Based on the manga of Takayuki Yamaguchi, this story is inspired by the collected wisdom of the samurai Tsunetomo Yamamoto, ultimately published as Hagakure.

Shigurui: The Complete Series
2009 TV Series (episodes 1-12). Director: Hiroshi Hamasaki. 275 minutes. DVD, bilingual, $59.98. Distributor. Funimation.

Set in the year 1622, the world of the Tokugawa shogunate where peace reigns and ronin wander, samurai are increasingly defined not by the mortality of the battlefield, but the reputation of their dojo and the mystery surrounding the sword techniques therein. Here our anime-glazed eyes find Gennosuke Fujiki and Seigen Irako. Desperate to both master the blade and to succeed their sensei in the secrets of his sword, a bloody competition is born that will devour the lives of the Kogan style.

OK, so you've seen The Seven Samurai, Ran, The Hidden Blade, or one of the many samurai movies out there. Well, forget them! Shigurui redefines the samurai flick. Based on the manga of Takayuki Yamaguchi, this story is inspired by the collected wisdom of the samurai Tsunetomo Yamamoto, ultimately published as Hagakure. Considered a heretic text for its paradoxes and passionate devotion to death and "shigurui," often translated as "desperateness" -- but its kanji may also convey death's inevitability -- Yamaguchi unleashes a world burning in its desire for the perfect cut, as well as a near lust for the pain and death, whether it's one's own or an adversary, that must follow the draw. There are no clichés here; no noble samurai; no path to enlightenment. There is only blind faith in the sword, as the world moves away from it.

From the madness of the characters, their devotion to the perfect cut, to the sheer artistry of the anime itself, the notion of beauty in death reaches disturbing heights in Shigurui. This is a MUST SEE!

Take a walk down the Bleach memory lane with these volumes of series' third season.

Bleach, Vol. 14 & 15
2009 TV Series (episodes 54-58 and 59-63). Director: Noriyuki Abe. 125 minutes (each). DVD, bilingual, $24.98 (each). Distributor. Viz Media.

Seriously, who doesn't know the Bleach saga? The story of Ichigo Kurosaki, the substitute soul-reaper, has descended upon the Earth like a new religion! Whether it is his quest to save Rukia, the threat of the Bount, or the inevitable return of Aizen and the Arrancar, fans of all ages continue to fantasize about mastering their own zanpakto and ultimately reaching bankai -- just spend a little time with cosplayers, you'll often find yourself in the land of Bleach. Long story short, a wounded Rukia Kuchiki, a reaper hunting souls in the land of the living, bestows half of her power upon Ichigo so that he may destroy a deadly soul. The following chain of events is, well, anime history!

Recently Viz released two DVDs (v. 14 and 15) from the classic, nay, essential season three. Not only can we relive the climaxing rescue of Rukia from execution, let alone the much-anticipated confrontation between Ichigo and Byakuya, but also an unexpected exhibition of soul-reaper power. Even if the Ichigo-Rukia storyline isn't quite your thing, the revelation of Yamamoto's bankai and the battle between Yoruichi and Soifon is reason enough to drop a little cash. But perhaps the simple resolution of Bleach's initial story arc, Rukia's rescue, is the true gem. That delicate point between finality and the infinite, unknowable future elicits a sweet melancholy.

So, although Bleach is well beyond its third season, take a walk down memory lane and pick up these DVDs. Much like finding an old lover, it's quite easy to rediscover and relive the exhilaration.

The characters of The Wallflower save what would have been an overly-used storyline.

The Wallflower: Complete Collection, Part 1 & 2
2009 TV Series (episodes 1-13 and 14-25). Director: Shinichi Watanabe. 325 minutes (each). DVD, bilingual, $59.98 (each). Distributor. Funimation.

"Unlucky in love" is no way to describe the life of Sunako Nakahara. She's damaged, neurotic, paranoid and borderline psychotic! The cause: once upon a time she confessed her love to a boy. Unfortunately, "ugly" was the only response heard, resulting in a rejection of anything pertaining to beauty. So, concerned about her sloppy trappings, bad hygiene and anti-social behavior, her aunt sends her to live in her large mansion. But there is just one catch: four of the hottest boys in school reside therein, and they've been charged with turning this ugly duckling into a swan. Let the hilarity begin!

The plot of The Wallflower is obviously a much used and abused storyline. There's not much room for originality there. So, all one has left are the characters. And here I was pleasurably surprised. While high school comedies are no stranger to anime, The Wallflower gives us something different. Instead of the usual loners, bad boys and martial art experts, these boys are so metro-sexual that they rival Carrie Bradshaw and her fashionable crew from Sex and the City. Androgyny pervades every pore in this mansion! Now, juxtapose Sunako's obfuscating Gothic garb, an obsession for horror, and a disturbing fetish for medical research dummies, and you've got a recipe for the comedy of opposites. Honestly, this confrontation between the beautiful and the ugly is innovative, imaginative, and filled with hyperbolic exploits. After all, one needs a little comic force just to apply the make-up!

For better or worse, you're probably thinking one thing, "So, which boy in the house does she eventually fall for?" OK, to a certain extent The Wallflower is predictable in the long run. But like so many other good comedies out there, it's not about the beginning or the end. It's the comic hijinks and hyperbole in the middle that keeps us coming back for more.