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Year: 2007
Genre: Action, Supernatural, Magic, Romance
Episodes: 24
Rating: 3 out of 5
What if you got banished from your clan because you were weak and couldn’t produce the element of your people? For example, if you were part of the Fire Nation in Nickelodeon Avatar: The Last Airbender and you couldn’t use fire at all, what would you do? Would you give up during your banishment, or would you go on a quest to gain power and maybe learn that the element you were born in isn’t the one you were meant to have? Kaze no Stigma is about a person banished from his clan that are experts in using fire. After four years, the person comes back an absolute boss who has mastery over the wind.
Overview:
At the age of eighteen, Kazuma Kannagi was the eldest son of the Kannagi family and presumed heir. With his inability to control flames and losing in a fight to wield “Enraiha” to his twelve-year-old cousin, Ayano Kannagi, Kazuma was effectively banished from his family and clan.
Four years later, Kazuma, now being called Kazuma Yagami, has returned from exile and has returned as a master of “Fūjutsu,” the power to control the wind. On the day of his return, several members of the Kannagi family members are killed by someone using Fūjutsu. Kazuma is quickly presumed to be the one that is murdering the family members in hopes of revenge for his exile. As Kazuma tries to clear his name with the family members and the hot-headed heir of the clan, Ayano, Kazuma must aid the family he has hatred before they are all killed. It is soon revealed that Kazuma is a Contractor, an individual who has entered into a contract with the Wind Spirit King.
Review:
This anime had so much potential, and it was wasted away as the story went on. When Kazuma first arrived, the anime was good because you really didn’t know how strong Kazuma was, but just by his look and how he hovered in the air, you knew he was an absolute badass. Then when the anime started introducing other characters and showed Ayano as this loudmouth person, it began to lose me. The first season was okay as Kazuma and Ayano go on different missions to stop whatever people. The first villain was cool as it seemed like Kazuma was exacting his revenge only for it to be someone completely different. The first twelve episodes are really focused on the relationships Kazuma has with his family. Kazuma seems to love his younger brother Ren and would protect him at any cost. The relationship with his father is on a different level as they fight all the time. The fight between them is truly something to see as both of them are the strongest at their respective element. I will say that shit does go down. The other half of the first twelve episodes is Kazuma giving advice to Ayano, who seems to never listen at first until she gets her ass handed to her, and then she wants to pay attention. I found her annoying because it was always, I am the heir and know what I’m doing only to get beat.
Now the second season or last twelve episodes is where the anime picks up for me. This is when we really get to see Kazuma’s past and a villain trying to really rule the world and cause destruction and chaos. The last twelve episodes really saved this anime from being a bore-fest. I love how the anime shifted and showed other people gaining powers and using it as a game to unlock new abilities. It looked like an RPG where people leveled up. With the background of Kazuma, we see how dude lived a peaceful life until the person he loved died. This was when he wanted to gain the power to protect people. We also see what happens when Kazuma loses control and somewhat becomes evil. Dude is merciless against his opponents when this happened. The anime should’ve started off with this season rather than the crappy first twelve episodes.
The animation of this anime was okay, but it really got good when people were actually fighting. When Kazuma fought against his father, the anime had this DBZ show of power. Kazuma’s father became inflamed while Kazuma had wind around him. I like how they showed, Kazuma was truly in his Contractor role as his eyes went from brown to a bright blue color that sparkled along with blue lights floating around him. Also, the anime makes a significant distinction between when Kazuma is normal to when he is angry or becomes “evil.” When he becomes this way, his winds turn black, and his eyes have this crimson-type color to them. His is drawn darker and sinister. I like how anime series do this to really show the mindset of the character.
Honestly, I am very disappointed in one character in this anime and the other I found obnoxious and annoying as hell. First, Kazuma Yagami. I thought he was an absolute BOSS and someone you should freakin look for motivation from. When the Kannagi household banished his ass out of the clan because he couldn’t wield fire and lost to loud mouth Ayano, who is his second cousin, the dude just bounced. Then four years later, homeboy returns to Japan as a mercenary and is now the most powerful master of Fūjutsu ever known. The dude is a straight upwind god, and he is so cocky and calm that you have to admire it. When he was banished, he set his mind on becoming powerful and obtained it by becoming a contract with the Wind Spirit Lord. As a Wind Technique Practitioner, dude is easily the most powerful character in the series. Where the dude falls off for me is that he is actually in love with Ayano. I’m sorry homeboy, but that is an “L” for you. First off, that’s your cousin, and you can do way better than her.
Now for the cockiest, annoying, and pain-in-the-ass character I have seen, Ayano Kannagi. She is a loud mouth and is named the successor to the head of the Kannagi family. She is so arrogant and hot-headed that she usually gets her ass kicked until Kazuma helps her out or gives her advice. Even then, she usually jumps right into a fight without thinking things through. She is full of herself just because she can use that word. Somehow, someway, she and Kazuma form a relationship. I honestly despised this character. Every time she was on screen, I wanted to fast forward, but it is hard when the person is the title character. I hated how she spoke down to all her friends and just thought she was the world’s greatest leader simply because you were named successor. Good luck to that clan because you might be doomed in the future.
I know I have said it before, but Kaze No Stigma is an anime that had a ton of potential and just failed. Is this an anime you can put on the background and glance up once in a while? Yes, you can. The story is okay and really picks up the last twelve episodes. The best parts of the whole anime are the fighting, and even those are just standard to most anime series now. As far as characters go, Kazuma is the favorite. He is relaxed and calm, but Ayano is just annoying and loudmouth. Watch this anime if you really need something to watch and waste a little time.
