Madlax (2004)

***Madlax*** (マドラックス *Madorakkusu*) is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced in 2004 by the Bee Train animation studio. Kōichi Mashimo directed *Madlax* and the soundtrack was composed by Yuki Kajiura. The DVD version was released by ADV Films in North America and the United Kingdom and by Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.

The series was produced as a spiritual successor to Bee Train's earlier project, *Noir*, and together with *El Cazador de la Bruja*, these series constitute a trilogy exploring the "girls-with-guns" genre. The production of *Madlax* began in 2002 but it wasn't until Yōsuke Kuroda joined the project that the series took its final form. While the critics noted the resulting similarities between *Noir* and *Madlax*, they also acknowledged the differences, such as the latter's less episodic and more plot-driven style and, in particular contrast to the predominantly realistic *Noir*, incorporation of many supernatural elements, which the audience must often interpret without further explanation.

## Plot Synopsis

The series takes place in 2011 in an alternate reality very similar to our world despite numerous parallels with the world as we know it (e.g. in the detailed depiction of existing firearms). Nearly all countries and prominent personalities were given fictional names.

The story revolves around two young girls who live seperate lives yet are apparently connected psychologically. The first heroine is Madlax, a living legend among mercenaries and assassins in Gazth-Sonika (Jap. ガザッソニカ gazassonika). Gazth-Sonika (a possible allusion to the Gaza Strip) is a country in south-western Asia that has been torn by a civil war between the royalists and a religious group called Galza (Jap. ガルザ garuza) ever since 1999. The other protagonist is Margaret Burton, the sole heir of a well-known aristocratic family in Nafrece (Jap. ナフレス nafuresu), a peaceful European country apparently modeled after France (it's name is, in fact, an inexact anagram of "France").

Twelve years ago, an airliner carrying Margaret and her mother, who went to visit Margaret's father, crash-landed at an unknown location in Gazth-Sonika and, since the site of the tragedy has never been found. All passengers have been missing ever since as well as Colonel Burton who went searching for his daughter. Margaret, however, was able to return to Nafrece, though how she made it remains a mystery - all she remembered upon her return was one word - "Madlax."

This apparently thin thread linking the two girls turns out to be a much more intense connection when the two separately start drawing the attention of a powerful criminal organization called Enfant (Jap. アンファン anfan) and their enigmatic leader. Brought together by Vanessa Rene, Margaret's former tutor and Bookwald Industries' inspector in Gazth-Sonika, they gradually begin to unveil the truth of what has really happened in their world twelve years ago, in 1999...

### List of Episodes

*See also Episodes of Madlax (2004).*

1. Gun Dance (Jap. 銃舞) ~dance~
2. Crimson Moon (Jap. 紅月) ~crimson~
3. Blue Moon (Jap. 蒼月) ~moon~
4. Temptation (Jap. 誘惑) ~ask~
5. Non-Existent (Jap. 無在) ~none~
6. Will (Jap. 遺言) ~leave~
7. Picture Book (Jap. 繪本) ~nature~
8. Soul Word (Jap. 魂言) ~soul~
9. Remaining Scent (Jap. 残香) ~scent~
10. Erosion (Jap. 侵触) ~dive~
11. Foreign Country (Jap. 異国) ~object~
12. Lost Will (Jap. 消意) ~close~
13. Awakening Sound (Jap. 覚鳴) ~awake~
14. Forgotten Memory (Jap. 忘想) ~memory~
15. False Dispute (Jap. 偽争) ~camouflage~
16. Gun Rhyme (Jap. 銃韻) ~moment~
17. Instant Death (Jap. 刹那) ~reunion~
18. Double Separation (Jap. 双離) ~duo~
19. Target Book (Jap. 獲本) ~holy~
20. True Fight (Jap. 真争) ~wish~
21. Light Confession (Jap. 告薄) ~guilty~
22. Shooting Emotion (Jap. 撃情) ~rage~
23. Straying Heart (Jap. 迷心) ~doubt~
24. Devoting Heart (Jap. 献心) ~heart~
25. Holy Blood (Jap. 聖血) ~saint~
26. Broken Pieces (Jap. 欠片) ~pupil~

### Characters

*See also List of Characters.*

* **Madlax**  (Jap. マドラックス Madorakkusu) is a very charismatic and kind girl, who also happens to be the most efficient operative and assassin in Gazth-Sonika with 98% mission success rate. Just like Margaret, she can remember nearly nothing of what happened to her before twelve years ago, except the word "Madlax", which she accepted as her codename. Unlike Margaret, however, she has not lost the ability to communicate and vaguely remembers an image of her father walking away from her. She also possesses her father's military dog tag but the name on it is illegible. Twelve years ago, Madlax was picked up by SSS who trained her as a mercenary (wherein she displayed some almost supernatural abilities) and she has been working in Gazth-Sonika ever since, hoping one day to find her father and her lost identity. Madlax is voiced by Kobayashi Sanae in Japanese and Nancy Novotny in English.
* **Margaret Burton**  (Jap. マーガレット・バートン) is a 19-year old schoolgirl attending to an elite private school in Nafrece. She is sleepy, clumsy, and often alienated from the world around her, so if it weren't for her maidservant Elenore Baker, she'd probably have a lot of trouble even in Nafrece. Margaret is an amnesiac as she doesn't remember anything about her life prior to twelve years ago when she returned home from Gazth-Sonika - in fact, she has even forgotten how to speak, therefore "Madlax" (the only word she remembered) is an important link to her past. Another link is a "picture book" stained with blood that she brought with her from Gazth-Sonika and which, Margaret firmly believes, was given to her by her father. Margaret is voiced by Kuwashima Hōko in Japanese and Luci Christian in English.
* **Vanessa Rene**  (Jap. ヴァネッサ・レネ) is Margaret's former neighbor and tutor and currently, a successful manager at Bookwald Industries, one of the world's most powerful corporations. Half of the efforts to return Margaret back to normal after her "trip" to Gazth-Sonika should be attributed to her (the other half was Elenore Baker's). Vanessa's parents were diplomats in Gazth-Sonika when the civil war broke out and were accused (falsely, as she believes) of indirectly causing it and later executed. Therefore, when she discovers that Bookwald not only invests into the demilitarized zone of Gazth-Sonika but also supplies both warring sides with weapons, she immediately travels there to investigate. While in the country, Madlax is assigned as her bodyguard, so it is Vanessa who links her to Margaret. Vanessa is voiced by Yukino Satsuki in Japanese and Kelly Manison in English.
* **Elenore Baker**  (Jap. エリノア・ベイカー Erinoa Beika) is Margaret's devoted and sometimes overprotective maidservant. The Baker family served Burtons for generations, therefore Elenore sees it her duty to protect her absent-minded and clumsy "Miss" from everything remotely dangerous - to the point of exploring all her schoolmates' backgrounds and becoming an expert hand-to-hand fighter. Elenore is a child prodigy as she graduated from high school years before all other students, only to be able to devote all her time to caring for Margaret. Elenore is voiced by Uchikawa Ai in Japanese and Kira Vincent-Davis in English.
* **Friday Monday**  (Jap. フライデー・マンデー) is the enigmatic leader of Enfant, a global criminal organization controlling all information channels on the planet. Little is known about him except that he is very skilled with computers, that he hides the right half of his face under a mask and that he is for some reason after Margaret's "picture book". He also seems somehow connected to the incident in Gazth-Sonika twelve years ago. Friday Monday is voiced by Ebara Masashi in Japanese and Mike Kleinhenz in English.
* **Carrossea Doon** (Jap. カロッスア・ドゥーン Karossua Dou:n) is officially an employee of Bookwald Industries although, in fact, he works for Enfant and reports back directly to Mr. Monday. He is smart and resourceful, and he often plays his own games under Monday's nose, for he, too, just like Madlax and Margaret, lost his memories in Gazth-Sonika twelve years ago and desperately tries to regain his identity. Although he is sure he has never met Margaret before, the two of them quickly develop mutual trust after their initial meeting, which is, needless to say, highly unusual for both. Carrossea is voiced by Morikawa Toshiyuki in Japanese and Vic Mignogna in English.
* **Limelda Jorg** (Jap. リメルダ・ユルグ) is an officer of Gazth-Sonikan Royal Guard and the best sniper in the country (with the exception of Madlax). After Madlax assassinated the Commander of Royal Army, whom Limelda was assigned to protect, right before her eyes, she swore a personal vendetta for her. Limelda is voiced by Hisakawa Aya in Japanese and Christine Auten in English.
* **SSS** (Jap. スリースピード Surisupido / Three-Speed) is Madlax's mysterious mentor and liaison who introduced her to the mercenary business and now serves as the mediator between her and her clients. The only indisputable fact about him is that he is male (as seen in brief shot showing the lower part of his face while talking on a phone). SSS is voiced by Urayama Jin in Japanese and Jay Hickman in English.
* **Quanzitta Marison**  (Jap. クアンジッタ・マリスン Kuanjitta Marisun) is a mystic at one of small native villages in Gazth-Sonikan combat zone. Her significance to what is happening to Margaret and Madlax is initially unclear. Lady Quanzitta is voiced by Hyoudou Mako in Japanese and Allison Sumrall in English.
* **Nakhl**  (Jap. ナハル Naharu) is Lady Quanzitta's servant and agent. She is voiced by Nakano Chikayo in Japanese and Brittney Karbowski in English.
* **Laetitia**  (Jap. レティシア) is a mysterious girl appearing to Margaret and Madlax in dreams and visions. She seems to know them both, but they don't recognize her. Laetitia is voiced by Kaneda Tomoko in Japanese and Cynthia Martinez in English.
* **Poupee**  (Jap. プゥペ) is Laetitia's frequent but speechless companion in the visions. He is voiced by Ben Hestus in English.

## Production

### Writing

According to the director, Kōichi Mashimo, he envisioned *Noir* and *Madlax* as part of a trilogy exploring the girls-with-guns genre, and soon after the release of the latter, he confirmed having plans to produce the third installment, which would later become *El Cazador de la Bruja*. In late 2002, Mashimo invited Shigeru Kitayama, the producer of *Noir* who once came up with its original idea, to discuss a new series entitled *Madlax*. Kitayama greatly expanded Mashimo's original screenplay plan, but it was not until Yōsuke Kuroda was put in charge of the script that the series took its final appearance. It took Kuroda around one year to finish the screenplays for all 26 episodes, during which he was constantly encouraged by Mashimo to add his own original ideas to their initial plan. Kuroda has admitted that at the time he received Mashimo's invitation, he felt frustrated after his first project has been canceled by the publisher, so he decided to make *Madlax* "really extravagant", blending as many genres at once as he could. Kōichi Mashimo, furthermore, admitted that the most unusual plot twists, like Margaret and Madlax's connection to each other, were invented by Kuroda and him while drunk.

### Character design

By comparison with *Noir*, *Madlax* features a much larger primary cast, including multiple recurring male characters, an element nearly absent in the former. It was not so in the original screenplay draft written by Mashimo and Kitayama: for example, "Madlax" was Margaret's own nickname and Charlie (Vanessa's colleague at Bookwald Industries) had one of the central roles similar to Speedy's in *Avenger*. Only the "draft" characters' names remained of them when Kuroda has rewritten the script. A total of three character designers collaborated on *Madlax* cast: Satoshi Ohsawa (who also worked on *Noir* cast) created the central heroines Margaret and Madlax; Minako Shiba drew Friday Monday and Carrossea Doon; and Satoko Miyachi was entrusted with the "mysterious" characters, Laetitia and Poupee.

### Music

See also *Madlax's Original Soundtrack*.

As with many of studio Bee Train's other works, the entire *Madlax* soundtrack was composed by the acclaimed Yuki Kajiura, making it her and Kōichi Mashimo's fifth project together. In an interview Kajiura recalls having written the score in a hotel high-rise to save studio costs, and that this change in location helped her to explore different styles of music.

Kajiura and Yuuka Nanri's duo FictionJunction Yuuka recorded the series' opening and ending themes, "Fragments of an Eye" (瞳の欠片 *Hitomi no Kakera*) and "Inside Your Heart", respectively, as well as two insert songs: "nowhere" and "I'm here". Aside from the opening sequence, "Fragments of an Eye" is featured in the series itself: at the end of episode 18 and in the episode 24, when Margaret is humming its tune to herself in the flower field.

## Media

Originally, *Madlax* was broadcast in Japan by TV Tokyo from 5 April to 27 September 2004, from 1:30 to 2:00 a.m. every Tuesday (formally, Monday night). Shortly before the series finished airing, it has been licensed in North America and Europe by ADV Films, which has previously acquired distribution rights for *Noir* and has long had plans to license its successor, as well. The official English dub has been released in the United States under the trademark *MADLAX* on a total of seven DVDs from 12 April 2005 to 28 March 2006. A complete collection was released by ADV on 17 July 2007. *Madlax* has become the first series on which ADV Films' director and producer David Williams tested the technology of distributing promotional materials via P2P network BitTorrent. As of September 1, 2009, all of the titles from ADV's catalog, including Madlax, were transferred to AEsir Holdings, with distribution from Section23 Films.

The North-American DVD release contains extras available in English only, such the controversial self-parody *Conversations with SSS* and *Sock Puppet Theater*, an Easter egg live action about Madlax going after Chris Patton, Badgis' voice actor and an annoying womanizer.

On 7 February 2006, the first episode of *Madlax* aired on Anime Network (which was, like ADV Films, a subsidiary of A.D. Vision at the time). On 4 April, shortly after the last DVD volume has been released, the consequent broadcast was put on halt and until 27 June, only the first 8 episodes were repeated. Since then, the series has been relaunched multiple times. Madman Entertainment, who previously licensed *Noir* in its region, has acquired rights for distribution of *Madlax* in Australia and New Zealand and released it on seven DVD volumes between 20 July 2005 and 26 July 2006. A complete collection was released on 4 April 2007.

## Reception

*Madlax* was often unfairly accused of being secondary and reusing *Noir*'s stylistic solutions, such as the story premise, the two heroines' appearance, and the musical style. Nevertheless, some sources praised the story for being more monolithic and consequent than its predecessor's, owing to all its episodes and subplots being tightly intertwined and held together by the primary plot.

The majority of reviewers perceived the early episodes of *Madlax* as boring and too slow-paced, but some of the same critics later remarked that the prolonged exposition is crucial to the unusual finale of the series, which fully establishes the series' own identity and sets it apart from other works. According to them, after the initial volume, the story gets better and better with every new episode although some have been dissatisfied with its "pseudo-existentialistic" ending. Erica Friedman, the president of Yuricon, highly praised Kuroda's script, naming it "the best writing that Bee Train has done". Professional reviewers welcomed the increased number of sympathetic characters, especially the distinguishable male ones (Friday, Carrossea, Colonel Burton), as opposed to stormtrooper-like operatives of Soldats in *Noir*, but the female character designs were still said to be much more detailed (to the point of fanservice in the case of Madlax) than the more generic male characters.

The high quality of the animation in *Madlax* was generally acknowledged. On the negative side, the episodes that involve computer use and hacking received criticism for their lack of realism. In terms of soundtrack, *Madlax* has not become as innovative as *Noir*, with critics suggesting its OST to be a blend of the styles of *.Hack//Sign*  and *Noir*. Nevertheless, the reviewers acknowledged its superiority over the majority of contemporary works. The English translation released by ADV Films was praised for preserving most of the series' original stylistic aspects and inviting veteran voice actors for the dub.Reviewers went as far as to suggest that several English voices (especially Mike Kleinhenz's) match the characters better than the Japanese ones. Others, however, criticized the dub, e.g. Carl Kimlinger of Anime News Network in his 2009 review of the series rated the performance as "wildly uneven, ranging from good ... to plain amateurish", citing "delivery issues" as main problem of the dub.

The initial slow pacing, especially compared to the first episodes of *Noir*, became a main reason why the audience often dropped watching *Madlax* before it could present its later story turns which eventually resulted in the moderate success of the series. Among other suggested reasons behind the mediocre popularity of the show were: the market saturation, which resulted from other anime series attempting to repeat the success of *Noir* since 2001; the expectable disinterest against a "*Noir* remake", found among the fans of the first series; the over-the-top action scenes that some felt to be ridiculous; and its unconventional genre, which straddled *Madlax* uncomfortably between fans of mystical science fiction and those who prefer *Noir*'s strict realism.

###  *"Yanmaani"*

In the insert song "nowhere", there is a frequently repeated background refrain "Yanmaani" (ヤンマーニ *Yanmāni*). It doesn't have any particular meaning in any known languages, but since the song usually plays when Madlax is fighting, "Yanmaani" has become something of a joke among Japanese fans, claiming that it's a magic chant that grants her supernatural abilities as commonly seen in magical girl sub-genre.

## Trivia

* The Four Great Ancient Civilizations (Babylon, Egypt, China, and India) mentioned in the series is a real theory developed by Chinese historians.
* A pair of red shoes that Vanessa gives to Margaret as a present in Episode 2 is identical to a pair worn by Yuumura Kirika in Noir. In Episodes 24 to 26, Madlax is seen wearing such pair.
* Laetitia was a minor Roman goddess of gaiety and happiness.
* The Darwin operating system seen on several occasions in the series actually exists.
* The tune that Margaret was humming to herself in episode 24 is actually the opening theme of the series, Hitomi no Kakera.
* Several famous sceneries of Hong Kong appear throughout the series.

## External links

* Official TV Tokyo *Madlax* website
* Official JVC *Madlax* website
* *Madlax* entry on Anime News Network
* *Madlax* entry on IMDb