Canaan (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The series was initially planned under the title 428 the animation when announced in Newtype's October 2008 issue and at the 2008 Tokyo Games Show.
• A seventeen-second promo was streamed on the series' official website featuring a dual DVD/CD release at the 2008 Winter Comiket.

Plot

Two years after the events of 428: Shibuya Scramble, reporters Maria Ōsawa and Minoru Minorikawa are sent to Shanghai to cover the Shanghai NBCR International Anti-Terrorist Conference. Both survived the Shibuya bio-terrorism incident, during which Maria was kidnapped, infected with the Ua virus, and cured by her father's experimental vaccine. On her first day in Shanghai, Maria is attacked by masked assassins but is saved by Canaan, a Middle Eastern girl she befriended before the Shibuya incident. Their presence is overshadowed by a plot orchestrated by Alphard, Canaan's rival, who is preparing a scheme related to the summit after being rescued by mercenaries Cummings and Liang Qi. Snake assassins are dispatched to harm Maria, forcing Canaan to protect her friend. Minoru investigates a purple mark on one of the slain assassins, linking it to the Shibuya events. Canaan and Alphard clash repeatedly before and after the terrorist attack on the summit, with Alphard seeking to provoke Canaan into fighting with full strength. Their rivalry stems from Siam, a mercenary who mentored both; Alphard shot him during a joint mission to forge her own path, having once been called Canaan herself. Canaan later travels to Western China with Mino, Maria, and others to trace the origin of a new Ua virus and find Alphard. After Maria and Minoru return safely to Japan, Maria opens a photo gallery and reflects on her friendship with Canaan, displaying a portrait titled "Canaan" that includes pictures of both Alphard and the Canaan she knew.

Characters

Canaan is the titular protagonist, a mercenary in Shanghai who survived a destroyed Middle Eastern village and was trained by Siam, adopting the name Canaan. She respected Siam and saw his former student Alphard as an older sister, but after Alphard betrayed them during a mission and left Siam to die, Canaan became consumed by revenge. She is a skilled marksman and combat expert, typically using a Beretta Px4 Type G 9 mm pistol, and possesses synesthesia that lets her perceive the world in colors to distinguish enemies from civilians. She wears a red halterneck shirt and brown pants, with a black tattoo on her left wrist that may form a complete snake image with Alphard's tattoo; she covers it with a red armband that is often torn off in fights. Alphard Al Sheya is the main villain, leader of the terrorist organization Snake, and Canaan's arch-enemy. Once Siam's apprentice known as Canaan, she discarded that identity. During a mission to hijack a train carrying the Ua virus, she betrayed Siam and Canaan on orders to kill all witnesses, shooting Siam and escaping with the virus. She easily overpowers Canaan, reasoning that she is no longer driven by feelings. She carries a FN Five-seveN USG 5.7 mm pistol and has a tattoo on her lower left arm that may complete the snake image; she amputates this arm during her final battle with Canaan, later known as "the one-armed woman."

Media

The series was animated by P.A. Works, directed by Masahiro Andō, with series composition by Mari Okada, character designs by Kanami Sekiguchi, and music by Hikaru Nanase. Bee Train Digital contributed 2D graphic works for the ending theme. The opening theme is "Mind as Judgment" by Faylan, and the ending theme is "My heaven" by Annabel. Sentai Filmworks licensed the series in North America, and Section23 Films released it on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on October 26, 2010. The Anime Network streamed it on their website and On Demand service. In Germany, Austria, and German-speaking Switzerland, Universum Anime released it on four DVDs with original Japanese and German audio. In Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, China, and Chinese-speaking communities in Malaysia and Singapore, Mighty Media licensed and released a DVD Box Collection. A manga adaptation by Akira Ishida was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Comp Ace from August 2009 to March 2011, with three volumes released between January 26, 2010, and February 26, 2010. Another manga, Canaan Sfill, written by Chunsoft and illustrated by Jun Sasameyuki, ran in Bandai Visual's Comic Gekkin from March 1, 2010, to 2011, with two volumes released on December 10, 2010, and May 10, 2011. Ichijinsha published Canaan Comic Anthology on September 24, 2009. Two light novels were released by Kadokawa Shoten on January 1, 2010, and March 1, 2010. The Canaan Official Fanbook was released by Ichijinsha on February 12, 2010, containing character sketches, episode commentaries, and interviews.

Reception

Between October 19 and 25, 2009, the first DVD volume of Canaan made the top 30 Japanese Animation DVD chart. Its limited edition also landed at number three on the Japan Animation Blu-ray Disc top ten for the same period, while the limited edition of volume two took eighth place. The limited edition Blu-ray of volume six reached third on that same chart from March 15 to 21, 2010. At the fourth Seiyu Awards, Miyuki Sawashiro won Best Leading Actress for voicing Canaan. The series was also recognized at the 13th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards as a Jury Recommended Work in Long Animation. Anime News Network's Theron Martin noted that despite some typical elements, the show breaks new ground by having Canaan perceive people's moods as colors, which helps her locate enemies and see her beloved Maria. He praised the art style's fluidity and expansiveness, as well as the music. Fellow ANN reviewer Luke Carroll gave a positive review, focusing on Liang Qi's possessive love for her sister Alphard, the well-scored action sequences, and some plot holes.