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Synopsis
Some casualties of war never heal; yet for those who remain in power, the spoils can be sweet indeed. In the aftermath of the Great War, Lt. Alice Malvin is charged to take command of the Imperial Army’s Intelligence Section Three, an elite team where even the newest member hunts down tanks with a handgun. Their code name: Pumpkin Scissors. Her mission: to sharpen IS3 into a deadly instrument of justice, and to expose the corrupt power-mad nobility who prey on the weak.

But as Malvin starts to peel away the layers of a government cover-up involving a defunct super-soldier program, she discovers the existence of a military technology decades ahead of what the Army has!

Review
Destruction is a companion of war. And in Pumpkin Scissors we are tossed in a post war atmosphere where the morales of the people in this country are down. Civilians are scrapping for just enough rations to survive and feed their children, all while the nobles remain entrenched in their luxious lives. When it comes down to it, it is difficult to blame civilians whom has swayed their ways towards preying on those who are weaker than them. After all, in this post war era, it is about survival of the fittest. But with all that going on now toss in the ex-military personnel that have no war to fight, no longer have a goal to strive for, then you’ll have a mix of terrorism from both sides.

Because of this occurrence Section 3, war relief squad was created; to aid those who are experiencing difficulties couping with the aftermath of the war. And while their peers view this section’s job as an easy paycheck from the military kind of work, we are shown otherwise almost right from the beginning. Well, the hints of how this show will not be as easy going is during the opening sequence, where we are provided with a rather dark atmosphere. From that sequence alone, we can pretty much decipher what a part of the show will be about. Which is a good thing as it allows viewers to get a glimpse of how things would be as this piece plays out.

One thing I noticed watching Pumpkin Scissors is how it excited me. There were certain points in the anime where I would yell out things, such as, ‘kick his ass now!’ I believe that, that aspect of the show is what really atrracted me. Of course, the characters were also a reason why Pumpkin Scissors worked well with that theme. We have a mysterious war veteran whom has a kind personality, along with a peaceful mentality until his blue lantern attached to his belt is lit. Then we have a princess type commander who does not care about her nobility but rather will do anything for a successful mission for the Pumpkin Scissors. The combo between the both of them brings out the action and at times keeps the show at an edge forcing the viewer to constantly wonder ‘What’s next?’

The show moves consistently, and because of this, it keeps things interesting. You do not end up waiting around for something to happen as every episode moves the story forward to its end goal. I had a tremendous time watching this anime. The way the characters were interacting with each other and to their surroundings, as well as the nicely directed plot for the viewers, were definitely enticing. I was pretty much glued to my seat until I finished the whole series!

Breakdown
Pumpkin Scissors has great action, so great that it captivates the audience with enticing scenes prior to the events from happening. There is an immense build up of suspense that is broken apart piece by piece to satisfy the viewer.

Synopsis
Paris, 1742. A coffin floats in the shimmering Seine. On the lid, a word written in blood: Psalms. Inside, the body of a beautiful woman: Lia de Beaumont. Now her brother, D’Eon, seeks the reason for her mysterious murder, and uncovers an evil that shadows both the palaces of kings and the dark alleys of Europe.

A power wielded by spell-casting poets, and manipulated by royalty. A force so powerful it brings Lia’s soul back from beyond to seize the only weapon she can possess to avenge her death: her own brother.

Review
Le Chevalier D’Eon is something fresh. It is unique in that a blend of history (other than Japanese) and fantasy rarely happens. But in this piece, the combination of French history and fantasy makes Le Chevalier D’Eon something special. Right off the bat, the show leaves the viewers intrigued as the narrator, an old D’Eon tells his story of his adventure to discover the reasons and the people behind his sister, Lia de Beaumont’s death. As a coffin floated down the river with the word ‘Psalms’ written on the cover, the corpse of Lia Beaumont laid. Oddly enough, her body was filled with mercury which prevented her body from decomposing, hence, the decision to not give her a burial. Personally, I liked the idea of seeing her corpse, rather than just a tombstone. It gives off a different kind of feeling that you do not get from the tombstone. Maybe because it feels like she will open her eyes and rise up at any moment. In any case, her corpse also plays a role in the show so I guess it was important to mention it.

Now it would not be France if the details of the surroundings were not focused on. If you have had any art history classes that covered Versailles, you would be able to tell the various famous artistic pieces that made the Palace of Versailles special. Louis XIII’s desk and the paintings on the ceilings along with the extravagant view of the garden, they were all beautiful and detailed to the touch. I mean, I even recognized the gates that led into the palace along with other buildings that existed in Versailles. Production I.G. has done it again with their superb animation. Their focus on the details of France during Louis XV’s reign is certainly evident. But if you thought Le Chevalier D’Eon was only about replication of the arts, you are wrong. This show boasts both magic and skillful swordplay. This is another aspect of the show that I find somewhat different with the other sword swinger shows out there. There is a sense of reality in Le Chevalier. I know, there is nothing real about magic, but the way the fights are conducted, are where the difference is at. I got the sense that skill was more of a factor than how much ‘pow pow’ you can put into a sword and swing it at the opponent.

So now that you know what to expect visually from Le Chevalier, let us move onto what you should expect watching this piece. Le Chevalier is mysterious. For those who have read any of Dan Brown’s works, such as, ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ this show moves somewhat in a similar way. It uses historical facts to its advantage and twists it to flow with the end goal, which is to find the cause of D’Eon’s sister’s death. Other than the secret societies, what makes this anime series most like a Dan Brown book is the constant moving pace. Its nonstop pace keeps the show interesting. From what I have seen in the two volumes that I had access to, I cannot believe how much I loved the way everything played out. Judging by the cover, I did not expect anything great, honestly. At first, I thought it was not going to work, but by the time I got a grasp as to what was happening, the show became extraordinarily addictive.

Le Chevalier D’Eon revolves around the murder of Lia de Beaumont. It then becomes a thrill ride as our main character D’Eon de Beaumont and his comrades uncover dark mysteries, battling powerful villains called Poets with the involvement of the rifts between the Royal families. These Poets are able to wield unheard of powers and have the ability to control Gargoyles (animals that have been marked, including humans). These Gargoyles have the feel of a zombie, but their difference is that the victims have a chance to return to normal, although it is not actually shown on the screen whether they regain consciousness after being manipulated by a Poet, I am basing my assumption through what I have speculated, so until I am shown otherwise, I will believe the Gargoyles do return to normal if taken cared of correctly.

It is no wonder why Tow Ubukata decided to make his creation into three formats; anime, manga and novel. Le Chevalier is astounding as an anime in itself. As a manga, we should not expect much less and as a novel with its mystery and its use of historical facts and characters along with its consistent pacing, it should be good for the readers out there. Thus far, I like this series a lot. Le Chevalier D’Eon is a beautiful picture and its tale to be told makes it even better. I am definitely looking forward to the future volumes as they are being released.

The Breakdown
With its great animation, compelling story and astonishing mix of fact and fiction, Le Chevalier D’Eon gives the viewers an entertaining visual experience along with thought provoking mysteries. The show made me want to know more about the history of its setting so that I can further immerse myself into its attractive story. It was a neat idea to include historical notes and such in the extras of the volumes so that the audience can learn without having to look far.

Synopsis
Her name is Kurau, and in a world of mercenary agents, she’s the cream of the elite; a master swordswoman, martial artist and thief so skilled that no secret or objective is beyond her grasp. The greatest secret of all, however, is the one Kurau conceals inside herself: as the freak result of a disastrous experiment with a new kind of energy, Kurau’s body has been fused with a binary alien life form called the Rynax.

Every second Kurau lives is lived twice, one alien sharing her consciousness, the other still waiting to be born… and now neither of those lives may last very long! The truth about Kurau has begun to leak out, and a worldwide manhunt has been launched. The ultimate agent is now the ultimate target.

Review
Kurau was a little girl when her mother passed away; ever since, she had been attached to her father. On her birthday, she receives the gift of accompanying her father to work. It was this day, the lives of Kurau and her father will forever change. The discovery of Rynax energy was new and it just so happens that Kurau’s father was the head of the Rynax experiment. At the testing site, a phenomenon occurs and Rynax runs wild. When things were finally stabilized, Kurau underwent a change as Rynax now flows in her. What effects would this incident bring to Kurau’s future? The answer will be slowly revealed to you within this volume.

As the show fast forwards to the future, it is shown that Kurau utilizes her powers to take on jobs as a mercenary. And the first thing that I noticed right off the bat was she was no longer with her beloved father, which is a note worthy to jot down as they were inseparable previously. Anyways, although she lives as a mercenary, Kurau’s… or Rynax’s promise to Kurau’s father to take care of Kurau’s body is absolute. She refuses to take on dangerous jobs, but then things are a bit different when it is shown on the screen.

Kurau, the show is thoughtful. It is an anime series that requires viewers to think and question. One of those questions that were brought up early on in the show was if Kurau was Kurau or was she Rynax. Did the ‘real’ Kurau wandered off somewhere when Rynax entered her body? Or did it have no effect at all? But then if there was no effect, how come Kurau acted strangely right after the phenomenon? If that does not bring up some questions, what about her slow transition back to normal in her father’s standards? I mean, in the beginning he was distant towards her then when he saw the light his treatment towards Kurau was no different than prior to the Rynax incident. Hmm… and if Kurau was Kurau then why is she in search of her other half? Rynax exists in pairs and the sign that she is looking for her pair shows that she is not all Kurau. Am I just making something out of nothing or are there more that meets the eye? I do not know, but I get excited just wondering the various possibilities of outcomes that may exist.

Alright, enough with speculation and let us get down to something I am sure everyone who has looked at our heroine has asked. Is Kurau female or male? Heh, believe me if you at first thought Kurau was a guy, you are not the first, Kurau’s looks has tricked even Ayako Kawasumi (the voice actress of Kurau) and I during our first encounters. Now that we got that out of the way, let us get back on topic. From what I have seen thus far from this series is that there will be a lot of story development. And there seems to be a good split between dialogue and action to aid in the effort. This balance has kept the show somewhat interesting until during the midpoint of the volume, by that time I felt that things were just dragging on.

The drag on did not stop until towards the end of the volume, where the plot was beginning to unravel with certain questions from the earlier parts of the show being answered. At the end of volume one, you are revealed just enough to know what was going on and spark some thoughts as to what may happen in the future. I believe it was a decent wrap up for a volume, but Kurau will need more than the occurrences in volume one if it wants to keep its viewers. It will need to do more than what it has been doing, because the show itself from a standpoint is not attractive. It does not command the attention of a show like say, Gantz or Elfen Lied, where the characters are colorful and dynamic. In Kurau, Kurau herself shows little emotion prior to meeting her sister Christmas. And even after meeting Christmas, her emotions only improved a tad bit. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying an anime should consist of only happy, energetic characters, but it does help in my opinion for the main character to be the grasp of the show. With the introduction of Christmas, I felt I was moving my attention onto her, rather than Kurau. Rather the focus shift was intended for me or not, it does not matter, but for Kurau to work, it must maintain the audiences’ interest through its story development. There must be some sort of solid gripping aspect of the show in the next volume, or else it would be difficult for viewers to keep their attention span towards this anime.

The Breakdown
Kurau has the potential as it has shown with the beginning and the end of volume one. But at the middle was an area where the show stalled and seemed to have gone nowhere. The pacing of this piece was adequate; it gave viewers enough time to soak in what was the subject at hand and what should be expected in the future. Other than that, Kurau to me so far, is an average anime at best. I liked the action, I liked the animation and I liked the story to an extent, but it lacked the interest factor. There are the shows that make you want to continue watching and then there are those that you can do without. And Kurau is a do without show from my experience of volume one. I did not get the urge to want the volume to not end; moreover, I was hoping that it would end faster.

Synopsis
Spread your wings and fly! Welcome to the world of Storm Riders, where motor-powered inline skates called ‘Air Trecks’ take extreme sports to a whole new level. Those who dare to ride with these high tech devices risk life and limb in a struggle for fame, power and wings to take to the sky. Enter Ikki Minami, the toughest fighter on the east side of town. He rules his school, takes on violent gangs single-handedly and lives with the Noyamanos: four sexy sisters with a surprising secret. And after a humiliating defeat by a terrifying gang of Storm Riders, the sisters welcome him to the world of Air Trecks, where his strength, speed and ambitions soar to brand new heights. Now, with powerful new sings, he must protect his friends, his school and his pride in fierce Air Treck battles known as ‘Parts Wars.’ One mistake could cost him everything, but each victory brings him one step closer to becoming the king of the sky.

Review
Not sure if rollerblading ever went out of style, but if it did, Air Gear is certainly going to bring it back. The show first came off to me as some young audience based anime, but upon viewing it, that assumption went straight out through the window.

Air Gear is by Oh! great, you might have heard that name from another show, Tenjho Tenge. Anyways, as mentioned above, it revolves around ‘Air Trecks’ which resemble rollerblades in reality. Itsuki Minami, AKA ‘Ikki’ is our character in focus. He is reckless and fearless. One day he sneaks in the forbidden room of the house he is freeloading off of and discovers air trecks along with the Sleeping Forest badge. As he takes the ATs out for a spin one night, he sees Simca, the girl that he has been eyeing for a while, at a Storm Riders meet. After seeing that people were touching her and slapping stickers on her, the perverted Ikki, takes the Sleeping Forest sticker and slaps it on Simca’s back… little did he know, he put the sticker on top of another Storm Riders’ in which signifies a challenge. Many intriguing things follow and it will certainly be a treat for you to find out.

Air Gear is a show that nails it. The show is well balanced with comedy, action, drama and plot. The battle scenes are exciting and the characters leave a lasting appeal. The acoustics is no slouch either as the bumping soundtrack blends in with the scenes to create an atmosphere so impressive it leaves audiences in a state of shock. On the comedy side, Air Gear is not an anime that is focused on getting pure laughs; it utilizes situations and moods to build up to a certain point and then lets a quick jab to knock everything down. Basically, it is serious when it has to be, and even if it’s serious, the show will somehow bring it back to a laidback state after everything is said and done.

The Breakdown
From what I have seen so far, this show should be an entertaining experience for most viewers. Of course, ADV Films releasing the title uncensored helps as well. If you want a series to watch that will get you all pumped up, then look no further than what we have here. I can truly say, Air Gear has everything I look for in an anime.

Synopsis
Lately, shy Manami has been flirting outrageously and sparking vicious catfights! Afterwards, she remembers nothing. Can it be that another personality seethes beneath her own - a wild woman who’ll do anything to find trouble?

Review
I requested this title from Central Park Media a while ago, and I just could not find the time to toss it in the player, and since I am kind of on my vacation right now, what better time to enjoy this sweet title than now right? Anyways, when you hear Sprite (no not the soda) and see the DVD cover of Sprite, I cannot fault you for just passing it on and going onto something else at the video store. In reality, if I was shopping, I would most definitely not have picked this title up due to how it looked and sounded in my head. STOP!!! Newsflash, when I do that assumption thing (not sure about you), I am usually wrong, and in the case of Sprite, I was wrong.

Manami Sakumoto is smart, not to mention, the hottest girl in school, but when her distant relative Toru Takamura transfers to her school, she begins to feel weird, it is like something or someone is trying to come out from within her. As a shy and quiet spoken girl, she is the perfect target for bullies. And as expected from her school, jealous girls find their way to pick on Manami. Toru is your average perverted guy, who tries to put up a good front. This was proven on the first meeting between Manami and Toru. While this was not the first time they met, it has been a good couple of years since they last saw each other. Now they are all grown up, going to ‘college’ (I will explain the quotations around the word later), and shares a secret between each other… the fact that Manami has another personality within her; the complete polar opposite of the shy, kind and cute Manami, Nami is a cool, no nonsense, ‘will kick your ass’ chick who has her charms as well.

Before I forget to mention, let me just throw it out there that Sprite is not a title that you would like to watch with your parents. There is nudity and some sexual content. While there may not be anything too hardcore… I just had to let this point be known so that the pervs out there will bite ^_^. Throughout the show you will go between Manami and Nami. We get to see their differences and how Manami’s alter ego can help her in some situations. Sprite plays out exactly like a teen love drama, but with more flavor. The incorporating of that mature stuff really gave this title a nice touch; it makes it less boring. I was a hundred percent attentive to everything that was going on. There was never a dull moment to this gem.

The Breakdown
Sprite is truly a show that embodies all there is to embody in a show that yearns and deserves your view; especially if you are into that teenage romance genre. I have never felt such excitement (no, not down my pants, hardy har har) as I am watching a teen drama. Sprite delivers a gripping story that has you choosing between Manami, Nami… or both. But at the end, this title is nothing short of an amazing accomplishment. I will definitely make time for seconds!

Synopsis
Growing up can be painful - especially when you fall down a flight of stairs, suffer severe head trauma, and wake up with the mental capacity of a kindergartener. Ouch! Now 17-year-old Nanaka Kirisato has to grow up all over again. You see, Nanaka thinks she’s been through a magical transformation, and she just can’t wrap her head around the head trauma. But if she thought fitting in as an unpopular bookworm was hard, subtracting eleven years certainly won’t help. Throw in a mullet-headed boy bully, a karate-chopping girl bully, a bullheaded best friend, and a barrage of schoolyard battles, and Nanaka’s problems multiply exponentially! It all adds up to mayhem and mass hysteria in the first hysterical volume of Nanaka 6/17.

Review
Imagine yourself being seventeen years old one day and then after a freak accident, turning six the other. Of course, you most likely would not be able to remember that you have mentally gone back eleven years, but the thought of it is something that intrigues some people. I mean, you lose (forget) all that has happened in between those eleven years gap. Do you or can you imagine how painful it would be for those who care for you, that you forget? You probably cannot. And in Nanaka’s case, such grief was not necessary. The serious, Nanaka, who only cared about the future and exams did not have much friends… except a childhood one. And she did not have anybody else to care for her in her family other than a daughter obsessed father who depends on Nanaka’s childhood friend, Nenji.

“Raging Hair” Nenji Nagihara, as stated above is Nanaka’s only childhood friend of any significance shown at this point of the anime. The dude is like a version of Seiji ‘Maddog’ Sawamura from Midori Days. He fights not because he picks them, but because people just want to spar with him… on a daily routine. And on one rainy day as Nenji beats his opponents to a pulp, Nanaka questions if he would ever stop fighting, and if he would ever grow up for a change. Oh boy. What a turn of events eh? After one killer line from Nenji to Nanaka, Nanaka runs off on her own, only to wake up eleven years younger in her mind.

Is it a bad thing or a good thing? That was a thought that has gone through Nenji’s head. Thinking about it. Nanaka who was too mature for her age turns immature, and the usually immature Nenji who would punch first, talk never, now has to learn a bit of responsibility by taking care of the six year old Nanaka, who also thinks that she has grown physically because of some magic spell. Things seem fine at the moment right? You are following all this right? Now let us get down a little further. Add these elements to the story. Jealous classmates, a love rival and the fact that this whole debacle has to be kept secret. How do you keep a six year old from not acting like one? Answer. You cannot. And Nenji learns that when the school becomes suspicious of them going out, as Nanaka is always with Nenji and vice versa. Sigh… I sure feel for him.

Anyways, Nanaka 6/17 is a loose title. It does not require you to put your thinking caps on in order to comprehend the plot. Its simplicity is what really appealed to me. Sure you like the good animation, the nice soundtrack and a dose of interest factor in it. But I believe that actually understanding the whole situation with those added features is better than being lost with those same added features. This title certainly delivers when it comes to that department. It is also a joy to watch this show after Nanaka’s accident as cruel as that may sound. Why? Because the mature seventeen year old Nanaka is one boring bookworm :). I know, she will recover from amnesia and turn back to Nanaka 17, but I can only hope that there are a lot of cool and fun things that happen as we deal with Nanaka 6 hehe.

The Breakdown
Nanaka 6/17 feels like a Midori Days like title. The concepts are very similar. One guy fighting character, one female character and one love rival. Midori was a shy serious girl before she became Seiji’s right hand… the same happens to Nanaka when she turns six. So it is easy to say that if you enjoyed a title like Midori Days, you will most definitely enjoy Nanaka 6/17.

Synopsis
When do children stop believing in Santa Claus? When they’re four? Five? Kids begin to take a closer look at reality during elementary school. But for one individual his version of reality was different. He has never celebrated Christmas with anyone. Presents were always mailed to him. In his loneliness, the boy decided that there was no Santa and that he didn’t need him.   
  
But this Christmas, perhaps his streak of unhappiness might end. A girl appears out from nowhere and asks him, ‘Would you like to spend the night with me?’      

Review
Itsudatte My Santa is a 2 episode OVA holiday series released last year on December 12th by none other than Ken Akamatsu whose most famous works include Love Hina and Maho Sensei Negima/Magister Negi Magi. Modern day Christmas shopping where department stores hold sales date back to the 1930s coinciding with the end of the year bonuses. Christmas Day is not a national holiday although it is common for people to exchange gifts, have parties, and eat cake on Christmas Eve.       
  
The official Japanese website for Itsudatte My Santa can be found at http://www.threefatsamurai.com/mysanta/. On the right hand side in pink are four options: story, characters, DVDs and CDs, and special trading cards.                    

Likes: Maimai’s appetite

Dislikes: In less than a few frames of animation in episode 2, time skips from winter, to summer, to fall, and back to winter again.        

The Breakdown
Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!          

Synopsis
Momoko yearns to live in 18th century Versailles, rather than in her back-country hometown of Shimotsuma. To escape, she loses herself in the dreamy, doll-like fasions of the “Lolita” scene. Her idol is Akinori Isobe, chief designer of Baby, the Stars Shine Bright - her favorite design house - and she frequently travels all the way to Tokyo to shop at the store.

One languid summer, to help fund her expensive hobby, Momoko runs a classified ad offering brand-name knock-off clothes for sale. She encounters a buyer named Ichigo, who happens to live in her neighborbood.

Super-rebel Ichigo is a “Yanki”-style member of the Ponytails motorbike gang, one of Ibaraki’s Wild Speed Tribes, whose teeth-rattling customized bikes are decked out with fiberglass shields and bannered backrests.

Somewhat against Momoko’s will, she and Ichigo slowly develop a strong friendship as they share their feelings on the odd going-ons around them.

Review
Talk about pairing an odd couple together. Kamikaze Girls (Shimotsuma Monogari) is a hilarious movie about two high school girls with two way different personalities. Momoko Ryugasaki (Kyoko Fukada) is a rococo obsessed teen who dresses in the odd but cute Lolita style. Ichigo Shirayuri (Anna Tsuchiya) is a ‘yanki,’ a female biker gang member. As the show begins and Momoko narrates through her life, you are given laugh after laugh after laugh. I just cannot believe how this show just puts a smile on my face from the beginning to the end.

Kamikaze Girls finds a way to humor the viewer, whether it is some quick hitter dialogues, or the action on the screen. It is, simply put, a total entertainment package. The acting was great, and the jokes work. Momoko’s range or attires throughout was pretty. I think it is illegal to be that cute. On the other hand we have Ichigo, who has a lame Jusco (a large department store in Japan) influenced attire. While it was funny how the show portrayed Jusco, it is still a nice place to shop at!

The plot of Kamikaze Girls at first revolves around Momoko and how she isolates herself from other people. Then comes Ichiko (notice I said, ‘Ichiko’) who pays Momoko a visit after seeing her advertisement on the bootleg Versach (notice I spelled Versach and not otherwise) leftovers that her father had put away because of an incident that happened earlier which lead them to move from the city to Shimotsuma. After their first encounter, Ichiko becomes a frequent guest of Momoko’s house and that is how their friendship begins.

As the story progresses in a steady yet jaw dropping, stomach turning, laugh out loud inducing pace, we learn the background histories of both of our heroines: Momoko, who has always been mature for her age and Ichigo, who began as a goodie goodie nerd to a rude, saliva spiting punk. Their personalities certainly are not the most compatible, but the movie relies on their constant clashing of different views and beliefs. It is a show that focuses on friendships, and how even if people are brought up in separate worlds or are complete polar opposites of one another, a special bond could be found where nobody thought could be at first, as a long as a point of interest exists between each other.

The Breakdown
Kamikaze Girls is an instant classic. The fun that accompanies this show is superb. You would find yourself enjoying this no matter how many times you replay it… except unless maybe if you re-watch it twenty-four, seven; then it is not the movie that is the problem, somebody needs some help. ^_^.

Synopsis
Ichise is an “entertainment fighter” in the underground city of Lukuss. However, when a gang punishes Ichise by cutting his arm and leg off, his will to live overcomes the odds and attracts the attention of the ruling Organo syndicate that controls both the city and the cybernetic Texhnolyze technology which is usually reserved for the elite. Meanwhile, an outsider has come down to the city and, along with a young psychic girl, the dominos are beginning to fall in the seething unrest of the city as their paths slowly intertwine with Ichise’s. What will come of these people and what will happen in this city of no hope?

Review
Ahhh….Texhnolyze. The new anime from the staff of Serial Experiments Lain. I would like to get out of the way right now a misconception many have about Texhnolyze, even other reviewers: yoshitoshi ABe (as he prefers it spelled), the creator of Lain, NieA_7, and Haibane Renmei, merely served as character designer and artist for Texhnolyze. He had little to do with the plot and story of the show. The trademarks that NieA_7 and Haibane Renmei share are non-existent here, and you can tell that the show was more in the hands of the other staff of Lain rather than ABe. But that’s no knock on Texhnolyze, which is one of the most brilliant (and overly serious) anime I’ve ever seen. I’ve noticed that little is talked about Texholyze in online circles. Many haven’t seen it and the few who have are turned off by the first few episodes, which throws you right into the show like throwing someone into freezing cold water.

But they don’t know what they are missing. The first two episodes are an extreme version of the style prevalent in the show, which is somewhat abstract and obtuse. But this “extreme” version dissipates as the show progresses (thankfully). The first episode has at most 12 lines of dialogue, and the main character rarely, if ever, speaks throughout the entire show. The creators of Lain were attempting to create something extremely different in Texhnolyze, and in that they succeeded. Each aspect of the show is a symbol, or a representation, of something that can be applied to our own world. Texhnolyze is trying to say something about us as humans and the way we perceive ourselves in the story it tells.

The story revolves around more than just the main character, Ichise. The first half of the show is intra-gang related warfare between three groups; the Organo, those who already control the underground city of Lukuss, the Salvation Union, who don’t believe in texhnolyzing lost limbs (or at all, for that matter), and the Rakan, a reckless group of young adults fed up with how things currently work. These groups battle it out, and the second half of the show is the aftermath and repurcussions of these battles and how it’ll relate to the “surface world” and the elite “Class” group of people who control Lukuss from behind the seat of power.

As you can tell, Texhnolyze is a hard show to pin down and explain. There are a lot of different factions and characters involved, and I became completely engrossed in the story. After a second viewing, the show castly improves, since now you know everything and so the first couple of episodes make A LOT more sense. And that’s the kind of replayablility I can appreciate. The characters are for the most part cold and calculating bastards. Ichise rarely speaks, and the leaders of the gangs generally don’t either. This is a far more visual anime than it is a dialogue heavy one. I don’t want to spoil too much of the show beforehand, but the mysteries surrounding the show are extremely intriguing, from where raffia (the material that the robots parts of limbs is made from) comes from to what the “surface world” is.

The show is dank and dark and depressing, because the entirety of the show takes place underground in an artificial city. When you finally do find out about the much-hyped surface world, you’re mind will be blown away by the sheer amount of things going on, both for the story and symbolically. I was shocked and in awe at the same time. The story slowly dolls out the details, leaving you on the edge of your seat every time to find out more. That’s exactly what I want from an anime like this.

The Breakdown
Texhnolyze is highly underrated, and unfairly maligned because of its experimental style, of which is most prevalent very early on. It goes away for the most part for those who don’t like it, and the show opens up to be extremely compelling and riveting in the end run. The animation is excellent, the music pretty good, and the story downright inspiring and depressing at the same time. The show will tug on your emotions, and the ending will leave you in tears, if not a sentimental smile on your face. The show is abstract and confusing and sometimes hard to put up with, but if you can get through these few problems a great show awaits.

Synopsis
There is an old legend that speaks of a hidden paradise on Earth - a paradise only wolves can find. And while thought to have been extinct for hundreds of years, wolves still walk the Earth…hidden among mankind. Now, a group of outcast wolves set out to find Paradise: Kiba, Hige, Toboe, and Tsume. Each wolf is driven by their own personality and desires, but together they are pursued by humans seeking to quench their own thirst for power. A difficult and long journey lies ahead, with Paradise waiting to be found.

Review
You can tell from my synopsis that Wolf’s Rain is very vague in its premise. It’s most definitely unique, and in that alone I commend it, as anime these days rarely try to break the boundaries of their genre, be it a giant robot or magical girl or tournament fighting anime. I also have a bias towards loving wolves, who I find to be fascinating creatures, and to see them done in anime like this is a treat unto itself. A further plus was the fact that a majority of the Cowboy Bebop staff worked on Wolf’s Rain, chief among them scriptwriters Keiko Nobumoto and Dai Sato and musical composer Yoko Kanno. Yoko Kanno alone is reason enough to watch any anime, the fact that animation studio BONES (RahXephon, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie) is behind the animation is just icing on the cake. I’ll also add that Wolf’s Rain (and previously Cowboy Bebop) character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto is a favorite among anime character designers for me; his penchant for adult-looking, realistically-proportioned people is a rarity, and I’m glad that he’s on board.

As you can clearly see, Wolf’s Rain has a lot going for it and a high pedigree that shows a lot of potential. And with this mix we have one of my favorite anime of all-time. It currently sits in my top 15, which is saying a lot considering the amount of anime I’ve seen. And every time I rewatch it I enjoy it more. The idea that wolves will lead the world to paradise is an interesting premise, the fact that they hide themselves among mankind by casting a spell on people is doubly intriguing (to explain: the wolf characters in the show have human forms…sort of. If you look at their footprints in the snow and their shadows on walls, they appear to be wolves. They are merely casting a spell when they want to make people perceive them as humans. This is because they are being hunted by humans because the humans fear that having the wolves bring paradise will end their current world, so killing all the wolves will stop this and save their world).

It should be noted that Wolf’s Rain is more drama and plot than action. When action does appear, it kicks copious amounts of ass, because the wolves are given superhuman abilities of jumping and speed. When they use these abilities in their human form, it looks awesome. The animation certainly helps matters: it’s crisp, fluid, and detailed, just what is expected from BONES. Yoko Kanno’s music is far removed from anything she’s done before, she defines it as “brazilian with flamenco sensibilities” and you can tell with the peppered bits of spanish instruments strewn about the various musical tracks. I personally loved the music so much I went out and bought the soundtrack, and I think this is one of her best works ever, only being surpassed by Cowboy Bebop and maybe Escaflowne: The Movie.

The story itself is a road trip show in a sense, as the four main wolves are constantly on the move from one place to the next while the search for paradise. The secondary characters (which receive excellent backgrounds in their own right) are also constantly moving, either one step ahead or behind the wolves. Since the story is heavy on religion and mysticism and tribal/pack aspects, the plot tends to be vague for the most part. You either have to buy into what they are telling you or not. You can’t make sense of it because it isn’t meant to, and this will probably be the biggest hurdle for you to get over. There is no rational explanation why wolves are the ones that lead the world to paradise, they just are. There’s no reason why wolves have the abilities they do, like casting a spell on all humans or having the abilities they do….they just do. If one can get past these things, you will be enveloped into one of the most engrossing anime I’ve ever seen.

The Breakdown
Wolf’s Rain is easily one of the best things I’ve seen, anime or not. It’s mature, takes itself moderately seriously, enjoys what its telling us, and has a couple of important things to say about the state of man in accordance with nature. It’s one hell of a ride with an extremely bittersweet ending, and the production values are off the charts. If people can attain a certain suspension of disbelief, then there is no reason, I think, that you wouldn’t enjoy this anime. Give at least the first volume a shot to see if its your thing (it has five episodes on it, which is just enough to judge whether this is for you or not).