Review of R.O.D. (TV Series): Vol. 3

Introduction

I had a look at the first volume of R.O.D The TV last year, and immediately fell for its literary charms. Well, it`s a cold, calculated romance, as I waited for a suitable sale before filling out the parking space assigned to R.O.D on my shelf. Also determined to do things right, this time I began with Read Or Die, the OVA series. It`s well worth doing as while initially the two stories seem separate and can be enjoyed that way, from practically the first frame, the TV series makes visual and narrative reference to the OVA, and as the story progresses, the two become more and more intertwined. These aspects didn`t stand out for me the first time round, but having watched the OVA first this time, I found there was extra enjoyment to be had from the TV series.

Michelle, Maggie and Anita are three paper masters, able to manipulate paper to their will. In their hands, paper cuts can be fatal, paper aeroplanes can take paying passengers, and a sheet of A4 can be bulletproof. They run the Paper Sisters detective agency, using their formidable abilities to fight crime. They are also committed bibliophiles, well all except Anita, and their love of the written word is something that dominates their lives.

Previously, we saw the sisters` other lives, as they carried out missions for their benefactors, Dokusensha Inc. Now as aspects of the conspiracy become clear, their lives will change irrevocably. The next four episodes of R.O.D The TV are presented by MVM in Volume 3 along with a few extra goodies.

9. Heart Of Darkness
A secret mission into a distant jungle beckons for the Paper Sisters. Well, it`s a holiday resort now, but the mission isn`t any less important. They have to locate a British Library operative and her bodyguard and retrieve "The Book Of Forlorn Blood". Nenene is at the hotel attending the wedding of a school friend. The operative Alice Arquette is there to explore some ruins, searching for a mystic key. The same character that first broke into Anita`s school library is there on a mission of his own. The bodyguard looks remarkably familiar, and Dokusensha has been lying.

10. Christmas Carol
Nenene is trying hard to avoid Christmas, but when she gets an invitation to an awards ceremony for up and coming authors, the sisters convince her to go. There`s one more celebration to attend as well. Two years ago, a Paper Master named Michelle met another named Maggie, and on their first mission together encountered a hungry waif named Anita.

11. Goodbye Japan
Nenene has gotten over her writer`s block and submitted a new novel to her editor. That, and the fact that she hasn`t needed the services of her bodyguards for the past year means that it`s time for the Paper Sisters to return home to Hong Kong. It`s hardest of all for Anita, who has to say goodbye to her friends at school, especially best friend Hisami. The Hong Kong movie based on Nenene`s previous novel is also complete, so as part of an extended farewell, she accompanies them to attend the premiere. But there is an unpleasant surprise waiting for them.

12. Twilight Of The Papers
Nenene has been kidnapped! And by Dokusensha no less! The Paper Sisters` employer generously compensates them for their `efforts`, and advises them to forget about the author. Now, Michelle, Maggie and Anita must decide whether to turn against their former employer and rescue their friend. Dokusensha has its own plans for Nenene, while those within its walls plot betrayals of their own, wheels within wheels.

Video

You get a 4:3 regular transfer, which is clear, sharp and with strong colours. I didn`t notice any problems with artefacts and the like, other than the usual banding associated with animation. The animation is nicely done, with vibrantly animated action sequences, balanced with more subtle moments. It`s an Aniplex series, and if you are a fan of Full Metal Alchemist, you`ll see some of that style in the character designs.

Audio

You get a choice between DD 5.1 English and Japanese as well as a DD 2.0 Japanese soundtrack. Translated English subtitles or signs accompany these. They are effective surround tracks, with plenty of oomph for the action sequences. I`ve also fallen for the music. Taku Iwasaki`s themes remind me strongly of the concept action dramas of the sixties, the Randall & Hopkirks, the Man From UNCLEs, with a hefty soupcon of James Bond to boot. It`s very stylish, very evocative, and is perfectly suited to the show.

Features

It`s an MVM disc so you can expect animated menus, as well as trailers for Texhnolyze and Gungrave. The previews, which are normally at the end of each episode, get consigned to their own section here. You`ll also find a gallery containing 13 images from the show.

Following the verbal anarchy of the previous volume`s commentary, volume 3 gets a far more sedate and useful track on episode 12 from Taliesin Jaffe and line producer Jonathan Klein. It`s much more informative, as the two talk about the whole process of dubbing and subbing the anime, with particular emphasis on casting, as well as balancing literal translations and getting the emotional context right. It`s well worth 25 minutes of anyone`s time.

Incidentally, if you want to see the creditless title sequences, just turn the subtitles off completely while they play.

Conclusion

Wow! R.O.D The TV certainly doesn`t stick around. Where most anime would spend a host of episodes establishing a show`s style and working a routine, R.O.D has a story to tell and it`s not at all hesitant about moving things on. Volume 1 introduced the characters and got them to Japan, exploring their individual foibles and having a little fun. Volume 2 set what looked like a nice trend for the show, alternating two episodes of action packed missions for the Paper Sisters, along with two episodes of domesticity at Nenene`s place. I could have seen that pattern continuing for another couple of volumes, but instead the pace changes again with volume 3.

We begin by seeing the action and domesticity collide, as all the main characters wind up in the same place. Nenene attends a wedding while the Paper Sisters have to execute an operation against a member of The British Library. Nenene gets dragged along on the mission, which takes a turn for the dark as the sisters learn just how ruthless Dokusensha are about accomplishing their goals, and the fact that they aren`t beyond lying to their operatives. It`s a sign that they are in bed with the devil and it doesn`t bode well for the rest of the series. Christmas Carol offers the last immediate chance for domestic bliss, with Nenene finally coming out of her slump as she visits an awards ceremony. The second half of this episode offers some background in the sisters, showing how they first met. It`s a sweet, seasonal story as the name implies.

Then it`s all change as the Paper Sister`s contract with Nenene comes to a close. It`s a sweet, melancholic episode focusing on Anita, as she has to say goodbye to her school friends. All the while in the background, we are privy to the dealing and machinations that occur in the higher echelons of Dokusensha, the hidden plans of Mr Carpenter unfold, and the ruthless actions that both his and Dokusensha`s operatives take to achieve their goals. It contrasts the pleasant friendly world of the sisters and Nenene, and that contrast becomes all the more obvious when the two worlds collide and Dokusensha takes Nenene for use in their plans.

There are plenty of threads weaving the tapestry of this story. Characters aren`t all that they seem, unexpected betrayals are rife, and the story twists and turns like a reluctant eel. My love affair with R.O.D the TV continues, and this is another disc of top class anime that practically recommends itself.