CANAAN review: A fusion of thrilling action and deep story

CANAAN - A battle of synesthesia in the magical city of Shanghai

"CANAAN" is a TV anime series that aired in 2009 and is based on the Chunsoft game "428: Shibuya Scramble." The original story was by Type-Moon's Kinoko Nasu, the character designs by Takeuchi Takashi, and animation by PAWORKS - a collaboration between a luxurious team of staff. The 13-episode series is set in the magical city of Shanghai and follows the fate of Canaan, a girl with synesthesia, and the people around her.

story

Shanghai is one of Asia's leading global cities. A festival was being held there, and the hustle and bustle, cheers, and music were all mixed together in a chaotic fashion, as if embodying the city. A girl was looking down at the scene from the rooftop of a building. Her name was Canaan. With the graceful movements of a female leopard, she pulled the trigger of a sniper rifle...

Kanan is an iron-clad fighting agent who belongs to an organization opposed to the criminal organization "Snake". She is a synesthete and has the ability to use all five senses at the same time. Using this ability, she fights to defeat her enemies. The story depicts Kanan and her best friend Maria Osawa as they face the incidents that occur in Shanghai.

character

Kanan (voice: Sawashiro Miyuki) is a synesthete and a combat agent who fights against the criminal organization "Snake". Her ability allows her to predict the enemy's movements and act quickly by using all five senses at the same time. Her best friend, Osawa Maria (voice: Nanjo Yoshino), is a budding photographer at a third-rate magazine company, Heaven Publishing, and still prefers to use a film camera. Her bright and carefree personality provides a breath of fresh air during Kanan's tough battles.

Alphard (voice: Sakamoto Maaya) is the de facto boss of the crime organization "Snake" and is an arch enemy of Canaan. She is characterized by the snake tattoo on her left arm, and has a deep knowledge of physical ability and tactics, as well as knowledge of economics. Liang Qi (voice: Tanaka Rie) is a member of "Snake" who worships Alphard, and has a strong hostility towards Canaan. Her official occupation is secretary to the president of "Daidara Corporation", but she carries a toy handgun that uses BB bullets.

Other characters that color the story include freelance writer Mifunekawa Minoru (voice: Hamada Kenji), poor part-time worker Yunyun (voice: Tomatsu Haruka), Natsume (voice: Minagawa Junko), who belongs to an organization hostile to "Snake", and Hakko (voice: Noto Mamiko) and Santana (voice: Hirata Hiroaki), who run a suspicious karaoke and cosplay bar.

Production Staff

CANAAN is directed by Ando Masahiro, with series composition by Okada Mari, character design and general animation director by Sekiguchi Kanami, art direction by Waki ​​Takeshi, color design by Inoue Katsue, director of photography by Namiki Satoshi, 3D director Yamazaki Yoshimasa, and special effects by Murakami Masahiro. Aketagawa Jin is the sound director, Nanase Hikaru is in charge of music, and the music is produced by Lantis.

In this way, professionals from various fields come together to improve the quality of the work. PAWORKS' beautiful visual expression and Mari Okada's detailed storytelling have been particularly highly praised.

Theme songs and music

The opening theme "mind as Judgment" is sung by Hirano, with lyrics by Hata Aki and composed and arranged by Noriyasu Agematsu. The ending theme "My heaven" is sung by Annabel, with lyrics by Hata Aki and composed and arranged by myu. Additionally, insert songs such as "High Tension in a China Mood!", "It's Life" and "LIFE" sung by Nene (voice: Takagaki Ayahi) are used. These songs add to the atmosphere of the story.

Evaluation and Impressions

"CANAAN" is a work that focuses on the special ability of synesthesia, and its depiction is very realistic and fascinating. Canaan's battles and the human relationships surrounding her are carefully depicted, and have the power to draw the viewer in. The setting of Shanghai is also attractive, and the beautiful cityscape and culture enhance the appeal of the work.

The characters are also very unique, and the story centers around the friendship between Canaan and Maria, and their conflict with Alphard. Their relationships are depicted in depth, leaving a strong impression on viewers. The subtitles for each episode are also unique, giving a sense of how the story will unfold.

The animation quality is also high, and PAWORKS' beautiful visual expression has been praised. In particular, the fluidity of the action scenes and the detailed expressions of the characters are impressive. The music also adds to the atmosphere of the work, with the theme song and insert songs matching the development of the story.

Related Titles

"CANAAN" also has an OVA and a movie. The OVA was produced as a sequel to the TV series, and develops an even deeper story. The movie version is a reconstruction of the content of the TV series, allowing you to enjoy the story from a new perspective. By watching these related works together, you can enjoy the world of "CANAAN" even more deeply.

Recommendation

"CANAAN" is a work that focuses on the special ability of synesthesia, and is a fascinating story that combines action and human drama. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in action scenes and character relationships. In addition, you can enjoy beautiful visual expressions and music, so it will satisfy those who seek visual beauty.

In addition, the setting of Shanghai is also attractive, and you can enjoy the exotic cityscape and culture. You can experience the world of "CANAAN" more deeply by watching the related OVA and movies. Please watch this work and experience the fate of Canaan and the people around her.