Senran Kagura: Ninja Flash

Enormous breasts appear to be the primary attraction of this childish action-comedy series, which is pendulous with what the cognoscenti like to call "fan service": i.e., partial nudity, shower scenes, swimsuits, lesbian-ish gropings, and panty flashes. Five voluptuous teenage girls entering the elite Hanzo Academy are secretly "shinobi," aka ninjas, in training to fight evil, which does in fact materialize: in the form of rival Hebijo Girls Academy, whose merciless drills and exercises produce wicked she-ninjas (a sisterhood that recruits one of the Hanzo shinobi). In their super-powered battles, both good and evil ninja girls realize they do have things in common—mainly big busts, but also issues with family, confidence, resentment, etc. The goofy narration in the English-language dub (partially written by prolific anime voiceover actress Monica Rial) wisely brings out self-parody elements, but it's not enough to redeem this puerile series based on a video game. Compiling all 12 episodes from 2013 in a dual-language Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, rated TV-MA, extras include audio commentaries. Not recommended. (C. Cassady)