Kurau Phantom Memory Anime Review

Kurau Phantom Memory

What would the world be like a hundred years or so from now? Many of us wonder about what will change and in what magnitude they will occur; many vibrant ideas and concepts inspired by various media and knowledge flood our minds, all to paint a fantastic futuristic world within the infinite space of our minds. Many Anime titles address possible futures, as envisioned by their respective authors with intriguing stories, dynamic characters, vivid visuals, and reverberating sounds.

“Kurau Phantom Memory” is a 24 episode TV Anime series that aired from the 25th of June until the 16th of December, in Summer 2004. TV Asahi, Media Factory, produced it, and Victor Entertainment, licensed by ADV Films and Funimation and brought to life by Studio Bones.

The primary staff behind it included Minami Masahiko as Producer and Planning, Irie Yasuhiro as Director, Nakajima Toshihiko as Producer, and Wakabayashi Kazuhiro as Sound Director. It features the genres of Action, Drama, and Sci-Fi along with the main themes of Space and Super Power. It received a rating of PG-13 for teenagers 13 years or older.

“Kurau Phantom Memory” is an original series adapted from two primary sources. The first is the “KURAU Phantom Memory” Manga which is only one volume in length. Featuring the genres of Drama and Sci-Fi and the themes of Psychological and Super Power, the manga was published on the 23rd of May 2005 via the work of Artist Hoshi Itsuki. Serialized in Magazine-Z, it is an adaptation of the original BONES anime.

The second is the “KURAU Phantom Memory” Light Novel, which spans across two volumes. It ran from August 2004 until February 2005 thanks to the work of Author Tominaga Hiroshi and Artists Ozaki Tomomi and toi8. This was also an adaptation of the BONES anime featuring similar genres and themes.

The story is set in the year 2100, in a futuristic world that has already succeeded in colonizing the Moon. It is currently conducting an avid project to explore and utilize new aspects of energy while traveling to their eventful future. The protagonist, Amami Kurau, is the daughter of the Chief Scientist working on this pivotal project. On her fateful 12th birthday, she accompanies her father to the lab to observe the many experiments.

Her “normal life” soon ends as something winds up going awry there, and twin bolts of light strike Kurau. In the aftermath of the unforeseen accident, her father is left in utter dismay to find out that his daughter is no longer his daughter. Instead, he finds that Kurau’s body is now home to two energy entities possessing extraordinary powers.

Most viewers start watching this Anime with certain expectations, expecting a more action-heavy series, but this is not the case. Decades into the future, multiple world wars and surges have given rise to a single power called the GPO, which is in charge of security for Earth and the colonized Moon. GPO Agents are utilized for a variety of jobs, and Kurau is one of them. This much is very similar to many futuristic Anime out there and is pretty straightforward.

The more intriguing part of the show lies in the existence of Rynax energy, which is of prime importance to Kurau and all of humanity. Kurau’s story is a constant roller coaster, with numerous chase sequences due to the main characters almost always being on the run. In the middle of all the hustle, there are a decent amount of mellow scenes that follow an average person’s quiet life, all until another chase initiates.

This cycle gets quite repetitive, and the show could have done better with fewer of them while emphasizing some of the better pursuits more, allowing viewers to understand the situations better. Many exciting aspects occur behind the scenes, and they keep the story rolling with the aid of the supporting characters, who do a lot for the plot while adding depth to it.

The show also has some predictable and generic mysteries, but what keeps it going are the stories behind the characters. It delves deep into relationships between people, ties between family, and bonds shared among friends. The growth between the characters drives Kurau forward, and this is the charm of the series, albeit lacking in many other aspects.

This Anime is Character-driven, and they do an exemplary job at it. Initially, Kurau is a young woman who is lonely and isolated, missing her other half.

With the introduction of Christmas, the series shifts to the growth and development of these two and the inner world of Kurau, who is constantly trying to maintain the balance between the desire to protect her other half and the safety of the world. Kurau is a powerful, impressive, and solid protagonist. Viewers cannot help but root for her as she steels herself to help others no matter the cost to herself.

Christmas starts off naive but achieves significant growth with the series progression regarding her desire to protect Kurau and why it's essential to protect everyone else. Doug and Ayaka are strong supporting characters. Despite not being fleshed out, Doug is a loving father determined to do the right thing.

Ayaka Steiger is a far more interesting character with a lot of personal baggage, who spends most of her time hunting down Rynax Sapiens in the name of everyone’s safety. With her very beliefs challenged, viewers see her find the truth, overcome her past, and move advantageously.

She just adds so much to the series that it's praiseworthy. Kurau’s father is also well written; he progressively comes to understand his role regarding Kurau’s life and the research he’s done over the years. Many of the characters grow and develop significantly alongside the changes to their world. While the remaining cast is very mediocre, they all add something to the show overall. The depth of each of the more pivotal characters keeps their journeys interesting, but the pacing is off.

Art and Animation can be a hit or miss depending on the viewer’s preferences. The Animation is calm, with a mundane feel. The Art of the characters looks more realistic and natural, albeit sketchy at times. Certain moments have gorgeous Art and Animation, while some others are incredibly lacking in detail to the point that it's jarring.

These lapses exist in backgrounds and scenery as well, making the transitions all the more noteworthy. This department won’t drive viewers away from the series, but it certainly could have been improved with a little more effort. Studio Bones tried something new here, and they did a decent job with it, so be prepared for both ends of the spectrum.

The Music and Sounds aren't that noteworthy or memorable. The Opening theme is "Natsukashii Umi" by Akino Arai, and the Ending theme is "Moonlight" by Katsuki Yukari, which are excellent, mellow and enjoyable, but are undoubtedly skippable. The OSTs are better in comparison, as they add more weight to the scenes and depth to the emotions portrayed, increasing the overall impact. Unfortunately, while this music works, it is highly repetitive and lacking in variety.

Kurau Phantom Memory is enjoyable, mainly due to the characters and their development. Despite the pacing issues, it's nice to see them all play out together. Battle sequences are a tad sparse, but they get better along the way because this certainly is not an Action series. You will love following Kurau on her journey if you appreciate solid character development with a bit of action.

This Anime is recommendable; all you need to do is get past the sketchy artwork and bad pacing, which the characters make up for. It certainly does not turn out to be the kind of series you expected at first, and this is a good thing because it is not just hollow action.

This anime is slow, mature, deep, and character-driven, and if you like what it has to offer, do not hesitate to get right into it! Give it a fighting chance, and you'll most likely end up surprised and entertained.