Riddle me this Batman: When is anime not technically anime? When it's produced in Korea, for one, but otherwise Bast of Syndrome is little different from its Japanese counterparts. Set in the city of Xenon in 2097, where the city's best online gamers are being recruited to form a dream team to play the long lost "Lemon Game" (which has resurfaced after nine years), the first volume's five episodes find the game's creator losing control following mysterious and frightening omens as the line between virtual reality and physical reality blurs: players in the game are actually getting hurt and damage is spilling over into the real city. Derivative of many (sometimes too many) animation styles and techniques, Bast of Syndrome creates a believable world full of nonstop action and appealing characters, but the animation sometimes suffers from inconsistencies. Presented in both Korean and English, and rated 12-up, this is a strong optional purchase. [Note: Bast of Syndrome: The Hacker, Vol. 2 is also newly available, with Riddle's Interventions, Vol. 3 slated for release on July 27.] Aud: P. (J. Halsall)
Bast of Syndrome: Fear and Lemons, Vol. 1
(2001) 125 min. DVD: $29.98. ADV Films (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. ISBN: 1-57813-780-2. Volume 19, Issue 4
Bast of Syndrome: Fear and Lemons, Vol. 1
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