Plot: What’s it about?
Natsumi is late for her first day at work, but this worse than it seems, as she is to begin her career as a police officer. So it is not the kind of job you can be late for, especially as a new person on the job. She is running late though and in order to reach the precinct in time, she has to break a few traffic laws herself. She should know better of course, but now she is being chased by a patrol car and destined to be even more late. The officer who pulls her over is Miyuki and while the situation is awkward, the two would soon become partners. Miyuki’s sweet nature didn’t win over her new partner at first, but soon Natsumi would give in. But can these two not only get along, but also win the battle against crime?
I have to admit, I haven’t seen all that much anime, but I do check out certain titles from time to time. You”re Under Arrest is a series I had heard a lot about, so I decided to make it my next anime adventure. This first collection offers the first twelve episodes, so a lot of time is spent establishing characters and starting different story arcs. This all plays out well enough and keeps you interested, as the characters are interesting and there seems to be good potential here. But these first twelve episodes aren’t non stop exposition either, as there is plenty of action and plot movement to be found. The show seems to offer a good blend of elements, from action to humor to romance, so things never get dull, at least to this point. The animation itself is by no means state of the art, but it has a lot of style and is fun to watch. So I have to say that You’re Under Arrest has my attention and hopefully future episodes keep up this pace or get even better. In the end, this first collection is recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. The transfers here look clean and clear, but won’t have you praising the visuals to the heavens. There are some minor color issues, but for the most the hues seem accurate and contrast is consistent, so no worries there. The image is by no means razor sharp, but it is clear and detail is solid. So aside from some very minor flaws, this is probably as good as the material is going to look.
Audio: How does it sound?
The show’s original Japanese soundtrack is provided, as well as an English language option. I chose the original of course and while unremarkable, the audio is always solid and never disappoints. So don’t expect dynamic presence, but the needs of the material are more covered. The sound effects come across well, though not with much depth, while dialogue is crisp and clean, even to me and I don’t speak Japanese. Of course, English subtitles are also provided.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A bonus fourth disc has all the supplements, including a look inside the production of the English language version. This is fun stuff to watch, with over an hour of on set footage and random wackiness. Quite an inclusion and one that really gives you a new perspective on the dub soundtracks. You can also check out a nice assortment of line art, plus a generous selection of color artwork, which fans should love.
