A very excellent, unbiased and detailed review - you've done an awesome job in highlighting the better points while not skimping on the not so great.
Trinity Blood tv Review
Trinity Blood (トリニティ・ブラッド) was originally a light novel series written by Sunao Yoshida and illustrated by Shibamoto Thores.
It was soon adapted to a manga series illustrated by Kiyo Kyujou and an anime.
Credit: KazablanKa
Story & Characters
OK, this is my first review for this site and it appears that this forum is not as picky as some; so, I'm going to be a little more off the cuff than I normally am. If I break any rules be sure to let me know.....
This anime is currently airing in Japan. I'm through episode 8 and it is now one of my favorites. However, I didn't begin watching it with that expectation. As one of enumerable shows based in post-apocalypical Earth, its end should be very much a foregone conclusion. Trinity Blood shows a surprising ability to deviate from the path. As is often the case with well thought out series, the initial episodes give you a conception of the world and the political powers in it. The focus is on the members of an elite special operations group known as AX who serve the Vatican, one of this world's foremost powers. You follow the travels of several members who work alone or in pairs to (please forgive the cliche) put out fires. These individuals serve Catherine whose primary calling is to prevent another cataclysm by avoiding all out conflict with the opposing power. Members such as Abel Nightroad and Ms. Noelle travel the world investigating crimes and preventing greater tragedy. The most unusual aspect of this show is delineation of powers. Each member has their own scientifically engineered power which is continually defined in mystical sense. The story is an effective contrast of spirit and science where neither is clearly separated especially when referenced to the enemy.
It is my policy not to give anything away; so, I'm going to warn everyone right up front.
Do not under any circumstances watch the ending song of the series if you don't want a good idea of the out of come of this series. I swear it might as well be an dead give away. In all of fictions there are only two possibilities with such allusion. The series is good enough that it didn't bother me, but it will surely ruin it for others.
My other recommendation is not to pay too much attention to the clips from the beginning. I think the producers were either lazy as sin or broke beyond belief.
Rating:
Art
The art for this series can be summed up in two words: Dark and Beautiful. The character designs are detailed and clear. The designs are so apropos in some cases, it is immediately apparent what sort of personality a individual will have. You need merely examine the sharp features of Tres and the slightly loose lines of the Pope's face to determine their behavior. The graphics are done very much in the current style, but it does not limit or define the imagery. Rather this choice, serves to illuminate the failings of other series. Being a rather dark anime, the color selection is limited, but through shading and contrast this anime attains greater power than many of the technicolor wonders of our modern field.
However, the movement is what truly sets this anime apart. The images flow so smoothly is like water sliding over
glass. It is hard to find a moment where you say "stop, I need to think about this." You just watch and
watch until the end scene. You fall in and can't get out of the action. When the action pauses you pause too.
You wait with the characters for the next revelation. It is a true talent to draw so cleanly that your viewer does not
question the progression.
Rating:
Sound
Watching Fansubbed Release (Duh)
Intro: Dress (Blood Trinity Mix)
Excellent. I literately rewatched the intro 4 times in a row just to hear this song. Every time I watch an episode
I'm tempted to let it auto-play again to hear this song again. This is totally out of character for me. I
don't speak Japanese. I can't sing along and I only know the words as the fansubbers translate them.
I'm just addicted. It reminds me of Duran Duran crossed with Stabbing Westward.
Ending: My Broken Wings
Great. It is not the best song ever. The female vocalist is obviously a little stressed singing in another language
(or possibly singing slightly above her true range). All but the last two lines of lyrics are in English; so, you can
sing along (if your in the right range). The problem is that the lyrics are just a little off. A native speaker
(American) just would not use several of the phrases. They are not wrong. There just off enough to bother a native
speaker.
Background Music:
Good. The clips are melodic and suitable to the action. They are not overused and they emphasize the mood correctly.
They never detract from the story.
Sound effects:
Great. The guns shots and breaking glass are recognizable. The sounds of walking and such are not overly loud. In
fact, there are several instances where sounds are cleverly muted to increase the atmosphere.
Voice Acting:
Pleasurable. The voices are apt for the characters. There is a little shrillness here and there but it is not
disturbing. I think Abel Nightroads voice is particularly subtle. His intonation lends his lines an underlying
meaning. You can hear a terrible sorrow in declarations and a wonderful determination it his light-heartiness.
In case your wondering, I'm a very auditory person. I literately cannot watch things that sound ill to me. However, this also makes me a sucker for things that appeal to me
Rating:
Presentation
I impressed with Trinity Blood. It seems like it should be so lack luster and pathetic. You know the drill.... cataclysm, humans struggling to survive in alien dominated world, forces of Darkness rising to wipe them out for all time. Its got the heroic good guy (you know the one with the tragic past and the determination to make up for all the mistakes), the robot assistant (cold but dependable and occasionally surprisingly insightful), the cute but ineffectual girl (quote unquote love interest), the technical girl (who at the heart of it just wants to be loved), and the somewhat reformed vigilante. You just assume that it is going to be quid pro quo. You'll watch it, laugh a little, and then forget it. But, somehow it is not what you expect. No that isn't quite right. It is exactly what you expect. It is just a whole lot more. No matter what you see coming, you just don't care. The story, the characters, the progression itself is enough to capture your attention and hold it.
Overall this anime is one of the best out there right now. It has its flaws, but I still enjoy the heck out of it.
Would I recommend it to others? Yes, that is why I'm reviewing it. Can you rewatch it? Without a doubt. It is
intensely exciting and terribly engrossing (if your into this kind of thing).
Rating:
Final Verdict
7.5000 (good)
Reviewed by wolfco, Jul 03, 2005
Comments
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crsg Jul 03, 2005
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Zeliard Jul 03, 2005
Maybe it's just me, but Trinity Blood does seem to be very familiar to Hellsing? Nevertheless, it's still one of my favourite currently.
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PhoenixNox Jul 03, 2005
Damn that made me wanna watch Trinity Blood.
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Drakonshie Jul 08, 2005
Hmmm. For me, it is really hard to get really "obsesssed" with it. It's because I make too many dang comparisons with this and other animes. Yes, Zeliard, I agree with you. This does remind me of Hellsing. Studio Gonzo is doing this anime, and it also did Hellsing...
As for the comparisons. The anime reminds me of a blend of Trigun and Hellsing. Somehow I see a slight essence of Vash the Stampede in Abel Nightroad. And I'm not much of a Vash fan. The clothing designs of the priests reminds me of Edward Elric's clothing in Full Metal Alchemist..O.o Lol and Pope Alexander reminds me of a character in Bleach. So yeah, I get distracted with these things... I heard people say that this anime is also like a mix of Hellsing and Chrono Crusade.
Anyways, I think the artwork in the anime is beautiful. I'm pretty sure this anime will be more promising as the plot develops more.
This review seems pretty good. It was informative and spoliers weren't given out.
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blackgoddess Jul 23, 2005
i'd say trinity blood isn't unique plot wise but it's a great anime just by itself...people do make comparisiosn with hellsing and trigun but i disagree...true it's hard to get 'obssessed with it' but iti's still a great and i mean great anime to watch by itself
a great review btw :D exactly my thougts on this -
alucards1fan Jul 26, 2005
wow sounds like a good series to me great rating know I am even more anctiuos to see it thanx ;]
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VsPeC Jul 27, 2005
Aside from how the gunslinger says positive and negative this is a must watch anime for action fans.
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fallenfate Sep 07, 2005
started to watch Trinity Blood as well here...
i love the graphics..its so dark and beautiful as you put it...
and also...i played the opening track twice ^^
its so fitting to the anime... -
Bolood Nov 04, 2005
GOOD
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rosina Nov 24, 2005
trinity blood is an anime you want to watch but hate to end. the story overall is a little choppy but for the most part i loved it. the art is fabulous although i really wish they would explain some of the plot a little better. Okay plot, beautiful art, and lovely music.
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flyindreams Dec 03, 2005
...well-written review :D Thank you :)
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dngo86 Dec 12, 2005
Personallly, I think this deserves a better score, but it's only my opinion. Still a nice and detailed enough review.
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dianas Dec 13, 2005
well for all the TB fans i envite you to the BrokenWings-TrinityBlood group--->just click on the banner to see the grou and if you like it then join ^^
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Seiba Dec 16, 2005
sounds interesting..
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vatican92 Dec 25, 2005
Awesome review with very good points but I think it's too low for my fav anime.
I think art should've been higher. Anyways awesome review -
steffic Jun 04, 2006
this is my first anime i watched here, n i really luv it! wonderfuL job u have done.. keep it up! thankz for the review!
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mav3rick Aug 14, 2006
ok...for those of you who watched it weekly for the new episode to come out and wasted 24 weeks i feel sorry for you.
good points
there are few, the animation and sound (music
bad points
in this anime the story plot and characters lack
to many holes to be that interesting, i understand that this anime was made from the same animators or something of that of hellsing which means i wont call it a rip off of that anime, although there were so very close. the main character Abel was cool a rip off of vash from trigun and hellsing combined. i finished this anime feeling very unsatisfied with lack of ending and so many plot holes, i give this anime a maybe 5 out of 10 for entertainment but unless they come out with another season or a spinoff for this series to fill in the many plot holes i will be pissed! -
Roadcide Jan 14, 2007
The review is good. There are very few points that I'd argue with.
But for those of you who watched the anime and felt it was missing something; There's a very good reason for that. That's because it is. The novels by Yoshida (which are what the manga and anime are based on) covered two separate timelines. The manga has centered itself on one of these, and does a fair job of portraying it. But the ANIME was trying to fit all of it into just twenty-four half-hour episodes. Nothing like that is going to come off as outstanding, even if what it's based on IS. The story of the anime is okay, but it's not great. The plot gets two thumbs up, but the execution just sucked. It was just way too short.
For anyone who felt empty after seeing the anime, I recommend ordering a translated copy of the novel(s). There's one that's currently out in English, and a few more for the other widely used languages.
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angelxxuan Banned Member May 22, 2012
very good review, I have to admit. first reviews are often tricky anywhere for you never know what's going to happen, who's going to post and if you're going to be startled and cause a scene when things don't go right. I like the way you handled this review, and the ending credits didn't do justice for how the anime actually ends.
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