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Five years on from the bizarre massacre in which hundreds
of residents of the Machido apartment complex were mysteriously
slain, Ranmaru Shindou, one of the survivors, is an officer
of Tokyo's Special Mobile Investigation Force and has become
inextricably involved in the investigation into a recent spate
of murders that may be related to the Machido massacre. Now
aware that the rumours regarding the existence of demons in
the city are found to be all too true, Ranmaru makes contact
with the members of Tokko, the elite secret police outfit
responsible for combating this unearthly threat. Through them
he learns the legend of the Box of Dirge, an artefact that
alchemists in Middle Ages were said to have used to summon
demons to earth. He also discovers the shocking truth regarding
those known as "symbiotes" and, as a result, is literally
forced to confront his own demons...
Tokko
is based on the best-selling manga by Tohru Fujisawa. This
13 episode anime series brings together X-Files-style
conspiracies, supernatural terror, sexy crime-fighting detectives
and regular doses of limb severing swordplay in an apocalyptic
tale of demons running amok in modern-day Japan. I suppose
the best way to describe it is X-Files meets Hellraiser.
Volume
Two includes episodes six through nine:
Sorrow
- Who Kills My Brother: In a meeting with Councillor Ogata,
superintendent Ibuki reveals her suspicion that Ranmaru could
be housing a symbiote. Before further action is taken, Ibuki
asks Kureha to find out for certain whether Ranmaru has the
symbiote inside him. Kureha picks up Ranmaru and takes him
out on a "date". They visit a graveyard where Kureha
explains that her parents and younger brother are buried here.
They were killed in the Machida massacre. Kureha discovers
that Ranmaru does indeed carry a symbiote. She explains that
these symbiotes are demons and once awoken may take control
of his body and use it for the forces of evil, or may fight
on the side of humanity. This is what happened to her little
brother - he awoke the demon, which was evil, and Kureha had
to kill him.
Love - A Telephone Call: Ranmaru gets a strange phone
call from someone who says he can provide him with information
on what really happened at the Machida massacre. Soon afterwards
Ranmaru is attacked by the 13th Phantom demon. Ranmaru is
no match for the monster, so is glad to see Sakura and Inukai,
who quickly slaughter it. Could it be that whoever had telephoned
Ranmaru was setting up a test for him?
Awake
- Time to Say Goodbye: Ranmaru is warned off hanging around
with Tokko by two men in black. Soon afterwards
Saya, Ranmaru's younger sister, is knocked over by a motorist,
who seemed to be deliberately driving at her. Ranmaru meets
with the Tokko to ask about awakening his symbiote. They are
about to warn him about the full dangers when they are attacked
by a group of demons. Ranmaru says he wants to awaken the
demon within him and so Kureha obliges. Thankfully, the demon
is on their side and helps to slay the other demons.
Dignity - We Were Born to Be: Ibuki is called before
her superiors. They are not happy that she helped awaken Ranmaru's
symbiote. Apparently there has been an ongoing truce between
the demons and Inuki's bosses - one that now looks to be broken
as the demons are angry with the sudden shift in balance.
Later a demon attacks Ibuki, but luckily Ranmaru is on hand
to help. His true powers are unleashed and we discover that
he is one of the more powerful members of the Tokko. Ranmaru
also discovers why the group had earlier tried to warn him
off awakening his inner demon without knowing the full consequences.
It seems that win or lose, the members of Tokko will all ultimately
lose in the end.
This
two-disc set comes with the episodes repeated on both discs.
On disc one we get a choice of either 2.0 stereo or 5.1 audio
(both in either English or Japanese), while on disc two there's
English 2.0, or DTS (again in English or Japanese).
Extras
are a little lacking. All we get are a Gallery (1 and
a half minute photo gallery set to the show's theme tune.
Although the pictures are too small and for some reason the
designers thought it would be cool to add lots of distortion
as though you were watching it on a TV that has a bad reception
- it isn't cool); DVD Rom content (a screensaver); Opening
and Closing theme songs without credits; and trailers for
other releases.
This
volume moves the story on dramatically, although as this only
a 13 part series I can't quite fathom out how on earth everything
will be resolved in the final four episodes. This is certainly
a series anime fans should be collecting.
Pete
Boomer
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