Rating: 
Summary: Striptease
Review: "A cross between 'La Femme Nikita' and 'The X Files'", as another reviewer put it. 4 stars, worth the price of admission.
Well, now that we've gotten the "synopsis" and the "conclusion" out of the way, read on to see why I feel that way, and why I've titled this review 'striptease'.
A long time ago, after the Dinosaurs but before TV, there was something called "Burlesque". One of the more earthy components of a good burlesque show was the Strip Tease. A woman would come out, fully clothed, and strip to next to nothing. Look for References to Gypsy Rose Lee, who brought this form of entertainment to an art.
What we have here is an intellectual strip tease. DVD #1 starts with our world "fully clothed", and the music begins to play. We see the dancer's moves. Ah, but we know more is comming, don't we (yeah, I've read the other reviews)?
Things that I liked:
THE CHARACTERS: quirky, without being too over the top. Robin shows more composure than I would expect a normal 15 year old to have, but then again she was raised by Italian Roman Catholic Nuns. Anyone who's ever been to parochial school will tell you that even six hours a day with these "brides of Christ" was a special hell (bitter? who, me?). Is Robin all *she* seems to be?
THE ART: a very interesting combination of CG and cel animation. Most interior shots are CG "backgrounds", as well as some external shots (Harry's Bar). Animation is very well done and sytlish.
THE LOOK: Bounces around between Art Nouveau, "2 Ton Gothic", and indeterminate modern. Hey, *I* like it.
THE WORLD: 'Day After Tomorrow' Sci Fi. The agents wander around with PDA's that I would kill for. Nobody uses CRT's any more. Witchcraft exists but is suppressed to the point where the Normal Human Beings are convinced it's tabloid stuff.
THE EXTRAS: The usual stuff, including a glossary of the magical "tools" used. As another reviewer mentions, the series seems to be well researched.
THE STORY: Episodic in volume 1, with a hint or two of the "larger world" dropped in each story. By the end of Volume 1 you are left with several questions: is Robin a spy; why does the Japanese branch capture witches, and what do they do with them; Harry the bartender seems to be more than he appears. etc, etc. Nice set up.
Ah, good anime at it's finest: the first 4 or 5 epsiodes get you to the top of the hill in the roller coaster. The Big Drop has to come soon. I can't wait for Volume 2.
Rating:
Summary: An elegant beginning to a promising series
Review: "Witch Hunter Robin" is an animation that many are quick to compare to other series, both animation and live action. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "La Femme Nikita," "Vampire Princess Miyu" etc...It is clearly tapping into a current zeitgeist of dark fantasy with a young female lead. Both the story, tone and visual style are reminiscent of many other works, from the long black clothing and the melancholy faces to the outcast, somewhat-innocent young girl who uses dark power to battle evil. Death is her gift.
With this in mind, the question becomes one not of how good the show is, but how does it succeed within the genre? Judging from the first episode, it succeeds quite well. While all of the elements are familiar, it is not a storyline that is so played out that a new, stylistic variation is not welcome. Robin herself is visually interesting, and her back story of a young life in a convent gives her some flair. Add to that her lack of control over her own power, and the classic tale of a stranger in a strange land unfolds.
This first DVD is definitely enough to hook me into the series, and want to see how things play out. AS is typical of Japanese drama, everything is not handed to you at once, and you have to have some patience while the atmosphere builds and the story unfolds.
Rating:
Summary: A fresh start to the beginning of something great...
Review: ...Witch Hunter Robin's plot begins very nicely- an introduction of characters and terms, without taking entire scenes to do so. In Arrival, the main character Robin Sena is introduced. She is a fifteen year-old girl with the ability to manipulate fire. Robin returns to her native Japan, after spending most of her life in an Italian monastery, to become a member of the STN- the Japanese branch of a witch-hunting agency. Here, the characters are introduced: Haruto Sakaki (played by Johnny Yong Bosch, Trigun's Vash), Miss Karasuma (played by Wendee Lee, Cowboy Bebop's Faye Valentine), Micheal Lee, the STN-J's computer expert, the bartender Harry, the whimsical Miss Dojima, the enigmatic Amon, and the STN-J's Administrator, Zaizen, who is even more mysterious than Amon, if possible. Beginning with the Witch of the Week pattern, but ending with a cliffhanger ending in episode 5, disc one is essential to the collection.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining supernatural fare
Review: An engaging yet occasionally prosaic anime. Witch Hunter Robin isn't nearly as captivating as the Twelve Kingdoms, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The show really picks up after the first 12 episodes and becomes far more entertaining than it was during the earlier installments!
Rating: 
Summary: best words: minimalism
Review: another reviewer used the best words to describe this series: Minimalism. A drama done in a very different light. I personally was glad we had 11 episodes of X-file case styles--I love the setting it sets up. I like that the characters are uncomfortable with each other, unsure of each other, stilted in their conversations. These are a group of extraordinary young people selected to hunt the supernatural, not the Young and the Restless. The series does an excellent job of not rushing the plot, and of making us slowly care about the characters even as the characters slowly care about each other. There are great subtle moments, as the heroes and villains are turned on end until its hard to tell where good and evil begin and end, which is real life.
Rating:
Summary: Burning it's way to TV sets everywhere
Review: As you probably know from the other reviews, the story follows 15-year-old Robin Sena, a "craft user" who was raised in an Italian monastery. She has been recruited by the STN to be a witch hunter, and is sent to replace a recently lost member of the STN-Japan team. As the story goes on, you learn more about Robin's past, about the Orbo, a liquid that nulls the effect of witchcraft, and about the STN itself. Although many people think that the first half is uninteresting because of it's slow pace and awakening storyline, I don't believe that is true. I for one enjoy each episode thouroghly, despite the fact the each moves the story along very little. Each character is very well designed, and you can tell a lot of thought was put into each personality and style. There is Amon, the seemingly emothionless, aloof leader, sent to watch over Robin and help develop her powers. Then there's Micheal Lee, the ingenious 16-year-old hacker, who once accidentally hacked into the STN network and was caught. He's now forced to work for the STN, and cannot leave the office. There is also the other craft user, Miho Karasuma, who has the unique ability to scrve or sense feelings from objects. The other rookie, Haruto Sakaki, is reckless and often ends up getting injured or incurring high repair bills for ordinance or damage because of his brash behavior, but he is fully dedicated to his job and willing to take on any assignment. And Yurika Dojima, the self-centered, rich daddy's girl, is only on the team because her parents wanted her to get a good job, and they pressured STN into let her work there. Well, there you have it. My thoughts on Witch Hunter Robin. But it's just my opinion, I suppose. I really think this series is great, and although they probably won't, I hope they make a second season. Hey, I can dream, can't I? -aLi
Rating:
Summary: lovely
Review: i enjoyed this dvd immensely. there is a good pace, good music and excellent visuals. the story is (so far) episodic but i have the feeling they're laying groundwork for something bigger (a la cowboy bebop and noir). i enjoyed robin's "problems" with her powers, and the resolution to it. it's refreshing to see heroes that have flaws (however slight they might be). it's also nice to see heroes who don't automatically adore each other immediately. this series is starting off with robin's "fitting-in" stage. all-in-all, i'm very pleased with this dvd.
Rating:
Summary: Witch who bought this on a whim and was pleasantly surprised
Review: I had seen that Cartoon Network was going to be showing Witch Hunter Robin and since my disgust for dubbed anime is great I decided to simply buy the DVD before ever seeing episodes on the above mentioned network. This DVD is excellent! I had no idea this series could be so addicting and after watching the first DVD, I am extremely hungry for more. The animation is some of the best I've seen in anime and the story is perfectly original. I thought that being a Witch myself I might be insulted by the hunting that goes on in this DVD, but the evil doers in the first DVD are more demon-like than witch-like. I highly suggest buying this DVD just for the mere fact that it rocks!
Rating:
Summary: First Enchantment
Review: I have a 'sweet tooth' for dark fantasy, but the truth is that much of what comes out today, both anime and film, is repetitious. At some point you have to start being choosy. Because of that, I've stayed away from this series, despite early critical interest. But interest has remained positive and curiosity made me decide to pick up the first DVD. Which always bodes ill for the condition of my wallet. Fortunately, Witch Hunter Robin turns out much more interesting than I originally expected. Robin was born in Japan, but as raised in an Italian monastery. There is some implication that she is actually a nun, but what she actually is is a hunter of witches and a practitioner of the Craft herself. Her return to Japan to replace a member of a witch hunting team (the STNJ) who died in action ruffles many feathers in a group that can only be described as idiosyncratic. Amon is the team lead - cold, withdrawn, and not very happy with Robin. Miho Karasuma is a psychic who can only sense feelings. Michael Lee is a hacker - caught in the act he volunteered his services to the team. Haruto Sakaki is another new member who tends to go off half-cocked. Yurika Dojima is young, rich, and very self-involved. The 'adults' are Chief Kosaka, whos is everyone's worst nightmare as a boss, and Zaizen, the top man in Japan, and one who seems to have an agenda of his own. Robin herself can control fire, but not very well. In this DVD the 'witches' being hunted are not pleasant people. These are people that use their powers to satisfy their own ends and take pleasure from the pain they cause. But the STNJ folks only differ from them in intent and name. As director Shuko Murase remarks in an interview, these are really just opposing sides in a deeper conflict. In the interactions of the characters one can already see the beginnings of some blurring of the boundaries. The episodes so far focus on the interpersonal level, acquainting the viewer with the individual characters and the politics of the STNJ unit. These are complex, and so far balance the action perfectly. Production quality is excellent, with a finely rendered gothic atmosphere that manages to avoid seeming out of place in modern Japan. Camera angles and graphic effects are good as well. It's too early to give the series a hearty recommendation, but it certainly isn't a replay of old themes - definitely worth a look.
Rating:
Summary: Meet my New Favorite Series, Witch Hunter Robin
Review: I have seen many many many series, if I went on to tell you how many you would be very very bored...I personally say that out all of my favorite series this places about 2nd. My first favorite anime series, is the series that brought me back to anime after I stopped watching it, if I had seen this one first I would say that this is my favorite series...If you have seen Yami No Matsuei (aka Desendants of Darkness), and you liked it, you'll like this. I also love the theme song!! Not the animation totally, I thought it was good, but I didn't totally like it although the music was awesome!! I totally think that anyone who likes anime should give this series a try...! I especially liked the character designs..I have not seen the 2nd dvd but I'm saving up!! Now I will shut up and let you buy that series!! GO buy it!!
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