hontou ni sou omou?

I’ve only recently started to watch Simoun even though I’ve heard a lot of good things about it from the Yuricon Mailing List, hashihime, Mangaminx and WRex. Partly because the supply of fansubs seemed erratic but also because I suspected that Simoun’s epic scope would make it more conducive to marathoning (which, at the very least, has made Neveril’s extended sulk less annoying).

The character designs are also pleasant - even the village bicycle Floe doesn’t grate on my nerves as much as she should. My favourite is Morinasu who reminds me somewhat of Azumanga’s Kagura in terms of looks (relatively tanned, petite but athletic physique) and behaviour (quite laidback and not particularly refined). Paraiette also scores high in my book because of the unrequited love angle as well as being deputy leader. I think good deputy leaders and XOs tend to be important and interesting but are perfectly happy to get the unglamorous things done in the background while the leader gets the limelight.

The music has been good as well. I particularly like the OP song, dripping, as it is, with loss and sorrow, taint and decay.

Mainly though it’s the big themes that appeal to me. There’s the whole cliché about the young and somewhat unwilling being gangpressed into war - except there’s the whole twist about them being neither male or female (with female characteristics as the default though). There is the contrast between the traditionalists who constantly bemoan how the Simoun and Sybilla have strayed from their original religious purpose to warfighting and the upstarts, like Aeru and Mamina, are acutely aware that the war itself gives them the chance to fly the Simoun - which, in turn, introduces the class divide among the pilots and society in general.

There are wider issues involving technology. I liked how the Simoun is one of those ancient technologies that current engineers are unable to understand the workings of - beyond actually using them. Like the Murai Vaccine, no one knows why it works but they just know that it does work. Together with the quasi-religious element, it reminded me of the high and low tech mix in Escaflowne. Comparisons to CD repair kits notwithstanding, I like the designs of the Simouns especially the exterior of the helical motors that remind me of a nautilus’ shell.

There is also the issue of dual use in technology - it was originally built as a thing of religious celebration and beauty but its side effects have gradually become its main purpose, somewhat like how the Chinese invented gunpowder and used it just for fireworks initially. This dualism is also inherent in nuclear technology though its initial purpose was clearly for war.

The issue of technology transfer is at the root of inter-state war in Simoun. The Imperial Nation is at war with everyone and I couldn’t help but wonder why the issue of peacefully acquiring the Simoun technology never came up. The Plumbland Highlands’ diplomatic feint also showed how its own priestesses mirrored the dual use of the Simoun Sybilla. The issue of politicking and treachery within the Imperial Nation is also currently unfolding - so far Onaisha seems to be a force for good but a prophet-like representative of the divine will with a lot of political power just sits very uncomfortably with the libertarian in me.

The epic series of this season for me and looking forward to further episodes.