Train Heartnet, known as the Black Cat, is an efficient, conscienceless assassin. He’s very good at what he does and what he does is kill people. When he meets Saya Minatsuki he starts to question his destiny, enough to give up the life of a killer to become a bounty hunter, but his old life is not so easy to avoid as he becomes a target for both the Chronos Numbers and the Taoist’s. Now on the eve of the battle between Chronos and the Apostles Train must make a choice...

Black Cat: Volume 5 - The Cataclysm is directed by Shin Itaggaki, for the Japanese Gonzo Studio and contains episodes seventeen to twenty of this twenty-four episode show.

Episode seventeen, The Napping Cat, and Train is off to a port to catch a boat to Kraken Island, where the Apostles are. But there is a quicker, if more dangerous, route through the mountains. Having taken the more dangerous route, he meets a girl who resembles Saya. After she punches him he awakes in a strange house, with a girl called Saki, though the house appears to be more fortress than home.

Episode eighteen, The Cat Deploys, and the excitement is pushed up a notch when the Chronos decide to go to Kraken Island to confront the Apostles. However, The Apostles have other ideas and send a squad of monsters to block their way.

Episode nineteen, The Sprinting Cat, and finally battle has been joined, everyone wants Creed dead, but the sweepers and Chronos are blocking Train's route to Creed.

Episode twenty, The Cat’s Showdown, and Creed plays manically on his piano, seemingly untouchable by Chronos. In a confrontation with Creed, Eve is overwhelmed. With time running out Train may be her only hope, and his final confrontation with Creed appears inevitable.

Extras are pretty much a sparse affair with only trailers, a textless opening and closing sequence. The audio and visuals remains the same as the previous discs.

Visually, and narratively speaking, the show remains pretty enjoyable, full of action and plot twists, well worth a look for any serious anime fan.

9

Charles Packer