I recently got my hands on two Blu-Ray DVD box sets from the friendly folks at VIZ Media that you would really want if you grew up in the 90’s. Since I’m a 90’s kid, I knew I wanted to check these box sets out and I have reviewed Viz Media material in the past as well. Pokémon: Indigo League stays true to the original form and Pretty Guadian Sailor Moon Crystal is a more remastered showing and tells more of the story of the Pretty Guardians from the Manga perspective but since this is the 3rd season box set, this should be pretty obvious by now if you watched any of the previous episodes.
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season 3 tells the tale of the Death Busters saga and introduces Sailor Uranus and Neptune into the fray. There’s also the issue of innocent people being turned into monsters, which is also being caused by the Death Busters and their master, Pharaoh 90. Also introduced during this arc is Sailor Saturn but you’ll have to watch the season to find out how she’s brought In and if she’s good or evil!
One thing that’s great to see about the Crystal series is that there isn’t that many filler episodes and the action doesn’t slow down too often. In the classic series, the action could slow down for a few episodes whereas in the Crystal series, the action could slow down momentarily. The Crystal series does a great job cleaning up the animation and making it look great such as minor details on clothes to weapons. The Blu-Ray box sets always come with special features and this season of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal is no different as it comes with a special art and details book, post cards, and special features on the DVD. The booklet comes with brief synopses of each episode with art from the episode. It also has cast interviews and early illustrations/sketches of locations and characters.
The DVD has one-on-one interviews with the newest additions to the cast, Erica Mendez, Lauren Landa, Veronica Taylor, and Christine-Marie Cabanos who play Sailor Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Saturn respectively. I always find it interesting to hear how a voice actor interprets their performance and the project as a whole as well as if they were interested in the property before becoming a member of the voice cast. I always find it interesting to be able to put a face to the voice after such a long time.
Do you have what it takes to be the very best and catch em all? If you do, the Pokémon: Indigo League Blu-Ray is perfect for you. Veronica Taylor is double dipping in this review since she voices Sailor Pluto and Ash Ketchum in the Kanto region of Pokémon. The Indigo League is the first region of the Pokémon universe where young trainers get started on their Pokémon journey and their starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town. Usually trainers get to pick from Squirtle, Bulbasaur, or Charmander but Ash decided to oversleep and miss out on the traditional starters and needed to choose the “fourth” started, Pikachu.
Over the course of 52 episodes, Ash will train to be a Pokémon Master and meet some interesting trainers, like Brock and Misty, Gym Leaders from Pewter and Cerulean City. The first season doesn’t start to get really good until Ash catches a Squirtle but I’m biased because Squirtle is my favorite! I grew up with the first season of Pokémon and this will bring memories back for any Pokémon Trainer and it ever has the complete Poke-Rap. The minute the Poke-Rap starts playing, you don’t even need to know what section of the song it is, you will instantly know it and it always comes back to you, verbatim! The DVD also has a “Who’s That Pokémon?” Gallery on each disc, which is fun to play and adds to the DVD. I’m glad that this box set for Pokémon from Viz actually has some extra features included because past box sets have just had the episodes to choose from. It might not be much but having the original Pokémon in HD and the complete Poke-Rap is a good step, which should be added to for the Johto region Blu-Ray that would presumably be next. I’ll end with this, I remember the whole Poke-Rap! “Hi my name is Steve and I have a problem.”
It’s these reasons that I’m giving Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season 3 and Pokémon: Indigo League Blu-Ray box sets each a 9/10. I would like to thank Viz Media for the review copies.