Toriko: Part 01

Viewers will require an extremely generous (and crude) sense of humor to appreciate this wonderfully weird anime. Toriko is one of the Four Heavenly Kings and the world's most famous Gourmet Hunter—i.e., someone willing to travel to the most inhospitable corners of the planet to capture rare animals for inclusion in outlandish meals. Toriko, who sports a flowing mane of blue hair and a muscular body that makes Channing Tatum look like Don Knotts, exudes a self-confidence that inevitably carries him into ridiculous peril. Joining him on his ventures is chef Komatsu, who possesses none of Toriko's bravado and strength, and who, naturally, winds up as comic relief to the buff superhero. Also in the mix are the other Heavenly Kings (including one with uncommonly strong hair follicles), a female reporter who follows Toriko on his impossible journeys, and Toriko's loyal Battle Wolf. And there's a group trying to obtain the same rare fauna to fuel a growing army of robots that are being prepped for (what else?) world domination. Toriko: Part 01 is certainly among the most peculiar of anime comedies, but the characters are so hilariously broad and the stories so cheerfully inane that it is easy to get hooked on its inspired lunacy. Compiling 13 episodes originally airing in 2011 on a dual-language set, rated TV-14, extras include episode commentaries. Highly recommended. [Note: Toriko: Part 02, Toriko: Part 03, and Toriko: Part 04 are also newly available.] (P. Hall)