Product Details

• Actors: Aya Hirano, Wendee Lee
• Format: Animated, Color, Limited Edition, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: English, Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Bandai Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: May 6, 2008
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001662FKU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,590 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Lucky Star, Vol. 1 Limited Edition" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Meet Konata, an athletic and intelligent girl too dedicated to her favorite primetime animes to excel in anything but otaku culture. Miyuki, the cute, bespectacled living example of moe with an encyclopedic knowledge of all subjects. Kagami, the bitter-sweet, tough but shy straight-man to Konata's constant teasing and pranks, and her younger fraternal twin sister, Tsukasa, a kind but air-headed klutz. Witness this study in the human condition as our heroines explore the unexplored in questioning the ordinary. Limited edition includes DVD, Moteke Sailor Fuku Opening CD, Konata character CD, Girls school uniform printed t-shirt, and chocolate comet screen wipe.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars need :3 May 8, 2008

By Mokie Archaia

Format:DVD

This is by far, one of the best "limited" deals for one of the best anime series, ever. The T-Shirt is XL, and I'm going to wear it to work tomorrow. I expect odd looks, considering I'm a guy hahaha! The screen wipe (chocolate coronet) is just adorable - there's no way I'd have the heart to get it dirty from my screen. The music cd's are good - The opening song is full length, accompanied by another song which is just as enjoyable (also includes off-vocal versions). The second music cd is based off Konata - it's an enjoyable listen. For the dvd, Japanese vocal is preserved (with English subtitles!), and the English voice track...well I don't think I could watch it because I'm used to the Japanese vocals. So yes, the entire package is a definate 5 *'s.

For the anime itself, you'll either love it or hate it. I recommend watching "The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi", as this anime makes "several" references to it. Lucky Star also references Japanese life and culture, so it may be difficult to make many connections, but fortunately, included with the DVD is a list of what things mean in Japanese culture! Good job on this one.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Anime Fan's "Seinfeld" January 13, 2009

By Christopher Neal

Format:DVD

Lucky Star is a unique delight in anime. Where most series follow the standard trend of every other show in existence of following a long, strung-out and sometimes convoluted plotline, Lucky Star subscribes to the K.I.S.S. method, or more appropriately, the Seinfeld approach. Essentially, it's an anime about nothing.

Following the lives of four Japanese teenage girls (Yes, they're all 17-ish despite their prepubescent look), Lucky Star keeps things high-paced with short segments strung together in each episode, usually focused around the four girls talking about aspects of their lives, their dreams, their questions and thoughts, or just overall goofing around. It never really follows any sort of singular plotline or progression, save for the movement of the year, but the dialogue and antics of the characters keep you fascinated, and the pacing and timing remains high, making sure that you don't get bored.

The majority of the series' laughs come in the form of references and jabs to anime, gaming and the resultant cultures, but there's something here for everyone regardless of their level of anime fandom. In Lucky Star, we get an honest and adorable glimpse into the lives and thoughts of young girls growing up in Japan, and all at once the viewer gains insight as well as finds similarities. Before long, you'll wonder who you are and who amongst your circle of friends fits the mold of the show's characters. Each episode wraps up with Lucky Channel, featuring the antics of fallen diva Akira and her assistant-cum-punching bag Shiraishi, which almost always provides side-splitting moments.

Huge kudos has to go to the localization team and English vocal talent, who retain the charm and cute level of the characters they voice, though many will still proclaim that the Japanese cast cannot be touched. Better still, the references to Japanese culture and lifestyles remain intact--a brave and wise move by Bandai Entertainment. They could have easily gone the 4Kids route and attempt to re-mold the series to better suit American trends and tastes, but here all things are left intact, preserving the colorful and insightful nature of the show.

Even if you're a passing fan of anime, you owe it to yourself to check out Lucky Star. It's funny, it's whimsical, it's fascinating, and it's all around plain unchecked fun. Everyone could use a dose of kawaii now and then. Read more ›

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The popular craze finnaly hits U.S. shores. April 25, 2008

By G. A. Roberts

Format:DVD

When I first laid eyes on Lucky Star, I really had no idea what I was watching. From the obscure yet (amazing!) opening theme, questions will rise to the head very quickly as you try to assume what this series is made of. Of course, as I watched Lucky Star, I grew more and more into it, and so first impressions affected me no longer. Set to the everyday lives of four Highschool girls, Lucky Star is a comedy anime which questions the aspects of everything. Each episode is composed of multiple short scenes (like Peanuts or Garfield) in which they talk about or refer to specific subjects (commonly refering to pop culture), and many times you find that you can relate to what they are talking about, this is why I enjoyed it so much. There are tons of referances to other anime and videogames, and this is why I assume it gained popularity so quickly as it was dubbed the most popular anime of 2007 in Japan.

However, I can foresee that the English version might not appeal to as many viewers, probably because many of the jokes and subjects that are popular in Lucky Star pertain to the Japanese culture. Of course this doesn't mean that casual anime fans will dislike the show, as I know people who do not even watch anime who loved the show. Yet, I believe very few people know what it is so far, and so its possible only the huge anime fans will know it even exists. I've heard that the English voice cast was good, and I look forward to discovering exactly how good they are. I was incredibly pleased with the Japanese cast, as Hirano Aya did a flawless job on Konata Izumi, the main character.

I also hear that the manga is coming to America; under Tokyo Pop. This I really look forward to, as the manga was done in 4-panel comic strips throughout each volume, and has the same comedy from the show, if not better. Keep a lookout for it!

All in all, I believe that people who find the series will enjoy it, Lucky Star kind of has something for everyone. However, I will admit that the first episode can be a bad first impression, and in my opinion I found that after that episode, the series escalates into a great show. The characters are designed well, the humor is fresh, the animation is well done, and despite american appeal, I believe it has surprises in store for any anime fan. 5/5 Read more ›

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars great deal! May 17, 2008

By Max Corso

Format:DVD

The best review is one that tells you exactly what you're getting:

I was quite surprised at just how well made physically the items i the set are. The box itself has a lip so the DVD's don't fall out (as in i can literally hold it upside down with the one disc it it and nothing will move.) as well as coming with a ribbon to pull them out if it proves troublesome, and art EVERYWHERE, even inside the box. The CD's are excellent, with lyrics in the insert and nice art. the coronet screenwipe is interesting, and a nice complementary novelty. The shirt is nice, good quality (though if i ever wore it in public i'd be called MANY things.) The DVD case is a special edition (which means it has alternate artwork) that is pretty cool, and comes with liner notes as said above so you can fully understand all of the humor. The show itself, is as said before, love it or hate it, but if you're buying the disc, you like it.