DVD Review: Kaze No Stigma Volume 1 - Wind
Gonzo, FUNimation adapt Takahiro Yamato's book series
Aug 6, 2009
In 2007, Gonzo adapted Takahiro Yamato's light book series Kaze No Stigma (Stigma of the Wind in English) into anime form.
Now FUNimation has collected the first 12 episodes of Kaze No Stigma into Volume 1 - Wind on DVD. It's a solid series which makes up for less-than-original characters and creatures with a decent pace and well-executed storylines.
Gonzo, FUNimation's Kaze No Stigma Directed by Junichi Sakata
Kazuma Kannagi is a freak, unable to perform the family's ancient fire magic, En-Jutsu. After he is banished from the family following his defeat in a duel against his cousin Ayano, he disappears for four years. But now Kazuma has returned, a powerful wielder of wind magic, otherwise known as Fu-Jutsu. Even more, Kazuma is believed to be a Contractor, a person who can even access the powers of the Spirit Lord of the Wind.
But Kazuma will need his powers, not only to defend himself from his many enemies, but also the Kannagi Clan: from the father who doesn't respect him, to the hot-headed Ayano – wielder of the magical blade Enraiha – who can't decide whether she wants to kill or kiss him.
If you're seeing minor similarities to Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender, you're not alone. Unlike that series, which showcased a fascinating world with three-dimensional characters involved in an epic story arc, Kaze No Stigma isn't the most original. Kazuma is your cool, calm and collected hero, rarely speaking above a casual drawl. He's rarely flustered, and almost always saves the day. Actually, it's very rare that he runs across a creature he can't stop, pulling some of the excitement from the fight sequences.
In contrast, Ayano is hot-blooded and arrogant, screaming to the world that she's not at all attracted to Kazuma (we all know what that means, don't we?). Kazuma's little brother Ren is the classic bishonen who worships the ground his brother walks on: ironically, he's the character who shows the most growth over the season as an unexpected love affair causes him to develop emotionally.
Be aware that this series would likely be rated PG-13. There are several deaths (signified by bodies lying in pools of their own blood), and occasional female nudity. In addition, most of the teenage girls in the cast wear short skirts, giving the viewer gratuitous panties (all tighty whities) shots on a regular basis.
DVD Extras
Other than the trailers – plus the opening and closing songs minus the credit crawl – the DVD features 3 shorts showing 3 female members of the Japanese voice cast touring Tokyo promoting the series and indulging in various G-rated hijinks. Amusing enough if you like that sort of thing.
The Final Analysis
While it's nothing anime fans haven't seen before, Kaze No Stigma is a solid entry into the field and gets the job done. It won't advance the art or storytelling of anime, but it's entertaining enough. It gets a 7/10.
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