RIN - Daughters of Mnemosyne

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Munemoshune No Musume Tachi (RIN ~ Daughters of Mnemosyne~)

June 23rd 2010 02:20

Anime is a curious beast; it can be soft and cuddly and downright juvenile, but it can also be hard and vicious and downright lascivious. Mnemosyne (2008) – which means the personification of memory in Greek mythology - is a six-part series directed by Shigeru Ueda and written by Hiroshi Ônogi, set in the popular "ero-guro" sub-genre (lurid murder mysteries involving deviant sexuality, moral depravity, and usually a decent measure of deformity and/or mutilation, for example Rampo Noir or Tokyo Gore Police). But there’s a strong undercurrent of Norse mythology at work also, not to mention, the eternal struggle for supreme power between two deities a la Highlander.

Rin Asogi

Streaking this heady, adult tech-noir mélange are the philosophical musings of its central character, Rin Asogi (voiced by Mamiko Noto, or Colleen Clinkenbeard if you decide to watch the American-dub), a statuesque Tokyo private investigator with striking and formidable assets (green hair and huge tits), whose office assistance is a squeaky-voiced teenage-esque girl, Mimi (Rie Kugimiya). But Rin is no ordinary human being. She’s immortal, having been infected by a time spore, one of the fruits of time from the powerful Yggdrasil, the mythic tree of life.

Rin relaxing at home with Yggdrasil on the horizon

Rin and her BFF Mimi

Rin remains the alluring, yet strangely unassuming feminine creature that she is, yet she cannot perish (Mimi is also immortal, but remains behind closed office doors for the most part). But, heavens above, does Rin get dealt to, or what! During the course of the series (a la Aeon Flux), she is repeatedly tortured and dies a thousand deaths (well, quite a few anyway), in spectacularly violent and horrendous ways; pierced, stabbed, shot, chopped, diced, and blown-to-smithereens. Yet despite the superficial discomfort, Rin’s body regenerates, and she lives to fight another villain another day.

Lora (Laura), the assassin

The time-line of the six 45-minute episodes (Cats Don’t Laugh, Angels Don’t Cry, Flowers Don’t Shed Tears, Ghosts Don’t Scream, Holy Nights Don’t Shine Brightly, And Then, to the Door of the Kingdom …) spans 65 years, with the first episode back-set to 1990 and the final encounter set in 2055, with all the advancements in technology and attitude that would be expected. Rin, however, has centuries of sin to atone for. The sadistic god Apos (Akira Ishida) is relentless in his quest to destroy Rin once and for all, and he repeatedly launches an assassin, Lora (Sayaka Ohara), into Rin’s proximity to do maximum damage. Apos is Rin’s primary antagonist though, thirsty for all the time fruits’ milky blood juice, and the destruction of Rin’s body.

Because she is female, the supernatural tree that ejaculates the time spores has turned Rin into an immortal. The males who are infected become dark angels or sorts, grotesque and insatiable, only wishing to copulate with immortals, and then destroy them. Rin’s easiest task is locating a lost cat, but soon enough her plight finds her in pursuit of and embroiled in covert biological weaponry, cloning, informants, a serial killer, an advanced virtual sex avatar, cyborgs, her assassin-nemesis (even doppelganger), her mortal lover, she’s inflicted with amnesia, and eventually becomes a sacrificial lamb. This detective work is no walk in the park!

The animation style looks closer to traditional cell animation, but with added airbrush sheen and fluidity, and sporadic computer effects (in particular the memory flashbacks). At first I wasn’t overly impressed with the visual stylistics, but I warmed quickly, especially as the palette, mood and tone of the series engulfed me. The eroticism and sensuality which frequently spills over into unbridled fetishism certainly enhances the exotic atmosphere pushing it into an intensely carnal relam. There is a voyeuristic element definitely, but tastefully handled (the partial nudity often in shadow and silhouette), but there are darker undertones of sexuality and graphic violence writhing and rearing their heads throughout the series.

Rin is sleek, sexy and smart, with hair down below her slim waist, she loves her vodka, her fine threads (not to mention long hot showers), and a healthy does of snuggling yuri-style. It’s curious that despite her perfect features and attributes, she still has to wear spectacles, although I’d be lying if I didn’t find that adds a certain bookish sex appeal. She may not be an expert in hand-to-hand combat, but she is the most resilient P.I. in the Shinjuku district! And she possesses a whimsical sense of humour too.

Because of Rin’s immortality other key characters around her fall on the wayside, so she is forced to find companionship with other immortals. The constant antagonist is Apos, The elusive enigma of her memories keeps edging in, like ephemeral slivers of plot. Just as she stays one slender foot ahead of evil Apos, he is barking like a dog from hell at her heels, salivating with the toxic juices of a carnal demon. Yes, Mnemosyne is like the supernatural monstrosity of Wicked City (1987) meets the soul-searching and melancholy of Crying Freeman.

As great as the original Mnesmosyne is as anime (RIN ~Daughters of Mnesmosyne~ is the international title), I would love to see it condensed into a hardgore, adult live-action feature, with all the sex and violence ramped-up, with an evocative electronic soundtrack from Vangelis, and directed by Takashi Miike, or perhaps Luc Besson (throwing caution to the wind). I’m a sick, twisted, amoral guy, I know, with a dangerously seductive heart of cybo-noir ... so kill me a thousand times, I don't care.

Here’s the American-dub series trailer:

Mnemosyne DVD is courtesy of Siren Visual, many thanks!

Rin ... as pin-up model

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

6 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by JohnDoe

June 24th 2010 18:46

Film & TV on DVD

Another fine review,

Missed this one, but will correct the oversight shortly. Love me some irresponsible anime

Comment by JMD

June 26th 2010 01:34

Nice to see you giving a review for this. I finally saw the series last year. I watched the sub version. I did try and watch the dub but the dub for this series is not that good. I do love your idea for a live action feature. Any ideas who would make a good Rin?

Comment by Bryn

June 28th 2010 00:29

Horrorphile

Angelina Jolie when she was younger perhaps. But better still would be an unknown.

Comment by Spring-Heeled Jack

July 12th 2010 13:56

Over.Exposure

I've been keeping a curious eye on this one since I stumbled across it on Amazon. This review will certainly keep it on the radar.

I'm an ardent devotee of many anime series' (Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, Evangelion) but I can't bring myself to own the label 'anime fan' given that I can't stand much of the drivel that dominates the medium. Then again, I suppose you could say the same about film in general, or literature...

Comment by Bryn

July 12th 2010 22:53

Horrorphile

Jack, oh yes there is much drivel to be found in the anime genre, that's fer sure ... and yes, film in general ... It's about finding those gems amongst the stones.

Comment by Spring-Heeled Jack

July 13th 2010 02:47

Over.Exposure

Speaking of which, have you seen Le Portrait de Petit Cossette? Not the most polished gem, but certainly one in the rough. It suffers from bouts of interminable 'anime dialogue syndrome', but the premise is interesting and the visuals are quite compelling (especially the twisted nightmare sequences). Worth a look.

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