The Charge

The Power to Burn Away Evil

The Case

Witch Hunter Robin is an anime series featuring 15-year old Robin Sena, a "craft" user with pyrotechnic abilities who signs on with a special witch-hunting organization called STNJ after one of their teammates is killed in the field. As the new girl, and having been raised in a convent run by an organization dedicated to wiping out witches who abuse their powers, she is shy and mistrustful of the others.

There is a strong X-Files vibe to the show, in that STNJ is tasked with tracking paranormal activity to the source (usually a witch). But to dismiss Witch Hunter Robin as just another "police drama with a twist" would be hasty and off the mark—with the creators of Cowboy Bebop behind this series, you can bet there will be other depths and nuances beneath the surface. Although slow to start, the series picks up speed with this second DVD release, and Robin begins to feel more independent and confident on her own. The "B" story of her emerging personality nicely counterpoints the excellent writing for the series. The storylines follow a predictable format, but somehow draw the viewer in anyway and are consistently entertaining. For those who enjoy anime in which each member of a large cast is given a spotlight and a particular personality, Witch Hunter Robin does not disappoint but does not linger on any one character to the point of boredom.

The look of the series is one of its main draws. Although the animation uses mostly earth tones and has a dark, subdued feel, it sets the mood and provides effective atmosphere. The animation is gorgeous and fluid, and the picture itself is clear and crisp. With a lively 2.0 Dolby Digital surround sound audio mix, the viewing experience is top-notch. There aren't many extras with this release, but for those new to the series, some of the special weapons used by the STNJ are demonstrated and explained, and there are liner/episode notes that explain the origin of some of the paranormal subjects discussed in the episodes. The cover is reversible, and a cell print is included in the keep case.

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