Not panicking at all
Sousuke Sagara is not your normal Japanese student in high school. He is an undercover op working for mercenary group Mithril. He has sworn to protect the whisperer Kaname, so that her hidden military knowledge doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. The problem is that he has to balance his professional with personal life and it isn’t always straight forward. On top of that, he has to deal with a new faction known as the Amalgam. Love and war never was so hard for anyone.
I didn’t know what to fully expect from Full Metal Panic!. Typically for anime, the wacky stories and cute characters more so than not end up in episodic hell that doesn’t tell a strong coherent story. FMP was definitely different as it brought me back to my old days as a fan of Robotech and Captain Harlock. The foundation that was laid down for FMP’s story was solid. You had a young team that really wanted to make a difference in a war torn world. Intelligent teenagers who were given power and mech to help out those who needed them. It’s a simple storyline, but add in some deep characters like Sousuke Sagara and you have yourself a solid story. While many fans of the series will agree that there is still a layer of anime humor that most animes contain, the serious impact of the characters on the viewer is nothing short of remarkable.
FMP stands out as one of the better animes out there. It has moments where the characters are built up and the plot points of love and sorrow are stronger than most major Hollywood productions. For example, halfway through the series you begin to see a love blooming between Sousuke and his assignment Kaname. Their need for each other grows as each episode continues. Kaname shows Sousuke how to become a responsible high school boy, while Sousuke shows Kaname the security and care she desperately needs beneath her tough exterior. When Sousuke gets reassigned and must leave Kaname, you feel for their loss. You want them to be together and you want it to work out. It’s compelling moment for an anime and one that is just an example of how well the series was crafted.
With all of that said, the series is extremely ‘Mature’. You will see brief nudity, sexual situations and loads of language. It doesn’t take away from the story, but it does pose as a distraction. It also means that this is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. For those parents looking for a more mature storyline please be prepared for more mature content. You should not have the content any other way as it does help the series and helps shape some of the characters. The insane leader of the evil faction is a perfect example. The guy is completely nuts and he is strange in every way possible. He cusses like a sailor too, but that’s what you should expect from someone who will systematically kill anyone at any given moment. Outside of this, you’ll find plenty of throat slicing gore and plenty of blood.
So, again, mature audiences only.
Now, with all the above stated, is there anything wrong with the series? Outside of the confusing military speak (which is difficult to understand at times), I don’t really have any complaints. It’s a solid series that’s got a strong story and deep characters. In animes that is tough to come by, but delicious to the senses if you can find one.
Guess what? It was delicious.
No panic on the blu-ray side
Much like my experience with Disney’s recent and upcoming blu-ray releases of their animated classics, I’m taken back by how gorgeous animation can look on an HD format. It always helps to have a 52″ Samsung LCD at your disposal too. Seeing this in 1080p with a 7.1 surround system is just heaven to the senses. You’ll find one of the highest quality blu-ray experiences this side of anime; truly something to experience.
As for features, here’s what you’re looking at:
– Bonus OVA
– Bonus Episode 000
– 7-Part Featurette: Location Scouting in Hong Kong
– Dawn of the Light Novel
– Textless Songs
– Trailers
While not the strongest bunch of features, it still holds up. The seven part featurette is impressive, as is the OVA and 000.
