English Dub Review: Petals Of Reincarnation “Those Who Shed Petals”
Overview:
Petals Of Reincarnation revolves around Touya Senji, a high-school student with an inferiority complex due to a bit of sibling rivalry. Thanks to his classmate, Haito Le Buffet, he learns of the Branch of Reincarnation, which allows people to obtain the talents of their past life. The story starts off with “Those Who Shed Petals.”
Our Take:
This is a story that wastes no time when it comes to setting things up. The first scene is of a character slitting his throat, with petals coming out, warning that this might not be a story for the faint of heart. Haito, the new transfer student, even skips her class introductions, instead just walking up to Touya to introduce herself to him. Touya even has his fateful encounter with a serial killer, Fish, setting the story in motion, just a few minutes into the story.
After Haitou saves Touya from Fish, and introduces him into the hidden cycle of reincarnation, led by the mysterious girl, Neumann, he opens up to her, sharing that he seeks talents due to constant comparisons with his late brother.
Putting his new powers to use, however, Touya proves to be a novice. Trying to help a woman against a petty thief, he manages to use a ghost-like ability to reclaim the contents of her stolen purse. Of course, the woman bluntly points out that the purse was the real item of value. He’ll soon learn, however, that this is a bloody business, not that he seems to mind. As you can expect, however, it can be dangerous giving into bloodlust too much.
Some fans might dub this anime a dark fantasy, while others will call it a blood horror series. Either way, even the settings have a surreal aesthetic that gives it a properly spooky vibe. Whether it’s blood, petals, or a third option, everything’s caked in red. The connection to petals might have made the spring release seem timely, but this already feels like something that would be perfect to rewatch in autumn.
The monsters-of-the-day, or “Sinners,” in this show often draw from historical figures, drawing from the sins of their past lives. This episode showcases the “Brooklyn Vampire” himself, Albert Fish, and the Impaler who needs no introduction, Vlad III. Somewhat on theme, what with spilled blood being a main plot device.
And in true anime fashion, summoning powers comes with dark transformation sequences. Just don’t expect something out of Sailor Moon. Of course, Haito’s transformation into a swordswoman, married with the whole reincarnation theme, does bring to mind Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl.
