Queen Emeraldas is the second DVD release that ADV Films announced (the first was Tekken), and their choice couldn't have been more appropriate. The animation in this two-part OAV is so good it feels really inadequate seeing it on VHS.

Yet another Leiji Matsumoto epic-turned-anime, this one is filled with the typical three-foot-tall munch people, odd mangy animals, and heroic people with scars on their faces. Set in the Captain Harlock Universe, this actually seems to serve as more of an epologue to what's become (or not become) of Emeraldas since the Galaxy Express 999 movie, and seems to be set about five years later.

Queen Emeraldas is more than just another space epic. While the feeling is rather reminiscent of 50's American Sci-Fi, the plentiful CG makes for a rather enjoyable visual experience. This is probably the first 100% digital anime to actually look good! There are a few problems here and there (some shimmering and low-resolution frames) but nothing that really detracts from the look of the show. The rendered scenes aren't too great except for one or two that really stand out, but they're not bad...

Although good, it's unfair to compare this to the epic that is Galaxy Express 999. The story itself is just a tad anticlimactic, and Emeraldas' frequent "I Am Emeraldas" monologues get old rather quick. Still, it's a good watch, and most certainly a satisfying one.

The dub, produced by ADV's Gary Dehan, is excellent, well cast and well acted (although Captain Eldomain is a bit miscast). Having both the dub and the sub on hand would certainly be handy for the well-rounded anime fan, especially in convenient DVD form.

Overall, Queen Emeraldas is one of the many gems in the glut of Sci-fi anime out there. It's a nice showcase of what is possible with the new standards in digital anime.