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Phantom Quest Corp - Perfect Collection Director: Kôichi Chigira Number of Items: 1 Format: Color, Animated Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 140 minutes Studio: Pioneer Video Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2000-11-21 Buy from Amazon

Customer Reviews: Total numer of reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 "Phantom Quest Corp" Initially I hadn't really heard a great deal about this anime but had for a long time wanted to learn more. I picked it up for recently after years of having it on my list of anime to get and am happy with it. Its funny and entertaining. The only disappointment is that the series wasn't finished. Also, my copy may be a newer version but it DOES work in the PS2. "Excellent, Funny, and Definitely Entertaining :-)" Except for the unfortunate fact that this DVD is not compatible with the PlayStation2 (which is why I can only give this DVD a "4" rating), the Phantom Quest Corp. Perfect Collection DVD is an incredible buy. While the storylines may not necessarily be believable, the main feature (split across four episodes) is definitely entertaining, incredibly funny, and has incredible voice-acting in both Japanese AND English. This latter point is not to be overlooked, as most English dubs of Japanese animation (or of virtually any other media) are extremely pathetic at best, but the English-language voice acting perfectly fits both the individual characters and the overall tone of the series. The special features are impressive for such a low-cost DVD. Along with the traditional interactive menus and language and subtitle options, an image gallery is provided, along with credit-less opening and closing credits (with lyrics and opening explanatory text in Japanese). The "Hidden Frames" section shows English-language translations of characters' profiles (shown in the feature in Japanese on Mamoru's computer screen) and of various signs seen in the series; this is not nearly as novel as the Information Capsules in the Akira DVD, but the translations are definitely well-done. Unfortunately, the DVD version of the series is missing something I appreciated from my (worn-out) videotape version. After the first episode, the videotape version included a short explanatory video on the foods mentioned in that episode. It would have been nice to have that included in the DVD version of the series as well. Overall, the Phantom Quest Corp. Perfect Collection DVD is a great buy. Viewers will definitely enjoy watching the adventures of Ayaka Kisaragi. "Anime with a sense of humor" When I saw this I though "why not, it doesn't look overly violent". Boy am I glad I tried it. While there are the usual fight scenes the overriding theme is a wonderful sense of humor. As a night owl, I adore the morning scenes using different, highly original, method to awaken the heroine. A real keeper and I just wish it was a long series. "A Common Consensus!" * The only complaint arising from reviewers of ''Phantom Quest Corps.'' (''Yuugen Kaisha'') regards the number of episodes provided. I know very little about this series, but it appears somewhat obvious it was intended to be an on-going anime series -- perhaps even with potential plans to release it for American audiences. For some odd reason, however, it would seem that it just never caught on sufficiently enough to inspire a continuation of the series, which is really sad, because it is an excellent and imaginative series which really holds its own against many of its contemporaries! The theme of the series is relatively simple: A red-headed, Enka singing, karaoke addicted, hard drinking 'Party Girl' (not exactly your kids' best role model) who also happens to be an independent businesswoman who chases and, when necessary, extinguishes troublemaking ghosts and goblins and the like, tries to find enough work to turn a profit -- which is rare, considering her habits of partying and compulsive shopping. (Her company is sort of like a ''Kagura'' that hunts more than ''phantom cats'' and without all the big guns and loud explosions.) The stories try not to take themselves too seriously, and the humor is often witty. Some of the most side-splitting moments involve Ayaka's (the main character) morning wake-up ritual, as her young business associate, Mamoru, tries to find more inventive and effective ways to wake up the sleepy-headed brawn of the operation. There is also a little bit of a subplot hinting at a developing mutual romantic interest between Ayaka and a ''U-Division'' detective named Karino. Despite the fact that the stories are often rather hokie, they actually catch and hold your attention and, in the end, have you literally begging for more. On top of all of that, the animation itself is just awsome. It's a piece of history that's worth having. As one reviewer put it: Don't let the price tag fool you! * * * "Phantom Quest Corp..." I first saw this series when I was just getting interested in anime. I was browsing through Hollywood Video and it caught my eye. I figured "What the heck. Might as well try it." Phantom Quest Corp. isn't the BEST anime that I've seen, but it isn't the WORST. It is funny and I do like it. I don't care if other people say that it's the worst anime that they've ever seen. I liked it and I bought it. It does have its moments; but, then again, doesn't every anime have its moments as well? Phantom Quest isn't a type of anime that I would say an otaku MUST OWN. It's more of a 'if you like it, buy it' type anime. And so, once again: I liked it, so I bought it. ^_^