Product Details

• Actors: Mitsuki Saiga, Megumi Toyoguchi, Kazuhiro Nakata, Akiko Hiramatsu, Kaori Nazuka
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• 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
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Bandai
• DVD Release Date: March 16, 2004
• Run Time: 125 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00018D5QC
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,210 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Animation > Characters & Series > .hack//SIGN

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The popular fantasy-adventure concludes as the world of the game grows increasingly unstable. Aided by Subaru and his friends, Tsubasa challenges the vengeful and omnipresent Morganna for mastery of the cyber-realm. As Tsubasa rediscovers his true identity and the role he was destined to play, he reopens the links between the game and reality. He awakens the slumbering Aura and escapes from the game in an emotionally satisfying finale. The alienated Wave Master has learned to love, but Director Koichi Mashimo avoids bathos by underplaying his transformation. Although the story ends with "Return," the disc includes two bonus episodes. "Intermezzo" offers a long flashback of Mimiru and Bear when they were novices at the game; scenes from earlier episodes have been re-edited to recap the main story in "Evidence." Handsomely designed, well animated, and skillfully directed, .hack//Sign stands out as an example of how to turn a game into a series that can stand on its own merits. (Rated 13 and older: violence) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The oddly ill arranged 'end' to a multi-media series..., March 9, 2004

By	Stephen Ressel (North Dakota, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: .hack//SIGN - Terminus (Vol. 6) (Limited Edition) (DVD)

Obviously, those who are buying this DVD have followed the series. .hack//SIGN was designed to be a TV series that flows into a video game series, and in Japan they released their product in a row so you can follow the story from beginning to end. In America, the series of SIGN jumped out of the gate around the same time the first video game was relased. Sadly, you couldn't follow the series in America and then plpay the games unless you waited until now (or watched SIGN on Cartoon Network through the summer of 2003) and then play the games. This is the biggest fault of Bandai America. Aside from that, this has been a very interesting, and progressively experimental ride.

.hack//SIGN creates major ripples in people participating in the WORLD (on-line game) as they try to understand the enigma of Tsukasa, who appears to be a comatose player caught in the game. While the actual workings of this phenomena (the comas) isnt explained in the series, or the game, or game OVAs, it is explained in the final series/installment called .hack//Twilight's Bracelt being released soon by Bandai. And once explained, it still doesn't make much sense; assuming the personality in the game is AI, how does Tsukasa regain the computer's memories outside the game when awakened? With headsets, it doesn't play that there is a psychic bond since this universe is about straightforward technology and AI, and not about mysticism. Aside from that, the story works well. A great amount of care in writing and drawing draws detail to words and expressions instead of battles/terror/sex/adventure, and it succeeds brilliantly on that level. This is one of the few anime where you feel words count and people are actually talking to each other, and relating in the myriad emotional ways they do in real life with body language, expression, subtext and so on. THE WORLD is merely a mask for the player (the end credits portray this) as the body is a mask for the mind and will of a person; the parallels are nice. The biggest pity was not seeing the poeple outside the game more, but that wasnt the story and would have hurt the impact of the final scenes which sum up the series- people reaching for each other but never QUITE connecting.

The games go beyond this series as Aura is awake and fleeing from Skieth and the vengeful mother who wants her dead. While the game spends most of your time wandering levels fighting monsters, it has tidbits of story thrown in to progress the entire experience above a mere game and into a saga. The game also explains the fate or further experiences of the characters from SIGN. Sora's dilemma is resolved in the 3rd game. While you don't get to play with any of the SIGN characters until the end of the 4th game, you will meet some of the SIGN characters and get weapons from them as you succeed at levels where the story progresses. I believe you see all the characters at some point, as well as seeing ghosts of them spouting lines from the series in the root towns.

It is sad to see the series end, despite the two extra episodes. It would be great to continue this well written, tho under animated, series. For the blood/sex/death/action/mecha crowd, this series was probably frustrating and obnoxious because the subtlety needs the viewer to attempt a connection with the anime. SIGN was not an anime that lashes out with splendor and mayhem, but pays off in a different way.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terminus-the best .hack DVD out of all 6 volumes, March 21, 2004

By	Jennie Montgomery "Turner Classic Movies junkie" (Oxnard, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

.hack//SIGN-Terminus is by far the best .hack DVD out there. If you are a true .hack fan then you simply must by this DVD. It contains episodes 23-25 (all of the last episodes) plus 2 bonus episodes. The bonus episodes are "Intermezzo", which focuses on Mimiru and why she plays The World the way she does. The second episode is "Evidence" which was broadcasted earlier in the .hack//SIGN series. This DVD is pretty awesome, but if you buy the limited edition .hack//SIGN Terminus DVD, you will also recieve an extra DVD that comes with an extra episode "Unison".
Unison brings all of the characters from .hack//SIGN and the .hack video games together in conclusion to the first seoson of .hack and eventually leads up to the second season. I give this product a 6 out of 5 (its that great) and recommend it to any .hack fan.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too Much Information, April 15, 2004

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

The .hack series wouldn't be right if it didn't end with a knock down, drag out boss beating fight. Subaru, Tsukasa, and the rest of the players take up arms against their mysterious opponent - Morganna. As they foil plans and counter moves, Morganna's rage grows and The World becomes dangerous enough to threaten the real world. Aura must be born to save the game, and for that to happen Tsukasa must discover his true identity and find a way to log out.

This is the first grand battle for the mind space of the net, and success is defined by more than increased player levels. Deeper qualities of character are needed to prevail. Real courage must replace skill points. Expect a few surprises as several characters reveal their true natures. And a strong ending

To make up for there being only three series episodes, this DVD provides to additional episodes. 'Intermezzo' is an interesting side arc that covers some of Mimiru's own story. With Tsukasa and Subaru's relationship taking the foreground in the series itself, this is an unexpected insight into one or the series most interesting characters. Finally, 'Evidence' is a retelling of the main story line with some additional touches of detail that underline the poignant core of the story.

This series has shown consistent strength in concept and story. While it didn't take quite the turns I thought it would it has shown an independent creativity beyond that defined in the game portion of this series. Not every thread is completely resolved, but most a brought within the sphere of imagination. Which is, of course, one of the key themes of the story.