Witch Hunter Robin - Inquisition (Vol. 3)

Suddenly Robin faces an older witch, and 'immortal' who has experienced the full weight of the world's persecution of the witchbreed - the descendants of ancient gods. Her story leaves Robin vulnerable, and a following visit by an Inquisitor, ostensible to examine another witch, something deep within her changes.

Robin becomes the target of unexpected attempts on her life. He relationship with Amon becomes more equivocal. While the episodes build a great deal of tension while developing the story line in this direction, writer Aya Yoshinaga and the rest of the creative staff are careful to lead the viewer's suspicions in many directions, stirring up as many mysteries as possible.

Time is taken to develop the rune-based system of magic more than it has been previously. This leads me to think that ritual may play an increasing part as the antagonists solidify. Right now there are countless suspects - several church brotherhoods or confraria, the STNJ, the Factory, and the witches themselves. For now we can only expect the unexpected as the intricate plot continues to unfold.

Production continues to set a high standard for anime. Both background art and animation set a neo-gothic atmosphere that is fascinating on its own. A great deal of research has gone into the creation of an alternate world where science and witchcraft continue an age-old war. The English acting and dubbing are a bit stiff, but entirely acceptable. Definitely worth viewing.


Just Amazing   March 1, 2004
S. M. Nofal (Madison, WI United States)
9 out of 12 found this review helpful

I have already watched the first three DVDs of this series. At first, I must confess I didn't get it. Being this series so radically different from the rest it took me quite a while to realize how a magnificent and convoluted the story is. It keeps you wondering, always asking for more.

Additionally, this series is superbly well-researched. For instance, the many arcane symbols that the different witches use to perform their deadly craft are not made up but meticulously taken from real, historical sources. You can learn about them in the impressive, highly detailed extras in each of the DVDs.

Unlike all other anime heroines I know, Robin brings a complex sensuality that does not depend on showing off her curves or her underwear. On the contrary, she is utterly dressed from the neck to the toes and, more often than not, she also wears gloves. Yet I find Robin Sena to the most sensual woman I have ever seen on animation. Her ways are subtle yet convoluted, cautious yet elegantly refined, seemingly innocent yet self-assured.

The insigths and acumen of the fifteen-year old Robin are astonishing despite her constantly being kept in the dark by chief Kosaka and the seemingly impenetrable Zaizen, the head of STNJ. The other characters that revolve and react around her are extremely well-depicted. Amon is my personal favorite being so enigmatic, aloof, and fully unpredictable --perplexing even his partners Karasuma, Dojima, Sakaki, and Michael Lee.

Perhaps the biggest achievements of this series are the inner, psychological struggles of its characters and the struggles among themselves within their fascinating undercover organization. In one way or another, each character is, ultimately, a loner who does not fully understand the ultimate consequences of their difficult, gory work of hunting human beings endowed with special powers. As it happens, many forces within STNJ collide against one another as checks and balances for the maintenance of power. Indeed, even STNJ forms part of ---and, hence, is subordinated to-- a larger, global organization. Moreover the so-called "Company," that is to say, the STNJ parallel agency that deals with the witches once captured, remains almost absolute mystery to us viewers. I cannot wait to see how the series unfolds, how the many mysteries are solved --or failed to be solved, bringing in the very process, even more drama and tension to the mesmerizing series. Up to this point, I can honestly say that Witch Hunter Robin is the best anime series I have ever have the priviledge to watch.


80-5000 plot in one episode   March 17, 2004
9 out of 11 found this review helpful

While the first episode on this disc (The Soul Cages) is relatively somewhat like the others before it (with the exception of "Sign of the Craft" which was stunning), it does raise the question of a mysterious old woman who seems to be awakening witch's powers for them.

In the next episode, the old woman reveals herself to Robin, and brings up questions of Robin's lineage. Also, the STN-J computer bank is being hacked into, and displaying a mysterious rune...

The following episode brings in an "Inquisitor", one who questions witches to see if they're fit to join the STN. This is the same Inquisitor that tested Robin, and he claims to have left her valuable information during her test. While the test seems to go out of hand, the witch is released where he is mugged. While being beaten to death, the witch accesses his powers to crush the muggers, but is stopped by Robin, who immolates him. The episode ends with Amon saying "Robin's a-"

The final episode on this disc, "Loaded Guns" is where the plot accelerates out of control, arousing suspicions, sending theories roaring across one's mind. It's best to brace yourself, for the plot is about to go on a roller coaster ride that will leave you breathless and on the edge of your seat.


Beep...beep...beep....We've found a pulse!   March 3, 2004
Scot McGinn (Brookeville, MD)
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

-- 3.5 stars --

When the third volume of Robin came to my home it was a somber moment. I've never given up on a series before...but in between pre-ordering the DVD and the time it arrived (a good while thanks to the 2 month wait in between volumes)...I decided that if these episodes didn't hook me it was time to hit the eject button.

I was honestly baffled. The receipe was nothing short of fantastic on paper: the show had great art, an interesting group of characters, a solid story, and several directions it could go in. However, the food it dished out was hardly gormet. Episodes were stale and predictable, character development lacking, dialogue insultingly dumbed down, and use of conflict limitted to mundane rubbish. And yet...I keep on watching...because I believe in the formula...it's gotta pay out...doesn't it?

There are four episodes on the third volume of Witch Hunter Robin. Half way into the DVD (episodes 11 and 12), I gave up. Nothing had changed; nothing improved. I was done with the series but decided to just finish the DVD, afterall, the money was spent.

The last two episodes, starting with lucky 13, were top notch and everything I had hoped the show would become. But again...it took 12 episodes of blandsville to bring us here. The show is finally heading in a direction that is worth watching, yet, until a whole volume is filled with episodes as good as the later parts of this DVD, I'd consider renting vs owning if you haven't already invested.


The turning point.   April 4, 2004
Hillary (abington, ma United States)
5 out of 7 found this review helpful

Four episodes. Only four episodes. I am so ready to cry! MORE, PLEASE! I haven't been this excited about an anime since Cowboy Bebop. Considering that Bebop has set the standard for anime as I know it, that's saying a lot. I am completely in Witch Hunter's clutches.

If you're reading this review, you've probably already seen Witch Hunter 1 and 2, so I won't recap the overall plot. What I will say is that the first 2 episodes of disk 3 set up the Methusalah witches, and the 3rd episode show how STN differentiates between a witch and a craft user. Good stuff. Very good stuff.

It was the 4th episode - 'Loaded Guns' - that really got me, though. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I don't want to give anything away, so I'm going to avoid talking about it too much. What I will say is that this episode was on par with Cowboy Bebop's Ballad of Fallen Angels. Again, this is high praise.

Argh. I'm so upset that there wasn't a fifth episode on this disk! You're completely left hanging!

My advice for what it's worth - buy this disk. For that matter, buy this series. It's excellent. I'm really impressed so far. Hopefully the other disks will please me just as much!

Happy viewing.