On the surface, Shuji and Chise seem like any other pair of seventeen year olds who’ve just started dating- they’re not entirely sure about their feelings for each other, but they’re willing to give their relationship a go to see if their friendship really can turn into love. Unfortunately, things aren’t quite that simple; untouched as their sleepy Hokkaido hometown may seem, the rest of the world is caught up in war, and as Shuji discovers during an attack on Sapporo, Chise is very much a part of that war. Although she appears to be just a normal, ditzy teenager, Chise has been transformed into an Ultimate Weapon, dividing her time between a normal high school life and the demands of the battlefield. But as Chise’s Ultimate Weapon powers continue to develop and grow, will her relationship with Shuji be able to survive?

If mention of an ‘Ultimate Weapon’� has you all ready for some explosive battles, then it should be made clear from the outset that despite its premise, Saikano is not a combat-drenched action fest. The real point of the series is the relationship between Shuji and Chise- far from the typical ‘love at first sight’ seen in most series, here we have a more realistic approach as both characters try their best to overcome their doubts and build a lasting bond. Watching both characters develop makes for engaging viewing, with the usual trials of teenage life only accentuated by Chise’s unique status- how much harder does growing up becoming when you’re not just becoming an adult, but turning into a weapon?

Admittedly, at this point in the story there are a number of unanswered questions about the plot- these first four episodes give us no real clues as to what this globe spanning war is all about, nor why Chise in particular was chosen to become an Ultimate Weapon. Naturally, it would be interesting to have explanations for these points, but at the same time, this is all just background to the true meat of the series- the characters and their interactions.

Central to the cast are of course Shuji and Chise; one an otherwise normal girl who is struggling to understand her situation and control the changes that are occurring within her, the other a young man who genuinely cares for his girlfriend but is understandably uncomfortable with knowing the truth about her status as an Ultimate Weapon. These first four episodes relate events primarily from Shuji’s perspective, but we are nonetheless kept well apprised of Chise’s thoughts through a diary that she writes for him to read- a nice touch that goes some way to showing us both sides of the story.

The supporting cast is less prominent at this stage but two characters in particular are important to the story- Akemi, a childhood friend of both Shuji and Chise who takes it upon herself to keep their relationship on the right track; and Shuji’s first love Fuyumi, who reappears in his life in the second half of the disc. It is clear that neither Shuji nor Fuyumi have quite gotten over their feelings for each, adding an extra layer of complication as Shuji finds himself drawn back to his former lover.

Visually, the series sticks to a realistic colour palette for both characters and locations whilst managing to keep the animation both clean and bright. The soundtrack complements the mood of the series well, with even such simple effects as the chirping of cicadas contributing to the atmosphere.

In Summary

A compelling and often heart-wrenching tale that skilfully mixes the usual trials and tribulations of teenage life with its own unique twist, Saikano offers a strong opening instalment that is hard to fault. Admittedly it’s not entirely clear what direction the series will take from here, but if these first four episodes are anything to go by, it’s bound to be an interesting ride.