Jormungand - Reviews

Recommended by a personal friend, Jormungand (Jorm henceforth) was a nice change of pace from some of the slices of life I’ve recently stepped away from.  And that’s probably the nicest thing I’m going to say about that show in this entire review.  I’ll waste no further time on preamble:

Art: 08/10 – Ever gratuitous when it comes to art, this show does ok for itself in the art department.  I think the general artwork is good, the backgrounds are great, and the visual effects are outstanding.  It sort of blew my mind how crisply shown reflections were in car windows during some of the many driving scenes.  It’s one of the most memorable aspects of the whole damn show, and I’ll applaud that sub-category a full score for that alone.

Though I thought the characters were well drawn, and mostly well-emoted, I couldn’t bring myself to give the character design a full score.  The problem here lies in how utterly erratic the style was.  I understand that the cast is very multicultural – which I think was well-captured in their generic design – but then there’s the whole bizarre eyelashes bit.  Which are conspicuously noticeable on the male and female leads; but then not apparent on most of the other major characters.  Apart from not caring for that design aspect (which is not something I’d deduce points for), it’s just off-putting how this design feature failed to apply to most of the cast.  It’s like do only the main characters have eyelashes?  It’s a poor touch to make a stylistic choice like that, and fail to follow-through with it for more than a few characters.

Likewise, for a show that is almost NON-STOP action; many of the action sequences themselves really sucked.  Few things are more immersion-breaking than the protagonist team (which inarguably consists of some of the most highly-skilled combatants in the world) can’t gun down two people who they have SURROUNDED with no cover (their first encounter with Orchestra).  The was just a lot of laziness that in the battle choreography, and while I’m not often picky in this regard, I’m going to be less forgiving for a show that centers on combat.  One good combat scene > three bad ones.  It’s about quality, not quantity, people.

Sound: 07/10 – I watched the show dubbed, and by and large, the voice acting was pretty good; especially for a dub.  I took a single point off in this section because no one’s performance was outstandingly performed by my memory, but I most especially deducted due to the utter cheese that which was a majority of the dialogue.  I don’t know if any of it had anything to do with the translation, and I don’t imagine that I’ll this show a twice-over to watch it subbed.  So my score stands.

The music was entirely unremarkable.  I thought the first OT was pretty cool, and the first ET was good as well.  The second OT was ok, and the second ET was ok.  There’s absolutely nothing about this show’s BGM that’s even remotely memorable; and that’s a bad thing to me.

The sound effects were solid.  The gunshots sounded like gunshots, and explosions went “kaboom!”.

Story: 02/10 – Needless to say, I’ve identified serious problems with this show’s story.   Let’s start by talking about the premise, which, while the setting is fairly unique, you’re thrown into it with virtually no exposition whatsoever.  No goals at this point are expressed, all you know is that these people sell weapons for money.  And doing so gets them shot at.  A lot.  And *spoiler alert* that’s all you’re going to know for the next 20 episodes.

As I’ve explained in previous reviews, an episodic format is always worse than a continual one.  I’ve excused other shows at least somewhat for this fallacy (such as Cowboy Bebop) for at least throwing in tons of character development and subtle clues that tie everything together.  Jorm, however goes on to flub it up even worse.  It’ll make two-parters over random encounters that have no relevance at all to the plotline (Orchestra), then rush extremely important parts (like the last two episodes).  You could almost skip the middle 20 episodes or so, and walk away understanding the whole story.  If that doesn’t say everything one needs to know about this show’s pacing, I don’t know what would.

I’ll grace the show with a half-score for complexity, because some of its scope was interesting and profound.  The main character’s ultimate goal was fairly interesting, and while it wasn’t terribly plausible; the explanation was still thorough and thought out.  Still, the characters’ motives are barely given any explanation at all.  And the sheer and utter lack of plausibility (which I’ll address in the next paragraph) cascades into how weak the show’s complexity is.  Having a massive (and arguably somewhat profound) scope does not make a show complicated, if the execution is absolutely terrible.

The plausibility of this show was outright abysmal.  I mean, where do I even begin?  Making a battle with the Navy SEALs look like child’s play?  Picking gunfights with the Mafia for the literal hell of it?  A single soldier taking down an entire military base with a knife?  Or how about making the CIA continually look stupid, despite being CONSTANTLY monitored by them?  No, I know, getting shot in the back mutliple times while huddled in the fetal position, just to be in perfect condition the next episode.  This isn’t even to address the ludicrous motivations of the characters, which I’ll go into further detail in the characters section.

The conclusion was awful.  The story was finally beginning to tie itself together, but then the conclusion has the audacity to give a 2-year time skip right at the VERY last episode!  If that’s not bad enough, the story still doesn’t wrap itself up.  You’re left with “I push this button to execute my master plan!”  *Pushes button*  THE END!  I mean, did you really just make me sit through 24 episodes of the main characters shooting up completely irrelevant people just to troll me into not letting me know how the main character’s master plan turned out?  Seriously?  The story was almost entirely crammed into the last several episodes, and it was rushed to high hell.  Awful ending.

Characters: 04/10 – A step or two in the right direction from the show’s story, but still afflicted with glaring weaknesses.  I’m not going to say anything bad about the actual presence of the characters.  It’s largely character-driven (which is my preference), the show places a tremendous emphasis on the characters (a good thing!)

My praise for the show’s cast breaks down the split second we start to talk about the personalities of them.  I mean, is every single character in this show a psychopath?  The female lead (and primary lead) literally has no personality to speak of.  There is no consistency to the way she acts.  It’s implied she’s a bit crazy.  Ok, cool.  But that cannot possibly be used to explain her behaving completely randomly in every possible situation.  I would possibly be more lenient if the show explored Koko’s psychosis, but it doesn’t.  It simply uses it to excuse the sheer and utter lack of consistency in her behavior.  One episode it’s “kill them all!”  Another it’s “only kill when necessary!”  One episode it’s “well, we’ve got nothing better to do, let’s put the lives of my crew in danger over a completely unnecessary gun fight with the mob.”  And the next it’s sobs and tears when she loses a member of her crew.

I liked Jonah a little better than Koko, but not much.  The show seems to flip the degree to which he is extremely astute (even moreso than his adult companions), and the degree to which is he ignorant (excused by the fact that he is a kid).  Worse than that, his motives are ridiculously poorly fleshed out.  He is forced by a couple of arms dealers under the duress of his own safety, and the safety of some of kids friends, to basically get shot at by a daily basis.  And he not only gets over this fact, in almost no time at all, he actually goes on to befriend (and respect) the people who forced him into such a thuggish ultimatum in the first place.  Am I the only viewer who was never at any point in the story able to recognize Koko as a protagonist?  She was hardly even an anti-hero; and her brother was even worse.  This is where Jonah’s character was exceptionally inconsistent.  Why was he so quick to forgive those who put him such terrible circumstances?

I don’t have much better to say for the rest of the crew.  Ok, they’re mercs, not good guys.  I get that.  But who would be dumb enough to work a job where they get into regular firefights for an extended period of time?  It was well implied that they were all extremely well paid for what they did, so it doesn’t make sense that anyone would stay in that line of work for a long time.  Sure, it was obvious that they were all to some level or another attached to Koko, but that was just boring in its own right.  She was literally too inconsistent to be likable, yet the show played it up that her likability was one of her core traits.  This one of many examples of the show’s terrible exposition:  It was sure to tell us consistently that Koko was charismatic, but it definitely wasn’t able to show it.

The secondary cast was frankly obnoxious.  For starters, why is literally every woman in the show a badass lesbian?  Fan service much?  Was there a single episode where there wasn’t either girl-on-girl groping or a cat fight?  Or both?  I have no problem with romance, nor do I have a problem with shows addressing homosexual love (which seemed to be the actual case in Velmet’s case), but when they do so with such obvious immaturity it becomes blatant otaku fan service, rather than mature exploration for what is otherwise a less-than-common theme.  Then there was Koko’s treatment of Jonah which was basically outright pedophilia.  Again, this is a theme which could have been actually explored, what with the insane amounts of time wasted in pointless random encounters.  But instead it was clear that this was just more fan service for the younger crowd to yell “awesome!” every time Koko smothered Jonah with her tits.

I realize I could spend an entire review remarking about the terrible character portrayals are, but I’ll move on to a department where the show fared better: Backdrop.  Now I’ll admit I’m being generous here, because Koko lacked almost any backdrop even despite being, you know, the main character.  This is especially strange given that her father is constantly referenced, but never shown.  Almost no detail about her relationship with her father came to light.  Sure, you could imply it was a bad relationship; but again this could have, and should have been better fleshed out.  With that said, almost the entire remainder of the secondary cast had at least some backdrop; including at least some sort of explanation as to how or why they specialized in the areas they did.  Because basically the entire relevant cast had some backstory, I did give the cast a full score in this category.

Character development?  None.  One could argue Jonah changed a little, but he obtained his fondness for his captors very quickly, and for virtually no reason.  Koko?  Well aside from lacking a concrete personally to speak of, she was dancing to the tune of her master plan all along.  The rest of the cast?  Minions who are mindlessly obsessed with their bosses.  No.Development.Here.

I also gave the show a zero in catharsis.  Sure, Jonah reconciled the essential insanity of his boss.  Who didn’t see that coming?  And Koko never had any explicable personality (let alone character development) in the first place.

Overall: 4.5/10 – If you’re looking for an action series that you’re able to take even remotely seriously, I’d advise you look elsewhere.  But if you’re just looking to mouth breathe in front of your screen to the spectacle an unending hail of gunfire, and more-than-occasional lesbian foreplay; then step right up.  You’ve got yourself a show.

Excused Scorings Below:  (Thanks to Roriconfan for the template).

ART SECTION: 8/10
General Artwork 2/2 (Solid)
Character Figures 1/2 (Well designed, but erratically styled)
Backgrounds 2/2 (very detailed)
Animation 1/2 (sometimes lazy)
Visual Effects 2/2 (Great)

SOUND SECTION: 7/10
Voice Acting 2/3 (fine, but not remarkable)
Music Themes 2/4 (Ok, but not great)
Sound Effects 3/3 (Great)

STORY SECTION: 2/10
Premise 1/2 (unique but aimless)
Pacing 0/2 (erratic and episodic)
Complexity 1/2 (bites off more than it can chew)
Plausibility 0/2 (none)
Conclusion 0/2 (Rushed, Excessively Open, and Cheesy)

CHARACTER SECTION: 4/10
Presence 2/2 (strong, character driven)
Personality 0/2 (makes no sense)
Backdrop 2/2 (Basically entire cast gets some)
Development 0/2 (weak)
Catharsis 0/2 (Weak, and Rushed)

VALUE SECTION: 2/10
Historical Value 0/3 (Jormu-what?)
Rewatchability 1/3 (Action packed, but the suspense isn’t gripping even the first time around)
Memorability 1/4 (Memorable only for its sheer implausibility and failure to fulfill its scope)

ENJOYMENT SECTION: 4/10
Art: 1/1 (Good)
Sound: 1/2 (Ok)
Story: 1/3 (Ok premise that gets flubbed up relentlessly)
Characters: 1/4  (Kind of cool, but nonsense unless they are all psychopaths and suffer multiple-personality disorder)

VERDICT: 4.5/10

"Jormungand," a gritty anime that delves into the complex world of arms dealing and the varied cast of characters that inhabit this shadowy underworld, presents a narrative that's as morally ambiguous as it is action-packed. Following the journey of Koko Hekmatyar, an arms dealer, and her diverse team of bodyguards, including a child soldier named Jonah, the series explores themes of war, peace, and the paradoxical quest to achieve peace through the sale of weapons.

Rays of Rebellion

• Complex Characters: The anime thrives on the depth and complexity of its characters, especially Koko, whose charismatic yet enigmatic nature captivates. Jonah's moral conflict and evolution provide a compelling counterpoint to the world he's thrust into.
• Thought-Provoking Themes: "Jormungand" ambitiously tackles the ethical dilemmas of arms dealing and the cyclical nature of violence, offering viewers a nuanced perspective on conflict and the individuals it ensnares.
• Dynamic Action Sequences: The series does not shy away from delivering high-octane action, with well-choreographed sequences that keep the adrenaline pumping and underscore the perilous lives of its characters.

Shadows of War

• Inconsistent Pacing: At times, "Jormungand" struggles to maintain a consistent pace, with some episodes dragging under the weight of exposition while others rush through complex plot points, leaving viewers craving a more balanced narrative flow.
• Muddled Moral Compass: While the series aims to provoke thought on the morality of its characters' actions, it occasionally falters, delivering mixed messages that can leave the audience questioning the intended takeaway.
• Character Development: Despite a strong start, not all characters receive equal development, with some team members and antagonists feeling underexplored, diminishing the potential for emotional investment in their fates.

Unraveling the Serpent's Coil

• Moral Ambiguity: The series boldly embraces the grey areas of its thematic landscape, challenging viewers to consider the complex interplay between war, peace, and the means to achieve an end. This ambiguity is a double-edged sword, offering depth but sometimes leaving clarity to be desired.
• Global Tapestry: The anime's globe-trotting narrative enriches its story with a variety of settings and cultural backdrops, though this ambitious scope sometimes stretches the plot thin, struggling to fully flesh out each locale's significance.

Conclusion

"Jormungand" offers a mixed bag of compelling character dynamics, thought-provoking themes, and intense action that will likely appeal to viewers drawn to morally complex narratives. While it excels in painting a vivid picture of the arms trade's dark underbelly and the paradoxical quest for peace, the series' execution is marred by pacing issues and occasional thematic inconsistency. Nonetheless, for those intrigued by the intricacies of global conflict and the morally grey characters who navigate it, "Jormungand" provides a journey that's as challenging as it is enthralling, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights its ambitious premise promises.

Story- I don't even know where to begin. Half the time, I found myself asking what the hell was going on. The pacing makes no sense! The important moments when something critical is about to happen are all sled through with little explanation, while all the fluff and action scenes are needlessly, and sometimes awkwardly, slow. Unimportant scenes are repeated throughout the series, as is much meaningless dialogue. They made plenty of room for blood and boobies, but left no room to explain why.

Animation- For a show that turned out to be Little more than eye candy, you would think it would look amazing. Well, the characters are well-drawn. I will give them that. Action scenes could be better choreographed. But my real beef lies in the way the vehicles are animated. It's like someone took the time to digitally construct semi-realistic looking cars and aircraft, and just let them move however on a background lacking adequate shading and movement. Miyazaki San would laugh so hard.

Sound- This anime, despite its many flaws, sounds absolutely heavenly. If no one else, the sound team for this show should be proud. Everything from the sound effects to the soundtrack melds together for an audio experience rarely found in tandem with modern animation. Gunshot and helicopter sounds help to heighten the sense of reality, while the music fits each situation to a T. I especially love the opening songs. They are totally my new jams. Oh, and I haven't even begun with the voice acting. I haven't watched the dub, but the Japanese actors are top-notch. They fit their characters and put everything they have into them. The acting alone almost makes this anime worthwhile . . . Almost.

Characters- Despite the acting talent, I am left feeling little for the characters. I don't care if they all die. Really! They are that lazily written. There is hardly any development, and you can't excuse that by saying the show has too few episodes for that. Bullocks! I felt more for Ash after the first episode of Pokemon than I feel for these characters after 12--even 24--episodes.

Overall- I rarely pan an anime so ruthlessly. Need I say more?

Jormungand to me follows the recipe of the girls with guns series. it portrays powerful smart capapble women who can at times surpass men with their capabities (a big bonus point for me). The story takes it's time but eventually picks up and starts to escalate halfway through the series. it kept me wanting to figure out what it going on and that's a good thing. The main heroine makes the series as the other characters are not as fully dimensional as her. It left something to be desired in the depth category but nevertheless I enjoyed it. It has Yuri elements so fans of the Genre should definitely watch this

Story: 

Jormungand is a type of anime that doesn't come along all too often these days. It seems we are bombarded every year with new shows that are themed around shounen/moe/school days/rom-com/comedy and the action shows never seem to live up to expectations. Jormungand is about a child soldier named Jonah, his village was destroyed by a small military faction and he absolutely hates guns and those who sell them. Ironically Jonah is put into the hands of a gun dealer named Koko who is accompanied by a team of expert mercenaries. Through the story we see that Koko has a special interest in Jonah and her crew work hard to help the seemingly unaffected boy live a somewhat normal life when he is sorrounded by death and destruction. The show sometimes gets too wrapped up in the action and is very graphic. Too often shows like this spend too much time pondering the strategies of an unrealistic gunfight as if it were a game of chess and this show is not immune to those kind of cheesy sequences. Like "Hey! that guy needs help from his accomplice to know where and when to shoot at people, maybe if we seperate them we can defeat them!" when in reality its just a fucking gunfight and every bullet has the potential to kill.  

The action sequences still are fairly spectacular I must say. Beyond the action the show takes itself very seriously but the interactions between the characters provide some comic releif. There we moments in this show (although few) where my face lit up with laughter. 

The show also dwells on some philosophical questions. Unfortunately it doesn't do this extremely well but it does succeed in forcing viewers to ask questions of morality. The idea of moral absolutism vs. ethical relativism is a recurring theme. Jonah hates all guns and gundealers, while belonging to a gun dealer. It begs the question of who's at blame here? Is it right that chickens are held in 6inch by 6inch steel cages stacked on top of eachother in wherehouses for their entire lives? They're fed hormones and live their lives being shit on by the birds in cages above them and the unsanitary conditions make it necessary for them to be sometimes washed in bleach before being killed for their meat which we eat. No, this is not right, not moral to many people, but who is at fault? Is it the people who run these operations? If they had free range chickens they would never be able to compete. So is it the fault of the corporations and fast food chains utilizing these facilities? Or is it our fault, the consumer, because we blindly eat our chicken nuggets without a care of where it came from or how it got here? Jormungand deals with a similar dilemma with gun dealers. Is it the gun dealers fault for the destruction their goods cause? Is it the fault of the politicians and countries whose misteps foster such horrible conflicts? Or is it the fault of the people using the guns for whatever cause they fight for? 

It doesn't do a bad job of asking these questions, but it really puts the philosophical implications of the stories premise behind the action and quirky characters. And in my mind, maybe the show should have reorganized its priorities. 

Characters: 

Every character has a back story and the show tries to show the viewers that these killers are people too, some with families and regular lives. The most interesting theme among the characters is the relationship between Jonah and Koko. Jonah is a yound boy who hates guns and violence but has become so desensitized to it all killing is almost second nature to him. He can kill and not lose any sleep over it. Koko sees this and in a way wants to bring the humanity back to Jonah and harbor an environment which he can live a somewhat normal life amongst the chaos. Koko herself is cunning and charismatic but at the same time very turned off to the world. She wears a mask which smiles and makes light of every situation but we learn that it is exactly that, a mask. I would contend that Koko sees herself in Jonah in a way and as a result she fights to save his humanity. Its like she doesn't want Jonah to end up like her; turned off to the world. This relationship develops throughout the series and I'm extremely interested in seeing it continue in the second season this fall.