Figure 17

[Rev. Doc]

I'm always on the lookout for an anime series that would be good to show the family. I've come across a wonderful one entitled, Figure 17. I had passed over it a couple times while anime shopping and was not really drawn to it until I came across a review. It is without a doubt a wonderful title.

Tsubasa is a very shy, withdrawn elementary schoolgirl. Following her mother's death her father moves them from Tokyo to Hokkaido to start a new life as an apprentice in a bakery. Tsubasa now must deal with the passing of her mother, leaving her best friend and facing classmates who view her as elitist coming from the big city to this small rural setting.

One evening she views the firey crash of an alien craft. Coming across the site she finds a wounded galaxy policeman who was transporting alien criminals. Being transproted in eggs, one has hatched causing the crash and now treatening Tsubasa.

Struggling for her life, Tsubasa is exposed to Figure, a metalic substance that produces a fighting body armour which enables her to defeat this monster. But because the casing of Figure has been destroyed in the fight, it takes on the image of Tsubasa herself producing a type of clone of the young girl.

Hikaru, as she is named by Tsubasa, is a complete opposite of her, being very energetic and outgoing. Together they must help to find and battle the remaining aliens that have escaped in the crash.

This series was shown in Japan one episode a month. Each episode runs 45 minutes. This is not your typical Sci Fi series which focuses a major portion of its time on fighting aliens. Instead, the majority of the episodes deal with Tsubasa and her stuggles in life and how Hikaru helps her to understand what life is really all about.

The rating is 7 and up but it's not just a children's anime. This is one that I think could be enojyed by the family as a whole. I have not written a review as I have only watched volume 1. But I would encourage everyone to give it a consideration.

[Gypsy]

I watched a demo of the first episode and ended up liking it very much. I will say it was horribly, almost painfully slow at the beginning, but by the end I was seriously wishing I had more episodes to watch. It's now on my list.

[shooraijin]

> I watched a demo of the first episode and ended up liking it very much.

Was this on one of the Newtype DVDs? I think I saw like the first half of it, up until the aquarium bit, if it's what I'm thinking of.

[Gypsy]

Yes, it was a ... I believe it was a Media Blasters demo disc. It had other things like The Twelve Kingdoms and I'll See You In My Dreams and such. But yes, the aquarium part was where I remember thinking - "Good thing this is an adorable style and I'm folding laundry - or else I'd be a'snoozin'."

[shooraijin]

Okay, then it is the one I'm thinking of. I'll have to finish watching it. Speaking of that disc, did you or anyone else finish I'll See You In My Dreams? I didn't end up watching it all the way though on the DVD for some reason.

[Gypsy]

Yes, I finished the demo, and the general idea of the story sort of appealed to me ... but I don't think it's a title I'm going to pursue.

[madphilb]

I was wondering about both of those myself... I'm glad to hear about Figure 17. Rev Doc, give us a heads up if you catch anything... but it sounds like it's going to be fine (might have to see about getting this at some point).

See you in my Dreams seemed to have room for them to put things in that would be, um, objectionable to many of us (even if tastefully done).

[Rev. Doc]

I'll See You In My Dreams? Is that the one about the office worker who falls in love with the pre-school teacher and misunderstandings follow?

[Gypsy]

That'd be the one.

[Rev. Doc]

I purchased both the TV episodes and OAV of this one a few months back. It is very similar to Maison Ikkoku and I liked it very much. There are some parts here and there that will give it a 15 and above rating. Plus I didn't care for DVD cover on one of them. Definately gives the wrong impression.

[Gypsy]

*points* That was it! That's what made me dismiss the series before I knew much about it. That ... cover. Looks chilly. So it's good you say?

[Rev. Doc]

*points* That was it! That's what made me dismiss the series before I knew much about it. That ... cover. Looks chilly. So it's good you say?

Yes, if you can get the nerve up to take it to the cashier.

The OAV (I checked, this is the one with the aforementioned cover) is probably the best of the two. It is generally a short feel good romance. The TV episdoes generally carry on from the OAV minus a few of the characters. The thing I remember about the TV episodes is being very, very frustrated with the ending. It's just one of those, "No way it's going to end like this?" endings.

[shooraijin]

Hmm, okay. It seemed sort of in that vein. Thanks for the advisory/recommendation