To confess, I’m not a big “horror anime” buff but typically enjoy series based on successful video game franchises.  As such it was with a blend of expectations that I set out to review Tokyo Majin, The Complete Series.

Interestingly enough, it appears as though Funimation has actually released this previous ADV Films’ property as two individual season sets and is now planning a complete series box set, which contains all 26 episodes of the show.

Released across four discs (in a double-sized clamshell case), The Complete Series consists of episodes 1-26 and comes in at a total runtime of 650 minutes. It wears an appropriate TV MA (mature, 17+) rating due to violence, gore, and supernatural imagery.

Language options are standard sub & dub with both an English dub (Dolby 5.1 Digital Surround) and original Japanese soundtrack (stereo) & the choice of English subtitled if so inclined to turn them on.

The story goes something like this: The mystical energy flow that maintains order to the world (the Dragon Stream) has been disrupted.  As a direct result of this disturbance, a whole bunch incidents have erupted across Tokyo, including a surge of deaths, plagues of zombies, and six teenagers (who want nothing more than to live the simple life of students) suddenly gaining mystical powers.

It’s tough to put the show into a single category; it would be foolish to downplay the supernatural/ mystical elements as they are catalyst that drives the plot but in terms of delivery and pacing, Tokyo Majin may more closely resemble an action series.  In other words yes there are some moody environments throughout and attempts at depth by establishing conflicted pasts for a few of the main characters, the series is really the medium in which to showcase super-human action sequences.  Teenagers who can fire glowing mystical arrows from a bow or a tough guy who can uppercut through hordes of swarming monsters is going to be good onscreen fun, bottom line.

Viewers can expect episodes loaded with gruesome creatures, flashy magical effects, and fight scenes loaded to the hilt with animation detail.  For the most part, the formula works so long as you go into the show without expectations of a deep psychological thriller element.  This is superhero fun against the legions of the underworld first and foremost; drama and mystery serve only to compliment the greater mission at hand.

The visuals are pretty solid throughout with just the right texturing (and gore elements) to make for some truly nasty nasties and the environmental tones are nice and gritty as well.  The sound work is solid for the most part, with eerie notes working nicely into the background and slick tension-building strings when the mood calls for them.  Unfortunately the hard rock anthem done by ACID at the opening and closing of each episode comes off as a bit misguided until you realize that it is the theme for the evil rock star villain later on in the prose.

In all, this is a show where the visuals and effects certainly outshine the writing but perhaps that’s exactly what makes it so unique.  I would recommend it to anyone looking for a little supernatural butt whipping by some everyday kids.  It’s also really decent of Funimation to consider their fans in deciding to release a full 26-episode box set release for little more than the individual seasons have been selling for until now.