Bayonetta: Bloody Fate is a 2013 Japanese animated film based on the video game Bayonetta. For the English-localized version of the film, FUNimation Entertainment requested that as many video game cast members as possible reprise their roles. Hellena Taylor, the English voice of Bayonetta, relocated to the UK and had to be recorded separately at The Egg Recording Studio at Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England.
Opening Song: N/A
Credits Song: Night, I Stand (by Mai Sato)
Spoiler Warning: I am going to give a synopsis and my opinions at the very end.
Synopsis:
Two European clans oversee history for higher powers: the Lumen Sages (light) serve the angels and the Umbra Witches (darkness) serve the demons. The clans kept balance by keeping to their respective sides until two clan members violated the doctrines by producing a child of sage and witch heritage. The birth of the child threw everyone into an age of chaos that ended with the witch being imprisoned and the sage banished.
Each clan possesses an "eye of the world" that governs creation. The forbidden child was given the left eye, and when brought together with the right eye, Jubileus the Creator would be resurrected to birth a new world. The angels wish for Jubileus to return and the demons oppose it.
The forbidden child, Bayonetta, was raised as a Witch and then sealed away when the witch hunts began. 500 years later she is released and takes up battling angels for a living. Rodin (a fallen angel) supplies Bayonetta with her signature weapons - four large-caliber handguns called "The Elfin Knight" which she uses to destroy a small army of Affinity angels and Applaud archangels in a chapel.
The handguns were called "Scarborough Fair" in the game, after the traditional British ballad. An alternative name for the guns (also taken from the ballad) are: Parsley (festivity), Sage (wisdom), Rosemary (remembrance), and Thyme (courage). All four herbs were believed to ward off evil.
A much larger Beloved (authority) angel is promptly devoured by the dragon-like demon Gomorrah, who enters the world through a portal made out of Bayonetta's hair (which doubles as her outfit). After the fight, Bayonetta stores a freshly-licked lollipop in her cleavage and teases Luka (jokingly called Cheshire), a normal human bystander who is aware of her true nature. Luka insists that Bayonetta killed his father and vows to one day find proof. Bayonetta destroys his camera and also takes the blame for damaging his car (Enzo's car in the game). At Rodin's bar, The Gates to Hell, Bayonetta gets a drink and confers with her informant Enzo.
Enzo explains that people of the Ragna faith are gathering in Vigrid to witness the first public appearance of Father Balder, a Lumen Sage. Luka also notices the news stories, and knowing that his father was investigating the Sages prior to his death, decides to leave for Vigrid. Meanwhile, Bayonetta is attacked by a fellow Witch named Jeanne. During their sparing match Bayonetta vaguely recalls having met Jeanne once before but can't recall when or where that would have been.
Bayonetta is transported through a glowing portal after the fight to a place where a small girl, called Cereza, is being attacked by an Ardor (principality) angel. Cereza has a stuffed cat named Cheshire and a watch Bayonetta recognizes in her possession. The girl also mistakes Bayonetta for her mother. Bayonetta catches up to Luka and forces him to babysit Cereza.
Bayonetta takes a motorcycle to Vigrid where an Irenic (principality) angel initiates a high speed car chase that ends with the demon Scolopendra being summoned to constrict the car-like angel. Shortly after her victory another angel appears, the high-ranking virtue Temperantia. Again Bayonetta summons a demon, this time using Hekatoncheir to pummel Temperantia. Because ordinary humans are unable to perceive supernatural beings, Cereza lends Luka her enchanted(?) glasses so that he can watch the battle taking place.
Bayonetta blows up an Inspired (thrones) angel on her way to Father Balder's headquarters in Vigrid where they find Jeanne waiting for them. Bayonetta engages Jeanne in a rematch, during which her memories finally return: Jeanne was her childhood friend and was the one to seal her away 500 yeas ago when the witch hunts decimated their numbers. Bayonetta wins the battle and together with Cereza and Luka, the trio meets Father Balder - Cereza/Bayonetta's biological father. Cereza is Bayonetta's real name and the little girl is actually her younger self. Balder opens a portal to send Cereza back to her own time while explaining how he intends to make the two of them into gods once the world has been reborn.
Balder claims that Cereza was meant to aid Bayonetta in experiencing love and innocence, while Jeanne was key to unlocking her memories. He also admits to hiring Luka's father to do work for him, and having to have him executed by angels for knowing too much when he discovered Bayonetta's body. Balder then tries to kill Luka but is interrupted by Bayonetta.
The angels smell of rosemary which Luka mistakenly attributed to Bayonetta.
At that moment Jubileus awakens with Balder and Bayonetta as its eyes. Jeanne arrives to free Bayonetta and together they summon Queen Sheba to torture Jubileus on a chevalet before shooting her to death. With the world saved, Jeanne and Bayonetta continue to battle heaven's forces. Luka publishes his father's findings on the Lumen Sages and Umbra Witches, but it fails to sell well.
Final Thoughts
Bloody Fate basically recounts all the major events from the first video game. Naturally a few sequences had to be changed or omitted, but on the whole Bloody Fate remains shockingly faithful to the original storyline, to the point that it could work as a substitute to the video game if all you're interested in is the story. Several lines were even copied word-for-word straight from the game. Occasionally the drawing style looked a little off or the character's heights changed between scenes, but the animation was pretty good, especially with all the over the top action sequences. The backgrounds were beautifully drawn as well and the lighting effects really highlighted the majesty of the angels and demons; particularly their glowing eyes or golden accoutrements.
As an advertisement for the game series I honestly didn't expect much, but Bloody Fate turned out to be a solid effort. The density of content and lightning-fast pacing makes it difficult to enjoy as a standalone film, but it does act as a good recap of the first game's storyline for anyone that needs a refresher, plans on skipping the first game, or just wants the gist of what Bayonetta is about.
Have you seen Bayonetta: Bloody Fate? What were your thoughts on the film? If you haven't seen it, do you plan to?
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