Review of Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom

"Please tell me, if I could never have happiness in real life, can't I at least get to dream about it sometimes?" Cal Devens/Drei. Phantom : Requiem of the Phantom is a beautifully told sad story. This is one dark anime that doesn't compromise, depicting the psychological state of mind of the main protagonists in a way you can feel their pain, their despair, their struggle. Kill or be killed. Instincts end up having the upper hand, and those who aren't able to kill anymore die invariably. Unable to remember their past, two assassins, Ein and Zwei, are forced to lead a dreadful life, killing repeatedly forthe infamous crime organization Inferno as the almighty Phantom, just to stay alive. Even under such circumstances, the main protagonists remain interesting. Their ability to adapt to hardships and their mutual interactions are conveyed in a way you can feel sympathy for them even though they are assassins. From denial to acceptance, they change, sometimes drastically, find their resolves, make promises and choose unexpected paths, which is accentuated with the time skips in the anime. Scheming, manipulation and betrayal are the main occupation of the supportive characters who happen to be the executives of Inferno. They control Phantom as would a puppet master handle his puppets, especially the calculating Claudio Mc Cunnen and the sly researcher Scythe Master.

The action scenes are enthralling and dramatic, complementing the emotional heaviness of Phantom : Requiem of the Phantom to reveal the full power of those widely known as the assassins of Inferno. The smoothness of the animation, the greatness of the voice acting cast and the mostly classical and fitting original sountrack make the show highly appealing. This anime is a poignant experience that changes something within your way of thinking.