▪	RELEASED BY:		FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT
		▪	ASPECT RATIO:		16:9 ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN
		▪	AUDIO:		ENGLISH DD 5.1 AND JAPANESE DD 2.0
		▪	RUNNING TIME:		325 MIN
		▪	RATING:		TV 14
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		09/22/2009
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		10/14/2009
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		HOLLY ELLINGWOOD

But when conflict is waged in secret, and lethal ninjas hide in plain sight, friend and foe prove difficult to tell apart.

Contains episodes 1 to 13 on 2 discs in 2 thinpack cases in one slim box set.

REVIEW:
Nabari is based on the manga written and illustrated by Yuhki Kamatani. It is a riveting tale of rival ninja clans battling in the modern world to control the hidden power of the Shinrabansho, a power that can create destructive forces, warp space, and even bend time. This frightening ability resides in a single human being, a teenager named Miharu. Tragedy in his past has turned him into an apathetic person who cannot form emotional attachments to others, yet despite his unwillingness to be involved, he has no choice, and the battle to control him has begun…

The series is stunning from its unique design style to the more mature and intense story. Nabari is a taught ninja action while being augmented by palpable human drama. The first half of the season begins with Miharu’s discovery of possessing the hidden jutsu that the ninjas of the world of Nabari desire at any cost. Certain clans wish to protect him and make him king of the Nabari, ruler of all the ninjas, while a certain faction of the Iga tribe known as the Kairoshu, the most powerful of all the ninja clans, have chosen to capture Miharu and make his power theirs in order to restructure the world as they see fit.

One of the many facets that make this anime so involving are the characters. They have strong introductions and each of them, including the ‘villains’ of the piece, are given evolutions that reveal them as three dimensional beings, gaining sympathy and understanding even while viewers might disagree with the choices and actions taken by them. Miharu’s apathy is given context and also plays a key factor in the story. As he gets reluctantly closer to those protecting him such as the emotional teacher Tobari, the kind yet cool fighter Aizawa, and the samurai girl Raimei, it also may spell not only his awakening heart, but his doom. As they try to find the other clans in order to defend themselves and protect Miharu from the increased attacks by the powerful Kairoshu, we discover that the Kairoshu are all too human as well, in particular Yoite, the Angel of Death. He has a forbidden technique that none can stand against but is also sapping his life force. He shares a key similarity with Miharu that will bind the two together.

In order to gain his one tragic wish, Yoite does the unthinkable to force Miharu into a decision that will change everything, even the world. To save his friends, to protect them, by the final part of the box set, Miharu shocks everyone by switching sides and joining the Kairoshu. However it isn’t a simple transfer, his friends try to win him back but also his bond with Yoite deepens, much to Yoite’s distress. They share an unwanted understanding but one that Miharu is beginning to embrace. He is with Yoite not simply to save his friends, but also to save Yoite.

It is a complex animation. It isn’t simply a question of ninja battles and who will be the strongest, on the contrary, it is more about inner strength and the courage it takes to face emotional pain rather than dealing out brutality.  The ninja fights are an essential part of the story as the various clans battle for survival and control of a power they both fear and desire, but what makes the show stand out is its sophisticated human factor. No individual in this story does something for a simple reason. They are complex individuals both good and bad. As we find out in particular when Raimei confronts her brother, and a mind-reading kunoichi enters their midst, that each of these individuals have their secrets and agendas are layered within agendas. It makes for a fascinating and enthralling viewing experience.

The final arc of these episodes concludes at a suspenseful point. The hidden Koga clan has invited the Kairoshu to visit them and to negotiate. But they have also invited Miharu’s old group of friends as well. What none could foresee is that both groups of guests are pawns in larger coup-d’état plotted by a member of the Koga. The final episode of the first half of the season ends with friend and foe having to fight together for survival during an internal clan battle for supremacy.

The animation is produced by J.C. Staff who have done such fine works as R.O.D. TV, Shakugan no Shana, Ghost Hunt, and many more. Nabari stands out for its singular animation style. The character designs have a longer, leaner look than in the average anime. The people look somewhat rumpled and thinner than anticipated. The action sequences are slick, often slowed down to fully enjoy them visually with a taut atmosphere and tight animation that is reminiscent of movements one might see in a Matrix film. 

The music holds a comely opening J-pop song “Crawl” performed by VELTPUNCH and a beautiful ballad sung by ELIZA called “Hikari.”

EXTRAS:
Bonus features include FUNimation trailers, reverse cover art, clean opening and closing animation, and audio commentary on episode 2 by English voice actors Eric Vale (Tobari) and Chris Burnett (Koichi). 

IN SUMMARY:
Nabari is a sophisticated suspense story set in the backdrop of ninjas fighting in the modern world. It is an utterly compelling viewing experience.