I first saw Witchblade on an online banner advertisement that boasted of an American TV series based on a comic book. I never did get to read the comic book, nor did I get the chance to actually see the TV series. It was a shame because I’m fond of supernatural action flicks. Somebody told me that the TV series sucked, though.
I was quite surprised to find that Gonzo picked it up for animation. I had misgivings at first, thinking that this would be yet another angst-ridden teen vehicle and I’ve long since outgrown that phase. I am from an older generation of anime fans that often wonder when animators will realize that there’s a more mature demographic (READ: the ones with actual money to spend for this hobby) out there. I was not disappointed.
As can be expected of Gonzo, the production values are top notch. One look at the DVD covers is enough to make you gasp in awe. The artwork is nothing short of exquisite and the animation is flawless. A lot can be said of great choreography and fight scenes, too. Witchblade will never let you down when it comes to that aspect.
The true power of this anime, however, is in its character development. Sure, the plot is quite predictable. I had been guessing every step of the way and my guesses have always been correct. (Of course, that can be attributed to the fact that I’ve seen over a thousand animated titles and nothing these days can be considered original.) Nevertheless, Witchblade has brought me to many various kinds of highs and lows. The mother-daughter tandem of Amaha and Rihoko draw people (and monster machines) from different walks of life. On one hand, they have outrageously merry neighbors that border on eccentric. Watch out for the customary Gonzo swimsuit episode as this is where most of the fun is. On the other hand, they’re surrounded by political intrigues and power struggles by vainglorious organizations that wish to seize the infamous Witchblade for their own selfish purposes. Whatever angle the camera is aiming at, whichever company or division you’re rooting for, you’re bound to find a character that inspires you. You just might find yourself laughing uproariously in one moment, then stifling an anguished sob the next. I, for one, shed buckets of tears over one character, Reina, whose screenshot I wasn’t able to take.
The ending is elegantly bittersweet. I don’t quite know if it’s positive or negative. I’m feeling kind of sad that I’ve finished the series, the same kind of sadness I’ve felt over Berserk’s conclusion. It does, however, leave a lot of material for fan fiction writers to tinker with.
Individual Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 9; Characters 10; Sounds 8
