4 stars of animated supernatural goings on.
Chrono Crusade is based on the manga series written and illustrated by Daisuke Moriyama. It was originally released in 2003, adapted to anime by studio Gonzo (Peacemaker Kurogane, Last Exile: Fam, The Silver Wing) and directed by Yuu Kou.
“I can hear her clock tick. The sound of her breath. How many beats does she have left?”
It is set in the heart of the roaring twenties, a time of decadence and prosperity for some, poverty for others and enormous upheaval following the end of the first world war. 
Against this backdrop, the dark beings which live alongside mankind are stirred into action.
The city needs the services of the Order of Magdalene, a group of nuns dedicated to the vanquishing of devils and demons. This is where we first meet Sister Rosette Christopher (Hilary Haag – Penguindrum, Is it Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls in A Dungeon?), a determined but somewhat impulsive and often destructive exorcist. Working with her is Chrono (Greg Ayres – Free! Eternal Summer, Karneval) , a devil she has known since she was a child and who has a contract with her.
Treated with mistrust by the head of the order, Sister Kate (Laura Chapman – The Samurai), Chrono nevertheless works tirelessly to protect both Rosette and the other humans. The pair are searching for Rosette’s younger brother Joshua (Chris Patton – Haikyuu!!), who was taken by an incredibly powerful devil called Aion (Andy McAvin – Golgo 13) who seems to have sinister plans.
The Order are tasked with locating and securing the Apostles and they must use every bit of their skills to work out what is happening and stop it in order to potentially save the world.
Chrono Crusade is a very enjoyable series to watch. I’m not a fan of the studio Gonzo animation style, however the story is strong enough that I soon immersed myself and forgot all about the animation. It is quite a bit darker than expected too and not afraid to face things head on.
There is a good balance between comedy and serious storytelling and although some of the characters and the voice acting are extremely irritating, again the story is worth putting up with it. It is dated, but that is almost part of it’s charm.
Overall it’s a really good series, with a satisfying conclusion and well worth adding to your collection.
“What have you done, lowest of the low? You dare hurt my contractor? You dare touch what’s mine?”
Chrono Crusade is available to buy now on Standard DVD.
| Director | Yuu Kou |
| Author | Daisuke Moriyami |
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy |
| Starring | Greg Ayres, Hilary Haag, Chris Patton, Jessica Boone, Tiffany Grant |
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