Witch Hunter Robin is a dramatic, dark anime series
created by Bandai and Sunrise. In Japan, it ran for 26 episodes
from July until December 2002.
The series focuses on Robin Sena, a 15-year-old girl from Italy who
can use the Craft. She is transferred to STN-J, the Japanese branch
of the worldwide secret organization STN, whose task is to hunt
down witches.
Witches are seemingly normal people with extraordinary powers.
Their powers are usually hereditary, which is how STN tracks down
potential witches. Witches live as regular humans, often not
knowing they are different, until their powers awaken. When this
occurs, they are considered a dangerous threat to normal humans,
and so must be eliminated by the STN.
STN-J, however, uses Orbo- a highly experimental new substance that
apparently nullifies a witch's powers- to capture witches, and then
sends them off to the mysterious Factory. This is considered more
humane than killing. However, even the members of STN-J have no
idea what really goes on inside the Factory.
Initially, Witch Hunter Robin starts off as a "witch of the day"
type of anime. Although dark and beautiful, it is episodic.
However, around episode 11, a sharp turn in the story takes place;
from then on, the series goes in a totally different direction, and
the mysteries of the Factory, Orbo, and the various characters are
unravelled.
Definitely one of the best anime series of 2002, Witch Hunter Robin
is a must-see.
