Human Crossing: Message in White, Vol. 3

One of the more peculiar anime offerings to come down the pike, Human Crossing, now in its third volume, serves up a series of character-based short dramas about intersecting lives. “Message in White” takes place in a women's prison, where a new correctional officer finds herself under intense scrutiny by her superiors after experiencing problems with a difficult prisoner. In “The Smile,” after a man moves his family into their new dream house, they are joined by the mistress of the man's late father in a surprise appearance that ultimately redefines the concept of family. “City” follows a Japanese artist living in Paris who returns to Tokyo for his uncle's funeral and ends up staying after winning more fame and fortune than ever, albeit at the expense of his marriage. The stories are all well-conceived, and the artwork throughout is solid, but in the final analysis the episodes have little in the way of emotional impact. Perhaps these tales of human loss require human actors rather than animated facsimiles to drive home the genuine poignancy and pain at the heart of each story. Most anime fans will certainly find Human Crossing far too sedate, while foreign film devotees are likely to bypass this altogether under the mistaken belief that it is standard anime fare. Presented on a dual-language disc, rated 16-up, this is a curious offering, one that may have a hard time finding the right audience. Optional. [Note: Human Crossing, Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and Vol. 4 are also available.] Aud: P. (P. Hall)