Eliza Dushku has the reputation for taking on characters that don’t let much get in their way. From playing Faith on Buffy The Vampire Slayer to being the voice of Catwoman in Batman: Year One, she seems to enjoy characters who are far from timid. She is continuing in that vein by giving a voice to She-Hulk in the new animated series Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. shown on Disney XD in the United States and premiering this week on the Canadian network Teletoon.

Thor: Tales of Asgard
Netflix | Google Play | SEN | YouTube
DVD | Blu-ray
Directed by Sam Liu
Starring Matthew Wolf, Rick Gomez, Tara Strong, Cathy Weseluck, Ashleigh Ball
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Originally Released: May 17, 2011

While Marvel’s Thor is better known for coming from Asgard to his excursions on Earth in contemporary media, Tales of Asgard acts as more like a prequel. Set in other realms aside from Earth, the animated movie focuses on Thor as a teen, approaching adulthood, and beginning to learn the hard lessons necessitated as the son of Odin.

Coddled and shielded by Odin from the realms beyond Asgard, young Thor is hungry for adventure – having a high opinion of his own skills than they actually are. Requesting the assistance of his brother Loki, the pair creep onto the ship of the Warriors Three – in quest of the Lost Flaming Sword of Surtur, believed hidden in the realm of the Frost Giants of Jotunheim.

But the perils of the expedition are immense, and while the Frost Giants are caused to seek war against Asgard because of Thor’s actions, another sinister menace threatens the realm of Odin – and it comes from within their own borders”¦

The Gold Box spotlight deal of the day over at Amazon today is the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!: Complete Series DVD box set for only $31.49 (that’s 65% the list price of $89.97).

This 8-disc DVD box set contains 41 episodes spanning the 3 seasons of the Hanna-Barbera animated television series. There’s several bonus features in this set, including one on how the series began, as well as several with trivia featurettes about the show. The discs are housed in a limited edition Mystery Machine packaging.

Student Council’s Discretion (Seitokai no Ichizon)
Series directed by: Takuya Sato (1st series), Ken’ichi Imaizumi (2nd series)
Written by: Aoi Sekina, Jukki Hanada, Reiko Yoshida
Cast: Mariko Honda, Takashi Kondo, Misuzu Togashi, Yuka Saitou, Yuki Horinaka, Ai Shimizu, Haruka Tomatsu, Kazutomi Yamamoto, Mami Kosuge, Mamiko Noto, Ryoko Shintani, Takahiro Sakurai
Production: Kadokawa Pictures
Broadcast: Currently Streaming on Crunchyroll

Based on a light novel series written by Aoi Sekina, Student Council’s Discretion, or Seitokai no Ichizon, is a funny romp through the idiosyncrasies of anime and manga fandom, as well as the foibles of its own sometimes deeply flawed characters.

A prestigious private school named Hekiyou Academy is the setting for this self-effacing high school comedy, where members of the Student Council are elected by means of popularity contests. Kurimu Sakurano is the current President of the Student Council, along with Chizuru Akaba, the Council’s Secretary, Vice-President Minatsu Shiina, and her sister and Council Treasurer, Mafuyu Shiina. Rounding out this stellar cast is one male member, however: Ken Sugisaki, who acquired the coveted Student Council “Blue Chip” seat for Vice-President by being the top academic scorer on campus.

Danguard Ace: The Movie Collection
DVD
Created by Leiji Matsumoto
Directed by William Winckler
Toei Animation / Shout! Factory
Release Date: November 19, 2013

“Danguard Ace, Transformation, Switch on!” Danguard Ace, or Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace, as it was originally known, is the brainchild of ’70s anime creator Leiji Matsumoto, who brought us such timely gems as Space Battleship Yamato, Galaxy Express 999, and Captain Harlock. On November 19, Shout! Factory released Danguard Ace: The Movie Collection just in time for the holidays.

The films are edited and dubbed versions of the original television series, which was first seen here in the U.S. as part of the Force Five series in the late ’70s. The story takes place in the future, where the Earth has been depleted of its natural resources. A fictional planet, named Promete (pronounced Pro-May-Tay) is beginning to enter the solar system. In response, Earth sends out a manned mission to explore the new planet in the hopes of colonizing and using its resources to save humanity. But Dr. Doppler, a man bent on using the planet for his own purposes, opposes the mission, and sets himself up as Chancellor on the new planet. Through mind control, he causes the team leader of the expedition to sabotage his own mission and then enslaves the survivors to his will. Chancellor Doppler then builds up defenses on Promete, forbidding Earth forces to land there. Leaders on Earth presume that the mission is completely lost, with all hands killed in action.