Anime Reviews (2000s): RahXephon – Complete Collection (2002)

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If you enjoy complex sci-fi anime series and want something a bit more deeper with vast number of characters, “RahXephon” is a classic anime series worth checking out!

Click here to purchase “RahXephon – Complete Collection” on Amazon

TITLE: RahXephon – Complete Collection

ANIME RELEASE DATE: 2002

DURATION: (26 Episodes + Movie) 770 Minutes

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (1:33:1), English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English subtitles

COMPANY: Sentai Filmworks

RATING: TV 14 S

Release Date: July 12, 2022

Originally created by Izubuchi Yutaka

Chief Director: Izubuchi Yutaka

Screenplay: Konaka J. Chiaki, Takayama Fumihiko, Ohnogi Hiroshi, Okouchi Ichiro, Iso Mitsuo, Aikawa Shoul, Enokido Yoji, Kiryu Yukari, Izubuchi Yutyaka

Character Designs by Yamada Akihiro

Art Director: Higashi Junichi

Music by Hashimoto Ichiko

Anime Production by BONES

Featuring the following voice talent:

Shimono Hiro/Chris Patton as Ayato Kamina

Kuwashima Houko/Kira Vincent-Davis as Quon Kisaragi

Hisakawa Aya/Monica Rial as Haruka Shitow

Araki Kae/Allison Keith as Cathy McMahon

Hori Katsunosuke/Andy McAvin as Johji Futagami

Sugimoto Yuu/Christine M. Auten as Elvy Hadhiyat

Kakazu Yumi/Cynthia Martinez as Hiroko Asahina

Heather Bryson LeMaster as Shinobu Miwa

Kawasumi Ayako/Hilary Haag as Megumi Shitow

Seki Toshihiko/Illich Guardiola as Makoto Isshiki

Miyamoto Mitsuru/Jay Hickman as Itsuki Kisaragi

Nakata Jouji/John Gremillion as Jin Kunugi

Ohtsuka Chikao/John Swasey as Shougo Rikudoh

Hyoudou Mako/Kelli Cousins as Helena Bähbem

Tanaka Atsuko/Kelly Manison as Sayoko Nanamori

Hashimoto Ichiko/Laura Chapman as Maya Kamina

Sakamoto Maaya/Mandy Clark as Reika Mishima

Miyata Kouki/Mark X Laskowski as Souichi Yagumo

Utsumi Kenji/Mike Kleinhenz as Shirow Watari

Ohtsuka Houchu/Mike Vance as Masayoshi Kuki

Harasawa Katsuhiro/Randy Sparks as Youhei Yomoda

Kayumi Iemasa/Ted Pfister as Ernst Von Bähbem

Orikasa Fumiko/Tiffany Grant as Kim Hotaru

Nojima Hirofumi/Vic Mignogna as Mamoru Torigai

In a world where time passes at a crawl and the blood of your neighbor runs blue, 17 year old high school student Ayato Kamina goes about his daily life within Tokyo Jupiter oblivious to the world around him, having been educated with the fact that the all civilization but Tokyo has been destroyed. But all that changes when the mysterious civilization “MU” invades his home, raining destruction down from the sky in the form of strange monsters called Dolems. The events that occur next will lead Ayato to the mysterious woman named Reika Mishima, to the truth of their existence, the discovery of what and who he is, and to the powerful angelic robot RahXephon.

It has been twenty years since the Studio BONES anime series “RahXephon” aired on television.

The sci-fi series was rather interesting because upon its release in Japan, it was a series that unusually had aired at different times of the day. It’s first nine episodes were shown during the afternoon and by episode 10 through its 26th episode, it aired after midnight.

Suffice to say, the anime series was popular in Japan and warranted an animated film to be released and because it was created by the Studio BONES, the anime production company which created “Cowboy Bebop: The Movie”, it drew a lot of attention in the US.

Some comparing it to “Neon Genesis Evangelion”, others debating that “RahXephon” was its own story and style very different from Evangelion. Some going as far as saying it was better than Evangelion.

Needless to say, it was an anime series which required your full attention, otherwise you would be lost and would have to rewatch an episode.

The plot centers around Kamina Ayato, and one day while riding his friends Asahina Hiroko and Torigai Mamoru on the subway to school, an accident takes place and the people of Tokyo are under siege with great tragedy and destruction.

While trying to seek for help, he hears singing and it’s coming from his classmate, Mishima Reika. She leads him to a giant egg containing what is called A RahXephon. But an agent of the defense researach agency TERRA try to bring Ayato and the RahXephon to their headquarters.

But it is learned that Tokyo has been invaded.

A species known as Mulians (Mu) have come from multi-dimension. They look like humans but they carry a genetic marker which turns their blood blue and they suffer from memory loss as they mature.

The Mu have floating cities appear above Tokyo and Sendai and the Mu enveloped Tokyo and areas outside of Tokyo which a barrier and within the barrier, it’s known as Tokyo Jupiter and time flows differently than real time.

The Mu secretly take control and human forces outside of the barrier are trying to find ways to penetrate the barrier and invade the Mu and stop them.

The Mu have these goliath looking mecha but they are actually clay-like golems (they are called “Dolems”) and they are bound to a certain Mulian, but certain human hosts are bound to these Dolems and are controlled by music.

It is revealed that Ayato has the special ability to control the RahXephon and he can can pilot it and fight against the Dolems.

For the most part, the series has a lot of twists and turns, who is really from Earth, who is really Mulian and it is truly a deep, complex storyline.

The anime, movie and manga series has its differences (especially in regards to the protagonist Ayato and his mother Maya). The manga version of Mishima Reika and Asahina Hiroko are also different compared to the TV/movie versions.

So, just know that if you want an alternate storyline, check out the manga series. Otherwise, if you read the manga series first and expect the animated TV series or film to be the same, there are quite a number of differences.

As for anime comparisons, “RahXephon” has its own storyline and certain plots may have been inspired by numerous anime but the thing can be said for a lot of mecha anime series.

But I do feel similar to how I felt back then, the movie series is probably much easier to follow than the TV series. The TV series can be a bit complex and also I also feel that voice acting has progressed a lot since the original dub was created, considering this is an old school anime series.

Because of its long list of characters and complex storyline, you really want to watch this anime series and spacing things out and not watching if you are a bit tired. It’s an anime series that requires your full attention.

As for the release of “RahXephon – Complete Collection”, the fact that you get the entire TV series and the animated film together is a major plus.

Overall, if you enjoy complex sci-fi anime series and want something a bit more deeper with vast number of characters, “RahXephon” is a classic anime series worth checking out!

Click here to purchase “RahXephon – Complete Collection” on Amazon

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