Rating: 
Summary: Among the best, if not THE best, animes out there
Review: This is undeniably the anime series of the year. I would go much farther: it's not just the best anime of the year, not just the best anime of the decade, but in fact the best show ever to air on any television network anywhere in the world. Most people wouldn't got that far. But all concede that this series is outstanding. On to the (massive) review. Note that I'm reviewing the whole series based on a fansub released earlier this year, because it seems pointless to buy the first few episodes without some idea of the overall quality of the whole anime. The Setting is utterly atypical of anime. Escaflowne had similarities of sorts, but an entirely different premise. The world features technology in some ways more advanced than ours, and in others considerably behind our current level. Most of the gadgetry looks Victorian, Industrial or WWII era, except for the bits of it that look something like Stargate but with more of a white palette. Most of the nobles dress in Renaissance style, however (although there is another culture that dresses in a fashion best described as... indescribable). This barely hints at the eclecticness of the series' style. You are unlikely to see another anime that draws on so many disparate cultural elements and makes them seem to naturally cohere. I honestly can't imagine that the Amazon reviewer of this series paid careful attention to it. The level of thought put into every aspect of Prestale is astounding, from the body language of different cultures to behind-the-scenes politicking to the very nature of Prestale itself. They don't throw the details in your face, however. They just exist in the background, providing an immense depth to the series. Some aspects, such as the ways in which Sophia uses her political influence in early episodes, are never shown at all. They're merely inferred by casual comments and seemingly out-of-place events. Or perhaps the reviewer simply expected more time on the ground. Most of this series takes place in the air in one way or another, but don't imagine that this means you won't learn or care about the world.
The Characters are deeply engaging and original. This is quite rare in anime, where there's usually at least a couple vaguely cliche members of the cast. More importantly, the characters are developed with consumate skill. The ways in which dialogue elements expose the natural degree of unspoken understanding between the two main characters, for example, is brilliant. Dio's personality is totally unlike anything in anime, so far as I know, and yet extremely plausible. The villain of the piece is the most genuinely, believably evil charcter I've seen in a fantasy/sci-fi series, not that the series is black and white by any means. Alex Rowe's intense mystique will fascinate many viewers Perhaps Last Exile's greatest strength in character development is the competence with which it gives depth to its cast.
The Plot is deep, well-constructed, and epic without being cheesy. The pace is perfect in my opinion, although some complain that the last episode is too compressed. You also won't even begin to glimpse the real substance of the plot until episode 14 or so, but don't worry; you won't realize what you're missing until the twists start showing up. There's no single, defining, sudden moment of revelation. Rather, your understanding of the plot is gradually molded, with some developments revealed as significant only in retrospect.
The Music is very well done, although not invariably well-matched with scenes. Nonetheless, it adds incredible power in a number of places, not to mention being beautifully composed and recorded. The opening soundtrack is a perfect fit for the series. The ending is similarly apt and well-constructed. During episodes, the anime draws on everything from jazz to harps to trumpet fanfares to bagpipes. It sets moods from the cozy domesticity and lightheartedness to sorrow and awe. I can think of two annoying tracks, each used only once, in this series. One is rather Engrish-y and the other repeats a trumpet fanfare six times in a row. I could name another dozen tracks that are outstanding, and the rest are just very good.
The Animation is the best you can ever hope to see on a TV series. It easily surpasses Titan AE. Last Exile takes every other anime and administers a severe visual beating to it. No more need be said on its quality. To top it off, the style and palette perfectly complements the unorthodox setting. Characters are done in muted tones, and strong contrasts in color are rarely apparent in the hand-drawn elements. The CGI, however, uses lighting and ambience to create stronger palettes while avoiding the garishness of other series. Each element in the series is excellent, but the interplay between them makes this series... well, you know how I feel. The detail of the art aids the detail of the world, the characters propel the immersive plot, the music hightens the impact of it all. This anime is a gem. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Rating:
Summary: Gonzo's Tenth Anniversary Extravaganza
Review: This series is amazing: Excellently paced, tightly plotted. The first two episodes grab you and pull you into this world of high flying adventure so hard you may never want to leave. The last episode wraps things up perfectly, but you'll be sorry it had to end. Action, adventure, unrequited love, tragedy... This has it all.
Rating: 
Summary: Turn down the brightness !!!
Review: This transfer has been ruined by some moron over at Pioneer. Whoever was in charge of the transfer process should be sacked ... now !!!! The aerial scenes are ***far*** too bright. What should have come across as beautiful flying scenes and brilliant aerial battles has been totally ruined. Place any anime in your collection into your DVD player and turn up the brightness to 100% and that's what you'll get with this. And what's with the lousy release schedule on this series ? Once every two months is not good enough !!!
Rating:
Summary: Keep on trying, keep on flying. I will be the light
Review: What do you get when you apply GONZO's trademark combo of CGI and cell-animation to a steampunk world of flying airships and 1800's mechanical devices? Well, how about you toss in a Harlock-style captain, a stoic ace, an evil organization or two, a cute little girl with mysterious powers, and two of the most likable lead characters you are likely to ever come across? (and that's not describing the half of it)
Indeed, studio GONZO has been hit-and-miss for me for a while now. I greatly enjoyed Blue Submarine #6, while I HATED Vandread. Since Mecha and sci-fi is really my thing, I've been holding tight till now. Stellar reviews made me check out Last Exile. It has definitely been worth the wait.
While much has already been said about the absolutely astounding quality of the animation of this show, really I don't think enough can be said. It's more like an OVA or a movie than an animated series, with few still shots and very consistent quality. The CGI and cell-animation blend better than any other show GONZO has ever made. And the use of light and color is captured just right, being neither bland, nor too flashy. Perfect.
The soundtrack is also quite amazing, making me think of some of the better work of Yoko Kanno. It's a beautiful mixture of old-style European themes, drum rhythms, and orchestral magic. Kind of makes you want the soundtrack...
Of course an anime is ultimately worth watching because of its story and its characters. As I said before, this series has two fantastic lead characters. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. As the show goes on and more main characters are introduced, we come to know them largely from their actions (at least for the first few discs). That is to say, the character devlopment is well done. So is the dialog (somebody give the script-writer a raise). Again, it recalls a well-written novel or a great movie more than an anime series. And the voice-acting is superb. The English dub is quite good, but the Japanese is just perfect.
As for the story, it's largely just another version of "chase the girl" and "find the place" that we've seen over and over again. What exactly is Al? What exactly is Exile? Patience gentle anime-viewer. There isn't really a central plot at first (unless you consider a series of mysteries to unravel a plot) , but the awesome alternate universe and well fleshed-out characters MORE than make up for it.
This DVD is only the first few episodes, and really just sets up the world and the main characters (as well as tossing them together). It's a good start, but if you aren't intrigued yet you might want to stick around for the second dvd. For anime connoisseurs and sci-fi fans this is definitely one to keep.
(Oh, I forgot to tell you, the opening and closing animations for this anime are AWESOME, featuring some breath-taking animation and SWEET music!)
Rating:
Summary: Immelman turn
Review: Wow, I never knew what an immelman turn was til I watched this anime. This has to be the best anime I've ever seen. The story line moves at a steady pace and never is dull.You will be hooked after watching the first minute.
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