Utawarerumono: Mask of a Stranger, Vol. 1

This striking anime is equal parts artistic, haunting, and surreal. After awakening in a forest—amnesiac and wearing a mask he's unable to remove—a young man is rescued by Eluluu, a rural girl with furry ears and a tail, who takes him to her village, where he's given the name Hakuoro. In an effort to return the villagers' kindness, Hakuoro helps them in two fights: the first against a vicious animal-type deity, the second against the repressive government brutally ruling the village. Compiling the first four of 26 episodes, Utawarerumono: Mask of a Stranger raises many tantalizing questions: Who is Hakuoro and why is he locked permanently into that mask? Is Eluluu in love with Hakuoro, or does she worship him as the father figure she never had? Why haven't the villagers been engaged in battle prior to Hakuoro's arrival, since it's obvious they are more than capable of defending themselves? While the answers remain elusive this early in the series, they combine to form a vigorous storyline that is rendered in brilliant animation. Presented on a dual-language disc (with an excellent English dub), rated TV-PG, DVD extras include extended episode previews and a character art gallery. Highly recommended. [Note: Utawarerumono, Vol. 2 is slated for release on Mar. 20, with Vol. 3 debuting on May 15.] Aud: P. (P. Hall)