Towanoquon

This exciting serial—comprised of six short features theatrically released in Japan—bears more than a passing resemblance to the X-Men franchise. Seemingly random children worldwide are born with mutant superpowers; often rejected by their parents and known as Attractors, the kids can wind up becoming monstrosities if their capabilities remain undisciplined. In Japan, the “teenaged” Quon (who's actually a thousand years old, thanks to a Wolverine-like ability to heal from any wound) leads a group of fellow Attractors who, operating from a hideout below a high-tech amusement park, try to save their younger counterparts not only from their own out-of-control powers but also from an elite, top-secret, globe-trotting militia (led by a particularly nasty villain in a cleric's collar) that is bent on exploiting or destroying any Attractor it finds. Even the costuming somewhat recalls the live-action spin-offs of Marvel Comics, although this saga ultimately manages to find its own tone and style, which is frequently bloody and sprinkled with profanity. Presented in a dual-language set, rated TV-14, extras include audio commentary with the English voice actors. Recommended. (C. Cassady)