Aura Battler Dunbine: Complete Collection

Aura Battler Dunbine (1983-84) is one of the lesser-known anime titles imported and dubiously dubbed by American impresario Carl Macek in the 1980s, but fans value its contribution to the "mecha" genre, which includes the better remembered Mobile Suit Gundam (from the same talents) and Robotech franchises. The story is set in a fantasy parallel-Earth realm called Byston Well, where Tolkien-style kings use mystical "aura" forces (the elemental stuff of all spirits) to energize giant combat robots and flying warcraft. But the weaponry proves corrupting, and a warlord named Drake opens a channel to Earth to abduct unwary motocross riders (with their superior reflexes) for training as aura-battler pilots in his conquests. And that is how neglected teen Show Zama winds up in Byston Well, where he falls in with resistance fighters who are always unsure whether to trust him because of his "Upper Earth" origins. Midway through the episode cycle, Show and his foes open portals back to Earth (killing thousands of Tokyo citizens and even destroying Paris as collateral damage), where the long-missing Earthlings and their technology are mistaken for aliens (even by Show's disagreeable mom). More mature than some of its contemporaries, with powerful themes related to death, honor, and betrayal, Aura Battler Dunbine continues to hold interest, even with its dated animation style (and watch for a cameo by Queen Elizabeth II!). Compiling all 49 episodes in a dual-language Blu-ray edition, rated TV-14, this is recommended. (C. Cassady)