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Law of Ueki
Anime DVD Review
Ai Mori (Kinokumi Junior High School Year 1, Class C, Seat No. 31) shouldn't have gotten involved. She's not part of the tournament in any way, shape or form. It's just that she was convinced that this poor schlep of a junior high student (Kosuke Ueki: Hinokuni Junior High School Year 1, Class C, Seat No. 2) was a space alien. If only it were that simple.
Ueki was slapped with a magic power by his teacher, Mr. Kobayasshi. He must now battle others with such gifts. It's all part of the tournament. If his champion wins, Mr. Kobayashi becomes the next Celestial King. The champion himself will be awarded with "The Talent of Blank", giving him any talent he or she desires.
 Now Ueki must face one challenger after another. Each of them has different powers. One of them can turn cloth into steel. One can turn water into flame. Ueki's power doesn't seem so cool. He can transform trash into trees. (Hey! That's the power he asked for. What can I say? He cares about the environment.)
What concerns Ai is this one little drawback. If Ueki uses his powers to hurt someone other than a challenger, he loses a talent that he naturally has. Ueki's lost a lot of himself already. He used to get great grades. Now he's lost his talent to solve problems. He used to do fine with girls. Now all the girls hate his guts.
Ueki doesn't really want to fight anyone. But the opponents seek him out and call him out. He must battle them one by one. Whoever is left standing remains in the game. In the end there can be only one.
The Law of Ueki is a riotous, free-wheeling, action-packed series that combines elements from Harry Potter and Highlander. Its developed by Toshifume Kawase based on the manga by Tsubasa Fukuchi. It really is a fantasy saga that dares to sink low in order to reach new heights. Let the tournament begin.
Review by Lawrence Sufrin, July 2006
Below: Stills from Law of Ueki.
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