READ OR DIE TV
The League of Extraordinary Bibliomaniacs
Review by: Craig "I read Pride and Prejudice and hated it" Norris
Length: 26 episodes
Genre: Action, science fiction
Watched: 1-26, subbed
Being a tremendous fan of the original OAV, of course I had to see what could be done with such a premise in 26 episodes. After all, my biggest complaint about Read Or Die was that it was too short. So, I strapped myself in for a similar roller coaster ride when I picked this up. However, the roller coaster that was the OAV seems like a carriage ride in comparison to its younger sister.
Plot synopsis: Ever since the disappearance of her close friend Yomiko Readman, Japanese author Nenene Sumiregawa has had perpetual writer’s block. But new hope of seeing her long-lost friend arises when she meets Michelle, Maggie, and Anita, three sisters with the same paper-wielding powers as Yomiko. However, tracking down Yomiko becomes even more important, as Jon Carpenter, a.k.a. Joker, attempts to reestablish the British Library and implement a scheme to resurrect the late Mr. Gentleman, the man on whom the entire British empire rested. To protect the future as well as the past, Michelle, Maggie, Anita, and Nenene attempt to track down Yomiko in time to stop Joker’s plan from altering the entire world.
Artwork: If you are familiar with the OAV (and you should be if you decide to watch this series) you’ll note the same overall quality in animation. Because the show runs much longer the attention to detail isn’t quite as comprehensive, but as far as TV series go the animation is wonderful. Action sequences are extremely well animated, down to each individual sheet of paper. And believe me, there’s a whole lot of paper flying around. Backgrounds are decent, but really pale in comparison to the OAV. However it mixes many themes, including science fiction and even a touch of gothic, and rounds out into a noteworthy effort.
Music: As far as the original music is concerned, it’s not something to get too excited over. The opening theme is nice, and the ending themes stand well on their own (even though they don’t quite fit in with the mood of the series). Fortunately, during some of the more important scenes where a soundtrack can really enhance the visuals, some classic tracks from the OAV get recycled. Not the least of which is the 007-esque opening theme song, that gets showcased during some intense action sequences. If you’re not sick of songs from the OAV (and I certainly am not), the soundtrack should hold plenty of appeal.
Characters: Once again, the Read Or Die franchise shows us that the cornerstone to its success is its interesting characters. The Paper Sisters are a neat bunch that seems noticeably incomplete unless all three are 
present. Michelle is the anchor of the group, and acts as the figure the other two sisters rally around when things get rough. Her attitude is blonde, just like her hair, although she possesses great inner strength. She is obsessed with reading, and her living space is stacked high with books. Maggie is the tall, monotone sister who prefers dark, enclosed spaces over social interaction. She shares Michelle’s love of reading, and often shirks household chores to do so. Anita is the youngest, and unlike her two elder sisters despises reading, to the point where even being around books makes her ill. She is quick tempered and defensive, but is also tremendously devoted to those she cares about. She often shows maturity beyond her years, and can throw one hell of a beat-down, even without the aid of paper. Nenene has a will of iron, never giving in to any threat, even when all hope seems lost. She can be very uncompromising, but still manages to warm up to Michelle, Maggie and Anita, despite their many quirks. Joker returns not as the cheerful and light-handed leader of the British Library, but as a somewhat twisted despot who plans to reshape the world in order to achieve a lasting, but false, peace. Even though I found him very likeable in the OAV, I had no problem growing to hate him in the TV series, as his despicable nature is revealed expertly. Another character who changed dramatically was Wendy, Joker’s assistant. No longer the flustered file-dropper she once was, she has fully embraced Joker’s vision and ruthlessly executes whatever is asked of her. She distances herself from her own morality and oversees very underhanded and detestable operations. At the center of these operations is Junior, a young boy who has Nancy Makuhari’s ability to phase through solid objects. His role in the plot is unknown to him, and he assists in preparing for the revival of Mr. Gentleman. I won’t spoil it, so I’ll conclude by saying some other familiar faces show up, so be ready for reunions.
Plot: The plot sucked me right in. It took about ten episodes before it got going, but once it did it didn’t slow down for even a second. Twist after twist keeps the plot moving full throttle in all directions, to the point where even the viewer is not sure what is real and what is not. In fact the buildup is so intense that the ending, even though it was good, can’t help but be anticlimactic. I was literally unable to stop watching as episode after episode left me dangling with nail-biting cliffhangers and shocking revelations. I haven’t been this thrilled with a plot in quite some time, and watching it straight through is a true adrenaline-pumping joy.
CHICKS!: I swear, this show has it all! Even after all the effort that went into the plot and characters, the creators still threw in some highly desirable chicks. Michelle is the curviest of the three sisters, and has a sunny attitude that instantly sets one at ease. She displays tremendous devotion to her sisters and her friends, so she would undoubtedly make a loving and supportive wife or girlfriend. If you can get her to stop reading for five minutes, anyway. Maggie is a tall drink of water, and in terms of looks is actually quite plain. But her quirkiness is endearing, and her heart is always in the right place. Anita is too young to go lusting after yet, but she has an active personality that guarantees she’ll never have any trouble finding a male fan base. Like a Cadbury Egg, she has a hard, dark exterior with a soft, sweet inside. Of any of the characters, she is by far the most endearing. Nenene is for those who prefer strong-willed women, as she won’t stand for any trash talk. But if you have what it takes to tame her, she can be a caring and devoted (and financially secure!) companion. As for Wendy, all the meek girlishness that so appealed to me in the OAV is gone, leaving a cold and conniving husk. Her curves may have filled out a bit since the OAV, but she gives me the chills for all the wrong reasons. Aside from her, though, all the other chicks are most decidedly worth a daydream or two. And even though high quality chicks do not enhance the show on a fundamental level, it’s still nice to know they’re there.
Overall: Okay, Cowboy Bebop, you can stop sweating now; you’re still my favorite. But this series came within a hair of taking over the title of greatest anime I have ever seen. I thought an improvement over the OAV was out of the question, but I was pleasantly surprised (over and over again) by Read Or Die TV. For those who believe that character and plot development are the cornerstones of a good anime, this one’s clearly for you. If you’ve seen and enjoyed the OAV, it would be a crime not to see this. If you haven’t seen the OAV, it would be a crime not to see the OAV and then watch the TV series. The bottom line is, this series is a must-see for anyone. I say again: watch. Or die.
IN A NUTSHELL
+ Great artwork
+ Fascinating characters
+ Enthralling plot
+ Better than the OAV!
- Starts a little too slow
- A tiny bit anticlimactic
Rating: 9.5/10
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