Claymore...
I picked up the second volume of Claymore yesterday...
By the way, the cover art was taken from a distorted view of the cover box that is commonly available on the web. I had no real difficulty removing the distortion, but, I did spend a few minutes cleaning up the image a bit. Given the size and quality of the source image, 350x500 was the best I could do. I would scan the cover art, but, like Witchblade, the Claymore cover art makes use of reflective materials that do not scan well.
Claymore follows the exploits of Clare, a soldier in the service of the "Organization", as she slices and dices "Yoma". Yoma are humans that have been transformed into monsters. Claymores are half-human and half-yoma -- they have the minds and souls of humans, but, can draw upon the immense power of their yoma side to do their dangerous work. Claymores must be cautious with the yoma side of their nature, because, their yoma side might consume their human side and transform the Claymores into full-fledged yoma. Claymore is packed full of violence, bloodshed and gore. Scenes of people munching, people smashing, monster slicing and all manner of gore.
Claymore is mostly traditional animation with only a few CG elements. While, the animation quality in the series does not appear to contain any technical flaws, it does appear that the animators took some noticeable cost saving measures. Throughout the series the animators make use of some still shots and some panning sequences of still shots. There's one particularly unsuccessful sequence of birds sliding sideways across the screen. Thankfully, there's more than enough action to draw my attention away from some of the more obvious shortcomings.
The visual style of the series is dark and moody. It's rendered entirely in muted colors. Even the blood, is a few shades darker than one would expect. The most striking feature of the series is the way the eyes of the main characters are drawn. The Claymores have intensely silver, almost jewel-like, eyes. The yoma have brilliant gold eyes that appear to glow from within. In most cases, the eyes are rendered using traditional animation, but, when the story-tellers want to convey an extra level of intensity, the eyes are beautifully rendered using CG effects. Another interesting aspect of the appearance of the series lies in the blood of its victims -- humans and Claymores bleed red and yoma bleed purple.
Many of the themes in the series relate to the hazy line that seems to separate humans from the half-human, Claymores and the formerly-human, Yoma. Although, the story-telling is fairly good, there is a tendency in the series to venture into the "monster of the week" syndrome -- newer monsters, bigger monsters, badder monsters, etc... The only thing that saves the series from becoming too monotonous is its unflinching violence towards women and its appallingly callous portrayal of violence in general. There were scenes of torture and child abuse in the middle of the series that were fairly intense. Claymore is certainly not for the younger or more squeamish members of the anime community.
Overall, Claymore has some flaws and is certainly not for everyone, but, I still found the series to be engaging and entertaining. I gave Claymore a 4 out of 5.
The story seemed somewhat intriguing, so, I thought I might give it a try. I first encountered Claymore in a print ad and it just seemed to jump out and demand my attention. At this point, I have the art box and the first two volumes.A brutal scourge stalks the land. Yoma, monsters driven by a hunger satisfied by only one quarry: Humanity. The dark breed knows but a singular foe: Claymore. Human-Yoma hybrids of extraordinary strength and cunning, the Claymores roam from skirmish to skirmish delivering salvation by the edge of a blade...
Volume 1
The Burden Of The Blade
Thus begins the twisting tale of Clare, one such sister of the sword driven by pain in both victory and defeat. A child silent and suffering hidden in her past, Clare's march toward vengeance unfolds along a path marked by violence, solitude and scorn. In a land where even the predator is prey, the haunted hearts of hunter and hunted alike wear the scars of the age.
Volume 2
Point Of No Return
Thus continues the twisting tale of Clare, one such sister of the sword driven by pain in both victory and defeat. A disturbing glance into the past reveals the forces which molded an orphan into a warrior, where monsters come in all shapes and heroes sometimes hide their greatest glories. Lore tells of twin goddesses, worshipped for their boundless grace - two angels of light called Teresa and Clare.
Volume 3
The Hunter Is Prey
Thus continues the twisting tale of Clare, one such sister of the sword driven by pain in both victory and defeat. Whispers of conspiracy fill the air, but the gravest peril is not hidden. Enter Ophelia, a Claymore of joyful cruelty with a zealot's devotion to the massacre of all who have Awakened. And Clare will suffer as her prey. Flesh will fall from bone, but there will be no rest until Teresa is avenged.
Volume 4
The Rumors Of War
Thus continues the twisting tale of Clare, one such sister of the sword driven by pain in both victory and defeat. Three beings of myth have risen from exile to open a new front in the war between monsters and men. Clare's march to battle is brisk, for on the killing fields awaits the one she has lived to destroy. Vengeance is coming to the snowy wastelands of the North.
Volume 5
The Sisters In Arms
Thus continues the twisting tale of Clare, one such sister of the sword driven by pain in both victory and defeat. War has been unleashed, and certain death looms, yet the silver-eyed soldiers harbor an even greater fear: the uncertain horror of Awakening. Rigaldo, a foe more force of nature than warrior, stands in the way of survival. But neither madness nor monster will sway Clare, not with vengeance so near.
Volume 6
The Awakening
Thus ends the twisting tale of Clare, one such sister of the sword driven by pain in both victory and defeat. Final vengeance is at hand, but what becomes of a life bent on revenge when the reality of retribution finally dawns? Wounds will cease to ache through healing or through death. All of the ghosts have gathered, be they in body or spirit, to behold the last stand of the Claymore known as Clare.
By the way, the cover art was taken from a distorted view of the cover box that is commonly available on the web. I had no real difficulty removing the distortion, but, I did spend a few minutes cleaning up the image a bit. Given the size and quality of the source image, 350x500 was the best I could do. I would scan the cover art, but, like Witchblade, the Claymore cover art makes use of reflective materials that do not scan well.
Update
Claymore follows the exploits of Clare, a soldier in the service of the "Organization", as she slices and dices "Yoma". Yoma are humans that have been transformed into monsters. Claymores are half-human and half-yoma -- they have the minds and souls of humans, but, can draw upon the immense power of their yoma side to do their dangerous work. Claymores must be cautious with the yoma side of their nature, because, their yoma side might consume their human side and transform the Claymores into full-fledged yoma. Claymore is packed full of violence, bloodshed and gore. Scenes of people munching, people smashing, monster slicing and all manner of gore.Claymore is mostly traditional animation with only a few CG elements. While, the animation quality in the series does not appear to contain any technical flaws, it does appear that the animators took some noticeable cost saving measures. Throughout the series the animators make use of some still shots and some panning sequences of still shots. There's one particularly unsuccessful sequence of birds sliding sideways across the screen. Thankfully, there's more than enough action to draw my attention away from some of the more obvious shortcomings.
The visual style of the series is dark and moody. It's rendered entirely in muted colors. Even the blood, is a few shades darker than one would expect. The most striking feature of the series is the way the eyes of the main characters are drawn. The Claymores have intensely silver, almost jewel-like, eyes. The yoma have brilliant gold eyes that appear to glow from within. In most cases, the eyes are rendered using traditional animation, but, when the story-tellers want to convey an extra level of intensity, the eyes are beautifully rendered using CG effects. Another interesting aspect of the appearance of the series lies in the blood of its victims -- humans and Claymores bleed red and yoma bleed purple.Many of the themes in the series relate to the hazy line that seems to separate humans from the half-human, Claymores and the formerly-human, Yoma. Although, the story-telling is fairly good, there is a tendency in the series to venture into the "monster of the week" syndrome -- newer monsters, bigger monsters, badder monsters, etc... The only thing that saves the series from becoming too monotonous is its unflinching violence towards women and its appallingly callous portrayal of violence in general. There were scenes of torture and child abuse in the middle of the series that were fairly intense. Claymore is certainly not for the younger or more squeamish members of the anime community.
Overall, Claymore has some flaws and is certainly not for everyone, but, I still found the series to be engaging and entertaining. I gave Claymore a 4 out of 5.
