To be perfectly honest, Witchblade has every conceivable cliche you can think of, but for the life of me, I can't recall any anime I can compare it to. Well, I suppose if you get enough of everything, eventually, it will make itself out to become something never seen before. This actually turned out to be a very enjoyable anime, not one to forever change the way anime is perceived, but nonetheless enjoyable enough to watch all the way to the end.
Before I explain the story, let me give you a little history; the anime was adapted from an American graphic novel, also called "Witchblade". According to the universe in the comic, the Witchblade is an ancient weapon that has been passed down from great and famous women in history: Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Queen Isabella, among others. Only a woman can control the Witchblade, and once it's activated, the wielder transforms into a super-warrior with mystic armor covering her body, the Witchblade resembling an ordinary bracelet while not in use. The wielder cannot take off the Witchblade; it can only be removed once the user is killed. The anime stays very true to the graphic novel's perception of the weapon, and itself a great success, the story is well placed and the art terrific. Back to the anime however, the story is different, yet the Witchblade itself remains nearly untouched in concept.
The story of the anime starts in some foreseeable future, where 6 years prior, a great quake shook Tokyo, leaving disaster and destruction in its wake. Despite the deaths of many people during this quake, one survivor is found at the very core of the quake's epicenter, a child wrapped in her arms and a bracelet on her wrist. Awakening from her coma, it is discovered that she has amnesia. The child she was holding during the quake later determined to be her daughter, Masane now thrust into an unforgiving world with her daughter Rihoko, as they attempt to make ends meet.
Shortly thereafter, Masane is confronted by the NSWF, the regional Child Services, who take Rihoko into custody, and place Masane in jail for child endangerment. It during her stay in prison that something strange happens, Masane discovering the bracelet that was on her wrist that was actually the titular Witchblade. Using the item to transform into a super-being, she escapes the jail, unfortunately passing out from the overwhelming power of the Witchblade in the process. She is then captured and kidnapped by a secret organization that has been searching for the blade ever since its last user died.
After tests are run, the organization, Douji Group Industries, offers Masane pay for dispatching androids deployed by a rival company that are wreaking havoc throughout the city. The story continues with Douji Group Industries and Masane battling against these androids and also other women who wield Cloneblades (artificial Witchblades), all while protecting her daughter and finding out how she initially obtained the legendary Witchblade.
The story, while full of familiar tropes: corporation vs. corporation rivalry, a transforming hero, a tsundere main character, typical comic relief, and the use of amnesia as a plot device; does not manage to become tired and boring due to it, the story itself as a whole being fairly original. Masane is a very likable character, and while she portrays the stereotypical knuckle-headed, child-minded adult, she does have a deep past, and can be very sensitive when it counts. Her dialogue is a tad immature (her vocabulary up there with a melodramatic teenager), but it suits the character nicely. The art design of the characters do seem to be very fan-service minded, however, seemingly exaggerated even further in the anime than the previous comic incarnation.
Witchblade is a very well crafted anime, and while exceedingly average by most accounts, it's a silly, dramatic, and altogether fun ride. While I have few problems with the show, Witchblade does lack a few key components of great anime. In particular, Witchblade lacks an overly compelling or deep plot, simply entertaining. Otherwise, the animation is colorful, and includes great detail with a somewhat westernized look. The voice acting is good, and while the show has some well known talents like Carrie Savage and Stephanie Young, it's clearly not their best work, though the cast also includes a number of newbies, who themselves preform admirably.
Overall Witchblade is very enjoyable and if you're having a tough time looking for an anime to watch, it is certainly worth a try. The constant plot-twists which only occasionally feel cheesy or tacked on, will make you stay tuned to the show and up to it's dramatic appeal. Even though some of the story can be predictable and the viewer isn't very often required to think hard, Witchblade is a standout success that while rather average still offers a fun time.
- Marcus Speer
Before I explain the story, let me give you a little history; the anime was adapted from an American graphic novel, also called "Witchblade". According to the universe in the comic, the Witchblade is an ancient weapon that has been passed down from great and famous women in history: Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Queen Isabella, among others. Only a woman can control the Witchblade, and once it's activated, the wielder transforms into a super-warrior with mystic armor covering her body, the Witchblade resembling an ordinary bracelet while not in use. The wielder cannot take off the Witchblade; it can only be removed once the user is killed. The anime stays very true to the graphic novel's perception of the weapon, and itself a great success, the story is well placed and the art terrific. Back to the anime however, the story is different, yet the Witchblade itself remains nearly untouched in concept.
The story of the anime starts in some foreseeable future, where 6 years prior, a great quake shook Tokyo, leaving disaster and destruction in its wake. Despite the deaths of many people during this quake, one survivor is found at the very core of the quake's epicenter, a child wrapped in her arms and a bracelet on her wrist. Awakening from her coma, it is discovered that she has amnesia. The child she was holding during the quake later determined to be her daughter, Masane now thrust into an unforgiving world with her daughter Rihoko, as they attempt to make ends meet.
Shortly thereafter, Masane is confronted by the NSWF, the regional Child Services, who take Rihoko into custody, and place Masane in jail for child endangerment. It during her stay in prison that something strange happens, Masane discovering the bracelet that was on her wrist that was actually the titular Witchblade. Using the item to transform into a super-being, she escapes the jail, unfortunately passing out from the overwhelming power of the Witchblade in the process. She is then captured and kidnapped by a secret organization that has been searching for the blade ever since its last user died.
After tests are run, the organization, Douji Group Industries, offers Masane pay for dispatching androids deployed by a rival company that are wreaking havoc throughout the city. The story continues with Douji Group Industries and Masane battling against these androids and also other women who wield Cloneblades (artificial Witchblades), all while protecting her daughter and finding out how she initially obtained the legendary Witchblade.
The story, while full of familiar tropes: corporation vs. corporation rivalry, a transforming hero, a tsundere main character, typical comic relief, and the use of amnesia as a plot device; does not manage to become tired and boring due to it, the story itself as a whole being fairly original. Masane is a very likable character, and while she portrays the stereotypical knuckle-headed, child-minded adult, she does have a deep past, and can be very sensitive when it counts. Her dialogue is a tad immature (her vocabulary up there with a melodramatic teenager), but it suits the character nicely. The art design of the characters do seem to be very fan-service minded, however, seemingly exaggerated even further in the anime than the previous comic incarnation.
Witchblade is a very well crafted anime, and while exceedingly average by most accounts, it's a silly, dramatic, and altogether fun ride. While I have few problems with the show, Witchblade does lack a few key components of great anime. In particular, Witchblade lacks an overly compelling or deep plot, simply entertaining. Otherwise, the animation is colorful, and includes great detail with a somewhat westernized look. The voice acting is good, and while the show has some well known talents like Carrie Savage and Stephanie Young, it's clearly not their best work, though the cast also includes a number of newbies, who themselves preform admirably.
Overall Witchblade is very enjoyable and if you're having a tough time looking for an anime to watch, it is certainly worth a try. The constant plot-twists which only occasionally feel cheesy or tacked on, will make you stay tuned to the show and up to it's dramatic appeal. Even though some of the story can be predictable and the viewer isn't very often required to think hard, Witchblade is a standout success that while rather average still offers a fun time.
- Marcus Speer
