Adapted by Tetsuo Hirakawa from Kakeru Kobashiri’s light novel manga, Grimoire of Zero is set in a quasi-medieval world of witchcraft and sorcery, where the "Beastfallen"—half-human, half-animal—who were created by witches to serve as their soldiers are hunted. One such is the Mercenary, a massive figure who looks like a giant white tiger but walks on two legs, speaks, and longs to be fully human. The Mercenary is saved from bounty hunters by Zero, a diminutive witch who offers him a bargain: if he will protect her as she searches for the grimoire—a book of magical knowledge that could be used in very dangerous ways—she will make him human in return. The two are joined in their quest by Albus, a young boy interested in magical knowledge who harbors a major secret, and Holdem, a wolf Beastfallen dedicated to protecting the granddaughter of the great witch Sorena, who was unjustly killed by men. The heroes face a grim opponent in Thirteen, a stern male witch who manipulates human communities into executing his enemies and is also after the grimoire. While the characters are intriguing—with particularly good chemistry between Zero and the Mercenary—some of their personality quirks are silly, and the series is hampered by slow pacing, animation that is more utilitarian than imaginative, and plot twists that feel forced. Presenting all 12 episodes from 2017 in a dual-language Blu-ray edition, rated TV-14, this is a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)
Grimoire of Zero: Complete Collection
(2017) 2 discs. 300 min. Blu-ray: $69.98. Sentai Filmworks (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 5
Grimoire of Zero: Complete Collection
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