Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection

A so-so, heavily shojo (girl-oriented) anime that ties in heavily with card- and video-game spinoffs, Fantasista Doll finds junior high-schooler Uzume Uno —a fantasy card-game enthusiast—acquiring a high-tech deck (created by a group of mysteriously vanished researchers) that actually serves as a host to winsome, hologram-like female artificial intelligences called "dolls." When one "master" of such a card set faces off against another player, the winner generally takes the defeated cards and their corresponding dolls. Uzume, after a faux pas or deux, proves to be a benevolent master, treating her dolls like real people (BFFs even), and caring about their feelings—as opposed to rival masters who see their dolls as disposable, super-powered slaves. Meanwhile, Uzume's progress at card duels and the dolls' evolution are secretly monitored by mystery men who expect Uzume to mature enough to fight a looming menace. Although it opens with a nightmarish flashback, this mostly bubblegum sci-fi girl-power adventure doesn't live up to its initial promise. Presenting all 12 episodes from 2013 in separate DVD and Blu-ray editions—rated TV-14, in Japanese with English subtitles—this is optional, at best. (C. Cassady)