“Need a light?” -Terran Firebat

Composed of 3 episodes, each about 27 minutes long, Strait Jacket takes a melancholic look into a world where magic and science coexist. Like a fusion between Full Metal Alchemist, D.Gray-man, and Claymore, the setting needs only a small introduction in order for the viewer to grasp the alternative reality.

Why, hello beautiful.

Magic has become an integral part of society. It has found applications and use in almost every aspect of everyday life. Although set in the late 1800s, magic has facilitated advances in medicine, technology, and weaponry rivaled only by those in our reality. Such an asset to humanity must come at an even greater cost. The overuse and inappropriate protection against magic transforms the user into a demon. Catalyzed by a terrorist group known as the Ottomans, demon incidents have been occurring more frequently. Having lost their humanity and sanity, the demons have but only one goal; death and destruction.

Is that considered…censored?

To combat these demons, elite combat personnel known as “tactical sorcerers” are deployed along with their “molds”. Like a strait jacket, molds are special armor that bind the user to reality reducing the risks and prolonging the lives of magic users. These tactical sorcerers act like walking weapons; each shot of their gun is preceded by the casting of a spell and followed by the expenditure of magic cartridges resembling bullet casings.

The setting and plot bring nothing new to the world of anime. A few spins on already well established themes and concepts and you have the world that Strait Jacket is in. What Strait Jacket offers is the development of its main characters.

Do those glasses even do anything?

Rayotte Steinberg is a freelance tactical sorcerer. Accompanied by Kapel Theta, a child born half demon half human, Rayotte’s destructive methods are overlooked by the Magic Administration Bureau only because he accomplishes the tasks assigned to him; terminating the demons. Rayotte’s reason for acting so recklessly? As Kapel’s parents’ murderer, he is awaiting judgment to be passed upon his sins either by the hands of Kapel or by death in his battles with the demons.

Nice shirt, or is that your skin?

Isaac Hammond of the Black Dog squad is a certified and registered tactical sorcerer. His seemingly strong will and good nature hides his tragic flaw. Driven to avenge the death of his childhood savior, Isaac sees Rayotte as someone unworthy of the title, tactical sorcerer.

Wanna know why he’s screaming…

…it has something to do with that ^.

Harmartia (thanks Eirias) is nothing new in the world of story telling; it is, however, relatively rare in the world of anime. In anime, when the hero meets his flaw, it causes a hindrance but is overcome in one way or another to allow the hero to continue. The flaw serves as a character building dilemma in which the hero leaves having gained valuable experience about him/herself. It was definitely interesting to have the “hero” fall as a result of some intrinsic factor as opposed to some external force.

Strait Jacket also explores how a seemingly ideal tool for humanity can ultimately be a double-edged sword. All good must come with some bad and the reverse may not necessarily hold true. As humans have furthered their ingenuity from the collective knowledge of generations of refined thought, we have come to rely on very useful, yet at the same time very dangerous, tools. Our great dependence on seemingly trivial things such as electricity, computers, and nuclear power leaves us very exposed to attacks against these systems. It’s impossible for us to abandon these things now, but there are dangers and risks associated with them. Strait Jacket gives us a glimpse as to how humanity might respond in such a situation.

One of the main plot developments is that the boss of the tactical sorcerers is the one organizing the Ottoman attacks. Although a simple plot twist with the usual character, his motives are distinct from the usual. Riegs justifies his actions using one of the simple realities of life; to live, you need a job. In order to sustain that job, his actions are simply logical. However, ethics becomes part of the equation as human beings. If construction companies destroyed buildings, they would be the ones paid to rebuild them but what right do they have to do so? It is understandable that one would take action to sustain their own lifestyle, however, it is not acceptable if those actions involve the termination of the lifestyles of others.

Owned.

So, university has rolled around again, hence, I’m busy writing my work term report as well as preparing for the new term. I seem to have died due to my absence from the blogging world but I plan to resume my blogging once I have settled down. I’m sure some of my fellow bloggers are experiencing similar pressures as Maipeisu mentioned in his post. Have no fear, phuzy is alive and well!

phuzy over and out.

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