A fun fantasy epic replete with dragons, sorcerers, trolls and virgins. This magical world provides a great escape from the daily grind.

The characters only grow more determined to achieve their goals, but this makes for great tension and new friendships. Orphen opens up vulnerable emotional roads to his apprentice Majic and a love-struck hot head, Cleao as he plunges deeper into his quest to transform Bloody August into human form.

Lines sweep gracefully across the characters and landscape, promoting an epic vision for this fantasy saga. Drama exudes from the art and animation. In a still frame shot of Bloody August and Orphen, the dragon's might so tragically overwhelms the lone sorcerer that Orphen's cause looks lost.

Spike Spencer as Majic stands above the rest, and John Swasey's Volcan sometimes falters, but overall both the acting and translation are enjoyable. Steven Foster's verbally dexterous ADR script helps the English voice cast dig into their characters.

Some fighting, but no blood since magic combats magic. Fine for most audiences. A few frightening images and allusions to sexual perversion knock this title just over the G mark.

Scene selection, languages and extras (clean opening, clean closing, production sketches and pop art, and ADV previews). Wrapped up nicely.

All heroes should take a hint from Orphen and drown their sorrows in an ice cream float instead of the standard alcoholic beverage. After all, ice cream is so yummy.

Mariabelle and Cleao's mom somehow manages to see, even though we never see the whites of her eyes.

A female hand glides down the shaft of a sword from tip to base in the opening credits. Hmmm...

Love it? Hate it? Buy it.