Bamboo Blade, Part 1

This manga-based series about a five-girl martial arts team is a light and fun breath of fresh air, free of fan service and not bogged down by a complicated plot. Underemployed and chronically hungry Muroe High School kendo coach/part-time teacher Ishida accepts a challenge from a friend who claims to have a superior kendo team, with the tempting prize being a year's worth of sushi. One hitch for Ishida is that he has only one current squad member, so he must recruit and train four more girls almost from scratch. Halfway through the 13 episodes of the 2007 first season, Ishida finally convinces tiny powerhouse Kawazoe Tamaki and three others to participate, and the group pulls off a victory in the big match, while the remaining episodes here explore the characters and team dynamics in a leisurely fashion. Much like the show itself, the characters are interesting and quirky, while the animation is pleasing overall. Bamboo Blade is a mild high school comedy about finding oneself that also offers a detailed look into kendo. Compiling 13 episodes (of a total 26) on two dual-language discs, rated TV PG, this is recommended. [Note: Bamboo Blade, Part 2 is also newly available.] Aud: P. (L. Martincik)