Anime Film Review: Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker
- Very Average Joe
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
English Title: Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker
Japanese Title: ドラゴンエイジ -ブラッドメイジの聖戦-
Director(s): Sori Fumihiko
Screenwriter(s): Jeffrey Scott
Studio: Oxybot
Released: 2012
Runtime: 1h 30m
Starring: Colleen Clinkenbeard, J. Michael Tatum, Chuck Huber, Christopher Sabat
Set in the Dragon Age universe, the film is about a younger Cassandra Pentaghast.
The Chantry, basically the Church in this fictional universe, rules society which has magic and therefore mages. There are good mages but also “blood mages” who are basically occultists. The Templars defend the Chantry but they, of course, can be overzealous. How original. Could at least change the name.
Since any organization can be infiltrated by nefarious elements, there are also Seekers. This is a smaller group who defend the Chantry; a bit like special forces and Internal Affairs rolled into one.
Cassandra Pentaghast is a young and very capable Seeker, at least in terms of physical skill. In the opening, based on intel fed to the Seekers, they raid blood mages doing a ritual involving a young girl with unique powers.
Of course, there is a conspiracy that involves the high ranks of the Chantry as well as something about interrupting the upcoming Ten-Year Gathering, which is basically a major feast day.
It is the usual “can’t trust anyone” sort of mission in which Cassandra finds that almost nobody can trust her either. She is thus forced to accept working with a mage, Galyan, and the plot follows them as they try to uncover the specifics of the conspiracy and defeat whoever is behind it.
The premise and plot are nothing new, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The structure and progression are measured, even if the stereotypical “the person I trust dies” is conveniently resorted to.
One expects this, it’s what would happen if there really is a conspiracy, but people in such positions would not be so careless. If there is more effort and resistance, there would be better drama and tension even if it doesn’t work out for the good guys in that particular instance.
The biggest problem is that Cassandra is basically a man in a woman’s body. And worse, she is constantly angry which just makes her annoying. Not sure how such a person can function in a normal civilian setting, let alone as a soldier. Granted, she has a tragic past and likeable characters need not be likeable people, but the character simply does not work.
The mage Galyan is the typical softly-spoken guy who puts up with her. But he is at least a likeable person even if he is not the most interesting. In short, the film has that “buddy cop” aspect to it in which the pair are basically “opposites”.
Visually, the designs are very good, whether it is the soldier’s armor or the environment. The rendering is also generally solid. The characters have that typical CG look, which is expected; it is not good but not particularly bad for its time.
However, the motion (animation) of the characters is inconsistent. In some shots, the motion is excellent; in others, it is primitive. In some action sequences, even if the motion is done well, the film editing is awkward as it cuts at the wrong moment and ruins the flow.
The music composed by Takahashi Tetsuya (and others) is typical for the genre, which is mostly not a bad thing. It is functional with the usual “suspense” themes and sudden crescendos that accompany the action. It is perhaps too functional. Although it is appreciated that it tries to fit in and not be noticed, the genre is an excuse to be more operatic.
Overall, it’s a waste of time unless one loves the video games or the genre, or wants to study the designs and CGI.
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