Review of Spiral: Volume 3

Introduction

Now here`s an anime that I have to be in the mood for. I found the first volume`s odd blend of light comedy and dark mystery to be silly, clichéd, a little static and overwritten, unrealistic and farfetched. In short, it was fun. The second volume was silly, clichéd, a little static and overwritten, unrealistic and farfetched, and I thought it was tiresome. The clash of intellects between the Blade Children and Ayumu Narumi continues in this third volume, and the coin is in the air as to whether I`ll enjoy it or not.

Ayumu Narumi`s older brother Kiyotaka vanished two years previously while investigating the mysterious Blade Children. On the second anniversary of his disappearance, the mystery of the Blade Children comes looking for Ayumu, drawing him into a series of strange occurrences. Ayumu, like his brother before him is a prodigy, and he revels in mysteries. Soon the high school student is working at cross-purposes to his sister-in-law Madoka who happens to be a detective in the local police force. Fortunately, Ayumu isn`t alone in his endeavours, as aiding him is the school newspaper`s intrepid and gutsy reporter Hiyono Yuizaki.

This third disc in the series contains 4 episodes, and it begins by resolving the cliffhanger from the previous disc.

10. Only One Wise Action
Hiyono`s on the express out of the city, with the key to Ayumu`s collar, so even if Ayumu gets the tape, he`s still doomed. At the last moment he comes up with a plan. But with Rio anticipating this move, and preparing a countermove, it looks as if there will be a final fiery confrontation between the two.

11. Goodnight Sweetheart
With Ayumu holding all the cards, it looks as if he will finally learn what he needs to know. It isn`t to be though, as it turns out that the Blade Children don`t even know where his brother is. But what little they do tell him is chilling and unexpected. Meanwhile the Blade Children have trouble of their own, as their own enemies have caught up to them.

12. Dry Eyes
Eyes Rutherford recalls another of the Blade Children, Kanone Hilbert, and the conversations that they had about the human heart. It`s getting close to Christmas, and Hiyono persuades Ayumu to go present shopping. When he doesn`t appear to get into the spirit of things, she accuses him of being heartless.

13. Overture
Eyes gets ready to play a charity concert on Christmas Eve, then hours before the performance he gets a mysterious phone call, telling him he will die that night. The Hunter has arrived. Eyes is ready to deal with it by himself, but Ayumu overhears, and decides he will devote his intellect to the problem.

Video

Spiral gets a typical transfer for anime nowadays. The picture is presented in a 4:3 ratio, it`s clear and sharp and there is little prevalence of NTSC - PAL signs. With this disc ditching the multi-angle credits, even the opening sequence is free of compression artefacts this time, as is the rest of the animation.

The animation itself isn`t going to set any new standards. It`s very much a no-frills, budget production, which does what it needs to and little more. The backgrounds are non-descript, there are plenty of primary colours, and on occasion the animation seems just one step above a slideshow. This need not be a problem, as Tenjho Tenge is one such anime that saves its animation calories for where they are most needed. The problem is that Spiral lacks flair, and as such the minimalist animation seems more a product of budget rather than style. The character designs are distinctive and well thought out though, and do much to keep the attention.

Audio

You have a choice between DD 2.0 English and Japanese, as well as a DD 5.1 English mix. As per my usual preference, I went with the original Japanese dialogue. There were no problems to report, the dialogue was clear throughout and the music seems well suited to the story, fun where necessary, and atmospheric and moody at the appropriate moments. I gave the English track a spot check, and the 5.1 treatment does give added vibrancy and ambience to the effects. I`m not too fond of the dub though, as it`s one where the voice artists overplay the goofy moments. This disc comes with translated English subtitles as well as a signs track, indicating that the dubtitle track on Volume 2 was just an anomaly.

Features

There is a decent selection of extras for an anime disc, and you get the usual jacket picture and animated menus to start things off. There aren`t any multi angle credits this time.

On the disc you`ll find the textless credit sequences and trailers for Full Metal Alchemist and Rumbling Hearts. Once again you get the series prologue, which comes in at just under a minute, and sets the stage for the story.

There are character profiles for two more of the show`s characters, and a 2½-minute Image Gallery plays under the sound of the English language cast fluffing their lines in more outtakes.

Conclusion

Things haven`t really changed for the third volume of Spiral, but it managed to catch me on a good day, so I leaned more towards enjoying it than yawning. But if you are wondering, it`s still the same blend of light comedy and dark mystery as before, there`s plenty of logic chopping and exposition, and it all hangs together rather loosely. There is a charm to Spiral that does make it easier to watch though. The characters are interesting, and as yet the enigmatic hints and allusions to dark pasts and ominous conspiracies haven`t worn out their welcome.

It also helps that this disc gets off to a cracking start, resolving as it does the cliffhanger from volume 2. It`s fast paced, entertaining and it doesn`t get bogged down in expository dialogue. From then on it`s a change of pace for the next two episodes, but it is also a change of tack as well for Spiral, as we ditch the mystery format and focus more on character. Having prevailed earlier on, Ayumu feels justified in pressuring the Blade Children for information. He isn`t expecting what they do tell him, but in doing so we learn more about the Blade Children. They are obviously testing Ayumu, but what becomes apparent here is that they see him as a potential saviour of sorts, and want to see whether he can live up to that expectation. We also see hints of what they need saving from, and consequently the dynamic of the show shifts. The Blade Children shift from antagonists to protagonists, a process begun by introducing the exceedingly cute assassin Rio.

Dry Eyes is even more of a character piece, as Christmas comes to the world of the Blade Children. This episode is all about emotional numbness and the walls that the characters build to keep their pain at bay. With the victim-hood of the Blade Children established, we learn how Eyes has shut away his feelings to deal with always being on the run and living in fear. He`s got to a point where he finds it hard to connect. Similarly, Ayumu has repressed his pain since the loss of his brother to deal with life. Consequently the Christmas holidays have little effect on him, and he`s unsure of how to deal with his sister in law`s melancholy. We get back to the action with the final episode, as a threat is made against Eyes Rutherford, and we get a first glimpse of one of the hunters that so harass the Blade Children. It`s up to Ayumu to prove that he does live up to his brother`s example.

You`ve guessed it; volume 3 of Spiral is silly, clichéd, a little static and overwritten, unrealistic and farfetched. It certainly isn`t greater than the sum of its parts; indeed some of those parts look as if they belong in completely different shows. Yet Spiral has an attractive quality to it. The characters are likeable, and there is just enough plot to give it a compelling air. There`s something about this show that makes you want to see what happens next, and that`s something that most shows would kill for. This third volume is slightly less talky than before, and the slower character episodes add dimension to the story. The mystery of the Blade Children and Kiyotaka is still intriguing, but Spiral has reached the point where it really needs to dish out some answers. With the Blade Children effectively neutralised as a threat in this volume, with their transformation from villains to victims, the story dynamic shifts, making it all the more imperative to find out who they are, and just why they are being persecuted. Another volume of dithering would be enough to dispel any remaining interest. Volume 3 of Spiral keeps things interesting once again, but I wouldn`t say this is a must own anime. One to rent.