Anime Fix

KUROZUKA

TV 12 eps.

GENRE: Action, horror, vampire

DIRECTOR: Tetsuro Araki

MUSIC: OP; ‘Systematic People’ by Wagdung Futuristic Unity
END; ‘Hanarebanare” by Shigi

Spoiler:

PLOT: Kuro is a 12 Century noble on the run from his brother [historically the first shogun to rule Japan] and other mysterious factions who are out for his blood. After meeting the mysterious Kuromitsu and sustaining mortal injuries, Kuro is plunged into the world of imortality via the sharing of blood with the timeless Kuromitsu. His transformation incomplete, Kuro suffers dire injuries and falls. He awakens to find himself in a strange future. Berift of his memories, Kuro finds himself compelled to find his beloved Kuromitsu. And thus he embarks upon this quest with single-minded determination.

CONCLUSION: The first episode opens to a masked man with red hair standing in a great hall. In high kabuki style he intones some opening strains from ‘Noh play kurozuka’

” As we departed from our head temple
Day after day without end,
We traveled toward the Mutsu Province that we had barely heard of,
And we finally arrived at the plain of Aduch-ga-hara.”

He tosses his fan forward and as it falls to the ground the opening song begins……..Effects laden and distorted music with a driving beat stands in sharp contrast to the formally stylized opening scene. This gives us our first taste of what is to come in this compelling, but slightly schizophrenic anime.

Apocalyptic ruins open b/4 us after the music finishes. Kuro is running over rooftops, leaping, dashing thru a desolate world in decay. Suddenly we find our hero fleeing thru a forest. He leaps from a cliff as archers fire an impressive volley of arrows. Kuro descends toward what seems certain doom until by touching one arrow, he causes all of the deadly missiles to collide beneath him allowing him to escape unharmed. His safety is short lived as red armoured minions appear b/4 him in the forest. Kuro fights valiantly until he is suddenly overcome by some vision. The enemy approaches a kneeling Kuro! At the last moment, he is saved by his servant. The two see a light in the forest and venture toward it to seek shelter. Enter Kuromitsu, a vision in red, soft spoken as a dove and as frail as a flower she appears at their summons. Kuro’s servant poses as him for his safety, but the ever observant Kuromitsu easily sees thru the deception. Kuro is ill and falls to his knee. Kuromitsu graciously allows the two to stay with the single admonishment not to look into her private chambers ‘ for any reason’. Kuro’s trusty man leaves Kuro in Kuromitsu’s care to seek medicine, as the young Master does not seem to be improving in health. A field of red amaryllis foreshadow what is to come as does Kuro’s seemingly instant recovery once his servant departs.

We discover the ’secret’ hidden in Kuromitsu’s room shortly there after as her compound is attacked by an enemy. The beautiful Kuromitsu is not so fragile, but a blood-drinking vixen it seems. Kuro is dismayed by what he sees, but only briefly as the enigmatic Kurimitsu is cut down b/4 his eyes. An epic fight sequence unfolds. And what a sequence it is indeed!!! If the opening arrow stunt did not grab you, the choreography of this melee most definitely will. Refreshing and inventive in both POV shots and the action itself, I watched enthralled to the point of backing up and watching it again. ^.^ The real shocker comes when our hero is seemingly slain. Taken to their favorite tree in the forest, Kuromitsu reveals her truth of immortality and offers this gift to the mortally wounded Kuro, that they may continue together in the bliss that the have fostered over his stay with her in her forest retreat.

The smitten Kuro agrees and blood is shared between the two of them. B/4 his transformation is complete, they are discovered and attacked. While empowered by Kuromitsu’s blood, Kuro is not quite at 100 % and once again falls beneath the blade of his enemy. As Kuro slips from consciousness, he sees his beloved Kuromitsu spirited away. I found the frailties of Kuro a satisfying twist to the usually ‘all powerful’ hero that dominate so many animes.

Once Kuro awakens, the meat of the anime begins. Though we drift back and forth in time a bit, the main plot line resides in the span of his awakening. Plot and sub-plot meld as Kuro is ,for all intents and purposes, strong armed into helping a band of rebels who seek to thwart the ‘Red Emperor’…and safeguard Kuromitsu. Kuro’s companions include a plucky, yet capable female fighter, a glib comedic relief character to balance our hero’s dark brooding nature , a wise sage guide character and while not all that frequently found in anime’s, a Judas character. As expected, things do not go according to plan and Kuro must overcome one obstacle after another before obtaining his goal; Kuromitsu herself.

I enjoyed this anime right up to ep. 11. Here it sort of takes a dive off of the deep end and spirals out of control from there on out. Ending in a morass of disappointing script work. If you though the anime bloody and violent b/4, you’ll be impressed by the sheer scope of excess found within ep. 11. While, it did not bother me, I would warn others should they find such elements to be troubling.

The last ep., however, was a mind fuck in more than one way. It was as if the staff of the anime went on a retreat, dropped acid and sat there thinking of ways to ruin what was a very good anime.

I mean the above paragraph in no way to discourage anyone from watching this anime. Just may wish to stop after ep. 10 and make the ending up in your head. ^.^ Kurozuka was a fantastic bit of anime…..until the staff went mad and thru it off of a cliff, followed by a small pick-up truck laden with accelerant and chased a herd of gnus over the edge of the precipice as an added touch of carnage and destruction.

CHARACTERS:

KURO [voiced by Mamoro Miyano]
Kuro is the main protagonist. The son of a powerful 12th Century Japanese family, he finds himself hunted by both family and lesser known foe. Skilled with a sword and in possession of a great sense of pride and honor, our young hero finds himself faced with battles both within and without. Fearless and goal driven, Kuro takes us on a whirlwind ride of action and suspense filled moments. Ever more enjoyable is the fact that he is fallible, thus adding to the tension of fight sequences. Will he prevail? He might not!

KUROMITSU [voiced by Romi Paku]
A vixen in silk, a deception of frailty masking a ruthless and powerful killer; our heroine is as dichotic as the flowers she seems so fond of. Kuromitsu runs hot and cold. Devoted in one arc and then aloof in another. She is a will-o-wisp that keeps us guessing about her true nature and her true feelings toward our hero, Kuro.

GENRE: While not strictly a ‘vampire’ anime, Kurozuka has elements of vampirism. Down played and done with a nontraditional slant, it is my opinion that this anime adds a fresh and interesting take on vampire animes. Granted, true devotees of the genre may be less than thrilled by this portrayal, it is hoped that they might find it enjoyable none the least.

As an ‘Action’ anime, Kurozuka delivers in spades, bright shiny bloody spades! The action sequences are imaginatively cut and timed to show off the many unique combat stunts. Use of differing POV shots offer an angle on the action that one may not have seen b/4. The ‘ Vampire’ effect during battles was also interestingly presented and not over done in my opinion.

STYLE: The subdued colour palette did well to influence the mood of many scenes as did the brighter, richer coloures used in other arcs, settings and off-hand moments.

The anime style is harsher in it’s lines than many and yet remains soft and accessable for the most part. The male characters are drawn with a stylized thin waist and slight muscular build that speaks more of grace and fluid movement than of raw brute strength.