Requiem for the Phantom Review

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Hey guys -

As of recently, I have fully completed requiem for the phantom. While it has amazing depth and a wonderful soundtrack, it still has it's many clichés.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD


First impressions:

Since I had only seen a single clip from the anime, I assumed that it was about an assassin going after an FBI agent who both happen to be lovers in secret. Of course, after watching it, I was wrong. The first episode gave me the impression that the main character was an artificial creation made for destruction, which, again, was incorrect.

Plot:


Requiem for the Phantom revolves around a teenage Japanese tourist, Reiji who's visiting America. Unfortunately, an organization called "Inferno" becomes aware of his existence and decides to take him by force to become an assassin, brainwashing and forcing him to kill in the process. His trainer is a young girl named "Ein", whom Reiji seemingly falls for. Together, they team up to assassinate anyone they are ordered to kill using an alias called "Phantom".

Thoughts and review:

Requiem for the Phantom came out in 2009 as a sci-fi anime that will definitely leave a mark. The first opening song and visuals are beautifully done, seeing Reiji run through all the paint-like imagery. While the song itself isn't particularly one of those kick@$$ rock genres that would fit with the overall theme of the show, the official opening, "Karma" is able to capture the emotion behind each character including Reiji.

Now there were quite a bit of cliches in here. Reiji supposedly lost his memory of who he was at the beginning of the series, but it was never explained what the organization did to make it happen. Sure they did reveal how he was captured, but what about everything else? Did they tase him in the head? Another thing, Reiji was shot by Scyth into the ocean and washed up somewhere - but for some reason he's next seen working under the very organization he was against. Even though he was putting on an act, what caused Reiji to cooperate so easily? It seems that it happens constantly in anime where the main character "goes to the dark side butnotreally".

I also don't understand why Cal, a girl who you would least expect to act violently, would insist going after Reiji after he "abandoned" her? He mentioned multiple times that he suspected she was dead and the same goes for her. I feel that it's a bit illogical for Cal to grow such large hate (and boobs) for Reiji within a small amount of time. My only other problem with this was the second opening song. It seemed a bit too..."happy" and lighthearted. When watching the opening, you can't get the feel of the actual anime itself. I think an opening reflects the quality of the anime it belongs to, including music and imagery.

Aside from that, the animation was very beautifully done for something that came out 5 years ago. The fight scenes are totally epic that they'll keep you on the edge of your seat, in fact, you never know what's coming next. Literally. Even since Reiji was forced to become a killer and can only continue because he believes that's the only way to live, but never wishes for anyone else to follow the same path he did.

I don't want to spoil anymore things for you guys - but Requiem for the Phantom is a beautifully done anime and I would recommend it to someone looking for something different.

Rating:

Four stars :star::star::star::star: for the proficient music and meaningful plot.

"Requiem for the Phantom" is licensed by FUNimation and has been dubbed in both English and Japanese.

See ya guys!

- BrightSakura :iconcherryblossomplz:

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