Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
tevrashai
The only reason I gave it a 6, isnt because its bad by any means, its because it was over too quickly and i wanted more. But it being only 1 hr and 15 min long, everything happened so fast. There wasnt time for character development or to see relationships being built, etc.
overall, i felt like it had a good idea and potential...but i wish more than anything they would have packed this in a 26 ep season or something because i was excited to see where it went, but then it was over. I was just expecting more out of it tbh...
I did love how within the first few minutes it cut straight to the chase with the blood and gore and these big hideous creatures....oftentimes i feel like some anime take too long to get to the exciting stuff that holds your attention.
Read at the sourceSgtSalamander
Put simply, Strait Jacket is what would happen if Fullmetal Alchemist and Hellsing were fused into one show. It is a world where magic is studied like a science but misused by the powers that be in service of some grand conspiracy to horrifying effect, but also a story where a jaded and irreverent loose cannon with a haunted past hunts monsters for a living all while dragging along some poor public servant who just wanted to do her job as she becomes attached to him over time. Alternatively, it can also be described as rated R Fullmetal Alchemist. All of this is to say that it comes together to great effect, especially if you have a penchant for unapologetically edgy 2000s anime. I actually have a past with this anime that I had totally forgotten about until I stumbled upon it, beginning w…
Read at the sourceDeago
In the fantastical realm of Strait Jacket, the line between magic and mechas is as blurred as your vision after a wild night of binge-watching. In this mind-bending world, forget about traditional magic spells—here, the real magic lies in transforming everyday weapons into futuristic sci-fi mechas! Who needs a wand when you can have a metallic monstrosity?
Our protagonist, the almighty magic user, takes it upon himself to battle these 'demons' in an action-packed extravaganza. Brace yourself for a plot that's as simple as it gets, with just enough twists and conspiracies to keep you mildly entertained. The animation is decent, but the true star of the anime: the character designs, were well-detailed and distinctive.
The soundtrack jumps from epic orchestral scores to soothing atmospheric…
Read at the sourceDISKOWN
Strait Jacket is full of interesting ideas that other anime do better. There is nothing special about the series which spends most of its time fleshing out characters that bear no real relevance to the plot. The animation is dated, and while there are moments of action it is plagued by poor pacing and character development. Many of the characters have no purpose, there is no character growth, and nothing of real importance occurs during the runtime. The ending is predictable and unenjoyable. It seems like this OVA was created solely for fans of the light novel and no one else.
Read at the sourcesoacd
**SPOILER FREE**
As you'd expect from a three-episode ova, there isn't much story let alone character development. It has a standard plot with nothing special. The characters are bland and have almost no depth to them. The only depth we get is a sort of rivalry (?) between the protagonist and the deuteragonist that is cut extremely short at the end. Several questions are left unanswered. The action is run of the mill and often repetitive. Despite all of these factors, Strait Jacket actually has some redeeming qualities: The sound design, composing, and ending op choice is fantastic. I often found myself impressed with the sound effects and original music. Very jarring for such an obviously low budget OVA. So honestly, not worth the hour of your time. But worth noting the praiseworthy score…
Read at the sourceKanade-Arai
I'll get right to the point with this review: Cool visuals, interesting character design, lackluster story.
This OVA has a lot of potential and I get that it's a 3 episode tie-in to a light novel that ran for about a decade. Everything is so rushed and it barely makes an attempt to develop the characters outside of one small arc. We get the gist of the world but this leaves you hungry for story. I am willing to bet that an equal length or slightly longer movie with an all encompassed story would have fared better.
The art was fantastic and the animations are where this anime does shine. The characters are all designed well and the action scenes are fantastic. Sound design was decent.
If you're a fan of the light novels, you may enjoy this. If you haven't nor ever have any intention o…
Read at the sourceunderscore21
Another short review that should help you decide on if you wish to watch this 3 episode OVA or not.
Story: 6
I'm giving it a 6 not because I disliked it but because it really needs to be expanded on. This anime universe is extremely intriguing and I'd love to know more but you can just tell that this OVA was made to promote the manga. It's like one big ad for the manga (which I do plan on reading at some point). I find anime that do this to always be extremely underwhelming (minus Berserk 1997 anime which was created for the sole purpose of promoting the manga).
Art: 8
By far the best part of this anime. The action sequences are pretty top-knotch and there is a lot of well-animated gore scenes. So much gore. If you like gore in anime, then you'll definitely like this one. I mean, it's…
Read at the sourceLaLeLuLiLo
Straight Jacket is a short 1 hour-ish ova that is as simple and schlocky as it comes. It’s story takes place in some alternative universe where magic is used as an energy source for about everything. It doesn’t really delve into the world or the potential or ramification of using magic since most things in their world look mostly unchanged from ours, with the exception of demons pooping in now and again. It’s less interested in its world as it’s a means to set up action set pieces for the demons and the people who fight them, straight jackets.
In terms of a narrative the only good thing the show had going for it was that it was well structured despite being three episodes. Each episode had its own purpose with the first one setting up the world and characters, the second setting up more…
Read at the sourcebadprinter
Looking for a quick dose of mutant slashing with overpowered flashy magic spells by mecha suits? This might be something to waste an hour and a half on, if you're looking for a quick anime to complete for your MAL-list.
Story: 4/10 - Could've evolved into a greater story, but revealed too much.
It generally feels rushed and sloppy. The story could've been more than okay. It has the things you expect from a sci-fi fantasy anime, but lacks progress. That being said, they don't waste time with side-plots or dead-ends not related to the main story. What I really enjoyed was how the story built up for a bigger franchise, but that is also the downside. The main villain is badly written, so bad in fact that you know who it is almost instantly, but they still try to hide it. I despised the way t…
Read at the sourceSidewinder51
Rate of 7
English Dubbed
Battles no matter the gratitude we face them on a daily basis. Toss in added advances in technology doesn't make them go away just changes the order of things. Something that was bad becomes okay, something okay becomes bad. If magic became a real factor on lifes operations my lord the charges that would occur. However, no matter the outcome we must press forward for staying fixated on something is more harmful then good. Such is the basis for this anime.
Story
-negative note: introduction could have greater flair.
-positive: Plot was moderate in length it will take a couple bites before getting to the bone.
Art
good characters/ scenes. Good blend to the story.
Sound- no issues
Characters
Good background for most of the main players. Although, with one of the…
Read at the sourceLuquillo
Sorcery was brought out of superstition and myth to be used in everyday life activities such as medicine, agriculture, and even the military. Society has grown quite fond of its use to the point were they have been completely dependant upon it. However, there's a penalty for constant use, which happens to be that the user would soon lose control of it, and transform into a blood thirsty monster murdering everyone in its path. Modern weapons are useless against the creatures, therefore to combat these creatures an organization named The Sorcery Management Bureau, deploys men clad in armor called Tactical Sorcerist. The armor is referred to as Mold, and it's equipped with heavy artillery supported by sorcery. Leiot Steinberg is a rogue sorcerist that takes up a job and finds himself working…
Read at the sourcensweet
Story: 7.5/10
Art : 9
Sound: 9
Character: 9
Enjoyment: 8
Overall:8
Well this is my first review and I have just finished watching all 3 episodes of Straight Jacket.
Story: Although only 3 episodes long I believe the story, at its most basic level, was flushed out quite nicely. Yes, of course more details could have been given to fully explain the relationships between characters, especially that of Reiott and Filisis, but for a 3 episode series, I cannot say that anything truly important in terms of the continuity of the show.
I can't say I truly enjoyed the ending as well, as much of the story was wrapped up very quickly but then again what can I expect from 3 episodes?
Art:
For a modern show the animation is pretty standard. This anime is much darker than most I have seen and the d…
Read at the sourcejkalyana
A nice action anime OVA with 3 episodes. Set in a 90's scenario it is a world where both magic and science coexist, with a persons experiment which made magic come into this world from some other.
The main protagonist Reiott Steingberg (Leiott Steingberg in some dubs), is a character well built as per the story's current situation and very little reference to his background/childhood. The main story is about the work of the protagonist as a tactical sorcerist (people who are qualified to take down demons).
Along with magic came a problem to the human world, people who used magic too much became demons. Tactical sorcerists take down these demons again using magic.
Every episode ends with a spiritual touch whether its right to kill another person/demon just because people say its right or…
Read at the sourceSparrowSabre7
Strait Jacket is based around an interesting concept, but itdoesn't really go anywhere.
It focuses on Leiot Steinberg and his hunting of these demons as well as a few other characters, but the action is pretty static, since the MOLDS just stand and shoot at the demons and then they usually get taken down with one shot, the characters don't really pull you in and by the end, you're left wondering what the point was. It's just demon encounter after demon encounter and they all play out similarly, and Leiot's guilt over the deaths he's caused just seems too cliché.
but the voice acting (in the dub at least) is pretty good, with stalwarts like Steve Blum and Crispin Freeman heading the cast.
Overall, not terrible, but it doesn't excel at anything really, and when the final battle is litera…
Read at the sourceKain
Pretty good anime. Hope they will make more episodes. the characters here are pretty impressive as well. The only thing that sorta sucks here if you look away from the fact that its only 3 ovas is that the action sequences are short and their are not really alot of them. Hoped for more of them. Otherwise not bad. Would recommend ths for everybody. Great anime. Should be at least at the top 500 if you ask me.
Read at the sourceBlackFlamedNyx
Well it was ok, animation was great but the story was typical and it had excess gore. It was disgusting and pointless. The story was basic sinner killer/hero looking for redemption and kind of finds it. The whole thing was predictable from start to finish.
Read at the sourceMikariStar
Strait Jacket takes place in the past but there is both technology and magic. The way they handle magic is similar to the concept of an all powerful mutating virus that has a vast usefulness but also big consequences.
Basically, though magic does challenge logic, it eventually mutates the body when it is used too much, causing people to become big murderous insane monsters that cannot be turned back into humans. To be able to use magic without turning into monsters, they developed the molds, which are small mecha armors.
The story revolves around a man who feels guilty over an event that is later revealed about his past. He has adopted a little girl who was born partially mutated from a human mother and mutated father. This further makes him question if there is some humanity left in t…
Read at the sourceFullmetal-Locke
I'm impressed with this more than possibly any anime I have ever seen. They did so much with just three episodes. This was short, even for something like a film. And yet they filled it with story & action & twists & drama & it's just so amazing. More anime should be like this!
Considering the short amount of anime the story was quite impressive. IE there was one. Little stories building up a living breathing world & a story not without a few twists along the way. Some felt a little forced or rushed. But what do you expect from something so short? You'll however be pleasantly surprised. Maybe I just set my standards to low?
The art's really good too. Amazing designs on the Molds & on the enemies & the tech & just about everything really. It was a shame that the weapons only really amoun…
Read at the source5PAC3RDN_318
There wasn't much story to this anime. It starts off with history of the "strait jackets" and then dives straight into some action that's not necessarily awesome, but it keeps your attention none the less.
It really feels like this anime was just thrown together. Something to feed the public that has creepy mutants, kick ass robot thingys, magic, and enough of a climax to call it a climax (there isn't much of one).
If they took more time with this anime, it couldn't had potential.
STORY: Very very cool idea! They didn't draw it out or add any twists though to make it an actual story! :( 4
ART: Very very clean and clear!!! But it looks like they filled in coloring with the paint bucket on microsoft paint, no shading or anything :( 4
SOUND: Sound was actually nice on this anime. Not…
Read at the sourcekkescorpiao
In Brazilian Portuguese:
Com uma boa arte, e até uma boa idéia quanto ao uso da magia e tudo mais, este anime teria sido melhor se os roteiristas tivessem tido mais episódios pra desenvolver a personalidade das personagens.
Com apenas esses 3 episódios, somos obrigados a supor o que os personagens pensam, como se sentem, ou como reagem.
Agora se você assiste um anime como esse a procura de apenas lutas e sangue, talvez você se sinta satisfeito. Embora eu tenha achado a ação deste anime bem "fraquinha" também.
Translated to English:
With a good art, and a good idea for the uses of the magic, this anime could be better if the writers had more episodes for developing the characters' personality.
With only 3 episode, we have to imagine by ourselves what the characters are thinking, or feeling…
Read at the source
