▪	RELEASED BY:		VIZ MEDIA
		▪	ASPECT RATIO:		4:3 FULL SCREEN
		▪	AUDIO:		ENGLISH AND JAPANESE DD 2.0
		▪	RUNNING TIME:		300 MIN
		▪	RATING:		T+
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		10/07/2008
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		10/06/2008
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

REVIEW:
The second and final half of the anime sees an all new threat emerge and dramatic suspense introduced to bring the series to a satisfying conclusion. The battle with Doctor Butterfly and the LXE comes to a climatic end with an even bigger threat awakening! Victor, also a possessor of a black kakugane as is Kazuki, has roused from a hundred year slumber. He is no longer human nor is he a homunculi and his hatred of both drives him to destroy all those who involve themselves in alchemy. Tokiko and Kazuki attempt to fight him but his powers are immense. It also leaves in his wake of destruction one horrifying realization – Kazuki lives on borrowed time. He too will become a “Victor” that drains all life around him. His humanity is now on the clock and it is running out fast.

At this point the series becomes quite dramatic. Tokiko is burdened with untold grief when she learns that in trying to save Kazuki’s life, she may have sentenced him to an existence worse than death. If he becomes a Victor, he too will start to drain all life around him and have to be stopped. Therefore she makes him a touching vow: when he dies, she’ll die. It’s a turning point in the show and for the characters as the story changes. Now Tokiko and Kazuki must go on the run, trying to evade homunculi and also the Alchemist Army which has put a death order out on Kazuki. Allies turned enemies are everywhere as Tokiko and Kazuki hurry to discover the source of the black kakugane and if there is any way to save him before the transformation is complete.

With all the drama, the show is rich with incredible action. Now not only do they fight homunculi but also members of the Alchemist Army. Fans get to see a wide range of Alchemist Warriors with amazing skills and Buso Renkin to create some vibrant and exciting battles throughout the second half. Kazuki even goes up against Captain Bravo for a telling match of skills, strength and heart.

Things quickly build to a climax when the threat of Victor grows, his path of destruction increasing to alarming proportions. The show reaches a decisive battle between Victor and the only one who has a hope of stopping him – Kazuki. They have learned there is one way and one way only to reverse the black Kakugane which is with a white one. But there is only one white kakugane and two lives that need to be saved. A sacrifice is made, a promise broken and the show ends true to the manga series by Rurouni Kenshin author Nabuhiro Watsuki (all ten volumes of the manga are available also from Viz). One of the things I enjoyed so much about the manga series and the anime is that there is much more of a satisfying conclusion than the average anime. Buso Renkin builds to the conclusion nicely and ends with a visually momentous finale that is also an emotionally satisfying one.

The animation as done by XEBEC (Negima, Martian Successor Nadesico, Love Hina) with Production I.G. (Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex) and maintains its wonderful vivid quality. With the introduction of all sorts of varying Alchemist Warriors the viewer gets to see all kinds of new characters with new powers. The show also continues with its “Buso Renkin Specials” which are omake found at the end of different but not every episode, explaining the various Buso Renkin seen throughout the anime.

EXTRAS:
The box set comes with a lot of extras and spiffy packaging. The slip case is embossed and sports a shiny reflective metal look. The inside DVD case holding all three DVDs and opens up with trays like a book, each DVD tray like a ‘page’ with character art throughout. This type is much easier to use than the fold out case types.

The second box set also contains a 28 page booklet in full color with images from the anime as well as original art, character sketches along with bios, and commentary by Takao Kato (Japanese Director of the animated series).
 
DVD bonus features include Viz manga ads, anime trailers, and a Behind the Scenes with the English voice cast and staff. Participants include Karen Strassman (Mahiro), Richard Smallberries Jr. (Shusui), Caroline Kinsolving (Alexandria), Kyle Hebert (Hiwatari), Deborah Sale Butler (Chitose), David Paulson (Sakaguchi), and Rene Veilleux (ADR Director).

IN SUMMARY:
The show takes a compelling turn in the second half of the series to build to a riveting conclusion for fans to enjoy.