Normally, I review a month's worth of FUNimation selections to tell you which anime titles are worth watching, which are essential viewing, and which are more than okay to pass over entirely. This time, however, I'll be taking a bit of a departure to talk about a particularly dangerous bit of fan service in one of their series titles--Freezing--before getting into the rest of the enjoyable offerings they've made available this May. Hold tight, because it's going to get a little adult in the early goings, so if you're not a reader/viewer of the "Mature" variety, you might want to skip on down.

For the uninitiated, FUNimation is a U.S. company known for their dubs and domestic distribution of Japanese anime. So all of the reviews you’re about to check out are for the dub version of each anime, though some Blu-rays/DVDs have a Japanese audio option as there are some exceptions to the rule. Below, you’ll find the official synopsis for each movie and series, along with a link to pick up your own copy at FUNimation’s online store, should my review convince you. Sometimes, it’ll be an easy thing to suggest you buy it, other times, it’ll be just as easy to go in the other direction.

Check out more of my reviews of FUNimation’s home video selections here, like lighthearted sports anime titles and other fan service series that aren't quite as problematic. You might just find a favorite you overlooked or a new addition to your catalog you might have missed!

Freezing: Seasons 1 and 2

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Freezing: Seasons 1 & 2 (Essentials)

In a word overrun by aliens, mankind is protected by genetically-enhanced female warriors called Pandoras. Satellizer el Bridget is the most feared Pandora at West Genetics academy, and anyone foolish enough to lay a finger on her lush body may not live to regret it. Until, that is, her status as the “Untouchable Queen” is threatened by the arrival of Kazuya, a young boy with a tortured past.

 

Satellizer el Bridget and some of the most powerful – and desirable – Pandora in the world are summoned to forge a new breed of soldier – E-Pandora! These eager beauties volunteered to have their bodies genetically-enhanced to fight deadly alien invaders plaguing the planet. But rumors of heinous experimentation haunt the project, and only Satellizer can unravel the mystery before it’s too late!

Let's get this one out of the way. Judging from the Blu-ray box art alone, I figured this one would be heavy on the fan service. And yup, 30 seconds into the first episode you get a full-body suit-up sequence and transformation from totally nude busty gal to scantily clad superhero. If you know what you're getting into, that's to be expected, but even for the most outlandish of fan-servicey shows, Freezing takes it another step forward.

The camera lingers on an exposed breast and nipple during an early fight scene just because. There are more upskirts, panty shots, and jiggling breasts in the first few minutes than there are words of dialogue spoken. And even when we get some exposition, it's provided by creepy old military dudes watching over the battle between the genetically enhanced "students", the most gifted of which (in all aspects) is Satellizer el Bridget, the "Untouchable Queen." (Oh it's also pretty damn gory as the women occasionally get their limbs hacked off, their throats cut, or their various body parts just crushed...)

So is there enough mythology here to overcome the in-you-face fan service? Eh. The fact that the preeminent badass hero is stunned into inaction just because a dude shows up and showers her with affection ain't exactly the best foot forward. Add to that the fact that "winning" in battle is decided either by cutting as many clothes from your opponent as possible, humiliating them through sexual abuse, or just outright killing them and, yeah, it's kinda gross. That's what I get for watching a 2011 fan-service anime in 2019.

Sadly, no amount of storytelling or thin attempts at establishing a mythology here can mask how problematic this story is, so it gets my first 0/10. Whether it's a decent anime series, silly fan service, or straight-up porn you're looking for, you can do better than Freezing.

The bonus extras include an episode commentary from Caitlin Glass and Luci Christian who directly talk about their reaction to learning just what Freezing was about, including the thought about using a pseudonym. But Extras also include a selection of OVAs which double down on the fan service to the point of actually being softcore porn, though it's done in a "comedic" style.

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Image via FUNimation

Glass, at least, didn't seem to mind as much since she returned for the second season, "Vibrations." Season 2 definitely keeps the same fan service elements but seems to have a lot more fun with them while actually giving the character some personalities and plenty of interesting dialogue to work through. They don't ignore the issues of the first season either, giving our protagonist a chance to claim her power back from an abusive brother-figure. Except the way this is handled is not nearly satisfying in any way, shape, or form.

Most importantly, the biggest improvement comes from dialing back the physical/sexual assault by a metric ton. There's still enough there to be problematic, like when a group of adult men subject these young women to traumatic experiments (and the animators feel it necessary to zoom in on their crotches in the process), or the messed-up brother/sister trauma... Even the OVAs, which are just as pervy as the first season, revisit this abusive relationship but just make light of it again.

It feels like the first season was all about getting eyeballs on the property while the second season actually tries to weave a story in amongst the T & A. It's still fully ridiculous but at least it's more fun and slightly more fulfilling, narratively speaking. Still a 3/10 from me.

We Without Wings

 

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We Without Wings

Winter descends on the city, and three eerily similar young men teeter on the brink of madness after cleav-tastic collisions with kinky girls who lead with their curves! Though their personalities differ, Takashi, Shusuke, and Hayato are mysteriously linked by a powerful perversion that will leave fans reaching for the tissues after a mind-bending climax for the ages!

Yeah there's not much to recommend this series to anyone unless you're a fan of panty shots, the occasional pair of animated breasts bouncing across the screen, and other "lewds." I'm sure it passes for an innocent and playful comedy in some circles but honestly you can your fan service wrapped up in higher quality framing stories. That's a shame because the fantasy-focused animation promises some fun adventures that really just aren't delivered. I gave it the ol' three-episode try; this one isn't for me.

5/10

Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion (Steelbook)

 

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Code Geass Movie Trilogy

The world is at war. Lelouch Lamperouge, an exiled prince, encounters a strange girl known as C.C., who gifts him with a great power. With this ability, Lelouch can get anyone to do as he wills. But the power of Geass: is it a blessing…or a curse?

If you don't have the time to watch the entire run of the Code Geass anime series (which I highly encourage you to do) or just want to see what changes director Gorō Taniguchi and writer Ichirō Ōkouchi brought to the feature adaptation of the story, this movie trilogy is a fine option. It chops up the regular run of episodes in interesting ways and changes the flavor of certain climactic sequences by somewhat shifting when and how they appear, but when you're juggling this much political intrigue and a massive cast of characters, I'm amazed it works this well at all.

Movie I: Initiation

The first film serves to reintroduce the two sides of the ongoing rebellion, the major players on each side, and the factions that form within them. It all builds to a dramatic reveal that the pilots behind the powerful mecha are all in fact very familiar with each other from their positions within the school's leadership and the Britannian society.

Movie II: Transgression

In the follow-up film, Lelouch's powers get more complicated and he unintentionally delivers a directive he never meant to. This mistake throws what was previously a tenuous peace into all-out chaos. Like any great middle entry in a trilogy, this one ends with the title hero (or antihero at this point, depending on your point of view) on the losing end. His forces defeated, his plans fallen apart, and his memories erased and replaced, Lelouch finds himself starting over in a hazy world that's far different from the one he knew previously.

Movie III: Glorification

Things get really trippy in the third and final movie (at least until Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;ssurection came out). This part of the story veers far away from the mech battles and political machinations and, instead, centers entirely on the Britannia family and their super messed-up drama. Betrayal, murder plots, the use of their powers to not only transfer their consciousnesses but to trick others into believing falsehoods ... they're kind of the worst.

Having defeated his father and mother and banished them out of existence, Lelouch assumes the throne and title of Emperor. And that's when the mecha action really ratchets up a few notches. After a long time battling against each other, Suzaku finally fights on Lelouch's side, in defense of Britannia. He takes on the moniker of Knight of Zero and attempts to earn that title in battle. The whole things comes down to a massive show off force by both sides, but will any survivors be left after the battle? The ultimate conclusion is a bittersweet one, though this film also sets up a fourth that continues the story, for better or worse.

9/10

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens

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Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens

Welcome to the seedy underbelly of Fukuoka, where hitmen are a dime a dozen. Among all the oddballs in this lucrative business, one man stands above the rest—a legendary killer of professional killers. Good thing detective Banba is on the case! This pinch hitter never shies away from a curveball, not even when a cross-dressing assassin gets reeled into Banba’s hodgepodge team of hitmen.

Well this one starts out with a mature-rated bang: A cross-dressing killer finds themselves at the center of an investigation by a team of detectives/assassins. In a twist, said killer actually teams up with the lead detective to keep him safe and help out on the case, while killing a ton of people along the way...

Interesting premise, the story just doesn't do enough with it. It's kind of hard to keep track of everyone when new characters are introduced episode by episode, only to be killed off mere moments later. And it's tough to get a sense of who you should be rooting for when everyone on screen is literally just out to kill everyone else for a variety of reasons. Style over substance for this one.

7/10

Starmyu

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Starmyu

First-year Yuta Hoshitani enters the esteemed Ayanagi Academy with dreams of following in his idol’s footsteps, but competition starts the moment he steps through the doors! Catching the eye of an eccentric member of the elite Kao Council, Hoshitani and several other misfits are given the chance they were hoping for. With egos as strong as their talent, will these five young stars ever get along?

*Sub only

If you want a sing-along drama full of cute boys, then man is this anime series for you! Not really my thing, but it's in the mix with series like Free! and Haruchika if that does anything for you.

7/10

Scrapped Princess

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Scrapped Princess

Pacifica Cassul is a kindhearted girl living on the run, for prophecy has named her the poison that would destroy the world. While it seems like everyone is out to get her, she always has her adoptive siblings. Bit by bit, the Cassuls uncover the incredible truth behind the prophecy and its ties to events from 5,000 years ago. But for all their struggle, should such a poison be allowed to live?

If you're looking for a throwback anime that takes you far, far back in time to the ancient year of 2003 (complete with 3:4 aspect ratio!), then Scrapped Princess should be on your radar. Oddly, it looks older than it is. Part of that is due to the ratio but it also just looks kind of rushed and half-finished. That's a shame considering it hails from BONES and features character designs from Cowboy Bebop's own Takahiro Komori.

There's a weird left turn about halfway through the story that shuffles up the character pairings a bit and introduces some new ones. And it ultimately goes completely insane in a couple of episodes that allow the characters to embrace their true forms in battle, but it's something that's done so infrequently that, while it remains special, it feels like part of another show entirely. (I am still here for a battle between space dragons though.)

It's got a good story about a cursed princess protected by her older siblings, and the many characters they run into along the way, but there's just not enough mythology or strength of said characters to really hook you. There's something to be said for a happy ending of course. It really is the animation that lets this one down the most though.

7/10

*Extras include Japanese piracy warnings, which are delightful.

Dimension W

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Dimension W

In the near future, devices known as “coils” harness the power of another dimension. Seeking illegal coils, bounty hunter Kyoma Mabuchi spends his days resisting the use of dimensional energy. That is, until a very realistic and adorable robot, Mira, gets mixed up in things. Partnering with the reluctant Kyoma on his missions, together they uncover the truth behind the mysterious power.

As far as Cowboy Bebop clones go, this is one of the best. It's got a great mythology based on a newly discovered dimension that unfolds more and more over the course of the series. Add to that a fantastic theme song and intro sequence that never gets old over 13 episodes, including an OVA, and you have yourself a neo-classic. Unfortunately, this one will be over before you know it, giving you a great opportunity to watch it all again from the beginning.

9/10

Burst Angel

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Burst Angel

The future’s looking bleak. It’s a good thing there’s a new sheriff in town. Her name is Jo and she’s an enigma even to herself. Alongside her partners Sei, Amy, and Meg, Jo fights for the citizens who can’t defend themselves. Confronting corruption and twisted science, these gals are on fire – and they’re the best chance the wounded city’s got.

This thing starts off with a robot corpse breaking loose from a collapsed building in a desolate apocalyptic landscape and taking a big bite out of a crow, followed by a wordless mech battle, so obviously it's got my attention. The theme song whips and the visuals scattered throughout the intro feature some great characters and hero shots without giving away too much.

But despite solid character designs and action-packed animation from Gonzo, Burst Angel starts out as your basic harem anime. The foursome of female fighters have some pretty well-defined character traits that will allow viewers to gravitate toward one or the other, but they all appear to exist in order to fulfill a specific type for male protagonist Kyohei Tachibana.

If you stick with it long enough, however, you'll find a more complex set of relationships among the girls, even as their law-enforcement job starts to look more like mercenary work. Tachibana remains as the everyman that viewers can use as an anchor point, but Burst Angel is the ladies' story to tell.

7/10

It also features some of the best Extras we've seen:

  • Episode 4 Commentary
  • Episode 8 Commentary
  • Episode 10 Commentary
  • Episode 13 Commentary
  • Episode 17 Commentary
  • Episode 24 Commentary
  • Japanese Staff and Cast Interviews
  • The Lightness and Darkness of Jo
  • Ugetsu Hakua Special
  • Battle Record of All 24 Episodes
  • Previews of the TV Series
  • Previews of the OVA
  • Japanese Trailer
  • Textless Songs
  • Outtakes
  • Trailers

Dies irae

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Dies irae

The Longinus Dreizehn Orden has resurfaced in present-day Japan and, by sacrificing the souls of millions, seeks ultimate power. However, high school student Ren Fuji is poised to stop them. Armed with brutally efficient abilities similar to the LDO, and possessing an indomitable will to rescue his friends, he’ll risk life and limb to save as many people as he can from a fate worse than death.

If you love listening to American voice actors attempt to struggle through fake German accents for a good chunk of the storytelling, you're going to love this one! Luckily, for the rest of us, those accents don't make up the majority of the dialogue after the first episode, so hang in there.

Unfortunately, this story is so all over the place and incoherent at times that it really just turns into a visual spectacle. There are some bonkers ideas brought to life through animation here--like a rapidly maturing newborn, all manner of body horror, and more bloody violence than you can shake an energy scythe at--but they don't really connect to anything at all. I almost made it all the way to the end, but even giant robo-hell-skeletons couldn't keep my attention on this meandering mess.

6/10

Ultimate Otaku Teacher

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Ultimate Otaku Teacher

Teaching is the last thing otaku Junichiro Kagami yearns to do. But after getting on his sister’s last nerve, he’s stuck working as a teacher instead of working on his anime blog! But his students are about to teach him a thing or two. Between their quirky dreams, serious attitude problems, and surprising secrets, Junichiro is definitely in for some far-out lessons.

This very silly series pokes a lot of fun at Otaku culture, and delivers quite a few jabs at "shut-ins", while also blatantly being self-referential. Lots of pop culture references throughout and they all work seamlessly in a very clever script.

It's not all fun and games though; some episodes and arcs are dedicated to helping characters break out of their shells and be confident and comfortable with their true selves. The humor and outright silliness of Ultimate Otaku Teacher provides a great way to disarm viewers before delivering some very progressive and thoughtful story moments. I've got to say that I didn't see that coming and it was a pleasant surprise.

Pretty frequently, an obscure anime/otaku reference slips through in the conversational dialogue and makes you laugh so hard that you miss the next line. One example? Referencing the "Home for Infinite Losers", the Americanized version of "HELL" from Dragonball Z due to censorship and edits. Add in nods to Humble Bundle and gaming companies like "Activision Frigate" and "Macrosoft", and this is one title you'll have to watch multiple times if you hope to catch all the jokes.

8/10

One Piece: Episode of Sabo: Bond of Three Brothers, A Miraculous Reunion and an Inherited Will

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One Piece: Episode of Sabo: Bond of Three Brothers, A Miraculous Reunion and an Inherited Will 

Visiting Dressrosa under orders of the Revolutionary Army, Sabo’s top-secret mission derails when Doflamingo announces the grand prize for battling in the Colosseum. The tragedy at Marineford still weighing on his mind, Sabo reunites with his little brother to protect the promises they made with Ace. Now, they’ll fight in disguise for the Colosseum’s ultimate prize: Ace’s Flame-Flame Fruit.

Man, One Piece really leans heavily on the events of the Marineford battle.

Well, this is pretty messed up! The people of the island of Dressrosa have been transformed into toys, which are thrown into a scrap pile and forgotten by their friends and family. Luckily Luffy & Co. are there to right wrongs, pick fights, and battle for the all important prize that once belonged to dearly departed brother Ace.

One Piece continues to be one of the best anime titles running; this TV special revisits the early episodes of the Dressrosa arc but tells them somewhat through Sabo's perspective. That adds a nice new wrinkle to the story and lets viewers catch up on the events they might have missed. So while fans will get to see Luffy help restore the citizens of Dressrosa to their natural states, the big payoff is finding out how Ace's abilities live on in an unexpected way.

8/10

Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2202 - Limited Edition

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Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2202

It’s been three years since the Yamato’s voyage to restore Earth, and since then, a lasting peace with the Gamilans has borne fruit. Due to Earth’s newly acquired technological might, humankind has begun a military expansion. However, Gatlantis, a new threat lurking far beyond our star system, will once again put humanity to the test. Responding to a mysterious plea, the Yamato and its crew must undertake one more mission for the good of their species and of the universe itself.

The limited edition includes:

  • Collector’s rigid box with room to house Parts 1 & 2 as well as art book (Part 2 not included)
  • 40-page art book
  • 8 art cards
  • Special features including an interview with Ken Meseroll and Chris Wehkamp as well as the textless openings and endings

This series starts off with everything you love from the franchise: Far-flung philosophy bookending epic space-based battle. Even if you don't quite know what's going on, it's a blast to watch. (And I love that the huge Gamilon battle cruisers come with their own floating shield-wall.)

Rather than a straight-up Earthlings vs aliens war story here, we've got a few more interesting wrinkles: The former adversaries now team up to battle a new threat while also dealing with the expected tensions that arise from this alliance. More shocking, however, is the fate of the title ship and its crew as they both experience a cosmic cry for help from a dying planet and have to risk treason by going against orders. Things get quite complicated as this story soldiers on, but it's worth your attention.

8/10

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Darling in the Franxx

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Darling in the Franxx

In a battle against the klaxosaurs only the children, classified as parasites, are humanity's hope in this dying world. Fighting in mechanized suits known as FRANXX, parasites are grouped up in male and female pairs to face the monstrous creatures. Hiro was once a prodigy FRANXX pilot. But when he gives up the fight, he meets Zero Two, the girl with the horns, and finds a new reason to keep going.

(This review is for the Limited Edition set, which is awesome but out of stock at FUNimation. You can, however, buy Season 1 and Season 2 separately on Blu-ray.)

Man, I've watched a lot of mecha anime, but I've never seen one where boys "pilot" girls, on all fours, in order to "ride" the mecha itself. That's a choice. It's got very strong FLCL vibes since the partnership between the pilot and the ... co-pilot (?) are a lot like early awkward sexual experiences and coming-of-age milestones. That's a classy way of saying that these mecha piloting scenes are stand-ins for sex and all the noises, awkwardness, and pain or pleasure that comes with it. Oh, and all the floral metaphors you can shake a stamen at.

While the series gets better as the first 12 episodes roll along, the thing that really got me hooked on DARLING in the FRANXX was the three-part behind-the-scenes pre-broadcast special. Getting to see how hard the creative team worked on this series well before it ever hit the airwaves adds an extra layer of appreciation for the show; I wish studios did the same here in the States.

9/10

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Katana Maidens

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Katana Maidens

Tasked with protecting the world from the aradama are the sword-wielding shrine maidens. When it’s time for the national competition, Kanami Eto is determined to win. But when she faces Hiyori Jujo in the finals, Hiyori doesn’t attack her but goes after the head of the Origami family! Suddenly, Kanami is helping Hiyori escape and learns that the Origami family is hiding a big secret.

 

Includes: 2 art cards (while supplies last)

Man, this one really struggled to hold my attention. There's just not much of a hook despite a semi-interesting opening battle sequence between the title heroes and a giant neon-centipede. After that brief flare of interest, it just slumps into a fairly typical "school for warrior girls" story with some vague sub-plots about acting as a supernatural police force, battling against a shadowy foe, and dealing with bureaucracy. It's a snoozer in the early goings and doesn't get much better from there.

6/10

Ninja Slayer

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Ninja Slayer

In a dystopian society of drugs, gangsters, and evil souls, only one thing reigns true: death is the only way out…for ninjas. Infected with a mystical ninja soul coated in fury, Ninja Slayer is born. Barely escaping death and losing his family to a pack of ninjas, Ninja Slayer sets out to avenge the death of his loved ones by spraying the blood of ninjas all across the hell-world of Neo-Saitama.

I was really excited to check this one out as soon as I saw the box art. It's got a System of a Down "Steal This Album" kind of feel to it, one that is intended to look like a bootleg copy of a real anime. From the CD-R style of the Blu-ray discs, complete with fake thumbprints and permanent marker writing, to the copy itself, it's clear from the start that Ninja Slayer is meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Add to that the fact that Christopher Sabat himself is voicing the title character and this should be a slam dunk.

Unfortunately, even a badass theme song and some impressively retro visuals can't really salvage this Flash-animated short-form series. I was all amped up for a ninja-focused comedy and I even loved the 4:3 aspect ratio for the LOLs, but Ninja Slayer would even struggle to find purchase on Adult Swim. Well, maybe it would thrive there, actually, but it's a little too self-aware for my tastes. It actively wants to be "the worst show ever seen on FUNimation", as is proudly displayed by a sticker on its cover, but sometimes you can just try too hard.

6/10

Rampo Kitan: Game of Laplace

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Rampo Kitan: Game of Laplace

Life was dull for Kobayashi until the day he was framed for his homeroom teacher’s murder. After an infamous high school detective clears his name, Kobayashi volunteers to become his assistant. But for every case they close, two more seem to open in its place. With cryptic clues leading the way, the pair find themselves following a trail of bodies that points to a killer known only as Twenty Faces.

In my mind, this is a pretty fantastic addition to the mystery genre of anime. The name of the series was inspired by the late, great Japanese mystery fiction author Tarō Hirai, better known as Edogawa Ranpo/Rampo.

The main antagonist here, Twenty Faces, is themselves a play on Rampo's own creation, The Fiend with Twenty Faces. The "gentleman thief" and "master of disguise" is a longtime adversary of the genius detective Akechi. What begins as an intriguing mystery soon spirals into something much grander and more complicated than the narrative can support, at times.

While it doesn't quite stick the landing with a satisfying conclusion, this is still a solid mystery anime series with relatively few other-worldly elements thrown in for good measure. Fingers crossed for future seasons!

8/10

Legend of the Galactic Heroes: The New Thesis

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Legend of the Galactic Heroes: The New Thesis

Caught in a 150-year-long war, interstellar nations reach the pinnacle of strategic combat at the hands of two genius leaders. Reinhard of the Galactic Empire, and Yang of the Free Planets Alliance lead the charge from opposing fronts. Fighting is their destiny, but in this vast universe torn by political intrigue, their greatest enemy may not be each other.

Though I'm not familiar with the original anime series this modern reboot is based on, "The New Thesis" definitely makes me want to check it out. It's one of the most mature and thoughtful anime titles in FUNimation's catalogue. Sure, there are other sci-fi military-themed action series out there, many of which put a focus on character development and extended dialogue scenes between officers, but Legend of the Galactic Heroes puts the emphasis on this rather than including it as an exception. So despite the rather generic title, this is one anime worth watching if you love to get into the nitty-gritty details of military strategy and how the human condition complicates it.

But to be fair, Legend of the Galactic Heroes leans a bit too heavily on the personal and emotional aspect of these decisions that could cost hundreds of thousands to millions of lives while coming up a bit short on the actual tactical side of things. That's a strength because the writing has time to breathe and discuss complicated societal issues about empires and rebellions, loyalty to a corrupt leader vs a disobedient subordinate, and what rule of the entire human race under a single dictator would and could look like. It's disturbingly relevant to the modern era and probably will be throughout time. But if you're looking for a hard sci-fi military strategy and tactics story, this one comes up just a bit short in that regard. In all other ways, it excels, and the final space battle is a thing to behold. The major bummer here is that Episode 12 ends with a cliffhanger of sorts and a teaser for the follow-up battle in Episode 13, "Amritsar."

9/10

Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory

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Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory

Amalgam has made its move to gather up the Whispered—specifically Kaname Chidori! And Leonard Testarossa is willing to do anything to get her. Determined to keep Chidori safe, Sousuke stays close by her side, unknowingly endangering them both! But when Chidori’s friends’ lives are put in danger, she makes a choice that could bring a tragic end to this battle.

It's been a while since I first fell for Full Metal Panic! A lot has happened since the original anime series debuted 17 years ago and boy is it tough to keep up with it all. The first series was tightly focused on the relationship between Chidori and Sousuke, amplified by the mecha battles between the latter's Lambda Driver-enhanced mobile suit, the Arbalest, as he battled against other pilots in their "Arm Slave" mechs. And for 24 episodes, that's really all you needed.

Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory picks up after the anime's "second season" in 2005's arc "The Second Raid" and continues the conflict between the privatized military company Mithril and the terrorist group Amalgam. But like most sequels, it ramps up the number of mobile suits and their varieties, and also inflates the cast of characters. Most of the action is spent watching the Mithril soldiers attempt to defend against a well-organized attack from Amalgam. That's all well and good, but the heart of the franchise has always been with Sousuke and Chidori.

The new characters who are introduced do get a fair amount of backstory and bring a fresh perspective to the team, so they're worthwhile. And FMP! remains one of the few mecha series that actually take time to go into the mechanics and inner workings of the mechs themselves; I love a good mech-overhaul montage. So even when Sousuke moonlights as a mech tournament battle fighter--which feels very Mobile Fighter G Gundam for better or worse--the core components are still there. And it's an absolute blast to watch Sousuke go ape, even in an old Savage-model AS. But there's nothing quite like getting the elite pilot behind the controls of the new and improved ARX-8, the Laevatein. That's worth sticking around through all 12 episodes!

Since this was the limited edition, you also get treated to extras, like commentary tracks, intermissions, and the usual textless trailers, but this collection comes with additional bonus discs. One features more Extras, like a series of "Location Scouts" performed by the creative team and creator/writer Shoji Gatoh. You get to see side-by-side shots of the finished anime series along with blueprints and live footage from the real-world Jindai High School in Tokyo and other locations. Additionally, there's a featurette on the creation of the music for the series as well as a music video. Oh! There's also a special two-disc audio drama and accompanying translation book.

8/10

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