Hey now anime fans, here comes the final installment of DNA2 (as in 'squared'), the wacky romantic teen comedy adventure from US Manga Corps! If you've never heard of the series, check out the reviews for the previous volumes, and then race back here to find out what happens to Junta and his crew! Go! Now! And for those of you who have been waiting, here we go...!

Episode 13
Karin has returned to Junta's time from the future to monitor his DNA - insuring the threat of the Mega-Playboy is truly ended. Ami has told Junta she loves him, but has yet to have her affection reciprocated. Junta spends his nights forced to host "Karaoke Nights"for Karin and his friends, leaving him no time for Ami. Junta finally loses his temper, and an upset Karin drinks way too much sake' and passes out. Junta gallantly takes her back to her time machine ship. Meanwhile, another time machine materializes in the city. As a crowd gathers, the ship disappears, leaving behind two shadowy figures, with a sinister agenda against Junta!

Episode 14
Lulara informs a disbelieving Junta that she and Mori have come back in time to "finish the job"- and prepares to shoot Junta with another DNA bullet! Mori, accompanied by the mind controlled Ryuuji, admits to Karin he is behind the entire plot. His plan was to have Junta become the Mega-Playboy, and his slave! Therefore, all of Junta's offspring would also be under Mori's mental control as well! But Karin's screw-ups have forced Lulara and him to come back and deal with Junta directly. Junta and Ami manage to escape Lulara, but the future girl finds them and assaults Ami! An enraged Junta starts to transform as Lulara fires! Meanwhile, Mori wants Karin dead so he can take her time machine, and the poor girl is trapped between Ryuuji and Mori's futuristic warbot! Will our gal be able to escape the twin threats? And what's going to happen with Junta if he's shot with Mori's DNA bullet?

Episode 15
Junta - now the mind-controlled Mega-Playboy - follows Mori's orders and attacks Karin! She tries to convince Junta that he has control over his DNA, not the other way around. Junta almost breaks free of the Mega-Playboy, but Mori asserts control and the battle continues. A defiant Karin escapes, but is closely followed by Lulara, Ryuuji and the Mega-Playboy. Helped by a recovered Ami, Karin manages to break Mori's control on Ryuuji and Lulara, but the time traveler tells her she'll do Mori's bidding regardless, and renews her attack. Karin manages to flee - right into the arms of the Mega-Playboy! If Junta doesn't come back, it's good night for Karin and the future will be Mori's! How can Junta save the day when a madman controls his very DNA??

Patrick McGoohan originally wrote the classic TV spy show "The Prisoner" as a 13-part serial. Due to its initial success, he was asked to expand the series, but forcing more into the story actually weakened the overall structure and left a lot of ambiguity and loose ends when all was said and done. I got the same feeling watching these episodes of DNA2. The plot seemed to resolve itself nicely at the end of episode 12, but then the creators tacked on an ending that leads in directly to this volume. Taken on it's own merits, DNA2 Volume 5 is pretty good, with lots of action and serious plot complications. The interplay between Karin and Ami is nicely handled, as is Junta's maturity and inner resolve to do what's right. However, it still suffers from a major case of repetition - Mori must have explained his evil, twisted plot twelve times in the last two episodes! Ryuuji is brought back, then forgotten about, Tomoko and Kotomi have only cameos, and the whole plot seems to have beeen added out of the blue to fill the required episode count. If there had been foreshadowing, or if Mori had been introduced in an earlier show setting up this scheme, it wouldn't feel so much like an afterthought.

The DVD of DNA2 Volume 5 is presented in full screen, since the show was done for Japanese TV and not the theatres. The picture is the usual outstanding quality, with clean lines and bright color. The animation itself is good - not especially intricate, but nicely detailed and well drawn for a TV show. Audio is also the usual high standard. Language options are English (with song subtitles) or Japanese with English subtitles. Extras included in the disc include an art/sketch gallery, DNA2 trailers, other US Manga Corps previews, and a "Karaoke"sing-a-long for the show's theme song! In Japanese! With subtitles!

I wrote in my review of DNA2 Volume 4 that the ending was weak. This volume confirms it. While the story is entertaining enough, it adds nothing to our main characters. If the machinations of Mori had been hinted at and developed in the previous volumes, it would have worked. I still like the overall DNA2 series, but Volume 5 definitely is the weakest link. A little pre-production script work to incorporate the plot could have worked wonders. Instead DNA2 Volume 5 can be considered DNA2 The Fifth Wheel. At least Junta's quit barfing...

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