Supernatural is a television series that debuted on the WB network in October 2005 and currently runs weekly on the CW. The series follows the tale of Sam and Dean Winchester as they travel across the country hunting various supernatural creatures such as werewolves, vampires and demons. Years ago, when Sam and Dean were young, their mother was killed by a yellow-eyed demon. Since then, Sam and Dean have been on the hunt for the yellow-eyed demon, dealing with "odd" jobs along the way. The show gathered a large following over the seasons, making it one of the CW's most popular shows. During those years, the Winchester brothers have fought against demons, angels, evil spirits, and even each other. Supernatural's fan base has grown worldwide and is currently airing in various countries. Warner Bros. Japan wanted to take the show somewhere that it's never been before.
Japanese animation studio Madhouse Inc. was assigned to produce the anime version of Supernatural. Madhouse has produced other anime including Ninja Scroll, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Trigun, Di Gi Charat and Death Note. With help from series creator Eric Kripke, Madhouse was able to gather all kinds of resources for the anime including comics and sidestories, as well as the series itself. The anime series covers the first two seasons of Supernatural with some episodes taken from the comics and even a few anime-only originals. Select episodes from the live action series have been retold with new vision while still retaining the suspense and humor that made Supernatural popular. The action in the anime Supernatural is taken to a level that can't be done in the original series.
One instance is an episode that flashbacks on Sam and Dean's childhood when they were hunting with their father. A spirit had taken possession of junked cars and formed them into a giant robot type beast; something that couldn't be achieved in the live series. Another is the reimagined episode with a creature known as a Shapeshifter. Its metamorphic ability was upgraded to something more dynamic than when Eric Kripke introduced it in the first season; this scene alone was really cool. The Shapeshifter first puffs its body up, then it spreads the skin apart and emereges in a new form like a butterfly from a cocoon. The appearance and metamorphic sequence of the Shapeshifter in the anime were above the live series' budget, where it simply removed its skin off like wet clothing.
Supernatural is also known for the development of its characters. The anime does not disappoint. The chemestry between Sam and Dean plays out much the same way as the series. Dean is the older brother, always willing to do anything to protect his younger brother. Sam has always looked up to Dean and continues to do so. John Winchester is still the tough-as-nails hardened hunter that Kripke made him out to be. Sam and Dean's father is hard on his boys but deep down he loves them. I like how Madhouse made John into a bad-to-the-bone loner type of guy who drives around in a hearse, a great re-imagining for his wheels. This John Winchester is an awesome character and is just as gritty, if not more gritty, than his television counterpart.
Being a fan of Supernatural, I didn't know what to expect from the Japanese versions of Sam and Dean. However, I keep my mind open and I have to say I'm impressed with Yuya Uchida, who voices Sam Winchester in the Japanese dub of the series, and Hiroko Touchi, who voices Dean. Madhouse's Naoya Takayama, who supervised the scripts, truly brought the same suspense and mystery to the anime that it had in its live action counterpart. Takahiro Yoshimatsu's character design is truly impressive. He captured the essence of the Winchesters; they resemble the actors that portray them in Kripke's series; they also bring the same charm that actors Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles do in the series.
Yuya Uchida has voice acted in Eyeshield 21 (Shien Mushanokoji aka: "The Kid"), Naruto Shippuden (Rinji), Soul Eater (Franken Stein), and Black Butler (Ash).
Hiroko Touchi has several popular anime series under his belt with Bleach as Kūgo Ginjō, Trinity Blood as Abel Nightroad, and Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO as Major Michael Colmatta. He has also voiced for several games including Uncharted, Final Fantasy XIII, and Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Touchi has also dubbed for Will Smith and Christian Bale.
Andrew Farrar does a good job filling in for Jenson Ackles, who couldn't appear until the final two episodes because of scheduling issues, voicing Dean Winchester for the English dub. Jared Padalecki voices Sam throughout the anime series.
I have watched Supernatural since the beginning partly because of my interest in the unknown, but also it's a fun and entertaining show full of suspense, mystery, action, and humor. There are twists and turns that'll keep you wondering as to what's gonna happen next, and you'll have to keep watching to find out. Though the anime is a retelling of those episodes, I still had the same feeling that I had and still have for the live show. Supernatural: The Animation is sure to entertain fans of the original series as well as invite new fans of both series. I recommend this for anyone who's a fan of the show or looking for a cool new anime to watch.
Supernatural: The Animation gets 4.5 out of 5.
