Witch Hunter Robin

Director
Shuko Murase
Production
Bandai, Sunrise, TV Tokyo
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
26 episodes
Year
2002

Witch Hunter Robin Volume 1

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
19th May 05

Witch Hunter Robin, seems very much like a cop show with Witches in the same way GITS: SAC is a cop show with androids and cyborgs.

The first volume introduces us to the secret organization known as the STN-J a Japanese branch of the Solomon agency who watches most of the worlds known witches, and takes them out should they pose a threat to others. The STN-J however does not take this view and instead tries to capture misguided witches rather than kill them. Having lost a hunter some months ago, the STN-J is sent a replacement in the form of a mysterious young girl named Robin, a “craft-user” who can create fire. There is a fair amount of tension at first as moral is low due to the loss of the member who Robin is to replace, and the worry that Robin may possibly be a spy from Solomon HQ. Robin proves a good addition to the team, often providing that essential piece of evidence or helping to take down the witch at the last minute. However it seems as if her powers may be a little out of control which could cause problems in future.

The episodes in volume one tend to follow the “Cop Show” motif, in that most of the episode is the various characters standing round working on the case, until they decide to burst on in and capture the suspected witch in some nicely packed action sequences. While there is a continuity throughout the episodes, they are pretty much stand alone episodes which can just be plonked in and watched. Characterization does play a small part in the later episodes of the volume; however it’s still early days. These episodes don’t seem to pick up on any overall plot for the future episodes apart from the connection between Robin and Amon (the leader of the hunter team), and the shows formula does seem as if it may tire if this doesn’t change quickly.

Visually the show is pretty dark, not in a gory way but every thing seems to be toned down in a similar way to “Boogiepop Phantom” or “Blood: The Last Vampire”, which isn’t surprising when it has the same sort of horror feel. Speaking of Blood, Witch Hunter Robin is also digitally animated with a use of CGI and more common digital techniques that sometimes the CGI will pass without you realizing it was there.

The first volume is an interesting mix of horror and detective shows; however there is nothing in this first volume other than the good looking visuals and decent soundtrack that make you want to check out the rest of the series. Here’s hoping that future volumes improve over this somewhat disappointing first volume.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English/Japanese/Itaillian/Dutch/Spanish Dub English/Itaillian/Dutch/Spanish sub Charcter Bios Traillers

Release information: Publisher: Beez Release date: May 23 2005

Notes: a great addition for anyone form Europe as the show is avalible in so many diffrent languages. Extras include some rather breif chacter bios on all the main cast, and traillers.

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 19th May 05

Witch Hunter Robin Images