|
Densetsu Kyojin Ideon
 |
|
|
Animation - 6.0 |
|
|
Sound - 6.5 |
|
|
Story - 5.0 |
|
|
Character - 5.0 |
|
|
Value - 4.5 |
|
|
Enjoyment - 5.5 |
|
|
Average - 5.4 |
|
|
|
| Average |
6.5 |
| Animation |
7 |
| Sound |
7 |
| Story |
6 |
| Character |
6 |
| Value |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| Space Runaway Ideon is a series that lends itself credit to being a front runner for a lot of anime series following in its footsteps, particularly those of the mecha genre and can be noted for exuding inspiration for series like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Rahxephon, the Gundam franchise among others. Created by Tomino Yoshiyuki, it's one of his darkest constructions when the story all pans out...but at what cost to the viewer? And are people patient enough to see what it had to offer? I was, and though I think well of it, I do come with some criticisms of the original series in tow.
Since this is the original 39 episode series, I'll review it separately from the movies, which lend their own interpretations and add so much more to the respective punch it has, but you have to see the original series to have an appreciation of the franchise in its entirety.
Let me consider the negatives first before going into the positives, because there's a lot to be had with this series, and if you come into it knowing what you're going up against, it may lend some perspective on what makes the anime series respectable, but continuously flawed.
First, it shows its age rather notably in both animation and premise: it starts off just about like every super power robot show (at least in the classic rung of the Gundam series): an unknown enemy opens up an attack on unsuspecting civilians and chaos ensues. Protagonist Cosmo (the rather hot-headed, red afro-donning main character XD) finds himself among a few struggling survivors caught between the crosshairs, and end up piloting a mysterious robot called the Ideon. Yet, very little is known about the Ideon by the research team involved in the mecha analyst perspective, yet to the attacking party, an human-like alien race called the Buff colony, it's recognized as a formidable god of sorts: the Ide, a weapon of mass destruction and seemingly indestructible in framework. So the battle begins between the two parties, with different idealistic beliefs in tow, as well as visions for using the Ideon to their own means. Cosmo has to find his place in piloting the Ideon and what it means in the place of the universe.
I won't fib, there are some episodes of the series I felt like my head was banging against the wall because either nothing happened, or the stories seemed to lack direction with where the overall plot was going. It weaves in and out of good episodes for the first part of the series, some are nice while others you feel like you're watching one of those low budget episodes of an old cartoon like the Perils of Miss Penelope Pitstop or Speed Racer. It's pure campiness, but it doesn't necessarily make it a bad story or with bad characters, people who might be able to appreciate generational gaps/flaws won't find this a problem. There were some fun stories in the mix that I found myself laughing at the characters and their interactions, and for the most part, they're actually well-defined for their respective roles. Execution shows its age, however, so you either take it or leave it.
The true measure of this series comes in the latter half where the series finally hits its stride story wise, as the team finally figures out Ideon's overall role in the scheme of the universe and how it reacts in the greater part of it all, particularly when the main enemy comes into focus.
Character deaths start coming in mass quantities with this series as well, though it should be noted that the ones that come with the most impact are ones you get to know from the greater course of the series. Some are pretty violent ends while others make you think "What the devil?" as you watch the events unfold. I would say it's a combination of "What the devil" in good and bad wasy. I wouldn't say it's a graphic series in the vein of what modern tonalities may lend, but the atmosphere is dismal and melancholic in its run. I didn't cry at any of the deaths, even for the characters I came to know, but you get this overall heavy sense as you realize the characters noting their respective fates.
I can see why it was canceled before its due time, and if judging by the variable quality in the beginning of this series alone, I would have likely rated it as low as some of the reviews below mine. Yet, it should be noted that the series does finish, and there are some gripping emotional scenes in the latter half that make it worth coming to. However, if you really want to appreciate this series in collective measure, watch it and then watch the movies, because watching one without the other doesn't completely put it in perspective.
It's one of the space operas that can have the most appreciation from those who don't mind the common cliches of the genre, as it was one of the main vehicles for those respective cliches, particularly ones noted in modern series. If you recognize that, proceed with caution, but it also lends a significant message in the realm of the themes "Death and Rebirth" and develops into a plot you don't quite expect until it hits you blindsided, which if you watch the series with a careful eye, it does this quite decently. Still, I'd recommend it only to those who can appreciate the contingencies of this genre.
|
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
|
| Average |
4.3 |
| Animation |
5 |
| Sound |
6 |
| Story |
4 |
| Character |
4 |
| Value |
3 |
| Enjoyment |
4 |
| „Space Runaway Ideon“ ist eine typische Tomino-Mecha-Serie, die sich vom Grundkonzept her so gut wie gar nicht von denen anderer Mecha-Animes aus der Feder von Tomino, allen voran Gundam 0070 bis ZZ, unterscheidet. Auch hier dient die Auseinandersetzung zweier sich ständig beharkender Gruppen als Grundpfeiler für eine Handlung die von Anfang bis Ende fast gänzlich von Space-Battles geprägt wird, welche mit einem Schema aufwarten das weder sonderlich abwechslungsreich ist noch in sonstiger Weise mit Kreativität glänzen kann. Man kann hier so ziemlich das gleiche bemängeln wie bei den Gundam-Serien aus den 80ern: Die Story verläuft dank ihrer Überfüllung mit langweiligen Scharmützeln, die am Ende ständig das gleiche Ergebnis aufweisen und somit einer Monotonie Vorschub leisten die jeglichen Anflug von Spannung im Keim erstickt, extrem behäbig und leidet obendrein an derart starker Twist- und Überraschungsarmut das es auf Dauer zu einer Zerreißprobe der Geduld des Zuschauers wird die Serie weiter zu verfolgen. Ebenfalls negativ fällt mangelnder Tiefgang in die Waagschale, welchen man bei einer Serie mit Krieg- und Konfliktthematik eigentlich erwarten könnte. Die Idee das Ganze mit einem Mythos um einen Mecha-Gott der unendliche Kraft besitzen soll und scheinbar von einer alten Generation erschaffen wurde anzureichern, klingt zuerst zwar interessant und schafft es sogar ein paar Fragen aufzuwerfen die dazu in der Lage sind zu tangieren, verkümmert aber immer mehr zu uninspirierendem Schmuckwerk neben den unzähligen Gefechten die einfach kein Ende nehmen wollen und schlussendlich das von Beginn an sowieso schon auf Sparflamme kochende Storygerüst gänzlich zum Einsturz bringen. Irgendwann hat mich der Ausgang der ganzen Geschichte einfach nicht mehr gekratzt. Leider gilt so ziemlich dasselbe auch für die Charaktere, deren Auftreten mich zu keinem Moment überzeugen konnte. Sie sind entwicklungstechnisch zu flach ausgefallen und bewegen sich auf emotionaler Ebene zu standardmäßig um in irgendeiner Weise dafür zu sorgen das man ihnen Sympathien entgegen bringt. Wie bei der Story gibt es auch hier kaum Überraschungen und nennenswerte Wendungen, die vom Hocker zu reißen im Stande sind. Kurz gesagt: Substantiell ist „Space Runaway Ideon“ ein Dünnbrettbohrer sondergleichen und selbst die wenigen Momente die etwas Tiefe aufblitzen lassen und nachdenklich stimmen sollen, weisen keine Botschaft oder Weisung an die menschliche Vernunft auf die nicht schon unzählige Male in anderen Serien mit Kriegsthematik vermittelt wurden. Für mich zumindest war hier nichts Neues dabei was mich hat aufhorchen lassen. Nimmt man dann noch die Action-Szenen hinzu, die dank den hoffnungslos veralterten Animationen heute nicht mehr dazu in der Lage sind groß zu unterhalten, dann kommt man bei „Space Runaway Ideon“ in der Summe auf einen Mecha-Anime der in so ziemlich allen Kategorien schon längst von der Zeit überholt wurde und am Ende nicht dazu in der Lage ist auch nur den kleinsten Eindruck zu hinterlassen. Dass die Serie damals aufgrund schlechter Quoten nach 39 Episoden abgebrochen wurde, überrascht mich in keiner Weise. Fazit: Meiner Meinung nach braucht man diesen Anime wirklich nicht gesehen zu haben, es sei denn man ist ein fanatischer Anhänger von Tominos Werken und auch sonst mit allem zufrieden solange nur ein überdimensionaler Mecha auftaucht und alles in die Luft jagt.
|
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes /
No
|
|
|
Site design by ecxol.net:
|
