[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Gasaraki Episodes 5-7
The opening act of Gasaraki presented a number of parallel plot threads but the second instalment opts for a surprisingly fast pacing (by the show’s own standards, at least) and edge-of-the-seat moments.
Firstly there’s the conflict in Belgistan which appears to be that of a small nation fighting its neighbours; the truth is that it’s a country-sized experiment for the technology being developed by Gowa and their rivals, now revealed to be an organisation known as Symbol. We see the Belgistanian dictator being ruthlessly used and ultimately abandoned by Symbol now that his country no longer serves a purpose to their plans, while the US and Japan see the incident as an advertisment for the revolutionary weaponry. Meanwhile, NATO launches an attempt to seize one of Symbol’s TAs, the Fakes, as Yoshiro seeks answers to his own questions.
The political thriller side of the story is still being driven by lengthy sections of exposition, largely through snippets of television news broadcasts; interestingly, the viewer is shown at least some of the truth so we see the incomplete and sometimes innaccurate version of events that the media is presenting for what it is. Fortunately Gasararaki’s overall story is progressing a little more now, aided by one or two moments of much-needed levity, courtesy of the fiesty Captain Ataka (who has to be the soul sister of Evangelion’s Misato Katsuragi!) and some TA vs. TA combat.
The action scenes are very well done though, featuring a Humvee car chase and a raid on a village to secure a sample of Symbol’s TA technology. Once again Gasaraki’s true-to-life authenticity shines through: the TAs encounter mechanical problems due to a sandstorm and the battle is often shown through the point of view of Yoshiro’s data feeds and instrument readouts. These details must have been a challenge to animate but give the experience of combat a sense of claustrophobia, confusion and lend a heightened sense of realism.
Although there is a meeting between Yoshiro and Miharu it throws up as many questions as it answers and this volume concludes on an action-packed note on board a transport plane; viewers enthralled by the mecha action and Tom Clancy-style political/military thriller aspect will enjoy these episodes but it seems that the explanations about the supernatural side of things will have to wait.
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