Bruce Von Stiers

The mighty sorcerer Orphen is at it again, in volume 4 of the anime collection from ADV Films. This hero of video game fame had a run in an animated series. ADV Films has packaged this series into a collection of DVD’s. The one that I just finished viewing is called Mystere. It contains five episodes of Orphen anime.

The first episode is called The Relic – Part II. I didn’t get to see Part I so the plot line was a little hard to catch onto at first. But it wrapped things up for you, so that not seeing the first part wouldn’t kill you. It seems like Orphen’s old partner, Stephanie, has asked for help. There is some kind of Killing Doll terrorizing the town nearby. There are some different things going on that Orphen doesn’t know about. All he knows is that the Killing Doll is out to get him. Orphen fights the doll and wins. We find out later that Stephanie has a funny little secret.

The second episode is Leki’s Big Adventure. Leki, the wolf hound puppy (or something like that) is missing. He wandered off and now Orphen and company are looking for him. Leki hooks up with a couple of kids who are waiting for their mother to return home. Old mom, in the meantime, is being attacked by a group of wolves. The two schemers in the show, Volkan and Dortin, get the woman back to health. But what do they want in return? These guys are really pretty lame, but they add to the comic relief for the show.

In the third episode, The Black Tiger, we find that Orphen and his cohorts are going to the Tower of Fang. We find out a little about Orphen’s background and his master, Childman. Volkan gets sick from a poisoned mushroom and gets saved by sorcery.

Flameheart is the fourth episode. In this one, Childman goes searching form Azalie, the once powerful sorcerer who is now a dragon. She was once one of them, now they hunt her to put her down. There are flashbacks to when Azalie helped tutor Orphen in his sorcerer studies.

The last episode on this DVD disc is Do You Mine? The group headed up by Orphen is trying to find Azalie. They end up stopping at a town that was once helped out by another sorcerer. That was Childman. Orphen must recreate the magic that Childman did, when another disaster befalls the town.

As with the other DVD’s in this collection, Mystere has some extras. There are production sketches and the clean opening and closing scenes for the series. There are also trailers for several other ADV Films titles.

John Ledford and Sharon Papa produced the English Language version. You can watch the DVD in Japanese, with or without subtitles, or just in English. Steven Foster directed the English version.

Some of the vocal talent includes David Matranga as Orphen and Spike Spencer as his sidekick and apprentice, Majic. There is also Shelley Galene-Black and Hillary Haag. Christine Auten’s voice is in a couple of the episodes.

Orphen and his pals just have to find Azalie. Or do they? In these episodes, we find out just a little more about the Tower of Fang and the gang of sorcerers there. Why are they so intent on destroying Azalie? And can Orphen save her or will he have to destroy her in the end? I guess that’s for later on in the series. I have been really enjoying watching this series. Orphen just can’t get away from his past. And his present doesn’t look too great either. If he could only get a better apprentice.

Look for this title at your favorite DVD retailer. Or order it online from ADV Films at thier web site. It can be found at www.advfilms.com.