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Karas - The Revelation
Anime DVD Review
Get ready for a new type of super-hero... a dark one.
 Karas is the 40th Anniversary animation production by the renowned Japanese animation studio Tatsunoko Productions, who produced the original Speed Racer television shows and anime favorite Gatchaman. Originally produced as a six-episode OVA series, it was released here as two feature-length DVD sets... Except only now is the second part available. Karas -The Prophecy contained episodes 1-3 of the story, and now comes Karas - The Revelation, composed of episodes 4-6, completing the story and allowing us anime fans in America to finally know the ending!
 With Otoha a human again, En decides to take remedial action as the new official Karas. Otoha, who saves the gravely injured Nue by giving blood, learns of the approaching cataclysm that Eko's working for. However, Nue advises Otoha to forget everything and resume his old life, with Nue intend to atone for the Mikuras' actions while saving his younger brother from Eko's grasp. Taking Nue's advice, Otoha returned to Kabukichou, where he finds his younger brother Reiji being held captive by the yakuza...
Karas looks and sounds like nothing you've seen before. A production like this deserves to be seen by the mainstream. It is truely top-notch anime.
Featuring brilliant character and set designs (the creative team behind Karas also worked on Wolf's Rain and Big-O), stunning and unprecedented 2D/3D hybrid animation, breathtaking fight sequences, a thrilling musical score composed by Ike Yoshihiro (Blood: The Last Vampire) and performed by the Prague Symphony Orchestra (in 6.1 channel sound) and starring the voices of today's hottest young stars, Karas brings anime to a whole new level that will leave you breathless at the edge of your seat.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, October 2007
Below: A scene from Karas - The Revelation.
Karas - The Prophecy
Anime DVD Review
Tokyo - a city populated by both humans and by ghostly beings. They exist in both dimensions, seen and unseen: spirits, apparitions, demons. The balance between these two dimensions has long been upheld by the city's guardian raven Karas and his masters. But that balance has been thrown into disarray as Eko, a former Karas, has attempted to seize power and bring order to the streets through force. The entity Yurine, who represents the will of the people, stands in his way with her newly risen Karas. Now an ageless battle stretching across both dimensions and killing humans and spirits alike is in progress between the two sides and their armies. Karas is humanity's last hope.
It's essentially a cyberpunk version of The Crow... with a twist!
So; you've got Karas versus former Karas pummeling each other in the streets of Tokyo - two super beings with mystical powers and samurai swords. I smell videogame!
Karas is the 40th Anniversary animation production by the renowned Japanese animation studio Tatsunoko Productions, who produced the original Speed Racer television shows and anime favorite Gatchaman. Karas is an innovative hybrid production of 2D/3D animation, and simply looks astounding, with an abundance of action and some truly awesome artwork.
With an enormous amount of money behind it, as well as the guiding hand of Manga Entertainment providing US distribution, it also has Hollywood actors providing voices and the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra doing the music, Karas is a treat for the ears as well as for the eyes. Karas is simply the must-see, must-own anime of the year.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, May 2006
Below: Scenes from Karas.
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