Anime is weird, and getting weirder every day, and I love it for it. Consider the plight of Rokujou Miharuan ordinary junior high student, if you consider being a complete tool ordinarygoing about his business of ignoring the world around him and everyone in it. Ah, you see, but we know why Miharu is such a mess, because we saw him at the outset in a flashback in the arms of an unknown hero facing off against a legion of ninja who for some reason want to tear him apart
As fate would have it, we happen to join Miharus life in progress just as he discovers whats been gurgling around in his inner self all these years; none other than the Shinra Bansho; a power so omnipotent that it grants its host god like power, if, and this is a big if, they can harness it. Call upon it in haste and wellanyone remember Scanners? Its been known to explode a few heads. Its sort of like the Witchblade only without the sexy transformation and super hero superfluous. Rather, the opposing forces are the various ninja clans who have seamlessly blended into the fabric of modern life, playing out their private little soap opera right under our noses. All of whom want the power. Once the secret gets out that Miharus the onewhen the power does come out to play Miharu becomes covered in vertical scrolling Matrix code before it takes its final form as, well, take a guessninja come out of the woodwork, some as allies and others as mortal enemies. Even those closest to him, sworn to protect him with their lives seem to have ulterior motives. So whats a kid to do whose life is turned upside down by the Book of Knowledge (hijutsu) dwelling inside of him? Well, not a whole lot, at first. Its Miharus apathy that has taken him this far, but as the tensions around him mount he finds the unlikeliest of allies and by the time he finally does choose a side the lines are so blurred it almost doesnt matter because nothing, so far, is what it seems. Nabari has a little bit of everything going for it; action, drama, tension, mystery, and comedy. And what it doesnt have, which is mainly fan service, it doesnt need. The complete series volume 1 certainly kept me glued.
Its really too bad that anime has become such a fiasco of late. Used to be youd read about a show and then follow it either episode by episode, volume by volume or wait for the box to come out. FUNimation is doing it right by releasing entire seasons at a time, but the online component really crashes the whole party. Curious what Id find on Nabari, I found subbed episodes on FUNimations site, starting at like, episode 19 and elsewhere the odd fan sub in the episode 20 and up range. As if trying to figure out what the hecks going on isnt insult enough, watching on a PC screen ads fatal injury.
I feel sorry for the writer, Yuhki KamataniNabari no Ou was her manga debutall of the animators at J.C. Staff, and FUNimation whove had to compromise due to the rampant piracy that now plagues Americas entertainment industry. I always considered Otaku a respectful term; someone who cared about the creators and the publishers who make it all possible for those of us that play by the rules and feel good about paying these people for their hard work. But since theyve toppled the industry and seem to care less, it almost seems like an insult. I despise the unregulated nature of the internet with every fiber of my being. Its slowly but surely destroying everything and everyone it touches. If youre so inclined, pick up Nabari at a store, and definitely check it out while you still can.
score 8.0 out of ten
verdict So many characters to love, all of which develop in unexpected directions. You never know what to expect, and in anime, thats rare.
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