Title: Full Metal Panic!Category: TV Total Episodes: 24 Genres: Action, Mecha, Schoolkids, Science Fiction Year Published: 2002 Studio: GONZO US Distribution: ADV Films Animation: 9 Sound: 8 Story: 7 Character: 8 Value: 7 Enjoyment: 8 Average: 7.83 Description: Sosuke Sagara is an elite soldier who belongs to an independent special force named "Mithril". Mithril is a self appointed military force that fights terrorism across the globe. With technology that is far superior to that of normal nations, Mithril intercedes on behalf of justice. Sagara, a Second Lieutenant under Mithril's command, is assigned to the duty of protecting a girl named Kaname Chidori, who attends high school in Japan. To accomplish this task, he pretends to be a transfer student attending at Kaname's school. As Sagara settles into his new role as classmate, a massive plot unfolds beginning with the kidnapping of Chidori. What is Chidori's role in the conspiracy? Why does she seem to be born with knowledge of technology that has only been recently invented? One Liner: Full Metal Panic! is a fun anime (especially for all you military freaks out there) Animation: Full Metal Panic! is produced by GONZO studios, an anime company renowned for its animatioin quality. After watching Full Metal Panic! it is not hard to see why. FMP animation is breath-taking, chock full of eye candy from start to finish. While this eye candy generally implies computer animation, which GONZO relies on a lot, the CGI works really well with the hand-drawn animation. Characters, mecha, and environments are all wonderfully drawn, and delivers especially when one sees how they interact with each other. The FMP action sequences are absolutely wonderful, with so much attention given to the details and specifics of the fight that each conflict with mechas leave the audience sitting on the edge of the seat. However, the animation is definitely not perfect. This is particular in the later episodes. The animation quality certainly degrades a notch or two, giving the viewer the feeling that the studio is trying to wrap up the series as quickly as possible. By being rushed certain descrepancies in the animation become painfully evident, and provokes an unsettling feeling in the viewer. Not saying that the idea of an arm slave is remotely conceivable in the first place, but that discrepancies in the animation make it seem even more fantanstic, if not down right ridiculous in some parts. While in some anime this exaggeration is purposely done and produces a good effect, it doesn't work in Full Metal Panic! Since most of the series provides a sense of reality, the sudden shift in animated tone presents an unsettling effect in the viewer. However, the quality is still good, its just that the later half doesn't necessary come to par with the first. Sound: 80's soundtracks anybody? I'm sold. However, the soundtrack in FMP is great. This is not just the OP and the ED, points to Mikuni Shimokawa for an awesome job on those. The soundtrack by itself is very good, with a nice mix of sounds. In the anime, the different tracks certainly do provide the mood, and contributes a lot to the tone of each scene. That is another good thing with FMP - the series is so full with sound that there hardly is a quiet moment. The seiyuu (voice talent) in FMP is good as well. The cast holds some talented members especially the voice actor for Sagara Sousuke, who also was Kyo in Fruits Basket. But if there was one bad thing with the seiyuu in FMP, it's Kaname's forced laugh. It doesn't matter how you look at it, Kaname's forced laugh just freaks the heck out of the audience. Not something you'd like to hear more than once, but unfortunately, that can't be helped. Story: The story in Full Metal Panic! is a rather interesting mix between an anime with story and an anime without one. While technically Full Metal Panic does have a story, it being Sagara protecting Kaname, there are several random episodes that hardly relate to the main plot at all. However, regardless story or not, FMP constantly drives onward, and is enjoyable throughout. Yet the downside of this rather seemingly trivial plot is that there was trouble ending it, and it becomes very evident. The final scenes and departure are rather random and raises questions what just happened. This just means that the story doesn't quite end as expected, and leaves on a rather high note with not final resolution between the characters. Character: Character development in FMP is great. Right from the get-go the viewer is introduced to several fiery characters that each have totally different personalities. It is this mix of characters that make the anime so fun. Whether it's the clueless military freak of Sagara or violent Kaname, all the characters in Full Metal Panic grow on the viewer, well, all the main ones that is. However, the best character in Full Metal Panic is Gaul(n). Totally similar to Vicious and Shito, in that he's actually a villian - there is no sympathy for Gaul(n) - because he's just evil. And he's like a pest, who keeps on coming up where you don't want to. It's hard to find a good villian nowadays... but Gaul(n) is one of the best. Value: Good animation, sound, and story makes FMP worthwhile. Even though the series looses punch the second and third time around, the first impact as simply a fun anime series lasts a while. The soundtrack is definitely worth it. Enjoyment: Full Metal Panic is really enjoyable simply as a fun anime to watch. If expecting other things, Full Metal Panic would fail, but that's because the wrong approach is taken to this series. Just chilll and enjoy! Bottom Line: A good all around anime that kind of leaves itself unresolved. But good nevertheless. |
