Country: Japan
Genre: Thriller
Year released: 2003
Running time: 26 Episodes
Director: Koji Masunari
Cast: Helena Taylor / Hunter MacKenzie Austin / J.D. Stone / Rachel Hirschfeld / Sara Lahti / Wendy Tomson
Review by: M. Douglas
Date of review: 11/07/06

Read or Die is a series that chronicles the lives of an author, Nenene Sumiregawa, and her three “bodyguards”, the three sister group Maggie, Michelle, and Anita. You see the three sisters aren’t just regular bodyguards; they are in fact all “paper masters”, one who can manipulate paper in order to form weapons, tools, or even transportation. It’s through their involvement with Nenene that produces the plot of Read or Die and is the central focal point for the events that occur in the series.

Let me remind you that this TV series takes place after the OVA (which is also entitled Read or Die), so one who is not familiar with the certain arrangements of particular characters in the show could become lost, particularly in the later episodes. With that being said, people who are familiar with the OVA will greatly appreciate the addition of new characters in the TV series as well as the universe of the OVA being greatly expanded upon.

One thing people will probably notice right of the mark is the beautiful animation. Similar the OVA, the animation is a standout from the many shows I have seen, with its vivid colors and gorgeous backdrops, it’s something that an anime fan can appreciate. The actions sequences are well done and are the showcases for some of the better animation. Another great aspect of the show is the music; filled with jazzy renditions and classical compositions, it is definitely of the best soundtracks I’ve ever heard.

Another thing I like about the show was the character development. This is a departure from the action driven OVA, and for fans of the OVA, this could prove to be a disappointment. That’s not to say there is no action, it’s just that the action is disperse wisely throughout the series. Since the OVA consisted of three episodes, and the series 26 episodes, I was glad the action elements didn’t consume the show. This way there is ample time for the characters to develop as well as enough time to present the many twists and turns the series (plot-wise) provides the viewer.

Overall the TV series is a great companion to the Read or Die universe and provided a fresh storyline that not only expanded the ROD universe, but complemented it. This, plus the nice animation and music, make for one great anime that fans will enjoy, as well as newcomers who don’t mind having to play a little catch up later on to fully understand the story.

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Final Score

A

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Trailer

Tags:  read or die Reviews