Yozakura Quartet

About Yozakura Quartet

If you are hunting for a new action series, Yozakura Quartet (夜桜四重奏 ～ヨザクラカルテット～) deserves a look (2008). The setup goes like this. In short: When demons walk the streets, the cops need to recruit more demons! In a town where humans and demons co-exist, it takes more than a normal police force to maintain the peace.

Also worth knowing: Enter the Hiizumi Life Counseling Office, a fantastic foursome of unique teenagers, each gifted with an amazing super power! Since it sometimes takes real demon-fire to confront demon fire, the first three quarters of the team aren't exactly human: Ao, a cat-eared telepath; Kotoha, a half-human conjuror; and Hime. Rounding out the group is the token male and human, Akina, the office director and "Oyakume," capable of banishing spirits permanently (and from their point of view quite fatally) via a process called tuning.

As an action title, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Akina Hiizumi (Yuuki Kaji) and Hime Yarizakura (Misato Fukuen) are two of the characters you will meet early. It will appeal most to viewers who like fast, high-impact fights. At 12 episodes in total, it is easy to plan a viewing schedule.

Production & Appeal

Nomad is the studio behind Yozakura Quartet, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. The action focus matters here: fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Its 6.4/10 score suggests opinions are split, so it suits viewers who already like the genre. On the casting side, Yuuki Kaji voicing Akina Hiizumi gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2008, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.