[The Carlock Book Cafe is happy to welcome Bryan Neef, a hard-core anime fan from Normal, IL. This is his first anime review. He will write more reviews for us. He is a great local resource of Japanese media products. You will find his bio and business cards at bottom of the review. Chizuko]
Knights of Sidonia (Manga) by Tsutomu Nihei; This review is about its Anime version
At its core, Knights of Sidonia is a thriller, skillfully woven with character development and action. The story revolves around the enigma of who Tanikaze Nagate is. He is the last, unmodified human on the colony ship Sidonia. The others who populate Sidonia have been genetically modified to increase their chances of survival after a disastrous event two hundred years prior.
The set up to the series is that Earth has been destroyed by a race called the Gauna for reasons unknown. Now, several hundred years later, Sidonia is again encountering the Gauna. At the same time, Nagate is recovered from the deepest levels of the ship, where he was cared for by his now deceased grandfather, a hero from years past.
While in hiding, Nagate was taught how to pilot the ships used by Knights. He is found to be extremely good at piloting and is quickly pushed into the Knight’s academy, by his guardian, Kobayashi Kanchou, the leader of Sidonia and a member of the Council of Immortals, where he slowly makes friends and quickly makes rivals. He is even given the chance to pilot a coveted mech from a previous era. Perhaps even the one his grandfather piloted.
As skilled as Nagate and his fellow Knights are, they don’t win every encounter. Many of his fellow Knights fall to the Gauna. Some out right, while others are “taken in” by the Gauna. This leads the audience to wonder how much is known about the enemy, especially with hints from the Captain, her trusted aides, and the Council.
The writing is top notch, with solid character development. The pacing is well done. Fast, hard action is tempered with introspective and humorous moments. These are even more poignant as the harshness of survival and war unfold. The so-called disposable characters have meaningful contributions to the plot and story, even after their final appearance.
Throughout the series, the audience uncovers, with the characters, a rich, secret history of Sidonia and tantalizing hints about the Gauna. Nagate’s own abilities are slowly revealed, raising questions about his grandfather, the Council of Immortals, his guardian, major events that are part of the backstory, the Gauna, and the people of Sidonia. As with many tales, one affects another. And as each mystery is revealed, a new one takes its place, leading the audience to want more.
The art is very well done, seamlessly mixing computer animation with traditional cell backgrounds. A newer trend in animation is obvious, but also subtle: computer colored characters. This technique is not distracting, and in many ways, enhances the atmosphere of the series. For the most part, the music matches the story, from the opening anthem to the closing credits. The acting is, on a whole, some of the best I’ve seen/heard in a long time. The English edition is worth listening to, even though it isn’t quite as dynamic as the Japanese cast, but that’s probably due more to how American animation is recorded rather than the talent selected.
Season one ends with a genuine desire for more. And Season two opens with a sucker punch that wasn’t expected, even with its blatantness. That’s a true credit to the writers. Season one is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Netflix. Season two is available on Netflix.
Bryan Neef
I’m the owner and operator of Phantom Studios, an on-line pop culture store, and the founder and co-president of the Normal Society of Anime. I’m a life-long animation fan with a particular love of anime.
My first introduction to anime, though I didn’t recognize it as such, was in the late 70’s with King Kong and Hercules. From there, I’ve enjoyed the classic Speed Racer series and Starblazers in the early 80’s. From there, it grew. My love for manga started with Lone Wolf and Cub and Dagger of Kamui in the late 80’s.
In the mid 90’s, I started both Phantom Studios and the Normal Society of Anime, sharing my interests with others. I’m also working with the Normal Public Library’s Manga and Anime Club (MAC) with programming suggestions and reviews. I’ve also joined their adult version, both as a member and as a coordinator
I enjoy both the translated and untranslated versions of anime and manga. Being predominately an English speaker, I get more out of the translated works, but I enjoy the linguistic flow and performances of the actors in the anime and the uncensored images and intent from the manga.
