Wolfe reporting.
So... Claymore. My first true anime. I do take note that my first few watch-throughs were in the dubbed, not subbed, episodes. It is also the only anime to which I have read the full manga.
So, the animation style is interesting, neither cutesy nor harsh. I've heard someone say it's similar to Final Fantasy, but I can neither confirm nor deny that, as I've never played FF. Genre has been described as "dark fantasy". The characters are warriors, half Yoma, half human. Yoma are creatures that aren't human, but can disguise themselves as human. They hunger for human flesh, and are fairly clever about finding ways to eat it. They'll usually join a town as a citizen, eating people every so often, but normal humans cannot tell the difference between a yoma and a man. Anyhow, the characters (called "Claymores" by the townsfolk based off of the weapon they use) have strength from their Yoma blood and human will from their human blood. They draw upon their Yoma side, their Yoki, for inhuman strength. However, the strength from their Yoma blood feels good, and the natural tendency is to draw more from it. The reason why there are only female Claymores is because the male Claymores would almost instantly Awaken (no self-control for drawing power, similar to a lust sensation). As a Claymore draws from their Yoki: at 10% their eye colour changed, at 30% their face becomes distorted, at 50% the whole body contorts, at 80% they begin Awakening, at 100% they become awakened (explained by Teresa). When they "awaken", they become an Awakened Being, which is essentially an overpowered Yoma (as in, human will is lost, desire for human flesh is gained). Awakened Beings are, generally, ridiculously powerful. Claire and her friends (Claire being the main character) were past 80%, had begun the process of awakening, and then managed to turn back... they are capable of intentionally overreaching their Yoki limits in order to do amazing feats (generally healing) and then turn back to normal. They call themselves Half-Awakened Beings at one point. Some Awakened Beings are so ridiculously powerful that they are called Creatures of the Abyss.
The basic premise of the plot is that Claymores (who answer to the Organization) hunt down and kill Yoma in towns for payment (the pay going to the Organization). They are feared in the human society. Occasionally, teams of high-ranking Claymore are assigned to hunt down and kill Awakened Beings (referred to as Voracious Eaters at some points). Claire, the main character, wants to kill Priscilla (who killed Teresa, and is a Creature of the Abyss). It's a nice anime for those who love woman warriors wielding Claymores (very large swords) and fighting monsters/demons (Yoma).
The anime crashes and burns at the very end, the animators making up some brief but fight-filled ending to sate the viewers and put an end to the show. As for the Manga, the Manga is still going. I only wish that the anime might be revived and continue to follow the Manga plot. See, the anime followed the manga plot up until the very end, and this is what made it good. There are several plot arcs in the Manga, and only a few in the anime.
I'll rate Claymore very highly, up there with my top favourites. Instead of saying what I liked (because there's a lot), I'll say why it wasn't my #1. First off-- surprisingly non-bloody for a fighting-with-swords-centered anime. Secondly-- wandered away from the manga and then died. The manga plot was beautiful, it seems anticlimatic when the anime finished as it did. Thirdly-- Raki. I didn't have any attachment to that crybaby. He later becomes epic in the manga, but the anime ends long before that. Lastly-- Teresa. I loved Teresa so much. I wanted her to get more spotlight than those two or three brief episodes.
At some point in the future, I'll rewatch the subs and make another post.
What did you think of Claymore?
Links!:
Wikipedia Summary of Manga
Link to Claymore's own Wikia
Link to Teresa's armour
Link to article on Yoma
Wallpaper with Claire
Wallpaper with Claire (epic)
Wallpaper with Claire (nice)
Wallpaper with Claire (Red Night)
Wallpaper with Teresa (& Metallica quote)
AMV's:
EPIC "Criminal - Disturbed" AMV
Decent AMV - Breaking Benjamin, So Cold
Decent AMV - Breaking Benjamin, Lights Out
Epic AMV - Anthem of the Lonely by Nine Lashes
Next Week: Deadman Wonderland!
So... Claymore. My first true anime. I do take note that my first few watch-throughs were in the dubbed, not subbed, episodes. It is also the only anime to which I have read the full manga.
So, the animation style is interesting, neither cutesy nor harsh. I've heard someone say it's similar to Final Fantasy, but I can neither confirm nor deny that, as I've never played FF. Genre has been described as "dark fantasy". The characters are warriors, half Yoma, half human. Yoma are creatures that aren't human, but can disguise themselves as human. They hunger for human flesh, and are fairly clever about finding ways to eat it. They'll usually join a town as a citizen, eating people every so often, but normal humans cannot tell the difference between a yoma and a man. Anyhow, the characters (called "Claymores" by the townsfolk based off of the weapon they use) have strength from their Yoma blood and human will from their human blood. They draw upon their Yoma side, their Yoki, for inhuman strength. However, the strength from their Yoma blood feels good, and the natural tendency is to draw more from it. The reason why there are only female Claymores is because the male Claymores would almost instantly Awaken (no self-control for drawing power, similar to a lust sensation). As a Claymore draws from their Yoki: at 10% their eye colour changed, at 30% their face becomes distorted, at 50% the whole body contorts, at 80% they begin Awakening, at 100% they become awakened (explained by Teresa). When they "awaken", they become an Awakened Being, which is essentially an overpowered Yoma (as in, human will is lost, desire for human flesh is gained). Awakened Beings are, generally, ridiculously powerful. Claire and her friends (Claire being the main character) were past 80%, had begun the process of awakening, and then managed to turn back... they are capable of intentionally overreaching their Yoki limits in order to do amazing feats (generally healing) and then turn back to normal. They call themselves Half-Awakened Beings at one point. Some Awakened Beings are so ridiculously powerful that they are called Creatures of the Abyss.
The basic premise of the plot is that Claymores (who answer to the Organization) hunt down and kill Yoma in towns for payment (the pay going to the Organization). They are feared in the human society. Occasionally, teams of high-ranking Claymore are assigned to hunt down and kill Awakened Beings (referred to as Voracious Eaters at some points). Claire, the main character, wants to kill Priscilla (who killed Teresa, and is a Creature of the Abyss). It's a nice anime for those who love woman warriors wielding Claymores (very large swords) and fighting monsters/demons (Yoma).
The anime crashes and burns at the very end, the animators making up some brief but fight-filled ending to sate the viewers and put an end to the show. As for the Manga, the Manga is still going. I only wish that the anime might be revived and continue to follow the Manga plot. See, the anime followed the manga plot up until the very end, and this is what made it good. There are several plot arcs in the Manga, and only a few in the anime.
I'll rate Claymore very highly, up there with my top favourites. Instead of saying what I liked (because there's a lot), I'll say why it wasn't my #1. First off-- surprisingly non-bloody for a fighting-with-swords-centered anime. Secondly-- wandered away from the manga and then died. The manga plot was beautiful, it seems anticlimatic when the anime finished as it did. Thirdly-- Raki. I didn't have any attachment to that crybaby. He later becomes epic in the manga, but the anime ends long before that. Lastly-- Teresa. I loved Teresa so much. I wanted her to get more spotlight than those two or three brief episodes.
At some point in the future, I'll rewatch the subs and make another post.
What did you think of Claymore?
Links!:
Wikipedia Summary of Manga
Link to Claymore's own Wikia
Link to Teresa's armour
Link to article on Yoma
Wallpaper with Claire
Wallpaper with Claire (epic)
Wallpaper with Claire (nice)
Wallpaper with Claire (Red Night)
Wallpaper with Teresa (& Metallica quote)
AMV's:
EPIC "Criminal - Disturbed" AMV
Decent AMV - Breaking Benjamin, So Cold
Decent AMV - Breaking Benjamin, Lights Out
Epic AMV - Anthem of the Lonely by Nine Lashes
Next Week: Deadman Wonderland!
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