Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne is a Japanese anime series that grapples with a very important truth: the quest for immortality, while also contemplating the question, does immortality lead to eternal suffering?

Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne, The Complete Series on Blu-Ray

Episode #1, Cat’s Don’t Laugh

The stark and gritty opening sets the tone for the entire show, erotic violence. We are presented with two mysteries, that of Rin herself and her origins and the character she finds with a complex sense of amnesia / deja vu. Aside from the nudity and violence, the story is kept alive with these secrets. In fact, every character presented in the first episode has a secret, none of which are completely answered.

The shot composition and juxtaposition is nearly flawless. The sexuality is dealt with in by revealing only portions of the characters anatomy or cutting away at just the right moment, while all but one scene featuring nudity are contained within violent exchanges.

Neither the sex or the violence seem like they are done for their own sake, instead they are used as motifs around the episodes central themes.

One noticeable aspect of the production is its very limited and selective use of depth of field and rack focus.

I rate Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne, Cats Don’t Laugh a 4 out of 5 and a must see for any anime fan. Recommended for viewers 18 and up due to nudity, torture, sexuality, language and violence.

Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne, The Complete Series on Blu-Ray