Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom

I have always been a fan of Bee Train since Noir and have somewhat fallowed their work ever since I saw Noir, so when I heard about this series I just had to see it. I know that it is based on an video game but I haven't played it so I don't know how the story is compared to the game but for me this anime was awesome even though I perhaps didn't have the full back story. The story this time is a bit different from the previous titles I have seen from Bee Train, have only been fallowing their guns and girls series(Noir, Madlax and El Cazador de la Bruja) but this was according to me the best one so far, probably the best anime I have ever seen. I hope you will give this anime a chance cause I really believe its worth your time.

A well put conflicting story of two assassins owned by the infamous Inferno: a new blood nobody with the natural instinct to kill, and the other known as Phantom the ghost that takes it's targets by surprise.

The series takes it's setting in a three part time division that are crucial to story and it's understanding.

The organization Inferno holds its reputation for handling targets from numerous gangs as clients, and remains completely neutral. As the lead assassin known as Phantom completes task after task, Phantom comes across a young Japanese man and Inferno abducts him giving him amnesia and a new life as an assassin.

The character development of the two assassins grows as part 1 of the series (episodes 1-10) comes to its climax where just as the viewer is expecting Reiji's motive suddenly goes wrong. Also a civil conflict within Inferno leads to it's characters involved to take note of the two assassins and must take sides.

Seeing the series take involvement with almost every aspect of crooked cops to tense cat and mouse scenes are enjoyable as well as expecting more from it's characters involved. The diverse atmosphere plays a part not only in it's plot but to the beauty of the west-coast crime that Inferno controls. The locations have a good feel to where the illegal work comes and goes as the two assassins do their work for the organization.

It's almost as if the series itself is submitting a message or homage to Hollywood crime movies and shows as the series of events that occur have memorable and thought out moments we can tell came from classic crime thrillers and inspiration from well renown directors and writers. I'd like to think that the writers and director received inspiration when making this anime possible and showing that appreciation in an entertaining series like this.

Overall: has great action sequences along with character development from mostly all fronts. A tragic story leading two lives of trained killers that leads them to "heaven".

When I first saw this I got to admit I was sceptical it would be any good because I saw 'Phantom: The Animation' which was one of the worst OVA I ever saw! But this one despite different look of characters this was not a disappointment.

The story telling in the series was a lot more better then the OVA with far more depth and in spirit of the classic game of which I am a big fan of.

Also the characters were deeper and better presented and their portrayal was far better.

While I am adamant in my opinion the game is definitive I must say Requiem of the Phantom was a far better adaptation and interpretation then the OVA could EVER be!

Not going to give spoilers. It is a little dark, for warning a child dies in this show. Doesn't have any gore, hardly any blood too, but there is some nudity. Honestly if you have a problem with it, it is easy to skip over it in this show. If I were you I would watch it. It has like three or four seasons. Everything that happens in it is fairly predictable if you watch other things like it. It isn't too slow and it isn't too fast, (but that is just personal preference). I actually have not checked what it is rated but it is most likely TV-MA. Depending on if you are reading this for giving your child permission, I would say obviously it would depend on your standards, there is minimal swearing, but you are big on no nudity I would say don't watch this other wise you should watch it. (I mean if you have done this much research and read all the way to here you might as well watch it). That is all I have to say.

The bewilderingly bad final eight-episode act ruins what was an otherwise passable, albeit predictable, story. I wasted my money buying this poorly written series with sub-par animation due to the undeserving high praise it received in both ratings and reviews.

With so many movies, series, books, and games out there to watch, read, and play, there are far better ways to spend your time than viewing this, at best, moderately entertaining animé.