I learned about Kaitou Joker/Mysterious Joker from one of the Roku Channel anime channels and then tracked it on one of my anime websites (WCO). This keeps me from having to binge watch the series (four total seasons, each of 13 episodes, running from 2014-2016). Now, I have seen productions of the phantom thief genre as shojo (Saint Tail and Phantom Thief Jeanne), so this would be the first shounen series I'd watch.
The main characters (how hard to call them the 'good guys' seeing that they are all thieves, good-natured, hardworking … but still thieves) are the strength of the first season. Throughout the thirteen episodes you'll see origin stories and backstories which build an association of competing phantom thieves, each one out to prove he/she is the superior felon. There is Joker, who as Jack Jones lost his parents and has the family treasure nearly stolen by the infamous Prof. Clover, but the master phantom thief Silver Heart arrives to foil that plot and takes on Jack as his apprentice, to become Joker. Joker in turn takes on a clumsy cry-baby ninja Hachi as his apprentice. Joker trains with King Spade (with his apprentice Dark Eye ... think of the mummy in a butler's suit) and Queen Diamonds (with her trusty dog Roku ... who can talk, thanks to twisted scientific experiments). Silver Heart, now become the older generation, becomes comic relief as he pops in and out to reveal the tricks of the phantom thief trade and throw out his back in the bargain.
The foe (real hardcore villains you can boo and hiss) is Prof. Clover and his associates. Clover is a true burglar who tends to kill his victims. The phantom thief is more a challenger setting up a game of skill. He'll give extended notice of the crime he plans to commit, announcing the time and place, and offers the owners the right to defend their property. Prof. Clover is far more brutal, and he would have killed young Jack Jones once the boy discovered his plot. In league with Clover is Shadow Joker, a far more vicious twin of Joker (hint, Joker wears red, Shadow J. purple). Even Queen Diamonds fell in with Clover, seeing that her male associates downplayed her skills. Lady Doubt has cat-like skills as a thief, and she can transform to the feline species for those hard to reach crime scenes. Between the good ‘bad guys’ and the ‘evil ‘bad guys,’ you have some of the most imaginative character designs.
The regular good guys (you know, the forces of justice aka the police and honest citizenry) are the best lampooned characters. I note particularly Inspector Oniyama who just misses catching Joker on several occasions and Mr. Kaneari, a pompous man of ultra-wealth whom you wish would lose a lot more of his goodies to Joker and his crew. His traps tend to blow up in his face .. literally.
The plot is uniform, beginning with the extended notice announcing the target for Joker ... if there is one. Often Joker must come to the aid of friends, and each episode reveals a bit more of Prof. Clover’s nefarious plot. And the series offers one of the best catchphrases: 'welcome to the shining night.'
The animation quality is standard, and perhaps the coloration is too bright for the main characters. The night scenes are especially striking. The music is fun and lively, though the lyrics are never translated or offered as subbed. I found that the voices casted are functional, but the best matches are for Joker (lilting and fast-paced to keep and Prof. Clover. I learned that the voice of Clover also voiced King Joseph of the Familiar of Zero series. Great skill in inspiring fear and loathing.
I appreciate the former reviews of ABABIKE and Misherellu and their 10's. But for me, the plot sometimes got twisted to the point that Image Gum was the only quick-n-easy solution. Kaitou Joker is a great series, a fun viewing experience, and I'm looking forward to the other three seasons, but in my book Kaitou Joker is worth 4 stars.
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