Virus: Virus Buster Serge

Publisher
Manga Entertainment
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
12 eps / 25 mins each
Year
1997

Virus: Virus Buster Serge

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
12th Dec 04

It has taken me a while to watch this the whole way through. I would get about three and a half episodes into it and just found myself turning off, regardless of wither I watched it dubbed or subbed.

Virus is set in 2097 in Neo Hong Kong, where through genetic engineering and other methods man and machine have effectively combined. Of course this new technology gives way to new dangers in the form of the virus, which have the tendency to take control of military weapons and go on killing sprees. To combat this policing force known as S.T.A.N.D take on these infected machines or people using top of the line battle suits. Our title character Serge intends to kill the leader of S.T.A.N.D, Captain Raven (Who is by the way expecting Serge and seems to have a number of mysterious goals up his sleeve). Serge attacks Raven trying the unveiling of one of the latest new weapons, which (unsurprisingly) gets infected with the virus, the weapon tries to attack Serge. Serge gets into a new battle suit designed by Raven and fights the infected monster, and destroys it (Breaking all the performance records of S.T.A.N.D). Raven then sets up rather reluctant Serge into S.T.A.N.D's ranks.

Virus is a twelve episode long series; spread over three DVDs which are available in one set from Manga Entertainment at around twenty pounds. The set is fairly good value for money but can be found around ten pounds during sales.

The animation does not stand out greatly, but it fulfils its purpose. It often changes to all one shade of the same colour normally blue or red. The music doesn't stand out that much either with only one or two pieces standing out from the animation. Action sequences show promise but there are just not enough of them.

The series starts off fairly well you get wondering why Serge wants to kill Raven and why does Raven want Serge in S.T.A.N.D.? These questions get you interested but we see no hint of an answer in the early episodes. The series only really begins to get interesting with the appearance of the Brain Lizard in episode six, which for a twelve episode series is rather late. Upon this appearance more questions are raised but we feel like we may get some answers; no such luck.

The secondary characters are all rather stereotypical and only a few of them receive some characterisation. This makes the show rather boring and the plot holes do not help, keep you interested. In fact the plot is suddenly tried to explain in the last couple of episodes, which is too late. Virus seems very much like the stereotypical big-eyed girls confusing sci-fi romp that gives anime a bad name. Some will like it, for the action, but other than that there wasn't anything of interest. My initial feelings it seems were right.

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 12th Dec 04

Virus: Virus Buster Serge Images