"The Hakkenden - The Dog Warriors" Released by Pioneer Animation LaserDisk, $39.98, 60 minutes Set in feudal Japan, The Hakkenden is the legendary story of Japan's eight dog warriors. Sound a bit eccentric? This is an animated adaptation of the famous Japanese novel series written at the end of the Tokugawa period (1600-1858). The novels, in turn, are based on a Chinese Myth. To briefly summarize the beginning plot: A samurai clan is fighting for its survival and losing. Their last-ditch effort to cripple the enemy turns out to be a trap, and their army is all but massacred. As if things weren't bad enough, the enemy has supernatural alliances and is using magic in their quest to conquer Japan. The leader of the losing clan, Satomi Yoshizane, worried about what to do, sits outside thinking aloud. He asks the family dog (no I'm not kidding) Yatsufuse if he'd like to help out the family. If the dog can bring him the head of the enemy general, he will give him anything he wants. He even promises Yatsufuse Princess Fuse's hand in marriage. The dog does succeed in bringing the head of the enemy general. Yoshizane, however, refuses to fulfill his promise, saying there's no way he'd give his daughter, Princess Fuse, to a dog. The Princess, disgusted as she is by all this, says that her father must honor his word. She will fulfill her father's promise. Living in the woods, the princess turns out to be pregnant, and it is said that she will give birth to a "litter of eight". Before that can happen, however, she and her canine consort are killed by Kanawa. He apologizes to the dying Fuse, since her death was an accident, and she begs him to save the Satomi clan from the curse it has suffered under for so long. The spirits of these unborn children, represented in the beads around her neck, scatter across Japan. The second episode begins chronicling the lives of the legendary warriors. One year after Fuse's death, Shino Inazuka is born. The story follows his passage into adulthood, including a sacred sword entrusted to him by his father and a political conspiracy in his hometown. To give away much more would be unfair. This begins the journey of the Hakkenden, the eight warriors whose lives are linked together by fate. The story and music are pretty much in the style of the old samurai anime, and reminded me more than once of Yotoden. This genre is one that, in my opinion, has not received as much attention as the science fiction (especially giant robot) genres or some of the other types of anime available on the US market. The story is a good one, if you can get over the part about the princess marrying a dog, and the direction is very good, including lots of good use of camera angles, especially during the fight sequences. As with all of the Pioneer titles I've seen, the animation quality is very high, and the motion is very smooth and fluid. The colors are very bright and vibrant, and the animation is finely detailed. In addition, the interaction of the characters is very well done, and the emotions are conveyed well in the facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice of the characters. One of the really nice things about Pioneer is that they give you the option of how to watch their laserdisks. I watched this twice -- once with the English dub and once with the original Japanese with the subtitles in the closed captioning. I like the idea of buying one LD and having lots of different options. My friends can watch it in English and I can watch the Japanese (though of course, not at the same time). Also, the Pioneer LD's are high quality, and have no color or sound problems in any that I have seen. As far as different versions go, being the purist that I am, I prefer the Japanese dialog with English subtitles. I did watch the dub, and found it to be watchable. Certainly it's not the best voice acting on the planet, but I was able to watch it without wincing in pain at the different voices and delivery of the lines; in fact, I was able to watch the English dub and enjoy the video, instead of constantly thinking what I usually do when I see dubs, "This would be so great if it were subtitled." I realize, however, that many people prefer dubs, and I am happy to say that this one won't disappoint those who prefer their anime dubbed. By releasing one LD that has both the subtitles and the dub on it, Pioneer may have come across at least a small step in finding a solution to the age-old "sub versus dub" battle that still rages in anime fandom. I would recommend The Hakkenden if you like anime dealing with Japan's past (especially the samurai), or if you're a fan of Pioneer's other titles, as the production quality is consistent with their other more well-known works such as Tenchi Muyo! and Kishin Heidan. The story, however, is quite different from either of those titles. -- Charles McCarter

"The Hakkenden: The Legend of the Dog Warriors" Volume 3 Ep. 5 "Demon's Melody" Ep. 6 "The Cicada Spirit Cry" VHS Cassette, Subtitled in English Pioneer Entertainment PIVA-1193S Running Time: Approximately 60 minutes When compared to much of the other genres of anime - mecha madness, kawaii action girls, fantasy heroes, bizarre love triangles, and even hentai hijinks - it certainly seems that the genre of samurai/ninja feudal action doesn't get its due in U.S. releases. Of the recent months, only a few titles released come to mind: Manga Entertainment's Ninja Scroll and Curse of the Undead Yoma from A.D. Vision. Perhaps a lack of knowledge in Japan's past could explain the lack of interest here in the States. Pioneer Entertainment, in faithfully releasing "The Hakkenden: The Legend of the Dog Warriors," seems to be pushing for a change in this oversight. Newly released Volume 3, containing Episodes 5 and 6, carries on the story, written by Bakin Takizawa, of eight great warriors destined to come together as one to defeat the tyrannt Lord Ashikaga. Following the dramatic ending of Volume 2, with Shino Inuzuka and Genpachi Inukai, the first two Dog Warriors to meet, escaping from Lord Ashikaga's forces by jumping into the Tone River, Episode 5 "Demon's Melody" begins with a fisherman accidently catching the two in his net. The fisherman turns out to be Kobungo Inuta, an old friend of Genpachi's and unknowingly the third of the Dog Warriors. A man who has vowed not to fight at all because of his past, Kobungo has taken up the simple life of a fisherman. However, that all changes when Kobungo's brother-in-law recognizes Shino as a man declared an outlaw by the Shogun and decides to turn Shino in to the authorities... The story of "Demon's Melody" is a bit slow to start but eventually builds up into a climatic height with a shocking ending, leaving Kobungo's nephew, Daihachi, an orphan. The first moments of the episode are used to provide a background of what has happened in Volume 2. In Episode 6 "The Cicada Spirit Cry", Shino, Genpachi and Kobungo set out for the village of Otsuka to bring Daihachi to his new home. But on the way, Shino and Genpachi discover that old friend Sosuke Inukawa is to be put to death for a crime he didn't commit. So, of course, the two decide to rescue Sosuke from his fate of crucifixion. "The Cicada Spirit Cry" is much more exciting and involved than "Demon's Melody." However, both episodes are interesting to watch because of insights into historical Japanese culture. The village festival, which was an important part of the lower caste of society, plays a part in the build up of Episode 5. The rythmic beat of the festival drums and the hypnotic crop dance are used effectively to help build up the tension of the episode. Also, Buddhist monks and statues, which don't seem to play a part in each episode, actually seem like insights into Japanese culture and religion, whether intentional or not. Although both episodes have their share of action, they seem more like cuts from Akira Kurosawa's earlier films, like "The Seven Samurai" and "The Hidden Fortress", using patience and visual cues to build up the plot and suspense. A little decorum is needed to view "The Hakkenden" because of its indirect approach to storytelling; flashbacks are frequently used without warning and, because an amount of mysticism is prevalent in the story, strange and benevolent actions happen throughout "The Hakkenden." The anime quality itself is standard and a bit simplistic. Not to say it's sloppy or of bad quality, but "The Hakkenden" is just not as visually stunning as, say, "Macross Plus" or "Wings of Honneamise." However, the anime does make for fluid action, especially in the fighting sequences of each episode. I will admit that "The Hakkenden" is not for everybody. In fact, its audience is kind of selective; patience is required and an appreciation for Japanese culture is definitely a must. Action is there but not a major aspect of the anime. And, oh yeah, there are no kawaii girls whatsoever. -- Kenneth Cho

HAKKENDEN ©1993 AIC, Pioneer LDC