Revisiting Wicked City

“An Anime Masterpiece Ahead of Its Time”

Can you remember the first time you watched an anime that made you feel something? You felt both energized and uneasy after that. For many viewers, that anime was Wicked City. It's shocking to think it's been over three decades since we first saw this sultry, dark masterpiece. However, Wicked City's influence and lasting legacy make it worthwhile to look back on even now. This article will discuss why this anime was ahead of its time and why it remains a must-watch for new and old fans. Let's delve into Wicked City's world and discover what makes it iconic.

One of the most appealing aspects of the anime is its mysterious tone. The ability to transport the viewer to a world that is at once alluring and dangerous is a defining feature of Wicked City. One of the most appealing aspects of the anime is its mysterious tone. The anime is fraught with anxiety and unease wherever it is set, be it the neon-lit streets of Tokyo at night, the strange clubs and bars full of creatures from other worlds, or the Black Guard.

Wicked City is often viewed in the same vein as most horror anime, but it is very much a cyberpunk film with a nice mix of Shinto thrown in for good measure. The supernatural and fantastical creatures living in Wicked City's world are beautiful and add to the story's sense of danger and uncertainty. Man needs to pay more attention to these makai in favor of his technologically secure world.

While not the first to do so, Wicked City enjoys the most popularity with viewers as it was part of a cadre of anime that made the wicked underworld accessible. Gone were the exclusively grotesque beasts seen in Japanese folklore. No, these creatures hide their demonic natures under the guise of human flesh. They are more like demonic T-800s, and their killing ability is just as vengeful.

This, combined with the anime's enticing setting, is more than window dressing. Its purpose is to reflect the character's inner turmoil. When watching Wicked City, viewers are immediately drawn into a world of blue and black hues. digitalsynopsis.com says it makes people feel sad, calm, and cold, lulling them into a state of passivity before affecting their thoughts. This explains why Taki, one of the main characters, starts as a man who is lost in his thoughts and looking for excitement and meaning.

The setting of Wicked City is an essential part of what makes this anime memorable. This shows the talented and creative people who made it. Even after 36 years, the world still fascinates and amazes people. For those who haven’t read our older review and are unfamiliar with the anime background, hold on because here comes more information than you wanted to know.

Wicked City is a series of novels by Hideyuki Kikuchi that has also been adapted into film and animation. Tokuma Shoten published the series "Supernatural Beast City." Tor/Seven Seas published the first three books in the series in English between 2009 and 2010. The first book, Wicked City: Black Guard, served as the basis for the anime. Initially released in 1985, there have been a total of 11 novels released, ending in 2016 with Wicked City: Evil Mandala.

"Japan Home Video," "Video Art," and Madhouse produced the dark fantasy action/horror film Wicked City (Youjuu Toshi) in Japan in 1987. Wicked City consisted of one episode airing for one hour and twenty minutes. Yoshiaki Kawajiri, who is well-known for his work on The Ninja Scroll and Cyber City: Oedo 808, directed it. He also directed both Goku: Midnight Eye OAVs, and it’s no surprise that the primary aesthetics are similar.

This is probably due to Hiroshi Hamasaki, who worked on the Goku anime series and Wicked City. However, he is uncredited in the latter for his role as a key animation director. Yoshiaki Kawajiri receives an additional nod. He designed the characters for the above projects, which is another reason why these anime always appear familiar. In other words, they all share a similar feel. Wicked City is rated R+ (for mild violence and nudity) and has themes of horror, mythology, and superpowers. It also has elements of action, adventure, drama, and horror.

The Plot: For centuries, there has been a secret peace treaty between Earth and the Black World, a parallel dimension where shape-shifters with incredible supernatural powers live. However, that agreement is now due for renewal. A militant group under the leadership of the enigmatic Mr. Shadow from the Black World intends to take all necessary measures to prevent its signing. The world's fate now rests in the ability of a pair of special agents, one human and the other a shape-changer from the distaff dimension, to ensure things go according to plan.

One of the critical reasons Wicked City has stood the test of time is its focus on character development. The protagonist, Renzaburo Taki, is a character of his time. I liken him to Roger Moore, who was James from 1973 to 1985. He’s a smooth talker and a gambler who loves beautiful women. He possesses no superpowers outside his natural fighting abilities and his spatial awareness. Like many men in films of his day, he is a smoker, and while we know the health hazards of smoking, there was something extraordinary about seeing a guy take a puff while talking to the boss and then put it out in the ashtray before running off to fulfill his mission. Madhouse did an excellent job on said scene, and the ashtray toss was a nice touch.

Wicked City combined many genres, including the ones mentioned above and the cop drama. His relationship with his co-protagonist, Makie, is also a significant part of the story that has kept viewers engaged. The film's attention to detail and nuances in character development set it apart from other anime. Like Taki, she is a member of the Black Guard, a secret organization tasked with keeping the peace between Yokai and humans. Makie is his beautiful partner from the other side, assigned to keep the balance in check.

The duo is tasked with protecting Giuseppe Mayart, an old psychic medium said to be living in the ruins of Pompeii. He is integral to the necessary peace treaty, having assisted in the treaty of 1851. The events leading up to his arrival at the airport are impressive in both the action sequences and the voice acting. Toshiko Fujita, who voices Makie, is stellar, and her lines are sharp and witty; she pairs well with Yūsaku Yara. Their back and forth forced a few rewinds as she put our favorite playboy in check.

The chemistry between the heroine and the hero makes this anime a classic. The duo is used to tell a story that effortlessly combines horror, action, and romance. Many people who appreciate Japanese popular culture and anime use Wicked City as a touchstone. Wicked City uses tropes familiar to Japanese culture and the West, which is why it made inroads.

Yes, there is the perverted old man trope, which Giuseppe quickly fills, that we see in many anime, and as a fun fact, it exists in other Asian cinema as well. Just think about Chinese martial arts films, and the blind man from the classic “Two Wondrous Tigers” springs to mind. Aside from this trope, there is the struggle between good and evil, pitting light against the dark, which always involves the Catholic church. Spoiler alert: the Vatican is involved in making the peace treaty.

As many are well aware, the plot of Wicked City was not why early fans watched it; it was its visual style. The film's art direction and animation are unlike anything seen in anime of its time. It adds to the film's horror and action by making the atmosphere dark and gritty, which gives viewers a unique experience. How the movie looks and how well it was made show how talented and creative Madhouse and its artists are. I mentioned earlier that the anime used hues of black and blue, but as we follow the story, cool and warm hues are also used to depict all of the passions and carnal desires. Interestingly enough, love is presented as white.

Film noir was a popular genre in the United States from 1940 to 1960, and its revival spawned a new genre called "neo-noir." "Film noir" means "black film" in French, and it usually refers to movies that tell scary stories in a dark way. Neo-noir films use classic film noir's visual style and themes but add a modern sensibility. They also usually contain more graphic depictions of violence and sexuality. As previously mentioned, the noir—or, more precisely, the neo-noir—style creates the atmosphere of Wicked City.

Because it borrows elements from so many other styles, neo-noir defies easy categorization. As in the case of this anime, neo-noir films can take place in dystopian, neon-lit futuristic cities with big business, big government, or even demons pursuing the antihero. Neo-noir films can feature protagonists who are either good men making questionable moral decisions or vile people falling even further than they already were, rather than the stereotypical cynical detective and seductive dame.

Wicked City pushed those rules, resulting in an influence extending beyond the anime genre. impact on the anime industry cannot be understated. It broke ground as one of the first anime to merge horror, erotica, and action into one unforgettable package. It is a more accessible package than the works by Toshio Maeda. It showed how mature anime stories could be told and how the medium could be used as an art form. The movie's look and story, which are both dark and strange, continue to intrigue people and give them ideas. It is also why "Spider Woman" is one of the most recognizable characters in anime.

Wicked City's themes of duality, betrayal, and the struggle between good and evil resonate with audiences. After seeing Taki with his revolver, some may even view this as a modern Western.

The film's look at the relationship between humans and demons is thought-provoking, and its violent and sexual scenes make it feel even more real and visceral.

Overall, Wicked City's legacy is a sign of how it changed the anime industry, became a cult classic, and can still captivate people more than 30 years after it came out. It remains a masterpiece ahead of its time, and its influence will continue to inspire and shape the medium for years.

This anime cannot be ignored. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the scene, we urge you to watch Wicked City—you won't regret it. As the anime community grows and changes, it's important to remember the classics that set the stage for modern stories. In the words of one of Wicked City's characters, "The world is always changing, but some things never die."