Hatoko's Declaration of Rivalry!
7. Fight at the Edge... Misaki's Last Chance
8. Misaki VS Misaki? A Dangerous Classmate
9. Sing, Misaki! Is the Deus an Idol?!
10. Mean Sisters! Hikaru, the Target

11. Finish it Off! Hikaru & Mao's Important Game
12. Misaki & Kotaro. Their Exciting Date
13. Pure White Blanche. Kaede's Smile
14. I Won't Give Up! And an Angel Was Born
15. Shirahime Versus Suzuka! Secret of the Ice Machine

16. The Final Game! Hikaru's Last Attack
17. I've Made My Mind Up on You! The One Misaki Selected
18. Many Strong Opponents! The National Games of Everyone's Dreams
19. System Down! Decisive Fight on a Ship in a Storm
20. Is Icchan the Enemy? The Puzzling Second Game

21. Summertime at the Sea! Someone is in Love with Someone!
22. Suddenly Just the Two of Us. Secret Double Dates
23. Break Up the Magic Wall! Misaki Versus Ohijiro
24. Reach Misaki! This Thought Goes Over the Rainbow!
25. Reunion of Destiny. Angels Wet With Tears
26. Angel Wings! Please Guide Me and Hikaru!
"

Great for kids of all ages.

skyhack | Colorado | 11/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"O.K., I'll admit it. I downloaded this title via bit torrent after reading an online review, because I wanted to see something different. I watched it twice, and immediately ordered the box set. This is a real gem.

Angelic layer is the story of Misaki, a small, somewhat shy girl who was raised in the country by her grandparents. Misaki's father died when she Misaki was very young, and her mother (Shu) is away in Tokyo because of her work. At the age of 12, Misaki leaves for Tokyo to live with her aunt (Shoko), hoping for the chance to see her mother.

When Misaki gets off the train at Tokyo, she sees a live feed of a fight between two female opponents. She is quickly enthralled by the beauty of the fighters' movements, and begins to root for the smaller of the two, since she herself is small. The smaller fighter wins, and Misaki is hooked.
After learning from a mysterious stranger (Ichan) that the opponents are actually dolls (Called angels), she goes to purchase one of her own, then walks to her aunt's house, since she spent her train fare.

Misaki gets involved with Angelic Layer, the tournament series in which the angel dolls compete.

The great thing about this series is its continual emphasis on being successful through effort. Size doesn't matter in Angelic Layer, and Misaki proves to be a great competitor. Throughout the series, she is upbeat, cheerful, and quick to encourage others.

Her friends (a very fun group) are very supportive of her, and she makes many more friends through the tournament.

Angelic Layer is episodic and predictable (what will Misaki and her angel do to win?!), and would only garner eye-rolls from the older folks, if it weren't tied to a beautiful back story.
Yes, the series is about fighting, but Misaki, her aunt, her mother, her friends, and even that slightly creepy, mysterious stranger (Ichan) develop throughout the series.

Kids will love the school friends, the "punishments" that Ichan dishes out to his subordinate, and the well choreographed fight scenes.

Grownups will like the relationships between Misaki, her mother (Shu) Ichan, Shuko, and the story of how Angelic Layer began.

This is a title I use to introduce people to anime. It has always been well received, and has made many new fans.

Money well spent.
"

Deus ex machina?

Scott Kalloz | MA US | 05/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are some great reviews for this wonderful anime all ready so I won't go in to any details. However I did feel I had to comment on the "'Oh no, I'm losing, but wait...deus ex machina!' scenarios." that Mike Marsh spoke of in his review.

Never in this anime dose Misaki and Hikaru (the main character and her angle) ever win by new super mega weapons, or transformations or energy blasts of any sort. There are no Super Saiyan transformations, energy fields, or magic attacks. (Although some of Misaki's opponents do have these things)

Misaki wins by being able to read her opponent's attacks and special techniques, and then find the weak spot to attack. She wins using her brain and Hikaru's speed ( Hikaru is a speed type angel but not anywhere near the fastest in the game ) to find ways to defeat her opponent.

The one exception to this, that my friend cardskipper99 pointed out to me after reading my review, is that in the very last fight of the anime Hikaru grows wings. However she dose not use these wings to win the fight with "champion" so I don't think it counts."