Street Date: October 7
Official Synopsis:
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.
Our Take:
Okay, let me start off by saying that I am a huge anime fan. I’m always looking for something new to satisfy my palate, so I was really looking forward to checking out Strait Jacket. The idea behind this story is actually pretty interesting. Magic is used in almost every professional field you can think of - construction, medical, military, etc. However, anyone who utilizes magic runs the risk of over-exposure, so to prevent this, special suits are worn for protection, almost like a hazmat suit. If one of these suits becomes faulty, the magic summoned transforms the user into a horrific demon. Strait Jackets, or tactical sorcerists as they are also known, hunt and assassinate these humans turned demon.
I wish I could say that the plot is as interesting as the overall idea, but unfortunately it’s lacking. Don’t get me wrong, the movie is entertaining enough - mainly due to the action - but there isn’t much substance to the story, not to mention that the dialogue is super cheesy. As a true fan of anime I can admit that corny one-liners and goofy emotes almost seem like a staple in the genre, and I can usually see past these things if the characters and/or the story really grab my attention, but this movie didn’t make it easy. I won’t bore you with example after example, but here’s just a taste - when tactical sorcerists are first mentioned in the beginning of the movie, the script writers wanted to be sure that we all remembered the name, so they made sure the characters mentioned it in conversation about 20 times in one scene! If I was looking to get drunk I could have easily started a drinking game; every time they say ‘tactical sorcerist’ take a shot!
Another disappointment this movie delivers is that there isn’t any real character development. One of the main things I love about anime is that usually the characters - at least a few of them - have some sort of compelling back story or history that haunts them. As the story unfolds, the characters must face their fears, insecurities, wrong-doings, or whatnot and overcome their internal and external dilemmas alike. This DVD reveals details about the history behind a few characters, but just barely. Their history and what drives them is mentioned briefly, almost as a side note. At the very least, I expected a somewhat deep back story between the two main characters - Leiot and Cabelletaita - but was once again left with a brief glimpse of their connection. In my opinion, their relationship could have (and should have) been explored more deeply. There is so much potential for plot and character development in Cabelletaita’s character alone. Don’t think of this as a spoiler since it is revealed in the very beginning of the DVD, but Cabelletaita is part demon. That by itself could lead to so much more in the story! Unfortunately, her demon heritage isn’t touched upon other than the very mention of it.
There aren’t any special features on this DVD but, like most anime, there is a set-up option which allows us to choose between Japanese or English dubbed audio, as well as an option for subtitles. The good news is that there are a few star studded voices that you may recognize from other anime titles, such as Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop) and Crispin Freeman (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex). It was nice to hear their familiar voices, although, as I’ve mentioned already, the script didn’t really live up to their talent.
All in all, I would say that Strait Jacket is worth your time to check out if you’re looking for something outside of what you can find on Cartoon Network. If you’re looking to be entertained for 76 minutes and aren’t looking to be inspired by deep philosophical notions of human nature or invested in a character’s development or struggles, then this will do the trick. However, if you’re looking for something that will truly knock your socks off and pull you into the story so deeply that you’ll hate to see it end, be warned…you won’t be riveted by what this DVD holds.
