Completed
“Teen Balot is transformed after uncovering her benefactor's dark secrets in neon Mardock City.”
Mardock Scramble: The First Compression
マルドゥック・スクランブル 圧縮
7.4
2,551 rank · 77,498 viewers · 189 favorites
Action
Sci-Fi
Suspense
Psychological
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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
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Synopsis
Teen Balot is transformed after uncovering her benefactor's dark secrets in neon Mardock City.
Rune Balot is a troubled teenager struggling to survive in the neon-lit streets of Mardock City. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she's approached by Shell, a charismatic and enigmatic figure who offers her a chance at a new beginning. Drawn into his world of luxury and promises, Balot finds herself living a life she never imagined possible. However, as she begins to question the true nature of her benefactor's interest in her, she uncovers unsettling truths that put her in grave danger. In a city where justice operates under extreme measures, Balot becomes the center of an experimental procedure that transforms her in ways she never anticipated. Now caught between the world she knew and a new existence she barely understands, Balot must navigate the dangerous underbelly of Mardock City while confronting the dark forces that threaten to consume her. Her journey will challenge everything she thought she knew about identity, power, and what it means to reclaim one's life. (Source: Nippon Cinema)
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 16 sampled reviews
6.1
/10
What 16 viewers settled on.
58%
recommend
Score distribution
median 6
mode 6
σ 2.00
Agreement
Polarized
σ 2.00 · split reception
The polarity gap
4.1 pts
Recommenders 7.9 · others 3.8
Yes
No
Score over time
↑ 0.13
Running avg · Nov 2010 → Nov 2025
Snap verdicts
· shortest highly-rated reviews
- 8 “8/10 I was NOT ready for this one. For years I've heard the name of this anime but is there anything that can really prepare you for this movie? The closest thing would be the original Ghost in the...”
- 7 “Mardock Scramble dazzles with its stunning cyberpunk visuals, painstakingly detailed animation, and profound philosophical depth that explores weighty themes of memories, free will, and rebirth....”
- 8 “This dark and mature anime excels in its serious treatment of heavy themes, delivering powerful emotional depth through Rune Balot's traumatic journey while employing brilliant egg symbolism...”
Verbosity
Short · 19%
Medium · 25%
Long · 56%
Watch Order & Related
Explore the Mardock Scramble: The First Compression universe
Cast
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See all →Gallery
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See all →Made by
See all credits →Production slate
- Format 1 × 69′ eps × min
- Total runtime 1h 09m all episodes
- Aired Oct 2010 – ongoing
- Source Movie media type
- Rated R+ Mild Nudity
- Ref. BS-5213 catalog
Produced by
- Aniplex Producer
- Starchild Records Producer
Licensed by
- Sentai Filmworks Licensor