Chrono Crusade (2003–2004) User Reviews

Coming to the party a little late...

[sinncross · 8/10 · 5 August 2006]

'Nuns with guns', the perfect description to describe Chrono Crusade, an anime about the roaring 20's, when nuns went out to kill devils. Yes, taking the figurative sense of good vs. evil, heaven vs. hell, Chrono Crusade takes protagonist, Rosette Christopher, an elite exorcist of the Order of Magdalene, on a journey to save her brother, Joshua, from the clutches of Aion, a devil bent on bringing together the realms of earth and heaven: a rebirth where he'll be the creator. Aiding Rosette is Chrono, a devil whom she has made a contract, whereby both are bound together, except that Rosettes contract, shortens her life considerably.

The story sounds all too impressive, yet fails in many regards. Character development happens a little too quickly, and the story, after a great start, falls into fillers, which is sacrilege for an anime of only 24 episodes. This becomes Chrono Crusades main problem: its divide between light and dark moments. The light moments are frivolous affairs, adding no depth to the overall story. It's the dark moments that have to compensate for this, and luckily, they do the job and are able to catapult Chrono Crusade into the top tier of anime. However, throughout the anime, these moments are short-lived, as they become over flown by more light moments. The dark seeps back in the final 7 episodes, but it all just seems to be too little too late. The story that could have been, is never brought forth. Events have to be quickly dealt with, but for those willing to watch to the end, will be surprised. The last episodes are spectacular: very gripping and makes you want more. Sadly, the lack of momentum early on, is a liability, which hurts Chrono Crusade in the long run.

Voice acting is very good, though a little annoying at times through filler episodes. Characters themselves are likable. You want Rosette to achieve her aims of rescuing her brother; you want Chrono to keep fighting along side her. It must be mentioned that the villain, Aion, is easily the main attraction of the story. He is evil in its purest form, always taunting, and underneath his handsome figure, lays a deathly charm of seduction.

Besides an exceedingly well produced villain, Chrono Crusades other strength, is in the music department. From the groovy opening theme: Tsubasa was Pleasure Line by Minami Kuribayashi, to a symphonic orchestra, the music never disappoints. The animation is worthy of Gonzo Digimation, however, at the same time, it's not their best effort. Some scenes are poorly done, even by Gonzo's standards, and thankfully, these times are only in the filler episodes.

I cannot stress the importance of beginning the proper story early on in an anime, and Chrono Crusade could have been so much better, if this had occurred. Sadly, it is left to the last minute, having to play catch-up, but Chrono Crusade finishes on a positive note, even if the story becomes depressing towards the end.

Chrono Crusade has all the makings of the best of anime, but only until the end does it do itself justice. Its ending establishes that Chrono Crusade is more then a story about 'nuns with guns', but that it does possess something far better: soul and it is this soul that proves that Chrono Crusade can and should rank amongst the best.

Nothing spectacular but it's worth watching.

[Pritcher · 6/10 · 25 September 2006]

Chrono is a demon gone bad, of course since good is bad for demons that makes him a good guy. Anyway, this good demon has made a contract with a nun, (of sorts), named Rosette. Together they fight evil, with machine guns and blessed bullets, while searching for Rosette's younger brother Joshua. Demons teamed up with nuns with guns is a fairly ridiculous premise to be sure, but there have been worse that made good. I am not a religious person in any way, but I am fascinated by religion and different beliefs so it's good material for me.

Technically, everything is good; great art, sound and animation. Character design is mostly the average big eyed, super cute deal which works for me. The demons, in their true forms, are sufficiently cool looking as well and the battle scenes are flashy and fun to watch There are a few things that just didn't really work for me. While the show is humorous, it sometimes feels inappropriate inserting somewhat crude jokes into otherwise dramatic scenes. That's not to say that is shouldn't have humor; I just think that it could have be handled better. Most of the humor is absent towards the end of the series anyway as it becomes increasingly serious.

The biggest problem for me has to be the characters. Characters, in my opinion, are the most important part of any show. However, aside from Chrono and Rosette and maybe the butler, I either didn't like or just didn't give a crap about any of the characters. They were simply not interesting and there was little to no character development for anyone besides the main two.

In the end everything wraps up fairly well and Chrono Crusade, despite its shortcomings, manages to be a bit above average. Nothing spectacular but it's worth watching.

God's rules of engagement. Marriage follows.

[siderite · 7/10 · 26 June 2006]

The series evolved beautifully and I was hooked to the end. The premise, though, is a bit silly. Demons try to "take over the world, Pinky", and to do so they must follow complicated rules and rituals, like hackers trying to get into a legitimate system. People of faith (mostly young sexy girls) fight with holly water and blessed machine guns against evil. The demons keep telling us that God should intervene if he is not an "absentee landlord" and by the end of the series you really begin asking why he doesn't.

The link between the main female character and Chrno, the good demon (yeah, you heard that right), is reminiscent of Inuyasha, but not so completely goofy. The main villain, in his twisted plots, seems to touch a little on Berserker. The other characters are actually filling a gap, they have no major role and are quite happy not to. Even Azmaria is just a crying child that I secretly wanted dead from the middle of the series. She has this magic ability to revive people, but doesn't really use it.

In the end, even if the last episode concludes the story and is very sad, one kinda gets bored with all the mystical mambo jumbo. If you are a god, then probably a detailed and complicated story is for you (God is in the details, they say), but for us humans, getting the point is kind of important.

Nun with guns, how can you go wrong?

[snowyeti · 2 February 2005]

Well like my title suggests, this anime has a nun with guns. Correction numerous nuns with guns. Also this has nothing to do with the Chrono Trigger/Cross games. Heck it's nothing near it unless the new games feature a nun with a gun. Sorry just saying that phrase is fun because it's so unlikely. Also a note I have only watched the Japanese version so my review is only looking at that part of it. But that is the great thing about DVDs right? You can watch it in 2 languages! This is set in 1928 AD in the United States, mostly New York and San Fransisco are mentioned. But I was surprised enough that it was actually set in the States, a lot of anime isn't is all I am saying.

The main characters are Rosette Christopher and her (caddy) friend Chrno (Chrono depending on which version you are used to). Rosette is apart of the Magadalan order who battle demons that are terrorizing everything. But there is something that the public doesn't know about the Order and that is that there is a demon that is working in the Order. Of course this demon isn't bad, but he was and he is trying to atone for his sins.

Rosette is looking for her younger brother Joshua, so Rosette and Chrno are on a journey to find where her brother is. They meet interesting characters along the way well some are interesting and some are annoying as hell *cough* Azmaria *cough* Chrono Crusade is enjoyable but short considering it is only 24 episodes long. It has its funny parts but also its serious parts. I was crying so badly while watching the last 3 episodes one after another. It was a snowballing effect and really pulled at my heart strings.

I give Chrono Crusade a 3 and a half out of 5. I would give it a 4 but the problem with filler episodes when it's only 24 episodes is terrible. Overall story is nice, the background music is so fitting and the voicing apart from Azmaria's is nice to listen to.

So give this anime a try, if I didn't get you with my title then hopefully I convinced you with my review. And just one more push, I mean really how often are you able to watch something with a nun with guns anyways?

Wonderful

[arorashadow_2003 · 10/10 · 23 June 2005]

Now here is an Anime worth seeing, (If you haven't already) honestly it's hard for me to comprehend how you can be bored with it? True there are some slow moving moments, but that gives you a chance to catch your breath and not become overwhelmed.

Loved it. Like most Anime, it's goofy, fun, exciting, and has those wonderful moments of drama in it. Chrono certainly doesn't skip out on the Animation. Wonderfully done. I guess my only pet peeve, Animation sequences, in this and All Anime, is they never get wet in the rain. Lack of continuity there. And there are quite a few obvious continuity errors you can spot, as well as some very sad mistakes (Like being unable to spell Brooklyn) But besides a few pet peeves I liked it. Now this does go into a bit of fanservice as it's a GONOZO production and no one does fan service better than GONZO, but hey, it's all good. It's a nice change that fanserivce doesn't dominate the plot.

The music, one of the first time I've heard a full Symphonic Orchestra, but they could turn the score up a little. Yhe opening theme, was good, and quite catchy. And the Closing theme, by Yuki Kajiura (well known for .hack) and Seko Chiba was spectacular, even without reading the translation you can feel the emotion behind the music, and that is what all music should accomplish.

Action wise this tended be quite unique. A strange and unusual blend of gunslinging with some old fashioned exorcism moves. While the violence certainly did get a little gruesome, it only makes sense in a horror film obviously intend for older audiences. Which brings me to my next point, writing.

Now I did not read the manga by Daisuke Moriyama so I can't and won't compare, but the plot is a human one, more human than what I was first anticipating when I started this series. But the adaption from what I can tell is quite smartly written. ADV went the extra mile to include the slang of the period, and there's plenty of funny moments. And this really shows the 20's in America well. As few Anime take place out side of Japan, this is well done. It also capture religion well. Most shows just make fun of it, or have to make a great parody, but this proved to be different. While certainly incorporating heavy fantasy themes in this, the writers very much incorporated basic teachings, (namely the confrontation with Aion) Again this really is smartly written, the writers really did their homework.

Chrono: "Are you all right Azmaria?" Azmaria: "Yeah, I'm jake." (Lol) Heck I once got into a 20's speech mania! (Part of that was to be blamed on "The Great Gatsby") I think Chrono Crusade is one of those that prove you can have a smartly written plot and have it be entertaining (No need to dumb it up) Regarding connections to the game Chrono Trigger, It might just be me, but I believe I can see one small connection through simple allegory. The concept of time and time winding down till the end.

At first is the slowness, of developing Rosette, bothered me. In my opinion, I think the Main Character should be heavily developed in the first Episode, but as the story went on, it made sense why. This is a plot Anime, but even in Plot Anime, they still develop the characters just as much. But I really started to enjoy this when we got to Episode 7. That one was SCARY! It's amazing, because the series starts out light and comical, but right as we get to episode 7, everything went incredibly dark. Brilliant 360 spin to pull on the audience without any warning. Aion is an excellent Villain, Oscar, Worthy, when it comes to his acting by Andy McAvin. And I love Azmaria. She's so adorable, and Jessica Boone really plays her well, esspe. the occasional accent. And Hilary Hagg, I think is terrific with Rosette. Some may say she's annoying, but I don't think so. I've heard far worse. And Greg Ayres, I say is a great actor. He does so well as Chrono. Another beat, this show is great with supporting characters. You can tell Father Remmington really, cares for Rosette.

And again, I love the drama. How Rosette strives to help her brother even at the heavy cost to her life.

It's wonderful, and that Episode where we see them as young children, was great. And sad. It's sad, because it's what I call "A Doomed Fate" Genre. When you know what will happen, and you anticipate it with tears in your eyes. You see Joshua so full of ambition, and life, even though he's always ill, he want's to make Rosette happy, and that means splitting them up. She's so protective of him.

Great show this is, "Nuns with Guns, how can you go wrong?" Okay technically they are not nuns. Love it.

Strange, in its own way

[Nonomemes · 7/10 · 15 November 2023]

Putting aside the useless controversy of chrno vs chrono (interesting only for who didn't whatch the series).

We follow the steps of Rosette and Chrono, pursuing deamons in the sake of Magdalene order during USA roaring 20s.

Are there freightening scenes? I think here the question is misplaced: the whole sense of the series "is" basically "freightening" the watcher with sudden situation, sometime violent simetimes not, although gore level is not high.

The violence appear more in a subdle form, e.g. When Joshua is introduced, he receive a visit from giant deamon clan, after a few seconds you will feel pity for them, the scene is designed just to shock the spectator, but in its own way.

In general pretty engaging, so what I didn't like? The story is too fast in my opinion, in other series you could make 2-3 times more episodes out of it. Another minus is the Elder Hamilton, he is perv and he hit especially here as the series have in general a totally different tone: dramatic-soft-romantic.

Chrono Crusade

[SoulfulFX · 10/10 · 23 May 2007]

We follow the missions of Sister Rosette and her contracted devil Chrono as they battle devils and devil worshipers for the Magdelene order in 1928 Brooklyn, NY. In the process of creating havoc, destruction, and saving lives... Rosette and Chrono must also live through the fact that the source Chrono's power is Rosette's very soul. In their missions they deal with protecting God-empowered apostles (which it turns out includes Rosette's long lost brother Joshua) and a young choir girl who ends up staying at Rosette's place. However, their missions also bring them across devils that remember Chrono's once high status among other devils and so challenges to his power come dangerously often. What is this long time rival of Chrono's, Aion, planning? And how does it factor into the Fatima prophecies of which the aforementioned Apostles are a key component?

This is really a well thought out series with quality animation and an endearing soundtrack. Having a series set in Roaring '20s New York City is a stroke of genius too. There is a remarkable sense of sweet sorrow to the story almost immediately when the audience learns of Rosette's fate as Chrono's contractor. "The odds are good I won't make it past 30.." Rosette says to a young choir-girl and apostle. Between Rosette's boisterous way of life in the short time that she has and Chrono's fending off of hatred by other humans and devils... the comic klutziness of Rosette is a much needed relief.

This series has some unpleasant undertones, but a great message of overcoming any bad hands that life can deal.

What I thought about the series......

[baseball_chica_jing · 8/10 · 23 July 2006]

I loved this anime series. It broke my heart! :( I hate to give away the ending because I would hate to spoil it for the viewers. There was just so much love in the story, and nobody even said anything. It really kinda ticked me off! But that's one of the points that made this movie so great. It's really worth watching! I cried every time, up to the end!

I don't know if that was a spoiler but I'll put that up just in case. :)

I hope all you anime lovers out there enjoyed it as much as I did! I definitely recommend this movie for anyone looking for a heart warmer and needs a good cry!

A Complete Stupidity

[baronsambdi · 1/10 · 15 December 2007]

This is one of the worst anime series I have ever seen. When I watched the manga review in a magazine, I thought it was maybe interesting, but when I got the chapters I realized it was a complete stupidity.

OK, the first 2 or 3 chapters are OK, and the series have an standard. But as the plot advances, it becomes totally incoherent. The series tries to show some mystical based upon the Christian mythologies, but it's a total stupidity. It features some demons and stigmata scenes... Totally nonsense. It seems the series tries to seem deeply-thought, complex or mythologically reviewed, but a watcher with a bit of brain and cultural references, will realize soon all those elements used don't have a real sense: THEY ARE PUT THERE ONLY TO IMPRESS THE IGNORANT WATCHERS!!

The final chapters are full of totally nonsense elements: battles with cat-eared demons, references to a supposed fight between demons, and demons who controls time (with no apparent reason). The final is totally nonsense; an ignorant watcher will see on it a floating final that gives them a place to meditate; but the truth is this: THE FINAL AND THE COMPLETE SERIES IS A TOTAL INCOHERENT AND INCONGRUENT NONSENSE.

"Rosette Crusade"

[chrichtonsworld · 8/10 · 13 February 2007]

Naming this anime "chrono crusade" is a bit misleading! Because the plot is mostly about Rosette Christopher,who is accompanied by Chrno (a demon)! Although Rosette is a nice character, Chrno is far more interesting! This anime was good but could have been much better if they focused on him and his history! And what is the point of calling this series "Chrono Crusade" if it is about Rosette! But that aside this anime has everything! You will laugh real hard and you will be moved by some real dramatic moments! There is plenty of action! These action scenes are full of special effects (CGI)! Of course there is also a lot of magic being used! There is this witch who is a summoner! She can summon different creatures to use in battle! You just have to see it to believe it! And trust me when I say it looks very familiar! Think of "Final Fantasy (the video games)" and you have an idea! It looks spectacular! The ending was very sad and very dark! For some this can be unsatisfying and in comparison to the previous episodes this is one hell of a contrast and certainly not something you expect! To conclude "Chrono Crusade" is a very moving and entertaining anime!

Pretty stupid

[Irishchatter · 2/10 · 22 April 2018]

To be honest with you, I think this type of story in an anime should be a lot more darker like this anime was too flowery in my opinon. I even think it would be better if the demon and the nun weren't a team but rather be enemies and then become a couple at the end. I had to stop at the mid way of the first episode, it just acted too much of pokemon then a horror anime...

Rather a waste of good minutes of my time....

Demon and Nun? A couple?

[mel_lzl · 10 February 2006]

another anime with a nice soundtrack, the piano, cello, violin pieces(: Chrno- a demon. Rosette- a demon exorcist. both are best friends, soon to be in love. yeah, Chrno's a demon who betrayed his own kind, long story. an ex-sinner, a group of demons who betrayed their own race, and Chrno betrayed the sinners as well. but he's really nice. and really hot when he's in his true form! *gushes* but yeah, he's around 12+ in his "child" form. in which he looks more.. human. yeah. Rosette's after Aion, the sinners' seemingly leader. Aion took Rosette's brother, Joshua when he was a kid and fixed Chrno's horns on him, giving Joshua this power of stopping time. which used to be Chrno's power until he fought with Aion and lost both his horns. so that leads to his problem of needing a contractor. which means, a demon making a contract with another being. in change for the contractor's life, the demon is able to return to its true form. in other words, changing back just eats off the contractor's life. Chrno's contractor happens to be Rosette. so, watch on from here! it's really sad and funny. and you cant miss Chrno in his demon form!

A nun battles demons in '20s New York

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 1 October 2018]

This anime series is set in 1920s New York where Sister Rosette of the Magdalene Order battles demons alongside her partner Chrono. He is an unlikely partner in the battle against evil as he is a demon himself; he has formed a contract with Rosette that controls his powers... at the cost of time off her life. Early on they fight demons-of-the-week but later their ongoing battle is with Aion. Aion is a powerful demon who is collecting individuals known as apostles for reasons that aren't immediately clear. One such person is Rosette's brother Joshua; another is Azmaria, a young girl who is rescued by Rosette and Chrono. As the series progresses they get closer to Aion but the danger to them and the world increases.

I rather enjoyed this series; it opens well with a deal of humour as it introduces us to the main characters and their world. This might lull one into thinking it will be light-hearted throughout but it does get darker in tone later on. The characters are solid; Rosette and Chrono are good protagonists; solid support is given by Azmaria and members of the Magdalene Order and Aion is a suitably menacing antagonist. The story is told in a way that gives the characters solid motives which we learn about as the series progresses. The character designs are good and the animation is of a high standard. Overall I'd say this is a series that is well worth watching.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.