Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Ajin: Demi-Human - The OAD Collection (2016-2017)

If your are a big fan of the “Ajin: Demi-Human” anime series, then I can recommend these OAD’s, but know going in that these OAD episodes are not necessary to watch and enjoy the anime series, but more of an extra if you are wanting to see more “Ajin” storylines.

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TITLE: Ajin: Demi-Human – The OAD Collection

ANIME RELEASE DATE: 2016-2017

DURATION: Episodes 1-3 (67 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, English and Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0, Subtitles: English subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATING: TV MA VL

Release Date: December 1, 2020

Directed by Ando Hiroaki

Script by Seko Hiroshi

Anime Production: Polygon Pictures

Featuring the following voice talent:

Houchu Ohtsuka as Satō

Miyano Mamoru as Nagai Kei

Kaji Yuuki as Nakamura Shinya

Hirakawa Daisuke as Tanaka Kōji

Fukuyama Jun as Kō Nakano

Komatsu Mikako as Shimomura Izumi

Sakurai Takahiro as Tosaki

In the world of AJIN: DEMI HUMAN, a new subspecies of human has been discovered, one capable of creating lethal black “ghosts” and recovering from even the most extreme physical damage… even death itself! Feared and hunted by governments, no one knows how many Ajin exist, let alone who they all are, as many aren’t even aware of their own nature until their first death.

In this special collection of original stories, you’ll follow a motorcyclist who dies in a crash, discovers that he’s an Ajin and is tracked by the ruthless Ajin Management Committee (The Nakamura Shinya Incident), witness a US Marine who becomes fixated upon taking the risk of killing himself to find out if he is or isn’t an Ajin (Sato: ZERO), and even explore the dark humor of the Ajin condition (Hidden Inn/Secret Den)!

Back in 2012, Sakurai Gamon’s manga series “Ajin” was serialized in Kodansha’s “Good! Afternoon” from 2012 to February 5, 2021.

An anime series was created in 2016 with a total of 26 episodes created and three animated films released from 2015-2016.

And from 2016-2017, three OAD (Original Animation DVD) episodes were released. And now the OAD episodes have been released in North America courtesy of Sentai Filmworks.

The original anime series featured Nagai Ken, who died in a fatal traffic accident but discovered he was an “Ajin”, humans who are immortal and have extreme regenerative abilities that trigger upon death. And Ajin can create these black ghosts that are combat oriented, most who rely on their Ajin for directions and others who act independently.

In the series, we were introduced to Sato, an Ajin and former special-operations soldier in the USMC who is trying to form an immortal army of Ajin under his command.

Under the direction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Tosaki Yu, Kei and others work to stop Sato.

For the OAD series, these are separate stories.

The first OAD features Nakamura Shinya who attends a party but dies in a motorcycle accident and becomes an Ajin. Nakamura doesn’t know what he has become, meanwhile he is being targeted by the Ajin management Committee.

The second OAD features a story involving Sato and Tanaka, Tosaki and Izumi and Ko and Kei. These are more or less humorous short storylines. One as Sato selling his and Tanaka’s organs for money, Tosaki and Izumi learning that they don’t have much money and Ko trying to cajole Kei to tell a girl he likes that he has feelings for her.

The third OAD features an origin story of Sato who is with the USMC and Sato’s interest in Ajin and joking around why he would like to be immortal.

“Ajin: Demi-Human – The OAD Collection” is presented in 1080p High Definition and the anime series is colorful and vibrant, I didn’t notice any banding issues or compression during my viewing of the series, nor was it majorly soft. For audio, the OAD’s are presented in Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0. The soundtrack is front speaker driven and dialogue and action are crystal clear. Subtitles are in English.

“Ajin: Demi-Human – The OAD Collection” comes with no special features.

Overall, “Ajin: Demi-Human” wa no doubt a cool anime series and as far as the three OAD’s go, well, I look at these episodes as more for those who are wanting more “Ajin” stories.

Two of the three OAD episodes are not exactly important to watch as two are more like side-stories, while the third is more of an origin story for Sato.

My favorite of the three episodes is the third, as you can see how twisted Sato was back in the military and the thoughts that were going through his head. The second episode was enjoyable more for the humor, while the first episode was good but I found it interesting that they introduce a character that was just talked about in the series, but don’t do anything with him. Because I felt that another story “Ajin” storyline can come from Nakamura Shinya’s character.

Anyway, If your are a big fan of the “Ajin: Demi-Human” anime series, then I can recommend these OAD’s, but know going in that these OAD episodes are not necessary to watch and enjoy the anime series, but more of an extra if you are wanting to see more “Ajin” storylines.

Click here to Purchase This Blu-ray on Amazon

Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Ajin: Demi-Human – The OAD Collection (2016-2017)

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