Kyrie and company are on the run from the World Salvation Committee. Their job is to save the world which, in this case means keeping the world exactly the way it is; being run by beast-men overlords.

Though the storyline is relatively the same as the DS game, there are a few changes to the characters. Kyrie for example, is a very whiny and almost useless character in the anime adaptation. Though sometimes annoying in the game, Kyrie is able to handle himself in combat where as in the anime he just hides behind Morte and Taupy.

Important characters from the DS game are downplayed to minimal roles. Agan Mardus in particular, went from a captain of his own sandship in the DS game to a simple smuggler who works for the highest bidder. Given that the anime is only 13 episodes long, it doesn’t come as a surprise that there were a few cuts in order to make the story a bit more streamlined.

That said, there is some interesting character development that is better told here than in the game. Morte Asherah in particular is a woman who has to deal with the nightmares of her past that culminates in her desire to end the world. The mercenary teddy bear Taupy provides interesting monologues that dwell on heavy themes of heroism as well as symbolism that revolve around each episode.

The problem with the shorter story is that the pacing becomes awkward half-way through the series. There is a giant skip between one episode to the next and it feels as though the studio had a few more episodes in mind but then decided to cut them at the last minute. It isn’t hard to comprehend what happened, but just how it happened that raises some questions.

The animation is a bit inconsistent. Sometimes it is fantastic and other times it feels lazy. The great fights scenes are marred by a few repeat animations break the flow. At least, the DVD transfer is very well done and the picture is crystal clear.

The DVD itself includes all 13 episodes as well as English and Japanese tracks. There isn’t much in the way of DVD features. Aside from a text-less opening and ending, there are a few fake character interviews. Though poorly animated, they provide a few laughs.

Sands of Destruction doesn’t try to change the anime world; the show provides a few laughs, some decent fight scenes and likeable characters. That said, this won’t be a show that will stay in the DVD player. Like a short-lived sitcom, it is enjoyable but won’t be remembered aside from a few key characters.

Bottom Line: B-
Review by: Joshua Valencia
Director: Shunsuke Tada
Production by: Production I.G.
Distributed by: FUNimation