ROD: The Television Series
(aka: Read or Die)
Volume 1
(MVM Region 2 PAL DVD)
(2005)
review by Blackgloves

Read Or Die" was a much-acclaimed OVA which took on the central ideas and basic plot of an even more well-regarded Manga called "Read Or Dream". For the low down on the DVD release of the OVA, read Mr McLargehuge's excellent review on this very site. The DVD under review here features the first four episodes of a twenty-six part television spin-off from the OVA/Manga and is a sort of sequel set about five years after the events depicted in those previous versions. To distinguish it from them, the series is actually called "ROD: The TV Series" -- just to make sure there really is no confusion! The main character in the original was Yomiko Readman, an obsessive bibliophile who worked as a secret agent for the British Library where, along with several helpers, she utilised her special skills as a Paper Master -- skills which enable the almost magical manipulation of paper -- in order to save the world from an evil genius ... as well as tracking down the occasional rare book!

When the first episode of this tv spin-off kicks off, Readman is nowhere to be seen! Instead, we are introduced to Nenene Sumiregawa: a young Japanese author who is just about to set-out on a promotional tour of Hong Kong, where her best-selling novel is soon to be made into a blockbuster movie! Eagle-eyed viewers of the OVA will recognise this character from a brief appearance she made in the first episode. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, Nenene is met by two escorts, sent by her foreign publisher; sisters Michelle and Maggie prove somewhat idiosyncratic companions -- Michelle is an extrovert, girlie book fanatic who is a gushing fan of Nenene's work; the willowy Maggie is introverted to the point of being autistic and barely says a word -- although she too is obsessed by books.

After a delay at the airport, Nenene and her new escorts arrive at her hotel -- just as a massive explosion rocks the building, sending debris piling into the path of the girls' car! The trio escape with only minor injuries, but it transpires that the explosion was caused by a bomb that was intended for Nenene -- as a note from the bomber quickly makes clear. The police advise the author to cancel that afternoon's book signing but Nenene is determined not to be bullied and decides to go ahead with it anyway. Michelle and Maggie nominate themselves as their favourite author's join- protectors! They set Nenene up for the night at their apartment, which turns out to be crammed to bursting-point with books. The room also reveals another sister called Anita -- although this one seems not to share her sibling's book obsession and is not very welcoming to Nenene! In the middle of the night though, Anita realises that Nenene has gone missing; she finds her standing outside a bookshop near the apartment, and the two girls bond as Nenene reveals that she is suffering from massive writers block and has not written anything since her last best seller, years previously! Nenene is also missing her best friend -- a girl who inspired her to write in the first place but has since disappeared without trace -- even though the two were once inseparable. Nenene keeps a picture of her friend with her at all times ... it is Yomiko Readman!

ROD's first episode is a perfect package that condenses some beautifully animated action set-pieces, some enticing character development and quite an exciting story, into a perfect twenty-five minutes. The plot against Nenene's life also involves an attack at the book signing and an attempted hijacking during Nenene's trip home; during both of these, the three sisters, Michelle, Maggie and Anita, reveal themselves to be Paper Masters -- Just like Nenene's friend, Yomiko! They can manipulate paper in a variety of amazing ways and these skills prove invaluable in defending Nenene's life. With the Hong Kong death threats dealt with, Nenene's editor employs the three paper masters to come back to Japan with the author, where they will act as her bodyguards! After the high-energy action (complete with Michael Barry-style score) of the first episode, the second and third instalments turn out to be much lower-key affairs, chiefly concerned with character interaction.

When they are unable to afford the rent on their Japanese apartment, the Paper Masters persuade a reluctant Nenene to let them stay with her. The three girls promptly set about ruining the uneventful order Nenene has set about creating for herself! They also reveal some more character quirks, particularly Maggie -- who seems to like cramming herself into dark corners and, literally, burying herself in books! The third episode sees the Paper Sisters exploring the city of Jinbo-Cho which, to Michelle and Maggie's rapturous delight, proves to contain the highest number of bookshops in Japan! This is not necessarily a good thing though, since the two girls simply cannot control their book-loving addiction and become almost drunk on reading matter! Anita, on the other hand, despite her Paper Master skills, does not appreciate her sisters' page-turning passions!

With these two episodes the action element seems to have completely disappeared from the show -- and that also seems to be the case in the fourth and last episode on this first DVD volume, which is about Anita being enrolled in junior school! Anita manages to make a few friends and also some enemies, but just as the viewer thinks the series is descending into Love Hina-type cutesy melodrama, a female sniper tries to assassinate Anita in the school library! The girl's paper-manipulating skills save her, but it seems there is a book-related mystery beginning to develop, and with this emerging story-arc the show becomes intriguing enough to warrant further investigation. The second volume should be required viewing for all anime fans!

This first volume from MVM features four episodes: The Papers Have Landed; Rise Up, Oh Dregs Of Mankind; Let's Meet In Jinbo-Cho and The Seventh Grade Course. Special features include an audio commentary on the first episode featuring Kevin Chu (US Version producer), Jonathan Klien (producer of English dub and subtitles) and Talesin Jaffe (English voice director and script adapter). We also have a small art gallery, Japanese previews of episodes 1 to 4 and some trailers.