Karas: The Prophecy

Karas: The Prophecy, an action-horror anime, billed as the 40th anniversary project from the studio that created Speed Racer, is set in a demon and spirit-infested Tokyo where people are dying in unexplained incidents that leave their bodies drained of blood. A mysterious, emotionless girl named Yurine brings forth a man who becomes the city's new Karas (or crow), an armored, supernatural ninja defender, who must battle the minions of Eko, a former Karas turned evil, harboring a grand plan to rule the world. Divided into two releases (the second, Karas: The Revelation, is scheduled to appear later this fall), this first disc boasts impressive visuals, featuring the most seamless integration of 2D and 3D animation I've yet encountered. Unfortunately, the storytelling, which tries to be mysterious and intriguing, is mostly frustrating, with weak scripting and characters lacking in depth. Despite the presence of Hollywood actors (Piper Perabo, Jay Hernandez, Matthew Lillard), the English dub on this dual-language disc remains unimpressive. Unrated, though suitable for 16-up, DVD extras include a “making-of” montage and cast and crew interviews. Optional. Aud: P. (S. Raiteri)