posts tagged “Future Boy Conan”
[Anime Reviews]
08 Sep 2007
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
Wow, it really has been a while, hasn’t it? I really shouldn’t have left this for a whole year since it’s such a blast to watch. Anyway, these episodes were a lot of fun - complete with some serious moments to keep things interesting.
The last time we’d seen Conan and Lana they were prisoners at the hands of the salvagers and their boss Patch. I can say I was genuinely surprised to learn that Patch and Dr. Lao - Lana’s grandfather and the man they were searching for - were one and the same. It took a bit of suspension of disbelief to accept that Lana didn’t recognise him from the outset but then, there are a few things in this show you have to just accept in order to enjoy the ride.
Now reunited with Dr. Lao, Conan and Lana return to Industria to repair Lao’s flying machine (whose silhouette reminded me of the flying jar design from Nausicaa…one of many moments where you find yourself doing a double-take) and set Gimsy free. Dyce proves himself to be a bit of a selfish fellow again, being desperate to help Conan and Lana one moment, then sailing away the next as soon as he gets his beloved ship back.
Lepka is clearly on a power trip by now, impatient with the Industrian elders and doing pretty much as he pleases. Monsley is still loyal to his cause, as are many (armed) men of Industria but thanks to Conan’s bravery and quick thinking, a lot of inprisoned people who oppose Lepka are released along with Gimsy and the Barracuda’s crew. These oppressed people return the favour when Lao makes a break for the Core Block, where he finds the microchip he needs to repair his craft.
All this is in the typical kids’ adventure category with chases, slapstick comedy, evil villains and brave boys who rescue their friends; there are some quite chilling moments as well, which remind us every now and then that this is still a post-apocalyptic piece. Deep inside the Core Block are the remains of a shelter half a kilometre underground, where the majority had died and been buried in an environment supposedly designed to mimic the outside world but left to disintegrate and decay. Above this mass grave only a fraction survive, as the people of Industria; the Triangle Tower is quite literally built on the bones and wreckage of past wars. As with the flying machines, Miyazaki manages to find room for his own themes and ideas in the story while maintaining its cheeky sense of fun for the remainder of the time.
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[Anime Reviews]
09 Sep 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
What with recent events I’ve neglected Future Boy Conan a little but it looks like I can get back to blogging it now. Ep #9, The Salvage Ship, is another rather slow episode but nevertheless an interesting one in terms of giving some background to Conan’s post-apocalyptic world.
After making it through the desert Conan and Lana find themselves the prisoners of a group of salvage engineers, presided over by the slave-driving Patch - a charming fellow who looks like a cross between Frankenstein’s Monster and a one-eyed John Cleese. Patch and his men appear to be subcontractors to Industria and their salvage operation is in desparate need of extra hands.
It’s too early to say what place the salvage team will have in the bigger picture but it shows how, outside of Industria itself, the authorities’ powers are limited and it is up to the outposts themselves to decide on how to get the job done. While many are aware of Industria’s policies on things such as child labour and the reporting of missing persons, in practice these rules are irrelevant and take a definite second place to the task at hand. For Patch and his men, the salvage takes top priority over the welfare and origins of his young prisoners.
Because this is another episode in which Conan and Lana are in captivity once again, not a great deal happens in the action department. Conan is clearly a tough youngster so Lana comes across as little more than a weak child in comparison; nevertheless she shows some defiance and fortitude in carrying out the exhausting labours assigned to her. Even though he gets a few clips around the ear for his trouble Conan brazenly mocks the cowardly and pitiless men who are ordering him around.
The Future Boy Conan episodes seem to alternate between fast-paced escapes and the periods of confinement that precede them; this fact and one or two intriguing details concerning Lana’s grandfather promise to make the next outing a little more exciting.
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[Anime Reviews]
17 Aug 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
It’s a welcome return to form for Future Boy Conan as he makes a daring escape with Lana, right under the noses of Captain Dyce, the crew of the Barracuda and even Lepka and his men. After a couple of episodes that didn’t progress the story much, this outing at least offers some nail-biting action and suspense.
This ep was one dramatic set piece after another with plenty of chases, explosions and precarious situations: for a series of this age the animation quality is pretty darned good, which is just as well considering how much is going on, and how quickly it’s all happening. There are one or two minor inconsistencies (just how long can a kid hold his breath underwater??) but for a children’s show this is to be expected.
The biggest plus for me in this epsode is that Lana is able to do more than act as the damsel in distress: she is out of confinement for a change and actually gets the chance to rescue Conan at one point. It’s a nice turnaround for this series - Lana finally exhibits the gutsy and tough ‘Miyazaki heroine’ persona in between the fainting, drowning and crying out for help. She actually deserves Conan’s affection now! :o) Gimsy also brightens up the scenes he’s in, which isn’t many for the time being unfortunately.
I really enjoyed this episode. It was a fast-paced action/adventure again and Conan’s and Lana’s characters work really well on-screen - some really sweet scenes in here. Hopefully the story will get moving again now they’ve escaped but as always there are minor details that keep the viewer’s interest in the meantime. The sight of our two heroes gazing innocently on a chillingly forlorn battlefield of the the old world (above) is one of many occasional reminders of the darker background to this series.
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[Anime Reviews]
10 Aug 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
I know it’s been a while since I last watched an episode of this but I’m back on track now. Unfortunately this wasn’t an extraordinary episode by this series’ standards: Lana’s still in captivity so Conan sets off to rescue her again. There are some interesting scenes featuring the supporting cast though.
Surprisingly I’m taking quite a liking to captain Dyce and his crew. The Barracuda itself is a really imaginatively designed and impressive piece of machinery yet it has such an idiot at the helm! I can list any numer of Dyce’s faults: he’s pompous, vain, selfish and downright dense but even he understands how evil Lepka is and goes as far as defecting from Industria to keep Lana and the possibility of solar power technology out of harm’s way. Of course, his methods (i.e. kidnapping Lana and abandoning Conan) are questionable and he is dragging his own crew into a potentially dangerous situation but you can’t help but acknowledge the fact that he does have a conscience.
When the Barracuda takes off out to sea it takes Industria’s latest consignment of plastic with it and causes all manner of problems: the energy the Industrians can extract from the plastic is needed for food, clothing and fuel. It’s also the source of energy for all modes of transport so Lepka has to do a fair amount of grovelling to get permission to use energy in persuing Dyce and his crew.
The backgrounds for Industria were quite impressive here: the control room that the Elders were using (who reminded me of the Elders in Shinji Aramaki’s Appleseed movie) had a 1950s-looking, retro-futuristic feel. Overall the animation isn’t half bad with particular attention paid to the action and the mechanical paraphernalia. I just hope that things pick up in the next episode: it ends on a nice cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see High Harbour.
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[Anime Reviews]
23 Jul 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
After my server went down for several hours (thanks to my webhost it was sorted with no lasting damage) and a quick weekend break there haven’t been any updates lately. It’s back to normal now though with the next instalment of Future Boy Conan.
Conan escapes with Lana after a daring rescue and in the process they find out some secrets of Industria. Meanwhile Dyce has decided that he’s had enough of the place and forms a plan of his own.
It’s interesting to see what the people of Industria are planning, or rather, the evil guy (who’s name is Lepka, apparently) is planning, and how Lana and her grandfather fit into the picture. Lepka is 100% rotten to the core but is probably the most two-dimensional character in the series so far; the other supporting characters on the other hand are fleshed out a bit more here. Even the thick-as-mud Dyce is shown to have a bit more depth than his bumbling exterior suggests, with some pretty sensible logic determining what he does next. Lana, who is thankfully portrayed as a bit more outspoken and less of a tearful damsel in distress figure this time, is clearly a pawn in a power game between more than one separate group.
Needless to say, with it being a Miyazaki effort there’s the token impressive piece of flying machinery and it adds background to the overall story. This episode also suggests that not only is Dyce deciding to put the interests of himself and his men first, but Lepka has an agenda of his own that is very different from that of the Industrian committee. Quite how he manages to carry this out under their noses isn’t yet clear but he’s proving to be a very slippery customer indeed.
With one or two details that are a little cartoony and improbable (this is a kids’ show, remember!) this is another intriguing episode that adds something to both the story and characters. Lana stands up for herself for a change, Lepka is suitably evil (although his character is lacking in the depth department right now) and it all ends on a real cliffhanger.
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[Anime Reviews]
14 Jul 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
Conan and Gimsy finally arrive in Industria aboard the Barracuda, beginning an Industria-located story arc. There’s bravery, action and cool looking mechanical stuff…what more could you ask for?
The contrast between Conan and Gimsy is highlighted in this episode: Gimsy’s laid-back attitude that often borders on laziness instead becomes the voice of reason in the dangerous situations they face; needless to say a voice that Conan ignores. His impulsive actions get him into trouble once again and he has to make some more desparate escapes.
We learn a little more about the land of Industria, the situation it is in and the role that Lana and her grandfather play in the grand scheme of things. It’s still unclear whether the people who run Industria are good or bad; no doubt because it’s a Miyazaki piece, the motives of both the Industrians and Lana are complex and believable. Of course there is one especially nasty and ruthless guy who, to my eyes, looks like some early incarnation of Laputa’s villainous Muska. He’s evil, I tells ya!
A lot of details are revealed in this episode, and there is plenty of cartoony action to boot. A fast chase on foot, a railway truck ride and Conan dodging gunfire are all part of another exhilerating episode; the story has really picked up pace and I’m awaiting the next viewing with high hopes as Conan sets out to rescue his damsel in distress.
Future Boy Conan becomes an exciting sci-fi adventure as he begins to explore the vast, austere environment of Industria. A little dated perhaps but still well-written, edge-of-your-seat stuff.
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[Anime Reviews]
08 Jul 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
Conan and Gimsy set off from the island to board the ship that Conan believes will take them to Industria and bring him one step closer to rescuing Lana. Unfortunately their daring operation goes wrong and they find themselves captured by the Barracuda’s ruthless crew.
Future Boy Conan is old-fashioned boy’s adventure at its finest: had I been a youngster when I first saw this I’d no doubt be enthralled by it (just as I was with Miyazaki’s Laputa movie all those years ago). Conan is a good humoured, tough and fearless young fellow who will do anyhting for his friends, be it going to all this trouble for Lana or saving Gimsy’s neck in a tight spot. Speaking of whom, Gimsy is a comical and fun-loving character as well but it is only when he realises the value of Conan’s friendship that he stops thinking of himself and acts responsibly: the beating scenes are pretty shocking for kids’ TV but highlight the camaraderie between the two brave buddies.
The Barracuda’s crew are a nasty bunch of cruel, bumbling incompetents who only just manage to gain the upper hand over their young stowaways; it takes all of Conan’s guts and toughness just to stay alive. Of course, what he and Gimsy realise is that to get anywhere, they must face up to their problems and challenges and work together. As I said, good old-fashioned boys’ adventure.
It looks like Conan and Gimsy have a long way to go but if the episode preview is anything to go by they should reach the mysterious city of Industria and the next stage of their journey very soon indeed. There’s no denying its age but for a series that harks back to the late 70s Future Boy Conan is an exciting and amusing tale of bravery and determination.
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[Anime Reviews]
03 Jul 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
Conan sets out across the ocean to find Lana, displays a taste for VERY fresh sushi and meets a fellow human being on a strange island. He also finds out some interesting clues concerning Industria from his new-found friend.
It’s always interesting to see how a solitary and half-wild kid such as Conan reacts to meeting other people: up until recently his granfather had been his only company and he greeted Lana with some quite comical curiosity and unease. I was really chuckling when Conan treats the other boy as a rival then a friend as they try to outdo one another and eventually realise that they are very much alike: sometimes this series reminds me of the old classic adventure tales such as Treasure Island and the like, with some science fiction lurking beneath it all. The backgrounds with the ruins of old towns and the buried artifacts that turn up later on in the episode highlight the post-apocalyptic themes that underly the series: for a kids’ TV show it addresses some quite serious issues at times.
One or two other details are unlikely to crop up in animated adventure stories: I can’t see the sight of a youngster smoking a cigarette he’d bartered for a dead rat (no, really) going down well in our health-conscious, politically-correct times! Odd that. 
The story doesn’t bog itself down with trivial situations though, and by the end it’s back into ‘Conan to the rescue’ mode once more - featuring a robot versus a rusty bicycle of all things! For such an aged series, Future Boy Conan is proving to be a lot of fun.
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[Anime Reviews]
03 Jun 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
After Lana is captured by the shady characters in the plane, Conan seflessly and quite literally throws himself into rescuing her (below). Despite his heroic efforts, the kidnappers succeed in getting away so Conan returns to his home of Remnant Island to think over what to do next.
Upon his return he is greeted with a sorry sight: his grandfather, who had suffered injuries in the previous episode at the hands of Lana’s kidnappers, is now dying. On his deathbed he recounts the story behind not only Conan’s birth on the island but the circumstances surrounding their arrival and how they came to make Remnant Island their home.
Granfather’s dying wish is that Conan leaves Remnant Island behind and that he should seek out the distant human settlements. In a heart-tugging scene Conan leaves the only home he knows to embark on his big journey and rescue Lana.
One thing that strikes me is that, even at this early stage, there are so many Miyazaki-esque features that will give fans a real sense of familiarity; if the character designs aren’t reconisable (which they are), the flying machines and ecological/social commentary aspects certainly will be. As you might expect, the eco side of things is definitely in evidence but is not overplayed.
In addition there are some new villains here, such as Captain Dyce (below): the typical arrogant, bumbling buffoon who will do or say anything to please his superiors if there’s some sort of benefit to him. He’s a pretty one-dimensional character but if Miyazaki’s other work is anything to go by one character who appears to be a bad-guy initially (Monsley is her name IIRC) will probably prove to be deeper and more interesting later on. Like Dola, Kushana and Lady Eboshi who went after her in his later features, she is more intelligent and calulating than the rather dim male subordinates who surround her. We also learn that Lana has some interesting abilities and connections that go a long way to explaining why so many people are anxious to kidnap her.
The second ep of Future Boy Conan demonstrates why Miyazaki is one of my favourite directors: the characters are by and large fascinating, the story is strong and well handled and the animation quality is superb for its age (it’s actually older than the original Macross series!). Even though its underlying themes are very serious it is still really fun to watch - I can’t wait to see how he uses the longer, episodic structure instead of a two hour feature-length runtime to tell the story.
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[Anime Reviews]
20 May 2006
Posted by Martin [Tags: Future Boy Conan]
In the year 2008 the world was plunged into war and most of the human race was wiped out in the devastation that resulted (below). One survivor lives alone on the deserted Remnant Island along with his grandson Conan; their companions are long since dead and they are unaware of any existence of civilisation. Their lives are changed forever when a young girl is washed up on the beach and tells them of distant lands where other humans still survive.
It’s interesting to see such an early Miyazaki project and despite its age the animation is really quite impressive. The character designs are very much in his own style, Conan and the girl Lana especially. It is easy to see where such elements of his later films came from: the post-apocalyptic background and flying machines of the distant Industria are reminiscent of Nausicaa (or more accurately, the aircraft of Nausicaa are reminiscent of them) and Lana pays more than a passing resemblance to Sheeta, the heroine of the Laputa movie. Because of its age Future Boy Conan has quite a cartoonish feel rather than the more measured and true-to-life animation of his feature films; this is particularly evident in the scene where Conan takes on a fully-grown shark (below)! As with The Castle of Cagliostro, the slapstick works well and in this case it offsets the dark and bleak background to the story.
Conan is the typical Miyazaki hero too: helpful, cheerful and fearless. His curiosity towards Lana, due to the isolation that he and his grandfather have experienced for so many years, is particularly evident and adds to the show’s carefree innocence in the face of adversity.
Future Boy Conan starts off well as a sci-fi adventure series and the visuals bely its age; the trademark character designs and background themes mean that it will have a strong appeal for anyone who enjoys Miyazaki’s Nausicaa and Laputa era films. The mysterious past of Lana and the thoughtfully-conceived characters promise to make this an underrated series that is well worth sticking with.
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