Ghost Stories: Semester 1, Freshman Frights

Ghost Stories combines the Japanese flair for horror (witness Boogiepop Phantom and the original live-action Ringu) with screwball comedy (aided by the snide and madcap humor of the English translation and dubbed performances), transforming a would-be typical anime into an addictive guilty pleasure. The story is strictly conventional, revolving around a new student named Satsuki, who—along with her younger brother—ends up trapped in her school's dilapidated, haunted former quarters, fighting ghosts with an assortment of her misfit classmates: loudmouth braggart Hajime, self-appointed paranormal expert Leo, and born-again Momoko. When Satsuki discovers that her mother once exorcised ghosts when she was young, our heroine that realizes she's the only hope for combating these wayward and malevolent spirits. Apparently, the original Japanese show is your usual kiddie fare, but for the ADV voiceover, the translators allowed the actors to improvise with snarky asides, sexual innuendo, and rapid-fire pop culture references. Compiling the first three zany (if also rude) episodes, this English-only disc, rated TV-PG, is a strong optional purchase. [Note: Ghost Stories, Semester 2 is also available.] Aud: P. (R. Brenner)