Before I get into the review for this special, I would like to mention that I’m not very familiar with Lupin and Detective Conan, so I wouldn’t really know in this special contained references to the following two respective series, but I did pick up a Lupin reference in this special, as in this special there is a scene where Lupin tries to jump into the same bed as Fukijo and Princess Mira, but Lupin gets knocked out by the spring boxing glove.

The plot of this special revolves around the death of Prince Gerwald and his mother Queen Sakura being killed in a fox hunting accident. The detective cast that appears in this special are Conan, Ran and Mouri. The Lupin the 3rd cast that take part in this special are Jigen, Lupin, Fujiko, Goemon and Inspector Zenigata.

This first half an hour deals with Princess Mira tired of being a Princess, and after a failed poisoning attempt, Princess Mira runs into Ran, and as the two look identical to one another, Princess Mira switches roles with Ran. As Princess Mira is now disguised as Ran, she ends meeting Fujiko, and the two head for Vespania.

As Conan and Jigen are the two characters that are helping the Royal Vespania family, I liked how Conan and Jigen interacted with each other, especially when Conan asks Jigen if he was a sniper, which building would he snipe from. Also I liked how Conan called Jigen ‘Papa’, when they were investigating places that could people may target Princess Mira from.

In regards to how the mystery of Queen Sakura and Prince Gewarld was solved, I would say it was interesting to see Detective Conan and Lupin solve this case together. I thought the interaction between Detective Conan and Lupin when they were purchasing drinks from a vending machine was quite funny. I liked how Lupin and Conan how the two interacted with one another with Princess Mira, near the end of this special.

Overall, I thought that the plot of this pretty good, and I thought that the animation for this special was flawless and clean. This special gives Princess Mira some character development which is important, because the special focus on her. This cross over special is something I would recommend to people if one is a fan of the Detective Conan or Lupin the 3rd franchise, and to anime fans looking for some family friendly entertainment.

Special Rating: B+

The first part of this OVA starts off with Gohan collecting firewood, but before Gohan and Goku are served breakfast by Chichi, they are interrupted by Mr. Popo bring news that the new Kami told him that a gas called Destron Gas is accumulating in the Earth. Mr.Popo also informs Goku that human beings like Goku will die within seventy days of the Destron Gas. Goku says it would be best to consult Bulma about this issuie, and Gohan, Goku and Mr. Popo head of the Bulma’s place to discuss about the Destron Gas. After some discussion, Mr. Popo says the four places that he was told to investigate where Grand Aaron, the Pyramid in the desert far west of east northern capital, the island with the Poco Poco volcano which has been erupting, and the last place is the land of ice up north.

After Mr.Popo and Goku talk about searching the four places, Piccolo shows up and decides them to join in the search. Just as the trio are about to go on their search they are attacked by some monsters, but they are put in their place by Goku, Piccolo and Gohan with their fists. During the battle Goku couldn’t gather his ki to go his Kamehame-Ha and other energy moves, and Mr.Popo explains that they (Piccolo,Gohan,GOku) can’t gather Ki due to Destron Gas.

Anyway Goku goes to Grand Aaron to investigate the Destron Gas, and Goku finds a machine generating the Destron Gas, but before Goku can destroy the machine, Goku ends up fighting some monsters, which Goku defeats, and then Goku then destroys the Destron Gas machine, before deciding to head toward the land of ice. Gohan in the meantime destroys the Destron Gas machine in the Pyramid. Piccolo is set to destroy the Destron Gas machine in Popo Poco Volcano, but it is destroyed by a really stupid monster guarding the Destron Gas machine. Gohan and Piccolo met Goku in the Land of Ice and Vegeta and Trunks show up to help Goku defeat the monsters guarding the Destron machine. After the fourth Destron Gas machine is destroyed, Denda informs Goku and his group that another Destron Gas machine has appered in the Western capital, in Tongari Tower.

The Z warriors go to Tongari Tower to destroy the Destron Gas machine, but there’s a barrier protecting the Destron Gas machine. I thought it was cool seeing Freeza, Turles, Lord Slug, Cooler return, even though they got beaten by the Z warriors. After the Z warriors defeat the ghost warriors, Kaioh explains that Dr. Raichi is behind this, and that Dr. Raichi is a Tsufuru-Jin, a ignorant race that were taken over by the Saiyans. The episode ends with the Z warriors looking for Dr. Raichi.

As it been quite a while since I have seen an episode of Dragonball Z, I found this first OVA episode to be the typical DBZ cheese that I had grow up with, with a weak plot and characterization, though I still would have preferred to see Trunks battling with his sword, then without one. I didn’t like how this OVA simplified Goku, Gohan and Piccolo traveling to various locations in this episode in Nintendo GameBoy style, as it showed how little though the director had to depict the Z warriors traveling to various locations in this episode. Anyway I thought it was still good to see all the Z warriors scream out there various ki moves.

This second part of this OVA starts off with the Z warriors going to the Dark Planet via a Capsule Corp. After some investigation the Z warriors meet Dr. Raichi, and Dr. Raichi gives a brief history lesson of how he survived the Saiyans attack on Planet Vegeta, and how that he is now the ultimate Ghost warrior created by Hatchyack. After Goku and Vegeta defeat Dr. Raichi, a monster that Dr.Raichi had created with all the energy that he had collected comes up, and Dr.Raichi’s creation fights the Z warriors. I thought that some of the fight scenes where the Z warriors are getting pawned by Dr.Raichi’s creation, were kind of interesting and well choreographed, then just having the Z warriors copping energy attacks. I thought it was bit of a cop out having the Saiyans of the Z warriors injuries being restored by eating senzu beans, and then using a combined energy attack altogether to defeat the Tsufuru-Jin.

Overall, I thought the ending was a bit lame having the Saiyans of the Z warriors defeat the Tsufuru-Jin, though I would have preferred seeing Piccolo join in the other Z warriors to defeat the Tsufuru-Jin. I thought the Tsufuru-Jin kind of reminded me of Cell with his character design, but there will be no villain in the DBZ universe that can top Cell as the best DBZ villain ever. I would have liked to see Gohan and Goku at the end of the OVA being chewed out by ChiChi, as IMO (in my opinion) it would have been a nice touch.

From an animation point of view, I would have to say the animation is your typical TV budget animation, and the music is average also. From a character point of view, the Z warriors where their typical selves, with also Vegeta being the typical anti-hero. If you’re a DBZ fan and have a spare hour I would say watch this to relive what DBZ popular in the early 90’s, but if you’re a anime fan that expects an anime with good characterization, plot, animation and music then I would look somewhere else for one’s anime fix.

OVA Rating: C

First off I would like to say I’m a big fan of the works that Studio Bones produce, and this anime IMO is one of their works that doesn’t get much attention, so I’m going to see if this series is any good. Despite this anime airing in April 2007, the thing that attracted me to this anime is the Skull Man character, and that this anime is set in the 1950’s, which is rare for an anime to be set in this period.

This episode of Skull Man starts off with a actress being persuaded by a monster, but I thought that interesting fact was that it seems the Skull Man may be on the monsters side, which made the opening scene of this episode interesting. From Hayato Mikohami interaction with his boss, I thought it was interesting that victims of the Skeleton Man were a bureaucrat, a politician occurring in Ootormo City.

After Hayato arrives at Ootomo City with his partner Kiriko, the duo meet Kyoichiro Tachigi a private investogator trying to catch the Skull Man. While the three are at Ootomo City, the trio meet Onizuka Yui how is the successor to Tachibana Hitomi, how passed away in an accident last month.

I thought it was interesting that this episode was able to mix up this episode with view points from Kiriki Mamiya camera’s point of view. This episode is basiclly about Makoto and Kiriko getting tips about the Skull Man. I thought that Kiriki and Makoto play off each other well, and that the appearance of the Skull Man appearing at the end of the episode certainly made this interesting.

My thoughts regarding the characters of this series, it seems like they will have non-typical personalities, and that the setting of the series certainly feels like the 1940’s/1940’s. From a plot point of view it’s hard to see where this will go, but I like so far how the director of this series make the Skull Man a fearful individual, and not over dramaitizing the fear that the Skull Man gives off.

Overall, I thought that this was a solid introduction episode, and hopefully more plot will be given soon about this series.

This episode of 07 Ghost in an interesting fashion, with a person being tempted and giving in to by a Kor creator, by exchanging their soul for three wishes. After this episode deals with a person becoming a Kor, Tieto and Hakuren engaged each other with some light banter, but the two discussion is interrupted by Assistant Archbishop Bastin displaying to the students how to free a Kor soul. After Tieto watches Assistant Archbishop Bastin exorcise a Kor, Tieto is shown by the three sisters his new living quarters while taking the Bishops test, and Tieto ends up being room mates with Hakuren Oak from District 1. Soon after moving in with Hakuren, Teito discovers that his blood on it, due to the hard to become a bishop. Teito and Hakuren go to the bascules practice room, and they discover that the person that served them was a former prisoner, due to the thing on the chain on his wrist.

After Tieto and Hakuren take the prisoner to the medical office, after he collapses, Tieto learns that Hakuren is an offensive type. Teito then realizes that zaiphon convey different emotions, and that Tieto’s Bascule learns soon after releasing a lot of energy with his bascules, Tieto learns from assistant archbishop Bastian, that Teito learns that he is holding Bishop Frau’s Bascule. I thought it was interesting to learn that Frau held the records highest score for this test.

Despite this episode being forced an Teito starting to learn about using his Bascule, I really liked how this episode showed two characters in this episode dying with lots of blood covering their bodes, as I was kind of surprised that this episode would show people dying with lots of blood covering them.

Overall, I thought that this episode was better than average, though I’m still wondering when the viewer will get some background information of Ayanami’s motives to capture Teito then looking evil and cool in the background of this series.

This episode of 07 Ghost has Teito given the opportunity to study for the bishop’s test by Castor. If Teito pass the bishops test Teito gets a free pass for lodges and transportation around the world. After Teito decides to take the bishops test, Teito passes the first stage, and the second stage of the bishop’s test involves testing one’s Zaiphon. Teito is given a Bascule to help exterminate Kor.

I thought the Frau Kor doll actions that Castor makes to help Teito in this part of the bishop exam was really funny, as I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. Some person really needs to cosplay the Frau Kor doll immediately.

I thought that this episode ended on an interesting note with Teito meeting a rival. Despite not getting the name of the person that said he is Teito’s rival, his personality remindes me of Hotahori from Fushigi Yugi.

Overall, I thought this episode was rather good, with another cast member hopefully being added to the cast of 07 Ghost as a long term friend or rival to Teito. Despite 07 Ghost not going in the direction of revealing more about the remaining members of the Seven Ghosts, hopefully things will now get interesting and develop more about the characters and history of the 07 Ghost world.

This episode starts off in an interesting note with a pink fairy looking for Marigold. After meeting Marigold, she states she is looking for the Fairy Queen’s Bridgegroom, which in Lydia’s mind is another problem on her plate. After Marigold explains to Sweetpea what has happened with the ring, the fairies turn into their human form, Kelpie shows up and states that the moon ring is for Lydia.

After some arguing, Paul starts painting a picture of Lydia. During lunch Edgar and Lydia talk, and Edgar discloses that as a child he had asthma, and was kept in the house. As this episode reveals a bit about Edgar, this episode also reveals details about Paul in that Paul’s last name is actually O’neil and not Ferman. The reason for the name change is because his father switched names.

Besides this episode giving some details about Paul and Edgar, and developing the tension between Edgar and Kelpie, Paul is persuaded into poisoning Edgar. I thought the episode ended on an interesting note with Edgar being stabbed, while also disclosing information that Paul’s father was stabbed by the Prince eight years ago. And that is father is now fine and retired now.

Overall, I thought that this episode was good in that there were some nice twists in the plot. Despite Lydia becoming confused of who to choose between Edgar and Kelpie, I’m really interested to see what part Ermine will play in future episodes.

This episode has Ed and Al arriving at Dublith, were they are reunited with their teacher, Izumi. I thought that this episode covered a lot of material, as this episode crammed in the history of how the Elric’s meet Izumi, and the Elric’s survival training to get Izumi to train the Elric’s in alchemy. I thought that this episode re-enforced how a caring mother Trisha Elric was to Ed and Al, and that their father (Hohenheim) isn’t portrayed as a misguided alchemist like in the previous series of Full Metal Alchemist, but as a father that Ed really dislikes.

I liked how this episode showed Izumi seeing the truth about alchemy, and that is was good to learn if that if a alchemist sees the truth about alchemy that they are like a construction symbol, and don’t need to make construction symbols to do alchemy.

Overall, I thought this episode was quite good, and I can’t wait to see Greed next episode, as he was one of my favourite homunculus.

This episode of Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood deals with Al, Ed and Wirny visit Rush Valley and Rush Valley is all about Automail, Automail, Automail, Automail, Automail and more Automail. As Rush Valley is the holy land of Automail, it’s not long before Ed and Al get mobbed by Automail engineers and admires, and during the confusion Edwards State Alchemist watch is stolen by Paninya.

Soon after Ed, Al and Wirny encounter Paninya, the trio meet up with Paninya’s automail maker Mister Dominique. I thought that Paninya’s story about how she got her automail from Dominique was rather touching, as it seems his a character that has a though exterior, but a weak interior. I thought that the scene of Miss Sadila added to the story, in that despite alchemist being able to perform amazing things or feasts, that creating a life is more amazing then what an alchemist can do.

As I’m a fan of EdxWirnry, I thought that the scene where Ed is asked to help carry Wirny on his back was cute, because she can’t get over the amount of blood she witnessed when assisting in Miss Sadila babies birth. Despite Edward dropping Wirny on her back, I liked how this episode had Wirny tell Edward that she knows what he inscribed in the inside of his Alchemists sliver watch, as it helped Wirny realize to be more determined in being Dominique’s apprentice and not half heartily support Ed and Al.

Overall, I thought this episode was really good and if I remember correctly that in the previous series of Full Metal Alchemist that in episode three, Wirny and Granny weren’t present when Al and Ed burned the family house down, as in this episode Winry and Granny are present when Ed and Al burn their family house to the ground. I also thought that humour in this episode was pretty funny, and the drama elements of this episode added emotion to this episode.

This episode of Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood deals with Roy Mustang’s goal to reach the top of the military to help protect people. This episode was interesting in that it has King Bradley meeting Ed and Al in the hospital, and warning them that people that have researched the philosopher’s stone have gone missing, and not to trust anyone.

I thought that the way this episode constructed Hughes death wasn’t as emotional and the previous Full Metal Alchemist series. Despite IMO (in my opinion) Hughes dying in this episode, I liked how this episode depicted Hawkeye and Mustang’s commitment to going up against the top people in the military.

This episode of Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood basically deals with the aftermath of Ed’s and Al’s encounter with the Fifth Laboratory. As Ed is injured, he calls Wirny to come to Central and repair his automail arm. After Edward’s automail arm is fixed, I liked how this episode handled Al realizing that it is his real, and that his soul in an armor, and not a fake soul in an armor.

I thought it was good to see Ed finally beat Al, and the two of them decide to move forward and get their old bodies back. I thought that this episode handled the relationship between Hughes and Elicia’s well, though it was nice to see the relationship between Elicia and Wirny develop.

I thought that this episode end well, with the viewer being teased a little about the background of Scar’s right arm.

Overall, I thought that this episode was okay, though I thought that the best part of this episode is when Ed and Al fought each other in this episode.