Sengoku Basara: End of Judgement

End of Judgement, the latest entry in the Sengoku Basara franchise, begins 100 days prior to Japan's Battle of Sekigahara during the 17th-century, with rival warlords and their respective armies trying to gain domination in a fractured landscape. The drama heats up when clan leader Ieyasu Tokugawa unexpectedly kills clan head Hideyoshi Toyotomi. And the violence escalates as old alliances fray, new pacts are hastily made, and Hideyoshi's loyal followers plan an elaborate revenge for their slain chief. Viewers without any previous acquaintance with the Sengoku Basara series may find themselves utterly baffled by the number of characters and thorny plot twists involving the complicated military maneuvers. But even if the story may sometimes seem opaque, there is no shortage of action, presented in increasingly vivid animation. Presenting all 12 episodes from 2014 in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, rated TV-14, extras include episode commentaries. Serving up a pure anime adrenaline rush, this is recommended. (P. Hall)