Review of Karas: The Revelation

Introduction

How do you keep an idiot in suspense? I`ll tell you tomorrow. How do you keep an anime fan in suspense? Make him wait two years for the next volume. It`s not such a big deal when you think about it. Fans have been waiting for the definitive Blade Runner for 25 years, so the anticipation for the second half of Karas seems trivial in comparison. But it is one of life`s petty annoyances, and the worry is that those who brought the first volume may have forgotten about the series by now. I reviewed Karas: The Prophecy back in spring of 2006, and was blown away by its flashy visual impact, not really caring that the story was as thin as a catwalk model. At the time I thought that as usual for anime, the whole series had been released in Japan before being adapted for the English speaking market. It was an erroneous assumption. Only the first three OVA episodes had been made in Japan, and for whatever reason, it took this long for the story to be concluded. As I type this, Japanese audiences will have just got to see the final OVA episode. In one of those rare occurrences, the UK DVD release of Karas: The Revelation (the movie of the final three episodes) actually precedes the US one, as well as the Japanese DVD release of the final episode. We get it first! Or rather you do, as courtesy of the postal strike, the review disc turns up on my doormat after the retail release, three weeks late. How do you keep a DVD reviewer in suspense?

The demon world and the human world coexist uneasily in Tokyo, but there has always been a champion to uphold the balance. The Karas is a mythological being clad in raven black armour, wielding a sword against his enemies, anyone who would threaten either world. That was until three years ago, when a former Karas named Lord Eko slew the champion, and moved into the human realm. Since then, other demons have become Mikuras, corporeal in the human realm and requiring human blood to survive. For three years, the city has been plagued by serial murders that no one can solve. Invariably one survivor is left to tell an impossible tale, while the victims lie drained of blood. The police are baffled, but they have set up a unit to investigate these apparently supernatural crimes. Their best lead comes when Inspector Kure is on location when an attack occurs, leaving only a young television presenter named Hinaru alive. What is more provocative is that just prior to the attack, an enigmatic new arrival was caught on camera, predicting the slaughter. But Nue isn`t a mere clairvoyant. He has his own business with the demons of Shinjuku. At the same time, a new Karas is called to restore the balance, and aided by Yurine he sets about the Mikura who have been preying on the innocents of Tokyo. But Lord Eko has been anticipating all this…

By the midway point, it seemed that Lord Eko held all the cards, capturing Yurine and changing tactics by attacking Karas` corporeal body as it lay comatose in a hospital. The story concludes in this second volume, comprising the final three OVA episodes, re-edited into an 85-minute feature, in which the Demon world and the Human world collide as Eko moves forward in his ambition to reshape reality.

Video

Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic, the image quality of Karas is almost perfect. The image is prone to the colour banding that is present to some degree with most animation on DVD, and there are a couple of trivial instances of compression artefacts. But the positives far outweigh the negatives. Karas hits like the proverbial brick. Its visual flair and dynamism is like nothing I have ever seen before, combining 2D and 3D effortlessly to create an experience that is literally jaw dropping.

This really is a comic book brought to life; the city and environments boast a dark gritty feel that hints of the gothic, but contrasts with a neon futuristic style that gives the story a technological slant. The character designs are excellent, and the idea of the demon world co-existing with the human world is inventively realised. There is a time shift between the two that allows for plenty of Matrix like applications of bullet time, as the invisible demons pass through a static human world. There is a colourful misty feel to the anime and effective use of light and shade give it a tangible reality that brings it out of the screen. The action sequences are something special too, absolutely breathtaking when at their best, as the animators use CG effects to stunning vibrant effect. If you think of Japanese anime to be more static than its Hollywood competition, then think again. This animation is truly astounding.

Audio

Manga Entertainment once again do their `everything but the kitchen sink` approach when it comes to soundtracks, with DTS, DD 2.0 and DD 5.1 Japanese and English soundtracks. I listened to the Japanese DD 5.1 and found it to be an excellent track. Karas is an action filled show, and the soundstage was fully used in relaying the effects. With the visual dynamism you would expect the sound to be equally as energetic and Karas in no way disappoints. The music is orchestral and powerful. It isn`t immediately memorable, but it suits the genre down to a T. It did vaguely remind me of Dark City and that is no bad thing. I sampled the English dub and found it to be excellent, very natural and well performed. Translated English subtitles are provided.

Features

Karas: The Prophecy came on two discs, but for The Revelation, there are fewer, if slightly more substantial extras, allowing for just one disc. You get the usual vibrant presentation, with colourful animated menus quite pleasantly designed. You`ll also find the usual trailer, as well as a brief slideshow gallery.

More substantial is the `In The Voiceover Booth` featurette. This lasts 22 minutes and offers brief snippets of Matthew Lillard and Jay Hernandez at work. An 18-month hiatus was bound to have an effect, and Piper Perabo didn`t reprise her role as Yurine for the second half. Her role was recast and Cree Summer filled those shoes. This featurette really focuses on her work, and concludes with a rather rough and ready interview. Incidentally Piper Perabo`s name is still prominent on the cover.

Finally there is the Rough Cut Excerpt. This lasts 28 minutes, and is essentially the `final episode` in various degrees of completion. It`s in Japanese and subtitled and allows you to see the unpolished work in progress, before the glossy visual and sound effects are applied.

Conclusion

Ah, so that`s where all the exposition went. Karas: The Prophecy was light on narrative and character development, wowing me with the flashy visuals. The Revelation lives up to its name by spending the first hour or so filling in all the gaps. We get to meet Karas in the human world, after Eko deals with Yurine. It turns out that he was a gangster named Yousuke who was betrayed by his own family. When he fell into a coma, he was called on to become the city`s protector, Karas. Now that he is awake again, he has some unfinished business in the real world. But with the city undefended, it`s open for Eko to take over and redress the balance between the human and the demon realms. Of course his desire for personal power will prove detrimental to both, and Karas will be needed once more.

The background is filled in, and there is even some character development. It turns out that every city has a Yurine and a Karas; indeed one is visiting from out of town and stops off to lend a hand. Only this Karas is quite a sassy, butt-kicking babe. Behind it all is a little bit of philosophy, with emphasis on how humans inhabit their environment and coexist with those around them, seen or unseen. It`s this tilting of the balance, the diminishing respect for the supernatural that has Eko in such a tizzy, and his actions are punctuated with pronouncements on the disease that is mankind. It all begins to feel a little familiar and clichéd.

In fact, familiarity was breeding contempt by the time I came to the end of this film. I don`t mind it when shows are inspired or even just blatantly copy other films. If something works once, it will most likely work again, and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all that. It`s just that of all films and shows out there, Karas decides to ape The Matrix sequels. It may as well have been called Karas: Revolutions. When the whopping great glowing red metallic tentacles start tearing apart the city, when Eko begins to increase his strength by draining the blood of humans, when Karas embarks on his Neo inspired journey to defeat the bad guys, my eyeballs began to feel the fatigue of all that rolling.

Karas is a little too self important for its own good. In aping the Matrix, it inherits some of that franchise`s flaws. A thin, nonsensical story, coated with pseudo-philosophical musings, ephemeral characters lacking in motivation, all wrapped up in audio-visual excellence. Take it at all seriously and you`re bound to be disappointed.

But, if you do what I did, and put your brain in neutral and just gaze in wonder at all the eye-candy and satisfying action, then you`ll have a whole heap of fun. Both Karas: The Prophecy and The Revelation are tremendous entertainment as long as you don`t pause to analyse just why. They`re perfect viewing for November 5th, if the fireworks are all rained off.