« codec soup | Main | Woohoo! Chrno Crusade R1 DVD! »

July 13, 2004

Kurau Phantom Memory 1

Sometime in the the future (we know it's the future because there are flying cars and people live on the moon) genki 12-year-old Kurau Amami guilt-trips her scientist father into taking her to his lab when he forgets her birthday. A accident occurs that briefly dematerializes Kurau, and when she re-forms, it's obvious that she's not quite herself anymore. Something called a Rynax has moved in, and it doesn't know how to leave - and claims that Kurau herself summoned it. Kurau's father reluctantly agrees to help Rynax - and its "Tsui", a life partner of some kind - to find a way to separate from Kurau, in exchange for ensuring Kurau's safety.

Fast forward ten years into the future, and Kurau is now a top-notch freelance secret agent-type person who takes the most dangerous jobs while being nearly obsessive about keeping her body safe. Rynax lends her superhuman powers which she keeps secret from her employer, who asks no questions as long as she gets the job done.

However, Kurau's competence masks a deep loneliness, as the Rynax part of her still yearns for its Tsui. Kurau herself shows odd flashes of immaturity, as if the development of her twelve-year-old mind was somehow held back by the presence of Rynax... it will be interesting to see where this goes.

In addition to a powerful story, boy does this show look gooooood. The meticulously realistic design, reminiscent of BONES' earlier RahXephon, lends an extra emotional depth to the characters that a more stylized scheme could not. The best animation is not in the smoothly rendered fight sequences, but in the quietly intense scenes of Kurau and her father as he struggles to come to terms with what his daughter has become.

Phantom Memory Kurau has been licenced by ADV, who've reportedly been cracking down on fansubbers lately - so the fansubs may soon taper off. Although I'm glad that its quality has been recognized so early on, I'm also worried that this development will stunt the established fan base that the show needs in order to build a reputation. And, I'll admit, this will remove a much-needed gem from the sludge in the weekly distro.

--------

Posted by Innocent Sidekick of Evil at July 13, 2004 10:06 PM | Posted to Anime/Manga

Comments