I honestly don’t know whether to be appalled or impressed at Chrono Crusade’s astonishing absence of production direction. Having chosen to set Chrono Crusade in the roaring twenties, Studio Gonzo proceeds to jettison the time period like ballast in a Richard Branson balloon. Characterisation, dialog and costuming are straight from the anime action props department. Except for a few greatcoats, clockwork cogs and antique cars, the whole thing feels, well — contemporary… I’m not saying I’m a stickler for period details but come on guys, you’re just not trying.
Rosette comes from the ‘sparky’ school of anime heroine, a blonde ancestor of Kiddy Grade’s Lumiere. In the twenties, her guns skills and acrobatics should make her a poster girl for the suffragette movement. And what about the tension within the order over the thigh high splits in her habit to allow for acrobatics which have the potential to scandalise the church? I don’t want to go on about this but see, there’s a couple of period conflicts straight off the top of my head.
Within the Order of Magdelene Rosette is the outsider. Although highly efficient in demon wetworks she has a tendency to cause massive property damage. Secondly her offsider, Chrono is demon and although Rosette can see the good in him, the Sisters vehemently object. There is a bit of a fundamental problem here. It’s hard to sell a cute, elf-like demon as the, ‘the most powerful devil we’ve ever faced’, no matter how many time the Mother Superior says it in a bass timbre. Even Chrono’s battle between his demonic nature and friendship with Rosette plays out like a conflict over whether to share his Ninth Circle of Hell Barbie.
This is not the only fantasy plot element dressed up in Christian imagery. The final two episodes focus on the rescue of the innocent with God-like power, Azmaria, who is coveted by both the Order of Magdelene and the demon hordes.
The demons antagonists themselves lack visual (and mental for that matter) heft. From the humanoid, bat-winged and cloven-hoofed genus, they tend to float in mid air and engage in growling satanic trash talk with Rosette. Unfortunately, this stereotypic demonic behaviour makes them easy targets for Rosette’s .45 with the crucifix scope attachment.
At heart, Chrono Cross is a fluffy action comedy. The action is well staged and dynamic – something Gonzo seem able to do in their sleep. Unfortunately, Chrono Cross’ overall lack of a strong direction and reliance on anime plot and character cliché tend to make it feel a little too disposable.