Cel Shaded Jason Yadao

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Geneon anime get a price cut at Right Stuf

I've said before in this column that collecting anime can be an expensive hobby, with a single DVD running between $20 and $30 on average. So when a hot sale appears on my radar, you know I'll be all over it.

Such a sale showed up last week while I was doing research for what was supposed to be this week's column. Thus, the new column topic for this week: Right Stuf's Geneon Bountiful Bargains REMIX. Through June 27, a selection of older titles in Geneon's catalog, including CDs, DVDs and Playstation Portable UMDs, are being sold at 10 for $50 and 25 for $100.

There's still quite a selection available -- about 585 items as of Friday, in fact. Here are a few recommendations to get you started, although there's certainly no shortage of good stuff available.

» "Beginnings"/"Gemini"/"Progress" CD three-pack: Tag-team partner Wilma J. tagged this bundle with her strongest recommendation when we were talking about this sale the other day. A collaboration between violinist Norihiro Tsuru, who composed the soundtracks of "Heroic Legend of Arslan," "Mermaid's Scar" and others, and pianist Yuriko Nakamura, and CD artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.

» "Fighting Spirit": This series follows Ippo on his journey from timid high school student to champion boxer. A fine example of recent sports anime.

» "Haibane Renmei" and "NieA under 7": Anything touched by Yoshitoshi ABe usually has a deep story attached to it, and these two series are no exception. Both series -- the former about a race of humans who resemble angels in appearance, the latter about an odd alien girl -- offer complex mysteries and biting social commentary.

» "Koi Kaze": A young wedding planner whose own love life is in shambles finds comfort in a high school girl he meets ... who turns out to be his long-lost sister. It's an underrated (and perhaps slightly creepy) romantic tale.

» "Paranoia Agent": Satoshi Kon's foray into episodic anime bears all the trademarks of his theatrical features, including "Perfect Blue," "Millennium Actress," "Tokyo Godfathers" and "Paprika": a mind-bending narrative and a mystery that doesn't necessarily resolve itself neatly.

For a complete list, visit www.rightstuf.com; click on the "Geneon Remix" button in the upper right corner ...

Meeting roll call

» Oahu Anime Explorer: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at HMC Academy, 555 N. King St. Visit www.oahuanimeexplorer.com for more details and this month's trivia question ...

In Sunday's D&Q

Wilma J. takes a look at the "Spirit of Wonder" anime and manga. And that's pretty much all I know, since I must confess, the first time I ever heard of this series was when she said she was doing a column about it. Is it an undiscovered gem, or something that should have stayed buried? Find out in the Sunday Today section ...