Six years after the events of the OVA, three new paper masters are introduced: Michelle, Maggie, and Anita are three sisters who live in Hong Kong. They are hired by Dokusensha to protect Nenene Sumiregawa, a popular writer, from death threats and people who don't like her works. They end up moving in with her, and before they know it they are entangled in something bigger than they could ever imagine.
Review
Watching the OVA before the TV series is a must as you will miss out on lots of references and the reason behind several events if you don't. ROD the TV isn't as fast paced or as action packed as it's predecessor. Having 26 episodes to tell its story, its able to spend time thoroughly developing the plot and characters.
Every episode is thoroughly enjoyable. Not once did it make me go "oh boy, a filler episode." If it's not busy telling it's story or in an intense action sequence, it's building upon the characters that I love so much. The TV series brings back all the important ones from the OVA and introduces a few more. The three paper sisters are likable from the start and after only a few episodes in I was connecting with them emotionally. The love the sisters have for one another, and the way the two older sisters protect their little sister is really sweet. I could really feel what the characters were going through and that just goes to show how well it develops its characters. The show has some really powerful moments, and it's at times like these that you realize how strong the character's relationships are. Another new face in this series is the writer Nenene, a friend of Yomiko. She is strong and stubborn, and plays a pivotal role in the lives of the characters. Yomiko and Nancy both feel a bit different in the TV series, but it's understandable after what they go through. The antagonist is smart, with an unwavering will to achieve his goal.
Some episodes have a more relaxed feel to them. There are a few episodes which spend nearly the entire time with Anita at school - and they're fantastic. Character interactions are well done and there's never a dull moment. The characters also spend some time simply at home, whether they are reading or hiding from the enemy. These casual school and house scenes give the show a homey atmosphere at times. So it's not quite as jam-packed with action scenes like the OVA, but scenes like these are still incredibly enjoyable to watch.
The story is well thought out, even though it is a bit "out there" in scope as the OVA was. I was impressed at how thoroughly it built upon events from the first series. The show has some good surprises and has a good ending.
Overall the artwork and animation are great, though some minor dips in quality are noticeable at times. The action scenes are awesome and in many cases live up to the OVA quality. But like I've said, just don't expect action so frequently, though there is plenty. I usually don't comment on voice acting for various reasons, but I must say that the Japanese voice work on this show is top notch (English dub is also very good, by the way). Opening theme is like a different version of the OVA opening, and it features 2 ending themes, with the second one, "Confidence," being very pleasing to my ears.
The Read or Die OVA is a really enjoyable anime, and to have a sequel that goes above and beyond the original in almost every way is a stunning accomplishment. Read or Die the TV is one of those shows that makes me think "I love anime!" and thankful that I had the opportunity to watch such an amazing show. One of the best shows in my collection. A must-see.
Score:
Written by Marc Frost on
Content
Language
Some profanity.
Violence
Some violence and blood. It can get intense at times.
Sex
One episode has some detailed nudity from an episodic female character. There is some cleavage, a few scenes of jiggling breasts and a few panty shots from Anita. There is also general fanservice from various outfits the females wear.