Takai
12-03-2008, 07:04 AM
Karas
Reviewer: The Guiltiest Gear
Original Title: Karas/Karasu.
Alternative Titles: The Raven.
Format: OVA, 6 episodes, complete.
Year(s): 2005-2007.
Genres/Themes: sci-fi, supernatural, action, drama; seinen.
Animation Studio: Tatsunoko Productions.
Director: Satou Keiichi.
Number of Episodes Seen: 6/6.
Introduction (optional):
I came across it one day and decided to research it.
Plot and Setting/Story: 6/10
This series takes place in a modern era city, wherein youkai* and humans both live together (although humans are unaware of the youkai existence). Then there are the Karas, recently deceased human souls who are chosen by Yurine, the physical manifestation of a city's will to be its protector. Our hero Otoha has become Shinjuku's new Karas as the old one has rebelled against the city's will and created Mikura, youkai who have acquired physical form via machines whom need to feed on human blood to maintain their physical forms.
The first half has Otoha acting as a sort of youkai doctor. I assume he acquired that knowledge the instant he became a Karas, as he magically knew Yurine's name without conversation from that point on. He occasionally leaves the youkai world to hunt down a Mikura, but the anime primarily focuses on Nue, a rogue Mikura attacking his own kind, and three humans who have been involved with the Mikura via their murders.
Otoha also has to protect the city from his predecessor Eko who has rebelled and now wishes to make the city abide by his will. Halfway through, Otoha spends more time in the human world and we learn about his past as he meets the human observers.
*Youkai: a term mostly associated with Japanese folk creatures and ghosts. The term can also apply broadly to anything that is a supernatural being or legend, from any culture. Because there are thousands of stories of magical beings around the world, the different types of youkai are endless. (source: Touhou Wiki)
Characters/Character Development: 5/10
I thought character development was done pretty well save for the evil Karas Eko: they didn't really explain how he can still become a Karas without his Yurine's consent, seeing as Yurine and Karas have a master/servant kind of relationship. Other than that, Otoha's Yurine got no development, so the way she acted toward the end seemed random and forced. I like the idea, but the lack of screentime really hurts instead of helping, considering she had such an all-business stereotype personality in the beginning.
Art/Animation: 10/10
The art was jaw-droppingly amazing. All the backgrounds had a blend of CGI and animation which made most of it look real. Then there are the Karas and Mikura who were also portrayed in CGI. It's not an exaggeration to say that the art is why this anime is so well known.
Speaking of the Karas, watching them transition between their humanoid and raven forms never got old.
At times, the backgrounds become static, as time stops when Karas or youkai are around humans until they leave the area. One of my favorite gimmicks is that the backgrounds become even more thorough during these scenes, to the point of adding a great deal of detail to raindrops and snow flakes.
Sample Screenshots:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4460335.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4462358.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4465483.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-2521277.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-2826246.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4458433.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-364188.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4458218-1.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/krs01a071_0101.jpg
Music/Sound: 6/10
The music was perfect for the series. The orchestrated battle theme is by far the best theme in the anime. Then there are all the sound effects... Let's just say that they made Mikura sound as metallic as they look.
Additional Comments or Warnings:
There are two things I truly hated about this anime.
One is they never explained the Karas in depth, and as a result, Otoha seemingly has three bodies in a manner of speaking, while the others have just the one, which makes things a little confusing.
Then there is the fact that they never stated what it was exactly Karas were meant to fight, seeing as Eko was an eccentric one that just didn't agree with the others' point of view.
This anime had a lot of graphic violence, impaling, dismemberment, people being eaten, etc. As long as you are okay with that, it doesn't get to the point where it could be classified as gory.
Also, in the dub, it's altered so the Karas are called crows instead of ravens; not a significant change, but it gets to me. They also compiled the series into two 90 minute movies (Prophecy and Revelations).
Overall Anime Rating: 7/10
Reviewer: The Guiltiest Gear
Original Title: Karas/Karasu.
Alternative Titles: The Raven.
Format: OVA, 6 episodes, complete.
Year(s): 2005-2007.
Genres/Themes: sci-fi, supernatural, action, drama; seinen.
Animation Studio: Tatsunoko Productions.
Director: Satou Keiichi.
Number of Episodes Seen: 6/6.
Introduction (optional):
I came across it one day and decided to research it.
Plot and Setting/Story: 6/10
This series takes place in a modern era city, wherein youkai* and humans both live together (although humans are unaware of the youkai existence). Then there are the Karas, recently deceased human souls who are chosen by Yurine, the physical manifestation of a city's will to be its protector. Our hero Otoha has become Shinjuku's new Karas as the old one has rebelled against the city's will and created Mikura, youkai who have acquired physical form via machines whom need to feed on human blood to maintain their physical forms.
The first half has Otoha acting as a sort of youkai doctor. I assume he acquired that knowledge the instant he became a Karas, as he magically knew Yurine's name without conversation from that point on. He occasionally leaves the youkai world to hunt down a Mikura, but the anime primarily focuses on Nue, a rogue Mikura attacking his own kind, and three humans who have been involved with the Mikura via their murders.
Otoha also has to protect the city from his predecessor Eko who has rebelled and now wishes to make the city abide by his will. Halfway through, Otoha spends more time in the human world and we learn about his past as he meets the human observers.
*Youkai: a term mostly associated with Japanese folk creatures and ghosts. The term can also apply broadly to anything that is a supernatural being or legend, from any culture. Because there are thousands of stories of magical beings around the world, the different types of youkai are endless. (source: Touhou Wiki)
Characters/Character Development: 5/10
I thought character development was done pretty well save for the evil Karas Eko: they didn't really explain how he can still become a Karas without his Yurine's consent, seeing as Yurine and Karas have a master/servant kind of relationship. Other than that, Otoha's Yurine got no development, so the way she acted toward the end seemed random and forced. I like the idea, but the lack of screentime really hurts instead of helping, considering she had such an all-business stereotype personality in the beginning.
Art/Animation: 10/10
The art was jaw-droppingly amazing. All the backgrounds had a blend of CGI and animation which made most of it look real. Then there are the Karas and Mikura who were also portrayed in CGI. It's not an exaggeration to say that the art is why this anime is so well known.
Speaking of the Karas, watching them transition between their humanoid and raven forms never got old.
At times, the backgrounds become static, as time stops when Karas or youkai are around humans until they leave the area. One of my favorite gimmicks is that the backgrounds become even more thorough during these scenes, to the point of adding a great deal of detail to raindrops and snow flakes.
Sample Screenshots:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4460335.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4462358.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4465483.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-2521277.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-2826246.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4458433.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-364188.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/vlcsnap-4458218-1.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/dragonmaster5/krs01a071_0101.jpg
Music/Sound: 6/10
The music was perfect for the series. The orchestrated battle theme is by far the best theme in the anime. Then there are all the sound effects... Let's just say that they made Mikura sound as metallic as they look.
Additional Comments or Warnings:
There are two things I truly hated about this anime.
One is they never explained the Karas in depth, and as a result, Otoha seemingly has three bodies in a manner of speaking, while the others have just the one, which makes things a little confusing.
Then there is the fact that they never stated what it was exactly Karas were meant to fight, seeing as Eko was an eccentric one that just didn't agree with the others' point of view.
This anime had a lot of graphic violence, impaling, dismemberment, people being eaten, etc. As long as you are okay with that, it doesn't get to the point where it could be classified as gory.
Also, in the dub, it's altered so the Karas are called crows instead of ravens; not a significant change, but it gets to me. They also compiled the series into two 90 minute movies (Prophecy and Revelations).
Overall Anime Rating: 7/10