Area 88

[oro!]

Has anyone else seen this one. I saw it one the anime network on demand. I like the quality of it, bnut am not sure of if I actually like it....

[battletech]

I saw the first episode and I thought it was worth getting.

[GrubbTheFragger]

the series looked interesting. it also looked like teh animation was pretty well done also

[avidrkfan]

I've seen it (the TV series, not the OAV) and I really liked it. I don't usually go for war/action themed anime, but this one was worth watching.

The anime style seemed a little dated and 1980s-ish, but the characters were really interesting, and you came to care for them and really want them to survive.

The one thing that I didn't like was that the ending wrapped up one of the story threads but not the main one.

[spoiler] The main character, Shin, spends the whole series trying to earn enough money to escape from the employment contract he signed that forced him to fly fighter pilot missions for three years so he can go home to Japan and reunite with his fiancee, Ryoko. At the end of the series he STILL doesn't get to return to her, though that creepy friend of his who tricked him into signing the contract that exiled Shin doesn't get her either. After rooting for this couple the whole way through, it was a little disappointing that we didn't get to see them reunite at the end! [/spoiler]

But apart from that, it was really enjoyable and had a very authentic feel to it, mainly because of the care and detail taken to draw the airplanes and their capabilities as realistically as possible. Like 'Last Exile', it made me want to learn how to fly!

[avidrkfan]

Argh! My spoiler boxes didn't work! Sorry about that!

Oh wait, I think I know how to fix it!

[Roy Mustang]

Its a fighter jet anime, just to let you know.



Wingzero22

[RedMage]

Heard about it in Newtype last year and watched the first episode on their preview disc, but it wasn't until last month I could get more. I own the first two volumes now, and I'm looking for a good price on the third. As a huge military aviation buff, I eat stuff like this up.

[EricTheFred]

My problem is, (after only one ep) I can't get too enthusiastic about the story itself. I thought the technical side (i.e., the rendering of the military equipment, the general cinematography, the quality of human expression, etc.) was very high quality. I may give it a couple more episodes, but I was underwhelmed by the story so far.

[EricTheFred]

Heard about it in Newtype last year and watched the first episode on their preview disc, but it wasn't until last month I could get more. I own the first two volumes now, and I'm looking for a good price on the third. As a huge military aviation buff, I eat stuff like this up.

Have you seen the F104s they had in one of the eps of "Narutaru"? (possibly episode 5; I'm not for sure.) May be one of the best anime renditions of real aviation I've ever seen. And the scriptwriter apparently actually knew something about the real world aircraft, judging from some of the lines.

[RedMage]

My problem is, (after only one ep) I can't get too enthusiastic about the story itself. I thought the technical side (i.e., the rendering of the military equipment, the general cinematography, the quality of human expression, etc.) was very high quality. I may give it a couple more episodes, but I was underwhelmed by the story so far.

It would be fair to say the story can not by any means be considered Shakespeare.

[quote]Have you seen the F104s they had in one of the eps of "Narutaru"? (possibly episode 5]

I must confess I've never even heard of Narutaru.

In other aviation-related anime matters, I have the first volume of Yukikaze on request from RentAnime, but it's slow in arriving.

[oro!]

The anime style seemed a little dated and 1980s-ish, but the characters were really interesting, and you came to care for them and really want them to survive.

I really liked the style, myself. It was the tone of the first episode I didn't exactly like. But, you really can't judge a book by its first chapter, so I'll see if I can watch it some more.

[RedMage]

I really liked the style, myself. It was the tone of the first episode I didn't exactly like. But, you really can't judge a book by its first chapter, so I'll see if I can watch it some more.

I have no problem with the animation, myself. I think they did quite a good job of respecting their roots in the 80's manga and OVA while bringing it up to respectable modern standards.

My only real quibble with the animation (aside from anomolies involving the plane's weapons and drop tanks) is the character design of Shin's girlfriend from back in Japan (Kyoko, if memory serves). That pale pink hair just looks dated. She's the only character who doesn't look like she's been updated like the rest of the cast has.

[Arnobius]

The original OVA was good, but I can't get enthused over the new one. It lacks the human drama that made it good. The hero is determined to do what he has to do to get home, and when he does get home, he no longer fits into that world.

More episodes is not necessarily better

[RedMage]

The original OVA was good, but I can't get enthused over the new one. It lacks the human drama that made it good. The hero is determined to do what he has to do to get home, and when he does get home, he no longer fits into that world.

I was under the impression this basic plotline and the ending remained unchanged.

[Arnobius]

I was under the impression this basic plotline and the ending remained unchanged.

This is like BGC2040. More isn't necesarily better. It worked better for me as a shorter OVA