Some logical snafus hardly drag down this quick-paced adventure story packed with ambitious themes.

Further development of the central characters slows from the first DVD to allow room for the larger story arc, that between Gargoyle and Captain Nemo. These two characters are given the kind of depth they deserve. Nadia and Jean do grow closer and Nadia, having to choose between betraying Jean and losing Marie and King, laden her heart.

The design staff takes great pains to think like Jules Verne, creating an aesthetic for "Nadia" that feels like mid-nineteenth century writers trying to imagine what future technology might look like. Sometimes, however, the visuals get compromised by hind-sight and in this collection of episodes, the unique designs of the first episode sometimes fade into the mundane look of technology we already know exists.

The ADR script outshines the dull subtitles, and though accents waver, the actors apply genuine liveliness to their roles without sacrificing the subtle nuances of character.

Graphic scenes of death and frightening villains up the stakes for this DVD. However, bold ideas that should be introduced to children at a young age abound, making this a worthwhile form of entertainment of for all ages.

DVD. Easy navigation. Scene selection (Acts 1 and 2); English, Japanese, subtitles; textless opening and closings; trailers for Nadia; and a preview of Vol. 3. The disc also includes trailers for other ADV releases.

Verbosity after my own heart.

On an island populated by only men bent on destroying the world, whenever a countdown sequence begins a female always takes the lines. Just proves that old adage, men are aggressive beasts who can do nothing but destroy; women are faceless, nameless cold, calculating, computers that can count.

Love it? Hate it? Buy it.