Last Exile - First Move (Vol. 1)

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.