Review | Anime | Kuroshitsuji

KUROSHITSUJI : Ciel Phantomhive, the 12-year-old orphaned son of a wealthy monarch,
strikes a deal with the Devil to exact punishment on those who plotted the
downfall of his parents: His own soul in exchange for revenge. His plead is
heard and a contract is formed. His new partner, demon butler Sebastian
Michealis, assists Ciel with solving strange cases for the Queen of England, as
well as unraveling the mystery of the fall of the Phantomhive household.
Sebastian proves not only to be a fierce opponent in battle, but a seemingly
flawless assistant, explained only by his self-title as "one 'hell' of a
butler."

Kuroshitsuji is another one of those anime that draw you in by physical appearance alone. Even I personally became curious about the Kodona-garbed boy with an eye patch and nice hair. i am certainly glad I looked into it; I found plenty of charm, comedy and drama in such a simply assembled series.

Kuroshitsuji is perfect for anyone who is a fan of comedy and drama anime; there is plenty of both within it. You can definitely expect both kinds of tears by the time you finish. Up first ready to dish out the laughter are the members of Ciel's hapless mansion staff; Finnian the gardener with inhuman super strength, Meilin the clumsy maid with a blatant crush on Sebastian, Bardroy the imaginative cook who uses explosives for cooking, and Tanaka the steward, whose enigmatic personality just plain speaks for itself. They all suspect a hint of mystery surrounding the immaculate and unusually tolerant Sebastian, which only makes him that much more attractive to women, namely Meilin, but also Grelle Sutcliffe, the non-female butler of Ciel's aunt Madam Red, who conceals a secret of his own. Grelle is the first to bring the tears to the table with his hilarious mishaps all over the Phantomhive mansion, which includes trimming the bushes surrounding the mansion, only to be distracted and later discovering he has accidentally trimmed them all in the shapes of skulls. Grelle's nervous personality (on the surface...) makes Meilin's clumsiness inferior in comparison, and he becomes infatuated with Sebastian's ability to do positively anything without leaving so much as a blemish.

I would be surprised if children expressed interest in watching this anime, but I would definitely accompany them if you plan on letting one do so. there is bloody violent throughout the anime (particularly near the end of the series) and violent references. There is also innuendo involved, usually without warning; a death god is intoxicated with Sebastian and daydreams out loud about being physically involved with him. Ciel Phantomhive later persuades the same death god to temporarily act as his bodyguard, offering him Sebastian in return, to "do whatever he wants with him." The death god later dotes upon his intentions to "kiss Sebastian, with the tongue." Ciel and Sebastian sneak into the sect of a corrupt religious cult, and Sebastian stops a nun and requests information. She hesitates at first, Sebastian backs her into a wall and she blushes as he insists. The scene cuts to Ciel and Grelle Sutcliffe standing outside of a small barn with Sebastian and the nun inside; we hear her moaning loudly and telling Sebastian "she will become impure." Grelle stands outside and bites at his clothes in a fit of jealousy. Ciel is clearly uncomfortable. An acquaintance of Ciel's is frequently seen with a woman who sits on him suggestively; he is later seen with several women.

If you're willing to guide yourself around the perks of Grelle and, occasionally, Sebastian, I believe you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of this anime. Be ready to gawk at Sebastian in the manner Ciel's companions do, as his perfection shows not only in his housework, but apparently in his duty of Ciel's outfits as well, as Ciel emerges from his vast property to solve cases for the Queen in outfits so sublime, a common boy would not be caught dead in them.

With plenty of darkness, humor, and darkness and humor put together, Kuroshitsuji is bound to take you for a ride. I highly recommend this anime to any fans of the supernatural, unnaturally pretty boys, and of course, butlers.

Overall Rating:
/ 5

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Review | Anime | Bokurano

BOKURANO : 15 children travel to the beach for a summer nature camp and come
across a cave filled with computers, and occupied by a man calling himself
Kokopelli. Kokopelli tels the children he is testing a new game he has created
about robots that defend the Earth from 15 alien attacks, and offers the roles
of beta tasters to the children. 14 of the children agree and enter the contract
as the game's new heroes, only to discover that the game is not a computer game,
but a game played in reality. Worst of all, the children are unsure how to break
their contracts and prevent the city - and possibly the world - from being
destroyed.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that mecha anime is no favorite of mine. It has never been interesting to me and never held my attention. That's why it's no great shock that people are surprised to learn that I have taken a great liking to Bokurano, finishing the 24-episode series in 2 days. It ultimately broke my record of anime finished the quickest, superseding Gunslinger Girl, completed in 5 days. So how could I bring about the nerve to watch a mecha anime? None other than the series' theme song, "Uninstall" by Chieko Ishikawa, as haunting as it is beautiful.

It isn't rare that I discover a theme song before the anime and ultimately watch the anime; KOKIA's mystifying "Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi", the Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino theme song introduced me to the Gunslinger Girl franchise, which I am now a great fan of. Other examples of theme songs introducing me to their respective anime include Clannad, Le Portrait de Petit Cossette (which sadly, disappointed me), Sola, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni and Wolf's Rain. Seeing as very few of these animes have proved distasteful, I went with my usual instinct, and a fandom of Bokurano was formed.

The plot seems a simple yet complex one at the same time. 15 middle school children attend a sumer camp, and wander into a cave covered wall to wall with electrical equipment all owned by a strange man who will only give his name as Kokopelli. Kokopelli, as suspicious as he is, seems strangely friendly to the children, who many of the children notice and become wary of. He invites the children to become beta testers for a brand new game he has created about robots that must defend the Earth from 15 alien attacks. Being middle school children, they are immediately pulled in, and contract themselves as the new heroes of the game. All of them apply, except for 9-year-old Kana Ushiro, who is forbidden by her hateful brother to take part in the activity. After applying to the contract, they wake up on the beach, suspecting what they had seen was a dream Except...how did they all have the same dream?

No sooner do they begin to worry does a huge robot appear in the city, and the children are whisked away into a robot controlled by Kokopelli. Kokopelli defeats the robot, but later disappears, his final words to the children being, "I'm sorry."

The robots have now gained global attention after destroying much of the city and killing thousands. The children are now unsure of how to release themselves from the contract, and with their smart-mouthed tutor Dung Beetle offering no real help, the children have no choice but to fight the remainder of their battles, increasing the body count of the civilians caught in the crossfire, all to make sure their planet, families - and universe - are protected from a vicious cleansing.

Bokurano illustrates the importance of family and the people close to you, and follows the lives of the children individually as they are selected to pilot their robot, Zearth, to stop the alien attacks. Their lives and scarring pasts play out and reveal what the children are protecting as they pay the ultimate price to protect them. Though some scenes can be slow and unneeded at times, it is otherwise excellently paced and keeps up the story in a way that keeps you attentive, which is probably half the reason I watched 14 episodes in a day. Despite my extreme dislike for mecha anime, Bokurano kept me attached to the very end.

As appealing as the idea of young children piloting robots - every little boy's dream - and defending the earth may be to kids, Bokurano is definitely not an anime for children. What's more, the manga is far more graphic than the anime, which condensed a lot of the stories to a less explicit nature. Upon suffering a mental breakdown prior to his battle within Zearth, a boy chases a girl through an aquarium and attempts to force himself onto her; the girl kicks him down a flight of stairs and he is knocked unconscious. We hear that the same girl had a physical relationship with her teacher, and that he sold pornographic pictures of the two of them on the Internet (we also hear he had installed cameras in the school girls' dressing rooms; in one scene we see this being done). It is implied later that the girl is pregnant. We hear that several children must sacrifice their lives to pilot Zearth, and we see many of them die. We hear that thousands of people have died due to the robots' fights. A man's arm is cut off (we don't see blood) and a woman is shot several times, and other people are shot throughout the series. A small robot makes explicit comments to a boy about what to do with the girl he likes. A girl is told her mother used to sell her own body; the girl later becomes desperate for money and attempts to sell herself. Her potential customer later reveals he is a friend of her mother's and offers her the payment without her services.

Bokurano is a very edgy anime with plenty of grit, and even if you aren't the biggest of mecha fans yourself, if you're looking for an adventurous anime, with lots of tragedy thrown in, you'll certainly want to add Bokurano to your list.

Overall Rating:
/ 5

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Review | Movie | Kiki's Delivery Service

KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE : At the age 13, aspiring witches leave home to begin
their witch training in a different city. 13-year-old Kiki dreams of living her
new life in a peaceful city near the ocean, and sets off in search of her new
home. She finally discovers a perfect city called Koriko, but upon landing,
faces hardships that make her question if her search is really over. Soon after
her arrival, she is taken in by a kind baker named Osono, who offers Kiki
payment and a place to stay in exchange for her services at the bakery, and
"Kiki's Delivery Service" is launched.

Animation genius Hayao Miyazaki brings a new vision to witches in this charming 1989 children's movie about a 13-year-old girl born to a resident witch who makes healing potions for neighbors. Kiki, a witch-in-training, flies from home to find a use for her abilities as a witch, and finds new friends, a new home, and a new experience to write home about.

Kiki's idea of the fun of growing up is much different from a regular girl's; Kiki's dreams of her future are all written out. She dreams of flying away on the night of a full moon, on a broomstick she created herself, to a city by the ocean, to discover and develop her skill as an individual and as a witch. Hearing on the radio a full moon is set to appear that night, Kiki tells her parents that she's finally ready, and with her friends and family watching, Kiki flies off in search of the perfect city. With her cat sidekick Jiji feeding her cynical advice throughout her journey, Kiki's doubt ultimately comes into play, as she lands in what seems to be the perfect city, and encounters problems also immediately. On top of that, she is seen flying on her broomstick by a now fascinated boy named Tombo, who won't stop following her.

Kiki wanders the city feeling sorry for herself, wondering if there is even a place for her in the beautiful city after all. No sooner does she wonder, the co-owner of a nearby bakery is attempting to gain the attention of a customer who has left her baby's pacifier behind. The co-owner, Osono, is very pregnant, but attempts to run after the woman anyway. Seeing her chance to steps in, Kiki offers to return the pacifier, and the grateful woman watches in amazement as Kiki's flies the pacifier down to the woman, who later compliments Osono's "new delivery girl." A thought strikes the two, and Osono offers Kiki a place to stay in the bakery, as well as payment, in exchange for Kiki's delivery services.

Whether you decide to pick up the English dub or the Japanese dub, you're sure to find a great time in Kiki's Delivery Service. The English dub features such voices such as Kirsten Dunst, Debbie Reynolds and the late Phil Hartman, one of his last films before his death. The Japanese dub, just as spectacular, features anime regulars such as Minani Takayama, who has lent her voice to such series as Sailor Moon, Escaflowne, and Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations. Another prominent Japanese voice actor is Kappei Yamaguchi, whose films credits are just as vast, playing the title character in InuYasha, Artemis in Sailor Moon, and, most notably, L Lawliet from the Death Note franchise. If you keep your ears open for both dubs, you're sure to hear other familiar voices, as well.

This movie is intended for children, so all material in this movie is suitable for all ages. This movie is overall a great family flick! Any young child is sure to get a kick out of the tiny Jiji and the roles he plays in Kiki's deliveries, including temporarily portraying a stuffed cat of his likeness in place of the toy missing in the woods, and ultimately befriending a large St. Bernard dog. The composition of the movie is excellent and is sure to keep you in tune with what's happening, not just with the film, but with Kiki, as she finds creative ways to deal with the struggles of having a job, becoming a teenager and finding her place in the world. Miyazaki never fails, and if you're a fan, you won't want to miss one of his greatest creations yet.

Overall Rating:
/ 5

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Review | Movie | Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni Live Action

HIGURASHI NO NAKU KORO NI LIVE ACTION : Keiichi Maebara transfers to the small, peaceful town of Hinamizawa, where he befriends four girls in his class; Rena, Rika, Mion and Satoko. His new friends tell him all about the town, including the town's fearsome guardian god Oyashiro-sama, and its fury over any who dare enter its shrine. Keiichi is doubtful of the god's supposed wrath at first, but when he enters Oyashiro-sama's forbidden shrine, he becomes wrapped up in the town's horrible secret, and falls victim to the god's deadly curse.

I haven't yet gotten around to watching the Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni anime, which I probably should have watched prior to seeing the film. I've read so much about the series (including spoilers), I almost feel like it's unnecessary. The highly anticipated live action film of the popular horror series became a little less than highly anticipated once reviews and clips began to roll around. Fans went into an uproar over several missing key points of the original series; specifically, over Mion's twin sister Shion failing to appear in the film. Upon hearing Mion has become an only child for the film, it was boycotted by many. Shion's not the only character to be booted from the script. Such characters as Hanyu, Satoshi (who is merely referenced), and the rest of Mion's powerful family are nowhere to be seen.

We'll begin with the compliments. The film successfully captures the quaint atmosphere of the village of Hinamizawa. Word of Keiichi's arrival, and actions, get around quickly. You can feel the peace of the endless summer in the scenery welcomed to the movie, and yet as beautiful as it is, it maintains the wry, eerie gut feeling of the evil going on behind the scenes in the town.

A perfect blend of special effects are used to keep us tuned in. Nothing over the top, and not too little. Just enough to illustrate Keiichi's mental state of panic and chaos, and the Hinamizawa ladies' simple yet boisterous derangement. The overall set-up of the film gives excellent vibes to fit a horror film, giving off a strange sense of entrapment and peril, and not just for Keiichi, but for the viewer. There were times when I just had to hit pause and run to my kitchen for a refreshment of comfort to remind myself that it's Keiichi trapped, not me. That, to me, was one of the most exciting parts of seeing this film.

Now, onto the criticism: American actors and Japanese actors are very different, because they act in different manners, so it's often hard to tell who could be called a bad actor; An actor considered completely stale in Japan could be extraordinary to an American viewer. Despite that, Keiichi's actor could read as unengaged completely. His temper tantrums appear staged and many of his lines are given as if he is reading off of a script from far away. It's hard to watch him next to our sociopathic village girls, who are nicely fitting for their roles (though their triumphant laughter could have been more psychotic), except when they're diluted by Keiichi's bland disposition. Several Higurashi fans who have gotten a chance to see the film have noted that the producers could have landed a better actor for such a tough role.

I've read up on key points in the original anime series, and many of them could have served the film quite well, but alas, were left out. This may have been an attempt to transition out of Higurashi's typically chaotic atmosphere into a calmer, more psychological feel. Many would agree that due to the great reception the series received for the riotous blood carnival delivered to audiences, the film would hardly live up to its name when placed next to the anime, making the live action adaption seem tepid.

I think it may even be best to start this film before starting the series. A mind oblivious to the original anime may find this film quite enjoyable for its mind games, and can later look to the series for the pandemonium fans have come to expect from any adaption of the hit dojin.

Overall Rating:
/ 5

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Wheel of Fortune (opening theme)

Review | Anime | Wolf's Rain

WOLF'S RAIN : 200 years in the future, wolves have been
declared instinct on Earth, now ridden by wars. In reality, wolves still exist
by hiding themselves among humans by taking human form. When a rebellious
wolf named Kiba wanders into the city looking for the Lunar Flower of an
old wolf legend, three other wolves band together with him on a search for
the Paradise ruled by wolves. The obstacles that await their journey are
horrific woodland creatures, Paradise-seeking warlords, and a crazed wolf hunter
determined to rid the world of any and all wolves.

Wolf's Rain has gained widespread fame in the anime world, and though it's not the most cheerful anime available, it's definitely one of the most action-packed.

The world of Wolf's Rain exists two centuries from today's world, and it's exactly the future forewarned; wars, big and small, in every corner, with only the rich and highly-placed living comfortably. The tales of the four protagonists begin in a town called Freeze City, when in wanders Quent Yaiden, who has been obsessed with killing wolves since he witnessed a pack of wolves destroying his home and killing his wife and child. With the help of his wolf-detecting dog Blue, Quent travels from city to city checking every corner for traces of a wolf. This only gains him ridicule from citizens, who try to convince him wolves no longer exist, but Quent is well onto the fact that wolves have every capability of hiding amongst humans.

Simultaniously taking place are the tales of the city's only known wolf citizens, Hige, Toboe and Tsume, oblivious of each other's existences. They are finally brought together accidentally when a lone wolf named Kiba wanders into town, seeking the way to Paradise. He follows the scent of the Lunar Flower, the key to opening Paradise, which eventually puts him on the unfortunate path that leads him to Quent, who immediately shoots him. Kiba is not killed, but is discovered resting under a tree and is taken to a laboratory to be examined. After all, it's the strangest dog they've ever seen. The Lunar Flower turns out to be Cheza, a girl that is half human, half flower, that was created by a noble using a form of alchemy. Cheza's current state is an inconvenient one; suspended in the lab by tubes, and unconscious until she is awakened by Kiba's presence. It seems Kiba has finally found what he came for, until Chesa is kidnapped by Darcia, one of the three most powerful nobles known to the anime. In order to recover her from Darcia and his fiendish intentions, he ultimately meets Hige, Toboe and Tsume, who detect the Lunar Flower as well. They don't hit it off immediately; two are anti-social and prideful, one (the primarily disliked one) is a peacemaker, and one couldn't care less. The one thing keeping them together is their ultimate goal: Recover Cheza and unlock Paradise.

I am as great a fan of anime as I am its music, and I will be honest in saying that the soundtrack of Wolf's Rain remains one of the greatest anime soundtracks I've ever had the privilege to listen to. It was the opening theme, "Stray", that led me to begin the series, and it was the underscore that kept me connected. The music can be serene, haunting, mournful or mystical; a few songs have succeeded in containing all four key elements at once. One of my favorite anime composers, Yoko Kanno, lends her talents to the soundtrack with impressive blending of instruments and sounds, common for her music. Wolf's Rain also selects excellent vocalists, including anime regular Maaya Sakamoto, for its songs to narrate the wolves' stories with beautiful and idyllic lyrics. If the Wolf's Rain anime turns out to be the wrong cup of tea, I hope that will not discourage you from picking up its incredible soundtrack.

Wolf's Rain is a perfect blend of common fantasty and wartime conflict. Not being a mecha fan (at all), I was a little turned off by the use of mechanics at the beginning of the series, but my curiosity led me on. Despite my dislike for mecha, this series holds an excellent amount, only using mecha when it's needed to support the story, rather than using it just to show off the artists' free time or the animators' talent with shiny metal. The series requires lots of patience, however, as it is very slowly paced because of the complexity of the storyline. Kiba and his new pack have a long journey, and the producers are definitely making sure to chronicle every last detail down to the last bona fide meal our protagonists manage to scrape together.

If you're not the biggest fan of bloody violence, you may want to pass this one by. The series sports wartime violence and wolf/human, wolf/wolf conflicts. Wolves are consistently injured severely during battles and attain bloody, sometimes graphic, wounds. There are also conflicts involving several human characters; characters are shot, stabbed, blown up, and of course, attacked by wolves. Wolves are seen biting human body parts, mainly the neck and other vital regions, killing them. The series becomes bloodier as it nears its completion.

Wolf's Rain is a great blend of sci-fi fantasy and action, with plenty of guns thrown in, accompanied by mutated wildlife and a bleak depiction of the future of our planet. If you enjoyed Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke, this anime may be one for your list.

Overall Rating:
/ 5

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Review | Anime | Vampire Knight

VAMPIRE KNIGHT : The prestigious Cross Academy offers a
special Night Class to certain students of the academy. The Night Class is
unique because it is inhabited entirely by vampires, unbeknownst to the Day
Class students. To keep peace and reasonable distance between the vampires and
humans, prefects Yuuki and her best friend Zero are hired, and work to ensure
that Day Class students never discover the Night Class students are vampires,
and most importantly, that the vampires don't lose control of their urges to
feed on human blood.

While attending an anime con last year, my friend and I sat down for a 3-episode preview of Vampire Knight, which had just been released in Japan the week before. Along with Monochrome Factor, Vampire Knight was added to my list of animes to check out.

Vampire Knight sports the common "haunting Gothic elegance" element throughout, and plenty of beautiful vampires that make Edward Cullen look like a convenience store clerk. Yuuki is fortunate enough to have the strongest of the vampires, Kuran Kaname, as one of her dearest friends. Yuuki has had a crush on Kaname ever since he saved her life from a rogue vampire - which are know as "Level E Vampires" - when she was a child. It is unclear whether her crush is an actual romantic crush or more of an academic sisterly crush, but because Yuuki is a prefect responsible for keeping the screaming fangirls at bay whenever Kaname emerges from his dormitory with his Night Class classmates, it makes it that much harder to stare at him.

Naturally, Yuuki's orders to not bombard the Night Class gentlemen go in one fangirl ear and out the other as they trample her to get to the sparkly vampires (no thanks to Aido Hanabusa, who just fuels their fangirl fury with his witless charm as he waves and flirts.) Fortunately, there to intervene when Yuuki loses control is another good friend, Zero Kiryuu, who was taken in by Yuuki's family when he was orphaned by a Level E vampire. Zero's cold personality and frozen glare is powerful enough to stop even screaming fangirls dead in their tracks, and send them running back to their dorms. Zero's disposition is so cold, even Yuuki, whom he considers his best friend, has trouble getting through to him. It doesn't help that Yuuki's belief that not all vampires are evil clashes with Zero's firm reckoning that all vampires, regardless, are scumbags.

Vampire Knight is the definition when the question of the closest anime version of Twilight comes up. The only difference? Vampire Knight is actually good. Too much bloodsucking, perhaps, but it's watchable. The artwork of Vampire Knight is very unique and recognizable, and in turn assists tell the story in a great way. It's playing with fire if you intend on making an anime and don't use the right animation. Many believe the animation style of an anime is irrelevant to the series, but this is not the case. In order to tell the story properly, your animation must match the story in many ways, otherwise the viewer tunes out. Vampire Knight successfully harnessed the right animation style for their anime, thus creating a brand new smash hit in the anime community.

Parents should know there's plenty of blood (naturally, where there are vampires, there's blood) and violence, courtesy of the Level E vampires. Once you finish season one, you should move straight along to Vampire Knight: Guilty, the second season of Vampire Knight, which a lot bloodier as we near the completion of the series. Yuuki's blood is like a drug to vampires, which can smell her a mile away, and Kaname's willing to do anything to prevent her blood from being taken, and is not above resorting to violence.

Vampire Knight is a must if you're trying to stay in the anime loop, because where there's an anime fan, there's probably a Vampire Knight fan somewhere in there. Enjoy, and don't go out at night.

Overall Rating:
/ 5

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Review | OVA | Le Portrait De Petit Cossette

LE PORTRAIT DE PETIT COSSETTE : College student Eiri Kurahashi receives
shipments to his family's antique shop, when he comes across a beautiful antique
glass, and in the glass, he begins seeing visions of a hauntingly beautiful girl
named Cossette d'Auvergne and the tragic end of her life. Eiri ultimately falls
in love with the ghost of Cossette and becomes obsessed with freeing her from
her cursed state. Cossette accepts Eiri's wishes, and Eiri becomes entrapped in
Cossette's gruesome world and must now suffer for the sins that bind Cossette to
her fate.

At first glance, the imagery of Le Portrait De Petit Cossette (The Image Of Young Cossette) is enough to draw in plenty of attention because of its dark but majestic composition, and probably Cossette's choices of Elegant Gothic Lolita dress as well. I thought at first that this was a short series, and was surprised to learn that it's actually an OVA of the manga of the same name. That may have been the problem.

Le Portrait De Petit Cossette starts out with an indirect introduction to our protagonist Eiri, who works, as it would appear, by himself at his family's antique store. Changes in Eiri's personality makes his college buddies suspect there's a girl wandering around somewhere in his mind. Well, yes and no; there is indeed a girl Eiri can't keep his eyes off of, but this girl happens to be merely an entity that appears to him in a Venetian wine glass that found its way to the antique store the week before. The entity is Cossette d'Auvergne, the daughter of a rich aristocrat from the 18th century. Eiri can't peel his eyes away from Cossette's simple life on her family's estate playing out for him in the glass. Eiri does suspect at first that the image of Cossette may be a figment of his mind due to illness, or perhaps a few too many, but when Cossette's life finally plays into her death, Eiri realizes exactly what's going down: that girl IS a ghost, unjustly killed by her painter fiance, Marchello Orlando. Desperate to free Cossette's soul from the torture of her prison within the world of the glass, Eiri accepts the pact offered to him by Cossette, in which he is brutally punished for the sins of Marchello.

With the bleak and dreary atmosphere of the show, plus its haunting music and plot, why not indeed? The first thing you expect to find (or I did, anyway) in Eiri's purgatory is an elegant finish to the curse, which would match Cossette's cushy lifestyle surrounded on every side by her parents' vast land and beautiful home. What we get instead is a blood show reminiscent of Braveheart, and that may have been the downfall of this show. Sure, everything needs a little blood to make it real, but too much unnecessary blood just makes it annoying. There's blood at the beginning that's useful to the plot, but as the episodes drag on (literally, drag), there becomes so much pointless use of blood, it gets a little ridiculous. There are several points where it would appear that there's just blood in the scene because the crew felt like putting blood there. It just stopped getting disturbing after the 10th event of exaggerated blood spewing lasting a good 5 minutes.

The show's assembly was overall pretty terrible. I think the problem is that what should have gone into a few dozen episodes were instead put into 3, and the editors appeared to try hard to fit the telling of 30 episodes' worth of material into an OVA, and the final compression make the series way too repetitive to watch. I admit I got a little tired of watching Eiri lose gallons of blood he shouldn't even have at this point.

I don't know that any child would express interest in watching this OVA, but I would definitely not let them check this one out. There are several scenes (well actually, the entire OVA) depicting very graphic, fantasy-occult-style tortures with lots...and lots....and lots....and lots of blood. Characters also appear nude in a few scenes, but private regions are shaded or at a distance and can't be made out. The OVA is overall very disturbing and one I suggest the family should stay away from.

Speaking of staying away, if you don't like violence, repetition, or ridiculous and pointless blood, you should probably pass by this one. It just didn't work as an OVA, it should have been a full-length series, that probably would have helped it a lot, because each episode is around 40 minutes long, and there are so many special effects and conversion into dream-like states, you'll start to wonder if you're watching an anime or getting high. There's just too much for the brain to swallow, and what should have been given in small doses was taken way overboard.

Overall Rating:
/ 5