Jimbo
Member!
Has anyone seen this godly anime? I'm about to finish the series in like a week(i've seen the first 5 eps)
Anyway,there is 25 eps of this anime.Ill let you guys read this review.(i did not make it)
Fifty foot tall invaders bent on destroying the Earth as we know it with only a handful of humans standing in their way...
The Basics
Sounds familiar doesn't it? Be they Zentradi, monsters, angels, aliens or humans this has been the premise for many mecha stories. However the allure of Argent Soma is not the battle scenes between the human piloted mecha, called Sargs, and the invading aliens intent on destroying everything in it's path towards it's goal. This storyline only plays a backdrop to the ongoing battles within the human spirit in the face of despair and tragedy. For Argent Soma is not a story that celebrates human achievements and victories, it is a lament to our weakness and frailty and our passion to hurt each other. However, where there is condemnation there is redemption...
Story
In an effort to learn more about the aliens that have been plaguing the planet for the past years, Dr. Noguchi and his assistant Maki Agata, revives an older version of the alien that they had scavanged. They recruit Takuto Kenishiro, Maki's boyfriend, into this project because of his talent for metallurgy. While Takuto is unhappy with Maki keeping secrets from him again, he reluctantly helps with the project. However, in the process of reviving the monster, that Dr Noguchi has aptly called Frankenstein (Frank for short), unidentified soldiers invade the Morgue facility, somehow causing an accident in the lab killing both Dr. Noguchi and Maki while leaving Takuto scarred and heart-broken.
Emotionally distressed by his ordeal, a mysterious man, Mr. X (who has the freaky habit of appearing and disappearing just as quickly), offers Takuto a chance to get his vengeance on the monster he blames for destroying everything and everyone that he cared for. Months later, Ryu Soma, reborn from the ashes of Takuto's soul, joins Funeral. It is the military organization which deals with the attacking aliens and also had manage to recapture Frank who had escaped during all the commotion at Morgue. Here, Ryu meets the other personalities behind Funeral and a child who carries the face of the woman he loves.
Characters
Frank is the metallic alien dubbed as Extra-one by the military and Yousei-kun by Hattie. In the beginning he acts more like an automaton driven by instinct and self-preservation. Later, he fights against the progressive aliens at Hattie's coaxing (Progressive aliens each have some kind of special ability which the five Sarg pilots of Funeral are unable to defeat.) As Hattie brings out the humanity in Frank, Ryu seems to build more and more walls around his soul, causing him to come in conflict with the girl.
Harriet Bartholomew, nicknamed Hattie, is the thirteen year old child who has formed some kind of bond with Frank. At first I had thought that Hattie was just the obligatory child figure that was needed to attract younger audiences. However as I watched more of the episodes, I believe that Hattie's past incarnations (Maki, et al.) represents history repeating itself. While here is the younger version of the woman the Ryu had love, and a chance for him to make up for his past transgressions, with his accusations and mistrust. Hattie represents the future and the opportunities to set the past right.
Ryu Soma is no one phenomenal in this series. While his talents as a Sarg pilot does rival that of Dan Simmond's, who was the ace pilot of Funeral before Ryu join, he is usually not in direct combat with the aliens themselves, most of the combat was more or less left to Frank with the Sarg pilots acting as backup. He does manage to save Frank now and then but he only does this to keep Hattie from being sad. While Ryu can definitely be described as unfriendly, cold and calculating, my fascination with him is the helplessness and impotence he expresses in his private moments or when talking to Hattie or Frank, it somehow vindicates his humanity and innocence. The analogy of Ryu's scars, albeit quite inconceivable for such nicely formed scars in such an explosion, to the deformation in Frank left side of the body implies a connection that they both share.
Mr. X, this enigmatic Shakespeare spouting devil's advocate has to be one of my favorite characters in Argent Soma (the other two being Ryu and Guinevere). He has a knack for popping up in various places and driving Ryu nuts. He seems to know a lot about Ryu and the aliens and no one exactly knows which side he belongs to. And while it seems like he's just reciting random poetry and eating fruits, which if you notice turns more red into the series, there a method to his madness which are as cryptic as the verses themselves. Even in the end, the purpose behind his actions still remains a mystery.
Review
It is hard for me to review this series to entice the reader of this review without spoiling it. However, Argent Soma is definitely not a series for those who want instant gratification. It is lacks any type of comedy and it seems to get depressing every episode. It is full of symbolic representation and conundrums that will keep you guessing and surprised each episode (till the very end). The mysteries behind the psyche of the human mind, machinations of the government, the origin and intent of these invading aliens are the factors that have kept me glued to this series. Even after having watched the entire twenty five episodes of this series I believe I need to rewatch it again.
As for the design and animation of Argent Soma; to my limited expertise it is an excellently done. Although lacking the computer generated special effects that are now common place in newer series, it is refreshing to see a series done purely with traditionally ink and pen while efforts are directed more into moving the plot and characters of the story. Each character's personality is very well represented in their character designs and I am please that they aren't just pure aesthetics. Throughout the series they use the deformation of Ryu's face in contrast to his unscarred one very well. Each on representing the different persona's of the character, one of innocence and the other of innocence lost. The uniforms of the Sarg pilots and the Funeral military personal are very detail oriented and I wouldn't mind having one of those.
The opening sequence completed with the song is beautifully done and quite dramatic. Another reviewer had mentioned that the pace of the song seems to follow the pace of the series itself. I definitely have to agree with this. And while the ending sequence and highly energetic song is totally out of phase with the whole series it definite make sense after seeing the whole series and you have to remember that Takuto's dream was to become an astronaut before the aliens started attacking.
Information
All twenty five of the Argent Soma episodes are now available thanks to elite-fansubs. Their site contains info and links to other sites where you can download this series. I also suggest joining the forums. While I am not fluent enough in Japanese to comment on their subtitling, I would like to commend them for introducing such a wonderful series to the anime community and for doing such a great job in continuing to make the whole series available to us fans in such a timely fashion. Elite-fansubs is also responsible for subtitling Comic Party, which promises to be another great series, a must for any anime fan especially for those inspiring doujinshi artist.
And for those who are as obsessed with Argent Soma as I am, there is also a manga and a two volume novel on it.
Anyway,there is 25 eps of this anime.Ill let you guys read this review.(i did not make it)
Fifty foot tall invaders bent on destroying the Earth as we know it with only a handful of humans standing in their way...
The Basics
Sounds familiar doesn't it? Be they Zentradi, monsters, angels, aliens or humans this has been the premise for many mecha stories. However the allure of Argent Soma is not the battle scenes between the human piloted mecha, called Sargs, and the invading aliens intent on destroying everything in it's path towards it's goal. This storyline only plays a backdrop to the ongoing battles within the human spirit in the face of despair and tragedy. For Argent Soma is not a story that celebrates human achievements and victories, it is a lament to our weakness and frailty and our passion to hurt each other. However, where there is condemnation there is redemption...
Story
In an effort to learn more about the aliens that have been plaguing the planet for the past years, Dr. Noguchi and his assistant Maki Agata, revives an older version of the alien that they had scavanged. They recruit Takuto Kenishiro, Maki's boyfriend, into this project because of his talent for metallurgy. While Takuto is unhappy with Maki keeping secrets from him again, he reluctantly helps with the project. However, in the process of reviving the monster, that Dr Noguchi has aptly called Frankenstein (Frank for short), unidentified soldiers invade the Morgue facility, somehow causing an accident in the lab killing both Dr. Noguchi and Maki while leaving Takuto scarred and heart-broken.
Emotionally distressed by his ordeal, a mysterious man, Mr. X (who has the freaky habit of appearing and disappearing just as quickly), offers Takuto a chance to get his vengeance on the monster he blames for destroying everything and everyone that he cared for. Months later, Ryu Soma, reborn from the ashes of Takuto's soul, joins Funeral. It is the military organization which deals with the attacking aliens and also had manage to recapture Frank who had escaped during all the commotion at Morgue. Here, Ryu meets the other personalities behind Funeral and a child who carries the face of the woman he loves.
Characters
Frank is the metallic alien dubbed as Extra-one by the military and Yousei-kun by Hattie. In the beginning he acts more like an automaton driven by instinct and self-preservation. Later, he fights against the progressive aliens at Hattie's coaxing (Progressive aliens each have some kind of special ability which the five Sarg pilots of Funeral are unable to defeat.) As Hattie brings out the humanity in Frank, Ryu seems to build more and more walls around his soul, causing him to come in conflict with the girl.
Harriet Bartholomew, nicknamed Hattie, is the thirteen year old child who has formed some kind of bond with Frank. At first I had thought that Hattie was just the obligatory child figure that was needed to attract younger audiences. However as I watched more of the episodes, I believe that Hattie's past incarnations (Maki, et al.) represents history repeating itself. While here is the younger version of the woman the Ryu had love, and a chance for him to make up for his past transgressions, with his accusations and mistrust. Hattie represents the future and the opportunities to set the past right.
Ryu Soma is no one phenomenal in this series. While his talents as a Sarg pilot does rival that of Dan Simmond's, who was the ace pilot of Funeral before Ryu join, he is usually not in direct combat with the aliens themselves, most of the combat was more or less left to Frank with the Sarg pilots acting as backup. He does manage to save Frank now and then but he only does this to keep Hattie from being sad. While Ryu can definitely be described as unfriendly, cold and calculating, my fascination with him is the helplessness and impotence he expresses in his private moments or when talking to Hattie or Frank, it somehow vindicates his humanity and innocence. The analogy of Ryu's scars, albeit quite inconceivable for such nicely formed scars in such an explosion, to the deformation in Frank left side of the body implies a connection that they both share.
Mr. X, this enigmatic Shakespeare spouting devil's advocate has to be one of my favorite characters in Argent Soma (the other two being Ryu and Guinevere). He has a knack for popping up in various places and driving Ryu nuts. He seems to know a lot about Ryu and the aliens and no one exactly knows which side he belongs to. And while it seems like he's just reciting random poetry and eating fruits, which if you notice turns more red into the series, there a method to his madness which are as cryptic as the verses themselves. Even in the end, the purpose behind his actions still remains a mystery.
Review
It is hard for me to review this series to entice the reader of this review without spoiling it. However, Argent Soma is definitely not a series for those who want instant gratification. It is lacks any type of comedy and it seems to get depressing every episode. It is full of symbolic representation and conundrums that will keep you guessing and surprised each episode (till the very end). The mysteries behind the psyche of the human mind, machinations of the government, the origin and intent of these invading aliens are the factors that have kept me glued to this series. Even after having watched the entire twenty five episodes of this series I believe I need to rewatch it again.
As for the design and animation of Argent Soma; to my limited expertise it is an excellently done. Although lacking the computer generated special effects that are now common place in newer series, it is refreshing to see a series done purely with traditionally ink and pen while efforts are directed more into moving the plot and characters of the story. Each character's personality is very well represented in their character designs and I am please that they aren't just pure aesthetics. Throughout the series they use the deformation of Ryu's face in contrast to his unscarred one very well. Each on representing the different persona's of the character, one of innocence and the other of innocence lost. The uniforms of the Sarg pilots and the Funeral military personal are very detail oriented and I wouldn't mind having one of those.
The opening sequence completed with the song is beautifully done and quite dramatic. Another reviewer had mentioned that the pace of the song seems to follow the pace of the series itself. I definitely have to agree with this. And while the ending sequence and highly energetic song is totally out of phase with the whole series it definite make sense after seeing the whole series and you have to remember that Takuto's dream was to become an astronaut before the aliens started attacking.
Information
All twenty five of the Argent Soma episodes are now available thanks to elite-fansubs. Their site contains info and links to other sites where you can download this series. I also suggest joining the forums. While I am not fluent enough in Japanese to comment on their subtitling, I would like to commend them for introducing such a wonderful series to the anime community and for doing such a great job in continuing to make the whole series available to us fans in such a timely fashion. Elite-fansubs is also responsible for subtitling Comic Party, which promises to be another great series, a must for any anime fan especially for those inspiring doujinshi artist.
And for those who are as obsessed with Argent Soma as I am, there is also a manga and a two volume novel on it.
