The episodes in Bleach Vol. 12 contain all the ingredients that make this title so popular: comedy, drama, and tense swordplay.

Bleach Vol. 12
2008 TV Series (four episodes). Director: Noriyuki Abe. 100 minutes. DVD, bilingual, $24.98. Distributor. Viz Media.

In volume 12 of the Bleach saga, Ichigo Kurosaki is still in the world of the Soul Reapers, spirits who oversee the transmission of souls between the human world and afterlife. On his quest to save Rukia, the Soul Reaper imprisoned for bestowing her powers upon him, Ichigo continues to master his zanpakuto -- a sword that embodies his spiritual energy. He must achieve bankai (full release) if he hopes to save Rukia from an impending execution.

Unlike previous episodes, which foreground Ichigo's training and evolution through single combat with the various sword-wielding Soul Reapers, volume12 places Ichigo in the background. While he strives for bankai, we learn more about the Soul Reapers Momo Hinamori, Renji Abarai and Rukia heself. Through a sequence of flashbacks we witness their early training and friendships. Momo's first meeting with her beloved Sosuke Aizen is especially highlighted, since his mysterious death in season two revealed growing tensions among the Soul Reapers themselves. This factionalism ultimately anchors the temporal shifts. Momo's search for Aizen's killer instigates a spectacular confrontation between the young master Hitsugaya and the nefarious Ichimaru. Old friendships and loyalties are tested as lines are drawn. To top it off, Rukia's execution is moved up. In less than 24 hours she'll be dead!

Overall, these episodes contain all the ingredients that make Bleach so popular: comedy, drama, and tense swordplay. The drama borders on the tragic as we witness these past lives. The loss of friends and loved ones has been persistent in their confrontations with the hallows (lost souls). And for the story arc itself, these episodes provide crucial information. The Soul Reaper Society, when first introduced, was dense with history and characters that could not be quickly explained, and obviously the development of Ichigo's character demanded the spotlight. Now, you finally get a chance to learn more about other characters you may -- or may not -- have grown attached to.

Simply put, Strait Jacket is classic anime.

Strait Jacket
2008 Director: Shinji Ushiro. 76 minutes. DVD, bilingual, $19.97. Distributor. Anchor Bay.

Strait Jacket, the latest creation of Ichiro Sakaki (Scrapped Princess), fashions a world in which science and magic coexist. The practice of magic and sorcery, however, is not without danger. Those who become too involved, who lose control, are transformed into blood-lusting monstrosities. The only weapons capable of handling them are specialized assassins known as "Strait Jackets." These men, who don mechanized body armor and kill via deadly magic, constantly walk the razor's edge between humanity and a magic-induced insanity. Here we find Leiot Steinberg, a sorcerer operating outside the authority of the Sorcery Management Bureau. When a group of terrorists instigate a sequence of monstrous killings, Leiot is grudgingly brought back into the fold.

Simply put, Strait Jacket is classic anime. First, we have a cool protagonist who skirts the border of mainstream society due to his traumatic past. Second, his warrior prowess is not limited to casting spells, but is enhanced by a mechanized bodysuit that wields a powerful gun. Action and technology thus combine once again to produce a fast-paced thriller marked by engaging characters and blood-and-guts horror. Moreover, with all the anime out there that deals with demons and spirits, Stait Jacket is a refreshing vision on an all too familiar -- and much abused -- theme.

Definitely check this out. You won't be disappointed.

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