Strait Jacket
Tags: alternate history, sci-fi

Plot synopsis:
Strait Jacket is set an alternate history where magic was proven to exist in the year 1899. The use of sorcery spread throughout all facets of society and changed the social and technological development of the world. The location is Tristan, an urban metropolis that appears to be an amalgamation at the turn of the 20th century Tokyo, San Francisco, and Victorian era London.
Alongside this technology and science exists magic, which has been proven possible in public demonstrations by Dr. George Greco. Although the use of magic is only possible for a few talented individuals, it is very dangerous and highly illegal. Due to an invisible contaminant called the "malediction", or simply the "curse", people who use magic too often are at risk in transforming into "Demons," or horrific, malevolent abominations of nature that become immune to ordinary weapons. The Magic Administration Bureau, also known as the Sorcery Management Bureau, is set up in the attempt to safely explore the nature of magic, officially document it, attempt to provide rational scientific explanation for it, regulate its use and police those who use magic illegally. Magic, utilized in a safe sense by the Bureau, has been used as a viable energy source by the civil service, industry, agriculture, medicine, and the military. Effectively, the Magic Administration Bureau is now in control of every field and every facet of society.
The primary enemies of the Bureau are Oddman, a former left wing terrorist cell, turned mercenary. All of these magic users, even the ones with innocent and well-meaning intentions, are in danger of tapping into the dark side either accidentally or on purpose and themselves becoming bloodthirsty beasts due to accidents or sabotage by Oddman's agents. These Sorcerist agents wear a suit of armor that resists the negative transforming effects of magic. These suits are referred to as "Mold Armor", or more commonly a "straitjacket", due to the fact they constrain human beings in their natural form. The Sorcerists also use magically-tainted bullets from large hand-carried railguns powered by a combination of steam and magic, which are the only weapons capable of effectively stopping the magically-transformed monsters.
However, the over-stretched Bureau is steadily losing ground and increasingly must rely on outside help. There simply aren't enough Sorcerists to fight the Demons caused by Oddmans sabotage. This deliberate sabotage leads to an increase in accidental demonic transformations and attacks on the public across Tristan. Among those who fight the Demons is an unlicensed, rogue Sorcerist named Leiot Steinberg, who is viewed as a loose cannon bringing the name of Sorcerists into disrepute and causing as much damage as the Demons in his one-man war against them. Yet the Bureau is forced to reluctantly call upon his services in their losing battle. Because Steinberg fights against a sin he committed long ago, even with his Mold Armor he comes closer and closer to transforming into a Demon every time he casts a spell.

Review: Weird Anime with some original ideas but way too many flaws. It was an OK movie to watch and it could have been a good movie if it didn't have that many weird flaws. The animation itself was great, no minus on that one, the music was also nice. The scenario was original, it is set about 100 years ago in an alternative past where magic exists and also magic related crime and demons and stuff like that. This story follows some crime fighters and a vigilante. So one thing that spoiled this movie for me was the fact that all this magic related stuff was a bit misused, to make this more into an action movie instead of a crime drama which would have suited this scenario more. Another big minus is on the part of the dialogs. The way they talk to each other is so unrealistically melodramatic on the one side an on the other side it's so stupid it reminded me of some American 80's action B-Movies. Also some characters tend to weird monologues that simply made me angry. Character development itself is poor. Storyline itself is inconsistent and does not really follow a constant plot, it's even seriously hard to tell in one sentence what happened in this movie. I guess anime fans will like this, and non anime fans won't. I'm sorry for this well done animation being wasted by such a low competence of writing a good screenplay.. Great Action, Blood Pumping with Gore any anime fan would enjoy. One of the better anime movies I've seen in a long time. Leot Steinberg is voiced by Coyboy Bebop's Spike so I hope that caught your attention. Aside from that, was done well to mix action, drama, and catchy phrases that will get you yelling EXIST!!! during the movie. Imaginative demons, fresh take on terrorism, and new look at walking the fine line between being human and monster. Some funny parts (oh look a flower) and some sad parts. Forget the world you live in, because this universe immerses you within it. Only flaws I can see is the usual stereotypical Japanese *le gasp* moments that annoy me a lot, and the idea that deploying regular cops to fight these indestructible demons MAKES ZERO SENSE!!!! But the thing is, this anime will make you forget logic for a bit, and suck you into the story and action very well. It's like Star Wars, you watch it 10000x and you'll see the flaws, but the first 5x you see it, you won't be bothered, you'll just love it!