Strait Jacket

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Strait Jacket
ストレイト・ジャケット
(Sutoreito Jaketto)
Genre Action, Horror, Science-fantasy
Light novel
Written by Ichirō Sakaki
Illustrated by Yō Fujishiro
Published by Fujimi Shobo
Demographic Male
Imprint Fujimi Fantasia Bunko
Original run August 20, 2000September 18, 2010
Volumes 11
Original video animation
Directed by Shinji Ushiro
Studio Feel
Licensed by United States Manga Entertainment
Released November 26, 2007 April 28, 2008
Runtime 1 hour and 16 minutes
Episodes 3

Strait Jacket (ストレイト・ジャケット Sutoreito Jaketto) is a light novel series by Ichirō Sakaki with illustrations by Yō Fujishiro, published by Fujimi Shobo under their Fujimi Fantasia Bunko imprint. It was published in 11 volumes between 2000 and 2010. The series was adapted into a 3-episode OVA series in 2007. A film version of the OVA aired in the United States on the Sci-fi channel.

Plot

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 "strait jacket", 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 (also known as Rayotte Steinberg in some English versions), an anti hero 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.

Media

Light novels

The Strait Jacket was written by Ichirō Sakaki with illustrations by Yō Fujishiro. The light novel series was published by Fujimi Shobo and since 2000 has run for 11 volumes.

No.TitleRelease date ISBN
01Ningen no Katachi ~THE MOLD~
Form of Humanity -The Mold- (ツミビトのキオク~THE MOLD~)
02Ningen no Katachi ~THE ATTACHMENT~
Memory of Sinners  -The Attachment- (ニンゲンのカタチ~THE ATTACHMENT~)
03Omoide no sumika ~THE REGRET/FIRST HALF~
Habitat of memories -The Regret/First Half- (オモイデのスミカ~THE REGRET/FIRST HALF~)
04Omoide no kanata ~THE REGRET/SECOND HALF~
Memories of Kanata -The Regret/Second Half- (オモイデのカナタ~THE REGRET/SECOND HALF~)
05Yowamushi no Yaiba ~THE EDGE~
Wimpy Yaiba -The Edge- (ヨワムシのヤイバ~THE EDGE~)
06Rakuen no sadame ~THE MIRAGE~
Provisions of Paradise -The Mirage- (ラクエンのサダメ~THE MIRAGE~)
07Ikenie no hitsuji ~THE SACRIFICE 1st. HALF~
Sheep Sacrifice -The Sacrifice 1st. Half- (イケニエのヒツジ~THE SACRIFICE 1st. HALF~)
08Ikenie no ronri ~THE SACRIFICE 2nd. HALF~
Logic Sacrifice ~The Sacrifice 2nd. Half~ (イケニエのロンリ~THE SACRIFICE 2nd.HALF~)
09Sekigan no akuma ~THE FIEND~
Devil of Sekigan -The Fiend- (セキガンのアクマ~THE FIEND~)
10Ningen No Owari ~THE DEATH BELL 1st. HALF~
The End of the Human -The Death Bell 1st. Half- (ニンゲンのオワリ~THE DEATH BELL 1st. HALF~)
11Ningen No Ashita ~THE DEATH BELL 2nd. HALF~
The Future of the Human -The Death Bell 2nd. Half- (ニンゲンのアシタ THE DEATH BELL 2nd.HALF)

OVA

In 2007 a three episode original video animation based on the light novel was produced by Feel Anime Studios. The OVA series has been licensed for English language translation and DVD release in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom by Manga Entertainment. A film version was aired on the Sci-Fi Channel as part of their Ani-Monday programming block on October 20, 2008.[1]

Character Japanese voice actors English voice actor
Leiot Steinberg / Rayotte Steinberg Shinichiro Miki Steven Blum
Kapel Theta / Kapelteta Fernandez Kei Shindou Lara Jill Miller
Nerin Simmons Ai Maeda Bridget Hoffman
Isaac Hammond Akira Sasanuma Crispin Freeman
Rachel Hammond Asami Imai Kari Wahlgren
Reegs Kenji Nomura Jamieson Price
Brian Meno Moderato Kouji Ishii Paul St. Peter
Filisis Moog Mayumi Asano Tara Platt
Jack Roland Tatsuya Kobashi Keith Silverstein
Falk Hiroaki Hirata Christopher Smith
George Thomson Jin Domon Kirk Thornton

Reception

The light novel series currently has sold over half a million copies.[2]

References

External links

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