- Format: PAL
- Language English, Japanese
- Subtitles: English, Portuguese
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Manga
- DVD Release Date: 22 Sep 2003
- Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00009PB1Z
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 55,079 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Set in 894 AD, Kai Doh Maru is an eerie mixture of history and supernatural fantasy. After her uncle usurped the family domain, Princess Kintoki was raised as a boy-warrior under the tutelage of the elegant Lord Raiko and the other stalwart Knights of Kyo. Pitted against the Knights is the Oheyama gang, led by the icy Princess Ohni and her crazed assassin Ibaragi. Ohni retains her childhood love for Kintoki, apparently unaware of her gender. Non-Japanese audiences unfamiliar with the intrigues of the Heian Court and the rise of the Fujiwara clan will find the story puzzling. But Kai Doh Maru is a strikingly handsome film that uses computer graphics to suggest the look of antique Japanese art filmed through gauze. --Charles Solomon
Special Features
- Production report
- Character design boards
- Character biographies
- Photo Gallery
- Director and crew interviews
- Original Japanese trailer
- Manga previews
DVD Technical Information:
- Widescreen
- Audio: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo English/Japanese
- 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound English/Japanese
- Subtitles: English, Portugese
- Running time:46 minutes (feature), 34 minutes (extras)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Yes, ok, despite being advertised as 80 min long, it is in fact 49 minutes (complete with "montage" at the end of the credits) long. Firstly, the extras are not very good, with the creators mumbling about how they did it (filmed on something like a VHS C camcorder from Dixons!!!)
But that's not the important part anyway. The main feature is just Lush. It is the ONLY watercolour anime out there. The visuals are stunning and, coupled with a good surround sound mix, immerses you in the atmosphere of feudal Japan. You can tell it's from the same stable as Blood: the last vampire.
The plot is fairly complex, and you may have to watch a couple of times before it becomes clearer (watching between Jap with Eng subtitles, and Eng alone, shows slight differences in translation but may also clarify things a little).
And again, because the story is so short, it seems more like a short channel 4 animation then a feature length manga movie. However, you'll love the artwork on display here so much it'll more than make up for the timespan. A definite MUST HAVE.
But that's not the important part anyway. The main feature is just Lush. It is the ONLY watercolour anime out there. The visuals are stunning and, coupled with a good surround sound mix, immerses you in the atmosphere of feudal Japan. You can tell it's from the same stable as Blood: the last vampire.
The plot is fairly complex, and you may have to watch a couple of times before it becomes clearer (watching between Jap with Eng subtitles, and Eng alone, shows slight differences in translation but may also clarify things a little).
And again, because the story is so short, it seems more like a short channel 4 animation then a feature length manga movie. However, you'll love the artwork on display here so much it'll more than make up for the timespan. A definite MUST HAVE.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Maybe I'm a little cynical - my reviews never seem to score more than 3 stars - but this film just does not deserve the merit it has recieved. True, the animation style is beautiful and refreshing but it is also tiring on the eyes. The three friends who watched the film with me all got tired of straining through the fuzzy-focus effect that this style creates (and no, it's not my TV - it's a 32" HDTV). Like it's predecessor, the film is guilty of style over content: the plot seems limited, the story is short and the conclusion is unfulfilling. Like Blood, it felt like a long trailer, and while I was waiting for it to get going...it ended. I so wanted to enjoy this film, and I think 3 stars actually reflects that: If I didn't love anime so much it would get a 2. Kai Doh Maru is a thing of beauty and a work of art in it's own right...but so is the Mona Lisa, and that doesn't make much of a film either.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What an amazing film. It is very short and has a VERY complex plot, but most of you will have no problems understanding what's going on after watching it twice.
The plot is very political, being set in the Samurai times, and is of a girl who is raised as a boy and becomes a samurai. She is treated as 'one of the lads' but secretly loves the leader of her group (who feels the same). The is intertwined with another plot about a gang of "voodoo bandits" wreaking havoc in the city. On top of this, there is the political manouvering in the capital, and there are at least two more subplots intertwined again. As I said, watch it twice before you decide.
The other good thing about this film is that it is unashamedly Japanese and makes no effort to appeal to western audiences....a genuine manga. Oh....and the animation is simply stunning.
BUY IT.
The plot is very political, being set in the Samurai times, and is of a girl who is raised as a boy and becomes a samurai. She is treated as 'one of the lads' but secretly loves the leader of her group (who feels the same). The is intertwined with another plot about a gang of "voodoo bandits" wreaking havoc in the city. On top of this, there is the political manouvering in the capital, and there are at least two more subplots intertwined again. As I said, watch it twice before you decide.
The other good thing about this film is that it is unashamedly Japanese and makes no effort to appeal to western audiences....a genuine manga. Oh....and the animation is simply stunning.
BUY IT.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Unusual film, confusing plot, great art
Visually this film is amazing. However the plot seems sporadic, confusing and unsettling. By the end of the film I am left with a thought of 'What have I just watched? Read more
Published 1 month ago by Xsara
Pastel coloured family feud.
Kai Doh Maru is an interesting experiment in style. This animated film isn't the usual bright and bold affair you expect from anime, instead it consists of very light watercolours... Read more
Published 16 months ago by GeekZilla
nice to look at, but...
OK, first things first, the film does look good. Not THAT good, but along the lines you have come to expect from the big animation studios. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Jolly Roger
dont waste your money
what can i say..... the art work was poor, it was really short and it has a weak story with character that have no substance and relationship between character are not show so its... Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2010 by Shelley
Fair enough...
I must say I had better expectations for this movie...
Don't take me wrong, the animation is out of the ordinary, the scenery is compelling and the action sequences are... Read more
Don't take me wrong, the animation is out of the ordinary, the scenery is compelling and the action sequences are... Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2010 by J. Valdiviesso Alves
Incredibly Disappointing
First let me say: the plot idea is actually extremely good and interesting.
The problems I had with this anime is that it was very very slow and it actually wastes alot of time... Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2006
Beautifully illustrated, but way to short
I loved the way the film was presented, especially the colors that in my opinion were mellow and kind of stimulating. Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2006 by Takeru
Good, but.....
I see this manga gets either very good or very bad reviews.
Now im very new to manga, but i greatly enjoyed this film. Read more
Now im very new to manga, but i greatly enjoyed this film. Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2004 by "ikkle_hawkins"
Absolute tosh
The animation and artwork are, in my opinion, not overly impressive. I have seen far better in many other films. Read more
Published on 19 May 2004 by Mr P
Nice and sweet, but too short
I would give this manga a 3 and half.
The storyline was good, yet it lacked alot of character background. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2003 by Ms. Y. Cheung
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