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Feature Presentation:
We're back for some more exciting episodes of this wonderful series, all about the Chinese Zodiac. A new school year have comes for Tohru, Yuki & Kyo. However, to everyone surprise, Haru & Momiji are going to their school, too. Boy, both of them just add problems & Haru can sure kick butt when he needs to. Though, the day isn't without peril when Akido came to visit Tohru. With a little more personnal with Yuki, Tohru meets up the most unlike way, but funny, another Sohma, Ayame, Yuki's older brother. Here we get to see a little side of Yuki as Ayame tries to be a big brother for him. Boy, things didn't turn out as hope to be. The time has come, one year has passed since the day Tohru's mother has passed away, though a sweetness comes on that day. Back at work, Torhu meets up with Momiji & we get to kow her story how the curse effected him. It touch your heart & you can really connected yourself, both Tohru & Momiji, yet a smile comes to the end. One fine day, Shigure invited Tohru to go to the lake. I love it how he can trick Yuki & Kyo to tag along. Anyone knows who is Jason? Back at home, a raining day it is when Haru went out looking for someone, a another Sohma, Kisa. It's the curse once again & Tohru help her pull herself together. Kisa is so cute & you will see why. As things finally comes down, the Yuki Fan Club has finally reach a boiling point on how close Tohru is with Yuki & launch a secret plan, to put an end to Saki Hanajima, Tohru's best friend & protector! What a shock. Last, the mid-term exam is up, but Tohru didn't do well for just one class. Though, since she worried too much, she caught a fever, making everyone worried for her. It just to show how much everyone cares for her.
Video:
FUNimation Productions did a great job bring it on DVD. It is clean, crisp, I found no problem. They even use the angle function of your DVD player. You can actually switch between the original Japanese version or the English version of the opening & ending. Since all the episodes are on one single track on the DVD, there is no loading time or changing tracks when you move on to the next episode. Each episode is split into 6 parts: introduction, part A, part B, part C, ending & the preview for the next episode! I do note that you can't skip the warnings & logos in the beginning using the "Menu" button on your remote, so you have to wait until the menu pops up to start to show.
Dubbing: English:
The English dubbing is well done. I even go as far that I like the English voices better then the Japanese. That's my opinion. FUNimation Productions have kept as close as the original Japanese dialogue. They even dubbed the opening & ending theme, keeping the original music. It's about 90% of the original Japanese.
Audio 01: English 2.0:
No problem found.
Audio 02: Japanese 2.0:
No problem found.
Subtitle:
The font they use is a little small, but bolded. However, the color dark yellow that FUNimation Productions have picked help to make it easier to read. There are 2 subtitling tracks. One of the subtitle tracks is for the original Japanese track, the other one is the actual dialogue for the English track for the hearing impaired, which is kinda unique. The only problem I see that it's lacking the Japanese signs or texts subtitling translation, except if you switch on the Japanese subtitling.
Menu Option:
The menu is pretty simple, it's very colorful. You get to see Tohru, dressing in black to visit her mother, on the right, with the options on the left, which are "Play All", "Episodes", "Language" & Extras. Very simple & easy to use. I like the music playing in the backgound & each section have a different music from the series.
DVD Extras:
The extra on this volume is a little less, but it's still great. Here is another interview with Japanese voice actress of Torhu, but with the voice actor of Yuki in the same traditional Japanese room (like in the series). Also, part two of those eye-catch you see throughout the series like in the previous volume.
Packaging:
Keeping the same design, you get to see Kyo Sohma on the cover. In the back, there are some screenshots form the episodes in this volume, along with an image that is part of the Chinese Zodiac. The description have improved with a little more hint on the episodes in this volume. The insert have the same picture as the cover, along with an ad with another series done by FUNimation Productions. Inside the insert is a full blast summary of all the episodes in this volume, along with screenshots for each one of them. On the DVD disc itself, it's Kisa Sohma.
PC Viewing:
Watching it on the PC is the same as watching it on the TV. Very clean, no problem at all, very little pixel (little squares popping in & out), both normal mode & full screen mode. The sound is just great. Since all the episodes are on one track, there isn't any loading time when you move episode to episode. However, there is one little problem, you can't forward using your mouse, except moving to the next chapter. Bascially, you can't just go any point throughout the series with a click of the mouse. Unlike on your regular DVD player, you can't skip the warnings & logos when you load the disc, you need to wait until the main menu appears.
Overall DVD Rating:
I feel that this set of episodes is my favorite. We get to know more about Yuki & Momiji, along with with the sweet Kisa. The best part when Torhu get sick, everyone is worried about her & surely care for her very much. Life is fill with painful moments, but most of the time, love & friendship will make you forget the sadness.
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