Kurau & Christmas
This show, dating from 2004, is showing on Anime Network Uk (BskyB channel 195, new ep Sats 21.20, repeats have been Mon-Fri 21.30). It’s a sci-fi drama, with almost all-adult characters. Set around the year 2100, in a future world which runs on “blue” energy, and where Dr Amani is experimenting with another more powerful energy source. His 12-year old daughter is allowed to visit the lab on her birthday. Unfortunately something goes wrong, and Kurau is struck twin bolts of light. What remains looks like his daughter, but contains two entities with fantastic powers.
As the series progresses, we learn more about “reneks“. Kurau, now an adult, is accompanied by her “pair”, Christmas, who exactly resembles the 12-year old Kurau. Kurau and Christmas are in hiding, constantly on the run from the GPO (I think this stands for “General Police organisation”) intent on using her for laboratory experments. There are other people who have been damaged by renek energy experiments. Kurau tries to maintain contact with her father, and is aided by the ex-GPO agent, Doug.
Kurau is pursued by the obsessed policewoman Ayaka Steiger, who reports to the rather sinister Inspector Wong. Another mystery surrounds Ayaka, who is the sole survivor of the slaying of her police officer father and his family some years previously.
Ayaka Steiger
Plus points of the series, apart from some lovely character designs and melancholic theme music, are the strong bonds of human affection between the various characters – Kurau, Christmas and Dr Amami, between Doug and his son, such heartwarming sentiment being rare in anime, and the plentiful dramatic action in the form of battles and chases.
The series is being released on DVD from ADV in the US and UK.