Hello,
Here we are for yet another review of a quality light novel/manga/anime series that aired some years ago named "Kaze no Stigma" written by Takahiro Yamato.
Let's start with a synopsis :
Ayano is the heir to the house of Kannagi, a house with ties to the spirit of fire, whose members are all fire users. All except for her cousin, Kazuma. After he was defeated by Ayano, his father banished him from the house in disgrace. Kazuma ran off and changed his surname to Yagami. He formed a contract with the spirit of wind and becomes a powerful wind user. Four years later, he returned.
Oh, did I told you that I like strong male leads? Yeah, this series has a god-like male lead that makes the series wonderful to watch, he is for most of the series literally invincible.
The plot is divided in multi-episode arcs that are all linked together to create a larger picture on the characters story and personality.
I loved especially the first arc regarding all the investigations around Kazuma and how he defeated his dad (that everybody thought as the strongest fire-user ever) in less than 20 seconds with a single wind attack.
I heard that they toned down a lot the violence and Kazuma's behaviour (in the novels he is the one who kills some that in the anime got accidentally killed by someone else), but nevertheless I enjoyed how they structured the series.
I'll have to give a look at the light novels in the future, especially for the ending...
...yes, the ending because this series as many other good one out there end up in an inconclusive way as the light novels were still running at the time the anime was adapted leaving us with a happy ending with a foreshadow of "we will be still fighting from now on" that is a to be honest a little boring!
The friendly characters are lovable and the enemy are as hatable as possible and this is a good combination as you'll end up sympathizing for our main characters and loving them even more.
My favourite character is Ayano Kannagi, our main heroine that with her "Sunao Ja Nai" attitude is as cute as ever in all the scenes she appear together with Kazuma.
The visual quality of the series is top notch, I loved the girls design and the animation was mostly consistent in the whole series. (I've watched it from DVD so I'm not sure about the TV one)
The sound quality is also top notch with many big names like Daisuke Ono as Kazuma Yagami, Shizuka Itou as Nanase Kudou, etc... and generally high consistency during the whole series.
My favourite seiyuu role has been the Ayumi Fujimura's one as Ayano Kannagi. (I love her voice when she is angry)
Concluding, this is a good series to watch, great animations, nice battles and nice girls. What can you want more than this?
A conclusive ending you say? Well, you have a point...
See you soon,
feal87