Joran The Princess Of Snow And Blood “The Blue Flower Of Carnage” Review
Joran The Princess Of Snow And Blood “The Blue Flower Of Carnage” is the first episode of the Princess Of Snow And Blood anime. It is produced by Bakken Record. A company with only one other title to their name. This definitely doesn’t seem to hinder them though because Jouran is an absolute masterpiece already!
Plot
The year is 1931. An alternate history of Japan where Yoshinobu Tokugawa continues to maintain absolute power. The nation has developed its own source of energy. The “Dragon Vein,” and has achieved a unique development that mixes science with the Edo period.
However. Behind the scenes of such a gorgeous city. The anti-establishment group Kuchinawa, with its smoldering flames of revolution. And plans to overthrow the regime, is roaming around. The Tokugawa government’s black-ops organization. The “Nue”, is charged with exterminating them. Sawa Yukimura, whose family was killed when she was a child. Becomes the executioner of the “Nue” and continues to search for her revenge, the “Snake Eyes.”
Episode 1
The first episode does not play around. We start by seeing our main character Sawa Yukimura fighting a mysterious creature. From there the focus shifts to some activists painting anti-Yoshinobu graffiti on the city wall. They’re caught and arrested by the police and then we shift to a bookstore more central in the city. Just near the open door sits Sawa. Whilst her “sister” Asahi makes dinner.
The scenes then shift to Yuki in the geisha complex that is a cover up for the Nue. Elena Hanazake is busy using her womanly charms to steal info from the anti-establishment group. Whilst Sawa and Makoto make sure she isn’t killing anyone and blowing their cover. Sawa and Makoto make their way to HQ and receive their orders to stop an assassination attempt.
Going undercover
Making their way to the main party and blending in perfectly (Elena and Makoto.) Intel is given to them on where the trade off will take place. They go there and see the crooks. Who they then take on but after the fight realise they’ve been led astray. However Makoto reveals that he sent Sawa somewhere else because he suspected this would happen.
Cut to Sawa and she’s outside the area the terrorists are meant to be. She comes across a changeling. A man who has been turned into an animal with incredible strength and then we learn that Sawa herself is one. Whilst using a white crow to unlock her powers but she recognises the man who’s screaming at her to end him. He was in her bookstore earlier and was clearly a random citizen.
She kills him and passes out from her wounds. Whilst asleep Sawa is having a nightmare into what happened to her as a child. Meanwhile Asahi sneaks into her room with a knife and the episode ends before we see if she stabs her or not.
Review
Where do I even start? The animation for this show is beautiful, I was hooked from the beginning! The soundtrack is beautiful and epic all at the same time and the fact that the show sometimes switches art styles during certain parts was a brilliant touch. I loved Asahi at the beginning. Then was cursing her for maybe harming Sawa. In one episode they were able to change my perspective on characters. That’s some seriously good writing. The pacing is pretty much perfect and the characters are fascinating and exciting.
I spent the entire episode in awe and then wanting to know more, not just about Sawa but the world she lives in. I am amazed and obsessed. Mars Red was my anime of the season until this came along and now it’s second place. What an amazing show.
