BLACK★ROCK SHOOTER

[Plot: From Wikipedia]

The OVA focuses on Mato Kuroi (黒衣 マト Kuroi Mato^?, Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa), who makes friends with a girl named Yomi Takanashi(小鳥遊 ヨミ Takanashi Yomi^?, Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro) who recently moved to the town. Mato quickly joins the basketball club, which incites Yomi to join the volleyball club since both clubs practice at the same time in the gymnasium. The two spend much time together over the following year, and during one outing Mato gives Yomi the same cellphone charm she has. In their second year of junior high, they end up in different classes, reducing the amount of time they can spend together. Furthermore, Yomi starts to become jealous of Mato hanging around her basketball club manager and classmate, Yuu (ユウ^?, Voiced by: Kana Asumi). When Yomi seemingly disappears, Mato becomes concerned when she does not show up at school the next day or respond to her text messages. Mato becomes further depressed when she receives word that Yomi has been reported missing and is asked about her whereabouts by two detectives. One day, Mato receives a blank text message from Yomi and goes to her favorite spot in town where she finds the phone charm she gave her. The charm starts to glow and transports her to a strange world where she meets a mysterious girl named Black Rock Shooter (ブラック★ロックシューター Burakku Rokku Shūtā^?), who has a blazing blue left eye and a rock cannon which can fire 20 shots per second. As Mato tries to find Yomi, she merges with Black Rock Shooter and duels Yomi, who was possessed by an evil being called Dead Master (デッドマスター Deddo Masutā^?), who wields a large scythe. As the possessed Yomi is about to fall to her death, Black Rock Shooter saves Yomi from falling, and embraces her, causing Yomi's body to be free from Dead Master. The events of their lengthy battle are dispersed throughout the anime. Yomi and Mato return to their normal lives, but Yuu begins to act strangely.

Now, this OVA was extremely confusing. I didn't understand it all. And then there's that mysterious white haired girl that shows up. That is WAY confusing! Especially since she doesn't seem to have any special significance(she never really shows up anywhere else). Also, the pattern the story takes is confusing. I figured out pretty early on that Yomi was Death master and Mato was Black Rock Shooter.

Considering the fact that the beginning started off with Black Rock Shooter getting stabbed and then followed her fighting as if nothing had happened, I was really confused. Then I realized that she hadn't been killed by the stab wound after Mato and her merge. If you look on her left side(your right) then you see a scar. That's where the stab was.

The good thing about this anime was that it left me trying to figure out how the two worlds were connected. It took me until Yomi went missing to figure it out. I already hypothesized that it was the goal of Black Rock Shooter to bring out the original Yomi.

Now, for characters:

BLACK★ROCK SHOOTER

Now, BLACK★ROCK SHOOTER is more of a silent character. She doesn't talk until Mato discovers the cell phone strap. How she manages to carry the large weapon with her, I don't know. Her character is O.K. even though she barely has any lines.

Dead Master

Dead Master was a silent character. She never said a single line. The fact that she exchanges no lines with BLACK★ROCK SHOOTER makes it harder to follow along. This complicates the ideas of the viewer but also adds to the questions he/she will be asking.

Mato

Mato is very energetic. She seems to contrast Black Rock Shooter. Even so, she is a good character. As she drifts away from Yomi, it seems as if I start to feel sad for her. I knew she should check the hill that she showed Yomi once she discovered Yomi was missing. It's one of those moments that are similar to Dramatic Irony(but not dramatic irony because it's not set in stone that it's where she'll find Yomi)

Yomi

Yomi is a quiet character. She doesn't strike me as the kind that will make a lot of friends. That's probably why she was so close to Mato and drifted off after Mato started to become friendlier with Yuu. I like her and she seemed to have a story that I was interested in learning.

Mato introducing Yuu

Yuu is a VERY short girl in charge of being the "Super Manager" of the Basketball team. She is nice enough, but she seems to fall into the third-wheel position that Yomi was in previously(watch after the anime's credits if you want to understand)

I have NO idea who this is...

Okay, is anyone other than me confused as to what the role of this person is? They never come in and their position just confuses the viewer more than needed. It's frustrating.

Overall: I dislike this OVA. Please don't be upset, this is my own opinion. I just don't like it. It's confusing. However, I have heard that there's a T.V. show for it.

-Zeki