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-One of the most elaborately produced anime endeavors is a film which contains a scope which may have been too large for it's own good. Indeed, Gainax's feature film debut was one of the most strenuous and pricey of it's time. With a production budget by over 15 animation studios set at 1 billion yen (8 million dollars), "Hiroyuki Yamaga's" anime masterpiece was sure to be a huge hit. In fact, "Oneamisu No Oritsu Uchugun" (The Royal Space Force, or "The Wings Of Honneamise" as later called") was Gainax's inevidable and definite crash. While the film failed miserably at the box-office in Japan, and failed to reach a wide audience, it has later been regarded as one of the most influential and classic anime films of it's time. -A visually stunning and dramatic portrait of an alien civilization is the basis of the epic story of "Shirotsugu Lhadatt", a willing and yet indolent student with a dream of flying. Shiro lacks the academic status of becomming the one thing he dreams of. Ironically, he is transfered to become part of "The Royal Space Force's" space-war-ship program; and to become the first man to fly into outer space. The aging and introverted space organization which has accumulated a great deal of ridicule from both the government the eyes of the general public. -Despite the criticism of his piers and those around him, "Shiro" willingly accepts the challenges and sacrifices for getting the project off the ground. Durring this process, Shiro befriends an idealistic young missionary. With her aid, Shrio re-discovers his self perpose and dream of going into space. An achievment which would somehow better improve the perpose upon which the human race has made for itself. -The Wings Of Honneamise has always been an influential film in a sense of it's production design. Yamaga's brilliant vision of a society much like our own, is marvelously animated in this visually striking epic. Everything about the film is extremely original and fresh, every single inch of design, architechture and technology is unlike anything seen before; though they are actually made to resemble our own world. Yamaga is brilliant in bringing forth a dramatic tale of the human spirit, and the birth of discovery. TWOH is told much in the sense like a documentary, the designs indeed, look acceptionally like the real thing. The film strives for a unique realism in animation, by presenting a plot of intricate drama. The movie is told from a main characters' point of view, and the additional characters help to better serve the development of the story. The look of the film is profound and imaginative, and very well suited for this dramatic sci-fi epic; a world which I feel could only exist with animation. -Though it's style may appear dated, the director's visionary sense of movement and camera work is truly stunning. The Wings Of Honneamise relys heavily on distinct camera angles, intricate detail in both backgrounds and character designs as well as technological design. The scope remains masterful all throughout it's moments of dialouge, as well in all it's grandeur of large scale battle sequences and breath-taking climax. I viewed the film as a truly profound and engaging experience. This is a film which was way ahead of it's time, yet it fit perfectly with the era. It will also continue to entertain as a regarded classic of animation. "The Wings Of Honneamise" is truly one of the most fantastic animes out there, and well deserving of our choice as #10. Back To Main Page |
