Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren't They? Complete Collection

Saddled with a clunky title, this fantasy mash-up also feels like something in the story itself was lost in translation. Three "blessed" human teenagers wielding awesome superpowers are abruptly teleported to the fantasy world known as the “Little Garden," where Black Rabbit—a big-bosomed bunny-girl—explains that local inhabitants are gods, demigods, and creatures of myth, all of whom play "Gift Games" that grant wishes and confer status and rewards. Despite her inherited role as a referee in the Gift Games, Black Rabbit and her clan were discredited after a devastating loss to "demon lord" players. Hopefully, the earthlings will be able to win enough games to restore Black Rabbit's community to the Little Garden. The resulting wizardly duels and supernatural smackdowns are often mystifying in both their strategies and consequences, and feature strange invocations of vampires, giant robots, Jack O'Lantern, the Pied Piper of Hamlin, and Perseus/Medusa. Add some peek-a-boo fan-service cheesecake and the result is a far-out but not particularly winning anime. Compiling all 10 episodes (and a bonus OVA) from 2013 in separate DVD and Blu-ray editions—rated TV-14, in Japanese with English subtitles—this is an optional purchase. (C. Cassady)