Kurau Phantom Memory
In the year 2100, a twelve-year-old girl named Kurau stands in her father's laboratory on what should have been her birthday. A bolt of energy strikes her body and disperses her into lights that fill the room. When she reforms moments later, two sentient life forms called Rynax have taken over her physical form. One Rynax is too weak to awaken immediately, but the other takes on Kurau's name and identity completely. Ten years pass before the second Rynax emerges as a twelve-year-old girl whom Kurau names Christmas. The two look and interact very much like sisters despite their different origins.
Rynax are binary life forms that exist in Pairs and channel pure energy from an alternate dimension. Originally believed to be just a form of energy by Dr. Amami, these beings prove to be actual sentient creatures when they fuse with humans. This fusion process proves extremely traumatic for the Rynax themselves and often results in nearly immediate death. A human merged with a Rynax becomes known as a Ryna sapien, though this outcome usually leads to slow agonizing death for both parties involved. Kurau proves to be extremely fortunate since the human and Rynax components live together in symbiotic relationship without destroying each other.
Christmas initially has no superhuman abilities yet seems to possess intuitive understanding of others and ability to learn very quickly. She reads a cookbook and produces full dinner on her first day out in the world. Unlike Kurau who displays amazing strength and agility plus ability to fly through solid objects, Christmas remains physically ordinary while developing emotional bonds. Their connection puts even Keiichi and Belldandy to shame according to one reviewer's assessment of their relationship. They vow to protect each other while evading detection from authorities who believe them dangerous threats to the world.
Bones and Media Factory produced the series which aired on Animax and TV Asahi networks between June and December 2004. The production team created twenty-two episodes exploring themes such as inter-familial relationships and ethics in science during that six-month broadcast window. A.D. Vision licensed the show for North American localization at cost of nine hundred sixty thousand dollars starting from when the first episode aired. The company released the initial DVD set on April tenth two thousand seven before transferring rights to Funimation Entertainment in two thousand eight along with over thirty other titles.
The Global Police Organization pursues Kurau and Christmas under belief that they represent threat to world safety. Commissioner Saito commands GPO unit tasked with investigating and controlling Ryna sapiens while maintaining soft-spoken demeanor despite his ruthless agenda. He intends building military unit out of Rynax soldiers regardless of human casualties involved. Agent Doug finds himself trapped in steadily deteriorating situation when assigned to find truth about Kurau's nature. He trusts neither police nor shady employers yet begins empathizing with Kurau as she goes on run through city streets.
Kevin Gifford of Newtype USA praised first volume for neat take on super-powered ladies formula saying it had one of most memorable first episodes among recent anime releases. Diane Tiu gave series five out of five stars claiming very little to dislike since no filler episodes existed and story moved at crack pace. Theron Martin named Kurau and Christmas Best Couple describing their close loving connection as putting even Keiichi and Belldandy to shame. IGN reviewer Jeffrey Harris gave first DVD six out of ten rating stating show starts slow but could pick up steam if less vague about origins.
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Common questions
Who are Kurau and Christmas in the anime series Kurau Phantom Memory?
Kurau is a twelve-year-old girl whose body was taken over by two sentient life forms called Rynax, while Christmas is the second Rynax that emerged ten years later as a twelve-year-old girl. They exist as sisters despite their different origins, with Kurau possessing superhuman abilities like flying through solid objects and Christmas developing emotional bonds and quick learning skills.
When did the anime series Kurau Phantom Memory air on television networks?
The series aired on Animax and TV Asahi networks between June and December 2004 during a six-month broadcast window. A.D. Vision licensed the show for North American localization starting from when the first episode aired and released the initial DVD set on April tenth two thousand seven before transferring rights to Funimation Entertainment in two thousand eight.
What happens to humans who merge with Rynax life forms in Kurau Phantom Memory?
A human merged with a Rynax becomes known as a Ryna sapien, though this outcome usually leads to slow agonizing death for both parties involved. Kurau proves to be extremely fortunate since the human and Rynax components live together in symbiotic relationship without destroying each other unlike most other fusions which result in nearly immediate death.
Why does the Global Police Organization pursue Kurau and Christmas in the story?
The Global Police Organization pursues Kurau and Christmas under belief that they represent threat to world safety while Commissioner Saito commands GPO unit tasked with investigating and controlling Ryna sapiens. He intends building military unit out of Rynax soldiers regardless of human casualties involved even though Agent Doug begins empathizing with Kurau as she goes on run through city streets.
How did critics rate the anime series Kurau Phantom Memory upon release?
Kevin Gifford praised first volume for neat take on super-powered ladies formula saying it had one of most memorable first episodes among recent anime releases while Diane Tiu gave series five out of five stars claiming very little to dislike since no filler episodes existed. Theron Martin named Kurau and Christmas Best Couple describing their close loving connection as putting even Keiichi and Belldandy to shame and IGN reviewer Jeffrey Harris gave first DVD six out of ten rating stating show starts slow but could pick up steam if less vague about origins.