Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42415 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-05-27
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• ESRB Rating: Teen
• Formats: Animated, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English, Japanese
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 100 minutes

Amazon.com
This bizarre reworking of the story of Alexander the Great features character designs by Peter Chung (Aeon Flux). It's a singularly weird mixture of anime conventions, sci-fi and fantasy elements, special effects, and muddled ancient history. Alexander's comrades and future generals, including Hephaestion and Ptolemy, have been recast as effete courtiers. Bucephalus ("Ox-head"), his steed, is a flesh-eating monster. His mother is a Medea-esque sorceress, and his tutor Aristotle has the inevitably spunky niece, Cassandra. The magician-disciples of Pythagoras appear and disappear, searching for the "Platohedron." The elongated, mannerist figures bear Chung's distinctive stamp. The women wear revealing robes; the men run around in bits of armor and codpieces. Reign is slated for the Adult Swim bloc on the Cartoon Network, but editing this violent series to American broadcast standards will pose real challenges. (Unrated; suitable for ages 17 and older: violence, nudity, alcohol use, grotesque imagery, sexual situations) --Charles Solomon

From the Back Cover
History and Science Fiction collide as Alexander the Great, born to Olympias the pagan priestess, and King Phillip II, is prophesized to first rule and then destroy the world. Taught by the philosopher Aristotle, Alexander becomes the hero of Macedonia's battle against Thebus, causing his father to doubt his loyalty.

Customer Reviews

gorgeous anime
I don't have the DVD yet, and like the last reviewer I am basing my review on the episodes which have aired on Cartoon Network (unusually for anime, the show has had its US premiere on television, rather than video).

This is not stereotypical anime. It's closely based on the story of Alexander the Great, who was tutored by Aristotle, and deals with a prophecy that he will "destroy the world." The usual big-eye style is not in evidence, because characters and general designs have been done by Peter Chung, who did the gorgeous and strange AEON FLUX in the 1990s. His art resembles that of the great fantasy illustrators of the early 20th century, such as Kay Nielsen, as well as more recent illustrators like Michael William Kaluta who were influenced by the earlier greats. Figures tend to have a lush facial beauty and an elongated form. Costumes in REIGN will be familiar to AF devotees, as they are a slightly ancient Grecian take on the cyber-fetishistic-armor clothes worn by characters in the earlier series.

But all the visual awe in the world can't save a series with a weak plot or a lack of dramatic tension, and fortunately, REIGN doesn't suffer from those problems. The story involves the attempts of the Pythagorean Cult, supreme mathematicians, to assassinate Alexander before he can "destroy the world," the reasons for this prophecy (which have to do with a secret ritual attended by Alexander's parents on the island of Samotrace), a lost jewel of unimaginable power called the Platohedron, the evil plans of Alexander's witchy mother Olympias, plotting among courtiers, and Alexander's rivalry with Persia's great king Darius. There is excellent tension and drama, and some fantastic combat scenes. My only real complaint here is that the character of Roxanne, Alexander's love interest, is weak and underdeveloped. One more episode in the series could have done more with her. The real Roxanne was supposed to have been very intelligent and learned, but REIGN's Roxanne mostly just sits around looking demure and/or perturbed.

So, if you love animation, or are interested in history but won't mind the great liberties taken with Alexander the Great's life story, this is a must-see...

Not your typical anime, but still one of the best I've seen
As other reviewers have said, if you didn't like Aeon Flux then you may not like the artwork of Reign. My wife couldn't get beyond the character styling until I forced her to sit through an entire episode. Now she's hooked! Although different, the styling has its moments where the quality shines through. The English voice track is excellent, and fits both the characters and adult mood.

Yes, this is very much an adult-oriented anime; for reasons other than the nudity, etc. Although obviously based on several factual/historical elements of Alexander's life, it deviates in many ways that I'll leave for the viewer to discover. This imaginative reworking and time-forwarding of Alexander's life is still completely captivating. It manages to place all of the elements that made Alexander the larger-than-life historical figure into a completely different context, yet still preserves the essence of his life that has drawn readers to the story of "Alexander the Great" for centuries.

Reign is another beautiful facet in the growing collection of world-class anime on DVD that should rank favorably among the other greats like Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Hellsing, Vampire Hunter D. It's a highly imaginative and inspiring anime!!!

True; not the best value - but stunning visuals!
I am an anime freak. Actually, I'm an animation freak. This series is absolutly beautiful. There will not be one single momment that you are watching this series when you ask yourself whether or not it was worth the money - YOU WILL LOVE IT. Can you say breath-taking?

Reign: The Conqueror was developed by some of the most creative and influential forces in anime today. The anime features character and concept designs by Peter Chung, (Creator of MTV's Aeon Flux); is produced by Rintaro (Astro Boy, Metropolis) and Masao Murayama (Trigun, Cardcaptor Sakura); and showcases animation by the famed Madhouse studio (Trigun, Vampire Hunter D). Each episode is a visual feast of cutting-edge animation that follows characters along an intricate plotline highlighted by majestic battle sequences.
DVD 1 SYNOPSES:
Episode 1
A Prophecy Born This Day
In the 4th century A.D, a pagan shaman prophesies that Olympias, Queen of Macedonia, will give birth to a baby who will grow up to destroy the world. Enter Alexander ...
Episode 2
The Thunder Of Battle
The battle between Macedonia and Greece begins ... and, as a result of Alexander's aggressive tactics, the Macedonian cavalry wins the day. Upon his return to Macedonia, Alexander is feted by the people as a greater hero than his father, King Philip II ... a fact which does not go unnoticed by Attalos, advisor to the King ...
Episode 3
A Failure of Diplomacy
Persia is the center of the known world. Alexander discovers that Athens has sent a secret mission to Persia to seek an alliance against Macedonia. He journeys to Babylon, the capital of Persia, and begins to wreak some serious havoc ...
Episode 4
Ascension To The Throne
Alexander saves King Philip from an assassin's arrow, but the King then falls victim to a zombie-like soldier who stabs and kills him. At nearly the same time, Eurydice, who is the Queen and a daughter of Attalos, and her baby, who would become the successor to the throne of Macedonia, are killed by a curse cast on them by Olympias, the former wife of the now-dead King, Philip II ...

This series will have you staring in awe at your television - and wanting more. Bummer that it's only 13 episodes... ^_^

If you like fast moving, fantasy based sci-fi, awesome fighting, beautiful scenery, imaginitive characters and just a great viewing experience, get this DVD.