Arte has abducted Hikaru. Kouhei’s powers have awakened, but only to cause nightmarish visions which leave him shaking in horror when he sees Hazuki. On the heels of a love confession, the call for a sacrifice is felt as Arte and her minions gain the upper hand and Hazuki is defenceless without being able to feed off of a horrified Kouhei. Her heart broken, but her head high, Hazuki sacrifices herself to save those she has come to love. At her decision to submit, the Shwartz Quelle Castle rises before them on the mountain, ready to claim her again as its prisoner…

The final volume of one of the most anticipated vampire anime series of the year finally comes to a close.  It all leads to a full out battle of the Mido clan and friends against the forces of the castle, Arte, her right hand, and the insidious Jeda. An unexpected betrayal amongst Mido’s own rocks them, but their determination to save a resigned Hazuki never wavers as they storm the castle to face incredible dangers and supernatural threats from all angles.

This climatic episode to end the overall series is intense and has some of the best supernatural action animated during it. The emotions are as thick as the tension with Hazuki’s broken heart and Kouhei’s need for courage taking the lead, but Arte’s reasons for her antagonism towards her half-sister run a close second, and the love the Mido clan has for Hazuki helps bolster the energy of the scenes and the hope that all will come out well in the end for the unlikely couple of a vampire and a human (Hazuki and Kouhei).

Curiously enough, the first two episodes of this volume are the climatic conclusion to the series. The very last two episodes are the afterwards of the story. The first is an epilogue to show what has happened with the surviving characters and is a welcome easing of the previous suspenseful and tense filled episodes, to show fans what has happened in the aftermath of the castle battle. The very last episode is like a quirky bonus addition set after the epilogue and filled with off-the-wall comedy and all sorts of chaotic antics as the Mido clan and their friends find themselves adrift at sea. There, they must deal with a ferocious octopus, Seiji snapping under the pressure, and a certain vampire acting out in order to get some attention. It is a very funny episode and an entertaining addition to round things off.

Despite the drama of the first two episodes, they also hold moments of the zany comedy and funny shenanigans that Hazuki has shown throughout the series along with the other female members as they argue over everything and anything, and sometimes those arguments get a little metaphysical should the come to blows. But it is interesting to notice that despite these moments, how much Hazuki has matured over the course of the series since she and Kouhei first met, to become the strong woman who at the end, attempts to sacrifice her own freedom in order to save her friends and loved ones. It builds to a suspenseful and emotional climax that will thrill fans.

EXTRAS:
Bonus features include character profiles, clean opening and closing animation as well as previews of other FUNimation anime titles. It also contains a 12 page booklet in a nice black matte finish with the lovely Hazuki and Arte on the cover. It holds episode descriptions, interviews with Japanese voice actors Chiwa Saito (Hazuki), and Hiroshi Kamiya (Kouhei). There is also an interview with Keitaro Arima (Orignal Author/Cretor of the Tsukuyomi Moon Phase) and a variety of other crew from the Japanese animation, including marianne Amplifier (real name Yukari Hashimoto) and yuka who did the ending theme song ”Kanashii Yokan”. There are also interviews with Jurouta Kosugi (voice of Yayoi Mido), and Dimitri from Paris who created the opening theme “Neko Mimi Mode”. Plus the book is filled with screen captures, character line art, and original sketches. The release also includes for a limited time four full color postcards while quantities last.

IN SUMMARY:
Moon Phase comes to a climatic throw down between the forces of good, evil and the undead in this final volume. It is a finale sure to delight viewers and keep them on the edge of their seats.

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto: