The vampire brothers, Jiro and Kotaro, will finally learn their fate in the Special Zone in the last installment of Black Blood Brothers!

plot summary

After coming face to face with one of Cassa’s “brothers”, Jiro loses all control and is unable to defeat his young enemy. Afterwards, Jiro decides to leave the Special Zone with Kotaro, only to find his little brother missing.

In a panic, Jiro single-mindedly searches for his sibling, only to discover more threats lurking in the shadows. Cassa and her band of brothers have come to the Special Zone to wreck havoc among its vampire population and to resurrect an evil from the past. Kotaro and his brother are caught up in the mayhem against their will but pledge their strength to the uniting forces of the vampire houses. Can Jiro master his blind hatred towards Cassa in order to save his bloodline and the Special Zone?

review

This series was far, far too short. While other anime suffer from being overly long and drawn out, despite their lack of plot or interest, Black Blood Brothers suffers from just the opposite.

This anime is an engaging and action packed story filled with twists, unexpected moments and unique characters. For whatever reason, a large amount of information has been severely condensed and crammed into just twelve episodes.

At the beginning of the series, the pacing was perfect. There weren’t any fluff moments or unnecessary scenes, and the story never deviated from its course. But at the end, the pacing became too fast, and the info which was easy to swallow before, started to become too much at once. In episode eleven for example, there was far too much to absorb in just twenty minutes. This series deserved twenty six episodes, or at least thirteen, and could have filled each one with enough story, history and background to satisfy all the nagging questions left at the end and yet still be entertaining.

Character Development

There was a lot of good development in the final installment of the series and many questions were answered, though not in as much detail as they could have been. Some questions actually gave rise to further questions and left a feeling of “Is this all there is?” And some answers felt too pat, too convenient, especially when it came to Kotaro. There was a moment I was taken aback in an explanation of his heritage, not because it was surprising, but because it was too easy an answer. It would have been good if more in depth story was given for Jiro, Cassa and Alice’s history. That was one aspect of the series which was given a cursory pass and taken for granted.

Animation

The animation for the series stayed strong throughout all twelve episodes and had good consistency. Style-wise, it was a bit on the generic side, yet it had a shonen feel which made it better than run-of- the-mill.

Volume Conclusion

Volume Three had a lot to deliver as the last installment of a short but very involved series. It did deliver, but felt incomplete on some levels. On other levels, there was an open-ended finality which left room for interpretation; not necessarily a bad thing, but not always a good thing either. Very open in other words, in a series which worked well in the time alloted.

Series Conclusion

It’s a pity Black Blood Brothers was unable to be produced as thirteen episodes, let alone twenty six. This is an anime which would have done very well as a complete, one season twenty six episode series. Yet, it still had enough panache to pull off an interesting, exciting story in only twelve episodes, something other series can’t even do with a full season. The story was a unique take on a fascinating subject, vampires, and handled the subject matter with class. The only complaint I have for Black Blood Brothers is its abbreviated length and the lingering feeling that much more could have been done with this anime.

Volume Rating

Black Blood Brothers, Volume Three gets 3.5 outta 5 Hammies!

Series Rating

Black Blood Brothers, Complete Series gets 4 outta 5 Hammies!

Retail Info

• Publisher: Funimation
• Release Date: May 6, 2008
• Retail Price: $29.98
• Number of discs:1
• Episodes: 9-12
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Rating: TV-MA
• Language: English, Japanese
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Charming and dangerous vampires fight for survival in Volume Two of Black Blood Brothers.

plot summary

Far from finding the peace they sought, Jiro and his brother Kotaro are in more danger now than when they first entered the Special Zone. Although the Company compromiser, Mimiko, assured the two vampire brothers they’d be welcome in the Special Zone, they’re anything but.

In order to successfully survive in the Zone, new vampires must approach one of the affiliated vampire houses and ask for membership. This is harder to achieve than Jiro could imagine, and much more dangerous as well.

Some of the obstacles he must overcome are from past ties and acquaintances, but there’s also a fresh threat from the Kowloon Children. Facing either old friends or new enemies, Jiro is still determined to find a safe haven for his bloodline. But will the Special Zone ever be safe with Jiro around?

Review

The world of Black Blood Brothers doesn’t feel recycled. Maybe it’s because the sorry state of the world is due to mutant vampires and not bombs or some other man-made catastrophe. It could be because vampires are the secret allies of humans and both fight a common enemy. It could also be because there aren’tany angst ridden fifteen year old heroes saving the day. Whatever the reason, the setting doesn’t seem stale.

The ideas aren’t new by a long shot; supernatural hero in red with sad past tries to move on by saving the world. But the combination and dosage of the ideas feel pretty fresh.

The story treatment of vampires in Black Blood Brothers is also a contributing factor to the fresh appeal of the anime. Vampires in this world are almost human, but follow their own code and formalities. They can even walk during the day, but will dissolve (not die) in water. They don’t turn human victims into vampires with just a bite, either. To the contrary, humans get quite a rise out of being bitten. It’s the ultimate pleasure.

If I have any negative comments on the series, it’s the hentai-ish manner these vampire-human scenes are handled. They’re visual softcore speed bumps which add nothing to the story. I prefer to “see” these things offstage. Leaving some things to the imagination is a good policy in such instances. Geez.

Character Development

Things got interesting quick in this volume. Tiny flashbacks at the beginning of the episodes started to fill in the blanks to Jiro’s checkered past. Jiro’s relationship to Lord Dragon, Cain and Cassa are becoming fleshed out by bits. Jiro’s history as a trouble-magnet is being hinted at with casual remarks and pointed instances.

After the third episode, it’s evident what a name the Silver Sword really has for himself and why the poor guy can’t catch a break for himself and his bro.

The Kowloon threat is starting to develop as well, with the introduction of a character who until now has been in the offing. It’ll be interesting to see how far Jiro’s past is interwoven with the Kowloon Children.

Conclusion

Volume Two zipped by and was over before I knew it. So much was revealed, hinted and promised the time flew by, but the anime was never rushed or cramped. There’re only four more episodes left to BBB so it’s understandable why the story is zooming so fast. Black Blood Brothers gets big time credit for not cramming useless info (except those out of place bite scenes) into the series and for having excellent pacing. With interesting characters, unique situations and good pacing, Black Blood Brothers has an engaging bite.

Rating

Black Blood Brothers, Volume Two gets 3.5 outta 4 Hammies!

Retail Info

• Publisher: Funimation
• Release Date:March 25, 2008
• Retail Price: $29.98
• Number of discs:1
• Episodes:5-8
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Rating: TV-MA
• Language: English, Japanese
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen

Black Blood Brothers is an anime I’ve been much looking forward to in 2008, not least because it’s an anime showcasing vampires. It’s a series with an undead ensemble, fighting against wrong and living for the night. Maybe this anime will pump some life back into my interest for the genre.

plot summary

Years after a terrible war revealed the presence of vampires to humans, one of the Black Bloods, aka vampires, is seeking asylum in the guarded city known as the Special Zone. Jiro Mochizuki, an Old Blood, has with him on his journey to the Special Zone, Kotaro, his younger brother. Jiro wishes to hide himself and his brother in the secret city where other vampires also live unbenownst to humans. The Special Zone is special because mankind believes all vampires were eliminated during the war, yet vampires live peacefully within this city.

The Special Zone is highly sought after as a safe haven as it’s guarded by a force field capable of keeping out the dreaded Kowloon Children. The Kowloon Children are a wretched type of vampire who’s bite will kill anyone who feels it, vampire or human, and then turn them into another Kowloon Child. Their existence is what sparked the conflict between Red Bloods, humans, and Black Bloods. But Jiro and Kotaro are Old Bloods of a broken bloodline, who only wish to live in peace.

The two find themselves embroiled in a battle between the Order Coffin Company, vampire refugees also traveling to the Special Zone and a strange murderer who may be one of the reviled Kowloon Children. In order to stymie the erupting violence, the Coffin Company sends out a compromiser, Mimiko Katsuragi, to smooth things over with Jiro. Things quickly spiral out of control for Mimiko, and Jiro sees his worst fears come to light underneath the full moon!

review

Despite a beginning which was almost laughable (Why do vampires need machine guns?), the anime turned out to be really enjoyable. After getting off to a less than stellar start, Black Blood Brothers, pulled itself together and marched strongly forward.

There’s an air of romance to Black Blood Brothers, and not in the sense of two souls finding each other. It’s romance in the sense of idealizing vampires, and creating a fiction in which vampires are handsome, charming, noble, yet altogether deadly. In turn these romanticized beings must destroy twisted images of themselves who are evil, vile, and disgusting things. Both the romantic and unromantic depiction of vampires are popular in literature and film, now the two come together.

The story is an interesting take on how vampires and humans relate to each other. Instead of killing or turning mortals, a vampire’s bite gives vast pleasure. The Kowloon Children, however, are a disease, a bane upon both mortals and vampires. And both mortals and vampires had previously banded together to exterminate the threat. Or so they thought.

Character Development

I already feel a connection with both Jiro and Mimiko as both were given background and motives in the first volume. Kotaro is cute as the clueless vampire kid, but I sense there’s more there than meets the eye.

Jiro is a likable character with the potential for real depth. He’s suffered, and suffers still, from a profound loss in his past. His sadness and anger play out as purely human, even though he’s a powerful vampire capable of stopping tank shells with a thought. He gets angry with his little brother, Kotaro, and tosses him around like a cat toy, but then holds him affectionately.

Kotaro is a naive, happy youngster who’s the opposite of his strong, brooding brother. He’s immune to the sun and the sea, while both negatively affect his brother. Kotaro laughs and giggles while Jiro broods in pure angst. It’s impossible to see how these two are related, except in a vampire sense.

Enter Mimiko, the Company compromiser. This gal has gumption and will go to any lengths to resolve a dispute between Red and Black Bloods if they’ll lead to peace. She does what her title suggests, she compromises with people. Mimiko’s got a tough personality with a touch of innocence. Most importantly, however, she’s, thus far, not annoying.

Character Design

Some of the characters are stereotypically anime, Kotaro being a prime example. His huge eyes, button nose and tiny mouth are anime’s way of saying “innocence”. I dislike this style, but I can stomach it in small doses.

Most other characters were free from the giant eyes and over cuteness. Speaking of eyes, what’s up with Jiro’s guy-liner? Is that a vampire thing?

Aside from Jiro and Kotaro’s costumes, nothing is either too freakish or too creative. I personally would have dressed Jiro in purple or blue, but I suppose it’s an anime thing to have the supernatural hero wearing red.

Animation

Group TAC, the studio behind Black Blood Brothers, also did Gilgamesh. Interesting. The animation for BBB was well done but seemed patchy in places. One shot would be absolutely gorgeous and detailed while the same scene two seconds later wouldn’t be so grand. Still other scenes were merely good, others okay, and others so-so. It averaged the animation out to good to okay. There needed to be some truly exquisite shots to bump the anime up to great. It lacked those shots, sadly.

Music

I dislike the OP, “Ashita no Kioku“, by Naozumi Takahashi very, very much. It’s the metal riffs along with the straight forward rock vocals which rubs me the wrong way. The ED, “Shingiru” by Loveholic, sung in English, however, is a lovely, soft melodious ballad. Quite the contrast between the OP and ED.

Voice Acting

Either the Japanese or the English voice cast are good options. I went with the Japanese voice cast, but the English cast is decent. If you’re a die-hard dub fan, you shouldn’t be too disappointed with the English dub.

conclusion

Rating

Black Blood Brothers, Volume One gets 3 outta 4 Hammies!

Retail Info

• Publisher: Funimation
• Release Date:2008
• Retail Price: $24.98
• Number of discs:1
• Episodes: 1-5
• Run Time: 121 minutes
• Rating: TV-MA
• Language: English, Japanese
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen