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Per Aspera▲▼
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Rating▲▼
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Comment▲▼
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| Banner of the Stars (TV) |
Very good |
It must *really* suck being United Humanity. Being beaten by a bunch of fun weirdoes like the Abh must sting. Winner of the Best Wake since Finnegan's Award. |
| Banner of the Stars II (TV) |
Very good |
It is hard to pinpoint why this series is so consistently captivating. Not least of its charms is the most understated love story in anime. How can you NOT be moved by tears that are that momentous -astro-friggin'-politically momentous, people? |
| Banner of the Stars III (OAV) |
Very good |
Sweet, if slight, addition to the Seikai canon. Not much story here, but darn it, seeing Lafiel and Jinto’s relationship develop yet further gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. So sue me |
| Crest of the Stars (TV) |
Excellent |
Great space opera adapted from a great book series. Sunrise somehow manages to make everything jell together almost effortlessly. Essential for Conlag geeks. |
| Good Morning Althea (OAV) |
Decent |
Simple and traditional space adventure that will bring you back to the happy days of smallish boobs and gigantic hairdos. |
| Gunbuster (OAV) |
Excellent |
The biggest mecha, the largest bang, the most bouncy of Gainax bounces. This is certainly space opera, but think Offenbach, not Wagner. What starts as broad parody ends up as a rather pretty tale of friendship and sacrifice. Nifty. |
| Gunbuster 2: Diebuster (OAV) |
Good |
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| Last Exile (TV) |
Excellent |
Gonzo goes all Moorcock on us. Gonzo obviously splashes out for their birthday bash, giving us this beauuutifully developed series. Their universe is as richly textured as its arch-Miyazakean clouds, and they give the old man a run for his money in their portrayal of the exhilaration of flight. Winner of the Cruella De Vil special award for Nastiest Meanest Beaotch, and winner of the Shame On You, Mr Lucas Award for Best Souped-up Glider Race. |
| Passage of the Stars - Birth (special) |
Good |
Nice addition to the Seikai mythology, specially as a study of the Abh's gaudy insouciance. |
| Planetes (TV) |
Excellent |
This lovingly developed series is an honorable successor to Honneamise, having the same mix of cynical realism and idealistic hopefulness. Sunrise brings in an unmatched attention to detail (time the delay during phone calls between the Moon and Seven) and a knack for (lack of?) atmospherics. They also deploy the most sympathetic ensemble crew this side of the Bebop. To top it up, brilliant conceits pepper the whole series: the moon as the paradise of cosplaying ninjas? Why couldn't I think of that? |
| Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honnêamise (movie) |
Excellent |
Classic Gainax, a compelling story, interesting character arcs and a simple but smartly conveyed message. The whole package reeks of understated elegance. Should be mandatory viewing for Mars Mission trainees. |
| Sol Bianca: The Legacy (OAV) |
Decent |
Competent if underwhelming chicks-in-space adventure. Me digs the Gaudian feel of the artwork, and particularly the Muchaesque touches in the character designs. |
| Spirit of Wonder (OAV) |
Good |
Quirky story, with the most disproportionate denouement ever. It is an intriguingly told tale, carried on the strength of interesting artwork, original character design and fairly decent animation. |
| Spirit of Wonder Scientific Boys Club (OAV) |
Good |
Another bunch of small-yet-charming fables about discovery and the drive to explore, with a rather appealing tone of optimism. Very minor, but quirkily different. |
| Starship Operators (TV) |
Good |
A bunch of rookies and a single ship against a seasoned spacefleet? Ludicrous. Wait… a bunch of rookies, a single ship and the Fox Network… The Kingdom doesn’t stand an chance. Be warned that this series starts with some of the clunkiest writing that ever clanged. This *remarkably* bad start is (mostly) redeemed by a strong finish, with an uncommonly convincing portrayal of tactical genius, interesting drama, and an exciting climactic battle. The ending pulls off the always-attempted, rarely-achieved feat of making you feel in the presence of true heroism. The series sports fairly decent artwork, beautiful in spots, but the animation is strictly minimal-requirements-only. |
| Stellvia (TV) |
Good |
I’ve always thought that if humankind can only be saved by untrained sixteen-year old amateurs, the species really has no business surviving. But as long as the brats *do* save us on a regular basis, they might as well do it with a little class (Yes, Shinji, it is possible to be a neurotic adolescent without being whiny). This very pleasant space cadet adventure is so focused on the insecurities of the elite that they should market it to self-obsessed ivy leaguers and make a killing. |
| They Were 11 (movie) |
Good |
A pleasingly Rod Serling-y premise, executed with reasonable charm. You can mostly see the plot twists coming, but... a food fight? As with most old series, it is the music that grates the most with its datedness. |
| Twin Spica (TV) |
Very good |
Through friendship to the stars. Very sure-footed and consistent in tone, carefully written with well developed characters. It ends abruptly, but that needs not be a drawback. You know where all these characters are headed, and that's up. |
