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Night Raid 1931 spins a complex thriller in which Asia is on the cusp of war. In time, the seeds are sown for an incident that will forever be remembered as the Manchuria Incident, in which the Japanese military invaded and seized Manchuria. In order to quell the conflict, a former lieutenant colonel in the Japanese Imperial Army named Shinichirou Sakurai is directed to head up a secret elite group of spies composed of psychics and espers known as the Sakurai Kikan.
Before the situation can spiral further out of hand, Shinichirou obtains the services of a young woman named Yukina Sonagi and it is through her eyes that the audience sees the events of the series unfold. Bearing the gift of telepathy, Yukina can read her teammate’s minds and assist them in dire situations. Her powers are used in conjunction with the spirited Aoi, a telekinetic whose specialty deals in manipulating objects at will. While Aoi is often considered reckless, the resident teleporter, Kazura is withdrawn and quiet. Rounding out the team is Natsume, a skilled sniper with a heart that matches his size.
The group combines their abilities to assist each other in weaving their way through a network of betrayal and deceit with their own motivations guiding them. Unfortunately, most of the cast is defined by their powers rather than their personality. What you see is what you get with this group, and very little else. The characters lack complexity and show little to no development save for the exception of Aoi and to a lesser extent Kazura.
The execution of the series makes up for the pedestrian cast. Calling upon influences from every spy flick imaginable Night Raid 1931 stages solid action sequences highlighted by slick animation. A-1 Pictures is no slouch when it comes to TV anime productions, and while there are a few hiccups to be found, the series is another artistic achievement for the studio.
Sentai Filmworks brings all 13 episodes over across a double disc release, along with the special OVA episodes. Also included is a recap episode that brings audiences up to speed on the spies’ activities. As is usual, clean openings and closings are included along with trailers for Sentai’s other releases.
Despite the flaws in its characters, Night Raid 1931 is an entertaining thrill ride from beginning to end. Historical fiction collides with fantasy to create a satisfying take on the spy genre. It’s ambitious and deeply riveting, weaving together sex, action, and intrigue in one sleek package that would make even Ian Fleming proud. Consider this one series worth investigating.
B+
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