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Claymore (TV).

So what's it actually about? All I got from the rather oddly written encyclopedia entry was that there are monsters called 'Youma' and some special people who are half 'youma' with special swords and powers who can kill them. (I assume they are trying to model at least a few of the weapons off a claymore...I may just have to see how they do that)

The setting of Claymore's story is a fictional world with medieval technology. Politically, it appears to consist of a large number of scattered towns. In this world, humans coexist with monsters called Yoma. The Yoma, who are shape-changers, can take human form and live in disguise among human society. They feed on human innards, and sometimes take possession of memories from the brains of people they eat. These acquired memories help them to disguise themselves within human society.

A nameless and highly secretive organization has created an order of superhuman warriors to protect humans from the Yoma. These warriors are called Claymores by the village people, after their immense claymore swords. Villages being attacked by Yomas hire Claymores to kill the Yomas for a large fee.

This organization creates the Claymores by implanting Yoma flesh and blood into humans, to create hybrids that are more powerful than the original Yoma, in addition to their weapons training and possibly greater intelligence. A Claymore's standard abilities include faster healing, limited shape modification, the ability to detect other demons and hybrids, and overall enhanced physical prowess. They all wear the same armor and use large claymore swords that normal humans lack the strength to wield, and are characterized by their silver eyes and hair. However, the Yoma powers of each Claymore will increase overtime until the Claymore loses all humanity and becomes a powerful, highly intelligent Yoma called an Awakened. They also constantly run the risk of speeding up their transformations into Yomas if they overuse their powers. A good Claymore will ask a friend (usually a fellow Claymore) to kill them if they sense they are "Awakening" so they would not become a Yoma.

The secret organization is contacted by the town council about Yoma killings and will then send a Claymore to kill the demons, although not every hybrid does so willingly. Upon a successful kill, it then sends an agent to charge a large fee for its services. A town that fails to pay will never receive further assistance and will be left at the mercy of the Yoma. It has been insinuated that the organization themselves send Yoma to the towns that could not pay. The organization is often strict and harsh; hybrids who break the rules (for example, by killing a human, even accidentally or to protect others) will be hunted down by their fellow hybrids. Claymores who causes trouble or Claymores who are suspected to be on the verge of Awakening, will often be sent on impossible suicide missions without the Claymores themselves knowing. It has been insinuated by various characters in the series that the organization is much more sinister than it appears.

Despite saving humans on a regular basis, Claymores are often feared and alienated by humans due to their incredible powers, their relation to Yomas, and generally cold attitudes. Claymores often live unhappy, lonely lives due to their loneliness and the knowledge that they will eventually die or become monsters. Presumably from the combination of their Yoma blood and their suffering, some Claymores develop an incredible thirst for blood and become bloodthirsty killers who enjoy taking life. Surviving family members of humans who had been possessed by Yomas are often alienated and banished from villages for fear that they might be Yoma too. Females who suffer this fate are often forced to become Claymores to survive.

The story of Claymore follows the adventures of the beautiful Claymore warrior Clare. The plot follows her as she fights Yoma and struggles to hold on to her humanity. Starting in the 3rd volume, there is a flashback to her childhood and how she was 'adopted' by the Claymore Teresa. After Teresa rebels against the organization and is subsequently killed, Clare volunteers to become a Claymore using Teresa's flesh in order to take revenge on the Awakened who killed her ....

hentai4me wrote:

So what's it actually about? All I got from the rather oddly written encyclopedia entry was that there are monsters called 'Youma' and some special people who are half 'youma' with special swords and powers who can kill them. (I assume they are trying to model at least a few of the weapons off a claymore...I may just have to see how they do that)

There is a somewhat lengthy description of the background in the manga's Wikipeda article (if you don't mind take a couple of minutes to read it). I feel it sums up the basic idea of the story quite well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymore_(manga)#Background

The first episode was great. Madhouse has done an excellent job the so far. The art looks so much better in the anime, I'm very impressed.

digitalkikka: Yeah, I wasn't too happy with the music either. I don't really care about the OP and ED all that much, but the BGM music wasn't anything special. Hopefully it will get better as time goes on.

Jedi General wrote:

The first episode was great. Madhouse has done an excellent job the so far. The art looks so much better in the anime, I'm very impressed. digitalkikka: Yeah, I wasn't too happy with the music either. I don't really care about the OP and ED all that much, but the BGM music wasn't anything special. Hopefully it will get better as time goes on.

Regarding the music make that three.
At some parts it felt quite akward to say the least.
However I am quite impressed with the first episode.
Claymore reminds me of Berserk and Fate/Stay Night combined for some odd reason.
Definately a great show to watch over the next months.