KITE: Liberator

KITE: Liberator is a 2007 action-anime film that combines elements of drama, crime and sci-fi. The movie is a successor to Yasuomi Umetsu's original Anime Video (OVA), "Kite," but stands independently, as it introduces new characters and a distinct storyline.

In KITE: Liberator, audience members are immersed into a quasi-futuristic world set both on Earth and the moon. Renowned voice actors like Marina Inoue, Akemi Okamura, Masakazu Morita, Rikiya Koyama, and others breathe life into this thrilling universe. The movie revolves around an unlikely pairing: Monaka, a moon-based waitress who leads a double life as a deadly assassin, and her father, whom fate turns into a distorted apparition after an experiment on the moon goes awry.

The versatile character of Monaka voiced by Marina Inoue, projects two quite different outward images. On the surface, she appears to be an ordinary, clumsy high school girl who moonlights as a waitress. However, Monaka harbours a second, concealed persona: that of the Angel of Death, an expert assassin who systematically eradicates many criminals under the pseudonym "Sawa".

We see the protagonist rotate between her day-to-day life, juggling tasks like delivering meals on foot, attending school, and spending time with her friend, Kotaro. Simultaneously, her darker side gets entangled in a world of violence and bloodshed as she undertakes gruelling tasks assigned by her anonymous employers. The weaving of these two contrasting facets of her life is portrayed with remarkable detail, drawing viewers into this dual narrative.

As the narrative unfolds, we are introduced to Monaka's father, Orudo Noguchi, portrayed by Masakazu Morita. Orudo, a scientist on a space mission, is subjected to a life-altering transformation following an accident that transpires during an experiment on the moon. His fate sets him on a collision course with his daughter Monaka's underworld life, thus laying the foundation for the pivotal clash in the story.

The film intricately captures the complexity of its characters, straddling their dual lives amidst a backdrop of crime and surreality. While Monaka juggles her school life and job as a server at Apollo 11 Diner, she maintains her secret assassination missions. The split persona of Monaka as an innocent schoolgirl and cold-blooded assassin adds to the character's allure and keeps the audience intrigued.

The film's art style draws heavily from the original "Kite" movie and remains in line with director Yasuomi Umetsu's unique aesthetic vision. Consistent with the art direction of many anime movies of its time, KITE: Liberator marries traditional anime style with comprehensive motion and detailed backgrounds.

The animation's quality is not its only strength, as the narrative also focuses on deeper themes such as morality, familial bonds, identity, and the blurry line dividing good and evil. It subtly poses thought-provoking questions about right and wrong, making the audience scrutinize the justifiability of Monaka's actions. This gives the film a philosophical layer that balances its action-packed framework.

Complementing the artwork is the movie's atmospheric soundtrack, skillfully scored to heighten tension, dread, melancholy, and action throughout the film. The music, fused with the detailed world-building, unique characters, and the daunting prospect of a reckoning, personifies a suspenseful atmosphere that keeps the audience at the edge of their seat.

In essence, the movie KITE: Liberator offers its audience a thrilling tale filled with violence and introspection, unfolding against the backdrop of a unique fictional universe. The intense plot hinges on the intriguing life of a seemingly ordinary schoolgirl with a secret assassin life, while intricately linking it with a lunar experiment gone wrong. Through this, it uses action and suspense to spark deeper philosophical debates about morality, and does so beautifully with its captivating animation and compelling sound design.