(2001)
26 episodes

Clamp

Screenplay : Kazushi Okawanai, Reiko Yoshida, Akihiko Inari Character designs : CLAMP Director : Hiroshi Nishigori Producers : Bones, TV Tokyo

SUMMARY

Misaki Suzuhara arrives to Tokyo then made the discovery of Angelic Layer, a game where the age and the size do not have any importance. Enchanted by a combat which she assisted, she decides to become a "Deus" (trainer of angels). Guided by a weird scientist, she brings back to her house a puppet which will become its "angel": Hikaru. This one will remain a puppet until the moment it will enter the "layer". Misaki will then be able to control Hikaru by the thought.

After many competitions, Misaki made many new friends. Hikaru has the characteristic to be very fast, but there will be many angels to face before managing to fight Athena, the champ of all tournaments!



REVIEW

This anime takes some time before getting exciting but when the competition starts, one embarks rather easily in the story. Angelic Layer is a game truly enthralling to look at. Perhaps those who saw Pokémon will see there a version for the girls, but I believe that it is different. The angels do not have a heart and do not resemble animals. They remain puppets.

Moreover, behind the technology of these ultramodern puppets is hiding a more realistic story ; the Angelic Layer game helps in a way research in medicine. All the profits are devoted there. I do not want to reveal too much but I can say that the odd doctor is there for something... the mother of Misaki also.

Of course, each combat brings a new moral. You also learn that the game must be amusing, if not, it loses all its flavour. A good lesson in the world of today. The old proverb : "the important, it's to participate" still applies!

In short, despite every negative criticisms that I've read, I appreciated Angelic Layer very well. It's not one of those complicated animes, nor very original. It takes again the good old recipe : combat scenes, friendship, mystery and love but it does well and succeeds in diverting the audience.



Japanese original voices with English subtitles.


Myriel DesTorrents
myriel.destorrents@iquebec.com



Links to learn more about Angelic Layer

http://angelic.hikaru.online.fr/ (FR)
http://sg.geocities.com/angelic_layer2002/frame.html (ENG)

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