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Anime DVD Review: Orphen 6 - The Third Talisman

Video:
Not really improving over the last volume but certainly not getting any worse, the final volume of Orphen has received a decent transfer. Grain continues to be the biggest problem, though its nowhere near as bad as some of the earlier volumes, there’s a couple of artefacts and some noticeable aliasing in a few spots.

Packaging:
The final volume focuses on Azalie whom takes up a good quater of the cover. Orphen, Majic and Cleao look towards her as Childman stands up the back with his eyes shut. The back cover as usual looks quite stylish and gives some screenshots and information about the show while the inside covers are promoting Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Menus:
Using the same menus as the previous five volumes, at least I can say Orphen was consistent with its menus. The menu begins with Orphen going into the background as one of the closing songs plays. After the initial load there is no waiting time between any of the menus and apart from the hidden options in the extras area all content is easy to access.

Extras:
It may be the last volume, but its good to see there is finally something different in the extras section. Up first is a fresh batch of production sketches, totalling eleven pictures in all. The next extra is a 12 minute interview with the Japanese staff behind the scenes of Orphen, its quite interesting and I was pleased to finally see a decent extra on an Orphen disc, albeit the final one. There are the usual Creditless closings hidden up the top of the page as well as the ADV Previews. Previews include: Gasaraki, Martian Successor Nadesico and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Content:

Continuing from where the previous volume ended, Orphen and co arrive at the island of Baltander’s and discover Stephanie working. They find a secret library of the ancients where the information they need is stored, however magical snakes guard it. Majic discovers the information crystal they need but it gets broken, and we see Majic using some very impressive magic (for a good change!). Deciphering the ruins, Cleao and Orphen get transported to the past where they meet up with spirits that tell Orphen he might lose his life while using the sword.

Hartia appears before Cleao and asks her to give Orphen the third talisman, but she refuses, afraid using the sword could kill Orphen. Hartia returns to Childman and asks him if he knew about the third talisman, this is when he realises that Childman is actually Azalie and not the real Childman. Childman lashes out at Hartia injuring him quite badly, but the injured sorcerer still manages to flee and runs to Orphen.

Hartia explains the whole story to Orphen and the others, the truth about Azalie being Childman and the previous history between the two. The truth that Azalie had been in love with Childman, and while he cared greatly for her because of his position he was unable to love her back. Azalie became depressed and her personality changed, Childman blamed himself for this and that is why he was trying to change her back.

The final showdown takes place outside the Tower of Fang where Orphen completes the sword and attempts to restore Azalie to human form and change the personalities of the two back to normal, however Flameheart appears and steals the sword in an attempt to kill the dragon. Flameheart doesn’t have the necessary power to use the sword however and dies in the attempt to kill the Bloody August. Another problem emerges as it turns out only one body can be saved, so they must work out who will live and who will die. 

Anime Inferno is developed and managed by: Adam Hicks, MCMXCIX - MMIII. All rights reserved.