Witch Hunter Robin - Anime Legends Complete Collection
List Price:
Our Price: $32.84
You Save: $17.14 (34%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $30.95 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Akeno Watanabe, Karen Strassman, Paul St. Peter, Steve Blum, Takuma TakewakaCinematographer: Hisao Shirai
Cinematographer: Katsutoshi Sugai
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language); Japanese (Original Language)
Format: Animated, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 650 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-10-24
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Bandai
DVD Reviews of Witch Hunter Robin - Anime Legends Complete Collection
DVD Review: Great Series in a Crappy Package
Summary: 3 Stars
Witch Hunter Robin is an excellent anime that takes its time to get going, but eventually delivers a compelling story filled with numerous likable and unlikable characters. However, as a box set this collection is sorely lacking, especially when compared to other anime. First off the series itself:
Witch Hunter Robin tells the story of a teenage craft (magic) user who is sent from Europe to Japan to help the STNJ hunt witches. When she arrives she meets several shadowy figures, but eventually settles into the flow of things. The first couple discs are very formulaic. The STNJ parent group Solomon sends lists of witches to the hunters, and each episode involves the team defeating a witch with varying powers. If you only watch the first disc then you might get the feeling that Witch Hunter Robin plays out rather similar to many vampire hunting anime, and indeed, you could even say the first disc seems somewhat repetitive and cliche.
Things begin to pick up around the middle of disc two, when several witches appear whose goals and powers tend to be less evil and more undesirable. Robin begins to have misgivings about her job and the people who work with her. The third disc sees several twists that see Robin become hunted by Solomon and forces the remaining STNJ members to choose between loyalty to their friend or obedience to their betters.
The remaining three discs are best left to mystery, but it's safe to say that this series only gets better as time goes on. By the end of the series you really feel for these characters, who truly seem like people instead of anime stereotypes. Indeed, there are no angsty teenage boys lusting after large breasted women, gossiping schoolgirls or giant robots in Witch Hunter Robin. In this sense it is very unique amongst its peers, and in my opinion, much better. Personally I felt a little jilted by the ending, which fails to resolve all of the issues brought up in the later episodes, and cheaply explains others. Several characters are introduced in the final disc to tie up loose ends, and when the final credits role you may have the feeling that less time should have been spent in buildup and more time should have been spent in the actual mystery behind Robin and Solomon.
The discs include both English and Japanese language tracks as well as English subtitles. I had no issue with the dubbing. Some characters sounded a little wooden, and others were somewhat overplayed, but by and large the cast did an excellent job of bringing their respective characters to life. The soundtrack was also well done, if not as memorable as some other anime. Overall the audio package worked well and sounded crisp and supported surround sound systems.
One of the most important aspects of any animated work is the quality of the art and animation, and Witch Hunter Robin succeeds on the most part. Characters are designed well enough and Robin especially animates very smoothly. Seeing her walk very calmly towards an enemy, that determined look in her face, and such sureness in her movements, is quit amazing. The other characters all animate well, and express themselves effectively. I did find several times where the movement of characters' lips didn't seem to sync up to the English dubs, but I assume when listening to the original audio track this wont be an issue.
As far as the actual character designs go, I would label them as average. They aren't really anything special, and could be seen as rather plain actually. The same holds true for the backgrounds which mostly consist of mud colored city streets with very little in the way of distinguishing touches. Overall I would find the art to be the least appealing part of this package, but it is still more than effective at delivering the story.
Overall I would give Witch Hunter Robin 4.5/5 and have no issues calling it one of the best anime series I have seen. Still, a DVD box set is more than the content on the discs. Part of the reason one buys a box set is to own all the discs in a single appealing package. It is also expected, especially in anime, that a box set will actually come in a box, and most often contain cases for each separate disc. This is not the case for Bandai's Legends releases. Upon opening your package you will find a single large DVD case without any sort of extra box or printed material. Upon opening you will find inside 6 discs. That's it. No booklets, no posters, no artwork, memorabilia or bonus content of any sort. Heck, Bandai didn't even see fir to put in a pamphlet of its upcoming releases. Just to make it clear, this is no accordion foldout box, but merely a large DVD case with several plastic fold ups to hold all the discs. To add insult to injury, it seems that no time was taken designing the box art, which is downright offensive. At a list price of $50 I don't expect the same care that is put into designing the $180 sets, but seriously, fans deserve something more than, well, nothing.
Before I get asked this, no, my box did not have the brown outer cover shown in all the pictures. This was either omitted by Amazon or by Bandai. Either way if the box does not look like the picture than the picture should be removed.
Overall I would give the packaging a mighty .5/5, merely for including all of the series in working condition. Be assured though, this is the last time I buy something from Bandai's Legends lineup.
To conclude, if you wish to see Witch Hunter Robin in its entirety for an affordable price than this is the way to go. If you happen to be a collector who expects some sort of value for your $50 then you may want to pass on this and look for an alternative. Regardless of how you view it, Witch Hunter Robin is an anime not to be missed. It is a rare anime find with a perfect blend of action and drama, without the sappy love stories or epic robot battles. It's just a shame the package containing the series had to be so lacking.
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Artist Not Provided - Outlaw Star: Complete CollectionInfinity; Release date: 2006-03-28; DVD
Best price: $29.38
Price in other shops:
Chaos;Head: The Complete Series (Limited Edition, Blu-ray/ DVD Combo)Funimation; Release date: 2011-11-29; Blu-ray
Best price: $30.99
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - Vampire Knight Guilty: Complete SeriesWHV; Release date: 2011-09-20; DVD
Best price: $31.47
Price in other shops:
Darker Than Black: Season 2 with OVA's (Blu-ray/ DVD Combo)Funimation; Release date: 2011-11-08; Blu-ray
Best price: $26.99
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - Eureka Seven: Complete Collection, Vol. 2Bandai; Release date: 2009-07-21; DVD
Best price: $29.77
Price in other shops:
Eureka Seven: Complete Collection, Vol. 1Bandai; Release date: 2009-06-16; DVD
Best price: $31.22
Price in other shops:
Darker Than Black: The Complete First SeasonFunimation; Release date: 2011-04-19; DVD
Best price: $26.99
Price in other shops:
Trigun: The Complete Series Box SetFunimation; Release date: 2010-10-26; DVD
Best price: $24.49
Price in other shops:
Artist Not Provided - Wolf's Rain: Anime Legends - Perfect CollectionBandai; Release date: 2009-05-05; DVD
Best price: $29.91
Price in other shops:
Gungrave: The Complete Series Box SetFunimation; Release date: 2011-07-19; DVD
Best price: $26.99
Price in other shops: