From the box
In a world where sorcery and science co-exist, the power of magic comes with a price: humans who do not take proper precautions are transformed into horrific demons. Those who destroy these demons – and run the highest risk of all – are tactical sorcerists known as ‘Strait Jackets’. But when terrorists unleash a plague of demonic carnage, the Sorcery Management Bureau must enlist unlicensed assassin Leiot Steinberg to stop the slaughter. Even if this rogue killer and a mysterious young girl can end the outbreak, will they be able to face their own dark secrets? Monsters, murder and redemption collide in this explosive anime written by Ichiro Sakaki (Scrapped Princess) and based on his popular novel.
A throwback to the 90’s
Carnage is right! This short (76 minutes) OVA brings the bloodshed, and plenty of it. The violence and subsequent gore take me back to my early anime-watching days when I couldn’t get enough ‘ultra-violence’. There are a few shots sprinkled throughout that might actually give Elfen Lied’s opening scene a run for its money. Don’t get me wrong, there’s more to this anime than evisceration and a liberal use of crimson.
The story revolves around Leiot Steinberg, who I see as more of a vigilante sorcerist than an assassin. He’s unlicensed and refuses to play by the rules, which puts him at odds with just about everyone he meets. Enter Isaac Hammond, a by-the-book strategic sorcerist working for the SMB. This clearly puts him at odds with Leiot.
Pretty as a picture
Ordinarily, I think that this trend of wrapping the keepcase in a cardboard sleeve is unnecessary and useless, but this one is embossed with a reflective coating that adds a magical shine to the overall presentation.
The high quality animation makes the violence that much more intense, and the production design shows how much thought goes into the setting of a show and how the mechanics of that setting works. The Strait Jackets are reminiscent of a knight’s suit of armor with a modern twist. And a huge fucking gun that blasts magic spells to that and you get a whole lot of ‘kick ass’.
EXIST!
Overall, Strait Jacket is worth watching. It’s fun and entertaining, and sometimes that’s all that matters. For me, the biggest drawback was the short running time. There really wasn’t enough room to expand upon past events and character relations. I’d love to see this turned into a series. I think there’s plenty of untapped potential here. Still, I find it recommendable.
