region2 DVD: pub: Revelation Films. FUN73004. 1 DVD 105 minutes 4 episodes plus extras. Price: £15.99 (UK).

check out website: www.revfilms.com and www.funimation.com/tsubasa

These episodes continue following the team as they travel between worlds and dimensions trying to find Sakura's feathers. Sakura's memory was fragmented and scattered throughout dimensions. Syaoran and his newly found friends all had to sacrifice something to the inter-dimensional witch to go on this epic quest to restore Sakura. This series is based on the hugely popular CLAMP manga.



Episode 15 wraps up the previous story. The answer to the lost children in the town is not quite what the team expected, but more significantly they discover someone is watching their movements throughout the dimensions and following their progress. This adds to the team's stress levels but with little time to think about the significance they are off to another world.

The next episode has the group appear on a world where men fight for the most magical item in a tournament. Of course, Syaoran suspects the said magical item could be a feather. Eventually, Syaoran ends up being the last of the group in the event and is pitted against a young man, Keepha, who is fighting to get the magical item to save his girlfriend. Eventually it's realised that there's no feather on this world so it's off to a new one.

The group finds themselves on Outo, a world that is well versed to strangers and visitors from other worlds. Everyone is expected to take a job or role sort of like a huge role-playing game. The group decides to open up a cafe in the hope to find information on the whereabouts of the feather. Syaoran and Kurogane decide to take up the job of demon-hunters which gives them special access to restricted areas. The town being plagued by demons of differing levels, there are plenty of hunting opportunities which if successful leads to rewards again like a game. While fighting demons, Kurogane spots Syaoran's weakness when it comes to fighting and offers to help him with sword training. There does however seem to be more to the demon infestation than first meets the eye.

The last two episodes on this disc are OK. Feeling a bit more together. For all the slick music, animation and cuteness, the series still feels lacking in parts. Often it's just a case of too little happening. There is just not enough to get your teeth into. Episode 16 really does feel like a filler episode. I think this is true of all the episodes up to now where the group doesn't find a feather. There is a bit more development of Syaoran and Sakura's relationship. How Syaoran is torn by the sacrifice of Sakura losing her memories of their previous relationship. This is still the main focus of the series. The rest is just glitter on the cake. I think in some respects that's the overall problem. This focus is under-developed and the other characters are still under developed. This leaves us often with huge empty spaces. When it's good, it's very entertaining.

This latest storyline in Outo seems to be marginally better and I believe it's the longest story thread of the first series. The humour as well is very enjoyable, especially the banter between Fai and Kurogane. I just hope the storytelling can become a bit tighter and the characters are developed and more involved. The pace is just too slow though. Long drawn out shots and a myriad of flashbacks don't help matters. There are good moments, sometimes it all clicks. Lovely backdrops along with impressive music, above average combat sequences, each fighter with his own style does lift what could be predicable if not handled well. The overall premise a good one and, time and time again, it just feels like a missed opportunity. At present, it is just an OK series but there is huge potential for it to be so much better.

There are the usual extras and Funmation does it's usual unsubtle dubbing. The acting though is altogether really good and fits in with the feel if not the original translation. It also helps you warm to the characters. Worth a watch but I only hope we get a bit more substance soon.

Phil Jones