El Cazador de la Bruja, Part One

With its Spanish title, Latin American setting, and female buddy leads, El Cazador de la Bruja is certainly different from the typical anime series. The story gets off to an interesting start: bounty hunter Nadie winds up serving as the unlikely protector of Ellis, an amnesiac witch and suspected killer with a bounty on her head. Other reward seekers, as well as a number of miscreants, mysterious government agents, nuns, and local lunatics chase the pair through a variety of spooky settings as the search for clues about Ellis' past unfolds. The 2007 first season is fueled primarily by plot twists and interesting characters (including transvestite bounty hunters and a shadowy operative named Rosenberg) rather than extensive violence. And for a genre that often crosses the border into blatant misogyny, it's refreshing to see two delightful heroines as the center of attention. Nadie is an old-school “tough broad” action heroine, whose take-charge personality balances nicely against the erratic Ellis, who is barely aware of the magical powers she possesses. Compiling the first 13 (of 26) episodes in a dual-language, two-disc set, rated TV-MA, DVD extras include an audio commentary. A charming and offbeat surprise, this is recommended. [Note: El Cazador de la Bruja, Part Two is also newly available.] Aud: P. (P. Hall)