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Ghost Hound – Part 1
Ghost Hound’s production credits
read like a who’s-who of the animation world, and include director
Ryutaro Nakamura (Kino’s Journey), art director Hiromasa Ogura (Ghost
in the Shell), animation director Mariko Oka (Hell Girl) and
screenwriter Masamune Shirow (Appleseed). With such an
impressive pedigree then, it’s no surprise that the series itself is
first rate.
All eleven episodes of Part 1 are included
here, and revolve around a trio of high school acquaintances who, due to
some past trauma, have discovered the ability to enter a parallel realm
known as the Unseen World. There’s Taro, a 14-year-old narcoleptic
haunted by the kidnap and murder of his sister; Makoto, who is tormented
by the suicide of his father; and Masayuki, who once bullied a fellow
student to the point of taking their own life.
During the course of their out of body
experiences the boys inadvertently open a portal into the Unseen World,
and their sleepy town of Suiten is soon overrun with ghosts and other
paranormal entities. The daughter of the local priest is eventually
possessed by a malevolent spirit, and it is up to the three boys to come
to terms with their own abilities, as well as the horrors of the past,
in order to save her.
Ghost Hound is an endlessly
inventive and highly original series. It’s hardly the most
light-hearted of fare and some of its themes are truly harrowing, though
thankfully these are tempered by some excellent vocal performances
courtesy of the Japanese cast and Nakamura’s flawless direction. The
cinematography is also stunning throughout and the spirit world is
effectively, and sometimes chillingly, rendered, thanks in part to a
sublimely evocative score. The colour palette veers from lush and
resonant to darkly macabre depending on the subject matter at hand, the
pacing is tight and the storyline is gripping from the outset.
There are no bonus features worth
mentioning, just some trailers and an image gallery, but with eleven
episodes spread out over three discs, as well as some extremely handsome
packaging, you aren’t exactly left feeling short changed. Ghost
Hound is a thought-provoking and highly successful series, and one
that’s highly recommended for those who like their anime both meaningful
and mysterious. |
