I saw somebody remix the ED for this on the PC-8001, and for some reason i felt compelled to check it out. After finishing it, I feel like there's so much interesting stuff that happened that I don't have the bandwith to process this. In that way it's kinda like Orguss, but far more refined and intentional with what it's trying to do. The way that they intertwined Genki Gengar 3's themes into the show, and how the meaning of the show changed ever so slightly with every single episdoe was so masterful, it gives the show a very introspective feeling for those who were paying attention. I can't wait to see the film.
Easily the trippiest thing about this anime was the effect that it was having on me. Although I didn't see it growing up, Nadesico feels very similar to the other shows I started with and hold dearest, and then some. I love space operas, 90s animation, and fun adventurous stories, so this is like THE show for me, ya know? I'm not a 'merch' guy, but watching this made me want to get a Nadisco ship figurine or something. I found myself really falling in love with the way this show rolls, but then as we got deeper into the show, you realize that that falling in love with a fiction is a key theme in it. Like I said, I don't think I have the brain power to conjure up some deep thouhgts about this. Outside of Giant Robo and Iczer, I really have not experienced giant robot shows in the vain of Gekigangar 3. And so there is a lot of subtext I feel that I am missing about Gekigangar, but the idea that the ship's crew gradually fell in love with this anime as I was falling in love with Nadesco was... a very very differnt feeling. I feel that the writers were absolutely trying to make me examine how and why I'm connecting with this show. How they turned it on its head by making the enemies worship Gekigengar like a cult was insanely trippy.
Now don't tell anybody, but I've been churning through this Umineko playlist on youtube, but this quote from Umineko has been ringing in my head like an alarm bell throughout my watch of Nadesico.
"Without love, it cannot be seen."
I'm not going to preface that quote with any Umineko context, as I don't want to spoil you. But as for the Nadesico context, I think it's quite plain to see, if a little convoluted to explain. The main cast was always acting with love, even if love meant different things to differnt people. I tell you the one scene that gave me shivers was when Akito and Megumi had left the ship, and Akito was having second thoughts about not going to help while the ship was being attacked and Megumi said "why can't you just be content with being here with me". I've had words like this said to me before on many an occasion, and knowers know that this ain't the way. Only those with love could truly see the right path in this chaotic war.
Also the best character is Izumi Maki hands down. HANDS DOWN. NO ARGUMENTS..... tho yurika IS adorable.. Izumi Maki is the best. She's the best rapper, the best singer, the best jokester, the best riddlesmith, and the best comedian on the ship. omg
Although Seiya Uribatake is a sussy cheating bastard, the arc with Hikaru Amano was pretty tragic from an emotional standpoint. They both shared something they were super passionate about, and Seiya Uribatake (who obviously doesn't share this hobby with many other people) found himself falling for her. Hikaru realized where things were going, and drew a bold and hard line. She said that she was frustrated that things went this way, and that she finds herself in this situation again and again, people misinterpreting her interest and passion for romantic intrests. Tbh I feel for them both in this scene. I'm not going to act like I don't know how isolating it is to have uncommon/weird intrests. When I was in a relationship i tried my hardest to share these with my then partner, but... yeah. It didn't work. I really feel bad for Hikaru though, she just wanted to enjoy her new nerdy hobby in the purest plutonic form. At the end of this arc, Hikaru never paints figurines again. What were they trying to say here?
Heh look at me talking about love while we got teleportation mechanics, robots, holograms, AI all in this anime, all the cool stuff that i'd rather be talking about lol. The bugs look so stupid... but what they do with them is interesting! How they hack stuff is so cool! The holographic display in the ship is so cool!!! I love space operas like this so much lol.. Did i talk about the art style? This has got to be my favorite art style in an anime so far.. alright I maybe it's not as bold as Giant Robo nor as memorable as Tenchi Muyo Ryo-Oki or El Hazard... nor even as recognizable as Evengelion... but you know what I LIKE IT ALL THE SAME. I love it when the circuts start glowing on peoples skin and shit happens. I LOVE THAT!!! Did I mention that Ruri kinda looks like Frieren a little bit? Yurika's outfit was just... so... fab... The Nadesico itself is also a pretty cool looking ship if i do say so myself.
I like to think Goat Hory is what happned to Junpei Ryuzouji after the Isekai adventure ended in Those Who Hunt Elves. Idk they look alike.
I genuinely love the atmostphere in this show, it's just so... positive? Upbeat? You all know I've been watching a lot of grumpy shows lately. This was both a breath of fresh air and exactly what I wanted. I am floored at how good this was. The ending was kinda freaky, and I think that you ORGUSS watchers will definately see what i'm talking about when I make that comparison.
The harem that gets built up around Akito feels like you're supposed to kinda question it a bit? I guess most of the pairings made sense in the end, but they all kinda broke down to make way for the main show. Which i get, but idk I feel like this show is wayy too big brained for me. Either way this comes with a triple gold star reccomendation from me, easily a top 20 anime. I should make an anime ranking.
I'll update the review when I watch the film, but i really just needed to get my thoughts out. Please watch this show, listen to the music, and hug your loved ones.
TBD: watching the movie October 15, 2024
It didn't rock my world, but was fine. I think the super duper awkward kiss that Yurika and had at the very end of the TV show kinda left a werid taste in my mouth. Not a bad taste, just a weird one. And building off of that was even weirder? Like the show never nessecerily got bad, it was just a little difficult to follow sometimes. As for the good stuff, there is a lot of it. The way the Martian Successors just kinda pop out of nowhere and theatrically switch uniforms was really funny. The male logo on all of their shirts? It's giving Zentradi. It's giving Chiram. We are here for it. The way the Martian Successors started getting into the Shojo manga was hilarious, and I thought that Hikaru's manga would be what they were trying to get into, but i guess not.
The way the soldiers idolize Ruri is a little too freaky for me. Also, the way that the Martian Successors abuse Yurika's love for Akito into a weapon of war is SUPER feaky. Like I was thoughroughly impressed, disgusted, and put into a state of awe any time they tried to do a boson jump. Very scary stuff, bravo. After she woke back up though I can't say I was impressed. She woke up like nothing happened. I feel like there's a lot of context in the saturn games that I need to experience to fully get the movie, and the dreamcast game as well I suppose. I think you should watch the film, but if you didn't like the original show you probably won't like this film. I commited the carnal sin by looking up people's thoughts about it on reddit and it seemed to be mixed to negatively recived. And I honestly, I think those takes come from a place of love. There is a LOT to love about this show and movie, however for a show that begs you to look deeper, things get a little too convoluted for comfort, leaving you only scratching your head and wishing, longing for more. I'll certainly be revisiting this work, and reading about what others have to say about it. I think it really really is worth the watch, and for me it's probably going to go up there with Orguss on my list of brazy sci fi anime.