Thursday, August 19, 2010

Saving the World with Paper (R.O.D. the TV)

     
I remember watching this television series from ANIMAX years back when we still had cable TV. Being one such action-packed show with the heroines' amazing power to control paper and use it as weapons, shields and summoned creatures really astounded me. But what really made me remember this awesome anime is its cool opening theme. Really funky basslines, jazz horns and that cool guitar vibe (combination of tremolo-delay-wah effect for those who have technical know-how on guitars) gives you that super-agent, James Bond-esque kind of feel. Not to mention, its similarly cool ending theme with its relaxing, feel-good reggae beat and that smooth sultry singing voice which is Kazami, one of my favorite singers in anime music.



ROD The TV is a sequel to its three-episode OVA, Read Or Die. The TV series' story revolves around three sisters who are, like Yomiko Readman from the OVA, are papermasters (not to mention bookworms with an exception to the youngest sister) - wielding the power to manipulate and control paper and turn it into weapons and tools of sorts - and Nenene Sumiregawa, a prodigy writer and novelist and is a close friend of Yomiko Readman. She has been unable to produce new material for some time due to Yomiko's sudden disappearance which happened after the destruction of the British Library (where Yomiko worked as a secret agent) 5 years prior to this series.

Nenene Sumiregawa has been suffering from a serious writer's block ever since her friend Yomiko's sudden disappearance and hasn't been able to produce new material for a very long time. Although Nenene tends to be brash, uptight and hot-headed (perhaps due to her already failing job as a writer) most of the time, She can be very kind and sympathizing to the people closest to her as she has shown to the three "paper sisters" later in the series. 

Having a keen and extraordinary talent, the three paper sisters have formed an agency called the "Three Sisters Detective Agency" and have been doing odd jobs requiring their unusual skills and have been working as super agents for Dokusensha, a company similar to the British Library (from the OVA) with underlying shady businesses regarding collecting books which are said to contain unimaginable powers.

 The three "paper sisters" (left to right) Maggie Mui, Anita King and Michelle Cheung. Like Yomiko from the Read or Die OVA, they too are paper masters and each of them has a specialty on using their powers.

Michelle wields a bow and arrow made from paper supporting her sisters in combat with ranged attacks. Among the sisters, she plays the role of the eldest and most composed one albeit her ditzy and sometimes airheaded personality. She is also one huge bookworm and buys a ton of books wherever she goes.

Maggie is the second eldest among the three sisters and my personal favorite. She is very tall yet despite her size she is very gentle, soft-spoken and introverted. Being used to wearing men's clothing (e.g. tuxedos, trenchcoats, pants) she is always mistaken for a boy. Her specialty is summoning familiars (ranging from tiny bats to ferocious wolves to gigantic dragons) and protecting her sisters in combat. In my opinion, she is the strongest of the three.

The cute, petite and youngest of the three sisters, Anita King. Don't be fooled by this brat's cheerful smile though. With her lightning-fast agility, "paper blade"-throwing skills and expertise in martial arts, this spunky kid is unmatched in close-range combat. Similar enough, like Nenene, she is also one heck of a loudmouth.


Eventually, the Three Sisters Detective Agency was hired out to protect Nenene Sumiregawa during her trip to Hong Kong where her latest novel was to be made into a movie. During an autograph signing, as expected by Nenene's managers, an attack threatening Nenene's life was executed by a local novelist who was extremely envious of Nenene's achievement. Lucky enough, Nenene escaped certain death having hired the paper masters as bodyguards. With her life under constant threat, her paper master bodyguards, had to stay in her apartment as part of their job of protecting her. Although it was a bit too much trouble for Nenene having to put up with the sisters' eccentricity - especially with the spitfire, hot-blooded Anita - eventually, they formed a bond of friendship.

Sparks begin to fly as soon as Nenene arrives and meets her mad match, Anita, at the three sisters' apartment along with a literal avalanche of books which broke through the front door. Later on, the three sisters move to Nenene's apartment after they return to Japan, as Nenene's bodyguards.

Later on in the series though Nenene's faithful manager, Lee Linho, abducted Nenene. Apparently he was with Dokusensha and taking Nenene for her talents was part of their plan for some kind of world domination. The three paper sisters though at that time were unable to help Nenene since it was Lee who hired them in the first place. But they know that it falls into their hands to save a friend and along with it, protect the world from catastrophe.

 Lee Linho, Nenene's once kind and loyal manager reveals himself as an agent of Dokusensha, a publishing company having ulterior motives of world domination. Although later in the series, Dokusensha seems to be smaller fry as compared to the main antagonist of the story, Dokusensha's rival, the British Library.

Most of the familiar faces from ROD OVA returns in this follow-up series with some role-switching of villains-heroes. (this time the British Library, where Yomiko used to work, plots to conquer the world.)  Yomiko Readman, still on the good side, plays a supporting role being Nenene's old friend who returns to help them save the world from the British Library's plot to dominate the world through books which contain enough power to do so.

If you haven't watched the OVA of Read or Die, you might get lost on some of the episodes with references to the events prior to this series, although it might not be too much of a problem since the series has a good story of its own complete with twists and turns that'll surely get you hooked. Definitely one of the best action anime series I've watched.

0 comments:

From The Idiot Box

From the screen to your lenses to your brain to your nerves to your heart, lungs and muscles and out. Its a compilation of my take, thoughts and impressions on straight up, good stuff (mostly japanese, anime, music and geek-related) from the idiot box that I like and you might like.

... and idiocy. :)

Popular Posts

Powered by Blogger.

Followers

Total Pageviews