Guilty Crown: Lost Christmas - An Episode of Port Town

For all who enjoyed the guilty crown series this 15 min ova is for you. This story is short but its worth it. It has a big potental to becoming a series. My only problem with this is that its too short. Overall it was great with amazing art characters and story line

Merry Christmas! or not. It's far too early for Christmas but Guilty Crown once again attempts to bring forth a piece of work involving action, science fiction, drama, and super power all at once.

But I do have to say, this OVA that consists of only about 15 minutes is worth the watch compared to the entire 22 episodes of the original Guilty Crown. No, I am not guilty here. I am actually serious as this OVA contains a piece of work that despite being roughly 15 minutes just makes me want to stare at my screen and watch it through all the way.

Guilty Crown: Lost ... Christmas is the special episode included in a DVD with an animated short bundled with the limited edition of the PC game Guilty Crown Lost Christmas. As a special episode, one would expect little to no story. And of course, you're right to those who've watched this. It has virtually no story. However, what it does have is the badass Scrooge. That's not actually his real name but it's what he goes by. Unfortunately, there's not much we find out about him. After all, this special episode contains only 15 minutes of animation footage and really can't expect much of a character development from that.

Speaking of characters, there's Scoorge's mysterious sidekick, Carol. With silver hair white as the snow of Christmas, she presents what we see as the fixation of this special episode. Both of them seemed to have escaped some sort of facility that made them as experiments in the beginning. Of course, Scoorage does not allow anyone to push him around and handles his pursers like a boss.

We don't know who, when, or how he was kept at the facility. We do know that he has the Power of the King and like his previous predecessor in the original GC as he extracts the void from his sidekick that we all take guilty pleasure of seeing.

As for the artwork, this special episode feels a bit blend. It's nothing special to pay attention to or make out of. It's not exactly the best way to promote a piece of work with standard art but who am I kidding, this is Guilty Crown, one of the most controversial series created last year.

Like it, hate it, or just deal with it...Guilty Crown: Lost Christmas has a great soundtrack like the original series. Even though brief, it brings back some nostologia from the original GC when the OST song "Bios" was played. Admit it (even for those who hates Guilty Crown with a passion)..the soundtrack is epic. For all other reasons beyond the story, characters, or animation, the soundtrack of this special episode is not bad at all in the soundtrack department.

Overall, the relationship between Scoorge and Carol seems to better than Shu and Inori. For one thing, Scoorge isn't a coward or a weak lead. He makes his decisions from the very beginning. In fact, I'm guessing that escaping from the facility was also his decision, one that is rightful and thought out void of surprises. Furthermore, Carol seems to be independent. She doesn't look like a sex toy and in fact, has more of a fixed personality rather than Inori who shows up every episode nearly a different person from the original series.

As for the other characters, they just seem to be there behind the background making their own speeches like another day at the park. Perhaps they're there to enjoy Christmas. Perhaps, they're there to enjoy the special episode. At any rate, they are there but surely has some roles. Unfortunately in this special episode, it's just too short to tell.

Well, overall his special episode is somewhat special. The kickass OST is there. It gives the ears guilty pleasures especially at the climax scene. The characters are presented better than its original predecessor. In fact, in less than 15 minutes, the two main characters are more likeable than Shu and Inori of all twenty two episodes combined. Despite short, this OVA was entertaining to watch. There does seems to be many questions that needs answers but it does presents a piece of work that while not Christmas gift present worthy, is still a fun watch.

Santa is not here yet but this special episode is. So what are you waiting for? Go watch this special episode now. [insert evil laugh here]

Guilty Crown: the Lost Christmas OVA.

Before I start, can I say this is my first review of anything in ages, first of an anime too? I also failed my critique class in arts college awhile back, so that was not good; but I digress.

The Lost Christmas is in a sense the precursor to the Guilty Crown series in name more so than story. It takes place in a "near" future where humans have begun genetically altering each other, providing pest control, etc. I wonder where else we've seen this? This time around, they essentially borrow ... the souls of other compatible humans so they can use their genetic mutations to battle, which at times can seem discomforting both in the execution and, in general, artistic representation does it little to seem less grotesque. It was not explained how the hero found the government base, nor how everyone else fell into place at that spot in time, with an enigmatic onlooker cliche to boot. Story is a 4/10, but the series might be better understood than this - probably my next review.

Artistic representation you say? Well, here it is. The animation is okay. I am guessing this is an early sketch of the show, so it would be less polished and spearheaded as the series is, but it still works. The motions seem realistic in terms of how science-fiction it's portrayed to be. The action sequences - specifically explosions, smoke, fire, etc. - seem more natural and less hyped than Hollywood would agree to. The crystals are a little much, and shading was a little off, but I see work was put into costume design and well... how cute is Doluudo? Art is a 7/10 for me.

Ambience is what defines a setting for a piece of art. Whether it be the cicadas in the afternoon rays, the trail of a projectile, the shattering of crystals, it delivers a crisp and familiar chime to the ear. The voice actors for the most part live up to their intentions, especially Doluudo (sorry, but he is my favorite doggo in anime). In conclusion to it all, the Departures ending track by egoist was phenomenal, and this is coming from someone who is not really a fan of the Alter Ego recording... or is it the same one? I have no clue. If it is, then I guess I will have another listen. Sound is 8/10, and I want villain guy's phonograph.

Character development is hindered in a 14-minute short. You get introduced to a girl with a dog, walking up to some guy on a bus bench. The dog (Doluudo) takes a liking to bus bench, but girl scolds him for not giving doggy-doo affection (this is not immediately obvious, but he crystalizes everything his hand touches because of genetic misfires). They get chased by a rocket and escape by some fluke; I am not quite sure how though. Some crazy dude walks into a twister of crystals (on purpose) and doesn't regret a thing, laughing maniacally at the aftermath of it all. Up until then, the girl and Mr. Genetics Experiment show no sense of familiarity in each other, only to turn a 180 as she takes a pleasure cruise off him plucking her soul away. Then he crystalizes her dog, which she gives no care about whatsoever, the only one of them with enough screen time to make you sympathize with, and he just dies there and then. I never watched the whole series, so I am thinking these two never show up again (at least not looking exactly like that - could be because it was a sketch of the new protagonists), and thus, this is less a story, and more a demonstration/summary of what is to come, using throwaway characters no less. Character is 4/10, but Doluudo wins the Academy Award in my heart. <3

I must say, it felt too short for me. I was expecting an hour and a half, but it was only 14 minutes in length, so it was barely enough time to squeeze anything of importance into this. I also seemed to be too focused on analysis to actually sit back on my piano stool and watch as an anime fan. I feel like I would understand this less if I had not seen the first few episodes of Guilty Crown beforehand, which was in part because of my love of the Psycho-Pass series and the works of Ryo and Chelly (egoist). Watching it wasn't too boring, but if you were looking for substance, you came to the wrong place. Maybe watch it a few times to fully absorb it? I feel it would be a better fit for when your morning routine wraps up early and you can sit down with a bowl of cereal or something, because it is not going to take too much of your time if you were in a rush. Anyway, I feel I should give enjoyment a 5/10, but I would have given it a 7 if Doluudo lived. Haha...


Overall, there are better things to watch. I am unsure how closely this fits with the lore in it's namesake series, but it seems moderately similar. A precursory summary of this world, but not enough time to delve into it. The world is alive, but the people grow more corrupt, like the monologue tells. Doluudo will live on in my heart, but turquoise-hair and bus bench will fade away in time. I wish I could give this better, but I made my decision. Guilty Crown: Lost Christmas - An Episode of Port Town was a 6/10 for me.

P.S. Can you tell me how I did, and how I can improve on my reviews in the future?