Mushi-Shi is certainly not the normal anime. Its lack of action, guns, and swordplay will be a problem for some, but that's what makes Mushi-Shi so special.

Mushi-Shi Vol. 1
2007, TV Series (five episodes). Director: Hiroshi Nagahama. 125 minutes. DVD, bilingual, $29.98. Distributor: Funimation.

Based on the manga of Yuki Urushibara, Mushi-Shi is the story of Mushi, seemingly invisible creatures that are intrinsic to life itself. As the story claims, "Neither good nor evil, they're life in its purest form." Specifically, we follow the wanderings of Ginko, a Mushi master who studies the creatures' connection to humanity. Sometimes the Mushi are a benefit to humans, as in the case of the girl Io, who is saved from drowning, or the boy Shinra, who can create life with his left hand. Sometimes they cause disease, taking the sight of a little girl, or causing horns to grow on a boy's head. In either case, Ginko is always on hand to help strike a balance between humans and Mushi.

Mushi-Shi is certainly not the normal anime airing on channels like Cartoon Network and Sci Fi. Its lack of action, guns, and swordplay will unfortunately be a problem for some. Yet, that alone is what makes Mushi-Shi so special. Since its stories revolve around these mythic, mysterious creatures, we are immediately transported to the world of the fantastic. Consequently, we do not find stale character types and overused plot lines. Rather the ingenuity and originality of Urushibara is elegantly projected into the world of anime.

More important, this is a world of nature, where lush fields, cold hillsides, and waving trees are as important to the story as the unique humans driving the plot. For, in a fashion similar to the work of Hayao Miyazaki (e.g., Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind), Mushi-Shi evokes the ancient connection, both wondrous and problematic, between humans and nature. In the end, and through the eyes of Ginko, we are constantly reminded to listen to the earth, the life, around us.

Beautifully drawn, mystical in its scope, perhaps even philosophical in its vision, Mushi-Shi is a reminder of what anime is capable of producing. Yes, we can put the gun, or the sword, down. We don't need an apocalyptic world, robots, or mecha to incite the imagination. The world of nature and its phenomena is just as good.

For the great mass of Naruto fans, this box set will contain hours of entertainment. It also features the standard Naurto formula of lighthearted comedy, drama, and action-packed duels.

Naruto Uncut Box Set, Vol. 8
2008, TV Series (fourteen episodes). Director: Hayato Date. 350 minutes. DVD, bilingual, $49.98. Distributor: Viz Media.

For the great mass of Naruto fans, this box set will contain hours of entertainment. Naruto, our ninja in training who is destined to become a Hokage (the title bestowed upon the most powerful ninja in his village), continues to progress under the auspices of the "pervy" sensei Jiraiya. At at the end of Vol. 7, Hidden Leaf Village (Naruto's home) had suffered greatly under the attacks of the evil ninja Orochimaru and his partner Kabuto. Jiraiya and Naruto were then sent to find Lady Tsunade in order to persuade her to become the village's fifth Hokage; her healing powers are essential to the survival of Leaf Village. Containing episodes 93-106, Naruto Uncut Box Set Vol. 8 brings Naruto and Jiraiya's journey to its ultimate conclusion: an all-out battle with Orochimaru and Kabuto. More importantly, Lady Tsundae, Jiraiya and Naruto must all band together to overcome this evil duo.

In a nutshell, the standard Naurto formula is in play: lighthearted comedy, drama, and action-packed duels. And while I'm still warming up to the series, I have to admit that this anime has good characters and character development. Lady Tsunade, in particular, is a very flawed person. Beset with a gambling problem, debt, and even uneasiness with the sight of blood, she has a personal history that must be overcome in order to achieve her rightful place as fifth Hokage. Moreover, the true nature of Sasuke, Naruto's friend, emerges as he betrays our young hero in his desire for power. Better yet, Jiraiya's comic relief is still a much-needed antidote to the hyperactive escapades of his young student. Naruto is definitely learning, but he still manages to find himself caught up in all kinds of hijinks. So, besides the ultimate battle with Orochimaru and Kabuto, this DVD set also contains subplots and comic mischief that are both well planned and executed.

Overall, I was able to get past my usual problems with Naruto: the abruptness with which the scenes change, the hyperbolic fights, and the general fragmentary nature of each episode -- there never seems to be a proper beginning or end. At any rate, there are some issues that should be mentioned. There are some "filler" episodes that may annoy some of the hardcore fans, that is, those who are devout followers of the manga. As is the usual case with anime, so-called "filler" episodes have very little or nothing to do with the story arc of the original manga. As a result, they tend to be weak in terms of plot, and often disrupt the continuity of the main episodes (which follow the manga in detail). But for those who are just avid fans of the series, this box set should be a good addition to their collection of all things Naruto.

Yes, Naruto gets it right. In the end it's all about personal growth and teamwork.

Raised on such iconic, westernized giants as Battle of the Planets, Voltron, and Robotech, James Brusuelas is a literary scholar, critic, and freelance writer based out of Orange County in Southern California.