Is Anime Good for Highlander?

Well, it's finally happened. The boys at Davis Panzer Productions have finally taken the Highlander legend to Japan. Some of you might be saying, "It's about time." Skeptics like me may be holding back a very emphatic, "Uh-oh!" in hopes that this anime product will somehow turn out fantastic, like the first movie did.

Ever since the first movie, released in 1986, the lead role has always wielded Japanese weaponry. It might seem fitting to finally get a Japanese interpretation of the story. But is anime really the way to go? The legend has been placed in the hands of anime legend, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, director of Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Ninja Scroll, and The Animatrx.

While Ninja Scroll was typical run of the mill bloody adult anime, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust was an elegant work of art. Kawajiri's usual bloody adult anime style is typically well received, and it would be nice if the quality of Highlander: The Search For Vengeance could measure up. This movie was just released in the direct to DVD market on June 5^th 2007. It's 80 minutes long, and is rated "R." Sorry kiddies.

I've had the opportunity to see it first hand.

First off I can say that if you love adult anime, you will love this movie. If you love Yoshiaki Kawajiri, you will love this movie. If you love Highlander no matter what the presentation, you will love this movie. If you're not willing to accept just anything, just because it has the Highlander stamp on it, you might think twice about this one.

Lets face it, people. The Highlander franchise has been far less than consistent when it comes to telling the legend of these Immortal swordsmen. They started off with something great, but it has been diluted over time. The creators may be able to accept just any story, but many of the fans will not.

Speaking of stories, if you don't know about the Highlander mythos, now would be a good time for me to explain things. Immortals, and mortals inhabit the world of Highlander. Sounds perfect for anime, right? Well, it was considered sci-fi when it debuted. 99% of Earth's population is mortal. It's the last 1% that really makes the story interesting. Immortal men and women live throughout time, cutting each other's heads off. So you might notice people running around New York with swords. That's alright, if you do. It's totally normal in every incarnation of Highlander. (They love New York.) The only way an immortal can be killed is if he or she is beheaded.

The story is basically about power. They kill each other for power. Whoever lives to be the last is suppose to win "the Prize" which is suppose to be ultimate power. Now that we have that out of the way, Highlander stories are almost always about an immortal Scotsman from the Clan MacLeod. In the first movie, his name was Connor MacLeod. Duncan MacLeod has since replaced Connor.

In this anime story, Highlander: The search for Vengeance, the lead role falls to a character called Colin MacLeod. Like the two incarnations before him, he carries a samurai sword, otherwise known as a katana. Why this is always the case (a Scotsman carrying a katana?) is beyond me. But so far three of them have done it. It has become sort of irritating at this point, that the creators completely disregard the importance of the Claymore in Scottish heritage. But this is being told in the Japanese anime medium.

In its essence, this movie is strictly anime. In fact, it is almost no different than the story of Ninja Scroll, dressed up within the Highlander legend. Colin MacLeod basically chases the same immortal from 125 AD, before there was ever a Scottish culture, to the year 2187 AD. They are both present for all of history's greatest wars, fighting each other. Through all this time MacLeod never defeats the Roman, Marcus Octavius. Marcus killed MacLeod's wife, and wants nothing more than to rebuild Rome.

Though Octavius is clearly the better swordsman; circumstances constantly prevent him from finishing MacLeod once and for all. It was sort of amusing to watch Octavius break MacLeod's sword in every war throughout their two thousand year feud. This could only happen in a Highlander Anime! For all that time, MacLeod has cared about nothing more than killing the Roman. For all that time MacLeod has been haunted by a friendly ghost that offers him advice.

Since when were there ever ghosts in Highlander? I don't know who came up with this idea. The ghost served as a mentor, and was supposed to provide comic relief. In my honest opinion, it failed to do so most of the time. Of course, old men often provide the voice of reason in these anime movies, so it's no surprise really.

The Highlander comes to New York, which is almost completely submerged under water, in 2187. He is introduced to an oppressed people. Viruses plague them, and they blame their ruler, Marcus Octavius for their plight. MacLeod's character receives its true development when he must choose to either help the people of New York, or take revenge by finally killing Octavius.

This, of course, is a motif so overdone in anime, that it is disturbing to see it now, as a part of the Highlander legend. At first MacLeod wants nothing to do with the people of New York, and could care less that they are dying. You can guess at which road our hero takes.

But as they say, "all roads lead to Rome," and it is obvious that ultimately to save New York, the HIghlander must face the ruler of New York, Marcus Octavius. I think the story would have been better served if it were more straightforward concerning MacLeod's final duel with Octavius. It was obvious that it would have to happen sooner or later. Why the creators felt the need to make the problems of the people an obstacle for MacLeod is anyone's guess. It only slowed the story down.

Other than that, the story wasn't anymore complicated than the hero trying to take "revenge." Unfortunately, there have been so may characters to carry the MacLeod name, and the Highlander moniker, that I never really had any emotional attachment to Colin MacLeod. I didn't care if he lived or not. He wasn't very likeable, but I didn't necessarily dislike him either. He was just sort of there, but the story was about him. There were no cool characters that stood out to me. There were no memorable moments that defined Highlander: The Search For Vengeance as a good or bad movie. But I don't like most animes, so that must be saying something.

Once again, this was mediocre, run of the mill anime. It may have been a step behind Ninja Scroll, but it was a giant leap behind Vampire hunter D: Bloodlust. I give Highlander: The Search for Vengeance a generous seven out of ten, only because it was Highlander's first attempt at anime.