Air Date: August 3, 1996

Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery

Type: Movie

Studio: Madhouse

Age Rating: MA

Rating: 5/10

/Summary

A dude named Kamui returns to his home city to protect his childhood friends after his dead mother tells him too after he predestined death? He's part of a prophecy that says he will either destroy or save the world. Both sides compel hi to join them. His childhood friends get caught in the middle. part of the prophecy as well.

/Review

Another review where I don't know much about the source material. I know it's a shoujo manga based off some more Japanese mythology. With a OVA and anime adaptation that came out around the same time. I will eventually read the manga but that's sometime in the future I'm not sure about.

I say all of that to tell you that without any knowledge of the source material this movie meant absolutely nothing to me. Maybe if I was familiar with the source material it would but I'm not so it didn't. Most of the things in the movie made barley any sense. It really did feel like they took what they could from the source then simplified it into a 97 minute movie. Not in a Akira could stand alone kinda way but in a we tried our best but it's still confusing as hell.

I'm not saying that it was terrible, just nothing burger i guess would be the way to put it? Way more of a style over substance kinda deal. The animation and visual where absolutely beautiful. The lack of soundtrack was also a oddly great choice. It lets certain scenes linger more and have more of a impact.

From what I've read from others one of the only things intact from the manga is the gory elements. Which I can say as a guro connoisseur it's really well done. They spent a whole lot of time on it for some reason. This movie is more like a OVA from the 80s. Really good looks all around but a nothing plot, even has the gore elements. I guess I would recommend it if you want a movie where you can appreciate the animation and turn your brain off to the plot.