WITCHBLADE review: A tale of fascinating power and battle

Witchblade - The ultimate weapon and the destined woman

Overview

"Witchblade" is a TV anime series that aired in 2006 and is based on a popular comic book series by Top Cow in the United States. Produced by the Japanese animation company GONZO, the series is set in a near-future Tokyo and tells the story of the ultimate weapon, the "Witchblade," and the woman who is destined to wield it. It consists of 24 episodes and was broadcast on CBC and TBS.

■ Story

The strongest weapon, the Witchblade, has been passed down since ancient times and has the ability to change shape freely with each battle. Its purpose is to fight, and all it needs to satisfy its thirst for battle is a "woman of destiny" chosen by the Witchblade itself. In Tokyo in the near future, there are two huge organizations searching for the "strongest weapon." One is Doushi Heavy Industries, which plans to develop the strongest weapon, and the other is the NSWF, which aims to create superior humans through genetic manipulation. What they desire is the Witchblade, which has the strongest power and can only be obtained by a chosen woman, and the power to use it freely.

Six years after the earthquake, a mother and daughter were seen in Tokyo. They were Masane Amano and her daughter Rihoko. Dreaming of a life together, the two escaped from a child welfare agency facility. However, what awaited them was the dark power surrounding the Witchblade and a cruel fate...

■Explanation

The original "Witchblade" is a popular comic series by Top Cow in the United States, which has been running for 10 years. It has attracted attention from all over the world, and was made into an anime by GONZO in the spring of 2006. Apart from the setting of the mysterious life form Witchblade, the anime version is entirely original to GONZO. Makoto Uno, Yasuko Kobayashi and other talented staff members have meticulously recreated the GONZO version of Witchblade.

■Cast

• Masane Amano/Mamiko Noto
• Amano Rihoko/Kanda Akemi
• Reishi Takayama/Rikiya Koyama
• Reina Soho/Mie Sonozaki
• Yusuke Tozawa/Masaya Matsukaze
• Hiroki Segawa/Kenichi Suzumura
• Tatsuo Furumizu/Shinji Ogawa
• Shiori Tsuzuki/Shizuka Ito
• Nora/Saori Yuba
• Mariko/Maiko Ito
• Cho-san/Shoto Kashii
• Naomi/Mika Ito
• Michael/Daisuke Kirii
• Satoshi Nakata/Kenta Miyake
• Maria/Mizuki Nana
• Masaya Wadou/Kazuhiro Nakata
• Aoi / Ryoko Ono
• Asagi/Akino Watanabe
• Rie Nishida/Sakiko Tamagawa

■ Main staff

• Original story: Top Cow Productions
• Director: Yoshimitsu Ohashi
• Series Composition: Yasuko Kobayashi
• Character design and chief animation director: Makoto Uno
• Setting research, concept design: Shinya Ogura
• Design Works/Matsubara Kazuyuki
• Color design: Yuko Sato
• Art director: Junichi Azuma
• Director of photography: Kinoshita Yokata
• Edited by Kiyoshi Hirose
• Sound Director: Aketagawa Jin
• Music by Masanori Takumi
• Main title design: Makoto Kamata
• Executive Producer/Koji Kajita
• Producers: Takeyuki Okazaki, Susumu Hieda, Osamu Nagai
• Animation production: GONZO
• Produced by Chubu Nippon Broadcasting, SKY PerfecTV Wellthink, GDH

■ Main Characters

• Masane Amano: She came to Tokyo to live with her daughter, Rihoko. She has a bright and innocent personality. She was chosen by the Witchblade to be its "wielder." She has lost her memories from before the great earthquake that occurred six years ago.
• Amano Rihoko: Masane's daughter. A lively and intelligent girl. She is a reliable girl who can handle all household chores at a young age. She is good at cooking.
• Takayama Reishi: Director of the Special Machinery Bureau of the Guidance Heavy Industries and responsible for weapons manufacturing. Currently developing the "strongest weapon." He is the "employer" of Masane, the wielder of the Witchblade.
• Reina Soho: A woman with exceptional intelligence and physical abilities who belongs to the NSWF (Nasoev National Science and Welfare Foundation). She is a forensic specialist.
• Yusuke Tozawa: A freelance photographer. Due to past experiences he has a strong distrust for digital, so all of his cameras are analog.
• Hiroki Segawa: Takayama's secretary, in charge of looking after Masane. He is a neat freak and meticulous person. In contrast to the unsociable Takayama, he is friendly at first glance.
• Tatsuo Furumizu: Chairman of the NSWF and founder of the Child Welfare Agency. He is affectionately called "Father" by people because of his charitable work and warm personality.
• Tsuzuki Shiori: Reina's secretary. She respects and admires Reina, and calls her "Sensei" fondly. She is intelligent and has a voluptuous body.
• Nora: Furumizu's secretary. An expressionless, intelligent, cool beauty. She is absolutely loyal to Furumizu.
• Mariko: Owner of the Natsuki Building and owner of the bar (Marry's Gallery). She has a bad mouth but is kind at heart. She's like a strong mother.
• Cho-san: A resident of the Natsuki Building. A crazy old man who is "active for life" in every sense of the word. He's good with computers and is apparently quite famous in the online world.
• Naomi: A resident of the Natsuki Building. She is a fortune teller who uses a divining stick. Her predictions are said to be accurate, but because she is extremely shy, her business is not doing very well.
• Michael: A resident of the Natsuki Building. Some say he is an entertainer, but his true identity is a mystery, as he looks like a professional wrestler and is silent and does not participate in conversations.
• Tetsu Nakata: A detective in the Metropolitan Police Department's Special Investigation Unit 5, he pursues unusual cases beyond the jurisdiction of his local police force. He is always annoyed by Tozawa, who sneaks into crime scenes without permission in search of material.
• Maria: A girl who is considered the most talented of the "second generation" Neogenes, following on from the "first generation" such as Reina. She is favored by Father. She can also show a violent side at times.
• Masaya Wado: Director of the Bio Division at Dousi Heavy Industries. He is also Takayama's senior from his university days. He feels a strong sense of rivalry towards Takayama, who is highly regarded within the company.
• Aoi: A second generation Neogene and Maria's aide. She admires Maria and always puts her first and acts loyally to her. She is mentally calm, but can sometimes get emotional.

■Subtitle

• Episode 1: Beginning (2006/04/05)
• Episode 2: Confusion (2006/04/12)
• Episode 3: Resistance (2006/04/19)
• Episode 4/Motion (2006/04/26)
• Episode 5: Search (2006/05/03)
• Episode 6: Strange (2006/05/10)
• Episode 7: Past (2006/05/17)
• Episode 8: Mutual (2006/05/24)
• Episode 9: Sorrow (2006/05/31)
• Episode 10: Intercourse (2006/06/07)
• Episode 11: Danger (2006/06/14)
• Episode 12: Prisoner (2006/06/21)
• Episode 13: Another (2006/06/28)
• Episode 14: Home (2006/07/05)
• Episode 15: Bonds (2006/07/12)
• Episode 16: Rest (2006/07/19)
• Episode 17: Misunderstanding (2006/07/26)
• Episode 18: Transfer (2006/08/02)
• Episode 19: Thoughts (2006/08/09)
• Episode 20: Wish (2006/08/16)
• Episode 21: Oath (2006/08/30)
• Episode 22: Confession (2006/09/06)
• Episode 23: Chaos (2006/09/13)
• Episode 24: Light (2006/09/20)

■ Theme songs and music

• OP1
  • Period: 1-13, 24
  • XTC
  • Lyrics: YOFFY
  • Composer: YOFFY
  • Arrangement: Kenichiro Oishi
  • Song: Psychic Lover
• OP2
  • Period: 14-23
  • Dear Bob
  • Lyrics by AKIO
  • Composer: AKIO
  • Arrangement: KOOLOGI
  • Song: KOOLOGI
• ED1
  • Period: 1-12
  • Tomorrow's Hands
  • Lyrics by Yukari Hashimoto
  • Composer: Yukari Hashimoto
  • Arrangement: Yukari Hashimoto
  • Vocals: Mamiko Noto
• ED2
  • Period: 13-23
  • Shoelaces
  • Lyrics by Asami
  • Composer: Taiyo Yamazawa
  • Arrangement: Seiji Muto
  • Vocals: Asami Yamamoto
• ED3
  • Period: 24
  • Heartbeat gets closer
  • Lyrics: YOFFY
  • Composer: YOFFY
  • Arrangement: Kenichiro Oishi
  • Song: Psychic Lover

■ Evaluation and impressions

"Witchblade" is a work that successfully incorporates the dark atmosphere and action elements of the original work while building a unique worldview unique to GONZO. In particular, the character of Masane Amano is captivating, as she grows as the wielder of the Witchblade. In addition, the setting of Tokyo in the near future, combined with the realistic depiction, adds depth to the story.

The animation quality is also high, and the intensity of the battle scenes and the detailed character designs have been praised. In particular, the Witchblade transformation scene is spectacular and leaves a strong visual impact. The music is also an important element in adding excitement to the story, with the theme song and insert songs enhancing the atmosphere of the story.

The story is detailed, and each episode presents new mysteries and developments, so viewers will not get bored. In particular, do not miss episodes that delve into the core of the story, such as the conflict between Doushi Heavy Industries and the NSWF, and the true purpose of Witchblade. In addition, human dramas such as parent-child bonds, friendship, and love are depicted, which will move viewers' hearts.

■ Recommendation points

"Witchblade" is a work that balances action and drama, and is recommended for those who like action anime and dark fantasy. It will also be enjoyed by those who are interested in the setting of near-future Tokyo and the mystery of Witchblade. Furthermore, it will be satisfying for those who like to follow the growth of characters and changes in relationships.

When watching, we recommend paying attention to the subtitles of each episode and enjoying the story's development. Also, pay attention to the music, as the theme song and inserted songs are important elements in enhancing the atmosphere of the work. Furthermore, by paying attention to the differences from the original comic and GONZO's unique interpretations, you will be able to understand the work more deeply.

Related information

In addition to the original comic and anime, "Witchblade" has been developed in various media such as movies and games. The original comic in particular has received high praise around the world, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out. The anime version is also available on DVD and Blu-ray, which are recommended for deepening your thoughts and reflections after watching.

In addition, there is a wealth of fan art and fan sites, providing an opportunity to rediscover the appeal of the work. By interacting with other fans on social media and online communities, you can enjoy the world of "Witchblade" even more.