T w e n t y S i d e d

Almost two months ago I asked about Last Exile and several people suggested that the series was good. They were right. This series is something special. I just finished Disc 2 and I’m hooked.

I can’t say much about the plot because the last eight episodes have been mostly introducing us to the questions, but haven’t really begun to answer them. (Stipulation: The following praise for the series shall be null and void if they don’t answer these questions.)

The technology in this world is interesting. They don’t have radios or any other means of wireless communication, but they do have some sort of anti-grav / hover technology. The major method of communications with a mobile target is by the use of “vanships”, which are small torpedo-ish craft that require two people to pilot. At first I thought these were absurd Miyazaki-style flying machines with two-foot wingspans. But once I saw them in action it became clear that these aren’t wingless jets. They can hover around in place and don’t have props or turbines. When they lift off, there is very little air displacement, suggesting that they use some totally foreign technology for flight. I actually find mystery technologies more appealing than known technologies which are depicted in an unrealistic or nonsensical way, so I really like these vanships.

Claus and Lavie are vanship pilots. They take various message-delievery jobs as a means of financing their real passion, which is vanship racing. (Vanship racing reminds me a lot of podracing from Star Wars Episode I.) They take a few dangerous jobs which end up dragging them into a large-scale conflict, the sides of which are still unclear at the end of episode 8.

The character designs are wonderful. Claus is an incredible pilot, but he isn’t the typical cocky, “I’m the best in the world and I know it”, anime stereotype. He also isn’t filled with angst and self-doubt that causes him to choke at critical plotpoints. (At leat not so far.) He’s young and a bit idealistic but also wise and practical. I really like him.

Lavie is the perfect co-pilot for him. Her co-pilot skills aren’t really a match for his piloting skills, but she’s highly motivated and forceful. She keeps Claus on track and pushes him when he might be tempted to take the easy way out. She’s also a solid mechanic.

The art reminds me a lot of a Miyazaki film. It’s wonderful, detailed, and nearly decadent in it’s use of wonderful one-time visuals. I have yet to catch them re-using footage, even when the story made it easy to do so. The characters are drawn in soft earthtones: no gravity-defying spikey hair, no purple hair, no crazy costumes.

While Claus and Lavie don’t have any weapons on their vanship, we eventually do see vanships used in combat against some rather interesting foes. I love watching these things fly. The sounds and the motions are perfect and really convey the speed and intensity of the dogfighting. It remainds me of the thrill I felt the first time I saw X-Wings and TIE fighters going at it. Seriously, it’s that good.

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.

Yesterday someone posted the second ED from Mahoromatic to YouTube. This is my favorite of the two endings, although the other one is pretty catchy too.

Warning: This song is an infection. I’m serious. You will need antibiotics to get this tune out of your head.

UPDATE: In the comments below Pixy links to a much nicer, crisper version with helpful subtitles.

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.

Some random thoughts on episodes 4 – 6:

At one point Narue is talking to Kazuto and she mentions the girls’ locker room. Kazuto gets a faraway look in his eye as he contemplates the secrets therein, but then Narue notices this and scolds him:

She doesn’t actually say, “Dirty thoughts are bad!” (Ecchi nanowa ikenaito omoimasu!) but I still couldn’t help thinking of Mohoro:

Lots of anime series have that one character who is continually annoying and a source of endless trouble and strife, but who is still accepted by the main characters. Kanaka is that character in this series.

And boy is she nasty. The first time we meet her she kidnaps Kazuto, pulls a gun on him, kicks him in the stomach, negotiates with Narue to trade their father for Kazuto, then blasts her sister with the same gun. Keep in mind that nobody ever does anything to provoke her. They lavish her with praise and unconditional love, and she responds with abuse, violence, insults, and temper tantrums.

The thing that really bothers me is that Kanaka is only twelve, and the people for whom she is causing so much trouble are all her seniors. She isn’t a troublesome peer – she is a younger member of the family. Yet nobody ever diciplines her. There is never any comeupance, no correction, not even any karma at work here. She’s just misery personified and they best they can do is pacify her for a few minutes. At one point I sort of shrugged, “You know what? You idiots deserve to have a brat like this. You made her.”

She really changed the flavor of the show. For the worse. She is seriously pushing the limits of how much irritation I’ll tolerate from a single character. Steven likened this show to cotton candy and pointed out how it doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression on the viewer. I’d agree with that, except now it feels like cotten candy with an angry bee in it.

On the other hand, Hajime – the other annoying character – is actually a lot of fun and is loveable even when she’s causing trouble. Unlike Kanaka, she’s empathetic and interesting. I always like when she shows up.

Shamus Young is a programmer, an author, and nearly a composer. He works on this site full time. If you'd like to support him, you can do so via Patreon or PayPal.