"Claymore" - cute girls, huge swords and monsters

„This little girl, who’s not even half my size taught me that tears can flow even from these silver eyes.”

Action of "Claymore” (anime and manga) is a dark medieval world where dangerous monsters called Yoma prey on humans. They have unique capabilities that make them excellent predators. They are strong, fast, and able to assume human shape. After devouring a victim’s brain yoma can assimilate his or her memories and live in disguise among humans. Little towns and villages are practically defenceless against yoma.

However, there is a mysterious and shadowy organization which gathers little girls – often orphans who lost their parents to yoma - and train them into super soldiers. Those super warriors are called Claymores due to their huge swords. Claymores are able to find yoma and effectively fight them. Unfortunately, the price is very high – they are not human anymore – they are becoming hybrids: half human, half Yoma.

However, those women warriors still have human memories and experience human emotions. Although fierce fighters, they are traumatised young girls deep inside. Moreover, each claymore lives with a constant threat of losing her human mind and becoming a monster herself, monster even more dangerous than a regular yoma. Therefore, claymores say that since they were born humans, they want to live and die as humans.

The main character Clare is the only one who ever voluntarily subscribed to the Organization. As a little girl she met Teresa, number one among the claymores. Touching and shocking story of Clare and Teresa is one of the best I have ever seen (anime) or read (manga). Apart of Clare and Teresa author introduce to many other deep and compelling characters.

Created by Norihiro Yagi world, although dark is not depressing. The author of the manga masterly builds tension, surprises his readers and depicts deep human emotions and relationships in convincing manner. Manga “Claymore” belongs to the best and is very popular. Based on manga so far there has been created just 26 episodes of TV anime up to the North Campaign and the invasion of North Pieta. Unfortunately, the last episode differs from that one of the manga. In the manga the story of Clare and other claymores is continued. Music and voices of Japanese seiyū (voice actresses for animated characters in the anime TV series) are superb. In this month manga "Claymore" celebrated its hundredth episode. Naturally, "Claymore" is one of the best, but two words of warning: "Claymore" is addictive and not for children.

Apart of the manga and anime (both can be found on the web) two CDs have been released: Claymore TV Animation OST with music from the series, and Claymore Intimate Persona with ten songs; each reflecting different Claymore character and performed by different actress.

© copyrights MG