Slender and simple.

As far as DVD cases go, xxxHolic: Second Collection is fairly standard. The back is the usual synopsis, content lists, and a few screen shots. The cover is a simple illustration of Yuko, Maru, and, Moro. Open the case and behind the plastic you can see an illustrative spread of Yuko, Watanuki, and the twins. As I said before, the beauty of the DVD isn’t in its simple packaging, or even simpler DVD menu, but the actual animation itself. In recent years, since the emergence of Chobits, CLAMP’s art styles have simplified. They’ve always drawn elongated, willowy characters, but that style has become even more prominent in xxxHolic. It’s this stylization that enhances the mystery and loveliness of the overall appearance of the animation and illustrations. It makes the characters (except poor excitable Watanuki) seem so graceful. It also enhances exaggerated movements and wild takes during the more comedic moments. So, really, the simple packaging beguiles the beautiful animation you’re getting in the disc.

But simple isn’t always a plus..

Like its predecessor, xxxHolic: Second Collection is woefully lacking in extras. The image gallery is a slideshow of screen captures from each episode on the disc, not even some of the best scenes at that. The standard package of textless versions of the opening and ending songs are also present. This isn’t too bad, but you see the opening and ending four times just playing through all the episodes. Why watch them again without credits? The trailers are the real meat of the extras. You get features for Moon Phase, Glass Fleet, DBZ, xxxHolic, and more. This is all well and good, but it really doesn’t make the DVD extras worth perusing unless you want to see what anime Funimation has to offer right now.

Equivalency has been reached and a bargain struck.

Like the volume before it, xxxHolic: Second Collection kept my eyes glued to the TV from beginning to end. It drops further clues into Watanuki and Doumeki’s importance in the story. It also keeps hinting that Himawari is somehow a bad person, and that’s what I’m dying to find out. This volume was alittle more morbid than the previous one, with two episodes dealing directly with the issues of death and the gruesome consequences of greedy, desperate actions. But as far as the overall storyline goes, it’s still building up steam and has a very lesson-of-the-week formula going on. Things will start to get very interesting very soon. XxxHolic: Second Collection is a must-have for any fan of CLAMP, the occult, or just a good story in general.