Tokko - Complete Series Boxset [DVD]

To begin with this is my favorite DVD series with regards to new anime. Tokko is a series full of confusion, swords, amazingly drawn characters and above all the most annoying ending in a series ever. However, if you are starting out in the world of anime or a seasoned lover of the stuff I believe there isn't a funnier (theres a weird incest story line at the beginning which is very funny) more worthwhile series than this. I purchased this because it was cheap, no other reason to begin with but after vol. 1 i watched all the episodes back to back. Now i cant do that with any other anime mostly because half the series consists of bogus realisations about 'oh yeah btw the your actually a dragon/robot/monkey/human/god etc.' No the great thing about this series is that its straight forward. eg- dudes family is killed, he wants revenge, finds out its demons, joins Tokko. Although its annoying in places, has the strangest plot and makes hardly any sense the first time you watch it, i've never felt happier sitting through any other series and i feel its the most overlooked series around.

Monsters, blood, swords and the potential destruction of the world. Good stuff!

It's also most of what "Tokko" is made up with, along with a generous amount of totally gratuitous cleavage. It's fairly funny, very violent, pretty well-written and its solidly suspenseful storyline is only marred by an ending that... isn't. Almost is, but isn't.

Five years ago, a hole appeared in front of a Machida apartment complex. Savage demonic creatures emerged and slaughtered almost everyone in the building.

Ranmaru Shindo is on his first day's duty as a cop, when his team is attacked by zombies controlled by demon larvae. They're only saved by the intervention of sword-wielding cops from the mysterious division, TOKKO. One of them is a childhood friend of Ranmaru's, Sakura, who has been haunting his dreams recently.

He becomes convinced that the zombies and TOKKO are connected to the Machida massacre... and the strange tattoo that's appeared on his arm. Of course, he's right -- turns out demons are flooding into our world courtesy of a shattered alchemist's box. But thanks to demon symbiotes -- like the one on Ranmaru's arm -- TOKKO is able to fight and kill them.

So naturally Ranmaru is transferred into TOKKO, and he turns out to be stronger and more skilled than anyone suspected. But his investigations into the alchemist box and the Machida massacre become more dangerous when a sinister old man becomes involved -- and Ranmaru faces losing more than his soul.

The first half of "Tokko" is a sort of detective story wrapped in supernatural trappings, but the second half is when things really heat up. Basically, the whole world will be devoured by demons unless our heroes stop them... except they have demons in their own bodies. What a mess.

But it's a fun mess -- lots of creepy cliffhangers, spraying gore, dismembered bodies, zombies, monstrously carnivorous demons, swords, and (for the boys) utterly gratuitous boobery. And once Ranmaru settles into Tokko, things start getting even more violent than before. Basically that's the core of the series, along with the detective work.

But it has some solid atmosphere as well, especially in the second half -- Sakura fighting the "evil Ranmaru," the horrific climactic battle, and walls crawling with demons. And it has some funny dialogue, usually from Kunikida ("I was told you were hooked on a respirator in ICU, stoned out of your skull on a morphine drip, and ****ing the bed from your internal injuries!" "I have a really good doctor...?").

So what's the problem? Well, there's only half an ending. The immediate storyline is nicely wrapped up in the last episode, but there are still some flapping threads. And the last few seconds drag the plot right back out. It's pretty clear they intended to continue the anime, but sadly that didn't happen.

Ranmaru is a pretty typical action-anime hero -- he's sort of boyish and cute, but can be a brutal fighter when the story demands. Sakura is a bit too mysterious to be an engaging love interest, but Kureha, Ryoko and the kooky Saya all are interesting. And Kunikida is a pretty hilarious character -- a foul-mouthed, womanizing, tough-as-nails police chief who says everything in a dull roar.

"Tokko" is all blood, skin and swords, with lots of action and an interesting detective story. Just don't expect much closure at the finale.

Bought this box set on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by this purchase. Having read some of the other reviews, I would say this Tokko has a good story line all be it a bit short. Good animation. They should really make another series as I think there are a lot of areas within the story to explore.