Shelf Life

Gunbusted

Ah, modern science fiction. It wouldn't be nearly as cool if didn't come with a monstrous amount of cheese. Such is Gunbuster, a six-episode OVA made in the late 1980s by Gainax. It was the first time Anno directed anything, and he made a decent impact with this title. Now the whole OVA, plus the “sequel” Die Buster (known in some circles as Gunbuster 2), can be watched on Blu-Ray from Bandai.

Although it's nice watching anime in high-def when they were originally filmed at a high resolution. I don't know that too much of a difference can be discerned from a title as old as Gunbuster. It's old enough that some of the episodes are in different aspect ratios—the last episode even pulls the ol' panning-over-charcoal-sketches-over-music trick to try and make it seem artistic, when secretly, you know some stressed out guy was thinking, “Let's just take pictures of the storyboards. No one will notice.”

Gunbuster is set in a time where space travel has not only been perfected, but needs to be defended against invaders. There are pilot training schools all over the world, where gym classes involve giant robots (piloted by students) doing everyday things like push-ups and calisthenics. Eventually, two students are selected to pilot the Gunbuster, a large mech that will eventually become Earth's first line of defense. One of the students is clumsy and insecure, but with Perseverance and Hardwork, she eventually becomes a valuable asset.

The way the story is set up can be a bit confusing to those who aren't fully paying attention (hint: pay attention), as the timeline for the episodes isn't entirely obvious. Rather than following a linear timeline, each episode highlights a small event—a battle perhaps, or some hardship—only to move onto something else several years later. It works, though, and makes it possible to condense many years of events into a few episodes, and prevents the series from becoming boring. For those who've read Asimov's Foundation series, it's set up similar to that.

Then there's Die Buster. Although I can understand its appeal—new events, new characters, new excitements—I found it less entertaining than Gunbuster. Made in 2004, it's got pep and bright colors, and plenty of pretty girls, but it's also missing that camp that made Gunbuster so charming. The series is very similar thematically to the original, but it's got an entirely different set of appeals. It looks nicer on Blu-Ray, too, which is a plus, but that's simply the nature of watching a newer show.

Is this boxset worth $100 MSRP? That's a little hard to say, because it's something that I would want to own. Just… not for that amount of money. Maybe if I found it on eBay for half the price. Or I'd just buy it on regular DVD, because the Blu-Ray doesn't really help out the 1988 series that much. Either way, it's a good show, and Gunbuster is a definite classic. [TOP]

If I had to file Le Chevalier D'Eon under genres, it would probably be a historical supernatural thriller. It's got all the secrecy and government agents of a CIA thriller, but it also has a fair number of zombies and sorcerors. It's vaguely based on a true story, too, with the main character inspired by the real Chevalier d'Eon (only instead of occasionally being taken over by his dead sister's soul, the real guy reportedly crossdressed as a girl named Lia).

The story begins when a woman's body is found in a casket on the Seine. The curious thing—the word “PSALMS” is scrawled on the lid in blood. As it turns out the woman is Lia de Beaumont, the elder sister of D'Eon de Beaumont. With the number of vanishing women on the rise, aside from Lia, D'Eon decides to investigate the situation, a task that ends up unearthing scores of political dealings and conspiracies. Along the way, he and his comrades encounter a variety of sorcerer-type folk, who can control the dead. It's good stuff. Jack Bauer wouldn't be able to handle the undead.

It's also worth mentioning that most of the characters are incredibly badass. D'Eon can be a wimp at times, but when things get dicey, his sister's soul takes over his body, transforming him into an awesome swordswoman who could probably take down Stalin in her sleep. Aside from D'Eon, many of the other characters are inspired by real historic figures as well, and although I don't think queens would run around casting hocus pocus, it's a nice touch being able to see these cameos.

One of my favorite things about Le Chevalier D'Eon is how utterly gorgeous the visuals are. The backgrounds, in particular, are absolutely astonishing. They're all carefully reproduced from real-life landmarks, and no details were spared. From the gates of Versailles, to the Latona Fountain, to the Hall of Mirrors, to the interior and exterior of Notre Dame, each background could almost be an exact replica of the real-life landmark, and it makes the series that much more pleasurable to watch.

If I were somehow friends with someone who really wanted anime for Christmas, this would definitely be my gift of choice. It's a relatively underrated series, but one of the best. If I gave this to someone, they'd probably love me forever, and ask to be my best friend. That's how good this show is. If you want a fresh new series that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and look damned good doing it, this is the one. [TOP]