There’s no beating about the bush – any anime which is fond of melting characters, sometimes key characters, is going to be classified as a bit strange. Oddly, Brynhildr in the Darkness makes it work!
There’s a mix of high drama, gore and fan service here but the drama keeps everything together. We kick off with a smart student called Ryouta Murakmai who, years after the fact, still blames himself for the death of his childhood friend.
Of course, a woman who looks like a grown up version of the dead childhood friend transfers into his school. She denies any connection instead insisting that he has to do what she says – or die.
We soon find ourselves caught up in a great conspiracy in which young women are being forced into becoming ‘witches’. If they try and revolt then the organisation controlling them presses a switch and they melt away. Don’t get too attached to characters here. Brace yourself for a Game of Thrones kill rate – except, well, with healing magic and medicine being a bit more available.
The evil organisation isn’t the only way the witches can melt away. If they stop taking their medicine then they’ll melt. Let’s hope that doesn’t run out…
Murakami sets about trying to save the young woman who reminds him so much of his boyhood friend. Using the astrology club as cover the pair manage to insist some allies and attract some dangerous attention.
It’s hard to say why Brynhildr in the Darkness works – but it does. It seems odd to have fan service spa scenes and more when the characters featured may very well melt in the next episode or who might have already melted into a messy pile of goo before the flashback. Odd but it kinda works.
It seems odd to have witches who are powerful and yet fragile. But it works.
Aliens? Throw them into. I bet that would work as well.
Enjoyed Elfen Lied? Both series were created by Lynn Okamoto.
I put Brynhildr in the Darkness success down to the tempo and action. You don’t have too much time to wonder why one character seems so determined to get laid when there’s so much danger afoot. You don’t have time to question decisions. You just have to hope for the best, try and keep up and wonder whether the girls will live to see another day.
The phrase “tour de force” is entirely appropriate for Brynhildr in the Darkness. If you’re an experienced anime watcher then you’ll enjoy this show. If you’re new to the genre then you’ll be floored.
My copy of Brynhildr In The Darkness was provided for review. It’s available in the UK from April from Manga.
