This six-episode disc is the first of two collecting the direct-to-video Guyver series, originally released in Japan from 1987-1990. The secret organization Chronos is studying three mysterious alien symbiotes known as Guyvers, each encased in protective armor rendering it inert. When the Guyvers are stolen and then lost, high school student Sho Fukamachi and his friend Tetsuro discover one of them, but when Sho accidentally breaks it open, he merges with the Guyver, and becomes a super-powerful warrior in an armored combat suit equipped with a variety of devastating weapons. When Chronos sends its Zoanoids (monstrous and powerful genetically-altered humans) to recover the Guyver, threatening Tetsuro and his sister Mizuki (whom Sho has feelings for), Sho is forced into battle after battle to stop them. And the battles seem to be the main point of the series, which otherwise suffers from poor writing. Manga suggests the disc for ages 13 and up, but the grotesque and bloody violence argues for a higher age range (although older viewers are likely to find the series unsatisfying). Presented with both an English dub (that leaves a good bit to be desired, in both voice acting and scripting) and the original Japanese audio track, The Guyver (the second volume is available at the same price) is one of the earlier anime series to make a splash in America, but while it may hold some nostalgic appeal for longtime fans, this cannot be recommended except for the most comprehensive collections. Aud: P. (S. Raiteri)
The Guyver, Vol. 1
(1994) 180 min. DVD: $24.95. Manga Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 18, Issue 3
The Guyver, Vol. 1
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