Read or Die (2003)

I highly recommend this anime for the inventiveness of its characters, action, and plot. It shows a fresh take and a fighting spirit and is fun to watch. First I'm attracted to the idea of a scatterbrained young woman who is so taken by books that she can literally tune out a surrounding apocalypse when she's absorbed in reading; Paper works as a never-say-die special agent for British library operations and has the magical ability to mold paper to her will (for use as ninja stars, whip, parachute, etc.). Her fellow agents are Miss Deep, a martial arts expert and a buxom babe -- how does she keep that lowcut top on despite all those gymnastics? -- who has the magical ability to pass through matter at will, and Drake, a cut above Special Forces kinda guy. The bad guys are really bad, and so's their technology and plans for world domination; they know how to travel in style, they know how to fight, and they just can't be beaten. Several times our heroes seem to be down for the count. The whole story is gripping and the ending is satisfying too. 4 stars.