English Dub Review: BEM “Water”

Overview:

A young policewoman is transferred to a new city.

Our Take:

Apparently, this show is a remake of an anime that originally aired during the 60s. I haven’t seen the original, so I am going in completely blind. That being said, I like what they’ve been doing so far.

The story takes place in a relatively seedy city, where the police routinely take bribes from the mobs, and there’s a serial killer on the loose. A police girl, fresh to the force, has arrived from the other side of the bridge, where there are assumably more order and more structured society. She is disgusted by the flagrant corruption going on and instilled with a strong sense of justice, still follows the rules but does things with her own ideas in mind. Along the way, she encounters two supernatural beings, one friend and the one responsible for the recent string of murders.

I’m having a good time so far. The animation’s pretty good, and the action is short but jam-packed. I’m really liking the setting, and how there’s a lot of potential intrigues. The policewoman is clearly naive in respects to what the city has to throw at her, but she isn’t by any means dumb. She has a strong sense of morals, and that’s sure to clash against the setting, which should make for some good drama. Her eventual turn towards wanting to help Bem is something I want to see, especially since she tries to kill him at first– something decidedly not a good starting point for possible allies in the future.

Also, on a side note, this soundtrack is totally awesome. I am really digging this jazz music always in the background, and the jazz club vocals that act as the opening track. It adds to the mysterious but always happening vibe that’s through this corrupt city. The soundtrack should enhance the action and mood like Boogiepop’s did, and this definitely succeeds in that respect.

Altogether, a fairly strong start to this show. Who are these people who have thrown away their humanity? Who is the professor that is granting people these powers? What is the council, and what is their aim in trying to track down Bem? Why does the monster trio want to attain humanity once again? Most importantly, will the police girl survive in this corrupt city? I’m here for it, and I trust Production IG’s animation. Keep it coming.