Recently in Naruto Category

VIZ Media announced that original uncut versions of "Naruto", "Bleach" and "Death Note" will be available on Hulu.com. For free.

The episodes carry English subtitles. Hulu is an online video service.

"Naruto" and "Death Note" launched in the United States on Hulu this week. "Bleach" and new episodes of each title will be added regularly on Hulu. (I'm assuming "Bleach" episodes aren't on there yet.)

Here's a synopsis of the shows by VIZ Media for those who haven't heard about these series.

"Naruto" (http://www.hulu.com/naruto) Created by Masashi Kishimoto, the series depicts the adventures of a young boy named Uzumaki Naruto who trains to become a ninja. The boy is cursed with the spirit of a nine-tailed fox demon and is forced to live a bullied life discriminated against by his fellow villagers. Naruto is resilient and undaunted in his quest to become a master ninja and his determination often inspires those around him. Through amazing adventures, the young ninja learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity, and right vs. wrong. Dedicated website at www.naruto.com.

"Death Note" (http://www.hulu.com/death-note) is based on the manga series of the same name. Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects but is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to investigate, and he is soon hot on the trail of Light, who must now reevaluate his one noble goal. Dedicated website at www.deathnote.viz.com.

"Bleach" is the story of 15-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki who was born with the ability to see ghosts. When his family is attacked by a Hollow - a malevolent lost soul - Ichigo encounters a Soul Reaper and absorbs her powers. Now he has dedicated his life to protecting the innocent and helping the tortured souls find peace. Dedicated website at www.bleach.viz.com.

Got this in the mail from VIZ Media. It's their latest DVD releases. Oh my poor wallet...

"The releases include DVD box sets and special editions containing limited edition collectible figurines.

DEATH NOTE Volume 6. Four episodes· Available August 26
The Yotsuba Group enlists an investigator to uncover L's identity, while Misa, who's been hired as their spokesperson, does some investigating of her own. When she discovers the identity of the owner of the Death Note, it's a race between the killer and the task force -- who will catch up to the other first? Time is of the essence, especially when the new Kira makes the trade for the Shinigami Eyes!

BLEACH Volume 11: THE RESCUE Four episodes. Available now
While trying to evade the pursuing Soul Reapers and rescue Rukia, Orihime and Uryu are confronted by the captain of Squad 12, the despicable Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who plans on using them as guinea pigs for his experiments! Meanwhile, Yoruichi has revealed her true form to the astonishment of Ichigo and the others, and must use all her tricks and skills to keep her fellow intruders from losing everything for which they've fought so hard.

BLEACH Volume 12: THE RESCUE · Four episodes. Available Sept. 23
Lieutenant Momo Hinamori recalls her days in training at the Soul Reaper Academy, where she first met Captain Sosuke Aizen. In the present, the letter Aizen left for her at his death scene leads Momo to believe she has identified his killer... While Ichigo and Renji train with Yoruichi to achieve bankai, Rukia recalls a bit of her own past in a dream that she believes will prepare her to face her execution--which has been moved up to the next day!

NARUTO UNCUT, Vol. 9 special edition box set. three DVDs. Available now
Naruto returns to the Hidden Leaf Village to find Sasuke, frustrated with Naruto's sudden growth, thirsting to fight to decide who the better ninja is once and for all. Kakashi stops the fight before the worst can happen, but soon Orochimaru's henchmen arrive in the village to lure Sasuke to Orochimaru with the promise of greater power, a promise Sasuke can't refuse. In order to retrieve Sasuke, newly appointed chunin Shikamaru forms a squad of genin, including Naruto, to pursue the terrifying Sound Ninja Four. Will they catch up before Orochimaru gets his hands on Sasuke? Let the chase begin. Special Edition Box Set comes with a Limited Edition Collectible: Summoning Creature - Manda.

NARUTO Volume 25: THE BOND OF SHINOBI. Four episodes. Available now
Naruto and Jiraiya head home with Tsunade and Shizune in tow, and the four stop at a hot spring resort for a little relaxation and an unexpected adventure. But at home again in Hidden Leaf Village, it's back to business. Tsunade's first task: heal the injured ninja. The others are successfully revived, but Tsunade has bad news for Rock Lee. While the village cheerfully prepares for Tsunade's inauguration as Fifth Hokage, Rock Lee must ponder the possibility that he will never fulfill his ninja dreams.

NARUTO Volume 26: THE RACE IS ON! Four episodes. Available now.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are on the ultimate mission: discover what Kakashi looks like behind his mask! Then, Tsunade sends Squad Seven to the Land of Tea and the village of Degarashi, where every four years two rival families hold a race to decide who will rule the village for the next four years. Jirocho, who represents the Wasabi family, asks the teammates to protect their runner, Idate. But the task proves difficult when Idate, who has nothing but contempt for ninja, takes off running the wrong way!

NARUTO Volume 27: THE BATTLE BEGINS. Four episodes. Available Sept. 2.
Naruto has always thought of Sasuke as a friend, but when Sasuke awakens in the hospital to discover that Naruto has grown stronger, Naruto finds himself on the receiving end of Sasuke's fury. It's Chidori vs. Rasengan! Kakashi steps in to stop the battle, while in the shadows Orochimaru's Sound Ninja Four steal their way into the village with an offer for Sasuke he may not be able to refuse! Will the promise of greater power lure Sasuke away from everything he's known and everyone who cares about him - forever?!

NARUTO Volume 28: SOUND vs. LEAF. Four episodes. Available Sept. 30.
News of Sasuke's departure reaches the Fifth Hokage, who immediately gives new chunin Shikamaru his first mission as leader--bring back Sasuke! Shikamaru recruits some of his best friends for the job: Naruto, Choji, Neji and Kiba. With a chunin and four top genin on their heels, the sound Ninja Four race to get Sasuke over the border and into Orochimaru's hands. The Leaf ninja use all their wiles to ambush the Four, but find themselves trapped in a giant dome of earth that's sucking up every last drop of their chakra!.

INUYASHA SEASON 5. Deluxe Box Set. Five DVDs. Available Now.
Half-demon Inuyasha, modern-day schoolgirl Kagome and their companions face their deepest fears and worst nightmares as their quest to find the Sacred Jewel shards continues in this exciting fifth season box set. The deadly Band of Seven, a group of mercenaries executed for their crimes, have returned from the dead to wreak havoc, and Inuyasha is determined to stop them. But the battle leads them all to the sacred and mysterious Mount Hakurei, where a barrier not only renders demons, including Inuyasha, powerless, but also hides a terrible secret about their worst enemy--Naraku! The Deluxe Box Set includes 5 DVDs and also features a special "Sesshomaru Wall Scroll" and bonus Inuyasha footage.

RANMA SEASON 7: RANMA FOREVER. Five DVDs. Available now.
It's not easy being teenage martial artist Ranma Saotome, but it's even worse when your martial-artist father Genma takes you from home at an early age to go on a decade-long training mission. He doesn't speak a word of Chinese, and yet he insists upon bringing you to the cursed training ground known as Jusenkyo, where falling into one of the many springs there instantly turns you into whoever - or whatever - drowned there last. And then, the two of you have this little accident...

From now on, a splash of cold water will turn your father into a giant panda, while you... well, you turn into a red-haired (and problematically well-built) female version of yourself. Hot water will reverse the effect, but only until the next time. What's a half-guy, half-girl to do?"

Here's another excuse for the anime-obsessed to spend oodles of cash. Rent? What's that?

VIZ Media announced episodes of "Naruto" uncut, "Bleach" and "Death Note" are now available from the iTunes Store (www.iTunes.com) This translates to Season I of "Naruto", two story arcs of "Bleach" and all 37 episodes of "Death Note."

I was checking out YouTube and saw this courtesy of Top 5 Anime. I have no idea if the contest was just a fan-driven thing. The tunes are nice though.

In order of presentation they are:

1. "Hare Hare Yukai" by Ayano Hirano which was used as the closing song to "Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya"

2. "Rewrite" by Asian Kung Fu Generation which was one of the opening songs used in "Full Metal Alchemist"

3. "The World" by Nightmare which is the first opening song in "Death Note"

4. "Undo" by Joker also used as an opening song in "Full Metal Alchemist"

6. "Grip" by Every Little Thing which heralded the arc involving the seven Shichinintai in "Inuyasha"

7. "Asterisk" by Orange Range which is the first opening theme song in "Bleach"

Personally, I would pick "Asterisk", "The World", "Go" and "Rewrite." I'm crazy that way.

Now that the anime has picked up the storyline where Naruto is already 15, I'm suddenly feeling nostalgic for the early days of this long-running series.
This is the first ending song to "Naruto" called "Wind" by Akeboshi. I still think it's the series' best ending song. Remember when he was just a klutz? Well, he still is...sometimes.

OK I confess. I haven't seen a "Naruto" episode since last fall. I just couldn't take watching episodes that had nothing to do with the main story arc anymore. The last show I saw was episode 145. But my brother said they made Naruto older now and the real storyline picks up soon. Yeah yeah. Heard that before.

I also stopped watching "Bleach" after episode 80 because it became such a chore to sit through the story arc featuring the Bounto. But the Bountos are finito so maybe I can see something good again. I might use a weekend to see the other episodes I missed - if I feel like it.

So there. I admit it. I am no longer the dedicated "Naruto" and "Bleach" fan that I was. Feel free to flog me with whatever magical girl wand you have lying around the house. I would even refrain from nibbling on Pocky for a week as penance.