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Pet Shop of Horrors Director: Toshio Hirata Number of Items: 1 Format: Color, Animated, Dolby Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 95 minutes Studio: Urban Vision Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2001-02-27 Buy from Amazon

From Amazon.com The four adventures in this collection originally aired as very brief installments in a serial on a Japanese channel similar to MTV. Although there's a fair amount of gore, these tales are not so much horrifying as creepy, with unhappy characters seeking emotional solace from the bizarre creatures found in a mysterious Chinatown store. Presiding over the shop is the transvestite Count D; his cool, unruffled manner frustrates detective Joel, who keeps finding victims of unusual crimes among the shop's recent customers. A grief-stricken couple purchases a rabbit that looks like their late child, with terrible results in "Daughter." Like the hilariously inept American feature Night of the Lepus, "Daughter" attempts to turn rabbits into deadly monsters--and fails. "Delicious," in which the spirit of a wronged bride returns in the guise of a mermaid, recalls the folk tales that have inspired Japanese artists and writers for centuries. The Hollywood rags-to-riches-to-rags saga "Despair" and the less-effective political thriller "Dual" combine elements from Eastern and Western myths. "Recommended for mature audiences" for violence, profanity, brief nudity, sexual situations, and ethnic stereotypes. --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews: Total numer of reviews: 24 Average rating: 5.0 "And now for something completely different..." If there's one anime series that is good at introducing people to Japanese animation, it is this one. In contrast to other anime, Pet Shop of Horrors is very episodic, making it easy to watch one and come back later to watch another. The animation is one of the main things I found lacking - as there are several scenes where little moves - but it does not hamper the enjoyment of watching Count D (arguably one of the most original and mysterious characters in manga) move! ^_^ This is a series which you must buy the DVD, because although I thought the dub was atrocious (with the exception of Leon's voice actor, who really fit) there is an absolutely hilarious Commentary track that you must watch. Other than that the DVD is pretty skimpy on extras, but that commentary makes up for it. I'm going to be redundant and tell you yet again that the manga is leaps and bounds better than this, mostly for the reason that there is more humor and greater character development as to what Count D is and the way he interacts with Leon. The animation doesn't really offer any insight into D's past or future - which isn't necessarily a bad thing. "Dreams, but be warned" The Petshop of horrors with its androgynous proprietor is a mystery to a sustain very irritatingly American detective. And yet to all others it is but a place of love and dreams. Oh, until they go against the agreement that is. But, that is not Count's fault. Truly a peace of art with a beautiful animation, very little action, and a great lesson to be learned at the end of each episode. It could be considered rather repetitive after a while, but until then, it is a great example of Japanimation. "Wow... Umm..." Well, this is hardly the most original series in the world and certainly not the scariest but it is extremely good. It really is. It creeped the hell out of me when I borrowed it from my friend, and it usually takes a lot to do that. The first episode is the worst and least original- the entire episode I kept thinking, "Humm, where have I seen this before??? I wonder???" (in the least sarcastice way possible, of course.) It does scare you, though. I personally thought the Medusa episode was the best, though; very effective at getting across the characters of the main victims (as I like to call the poor souls who go in Count D's shop-what other name is there?) I would probably watch it again just to see things I missed the first time, but I would rather read the manga than see it a third time; everybody I know tells me the manga is even better. "WOW...One of anime's best kept secrets!" I LOVE this movie! I initially noticed it at Blockbuster one time and vowed to return to satisfy my curiosity. Almost every return trip to Blockbuster it was checked out. SO then I KNEW it had to have been good! I finally gained it in my possession and was utterly impressed by the animation, characters and plots. If you enjoy films such as Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D and Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust, take a chance and pick up this gem, you will not be disappointed. "This kicked ass" I bought Pet Shop of Horrors after someone recommended it to me and I have to say it is one purchase I'm glad I made. Sadly, there are only for episode in what seems like a very promising series. The characters Leon and Count D are intriguing and they play wonderfully after each other. There bantering will no doubt inspire some slash fanfiction later. I highly recommend this series, especiialy if you like slightly odd and humorous horror stories