I have always been a fan of Bee Train since Noir and have somewhat fallowed their work ever since I saw Noir, so when I heard about this series I just had to see it. I know that it is based on an video game but I haven't played it so I don't know how the story is compared to the game but for me this anime was awesome even though I perhaps didn't have the full back story. The story this time is a bit different from the previous titles I have seen from Bee Train, have only been fallowing their guns and girls series(Noir, Madlax and El Cazador de la Bruja) but this was according to me the best one so far, probably the best anime I have ever seen. I hope you will give this anime a chance cause I really believe its worth your time.
15 Reviews
Noir-crime-action-drama. Must watch
Josephmdionne29 January 2016
It was pure luck that i came across this anime. With a name as cumbersome and kind of corny as Phantom:Requiem for the Phantom, I'm still surprised that i noticed this anime. While not very popular, this anime had very high ratings so I decided to give it a shot. The first few episodes were intriguing enough to keep me watching. The noir and ethereal theme of the show paired in a way that was totally original. By the time the action picked up in the show, I was completely hooked. Excellent storytelling, plenty of action (but not at the expense of the story), surprising plot twists, and deeply developed characters make me wonder why this anime isn't well-known ( i think it may have to do with the OVAs that were also based on the Phantom of Inferno story. The OVAs followed a different route and were pretty crappy). Despite being a show about assassins and crime, you still feel connected to the story of human tragedy/redemption. I appreciated the references to the movie Leon the Professional. In some ways, I believe Phantom Requiem for the Phantom did things with the story and characters even better than Leon. If only drug-addict Gary Oldman could have been in Phantom. This is easily my 2nd favorite anime ever (after Berserk of course). A must- watch for any anime or crime-noir fan.
More action from Bee Train
Tweekums17 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I would have watched this series sooner if I'd realised it was from Bee Train and director Kōichi Mashimo who gave us 'Noir', 'Madlax' and 'El Cazador de la Bruja'; AKA 'The Girls with Guns' trilogy. This series has some similarities with its predecessors; like them it features assassins, some of whom have lost their memories, however this time their is a male lead and there are no supernatural overtones.
The series follows a Japanese student who wakes up in America with no memory, he is immediately confronted by a masked girl who forces him to fight, he wins but does not kill her. She says that she is called Ein and from henceforth he is known as Zwei, she proceeds to train him as an assassin and he is eventually given missions along side her by a sinister character known as Scythe Master who works for a criminal organisation called Inferno. At first there targets are members of the local Mafia but it becomes clear just how far Inferno will go when Zwei is sent to kill the wife and child of a Mafia boss. Over the course of the series we learn that Inferno is full of internal rivalries that will lead to factional in fighting and pit Ein and Zwei against each other. Later in the series Zwei learns who he really is and ends up acting as big brother to Cal, a little girl who's sister was killed in the crossfire.
This series was quite a bit darker than the 'Girls with Guns' Trilogy, here blood is seen in many scenes and the odds of any given character surviving till the end of the series are not good. The animation looks very good through out as one would expect from Bee Train as is the accompanying music. The characters, both heroes and villains are interesting and with the possible exception of Scythe Master none are purely bad or purely good; he is both bad and rather creepy. If you enjoyed the 'Girls with Guns' trilogy then I recommend watching this one too; it can be watched free legally on Funination's YouTube Channel.
These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.
The series follows a Japanese student who wakes up in America with no memory, he is immediately confronted by a masked girl who forces him to fight, he wins but does not kill her. She says that she is called Ein and from henceforth he is known as Zwei, she proceeds to train him as an assassin and he is eventually given missions along side her by a sinister character known as Scythe Master who works for a criminal organisation called Inferno. At first there targets are members of the local Mafia but it becomes clear just how far Inferno will go when Zwei is sent to kill the wife and child of a Mafia boss. Over the course of the series we learn that Inferno is full of internal rivalries that will lead to factional in fighting and pit Ein and Zwei against each other. Later in the series Zwei learns who he really is and ends up acting as big brother to Cal, a little girl who's sister was killed in the crossfire.
This series was quite a bit darker than the 'Girls with Guns' Trilogy, here blood is seen in many scenes and the odds of any given character surviving till the end of the series are not good. The animation looks very good through out as one would expect from Bee Train as is the accompanying music. The characters, both heroes and villains are interesting and with the possible exception of Scythe Master none are purely bad or purely good; he is both bad and rather creepy. If you enjoyed the 'Girls with Guns' trilogy then I recommend watching this one too; it can be watched free legally on Funination's YouTube Channel.
These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.
Regret not watching this sooner
mercfma6 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I've been recommended this anime multiple times and kept putting it off cause the title sounded stupid to me and the thumb nail looked dumb with people wearing masks, but i'm so mad at myself for not watching this the second someone told me to. AMAZING SHOW! Lets start off, the plot for this show is GREAT, the music is really good imo(i really enjoyed the opening theme for the first 20 episodes), the animation is really nicely drawn and nice to look at. If you've seen Black Lagoon, Darker than Black, or Jormungand or like stuff like those, this is an absolute MUST WATCH, honestly i can't decide if i like this better then Black Lagoon or not. This show has real life killing(ie. no supper powers), blood, action, violence and a nice plot change at the halfway-end.
Overall: 5/5, I really can't get over how much i loved this show. The ending was great no loose ends. I can honestly say this is one of my top 3 favorite animes of all time, i might be a bit bias cause i like real life killing and underworld combat shows but regardless the story is solid and just done so good. This is a must watch show if you even remotely like any of the listed above, you wont regret it.
Overall: 5/5, I really can't get over how much i loved this show. The ending was great no loose ends. I can honestly say this is one of my top 3 favorite animes of all time, i might be a bit bias cause i like real life killing and underworld combat shows but regardless the story is solid and just done so good. This is a must watch show if you even remotely like any of the listed above, you wont regret it.
A Far better interpretation of Phantom of Inferno the game then its awful OVA
Sabre_Wolf28 April 2013
When I first saw this I got to admit I was sceptical it would be any good because I saw 'Phantom: The Animation' which was one of the worst OVA I ever saw! But this one despite different look of characters this was not a disappointment.
The story telling in the series was a lot more better then the OVA with far more depth and in spirit of the classic game of which I am a big fan of.
Also the characters were deeper and better presented and their portrayal was far better.
While I am adamant in my opinion the game is definitive I must say Requiem of the Phantom was a far better adaptation and interpretation then the OVA could EVER be!
The story telling in the series was a lot more better then the OVA with far more depth and in spirit of the classic game of which I am a big fan of.
Also the characters were deeper and better presented and their portrayal was far better.
While I am adamant in my opinion the game is definitive I must say Requiem of the Phantom was a far better adaptation and interpretation then the OVA could EVER be!
An atmospheric tragedy any crime-lover can enjoy
samcee73 October 2014
A well put conflicting story of two assassins owned by the infamous Inferno: a new blood nobody with the natural instinct to kill, and the other known as Phantom the ghost that takes it's targets by surprise.
The series takes it's setting in a three part time division that are crucial to story and it's understanding.
The organization Inferno holds its reputation for handling targets from numerous gangs as clients, and remains completely neutral. As the lead assassin known as Phantom completes task after task, Phantom comes across a young Japanese man and Inferno abducts him giving him amnesia and a new life as an assassin.
The character development of the two assassins grows as part 1 of the series (episodes 1-10) comes to its climax where just as the viewer is expecting Reiji's motive suddenly goes wrong. Also a civil conflict within Inferno leads to it's characters involved to take note of the two assassins and must take sides.
Seeing the series take involvement with almost every aspect of crooked cops to tense cat and mouse scenes are enjoyable as well as expecting more from it's characters involved. The diverse atmosphere plays a part not only in it's plot but to the beauty of the west-coast crime that Inferno controls. The locations have a good feel to where the illegal work comes and goes as the two assassins do their work for the organization.
It's almost as if the series itself is submitting a message or homage to Hollywood crime movies and shows as the series of events that occur have memorable and thought out moments we can tell came from classic crime thrillers and inspiration from well renown directors and writers. I'd like to think that the writers and director received inspiration when making this anime possible and showing that appreciation in an entertaining series like this.
Overall: has great action sequences along with character development from mostly all fronts. A tragic story leading two lives of trained killers that leads them to "heaven".
The series takes it's setting in a three part time division that are crucial to story and it's understanding.
The organization Inferno holds its reputation for handling targets from numerous gangs as clients, and remains completely neutral. As the lead assassin known as Phantom completes task after task, Phantom comes across a young Japanese man and Inferno abducts him giving him amnesia and a new life as an assassin.
The character development of the two assassins grows as part 1 of the series (episodes 1-10) comes to its climax where just as the viewer is expecting Reiji's motive suddenly goes wrong. Also a civil conflict within Inferno leads to it's characters involved to take note of the two assassins and must take sides.
Seeing the series take involvement with almost every aspect of crooked cops to tense cat and mouse scenes are enjoyable as well as expecting more from it's characters involved. The diverse atmosphere plays a part not only in it's plot but to the beauty of the west-coast crime that Inferno controls. The locations have a good feel to where the illegal work comes and goes as the two assassins do their work for the organization.
It's almost as if the series itself is submitting a message or homage to Hollywood crime movies and shows as the series of events that occur have memorable and thought out moments we can tell came from classic crime thrillers and inspiration from well renown directors and writers. I'd like to think that the writers and director received inspiration when making this anime possible and showing that appreciation in an entertaining series like this.
Overall: has great action sequences along with character development from mostly all fronts. A tragic story leading two lives of trained killers that leads them to "heaven".
This is a deep one not for everyone
makotoshishio-2034913 April 2024
This anime isn't for everyone. There are alot of symbolism and deeper meanings in this anime if you can read into those then enjoy and the ending will reveal itself. Hence psychological anime. ProfessorViral youtube channel survival or salvation will explain alot about this anime there will be spoilers though but you need to understand what you're watching.
The pacing is a bit off here and there but overall ok.
If you dont like sad depressing animes then this isnt for u maybe.
You will find yourself watching anime characters having long conversations immersing u in the story.
Overall a great anime for me.
The pacing is a bit off here and there but overall ok.
If you dont like sad depressing animes then this isnt for u maybe.
You will find yourself watching anime characters having long conversations immersing u in the story.
Overall a great anime for me.
"Deathproof" of Urobuchi
The list of Anime tropes is endless. And these tropes almost destroyed yet another decent (not outstanding) creation by Urobuchi et al.
Almost.
"Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom" started off really well. There was little room left for fan service, the storytelling was quite serious, and you could tell that Urobuchi is in that story. But this was not one of his better creations, and soon the "et al." people started to appear on the script. The predictable chemistry kicked in, in the most Hollywood-y manner. But other than that, the story was still watchable, enjoyable.
But soon came episode 20. And the floodgates of tropes were swung wide open. Whatever effort was put into the anime died instantly from the very first minute of that episode. The protagonist became part of a love polygon, and even the most important female lead became one of many, vowed to love and care even with her life. The last 6 episodes were as predictable as a teen with unrestricted internet.
Right at the end, someone probably felt that this is not how the story started, though. So they tried to salvage it in the last 30 seconds in the last episode. The ending wasn't quite Cowboy Bebop, but it acted as a tribute to the first 19 episodes of good storytelling.
Overall, its not a bad anime. It's Urobuchi's "Deathproof", so to speak.
moksud2 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
- High School.
- Metrosexual student of that school who is irresistible to literally every female character.
- And who leads on all of those women (and calls it courtesy).
- Supported by lead female(s) on the tightrope of barely 18 / that's paedophiliac, disguised via abnormal proportions rivalled only by that of a classic Barbie.
- One of whom is a textbook case of Stockholm Syndrome.
The list of Anime tropes is endless. And these tropes almost destroyed yet another decent (not outstanding) creation by Urobuchi et al.
Almost.
"Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom" started off really well. There was little room left for fan service, the storytelling was quite serious, and you could tell that Urobuchi is in that story. But this was not one of his better creations, and soon the "et al." people started to appear on the script. The predictable chemistry kicked in, in the most Hollywood-y manner. But other than that, the story was still watchable, enjoyable.
But soon came episode 20. And the floodgates of tropes were swung wide open. Whatever effort was put into the anime died instantly from the very first minute of that episode. The protagonist became part of a love polygon, and even the most important female lead became one of many, vowed to love and care even with her life. The last 6 episodes were as predictable as a teen with unrestricted internet.
Right at the end, someone probably felt that this is not how the story started, though. So they tried to salvage it in the last 30 seconds in the last episode. The ending wasn't quite Cowboy Bebop, but it acted as a tribute to the first 19 episodes of good storytelling.
Overall, its not a bad anime. It's Urobuchi's "Deathproof", so to speak.
layered
A_Different_Drummer2 August 2021
A victim of poor writing
csicsergo12 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I do think that the general premise of the show is very interesting, there were a lot of possibilities for new and unique ways of story and character writing, but somehow it all failed. The characters are boring and somewhat predictable, the different personalities and ways of thinking aren't really explored (nor explained) even though they should have been for a more interesting watch. For example I would have loved seeing more of Claudia's point of view, as nothing of her is really explained, only slightly implied, but there isn't much to be 100% sure of.
For the great majority of this show, it felt like it was missing episodes and whole scenes. Let's not even talk about the plot holes, the bunch of unexplained stuff and the very... weird character writing. What is the whole deal with Cal? Is she just some kind of weird fanservice? Her character didn't make much sense in either of her "forms", honestly, it was extremely frustrating watching her character being on screen. I could have understood the psychological aspects of her of always being left alone and abandoned, but it didn't have any concrete bases. For example, Reiji could have explained in just under 1 minute why he "left her alone" after their flat exploded, it would have saved so much unnecessary conflict and drama.
For the good parts, I did enjoy the animation and the music part, they were fitting for the theme and well executed.
All in all, I feel like watching this show was kind of a waste of time, there are just so many smarter and more interesting shows with no logical faults as this.
For the great majority of this show, it felt like it was missing episodes and whole scenes. Let's not even talk about the plot holes, the bunch of unexplained stuff and the very... weird character writing. What is the whole deal with Cal? Is she just some kind of weird fanservice? Her character didn't make much sense in either of her "forms", honestly, it was extremely frustrating watching her character being on screen. I could have understood the psychological aspects of her of always being left alone and abandoned, but it didn't have any concrete bases. For example, Reiji could have explained in just under 1 minute why he "left her alone" after their flat exploded, it would have saved so much unnecessary conflict and drama.
For the good parts, I did enjoy the animation and the music part, they were fitting for the theme and well executed.
All in all, I feel like watching this show was kind of a waste of time, there are just so many smarter and more interesting shows with no logical faults as this.
Yet again another amazing anime.
bradgranz-7756611 August 2022
Phantom Requiem for the Phantom is a highly underrated anime with some pretty great English voice acting from Newton Pittman Lindsay Seidel
Kent Williams J Michael Tatum and Brittney Karbowski.
The show also has a pretty great story and pretty entertaining action sequences.
The show also has a pretty great story and pretty entertaining action sequences.
Another anime that started well
gstylianesis9 June 2021
I joined the just for this anime. It started extremely well. Almost unique. But near the end it was disappointing and the end was TERRIBLE!!! Can't believe I wasted so much time watching this anime just to be extremely disappointed at the end!!
Depressing.
jjblue20206724 May 2021
Promising setup, but story falls to shambles
wastecancan14 October 2023
I started watching this for three reasons: 1) it's in a genre I usually enjoy, 2) it is highly rated, 3) it seemed to be more adult-oriented than most anime, leading to expectations of more mature and complex themes and somewhat realistic writing.
This is the first series I've so far watched where I disagree with the high rating and can't really understand it. This series did not meet my expectations at all, although it is not completely without merits. Animation is better than average and visually there are nice artistic choices from the director throughout. Music is mostly solid and often atypical in a good way. The setup is also very interesting and the story could go in multiple exciting directions.
Unfortunately the writing is all over the place, it never reaches the heights the setup would allow and steadily degrades throughout the series. The first arc of 10 episodes is OK-ish and manages to keep things mostly interesting, but it's a bit uneven and ultimately unrewarding (6/10). The second arc of 9 episodes is much less interesting, it's convoluted and detached, and starts to rely on miraculous events and characters acting in non-characteristic and illogical manner (4/10). And in the third arc every last ounce of logic is thrown out the window and the whole thing implodes into an utterly non-sensical puerile mess (2/10). Just like a good ending can uplift a story, the last arc is so bad it soils the whole series, making the total experience even worse than the sum of its parts.
I learned afterwards that this has originally been a visual novel with multiple routes and endings. This somewhat explains the many tonal and logical oddities of the plot and character continuity, but is no excuse for them; many good examples of similar adaptations exist. I wish I had stopped watching this after the first arc, the rest of the series was a complete waste of time.
This is the first series I've so far watched where I disagree with the high rating and can't really understand it. This series did not meet my expectations at all, although it is not completely without merits. Animation is better than average and visually there are nice artistic choices from the director throughout. Music is mostly solid and often atypical in a good way. The setup is also very interesting and the story could go in multiple exciting directions.
Unfortunately the writing is all over the place, it never reaches the heights the setup would allow and steadily degrades throughout the series. The first arc of 10 episodes is OK-ish and manages to keep things mostly interesting, but it's a bit uneven and ultimately unrewarding (6/10). The second arc of 9 episodes is much less interesting, it's convoluted and detached, and starts to rely on miraculous events and characters acting in non-characteristic and illogical manner (4/10). And in the third arc every last ounce of logic is thrown out the window and the whole thing implodes into an utterly non-sensical puerile mess (2/10). Just like a good ending can uplift a story, the last arc is so bad it soils the whole series, making the total experience even worse than the sum of its parts.
I learned afterwards that this has originally been a visual novel with multiple routes and endings. This somewhat explains the many tonal and logical oddities of the plot and character continuity, but is no excuse for them; many good examples of similar adaptations exist. I wish I had stopped watching this after the first arc, the rest of the series was a complete waste of time.
Not worth your time or money.
KADC15 September 2020
The bewilderingly bad final eight-episode act ruins what was an otherwise passable, albeit predictable, story. I wasted my money buying this poorly written series with sub-par animation due to the undeserving high praise it received in both ratings and reviews.
With so many movies, series, books, and games out there to watch, read, and play, there are far better ways to spend your time than viewing this, at best, moderately entertaining animé.
With so many movies, series, books, and games out there to watch, read, and play, there are far better ways to spend your time than viewing this, at best, moderately entertaining animé.
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