Stratos 4

Publisher
Beez
Country of origin
Japan
Format
Series
Running time
13 at 25 minutes each.
Year
2003

Stratos 4 Volume 3

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
2nd Sep 05

The first volume of Stratos 4 was a rather below average introduction to a theme seen a thousand times before. The second volume improved on the first significantly with more implications towards the overall plot, and some actually funny comedy moments. The third volume certainly had a lot to do to make me change my opinions of the series.

The third volume contains five episodes which is one more than the previous two volumes…and that’s probably the only thing volume three has going for it. Episode nine sees our four young Meteor Sweepers take a break from the “hard” work from the Shimoji Island base, and visit the hot springs. Cue poorly done fan service and more so plot developments. “Mission Abort” sees things begin to move towards the finale (finally), it seems there’s something more to these comets than meets the eye, these cause problems with the “Comet Blasters” ability to go on missions, and the Meteor Sweepers must go into over time in order to save the Earth, however there is a huge meteor about to head towards the earth and the only way of stopping it is to shoot it down in space. Karin is taken away and the remaining girls go in search of her finding out more about the comets and why communications with the Comet Blasters has been cut off.

There are a number of “plot twists” in the last volume, all of which any seasoned anime fan could see a mile off. There’s something more to the comets…yes figured that out by the end of the first volume! There’s something strange going on in space…yep knew that already! There’s something mysterious about Karin…*yawn*.

None of the revelations are remotely surprising although what was surprising is how the series just suddenly changes tact. As soon as things began to look interesting at the end of the first volume and the start of the second, everything was dropped in favour of the idea of rebuilding the Stratos 0 (a ship capable of lifting of from Earth and going into space). Then out of nowhere, the mysterious comet plot re-emerges and the rebuilding Stratos 0 goes out to lunch, these two plots, which are the base for the entire series, don’t converge? This is not the sort of thing we should expect from new anime titles this is the kind of thing you might expect from an old TV soap where Bob the mechanic goes to fetch a screwdriver and doesn’t reappear for three years it’s just not on.

I have to admit there were a few times when I chuckled at some of the jokes, and I did feel compelled (no not compelled weaker…interested…curious) to see what would happen to Karin in the end, but that’s only because she one of three characters I actually warmed to (the others being Admiral the cat, and the Shimoji Island Base’s Commander because he was British and drank English tea).

I stick by recommending this for younger viewers especially girls, despite the mild lesbian undercurrents running through out the series...in case that’s made any males reading this want to rush out and buy it, it’s only a PG.

R2 DVD Notes

Features: English/French/Japanese Language Track, English/French/Netherlands subtitles. Clean closing episode 13, Interview with director and Japanese vocal cast. BEEZ Trailers

Release information: Publisher: BEEZ Release date: September 12, 2005 Classification: PG

Notes: The only extra of note the interview with the cast and director is frankly not very good. There seems to be no planing to it and no-one has any idea what to say, but if you like watching people cringe with embarssment then you'll enjoy the extra.

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 2nd Sep 05