Arjuna, Vol. 3: Conflicts (2002)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Created by Shoji Kawamori
Screenplay by Shoji Kawamori, Hidekazu Sato, Hiroshi Ohnogi, and Kazuharu Sato
Directed by Shoji Kawamori

Features:

• Extra footage
  
• Arjuna dictionary
  
• Interview with creator/writer/director Kawamori
  

Dindrane's Anime Warnings:

• You might learn something
• Scary monsters you aren’t supposed to kill
• Moral dilemmas
• Sneaky, evil best friends
• Vomit
• Watching it over and over makes you miss work

Rating: 13+

Anamorphic: Yes

My Advice: What, you haven’t bought it yet? Shame on you!

This new volume of Arjuna continues the education and adventures of the new savior of the planet, a young schoolgirl named Arjuna. Still uncomfortable with her power and her new role, Arjuna is in the uneviable position of being the only one who can solve many of the problems she will face.

In "The Distant Rain," Chris is continuing his recovery with the influx of Arjuna’s energy, but has her aide of Chris dealt the final blow to her relationship with Tokio? Next, "Before Birth" is a moving and fascinating discussion of sorts between Juna and Cindy, and Juna has to face what secrets her new powers may reveal to her. Thirdly, viewers of "The Flickering Genes" get to meet Tokio’s father and learn how his family got their money, and Juna also stretches her abilities a bit more, learning a great deal about what human interaction really means in the process. Finally, "The Day of No Return" has Chris down for the count, leaving Arjuna alone to deal with a Raaja attack on New York. But while she’s gone, Japan seems to have been totally overcome by something she doesn’t understand.

The characterization of this series is simply top-notch. Arjuna is complex, serious and lost by turns, and she is visibly growing wiser as the episodes unfold. Watching her transform from vapid, selfish schoolgirl to something approaching a hero is amazing. Tokio, meanwhile, lacking Juna’s special insight into how things really are, is finding his own enlightenment a much slower and less reliable process. Juna’s friend Sayuri is still about as selfish and self-centered as you can get, but that makes her a perfect emotional foil for Juna. I just can’t help hoping she dies soon, leaving Tokio to grow up.

The environmental message of Arjuna has been mentioned enough in the previous reviews I have done of this fantastic series. Suffice it to say that this is an anime series with an important point, but this title never fails to entertain while it strives to enlighten. It is important for a series to avoid the painful and often off-putting didacticism that can alienate viewers instead of winning them over; luckily, the creators of Arjuna know this and make their series a fantastic, artfully-drawn adventure that just happens to have something important to tell you along the way.

The features on this disc include an insert that, wonder of wonders, includes the complete credits, including several of the excellent voice actors working on this series. Viewers will also get each episode as the director’s cut, providing extra footage. The Arjuna dictionary will bring new viewers up to speed and explain new concepts to current fans, and the continuation of the Shoji Kawamori interview is fascinating and provides a great deal of insight into the creation of this marvelous series.

The voice work in both English and Japanese is fantastic, but I tend to prefer the English here. You will recognize the voice of Arjuna: Maggie Blue O’Hara, especially, as Kitty Pryde in TV’s X-Men: Evolution and from her work in a myriad of other anime titles.

In short, if you love adventures, tend to like the more serious and adult magical girl anime titles, or just appreciate a good story with interesting characters, then you should check Arjuna out right away. With its combination of aesthetic appeal, deep characters, and engrossing stories, this anime title is a real winner.