If you haven't checked out Claymore by now then you're missing out on one of FUNimation's best new releases. The show channels Berserk in just about every way. Its dark fantasy setting is incredible, the action is nice and bloody, and all around the characters and plot are quite deep. Up to this final volume, the show has been a rock-solid bloodbath that deserved to be checked out. Each installment trumped the one before it and it all led to the feeling that the story was building to something that bordered epic in terms of scope.

Rather than drone on regarding the details about this show I'm going to direct you to a previous review for another volume in case you haven't seen the series yet. Quite honestly there's no point in recanting everything that has transpired or filling you in on the basics if you've been collecting these volumes all along. With that in mind let's get on with the show, shall we?

With this being the final installment we naturally have seen a lot so far. Last time around the proverbial anime poop hit the fan. A massive war of Awakened Ones was unleashed by a guy named Rigaldo, who was unleashing some beastly powers. All manner of transformed people were tearing up the Northern city of Pieta and it was up to the Organization to put a stop to it by sending in Claymores. Naturally this seems like a bad idea. I mean, when Claymores are in intense fights they unleash their inner beast, which is what makes an Awakened One. It stands to reason that the already Awakened will force others to Awaken as well. Is that something you want? Not really, I assure you.

In good form Clare was put front and center during this conflict. The first two episodes of this installment basically feature a climactic battle between Clare and Rigaldo, as well as a few others. Predictably our heroine must awaken part of her body in order to overcome the adversity that stands before her. She unlocks a hidden Yoma power within her legs and turns on the speed like you wouldn't believe. This gives her the upper hand, but also puts her one speedy step closer to the edge. As the volume goes on it just kind of all falls apart from there. I don't want to give you too many details, but let's just say that Clare begins to lose herself and it takes a tragic death in order to bring her around. That's not really the whole of it, but I'd like to get through this review with as few spoilers as possible.

What I will talk about is what disappointed me about this installment. The ending as a whole felt like kind of a copout. It's clear that the manga hadn't quite made it as far as the anime did by this point, and man does it show. After the second episode here the story kind of flounders about and the series more or less just ends. There's no resolution to be had anywhere and what you basically have is the action stopping and characters just walking off into the sunset with no explanation about anything. It's rather confusing to say the least and it's quite jarring when you stop and consider the amount of well-thought-out story that build up to this point. It's a real WTF moment and it's an ending that just doesn't fit in with what was established for 24 of the 26 episodes.

Disappointing finale aside, Claymore is a recommended series. It's great from start to (almost) finish and it stands out as an homage to Berserk. The show has balls and its over-the-top violence really sets it apart from many other fantasy series out there. Clare's story is a fascinating one and her relationship with the other Claymores has been very well developed throughout the show. If you haven't watched Claymore yet then you're missing out on one of the hardest hitting dark fantasy anime to come along since Berserk. Consider it highly recommended!

Presented with its original 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio, Claymore is a nice little treat on DVD. The artwork, design, and animation from Madhouse Studios are incredible, though I will say that some of the styles are a little generic. As far as the transfer here is concerned, the video quality holds up decently, but it's not flawless in its presentation. The picture is grainy (some parts are worse than others), there's some slight aliasing in parts, and the image isn't quite as sharp as it could have been. Otherwise compression artifacts aren't really an issue, and the colors appear natural and vibrant. This is a nice looking show, but it could have been spruced up just a little more.

Claymore hits DVD with English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 language tracks. As far as the dubbing quality is concerned I found that the Japanese selection definitely was the better of the two. Some of the English voice actors just don't present well, or capture the feel of the characters quite right. The Japanese language, however, does just that and hits all the right dramatic notes. Technically speaking, the 5.1 Dolby Digital track is much more robust than the 2.0 offering thanks to a better sense of immersion during battle sequences. Whichever you're looking for, voice quality or sound quality, each track has something different to offer.

For volume six of Claymore FUNimation has included a familiar set of bonus features. This installment brings an English audio commentary for "To The Successors", some original TV commercials, trailers, and textless songs. No interviews are included this time around, but instead FUNimation has packed in a 24-page booklet with sketches, completed artwork, and information about the characters and show. It's a nice addition and rather substantial, all things considered.

Claymore has been one heck of a ride that hasn't really let up until the final moments of this installment. The world of the Claymore is a dark one and Clare's plight as a member of the Organization is definitely hard-hitting and original. I loved the growth of her character over the course of the series, but it's the manner with which the show has pealed back the layers of the world that kept me engrossed. It's just a shame that the final moments of this installment do not live up to expectations, but even so there's still plenty of action to be found. This volume was kind of a letdown, though it's worth noting that the experience as a whole was quite rewarding and highly recommended. Give this show a shot and you won't be disappointed!

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