Area 88 Volume 1: Treacherous Skies - Animesou.Com
- Animesou.Com
- Wai Yung Chim
- 08/05/05
- click here
"This is a great series with an intriguing plot and the animation quality amazing enough to make you beg for more and more, and more."
"...exceeds my expectations with every missile launched or every bullet fired."
You know, the first time I saw the flaming unicorn symbol of Shin Kazama?s fighter plane, I knew it was familiar. And to my surprise it was from the Super Nintendo video game, U.N. Squadron. Man was that game fun; it makes me want to go play it right now hehe. Anyways, Area 88 is U.N. Squadron, before its name was changed during the importing process to the United States. Maybe it was too close to sound like Area 51? Oh wells. The last fighter plane anime that I have watched was Yukikaze and Area 88 just blows that anime away. The dog fights and all the breathtaking action in this show has gotten me excited about the plane genre again.
When the story begins, you are put through the eyes and lens of battlefield photographer, Makoto Shinjo. As he narrates you through the nooks and crannies of his job, he also tries to expose Shin Kazama?s as well. Why is he in Area 88 fighting a civil war? That is the ultimate question that will be answered as the show goes on. So far, very little is revealed about Shin?s past, other than a girl named Ryoko. And just thinking about it, I believe this anime would be best that it was told in a third person?s point of view rather than straight from Shin Kazama himself. His character is no fun, so that will contribute to putting people to sleep, I guess. It was a great idea in getting Makoto Shinjo to narrate the plot, because he is a flexible character, it works out perfectly as he incorporates various features about him that separates himself from all the others.
Just wondering how this anime will play out has got me salivating, because whatever happens, I know there will be crazy aerial fights and at times even a bit of comedy to lighten up the mood. This is a great series with an intriguing plot and the animation quality amazing enough to make you beg for more and more, and more. You will be pleased.
The Pros:
The dog fights in Area 88 are very entertaining. They do not feel like just another jet battle for an odd reason. Maybe because every battle in this show, could be the last. The animation works flawlessly with the action. One cannot survive without the other. And the story is just inconceivably great.
The Cons:
Probably the fact that nothing much has been revealed about Shin and the true purpose of Aslan.
Genre: Action, Fighter Planes
Language: English/Japanese Dialogue with English Subtitles.
Extras: Production Sketches, Character & Aircraft Specs, Interview With Isamu Imakake (Director) & Hiroshi Ohnogi (Screenplay), Clean Opening/Closing Animation and ADV Previews.
Package: The cover might not get your attention on the shelves, but ignoring it is the biggest mistake you can ever commit.
Likes: The planes.
Dislikes: Nothing so far.
Animation ?9.5- Awesome animation. It blends so well with all the fighting and just never stops amazing you with how detailed it is.
Sound ?8.5- The opening theme makes you jump to the beat and the closing just literally closes with the rhythm and voice of the singer :). As for the other things, such as, sound effects. You will definitely love every moment of the fights.
Story ?9- Top notch presentation of the plot. It never makes you want to stop watching the show, because it is that attractive.
Recommend ?9.5- Looking for some fighter plane action? Then wait no longer as Area 88, brings it to you hard!
The Breakdown
Area 88 has got to be one of the finest anime dealing with airplanes. Just when I thought it cannot get any better, it surprises me and exceeds my expectations with every missile launched or every bullet fired. It is a must have for you action deprived fans out there!
Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 (Archive on Monday, September 05, 2005)