The Series (4.5/5)

In the western flavored future, a group of repairmen/ Bounty hunters named Gene Starwind and James Hawking run a jack of all trades business to keep their lives afloat. When hired to be bodyguards for a mysterious Blonde, the duo finds themselves stuck in a bizarre journey. The Blonde is actually the legendary Pirate Hot Ice Hilda and she is being chased for a ship and bio android named Melfina she has stolen.  Once finding the ship, Hilda is killed but Gene and company escape. With the ship now retitled “Outlaw Star”, Gene and crew decide to do something meaningful and live the free life of an outlaw.

OUTLAW STAR (1998) was one of the mainly shows that shot up in popularity in The States, thanks to Cartoon Network’s Toonami block. While released censored during the weekday afternoons, the show picked up enough fandom to be labeled a success. Soon the show was rereleased in it’s mostly uncut form on Adult Swim, but it was co airing with another popular show that it’s since been compared too.

OUTLAW was produced by the animation studio Sunrise, which also made the lighting in a bottle hit, COWBOY BEBOP. With both shows on the same network, American fans started to connect the two, with OUTLAW being considered a cheaper knock off. Thanks to the passing of time and a new release of the series, it’s easier to reappraise it. While not as ground breaking as BEBOP, OUTLAW STAR is an impressive series on its own.

Based on a popular manga by Takehiko Ito, OUTLAW STAR is a fusion of space operas and the western. Bounty Hunters, silent warriors, duels, bar room fights, and plenty of gun play are all here and exciting. In some ways, it’s more connected to TRIGUN (also 1998), another highly entertaining and action-packed Spaghetti Western in space. But also, the series is hilarious and rule breaking with its comedy. Director Mitsuru Hongo also made the hilarious SHIN CHAN (aka: CRAYON SHIN-CHAN). At the beginning of each episode we get a summary of events to come with background on a character, element, weapon, etc. All set to a fun-loving narration, with interplay with characters like THE ROCKY AND BULLWINKIE SHOW. Added to this is one episode lampooning its theme song.

The series was 26 episodes with a fast pace. There’s little to no filler and every episode is entertaining, which is odd there’s not a single bad one. The action is fast and fluid, and the characters are likable and full of depth. While not perfect, the show deserves another look.

Audio/Video (4.5/5)

Both Japanese and English tracks are included. First up is the 2.0 Japanese Dolby True HD. The sound mix is clear and full of energy without peeking out or having hiss. The blend of retro and modern sound effects is clear and seamlessly connected. The 2.0 English track is likewise a great mix. Worth checking out if you prefer your anime dubbed. English subtitles are included.

The 1080p HD video transfer is a massive upgrade on older DVD editions. The show pops with its vivid colors and smooth motion. Unlike some upgrades, there’s no loss in detail or horrible color correction. There’s some minor natural film grain but no digital noise.  Black levels are smooth and the picture is sharp.

Extras (3/5)

We get a handsome slew of extras with Pilot video, commercial collection, Textless Opening and closing songs, and a Funimation trailer gallery.

Overall (4.5/5)

Funimation has done it again with an out of this world transfer giving this series the treatment it deserves. If you’re a fan of a good space opera or 90’s anime this release is a no brainer. Highly Recommended.