Divine Gate: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Divine Gate: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Divine Gate is a fantasy-action anime series. The anime was broadcast on Tokyo MX in Japan. The series features animation produced by Pierrot (Black Clover, Akatsuki no Yona). Produced by Masatoshi Hako, Motohiro Oda, Ryōsuke Hagiwara, Shuichi Fujimura, and Takumi Kohama, Divine Gate offers anime enthusiasts a blend of adventure and intrigue. A series for fans of action-packed spectacle.

Hikari (Ayana Taketatsu), Ginji (Hiroyuki Yoshino), Midori (Kanae Itō), Aoto (Sōma Saitō), Yukari (Sora Amamiya), and Akane (Tetsuya Kakihara) have unique destinies to fulfill. The world is in a state of turmoil with a mysterious gate. A high-order world council helps to select the few individuals lucky enough to be able to not only approach the gate – but to touch it – and to open it – and find the world of possibilities that awaits within.  

There is a gate no one can even open or touch – with the only exception to the rule being a select group – those known as the chosen ones. The chosen ones are known to others as the “adapters” and each is given special superhero abilities (such as the ability to control fire or water – bearing similarities to characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender).

The adapters must learn how to control their own destinies and become the heroes of the tale. In order to be their best, the adapters go to a school where academia and magic collide. The students learn about the gate and their role around it. As rumors swirl, students form their own beliefs about the mysterious gate. What does the power of the gate even hold? A magic wish (or three)? Or something more sinister and menacing? The mystery unfolds.

The series focuses on an ensemble cast of characters including Hikari, Ginji, Midori, Aoto, Yukari, and Akane. The characters are part of a world-building element to the anime. These characters display distinct personalities and unique styles. The ensemble element allows for the production to showcase different strengths and abilities to the core cast. These elements help to demonstrate the strengths of the adapters and their connections to the gate.

The character designs by Cindy H. Yamauchi (Akudama Drive, Sōten Kōro) and Ichiro Uno (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, The World Is Still Beautiful) help to showcase the unique design aesthetics. The characters are well- animated and the artistic approach to exploring these character designs helps the series to excel. The art work on the series is good at featuring the distinct designs.

The series has worthwhile animation. Under the solid art direction of Toru Shinozaki, the team of animators involved on the production delivered solid animation for the series core production elements. The production has strong mecha designs by Yasuhiro Moriki (Active Raid, Banner of the Stars) and these elements play well alongside the background animation and line art. The end result is a series showcasing a visually interesting animation palate on the whole.

The score by Takumi Ozawa (Aria the Scarlet Ammo, Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story) is decent at expanding the series sense of action-packed fun. The music imbues scenes with a energy that helps the action sequences to unfold with a better sense of adrenaline-infused fun. The score works as a solid background score to the animation. The music enhances the tone of the series: providing a nice element alongside the otaku components.

The cinematography by Naomi Wada (The Twelve Kingdoms, Gaist Crusher) is one of the best strengths of the production. The series is a visually bright and colorful creation. The animation looks crisp and engaging. The detail is more appreciable through the bright and dynamic cinematography of Wada.

Written by Natsuko Takahashi (Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Yo-kai Watch), Divine Gate is a decently written series but it also lacks a great storyline. The concept is reasonably decent but the series could have also done much more with an even better script. Takahasi isn’t the best anime screenwriter but the effort nonetheless entertains with a reasonably engaging script – the dialogue being decent.

Directed by Noriyuki Abe (Flame of Recca, Tokyo Mew Mew), Divine Gate isn’t a classic by any means but it does have some compelling characters, beautiful animation, and decent production merits. The series isn’t as unique as it wants to be but it does have some compelling elements at play nonetheless. Fans of action anime series may wish to check it out.

Divine Gate: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Funimation, Divine Gate is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original television aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The series has a strong and pleasing video presentation. The high-definition colors are vibrant and dynamic. The encoding is generally solid. Despite some mild banding on occasion, the transfer looks generally strong with worthwhile detail. A solid encode by Funimation.

Divine Gate: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes multiple lossless audio options: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 2.0 stereo (with English subtitles). Fans of the series will be pleased by the multiple lossless audio options provided on the release. The English dub option benefits with the inclusion of a surround sound mix. The surround sound channels offers a modestly more enveloping soundstage. Purists who want the original sound design will be pleased by the lossless stereo offering available for the original Japanese language version.

Divine Gate: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Episode 12 Audio Commentary

The Divine Gate Anime Explained in (About) Five Minutes: The Worldview (HD, 6:28)

Promo Videos (HD, 1:54)

TV Spot (HD, 00:17)

Commercials (HD, 00:34)

Textless Opening Song "one-Me two-Hearts" (HD, 1:32)

Textless Closing Song "Contrast" (HD, 1:32)

Trailers (HD, 4:04)

Divine Gate: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Divine Gate offers action-anime fans some thrills and adventure. The series has effective animation, decent storytelling, and action- packed direction. The Blu-ray release includes a worthwhile video and audio presentation alongside a decent selection of exclusive bonus features. These features are only available on the Blu-ray release and include an episode 12 audio commentary and a worldview overview clip show highlighting the anime in about five-minutes. The set also includes promo videos, tv spots, commercials, and textless opening/closing songs. Fans of the series will be happy with the release. Recommended.