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Witch Hunter Robin Volume 2: Belief

Americans with cable have been treated to the greatness that is Witch Hunter Robin on Cartoon Network. The rest of us have to get our anime fixes through other means. The show centers on the main character Robin whose uses magic to battle the occult (like Witches, hence the name of the show) all the while looking downright gothic and dark. Part investigation, part weirdness, all style; it’s X-Files meets NYPD Blue in a Victorian wrapper.

Episode 06: Raindrops

Lots going on in this episode; starts off with Amon agreeing that Robin might finally be ready for active investigation as his partner now that she has begun to show much better control of her fire powers. On her way home, Robin runs out of gas for her Vespa, and wouldn’t you know it, it begins to rain. Saved from the rain by a helpful motorist, she becomes involved in an investigation when the motorist is found dead the next day from an apparent car accident. Hijacking Amon for field work, and Michael for research into the incident, Robin begins the investigation into the accident.

The main suspect Chie, at least in the eyes of Robin, is the last person to see the victim. Chie is an employee who was visited by the boss for not appearing at work. Michael manages to turn up a collection of interesting data on the suspect: a CT scan from her medical file which suggests the possibility of a multiple personality disorder and a family tree that suggests witch abilities might be a factor. Well she turns out to be the killer and tries to kill Amon using a doll with a Painter’s knife (X-acto knife, variable knife… whatever).

The episode culminates in a Child's Play-like battle with 50 dolls.

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Episode 07: Simple Mind

Now a real disturbing episode. The STNJ team is appraised of a particularly gruesome murder in where a victim was crushed in his car by some outside force. Realizing that the victim was a suspect in an armored car robbery of 200 million yen (it’s about $1.6 million US, give or take), it now appears that a criminal case could involve a witch. The prime suspect, a middle-aged man who is raising a distant relative. Upon trying to capture the man, one of the STNJ cruisers is rendered into scrap metal, and the man escapes with his young accomplice -- who may not actually be an accomplice.

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Shift to the suspect picking up his stashed money, only to be met by his young relative now issuing orders to the older man and now planning an escape. The intelligence of the boy allows him to try and deceive the STNJ team, but despite his theatrics, he ends up like all captured witches -- a prisoner of “Factory”.

Episode 08: Faith

A story of two doctors – ones who care enough about their most needy patients that they would kill for them.

The witch Kurohara is a doctor who can transfer life force between two individuals using himself as a conduit, so in order to save children from chronic illnesses Kurohara and his accomplice kidnap criminals and use their life force to heal their wards. The STNJ team is alerted when one of the victims, a Yazuka member who also happens to be a witch is killed.

After foiling an attempted kidnapping and eventual murder of a Yakuza boss, Robin and the team trap the pair in a construction site. Using chloroform on Robin’s backup, the doctors try to overwhelm the opposition, but Robin’s powers are too great. Kurohara chooses to sacrifice himself to save his colleague thus ending the spree of killings.

Episode 09: Sign of the Craft

To the confusing episode! A man is murdered by being severely burned and thrown off of an apartment complex… except the man doesn’t have any smoke inhalation and there is no fire damage to his apartment. STNJ team is called in to investigate this obvious witch related murder, and using the “Factory” listing all fire-using witch family lines are investigated but only one line could be the murderer. As they track down the suspect they discover a hit list...

STNJ arrives at the post-mortem of the 2^nd victim on Aki’s list, he was killed while driving his car when he spontaneously combusted. Returning to Aki’s apartment, Robin discovers that the person who had been using the apartment was most likely a witch whose powers included Astral Projection as the totems found would be used for such techniques. Now deciding to protect the third member on Aki’s list, Michael makes an interesting discovery… Aki is already dead, and they have DNA proof. Now making a connection between the three targets, all three men were involved in a Battered Victims Charity where children were being transported outside of the country for organ sales, and a young Aki was a ward of this program.

This one concludes with an interesting twist, if somewhat of a cliche.

Episode 10: Separate Lives

Dojima and Robin are placed undercover as waitresses at Harry’s; it appears that an older STNJ case has returned to Japan. A witch (Yutaka) that previously escaped a STNJ dragnet, is rumored to have snuck back into Japan and is expected to head to Harry’s bar for unknown reasons. (Yutaka previously killed numerous people before escaping, and his existence was revealed by Harry himself.)

With the unknown return of the witch, Harry’s is being wired for sound with Michael keeping an eye out with an array of cameras and keeping Amon and the rest of the team on standby in case Yutaka arrives. Complicating the extended stake-out is the appearance of another group which is also waiting for Yutaka; an unknown man has been waiting at the restaurant every day.

The mystery man finally appears to give up and leaves early, but not before running into a customer entering the bar. The new customer takes a seat, but doesn’t order anything and seems content to sit and wait. At closing time, Robin prepares to approach the gentleman but is hurried off by Harry and told to go clean up. Now alone with the new customer, Harry welcomes him as Yutaka… his son. He reveals that he betrayed his son because he worried that his son would become a mindless killer and refers that he has succumbed to an unspecified curse of his bloodline.

Up to this point, my favorite feature of the series has to be the story pacing. Unlike most action series, the show builds momentum slowly, allowing the plot to develop properly and letting the characters interact. A great action series.

- Tazman

(February 16, 2004)

“Those bastards aren't covering for me, they're taking the credit. I'll show them who the real tradition master is!”

“Uh, we can hear you sir.”

- Gimpy and Mump (Undergrads)