It's not often that a series comes out and can be called unique these days. Studio DEEN's latest, Tactics, is a prime example of one of those rare titles that makes you stop and take notice. Originally a manga by Sakura Kinoshita and Kazuko Higashiyama the anime is 25 episodes long and being published here in America by Manga.

Tactics is a show that focuses entirely on exorcism and spiritual study. Each episode features one unique demon or another and for each of them there is a story to be told. This is a point in time where technology has started to surface but the old Japanese traditions are still thriving amongst the people. There's a certain dreamlike quality to each episode and in the end it feels like a surreal Japanese fairy tale. Sure there are things that this show does that may be similar to others but the characters and world are some of the most unique that I have seen in anime.

The show focuses on a young boy named Kantaro who is regarded as a world class exorcist. While exorcising is his passion it is also a means to an end because after all a body has to pay his bills. Of course sometimes the check doesn't always come through but that's where his novel writing comes in handy. Tactics also includes a bevy of characters who flank Kantaro's sides. Yoko is a fox demon that the boy named and Haruka is a feared demon-eating tengu whom he also sought. Both of Kantaro's demons join him on just about every adventure and job though they are more than servants; they are friends. A good deal of the time that Tactics takes is given to developing their relationships which gives the series a weighty amount of character depth to say the least.

In the first couple of volumes the mood was set, characters introduced, and the show began to run with it. Each story proved to be very episodic with a surprising amount of development and thought put into each. The last time around we got to see a ghost trolly being conducted in order for a spirit to be with his daughter. There was also a spider demon and puppet related episode that put Kantaro's relationship with his subordinates on the line and another where Yoko was put on display as part of a freak show. The most interesting episode was one that told a multi-part storyline involving a young girl who doles out divinations and a series of mysterious deaths.

The third volume picks right up where the previous one left off with the second part of the divination storyline. We see one of the two girls involved become perpetually ill. It's a sickness that she has lived with for a long while and is one that will eventually cause her death. As more people bite the dust Kantaro's attention begins to drift towards the mother who has been seen visiting sites where people died. The ending to the plot wasn't entirely a surprise but it was one that left a resounding impression. It was definitely nice to see Tactics pull something more than a one-off that still had the weight and tone of the show.

The next episode once again sets events in motion that will affect episodes to come. Kantaro and company are called out to a mysterious house infested by monsters of all sorts. The lady of the house takes a liking to Haruka and while Kantaro and Yoko fight to vanquish the endless supply of demons, Haruka resists attempts at seduction. The real enemy of the manor is eventually revealed and proves to be a real match for all three of our lead characters. It also sets up a nemesis of sorts for Haruka and leaves things open for the coming episodes.

In the third episode on the disc the lady shows up yet again with a plot to ensnare and test Haruka to see what his powers are. They set up an elaborate trap to draw Kantaro and friends to Mt. Fuji with the promise of squaring off against another demon-eating goblin and seeing a mysterious lost battleship. The villains show their hand and a battle ensues that leaves us hanging at the end wondering what's going to happen in the future. The rest of this disc is nearly as strong but focuses more on character building. In particular Kantaro's publicist has to deal with being a woman and balancing a career. It adds an angle to the show that you typically don't see reflected in anime.

Overall after 15 episodes I'm still impressed with Tactics. It's a show that blends character development and interesting stories together for something we don't see often in anime. There isn't a huge amount of depth at work here but the concept is intriguing enough to keep fans watching. If you haven't seen it yet you should definitely add this to your list.

The best way to describe the visual presentation for Tactics is "absolutely stunning." From the 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer to the beautiful image quality, this is a show that defines anime as a work of art. The animation is very good (though it is cut down at times), the artwork is breathtaking and the backgrounds resemble Japanese watercolor paintings. It helps that there is virtually nothing to complain about with this digital transfer either. The picture is sharp and there is very little aliasing to get in the way and muck things up.

Beating the par set by most other anime releases Tactics offers a whopping four audio selections before you start watching. Two of them are 2.0 tracks for English and Japanese. The other two are 5.1 surround tracks. The quality for both types is remarkably good though the 5.1 is the winner here.

Both the English and Japanese language dubs offer a roughly similar experience from a technical standpoint. The stereo track offers the limited diversity that you'd expect but the surround option doesn't seem to hit all of the points that it should. Sound effects and music blanket the rear channels though occasionally some dialogue filtered through. Though it was clear for the most part there were other points it sounded somewhat distorted. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't call it bad by any stretch of the imagination; I guess I was just hoping for more.

The third release for Tactics receives some bonus content but it's not much better than stuff we've already seen. There is a Still Gallery, some TV spots, a Music Video, and some Commercials. There's nothing very deep to be sure but it's a better selection than the standard stuff like clean animations and trailers.

Tactics has become one of my favorite less-known series. You can go on all day about Fullmetal Alchemist, Ghost in the Shell, and Cowboy Bebop but when you get right down to it shows like Tactics help sustain anime. It's a thought-provoking anime with rich character development and a beautiful presentation. Those facts alone make it a release that most any otaku should be able to appreciate.

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