[C] - CONTROL - The Money and Soul of Possibility

The narrative of [C] - CONTROL - The Money and Soul of Possibility introduces viewers to Kimimaro Yoga, a diligent and financially cautious 19-year-old economics student residing in modern-day Japan. His sole aspiration is to secure a stable, predictable middle-class existence, diligently avoiding the precarious economic instability surrounding him. This modest goal is shattered when he is visited by Masakaki, a peculiar and unnerving agent representing the enigmatic Midas Bank. Masakaki presents Kimimaro with an irresistible but morally ambiguous proposition: access to vast wealth, known as Midas Money, in exchange for collateralizing his own future. Upon accepting, Kimimaro is unwillingly inducted into the Financial District, a hidden, parallel dimension where powerful individuals called Entrepreneurs engage in high-stakes duels known as "Deals." These battles are fought using specialized supernatural entities called Assets, which are direct manifestations of the Entrepreneur's pledged future. The consequences of these Battles are far from illusory; victories yield immense financial gain, while devastating losses translate directly into severe, real-world economic and personal repercussions for the loser and their loved ones. The anime expertly uses this setting to dissect complex themes surrounding economic ethics, the true value of currency, and the unseen costs associated with financial speculation. Kimimaro quickly encounters Souichirou Mikuni, a formidable veteran Entrepreneur who leads the Starling Guild, an organization striving to mitigate the disastrous ripple effects of the Financial District's activities on the global economy. As Kimimaro navigates this surreal financial underworld, he must determine the ethical limits of his own ambition and decide if the promise of wealth is worth jeopardizing the future he so desperately sought to protect.

[C] - CONTROL - The Money and Soul of Possibility presents an ambitious and conceptually dense viewing experience, primarily excelling in its thematic exploration of capitalism and personal value. The animation quality, produced by Funimation, features a distinctive, sleek aesthetic that visually complements the modern financial setting. The action sequences, or Deals, are highly stylized, utilizing unique visual effects to represent financial terminology as supernatural attacks, which successfully bridges the abstract nature of economics with tangible combat. However, the overall story pacing is notably uneven; the initial world-building is rapid and often information-heavy, which can challenge viewer comprehension, while the climax feels slightly rushed given the scale of the crisis established. Character development is strongest for the protagonist, Kimimaro Yoga, whose moral evolution from passive observer to active participant is compellingly handled. Conversely, some secondary characters, while visually interesting, lack sufficient screen time to fully justify their complex motivations. The voice acting across both Japanese and English casts is professional and fitting, particularly in capturing the unnerving charisma of Masakaki and the calculated demeanor of Souichirou Mikuni. Despite minor narrative structural weaknesses, the anime delivers a powerful, sophisticated critique of societal reliance on speculative wealth, utilizing its supernatural framework to provide intellectual depth rarely seen in the action genre.