C: The Money of Soul & Possibility Control Combines Dragon Ball & Jojo

Anime can cover anything from the silly and supernatural to the grounded and gritty. Sometimes, a series will even combine two completely disparate themes and styles, leading to a highly unique story. [C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control is one of the best examples of this, combining economic satire and action in a way that's quite unlike anything else on offer.

[C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (also known as C) first arrived on screens in 2011. This anime-original series was helmed by Mononoke director Kenji Nakamura and animated by Tatsunoko Production. Upon release, it quickly became clear that C was heavily inspired by the events that triggered the 2007 financial crisis. Here's what it's all about, why it's well worth watching in 2023, and how C even uses elements of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Dragon Ball.

The Plot of [C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control

[C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control's Q and Msyu

C follows Kimimaro Yoga, a young man who's had a hard life due to his father vanishing and his mother passing away. Yearning for a stable and comfortable life, he becomes an economics student. However, the plan goes awry when he meets the mysterious Masakaki from Midas Bank's Commercial Division. Kimimaro is offered a load of money via a loan but must put his future -- including his lifespan -- up as a collateral. He ends up agreeing and becomes an Entre in the Financial District, a plane of existence that sits just outside the real world.

Every Entre in the Financial District is paired with a supernatural helper called an Asset, who has unique magical powers and is said to be the personification of their partner's future. Entres are forced to battle one another every week, betting money on the outcome as they do. However, those who go bankrupt inside the Financial District will endure tragic consequences.

One of the most impressive elements of [C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control is how it balances both sides of its premise. The financial subplot is expertly realized, being complex and deep without ever getting too confusing for viewers. That said, the show also doesn't hold back when it comes to battles. Each fight features amazing animation, stunning special attacks, Dragon Ball-esque choreography, and clever gambits that keep fans' on the edge of their seat the whole time.

[C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control Is Perfect for Modern Audiences

Mashu and Kimimaro Yoga from [C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control

Most of the special attacks seen in C are based on economic concepts, presenting these often abstract ideas in an understandable way. The fast-paced battles and complex power interactions are likewise a great metaphor for the labyrinthine world of globalized finance and its often illogical inside dealings. In many ways, this could be seen as a spiritual sequel to Kenji Nakamura's Mononoke, which also used surreal, hyper-stylized animation to give unknowable things recognizable physical forms.

Amazingly, [C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control's themes are more relevant today than they were in 2011. While acting as an excellent (if fantastical) depiction of the forces that caused the financial crash, the show's characters will resonate more with modern viewers. Most of them are flawed and deeply hurt people making dangerous decisions out of a need for survival, fighting in the Financial District to support themselves or their families because their real-world financial situation has left them in a sorry state.

This is especially true of the protagonist. Kimimaro is a young man with simple dreams, desiring what would be considered the absolute basics by previous generations. Yet, even he is forced into fighting for his life inside the Financial District, risking untold harm and inflicting pain on others as he does. Many millennials, realizing the basics are getting more out of reach, will surely see some of themselves in Kimimaro and his complex plight.

The anime also captures how major economic issues can stretch beyond the institutions that initially cause them. It often isn't the people responsible for these situations bearing the brunt of the pain, but rather the regular people who endure hardships while those in charge get off scot-free. Many people today are still weathering the aftereffects of the 2007 crash.

[C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control merges the action elements of anime like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure and Dragon Ball with a surprisingly deep satire of the financial markets and the effect they have on society. It all adds up to a fascinating anime that will speak to modern viewers on a deep level.

[C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control is now streaming on Funimation.