Area 88 DVD Vol. 4 - Wings of the Wind

“Everything About the Aerial Combat and Maneuvering Scenes Is Exceptionally Well-Done, Especially the Incredibly Realistic Use of Sound.” – Anime News Network

First broadcast on Japanese television a little over a year ago, Area 88 is based on the classic manga by Kaoru Shintani with a screenplay by Hiroshi Onogi (RahXephon, Macross Zero). It tells the story of Shin Kazama, an ace pilot on the verge of a comfortable life with a commercial airline. Tricked into joining a motley crew of mercenary fighter pilots, Shin’s only way out is to complete the three year term or pay $1.5 million to break the contract. Truly innovative animation and heart-pounding suspense transport you to a world where every breath could be your last. At Area 88, there’s no such thing as a normal day.

Synopsis: The celebration of successfully completed missions has been cut short. The enemy is splashing Area 88’s pilots at an alarming rate. Something about the enemy pilot’s maneuvers strikes a memory in Mickey, and it’s up to him and the rest of the Area 88 mercenaries to clear the threat for good. Meanwhile Shin’s savings from his kills are approaching his contract buyout price, and he is planning on going home to Ryoko in Japan. However, Kanzaki has other plans that place Shin into dangerous skies. Shinjou is beginning to have a change of heart about his mission, but will it be too late? As the story of Area 88 draws to a close, there is a whirlwind of betrayal and broken promises to keep you guessing right up to the surprise ending.

An anamorphic DVD-only release including episodes ten through twelve, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Video extras include 70 minutes of interviews with series director Isamu Imakake and Japanese voice actors Ryo Hirohashi (Kim Aba), Tomokazu Seki (Mickey Simon) and Takehito Koyasu (Shin Kazama) plus production sketches, aircraft specs, clean opening animation, clean closing animation, and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases.