[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Texhnolyze episodes 1-6
“The lives we make never seem to get us anywhere but dead…the day I tried to live I wallowed in the blood and mud…”
The above song lyric quote exemplifies the overall feel of this series: bleak, grungy, harsh yet strangely compelling. As you might expect with character designer Yoshitoshi ABe on board it’s a highbrow, cryptic and arty effort that probably doesn’t have much mainstream appeal; personally I really like the unconventional, pretentious complex storytelling and deliberately cruel and inhospitable environs of this show.
A view of Luckuss
The visuals are a big selling point to Texhnolyze (for some reason, I find it difficult to spell correctly) since the moody and grim atmosphere drives the story along at first. It is set in a dystopian underground world of Luckuss (or Lux, depending on where you look) in which control over the city is held by the Organo syndicate. The Texhnolyze technology, that of next-generation artificial body parts, is reserved for the wealthy and influential ruling class who preside over a majority of less previleged inhabitants. These opening episodes follow the likes of Onishi, the leader of the Organo; Yoshi, a visitor from the surface; Ran, a girl with a psychic ability to see into the future; and Ichise, a boxer who becomes an unwilling Texhnolyzed after a run-in with some organised criminals causes him to lose two of his limbs.
The psychic Ran
The inventiveness of Texhnolyze’s storytelling is that it takes its time in explaining things and is reluctant to use much dialogue: nobody says a word for the first ten minutes and we don’t learn the names of many of the characters early on. Ran, who appropriately makes money selling flowers, is akin to a flower herself: she’s a fragile source of colour in a world painted in various shades of browns and greys. Ichise, I suspect, is more than a case study of how tough life is in Luckuss - his overwhelming determination to survive even after having an arm and a leg severed drives him to seek vengeance on those who maimed him. The enigmatic and sensuous Doc, the woman who specialises in Texholyzed body parts, sees potential in Ichise and gives the ’stray dog’ a second chance, which he grudgingly accepts as part of his unyielding will to survive.
Ichise: never say die
The series seems to choose two separate threads but I strongly feel that Ichise’s struggle is not only a metaphor for the people of Luckuss and their tenuous grip on life but it will somehow influence the power struggle that is taking place. Yoshi comes across initially as a curious everyman: a benign tourist who listens and asks questions a lot. As time went on I began to see his unassuming demeanour as a front to a forceful and brutal personality - his polite, philosophical and secretive manner only makes him seem all the more dangerous.
The mysterious Yoshi: what is he up to?
Although the idea of artificial body parts crops up in the likes of Ghost in the Shell and numerous others, Texhnolyze depicts a technology that is more than mechanical limbs that replace the old; the texhnolyzed parts interact with the wearer, showing their status and condition in the field of vision. While it is believed to enchance physical capabilities and form the next phase in our evolution, it feels like, as Ichise finds out, an unnatural and obtrusive experience. As always, Madhouse deliver the goods with convincing mecha designs that offer a juxtaposition of high-tech in front of a gritty and run-down backdrop.
A texhnolyzed’s view of the world
The visuals make every textured surface and environment in Luckuss come to life; the decay, dirt and bleakness is almost tangible and is heightened by the minimalist, industrial musical score. The opening and ending themes are great too: Juno Reactor’s Guardian Angel is a hypnotic, pulsating number that reminds me of the atmospheric trance of Faithless and the ending tune is a mellow acoustic number accompanied by Gackt’s rich baritone croon.
In Summary
Texhnolyze is challenging viewing in every sense, with its depressing dystopia, distant characters and unflinching portrayal of humanity at its most violent and pitiless. Nevertheless the characters of Ichise, Yoshi and Ran, along with the unfolding political mechinations, are enough to keep me watching - it’s definitely not for everyone but its mature and uncompromising approach makes it a refreshing break from the norm.
Posted on August 25th, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Texhnolyze still alludes me, even with a UK DVD release that’s probably going pretty cheap now it’s quite old. I don’t know why I haven’t checked it out yet - even after feeling Lain was painfully over-rated and completely indifferent to Haibane (NeiA_7 is ignored due to the lack of UK DVD release), Texhnolyze looked like it could really work with the alienating storytelling usually associated with ABe’s work.
I might have a shifty on eBay or Kelkoo for some cheap deals… thanks for the reminder :3
Posted on August 26th, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Sounds cool. I was especially intrigued by this part:
“…it takes its time in explaining things and is reluctant to use much dialogue…”
…since that’s exactly the kind of thing is missing in too many shows. I’m so tired of heavyhanded storytelling and unnecessary expositional dialogue.
Yet another show to add to my ever growing watch queue…ahhh, so much anime, so little time.
Posted on August 26th, 2007 @ 12:26 pm
@Hige: I’d say Tex is even more obtuse than Lain, but its artwork is much more detailed (although I admit to being a huge fan of the Lain series). Haibane is completely different to both and Niea is different again. Thanks for reminding me about Niea though - the discs have been sitting on my shelf for ages and I haven’t reviewed them yet!
@Orion: if it’s minimalist dialogue and unusual approaches you’re after, this is it. Hell, Ichise says nothing for the first few eps, beyond yelling in pain and asking for a drink of water! It’s a show that takes some getting into so the next few episodes will make it or break it for me. Nice blog you have there, btw - Epic Win is on my blogroll now!
Posted on August 30th, 2007 @ 7:03 pm
This is my favourite anime series. I actually just watched it for the the third or fourth time yesterday. The show may be obtuse and alien to some people, but for me the feel is human in the most meaningful way. The characters are not intended to be separate atoms, rather constitutions of specific drives, but I do not want to spoil too much. I honestly feel that one needs to have some background in Nietzche or Stirner to really get alot from it, or at least understand their ideas.
Posted on August 30th, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
@aestheticbend: after seeing SE: Lain, I had a feeling that it would be a show that makes extensive use of symbolism and the concept that ‘everyone is connected’. Point taken with Nietzche though - I’ve been tempted to read some of his stuff for a while now. After the simplified Freud that Hideaki used, it’s interesting to see an anime show make extensive use of philosophy to base its themes and ideas on.
Posted on December 27th, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
Did you stop watching the series? There’s another 16 episodes to go, and unfortunately, they get worse and worse.
Posted on December 27th, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
@Inst: Yeah, I’ll keep watching it. There are one or two other shows I need to catch up on…so many discs, so little time!