Chrono Crusade Volume 6

Review Date: 2006 March 30 07:19

Reviewed by: Azure

Released by: ADV Films UK

Age Rating: 12

Region: 2 - UK

Volume 6 of 7

Length: 75 minutes

Subtitles: English

Audio: English 5.1 Surround
Japanese 2.0 Stereo

Summary

In this penultimate volume of Chrono Crusade a number of long running threads draw together, which see Rosette in the hands of the enemy and Chrono suffer a lack of faith in his own abilities, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Things get very dark very quickly.

Review

This volume of Chrono Crusade is pure plot as the end of the series is in sight, this also means the tone darkens considerably. This has a dramatic effect of the show as much as the humour and fan service is reduced. The colour palette also becomes much more subtle, illustrating the despair the characters feel as things starts to go very wrong. Rossette falls into the hands of the villainous Aion, whilst Chrono suffers a lack of faith without her. This volume also deals heavily with the relationship between brother and sister as it’s revealed that Joshua and Rosette aren’t the only siblings torn apart by Aion’s schemes


As the balance of the world is upset so is the balance of the show, instead of odd monster-of-the-week episodes events very much carry on, making this volume best appreciated when watched on one sitting rather than several. This volume really pays off long time viewers as several questioned are answered or at least given more context within the show, it’s also nice to finally get some more information about the off mentioned Mary Magdalene, and her relationship with events as well as Chrono. However whilst this unbalance moves the plot along at rather a fast pace it is also a little frustrating as many of characters seem distant and unlike themselves, and I found myself wishing things would resolve much more quickly.

As with previous volumes there’s a decent amount of extras. Azmaria returns for her extra class, there’s an unused opening and a number of production sketches.

There’s also an attempt to combine real life events, which really brings home Chrono Crusade’s period setting sometime which was probably a little underused before. The production values also remain high, and whilst this isn’t my favourite so far it’s still hugely enjoyable. Dark moody but well made this volume of Chrono Crusade is like Paradise lost with guns. If you like dark fantasy like His Dark Materials you’ll find plenty like as Chrono Crusade draws near to it’s conclusion.

Rating: 7/10