Kurau Phantom Memory
| KURAU Phantom Memory | |
| Genre | Science fiction Drama |
|---|---|
| Anime | |
| Directed by | Yasuhiro Irie |
| Studio | BONES, Media Factory |
| Released | 24 June 2004 – 15 December 2004 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Bones (original work) Itsuki Hoshi (art) |
| Published by |  Kodansha |
| Magazine | Magazine Z |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Volumes | 1 |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Hiroshi Tominaga |
| Illustrated by | Tomomi Ozaki & toi8 |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| Demographic | Male |
| Original run | 2004 – 2005 |
| Volumes | 2 |
KURAU Phantom Memory (クラウ ファントムメモリー, Kurau Fantomu Memorī) is a Japanese science fiction anime series, produced by BONES and Media Factory, which was broadcast across Japan by the anime television network, Animax, and TV Asahi. Set in the year 2110, it explores themes such as inter-familial relationships and ethics in science. The series was licensed by A.D. Vision for North American localization since the first episode aired, and the first DVD was released April 10, 2007.
Plot
Dr. Amami is a tireless scientist working in the field of alternative energy, who, at the beginning of the series is on the verge of a major breakthrough in the area of Rynax energy. On her twelfth birthday, his daughter Kurau accompanies her father to the lab, where an experiment goes horribly wrong and she is struck by a bolt of this energy, which knocks her out.
When she wakes up again, it is found that her body has been taken over by the Rynaxes, who are actually living organisms, not just a form of energy. One of them is too weak to awaken for ten years, which it eventually does by spawning an identical twin of Kurau, only having the body of a twelve year-old. These two people look and interact very much like two sisters.
Rynax Energy
Originally believed to be a form of energy, Rynax are, in fact, binary life forms that exist in pairs. These beings are made up of pure energy that are channeled from an alternate dimension and not generated as Dr. Amami believed. This channeling proves very traumatic for the Rynax, resulting in their almost immediate deaths most of the time. The normal outcome of Rynax touching humans is the slow, agonizing deaths of both. Kurau proves to be extremely fortunate because she and the Pair she 'merges' with lives in her in a symbiotic relationship. The Rynax also give her special powers such as amazing strength and agility, and the ability to fly, pass through solid objects and generate great amounts of radiation, strong enough to disintegrate objects instantly.
Other humans who have been merged with Rynax prove to be very dangerous and destructive people, resulting in pursuit of the GPO (police force) and termination of both the Rynax and the human. Kurau and her pair are pursued by the GPO, under the belief that they, too, are a threat to the world. In turn, Kurau diligently promises to stick by her pair and protect her while at the same time, tries to prove through good deeds and non violence that Rynax are not a threat if left alone.
Characters
- Kurau Amami
- Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)
- A mysterious young woman employed as an "Agent": A freelance operative who takes any job that's potentially too dangerous or illegal to involve normal private eyes or the Global Police Organization (GPO). Although barely in her twenties, Kurau is already one of the best in the business, and the rumor is that there's no job she won't take, or anything she can't do. Very few know much more than that, however, because there's no one who really knows her, and her past is a complete mystery. In truth, the Kurau the world sees is actually the result of a freak accident, in which her younger self's body became fused with an energy-being called a Rynax. This is not a case of two beings sharing one body, though, as the two personalities have merged into a new composite creature that shares two different pasts. As a result, Kurau is the ultimate loner, not quite comfortable with human society and forced to shun close relationships with other humans, lest they discover her secret. At the same time, she longs to be reunited with her Rynax "Pair," whose essence sleeps inside her.
- Christmas
- Voiced by: Misa Kobayashi (Japanese); Jessica Boone (English)
- Kurau's Rynax Pair. She emerges from Kurau's body ten years after the incident which fused her with Rynax. Christmas has the body of Kurau in her younger years albeit with a decidedly less tomboyish appearance. Although seemingly innocent and naive, Christmas seems to have an intuitive understanding of others as well as an ability to learn very quickly. For example, she reads a cookbook and produces a full dinner, on her first day out in the world,
- Dr. Hajime Amami
- Voiced by: Mitsuru Ogata (Japanese); John Gremillion (English)
- Kurau's father, a kind and intelligent man living on the edge. Wracked by guilt over the accident that changed Kurau, and physically damaged after his own encounter with Rynax force, he's now being forced by the GPO to work on a project that could destroy his own child.
- Doug
- Voiced by: Tomoyuki Shimura (Japanese); Jason Douglas (English)
- A down and out Agent and former officer in the GPO, Doug finds himself trapped in a steadily deteriorating situation when he's assigned to find out the truth about Kurau. Not trusting either the police or his own shady employers, Doug soon finds himself empathizing with Kurau as she goes on the run.
- Wong Shun Yee
- Voiced by: Tohru Furusawa (Japanese); Illich Guardiola (English)
- A determined but enigmatic investigator who commands a GPO Unit tasked with investigating and controlling Rynax-possessed individuals. Soft-spoken and a man of few but precisely-chosen words, Wong seems to know more about what is really going on than his own superiors. He also clearly has suspicions that he's not being told the complete truth about the Rynax situation.
- Ayaka Steiger
- Voiced by: Yuko Kaida (Japanese); Tiffany Grant (English)
- Formerly Doug's subordinate/partner in the GPO, Ayaka is now assigned as a captain in Wong's unit, and is directly in charge of capturing Kurau. She seems to be focused on advancing in rank by any means possible, but in fact her own father was the head of the GPO until he was assassinated. For this reason, Ayaka prefers to be called only by her first name, and one of her real goals is to find out the reasons behind her father's death. She trusts no one with this secret, although she still keeps track of her former partner Doug, and she and Wong appear to be developing a relationship based on mutual respect.
- Ichise
- Voiced by: Nobuo Tobita (Japanese); John Swasey (English)
- Although an older scientist than Amami, Ichise began as an underling in Amami's lab, but quickly worked his way up to a position in charge by sucking up to the GPO and selling his former co-workers downstream. A ruthless man, he cares about nothing but advancing his own agenda, no matter what the cost to others might be.
- Saito
- Voiced by: Minoru Inaba (Japanese); Rick Peeples (English)
- Saito is the commissioner of the GPO and is the main antagonist. Saito is intent on building a miliary unit out of Rynax soldiers.
- Minamida
- Voiced by: Fumihiko Tachiki (Japanese); Marty Fleck (English)
- A crusty and grizzled old veteran who runs the Agency Kurau normally works for. He's a tough-talking guy who harbors a secret fondness for Kurau, but that won't stop him from sending her on the most dangerous assignments.
- Ella
- Voiced by: Miyuki Ichijou (Japanese); Melinda DeKay (English)
- The Amami family housekeeper, Ella is a kindly older woman who took care of the young Kurau after the death of her mother. World-wise and a keen observer of human nature, Ella understands the relationship between Dr. Amami and his daughter far better than they do themselves.
- Ted
- Voiced by: Makoto Tsumura (Japanese); Kira Vincent-Davis (English)
- Doug's son, he's being raised by his mother and has become rather spoiled and aloof. He's also growing increasingly disenchanted with his father, who quit his "cool" job in the GPO to become a "boring" low-end private eye.
- Frank Zaksman
- Voiced by: Akio Nojima (Japanese); George Manley (English)
- Frank is Kurau's uncle who lives with his wife Kleine in Switzerland.
- Kleine Zaksman
- Voiced by: Sumi Shimamoto (Japanese); Shelley Calene-Black (English)
- Kleine is Kurau's aunt who lives with her hustband Frank in Switzerland.
Theme songs
- Opening Theme: "Natsukashii Umi" by Akino Arai
- Ending Theme: "Moonlight" by Katsuki Yukari (S.E.N.S.)
- Insert Songs: "Lilipri Layli", "Lonely Freedom" by Katsuki Yukari (S.E.N.S.)
Easter egg: It seems as though the creator hid some references towards the song "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence". (Also a movie, it was composed for with the same title.) There is a redone track within the series and also the character "Christmas", as well as the name of Midori's lover "Sakumoto". ("Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" was composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto). This is, by the way, just speculation and not confirmed, but nonetheless an interesting tidbit.