Kekkai Sensen Episode 4

Episode Director: Daisuke Tsukushi ( Episode Director on FullMetal Alchemist BROTHERHOOD episode 29 / Episode Director on Kingdom episodes 3, 9, 14, 18, 25 and 32 / Episode Director on Vividred Operation episode 6)

Storyboards: Rie Matsumoto ( Director on Kyousogiga / Director and Storyboard on Heartcatch Precure! film / Episode Director on Yes! Precure 5 episodes 14 and 24)

Script: Kazuhisa Furuya ( Series Script Writer on Kekkai Sensen)


This is one of my favorite series to air in 2015.  It’s perfect.  Ok no series is perfect, but this is in my Top 10 of Best Anime Series of last year.  A top-notch production from BONES, an adrenaline rush with a collection of stories that are interwoven with new characters becoming involved with Libra.

This episode introduces us to Lucky Abrams, a man stuck with misfortune all around him wherever he goes.  I really like how the we are clued in to these characters, the setting of New York and it’s various monsters from the perspective of Leonardo Watch.  This was a fun episode to watch because Lucky Abrams sets the dynamic of Libra and how the main cast interacts with each other.  Previously we’ve seen Zapp hate on Leonardo, Klaus acting as the father figure, Chain as the level-headed type–this time everything is turned upside down.  Everyone is caught in turmoil because of this man.  Great way to preface this entire plot with a party at the very beginning of this!

It’s too bad this series is only 12 episodes because there is a certain level of creativity Kekkai Sensen oozes with–The Elder 13 and Leonardo with his all-seeing eye being caught in the middle of a bad situation that only gets worse.  These Blood Breeds are portrayed as vampires–a different kind of monster than what we’ve seen in previous episodes.  This is the first time we’re also getting a glimpse of K.K. and Steven’s abilities.  Such smooth animation and I like how dramatic the sound effects are in matching the style of Kekkai Sensen‘s musical score.

Jazz isn’t the only style here that rocks!  The visuals are definitely something to be said.  Amazing that this is the fourth episode and there hasn’t been a drop in quality from character’s expressions and that was awesome to see the panning to Klaus attacking the Blood Breeds!  The action comes off stylish throughout this entire episode!

While this series has been focusing on episodic content, the main story is slowing heading in the right direction with Leonardo question who Black is and Femt being in contact with him.  Nice job in turning things full circle from previous episodes.

Want to point out the insert song at the end is entitled “Dust” written and performed by Toft Willingham.  A reggae, rock and dubstep singer for the band Spiritual Rez.  A talented music performer with his hands in tons of projects.  He’s known in the U.S. for shifting between musical styles from classical to his family roots of folk music and has made some strides with his rigid yet engagingly smooth sounding voice.  I wonder how the heck music producer Masataka Mikami got him involved in Kekkai Sensen let alone Taisei Iwasaki in the same room to make music together.  Incredible!

Got to love the product placement in this show.  Haha! Blur Moon!

I cannot get enough of this ending.  Why I haven’t I been writing about this series lately?!

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 10/10

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