08 Sep 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: First Impressions and Retrospectives]
Considering there are so many series that have trodden the 'alien invasion' path (
Macross,
Crest of the Stars and the original
Gunbuster OAV being my personal favourites) I wasn't sure whether
Project Blue Earth SOS could add anything new. Presumably this is what crossed the minds of the writers, who went in the opposite direction to create a show that makes no secret of directly taking inspiration from the classic movies of the 1950s. In fact, it's based on Shigeru Komatsuzaki's artwork that dates back to the 1940s but this OAV also feels like a tribute to the likes of the original
War of the Worlds and
The Day the Earth Stood Still. It comes as no surprise then that Komatsuzaki also worked on the likes of
Thunderbirds.
In 1995 a new aircraft, the bizarrely-named TrickStar, is testing an experimental type of engine known as the 'G-reactive' system when it mysteriously disappears. Five years later the G-reactive technology is finding its way into other modes of transport, both military and civilian...except they too are disappearing without trace. Enter our heroes Billy Kimura and Penny Carter (both of whom are boys!), two teenage technical prodigies who join forces with a number of other earthlings who believe that the strange goings-on are signs of imminent alien invasion.
If you're after some hardcore science fiction
Project Blue Earth SOS isn't for you. The best way to describe it is 'retro-futuristic': jet-propelled trains, rocket-powered backpacks and rayguns are the order of the day and there is no way anyone can take it completely seriously (one of the characters is called Lotta Brest...I'm not making this up!). On the other hand it's still entertaining - although Tensai Okamura showed his more serious side with
Wolf's Rain,
Stink Bomb proved that he can take a heavy sci-fi theme and have fun with it.
Project Blue Earth goes gleefully and willingly over-the-top with the outlandish mechanical designs and storyline.
You can see the plot developments coming a mile off, right down to the appearance of the UFOs and the jet plane that flies in at the last minute to save the day. While it might put off some viewers the tongue-in-cheek approach delivers great escapism with the oft-used Secret Underground Base
tm and Mysterious Disappearances
tm. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of the Shameless Parody!
After the first episode I had a very clear idea of what the creators were trying to do with this show and whether the aesthetic or plotting side of things appeal to you or not, there's no denying that they've succeeded. Because it borrows so heavily from the Hollywood B-movie concepts this series hardly feels Japanese at all at times, but if nothing else it manages to use a cliched idea to deliver something different. Provided Gerry Anderson and the estate of H.G. Wells don't sue for breach of copyright,
Project Blue Earth SOS should be fine.
[Filed under Anime Reviews] [Tags: First Impressions and Retrospectives]
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