If you are looking for a smartly written anime series that features discussion on economics but also features a good amount of drama and action, “C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility” is a series I recommend!
Image courtesy of © 2012 FUNimation. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility: Complete Series
YEAR: 2011
DURATION: Episodes 1-11 Minutes (275 Minutes)
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition (16×9), English and Japanese DTS-HD MA 2.0, Subtitles: English
COMPANY: FUNimation
RATED: TV-MA
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Directed by Kenji Nakamura
Series Composition: Noboru Takagi
Music: Taku Iwasaki
Character Design by mebae
Art Director: Toshiki Nishi
Animation Character Design: Takashi Hashimoto
Art Design by Yuuho Taniuchi
Anime Production: Tatsunoku Production
Featuring the following voice talent:
Kouki Uchiyama/Todd Haberkorn as Kimimaro Yoga
Daisuke Hosomi/J. Michael Tatum as SÅichirÅ Mikuni
Haruka Tomatsu/Brina Palencia as Mashu
Masami Kikuchi/Sonny Strait as Takedazaki
Mayumi Asano/Martha Harms as Jennifer SatÅ
Saori Goto/Monica Rial as Q
Takahiro Sakurai/Scott Freeman as Masakaki
Yui Makino/Cherami Leigh as Hanabi Ikuta
Yuji Mitsuya/Bryan Massey as Itaneda
Kimimaro is a hard-working college student, raised by his grandmother after his mother died and his father went mysteriously missing. Working at a mini-mart to eke out a meager existence while completing his studies, one night he is approached by a strange, clown-like man. This man has an offer: receive a near-endless supply of money through loans leveraged against one’s future.
Part of the bargain includes joining other “Entrepreneurs” and battling with animal-like “Assets” to gain money directly tied to their lives. Intrigued, Kimimaro finds himself fighting alongside his Asset, Mshyu, and inadvertently discovers the twisted ties that secretly hold the World’s economy together as well as his own family’s past.
When it comes to animation, Tatsunoku Productions is a name well-revered for classics such as “Speed Racer”, “Gatchaman”, “Casshan”, “Tekkaman: The Space Knight”, “The Super Dimension Fortress Macross”, “Armored Trooper VOTOMS”, “Genesis Climber MOSPEADA”, “Super Dimension Calvalry Southern Cross”, “Yatterman”, “The Irresponsible Captain Tylor”, “Video Girl Ai” and the epic mecha series “Neon Genesis Evangelion”.
And while one can think of the superhero, mecha or sci-fi storylines that Tatsunoko Productions has been linked to since the 1960’s, there have been storylines that captivate you for its complexity and intelligence. And for the 2011 anime series “C-Control – Money of Soul and Possibility”, it’s a series that is fascinating for its use of economics and sci-fi elements.
“C-Control – Money of Soul and Possibility” is directed by Kenji Nakamura (“Ayakashi – Samurai Horror Tales”, “Mononoke”, “Gatchaman Crowds”), series composition by Noboru Takagi (“Attack on Titan”, “Baccano!”, “Durarara!!”, “Sankarea”), music by Taku Iwasaki (“Angel Heart”, “Getbackers”, “Black Butler”, “Gurren Lagann”, “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures”), character designs by mebae (“Aura: Maryuinkoga Saigo no Tatakai”) and background art by Toshinki Nishi (“Fullmetal Alchemist”, “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood”, “Mobile Suit Gundam 00”).
And the series was released on Blu-ray in the U.S. in Oct. 2012 courtesy of FUNimation via a Blu-ray/DVD combo limited edition.
“C-Control – Money of Soul and Possibility” is set during a time in Japan when the government was rescued before a major financial collapse by the Sovereign Wealth Fund. Unfortunately, times are still tough as unemployment, crime and suicide are still rampant and to make things worse, a string of missing children are taking place around the city.
The series revolves around a 19-year-old college student named Kimimaro Yoga. A teenager raised by his aunt after his father had disappeared and his mother had passed away. In college thanks to a scholarship, all Kimimaro wants is to live an ordinary life, a traditional dream of having a wife and kids and nothing more.
But one day, Kimimaro is approached by Masakaki from the Financial District. The mysterious man offers him a large sum of money if he uses his own “future” as collateral. Kimimaro is not interested but Masakaki insists that if he ever needs money, to use a certain type of card.
One day, while wanting to go with friends and not having enough money, Kimimaro decides to use the card and his life is forever changed. Kimimaro has become an Entre (short for “entrepreneur”) and is drawn into the mysterious realm known as the Financial District and finds out that he must compete in weekly tournaments called “deals” in order to keep your money. Otherwise, lose and the future that you have wanted will be taken away from you.
To assist him, he is paired with an Asset named Masyu, a girl with horns (no one in reality can see her) who exhibits unusual behavior such as behaving like a normal human and craving ramen that Kimimaro eats.
But when paired together, Msyu is surprised because Kimimaro views her as a partner that he wants to protect (not the other way around) and even tries to shield Msyu during “deals”.
Meanwhile, Kimimaro meets a powerful Entre named Souchirou Mikuni and his asset named Q and has the reputation of being the strongest Asset in the Financial District. But what is his purpose and why does he control three Assets and have a strong influence over the Japanese government.
Also, why is another Entre named Jennifer Sato following Kimimaro?
VIDEO:
“C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility: Complete Series” is presented in 1080p High Definition that combines beautiful backgrounds, wonderful mechanical designs and a colorful series that looks beautiful on Blu-ray. While character designs are well-done, I’m really impressed by the environments for the entire series. A solid anime production from Tatsunoko!
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility: Complete Series” is presented in English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0. Both are well-acted and will entertain anime viewers with either language but when it comes to the soundtrack, with the English lossless soundtrack receiving the 5.1 treatment, there is better dynamic range. But with that being said, with the Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 soundtrack, there are subtitles under the Japanese ideographs which the English dub does not feature.   But both are very good soundtracks but the English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 is much more immersive.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility: Complete Series” comes with the following special features:
- Episode 5 Audio Commentary – Featuring audio commentary with J. Michael Tatum (voice of Soichiro Mikuni) and Monica Rial (ADR Director/Writer).
- Episode 11 Audio Commentary – Featuring audio commentary by Todd Haberkorn (voice of Kimimaro) and Brina Palencia (voice of Masyu).
- C-Conomics 101 – A text based primer to the terminology of understanding “C-Control – Money of Soul and Possibility” such as the understanding of collateral.
- Promotional Videos – Featuring the Japanese promotional videos of “C-Control – Money of Soul and Possibilies (with English Subtitles).
- Original Commercials – Featuring the original Japanese commercials.
- U.S. Trailer – FUNimation trailer for “C-Control – Money of Soul and Possibility”.
- Textless opening and ending themes
EXTRAS:
“C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility” comes with a slipcase and both Blu-ray and DVD versions of the anime series.
My first impressions of “C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility: Complete Series”, I automatically started thinking of the anime series “Shakugan no Shana” which featured a human and his flamehaze falling for each other. The series also reminded me of “Spice & Wolf” with the discussion of economics.
With “C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility”, it does have that similarity in which an Entre (Kimimaro) and the Asset (Msyu) share some interest towards each other. But where “Shakugan no Shana” focused on the dramatic elements of the two characters, for “C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility”, the anime series is about consequences.
In comparison to “Spice & Wolf”, “C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility” has extensive discussion of economics. People who risked their future as collateral in order to have money. During a time where the economy is terrible, money appears to be a source of happiness for many people. For Kimimaro, money was never something he wanted to strive for but the fact is, those who make the pact with the Financial District have their own reasons for wanting money but if they can not win in battle, they lose everything.
And this is what makes this anime series so fascinating are the repercussions involved when one makes this deal with the Financial District. The things that are most dear to you, begin to disappear and are gone from your life forever.
Because of the economics terminology featured in “C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility”, I found the series to be smartly written anime series, for example, terminology which include “poison pill”, “white knight”, “sleeping beauty”, “dead man’s trigger”, etc. Many may not know what these even mean but fortunately, FUNimation has provided a text featurette explaining the terminology featured in the series.
You don’t really see anime taking on economics such as “C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility”, nor do you see this type of series reaching America. But once in awhile they do and in this case, this anime series was smartly written, each character and their involvement in the system was well-planned and for the most part, found the series to be delightful and a lot of fun. And possibly sets up a possible sequel in the future.
Also, a positive for some anime fans is that this is a short 11-episode series. So, for those wanting a smart and enjoyable anime series that is not too long, “C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility” will appeal to you!
The Blu-ray release features wonderful picture quality while the English dub gets a nod for a better lossless soundtrack due to receiving the Dolby TrueHD 5.1 treatment, while the Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 soundtrack may not be as immersive but the Japanese ideographs are translated (there are no subtitle translations in the English dub). And you get two audio commentaries and other special features included.
Overall, if you are looking for a smartly written anime series that features discussion on economics but also features a good amount of drama and action, “C – Control – Money of Soul and Possibility” is a series I recommend!
