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REVIEW: So-Ra-No-Wo-To episodes 1-4

Megiddo wrote:

Why would the JSDF still be around? Who knows what the Helvetian military rank system is like.

Because the people who made the show aren't creative enough to make a whole new rank system based on pre-existing Japanese rank names.

Kaioshin_Sama wrote:

Ditto on the having no idea where this show is going thing. I put it on the backburner with episode 3 when I realized that if this show is going to go anywhere then it's going to be taking it's damn time in doing it. I'm still keeping pace with it a little bit by following it on some blogs, but nothing has encouraged me to actually want to sit down and watch any of it again yet. It's slightly irksome when series sit on the fence with their premise and tone like this leaving you to guess whether it's worth it to continue to spend your time watching it or if your just going to end up feeling like you've been had in the end.

We still seem to be in the "introduce the characters one-by-one" phase, and can't tell if the "fight off army of dragons arriving from No-Man's-Land by the power of love, music, and a robotic tank" phase will actually arrive this season or ever.

Banken wrote:

Megiddo wrote: Why would the JSDF still be around? Who knows what the Helvetian military rank system is like. Because the people who made the show aren't creative enough to make a whole new rank system based on pre-existing Japanese rank names.

This does not make any sense. That's like saying that the creators were not creative enough to make a whole new language for Helvetia.

It's obvious that the Japanese language (in the show) is lost other than a few remaining artifacts (names have some kanji, it seems, like Kanata's). So the girls aren't really talking in Japanese, but rather in French or something similar. It's in Japanese just so the Japanese audience can understand what the hell is being said. So obviously they're going to use the Japanese names of ranks since that's what people are accustomed to. This does not mean that the two rank systems are equal, and they should not be treated as such.

I would dare say that if you cross Haibane Renmei with K-ON! you would have something that comes close to Sora no Woto.

− Not for those with a strong distaste for moe, voice work and characterizations are generic.

That's because MOE shows are designed Type B otaku who only care about characters.

21stcenturydigitalboy wrote:

>>voice work and characterizations are generic. I would retort, but there is nothing I could say to this that would make it past this site's censor.

Then please explain in what way you feel these characters are at all fresh versions - or even new variations - on characters we've seen countless times before.

In addition to the Haibane Renmei connection, I see Aria too (Felicia=Alicia, Kanata=Akari, Rio=Akira, Kureha=Aika)

IThe military ranks may be unrealistic, but (1) this is not a first world army, and has already shown that it will recruit young teenagers, and (2) there seems to be some particular reason why this fort is staffed by young women.

Key wrote:

21stcenturydigitalboy wrote: >>voice work and characterizations are generic. I would retort, but there is nothing I could say to this that would make it past this site's censor. Then please explain in what way you feel these characters are at all fresh versions - or even new variations - on characters we've seen countless times before.

I was referring to the comment on the voice work.

Who gives a damn if the characters aren't unique? The only time we see unique characters is in pretentious bullshit like Kaiba. If you need unique characters to enjoy something, maybe you should give up on anime and go scour other media - not that it will help you.

usagidoshi wrote:

In addition to the Haibane Renmei connection, I see Aria too (Felicia=Alicia, Kanata=Akari, Rio=Akira, Kureha=Aika)

That's a great point. Those characters match really well.

DavidShallcross wrote:

IThe military ranks may be unrealistic, but (1) this is not a first world army, and has already shown that it will recruit young teenagers, and (2) there seems to be some particular reason why this fort is staffed by young women.

I'm surprised more people haven't picked up on the first of your two points. This seems to be a post-apocalyptic scenario, meaning the situation is likely more similar to various African nations where the average armed service member is aged 13.

But Sargeant Major (or Master Sargeant, depending on which service you're referring to) still indicates 15+ (if not) years of service, and since we're talking about a show that takes place in a peace-time military (meaning there is less need for senior NCOs, meaning slower promotions), there's is simply no feasible way for Rio to be a rank that high unless she enlisted about the time the came out of the womb. But again, pointless nitpicking.