Animation Insider - Animation's Home Page for News and Reviews

Review of the animated film, 'Batman; The Dark Knight Returns' (part two). The Joker makes his return, the world's superpowers are on the brink of nuclear war, and Superman is given orders by the President to take Batman down.

Review of the animated film, 'Batman; The Dark Knight Returns' (part one). It has been 10 years since Batman was last seen and Gotham City is complacent in shared terror as violence of the threatens to take control. Bruce Wayne passes the time with alcohol while Commissioner Gordon nears mandatory retirement. The reappearance of Two-Face ushers Batman's return. However, not everyone is willing to accept his version of justice.

Review of the anime-influenced series 'Iron Man.' This adaption of the much-loved Marvel billionaire, playboy philanthropist has Tony traveling to Japan in goodwill, fighting A.I.M. splinter group Zodiac, combating negative public opinion, and working to stop a rogue version of his own creation: Iron Man Dio. Can Tony defeat his own genius and gain public approval in the Land of the Rising Sun?

Review of the soundtrack to 'Green Lantern: The Animated Series.' The upcoming release comes from La-La Land Records; a selection of scores from the first season of DC Nation's Green Lantern: The Animated Series. The album captures the sci-fi otherworldly back drop of the cartoon, merging epic orchestral with more haunting beats performed with a combination of the electric violin, cello, and several wind instruments.

Review of the sci-fi anime series 'Fractale.' In this future world, religion and technology have merged to form an illusory deity known as the Fractale System; but the entity is slowly dying, who will save it and who will let it crumble? A boy named Clain stumbles into this conflict when he meets the beautiful but evasive Phryne, and crosses paths with a prodigious family of terrorists. 'Fractale' blushes with subtext; but the anime suffers from myriad technical errors and nearly suffocates beneath layers of unresolved character dynamics.

Review of the anime film 'FMA: The Sacred Star of Milos'. In the second feature for the 'Fullmetal Alchemist' franchise, the Elric brothers find themselves in the middle of a generations-long battle for the holy land of Milos. When they discover that the Sacred Stars are actually Philosopher Stones, they must do all they can to stop widespread tragedy -- led by two siblings with a horrific past.

Review of the first season of the anime series 'Rosario + Vampire.' Take a young man, throw him into a plethora of young, nubile females and see what happens. Standard fare for most harem anime, but 'Rosario + Vampire' gives it a twist by making all of the girls monsters. Does it all add up to a grand adventure? Read the review to find out.

Review of the direct-to-video feature 'Superman vs. The Elite.' In this summer installment of the DC animated universe, Superman encounters a new team of superheroes but soon realizes they lack a code of ethics and are willing to kill and endanger anyone in their way. As a final showdown against the Elite becomes inevitable, Superman begins to question his own place in the modern age.

Review for season one of the Japanese animated series, 'Mobile Suit Gundam 00.' In 2307 AD, Earth's superpowers have built three solar arrays to supply them and their allies with nearly infinite energy. The smaller nations of the world are left to fight over what's left of Earth's fossil fuels. In an effort to rid the world of war, a mysterious group called "Celestial Being" intervenes with their technologically advanced mobile suits called Gundams. But can war stop war?

Alan Moore's 'Neonomicon' is a trip into the Cthulu mythos. The story follows Agents Sax, Brears, and Lampers -- the first of which go insane -- as they try to unravel the truth behind a rash of brutal, seemingly unconnected murders. Agent Brears and Lampers are led to a sleepy town where nothing is at all what it appears. This is a review of a hardcover collection of the miniseries.