As it enters new territory, this set of episodes upholds its high standards and solidly delineates the history behind the "Gasaraki" epic.

So utterly different from the rest of Gasaraki, the fifth cycle nonetheless nicely complements the rest. The mysticism that transformed Gasaraki into a "smarter than the average robot" story now adds color to Japan's ancient past. At last the reasons behind the close ties shared by Yushiro and Miharu are revealed, and they do not disappoint.

There are some short cuts here, including a 45 second segment which completely lacks ink, but the animators cough up the goods in key sequences. Especially notable is the beautiful depiction of tenth-century Japan, rendered in a bluish hue so as to connote the haziness of historical memory.

The translation is sufficiently smooth for the task at hand. The dubbing leaves out some of the more technical Japanese terms, making for a smoother story. Purists might want to stick to the subtitles. And with many of the lesser characters left out of the spotlight, it can safely be said that the average level of acting receives a boost with the latest cycle.

For violence and bloodshed.

The information contained in the extras is more vital than ever as the story becomes more complex. The production notes are chocked full with information explaining the care taken to weave in the Gasaraki story line with the history of tenth-century Japan.

Whether they're in 21st century Japan or 10th Century Japan, Yushiro is called Yushiro, and Miharu is called Miharu. Are they the same people, perhaps immortal? Are they reincarnated because they are kai?

In a refreshing foray into political commentary, the story illustrates how xenophobia can be used for nefarious purposes as the evil Nishida blames the weakness of his country on the presence of immigrants.

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