From Central Park Media comes the third installment of the wacky sci-fi / romance series DNA2 (as in 'squared'). Since it's been awhile since I covered the first two DVDs, go read them now to catch up! Are you ready? 'Cuz it's gonna be a wacky ride for Junta and his friends!

Episode 7
Junta has agreed to help Kotomi with her "condition" - she has flatulence whenever she's aroused. As she practices for the big gym meet, Junta falls victim to his condition - he pukes at the sight of Kotomi in her leotard. They agree to try and "cure" each other. Ami sees them together, and she's jealous. Whenever she meets Junta she gives the cold shoulder. Our thickheaded schmuck is totally confused by Ami's actions. Meanwhile, Karin spies on Junta and Kotomi, hoping they don't "do it" and unleash the Mega-Playboy! Karin tries to enlist Ami's help to keep anything from happening between Junta and Kotomi, but Ami ignores her pleas. Kotomi finally manages to finish her routine without having a problem, and she and Junta celebrate. Kotomi asks Junta to go out with her if she can do the routine perfect again. But when she glimpses the spying Karin, Kotomi has a gas attack. As Junta consoles her, Karin smugly leaves believing she's accomplished her goal of breaking up Junta and Kotomi. Kotomi showers off, and resolves to show Junta how she really feels. Approaching our unsuspecting 'hero', Kotomi turns off the gym lights and prepares to let him "do it." Will Junta become the Mega-Playboy permanently if he does? Has Karin totally failed in her mission?

Episode 8
Karin freaks out when she catches Kotomi and the Mega-Playboy on the gym floor. Mega-Playboy tells Kotomi she can be cured of her condition by revealing and believing in her true self. Kotomi believes Junta pretended to like her as part of the "cure." The next day, Kotomi puts on a flawless gymnastics exhibition and places third as Junta and Ami cheer her on. When Karin ponders why the Mega-Playboy didn't score with Kotomi when he had the chance, Junta suggests the Mega-Playboy may be the perfect gentleman. Karin erupts in fury. Kotomi asks both Ami and Junta too meet her at the playground. Kotomi admits she liked Junta and is grateful for his help, but slaps him for stringing her along. She tells Ami they've officially 'broken up", so now Ami can go out with Junta. Will Ami quit denying her true feelings for Junta? Will Karin's mission be a success after all?

Episode 9
A cheerful Ami wakes up the sluggish Junta and tells him to get to school - his grades are horrible! Junta wonders what's gotten into her. Karin receives a message from her bosses, along with the correct DNA bullet. Yokomori tells her this is it- either Karin completes her mission successfully, or she's toast when she returns to the future. At school, Tomoko and Ryuuji argue. Ryuuji can't believe Tomoko loves Junta, and wants her back. Tomoko walks away from him. A note from Karin sends Junta to the school roof, where Karin readies to shoot the DNA bullet into him and end the threat of the Mega-Playboy. However, Ryuuji and Tomoko are also on the roof, and when she sees Junta, Tomoko runs into his arms. A rejected Ryuuji isn't very happy about this. Meanwhile, a conflicted Karin finally manages to resolve her feeling for Junta and fires. Has the Mega-Playboy been stopped? Or has Karin somehow screwed up again?

Well, as stated before, DNA2 is a very fast-paced series with an unfortunate amount of repetition. The plot seems to want to move along, but characters stop the action with story re-caps far too often. Episodes 7 & 8 could have very easily been combined into one; the padding is distracting because we (the audience) already know what's going on. It's nice to see some subplots like the Tomoko/Ryuuji/Junta triangle and the real DNA bullet finally resurface because they move the story along - we're not watching another episode of Junta and Kotomi suffering from their "conditions". Ami has become somewhat irritating because of her continual rejection that she might like Junta (that hasn't changed since episode one.) And Karin has gone from being a main player to comic relief. Perhaps with the twist at the end of episode 9 (which you'll have to see for yourself), the story will start to move into high gear and reach it's potential of wackiness. Don't get me wrong, DNA2 is a good series; with a little editing, it could have been a great one.

There are a few extras included on the DVD for DNA2 Volume 3. One is a history of series creator Masakazu Katsura, which is brief but interesting. Also included are an art/sketch gallery and a trailer for the series. Central Park also added trailers for some of it's other anime DVDs as well. The picture and sound quality are both fine. The animation is standard stuff, but that's not a bad thing.

DNA 2 Volume 3 starts slow, but starts to move the series along. It will interesting to see if the new elements added in this volume continue to grow in the next DVD, or if we hit another plot wall. There are 15 episode of DNA2, so we're at the point where things can either get really crazy, or really bogged down. I'm hoping for crazy.

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