ADV Films presents

Those Who Hunt Elves #2: Elf Stripping for Fun and Profit (1998)

"We will not rest until you're naked!"- Junpei (Tomokazu Seki)

Stars: Tomokazu Seki, Michie Tomizawa, Yuko Miyamara, Kotono Misuishi, Andrew Klimko, Jessica Calvello, Rozanne Curtis, Kelly Manison
Other Stars: Tomoko Kawakami, Eriko Kawasaki, Motomu Kiyokawa, Cha Fu Rin, Joe Jaworski, Rene Rivera, Phil Ross, Lew Temple
Director: Kazuyoshi Katayama

Manufacturer: JVC
MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (15+ for nudity)
Run Time: 02h:21m:38s
Release Date: 2002-02-12
Genre: anime

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
A-	B	B+	A-	C+

 

DVD Review

It was the only way they could get back to Japan after being teleported into an alternate dimension. Junpei, Airi and Ritsuko now scour the land with the help of the high elven priestess, Celia—who has managed to transform herself into a dog—looking for the missing pieces to the spell that will free them. However, these fragments made their way onto the bodies of five members of the elf population, and the only way to discover and recover them is to uncover them all! Accompanied by a Type T-74 tank, which was possessed by a cat named Mike, and is now Ritsuko's best friend, the team of "Those Who Hunt Elves" travel from town to town, Elf Stripping for Fun and Profit, the second and last part of this two disc DVD set.

"We have never met an elf we couldn't strip."

While hunting for elves may seem a simple task to the novice, it is in fact hard work, especially since the word has spread about our band of hunters. Elf folk are modest creatures, and don't take kindly to being laid bare in public, regardless of the importance or the reasoning behind it. In our first adventure, the crew take refuge at an old mansion, and like every building of its type, it appears to be haunted. The mystery deepens with the discovery of a strange flower and its ominous history, but Junpei isn't bothered by folklore and is bent on revealing the truth, despite the consequences.

If that wasn't spooky enough, their next encounter is of an even more spiritual nature, as the elf they are after is a ghost, and the only way to do the job is to become just like her! Prepare for the paranormal as our hunters become beside themselves in their quest for the missing spell. This one is a mission to die for!

"Successful stripping is a result of strength and dexterity."

While the group takes up jobs in a small village, Airi has a challenge on her hands when she becomes the role model for a young country girl, who is hoping to find her prince charming at the local ball. The rest of the gang also find out about the extravaganza, which provides a perfect opportunity to strip, en masse, to locate their prize.

An elf wanting to be stripped naked... unheard of you say? When our fearless hunters meet an elderly elf, they not only find his granddaughter willing to be naked, they are even offered a reward for their efforts! There is, of course, a catch, but our band of elf barers isn't to be deterred, even if it means slicing off more than they are prepared for.

With the end of the series drawing nigh, and more spell fragments yet to be found, the final two episodes pull the story together for its shocking conclusion. A series of anomalies confirms Airi's hypothesis—one that affects not only Those Who Hunt Elves, but their home and the elven worlds as well. There is some serious elf stripping yet to be done!

Those Who Hunt Elves continues to be a hilarious adventure, full of great interpersonal conflicts, self-mockery, and silly situations. The premise alone makes it noteworthy, but its execution holds up over the course of the series. While fairly episodic, the scenarios are pretty varied with some unexpected twists, and as it progresses, it does carry over from installment to installment with the story's underlying arc. The characters are hilarious, and the writing is excellent. The animation isn't exceptional, but serves its function. With the entire 12-part series on only two DVDs, this one is a no-brainer for some crazy comedy of elven proportions. I can bare-ly contain myself!

Rating for Style: A-
Rating for Substance: B

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	no

Image Transfer Review: Presentation quality is very good here, aside from some excessive grain in dark blue regions. Colors pack a lot of punch, aliasing is barely noticible, and black levels are solid. I'm pretty happy with this one, excet for a few select scenes which weren't up to par with the rest of the disc in color saturation.

Image Transfer Grade: B+
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
DS 2.0	Japanese, English, Spanish	yes

Audio Transfer Review: Stereo audio is clean and free of any technical deficiencies, and is consistent in quality across all three language tracks included; original Japanese plus English and Spanish dubs. Stereo imaging is not overly utilized, but the soundstage does expand in places. The English dub is pretty much a complete rewrite, with major variances from the sub track.

Audio Transfer Grade: A- 

Disc Extras

Full Motion menu with music
Scene Access with 29 cues and remote access
Subtitles/Captions in English with remote access
1 Original Trailer(s)
6 Other Trailer(s) featuring Soul Hunter, Sorcerer On The Rocks, Excel Saga, Dai-Guard, Arc The Lad, Princess Nine
Packaging: Scanavo
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: dual

Extra Extras:

1. Character sketches

Extras Review: Even with six episodes on the disc, it hasn't been stripped bare of extras. The trailer for the series is included, featuring the US logo treatment.

A set of 32 concept sketches is also present, set inside a nice sand-motifed frame. More designs for all the characters and episode specific cast.

No insert was included in our review copy. The first disc had the chapter stops on it.

Previews this time around include Soul Hunter, Sorcerer On The Rocks, Excel Saga, Dai-Guard, Arc The Lad and Princess Nine.

The Anime Spine Art Police served warrants for minor inconsistencies. The perpetrators were strip searched and sent home.

Extras Grade: C+
 

Final Comments

The premise alone warrants a purchase, but with only two discs to get the complete 12-episode series, this is a great deal on some hilarious elf-stripping anime. There is plenty to keep the amusement level high, from the infighting to the self-mockery about adventure anime. Extras aren't extensive, but the discs aren't barren either. I just don't want to hear about any reenactments in cosplay, okay?

Jeff Ulmer 2002-03-13