Product Details

• Actors: Joseph Anthony, Evita Arce, Britt Baker, L.B. Bartholomee, Russell Bartholomee
• Writers: Hiroyuki Kawasaki
• Producers: Del Casher, John Ledford, Mark Williams
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Adv Films
• DVD Release Date: May 27, 2003
• Run Time: 125 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008G8PT
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,820 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Animation > Characters & Series > Sakura Wars

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Sakura Wars TV is a more satisfying treatment of this popular continuity than the feature or OVAs. The longer format gives the filmmakers time to delineate characters more fully, to explore the nature of the threat the Imperial Flower Combat Troupe faces, and to explain how putting on plays prepares the Troupers for specialized warfare. When klutzy swordswoman Sakura Shinguji arrives in Tokyo in the mid-1920s, she inadvertently alienates the other members of the Troupe. As she works to make amends, she learns that these young women fight in Koubus, special mecha that run on spiritual energy. They battle the Wakiji, mecha that wreak destruction whenever they appear. The first episodes introduce the principle cast members: arrogant Sumire Kanzaki, sharpshooter Maria Tachibana, and petite psychic Iris Chateaubriand. Handsome Second Lieutenant Ohgami assumes command of the Troop, but receives a less than warm welcome. (Rated 12 and older: violence) --Charles Solomon

Product Description
It is the 1920s, and Japan is under attack by demonic invaders. The government has designed sturdy, albeit steam-powered, robot armor suits for the impending battle, but only young ladies with the proper combination of virtue and spirit can pilot the robots successfully.

Enter young Sakura, arriving in the Imperial Capital from the countryside to join the Imperial Flower Combat Troop. She has the qualifications to be a fine robot pilot, but she's surprised to learn that this secret Defense Force has a cover story as a musical theatre troupe-and they take their cover jobs very seriously indeed. It's costumes, line readings and robot combat galore, as Sakura struggles to learn the ropes, learn her lines, and do her part to save the nation!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent English language production. ADV rocks!, May 17, 2003

By A Customer

This is a fantastic English languiage production of the hugely popular Japanese series. The voiceover work that ADV produces is splendid. They have managed to get great performances that truly fit the characters. The transfer looks beautiful, and the sound is impeccable. The script is intelligently translated--and the dialogue actually fits the mouth flaps really well! There are some nice extras, especially the subtitle-free opening and closing credits. Of course, you can watch the show in its original Japanese or in the (again, excellent) English dub. I really like the dub on this one. I don't know where ADV gets the actors they use, but they're all terrific. Even minor characters are expertly voiced. I can't wait until Vol. 2 comes out. If you like ADV productions, Sakura Wars movie, or just good Anime in general, get this DVD.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sakura to the Rescue..., October 9, 2005

By	Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

I'm not quite sure why I never paid any attention to this series. Other than the fact that robot fighting machines are not my preferred anime genre, especially when manned by psychic young ladies who tend to be nasty or grumpy with each other. After a brief momentary lapse in which I viewed that introductory OVA and actually enjoyed it I decided to check out the series. While the story is indeed what I thought it was, it's also something else entirely, and that hard to define something else is what makes this series a success where similar stories fail.

Sakura Shinjugi is a young woman with a talent for spiritual swordsmanship. She is called to Tokyo to join the Imperial Flower Combat Troop and defend the capital from demonic invasions. What Sakura finds, a theatrical troop that spends their off hours riding giant robots and slaughtering demons, is not quite what she expected. She starts off on the wrong foot with everyone especially Kanzaki Sumire - obnoxious grand-daughter of the man who has invented the spiritual armor the troop uses, Maria Tachibana - first captain of the team, and Iris Chateaubriand - a very young and powerful psychic.

Part of Sakura's problems come from finding herself in a team, when she has previously been alone. She starts off rushing into things without any thought, to the discomfiture of all. She lacks self confidence, and fears her own powers. Even so, by the end of this first DVD she has found a niche and we, as viewer. Have reached a level of comfort with the dynamics of the team. Other than Sumire, for whom there is no hope at all.

There actually isn't all that much fighting in these first episodes. What makes things tick is the writing and acting, which are surprisingly good for a television series of this type. The artwork is well done as well, which a lot of use of shadow and close shots to build the atmospherics. As I did the film, I found myself enjoying the DVD in spite of myself. It's easy enough to see why Sakura Wars became a hit.

2.0 out of 5 stars Sakura wars-ugg, November 8, 2006

By	Anime_lover ^ ^ "No_more_tears_" - See all my reviews

i rate this a two-out-of-five. It's just---so weak! I thought this would be a cute show like with mecha robots, but, yuck, it's just---all over the place! the story-line, well, their isn't one! I have to admit the animation is very crisp, but the voice actors stink, everythings just so wrong. When i rented this from block-bursters, i thought i'd like it, but---nope! a definate 2-out-of-five! (because i like the theme song!)