Boogiepop Phantom: Complete TV Series

Crisply conceived and strikingly animated, Boogiepop Phantom serves up one of the most elaborate and innovative storylines ever created for an anime series. Set in an unnamed city some five years after a brief spate of unsolved serial killings, the narrative achieves a jolting degree of emotional creepiness without succumbing to the less savory vices of the genre. The plot opens with a new chain of unexplained crimes involving children who mysteriously vanish and are never seen again. Some blame the disappearances on the Boogiepop, considered to be a modern angel of death. But is the Boogiepop an urban legend or a genuine force of evil? The answer, quite frankly, is something no one could expect, and even hinting about it would create a spoiler of epic proportions. Compiling all 12 episodes originally aired in 2000 in a dual-language set, rated 15-up, extras include an audio commentary, music videos, a line art gallery, and production notes. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)