Kaze no stigma: Volume 2 – Fire — anime dvd review

It’s pretty rare that I find a show with so little to recommend, but Kaze no Stigma sets the bar for insipid generics. This show is a mix of annoying and embarrassing cliche, not worth the paper this review is printed on. It’s a shame too, because I figured, being Gonzo, it might at least have some decent action.

Kaze no Stigma (Stigma of the Wind) tells the tale of two “elemental” magic users, Kazuma a male wind user, and Ayano, a female fire magic user. She’s a high strung freak who flips out every five seconds, while he’s a jerk who wouldn’t get riled up about anything. Opposites attract, right? Only I don’t care. The setups are your everyday fight or romance fare, with cliffhangers that leave you yawning rather than clamoring for more. In large part, Kaze no Stigma feels like a children’s show, only with fanservice. Ayano’s fights often see her wielding a flaming sword (posing with the same stock frames every single time), losing fragments of clothes, and walking around, panties exposed. Real high brow stuff. The romance is just as stupid, with the two arguing more often than getting along (Imagine a “romantic” comedy centering around George Castanza’s parents). It’s not the slightest bit believable or interesting. There’s also a thread about Kazuma’s exile from his family, and framing for murder…but it doesn’t really seem to be the thrust of the show’s individual episodes.

I could write more, but I don’t think I will. Maybe it’s because I just came off of watching Welcome to the NHK (wonderful, wonderful show. Pick it up. You won’t be disappointed), but Kaze no Stigma is so nauseatingly bad that it actually puts a damper on my mood. If you’re so inclined, you can check out the show’s wikipedia page. Though Funimation has done a decent job with the DVD presentation and localization (this second set captures the final 13 episodes of the series), Kaze no Stigma is a complete waste of time. Skip it at all costs.

About the Author

Chris Nelson has been an off and on anime fan since the days of Streamline Pictures. A former film and English major, he is now a Software Engineer and contract Technical Writer living in the Silicon Valley.