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GARGANTIA #5 - - Watch & Learn
Well, I feel like I just watched an episode of KING OF THE HILL
guest-starring a mech… and boy, does it feels right.
I’m sure this series is probably going to piss off plenty of otaku who
went in expecting another dour mecha saga. They’re probably spitting on the
episodes’ talkbacks, irate over how the explosive battles have sharply
dropped off to make way for beach parties, BBQ challenges, pushy trannies
and embarrassing ship deck shenanigans. I can understand where the might be
coming from, but I definitely don’t agree with it. This is what I love about anime. This is exactly the sort of
ultra-specific premise I’ve been hoping to see for a long time, and it’s
actually a little surreal to see that premise being realized so well.
Maybe it’s doubly surreal. Last time, I said this show seemed like an
interesting complement/answer to CASSHERN SINS, and it continues to be so. SINS,
of course, was the realization of a “MEGA MAN: THE OPERA” concept that I’d
wanted to see. And this is shaping up to be a more positive and life-affirming
answer to that.
Ledo’s faced with a more literal spin on Casshern’s predicament - - being
a war veteran who’s got to find a new purpose now that his war’s over - -
but the challenge is basically just a summer job search. This isn’t some tragic
soul sliding into an inescapable existential crisis. There’s a comical discrepancy
to the new challenges he’s facing, sure, but we get the feeling he’ll be handle
the transition just fine.
I just found myself smiling a lot during this episode. Whether it was Amy’s high-altitude ‘rescue operation’ on the ship spire or Pinion’s clever
re-purposing of Chamber’s black top radiation… it was all just a good time.
Surely, the show’s going to have get back to business eventually, but I wouldn’t
mind if it kept taking it easy from here on out.
Watch this episode, “Calm Day" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.
About the Author
 | Tom Pinchuk’s a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk |
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