Netflix revamps the classic action-adventure anime in a six-episode format. It's got a fresh coat of paint, but can Spriggan finally step out of Akira's shadow?

This series is streaming on Netflix

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So, apparently ancient civilizations existed and they've left all kinds of artifacts that are beyond even modern technology in terms of power, craftsmanship, and danger. These artifacts are called OOPArts—"Out-Of-Place Artifacts". The organization ARCAM scours the globe searching for OOPArts, in order to safeguard them and ensure they're not used by evil people to take over the world or whatever. To best ensure this goal, they employ an elite group of mercenaries code-named "Spriggans", who use technology inspired by OOPArts in order to retrieve and protect these findings. In Cornish lore, Spriggans were fae that guarded the treasures in barrows (and the show points this out).

Also, it features a tragic lack of orichalcum-based power armor and high-tech karate.

There's not much more to say about this episode, outside of Colonel Maria Clemente being redeemed as a person (she's not entirely career-minded) and Yu managing to make it to his sports festival just in time. The next one, though? Straight-up crystal skulls and Nazis. I can only wonder if this inspired Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

I mean, hell, ARCAM was shocked that it kept losing platoons to a place literally called The Forest of No Return. That's not a joke, that's just how capitalism works.

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