 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | ADV FILMS | | | ▪ | ASPECT RATIO: | | 4:3 FULL SCREEN | | | ▪ | AUDIO: | | ENGLISH DD 5.1 AND JAPANESE DD 2.0 | | | ▪ | RUNNING TIME: | | 100 MIN | | | ▪ | RATING: | | TV 14 | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 05/20/2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 05/05//2008 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
Girls both fragile and tragic with fearsome abilities and a potentially dangerous fate, Shattered Angels is all this and more. The anime is an adaptation of the manga Kyoshiro to Towa no Sora by Kaishaku, who also created Steel Angel Kurumi, UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie, Magical Nyan Nyan Taruto, and Kannazuki no Miko. Shattered Angels is set in the future of Steel Angel Kurumi, the far future but one not so different looking than its predecessors. However, this is no mere sequel, but an arresting series that displays reincarnations of all the above previous works of Kaishaku, the most notable in the series being Kannazuki no Miko. After a cataclysmic event ten years ago, a place has rebuilt and is now known as the City of Academia, an elite place of learning with various schools and an immense secret. It is a secret new transfer student Kuu will soon find herself in the middle of. The anime begins with innocence. Kuu is a sweet girl who dreams of a prince that is only a half-remembered time in her early years. She writes about all her events to her dear prince even though she does not know who he is. It is an endearing trait, one filled with childish dreams that young girls sometimes hold, to meet a prince that will sweep them off their feet. But one event leads to another and the arrival of a handsome man named Kyoshiro who is very much like the prince in her dream sends Kuu’s heart aflutter. However, a moment of fate shows Kuu a shocking scene between her prince and a beautiful girl named Setsuna. A kiss and then a battle and suddenly Kuu is not only thrown into the middle of this hidden war, she may be its key. Although Valkyrie and Steel Angel Kurumi could be considered lighter fan service anime with the occasional serious undertone (more so with Kurumi), Shattered Angels uses that expectation of fluff as a façade for a much more dramatic story lying beneath the surface, one which surfaces soon enough in this first volume. Quickly we learn about the Absolute Angels, the evolved successors of the Steel Angels. There are four such “Swords”. Three are known and the fourth is sought. Some within Academia want it for their own power, such as the sinister and malevolent Lady Mika who sadistically twists her Sword Kaon as she wishes to suit her twisted whims. The expectation therefore is that Kuu’s much admired princely Kyoshiro would be the savior, yet he hides his own twisted desires and this story may need a hero quite desperately before all is said and done. With this kind of layered and at times unsettling under story emerging, the anime resembles much more the dramatic Kannazuki no Miko. And more than any of the other previous stories by Kaishaku, it is Kannazuki no Miko which is seen reincarnated in Shattered Angels the most. There is a character strongly reminiscent of Nyan Nyan Taruto, and look forward in future episodes for a character which strongly mirrors Valkyrie, but the story’s tone, pacing and characters can be picked almost directly out at times from Kannazuki. Kaon and Himiko are dead ringers for their earlier reincarnations of Chikane and Himeko from that anime and some of their exchanges are almost word for word segments out of that show. Their story however differs here even though the ties that bind them and the nature of their relationship remains, it seems, the same, introducing a yuri (lesbian) themed story early in the Shattered Angels series. Meanwhile an interesting triangle is developing between Setsuna, Kyoshiro and Kuu which is a mix of Steel Angel Kurumi and Kannazuki that will be riveting to see unfold. Overall the dramatic facets of Shattered Angels make it strongly compelling in its own right. The reincarnations it offers in this altered world for fans of Kaishaku's works make it an absolute must see. The anime is atmospheric with gorgeous character designs that would delight many an Utena fan. In color and tone it remains closest to Kannazuki versus the more vibrant and pastel worlds of Steel Angel Kurumi and Valkyrie respectively. Although it does involve mecha battles, they are not the typical pilot and machine. Angels require a kiss for power (similar to Steel Angel Kurumi) but manifest their mecha selves in only segments or as a whole with the pilot outside and apart. This original and different tact gives a fresh take on the manifestation and implementation of mecha and makes for a refreshing change and one that works well within the atmosphere of this story. The opening and ending themes are pleasant though nothing that stand out. Shattered Angels offers a strong dramatic orchestral score within the anime that never overpowers the actual story while augmenting it effectively.
EXTRAS:
Bonus features include original Japanese web previews of the episodes, promo video 1, ADV trailers, clean opening and closing animation, and Bonus Shorts 1 and 2. The bonus shorts are a must see as they show revealing moments between the key characters.
IN SUMMARY:
Shattered Angels is a dramatic opus hidden beneath an innocent veneer. It is compelling and an absolute must see for fans of Kannazuki no Miko, Steel Angel Kurumi, UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie, and Revolutionary Girl Utena.
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