Fractale: The Complete Series

Based on a web comic, this cyber-sci-fi anime commands rapt attention even though—like the mind-enslaved humans it depicts—the narrative often seems to be going robotically through the motions of Japanimation tropes (a heroine who drops from the sky; a hero who's repeatedly misjudged as a sexual pervert via comical misunderstandings, etc.). Courtesy of an orbital virtual-reality array called Fractale, most of future humanity dwells in a synthetic paradise, free of the constraints of poverty or labor, and interacting mainly via “doppels,” or avatars. Teenager Clain, however, is a fan of obsolete technology and retro lifestyles. He's still an amateur, however, compared to Lost Millennium, a rebel alliance of farmers and villagers intent on destroying Fractale. A mystery girl on the run from both Lost Millennium and the quasi-religious “Temple” that controls Fractale passes through Clain's life and leaves behind Nessa, an artificial intelligence creation in the form of a spirited child—evidently a key element of the Temple. All sides vie to capture the two female fugitives, as Clain learns that Fractale is fraying around the edges. The storyline here is rather mystifying, but the journey is fun, with eye-popping visuals compensating for the oft-clichéd characters. Compiling all 11 episodes originally aired in 2011 in a dual-language set, rated TV-14, extras include commentaries, and an art gallery. Recommended. (C. Cassady)