Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam – 16

Unlike the friendship between Fam and Giselle, one that has endured numerous hardships and still remains strong, the relationship between Fam and Millia is a bit more complex.  Should you ask either character, the answer regarding their friendship would be that they are dear friends yet their actions don’t always support these words.  Perhaps the greatest obstacle in what’s keeping this relationship to be one as close or resilient as Fam’s and Giselle’s is an issue that extends beyond the difference in class and status between the princess and the pirate.  What’s hindering the friendship of Fam and Millia is that they don’t treat each other as equals.

Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam – 13

Continuing along with my senseless nomenclature for this anime, this week’s episode is hereby dubbed ‘Lost Exile’ which appropriately describes how Millia, Fam, and Giselle were marooned in the barren tundra of Glacies.  The whole episode revolves around our trio of heroes interacting with Rocket Fighter pilot and native to Glacies, Dian, and repairing their wrecked vanship before departing to the home base, the Silvus.  But before going from point A to point B, the episode exposed a vast schism in cultures, customs, and philosophies between Glacies and the rest of nations neighboring the Grand Lake.  Thought the episode did minimal to advance the plot, its exposition on world building was exceptional and it enriched the setting in a way I admire: thought character action rather than narration or guesstimation.

Shinryaku!? Ika Musume S2 – 5

Our zany and simple-minded squid invader certainly enjoys the company of humans and our lifestyles and activities above the surface.  And she hasn’t receded her ambitions of conquering mankind either, still actively pursuing her goal in every episode.  But she never has any feelings of internal conflict or ambivalence over her simultaneous and contradictory opinions toward these subjects.  She can’t be friends with humans if she also wants to invade mankind.  So if Ika Musume had to choose between one or the other, which would she select?

Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam – 3

While I applaud the efforts of the continuity and consistency of Last Exile Fam in regards to the original, especially considering eight years and a near collapse of Gonzo have occurred between the two series, there are some pieces of this anime that just don’t feel right.  None is more evident than the discrepancy among vanships, airships, and other aerial machines that are the trademarks of this franchise.  For such an established and central aspect to be so different between the two anime, it should be nothing short of a surprise.

Summer 2011 – First Week Impressions (Part 1)

This post has my thoughts and impressions on Blood C, Ikoku Meiro no Croisée, and Sacred Seven.

The summer season is well underway and a half dozen shows have already aired.  Ah, a new anime season means a lot of swift and decisive action on a wide variety of shows based on our initial thoughts and tastes.  And this season is no different.

Dog Days – 3

The distinctive feature of Dog Days is the fact that the entire cast has some sort of kemonomimi (animal ears) and tail that shows they’re part-human and part-cuddly creature.  It’s so prevalent that it’s even the heart of the title of this anime.  But what is the purpose of these characteristics?  Are they merely there to differentiate the populations of the two kingdoms or provide adorable features to the cast or perhaps there is a deeper meaning to all this?