Kids on the Slope: Complete Collection

Adapted from a popular manga, this ‘60s-set anime centers on much-bullied teen Kaoru, an aspiring classical pianist, who has to start high school in an unfamiliar provincial town near a U.S. military base. Surprisingly, Kaoru becomes friends with class hoodlum Sentaro. Although mismatched socially, both teens come from broken homes, and share a love of music; Sentaro is a jazz drummer who jams in the basement of the town music shop with a casual combo. The pair end up going through a lot together, from music gigs interrupted by racist U.S. servicemen to pretzel-tangled love affairs (tough-guy Sentaro is surprisingly inept when he falls for a sophisticated Tokyo transfer student), to the arrival of rock-and-roll and turbulent political protests. A fine series from director Shinichiro Watanabe, this compilation of all 12 episodes from 2012 arrives on DVD and Blu-ray in dual-language sets, rated TV-14. Extras include interviews with Watanabe and others. An offbeat jazz-infused series likely to appeal to a wide range of viewers, this is highly recommended. (C. Cassady)