Chrono Crusade Gospel 1: A Plague of Demons - Underland Online
- Underland Online
- Mike
- 10/10/04
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Chrono Crusade Vol. 1 - A Plague of Demons
Every once in a while, I run across a series that I really know very little about and go into it with no real positive or negative feelings about it. For months I've been hearing about Chrono Crusade, but never really did much in terms of researching what the series was about. In fact, I never even bothered to watch any of the trailers that have popped up here and there. However, the only thing that I really ever wondered was if maybe it was loosely based on Square-Enix's Chrono series (Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross) since I knew there was talk a year ago about a new game, and a new series would be just the thing to help hype it prior to the release.
Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have to wait longer for a sequel for the series. Lately, Square-Exnis have been issuing press releases about spin-off's from the Final Fantasy VII game, talking about the upcoming Kingdom Hearts II, and a new Chrono game is no where to be found, and the anime, Chrono Crusade, has absolutely nothing to due to the role playing game. Ah, but that's not even close to being something negative. In fact, I quickly learned that Chrono Crusade is a fantastic piece of work, and having no real real foresight wasn't a bad move at all.
Set in 1928 in America, evil is lurking somewhere in the dark shadows. Satanists have began gathering, attempting to summon horrid demons and devils for their own twisted purposes, but there is an organization that stands tall and proud in the light of God, trying to send the demonic hordes back into the pits of hell. The Magdalene Order has been training their religious order to recognize and combat the darkness, but then there are those members that might do the job, but don't exactly set a perfect example for the Order.
Meet Rosette Christopher, a nun trained by the Order that might have the skills to fight evil, but also tends to give the organization more than just a black eye. She's good, very good, and with the help of her friend Chrono, very little in the way of true evil seems to stand in their way. But, Chrono himself is actually a devil, but is contractually bound to Rosette, and although his power is a great asset, there are those in the Order that would much rather do away with him, and what the demons that have clawed their way out of hell would like to do is even worse.
Chrono Crusade, despite what it might sound, isn't some uptight anime attempt to follow the path of the good and righteous. Instead, this is much like supernatural action meets comedy with a story that begins to deepen episode by episode. Our heroine, Rosette, definitely isn't your typical nun either, and she'd make Mother Theresa cry blasphemy at the creators I'm sure. Rosette is far too carefree to be a nun, but when there's evil to send back to hell, she has no apprehensions about doing so. It isn't often that you see a nun packing heat, and while Rosette isn't necessarily armed to the teeth, she's got the right tools for the job. Forget about the standard monster hunting equipment, hot lead does much better than holy water and stakes any day.
Chrono on the other hand is much more clam and collected, and at times you'd think that he's the one that's the messenger of god, but that's not the case. He's a demon, and as we learn, was found purely by accident by Rosette and her brother Joshua. The two children didn't fear him however, and somehow (we haven't' yet seen the details) Chrono is now in a contract with Rosette. You'll notice at times that the animators like to flash to an amulet that she wears, and this holds Chrono's true power, but in order to use it, Rosette must sacrifice some of her life. She admits that at the rate she's going, she's probably not going to live to reach 30. There are a few things that come to mind with this scenario however.
First, a demon in the servitude of humans is something akin to a vampire working with humans, and I'm talking of course about Hellsing. In fact, that's the first thing that came to mind when I began watching the series, though Chrono Crusade has enough originality to stand on its own. With his power sealed away, it's a bit like the demon limiters that our boys in Saiyuki used, but the difference here is that Chrono doesn't go into a berserk blood rage and kill everyone. Instead, he simply transforms into his more devilish true self, but it's not some slavering creature. Chronos looks much more like the offspring of Go Nagai's Devilman, though much cooler.
Ultimately, Chrono really ends up being the lifesaver between the two, and not just because of his powers. Rosette, though she has good intentions, ends up messing things up, even if she does succeed. In general, this means the destruction of something. She'll bring whole building down for example, and thus earns herself the ire of Sister Kate who is fed up with her destroying property, cars, and just about anything else, though at times she'd much rather blame Chrono since he is the devil.
The Order also has it's own resident 'mad scientist,' simply called Elder. But, while he might be good at creating new ammunition, he's a bit of a pervert as well. The surprise though, since this obvious would have to be the Catholic religion, is that he seems to like girls when you'd think that if things went true to form, it would be Chrono that he's really interested in. But, we see quite a few moments where religion isn't quite what it should be, such as Rosette dressed in a sexy outfit while undercover, and the obvious use of guns I'm sure would be frowned upon.
The series has a few more twists and turns thrown in for good measure. Rosette's borther, Joshua, seemingly disappeared after meeting Chrono, but we learn that he's alive and well, and seemingly working for the forces of darkness, but for his own means. The episodes themselves work most of the time as being more or less self-contained, at least with this set of four, but there are little clues and hints dropped in from time to time that are leading to something bigger.
Aside from the quirkiness and occasional similarity to other series, Chrono Crusade looks fantastic. You may note that ADV references that fact that GONZO, the producers, also created Full Metal Panic, and there's a good reason as to why they would have done this. Chrono Crusade looks a good deal like it, though I think that the character designs actually look much better than what FMP does. And again, Hellsing is another very good comparison here as well, although there are many more series that could be listed. The series also has an outstanding soundtrack that I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that someone will be releasing in the United States at some point, saving fans form paying the hefty import price tag.
ADV has also included a good collection of extras on the disc. As usual, there are clean versions of the opening and closing animations, and although the closing sequence I found a little boring, the opening definitely should be looked at. It's put together beautifully. Azmaria's Extra Classes will give some details about the series. Divided into two different segments, the first talks about like during the end of the 1920 whereas the second part gives a little background into the Magdale Order. The Chrono Crusade Chorincles is somewhat like a profile section, though it isn't just characters that are looked at, but also weapons and locations. Also include are the original on-air openings for the first four episodes and even a commentary track by Hilary Haag, who plays Rosette, and Greg Ayres, the voice of Chronos. However, I'm not one that's a fan of dubbing (as most should already know) and didn't check the commentary out, having been less and enthused with previous ADV commentaries.
Chrono Crusade, to say the least, is a damn good time. This is what you would get if you took the elements of Hellsing, combined it with the action of Noir, and then through in a little Steam Detectives for good measure. It's supernatural meets comedy, and having devils and nuns with guns; it's the perfect combination. Chrono Crusade definitely is a series that shouldn't be missed by anyone that enjoys good anime. It's a series that has enough entertaining elements involved to keep anyone interested and a series that is sure to make a major impact.
Episode 1 - Sister Rosette
Chronos and Rosette aren't your typical demon slayers, but the team of a nun and a devil can get the job done better than anyone, although there does tend to be a little bit of a mess to clean up afterwards. The pair is called in to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a cargo ships crew and discover something sinister lurking aboard.
Episode 2 - Contractor
Elder has made another new ammunition, this time Spirit, and although he's asked Rosette to deliver the new items to safe hands, duty calls, which doesn't bother her in the least since she wants to test them out. But, the latest battle finds Rosette losing her precious gun and although she and Chronos hunt to find it, it's to no avail. Little do they realize it's fallen into the hands of evil.
Episode 3 - The Servants
Rosette and Chrono are sent undercover by the Magdalene Order to rescue Azmaria Hendric, a young girl that is connected to the Fatima Prophecies. The problem is that the young lady is now in the custody of a devil worshipper, and the powerful tycoon also has an accomplice, Viscount Lerajie, that literally is a demon from Chrono's past. But, although Chrono and Rosetta are successful in their mission, the forces of darkness soon come calling.
Episode 4 - Sinner
Viscount Lerajie has taken Azamaria back to the dying Ricardo, and he has one final plan for the young girl. Rosette plans to get Azmaria back from the Satanist by any means necessary, and that might even mean breaking the seal that binds Chronos, but there's a price to pay on Rosette's end. Larajie meanwhile has a plan of his own that Ricardo wasn't counting on.
Posted on Sunday, October 10, 2004 (Archive on Wednesday, November 10, 2004)