Tekkonkinkreet: Movie Review, DVD Review, Blu-ray disc Review

Leading the charge of this week's new releases is the DVD and Blu-ray release of Michael Arias' "Tekkonkinkreet," a richly conceived anime fantasy pic based on Taiyo Matsumoto's popular Japanese manga.

Driven by its superb techno soundtrack, which thrums with energy, here is a film liberated by its imagination. Somehow, it escaped being tweaked to serve the masses, likely because nobody in Hollywood could get a handle on it--and that’s a good thing.

The film uses traditional 2-D animation layered over more technically advanced 3-D animation, and the results, typical for anime, are stunning.

The story follows the orphans Black and White, two flying street urchins from Treasure Town who take on the Yakuza in ways that lead to triumph and tragedy.

What ensues is emotional and intense, a story that sometimes is dizzying to discern, but which nevertheless is a feast to watch.

Rated R. Grade: B+