02.08.10
Posted in Anime, Reviews Tags: anime classics, Ginga Eiyu Densetsu, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, OVA, sci-fi anime, space opera anime, 銀河英雄伝説 at 10:00 am by reversethieves
Random warning: Never watch the previews, NEVER, they are full of spoilers. And so are the episode titles, so never look at them, NEVER.
Legend of the Galactic Heroes can be one of the most intimidating series to start in all of anime with 110 episode in the main OVA series, several movies, and 52 OVA side story episodes it can seem like madness. But this is the definitive space opera inside or outside of anime. There are dozen of reasons to watch Legend of the Galactic Heroes: the complex politics, the epic space battles, and just the overall maturity of the the whole production. But the only reason any of that matters is because the characters are so compelling that they make you care about everything that happens. This is why I never cared for Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series despite how good it might be it never connected me to the characters. I had considered starting Legend of the Galactic Heroes on my own several times but thankfully Narutaki and my roommate decided to join me in watching this series once a week otherwise I would be watching this at a much slower pace. Even if you have to brave it alone know that it few series will reward for your effort and dedication. This review is for the first arc of the series with 26 episodes.
So perhaps you don’t know anything about Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Well, let me tell you, it’s infamously epic and quite long. And no we didn’t write that wrong, it is a 110 episode OVA. You might be saying to yourself, well 110 episodes sounds long but compared to many a shonen fighting show it’s not too crazy. But this isn’t a shonen fighting show, these 110 episodes are a dramatic, political, and strategic running narrative with a cast that swells with significant characters. But don’t worry, as the title implies, you can quite easily break the show into parts. You can even take a break between parts, but I promise you won’t want to. That is what makes it so amazing! Space opera has never been done better than Legend of the Galactic Heroes.
The Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance have been dead locked in intergalactic war for centuries. The Galactic Empire is a decadent monarchy and the Free Planets Alliance is a corrupt democracy both so weakened from within that they cannot conquer the other. But there are two rising stars, one on each side, whose actions will forever change the balance of the galaxy. Admiral Reinhard von Lohengramm plans to overthrow the corrupt regime of the Empire where as commodore Yang Wen-li merely wishes to keep the democracy he loves alive. Reinhard is disgusted with the decadent nobles who stole his sister from him and vows to gain power through the military to get his revenge. Yang on the other hand keeps rising through the ranks despite his best efforts and in the process drawing the attentions of the vile Patriotic Knight Corps. Countless men and women will dedicate themselves to helping or stopping these two men. As a man who studies history, Yang realizes that this story has happened before and will happen again.
Yes, there are huge space battles, we are thrown into one in the first episode where numbers like 300,000 get batted around when discussing the loss of soldiers in an attack. People get blown up, set aflame, impaled, and everything else but LotGH likes to throws these moments at you sparsely, so much so that you get surprised by the graphic nature of things each time it happens. This story is about a huge war that has been waged and never ceased but something about the clash of these two men, Yang and Reinhard, is about to change the course of the war. The ideas they represent, the moral ground that is tread, and the ability to show two sides, each with a set of values that are not demonized is what gives LotGH a unique flavor.
Everyone in LotGH comes off as someone to either root for or hate on both sides of the conflict. Yang and Reinhard are amazingly charismatic each in their own way and the similarities and contrasts between the two of them in the first arc are brilliant. Reinhard with his ambitious and upstanding goals but morally gray motivations and methods perfectly flank Yang with his slacker charm, easy genius, and upstanding character that is seasoned with a realistic view of the world. They are both tactical geniuses but both are remarkable strategists with their own distinct style. Reinhard is able to set up situations where he cannot lose and Yang is able to come up with brilliant strategy on the fly to survive in hopeless moments no matter how horrible the hand he is dealt. I definitely felt myself leaning towards Yang but I was still enthralled by Reinhard’s story. Both Reinhard and Yang strive to make the galaxy a better place but their ideals make it destiny to clash time and time again. Each time they meet it is not only a clash of their military strategy but of their world views. Reinhard wants to burn away the corrupt nobility of the Empire and feels only he has the vision and strength to reform the galaxy. Yang wishes just to keep himself and the people under his command out of trouble but we see that he has deeper and more grand ideals than just survival. Yang just knows you have to survive to make them a reality. As the first arc goes on both of them must also deal with internal struggles within their respective governments which exposes the strengths and weaknesses of both of their philosophies as well. When this part ends both men have changed themselves, their organizations, and the very course of human history itself.
Yang, Yang he’s our man! If he can’t do it no one can! This poor guy clearly comes off as the underdog in the series because not only does Reinhard just have more resources, his own government is constantly getting in his way. The Alliance seems to flip-flop from thinking Yang is the hero of the hour to thinking he is going to plot a coup to overthrow them. This actually stems from their own greed and corruption, they just can’t understand that a man exists who doesn’t want power and dominion, especially one has military and strategically capable as Yang. And this is what makes Yang such a contrast to Reinhard. Reinhard is trying to do all those things! However, Reinhard also has noble ideals and grand dreams for the Empire he so desperately wants as his own. Both of these men are plagued by the deceit, arrogance, and disregard for the people by their respective factions but their personalities and ways of dealing with it couldn’t be more different. Yang has sort of accepted that the democracy that he defends is rotten from the inside, but he doesn’t believe in using military might to fix it. Reinhard on the other hand believes the only way to cure the downward spiral of the Empire is by becoming the Empire himself. They are two sides of the same coin and as such they are perfect rivals.
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12.21.09
Posted in Anime Tags: Akagi, comedy anime, Cromartie High School, Daughter of Twenty Faces, detective anime, Emma, Gankutsuou, Godannar, Kekkaishi, Kino's Journey, Le Chevalier d'Eon, list, mecha anime, Moribito, overlooked anime, Paradise Kiss, Planetes, Princess Tutu, robots, romance anime, sci-fi anime, sports anime, Taisho Baseball Girls, The Story of Saiunkoku, TV series, アカギ, エマ, キノの旅, シュヴァリエ, パラダイス・キス, プラネテス, プリンセスチュチュ, 二十面相の娘, 大正野球娘, 巌窟王, 彩雲国物語, 神魂合体ゴーダンナー!!, 精霊の守り人, 結界師, 魁!!クロマティ高校 at 10:00 am by reversethieves
Since everyone is doing their best of the decade lists we decided to throw in our two cents as well. Instead of doing a “Best Anime of the 00’s” we focused on shows from the 00’s you might have overlooked. We did not try to pick shows that will blow your mind with how obscure they are. These are just good show that you might have overlooked. We hope you find at least one series on the list you’ll really enjoy!
This is not some be all, end all of lists of shows from the decade. This is just a little nudge to say “Hey, did you see all these goodies?” Also these are shows that we have both seen, it was just plain easier to narrow it down that way. But you’ll see at the end a personal pick for each of us. What gems did we overlook in these last ten years, I’d sure like to hear!
Kino’s Journey
(Read our full review here)
Kino’s Journey is a meaty show for people who really want to sink their teeth into what they are watching. Kino’s travels take her to a new town every episode that highlights some oddity of human nature or culture. All the stories deal with philosophical concepts in a mature manner while remaining entertaining. This is best one episode at a time so the ideas presented within can be mulled over in your head for a bit before moving onto the next.
Kino’s Journey has this mix of hope and melancholy in addition to it’s wanderer feel. The span of the world Kino travels is vast like her indomitable spirit and curiosity. This is also one of those shows where you are sort of dropped into the middle and only see the wrapped up of a specific journey and a bit of growth by the end rather than a full conclusion of some kind. P.S. talking motorcycle
Daughter of Twenty Faces
(Read our full review here)
A high spirited adventure with the best parts of detective and phantom thief anime. Chizuko is a great, strong young woman who is thankfully not sexually exploited by the show. She really draws you into her journey and makes you root for her as she is helping Twenty Faces steal a priceless object or when she tries to solve a mystery. It has an excellent blend of action, comedy, tragedy, intrigue, and drama with a touch of steampunk.
We just wrote about Daughter of Twenty Faces so you shouldn’t be too surprised to see it on the list since in encompasses exactly what we are all about! The setting is really catching with its post WWII feel but intermixing steampunk. Everyone wants an adventure like this, it has that classic familiar feel to it, but its mysteries and quirks are deftly handled.
Planetes
One of the best examples of hard sci-fi you will find in anime; it takes the the best parts of the genre with an utterly believable future filled with commonplace space travel. At the same time it avoids making it dull by connecting you to the characters and their stories. You will find yourself rooting for the underdogs of the debris section as they reach for their dreams. A more mature anime with an adult storyline that does not have gratuitous sex or violence.
There is a sad lack of sci-fi anime of late and Planetes focus on a more probably and mundane future makes it a further anomaly. But within that mundanity of the job are a cast of characters each with their individual dreams, fears, and a connection to space. Think of it like an office sitcom, only better. And since this is really a story about people an interest in space is recommended but not required to enjoy this show.
The Story of Saiunkoku
(Read our full review here)
Don’t let certain people on the Internet make you avoid this show because they say it is a reverse harem. A cast of attractive male characters does not a reverse harem show make. The men all don’t dream of Shuurei. If fact almost none of them do. This a great blend of drama and politics in a unique fantasy setting. The comedy and drama is strong but Shuurei’s deft dealings with politics and adamant determination to improve the nation is what will keep you watching.
Don’t go look at The Story of Saiunkoku promotional material, just don’t, it doesn’t help our case. The story while focusing on Shuurei has a huge cast of characters giving it the feeling of literally telling us the story of an entire country. The romance of the first 10 or so episodes soon takes a backseat to Shuurei’s rise in the government and all the politics, problems, and people that come along with it.
Akagi
Don’t let the fact that you don’t know how to play Mahjong keep you from enjoying one of the most intense anime. The sheer suspense and the players reactions tell you everything you need to know. Every game is a intense life or death struggle where Akagi puts everything on the line and you can’t help but get swept away with his madness. Akagi could be playing old maid and the it would still be as captivating.
First you will watch the opening and shrug, but by episode three you will have the song on your MP3 player. Akagi himself will blow you always with his bad-assery, even at age 14 or precisely because he is only 14, and you will know his chuckle that means “you fool” well. Never has Mahjong been more intense as Akagi goes around challenging the unsavory underworld with stakes that give even the worst of them pause. And yes, Akagi would mop the floor with anyone from Saki.
Paradise Kiss
High fashion and dramatic romance combine to create a visual symphony for the eyes and an emotional one for the heart. A mature look at romance and relationships that is long enough to be an excellent character study but short enough that the melodrama does not wear out its welcome. And the whole time everyone looks stunningly sharp while it is going on.
Paradise Kiss may sell you on its awesome opening alone. If not, then consider Yukari’s dramatic journey from unsure young girl to determined young woman who learns what it is to step out on your own. Between its colorful cast of characters and its very mature romance, Paradise Kiss delivers on all fronts. It also has a hip, modern style paired with its bittersweet coming of age tale.
God Soul Combination Godannar!!
Any mecha fan will tell you that Gurren Lagann is constantly making sly little winks at the audience to see if they love old giant robot shows as much as they do. Godannar shouts its love for robots outside your window with a boom box playing the Mazinger Z theme. It has comedy played totally straight to great effect alongside well done character drama between the pulse pounding robots fights. It can be easy to miss all of the with the super gratuitous fan-service but don’t let that turn you off from a truly spectacular show.
Alright, there is little to no way you can watch this show if fan-service deters you. But even so you should atleast watch the first four episodes. Godannar is this wicked combination satire but played extra serious making it even more funny! It will leave you holding your sides from laughter but also cheering for giant robot action. And just try not to sign along with the opening. Recommended for viewing in groups.
Le Chevalier d’Eon
(Read our full review here)
It combines real life personalities from pre-revolutionary France and adds a layer of supernatural intrigue. Plus you get zombies, magic, politics, cloak and dagger, and the hottest version of Robespierre ever. The best part is that we get to see the mystery behind the conspiracy in Le Chevalier d’Eon at just the right pace so we are never bored or info dumped. Plus the actions scenes are well choreographed and dynamic.
If I had to pick one show on the list that is simply amazing, it would be La Chevalier d’Eon. It is a well-plotted globe spanning mystery with a great use of subtlety and nuance in addition to its twist on history. Everyone in the series is engaging and all have a little secret making it impossible to always know people’s motives. And best of all this show genuinely surprised me in its final revelations.
Cromartie High School
I really enjoy dry humor when it is done effectively and Cromartie High School pulls it of in spades. Even though the student body is filled with stand up comedy delinquents, a robot, a gorilla, and Freddie Mercury it is all kept in check by making the humor very subdued. The jokes could easily wear thin if the comedy was spastic but the jokes are allowed the correct amount of slow build to make this series a delight.
I always thought Cromartie High School would have done well with the Adult Swim crowd. The series is played so dry and straight as if having these scenarios occur is just a part of life. It’s a riot and you’ll wish you could go to a delinquent-filled Japanese high school too!
Taisho Baseball Girls
Taisho Baseball Girls is a fun and bright tale of a girls baseball team trying to show that they can play on equal terms with the boys. The story moves along at a brisk but relaxed pace and every episode had something that made me laugh out loud or tear up a bit. This show remind me of a historical version of Princess Nine and that is no faint amount of praise.
Taisho Baseball Girls may win you over with just its first episode’s musical tour of Taisho era Tokyo. The series has charm in spades and thanks to a well thought of cast of girls most every moment is a gem. The humor is spry but not over the top as it its tiny steps towards feminism. It also for the most part refuses to pander keeping the themes of teamwork and friendship believable. I too got a Princess Nine feeling, maybe even a little A League of Their Own thrown in!
Kekkaishi
(Read our full review here)
Kekkaishi is this strangely unknown shonen fighting anime that corrects so many of the major flaws of popular shonen fighting shows yet goes critically overlooked. It has a vibrant protagonist, a strong female secondary protagonist, and battles where the fighters have to using their brains more than their brawn to defeat their opponents. Stop complaining about why you dislike the shonen anime you are watching now and watch this instead.
Why, why, why didn’t this show get the love it so deserved? Kekkaishi has the right combination for shonen fighting, which includes a strong female lead. Tokine starts off more capable than Yoshimori and while he grows, so does she. And let’s not forget it also boasts one of the most organic romances in recent memory, one which never overtakes the plot but is in the undercurrent at all times.
Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit
(Read our prereview here)
When done right children’s literature does not mean simple literature it means literature that can be enjoyed by anyone and Moribito is based on a great piece of children’s fiction. Balsa is a great, strong female protagonist who retains her femininity while still be an amazing fighter. Also coming from a family friendly time slot in Japan means the animation is lush and smooth. The story is complex while still be accessible for enjoyment by the whole family.
Moribito stuck out to me because of its established world setting that sort of melds historical and supernatural, its just well realized quickly. Balsa is one tough lady, even though there can be spans between fighting, the fights are nicely presented. Don’t let that it’s based on children’s literature fool you into underestimating it. After you watch this, go and pick up the first two novels!
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Gankutsuou is simultaneously a unique visual marvel and an amazing re-imaging of a literary classic. Gankutsuou takes one of Alexandre Dumas’s most famous tales and places it in a futuristic time while giving us the story from a previously minor character’s point of view. As long as you don’t hold the original book as unchangeable holy writ I think there is much to enjoy about this adaption.
Color, patterns, and light are all played with in the extreme in Gankutsuou and splash about in every scene. This easily lends the otherworldly feel to the story as goes its futuristic historic setting. The story unfolds in dramatic bliss as revenge and love are orders of the day thrown in with more than a few twists. Some people have complained that Gakutsuou’s style is difficult to watch but it is a unique site to behold as is its take on a classic tale.
Princess Tutu
Princess Tutu is so rare and unique that it shouldn’t be missed. A a seemingly simple fairy tale about a duck who transformers into a girl in order to protect the broken pieces of a prince’s heart takes a decidedly dark and deconstructive turn as it goes on. What is explored through the series are myths, how stories emerge, fate, and a darkness in people’s hearts among other things. Ahiru is bright and awkward but with a strength all her own and a sense of duty and love that is unrivaled. It’s just such an unexpected show!
Emma
Emma is a delightful romance in Victorian England that just feels like it should be on Masterpiece Theater. As a classic Upstairs Downstairs romance it has a charming and human cast of characters that draws you into this period piece. This is a great series to just come home to and relax with in precisely the way the slice of life genre should be. The series is immaculately researched and looks amazing. A masterpiece for anyone who loves historical fiction and well done romance.
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11.09.09
Posted in Anime, Reviews Tags: ONA, robots, sci-fi anime, streaming anime, Time of Eve, イヴの時間 at 7:59 am by reversethieves
Narutaki and I found this series when we were doing our overview of Crunchyroll. We decided to check it out on a whim and were impressed how well it was done for something that was otherwise completely off our radar. It is fascinating series for a number of reasons. It is a sci-fi series in a time when sci-fi series seem so rare. It is also an ONA not based on an established property. I am hardly the most informed anime fan but I usually have a decent idea of what is out there. So when any modern title comes out that I do know about it is always intriguing.
I stumbled across Time of Eve and I don’t even recall how beyond the fact that it was on Crunchyroll while I was testing the site out. Though I am always interested in short series to check out in between other longer shows. Time of Eve fit into this doubly so because the episodes came out rather infrequently and minus the final episode run only 15 minutes long. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking this show doesn’t do anything, it uses its minutes very wisely.
- A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
- A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
In a deliberately unspecified time in the near future robotics has advanced to the point where androids are nearly indistinguishable from humans. They are so hard to tell apart that androids have halos over their heads to identify them. One day Rikuo notices that the android his family owns, Sammy, keeps disappearing from time to time. After some investigation he discovers that she has been going to a cafe named the Time of Eve. In this cafe no halos can been seen in hopes of promoting everyone treating each other as equals no matter who they are. Rikuo and his friend Masaki soon start coming to the cafe and slowly learn more about complexities of the dynamics between humans and robots.
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09.29.08
Posted in Anime, Reviews Tags: Macross Frontier, mecha anime, music anime, robots, sci-fi anime, TV series, フロンティア, マクロスF at 1:32 pm by reversethieves
Macross Frontier is the story of the love triangle between a tsundere Kabuki princess pilot, the greatest Asuka Langley Soryu impersonator of all time, and a girl with the universe’s greatest backpack, a cool cell phone, and living hair.
I want that backpack no joke! Just as much as I wanted a Guvava.
Macross Frontier starts 13 years after the events of Macross 7 and 40 years after the ending of the original Macross. Earth is still sending out colony fleets to settle new planets in hopes of spreading humans and Zentradi throughout the galaxy. On the Macross Frontier a pilot named Alto Saotome meets two girls before a concert that that will forever change his life. One is the insanely popular idol singer Sheryl Nome and the other is Ranka Lee the cute waitress at the local Chinese restaurant. What might have been nothing more than unimportant chance encounters become bonds off fate when a unknown alien force called the Vajra attacks the Frontier with living space ships. After Alto saves Ranka’s life he decides to join the SMS as a military pilot and Ranka decides to try to become an idol singer. This prompts Sheryl to becomes involved with both of their careers.
Alto has a desperate need to fly so much so that he abandons his family’s traditions, and his own personal success, in Kabuki theater, to do so. I found this endearing and admirable, something to really define you as a person. Alto is young and when he meets Ranka for the first time we see they both have dreams. This is a story about how a dream can lead down a very unexpected path. But throughout the series I felt Alto was rather underdeveloped, we learn little more than what I just mentioned about him. I also tended to swing wildly from episode to episode whether or not I liked Alto. I was really blown away at points by his stupidity. He does have a realization of what is most important that comes from moving out of youth but he still wasn’t a man by the end. He ended up being a somewhat of a side character in his own story.
Alto is a passionate soul that has come to repress his feelings over the years. He has passion for flying and for freedom it provides but most of the time he seems very subdued and straitlaced. Although Alto is the pilot of Macross Frontier’s love triangle his background in Kabuki theater gives him a unique insight into performing. Despite being the main character we don’t get a great deal of insight into Alto. He tends to be rather quiet unless promoted but outside forces. We mostly only see how he relates to other characters but rarely do we get insights into Alto himself.
Ranka is a super cute, optimistic, talented girl that is trying to make it as a singer. She really looks up to Sheryl since she is the biggest thing in the universe. This is just a random thought but if this wasn’t Macross, I think Ranka might have gone all single white female on Sheryl. Within the span of a couple episodes Sheryl overshadows Ranka’s entrance into the academy, basically steals her man, and gets her first television appearance canceled. However, things really start to shift in favor of Ranka as the story goes along. She certainly has a passion for singing, like when she gets up the nerve to sing in the middle of a mall. I felt her character slipping at some points nearing the end but her strong will shines through.
Ranka is super fun, super cute and supremely easy to root for but also has a moe vibe surrounding her. Up until the last few episodes they perform a careful balancing act between making Ranka an adorable moe character while still having her have moments of independence and strong character. She pulls it out in the end but I was worried there at points. I really enjoy her character because she is just instantly likable. You want her to see her become a star, you want her to find love with Alto, you want her to be happy. Due to a traumatic incident in her past Ranka has a good deal of amnesia about her early childhood. That could easily be the kiss of death into making her a bad character but they use it effectively and keep her an enjoyable heroine.
Sheryl is a loud, self-important, beauty who is the biggest pop singer in the galaxy. In any case I did not like her nor trust her from the moment she stepped on my screen. To me she always looks devious and no one can see it! Like when your friend is going out with a really manipulative girl, but everyone thinks she is great and wonderful. But you know the truth and no one will listen! She sometimes has the “EXACTLY AS PLANNED“ face. We get to see brief glimpses into what really makes her tick, maybe that is really how all people can be seen. There are two major moments that stuck out in my mind pertaining to this, moments where I was excited and rooting for her. And it can’t be denied that her music is beautiful and powerful. And she does scream out “LISTEN TO MY SONG!” I just found these moments of awe too few and far between for me to actually like her.
Sheryl is my least favorite type of strong female character. The full throttle bitch. This means that she is constantly in everyone’s face and doing whatever she wants to get what she wants. I don’t mind characters being assertive and confident but I do mind them having having an overinflated sense of entitlement at the expense of those around them. They often try and give her alternating periods of softness and vulnerability but I feel it can’t redeem her utterly despicable default attitude. Plus while half of her softer moments are genuine and make the character more tolerable the other seem artificial and sometimes for nothing more than plot convenience. Don’t get me wrong I would never have them throw Sheryl out of the show. It’s fun to have a love rival that is realistic competition but fun to hate.
Brera is kind of a wild card. I was super curious about him when he first showed up. I had high hopes. He is important but he is completely underused which I think is a tragedy. They just turn him into this unmovable cock-block. Now on to someone who is as awesome as I thought he was going to be, Ozma. Ozma is big tribute to Roy Focker, and I don’t think we minded one bit. Him and Cathy (the tribute to Misa) were two of my favorite characters to see on my screen.
Well, Ozma is a Fire Bomber fan. He is therefore automatically awesome and that is mathematically provable. I’m sure both of us would sign up to buy the DVDs of Macross Frontier: Ozma Gaiden. It’s a shame we don’t get to see more of Ozma and Cathy as they are awesome both individually and separately. You can keep your Michael Blanc and Klan Klan shrines. I’m a Ozma man. Brera on the other hand is merely there for me. I’m not anywhere as mean as the person who nicknamed him Kaifun Brera because you should never go there but I can’t say I feel any passion for him either.
One character stand out head and shoulders as creepiest person in Macross Frontier and that is Leon Mishima. This is a minor spoiler but it turns out he is not on the side of the angels. I don’t really feel bad saying that because everything this guy does screams he in not a good human being. In fact Narutaki and I have nicknamed him Creepy Kiss Guy after his first scene with Cathy Glass.
I shudder at the thought! How dare they engage Cathy to him. EWWWW! I actually found a screen shot of the kiss but I refuse to reproduce that terrible moment here. Most of the time he spent with Ranka was I afraid he was going to try and creepy kiss her, too. The bigger villain is a little harder to spot, but atleast has an interesting connection to Ranka and Sheryl. However they never really develop them beyond I’m-bad-because-I-am status. It was wasted potential, there was plenty of backstory to work with but instead Snidley Whiplash emerged.
While I always found Minmay to be a dumb bimbo who was selfish and emotionally manipulative, Sheryl is at least intelligent and cunning. So I can enjoy disliking her. I wanted her as a rival, she is a perfect rival. Sheryl and Ranka are very different people though I do think they come to together in a nice way as we learn about their pasts. The love triangle really keeps you guessing from beginning to end. This could account for a few moments that seem rather out of character. There are definitely scenes of dramatic BS that in the grand scheme of things make little sense. Though I can understand the need to desperately keep us on our toes and not have fans be lulled into a sense of security.
In episode eight, High School Queen, we see Sheryl visit Mihoshi Academy and cause an uproar. In this episode the homage to Asuka Langley Soryu is subtle but obvious if you look for it. The scene where Sheryl is talking to Alto by the pool while all the male students look on from behind a fence in a clear reproduction of almost the same scene from episode ten from Evangelion. Clearly it is to make reference to the similar personalities between the characters and to give a nudge and a wink to the fans of both franchises.
Lothos, who is probably lurking around here someone where, doesn’t watch Macross Frontier. But he is my Eva expert so I sent the episodes off to him and said “Just watch these and tell me if you noticing anything. I don’t want to say anything else to influence you.” He did just that and he came back with more than a couple of Evangelion references, he saw them right away. But I think you are supposed to. Homage is fun!
Macross Frontier is filled with winks, nudges, and references to other Macross series. We have Ozuma’s love of Fire Bomber and several references to Basara, Fire Bomber, Song Energy, and the Protodeviln. We have several references to Mao Nome and insights into what she has been doing since Macross Zero. There is movie that is made with the story of Macross Zero much like how Do You Remember Love is a movie about the original Macross series set in the Macross universe. At one point Alto saves Ranka using a Valkyrie in almost the exact same way Hikaru saves Minmay. The Zentradi warrior Tehmzin that instigates a rebellion in episode twelve is a clear homage to Kamjin in character design and philosophy. There are even some dread Pineapple Salad references.
Macross Frontier starts off with incredible looking battles sequences and great music, two things essential to the Macross franchise. And while the budget for the epic space frays stays high possibly as nice looking as Macross Zero, I feel that the character animation starts to get slop pretty early on. It then picks up quality at the end.
There are some real Yashigani scenes in this anime. They really seem to put the A team on the space battles so they look gorgeous. They are well choreographed and beautifully animated with the best CG. They seems to farm out the character animation to the B and C teams and in some episodes the Z team. There is a sequence so horrible in the TV broadcast of the 10th episode I can only assume that they will clean it up to something watchable on the DVD release. If nothing else Wataru will have another rarity for his video store.
I thought the music got better as the series continued. The first opening grew on me, I enjoyed all the insert songs, and the endings were always good. I loved the second opening song, but have little to say about the actual opening animation besides that I thought it was poor compared to the first. Some people think Yoko Kano to be overrated, but I always find her music to instill something in me. For someone who is not very musically inclined, I always remember her music and the way she portrays the moments in a series uniquely.
Like I mentioned in the Macross Plus article when you put Yoko Kanno together with Macross you have an unbeatable combination. The great thing is how artistically they dovetail the animation with the music, like when they use music to enhance a fight sequence. A perfect example is in episode four when they cut back and forth between Alto fighting in a training mission and Ranka singing My Boyfriend is a Pilot during the Miss Macross competition. Both sequences match up so well with each other that they harmonize into a great whole while still having a infectious sense of whimsy. Also despite how much I dislike Sheryl as a character her songs are quite catchy. I really liked Diamond Crevasse with it’s strong refrain in a otherwise soft reflective song. But I would be remiss to forget super cute Interstellar Flight is.
I would be lying if I said the last episode didn’t excite me. It was beautiful, suspenseful, melodramatic fun. The battle was stellar and the music was grand! And it was certainly better than the few episodes of lead up. But it didn’t hold up its end of the bargain in telling us what the heck was going on. It really should have been spread out over a few episodes and not crammed in these meager 30 minutes.
I feel the last third is the weakest for various spoilerific reasons but the finale while rushed is definitely enjoyable. I guess I was upset with parts near because of people making decisions and events seem to happen more for emotional impact that for common sense. The ending delivers even though I feel some people are going to be rather upset and others are going to demand more. It was a mixture of action and melodrama and definitely in the spirit of Macross. I would have been a little happier with the standard 26 episodes rather than 25 with content of 25 and 26 spread out over the two episodes. There was more than enough material for it and it could have given time for some set-up and revelations. I am eagerly waiting to see what the new Macross Frontier movie will be about. Will it be a Do You Remember Love style re-imagining of Macross Frontier or will be be a new story? Either way I am excited.
Top 5 most disappointing anime endings
5. Martian Successor Nadesico
4. Death Note
3. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny
2. Honey and Clover
1. Vision of Escaflowne
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