Anime [Anime Blog Muyo!] Area 88 TV: First Look

Time for a little history lesson, kids. This TV series is not the first incarnation of Area 88. There was an OAV released almost twenty years ago now of the same name. The original Area 88 was meant to be depressing, focusing on the senselessness and hopelessness of war. Given its vintage (1985), the original Area 88 fit in well with similarly grim anime titles of its time.

So far, however, this TV series doesn't carry those same dark undertones in the story. The characters seem apathetic, perhaps, but they aren't exactly despondent.

But let me back up first.

Area 88 is the story of Shin Kazama, a Japanese fighter pilot acting as a mercenary in the fictitious nation of Aslan somewhere in North Africa. As part of the mercenary air force, he is seeking to make enough money to get out of his indenture and see his beloved fiancé, Ryoko.

However, that's the overall plot of the franchise and I'm getting ahead of the series slightly. In the first episode of the TV series, we meet a photographer by the name of Makoto Shinjou (who wasn't in the OAV), who has just arrived at Area 88 to cover the base's activities. However, he seems to be mostly interested in Shin, a fellow Japanese citizen. Shin doesn't seem to pay him any mind, but the other fighter jocks do. Shinjou takes the brunt of abuse, both verbally and physically, being labeled a coward for not being able to put his life on the line like everyone else (rushing to take pictures of the wounded). Shinjou especially takes the abuse from Miki (perhaps "Mickey"?), another fighter jock who seems to be something of a friend for Shin.

Unlike Shin, Miki is closer to what you'd expect a fighter jock to be (like Monsha from Gundam 0083), loud and rough, a real "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" type of man's man. Where Shin is withdrawn, Miki is gregarious. Miki is a good pilot in his own right, but Shin is an expert. As our series opens, Shin successfully splashes three out of four incoming aircraft single-handedly.

Animation-wise, the show doesn't look bad, but pales in comparison with the more recent, beautifully-animated "flyboy shows" like Macross Zero and Yukikaze. The airplanes seem to be cel-shaded CG (a la Love Hina), but they don't always seem to integrate accurately with the animation. The animation is being done by Group TAC, who is also working on Twin Spica, not a show widely-regarded for its animation quality (but good otherwise). The planes themselves look reasonably well-animated. I can recognize F-14s, F-4s and F-5s. (Shin's plane seems to be a variation on the A-7 Corsair II, but I'm not entirely certain.)

The voice cast is widely respected, however. Takehito Koyasu (who has been in every title under the sun: from Air Master to Zone of the Enders) provides the voice of Shin. Other industry veterans Shinichiro Miki (Kurz Weber, Full Metal Panic; Takumi, Initial D; Lee, R.O.D: The TV; Yoji, Weiß Kreuz) and Tomokazu Seki (Touya, Cardcaptor Sakura; Sousuke Sagara, Full Metal Panic; Chichiri, Fushigi Yuugi; Domon Kasshu, G Gundam; Jiro, Kikaider) provide the voices for Makoto Shinjou and Miki (Mickey) Simon.

All in all, it's too early to really make a guess on this show. It has the potential to be good or average (but probably not bad). Based on the first episode, there is certainly enough to continue watching for me. However, if fighter planes don't do it for you or you are just looking for something else in your anime (like, say, women), you would be better served checking out another show. But if you're looking for something to fill in this light season of anime, Area 88 might be a good bet, clocking in at only 12 episodes. My vote right now: a strong B.

For more information, try the official web site by Avex Mode.

As always, you can discuss this show and any others from the new season on our message boards.

Click here to read this story
http://www.radicalbender.com/animeblog/archives/000895.php