Line #75 Anime/KurauPhantomMemory


1	[[quoteright:702:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kpm_jpn_dvd_v1.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:702:Kurau (Foregrond) and Christmas (Background).]]
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4	Kurau is a cheerful twelve-year old girl living on the moon with her father, a professor who researches a mysterious energy source. While watching one of her father's scientific experiments, she gets hit by an an energy blast which disintegrates her fully. Kurau reappears as the fusion of herself and an alien sentient force, calling herself "Rynax", and gains extraordinary powers, like flying; walking through walls; and shooting powerful blasts of energy. Rynax come in pairs however, so another Rynax lies dormant in Kurau's body, and the waking Rynax is unable to give it up.
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6	Kurau's mind appears to have merged with the alien entity as well, to the shock and grief of her father. During subsequent experiments, Kurau's powers involuntarily cause the young girl to seriously injure her father, an event which proves to be very traumatic. Her father still deeply cares for his half-alien daughter, but decides that it is best that he and Kurau are separated, so he sends her to earth to live with relatives.
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8	Ten years later Kurau makes a living by performing dangerous covert operations as a freelance mercenary, in which her Rynax strength comes in handy. She has to hide her powers from the public as to not attract attention from the GPO, an organization out to capture all "Rynasapiens", i.e. people affected with Rynax powers. Since her Rynax-pair hasn't found the strength to come out yet in all those years, Kurau also feels incomplete and utterly lonely.
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10	Then one night, in a flash of light, her pair suddenly appears out of her body in the shape of a teenaged girl, who looks much like herself. Kurau calls her "Christmas" and her happiness knows no bounds, until she discovers that the GPO has found out about them. Kurau and Christmas have to run from the GPO, helped by Kurau's father and a mysterious ex-GPO member called Doug.
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12	''Kurau: Phantom Memory'' was pretty much a "sleeper" title when it was released in 2004, being overshadowed by other popular anime titles during that period. Since then it has gained a reputation as a classic though, with a heart-warming and dramatic plot, well-rounded characters and beautiful animation. It's a must-see for people who like their "hard" sci-fi to go along with believable human relationships.
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14	----
15	!!These examples are released into the wide, wide world:
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17	%%* AppliedPhlebotinum: The Rynax power.%%Needs more context
18	%%* AxCrazy: Doc of the SpacePirates.%%Needs more context
19	%%* BabiesEverAfter%%Needs more context
20	%%* BaitAndSwitchCredits%%Needs more context
21	* BarbieDollAnatomy: There's just about no fanservice in the show, but clinical nudity gets this treatment.
22	* {{Bifauxnen}}: Kurau, a short-haired woman who could easily pass for a man.
23	%%* BigDamnHeroes%%Needs more context
24	* BittersweetEnding: Ultimately averted. It may seem sad when Kurau saves the world from the Rynax and [[spoiler:loses her own Rynax in the process]]. However, [[spoiler:the world is back to normal, with happy endings for all the main characters. Even the Rynax were led to a new "vast world" where they wouldn't be a danger to humans or be endangered themselves.]] And, [[spoiler:Rynax-Kurau, who hadn't departed for this new world, comes back to Christmas]].
25	%%* BlandNameProduct: Averted with "Carrefour".%%Needs more context
26	* BlessedWithSuck: Kurau loves her powers, but they cause her quite some grief too.
27	* BookEnds: The first episode has Kurau lonely and desperately wishing for her pair, who finally appears at the end of the episode. [[spoiler:The DistantFinale has the same thing happen with the roles switched.]]
28	* ButNotTooForeign: Even though it's never outright stated at any point during the series, Kurau is Japanese/Swedish.
29	%%* DarkAndTroubledPast: Ayaka%%Needs more context
30	%%* DeflectorShields %%Needs more context
31	%%* DistantFinale %%Needs more context
32	* EnergyAbsorption: Kurau uses it to [[spoiler:send other Rynax back to their own world]].
33	* EnergyBeings: The Rynax themselves; human research initially thought they were simply energy until they turned out to be alive.
34	%%* FacelessGoons: GPO's grunts.
35	%%* FreakLabAccident
36	%%* ForScience
37	* GiganticMoon: The full moon looks awfully huge behind the flying silhouettes of Kurau and later Christmas, to make some lovely framing.
38	* GrowingUpSucks: [[spoiler:The disappearance of Kurau's Rynax is a thinly veiled metaphor for the definitive loss of her childhood]].
39	%%* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:Ayaka]].
40	* HoldingBackThePhlebotinum: Leading to the unnecessary death of a [[MauveShirt helpful individual]].
41	* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Saitou's answer when confronted about his questionable methods.
42	%%* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim
43	%%* InspectorJavert: Ayaka.
44	* LoveHurts: Rynax go through a lot of grief without their pair.
45	* LuminescentBlush: Especially Kurau in response to Christmas.
46	* MartialPacifist: Kurau tries to avoid hurting anyone with her powers.
47	* MauveShirt: [[spoiler:Ed fills this role]].
48	* TheMenInBlack: The GPO hunt down Rynax fused with humans for fear that they're a danger to the world. [[spoiler:Or, eventually, to use them as such.]]
49	* ParentalAbandonment: Kurau and [[spoiler:Ayaka]]. Might be applied to Christmas as well, but her parentage is a bit fuzzy.
50	%%* PhlebotinumBreakdown
51	%%* PostCyberPunk
52	%%* PoweredByAForsakenChild
53	* PowerGlows: Rynasapiens emit an eerie glow and a high-pitched sound when using their powers.
54	%%* PsychicPowers
55	* RedStringOfFate: The bond between two Rynax is the focus of their existences and can only be broken by death.
56	%%* SayMyName: Oh, so much. So very much.
57	%%* ShootYourMate: Kurau makes the gun misfire.
58	%%* SnowMeansLove
59	* SoWhatDoWeDoNow: In the end, [[spoiler:Kurau's human half has to deal with being herself again now that her Rynax is gone for good]].
60	%%* SpacePirates: They appear in a bit of an AssPull.
61	%%* SpockSpeak: Kurau's way of talking right after the merger.
62	%%* SpoilerOpening
63	%%* SternChase
64	* SuperSoldiers: GPO under Saitou plans to create controllable Rynax-infused soldiers.
65	* TearsOfJoy: Kurau, at the end of the first episode when Christmas reforms. Despite her gender, it also has overtones of ManlyTears due to how badass and reserved Kurau normally is -- the series as a whole is ''very'' good at creating powerful emotional moments through quiet understatement.
66	* TheLoad: Christmas, until [[spoiler:she gains her Rynax powers]].
67	* TheMeadowRun: Kurau and Christmas, in the opening credits.
68	%%* ThePowerOfLove
69	* ThereAreNoTherapists: Despite the fact that Kurau starts acting really weird after the lab incident.
70	* TheStoic: Inspector Wong has quite the poker face. Also, he wears StoicSpectacles.
71	%%* TheSymbiote
72	%%* ThirtySecondBlackout
73	%%* TouchedByVorlons
74	%%* WhamEpisode: 20.
75	%%* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman
76	* WordSaladTitle: The "Phantom Memory" part of the title seems entirely meaningless right up until the final episode.

Context Anime / KurauPhantomMemory