The slapstick adventureDisgaea(2006) is based on a hit video game by Nippon Ichi. Flonne, a blond angel trainee, arrives in the Netherworld from Celestia with orders to reform the hearts of Laharl, the demon prince who's the rightful heir to the Overlord's throne, and his conniving vassal Etna. For the first eight episodes, they wander around the Netherworld as Laharl attempts to reclaim his title from various usurpers and impostors. One continuing impediment is the cartoonish Gordon, "the 37th Defender of Earth," and his buxom sidekick Jennifer. The story takes a weird, more serious twist in episode 9, when Earth attempts to conquer the Netherworld with a vast armada led by Jennifer's stepfather. Laharl, Flonne, and Etna travel to Celestia to find who really planned the invasion. Although Laharl rants and fusses and hurls thunderbolts, he's drawn in akawaiiultra-cute style that undercuts any menace. Comic relief is provided the Prinnies, servants who look like peg-legged penguins and address everyone as "Dood"--until episode 11, when they suddenly become tragic figures. Fans of the originalDisgaeagame may enjoy seeing the familiar characters on a bigger screen, but the erratic story line is unlikely to hold anyone else's interest. (Rated TV PG: cartoon violence, risqué humor, alcohol use)--Charles Solomon(1. The Sleeping Prince in the Garbage Dump, 2. Scratch 1 Mid-Boss, Add 1 Vassal, 3. Welcome to the Netherworld Hall of Treasures, 4. A Solomon-Style Judgement at the Dinero Castle?! 5. The Dungeon of Temptation! Maybe, Maybe Not… 6. Etna's Embarrassing Secret, 7. Netherworld Siblings, 8. The Prinnies' Longest Day, Dood! 9. Space Battleship Gargantua, 10. The Defender of Tomorrow Is You! 11. A Night Lit Up by a Red Moon, 12. Love… After the Fighting's Over)