a5c7b9f00b On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later... Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory. and he is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he's holding with the other hand. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash.
This series, made by Kenji Kamiyama creator of 'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex' is quite different to his earlier work; while both involve a complex mystery this is fair more light hearted, both in the tone of the story and the way it is animated. As the story begins Japanese student Saki Morimi is outside the White House in Washington DC when she meets Akira Takizawa. There is something very strange about him; for a start he is stark naked holding a phone in one hand and a pistol in the other, he has no idea why though as he has no memory. Clues lead them back to Japan where he learns that he is one of twelve people recruited to play a strange game; they have each been given a phone and ten billion yen, they must use this to save Japan and if they spend the money before completing the task or somebody else completes the task first they will be killed. Using the phone they can contact a woman known only as Juiz, she can arrange just about anything for a price. Over the course of the series Akira attempts to discover why he erased his memory and also to find out if he was involved in 'Careless Monday' an event where several missiles hit Japanese cities but amazingly killed nobody and if he caused 20,000 unemployed people (NEETs) to disappear.<br/><br/>This was one of the most engrossing series I've watched in a while; I certainly plan to get the DVDs when they are released here. The only real flaw was that it ended so soon and several mysteries remain unsolved; these will presumably be dealt with in the two feature films that follow; I hope they get released here too. The animation was really good for a TV series and the character design was most appealing; reminding me of Studio Ghibli characters. While this was a mystery there was also plenty of humour such as the computer hacker who is rumoured to have become a recluse when his only pair of trousers blew away, there are also one or two wince- inducing moments involving a serial killer who uses a cigar cutter in a particularly nasty way on her male victims! Don't worry though we don't actually see the deed. I'd certainly recommend this series; especially as it can currently be viewed legally on Funimation's YouTube channel.<br/><br/>These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.
It's hard to describe the type of series this is. It involves the NEET class and the economical-political attitude amongst Japan's youth toward the older upper-class management. One of these youths, Takizawa, mysteriously comes into possession of a phone that enables him to enact changes in his and others' lives. Fate causes him to meet Saki, a recent graduate seeking employment, and the adventure begins.<br/><br/>The tone of the film is lighthearted, even though the plot deals heavily in political intrigue and adventure. The story is well-written to reveal stepwise all the events occurring before, during, and after Takizawa's and Saki's fateful meeting, including some quirky romance, intrigue, and action. The series ends on a fun and exciting solution to some of the problems that Takizawa encounters along the way, but leaves us with new questions and lead-ins to the following 2 feature films for the series.<br/><br/>I've seen the feature films, and unfortunately, they don't maintain the same level of excitement, mystery, and fun that the original series does. It feels as they're made simply to finish the story lines with logical endings. I'd recommend just watching the original series, and even though it's tough, don't bother with the following feature films to answer the questions created by the series.