I hadn't heard of this anime till it was recommended to me on Amazon at a good price, after watching the first episode on line I decided to give it a go and buy it on DVD. I'm glad that I did as it was pretty good. While it is set in a war and there is plenty of action it is at heart a love story, not just between the two protagonists but involving many of the characters.
Shuji is a typical high school student and Chise is his somewhat klutzy girl friend who is always apologising. Everything seems to be going well for them, although Japan is at war it doesn't seem to effect their town. Then one day when Shuji is out shopping with his friends in the city enemy aircraft attack killing one of his friends. Suddenly something else appears in the sky and destroys the enemy aircraft. When the dust settles Shuji sees that the object that so easily defeated the enemy is Chise. The rest of their friends remain unaware that Chise is in fact the ultimate weapon. As the story progresses they struggle to keep their relationships going as the war keeps taking Chise away on duty and another woman takes an interest in Shuji. Chise grows stronger as a weapon but also loses more and more control, activating to counter any threat in a way that makes her as much a danger to her own side as the enemy.
As well as the thirteen part series there is a two part OVA, this concentrates on Chise's predecessor, Lt Col Mizuki who unlike Chise is keen to fight, unfortunately for her she is damaged from all the fighting she has been involved in. We also learn more about Chise's evolution as a weapon.
The animation was all well done in a pleasing style with the pastel colours a soft feel despite the fact that it a war story. The characters are likable and it is sad when certain ones die. If you don't dislike sad stories this anime is well worth watching.
These comments were based on watching both the series and the OVA in Japanese with English subtitles.
Shuji is a typical high school student and Chise is his somewhat klutzy girl friend who is always apologising. Everything seems to be going well for them, although Japan is at war it doesn't seem to effect their town. Then one day when Shuji is out shopping with his friends in the city enemy aircraft attack killing one of his friends. Suddenly something else appears in the sky and destroys the enemy aircraft. When the dust settles Shuji sees that the object that so easily defeated the enemy is Chise. The rest of their friends remain unaware that Chise is in fact the ultimate weapon. As the story progresses they struggle to keep their relationships going as the war keeps taking Chise away on duty and another woman takes an interest in Shuji. Chise grows stronger as a weapon but also loses more and more control, activating to counter any threat in a way that makes her as much a danger to her own side as the enemy.
As well as the thirteen part series there is a two part OVA, this concentrates on Chise's predecessor, Lt Col Mizuki who unlike Chise is keen to fight, unfortunately for her she is damaged from all the fighting she has been involved in. We also learn more about Chise's evolution as a weapon.
The animation was all well done in a pleasing style with the pastel colours a soft feel despite the fact that it a war story. The characters are likable and it is sad when certain ones die. If you don't dislike sad stories this anime is well worth watching.
These comments were based on watching both the series and the OVA in Japanese with English subtitles.