Despair

As this 1999 broadcast series nears its climax, Algernon, the monster Keichan, Hinoki, and their friends initially fought, has been eclipsed. New characters multiply like coat hangers in a closet. The foe du jour is Dr. Mamon, the leader of the Super Human Federation, who kidnaps Kaede. Her psychic powers enable him to metamorphose into Brahman, which he believes is the next stage in human evolution. Brahman looks like an origami figure wrapped in tendril-like bandages, but its looks belie its power: it apparently destroys both the Tantric priest Yakusugi and the mysterious Lord Pakila. Lamia/Betterman remains at the edge of the battle, accompanied by Seeme, who sometimes appears as a stylized bird, sometimes as a woman with flowing hair. Tying all these characters and plot points into a coherent conclusion should pose an interesting challenge for the filmmakers. (Rated 13 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon