We find Tokyo at the turn of the century and on the brink of an epic supernatural battle that will decide the worlds' fate. Hidden in the shadows exist two forces, the Dragons of Earth and the Dragons of Heaven. Each group has its own vision of the future of the world and the power to make their vision true. The members that make up these groups gather in Tokyo as the final battle is about to begin. With them, comes the one person who will decide the winner and the loser of the battle, Kamui. According to the mystics of both groups Kamui will return to his home of Tokyo and join with one of the forces, thus causing his equal, another Kamui, to join the other force. Both Kamui will fight to the death to determine the winner and the fate of the world.
Kamui returns to Tokyo, unaware of the plots around him, after the bizarre death of his mother who died while giving birth to a mystical sword. He returns to find answers and to reclaim something of his lost childhood happiness. Instead of finding peace he is involved in the struggle between opposing ideals. The Dragons of Heaven see humanity as needing their guidance and careful tutelage to progress to greater things. They strive to protect mankind from the shadows while it continues on its course. The Dragons of Earth see humanity as blight on the planet and wish to return the world to the natural order of things. Kamui inadvertently drags his childhood friends, Fuma and Kotori, into the battle as he tries to reconnect with them. The Dragons of Heaven quickly bring Kamui into their fold and introduce him to their leader, the blind prophet Kanoe who tells him about the unfolding events. With all of their convincing and pleading Kamui is resistant to join either force and chooses to distance himself from the struggle. Fate proves otherwise and he can not escape making a choice. When Kotori is kidnapped and Fuma is approached by the Dragons of Earth, Kamui can no longer sit idly by and watch the world collapse around him. As time runs out he must accept his fate and help to choose what will happen to mankind.
This is a CLAMP series true and through. It also has not aged well, it came out in 1996. It integrated some CG that looks childish and low quality with today’s standards. Before my first viewing of this movie a man I ran into told me above anything else the movie was eye candy, and at the time, 1997, it was true. The characters fit the CLAMP bill, impossibly skinny waists, long limbs and large eyes. Most of the male characters are just as feminine as the female characters. Poor artwork aside this is one of CLAMP’s best works. It is by far the most depressing and twisted story they have come up with. I prefer the movie over the TV series for the fact that it is more bleak. I love stories that don’t end happily and this one is one of the top on the list. For a number of years this movie was my number one favorite anime movie because it was so dark. It may not be anything new, hell Evangelion had the same basic premise, but it is delivered so well that it stands out among the rest that are similar. I think it only should have been a movie even though the manga started running before the movie was made. It is nice, compact and tidy with little room for anything else. The manga/TV series flesh out the back ground of the characters and how they all gathered and what motivates them, which I think that just lends to watering the story down. The manga/TV series also adds more to the events dealing with the main struggle, which I also think waters the story down. Unlike many titles I greatly enjoy, this one was perfect as an hour and a half package of doom and misery. For a taste of the darker side of CLAMP, if for some ungodly reason you have never seen this movie, please do. Otherwise watch it again and remember where they first showed the ruthlessness they played with in Code Geass.
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