Blade of the Phantom Master

Blade of the Phantom Master:
Shin Angyo Onshi
Anime video Review

Long ago, the legends say, there was a secret army. Unseen until needed, these warriors struck from the shadows, protecting justice and defending the Jushin Empire from both tyrants and thieves. They were called the Amen Osa, The Phantom Masters. But now Jushin has fallen, yet from the ashes of destruction, a hero has appeared to defend the people. His name is unknown, but there are clues. Is he the last of the Amen Osa?

Shin Angyo Onshi is the story of Munsu, an angyo onshi — a government agent of the mythical country of Jushin who travels the country incognito and roots out corrupt officials and warlords to restore the peace and bring justice to the common people. He has access to a phantom army he can summon via a magical amulet, and his fighting prowess is second to none. However, as the story begins, Jushin has fallen, and Munsu wanders the ruined countryside cleaning up the shattered remains of the once glorious country.

This is an anime based on a Korean manga (Manhwa) serialized in Sunday GX, published by Shogakukan. It is a real first in that it is a Japanese anime with Korean producers, based on a Korean manga published in Japan that is heavily based on Korean folklore. This work is the brainchild of writer In-Wan Youn and artist Kyung-Il Yang, who grew up reading and enjoying manga despite not knowing much about Japanese culture. In the same way, they believed that Japanese readers would enjoy reading a work drawn from a Korean cultural background as long as it was interesting. In this fashion, they have seamlessly integrated an eclectic array of Korean culture and folklore into an amazingly woven tale.

The characters who drive the plot are also wonderfully developed. Munsu is as anti-hero as an anti-hero can possibly get. His stout stance in his principles and seeming lack of morality and kindness at times (much to the dismay of anyone within range of his guns) hide a darker past. Often, his amoral solution to any problem is just to kill everyone. Sando, his servant (and sometimes bodyguard) is totally opposite from him: innocent, naive, and sweet, she is often taken aback at Munsu's seemingly incoherent acts. Despite her prodigious fighting skill, she still has much to learn, but Munsu's poor communication skills (he doesn't clue her in on what he knows) obviously make him a difficult master to properly serve.

You *really* need the manga to appreciate this film as the plot moves through a little too quickly, trying to shove a great deal of detail into a very small space. At least read the Wikipedia article before trying to digest the film. However, if you're a fan of action, and aren't too picky about trying to understand what's happening, then by all means, forge ahead. There's more than enough blades flashing, gunfire, and decapitations to keep anyone happy. The film covers only a small portion of the overall manga, so let's hope for a sequel!