DVD Review: Comic Party #1 w/ box

Comic Party Vol. 1: A New World w/ Box
Release Date: March 30, 2004
Released By: Right Stuf International
DVD SRP: $39.95 - 115 Minutes
Video: Full Screen (Standard) - 1.33:1
Audio: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) & English Subtitles


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Introduction
Comic Party is a 13 episode series that was originally released in 2001. KSS and OLM is handling the production for Comic Party. Rightstuf is releasing the first volume in two varieties. The regular version and a LE box version with a removable slip case box. The first volume contains 3 episodes with a special mini-episode included. The anime takes a look in the Doujinishi busness as they parady many anime series and manga while at it. Doujinishi is an amateur/fan made comic book in Japan.

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Packaging
With Rightstuf’s release of Comic Party the packaging is unique in design. The box is black and white similar to a comic strip with the exception of the logo and bottom and top of the box. The slipcase gives the box a more color full look with the female cast in the anime. If you were lucky enough to pre-order from Rightstuf there’s a signed postcard from Liam O’Brien the English Voice Actor of Taishi Kuhonbusto.

The cover art for Comic Party it spoofs manga by giving it an authentic Japanese right-to-left manga feel to the DVD. It even has the right side bar like Tokyopop’s releases. The cover has the same image as the Japanese cover with many tweaks to it. The reversed side includes the cover art for the Japanese release. The insert titled .comic// party is a hilarious parody at .hack//sign. The insert includes various parodies that are in the episodes. .

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Extras
As with their prior release His and Her Circumstances Rightstuf does a great job with the extras included in the Comic Party DVD release. The Interview with Lead Japanese Voice Actors is an almost 20 minute conference between the Japanese seiyuu’s answering various questions on the anime and the characters they play. These types of extras are a hard find in anime DVD’s and it was a joy to watch.

The Special Mini #1 is a 7 minute short episode. This is a side episode with the group going to a hot bath for a break. What’s an anime series without an onsen episode. The Art Gallery features production sketches on the characters and background of Comic Party. The character bios has 3 characters. There’s also translation notes that is helpful to know before watching.

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Animation
The animation quality for Comic Party was adequate. The show aired in 2001 and nothing really stood out compared to other series from that time. The character designs was superb. The female and male for the anime cast was attractive.
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Audio
With Comic Party Rightstuf includes a Japanese 2.0 and English 2.0 track English subtitles and optional on screen translations. I listened to the Japaenese track while not having any issues with the audio.

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Content
We first get introduced to Kazuki and Mizuki. They have been friends since middle school and will start senior year of high school soon. One day their friend Taishi brings them to a doujinishi convention. The three get separated from each other and Kazuki meets a doujinishi artist named Yuu Inagawa. Kazuki finds a liking to what he sees and thus starts his career as a doujinishi artist.

Next episode we once again get to meet Yuu this time as a new student to the same class as Kazuki and Mizuki. Mizuki has somewhat of a crush on Kazuki does not support him in his new hobby. Their relationship gets pushed aside as their interests differ from each other. With the help from Yuu and Taishi Kazuki starts to write his first doujinishi. Kazuki must overcome a few obstacles while being a first time artist.   

The last episode on the disc deals with Kazuki’s first convention selling his own doujinishi. At the convention he meets many interesting people who have the same interests as him. Everything doesn’t work out when he doesn’t sell many copies of his comic. He learns some hard lessons about the doujinishi business.   

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Overall
Comic Party doesn’t leave a lasting impression after watching the show. It does have likable characters and an interesting concept behind it. For those who doesn’t know or have little knowledge of Japanese comic and anime industry it might be hard to comprehend some of the jokes and the story. With so many new releases in the upcoming months Comic Party might go fall under the radar but the show is worth renting and trying out.

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Story: 9
Packaging: 10
Extras: 10
Audio: 9
Animation: 9
Overall: 9