Ikki Tousen Vol. 1: Legendary Fighter

Pros: Four uncut, uncensored episodes of a very teen-oriented series
Cons: The Hidden Outtakes are very well hidden.

My Take:

Gosh, wonder if they could find another way to show us Hakufo's panties.

All kidding aside, Legendary Fighter, the first volume of Ikki Tousen (or if you want to be technical, Ikki Tousen - Bakuyu Hyper-Battle), is a pretty good introduction to a series that blends action with comedic moments and plenty of fan service for those teenaged boys and young males who break out into hives, sweats, and convulsions whenever they come in contact with "icky girls."

The series takes place 1800 years after numerous warriors were killed in battle. These warriors fought throughout the kingdoms of China. Many lives were lost in these battles for control of the kingdoms. Their spirits and fighting abilities became entombed in these mystical sacred comma-shaped beads and somehow drifted to Japan. Whoever possessed these beads are called "fighters." Yeah, fighters, no special title like the Wu, the Shaolin, or the Kickass. These fighters are students in the seven top schools of Kanto. One of these students is Hakufu Sonsaku, an attractive, yet slightly ditzy blonde who has transfered to Nan-Yo High School and moving in with her cousin, Shuyu, who's also a fighter. On her first day, Sonsaku takes on numerous opponents at once, convincing the Big Four of Nan-Yo High that she may be the legendary Shou Haou, a powerful warrior who could defeat many warriors in battle. After the events at the end of episode two (seen in detail in the first few minutes of episode three), Shuyu is convinced that his cousin may be the reincarnation of Shou Haou. Now, if only Sonsaku's classmates would stop talking about her "booby bombs," the pervs.

Ikki Tousen is a fun series in the tradition of Project A-Ko and Slayers (a series director Takashi Watanabe is very familiar with). Instead a smart, yet cocky heroine who isn't that well-endowed, we have a ditzy, yet powerful heroine who is over-endowed. Of course, this show isn't just about breast size and panty shots. Ikki Tousen spins historical fiction of recent films like Hero and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon into a world full of modern martial artistry and street fights. The first volume is availiable in two ways. You could pick up only the DVD from Geneon for thirty buck or you could get the collector's set complete with the DVD, a sacred bead, a sports towel, and a pencil board for fifteen dollars more. Usually, I don't pick up shows with plenty of fan service (I prefer actual flesh over animated flesh any day), but this is something I might actually continue to check out. I just want to see how the fight at the end of episode four ends up. The first volume of Ikki Tousen is impressive and an action-packed guilty pleasure to watch.