Originally released in Japan as an animated feature, Tite Kubo's (Bleach) much-hyped new IP, Burn the Witch, has been split into three parts for streaming services worldwide
Set in a London that's separated into "Front" and "Reverse" parallel dimensions, the latter contains a great many dragons, who are managed by Pipers and a group called The Sabres, who defend against attacks and protect the population. Considering that by the anime's own statistics, 72% of all deaths in London are dragon-related, they don't seem to be very good at it!
Our heroines are two Pipers, abrasive tomboy Ninny and the thoughtful, considered Noel. Utilising a combination of magic and mobile phone apps, the pair work for the Wind Bind organisation that's controlled by a mysterious board named "The Powers That Be".
The central conflict for the opening episode revolves around a young man named Balgo, who is noted to be a "Dragonclad" by several characters, but they don't go into a lot of detail about what that actually entails. From what I could gather, he's exempt from the ban on dragon contact (which will land you 100 years in jail or execution) because dragons are naturally drawn to him.
He's first seen causing chaos as a dog with dragon wings called Osushi drags him through the sky causing minor damage, later attracting a much larger and more threatening beast that our heroines have to deal with.
I have two thoughts on Balgo; firstly, the voice actor seems far too young for the character, making him appear immature and immensely irritating. Secondly, the fact that the Powers That Be want him dead seems entirely justified and I am very much on board with it.
There are some very nice touches and worldbuilding going on here. I love the fact that Reverse London can transform itself in a retro manner - stone signs rotate to announce Dragon Blockade mode, and iron railings and gates appear to fortify the area. This is a lovely touch, and I will say that the film has a solid understanding of London architecture - it looks lovely, if a bit idealised compared to actual London, which is anything but "idyllic".
The animation is about standard for today's TV, so I was surprised that it was actually a film in three parts! I love the idea of magic and technology working in synch, and the stylised "brooms" that Ninny and Noel ride are really imaginative. The Wing Bind uniform looks nice and easy to cosplay, though the red tartan cloaks kept reminding me of Paradise Kiss for some reason.
I was really wanting Burn The Witch to blow me away, and the opening act didn't really have that effect. I wanted to like it more than I actually did, because the premise and the promo material looked so good. In practice, it's a magic-academy anime with mystical creatures, and I'm not seeing anything particularly original or gripping. That's not to say that it's in any way bad, but it's not the big bang I was expecting. There are however only two more parts remaining, so perhaps we'll ramp up rapidly from here.
The post credit sting of a morose looking girl hugging a small dragon (remember, 100 years in jail or death) added a little intrigue, especially as the distinctive jacket of a Powers board member could be seen entering the room.
I'll be putting together a full review over on The UK Anime Network, but for now, the opening gambit is solid but not spectacular. Let's hope there's more intrigue to come in the second and third acts!
Follow A.I. on Twitter and Like us on Facebook to get all the latest site updates
