Today sees the launch of four new dubbed, uncut, ready-to-download Naruto Shippuden episodes on iTunes -- the "rescue Gaara" story arc comes to a stirring conclusion, and then it's all warm and fuzzy feelings as Naruto is reunited with a few of his Leaf Village comrades (including a blushing Hinata, natch). Check out episodes 31-34 and all currently released dubbed Naruto Shippuden episodes in iTunes' Naruto section.

New episodes featured:

Episode 31: The Legacy
Relying on Naruto's power, Granny Chiyo performs the Transmigration Jutsu on Gaara. Sakura is saddened when she realizes the cost of this jutsu.

Episode 32: Return of the Kazekage
Gaara and his rescuers make a triumphant return to the Hidden Sand Village. After paying their respects at Granny Chiyo's grave, Naruto and the Leaf ninja reluctantly take their leave.

Episode 33: The New Target
Everyone has returned to the Hidden Leaf Village. Kakashi is hospitalized for a week due to the strain caused by his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Episode 34: Formation! New Team Kakashi
After attacking Naruto, Sai predicts that they will meet again soon, then vanishes. Tsunade meets with the village elders, Homura and Koharu…

In Kekkaishi volume 20, the overarching theme of it seems to be the complex relationship between brothers. Yoshimori and Masamori have always been at odds. Perhaps all siblings are, as they compete with each other and for their parent's attention.

With the Sumimura brothers, the stakes are rather high. The two are in conflict over who is the true heir to the guardianship of the Karasumori Site. Yoshimori is pretty transparent about his feelings and thoughts, and he's the character we follow most closely in the story. We know what motivates Yoshimori: his desire to protect others. Plus, there's his secret love for Tokine. (Shhhh!) But even though we readers get glimpses of Yoshimori's life beyond what Masamori sees, he remains a mystery. What is the true motivation behind his actions and work with the Shadow Organization?

Despite their differences though, Yoshimori and Masumori look out for each other and are quick to rush to the other's aid.

Also in Kekkaishi volume 20, the Ogi brothers provide a contrast to the Sumimura brothers. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but let's just say that the Ogi clan sometimes sticks together a bit too much, and sometimes a bit too little...

Part of the conflict between Masamori and Yoshimori is that Masamori, as the older brother, thinks he should be the most powerful and competent. Older siblings might seem better at everything when you're younger, but don't worry. Once everyone grows up, these differences even out.

Siblings will always have different personalities, strengths, and weaknesses — no matter what their age. Even identical twins vary in their actions and choices. So I don't think there's really any point in competing. Instead, develop your individual talents and enjoy the balance provided by your sisters and brothers. Let your math-savvy brother help you with your geometry homework, and use your fashion sense to help your less visually-talented brother dress for his hot date!

I remember the day my big sister taught me how to draw a horse. She was six years older than me, and I was crying because she could draw better. In the end, lo and behold, I liked my horse drawing better! From that day on, I realized I wasn't inferior to her, just younger. Nowadays I still like my artwork better than my sister's, but she is a far better musician!

— Annette Roman, Kekkaishi manga editor
 

Joso! Ketsu! Metsu! Tenketsu! Welcome to Kekkaishi, the magical anime about two rival Kekkaishi (barrier masters) who go to school by day and fight supernatural beasts by night. VIZ Anime is proud to launch with a whopping 21 episodes of this comical yet action-packed anime today, with new episodes available on Mondays.

I was so excited when I first heard that VIZ Media was going to release an English-subtitled version of the Kekkaishi anime! As the editor of the Kekkaishi manga, I was curious to see how it compared to what I had imagined. Sometimes it’s hard to see something animated that you have been animating in your head. But this anime doesn’t disappoint! You can catch new episodes on Mondays.

Kekkaishi is such an action-oriented manga that it’s really nice to see everyone—people and weird ayakashi (demons)—actually MOVING. Horror depends on timing... It’s hard to get maximum shock value with just the movement of images and text from panel to panel and page to page. In manga, you can have a surprise hit the reader after they turn a page. In anime, you can have an ayakashi suddenly jump out at the viewer from the screen! Aiiieeee!

The Kekkaishi animators do a great job—lots of dramatic poses and movements and jumping-out-at-you’s. Yoshimori and Tokine’s demon dogs, Madarao and Hakubi, float and bob up and down and the kekkaishi’s kekkai appear out of thin air (instead of in the next panel) and have an eerie glow.

I love Yellow Tanabe’s unusual, artistic, streamlined ayakashi designs, and they’re even creepier and scarier and weirder in color.

On top of all this, the Kekkaishi music is really great! Varied, eerie, and evocative.

I hope the Kekkaishi manga readers in the audience are happy with the anime. And if you are seeing the anime first, I hope you'll check out the manga. If possible for a series, I always like to experience both.

Manga and anime each give you something a little different. Manga adds detail and pacing that can’t fit into anime, and anime is the perfect medium for magic, which needs to glow and sparkle and flash and change color. Better than CGI in a live-action movie, animation can quickly execute any artistic effect you could dream up.

— Annette Roman, Kekkaishi manga editor

You have to love a concept like Kikamaru's "feigned sleep attack." Too bad it doesn't work in real life -- think of the potential applications! You're about to get fired from work for sleeping on the job, but then, with perfect timing, you awake just in time to nail your assignment! I'm sure the extra sleep does wonders for the complexion too... Alas, I must be wide awake while typing this post, but at least you get to enjoy the latest episodes of The Prince of Tennis, which feature a surprising finish to a tiebreaker, sibling rivalry, fire in Ryoma's eyes, and a nice little bit about strategy against left-handed players, because lefties deserve our love too!

Episode 33: The Tiebreak
Kikumaru brilliantly revives his strength and breaks out his acrobatic moves, and the grueling doubles match with St. Rudolph goes into a tiebreak. Will Eiji be able to hold out to the end?

Episode 34: Twist Spin Shot
Ryoma Echizen’s turn is finally up, and he faces Fuji’s younger brother Yuta, who will stop at nothing to surpass his older brother.