Hello everyone,
Here we are to write up a new review for an anime series that aired a couple of years ago (2006) that got quite a big fanbase thanks to the original story and the plot development that drive this series.
Let's start with a synopsis :
Kyo, an avid swimmer tries his best to keep the high school swimming club going, which is pretty hard when he's the only member. Facing the prospect of the club being closed by the student council, he tries to enlist beautiful Misaki to act in a promo video, shot by his good friend Ryoko, in a bid to start a recruitment drive. She agrees but only if he pilots a mecha under the wing of Celebrum, a resistance organisation fighting to destroy Deutera Areas formed on Earth by the aliens Gards-orm. He agrees but finds it all strangely familiar as if he's done it before....
I'll be honest, I was quite turned off by the series first couple of episodes due to the protagonist being an idiot and such, but a bright light saved this series from the darkness.
Yes that's Kana Hanazawa for you...
This was her first role as a lead character (Ryoko Kaminagi) and she has done a great job. I remember watching this show week by week only to hear her voice with that particular cute trademark accent she use in every series even now.
The story picks up with pace and content after a couple of episodes and manage to keep you wanting for more due to nice cliffhangers and a nicely built sci-fi setting even if you have to close an eye on the actual science like what we have to do for Steins;Gate for example.
The story is mostly focused on two different story branch that interwines during the series. The first one is the triangle relationship between Shizuno, Ryoko and our protagonist, the second one is the fight for the fate of the world.
The characters are many and mostly likable, even if I couldn't stand the main character since the start. Not sure about why, but his attitude get on my nerves!
Obviously my favourite character is Ryoko Kaminagi with her energetic and cute personality. I admit to have suffered a lot after the first incident and cliffhanger (hard week to pass...), but it has been quite worth the pain as the ending for her has been the best EVER!
The graphical style is one of the best for the time it was produced (still good enough even by today's standards) and the animation is decent enough. The only problem I got were the mecha 3d animations, while well done they were entirely out of place. (Same feeling as for demonbane, the series would have been better with a normal drawed one)
The seiyuu working on this projects are pretty famous as we have Ayako Kawasumi in Shizuno's role, Marina Inoue in Minato's role, Yui Makino in May-Yu's role, etc... and the overall sound-track quality is high.
What to add? If you still haven't watched this great series go now! This series is suggested to anyone who likes romance or action battles (or both like me)!
See you soon,
feal87