Both seasons of this show are licensed for streaming by FUNimation in North America, and their official description goes like this: "A ruthless arms dealer on a quixotic quest for world peace. A child soldier born into chaotic conflict. Their lives will intertwine as they journey together through the seedy underbelly of the world's arms market". Net result: when Jormungand first came out, I didn't give it a second glance. It doesn't make it sound like a fun show.

But this weekend, when I was looking for something new to watch, someone recommended it to me, and when I told them what the official blurb said they were amazed how wrong it was. After watching all of the first season and most of the second, I have to agree. While everything that synopsis says is factually accurate, it's like one of those "bad movie descriptions" in that it misses the point entirely. Jormungand successfully manages to combine action and explosions and fun without succumbing (well, mostly anyway) to the silliness When I told them what the official blurb said they were amazed how wrong it wasand fanservice that might have plagued a lesser anime, and without losing sight of its darker messages and undertones.

On the other hand, if you're squeamish about violence, whether it originates from knives, guns, rockets, helicopters, ships and so on, then this isn't the show for you - though equally, for the most part it's a relatively controlled level of violence and isn't as over the top as something like Berserk, for example.

The show's structure is laid out in a similar manner to shows such as Black Lagoon - there are short arcs which occupy one or two episodes. Despite this structure, it all hangs together very well and never seems to feel like a bad-guy-of-the-week show.

It's well worth checking out if you're looking for some action that isn't Die Hard this Christmas.

Jormungand and Jormungand: Perfect Order are available to stream in North America from FUNimation. Please support legitimate anime distribution by subscribing to or purchasing titles when they become available in your territory.