Macross Frontier
by Theron MartinRating: 4.5 (of 5)
NOTE: Although this episode actually premiered back in December as a series preview, this is its first airing in its regular schedule. This review is based on the recently-aired version.
Review: The year is 2059, several decades after the defining Earth-Zentradi War. Taking its impetus from that devastating conflict, mankind has spread out across the stars, with the 25th Emigration Fleet (aka Macross Frontier) headed towards the center of the galaxy. During a performance by top idol singer Sheryl Nome an enemy attacks, forcing Altoh, a flight student assisting in the concert, into desperate action.
The 25th anniversary addition to the venerable Macross franchise, Frontier naturally has the complicated space/aerial battles, transforming fighter craft, and idol singer involvement that typify most Macross series, but this one spruces up the franchise for a whole new generation of fans by delivering spectacular displays of the very latest in 3D CG visuals and animation. The cast of characters introduced so far, and the situations they're thrown into, may be typical, but the level of execution is not. How many other sci fi anime series have this level of convincing futuristic feel? How many others show the imagination to offer something as thoroughly innovative as Ranka's cell phone design? How many would have the nerve to make an idol singer conceited and bitchy? And how many achieve the level of tension in battles that this one does? A powerhouse musical score certainly helps, but it is hardly the only thing this series has in its favor.
Despite a vast incongruity in visual quality between the character renderings/animation and the rest of the visuals, Satelight (look for a hidden reference in the anime) has another winner on its hands here. This could be the “series to see” for this season. Be forewarned, however, that this one does get a bit bloody.
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Kure-naiRating: 5 (of 5)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Review: The best series aren't necessarily the flashiest, and that certainly holds true with Kure-nai. Despite having its own very distinct visual style, it packs nowhere near the visual pizzazz of, say, Macross Frontier. What it offers instead is a subdued, earthy, mature look, a (gasp!) even-tempered teenage hero with woman troubles, and fantastically involving writing and storytelling. That not all of the details are clear at this point does not detract from how exceptionally well-constructed this first episode is.
In this story, teenaged Kure-nai Shinkurou is a Mediator, a sort of freelance enforcer who apparently has some kind of special body. Though he attends school like any normal teenager, he gets thrown for a loop by an assignment to protect Kuhoin Murasaki, a six-year-old rich girl who has been cloistered away since birth but has decided to leave her former home. For her protection she must stay in Kure-nai's dingy apartment, a prospect initially difficult for both of them.
As typical as the above summary may sound, nothing is typical in execution about this series. Neither Kure-nai nor Kuhoin fall into any easily-definable archetypes, and while Kuhoin may be cute enough in appearance, her disposition doesn't match. In fact, none of the character look, act, or sound anything like what you may be used to seeing in anime. For its style, it offers some great artistry and a perfectly complementary musical score which includes a unique-looking opener and closer.
This one is quite a ways off the beaten path, ladies and gents, but that should only give you further reason to check it out. While it may be premature to make such a claim, based on the first episode alone this one has the potential to be one of the year's best.
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To Love-RuRating: 3 (of 5)
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Comedy, Ecchi
Review: Tell me if you've heard this one before: gorgeous alien babe comes to Earth, falls in with a human teenager, falls in love with him, and through a contrivance involving cultural differences misinterprets an unrelated comment as a marriage proposal (often as an excuse to avoid an arranged marriage). In some iteration this scenario has played out repeatedly in anime ever since Urusei Yatsura back in the early '80s. The scary thing is that it comes very close to working here.
Oh, don't get me wrong: this has all the signs of being yet another trashy exercise in teen male wish fulfillment. Just to make sure it has its priorities straight, it even takes time to focus on some breast jiggling in the middle of an early sci-fi action scene, and its opener graphics are almost pure fan service. Other opportunities pop up throughout the episode, too, and the male lead Yuki Rito is as annoyingly girl-shy as ever.
However, this one stands at least a small step above most of its ilk because it's actually genuinely funny. The obstacles that arise to thwart Yuki in his efforts to confess to his long-time love Haruna will make almost anyone laugh, the late encounter with Zastin is suitably ridiculous, and it looks as if sexpot Lala may actually have a personality beyond just being adorably cute. Other more subtle signs also suggest that there may be a glimmer of hope for this series. Good artistry, nice character designs for Lala, Haruna, and Yuki's sister, and an active musical score featuring a strong opener don't hurt.
Yeah, this one's strictly for the guys, but at least it has potential.
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Vampire KnightRating: 3.5 (of 5)
Genre: Shoujo, Romance, Fantasy, Drama
Review: What would an anime TV season be without at least one vampire series? Last season Rosario to Vampire offered a decidedly shonen-oriented look at vampires and monsters, so this time around we have something aimed more at the ladies, something which possesses all of the style, humor, and elegance you would expect from a shojo vampire tale. Thankfully this one also seems to actually have a brain.
As a little girl, Yuuki Cross was attacked by a bloodthirsty vampire but save by a more handsome, noble one named Kaname. Ten years later, Yuuki and her foster brother Zero serve as Prefects at Cross Academy, assuring that the (human) Day Class does not mix with the (secretly vampire) Night Class, who are testing a new blood pill. Though Yuuki seeks a peaceful coexistence with the Kaname-led vampires, Zero is more embittered towards them, and the simple reality is that some vampires are still dangerous blood-suckers.
The premise seems a bit contrived, but the story execution actually works remarkably well, hitting just the right shade of serious tone – most of the time, anyway. The attempts at humor, unfortunately, do not work so well; in fact, the ones in this episode are not only numbingly stupid but also disruptive of the overall feel established in more serious moments. (That is, in fact, the only reason the first episode is being rated so low; those who actually found the humor funny can consider this a 4 instead.) Hopefully the series will either eventually learn to integrate it in better or dispense with it altogether.
With strong artistry, an appropriate musical score, and a quite cool closer (the final shot is a masterpiece) in its favor, this Studio DEEN production shows serious potential.
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Second Naruto Shippūden movie to open in Japan on August 2
