Ah My Buddha!! Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

Ah My Buddha!! Blu-ray Movie Review

An anime classic arrives on Blu-ray in North America for the first time.

Ah My Buddha! is an entertaining animated comedy from original creator Bohemian-K and Toshinori Sogabe. The anime classic features a theme song by Mai Nakahara. A comedy smash-hit with zany charms, the series focuses on the wild lust of a teenage boy – and all the trouble it gets him in to.

Ikko Satonaka (Chihiro Suzuki) is a horny sixteen-year-old with becomes so aroused he turns himself into a Buddhist Monk. Because of his lustful appetite, Ikko's parents send him to a temple to train to become a proper Monk. Yet sexual temptation is everywhere he turns: can Ikko resist the gorgeous Chitose Nanbu (Mai Nakahara)? Zany adventure awaits!

The animation is one of the highlights of the anime comedy. The series has impressive character designs by Kumi Horii (Quiz Magic Academy, Student Council's Discretion). There are a lot of impressive character designs in Ah My Buddha! Fans of classic anime series will enjoy in the entertaining art style. With stylish cinematography by Itsuo Miyamoto (AM Driver, Diamond Daydreams), Ah My Buddha! is an impressively animated creation with a lot to offer audiences.

Let the festivities begin.

The music score composed by Yasunori Iwasaki (One Piece Special: Adventure of Nebulandia, A Certain Magical Index: The Miracle of Endymion) is kooky fun. The music provides an ample backdrop to the production. There is a lot of fun to be had with the score.

The series is written by Makoto Uezu (Humanity Has Declined, Akame ga KILL!) and the zany creativity of the program is one of the main reasons to check it out. The goofy element of the production makes it worthwhile. As with other classic animes like the great Tenchi Muyo!, the male fantasy element is a big component of the series – a teen boy being surrounded by beautiful ladies in mass.

Directed by Keitaro Motonaga (Date A Live, Princess Princess), Ah My Buddha! is a comedy worth checking out. Goofy antics and over-the-top storytelling – and visuals – make it a treat. While its a series that is sillier more than anything else, anime fans who appreciate the comedy genre will find it worthwhile.

Ah My Buddha!! Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Nozomi Entertainment, Ah My Buddha! is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the television aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series has a somewhat soft appearance. The series doesn't appear as crisp as modern high-definition productions and seems sourced from standard-definition material (at a lower resolution than native 1080p content). Colors appear pleasing and vibrant. The animation looks impressive on the whole. Yet the series has some inherent softness and jaggies which makes it less crisp than a pristine presentation might provide.

Ah My Buddha!! Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in uncompressed PCM 2.0. The audio quality on the release is decent and has ample breathing room. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The music by Yasunori Iwasaki is a delight and sounds clear and vibrant. A satisfactory audio presentation.

Ah My Buddha!! Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 2:

Clean Openings:

Clean Opening 1 (SD, 1:32)

Clean Opening 2 (SD, 1:32)

Clean Opening 3 (SD, 1:32)

Clean Opening 4 (SD, 1:32)

Clean Opening 5 (SD, 1:32)

Clean Opening 6 (SD, 1:32)

Clean Ending (SD, 1:32)

Promo Videos (SD, 1:19)

Opening Song Promo Trailer (SD, 3:09)

Nozomi Trailers: A Town Where You Live (HD, 1:30) and Boogiepop Phantom (HD, 1:00)

Disc 4:

Clean Opening (SD, 1:32)

Clean Ending (SD, 1:32)

Promo Videos (SD, 1:19)

Opening Song Promo Trailer (SD, 3:41)

Nozomi Trailers: Galaxy Angel (HD, 1:28) and Martian Successor Nadesico (HD, 00:34).

Ah My Buddha!! Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ah My Buddha! is an entertaining anime. The series provides audiences with a goofy male-fantasy where the central protagonist, Ikko Satonaka (Chihiro Suzuki), is surrounded by beautiful ladies – including the buxom Chitose Nanbu (Mai Nakahara). The Blu-ray release features a decent presentation. Fans of the series will want to add the set to their collection. Recommended.