Anime Review: Ushio and Tora

Review Ushio and Tora Written by Warpshadow Rating good

Ushio and Tora is good distraction from other anime if you find yourself feeling bogged down by more serious shows. If you like Dragon Ball or Yu Yu Hakusho at all this is a good title to pick up.

Ushio is the unfortunate son of a Temple priest. One day while doing some chores he discovers a secret hatch. Under the hatch is a demon that has been impaled on a spear for centuries. Being both scared what he found and unmoved by the demon's plea to be freed (the demon said the first thing he would do is eat him) Ushio leaves the monster alone. Unfortunately the energy that has been stewing in the hole with the demon starts attracting other demons and Ushio has to release the demon to stop them. Unfortunately the demon (named Tora) feels like eating Ushio and Ushio only has the spear to stop Tora from doing so.

Ushio and Tora is a fairly simple action show. It is generally episodic and there isn't a solid ending. The plot and characters still manage to be moderately interesting. Ushio and Tora is both a comedy and a shonen fighting show and manage to pull off both aspects to some degree. One thing to remember is if you get this on DVD remember to watch the extra as it essential contains another episode. Ushio and Tora made quite a while ago and the animation does look dated. It is a bit below what many newer anime fans expect and might be turned off by it. Overall this show makes for good light entertainment and with the dvd collection only costing forty dollars it won't be too hard on the wallet.