Beet the Vandel Buster: The Sacrifice, Vol. 1

Beet the Vandel Buster is full of eager ‘tween heroes, mad fighting skills, slapstick, and demons of unusual size. Young Beet is determined to become a Vandel Buster (or demon slayer), a group who dedicate their lives to protecting humankind from a menagerie of thuggish, vicious monsters. After passing the first test, Beet immediately wants to join the big leagues, but is he really ready? Beet's older brother considers his sibling reckless, while Beet's best friend thinks his reach dangerously exceeds his grasp (and she doesn't hesitate to let him know that she disapproves). Although generally an upbeat series, the titular “sacrifice” is neither small nor lightweight, an event that sets Beet on his own perilous journey while also serving up a harsh lesson. A combination coming-of-age and action-adventure story that veers between serious tests of bravery and moments of good-natured humor, Beet the Vandel Buster is a decent if also unoriginal anime that will appeal to younger fans of Yu-Gi-Oh, etc. Presenting the first four episodes on an extra-less dual-language disc (the English dub is a bit cheesy), rated TV-PG, this is a strong optional purchase. [Note: Beet the Vandel Buster, Vol. 2 is also available.] Aud: P. (R. Brenner)