Full Metal Panic! Mission 1 - AnimeDaze
- AnimeDaze
- Sean McCabe
- 11/08/04
- click here
"Best. Mech. Series. Ever. You heard me, I said Best. Mech. Series. Ever."
Full Metal Panic
MITHRIL is the personal army of Captain Tessa Testarosa, and the Tuatha De Danaan her very own submarine. Tut, some people get all the luck. And at her command are some of the worlds finest ARM slave pilots. The mission of MITHRIL is not that unlike International Rescue from Thunderbirds, but as well as tackling natural disasters they engage terrorists without mercy.
In an alternate future where the Cold War never ended, and the Soviet Union still a powerful force in the world, Sousuke Sagura, an extraordinarily gifted ARM slave pilot, is assigned to bodyguard young Kaname Chidori, and he becomes her military obsessed classmate. Chidori is part of a very special group of people called the Whispered, a cool name if ever I've heard one, and that there are many who would want her for her abilities.
Unfotunately Sousuke probably did not expect his relationship with her to be so hellacious. It's very difficult to protect someone who hates the very ground you walk on! But somehow he has to work around that, because someone who wants Chidori is one of the most vicious terrorists in the world!
As I described it once, FMP! is Evangelion meets Tom Clancy, with the ironic sense of humour of Nadesico. However, it's also one of the best anime to succeed in something that's very hard to do, and that is to have a dual atmosphere. It can be incredibly funny, but when it wants to be serious, it does so with conviction. This one aspect allows FMP! to rise above all those other giant robot animes of post Evangelion times, including, in my opinion, Evangelion.
Right, the animation. This is Studio Gonzo here! That means it looks brilliantly polished. However the character designs stand out for there variety. It's one of the few animes that convince you of the differing nationalities of the different characters. Also, the use of CG is well implemeted, but the mecha designs do get a bit samey. Still a typical Gonzo work, and that is a compliment!
I can swear I've heard some of these tunes before. Doesn't that stirring score sound like the A-team theme? Perhaps this reveals some of the influences behind this series. It has great music for much the same reason it has great animation. Gonzolicious!
The voice acting is superb. I think this has to be the best English dub I've ever heard, and it is so cool that I recognise almost all the voices at work here. ADV should be proud of its accomplishments in the field of voice acting, and it has all culminated here, thanks also to a well translated script that is not afraid to bring out the emotions of the characters.
Best. Mech. Series. Ever. You heard me, I said Best. Mech. Series. Ever.
Excellent
Posted on Monday, November 08, 2004 (Archive on Wednesday, December 08, 2004)