In Claymore, one boy, Raki, approaches a Claymore named Claire sent to purge his hometown of a Yoma. Thankfully, Raki is saved by Claire, and their relationship deepens as they begin to travel together. Though their star-crossed paths make for a nice anime alone, the series chooses to focus on Claire’s vengeful goals. As Claire manages to get closer and closer to her number one enemy, she falls deeper into becoming the beings she hunts. Overall, Claire’s background is what drives the story, and severed from the main plot, her history has the capacity to be a riveting story.
Simply put, a Claymore turned Yoma killed Claire’s only friend and powerful Claymore, Theresa. By becoming a Claymore, Claire’s life’s purpose is to take revenge on the Yoma. Fortunately, with several tangents from her original purpose and many encounters with powerful Yoma and Claymore alike, Claire becomes a formidable player in the game of Claymore versus Yoma.
Claymore’s action-adventure appeal stems from Claire’s upward efforts to become stronger. Watching her piece together new skills and reveal talents that even other Claymore do not possess makes Claire’s story reminiscent to other successful and popular action series like Dragon Ball Z, Bleach, and FullMetal Alchemist.
In Dragon Ball Z, one of the most exhilarating parts of the action anime was when the Earth’s Saiyins learned and honed their strengths to fight against strong villains. Claymore has the same effect, but with a story line to boot. Even the semblance of Bleach’s “humanity versus other beings” is not comparable to Claymore’sappeal; Claymore is simply riveting when separating the humanity of humans and the inhumanity of non-humans. Although Claymore shares the angst elements of FullMetal Alchemist, it still contains more depth and overall development that shatters Alfonso’s and Edward’s sad story. Claymore lacks almost all the humor seen in Dragon Ball Z, Bleach and Full Metal Alchemist. There are no random scenes where characters become chibi—or cherubim like—and no jokes that are equivalent to low-end comedians. Claymore’s story is depicted just as a story between humans and non-humans and everything else in between.
Though the main plot of the anime lacks humor, the only comedic relief seen inthe series comes from Claire’s pre-pubescent sidekick, Raki. His many human flaws and ignorance of the Claymore world makes him stumble, fluster, or stutter in the face of danger in spite of his naïve decision to “protect”someone stronger than himself, namely Claire.
With his family eaten by a Yoma and his older brother killed by Claire when the Yoma possessed his body, Raki was kicked out of his village for fear of being a Yoma himself. After searching for Claire to only have her rescue him again from another Yoma, Raki becomes Claire’s cook. Raki is Claire’s only hold on the human side, which is one aspect in the anime that is identical to other anime under the same genre. As the story broadens, so does the cliché relationship between Raki and Claire. This relationship can only be described as siblinghood.
The important part of Claymore besides its appeal and powerful development is its animation. Claymore’s animation is almost on par with revered animations like Samurai X. The exhilarating fight scenes illustrate the superficial qualities of a great animation. During the fight scenes, the movements of the characters are fluid and easy to follow, but what makes it exceptional is how well every motion is captured. There are no long bouts of idle conversation between battles. The battle simply exists in a manner where the animation can pull in any viewer. If anything were to characterize Claymore besides its plot, it would be its animation.
Claymore is one of the best anime series I have watched and after referring it to close friends; I have received calls saying, “Thank you!” It is fair to say that it is an anime to place on your must watch.
Rating: A+
All in all: Be sad that there is no Season 2 of Claymoreairing.
Anime 3000 reviews anime, manga, and games based on specific criteria designated by each medium's respective editor. Anime is reviewed on ascale from F to A+. Series or movies that receive a score of A- or above are considered outstanding, B- to B+ recommendable, C- to C+ average, D- to D+ unrecommended, and F terrible
