As the end of the year rolls near, we all start looking toward the new year and a new set of resolutions. But this isn't just the end of another year -- it's the end of a decade...

And what a decade it's been.

In the last ten years, we've watched as anime has evolved, both in style as well as the venues we use to access it. What was once an underground form of entertainment here in the States has gained a big piece of the mainstream population. In fact these days, just about everyone has some exposure to anime... even Hollywood.

It only makes sense then, that we take a look back at the years that brought us this amazing evolution. So here you go - a walk down memory lane.

Let's take a look at the last ten years of anime.

In a recent press release, VIZ Media announced that the long-awaited DVD box set for Naoki Urasawa's Monster is finally here.

Set to hit the streets on December 8, 2009, the Monster DVD set will include three DVDs containing episodes 1 through 15 as well as an exclusive digitized version of the original Japanese booklet.

Monster is the story of Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a neurosurgeon who saves a young boy only to discover years later that the boy has grown into a cold-blooded killer. Based upon the original manga, Monster debuted on Starz's SyFy Channel back in August and was also released on iTunes.

Looks like Crunchyroll has been pretty busy as the year winds down.

In addition to their latest $20 promotion, Crunchyroll.com has partnered with big-time labels, Marvelous, Maverick and Up Front Agency to expanded their music catalogs to include popular J-Pop and J-Rock bands Girugamesh, Hangry & Angry, MUCC, Vamps and Vistlip.

"Bringing these huge j-pop and j-rock bands to our fans is so exciting," said Crunchyroll Brand Manager Michelle Hwang. "We are definitely in for a treat and there is definitely more coming soon!"

Crunchyroll.com is the one of the largest online community and video sites providing Japanese Anime and dramas from Asia. Content comes from a variety of providers including TV Tokyo, Media International Corporation, Pony Canyon, Gonzo and Toei Animation.

Fans can view the content for free but purchasing a membership provides additional benefits such as higher-quality streams and sneak peeks before content is released to the public.

If you're wondering what to buy your favorite anime fan this holiday season, wonder no longer.

Crunchyroll has a deal you simply can't pass up:

Between now and 12:01am PST, December 13, 2009, new subscribers will receive $20 cash back when you purchase a three or twelve month Crunchyroll Anime Membership.

The $20 rebate will be deposited directly into your PayPal account so be sure to use that account when you make your purchase. In addition, the promo page on the Crunchyroll website does state that you must make your purchase "before promotional funds are depleted" so you best get busy to avoid missing out.

Wondering what a Crunchyroll membership is?

Crunchyroll has one of the most extensive online libraries of anime entertainment - in short, if you want to see the latest and greatest anime coming out of Japan, this is the place to do it. Buy a membership and you'll get sneak peeks before non-members do plus your streams will be higher quality broadcasts and minus all those pesky advertisements.

To get all the details and subscribe, visit the Crunchyroll website.

Based on the live-action American television series - which by the way, is based on the original 1970's Kamen Rider franchise - Kamen Rider Dragon Knight has hit your favorite gaming shelves.

In case you're not familiar with the newest American version, it's actually an adaptation of the twelfth installment in the original Japanese series, Kamen Rider Ryuki. And if you're wondering why the producers chose this particular installment over all the others, its because Ryuki has 13 Riders in it -including a female Rider - more than any of the other shows.

As I continue to dive into the various genres of anime, it seemed only fitting to tackle the sci-fi genre next.

After all, science fiction is what made classics like Cowboy Bebop and Trinity Blood possible. It's what brought us Ghost in the Shell, Akira and .hack.

And what would anime be without series like these?

Of course, the underlying themes of the sci-fi genre are a perfect fit for anime - even if you had never seen one show. Cyberpunk for example, has "anime" written all over it as does space westerns and yes, technology storylines that have your favorite characters interfacing with computers in new and amazing ways.

So, realizing that this was a genre that was long overdue for some attention, I've created a nice little refresher on the beauty of science fiction anime.

As remakes go, anime has always been a great venue for this kind of project. We love our collector editions, our starter kits, complete collections and the like. So, it's no surprise to discover that your favorite anime series is available in a variety of compilations.

Well, this is one compilation you won't want to miss.

Evangelion 1.0 is the first installment in the four-movie-series of the classic, Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise.

And although like in any good compilation, you already know the story line, Evangelion 1.0 does it a little better. Combining the first six episodes, Evangelion 1.0 starts you at the beginning of the NGE series, setting up all the action that's yet to come.

And judging from this installment, there will be plenty of that indeed.

Remember, these movies were not meant to simply collect the original episodes but also to improve them so expect better animation and some interesting changes in how the story develops.

Want to learn more? Check out my review of Evangelion 1.0.

You might remember back in 2008, Vertigo Entertainment announced it had plans to remake the live-action Death Note movie. You might also remember that earlier this year, Warner Bros. announced it had acquired those rights and was proceeding with the plan.

But what you may not know is that Zac Efron has apparently had some discussions with the powers-that-be on being a part of that project.

In an exclusive interview, Efron tells Collider.com that yes, he's "had a meeting" and loves the idea but it's not something they're actively working on at the moment.  You can see the full interview at their website.

Now, if you're wondering whether this latest movie release will introduce anything new, the answer is probably not. Although nothing official has been released regarding the storylines, the original idea was supposedly to remake the movies for an American audience without subtitles.

And as for when the movie might be released? No official word on that yet either but IMDB.com does have a listing that shows a target date of 2011.

When Kazuma was defeated by his cousin Ayano in a battle to determine the heir of the sacred family sword - the Enraiha - he was banished from his house in disgrace by his father. Now four years later, Kazuma has returned and with new powers to boot - the power of Wind.

Can he form an alliance with his cousin Ayano? And can he convince her that he's not one who murdered his family?

Based on the novel series from the late Takahiro Yamato, Kaze no Stigma is an outcast-turned-hero kind of story with a nice supernatural twist for good measure and produced by Gonzo, you can be sure you're getting the flashy animation you expect in your anime shows.

Incidentally, the novels this series is based upon remains incomplete. Yamato passed away before ending the story and while I'm sure Gonzo gives us some resolution within the 24-episode anime series, it will be interesting to see if the full story arc ever gets finished.

Rated TV-14, this action-supernatural title has some mild violence but nothing too outrageous. Get the scoop on Kaze no Stigma, a new anime series from FUNimation here.

If you're a Darker Than Black fan, here's something you might enjoy:

The official Japanese website for Darker Than Black is now streaming a promo video for "side stories" to the anime series. The stories will explain what happened to the main character Hei during the two year span between the first Darker Than Black series, Kuro No Keiyakusha and the second installment, Ryusei no Gemini.

You might remember that Hei is a psychic "contractor" with the ability to control electricity. In the first series, he works with a secret agency - the Syndicate - to discover the secret to Hell's Gate and find his sister, Bai who has been missing for several years.

Darker Than Black is a 25-episode post-apocalyptic anime, distributed by FUNimation in the States. Volume 6 was released in August, 2009 containing the last episodes of the first series along with an OVA that addresses some of the romantic sub-plots that were hinted throughout the story.

While it's almost a given that FUNimation will pick up and produce the second installment of the series, no word on how that will play out with these new side stories. Which will come first? We'll have to wait and see.