SYNOPSIS:
“Ordinary people muddling through life and intersecting with one another in random ways. Like people walking along road crossings in different directions with no apparent destination in sight. Human crossing is a realistic portrayal of everyday people in a modern Japan with all its beauty and ugliness. Human Crossing is a collection of vignettes about hope and a reminder of the small victories one can achieve amid vicissitudes of life.”

REVIEW:
Human Crossing is an interesting concept as it collects 13 stand-alone episodes with completely different characters and makes it into somewhat of a TV drama. It’s neat because it’s something that would certainly appear on North American TV in a live action format, but only the Japanese would think to animate it – a very good idea! Each episode is presented with a very different human struggle and/or conflict and how it comes to be resolved by the characters involved. It’s certainly a very serious anime – it’s a serious drama series with few laughs, as most of the subject matter is a bit sad or difficult. Then again, drama and conflict is rarely happy or funny, so it all makes sense.

The animation is clean and uncomplicated – it goes to show that the production crew wanted to focus more on the stories instead of just flashy animation with no thought put into the plots. The Japanese voice acting is fitting and well done, it really brings the hardships and upset of the characters to life. The stories are gripping, especially because each one is different so you have to really pay attention each time to see what is going on.  Viewers may be able to relate to a number of situations in the series as it all relates to real day to day problems and conflicts that we have or will deal with within our lifetimes. Human Crossing provides a breath of fresh air with its variety of subjects. It’s great to be able to stop at one episode, and pick it up a few days later without having to review the last few episodes since they are unrelated by plot.

In volume one, Human Crossing examines the lives of a boxer whose dark past is rekindled by his estranged mother in “The Wound,” and an idealistic lawyer who fights for an under privileged young mother in “The 25th Hour.” Also included, a workaholic businessman who rediscovers what’s most important in life in “A Promise,” and an independent woman who reunites with her deadbeat father and comes to terms with him in “Direction.”

In volume two, the format goes to three episodes per disc. The first story is about an actor who gets lost with his own success in “The Cicadas of Winter.” Also included, an idealistic professor who wants to forget his part in “The beautiful Afterimage”, and a workaholic journalist who rediscovers what’s most important in life in “Sidelined.”

In volume three, we have the story of a female prisoner who longs for a reunion with her family in “Message in White.” Also included, a short about a businessman who receives a surprise visit from his father’s mistress in “The Smile,” and a painter who rediscovers his passion in Paris in “City.”

In the final volume, the series examines the lives of an eccentric old gentleman who helps a boy from bullies in “Whispers,” an instructor in a reform school who saves a troubled youth in “The Instructor’s Rain,” and a bar hostess who is accused of stabbing her husband in “The Watershed.”

It’s important to mention that this anime series is now available in a sealed “Brick” format, collecting all the singles, sealing them together, and offering the set for a very reasonable price. All the discs still contain all of the extras and nothing has been cut from their original released format. For those that want it all when it comes to their anime, this is a great format to buy, especially at the low price.

EXTRAS:
Clean opening and closing themes, as well as the latest Geneon previews.

IN SUMMARY:
Human Crossing is a well-crafted set of interpersonal dramas that brings out the best and worst of the human spirit. It’s unique in the way it’s presented, each episode being a totally different experience.