Synopsis
A Japan-US co-production animation based on Ichiro SAKAKI's same-titled novel. Directed by Shinji USHIRO. Straitjacket, used also as the title, has two definitions: a special jacket worn to tie the arms of highly agitated or violent individuals; a limiting or restricting situation. In Tristan -- city built on science and magic -- magicians don themselves in straitjacket and fight off monsters. For the warrior magicians, the jacket is at once their armor protecting them in battles and a means helping to prevent them from turning into the monsters themselves. Skillfully concocting science-vs-magic conflicts and crossed destinies, two favorite themes in Japanese animation, USHIRO knows how to cater to sophisticated animation fans. Great action scene opener, intriguing plot, insightful message as portrayed in the destiny-switching of Reiot (outlaw) and Isaac (government-employed warrior magician) all conspire to communicate the at once constructive and destructive power of the double-edged sword called magic. (KWON Yong Min)