Review - Kurau: Phantom Memory Vol. 1 - Between Two Worlds
Reviewed by Richard Brownell on 8.27.2007.
Score: 7/10
Kurau: Phantom Memory was first picked up for North American release shortly after it aired in Japan in 2004. But it didn't get its release here until just recently. Considering how much anime I've had to catch up on recently, I don't mind the wait. That goes double because there have been several shows involving special agencies where their troops do dangerous odd jobs for money. However, the key difference between Kurau and other shows like that is that Kurau isn't really about that; it's just the backdrop to the real story.
The show opens with Kurau as a young girl a little less than 100 years in the future. Humans are tapping a new source of energy and her father is one of the key scientists on the project. During a major test, Kurau gets to visit his lab and watch his work. Of course, we all know this is a horrible accident waiting to happen and things go wrong. After a blinding flash of light strikes Kurau herself, she disintegrates into nothing and returns as a being of light. When the light fades and she's a human again, the personality of Kurau is gone and has been replaced by a being that came from the light called Rynax.
Her father is distraught, but there does seem to be hope. Rynax assures him that all of Kurau's memories are still there so maybe she is there hiding as well. But for now it's just Rynax. After a time, Kurau starts treating her father as a father with love and affection, but it's not the same because it isn't really her.
The Rynax is a special being. The energy that was being harnessed by Kurau's father comes from the energy between particles in an atom, which is also where the Rynax lives. Each one is actually a pair of beings and when the Rynax takes over Kurau there is only one personality present.
Fast forward many years and it's now 2100 and Kurau is living on the moon. She's an "agent" which means she is hired to do special jobs that the police can't or won't handle. These are usually dangerous, but she's always careful to take care of her body as requested by her now estranged father. Taking care of it isn't too hard though because having a Rynax inside you gives you tremendous powers, to actually control the atoms of the things you come in contact with as well as your own. This means flight, walking through walls, and even controlling how machinery and electronics work.
The show really starts when one night, the Rynax's twin is awakened. She actually emerges from Kurau to form a second being which looks like a young Kurau. Kurau names her Christmas and they begin their life together. Things are difficult though because Kurau is an unregistered Ryna Sapien. That means she has to keep her powers to herself and now keep her new sister secret as well. If she doesn't, the police will capture them both.
Kurau is off to a good start, but it hasn't fully grabbed me. The concept of the show, which is to have the two beings Kurau and Christmas, has really only just started and hasn't been explored much at all. Kurau is a strong but quiet main character that lacks the typical hard-hitting attitude that many characters in this type of show have. This could end up being a good thing giving the show a fresh feeling, but for now the subdued slower pace of Kurah is not enthralling.
Still, it's not a bad show by any means. Given a chance, I'm hoping it will exceed my expectations and do some very interesting things. The one part that really sticks out at me so far is the world that has been fleshed out for Kurau to live in. People live in giant metropolises and a large city on the moon. They get around in futuristic cars and the police don't have ordinary guns but these weird energy sticks. Humans harnessed energy from water already and are still working on how to deal with Rynax. It's possible releasing these Rynax creatures for their energy could end up being disastrous for mankind. But I'm sure we'll find that out and more in the next volume.
Special Features
· Clean Opening and Closing Animation
· Key Words
· Kurau Phantom Memory Promotional Video
· Production Artwork
· Booklet with Interviews and More
· ADV Previews
