Witch Hunter Robin: V.1 Arrival (ep.1-5)

First of all, it's an easy anime to watch. It doesn't really make you think all that much, but it's got a dark, mysterious atmosphere to it that's interesting, and Robin, although her dubbed voice is not to my liking at all (she sounds very weak and easily taken advantage of), is a very interesting character. She is undoubtedly, a very interesting character, which makes me wonder what she sees in the conventionally handsome, but dull, Amon.

All in all, plot is a bit redudant, but then again, most anime rehack the same stuff over and over again. Despite its faults, I can't say I wouldn't recommend it, and I am actually curious to see what develops for Witch Hunter Robin, because she is the most appealing character in the anime as of yet.

The selections and settings differ on each volume of DVD which contain 5 episodes a piece.

Other teenagers on the team are Miho Karasuma, a craft-user who can pick up information and impressions from objects and people, Haruto Sakaki, is quick to spring into action but usually gets hurt and causes a lot of damage, Michael Lee, the group's resident computer hacker, and Yurika Dojima, whose only talent appears to be showing up late for work. Chief Kosaka shows up and yells a lot as he runs the group's daily operations while Takuma Zaizen is the administrator for all STN operations in Japan and has introduced a substance called "orbo" to the team's operations. Orbo amulets and guns help the team resist the effects of craft against them in the field.

The DVD follows Robin and STN-J as they hunt down witches in the first four of the series 26 episodes: (1) "Replacement" has Robin joining the STN-J team, but on the first mission the other members of the team do not know that she is their new witch hunter; (2) "Addicted to Power" begins with the witch Kazuya Misawa on trial for murdering his business partner, but even though the police have tampered with the evidence it is doubtful he will be convicted, which means STN-J has to stop him before he can kill again; (3) "Dancing in Darkness" begins with the STN-J investigating a dried corpse where Robin finds a dead insect and the hunt is on for a witch who can control insects, but then it turns out the murder of witches goes back for centuries, which suggests something else might be at work; and (4) "Stubborn Aesthetics" begins with Amon giving Robin the file for a series of murder cases that may or may not be related but might involve a witch. Robin and Miho investigate the case together.

These first four episodes are laying the foundation for what is to come. Witches are obviously bad, but the distinction between the hunted and the hunters seems rather suspect. Are we talking about the difference between good witches and bad witches or is there more going on here? Early on Robin is learning the ropes as well as getting used to her teenage teammates. Things are starting to come together slowly and given I trust the recommendations of those who urged me to check out this particular anime I am focusing on key interpersonal elements and other hints that suggest what might be coming down the road for Witch Hunter Robin and her teammates. The animation is above average but it is really character more than pictures which are carrying this anime.