Karas: The Prophecy (Deluxe Double Disc Set) [DVD]

Karas takes place in Shinjuku where demons are attacking humans and a savior called "Karas" (The Crow) protects the city from evil forces looking to control it. Though the plot may sound complex from the different layers of story contained within, you just need to pay attention to the plot and the characters. Karas has a great story and even better animation which blends traditional animation with CG to create something truly Spectacular.The english dub is also great as it has many recognisable voice actors from North America including Julie Ann TAYLOR,Kate HIGGINS and Matthew LILLARD. Who I kept expecting to talk like Shaggy from Scooby Doo.Originally a 6 part ova, Manga Entertainment has released it on two seperate releases titled "The Prophecy" and "The Revelation" which contain 3 episodes on each set. Both of which come with some extras and trailers showcasing other Manga UK releases. Though while the extras are good, most of the effort went into the Sound Effects and original animation video and the interviews can't be called interviews since it's literally under 5 mins for them all.Specs:WidescreenEnglish and Japanese 2.0, 5.1 and DTSExtras:Manga UK TrailersBehind the Scenes MontageOriginal Concept Art Gallery and Animation Sketch BookOriginal Japanese Trailers and TV SpotsInterview with Japanese Voice Actors, Directors and ProducersSound Effects

The most amazing & the most brilliant film I've ever seen, a new generation of animeThe animation is so sharp, well detailed & beautifully done with ease & class to make it a memorable moment for all anime fans to enjoy, plus a brilliant fusion of both hand drawn animation & 3D AnimationExcellent swordfight scene, brilliant storyline & animation, & a new hero thats both cool & can kick-ass, Karas is truly the anime of the Year

The box is a bit flimsy but if you keep your dvd's well organsised and looked after that shouldn't be too much of a problem. but overall a great watch.

As described, grand daughter loves these anime dvds

Karas is set in a contemporary Tokyo where demons co-exist with the totally unaware humans. One demon (the former Karas) wishes to remind humans how good they have it and gives several demons powerful machine bodies to torment the humans with. Karas is the name of the defender of humanity against the demons. A type or Techno-Samuri(with resemblances to Guyver), it is the mission of the Karas to save humanity. All in all, a fairly standard plot, not disimilar to dozens of other animes out there(eg Guyver).However, due possibly to poor translation, editing, or the fact that there may exist in Japan many more episodes or mangas of Karas (the Japanese DVD has 8 episodes, rather than the 6 of the Western version), it is evident that a lot of backstory is missing to the point where the plot is a tangled mess with characters being randomly introduced and then dropped and scenes seeming jumping about at random.So what does Karas have to recommend it? Possibly the best high speed action anime since Macross, seamless integration of CGI and ink and impressive enemies for Karas to fight. The plot may lack substance and cohesion, but for any western anime fan that is something they should be accustomed to given how much we miss in untranslated material and mangas. What you get is a visual tour de force, backed up with an impressive muscial score.One not to be missed.

Imagine if every city chose a special champion to defeat monstrous mechanical demons -- becoming the armored superhuman known as Karas.That's the concept behind "Karas - The Prophecy," the first half of a sprawling, lushly animated series about a mystery hero who spans the worlds of demons and humans. The rather underdeveloped characters hamper the story somewhat, but the scintillating animation and explosive action sequences make this a brilliant experience -- and the twisty-turny plot doesn't hurt either.Two black-armored men engage in an explosive aerial battle, until ex-Karas Eko triumphs over his successor. Three years later, a young doctor named Otoha awakens in an enchanted house, under the command of the city's avatar Yurine.At around this time, Tokyo is being attacked by the gruesome cyborg demons called Mikura, and harmless small demons are falling seriously ill. Otoha -- the new Karas -- is charged to destroy the Mikura, who are also being hunted by the mysterious superhuman Nue, and investigated by demon-obsessed cop Sagisaki and his skeptical partner Kure.But Eko has a plan in mind for defeating this new Karas and getting ahold of Yurine. When a battle between Otoha and the Mikura takes a nasty turn, Nue's true nature is finally revealed -- and when the Karas is called on to defeat a gruesome spider-Mikura, Eko takes the opportunity to target the source of Otoha's power... and his life as well."Karas - The Prophecy" is a bit of a brain-teaser -- several parts of it (including the first several scenes) don't make any sense until you see all of it. And there are three subplots which seem only mildly connected to each other. Then you go back and watch again, and suddenly all the little hints and disjointed puzzle pieces snap neatly into place.Fortunately the twisting plot is riddled with moments of quiet beauty (Otoha tending to the sickly demons), humour (Nue chatting with an adorable little snail-child), and poignancy (the whole story about Sagisaka's mentally-ill daughter). And there's plenty of horror speckling the story, especially the Mikura with their glowing eyes and metallic roars. The height of freakiness is undoubtedly a girl dessicating into a mummy as she talks to her friend.But what truly sets "Karas - the Prophecy" apart is the action and animation. Every fight with a Mikura is a kinetic, razor-sharp mingling of swordplay and acrobatics, full of bloody spiderwebs and water attacks. And the animation is simply stunning -- everything is depicted realistically, but with exquisitely glowing colours, deep soft shadows and lots of brilliant little details. For example: the spiky raven armor, the blinking Karas talisman, and the vast epic sweeps across a snow-covered Tokyo.Unfortunately "Karas - The Prophecy is recognizably the first half of a story. Not only does it end on a massive cliffhanger, but some of the characters feel... unfinished, as though their development is yet to come.Otoha is one of these -- he's a nice guy with a good heart, but he's something of a blank until the last scenes, though Stan Staley is brilliant here. Eko gives off a feeling of ennui and bitterness as a Karas-turned-supernatural-mob-boss, which is somewhat dampened by Matthew Lillard's lifeless performance. But Nue is a brilliant piece of work -- a monstrous, unnatural creature struggling to overcome his base self."Karas - The Prophecy" is obviously the first half of a whole, but it's a brilliant half -- richly animated and haunting. And it leaves you hungry for the second part.