EP-10: The Dangers of ‘Femininity’ A new type Chulip lands on a tropical island which means beach episode! Battle with the Jovians jiro-bug and harem battle ensues with the blonde mistress of the island.
LOL at ‘my misfortune is that I have only known happiness’. ‘I have always wanted to be a tragic heroine’ FTW. And the swimsuit fanservice wasn’t very fanservicey - by today’s standards or even compared to back then in the ancient times? Or have I just been spoiled by memories of SHUFFLE?
Continue reading ‘Martian Successor Nadesico DVD 3: Unnatural Disasters’
EP-06: Sort of Like a ‘Fateful Decision’ Arriving in Mars, Nergal’s priorities become clear - never mind the colonists, check out the research facilities first! Akito independently encounters survivors and a mysterious scientist, the Ritsuko-like Inez. Surprised by a Jovian attack, Yurika sacrifices the survivors to save her ship and crew.
So the powerful Nadesico’s limitations in the atmosphere (phase engine needs vacuum of space to provide all the energy for continuous gravity blasts) and the enemy’s own distortion field has evened the odds. Plus the whole start-stop-delay thing. Well, they had to nerf the ship somehow to set things up for the next episode.
Continue reading ‘Martian Successor Nadesico DVD 2: Red Planet’
EP-01: To Go ‘Like A Man’ The Jovian Lizards brush aside the United Earth Armed Forces and invade Mars de arimasu. Amidst the carnage, male lead Akito is mysteriously beamed to Earth. He joins the oddball crew of the non-military Nadesico, captained by his childhood friend, Yurika. His job description as a cook also includes being a mecha pilot and he unwillingly saves the day.
My mind boggles every time I remember that Yurika was Houko Kuwashima’s debut role; I most admire her quietly intense performance as Kirika in Noir and tremendously enjoyed a similar feel from the way she voiced Clare in Claymore. But, of course, she’s very diverse, also having voiced the tremendously popular Kasumi from the DOA franchise.
Continue reading ‘Martian Successor Nadesico DVD 1: Love! War! Giant Robots!’
Episode 24. Fateful Decision: Hitomi wakes up back on Earth. She realizes that she’s in a recap episode; with the replay of events, she also realizes that how much her best friend Yukari loved Amano. Hitomi gets signs from CLAMP, visions of feathers and then from her tarot cards. Allen realizes that his feelings for Hitomi are actually a projection of his siscon for the missing Celena who turns up home but later reverts to being Dilandau again and is retrieved by Jajuka. The war is at a standstill but Donkirk is confident that the mysterious element of Hitomi will return and set his plans into motion again. Hitomi does her re-run while Van takes off with Escaflowne towards the Mystic Moon and picks her up via the pillar of light but arrive in the midst of a battlefield.
Continue reading ‘Vision of Escaflowne DVD 8: Forever and Ever’
Episode 21. Reaction of Fortune: Catgirls’ Eriya and Naria’s fortune runs out as equal and opposite reactions take place. The younger sister Eriya escapes back to the flying fortress Vione. The latter crash lands but still manages to nab Hitomi who then refuses to escape. Her belief in Naria’ innate goodness is reciprocated when she is released. Van goes on a rampage but Eriya stops him from killing Folken; her words also cause Escaflowne to react with Vione’s core, destroying the flying fortress. As the catgirls die in his arms, Donkirk gloats about the success of the experiment. This finally convinces Folken that Zaibach’s methods are wrong and he escapes in the flying guymelef.
This was all very SUNRISE - the catgirls may have been portrayed as the bad gals but their back story makes them more sympathetic and are still shown to truly care for Folken. And finally it is those bonds of affection and the terrible cost that shatters Folken’s loyalty to Donkirk. It’s also the first instance of Hitomi taking her grandma’s advice - trusting in her feelings and getting a good result.
Continue reading ‘Vision of Escaflowne DVD 7: Light and Shadow’