Name: Read or Die TV
Genre: Action, Science-Fiction
Year: 2003
Rating: Recommended
R.O.D TV follows the events shown in Read or Die OVA. Yomiko Readman (The Paper) has gone missing. Nenene Sumiregawa is her best friend and former student who has now become a distinguished writer. However ever since her teachers disappearance she has found it hard to start and finish writing books. During her trip to Hong Kong Nenene meets three girls, Michelle, Maggie and Anita. These three like Yomiko are paper users. A paper user is a person who is able to manipulate paper. By changing the hardness, shape and form of paper these paper users are able to create weapons and other objects. Due to Nenene’s fame and fortune as a author many others have become jealous to an extent where they try to kill her. Fortunatly the three sisters are able to save her from several close encounters with death. The three then take up the job of being her bodyguards and follow her return to Tokyo.
The screen shots aren’t the best example but this series does contain allot of quality action. I find with action themed anime serials the effects and fighting animation is usually quite limited. However R.O.D TV and its OVA don’t disappointed in this aspect. Each girl has a unique personality with that personality they have a certain preference in books and hold very differing powers. The scenes where the girls are in combat and using their powers look superb. I really like the “paper” concept and watching thousands of a4 sheets of paper form into a flying bird or a weapon of some sort is very enjoyable. The series is based around the theme of books and literature, though don’t worry if you hate reading as the series is far from watching a person flipping through a few pages.
