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Sakura Wars

» written by hinatasou [Discuss]

Synopsis
1919 Tokyo, Japan, years after the Great Demon War, a global task force called the Imperial Floral Assault Unit is organizing to combat the return of the monsters. The latest in technological innovation, the Kubo Spirit Armor, designed by engineers of Kanzaki Industries, is still in its testing phase. Only ones with enough spiritual energy can pilot the steam-powered machines. Kohran, Maria, Iris, Kanna, Sumire, Sakura, and lastly Ichiro are summoned as Tokyo’s last line of defense.

Review
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The Breakdown
The OAV isn’t bad but seems to be a bit rushed. But since this is an OAV and not the TV series (Which hasn’t been released in the US) I guess it can be forgiven. I still wish this Sakura Wars OAV stood on it’s own better. A more complete story would have been great.

» The Pros

Sakura Wars is based on the popular 1996 Sega Saturn game Sakura Taisen. The choice of setting interestingly is during the Taisho period when Japan was already headway for industry, modernization, and military strength. Again, like Utena, the character personalities show with their corresponding color guard. Sakura, pink, is child-like, quaint, and doubts herself, but eventually grows a new courage from her father and in her abilities and friends. Sumire, royal purple, is stuck up, rich, but excellent with the spear. Maria, black, is confident, quiet, and a tad mysterious. Iris, yellow, the youngest member, possesses psychic powers and cheerfully carries her teddy bear John Paul. The comical Kohran, green, is the stereotypical female mechanical genius but with the inventions blowing up in her face; Kanna, red, is the hot-tempered tomboy martial artist; Ichiro, white, has all of the traits of a leader, reliable, responsible, and is the catalyst for the rest of the team.

» The Cons

Story is fast paced. Sumire is a bit too conceited

» Animation

9.0	Well drawn and vibrant character art although the design for the demons seems to resemble those from the movie Alien. The plans of the Kubos solidify the time period and the technology at the time.

» Sound

9.0	Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan opening theme nicely matches the introductory clips combined with Japanese Brazilian style jazz ending theme

» Story

6.5

The primary category that lowers the overall score of this anime. Divided into four Acts, the first two introduce the characters with the second focusing on Sakura mastering her Cherry Blossom attack. At the end of the episode, Kanna leaves to avenge the death of her father dropping out of the anime temporarily returning as a regular team member in the final act. Kohran comes fully equipped in her own green Kubo at the end of act four. At the end of act four it gets Sailor Moonish with each character performing their special attack. The anime finishes abruptly. The whereabouts of the antagonist is left fundamentally blank.

» Recommend

8.0	An adequate preface to the 25 episode long Sakura Wars TV series.

» Other Information

Language: English dub or Japanese with English subtitles

Extras: ADV Previews

Package: Main character Sakura in pink kimono unsheathing her sword, behind vertically partitioned autumn colored and purple