Straitjacket (anime)

The action of "Straight Jacket" takes place in the world of " alternative history ". According to the plot of the novel, in 1899 a group of scientists conducted a certain experiment that irrefutably proved the reality of the old rival of materialistic science - magic , as well as the fact that magic can be used in everyday life. And this discovery changed the fate of mankind in the most bizarre way.

The use of magic penetrated into all spheres of human life and changed the course of social and technological development. Technical progress is at the stage of a protracted century of steam - the main means of transportation are horse-drawn carts, trams , steam locomotives and zeppelins , the main means of production are plants and factories using steam-powered equipment. Electricity and an internal combustion engine are known, however, these technologies are at the initial stage of their development - cars are quite rare and resemble similar samples of the 1920s and 30s in our world, the technique based on electricity (not to mention electronics) is relatively poorly developed as unnecessary.

The scene of the novel is Tristan, a huge urban metropolis reminiscent of both Victorian London , San Francisco and Tokyo in the first half of the 20th century . The city was built in the Gothic style with the wide use of glass and cast iron elements (although its silhouette is pretty diluted with a huge number of pipes of steam plants).

The foundation of this world is magic . After a series of public demonstrations organized by Dr. George Greco, its existence is beyond doubt, but only a limited number of specially trained magicians can use it. The reason for this is simple - magic is deadly and when used improperly or too often, it easily kills both the magician himself and those around him. Mages abusing their power are constantly threatened by the so-called “Curse” - transformation into “demons”, deadly and extremely tenacious monsters that destroy everything in their path.

The license to engage in this profession is issued in Tristan by the Administrative Bureau of Magic, which conducts all research in this area, monitors the safety of the use of magic and monitors all former and current magicians.

For the safe use of magic, scientists have developed “molds” (from the English mold armor, “forming armor”) - suits created on the basis of a synthesis of magic and steam technologies, reminiscent of the armor of medieval knights and to a certain extent protecting the magician from negative side effects and transformation. In addition to civilian options, there are battle molds intended for tactical magicians working for the Bureau - specialists in the fight against illegal criminal mages and those who have already transformed into demons. The battle molds are equipped with magical weapons with tremendous destructive power, depending on the talent of the tactical mage. In a nation far from magic, molda, as well as tactical magicians who wear them, are called “straitjackets”: tactical magicians are the only ones who can fight demons, and their molds are the only thing that prevents them from turning into demons themselves .

Despite the presence of molds and tactical magicians, the Bureau is clearly losing control of the situation in the city - the Ottoman terrorist organization, pursuing obscure goals, is organizing a series of sabotage to damage civilian molds - as a result, magicians using their molds in medicine, industry, even in agriculture, one after another they transform into demons and kill everyone who comes to their arm. Incidents multiply like a snowball, and in the end there comes a moment when the Bureau simply does not have free tactical magicians who can be sent to eliminate another demon.

The action of the series begins at the moment when, due to a defect in the mold, the surgeon of one of the hospitals of Tristan directly during the operation transforms into a demon. Every single magician tactic is on call or inaccessible, the special "anti-demonic" Black Dog squad will arrive at the earliest in an hour, and doctors and patients who are helpless in front of the demon die in the hospital every minute. As a result, in order to save people, Nerin Simmons, the junior inspector of the Bureau, decides on a malfeasance - she hires to eliminate the demon Rayott Steinberg, a mage without a license, the owner of battle mold and a bad reputation, who, by pure chance, was dozing peacefully in his truck nearby. After short, but very emotional negotiations, the parties concerned shake hands - the sleepy and angry Steinberg destroys the demon, smashing half of the hospital, as well as managing to damage neighboring buildings; The Bureau, in order to avoid further incidents with a shortage of tactical magicians, decides to bring him to work as an independent specialist by issuing a temporary license, and Nerin Simmons is appointed curator of the obstinate, rude and extremely undisciplined magician.

• Rayott Steinberg ( я イ オ ッ ト ・ ス タ イ ン バ ー グ Rayotto Steinbagu ) is an unlicensed tactical mage practicing this craft at his own risk. What he hunted before meeting with Nerin Simmons is unknown, although some facts indicate that he was once a completely legal magician. His style of working with demons terrifies those around him, and sometimes even those who have seen tactical magicians - Rayott attacks, completely not caring for his safety, without blinking his eyes using forbidden spells like the Accelerator (Mold Magic Amplifier Amplifier), which obviously do not go to the benefit of his health - in a word, behaves as if he wants to die in battle. Phyllisis Mug in a conversation with Nerin Simmons suggests that Steinberg is tormented by some events from the past, because of which he considers himself a sinner, who has a place only in hell.

Seiyu : Shinichiro Miki

• Nerin / Nelin Simmons ( ネ リ ン ・ シ モ ン ズ ) is a junior inspector of the Bureau of Magic, an incredibly cheerful and non-malignant person who pisses Steinberg out of himself. He wears large glasses, everywhere he carries with him a large-caliber pistol without cartridges, claiming that he gives her confidence.

Seiyu : Ai Maeda

• Capeltata Fernandez ( Japanese: еру ペ ル テ ー タ ・ フ ェ ル ナ ン デ ス Caperuteta Ferunandez ) - due to an innate magical mutation (she was born from a human mother and a demon father), the Capeltata has bright red hair and two pairs of eyes of the same color. In an accident, Steinberg killed her mother and after that took care of the girl. The Kapeltate is his assistant - he runs a farm in his house, paints his body with magic signs before putting on a mold, and also controls the steam engine in the kung of Steinberg’s truck - there are devices that create elements of the mold directly on the body of the tactical magician. She constantly follows Steinberg, wherever he goes, even when he sleeps, she sits near his bed. When Rayott fights, he is always somewhere nearby to see the demon die. Phyllisis Mug claims that the Capeltate is not averse to seeing Steinberg’s death.

Seiyu : Kay Shindou

• Isaac Hammond ( ア イ ザ ッ ク ・ ハ モ ン ド ) is a tactical mage working in the Black Dog division. He hates Steinberg because he believes he killed a man, another tactical mage who once saved Isaac and his sister Rachel from a demon attack.

Seiyu : Akira Sasanuma

• Rachel Hammond ( レ イ チ ェ ル ・ ハ モ ン ド ) - Isaac’s younger sister, lives with him. Thanks to her brother, she graduated from the university but works in a store in one of the shopping districts of Tristan.

Seiyu : Asami Imai

Isaac and Rachel Hammond - characters invented by Itiro Sakaki specifically for OVA, were absent at the time of the series’s release.

• Phyllisis Mug ( Jap. フ ィ リ シ ス ・ ム ー グ Phyrisis Mug ) is a tactical magician who seems to have retired. She is well acquainted with Steinberg and the Capeltate. One of the main characters of the runaway, in OVA appears sporadically.

Seiyu : Mayumi Asano

• Jack Roland ( ジ ャ ッ ク ・ ロ ー ラ ン ド ) is a Moldovan adjustment engineer and a talented inventor in this field. Engaged in the repair of Steinberg mold. One of the main characters of the runaway, in OVA appears sporadically.

Seiyu : Tatsuya Kobashi

• Brian Meno Moderato ブ ラ イ ア ン ・ メ ノ ・ モ デ ラ ー ト ) is an inspector and then one of the leaders of the Tristan police. In OVA appears sporadically.

Seiyu : Koji Ishii

• The human form. Mold (ニ ン ゲ ン の カ タ チ 〜 THE MOLD 〜) ISBN 4-8291-2986-7 (August 2000)
• Joining (ツ ミ ビ ト の キ オ ク 〜 THE ATTACHMENT 〜) ISBN 4-8291-2986-7 (April 2001)
• Regret. Part One (オ モ イ デ の ス ミ カ 〜 THE REGRET / FIRST HALF 〜) ISBN 4-8291-1407-X (January 2002)
• Regret. Part Two (オ モ イ デ の カ ナ タ 〜 THE REGRET / SECOND HALF 〜) ISBN 4-8291-1427-4 (April 2002)
• Edge (ヨ ワ ム シ の ヤ イ バ 〜 THE EDGE 〜) ISBN 4-8291-1491-6 (January 2003)
• Mirage (ラ ク エ ン の サ ダ メ 〜 THE MIRAGE 〜) ISBN 4-8291-1595-5 (March 2004)
• Sacrifice. Part One (イ ケ ニ エ の ヒ ツ ジ 〜 THE SACRIFICE 1st. HALF 〜) ISBN 4-8291-1797-4 (March 2006)
• Sacrifice. Part Two (イ ケ ニ エ の ロ ン リ 〜 THE SACRIFICE 2nd. HALF 〜) ISBN 4-8291-1814-8 (April 20, 2006)
• Demon (セ キ ガ ン の ア ク マ 〜 THE FIEND 〜) ISBN 4-8291-3346-5 (April 20, 2008)
• Funeral bell. Part One (ニ ン ゲ ン の オ ワ リ 〜 THE DEATH BELL 1st.HALF 〜) ISBN 4-8291-3460-7 (November 20, 2009)
• Funeral bell. Part Two (ニ ン ゲ ン の ア シ タ 〜 THE DEATH BELL 2st.HALF 〜) ISBN 978-4-8291-3565-5 (September 18, 2010)

Short stories from the Strait Jacket series:

• Communications (ト モ ガ ラ の エ ン 〜 THE RELATION 〜) ISBN 4-8291-1668-4 (November 18, 2004)
• Despair (ゼ ツ ボ ウ の ヒ ト 〜 THE DESPAIR 〜) ISBN 4-8291-1937-3 (June 2007)
• Genius (テ ン リ ン の サ ガ 〜 THE GENIUS 〜) ISBN 4-8291-3412-7 (June 20, 2009)

Final composition anime:
Kyo , Sita - Le Chemin (in French)

• The official website of the series "Straight Jacket" (jap.)