Code:Breaker

Alternative Title: コードブレイカ― (Japanese)

Summary: 

Sakurakouji Sakura has a new student join her class, a boy that she saw not a day earlier burning people alive from a bus window! Determined to find out his secret and keep him from hurting others she makes it her mission to follow him.  In doing so, she learns he is part of a secret organization called “Code:Breakers” a group of people with supernatural powers that does the government’s dirty work of killing criminals.

Review:

Code:Breaker is a show that tries to be more than it is and in the end that hurts the overall experience of the show.

From the beginning it begins to plant seeds for deeper meanings of good and evil, right and wrong, and a utilitarian overview of society.  However, the anime does little to focus and really comment on these things, rather introducing new  characters and having stupid comic relief moments at the wrong times.  Example, taking a girl and a puppy into a battle field… why?

The anime also continues to introduce plot points that are never fully explained up to the end of the show, such as implying Sakurakouji has a deeper skill and importance to her but never fully fleshing that out.  Also introducing government motives and ultimatums.  The show is based off of a still ongoing manga that currently has 23 volumes so the source material is massive.  No second season has officially announced at this point but this show greatly needs it to close itself.  The ending felt more like a “to be continued” opening more questions and introducing potential new villains than a actual conclusion.

The superficial “deeper” meanings aside this show has fantastic action if you’re into the supernatural super powers side of fighting.  The best thing to do is approach this show as a shonen fighting show and know the ending will leave you hanging.  Despite appearances it has no touch of harem or romance to it which helps keep it focused purely on the action.  I’d recommend this show for people who are a fan of that genre with a touch of darkness, but know it’s faults and short-comings upfront and be warned.

[starrater]