CCX: "Buso Renkin"

Arms Alchemy... that is the core device of this anime, as well that the literal translation for its title, Buso Renkin. Another one in which the hero suffers a literally life-changing scenario from the jump, from the surface, I thought it would be like a Bleach knockoff of sorts, but no, this theory is shot after looking at it thoroughly. Plus, unlike Bleach, I wouldn't consider this mainstream, per say, since it was not only made differently, but it isn't painfully long like the other one (sorry Kubo, I just call it as I see them.)

Kazuki Muto is as normal a teenager as they come, just a typical high school student. That normal life comes to an end after saving a mysterious girl. Against this unknown monster, he is killed in action, but somehow wakes up, as if it never happened. Yet, reality slaps him hard when another monster attack him and his sister, Mahiro. To further this, the girl he rescued, Tokiko Tsumura, told him about the monster, revealed to be a Homoculus. She also informed him in regards to him losing his life, as well as the mysterious stone, known as a Kakugane, serving as his heart (which essentially revived him.) Given the choices to flee or fight, he chooses the latter, arming himself with his Buso Renkin, taking the form of a lance. Aiding Tokiko, he intends to defeat every Homonculi and their master. Yet, there is something strange about his Buso Renkin. It may be the kind of stone that will threaten his life. So obviously, he has to fight for his own survival!

Buso Renkin is another Shonen Jump piece serialized in one of their manga anthologies, and like others such as Bleach, became animated, sometimes with the Shonen Jump trademark shown near the title in the English opening sequence. Having the length of 26 episodes, Xebec was the studio that animated this, and it was licensed for U.S. under Viz Media, who also published the manga. Action and Supernatural are the dominant genres in this piece, but it does have romance, in the sense that it's "love in the heat of battle" kind of thing. Kazuki is voiced by Steve Staley in the dub (who I mentioned before as the voice of Eiken's Densuke Mifune), with Tokiko done by Tara Platt (who also did voices such as Rukia's humanized Sode no Shirayuki of Bleach, as well as Temari of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden.) Interesting to note that Platt is married to Yuri Lowenthal, who ironically also has a vocal role in here as Victor Powered, and has done other works alongside her; one of those roles, in the case of Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, happens to be Sasuke Uchiha. The flamboyant and comical Koshaku Chono / Papillon is voiced by Spike Spencer (who also done roles like Galbee of Dirty Pair Flash: Mission Two, Majic Lin of Sorcerer Stabber Orphen, and Shinji Ikari of the Evangelion anime works, including the Rebuild movies.)

Buso Renkin is not memorable, per say, but it's well done, so a 7 of 10 should be fine. A decent piece overall, not great, but I'm surely not disappointed either.