Venus Versus Virus is a 12-episode anime series that aired in 2007, adapted from the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Atsushi Suzumi. I watched it ages ago, but I rewatched it a few months ago as part of my ongoing journey to rediscover older anime series.

The story follows Sumire Takahana and Lucia Nahashi. Lucia is a member of a secret organization called Venus Vanguard, which hunts down demons known as Viruses. Sumire ends up recruited after Lucia notices she has an innate ability that makes her especially effective against these creatures.

Together, the two take on various missions to eliminate Viruses, all while Sumire tries to juggle her normal school life. As the episodes go by, the pair gradually uncover more information about the source of the Viruses and the real motives behind their appearance.

The series is a dark fantasy with light yuri undertones, and I remember really liking it during my first watch. The rewatch was still enjoyable, although this time around the weak points were easier to notice, especially the pacing. Once the final target is revealed, the plot rushes forward extremely quickly.

The ending feels a bit rushed, and I think the series could have benefited from more time to flesh out the characters and build up the final conflict. I have not read the manga yet, but I am curious to check it out to see whether the pacing issues existed in the source material or were specific to the anime adaptation.

Sumire Takahana is a shy girl who cannot fight Viruses through ordinary means. Her real power only appears when Lucia injects her with a special chemical that triggers her Berserker Mode, turning her into an unstoppable force. In this state, her personality changes completely. She becomes violent, loses rational thought and cannot distinguish friend from enemy.

Lucia Nahashi, by contrast, is calm, calculating and outwardly cold. This is largely a defense mechanism to keep people at a distance. Her left eye contains a mysterious power that she uses only sparingly because it takes a significant toll on her body.

I cannot say I had a standout favorite character in this series. Lucia and Sumire are both well-developed, but neither left a strong enough impression for me to call them favorites. Laura had potential but too little screen time to fully develop.

I would recommend this anime, but only if you are looking for a light action series with cute girls and a bit of supernatural flair. Do not go in expecting a masterpiece. It has charm, but it is far from perfect.