Video/DVD

•• Angel on My Shoulder

Lesbian characters in Steel Angel Kurumi, a new anime series

The first volume of the highly anticipated anime series Steel Angel Kurumi hits the stores on May 21. "It’s a very hip genre," says writer/director Steven Foster of ADV Films, located in Houston. "Kurumi’s one of the most beautiful shows out there. And, yeah, it’s pretty cool that two of the characters are lesbians. One is young and beautiful and unsure of herself. The other’s pretty confident and matter-of-fact about it."

Foster previously worked on the cult hit Orphen, which featured many gay and transsexual characters. "I wouldn’t do any show that didn’t treat the characters with respect. In Kurumi, one of the lesbian spies is teased because she’s lusting after this scientist. She fires an insult right back because the other spy has the hots for a teenage boy. You don’t see that in Disney. Another character transforms from a cute young boy into a beautiful, powerful woman. I haven’t seen that anywhere."

Neither have we. Breathtakingly animated, thrillingly plotted, and playfully sexy, Kurumi features the vocal talents of some of the hottest actresses in animation–Kelli Cousins, Kira Vincent-Davis, Monica Rial, and Hilary Haag, with a special appearance by the sexiest sci-fi siren on television, Farscape’s Claudia Black.

The first of a four-volume DVD collection, Steel Angel Kurumi: Angel on My Shoulder features the English version as well as the original Japanese-language version with English subtitles, and sets a new precedent for anime DVD production, with extras including a behind-the-scenes featurette, "Conversations with Angels"; rare original production sketches; extended episode previews; textless open-and-close credits; historical background of Taisho Era Japan, a Kurumi "fortune teller"; and more. May 21 can’t get here fast enough.

For more information, visit www.advfilms.com.

•• There’s No Marilyn Like Monroe

Continuing the celebration of the blond goddess whose popularity never seems to fade, Fox Entertainment unveils Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection (volume II), on VHS and DVD on May 14. Five of MM’s films–Don’t Bother to Knock (1952), Monkey Business (1952), Niagara (1953), River of No Return (1954), and Let’s Make Love (1960)–make their DVD debuts for $19.98 (the VHS new low price is $9.98).

For all you obsessive MM fans, these titles are packaged in an elegant collector’s gift set, available for $79.98 (DVD) and $43.98 (VHS). Each film has been restored and remastered, and each DVD includes the original theatrical trailer, a stills gallery, a restoration comparison, and more.

Also available on May 14 is volume I (now the same prices as volume II), which includes Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954), The Seven Year Itch (1955), and Bus Stop (1956).