Code: Breaker review: A tale of assassins who wield the power of fire

"CODE:BREAKER" - Flames of justice beyond the law

"CODE:BREAKER" is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Akimine Kamijo, and aired from October 7 to December 29, 2012. This 13-episode series depicts the exploits of a group of supernatural beings known as "CODE:BREAKER" who burn away evil that cannot be punished by law. Animation was produced by Kinema Citrus and directed by Yasuhiro Irie, successfully bringing out the charm of the original work to its fullest.

Story and Themes

The story of "CODE:BREAKER" begins with the protagonist, Ogami Rei, using the supernatural power of "blue flame" to punish evildoers. While he has the public face of a high school student, he works behind the scenes as "CODE:BREAKER". The story unfolds with an encounter with Sakurakoji Sakura, a high school girl well versed in martial arts, and as she tries to stop Ogami's actions, his true intentions and the existence of the other "CODE:BREAKER" gradually become clear.

The theme of this work is the relationship between "justice" and "law." Faced with evil that cannot be punished by law, people with special abilities try to realize justice with their own hands. However, the content asks the viewer whether their actions are really right. Furthermore, through the backgrounds and struggles of each character, the definition of justice and individual beliefs are depicted, providing a deeply moving experience.

character

The appeal of "CODE:BREAKER" lies in its unique characters. The main characters are introduced below.

Rei Ogami

Code: 06. A supernatural being who can burn evildoers to ashes with the "blue flames" that emanate from his left hand. He is a character with two sides to him, behaving amiably at school but showing a cold, ruthless side at work. His actions and beliefs are at the heart of the story and leave a strong impression on viewers.

Sakurakoji Sakura

A high school freshman well versed in martial arts. She was living a normal high school life, but when she meets Ogami, she struggles to stop his actions. Her growth and her relationship with Ogami add excitement to the story.

Time

Code: 04. A brilliant man with the power of magnetism, he is known for his light-hearted manner and for saying things that make it hard to tell if they are serious or joking. Although he is at odds with Ogami, there are many scenes in which they fight together.

Heike Masaomi

Code: 02. The student council secretary has the ability of "light". He loves tea and erotic novels, and is also a judge who checks the behavior of the other members. His calm judgment and humor add color to the story.

Tenpoin Yuuki

Code: 03. A free-spirited character with the supernatural power of "sound". Although he dotes on "Nyanmaru" like a child, he also has a side to him that becomes uncontrollable when he loses his temper. He is a genius who graduated from Cambridge at an early age, and is also the president of a huge company.

Hachioji Rui

Code: 05. He has the ability of "shadow" and is violent in his speech and behavior, but he also has a deep kindness and is good at taking care of others. He also has a shy side, and when he is praised, he gets into trouble.

Hitomi

A former Code:01 with the ability to cause electric shocks. He has now left the organization and is in conflict with the Code:Breakers for a certain purpose. He has a deep connection with Ogami and holds the key to the story.

Yukihina

A cold-hearted character with the ability of "Water Form." He cooperates with Hitomi and opposes Code:Breaker, but his true intentions are shrouded in mystery.

Fujiwara Nene

The vice president of the student council, she is a mysterious girl with a childlike appearance and behavior. She has heterochromatic eyes, just like Toki.

Prime Minister Fujiwara

He is the Prime Minister of Japan, and despite his dandy appearance, he is a pun lover. He seems to have a deep connection with Code:Breaker, but the details will be revealed in the story.

Mr. Kanda

She is Ogami and Sakura's homeroom teacher and physical education teacher. Although she seems like a clumsy teacher, she actually supports Ogami as an agent of the organization.

Takatsu Aoba (Aoba)

She is a classmate of Ogami and Sakura, and Sakura's best friend. She is a high school girl with a bright and proactive personality, the complete opposite of Sakura.

Sakurakoji Gotoku

He is the boss of the Onizakura Group and Sakura's father. He is usually cheerful, but when the time comes, he can exude a sharp, murderous aura.

Yuki Sakurakoji

Sakura's mother, a woman of unknown age who loves cosplay. Her easygoing and charming personality puts those around her at ease.

Animation and performance

The animation of "CODE:BREAKER" is characterized by the high quality of its drawings and direction by Kinema Citrus. Especially in the battle scenes, the supernatural powers of each character are vividly depicted, making a visual impact. The supernatural powers, such as Ogami's "blue flames," Toki's "magnetic power," and Yuuki's "sound," are beautifully expressed and have the power to draw the viewer in. In addition, director Irie Yasuhiro faithfully reproduces the atmosphere of the original work while adding his own unique interpretation to add depth to the story.

music

The music of "CODE:BREAKER" is also an important element that enhances the appeal of the work. The opening theme "DARK SHAME" is performed by GRANRODEO, and its powerful rock sound heightens the tension of the story. The ending theme "Shiroi Karasu" is sung by Kenichi Suzumura, and its memorable melody gently envelops the characters' feelings. In addition, the background music by Takayuki Hattori also skillfully brings out the emotions of each scene.

Ratings and Recommendations

"CODE:BREAKER" has been highly praised for its fusion of supernatural battles and deep themes. In particular, the portrayal of the individuality and growth of the characters evokes strong empathy from the viewers. In addition, the story, which questions the relationship between law and justice, is not merely a battle anime, but one that encourages deep thought.

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Unique characters : Each character's unique abilities and background are fascinating and draw viewers in.
• Deep Themes : The story explores the relationship between law and justice, making viewers think.
• Beautiful Animation : Kinema Citrus' high-quality drawings and direction make for a visually impactful experience.
• Impressive Music : The theme song by GRANRODEO and Kenichi Suzumura, and the soundtrack by Takayuki Hattori add excitement to the story.

I highly recommend "CODE:BREAKER" to viewers who enjoy supernatural battles and deep themes. Although it is a short series of 13 episodes, the character development and story development depicted in it will leave a strong impression on viewers.

Episode Guide

Below are the subtitles and summaries for each episode.

EPISODE:01 / The Great God's Judgement (2012/10/06)

The story begins with Ogami Rei using his supernatural power of "blue flame" to punish evildoers. The story depicts his encounter with Sakurakoji Sakura, who becomes the catalyst for her to try to stop Ogami's actions.

EPISODE:02 / Burning Spiral Blue Flower (2012/10/13)

This episode further details Ogami's "blue flame" powers, and Sakura begins to question his actions. The existence of other "CODE:BREAKERS" is also revealed.

EPISODE:03 / Angry Courage - The Hammer of Destruction (2012/10/20)

Toki appears and a scene is depicted in which he confronts Ogami. His supernatural power of "magnetic power" and light-hearted attitude bring new developments to the story.

EPISODE:04 / Battle Cry (2012/10/27)

This is the episode where Taira no Masaomi appears and uses his supernatural power of "light" to support the Ogamis. His calm judgment and humor add color to the story.

EPISODE:05／Feast of Wishes (2012/11/03)

Tenpouin Yuuki appears in the story, and a scene is depicted in which he cooperates with the Ogamis using his supernatural power of "sound." His free-spirited personality and love for "Nyanmaru" add excitement to the story.

EPISODE:06 / Lost One (2012/11/10)

This is the episode where Hachioji Rui appears and fights against the Ogamis using his supernatural powers of "shadow." His violent behavior and deep kindness are depicted.

EPISODE:07 / Cherry Blossoms in the Light (2012/11/17)

As Sakura tries to stop Ogami's actions, this episode shows her growth and deepens her relationship with him. Heike Masaomi's supernatural power of "light" also plays an important role.

EPISODE:08 / The King and the Soldiers, the Children and the Family (2012/11/24)

Hitomi appears and a scene is depicted in which he comes into conflict with Ogami. His "electric shock" power and his fate with Ogami are key to the story.

EPISODE:09／Stopped Time (2012/12/01)

This is the episode where Yukihina appears and cooperates with Hitomi to fight against Code Breaker. His "Water Form" ability and cold-hearted personality are depicted.

EPISODE:10 / The world as seen by people (2012/12/08)

Fujiwara Nene appears, and her childish appearance and mysterious behavior bring new developments to the story. It is also revealed that she has heterochromatic eyes, just like Toki.

EPISODE:11/50,000 Hostages (December 15, 2012)

Prime Minister Fujiwara appears and is shown to be a pun-lover despite his dandy appearance. His deep connection to Code:Breaker is revealed.

EPISODE:12 / Demon King, God and Man, Cherry Blossoms Watching Over (2012/12/22)

Kanda-sensei appears and we see her public face as a clumsy teacher and her private face as an agent of the organization. She also plays an important role in supporting Ogami.

EPISODE:13／God and the Blooming Flower (2012/12/29)

In the final episode, the relationship between Ogami and Sakura deepens further, and the story's theme of "justice" and "law" is depicted. The growth and future of each character is also shown, leaving viewers with a strong emotional response.

Conclusion

"CODE:BREAKER" is a fascinating work that combines supernatural battles with deep themes. The growth of the unique characters and the development of the story draw the viewer in, and the content that questions the relationship between law and justice encourages deep thought. Kinema Citrus' high-quality animation, theme songs by GRANRODEO and Kenichi Suzuki, and background music by Takayuki Hattori add excitement to the story, making it a short series of 13 episodes that is deeply moving. Highly recommended for viewers who want to enjoy supernatural battles and deep themes.