Sakura Wars TV - Overture (2003)

As the Sakura Wars TV series continues, two absent members rejoin The Imperial Flower Combat Troupe: karate champion Kanna Kirishima and klutzy engineer Kohran Ri. Kohran teaches Sakura to synchronize her heart with the heart of the mecha in which she fights; Lt. Ohgami builds team spirit among his fractious charges by insisting they cook and eat their meals together. These unorthodox methods pay off as women of the Troupe learn to put aside personal differences and work as a unit, which they must do to fight the rapidly multiplying villains. In addition to Crimson Miroku, Setsuna, a sadistic little mind-reader appears, accompanied by the gigantic Rasetsu. Even more threatening is a sinister swordsman who cleaves a stone in two. How these heavies relate to the destructive Wakiji mecha will undoubtedly be revealed as the plot thickens. (Rated 12 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon Amazon.com

Solid Character Work

For some unknown reason, I put off viewing this series an the assumption that I wouldn't like it. Of course, I was wrong. Sakura Wars is a very well put together TV series, one that combines the adventure of fighting demon attacks in Tokyo with the complex personal lives and interactions of the people who do the fighting.

Except for their commander, Ohgami, the flower troop are all young women, and all very different in personality and background. Sakura, who comes from a lineage of spiritual warriors, is the title star While the story revolves around her, it doesn't expend its entire focus on the young swordswoman. Sakura represents Japanese tradition come to the city and meeting modern life head on. Her struggle on this DVD is to bond with her koubu, the giant mechanical armor that she wears in their fight with the demon. But what is really important isn't the girl in the suit, but how her relationships with the rest of the team begin to build.

The first new member is Kouran, one of the technical wizards behind the koubu. Very much a geek, she helps Sakura overcome her discomfort with what she sees as a mechanical robot. Then Kanna arrives, a karate expert. She is an Okinawan (for some reason the Japanese think of Okinawans the way we do Georgia crackers) whose blunt and open attitude reveals a warm heart. Her cooking and folksy ways helps the troop weld themselves into a close unit, and her muscle gives them needed power..

Sumire, the irritating actress, also unbends a bit, when a shift in fortune makes her realize that the other girls could be genuine friends. Normally she mocks Sakura's awkwardness, but she suddenly reaches out past her pride. And we also get to see a bit of Maria's story as a Russian revolutionary. She and Sakura become an unlikely team as they race to rescue Ohgami from the demon boy Setsuma.

Just as characterization gives these episodes their depth, the story line binds everything together. The demons give the series purpose and provide the dark mystery that lies behind this steam gothic version of Japan. The childlike Setsuna and his giant friend Rasetsu are chilling opponents, and we are given glimpses of other dangerous characters that lurk in the shadows.

So rather than not like this series, I find that it is exceptionally enjoyable. If you haven't had a change to make its acquaintance I can only say that this is one of the modern classics of Japanese anime, and is well worth viewing. January 14, 2006

Very Cool

This is good. Ive never heard of sakura wars i just went out and bought it and wasn't disaponited. January 3, 2004

a must see

i bought sakura wars and i wasn't dissapointed. i highly recommend it to all anime fans . it has a great story , beautiful chracters and everything you could ever want in an anime. July 14, 2003

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