R.O.D The TV . Excellent Anime Series. I have been giving this one 8/10 for most of the disks. I have just finished disk 6, through episode 23. One more disk to go; it will be released next month. There is a problem with starting a series before all the disks are released. Good production values, great storyline, great characters, interesting situations and relationships, and books are the stars. One question about the title, does it stand for Read or Dream? or Read or Die?

R.O.D. the TV actually ties back into the original Read or Die OVA, where Agent Paper, a Paper Master, faces four cloned scientist/villians and works to save the world as an agent of the British National Library. In the TV series, three sisters become bodyguards for an child prodigy author (Nenene) who has had writer’s block since Yomiko Readman (Agent Paper), her mentor, disappeared five years earlier. Strange things start to happen around Nenene and the three sisters (who also happen to be Paper Masters; Nenene doesn’t seem to have any special powers other than a short temper.) Many thrilling adventures show the strong bonds between the sisters and Nenene becomes a part of their family as well (she might even be getting over her writer’s block).

The three sisters: Anita, Maggie, and Michelle, are from Hong Kong. The “Heroic Trio” is a classic Hong Kong film starring Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung, and Michelle Yeoh. Coincidence? I think not.

Possible Spoilers:
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As the series continues, we find Yomiko and the young lady she is protecting; we find that Nenene is an important component of the British National Library’s plan to take over the world; and we find that the three sisters have a secret past. But the exciting conclusion is in the next disk and I am eagerly awaiting its release.