[Categories: Anime Reviews]
Xam’d first impressions: at last! A summer series worth making a fuss over
Put it down to job hunting, band practice or being distracted with the ongoing spring shows but for whatever reason the summer schedule has completely washed over me…almost. There are opening episodes for three other series awaiting the free time that the August bank holiday offers (finances denied me Leeds fest once again but given the fact that it’s turned into a mudbath perhaps that’s just as well) but so far only one has caught my eye in the form of Xam’d: Lost Memories. The name of Studio Bones is synonymous with decent quality for me of course: they seem to maintain a solid standard of quality in material that I happen to find appealing and entertaining, while maintaining a prolific output. For this one then I’m annoyed at myself for ignoring it for so long - moreso because the enthusiasm of Bateszi and Omo ought to have been enough for me. In any case I can only agree with them: so far Xam’d is excellent.
Miyazaki-esque flying machines==win
Even so, my hopes are always tentative with new series - that is until I was thrown into a fantastical worldview introduced with breathtaking aerial shenanigans and a kicking electro-punk op theme courtesy of the Boom Boom Satellites. A side-effect of immersing yourself in an overseas pop culture like this is picking up a lengthy list of New Favourite Bands - after getting into the Pillows via FLCL and Monoral through Ergo Proxy, the BBSs are another J-rock act to add to my mushrooming list if Shut Up and Explode is representative of their back catalogue. In short I was hooked on the show within five minutes flat thanks to those opening scenes. And it gets better.
I guess you could say that Xam’d is a mecha show in that many scenes feature some form of mechanical contraption be it a valve radio set, a small plane or other vehicle; there are robots of sorts but they’re pretty alien and organic-looking. I thought the robot-type mecha on show here (similar in concept to that of The Guyver I suppose) was a bit ridiculous at first but the way in which the action scenes pan out helped me get used to its more improbable aspects. Like Eureka Seven that went before, the action is so colourful, fluid and exhilerating I can’t help but love it - I thought the budget had been blown on the first episode but the second seems to maintain the standard.
The larger flying machines remind me a lot of the lumbering Dorok battleships from the Nausicäa manga, or with a bit of a stretch Last Exile too. The same goes for the costumes, mythology and aesthetic of some of the characters, who look like a marvellous chimera of my favourite Miyazaki creation and Eureka’s Voderac. This is where the fantastical and mystical side of the show comes from and offers a tantalising contrast with what’s going on back on the ground when the various concepts clash…and somehow this clash works wonderfully on-screen.
Things like the radios and radar rigs on board the aircraft, or the buses and town buildings seem to place the setting in some alternate rendering of the 1950s; this time in history is a refreshing change but probably even more pertinent to domestic audiences because the period setting goes hand-in-hand with a time of post-war rebuilding, when Japan was recovering from the onslaught of the war and looking ahead to the future. Sure enough, the spectre of war looms over the worldview of Xam’d and makes its presence known in a surprising and brutal fashion. Maybe the idea of a terrorist attack is a nod to contemporary issues (remember Eureka’s political subtext?) but it certainly got my attention - I think the strength of this show and Bones’ approach in general is to deliver hard-hitting messages while maintaining the production’s entertainment value with a sense of youthful energy.
Akiyuki is your typical teen protagonist growing up in a small town but this dark cloud of destructive warfare, the fascinatingly strained relationship with and between his parents and the liveliness of he and his friends (see Haru kick an armed man to the floor?!) makes even the familiar-looking aspects of this show feel fresh and exciting. Perhaps it’s the way in which everything is thrown together, and the way in which this varied mix is stewed and served up, is what makes Xam’d so satisfying when a post like this seems to be crammed with comparisons with other series, no matter how complimentary I’m being about them.
As with true tears this is a rare and interesting instance of featuring a protagonist’s family as an integral part of the premise - you get a feel for his personality and background by seeing how the complicated, and true-to-life, domestic situation presents itself. What I’m also particularly enthused about is how a worldview that is clearly complex and far removed from our own isn’t given the infodump treatment: as the energetic and disorganised lead is introduced we follow him through his peaceful backwater home town, down backstreets inhabited by strange rabbitlike creatures and meetings with friends and family; considering how I was so eager to learn more about his world - risking being overwhelmed by exposition in the process - the pacing of this was spot-on throughout. I didn’t feel overwhelmed but I’m dying to learn more.
The direction and art style in scenes like this reminded me of Kurenai, which to my mind is a good thing
Maybe my enthusiasm for this show is misplaced when the plot turns into an incomprehensible mess with countless loose ends and wasted opportunities; perhaps the similarities to other faves of mine will make it feel tired and derivative; maybe the transformation into a bizarre semi-mythical organic mechanical life form will prove too much for my suspension of disbelief to handle. Somehow I doubt it though. The imagination, the vibrancy and personalities that shine like flashbulbs in a sea of ‘meh’ make it feel like Eureka Seven all over again…now that is what I call an exciting prospect.
Posted on August 24th, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
I’m really, really enthusiastic about this show and I have high hopes that it’ll stay strong throughout. Your post reminded me of one of the things I’ve been enjoying a lot - the mechanical and world design. Everything from the ships to Xam’d reminds me a little of something else, like Miyazaki or occasionally Evangelion, but it also feels refreshingly new and alien. I guess I’m just getting this great feeling of being immersed in another world. Some people have complained about the lack of exposition but I’m rather enjoying being forced to unravel what’s going on and what everything means. Sometimes when I watch a show I have a million other things on my mind but Xam’d demands all my attention and I’m happy to give it.
lbreviss last blog post..Macross Frontier 20
Posted on August 24th, 2008 @ 11:37 pm
This is a wonderfully well produced series. What makes me hesitate about it is less the derivative designs, which make for an interesting and cool mix, but the content of the story. The pacing certainly is good, and the plotting is naturalistic, I just can’t tell whether all this is going anywhere valuable. It’s the kind of show where I’m enthralled throughout the episode, then don’t feel left with anything much.
Probably just early days though. I’m at risk of expecting all-round genius just because it pulls off the basics with such aplomb. In reality any leap from cool to masterpiece will occur later on in the story. Like in your last paragraph I find myself thinking “am I wrong to believe in this show?”, but can’t quite believe that something this well judged can fail to hit new heights.
coburns last blog post..Kigeki: a brief examination
Posted on August 25th, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
@Ibrevis: the amount of exposition so far really is perfect - it’s enough to keep your attention but not too much to detract from what’s going on. That feeling of immersion you mention really is what endears the show to me.
@coburn: I’m judging Xam’d on the basis of every other Bones production I’ve seen, none of which have really disappointed me. Unlike, say, Gonzo whose better-looking shows lack a decent story (and vice-versa), Xam’d looks awesome but has a complex premise and endearing characters. There is the possibility of a rubbish plot but its other plus points might actually save it if that happens. My concern is that the fleshing out of the characters back on Sentan is all for naught if Akayuki doesn’t return home until much later in the series, but as you said it’s early days.
Posted on August 26th, 2008 @ 5:00 am
Argh, here I was, settling into a light summer anime schedule, and then you had to point this one out! It’s your fault Martin!
Ep1 sets itself apart, beautifully juggling the family life (The kid’s troubled parental situation provides an immediate emotional connection) and the sudden crisis with things blowing up. It’s great to look at, though I get irritated at the sometimes herky-jerky character movements, like they’re being OVERanimated. On the other hand, when Akayuki’s Xamd’ed character repels an enemy blast in the canal, and the water gushes up, my mouth fell open.
The background is confusing the hell out of me, but maybe I’m just a lazy viewer. I’m not crazy to go through several eps of Akayuki learning to fit in to life on the ship, and I don’t know how they’re going to get the boy back to Sentan, but they’re spending a lot of time developing the story for that island, so I’m not too worried.
Posted on August 26th, 2008 @ 10:02 pm
@Peter S: sorry if I’m filling up even more of your time but TBH this is one show that I really think you shouldn’t miss! The character movements are a bit over-animated at times but they have a great fluid energy to them, and quite lifelike too. They remind me a little of Kurenai actually.
The background gets explained a bit more in the eps that follow (just finished being in awe of ep #6 as I type this) and it gradually solidifies the politics and nature of the ‘humanforms’. The pacing is still quite brisk though, so I’d recommend a second viewing. I’m hoping it can keep its focus on the characters as time goes on, but for now my hopes are still high.
Posted on September 5th, 2008 @ 12:04 am
This thing just keeps getting better.
Having a couple of anime characters whose relationship is somewhere past unrequited love is as refreshing as Renton and Eureka’s in the second half of E7, although maybe the distance thing amounts to the same unrequited feeling.
The parallels with E7 are getting stronger too (Haru’s empathy with the pregnant Xam’d reminds me of Coralians), but it doesn’t bother me because there’s plenty to differentiate it as well.
What kills me is that Bones is able to whip out 2 top-notch productions at the same time, plus a third (Daughter of 20 Faces) that’s cheaper but really not bad either.
Posted on September 6th, 2008 @ 7:52 pm
@Otou-san: I’m also really excited about the potential behind the concept of the humanforms - that specimen stored in the bunker, and the idea of it being pregnant (or, as it seemed to me, a sort-of marsupial creature) really gave me mixed feelings about destroying it. Hell, I don’t know much about them yet but I felt so sorry for it!
The hard-hitting anti-war thing is another reason for me to declare it E7 Version 2, but like you I’m still considering that to be a positive thing rather than a hinderance.