The first DVD and Blu-ray set of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan is out now! These sets bring you into a world populated by yokai and humans, with the middle school student Rikuo Nura as your guide. 

Rikuo, a quarter yokai and three quarters human, has quite the legacy to live up to. As the grandson of the Nurarihyon, the Supreme Commander of the yokai Nura Clan, Rikuo is expected to assume his rightful position as head of the family. But Rikuo feels more human than yokai…and he just wants to live a normal life and be left alone! 

In these first few episodes, we watch Rikuo struggle with the fact that yokai blood runs through his veins. He’s bothered by what yokai traditionally stand for—causing terror and mayhem, and sometimes eating humans to boot! And yet he cares deeply for his yokai family and servants, and would do anything to keep them safe.

So Rikuo finds himself in a bind: does he take his rightful place as the Third Heir of the Nura Clan, or does he choose to remain human and live an average life?

The Nura anime successfully mixes elements of a high school drama with a Japanese period piece in a way that makes it feel like there’s something in it for everyone. There’s tons of action, particularly when Rikuo takes on his powerful sword-wielding yokai form at night. There’s plenty of mystery, especially revolving around a quiet and brooding Nura Clan member by the name of Gyuki. There’s even romance in the form of a love triangle between Rikuo and two girls—one human and one yokai. And of course there are the themes of loyalty, friendship, and familial bonds that run throughout.

The art itself is also something to marvel at. Sometimes when manga is adapted to anime, the colors end up looking a little flat, particularly in the backgrounds. This is definitely not the case with Nura. The backgrounds are stunning: there is a large cherry blossom tree at the Nura compound, and the shading on it is gorgeous and eye-catching, even when the tree is not the focus of the shot. The sky, depending on the hour, is usually a kaleidoscopic mix of blue, purple, pink, and orange. Even the tile of the school bathroom has a lovely gradient of sea green—and trust me, making bathroom floors look attractive is quite a feat. 

The design and animation of the characters is similarly beautiful. In particular, the coloring and movement of the eyes makes them bright and expressive. This works to add another dimension to the characters that you just don’t get when seeing them on a flat page of the manga. Even the lesser demons are more hilarious and adorable when you’re able to hear them mumble and watch them putter about the house.

In terms of characters, one of the most interesting ones to see in animated form is the onmyoji, Yura. Her summoned shikigami look awesome animated, and are almost reminiscent of earlier Hayao Miyazaki films—for example, her white wolf, Tanro, looks like an homage to those found in Princess Mononoke.

This anime has stunning art and a compelling storyline that makes it entirely easy to get addicted to. If you’ve never picked up the manga and are curious to see what all the hype is about, here’s your chance to dive into the world of Nura! 

English & Japanese 2.0 Audio / English Subtitles
Episodes: 1 - 13

Blu-Ray: $54.97
1080 High Definition / DTS-HD Audio
Special Features: Color Production Art, Production Art, Clean Opening

DVD: $44.82
Special Features: Production Art 

Nura Blu-Ray and DVD Set 1 is available here!

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan © Hiroshi Shiibashi／SHUEISHA, Nurari Project

by Gretchen Smail