posts tagged “Bokurano”
[Anime Reviews]
17 Jun 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
This episode certainly isn’t for the easily offended. I’ve grown used to Bokurano taking on some edgy and unsettling issues but this is probably the most uncomfortable viewing I’ve yet experienced with this show - we’re presented with the backstory to poor Chizuru prior to her turn in the pilot’s seat, and what a tragic story it is too.
The thing that hit me the hardest was not just how innocent and vulnerable young people can be exploited like this, but how easily it can happen. All the way through this episode I had a deep-down feeling of dread and unease - everyday and almost comical domestic scenes where someone seems to have done an Arnold Layne with Chizuru’s underwear, to the decidedly ordinary talk of her progression to high school, made it hardly feel like Bokurano at all. Of course, there’s always that dark undercurrent ready to bring it all crashing down, because these scenes were giving me such an eerie sense of what could only be false security.
In the end this episode was downright painful to watch. If it weren’t so expertly and thoughtfully done, I doubt I’d have been able to sit through it at all. As much as I can cope with blood and gore, I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to sensitive issues such as this, where innocent people suffer through no fault of their own; fortunately, it’s tastefully done given the unpleasant nature of the subject matter but there’s no escaping how hard-hitting and unsettling it all was.
This brings me to another recent development surrounding this show, which could possibly warrant an editorial of its own. Apparently the director announced that he was changing the ending of the series, after consulting the manga-ka, with a predictable backlash from the fans. No doubt I’ll write more extensively on this later, but given how potentially distasteful parts of the series can be, I’m beginning to understand why he is willing to alter an integral part of the series.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m in awe of pretty much every aspect of this show, from the underlying themes to the stunning music but it’s times like this when I find it very hard to stomach. Bokurano is a work of genius and I hope it continues to be so, but it’s brutal and emotionally traumatic too.
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[Anime Reviews]
13 Jun 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
Guess what? This show is still fantastic and Kako is still a little bastard! When you take the events of this episode and compare them with the other significant demise in this season’s schedule, it’s clear what a pathetic little coward he is. Running on his own selfish desires and screaming “Why me? It’s not fair!” like a spoilt child, he’s the polar opposite of TTGR’s Kamina, who died a heroic man’s death with no fear or regrets. Initially I was taken in by his sob-story of neglect and misery but… and the ‘but’ is a significant one.
No matter how your family turn their backs on you, no matter how much the ignorant gits at school hate you, your life is your own. Within the limitations of his young life I’m sure Kako had at least some opportunity to turn things around - if only in his final days with fellow pilots of the Zearth (who, don’t forget even went as far as going to his house to see how he was getting on). There’s no excuse - NONE - for his despicable behaviour towards Chizu in his final hours of life. It was an act of pure selfishness that proves he never truly cared for her more than he cared about himself. Suffice to say, I felt no sadness when he met his suitably underwhelming end!
This puts the Zearth in a bit of a bind though, but Dung Beetle’s nonchalant attitude suggests to me that it’s a minor setback that’s able to be rectified. When the whole planet is at stake, you’re going to have a Plan B, right? Meanwhile, the military makes a predictable and unsurprisingly futile attack on the latest enemy, which had me wondering what they are exactly. Each one looks different from the last, but all have a similar ‘head’ or ‘face’ feature as the Zearth. My best guess right now is that the aliens are being piloted by poor unfortunates not unlike the kids we’ve been following so far.
So, this was an episode that wrapped up little Kako. It’s credit to the writers, I suppose, that I could understand his situation (i.e. he had reasons for not believing humanity is worth saving from his own point of view) but at the same time I was very much aware of how wrong he was. Judging by the next ep’s preview, things won’t be pleasant for Chizu either. I mean this as one heck of a compliment but this series is repeatedly reminding me of the other supreme exercise in characterisation in the face of adversity and general harshness: Battle Royale. Even though it probably won’t conclude completely with the manga still being ongoing, I have high hopes for Bokurano.
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[Anime Reviews]
24 May 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
Bokurano continues its pattern of alternating episodes containing mecha battles with those that build up to them; this time it’s Kako who is the main focus of this episode, which features no fights with aliens but plenty of character-driven stuff.
As so often happens with this show, I was left with a variety of emotions and trains of thought to unravel afterwards. Like some other fellow viewers, I very quickly harboured a strong dislike for Kako: to put it bluntly (forgive me if this blocks you out because you have a swear filter) he’s a selfish, childish and violent little shit. His home life is obviously no help (note the bruise on his mother’s face, the state of his trashed room and the fact that his father is nowhere to be seen) but he makes it really hard for the viewer to sympathise with his situation. Similarly, Ushiro (who I’ve had little time for either) has a pretty unjustified hatred for his younger sister: blaming her for the loss of their mother is harsh and misguided at best, and downright insane at worst. Anyway, Kako is weak, selfish and overall a goddamned bad choice for saving a planet he seems to hate so much.
While these two kids are decidedly unlikeable, it’s possible to see why they have turned out the way they have. I’m not saying they’re right for thinking what they do; I can however see why they reached these wrong conclusions. Dung Beetle on the other hand is just plain evil. We know nothing about him, apart from the fact that he’s associated with Zearth in some way. He’s not a human child who’s turned out bad because of circumstances partly beyond his control - he’s a cruel sadist who uses his superior knowledge and influence to make the kids’ recently-shortened lives even more unpleasant. I hope the likes of Kako and Ushiro learn the error of their ways; I hope someone finds a way to snuff out Dung Beetle violently and painfully. Whatever he is, I HATE him!
In case you’re wondering why I brought up Dung Beetle’s nastiness now, it’s an integral part of how this episode plays out. Aside from a nasty scene involving one of the military people who bring the kids in for questioning, his taunting leads to Kako trying to confront Chizuru about her personal life. Now, I wouldn’t call dating your teacher ‘weird’. I’d call it ‘immoral’ and quite possibly illegal. Anyway, she comes across as being a pleasant sort of lass so I’m tempted to speculate that she’s an unfortunate victim who’s seeking affection and attention - a shame she has to resort to this. Kako doesn’t deserve the company of such a nice girl with his attitude but I hope things look up Chizuru so she doesn’t feel the need to seek comfort in the arms of Sensei. Whichever way you look at it, the situation is just plain wrong - I’m not meaning to sound judgemental towards Chizuru, though. If anything I feel really sorry for her. Kako’s motives (teenage jealousy) may not be honourable but he has just cause for being concerned for her welfare.
Overall this is another great episode. I’ll be interested to see how Kako copes with his mission - for someone who hates everything, he’s quite upset about his life ending so soon! Furthermore, a boring character (Waku) and two unlikeable ones (Masaru and, soon, Kako) are up for the chop so we’re saying sayonara to the less engaging ones first. If this means that the more likeable kids are dying later, the tragedy factor can only go up as time goes on - a trend which won’t hurt my appreciation of this excellent series one bit.
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[Anime Reviews]
13 May 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
I’m enjoying Bokurano more with every passing episode - it’s possibly my favourite show of the season right now. As predicted, Masaru is an interesting central character for this episode, purely because of his unusual outlook on life. We’ve already seen how nonchantly heartless he is, and in this outing we get to see why. The old saying claims that the apple never falls far from the tree - the Kodaka family are a case in point. Masaru really looks up to his ruthless father, whose business practices are a constant cause of dismay for Masaru’s more compassionate brother.
Placing someone with this mindset in the driving seat of the Zearth is a recipe for disaster however, as Masaru trashes buildings and casts aside anything that stands in his way. While I agree that sacrifices must be made in order to defeat each alien, his reasoning leaves little room for the value of individual lives. Interestingly, someone points out that the alien shows more care and restraint when fighting than Masaru does - strange perhaps, but if I had my eye on conquering the planet I’d try to avoid damaging my new home too.
In true Bokurano style the action scenes are very well done even though I’m not a huge fan of the CG rendering - the slow, ungainly and destructive movements of the Zearth look much better in daylight and unlike previous battles, in which the light is too gloomy to make out the details, the Zearth and its adversary are in plain sight of onlookers and the Government itself. It’s an awe-inspiring sight but Bokurano never wastes an opportunity to remind us that these events are still claiming casualties. Fighting in a giant robot isn’t fun, it really isn’t. It’s frightening, challenging and it causes untold amounts of harm and damage in way that we don’t understand until the dust has settled; Masaru learns this the hard way.
The harshest lesson comes at the end, though. If you don’t want a spoiler, stop reading now. Dung Beetle reveals to the kids what we viewers have already suspected: the act of fighting in battle will claim the life of each pilot, even if they win. Waku had no idea of this and Masaru didn’t either, but we can only wonder how knowing this would have guided their judgement in their final hours. Now the children know that being chosen to pilot the Zearth is a death sentence: regardless of whether they succeed or not they will die, which changes everything.
Bokurano has officially revealed itself to be heart-breakingly tragic but even so, I’m desparate to see what happens next - the next pilot has yet to be chosen and we haven’t even learned anything sigificant so far about the aliens either. I suspect the pacing may be a little uneven in future episodes since the number of aliens (fifteen) doesn’t fit too well with the episode count (which is currently projected at only eight but will probably run to 24-26) but even in the ’slower’ episodes I’m confident that it will provide characterisation by the truckload. All in all, it was a fantastic and gripping episode.
EDIT: I’d like to draw attention to a very helpful pic from T.H.A.T. Anime Blog, which shows who is alive and who isn’t at this point in the series. Cheers to Impz for that - you’re now on my blogroll. 
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[Anime Reviews]
04 May 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
No, this isn’t a game any more. Bokurano achieves something that every good mecha drama should: it shows the consequences of taking an awe-inspiring robot into battle and pulls no punches. The opening scene, reminiscent of the devastation shown at the beginning of End of Evangelion, shows wrecked buildings, mangled vehicles and news bulletins reporting hundreds dead or injured; the police are interviewing the children and preparations are made for Waku’s funeral. There’s not even another battle to satisfy action junkies here: this episode deals with the physical and emotional fallout.
I know Bokurano comes across as being angsty and depressing but for those of us who are willing to put up with such things this episode boasts realism and emotional clout that many shows fail to deliver. Ushiro was not responsible for Waku’s death; his seemingly fatal gesture was completely unrelated to the tragedy when you consider what a coincidence it would have to have been. The medical examiner chillingly describes Waku’s condition as being unharmed except the fact that he was dead: the fact that ‘the only thing missing was his soul’ suggests that his demise had nothing to do with Ushiro and everything to do with Zearth. The truth is, the kids cannot explain what has happened to them so they cannot find a sufficient outlet for their feelings of confusion and guilt. I think that the reunions with their respective families, the ways in which they reacted to the interviews and the moments immediately after last episode’s battle speak volumes about their personalities. Such subtleties are lost on me I’m afraid, so will require further thought and in all probability a second viewing to appreciate.
There’s nothing on the fansub circuit quite like Bokurano right now: it’s certainly not for everyone (I’m all-too aware that my tastes are a little too obsure and pretentious for some so I’m cautious about who I recommend this to) but I’m quickly becoming morbidly fascinated with how it’s playing out. The jaunty and comical design for Dung Beetle continues to look bizarre and inappropriate when viewed alongside the rest of the show’s aesthetic but with that aside I’m finding its brooding, claustrophobic atmosphere and impending sense of doom strangely engrossing. The opening theme also becomes more and more moving every time I see it - it’s beautiful but at the same time reveals little about how downright brutal the show can be.
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[Anime Reviews]
27 Apr 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
Wow, this really is shaping up to be an interesting one! The kids have to fight their first enemy on their own without Kokopelli’s help, instead taking guidance from the floating creature called Dung Beetle. It’s all very mysterious stuff which had my eyes glued to the screen, trying to look for some hints or hidden symbolism. Anyway, Waku is the one to be selected for the pilot’s seat and we learn a little about his motives before he leads his companions into battle.
I’m still finding the number of characters daunting but there are only a few of them who are the focus this time around; no doubt the others will come to the fore in turn as the battles progress. Waku is likable enough but sadly there isn’t really enough time to get to know him; Ushiro on the other hand is a obnoxious little sod, as shown in the shocking final scene of the episode.
The series is determined to play its cards close to its chest however. What’s the significance of the different chairs? Are the personalities and attributes of the children (such as Waku’s football skills) pivotal in how the battles are fought? Who is controlling the whole situation? What the hell is Dung Beetle anyway?! After a while I gave up on asking myself such things and tried to concentrate on the characters and soundtrack instead; both are outstanding by the way.
The op theme for instance is spectacular: a melancholy and haunting number that really soars, it’s performed by See-Saw’s Chiaki Ishikawa - I loved her efforts on Noir and no doubt others will be familiar with Gundam Seed Destiny and .hack//SIGN (sadly I’m not…yet). The incidental music is quite minimalistic, which makes the significance of the events that are unfolding quite understated. Considering the grave nature of the battle these kids are fighting it proves that sometimes less is more. For instance, that last scene has next to nothing in terms of the music building up the tension; this makes the fateful moment all the more jarring and unexpected.
Bokurano is probably going to be something of a sleeper title this season: I’m still confident that it’ll deliver some more shocks but it will probably do so quietly and without much fanfare, which makes it quite chilling. It’s also great to see the movement of a mecha actually having a noticeable effect on the landscape, giving the whole affair an air of realism - our young heroes are starting to learn the gravity of their situation and how their actions have consequences.
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[Anime Reviews]
21 Apr 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Bokurano]
Remember that feelgood family film called The Cat Returns? Like Bokurano it was directed by Hiroyuki Morita, but this series is nothing like it AT ALL. Everything about Bokurano, from the premise to the character designs and the overall ‘feel’ is completely different from the Studio Ghibli movie. Sure, it starts off innocently enough with a bunch of kids enjoying a day at the beach; after meeting a strange man working on a bank of computers in a seemingly deserted cave however, they are invited to play a ‘game’ he’s working on in which a giant robot fights monsters to protect the Earth. Then things get really, really strange…
This episode feels like the calm before the storm: small details show that Bokurano is hiding something dark and sinister that ought to rear its ugly head very soon. One kid bullies his younger sister for no reason at all; another literally barbeques a crab alive for the hell of it before giving a philosophical lecture afterwards to justify his actions. Although a battle in a giant mecha takes place later in the episode, it is likely to play out as a character-driven piece because the cast and the way they interact form the core of the story. My main worry at this stage is that there are no less than fifteen of them: unless it’s a long-running show or a few of them do not stay in the picture for long, there could be too many for the viewer to get to know them all, which is a shame because they could be a very interesting bunch indeed.
The character designs from an artwork point of view remind me a little of those in Monster, although worryingly they exhibit the same bland ‘I can’t be arsed to draw details’ appearance that was evident in Studio Gonzo’s earlier efforts on Welcome to the NHK! and Speed Grapher. Bear in mind that this is a Gonzo-produced series so the artwork could get pretty ropey in later episodes; the 3D rendering on the mecha for instance looks a bit out-of-place.
Apparently it’s based on a manga but sadly I’ve never read it so I don’t know how the story is supposed to play out; I suspect it’s going to be quite shocking and subversive, perhaps trapping the protagonists in the weird ‘game’ in a similar way to Gantz. Anyway, the opening ep doesn’t give much away in that department so for now pretty much anything could happen. Out of the opening episodes I’ve seen so far Bokurano isn’t the most impressive but it’s the most intriguing.
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