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Kite
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Genre: Action / Adventure

Comments:

I watched this anime OAV in English on June 2nd, 1998, right after the first disappointing day of the Otakon 99 convention.  I was in the mood for something new, different,......and dark. Kite (that's pronounced "Key-tae", not like the thing you fly on a string) certainly fit the bill. Kite's story revolves around a cute young college student named Sawa, who is a professional killer. Her boss Akai is the police detective that 'took her in' when her parents were killed in a brutal double murder. Together with another young killer named Oburi, they eliminate child molesters and other undesirables that Akai and his partner assign to them as cases. But all is not as it may seem.....

Kite is best described as 'intense'. It is a short OAV, running only about 50 minutes, and is packed with almost constant action. And be warned, the action is violent, very violent. I hadn't seen anything like this since Angle Cop. The best part is that you really have no idea what is going to happen next. There is also plenty of good solid swearing, sexual perversion, and a well supported short story with lots of downright nasty characters. The subplot involving pedophiles ensures that you will explore some of the darkest of human emotions and desires. The artwork is 'different', and is very good, and the dub was better than I would have expected. The soundtrack is also excellent. Having a definite La Femme Nikita flavor, and appealing to my love of a good story, I thoroughly enjoyed this anime, and would definitely recommend it.

A Personal Note: Whether you have heard the rumor or not, it is true that in an attempt to market this title to a wider audience, Media Blasters (the North American licensor), cut almost 40 minutes of footage out of the Domestic release (the original Kite is about 85 minutes long), including a rather graphic sex scene. This is a tragedy beyond words, and even though I'm certain they have heard enough about this already, it may not be a bad idea to write them and let them know what you think about what they did.


Sawa with her 'briefcase'. Can you guess what's in it?
I'm just glad I'm not on that elevator.......

OAV Synopsis:

She may be cute, she may be young. She may seem innocent and naive, but don't be fooled. She's a cold-blooded killer, and if you're on the wrong side of the law, you may be her next target.

After being orphaned at a young age, her parents victims of a brutal double murder, Sawa was taken in by the detective assigned to her case. Not content to just watch as the imperfect justice system lets more and more criminals go loose every day, he's decided to train her to be his instrument of justice. After all, who'd suspect a pretty college student of being a deadly vigilante!

Now she must decide between her allegiance to her guardian and her loyalty to her one and only friend, a fellow sword of justice.

Watch as this brutal story unfolds with stunning animation from the lethal mind of Yasuomi Umetsu, the character designer of such anime classics as MegaZone 23 Part 2, Robot Carnival (Presence) and the New Gatchaman (G-Force).


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