Madlax

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Madlax


caption = The central characters of the series
ja_name = マドラックス
ja_name_trans = Madorakkusu
genre = Action, Mystery, War DramaInfobox animanga/Anime
title =
director = Kōichi Mashimo
writer = Yōsuke Kuroda
studio = Bee Train
licensor = flagicon |USA flagicon |Canada flagicon |United Kingdom ADV Films

network = flagicon |Japan TV Tokyo
network_other = flagicon |United States Anime Network
first = 5 April 2004
last = 27 September 2004
episodes = 26
episode_list = List of Madlax episodes

nihongo |"Madlax" |マドラックス |Madorakkusu is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced in 2004 by the Bee Train animation studio. Kōichi Mashimo directed "Madlax" and the soundtrack was composed by Yuki Kajiura. The DVD version was released by ADV Films in North America and the United Kingdom and by Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand.

The story revolves around two young women who seemingly have little in common and do not know of the other's existence at the beginning. The titular Madlax is a legendary mercenary and assassin in the fictional civil war-torn country of Gazth-Sonika, who cannot remember her past or indeed her real name before twelve years ago, when the war started. The other protagonist is Margaret Burton, the sole heir of a wealthy aristocratic family in the peaceful European country Nafrece. Twelve years before the story begins, an airliner Margaret and her mother were on crashed over Gazth-Sonika, and its passengers, as well as Margaret's father who lead the rescuers, have been missing ever since. Margaret, however, mysteriously traveled back to Nafrece on her own, losing her memories prior to her return; the only thing she recalls is a single word, "Madlax". With this thread linking the two girls, they both independently start investigating the powerful crime syndicate Enfant after its enigmatic mastermind shows interest in both of them.

"Madlax" was produced as a spiritual successor to the studio's earlier project, "Noir", and together with "El Cazador de la Bruja", these series constitute a trilogy exploring the "girls-with-guns" genre. The production of "Madlax" began in 2002 but it wasn’t until Yōsuke Kuroda joined the project that the series took its final form. While the critics noted the resulting similarities between "Noir" and "Madlax", they also acknowledged the differences, such as the latter's less episodic and more plot-driven style and, in particular contrast to the predominantly realistic "Noir", incorporation of many supernatural elements, which the audience must often interpret without further explanation.

Plot

The first half of the series alternates between the two leads. Madlax works as a special ops agent for hire in the war-torn Gazth-Sonika, while Margaret enjoys the tranquility of Nafrece, a country apparently styled after France.cite web |url=http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=662 |title="Madlax" DVD #1 review |accessdate=2006-11-08 |author=Carter, Jason |date=2005-07-20 |publisher=AnimeJump.com] When a "picture book", presumably given to Margaret by her late father, attracts the attention of international crime syndicate Enfant, she starts researching the book's origins and discovers that they lie in Gazth-Sonika. Enfant's top operative, Carrossea Doon, tracks Margaret down but tips off his superiors in the wrong direction — towards Madlax, who has been causing Enfant trouble in Gazth-Sonika for some time. Meanwhile, Vanessa Rene, Margaret's former tutor, discovers that her employer, Bookwald Industries, covertly supports the civil war in Gazth-Sonika by supplying both sides with firearms and decides to find more about the true cause of the war. Her investigation brings her to Gazth-Sonika, where Madlax is assigned as her bodyguard, and together, they uncover data that proves that Enfant orchestrated the entire conflict. Enfant intercepts and forces them into hiding. Back in Nafrece, Margaret decides to travel to Gazth-Sonika to help Vanessa and is accompanied by both her maidservant Elenore Baker and Carrossea Doon.

Eventually, Madlax and Margaret encounter each other and embark on a search for Quanzitta Marison, a Gazth-Sonikan mystic who is suggested to know about Margaret's book, Enfant's involvement with it, and Enfant itself. Lady Quanzitta does indeed tell them about Enfant and its plans to plunge the entire world into a total war, starting with Gazth-Sonika. She reveals that Friday Monday (Enfant's leader) possesses supernatural powers connected to the three ancient books, one of which belongs to Margaret. Margaret uses her own supernatural abilities and that of her book to return her lost memories. Carrossea, who has been aiding Margaret, requests that his memories be restored as well despite warnings not to do so; he discovers that he in fact died 12 years ago, and held on to life only by sheer force of will to protect Margaret. Carrossea disappears, and Margaret is captured by Monday who intends to use her abilities to complete his own goals.

While Margaret and Carrossea perform the ritual, Madlax is attacked by her arch-nemesis throughout the show, Limelda Jorg. Limelda accidentally kills Vanessa while targeting Madlax, sending the latter into clinical depression. Elenore and Lady Quanzitta's servant Nakhl manage to restore Madlax's will to live and persuade her to save Margaret, and the three storm Enfant's headquarters together. During the assault, Elenore is killed and Margaret, now under Monday's control, shoots Madlax. Believing her to be dead, Monday commences a ritual to unleash people's inhibitions and trigger worldwide anarchy; but Margaret's memories return and she snaps out of his mind control. Only now does the audience learn the truth: back in 1999, Monday drove Margaret's father insane with his powers and she was forced to kill her own parent. To escape the horrible truth of her patricide, Margaret split herself into three personae: the "memory keeper" Laetitia, the sinful Madlax, and the innocent Margaret herself. After the revelation, Madlax reappears and guns down Monday, followed by Margaret fusing the three personae to undo the ritual she previously performed with Monday, saving the world from insanity. Upon accomplishing that, she once again splits herself in three, judging that after twelve years, she no longer has the right to make decisions for her other personae.

Characters

"Madlax" features a large cast of distinctive characters which, according to the composer Yuki Kajiura, serve as the milestones for nihongo |Margaret Burton's |マーガレット・バートン |Māgaretto Bāton inner growth, one of the main topics of the show (see Themes of "Madlax").cite DVD-notes |title= [http://www.advfilms.com/product.aspx?ProductId=19300 Madlax Volume 3: The In-Between] |titleyear=2004 |director=Kōichi Mashimo |format=insert leaflet "Staff Talk #5 (Yuki Kajiura)" |publisher=ADV Films |location=Houston, Texas |publisherid=DMAD/003 |year=2005] At the beginning, Margaret is a sleepy, clumsy amnesiac, who lives under the care of her devoted and sometimes overprotective maidservant nihongo |Elenore Baker |エリノア・ベイカー |Erinoa Beikā, a child prodigy who graduated from school years ahead of other students to spend all her time caring for her "Miss". Elenore helps keep the absent-minded and alienated Margaret out of trouble, which Margaret seems able to find even in tranquil Nafrece."Madlax", episode 6 ( [http://www.mania.com/madlax-vol-2_article_78342.html summary] ).] Also caring for her is nihongo |Vanessa Rene |ヴァネッサ・レネ |Vanessa Rene, a soft-spoken but strong-minded corporate executive in her early thirties who was once her tutor.Elenore: "Miss Vanessa, as her tutor you gave her culture and education. Thanks to you, since then she's come so far that she can lead a normal school life". cite episode|title=Will ~leave~|series=Madlax|credits= |network=TV Tokyo|airdate=2004-05-10|number=06|minutes=9:44]

It is also Vanessa who links Margaret to the other female lead in the second half of the series — nihongo |Madlax |マドラックス |Madorakkusu, a beautiful and kind young woman who happens to be the most efficient operative and assassin in the war-torn Gazth-Sonika.Galza Lieutenant: "What'll be a big deal is when THAT one shows up. [...] A super-skilled agent named Ma..." cite episode|title=Gun Dance ~dance~|series=Madlax|credits= |network=TV Tokyo|airdate=2004-04-05|number=1|minutes=3:23] When Vanessa travels to Gazth-Sonika, she hires Madlax as her bodyguard. Just like Margaret, Madlax remembers next to nothing of her life before twelve years ago, except the word that she accepted as her code name and a vague image of her father, whom she hopes to meet one day. Madlax's supernatural battle skills prove increasingly useful when Vanessa's investigation of the Gazth-Sonikan casus belli, which until then had been unjustly thought to be her own father's diplomatical incompetence,Vanessa: "My father was a diplomat in Nafrece, you see, and at the time that the threat of civil war here was coming to a peak, he was in charge of relations with Gazth-Sonika. Then the civil war broke out, and my parents were detained by the Gazth-Sonika army under suspicion of inciting the war". cite episode|title=Awakening Sound ~awake~|series=Madlax|credits= |network=TV Tokyo|airdate=2004-06-28|number=13|minutes=8:21] draws the attention of a powerful criminal intelligence network named "Enfant" to them.

The mysterious masked head of Enfant, known as nihongo |Friday Monday |フライデー・マンデー |Furaidē Mandē, is shown single-handedly controlling all information channels on the planetMaclay Marini's investigation of Enfant and its consequences. "Madlax", episode 4. cite episode|title=Temptation ~ask~|series=Madlax|credits= |network=TV Tokyo|airdate=2004-04-26|number=4] and commanding an army of agents to pursue his obscure goals that involve, among others, Margaret and Madlax. One of these agents is his right-hand man nihongo |Carrossea Doon |カロッスア・ドゥーン |Karossua Dōn who often plays his own game under Monday's nose. Carrossea attempts to gain the trust of Margaret Burton, whom he is assigned to observe, yet he also feels himself mysteriously drawn to her. Another agent of Enfant in the series is nihongo |Limelda Jorg |リメルダ・ユルグ |Rimeruda Yurugu, an officer of the Gazth-Sonikan royal guard and excellent sniper who develops a bitter rivalry with Madlax.

Themes

"Madlax" is set against the backdrop of Gazth-Sonikan war and the first episodes contrast the tranquil Nafrece with the war-torn Gazth-Sonika;cite web |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/madlaxvol1.php |title="Madlax" DVD #1 review |accessdate=2006-11-08 |author=Hattaway, Mitchell |date=2005-04-28 |publisher=DVDVerdict.com] later, the story moves completely to the combat zone, focusing on the central characters, such as Limelda Jorg, and their suffering.cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/madlax-vol-5_article_77768.html |title="Madlax" DVD #5 review |accessdate=2008-09-22 |author=Beveridge, Chris |date=2005-12-22 |publisher=Mania.com |quote= [Limelda's] decision [...] sets her on a path that isn't quite easy to understand but makes a twisted sort of sense. The kind of sense that someone who's grown up in a country torn apart by civil war and bloodshed might be able to come up with.] In an interview, the director Mashimo stated that " [t] he story is about portraying inner struggles of people, while showing what life is like in this place of madness and this other place of peace".cite journal|last=Wong|first=Amos|title=Inside Bee Train|journal=Newtype USA|pages=pp. 8–15|year=2005|month=March] Accordingly, the series' title is a portmanteau of two English words, "" and "", mirroring the authors' intention to portray the two extremes of human being.cite web |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/read.php?ID=29311 |title=Review: "Madlax": Complete Collection |author=Houston, Don |date=2007-07-17 |accessdate=2007-12-31 |publisher=DVD Talk |quote=The title of the show was a combination of two English words (mad and relaxed) that director/writer Kouichisic Mashimo used to portray the duality of human nature he was going for with the themes of the show. [...] Looking past the metaphysical pondering that was the main way in which this show deviated from "Noir", there was a tightly scripted story that took a lengthy time getting to where it was going but it did so in such a satisfying manner that I honestly can't imagine anyone interested in the genre finding fault with it.]

"Madlax" also plays as the story of Margaret Burton's search for her psychological identity. Based on the Mashimo Menu theme titles available to her, Yuki Kajiura has suggested an interpretation that while searching for her memories, Margaret meets the other characters ("Gatekeepers") one after another and learns about the lifestyles ("Gates") they represent. In the end, she finds her own "Gate", which is the new identity that finally replaces the one she lost twelve years ago.

"Madlax" has gained fame among the shōjo-ai fandom for its implied lesbian content.cite web |url=http://okazu.blogspot.com/search/label/Madlax |title=Okazu: "Madlax" |author=Friedman, Erica |date=2004-06-29 |accessdate=2007-06-14] The main source of such speculations in the series is the relationship between Madlax, Vanessa Rene and Limelda Jorg.cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/madlax-vol-3_article_78350.html |title="Madlax" DVD #3 review |accessdate=2008-09-22 |author=Morton, Bryan |date=2006-07-24 |publisher=Mania.com]

Production

Writing

According to the director Kōichi Mashimo, he envisioned "Noir" and "Madlax" as part of a trilogy exploring the girls-with-guns genre, and soon after the release of the latter, he confirmed having plans to produce the third installment, which would later become "El Cazador de la Bruja".cite journal|title=Interview with Kōichi Mashimo|quotes=no|journal=Newtype USA|year=2007|volume=7|issue=4|month=April|quote=During an interview, I accidentally blurted out something about ["Noir" and "Madlax" being part of] a 'trilogy', which forced me to follow through and actually make a third installment!] In late 2002, Mashimo invited Shigeru Kitayama, the producer of "Noir" who once came up with its original idea, to discuss a new series entitled "Madlax". Kitayama greatly expanded Mashimo's original screenplay plan, but it was not until Yōsuke Kuroda was put in charge of the script that the series took its final appearance. It took Kuroda around one year to finish the screenplays for all 26 episodes, during which he was constantly encouraged by Mashimo to add his own original ideas to their initial plan. Kuroda has admitted that at the time he received Mashimo's invitation, he felt frustrated after his first project has been canceled by the publisher, so he decided to make "Madlax" "really extravagant", blending as many genres at once as he could. Kōichi Mashimo, furthermore, admitted that the most unusual plot twists, like Margaret and Madlax's connection to each other, were invented by Kuroda and him while drunk.

Character design

By comparison with "Noir", "Madlax" features a much larger primary cast, including multiple recurring male characters, an element nearly absent in the former. It was not so in the original screenplay draft written by Mashimo and Kitayama: for example, "Madlax" was Margaret's own nickname and Charlie (Vanessa's colleague at Bookwald Industries) had one of the central roles similar to Speedy's in "Avenger". Only the "draft" characters' names remained of them when Kuroda has rewritten the script. A total of three character designers collaborated on "Madlax" cast: Satoshi Ohsawa (who also worked on "Noir" cast) created the central heroines Margaret and Madlax; Minako Shiba drew Friday Monday and Carrossea Doon; and Satoko Miyachi was entrusted with the "mysterious" characters, Laetitia and Poupee.cite DVD-notes |title= [http://www.advfilms.com/product.aspx?ProductId=19298 Madlax Volume 1: Connections] |titleyear=2004 |director=Kōichi Mashimo |format=insert leaflets "Staff Talk #1 (Shigeru Kitayama)" and "#2 (Yosukesic Kuroda)" |publisher=ADV Films |location=Houston, Texas |publisherid=DMAD/001 |year=2005] cite DVD-notes |title= [http://www.advfilms.com/product.aspx?ProductId=19299 Madlax Volume 2: The Red Book] |titleyear=2004 |director=Kōichi Mashimo |format=insert leaflet "Staff Talk #4 (Minako Shiba and Satoko Miyachi)" |publisher=ADV Films |location=Houston, Texas |publisherid=DMAD/002 |year=2005]

Several seiyūs who voiced characters in "Madlax" have participated in earlier projects by studio Bee Train, for example, Houko Kuwashima and Aya Hisakawa who played Kirika Yuumura and Chloe in "Noir" also voiced Margaret Burton and Limelda Jorg.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=281 |title=Houko Kuwashima |publisher=Anime News Network |accessdate=2006-11-09] cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=503 |title=Aya Hisakawa |publisher=Anime News Network |accessdate=2006-11-09] Kotono Mitsuishi (Mireille Bouquet in "Noir"), on the other hand, has received only a minor role (Margaret's mother in episode 21),cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=720 |title=Kotono Mitsuishi |publisher=Anime News Network |accessdate=2006-11-09] while the titular lead of "Madlax" was voiced by Sanae Kobayashi, previously involved with ".hack//Liminality" (Mai Minase).cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=720 |title=Sanae Kobayashi |publisher=Anime News Network |accessdate=2006-11-09] Masashi Ebara (Friday Monday) also had a major role in "Liminality" (Junichiro Tokuoka).cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=510 |title=Masashi Ebara |publisher=Anime News Network |accessdate=2006-11-09] Monica Rial (Kirika Yuumura in the English translation of "Noir") worked on the translation of the screenplay for the ADV Films release.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3714 |title=Monica Rial |publisher=Anime News Network |accessdate=2006-11-09]

Music

Like with many of studio Bee Train's other works, the entire "Madlax" soundtrack was composed by the acclaimed Yuki Kajiura, making it her and Kōichi Mashimo's fifth project together. In an interview Kajiura recalls having written the score in a hotel high-rise to save studio costs, and that this change in location helped her to explore different styles of music.cite album-notes |title=Madlax OST I |bandname=Yuki Kajiura |notestitle=Yuki Kajiura's interview with Keiichi Nozaki and Satoko Miyachi |format=CD booklet |publisher=Geneon |publisherid=VICL-61319 |mbid=0b356f1d-a9f7-413a-b4ce-87fe197ec778]

Kajiura and Yuuka Nanri's duo FictionJunction YUUKA recorded the series' opening and ending themes, nihongo |"Fragments of an Eye" |瞳の欠片 |Hitomi no Kakera and "inside your heart", respectively, as well as two insert songs: "nowhere" and "I'm here". Aside from the opening sequence, "Fragments of an Eye" is featured in the series itself: at the end of episode 18 and in the episode 24, when Margaret is humming its tune to herself in the flower field.cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=3714&page=22|title="Madlax" (TV) Trivia|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=2008-07-06]

In the insert song "nowhere", there is a frequently repeated background refrain nihongo |"Yanmaani" |ヤンマーニ |Yanmāni. It doesn't have any particular meaning but since the song usually plays when Madlax is fighting, "Yanmaani" has become something of a joke to Japanese fans, claiming that it apparently gives her superpowers.cite DVD-notes |title= [http://www.advfilms.com/product.aspx?ProductId=19299 Madlax Volume 2: The Red Book] |titleyear=2004 |director=Kōichi Mashimo |format=insert leaflet "Staff Talk #3 (Satoshi Osawasic)" |publisher=ADV Films |location=Houston, Texas |publisherid=DMAD/002 |year=2005]

Media

Anime series

Originally, "Madlax" was broadcast in Japan by TV Tokyo from 5 April to 27 September 2004, from every Tuesday (formally, Monday night).cite web |url=http://www.c-direct.ne.jp/tvtokyo/eng/pg_lineup/pdf/2004_april.pdf |title=Program lineup |accessdate=2006-10-29 |format=PDF |month=April | year=2004 |publisher=TV Tokyo] Shortly before the series finished airing, it has been licensed in North America and Europe by ADV Films,cite web |url=http://www.advfilms.com/Home/AnimeNews/tabid/105/newsid467/6311/ADV-Films-Makes-Acquisition-Announcement-at-Anime-Weekend-Atlanta/Default.aspx |title=ADV Films makes acquisition announcement at Anime Weekend Atlanta: "MADLAX" licensed |accessdate=2006-10-29 |date=2004-09-28 |publisher=ADV Films] which has previously acquired distribution rights for "Noir" and has long had plans to license its successor, as well.cite web |url=http://anime.about.com/od/animenews/a/aa093004.htm |title=ADV Announces "MADLAX" |accessdate=2007-03-14 |last=Luther |first=Katherine |publisher=About.com |date=2004-10-02 |quote='We've been waiting for this show ever since "Noir" ended,' co-founder Matt Greenfield said.] The official English dub has been released in the United States under the trademark "MADLAX" on a total of seven DVDs from 12 April 2005 to 28 March 2006. A complete collection was released by ADV on 17 July 2007.cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/madlax-complete-collection-thinpak_article_79417.html |title="Madlax" Complete Collection (Thinpack) review |publisher=Mania.com |accessdate=2008-09-22 |date=2007-11-29 |author=Coulter, Bryce] "Madlax" has become the first series on which ADV Films' director and producer David Williams tested the technology of distributing promotional materials via P2P network BitTorrent.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-07-14/adv-bittorrent-test |title="ADV Bittorrent Test" |accessdate=2006-10-29 |date=2005-07-14 |publisher=Anime News Network]

The North-American DVD release contains extras available in English only, such the controversial cite web ">url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/madlaxvol7.php |title="Madlax" DVD #7 review |accessdate=2006-11-08 |author=Hattaway, Mitchell |date=2006-04-20 |publisher=DVDVerdict.com] cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/madlax-vol-7_article_78027.html |title="Madlax" DVD #7 review |accessdate=2008-09-22 |author=Beveridge, Chris |date=2006-04-13 |publisher=Mania.com] and "Sock Puppet Theater", an Easter egg live action about Madlax going after Chris Patton, Badgis' voice actor and an annoying womanizer (accessible during the second transition of episode 21 by pressing "Up", "Down", "Left", and "Right").cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/madlax/dvds-6-7 |title="Madlax" DVD #6 and #7 review |accessdate=2006-11-08 |author=Martin, Theron |date=2006-04-05 |publisher=Anime News Network]

Since 7 February 2006, "Madlax" airs on Anime Network (which is, like ADV Films, a subsidiary of A.D. Vision). On 4 April, shortly after the last DVD volume has been released, the consequent broadcast was put on halt and until 27 June, only the first 8 episodes were repeated. Since then, the series has been relaunched multiple times.Anime Network program lineup for [http://www.theanimenetwork.com/testsched_GEH.php?schedday=2006-02-07 7 February] , [http://www.theanimenetwork.com/testsched_GEH.php?schedday=2006-06-27 27 June] , [http://www.theanimenetwork.com/testsched_GEH.php?schedday=2006-08-01 1 August] , and [http://www.theanimenetwork.com/testsched_GEH.php?schedday=2006-11-07 7 November] 2006, retrieved on 2006-11-15.]

Madman Entertainment, who previously licensed "Noir" in its region, has acquired rights for distribution of "Madlax" in Australia and New Zealand and released it on seven DVD volumes between 20 July 2005 and 26 July 2006.cite web |url=http://www.madman.com.au/madlax/index2.html |title="Madlax" |publisher=Madman Entertainment |accessdate=2008-01-21] A complete collection was released on 4 April 2007.

Soundtrack

The series OST has been released on two albums on 21 Julycite web|url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Discography/A016061/VICL-61319.html|title="MADLAX" O.S.T.|publisher=Victor Entertainment|accessdate=2008-07-06|language=Japanese] and 22 September 2004cite web|url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Discography/A016061/VICL-61320.html|title="MADLAX" O.S.T.2|publisher=Victor Entertainment|accessdate=2008-07-06|language=Japanese] by Victor Entertainment. Two singles, "Hitomi no Kakera"cite web|url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Discography/A018153/VICL-35627.html|title="Hitomi no Kakera"|publisher=Victor Entertainment|accessdate=2008-07-06|language=Japanese] and "inside your heart"cite web|url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Discography/A018153/VICL-35646.html|title="inside your heart"|publisher=Victor Entertainment|accessdate=2008-07-06|language=Japanese] , were published in the same year by FictionJunction YUUKA, each containing an opening/ending theme and one insert song, as well as their respective karaoke versions.

Artbook

"MADLAX the Bible" (ISBN 4-89425-375-5) is a 95-page artbook that was published in Japan on 21 May 2005 by Hobby Japan.cite web|url=http://www.hlj.com/product/HBJ25375|title="MADLAX the Bible"|publisher=HobbyLink Japan|accessdate=2008-07-07] Aside from illustrations and artworks for the series, it contains interviews with its authors and seiyū, as well as diverse additional information about the show in Japanese.cite web |url=http://www.hobbyjapan.co.jp/madlax/ |title="Madlax the Bible" |accessdate=2006-10-29 |publisher=Hobby Japan |language=Japanese] The artbook has never been published outside of Japan. Since the word "Bible" is derived from _gr. "τὰ βιβλία τὰ ἅγια", meaning "holy books", it is likely that the artbook's title is a reference to the Holy Books that play an important role in the series' plot.

Merchandise

A polystone figurine entitled simply "Madlax", was launched in August 2007.cite web |url=http://www.hlj.com/product/CADGK-04 |title="Madlax" |accessdate=2007-12-05 |publisher=HobbyLink Japan] In Japan, a T-shirt with "Madlax" logo has been added to the limited edition of the first DVD volume,cite web |url=http://www.amazon.co.jp/Madlax/dp/B0002AP27O/ |title="Madlax" DVD #1 with series box and T-shirt |accessdate=2007-02-11 |publisher=Amazon.co.jp |date=2004-07-21 |language=Japanese] and the "first press" of the OST albums came with logotype mousepads.cite web |url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VICL-61319 |title="Madlax OST I" |accessdate=2007-02-20 |publisher=CDJapan.co.jp |date=2004-07-21]

Reception

"Madlax" was often accused of being secondary and reusing "Noir"'s stylistic solutions, such as the story premise, the two heroines' appearance, and the musical style.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/madlax/dvd-1 |title="Madlax" DVD #1 review |accessdate=2006-11-08 |author=Martin, Theron |date=2005-05-06 |publisher=Anime News Network] Nevertheless, some sources praised the story for being more monolithic and consequent than its predecessor's, owing to all its episodes and subplots being tightly intertwined and held together by the primary plot.cite web |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/madlaxvol2.php |title="Madlax" DVD #2 review |accessdate=2006-11-08 |author=Hattaway, Mitchell |date=2005-09-01 |publisher=DVDVerdict.com |quote=...every new twist only strengthens the plot. Yes, the story is quite complex, but it doesn't appear to be complex just for the sake of being complex. The plot is a big puzzle, but I have a feeling all of the pieces will eventually fall into place.]

The majority of reviewers perceived the early episodes of "Madlax" as boring and too slow-paced, but some of the same critics later remarked that the prolonged exposition is crucial to the unusual finale of the series, which fully establishes the series' own identity and sets it apart from other works.cite web |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/madlaxvol6.php |title="Madlax" DVD #6 review |accessdate=2006-11-08 |author=Hattaway, Mitchell |date=2006-02-07] |publisher=DVDVerdict.com |quote=Sure, at first glance "Madlax" appears to be nothing more than another run-of-the-mill girls-with-guns anime, but this series goes a long way to proving that the devil's in the details. [...] Unless they really blow things at the end, this will go down as one terrific series.] According to them, after the initial volume, the story gets better and better with every new episode,cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/madlax-vol-4_article_78358.html |title="Madlax" DVD #4 review |accessdate=2008-09-22 |author=Morton, Bryan |date=2006-09-28 |publisher=Mania.com] cite web |url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/madlaxvol3.php |title="Madlax" DVD #3 review |accessdate=2006-11-08 |author=Hattaway, Mitchell |date=2005-09-15 |publisher=DVDVerdict.com |quote=This series keeps getting better and better. [...] I keep waiting for "Madlax" to implode, but it somehow manages to keep on chugging along.] though some have been dissatisfied with its "pseudo-existentialistic" ending. Erica Friedman, the president of Yuricon, highly praised Kuroda's script, naming it "the best writing that Bee Train has done".cite web |url=http://okazu.blogspot.com/2006/07/yuri-anime-madlax-volume-7.html |title="Madlax" DVD #7 review |accessdate=2007-10-25 |author=Friedman, Erica |date=2007-07-03 |quote=It's a magic with no roots in our world, so we have to take everything we're given at face value,.. [...] I still maintain that "Madlax" is the best writing that Bee Train has done. It has the mystery of the ".hack" series, without the endless meaningless chatter that goes nowhere, the yuri and violence of "Noir", the despair and love of "Avenger" and a story that resolves, unlike all of them.] Professional reviewers welcomed the increased number of sympathetic characters,cite web |url=http://www.mania.com/madlax-vol-6_article_77932.html |title="Madlax" DVD #6 review |accessdate=2008-09-22 |author=Beveridge, Chris |date=2006-01-26 |publisher=Mania.com] especially the distinguishable male ones (Friday, Carrossea, Colonel Burton), as opposed to stormtrooper-like operatives of Soldats in "Noir", but the female character designs were still said to be much more detailed (to the point of fanservice in case of Madlax) than the more generic male characters.

The high quality of the animation in "Madlax" was generally acknowledged. On the negative side, the episodes that involve computer use and hacking received criticism for their lack of realism. In terms of soundtrack, "Madlax" has not become as innovative as "Noir",cite web |url=http://www.activeanime.com/pn/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2343 |title="Madlax OST I" review |accessdate=2007-07-27 | |author=Salandanan, Rommel |date=2005-11-14 |publisher=ActiveAnime.com] with critics suggesting its OST to be a blend of "Noir" and ".hack//Sign" styles.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/madlax/dvd-2 |title="Madlax" DVD #2 review |accessdate=2006-11-08 |author=Martin, Theron |date=2005-06-28 |publisher=Anime News Network |quote=The musical scoring, which sounds like a mix of "Noir" and ".hack//SIGN"sic,..] Nevertheless, the reviewers acknowledged its superiority over the majority of contemporary works. The English translation released by ADV Films was praised for preserving most of the series' original stylistic aspects and inviting veteran voice actors for the dub. Reviewers went as far as to suggest that several English voices (especially Mike Kleinhenz's) match the characters better than the Japanese ones.

The initial slow pacing, especially compared to the first episodes of "Noir", became a main reason why the audience often dropped watching "Madlax" before it could present its later story turns which eventually resulted in the moderate success of the series. Among other suggested reasons behind the mediocre popularity of the show were: the market saturation, which resulted from other anime series attempting to repeat the success of "Noir" since 2001; the expectable disinterest against a "Noir" remake", found among the fans of the first series; the over-the-top action scenes that some felt to be ridiculous;cite web |url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=817 |title="Madlax" (first two episodes) review |accessdate=2007-01-10 |author=Ross, Carlos |publisher=THEM Anime Reviews |quote=Usually, a show like this is saved by its dramatic themes and its action sequences. Noir was. Madlax is not... The "action" is so over-the-top as to cross the line between cool and stupid... Maybe future episodes will prove me wrong, but for now, "Madlax" is frustratingly mediocre and extremely difficult to find the motivation to continue.] and its unconventional genre, which straddled "Madlax" uncomfortably between fans of mystical science fiction and those who prefer "Noir"'s strict realism.

References

External links

* [http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/madlax/ Official TV Tokyo "Madlax" website] ja icon
* [http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/m-serve/madlax/ Official JVC "Madlax" website] ja icon
* [http://www.advfilms.com/titles/madlax/ Official ADV Films "Madlax" website]
* [http://www.madman.com.au/madlax/index2.html Official Madman Entertain "Madlax" website]
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