Brought up in a conflict-ridden environment, child soldier Jonathan "Jonah" Mar hates weapons and those who deal them. But when Koko Hekmatyar, an international arms dealer, takes on Jonah as one of her bodyguards, he has little choice but to take up arms. Along with Koko's other bodyguards, composed mostly of former special-ops soldiers, Jonah is now tasked with protecting Koko and her overly idealistic goal of world peace from the countless dangers that come from her line of work.
Jormungand follows Koko, Jonah, and the rest of crew as they travel the world selling weapons under the international shipping company HCLI. As Koko's work is illegal under international law, she is forced to constantly sidestep both local and international authorities while doing business with armies, private militaries, and militias. With the CIA always hot on her trail, and assassins around every corner, Jonah and the crew must guard Koko and her dream of world peace with their lives or die trying.
Exploring Conflicting WorldViews with Jormungand: The Anime Critic Review
Prepare to plunge headlong into the dynamic world of global arms dealing in the gritty, thrilling anime, Jormungand. A narrative fueled by riveting action sequences and thought-provoking themes, Jormungand zeroes in on Koko Hekmatyar, a young arms dealer operating under the shadowy HCLI corporation. Fiercely intelligent yet alarmingly naive in some respects, Koko navigates dangerous geopolitical landscapes with an aura of alarming gaiety and panache. Her sole protection against the numerous threats – government agencies, rival arms dealers, and even terrorists-, is a mishmash team of ex-military and mercenaries with their own haunting pasts.
Drawing its title from the mythical Norse World Serpent, Jormungand focuses heavily on cyclical narratives of violence, fury, and vendetta, questioning the morality of war and the double-edged nature of armament proliferation. With the addition of child soldier Jonah to their ranks, Koko’s team rides the treacherous wave of international arms dealing, always one step, or perhaps one bullet away from catastrophe. Jonah, who detests arms dealers for the travesties they wrought on his homeland, grapples with the paradox of serving one, making for a compelling narrative from start to finish.
Journey through Jormungand: A Detailed Review
Jormungand is an anime that thrives on contradiction and the grey areas of morality. Whether it’s our arms dealer protagonist who despises war yet profits from its horrors, or a young boy soldier who decries weapon proliferation while casually wielding a gun, Jormungand never fails to pose difficult questions.
From the get-go, Jormungand ups the ante on action – Car chases, gunfire exchange, and thrilling combat presentation flows through the veins of this adrenaline-pumping series. Yet, in the very midst of these frenzied action sequences, this series showcases some of its finest character development arcs, accentuating the dangerous lives of Koko’s team while humanizing them as well.
The Heart of The Show: Characters and Their Depiction
One of Jormungand‘s greatest strengths lies in its brilliant character development. Koko, with her volatile child-like innocence juxtaposed with a chilling ruthlessness, leaves a powerful impression. Jonah, with his struggle to reconcile with the inherent hypocrisy of his situation, adds intense depth and nuance to the narrative. The rest of the cast, too, have their moments of raw emotional exposure, allowing an intimate peek into their intricately woven backstories.
Wrap Up: Should You Stream, Rent, Or Buy?
With its compelling narrative, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes, Jormungand is an anime that leaves a significant impact. Its relentless exploration of morally ambiguous territories and the extraordinary attention to detail makes it absolutely worth a watch. Whether to stream, rent, or buy banks heavily on your preferences. As a standalone series, it’s immersive and thrilling enough for a marathoning session, so streaming could be an excellent choice. But for discerning anime aficionados who relish revisiting and uncovering new layers in multiple viewings, a rental or purchase might be more suitable.
All in all, delve into Jormungand for an unsettling yet edifying look into the contradicting philosophies of war and peace. By no means is it an easy watch, but it sure is an unforgettable one!
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