Kaiba: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Kaiba: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Kaiba is a science-fiction anime with a compelling concept. Broadcast on WOWOW, the series features animation production by Madhouse (Black Lagoon, Cardcaptor Sakura). The animation is produced by Tsutomu Fujio (The Tatami Galaxy, Ping Pong). Created by Masaaki Yuasa, Kaiba presents a science-fiction world that is bleak and surreal. Executive produced by Hiroshi Hirayama, Jungo Maruta, and Naoki Takamizawa, Kaiba is unlike most other science-fiction anime series as the style is far more experimental.

Produced by Hiroyuki Kitaura (A Spirit of The Sun, Strain: Strategic Armored Infantry), Manabu Tamura (Elfen Lied, Ouran High School Host Club), and Yukiko Ninokata (Oh! Edo Rocket, Shigurui: Death Frenzy), Kaiba features theme song music by Seira Kagami. Featuring the voices of Houko Kuwashima and Romi Park in the lead roles. Supporting voice performances are by Mamiko Noto, Hisao Egawa, and Wasabi Mizuta.

Kaiba (Houko Kuwashima) awakens from a slumber and has no idea of his name or who he is. The boy has a giant hole in the middle of his chest. Kaiba also has strange markings on his body. Without any previous memories of who he is and why he is where he is, Kaiba finds himself a lost stranger. The experience is overwhelming. Yet Kaiba has one remaining puzzle piece to rediscovering his past: a special locket with a picture inside of a girl.

Kaiba soon meets Popo (Romi Park) and learns more about the world of those without memories. Danger awaits as those with wealth and power want to harvest bodies and take the memoryless bodies as possessions for themselves. Can Kaiba survive the strange and otherworldly land without memories?

The character designs by Nobutake Ito (INU-OH, Lu over the wall) are incredible. The character designs are one of the strongest elements of the series. The design work certainly showcases fantastic and compelling visuals for these characters. Ito crafted characters distinct and unusual from the norm. Impressive and compelling work from the designer.

The animation is outstanding and it is one of the main appeals of the production. Under the art direction by Ryō Kōno (Carole & Tuesday, Space Dandy) and chief animation direction by Nobutake Ito (Lu over the wall, Ping Pong), Kaiba is a beautifully animated science-fiction series and there is a lot to think about in regards to the art style. The series looks unlike anything else in some respects – this is an experimental art style and something that fuses a Noir-like aesthetic with something futuristic.

The score composed by Kiyoshi Yoshida (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Shigurui: Death Frenzy) is impressive and compelling for the series. Yoshida is a compelling score and there is a lot to enjoy. A fantastic work for the series and one that provides plenty of exciting energy and style to the series. Outstanding.

The series has a roster of screenwriters involved. Written by Akitoshi Yokoyama, Eun Young Choi, Masaaki Yuasa, Michio Mihara, and Tomoya Takahashi, Kaiba has fun experimenting with the compelling concept. The dark science-fiction tonal qualities in the story are explored.

Directed by Masaaki Yuasa (INU-OH, Lu over the wall), Kaiba is an interesting and unique series from the visionary filmmaker. Yuasa is one of the more compelling filmmakers working in anime today and his work provides plenty of exciting energy and plenty of style. Yuasa is a unique talent and anything directed by the filmmaker bears some significance. Anime fans who enjoy more experimental filmmaking will want to check it out.

Kaiba: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray from Anime Limited, Kaiba is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series has a wonderful high-definition presentation. The color reproduction on the release is excellent. The presentation is crisp and well-defined. The encoding is excellent and detail is well reproduced in the animation. Anime Limited has done a solid job with the video quality on the release.

Kaiba: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Japanese uncompressed PCM 2.0 (with English subtitles). The release provides and preserves the sound direction by Keiichi Momose. Dialogue sounds crisp and clear. Fantastic detail is apparent in the score soundtrack. The stereo sound imaging is engaging. The presentation provides a satisfactory experience – the only potential drawback for audiences being the lack of an English dub. The English subtitles for the original Japanese language presentation are good and are free from egregious issues with spelling or grammar.

Kaiba: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The collector's edition comes with a deluxe chip-board art-box and a 39-page art booklet.

On disc supplements include:

Textless Openings (HD, 3:02)

Textless Endings (HD, 4:37)

Textless Inserts (HD, 4:24)

Kaiba: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Kaiba is a compelling science-fiction anime series with a unique aesthetic and style. The series comes from visionary filmmaker Masaaki Yuasa (INU-OH). Fans of Yuasa won't want to miss this compelling series from the director. The animation is strange and distinct – thus giving the series some added personality.

The Blu-ray release provides a strong video and audio presentation. The collector's edition includes a chip-board art box and a 39-page booklet with artwork. Kaiba fans will want to consider a purchase. Recommended.